Part Nine: Search

There was a rapping knock on your door. “Darling!” a woman's voice called.

“Mmpf.” You moved your head to look at the door, lethargy still coating your senses.

“Morning already?” Eir sat in the chair, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The woman knocked again. “Let me get it,” Eir said, standing and stretching. Eir slowly walked over and opened up the door.

“Oh, good morning Frigga.”

“Eir? What are you doing in __________'s room?” Frigga peeked inside the room to make sure she was in the right place. When she spotted you, she politely asked to come inside.

“Yeah, sure,” you responded, getting out of bed.

“Mmm.” Loki propped himself up on his elbows, waking up. He yawned like a cat.

“Good morning, Loki,” Frigga bid her son.

“Oh, good morning, mother.”

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Yeah, much better,” Loki said, sitting up and stretching. He placed a good-morning kiss on your cheek. You blushed madly. Loki had never kissed you in front of Frigga before. Eir giggled and Frigga shifted uncomfortably.

Frigga cleared her throat. “Anyways, I wanted to come and talk to __________ about Thor.”

Loki slowly scooted away from you and Eir quieted down and became serious.

“What about him?” you asked her. “Have you found him?”

“Not yet,” Frigga sighed. You didn't notice it before, but she looked tired. In fact, she was probably out all night searching for her son. “Even Heimdall isn't able to see him.”

“I'll help,” you offered.

Frigga smiled sweetly. “Thank you so much, dear. I was hoping you would offer to help. I think Thor might come out of his hiding place if he hears you are looking for him.”

“I will come too!” Eir volunteered. “But I need to change first.”

“I suppose I will help as well,” Loki sighed. Everyone turned to look at him. Did he really not remember what had happened between him and Thor?

“Actually sweetie,” Frigga started, unsure of how to break the news to her son.

“You probably should get some more rest,” you said, making up an excuse for Frigga.

“_________ is right,” Frigga agreed.”Eir did a good job at healing you, but you still need more rest and time to heal fully.”

Loki let out a breath, the dejection apparent in his eyes. “Yeah,” Loki sighed.

“See you later,” you told him, giving him a light kiss upon his lips.

He smiled and waved at you when you followed Frigga and Eir out of the room.

“We both need to change before we go anywhere,” Eir reminded Frigga once you were outside of your quarters.

“I know, Frigga said back. “I already have arranged clothing for you two. As I have already searched for my son all over Asgard, I know he is not here. You will need more protective clothing for where we are headed.”

“Where are we going?” you inquired.

“We are headed to Jotunheim.”

“Why?” You and Eir questioned in equally shocked unison.

“Heimdall thought he might have caught a glimpse of Thor on Jotunheim. Red stands out in an icy world. More importantly,” Frigga sighed, “He is not here in Asgard and Jotunheim is a place to start searching.” Eir and you shrugged and continued to follow Frigga through the halls.

 The three of you soon arrived at your destination. It was a rather small room with a bed in the middle and a bathroom off to the side. Laying on the bed were two sets of clothes. They weren't exactly armor, but certain parts were made out of leather. There was fur around the neck and wrists of the jackets. They looked very traditionally Asgardian, possessing an armor-like appearance, but more modern than the medieval ages.

Eir grabbed her outfit and began to change, while you walked into the bathroom to change. Frigga shut the door of the room and waited for you outside.

You and Eir emerged from the room not long after, dressed in your new clothing. Bundled up so heavily, you looked like you were headed to a desolate icy hell. And you were.

Frigga led you through the twisting halls to the Bifrost. It was the first time you had been to the Rainbow Bridge in many years. In fact, the only time you had ever been to the Bifrost was when you came to live in Asgard. And you were far too young to have any memory of that.

After a while, you, Frigga, and Eir arrived at the edge of the Bifrost. Frigga nodded to the guards when they greeted her and told them to prepare three horses. Three of the guards wandered off to fetch your transportation. In a few moments, they returned with three horses in tow. Frigga got onto her horse expertly, while you and Eir had a bit more trouble. Eventually Eir managed to hop up on her horse, but you were still having a difficult time. You stuck your foot into the stirrup and tried to swing your leg over, but fell backwards.........into someone's arms.

“Be more careful,” Loki scolded, helping you up onto your horse.

Frigga looked at Loki worriedly, afraid he was going to try to tag along. If he did, she would have explain to him why he couldn't.

“Should I prepare another horse, sir?” A guard asked Loki.

Loki let out a small laugh, “No, I will not be going along.” Frigga visibly relaxed. “I just came to give the lovely _________ something.”

“What?”

“I want you to wear this,” Loki said, holding out a band made of solid emerald.

“Okay...” You took the ring from him and slid it onto your right ring finger.

“When you find my brother, break the ring,” Loki instructed.

“Why? What will happen?” You inquired.

Loki let out a deep breath. You could see pain and sadness reflected in his green eyes. Finally he spoke, “You will have a happy ending.” Loki started to walk away, then stopped and slowly spun around. “Goodbye, __________.” His tone suggested that this was much more than just a “see you later.”

“Wait!” you called after him, but he was no longer listening. “What was that about?” You turned towards Frigga. She looked like she was about to cry. The Queen shook her head and sniffled, trying not to let tears fall from her deep brown eyes.

“Let's keep going,” Frigga said, her voice cracking.

The ride across the Bifrost was silent. Not one of you uttered a word. Frigga was obviously heartbroken about something and Eir kept quiet out of respect. You, on the other hand, were mesmerized by the endless, glowing colors of the Bifrost. It was truly beautiful. The colors moved in graceful motion and the bridge lit up even more when the horses hooves made contact with it. You had been able to capture a glimpse when you were up on the tallest building watching the sunset, but that view did the beauty of the Bifrost no justice.

“Hello,” Heimdall greeted.

“Hello Heimdall,” Frigga responded, hopping down from her tan horse. Eir jumped down from her horse, giving her a goodbye pat on her long, brown face.

You looked nervously down at the ground, then at your horse. Eventually you worked up the courage to get off of your black stallion. He whinnied as you left him and you turned around and blew him a kiss. “Goodbye, Liquorice.”

“Heimdall, we need passage to Jotunheim.” Frigga eyed the Guardian God, wondering if he'd allow her to pass. Heimdall stared back, his glowing gold eyes seeming to reflect the universe.

“Of course, Queen Frigga.” Heimdall stepped out of the way, allowing Frigga as well as you and Eir to pass.

As you strolled past Heimdall, he kept completely still with the exception of his eyes. He looked you up and down, then gave a slight nod. When you responded with a confused expression, he explained, still keeping a straight face. “You look much more respectable without Loki all over you.”

Your cheeks turned a fiery red. Heimdall had seen you on the roof.

“It was not my intention to see you,” Heimdall clarified. “But do not worry, I was not watching the whole time.”

You scooted past him, more embarrassed than you ever had been. Even if Heimdall hadn't seen everything, he had seen you and Loki... The thought made you turn even rosier.

Heimdall pivoted and followed you into the Bifrost room. The three of you took your positions with Frigga in front and Heimdall climbed the steps up to his pedestal.

“Be warned,” Heimdall spoke, readying his sword. “If your return threatens the safety of Asgard, I will not open the Bifrost.”

It sounded a bit scary, though you knew it was the same speech he gave everyone who passed to another realm.

Heimdall plunged the sword into the control, the room brightening with lightning-like stands of sparks. The globe began to spin and the gold gear wheels turned faster and faster until the portal was ready. You were pulled into the transport and flew through space for a matter of seconds before reaching Jotunheim.