Chapter One

"Heimdall," a small voice said.

"Princess," he responded not turning to look at her.

She walked and stood beside him, silently.

"Ask as you wish, Princess," he said after a few moments only to be met with her sigh.

"You know that I cannot. The All Father has forbidden it," she responded as she pulled her shawl closer around her.

"Since when has that stopped you?" he responded with a small smile.

"How are things Heimdall?" she asked with a soft smile.

"He is well. He is still adjusting after returning."

"Thank you for telling me when you saw he had returned. I mourned him long ago, but it raised hope in my heart," she responded looking down.

*Flashback*

"Princess!" a voice said outside her chamber.

"Enter!" she responded not lifting her eyes from her book.

"Princess, I was sent most urgently. Heimdall has requested your presence at the Bifrost," the young lady said as she crossed the room to the Princess.

"Did he say what it pertained to?" the Princess responded placing her book on the table next to her.

"He did not. Only that you come post haste," the servant responded.

"Thank you. Will you please fetch my horse?"

"Right away, mi 'lady," the servant responded with a curtsy. The princess quickly grabbed her cloak and draped it around her shoulders.

"And where are you off to?" a deep voice came from behind her.

"For a Ride," she responded quickly as she crossed to the door. Ignoring the man that the voice belonged to.

She quickly crossed to the door and attempted to leave with another one. A hand quickly grabbed her arm and held on tightly.

"I would have you remember your place," the voice growled low.

"I know my place! Now release my arm!" she responded glancing up at his face as she tried to pull her arm from her grip.

"Loki!" another voice called.

"Stay out of this brother," Loki yelled back as he tightened his grip.

"Release your grip before you cause her harm," Thor said sternly as he walked up to them. "Do you want to explain to Father why Lithoniel has another bruise by your hand?"

"I will deal with you later," Loki said has he released her arm.

"He does not mean it. Sometimes I think he forgets that I fragile I have become," Lithoniel responded softly as she looked over at Thor.

"You need not defend my brother to me. Just know if I can prevent anything, I will," Thor responded with a soft smile.

"Walk me to the stables?" she asked him with a smile.

"With pleasure," Thor said as she took his arm. "Do you ever regret being with Loki?"

"Sometimes. We were betrothed so long ago. He did love me once. I fear that love has slowly turned to distrust over time. My time on Midgard did not help," she sighed as they walked through the halls.

"You don't speak of it much," Thor said softly.

"Hm?' she responded obviously lost in thought.

"Your time on Midgard," he answers.

"It is not a time that I wish to forget. It is just a painful memory," she says with a sad smile. "Let us discuss something else."

"Where are you really going?" he asked with a smile.

"Heimdall has summoned me post haste," she answered him. "I know not the reason."

"Well then we shall pick up the pace," he responded as he began to walk faster.

"Isn't your celebration coming up?" she asked as they walked out the palace doors.

"It is. It is in a few days," he said with a laugh.

"I am sure it will be a day to remember. I look forward to it. I know he does not show it, but so does Loki," she smiled at him as they reached the stables. She gave him a smile in return as she walked over to her horse.

"We have been through much my old friend," she said softly as rubbed her hand up and down her horse's nose.

"May I assist you?" Thor asked from her side.

"Please," she responded before letting Thor lift her up to place her on her horse.

"Would you like me to accompany you any further?" He asked.

"No, shall I need assistance I will send for you. Thank you, dear brother," she responded before signaling her horse to move forward.

"Heimdall, you summoned me," she said quickly as she reached the Bifrost.

"I thought you would like to know what I have seen," the Asgardian responded.

"What have you seen? Pray tell me quickly for you are causing me to worry," she said walking over to him.

"He is alive," he said silently.

"That is not possible. You saw the carrier go down. You watched him plunge into the icy waters," she half whispered hold her hand over her heart.

"I do not know how. All I know is I can see him and he searches for answers about you," he told her.

"Heimdall you must tell no one," she said urgently looking over at him.

"I cannot deny an order from my king," he responded calmly.

"But you can deny an order from the prince as he is not your king. Please Heimdall, let me tell the All Father that we have spoken and what you have seen," she begged.

"Very Well," he responded.

*End Flashback*

"I remember that day well, Princess," he said giving her a soft smile.

"Lithoniel?" Thor's voice came from behind her.

"Hello, my prince," she answered curtsying low.

"Loki may be gone but you are still my sister," Thor said as he pulled her up from her bow and into a hug.

"Midgard changed you," she responds briefly hugging him back.

"That it has," Thor responded with a smile. "How is Jane?"

"She still searches for you," Heimdall responded.

"I fear she will never stop," Lithoniel responded.

"I fear.." Heimdall starts but stops looking out.

