The Other Side
Arya found herself standing in a forest. The air around her was shrouded in a fog and the trees were tall and dark. She felt no pain, no thirst, no feeling. Panic began to set in. What had happened? Arya began to walk among the brooding trees before her attempting to remember any detail of how she had arrived to this place. And then it hit her. Hela had succeeded in her mission. She was gone. Arya frantically began running through the woods, calling out to Thor. Hoping somehow he would hear calls and come rescue her. But how could she be rescued? Rescued from death? Not possible. Or so she thought.
Time ticked by slowly. Arya sat by a dark stream contemplating her life. Was this the afterlife? Was this hell? Was she bound to this plane of existence forever? After you die, is this it?
Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks. Arya found herself in a home without an owner. It was old and the floor boards creaked when she walked. She spent her time dreaming of her life that had been lost, and trying to ignore the echoed calls from the lost souls around her. She never saw anyone, but she knew they were there. That was until one day a knock came to the door.
As she hesitantly opened the door to the nearly broken down home she looked at her visitor curiously. A woman stood with short grey hair, and light brown eyes. She had a kind smile and dark skin. She reminded Arya of Brunhild.
"May I come in?" The woman asked and Arya took a step back and opened the door more. The woman walked around the room looking at the walls of the home. Her footsteps chiming through the home's old bones.
"I haven't seen anyone since I got here. Who are you?" Arya asked keeping her distance.
"Your friends are going to try to rescue you. I would advise against it." She said and Arya began pacing.
"I'm dead. I can't be rescued." Arya said and the woman began to laugh.
"I've heard that before." She said shaking her head. "My name is Bonnie. And my niece Brunhild seems to think she can bring back the dead. She knows better." Bonnie said and Arya wracked her brain for answers.
"You're a Bennett witch." Arya said stepping toward her. "And that means... holy shit." Arya said realizing.
"Brunhild is very powerful. She comes from two very old and masterful magical lines. But she is impulsive."
"Why shouldn't I allow them to revive me? I need to go back. I don't belong here."
"That may be so. But it is too risky. I myself have much experience with the other side. And if you meddle too much, there will be consequences."
"What kind of consequences?"
"There needs to be balance. Hence why I exist. I am neither alive nor dead. But I do create balance. If you leave this place. A shift may occur. The spirits in this realm don't take kindly to their world being tampered with, especially the witches." Bonnie explained.
Arya began to reply to her words but she felt a heaviness in her chest. She looked over to Bonnie and saw disappointment in her eyes.
"What is happening?" Arya asked clenching her chest. Her vision began to blur and her muscles grew tight. She felt pain.
"Tell Brunhild she is making a grave mistake." Bonnie said and Arya's vision went black.
"Oh shit! You fucking did it!" Erin said looking down at her sister's body in the woods behind the Odinson estate.
"Super witch! I told you!" Natasha said kneeling down to Arya and slapping her face a few times.
Arya's eyes fluttered open and she breathed air into her lungs with a fright. She sat up and sprinted away from the group. Erin, Jane, Tony, Brunhild, Loki, and Thor stood before her with joy and shock written all over their faces. Arya looked to Brunhild and ran at her. Clutching her shirt in her hands.
"Send me back!" Arya yelled and Brunhild was confused.
"What!? Do you realize the power I had to use to get you back in the first place!" Brunhild shouted.
"She's lost her mind." Jane said.
"I have not! Bonnie Bennett says hi."
"Oh shit." Brunhild murmured.
"Yeah, oh shit. She also said she knew about your little plan and that if you tried anything there would be consequences."
"What kind of consequences?" Thor asked.
"I didn't get that far. You brought me back before she could tell me!" Arya seethed, letting go of Brunhild and taking a few steps back. Attempting to calm herself down.
"Arya." Thor said looking at her bright eyes now.
Arya felt her heart sink. She knew she should have not been brought back. They should have just left her there. But seeing Thor brought everything back. Every emotion. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. Pulling his lips to hers and kissing him. When she finally let go she noticed Loki was now gone.
"Don't mind my brother. He has been affected by your death as well."
"How long was I gone?" Arya asked. The trees looked bare. There were clouds in the sky. How long had it been?
"It's November." Erin said.
"I knew I was on the other side for a while... but I never imagined..."
"It's okay. You're back now. That's all that matters." Thor said pulling her to him again.
"Where is Hela and Wanda?" Arya asking not removing herself from Thor's tender hold.
"Killed the bitch. Wanda is alive. Ran off as soon as she found out Hela died. I doubt we will hear from her any time soon." Natasha explained.
"You killed her?" Arya asked and Natasha shook her head.
"Loki did." Thor said.
"Loki? But that barrier was solid."
"Turns out there is more than one witch in the family." Brunhild said smirking.
"But he can't be both a vampire and a witch. Can he?"
"Warlock. And yes, sometimes. It's rare, but it happens." Brunhild said and Arya shook her head in disbelief.
Loki killed his own sister. That was the plan all along, to kill Hela. But she wanted to be the one to do it. To end her rain of misery. She never imaged it would be Loki to strike the final blow. Arya felt a feeling of hurt and gratitude bubble in her veins. A combination of emotions she did not expect to feel for Loki Odinson.
"I need to lay down." Arya said now noticing the spinning in her head.
"Coming back from the dead takes a lot out of a person." Brunhild said catching Arya by the elbow as she began to faint. She thanked her as she steadied herself.
"Fancy a nap?" Thor asked holding out his arm for Arya, she took it gratefully.
The rest of the day passed in a haze. Arya found herself visiting Thor's private room for the first time since meeting him. His quarters were much more grand than the room she had stayed in prior. The colors of the tapestries and furniture were of deep reds and flittering golds. Fit for a king, if he were one. It was almost ethereal.
Arya did take him up on that nap. Laying across the bed in a fit of soft and floral scented sheets Arya felt safe. Thor lay beside her, careful not to disturb her rest. He truly did worry for her while she was on the other side. He missed everything about her. He gazed upon her restful face as her chest rose and fell with each peaceful breath she took. The way her eyebrows occasionally knitted together then relaxed made Thor imagine what she might be dreaming of to cause such an expression. Did she dream of him? When she was gone... when she was dead, did she think of him often? Did she consider what his days were like when she allowed her thoughts to wander?
Without thinking Thor turned on his side and rested his hand on the side of her sleeping face. Her body moved for a split second but then relaxed. A gentle smile broke out on her face and her eyes fluttered open.
"My apologies. I didn't intend to wake you." He said softly, his words leaving his lips like melted butter.
Thor began to remove his hand from Arya's skin but she lifted her own hand and placed it upon his that warmed her face. She moved closer, and closer, and then so close their bodies touched.
"No apology necessary." She whispered before pulling him to her and kissing him deeply. Before things grew too heated Thor pulled back. A look of confusion graced Arya's face, and a little hurt.
"Are you sure?" He asked and Arya smiled. She wasn't exactly new to this. But she knew Thor was a bit old fashioned. He was being considerate of her feelings and of her body.
"I am." Is all she said before Thor pulled her back to him.