The Midgard Woman

“My Lady, you must eat.”

Georgiana sighed. Inwardly she knew that Birgitta was right, but the truth was that her stomach was too twisted with knots of worry and fear that the thought of food sickened her. Loki’s illusion suddenly disappearing like that, without even so much as a word or clue to what was happening, had sent a chill of dread through her and she just knew that something awful had happened. She had waited only a second before running out of the palace and shouting for Heimdall to open the Bifrost. When nothing had happened, she had known then that the bridge must have broken, and quite possibly taken her husband with it.

Now she sat in the library window, staring down across Jotunheim and willing some sign to suddenly appear to her, to prove that Loki was alright. She hated not knowing he was safe.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t face food at such a time,” she began, turning her head to Brigitta and then her expression softened upon seeing the steaming bowl in the woman’s hands. “Except if it’s a hot bowl of my favourite stew, of course,” she added, taking it carefully from her. “Thank you.” As she did so, her stomach made a small grumble of impatience. She felt bad for eating, though, at such a time.

“My Lady, you will do no good by worrying,” Brigitta insisted as she watched the young Princes toy with the food. “You are pale; you need rest.”

“I know,” Georgiana replied, steadily, finally managing to swallow a mouthful of the delicious stew. “In my heart I know that you’re right, but...I can’t help it. If you’ve ever loved a man like I love Loki, you’ll know why I’m so worried about him.”

“I understand, my Lady,” Brigitta replied, clasping her hands in front of her sack-cloth dress. “Do you wish me to ask Urd for some sedatives for you?”

Georgiana nodded. It seemed like that would be the only way she would get to sleep tonight. “If you would be so good, thank you, Brigitta.”

“My Lady.” She turned her head, as did Brigitta, to see Gunnarr come into the room.

“Gunnarr,” she said in surprise, “what is it?”

“My Lady,” Gunnarr repeated, bowing to her respectfully as he remembered that she was now the temporary ruler of their kingdom, “Queen Frigga of Asgard has a message for you.”

“A message?” Georgiana sat up a little straighter. “Written, or-?”

“By which I mean she wishes to talk to you, through an illusion,” Gunnarr explained. “She awaits your presence in the court room.”

“Thank you, Gunnarr,” Georgiana replied, clambering up off the window seat and handing her bowl to Brigitta with an apologetic look. “Excuse me,” she murmured, before hurrying as quickly as she dared into the court room.

Frigga’s apparel was much different from the last time they had met. Her gilded platinum dress had been replaced with darker brown battle attire, but it did nothing to diminish her beauty or her regal appearance. “Georgiana,” she said, doing away with formalities at such a time as she bowed her head respectfully to the younger woman. “I’m afraid I am here to deliver good news and bad.”

Georgiana felt tears spring into her eyes. “Loki?”

“As far as we know, he is still alive, although we have no proof of that,” Frigga replied, gently. “However we have no proof he is dead either. Heimdall is scouring the Nine Realms for a sign even as we speak.”

Georgiana felt a ray of hope. “The Bifrost Bridge, Loki said it had broken-”

“And it did,” Frigga replied, “taking Thor and Loki with it.”

“I’m so sorry,” Georgiana whispered, and then, “Wait, so no one can cross from realm to realm anymore? We are all trapped where we are?”

“I am afraid so,” Frigga replied, sadly, “that is, until the bridge can be repaired. Even Loki and Thor, wherever they may be, are trapped for the time being.”

“But they must be alive,” Georgiana insisted. Her hands trembled and so she folded her arms so that Frigga wouldn’t notice this. “They can’t not be.”

“I’m afraid nothing can be certain until the Bifrost is working again,” Frigga replied, sympathetically. She reached out and stopped her hand just above Georgiana’s, the way Loki did when his illusion wanted to comfort her or just touch her. “But we can’t lose hope.”

Georgiana nodded. “And the good news is?”

“The Dark Elves were defeated,” Frigga replied, “their forces mostly wiped out by Laufey’s troops. But I don’t think we’ve seen the last of them yet. Malekith survived and he left swearing vengeance.”

“How could he leave?” Georgiana asked in surprise. “Without the Bifrost?”

“My husband believes that he may have opened up some portal to his realm,” Frigga replied. “Elvin magic is different to our own.”

Georgiana nodded again. “And Laufey...everyone else...they’re alright?”

“They are,” Frigga returned, gently. “A handful were wounded but they will survive.”

“Oh, Laufey...” Georgiana murmured. “He must be as distraught about Loki as I am and we can’t even comfort each other.”

“No one is to blame for what happened,” Frigga offered, comfortingly. “It was an accident.”

Georgiana looked at the floor. “Loki was trying to help Thor, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Frigga agreed. “He was trying to pull him off the bridge before it collapsed.”

