Chapter 3 : In Another Life

I woke up to a dull, throbbing pain radiating from my torso, and as my senses slowly returned, so did the sharp, biting ache in my legs.

Fucking hell. My mind raced in a fog of confusion and panic. Am I paralyzed? The thought hit me like a sledgehammer. Is my life over? Visions of my future crumbled into dust—no work, no college, no chance to live out the life I'd dreamed of. All because someone—Henry, it must have been that idiot Henry!—drove straight into the car lift.

"Meredith?" A voice pierced through the haze of my spiraling thoughts, soft and concerned. Oh god, am I so badly injured they don't even recognize me? Panic surged again—Am I unrecognizable?

I forced my eyes open, expecting to see a hospital room, maybe even my body wrapped in bandages. Instead, I blinked in confusion as I took in the sight before me—stone walls, dimly lit by the warm glow of sconces, guards standing at attention, and... What the fuck? I nearly gasped aloud. Why is Rene Russo here? My mind struggled to connect the dots. Was I dreaming? Or had I finally lost it?

The woman who looked exactly like Frigga from the Thor movies smiled warmly, a smile that seemed to carry a thousand unspoken comforts. "Hello," she greeted, her voice soft and soothing. "I heard you were waking up, so I came as soon as I could."

I blinked rapidly, my brain trying to catch up with my eyes. "Oh. Why... what... sorry, where am I? Why are you here? And why are you dressed like that... wait." I looked around the room again, taking in the richly adorned tapestries, the polished stone floors, and the distinct Asgardian architecture. It was all too familiar, too vivid to be a dream.

"Are you feeling alright, Meredith?" Frigga—or was it really Frigga?—asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"Yes? I... I don't know. Um... am I dead or something?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, a wild, desperate grasp at some sort of explanation.

She laughed softly, a sound that reminded me of bells chiming in a gentle breeze. "No, you are not dead."

"Mother!" A booming voice echoed through the room, reverberating off the stone walls. Thor—Thor, the god of thunder, as real as life—strode into the room, his presence commanding.

"What the hell!" I tried to sit up in bed, but the moment I did, a searing pain shot through my abdomen, radiating out to every limb. It was like being struck by lightning, a shock so intense it left me gasping for breath.

"Stay down, Meredith," Frigga urged, her gentle hands pushing me back onto the bed. "And please, watch your language. It is not ladylike." I stared at her, wide-eyed, my mind reeling.

Is this real? Is this actually Frigga and Thor? Am I really in Asgard?

"Um. What happened?" I managed to ask, my voice shaky as my gaze flitted between Thor and Frigga, searching for any hint that this might be a dream.

"You were nearly killed by a Frost Giant that broke into the weapons vault," Thor explained, his voice serious as he took a seat across from Frigga. The way he said it was so matter-of-fact, like this was just another Tuesday in Asgard.

"Frost Giants? Am I on Asgard? As in... Asgard?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, fear and wonder mingling together. They both nodded. "Am I dead? Is this... is this heaven?"

"Are you sure you're feeling alright, my dear?" Frigga asked, her eyes soft with motherly concern as she placed a cool hand on my forehead. "You're in Asgard. You've been asleep for a long time—you were badly injured."

My mind raced, grasping at any explanation that made sense. So, I'm either dead and this is some version of heaven, or... I've somehow traveled into the MCU. But how? Why? As I struggled to understand, a flood of images and memories that weren't mine began to overwhelm me—memories of a life as Meredith, of a father and mother, of friends and siblings, of training, of war, of Loki and Thor, of Frigga and Odin. It was as if these memories were suddenly mine, as real as anything I'd ever known.

"Meredith?" Thor's voice was closer now, his hand reaching out to comfort me. I flinched instinctively, pulling away from his touch.

"Where is Loki?" I asked, turning to Frigga, whose expression shifted to something more solemn, almost sorrowful. A cold dread settled in my stomach. "No... did he... Did he fall off the bridge?" Their shocked expressions confirmed my worst fears.

"Yes, how did you know?" Thor asked, his eyes narrowing with confusion, but also a hint of suspicion.

"Oh god, no. Thanos will get him!" I blurted out, panic rising as the images of what was to come flashed before my eyes. They exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not understanding. What do I tell them? "I... I don't know how, but it seems I've seen the future in my sleep," I blurted out, hoping it would make sense to them.

"What do you mean?" Thor asked, leaning forward, his tone demanding answers.

"That's all I know," I stammered, trying to piece together something coherent. "Loki's not dead. He's with a Titan named Thanos. He's being tortured—both mentally and physically."

"Where can we find him?" Thor shot to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination, ready to charge into battle.

"I-I don't know. How long has he been gone?"

"He fell off the bridge just last week," Frigga answered, her voice calm, though I could see the worry etched in her features.

So, we have a year... "How long until I can stand and move around?" I asked, urgency creeping into my voice.

"Maybe a week or two. Why?" Frigga asked, her tone curious but still gentle.

"I need to get to Ea—Midgard. Please, you have to let me go."

"Is Loki there?" Thor asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

I shook my head. "No, but I need to go. Please, Frigga, you have to talk with Odin. Please!" I needed to warn the Avengers—no, I needed to warn Nick Fury. I had to act fast before everything spiraled out of control.

"I will speak to him. Since your marriage is put off for now, it won't be a problem if you leave."

Marriage? Oh right, Meredith was supposed to marry Thor.

