Chapter 51
We rode in silence for a long time. The winter snow blanketed the world around us, softening hoofbeats and muting everything else. I was grateful that my connection with Shadow had not changed. I could still feel the calm steadiness of him beneath me, responding to every thought, every subtle shift. That bond remained untouched—even if everything else in me had changed.
But my mind kept drifting. What would this mean for my bond with Loki? Would I still feel him when we were near? Would I know if he was in pain?
Thor glanced at me.
“Aurora, are you not cold?” he asked.
I raised a brow and looked at him.
He motioned toward me, and I looked down. I was wearing my leather riding gear—nothing more. I looked back at Thor and saw that he wore a thicker version of his armor, with a heavy fur cape wrapped tightly around his shoulders. I understood then why he had asked.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“No, I’m not cold. Yes, I know it’s snowing and it should be freezing—I remember shivering just walking in the gardens a few days ago, and I was wearing a thick cape over a full winter outfit. But now? No. I’m not cold at all.”
Thor moved his horse closer to Shadow. He removed one of his gloves and placed his hand on mine. His skin was noticeably colder than mine.
“Amazing,” he murmured. “Do you think it’s a side effect of the bracers?”
I glanced down at my arms.
“I don’t know, honestly. But it would make sense. It would make sense that if I can control the elements, I can also control their effects on me. I don’t know yet.”
Loki would have loved this. He would have wanted to study the bracers—run tests, take notes, push them to their limits just to see what they could do. He would have asked me questions, challenged my guesses, smiled in that sly way when I got something right. And I would’ve loved it too—diving into the unknown, exploring new layers of my Seiðr, new possibilities with the bracers with him at my side.
But now? Now it all felt hollow.
The curiosity was there, flickering faintly at the edges of my mind, but it couldn’t catch fire. Not without him. The fight with Frigga had taken everything out of me, and the weight of what still lay ahead made it hard to feel anything else. There was no excitement in this—not when I didn’t know if he was alive. Not when I was carrying his child and already mourning it.
He nodded, then studied me again.
“Would you mind wearing a cape? I just do not wish to draw attention. Anyone traveling without one in this weather might stand out.”
I flicked my wrist and summoned a thick, fur-lined cloak, then wrapped it tightly around myself.
“One way to find out,” I said with a hollow grin.
We rode on in silence, our horses moving steadily through the snow. Shadow was loving it—his strides strong, his coat dusted with flakes that quickly melted. He seemed unaffected by the cold, which didn’t surprise me anymore.
“If you need to stop and rest, or if you feel anything at all—tell me,” I said to Thor. “It’s going to be a long trip. You have to take care of yourself too.”
He nodded, saying nothing.
We traveled for hours through the darkness, the silence between us comfortable. Thor had told me it would take two days to reach his camp. He had made the journey in one, but at the cost of several horses and no sleep. I didn’t understand how he was still moving, but he’d brushed it off, saying he’d endured worse. Still, we agreed to stop at an inn in the next town. We’d sleep through the day, then ride again at night.
Thor suggested we keep a low profile. With our cloaks hiding our armor and our faces, we could pass unnoticed. We would act as husband and wife and share a room—just in case someone was watching or listening.
We reached the inn just before dawn. Thor arranged for food and a room, and we locked ourselves inside. It was small, with a two-person bed crammed between the walls. After we ate, I saw him glance around, clearly looking for somewhere to sleep.
“Thor, we’re married now, remember?” I teased, a hint of amusement slipping into my voice. I actually felt a little better now that the palace was far behind us. Now that we were doing something—finally moving to get Loki back. “Might as well share the bed with your wife. Just promise me Sif won’t murder me when she finds out.”
Thor laughed. “Deal. But only if you promise to keep Loki in check.”
My smile faltered. I turned away, pretending to busy myself with something so he wouldn’t see my face fall.
A moment later, his hand settled gently on my shoulder. He guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, then sat beside me.
“Aurora… what’s wrong? I saw you with my mother. Is this about her refusing to help Loki? She had a plan in motion, you know. I don’t understand. Especially after she gave you the bracers—why are you still like this? I know you’re worried about Loki, but this is different.”
He let out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair, sinking slightly where he sat.
“I won’t ask further,” he said quietly. “But I fear what it might be. If it’s something that would make you that angry with my mother… and something she cried over—really cried—then I fear what my brother’s reaction will be.”
His words hit harder than I expected, too accurate, too close to the truth. My throat clenched, and before I could stop myself, I started crying again. It wasn’t dramatic—just silent, exhausted tears I couldn’t hold back anymore.