Georgiana managed a small smile. “And if I know my husband as well as I think I do, then he’ll probably have had a trick or two up his sleeve to save them from certain death, somehow. They must be alive, wherever they are.”

Frigga nodded and smiled back at her. “I must go now; we need all the help we can get if we’re to repair the bridge. Is there anything you want to tell Laufey, any message I can convey for you?”

“If you’d be so kind,” Georgiana replied, touched by the offer. “Tell him that I will keep watch over Jotunheim until he returns, that he can rely on me to do that, and tell him from me not to give up hope over Loki, because he will return to us one day, soon. And to all our soldiers and warriors that they have been very brave and made proud kinsmen of their Jotunheim fellows, and that they all still have the love and respect of their Princess, each and every one of them.”

Frigga nodded, loyally. “You can guarantee that I will tell them, Georgiana.”

“Thank you,” Georgiana replied, curtseying, “and good luck with repairing the Bifrost. I only wish I were there to contribute.”

“I think with all the Aesir and Jotuns working together, it shan’t take as long as we fear,” Frigga replied, and then her illusion faded.

“Thank you,” Georgiana said to the still shimmering air before it stilled. “And good luck.”

It occurred to her suddenly that the people of Jotunheim, the ones who were not soldiers and warriors, but their families, their wives and children, their mothers and fathers, their ancestors, their aunts and uncles and cousins, their friends, needed her reassurance right now. They were in the same position that she had herself been in only minutes ago, not knowing what was going on with the battle, and she needed to be the one to break the news to them. She needed to be strong, for their sake.

“Gunnarr!” she called, presently, and he popped his head around the door. She turned to him and smoothed down her skirts. “Please could you let the people know that their Princess wishes to address them?”

“Now, my Lady?” Gunnarr asked in surprise.

“Yes, now,” Georgiana replied, steadily. “They need reassurance and I am the only one who can give it to them.”

“Very well, my Lady,” Gunnarr replied, ducking back out of the room.

Georgiana made her way back to the library, where Brigitta was still standing with a bowl of rapidly cooling stew. “Your Highness, I can heat this up for you,” she began, but Georgiana took it quickly from her with a smile.

“That’s quite alright, Brigitta, you may go,” she replied, and Brigitta curtseyed before leaving the room. Georgiana quickly finished off the rest of the stew and then, after dumping the bowl and spoon on a passing kitchen lad, made her way quickly up the stairs and towards her room. Glancing in the mirror, she saw that her hair had been mussed from all the running her hands through it she had been doing during her worrying, and she quickly ran a brush through it to neaten it. Then, after pulling on her gloves, she picke up her most regal looking cloak, which was, of course, in Loki’s colours, she tied it about her and made her way quickly to the East Wing balcony. Already a crowd of Jotun people had gathered, some with their children, and were looking up at the door she was about to walk through, flanked on both sides by Jotun guards.

Taking a deep breath for courage, Georgiana opened the door and immediately both guards straightened up and announced loudly “The Princess Georgiana!”

Georgiana leaned her hands carefully on the balcony and looked down at the expectant, upturned faces. “Good people of Jotunheim,” she said, clearly for them all to hear, “I have just received word from the battlefield. There is good news and bad news, I’m afraid. But you do not have to fear for your loved ones. The battle is won and the Dark Elves have been defeated, and Queen Frigga has informed me that all of our troops have survived.”

There were ripples of cheers from the crowds of people below and Georgiana smiled a little before waving a hand for silence. “That was the good news. Unfortunately, during the heat of the battle, the Bifrost Bridge was destroyed.”

Everyone fell silent at once and Georgiana nodded. “The Asgardians are working to fix it, alongside our Jotun brothers, but until they can do that, I’m afraid no one can leave Jotunheim and none of our soldiers or allies can return here.” A few murmurs went up through the crowd. “As such, I’m maintaining the role of Regent until King Laufey returns.” A few people nodded, understandingly. “And there is,” Georgiana went on, hesitantly, “something else you all need to know.”

The crowd fell silent again. Georgiana twisted her hands together before plunging straight in with what she knew she had to convey. “When the Bifrost collapsed, Loki and Prince Thor were standing on it. They’ve fallen...into one of the wormholes below...and so far, no one knows what has happened to them.” There were a few gasps of horror now as well as murmurs from below. “But we must not think the worst immediately,” Georgiana hurried on, more to convince herself than anything. “Prince Loki, as I’m sure you all know, may not have his Father’s build, but he has inherited his bravery, his intelligence and his strength, and wherever he is right now, I know that he would not want our world to stop revolving just for him. We must be equally as strong.” Tears were running down her face by now but she carried on regardless. “We must carry on as before, because our friends and loved ones are safe even if they aren’t here with us now. They will return. As long as we stay strong and brave, they will come back to us. So, we must do as we’ve always done, carry on, care for one another and if anyone encounters any problems at all that they desperately need help with, please don’t be afraid to come to me, because I will listen and I will help in any way I can.” Her shoulders shaking, she took a deep breath and finished. “Thank you.”

