Hello :)

I swear, when writing the last couple chapters and reading the comments, I fear for my life. 

This is a short, filler chapter. 

Hope you like it. :)

Music: Gone, Gone, Gone (Philip Phillips); Hope and Memory (LOTR 3: Return of the King soundtrack)

Edit: me

Chapter Fifty-One

Max is exhausted, but manages to tell his story as he continues to hold Thea. The five of them are joined by Jane and Steve, who have heard the commotion and hurried outside, still bleary-eyed.

"I was with Bruce," he says, "And we were around the western side of the mountain, trying to get to the other side of it before the storm hit and before we got caught. We nearly made it before we were attacked by three of the Velah. Bruce and I killed two of them, but the last one got ahold of me and did that Jaunting thing, and I appeared in the castle. I saw Mansar, and let me tell you, he's trouble. Making it long story short, a guard began to take me to the dungeon, but had forgotten to search me, so I used my knife on him. After he died, I managed to get out of the palace. I've been running ever since."

"So you don't have any idea where Banner might be?" asks Steve.

Max shrugs, "My best bet is that he might have gotten over the mountain, if we're lucky."

Thor nods, "Very well. We will try to wait it out, though I fear for the fate of the others."

Thankfully, Thea is still hugging Max and doesn't pay much attention to his words.

*

After trying to contact Tony once again- and failing- Max, Loki, Thea, and, surprisingly, Archer, go inside the two tents for rest. Thea follows Max into the smaller of the tent and curls up to him. He smiles and closes his eyes. Within seconds, both are asleep.

*

The next morning, Thea wakes up when the sun is nearly halfway up in the sky. Blearily, she sits up and wipes her eyes. As she is about to walk out of the tent, she hears low, concerned voices, and stops.

"-that's what it sounds like," says Steve.

Thor sounds grim, "Trying to break into the palace with this little people would not be advantageous."

"Thor, I don't know if they have much more time, not from what Mansar said. I don't even know who it is- one person, two people, three. I didn't make it to the dungeons before I escaped, hoping to get a better group to help rescue whoever is in there."

Thea freezes.

"What if it's a trap?" asks Jane, "What if he was lying to try to lure us- particularly Thea- to the palace?"

Steve's voice is firm, "We'll give it to the end of the night for anyone else to join us, and then we'll see about Archer taking us to the palace. If Max has his information right, we only have a short amount of time."

"What about Thea?" asks Jane quietly, "I don't know if taking her is such a good-"

"We have already discussed this," says Loki coolly, "Thea is going."

Jane sounds indignant, "Honestly, Loki, I-"

"There's no point in stopping her," interrupts Steve, "She's better off with us."

Although Thea cannot see, she can practically see Jane's stormy face.

Meanwhile, Max says in such a low voice that Thea has to put her ear to the canvas to hear, "She's acting awfully... I'm not sure, calm, for what happened to her."

"That's precisely it," says Loki, "She's acting. I probably have the marks for proof of when she was so angry at the world, she lashed out at me. I'm fairling certain that-"

At this moment, Thea walks out of the tent. All six of them turn to look at her, most of them with wide, expectant eyes- although Loki looks calm and unsurprised.

"Tonight, we go, right?" she asks.

Jane sighs.

*

As it turns out, someone does turn up before the night. Bruce Banner stumbles through the foliage, looking no worse for wear, although there's a worn gash on his cheek, "Hey guys," he says genially when everyone stops eating lunch to stare at him, "What's new?"

Evidently, Bruce had doubled back down the mountain, trying to find Max. He had suspected the camp might be around the lake, so he had combed the area until he found it. He's in much better condition than Max, and heartily agrees with the plan to venture into the palace.

After confirming a shaky plan with Archer, everyone begins to prepare to leave, except Jane and Bruce, who are staying to watch camp and await the return of the rescue party. Thea, Loki, and Max are the ones planning on going down to the dungeon, which might be surprising that they would want Thea there, but it's actually a way to attempt to appease her without giving her the dangerous task of standing guard and killing various Velah, which Steve and Thor have to do. Archer will act as a guide, and as a way to get into the palace in the first place.

"You can take us all there at one time?" asks Steve in surprise.

Archer nods, "As long as we are all touching one another somehow."

"Fantastic," says Bruce.

That afternoon, Loki practices sword fighting with Thea. She hasn't wanted to use her dagger lately, and Loki doesn't press her. Thea's vigor and skill have increased tremendously, even if her strength has not. Loki finds himself more challenged as she becomes better and better. Her only weakness is just that: Thea is probably less strong than all the opponents she will face, so Loki tries to teach her how to use her wits instead of her (lack of) brawn, a concept to which he is no stranger.

"My phone ran out of battery," says Thea mournfully as she and Max sit on an overturned log later that day. She has been silent nearly the entire afternoon, which has been typical for her as of late, but Max is relieved nonetheless to hear her voice.

"Heard anything from Peter?" asks Max, who has gotten stronger and less wane.

"He texted me a couple times over the past few days, but Steve wouldn't let me reply, because he doesn't know what the signal does for tracking us and stuff."

"Ah," says Max, "Well when we get back-"

"If we get back," says Thea, putting her face in her hands and watching Steve and Archer stand at the edge of the camp, pointing in the general direction of the palace.

"When we get back," corrects Max, "We'll pop by and see how he's doing, how about that?"

"Okay," says Thea, leaning against Max.

He puts an arm around her shoulders, "How have you been?" he asks quietly.

Thea keeps her gaze on Steve and Archer.

Max leans down and kisses the top of Thea's head and doesn't say anything either. 

I'm sure everyone is wondering one thing right now: IS KYLE OKAY?

Here is your answer: 

You'll have to find out later. :) 

LOVE YOU ALL

Sierra