Thor cursed softly under his breath and pulled me into his arms without hesitation. He didn’t say anything—just held me, strong and steady, letting me fall apart without asking me to explain.
It didn’t help, not really. Nothing could. But still… it was something. I leaned into him, trying to breathe through the ache.
After a while, I managed to pull back. “Thank you, Thor,” I whispered. “I know this is hard on you too.”
He gave me a soft smile and brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Aurora, I call you my sister because I love you like one. If there’s any way I can help you—any way I can make this less painful—I will. Not because I have to. Because I want to.”
The warmth in his voice almost broke me again. But I nodded, swallowing thickly, and rose to change into my sleepwear. He did the same, and we took our sides of the bed—mine against the wall, his closest to the door.
We talked for a few minutes longer, soft words in the quiet, and then sleep pulled me under.
He shook his head. “Then I won’t ask, Aurora. But I fear what it might be. If it’s something that made you that angry with my mother—and if it brought her to tears—then I’m afraid of what my brother’s reaction will be.”
His words were too on point, and I couldn’t hold back. I started crying again. Thor immediately cursed and pulled me into his arms, trying to soothe me. But nothing could soothe this. I needed to let it out. Even if it made me feel awful for putting this on him.
Eventually, I calmed.
“Thor, thank you. I know this isn’t easy for you either.”
He smiled softly and brushed a loose strand of hair from my braid.
“Aurora, I call you sister because I love you like one. If there’s anything I can do to help or comfort you, I will. Not because I have to—because I want to.”
We changed into our sleeping clothes. I took the side of the bed nearest the wall, and Thor took the one by the door. We talked for a few quiet minutes, and then sleep pulled me under.
We woke late in the afternoon. Thor went out to get something for breakfast and food we could eat while riding. When he returned, we ate quickly, packed up, and set out again.
After a few hours on the road, Thor called a stop to give the horses some rest. He estimated we would reach the camp before morning, so there was no reason to overwork them. We found a sheltered patch of woods where the wind and snow were not so brutal. Thor pulled out feed for the horses.
I looked around for somewhere to sit, but the snow made it impossible. Even if I could not feel the cold anymore, I could still get soaked. And I was not in the mood to ride wet. While Thor fed the horses, my mind drifted back to the bracers.
I pushed up my sleeves and stared at them. They no longer looked like metal. The elegant filigree was still there, but now it shimmered faintly on my skin like silver ink—more like a tattoo than armor. I reached out and touched one of the patterns. Power pulsed beneath my fingers. It was alive. But smooth—just skin.
“So there’s no way to get them off,” I murmured.
“What is that?” Thor asked, walking over.
I held out my wrist. “They’re fused to me. They’ve become part of my skin.”
He took my arm gently and ran a finger along the design. “It is as if the metal has melted into you,” he said. “Like the bracers have become one with your body.”
“Have you tried to use them yet?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. Any idea how?”
He gave a small smile. “With Mjolnir, I do not need to speak. I simply think about what I want. If I wish to fight, she feels different than when I summon lightning. She responds to what I need.”
I smiled faintly. “Sounds a lot like my bond with Shadow.”
Thor nodded. He went to the trees and gathered a few pieces of dry wood, then set them in a pile and returned.
“Try this,” he said. “Do not cast a spell. Do not draw your Seiðr directly. Simply look at it and think about fire. Warmth. Let the bracers respond.”
I took a deep breath and focused. I pictured a fire blooming in the center of the pile—bright, warm, alive. Power surged through my wrists, and suddenly the wood caught fire.
Thor let out a cheer. “Well done. Now see if you can make it larger.”
I imagined the flames growing stronger. They did. I imagined them shrinking again, and they obeyed instantly. I smiled and left it at a steady burn.
Thor moved closer, holding his hands out to the flames.
“May I try something else?” I asked.
“Of course. Just ensure that I survive,” he said with a half-smile.
I glanced at the snow around the fire. The melted snow had turned the ground soggy and useless. I focused on warming the snow away completely, melting it in a wide circle. That worked. But the ground was muddy.
I concentrated again—this time, on pushing the water to the edges. Slowly, the earth around the fire dried. I glanced up to see Thor watching me in wonder.
“It really does what I want,” I said softly. I sat down near the fire, and Thor followed.
As I stared into the flames, something odd hit me. I could feel the warmth, just like I could feel the snow’s chill—but it did not burn. It was distant, muted. I reached my hand toward the fire.
“Aurora, what are you doing?” Thor asked.