The applause began faintly and then grew along with their admiration and respect for the young Princess. Georgiana bowed her head and then left, her body wracked with sobs. It had only now hit her just how much she was missing Loki, how much she desperately wanted him back beside her again.

Pushing open the bedroom door, she took a deep, shuddering breath and then collapsed upon the bed, on Loki’s side, she noted. Rolling onto her back, she hugged his pillow against her chest and closed her eyes, envisioning that he was beside her, holding her and that she was cuddled close to him in his warm embrace.

“Please, Loki, wherever you are,” she whispered, her voice thick with tears, “please be safe.”

Loki, for his part, knew that he didn’t have to worry so much about her in the same way, because he knew that where she was, she was safe, but he worried even so. However on this particular morning, for on Midgard it was morning, he had more pressing things to worry about, starting with the fact that his deep slumber was suddenly disturbed by Thor’s sudden yelling.

“Hel Alive!”

Loki jumped awake and turned to see Thor barrelling his way out of their makeshift tent, knocking the whole thing down in the process, with a disgruntled yelp and clambering to his feet only to dance around scrubbing at his face with his hands. Something black and small flew off and landed beside him. Loki frowned as it moved and then let out a laugh as he realised why Thor was getting so worked up.

“Horrible thing,” Thor grunted, wiping slime from his face.

“Well, he probably liked you,” Loki pointed out, watching the slug wriggle away beneath a patch of dead leaves. “Norns know why,” he added with venom as he sat up and brushed a few stray twigs from his clothing.

Thor shot him a look. “I see they all kept away from you, they probably sensed the poison a mile away.”

Loki gave a dry chuckle. “Shame you can’t seem to. They must have better senses than you.”

“I thought we were working together,” Thor said, stiffly.

“You started it,” Loki pointed out.

“You started it!”

“I was just telling the truth; you retaliated!”

They both fixed each other with a look and then Thor asked “Would your Georgiana want us to fight?”

Loki sighed, irritated that he’d hit the mark. “No, although she wouldn’t exactly be shocked.”

Thor smiled, which only served to irritate Loki even more. “Well, then.”

Loki sighed. “Fine,” he muttered, before brushing past Thor, “but you are not to use her against me.”

Thor just shrugged. “It’s not my fault she’s your weak spot.”

This was clearly the wrong thing to say as he found out two seconds later when Loki had him pinned up against a tree with a dagger at his throat. “If you ever go saying that out loud ever again, you will wake up with this in your liver and don’t think that you won’t,” Loki hissed.

Thor blinked at him. “Message received.”

Loki let go of him and sheathed his dagger. Perhaps that threat was a little too extreme, but on the other hand...no, no, what was he saying? He had done the right thing. “If any of our enemies heard you say that, she would be in danger right now,” he explained, running a hand through his hair. “And that is the last thing I will ever allow to happen.”

Thor threw up his hands in a defensive gesture. “I apologise,” he said.

“Good,” Loki muttered, taking the lead as usual. Thor followed like an alert hunting dog, glancing around them all the time and twitching at the slightest sound. It always turned out to be a bird or some small animal, however, and each time it happened Loki let out a sigh of irritation.

“For Valhala’s sake!” he sighed when Thor had freaked out over a small blue and yellow bird for about the twenty sixth time in a row. “There’s nothing dangerous here, and even if there was, we’re more than a match for it! I mean, you’re an Asgardian, I’m a Frost Giant, you have a giant hammer, I have magic; we’ll be fine!”

He stalked away, muttering various curses under his breath and praying to all the Gods that he wouldn’t have to suffer this much longer. A few minutes later, Thor caught up with him.

“She has a name, you know,” he said.

“What?” Loki sighed.

“My “giant hammer.” She has a name.”

“Right.”

“She’s called Mjölnir.”

“Fascinating.”

“What?” Thor grinned at him. “You don’t give your dagger a name?”

“I’m afraid Frost Giants are far too intelligent to start giving names to inanimate objects,” Loki returned.

“Perhaps, but Mjölnir’s not inanimate. She has a life of her own.” To emphasise his point, Thor swung the hammer and sent her whistling through the air. Loki ducked, automatically expecting to get hit by it, but she barely skimmed the air around him as she flew full circle and then landed back in her owner’s grip. Much as he hated to admit it, Loki was actually rather impressed.

“That’s rather terrifying,” he observed.

“I know,” Thor grinned.

They walked in silence for a while, and then Thor asked “Look, is there anything magical you can do to, I don’t know, speed things along a little?”

“You don’t know much about magic, do you?” Loki sighed. “Anyway, my magic’s not quite working at the moment because of all the effort it took to bring us here. It’s drained a little, needs to repair itself.”

