Author's Note: Hello again! I know I haven't updated in a while, but I did warn that this would happen! So I've finally caught myself up a bit in my writing and figured I'd throw a chapter out there and hopefully garner some interest, as it's been off to a slow start. So, here you go, chapter five! Please make sure to read, comment and vote!

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I swear, the sun here is brighter than anywhere else could possibly be. Even Florida. And that’s saying something. No, I suppose it only makes sense that I wake up to blinding sunlight, since every surface in this place is one version or another of reflective. I cup my hand over my temple and roll onto my opposite side, turning my back to the wide windows. It doesn’t do much good when the opposing wall shines the light right back into my eyes. Ugh. Somebody get a dimmer switch on Asgard please. The golden, glowing city on the mountain is only so charming for so long.

 “Are you yet sleeping?” I hear a female voice ask. I open my eyes wide and sit upright as the pressure shifts on the bed by my feet.

 “Um…who are you exactly? And why were you watching me sleep?” I ask groggily. The woman is the only other woman I’ve seen besides Frigga since yesterday. She looks strong and stern, her dark hair piled high atop her head, braid wrapped about itself  before spilling down her back. Her metallic clothing does nothing to help my bleeding eyes.

 “I am Lady Sif,” she bows her head slightly and I do likewise, feeling obliged. “Thor has charged me with keeping you.”

 “Keeping me…from what? Getting into trouble? Escaping? Dying? Because I honestly feel like my head could implode right about now,” I groan, rubbing my temples.

 “Adjusting, yes. Thor informed me your adjustment has only yet begun. It will get much worse, I assure you.” This woman gives a whole new meaning to distant. Her eyes appraise me indifferently and her posture is generally angled away from me. She does not look me directly into the eyes. Maybe it’s akin the affect a puppy in a shelter has on you. You look into their poor, pathetic eyes and BAM! They’ve got you suckered. Don’t look into the pathetic eyes of anyone or you’re bound to fall for them.

 I sigh, “That’s comforting.”

“You will get yourself dressed for the day and come to break your fast with myself, Thor and the Warriors Three. You must become better acquainted for it is you on whom we are relying for great success,” she states as though this is all perfectly logical. It is all I can do to nod slowly, mouth slightly agape. I throw the blankets aside and pull myself begrudgingly out of bed. I can feel her eyes on me as I reach for the clothes at the end of the bed.

 “I don’t even know what this is?” I stare down at the soft fabric in my hands.

"Surely you have dresses on Midgard?" Sif looks surprised and I laugh. 

"Well, yes, but I'd much rather pants," I admit with a shrug. A nice sweatshirt and leggings. That's probably not going to fly around here.

A grin spreads across her mouth, surprising me. "I do believe I may yet enjoy your presence, Lady Valkyrie."

"Thanks," I nod with a smile and she bows her head slightly and leaves me to change. I hold the dress up, the thin yellow fabric slightly disconcerting. I pull my clothes from yesterday off my tired limbs and deposit them where I kicked my brown boots off yesterday. I wiggle out of my jeans and with hesitation, toss them aside for the dress. I slip my head through and the fabric flutters slightly before settling nicely against my body. I squirm a bit, the bust too big and the waist just slightly clinging. Guess it was too much to hope for them to magically know my size. In all, the dress is fairly pretty--off the shoulder, a pale yellow with strategically placed golden threads that make me thankful I kept my undergarments on. The fabric is thin, and looking in the mirror I can see the outline of my own legs, but in all, it isn't terribly revealing. Barefoot, I wander to the door and I take a deep breath before opening it. Thor straightens and smiles at me while he finishes whispering something to Sif in a foreign tongue. He holds out a pair of golden slippers that looked dwarfed in comparison to the rest of his body. I smile appreciatively and bow my head slightly, figuring it's the proper thing for a future king. 

"Come along then, I am famished!" Thor declares taking my hand just as I finish slipping my shoes on. I link my arm through his which is likely not the proper way, but he doesn't attempt to correct me. He chatters on about something as I look around me in utter awe of every surface of this palace. Everything is exquisitely beautiful. It's a shame to rush past so quickly. We also pass the dining hall, filled with people, and onto another, small room. At the single round table in this room there are seated three men. They rise from their seats upon our arrival and Thor escorts me to the table. He seats me on his left and Sif grabs the chair to his right. 

"I am Fandral, my lady," the man to my left says with a smile and flourishing kiss to my hand. 

"Oh...hi!" I smile and nod. 

"Hogun," says the man in the middle of Fandral and...

"Volstagg!" The third and final of the Warriors Three cheers with a mouthful of food. I stifle a laugh and offer a smile as Sif shakes her head at him disdainfully. She elbows him playfully and I see the five as they sit are as close as friends as you could hope for. They jump into conversing and chattering away about things I don't quite understand, handing each other food and drink as Volstagg laughs boisterously. I sit, dumbfounded and not sure what to do with myself. 

"Please," Fandral says in my ear, snapping me out of my trance, "have something to eat, my lady."

"It's Val," I correct and I look around, my stomach grumbling. "And yes, please! I'm starved!" 