"Heimdall?" Lithoniel asks.

"What is it?" Thor asks looking at him.

"It cannot be," he says.

"What? What cannot be?" Lithoniel asks, fear rising in her eyes.

"We must summon the King," Heimdall says quickly.

"I will fetch him myself the moment you tell me what you see," Thor says clutching his hammer.

"I see Prince Loki. He is on Midgard and I am afraid he does not have the best intentions," Heimdall says quickly.

Lithoniel and Thor freeze where they are.

"Heimdall, are you certain it is him?" Lithoniel says after a moment.

"Yes," he responds quickly.

"Thor," she starts turning to him. He doesn't move, he stands there frozen. "Thor," she says again placing a hand on his arm to gain his attention. "Thor, you must fetch the King," she says once he looks at her. He simple nods and takes off with his hammer.

"Heimdall?" she asks looking over at him.

"I will explain all once the King has arrived," he responds. They stand there in silence. Both staring off the broken Bifrost bridge.

"My King," Heimdall says as he turns and bows to the approaching Odin. Lithoniel bows into a deep curtsy and sits there until she is noticed.

"Arise, both of you. Tell me true. Is Loki alive?" Odin says calmly.

"Yes, my King. I can see him. He is in possession of a scepter that can control the mind. I am afraid he has plans to capture Midgard and rule as its king. He means to use the Tesseract," Heimdall explains quickly.

"Thor, you will go to Midgard and bring him back before anything severe happens," Odin said quickly after a moment.

"Yes Father," Thor said with a nod.

"All Father," Lithoniel spoke from her spot in front of him.

"Yes, my child," he said looking aver at her.

"Would you allow me to attend this issue with the prince? I wish to see Loki home and safe as well," she asked quietly looking at her feet.

"Do you ask for Loki's sake or for his?" Odin responds sharply.

"Father," Thor starts but Odin silences him with a waive of his hand.

"Forgive me my King. I only wish to see my husband home safely," she responded meekly.

"Do you still consider him that? After all he has done and after mourning his loss?" Odin asked looking down at her.

"My King?" she said glancing up at him.

"My son has caused you such heartache. I know you do not love him as you once did, you are no longer bound by you vows to stand at his side. Loki has committed great atrocities and he will be punished for them," Odin said extending his hand to her.

"Please know that I will always consider you a daughter as will the Queen. We have spoken on this prior to learning of Loki's deceit. We have agreed that your marriage is to be dissolved. You deserve happiness my dear, and I would see you have it after so much heartache," he said as he wiped away one of her tears.

"Thank you, All Father," she said softly as tears rolled down her face.

"Father, may she accompany me?" Thor asked from behind him.

"Yes, she may. I will get everything ready to send you to Midgard. Prepare yourselves," he said before turning and leaving.

"Lithoniel, do you still have your armor? If not we can seek out Lady Sif," Thor says as he takes her arm.

"No, I still have mine," she responds still in disbelief.

"We must hurry sister," Thor says pulling her along.

As they reached the castle, Lithoniel ran straight to her chambers and changed into her armor. It had been so long since she felt it on her skin. It was a long blue tunic with some grey trousers with her breastplate and bracers being made from silver. She slightly flicked her wrist up to make sure that the hidden blades still functioned as they should.

"Are you ready sister?" Thor's voice came.

"Almost Brother. You may come in," she called as she sat on the edge of her bed to pull on her boots.

"It has been awhile since I have seen that," he responded as he walked into her chambers.

"Yes, well, it has been in here should the occasion arise," she responded as she tied the string on her boot.

"Here," he said holding out a silver cloak.

"What is this brother?" she asked running her hand over it.

"You do tend to have a chill in your bones. I had this cloak made for you for your birthday. It is early. I thought you made need it," he as he handed it to you. "It was designed for fighting, so it is a fitting present for today."

"Thank you, Thor," she said as she pulled it on and fastened it in the front.

"Perfect as always sister," he said placing his hand on her shoulder. "Now come. Father is waiting."

Moving as quick as they could, they made it to the courtyard in record time. As they reached it, Sif stepped out of the shadows.

"Princess," she started.

"Lady Sif. Can I help you? I must tend to a matter most urgent," Lithoniel said quickly, urging Thor to enter the courtyard.

"I wanted to give you this," she said pulling out a small dagger. "It is similar to mine. You can extend the blade when need be or carry it discreetly."

"Thank you, Lady Sif. This will indeed be useful with my task. I will seek you out when I return," Lithoniel said giving her arm a quick squeeze.

"Stay safe Princess," Sif said before leaving her sight.

"Sister, come," Thor's voice came.

Lithoniel quickly ran into the courtyard, securing the dagger in her waist belt.