Thor thought for a second. “Like taking a rest during a training period, you mean?”

“Exactly,” Loki replied. “My energy needs to recharge.” Even as he said it, he attempted to move a small boulder that was in their way with a gesture of his hand. The boulder simply shuddered and then sat as still as it always had done. He sighed. “I can’t even let Georgiana know I’m alright, stop her from worrying.”

Thor considered putting a hand on his shoulder, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Loki would only brush him off, maybe even threaten him again. Nevertheless he tried to make his tone sound reassuring and comforting as he said “I’m sure you’ll see her again soon. They’re probably working on repairing the bridge even as we speak.”

Loki nodded and then a thought struck him. “Oh, Norns,” he muttered, “my Father’s trapped on Asgard now. How the Hel are he and the others going to manage with all your small doorways?”

Thor bit back a laugh, feeling that Loki probably wouldn’t appreciate it if he did start chortling at the thought. “My Mother knows a bit about magic; she can probably make the palace accessible to them.”

“Here’s hoping,” Loki agreed, stopping to shake dust off his boot.

Thor sighed and stopped where he was too, leaning over with his hands on his knees. “Where’s a horse when you need one?”

Loki shrugged. “I’d conjure one if I could, believe me.”

“Only one?” Thor glanced at him. “There’s two of us.”

“Fine, two, then,” Loki sighed. “I don’t want to have to share one with you.”

Thor suddenly clapped a hand to his forehead. “Wait! I’m such an idiot!”

Loki blinked at him. “Sorry, am I meant to disagree with that?”

Thor ignored him and stepped closer. “Look, I can fly with Mjölnir. She can get us to this place, wherever it is you want to get to.”

“Daventry,” Loki supplied.

“Right,” Thor agreed.

“How?” Loki asked, somewhat sceptically. “I mean, how exactly does that thing,” and here he gestured to Mjölnir, “provide transport for you?”

Thor gave him a look that clearly said that Loki was being completely thick. “You hold onto her handle and she flies. It’s not difficult.”

“Whoa!” Loki held up his hands. “No! That is not happening!”

“Come on, Loki, what are you afraid of?”

“I don’t do flying, thank you, Prince Thor,” Loki insisted, not even bothering to correct Thor about addressing him properly.

“Why; are you afraid of falling?” Thor asked, grinning.

“I’m not afraid!” Loki snapped.

“Come on, then,” Thor said, holding out the handle of his hammer.

“No, you can fly if you like, but I’m not going to,” Loki said, turning and walking away from him.

“We agreed to stick together,” Thor reminded him, catching up.

“Yes, and I’m beginning to regret that,” Loki muttered.

This time Thor did grab his shoulder, swinging him around to face him as he brought them both to a standstill. Loki was too surprised by his sudden change in demeanour to even react.

“What was that about trusting each other?” Thor demanded.

Loki stiffened. “Damn,” he muttered, “I knew that would come back to bite me sooner or later.” Then, seeing Thor was looking at him expectantly, he sighed. “Fine, but don’t expect me to enjoy it.”

Thor just shrugged and then thrust the handle into his hands, still holding it himself as he did so. “Tight grip,” he instructed.

“Yes, I do know how to handle a weapon, unlike some,” Loki snapped, but he did as he was told even so. Thor simply grinned and tightened his own grip on the handle. The next thing Loki knew they were speeding through the air and he could no longer feel the ground beneath his feet. Gritting his teeth, he kept his hands firmly where they were until suddenly the earth jarred beneath his feet again and he stumbled into Thor. Quickly letting go of the hammer, he took a shaking step backwards.

Thor, on the other hand, who was more used to it, gave him a casual grin and hefted Mjölnir over one shoulder. “Well? What did you think?”

“Do you have a paper bag?” Loki asked.

“No, why?”

“So I can be sick in it!”

“Oh, come on!” Thor laughed. “It wasn’t that bad!”

“Perhaps I forgot to mention,” Loki snapped, irritably, “but Frost Giants aren’t born for flying!”

Thor just shrugged and glance over his shoulder. “Well, it worked, didn’t it? Saved us time?”

Loki glanced in the direction he was looking and saw the road sign that read Welcome to Daventry just a little way behind them. “Fine,” he sighed, straightening his tunic. “I’ll admit it was a good idea, but that’s it.”

“Each to his own,” Thor shrugged.

“Do you have to be so agreeable all the time?” Loki sighed.

Thor frowned. “What’s wrong with being agreeable?”

“It makes it harder to hate you,” Loki muttered.

Thor just laughed. Loki rolled his eyes and pushed past him, glad to be the one taking the lead again. “Hey, wait up,” Thor grinned, running after him. “So, where does your wife’s mother live?”

“Althorp House,” Loki answered. “Follow me.”