“Testing a theory,” I said, and placed my hand directly into the flame.
It tickled. Soft, warm. But not painful.
I pulled my hand back and showed him.
“It does not burn?” he asked.
“No. Just like the snow—I can feel it, but it does not affect me.”
I hesitated. “Can lightning hurt you?”
Thor blinked. “That is a question I have not heard before. But yes, if the source is powerful enough and not drawn from Mjolnir, it can harm me. It would take a great deal, but it is possible. The lightning Mjolnir creates, however, cannot hurt me. It is mine.”
He went quiet, his gaze fixed on the fire.
“When I was younger, I killed a man once,” he said quietly. “I only meant to humiliate him—strike him with a few low volts of lightning, make him dance, scare him, embarrass him. I didn’t mean any real harm. But he insulted me as I did it, and I got angry. Mjolnir reacted to that anger. The power that surged from her in that moment… it was enough to kill him.”
He stared at the fire for a long moment, his expression unreadable in the flickering light.
I reached out and took his hand. I barely felt anything. Just the faintest shimmer of emotion buried deep beneath the surface—muted and distant. I had to focus to even sense that much.
“I am sorry that happened,” I said softly.
I realized the intent behind his story—the warning tucked inside the tale. He was trying to show me what I might become if I wasn’t careful. If I let my emotions run wild, the bracers could lash out without warning, just like Mjolnir had for him. I wasn’t used to them yet. I didn’t know how far they could go, how much they might amplify what I felt.
“And thank you for the warning,” I added. “I’ll be careful. I really hope I can keep my emotions from bleeding into the bracers’ power.”
We sat in silence for a little while.
Eventually, Thor looked up. “We should move on. I would like to reach the camp by dawn. Then we may rest before traveling to the place Angrboda indicated. What do you think she shall do when she sees that the bracers have chosen you?”
I shrugged. “No idea. But she wanted the bracers for Loki—and that’s what she’s getting. Once we have him back, I’ll show them to her and see how she reacts. She can’t take them from me. And with the three of us together… I think we can stop her.”
Thor nodded, and we snuffed out the fire. Time to move.
Thor nodded. “I do think if possible we might want to contact Hela again to see if she can offer any help.”
“I agree.” I nodded. “I do not know if she can leave Niflheim, but at least we could try. If we find her, maybe she can remove Angrboda’s soul. I really don’t want to fight her if I don’t have to.”
I got to my feet and snuffed out the fire with a wave of Seiðr. Then I added water to the smoldering remains, just to be safe. We took a few minutes to check on the horses, but they were rested and healthy. So we mounted up and rode through the night.
It was just after dawn when I saw the enormous army Thor had told me about. Row after row of tents stretched out across the snowy plain, soldiers bustling between them. Eventually, the tents grew larger—command tents, I guessed. Thor pointed to one in particular, a huge structure at the center of the camp.
“That is the council tent,” he explained. “We meet there to strategize. The larger tents behind it are for the officers. Mine is there as well.”
He also mentioned that Sif was here, leading the camp in his absence, and that the Warriors Three had been stationed in the captured cities with forces to hold them.
As we approached the large tent, I saw Sif outside speaking with other officers. Her face lit up when she saw Thor. It took her a second longer to notice me, but then I caught the flicker of surprise—quickly masked by a warm smile.
“Thor. Aurora,” she called, dismissing the man beside her. We rode to her and dismounted. She pulled us both into a hug.
A younger man came to take the horses. I gave him instructions for Shadow—no tying him up, just food, basic grooming, and to come find me if there was any issue. I patted Shadow, who followed Thor’s horse willingly. He was content to rest.
Inside the council tent, Sif and Thor sat at a massive table. There was food and a few goblets, so I joined them. Sif wasted no time.
“So what is the plan?” she asked Thor. “Did the Allfather release the bracers so we may trade them for Loki?”
Thor made a subtle motion to the guards by the entrance. They stepped outside, closing the flap. He was about to speak, but I raised my hand.
I summoned a warding spell, weaving the Seiðr carefully to block any unwanted listeners. The magic pulsed gently in the air, and I exhaled.
“We can speak freely now.”
They both looked at me—surprised, maybe even impressed. I guessed they were not used to seeing me do this kind of thing. That had always been Loki’s domain.
Thor turned back to Sif. “No. Father has decided the bracers are too dangerous. He will not trade them.”
“What?” Sif gasped. “He is one of us. We cannot leave him there!”
I smiled, even through the exhaustion. I knew she and Loki were not exactly close, but hearing that made something in me ache with warmth.