"I will show you later," she said quietly to answer Thor's questioning look.

"I am going to transport you as close to Loki's location as possible. Thor place your arm around Lithoniel. Should the need arise for flying as you can, make sure she is safe. Find Loki and return him and the Tesseract to Asgard," Odin said calmly.

"Yes Father," Thor said as he placed his arm around Lithoniel's waist.

"Hold tight Sister. I do not wish to lose you," Thor said quickly. Lithoniel wrapped her arms around him quickly as they began to be pulled through a portal into a storm of clouds.

"There" Lithoniel said as she pointed to an object in the sky.

"Hold on," Thor said as he crashed lighting around them as they landed on top of the plane. "I will grab Loki and try to obtain the locations of the Tesseract from him. I charge you to grab his scepter."

"You are leaving me here?" she said looking at him in disbelief.

"You can handle yourself sister. You are strong. I will come back for you moments after," Thor said as your both made your way across the top of the plane.

"O look they opened the door for me," Thor said with a grim smile.

Lithoniel stayed crouched as she watched Loki and Thor fly out of the back. A red blur followed them. As she went to jump down onto the platform, she watched as another man jumped after them. As she saw the red, white and blue leave the back of the platform, she sucked in a deep breath. Of all the people to have captured Loki, it was him.

A crack of lightning brought her to her senses, and she jumped down onto the platform as it started to close.

"And who might you be?" a woman's voice asked.

"My name is Lithoniel, Princess of Asgard. I do not wish to fight. I am here in peace," Lithoniel responded raising her hands to show she had no weapon.

"I find that hard to believe," the woman responded before moving to attack her.

"I speak true. We only came to stop Loki," Lithoniel responded as she dodged the attacks. "Please what is your name?"

"If you are here to stop Loki, then why rescue him?" the woman asked.

"Thor only wishes to obtain information about the Tesseract. Loki is to be tried in Asgard for his crimes," Lithoniel answered. "Please, I will assist in you finding your friends. We only wish to help."

"Did you say Thor? As in the god of thunder?" she answered.

"Yes, he is my brother."

"So Loki is your brother?"

"No, that is a complicated story that I do not wish to tell. Do you want help locating your friends?"

"It couldn't help to have some assistance," she responded as she walked back to her seat.

"Do you see all the lighting in that one area of woods?" Lithoniel said point to a path of woods near a cliff.

"Yes," the woman responded.

"Settle down on the cliff. I can see Loki from here. I will move to secure him. It seems the others are preoccupied by fighting each other," Lithoniel responded with a sigh.

"That's men for you. My name is Natasha. You can call me Nat," Natasha said with a smile.

"Please call me Nel. I know Lithoniel can be quite a lot to say," Nel responded with a smile.

"I don't have to call you princess?" Nat questioned.

"I would prefer if you did not," Nel responded as the quinjet settled on the cliff. Lithoniel moved quickly down the platform and onto the soil. As she reached Loki the fighting below had stopped.

"It is not like you to get caught so easily," Nel said as she walked up behind him.

"Ahh, Father actually let you come back here," Loki sneered.

"You would do well to keep silent at present time," she said as she grabbed his arm.

"It is alright sister," Thor's voice came as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I can take him."

"Father sent you both? My this is shocking. I am surprised he still isn't keeping you locked up my," Loki started.

"No!" Lithoniel's voice came strong. "You have no power over me anymore Loki. If you do not hold your silver tongue, when we return, not only will I make sure you are in a cell for the rest of your life. I will make sure the All Father strips you of your power and your title."

"She is scary, I like her," the man in red said.

"Stark, not appropriate timing," another man's voice came, that she knew all too well.

"With what authority do you speak to me so? You belong to me," Loki sneered.

"With the authority of the Princess of Asgard. I no longer belong to you. That bond died when we thought you dead. I mourned you and the All Father and Mother believed it time for me to be allowed to move on and know love. True love, not your twisted version of it," she said sternly as she kept her back to the others.

"Not to break this up. But we need to move," the man in red named Stark said.

"Sister let me take him," Thor said softly as he wiped a tear from her face.

"Very well," she said as she released her grip on him and pushing him towards Thor.

"Come sister, out of the rain," Thor said as he walked towards the quinjet.

"I will be there momentarily," she said with a smile.

"Well quick introduction, My name is Tony Stark and I amd going to get out of the rain," Tony said before running off to the quinjet behind Thor.

"My name is Captain," Steve started, but she cut him off.

"I know who you are Captain. I have been watching you from afar for quite sometime now," Nel responded as she turned around.

"Nel?" he said staring at her in complete shock.

"Hello Captain Rogers," she said looking up to meet his eyes.