"Thank you. You can't tell anyone I know the future, okay? It will ruin everything. This must be kept secret—even from Odin." They both nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

"We will leave you to rest, Meredith," Thor said, standing up alongside Frigga. I reached out and grasped Frigga's hand before she could leave.

"Can I speak with you?" I asked. She nodded, and Thor quietly exited the room. "Two things. First, I need you to cancel the marriage between Thor and me. Make up any excuse—say I'm infertile, anything. It's not that I hate Thor, it's just... I can't marry him. Please trust me on this."

"I will do everything I can, Lady Meredith," she assured me with a gentle smile as she patted my hand. "What is the other request?"

"I need to advance my healing magic as much as possible. I need your help."

She smiled warmly. "I can tell you are not the Meredith I know," she said softly, her eyes wise and knowing.

"Raised by witches—I expected nothing less from you," I replied, trying to match her calm demeanor. She smiled again, this time with a hint of sadness. "Frigga, Thanos will mess with Loki's mind. He'll fill it with negative thoughts, making him say things he doesn't mean." I squeezed her hand. "Thanos is breaking him, but he will come back in time. He'll say things that hurt, but you can't trust his words. This is a warning if I fail."

Frigga nodded, though it was clear she didn't want to hear about the future. Still, she accepted my words. "So, tell me about yourself," she said, relaxing in her chair.

I told her everything—my entire life story. It was as if I was confiding in a long-lost mother, which, in a way, Frigga was to everyone. I even told her that in my dimension, their lives were fictional, turned into plays and adored by millions.

"Frigga?" I said softly after a long pause. She hummed in response. "You've always seemed to give the best advice... I'm going down to Midgard to warn the leader of a group who will stop Loki and the army of Chitauri... but I'm afraid if I don't let events unfold as they did, I won't know what's coming, and I won't be able to save the people who will die. In the end, the only ones left are..." I trailed off, my voice shaking. "All of the main characters die. I know you don't want to know your death because when Thor came back from the future to warn you, you sent him away."

"You have nothing to fear. Death is inevitable. The only mystery is when it will happen," she said, her voice filled with quiet wisdom. "I understand you want to save everyone, but how many will you lose?"

She's right. God damn it."You're right." I said, my mind racing with the possibilities. "You know, you're too smart. How did you get this way? All I know is that you were raised by witches, and for some reason, you married Odin. No offense, but he holds grudges too much. And he treats Loki like shit." I covered my mouth quickly, realizing I'd just cursed in front of Frigga.

She smiled softly, not offended in the least. "Life's experiences made me this way. As for Odin, I couldn't agree more. I've softened his heart as much as I can. Let's just say he was much worse before I came into his life."

I smiled softly, holding back a laugh at her words. "Thank you for the advice.".....

Two weeks passed, and just as they said, I was up and running around. Well not running, but I was out of bed and back to full strength. I'd been acting as Lady Meredith in front of everyone, though Frigga knew the truth—that I wasn't really Meredith. It was strange, but also comforting, how my nickname, Mer, still fit.

Frigga had been teaching me healing spells, giving me books to study in my free time since she couldn't be with me every moment. I'd also used her magical bookshelf to research the Mind Stone and whether there was a spell to counteract or reverse its effects. But oddly enough, watching the movies seemed to give me more insight than these ancient texts. Cognitive Recalibration.

Maybe I could stop by Stephen's place... but wait, Stephen doesn't come into the picture until five years after New York. So, I'd have to talk to... oh my god!

I'd been trying to recall all of Meredith's memories, and I was sad I did. The way she had turned on Loki, even if her reasons were sound, was so wrong.

They were lifelong friends—she should have known Loki wasn't like the Frost Giants who had invaded her home. This was going to be hard. Loki probably thought I was married to Thor and that I hated him, but I didn't. I swear, this better work.

——⏳——

"You ready?" Thor asked as he approached me. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?"

I shook my head firmly. "Thor, I need to go to Midgard by myself. Please remember, if the timeline changes, all future events could spiral into chaos. You must wait until you hear that Loki has returned." I'd concocted a little excuse, claiming that if events changed, the world would fall apart. Fabric of time and everything.

"I understand, Meredith." He kissed my hand, his expression softening. "May we meet again." He handed me a sword, its hilt gleaming. "And just in case."

"Thank you. And don't worry, I'll make sure Jane is safe," I said with a wink.

His eyes widened in surprise. "How did—never mind." He smiled, and I turned to head into the golden dome.

"Hello, Heimdall. Can I shake your hand?" I asked, a bit sheepishly. I'd always wanted to shake Heimdall's hand. Don't ask me why.

"Yes, you may, Lady Miranda." I stopped in my tracks, startled. "I can hear many things that happen."

"Oh." We shook hands, his grip firm and reassuring. "I mean. I knew that.. I just didn't—"

"Don't worry, Miranda... Your secret is safe with me."

"Oh." I smiled, glad for his trust. "It is such a pleasure meeting you. And I swear, by the time my adventure is over, I WILL make you smile," I giggled.

"You may try," he replied, though his stoic expression remained unchanged. He walked up the stairs, motioning for me to follow. "If you will please step over here," he indicated a spot in front of the opening to the Bifrost. "You will feel a pulling on your body and may get dizzy." I nodded in understanding. "May we meet again," he said, before stabbing the keyhole, activating the Bifrost.

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