She turned to me. “Surely you could have convinced them. Or at least the Queen. Could she not have spoken to him on your behalf?”
I shook my head. “It would not have helped. Not only would it not have changed Odin’s mind, but I am not exactly on friendly terms with Frigga right now.”
Sif’s brows lifted, and she glanced at Thor, who gave a small, solemn nod.
“I am sorry,” I said, “but I cannot explain more than that. It is not because I do not trust you, Sif—I do. But this is something I need to speak to Loki about first.”
She studied me a moment, then gave a single nod. “So that is why you are here. You intend to go after him.”
There was a glint of pride in her eyes, and I caught the start of a smile tugging at her lips.
“So what happened after the Allfather refused?” she asked.
Thor chuckled softly. “I was in my chambers, trying to think of another way to save him. And then I discovered that my dear sister here had already thought of one—she was planning to break into the vault and steal the bracers.”
Sif burst out laughing. “Truly? You were going to steal from Odin himself?” She turned to me, eyes gleaming. “And did you succeed? Did you help her, Thor?”
Thor nodded. “Yes. Of course I helped, but there was a small problem when Aurora took the bracers.”
I saw Sif glance between us, waiting for one of us to continue. Instead, I simply lifted my sleeves and showed her the silver filigree patterns on my arms.
Her eyes widened as she leaned forward, gently brushing her fingers over one of the silver lines. “Does that mean what I think it does?”
I nodded. “Yes. It seems they think I am worthy and decided I should wear them.”
I did not change the story. Thor had left out the part his mother played in this, and I assumed he had a reason. So I followed his lead.
Sif looked up at me and smiled broadly. “Well, I could have told them you were worthy,” she said with a soft chuckle, but I saw her smile falter just a moment later. “But what are we going to do now that we have nothing to trade?”
I shrugged. “Thor and I hope we can force her to release Loki before I have to show her the bracers. Once he is free and on our side, we will stand a better chance. If we must reveal them, at least we will not be alone. We are also hoping Hela might offer some assistance if needed.”
Sif glanced between us again. “Well, it is not the best plan I have ever heard,” she said honestly, “but to be fair, I would not know what else to suggest. I do not know what she is doing to Loki, but I know it is nothing we would wish for him. He is too powerful to leave in her grasp.”
I met her eyes and focused, catching a glimpse of fear behind her calm. “Sif, do not forget—he would never hurt us. No matter what Angrboda does, Loki would rather die than betray his family.” A cold ripple ran down my spine as I said it. “I just hope it does not come to that.”
She reached over and took my hand. “Forgive me, Aurora. You speak the truth, I know. I do not believe he would ever risk what he has with you. I have seen the way he looks at you, how he feels for you. While I do believe there are extreme situations in which he might turn on his family, I do not think he would ever turn on you.”
Her words were meant to reassure, but inside, I flinched. I hoped to every realm that what she said would never become true. But a knot twisted in my chest as I thought of what might happen when Loki learned the truth—about his heritage, about the baby.
My hand drifted to my stomach without thinking, a protective gesture I had been doing too often. I pulled it back as soon as I noticed, forcing my expression to stay neutral. I could not risk Sif or Thor noticing. I could not tell them—not yet. It was not my secret to share.
It was Loki’s.
He had to be the one to decide if he would ever tell anyone. And even if he did… I knew what he thought of Frost Giants. He had told me about them one night in the library, when we spoke of the Nine Realms before our journey to Alfheim. He had explained each race, each history—but when he spoke of the Jotnar, there had been a chill in his voice. And something worse beneath it. A deep, quiet hatred that ran through him like ice. He loathed them—convinced they were cruel, dangerous, and not to be trusted.
At the time, I had thought his feelings were shaped by Angrboda’s betrayal. But later I had realized the truth ran deeper—it was an ancient hatred, bred into Asgardian bloodlines. The Jotnar were monsters in bedtime stories. Warnings whispered into children’s ears.
When I looked up again, Sif and Thor had shifted into a discussion about the camp—soldier rotations, the state of supplies, logistical details I no longer had the energy to follow. The weight in my limbs had returned, heavier now, dragging me down with the fatigue I had been holding off since we left the palace.
It was catching up to me.
Thor also looked like he was about to collapse—he had not slept in days—and Sif clearly noticed.
“Thor, I have given you all the information I know. Now it is time to get to bed,” she said firmly.
Thor nodded and looked at me. “Aurora, we do not have any available officers’ tents, and I would feel better knowing you are safe. Would you mind sleeping in my tent? Sif will also sleep there during the night.”