Fandral laughs and hands me bread and fruits as Volstagg grins, mouth still full. "My kind of woman!"

"Isn't she just," Fandral remarks quietly and I turn to look at him with wide eyes, surprised and oddly flattered. He smiles at me and embarrassed, I turn my gaze back to my plate.

 “So!” Thor silences the chatter and he leans forward over the table. “You all know why Lady Valkyrie was brought here to Asgard. And as my trusted friends, I find it to be your responsibility to ensure her wellbeing whilst she is here with us. Keep her safe, and she may yet keep us safe.”

 I admit, “You ask a lot of me, Thor. I don’t understand how I am going to be of any possible help here, but I will do what I can.”

“A little confidence never hurt anyone, my dear,” Fandral attempts and I look at him, trying to hide the desperation and terror in my eyes. “Humility looks good on you, but so does that dress.”

“Fandral,” Thor warns in a protective tone and Fandral eases off, physically adjusting in his seat.

 He smirks at me, “I beg your pardon, Lady Valkyrie.”

 “Val,” I offer again.

 “Lady Val,” he says, eyes twinkling with amusement. I bite down on my lip and look away, shaking my head. I can’t help but laugh.

 “Close enough.”

 "Lady Valkyrie, we will have a meeting with the Council soon enough, but for now...now we should discuss pressing matters," Thor urges, touching my arm gently. 

I groan and turn my attention to Thor. I know this is what I signed on for but I'm not exactly feeling it. I do have some questions however in order to assess this whole conundrum. 

"Okay, I've been thinking..." I start off. Good, solid start there, champ. "Well, who exactly are we facing here?"

A shared glance goes about the table as I wait for someone to answer me. 

"We are...uncertain," Thor admits finally. 

"Oh, swell," I grimace. "Second question. How would...how would you all feel about getting Loki to assist us?"

"Now listen--" Volstagg gets to his feet angrily as Fandral interrupts him and Sif is trying to calm them both down. 

"I am sorry, but I fail to see any point in seeking Loki's assistance!" Fandral slumps back into his seat, eyeing me curiously. 

"I understand your hesitation as I feel similarly. He gives me the creeps. Buuuut," I drag the word out with a smile. "If we can get him to behave, wouldn't it be a marvelous tactical advantage? He was able to lead an army to take over Earth--granted, unsuccessfully, but still. He's clearly intelligent, right?"

They all look at me blankly. "Right?"

"Of course he is. My brother...my brother possesses intelligence far beyond my understanding. But he has yet to put it towards the greater good," Thor's brow furrows and I lay my hand on his arm. 

I offer, "Would not this be a better time than any to give him the chance?" I try and appeal to Thor's obvious love for Loki. I look to Fandral and Volstagg and then Sif and Hogun. "Plus, wouldn't we much rather have that kind of power on our side as opposed to against us for once? Or...you. Not us. I've had nothing to do with this."

"You have everything to do with it now, my friend," Hogun nods. 

Thor shifts in his seat and looks uncomfortable. "Perhaps we can get through to Loki. The first step may be to release his mouth from bondage. Then we can talk sense into him yet!"

"I like the sound of that. And if it doesn't work, we keep him locked away. Simple," I add with another attempt at a reassuring smile. But the glances I get in return are all but heartening. 

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I kneel before the Allfather, the marble cold against my knee. Thor chuckles slightly and helps me to my feet after I struggle to get up in my dress. 

Thor murmurs in my ear, "You needn't always kneel, my lady."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm just not sure what I'm ever supposed to do," I confess and Thor nods, but I am not quite sure he understands. How could he? He was raised this way on Asgard. Royalty is in his blood. 

"We come with a request for you, Father, and it concerns Loki. Now I beg you, hear us. I believe Lady Valkyrie's plan may work--"

"Silence, son. I have heard enough. How about a word from the child herself?" He arches a strong grey eyebrow and turns his stone cold gaze unto me. 

I swallow hard, feeling vaguely woozy and suddenly very hot. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. "I...uh...um..."

"Speak your mind, child."

I nod, "I think it may be in our best interests to release Loki--no! Not release him, per say, but to at least unbind his lips so that we may begin trying to reason with him. He is intelligent and crafty, or so I hear, and while he may have done wrong, this will give him a chance to help us and to prove himself." Odin seems to contemplate this. "Surely you wish that for your own son."

Thor turns to look at me abruptly and I fear I've stepped beyond my place or whathaveyou. Odin cracks a faint and weary smile. "Though it is hardly your place to comment on my feelings towards Loki, I do see feeble validity in your suggestion."

Whew. Feeble is good. 

Odin seems to deliberate on the idea and then leans back a bit in his throne. "It is decided, then. We will loosen his lips from their bond. However, this will be your responsibility. In the end perhaps it will aid you to have been the one who freed him."

I nod, not sure I quite get it. Wait. Wait. "You want me to take the threads out myself?" I wince at the very thought of it. Close proximity to the unwashed and unkempt bundle of crazy that is Loki. "Odin, I think I'm extremely unqualified for this sort of thing..."

"Nonsense!"