I smiled. “No problem, big brother.”
He gave Sif a hug and a quick kiss, and then I followed him outside. His tent was close, and when I stepped inside, I saw that it was surprisingly comfortable. There was a fire in the center, with a chimney to vent the smoke. A thick bedroll lay in the corner—no cot, but I remembered from Alfheim that the bedding they used out here was actually quite cozy. The rest of the tent was filled with armor, weapons, and a desk piled with maps and papers.
Thor motioned to the corner near his bedding. “You may place your gear there,” he said, already beginning to remove his armor.
I nodded and pulled what I needed from my void storage. Thor glanced at me, looking sheepish as he stood there in just his pants.
I laughed. “I’ll just turn around now. I’m not brave enough to sneak a peek at Sif’s man.”
He chuckled. I turned my back and, with a flick of my hand, changed into a sleep set that looked like one of Loki’s. Not the silky nightgown I usually wore. I climbed into my furs and settled down.
“I have always envied Loki for that,” Thor said after a moment.
I turned toward him. He was settled into his furs now, too.
“What?”
“The simplicity of it. When one has strong Seiðr,” he said, and I raised a brow.
“Really? Even when people ridicule him for it? Treat him like he’s less because of it?”
Thor shrugged. “I admit, I would not want to be in his position when others react that way. But I cannot ignore the advantages that magic like yours—or his—provides. Now, especially, with you bearing the elemental bracers… I cannot help but imagine what a powerful warrior you might become.”
“A warrior?” I echoed.
He nodded. “Yes. Your power is like mine with Mjolnir. But you do not only master lightning. You master it all. Ice, fire, air, water… The possibilities would be endless.”
I thought for a moment. “Would it bother you if I said I don’t want to fight? I mean—I’ll fight to protect my loved ones, of course. But I don’t think I’d ever enjoy it the way you and Sif do.”
Thor smiled. “No, Aurora. It would not bother me. To be honest, it makes me trust you even more. I could not imagine having that kind of power and using it well. That is why I say I envy you. But I know I would not be worthy of it.”
“But don’t you need to be worthy to use Mjolnir?”
He shook his head. “Yes and no. Mjolnir finds me worthy because the Allfather has decreed it so. But I could still misuse her powers, and she would not leave me. If it were necessary, the Allfather could take her from me.”
I nodded, then hesitated. “Thor… I want to ask you something, but please don’t take it as an insult. It’s not meant that way.”
He looked curious but nodded.
“Why did your father give you Mjolnir… and not Loki? I mean—I understand it’s an honor. And I do think you earned it. But hasn’t Loki earned something too?”
Thor blinked a few times, clearly taken aback. “To be honest, sister… I do not know. I never thought about it like that. Yes, Loki’s triumphs through Seiðr have never been praised as mine have, but that has been because of the people. Because of their prejudice. Not because my parents believed it. But… you are right. He has done just as much. Perhaps more. And he has never been given the same recognition.”
He sighed heavily and looked down. “I must admit, I am ashamed I have never considered it.”
“Thor, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” I said gently. “It’s not your fault. I was just curious. I’m sorry I brought it up.”
He gave me a small smile.
“Let’s get to sleep,” I said. “I think I could sleep through today, and tonight, and still be tired tomorrow.”
Thor chuckled, and we both snuggled into our furs. Sif woke us later to bring something to eat, and we ate in a quiet daze before returning to sleep. Thor was completely drained, and I was still reeling from everything I had been carrying.
When night fell again, sleep didn’t come easily. My thoughts kept circling, looping through everything that had happened over the past days, refusing to quiet. Eventually, I whispered a simple spell Loki had taught me—a way to still my mind, to ease myself into sleep without falling apart. I needed the control. For Thor’s sake. For Sif’s.
They were curled up together in the furs across from me, but as I lay watching them, something felt... off. The way they’d spoken to each other earlier—polite, respectful, but distant. Warrior to warrior, not lovers. Even the hug and kiss Sif gave him when we arrived at the tent had felt a little stiff. Too measured. Like a routine instead of a reunion.
I had seen them together before, seen the natural ease between them. This wasn’t that. Something had shifted.
I turned onto my side and closed my eyes. I wasn’t going to pry. It wasn’t my place, and I had enough of my own grief to carry. Whatever was going on between them… it was theirs to handle.
Still, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling.
I let the spell take hold and pulled the furs tighter around me.
Maybe tomorrow would be better. Maybe.