Infinity

Chapter 4 What is Rightfully Mine

"What do you mean the Odinsleep?" Selman asks.
"The Odinsleep- you know, the sleep that Odin goes into." Tait says with a plastic smile.
Selman slams his fists into the table, "This is no joke, Tait!"
Tait flinches and mumbles a quick apology.
I sigh, "I'm afraid so, and honestly, I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Raoul sits back and runs a hand through his black hair, "I believe that you're to take the throne; considering that Odin is not able to rule- or talk for that matter- and that your Father is currently unavailable for the position."
"I swear that you are the smartest person I've ever known." I mumble.
"I'll take that as a 'thank you.'"
"I don't think I'm ready to rule."
"It's only temporary." Raoul says, "Besides, you have people to help you. Frigga, Loki, Sif, The Warriors Three, us-"
"You're right, I shouldn't worry." I say confidently, even though I'm terrified of what could happen.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Selman asks, "Let's go!"
"History in the making." Tait says.
I nervously walk with them to the main hall, my friends by my side. As we walk into the room, I notice someone on the throne. Their bright green robes giving them away immediately- Loki. I can feel his eyes dig into me as I walk down the rows of columns.
"Ivanna; you may present yourself as strong and composed, but we can all tell that you're falling apart on the inside."
"I did not come here to be mocked."
"Of course you didn't." He says, leaning forward, "You probably came here to take your 'rightful' place on the throne." The way he says rightful sounds bitter, distasteful, as if the word itself makes him sick.
"You would be right in saying that." I say.
"I wish for nothing more than you to sit in this seat, but, Ivanna, Odin asked me to take your Father's place." He says, "So you weren't forced into such a high position."
I hesitate, "I am not one to ignore orders from the King."
I silently turn around and walk out; my friends confusedly following behind. As we head out of the great hall, Raoul turns to me, "Ivanna, that was the exact opposite of what we went there to do."
"I can tell that he is set on staying in power." I mutter, "There is no moving him away from that. The only way to keep him away from that throne is to bring back my Father."
"And by bringing Thor back, we may be able to bring Odin from the Odinsleep." Raoul says to finish my thought.
"Alright, let's go." Tait says, ready to help.
"No, Tait, I need to do this alone."
He looks at me with confusion, "I don't understand.
"I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to go with me." I say, "That's final." I feel like an owner scolding her dog for following loyally. I head down the hall alone, and I go into the stable. The smell of horses is strong, even though I don't mind.
I pull Vivian from her stall and saddle her; then heading to the Bifrost. Heimdall waits with golden eyes.
"What can I do for you, Ivanna?" Heimdall asks.
"Send me to Midgard, and bring me back after I retrieve my Father."
"You know I cannot go against the orders of the King."
"But you can obey the orders of the Queen." I say sharply.
He nods and opens the Bifrost. I step in, letting the light's energy send me away to another realm. I land in sand. Bright orange sand, a hot sky, another bland landscape. I head out on foot to seek my Father. I come across a small fenced in area, tents and guards and others surrounding something.
I can feel the presence of something familiar, something strong, something from home. As I circle the fence, a voice calls down to me, "Can we help you?"
I cup a hand over my eyes ad look up, "What are you protecting?"
"That's classified." The man replies. Another stranger approaches his side and tells him something, he looks down at me and then replies to his comrade, "Miss, if you could stay there, I'd like to talk."

I nod, "I suppose I have nowhere else to go." I look around the plain desecrated landscape. There really is nowhere to go.
They open the fence line enough for him to slip out.
He wears a plain black suit with a white shirt. He is an older man, I can tell. His eyes hide behind a pair of tinted glasses, and standing in front of me he is a few notches shorter than me.
"I'm Phil Coulson, if you don't mind, I'd like for you to step inside so we can have a talk."
Mortals. They are always so curious. I nod politely and step inside the fence line. A small base, composed of transportable materials stands within the fence.
"It's not much of a fortress." I say, looking around, "Who are you at war with?"
"War?" He repeats, "No."
"It looks as if someone has already torn through your defenses." I say, looking at a torn panel of plastic waving in the wind.
He quickly changes the subject, "I didn't catch your name."
"I am Ivanna of Asgard."
We walk inside the building and he takes off his glasses, "Asgard? As in Norse Mythology?"
"I promise you, Phil, we are not myths."
"We? There are more of you?" He asks.
"I could ask the same of you Midgardians, but I do not doubt that there are an abundance of you."
He looks at me with disbelief, but quickly catches himself as we pass a cell, "Excuse me for a minute."
I nod and he opens the door, I catch a glimpse of the infamous green robes that Loki cherishes. He quickly closes the door and I lose sight of the white room.
"Who let you in here?" Another suited man asks.
"Phil Coulson." I say, nodding at the door, "He's in there, if you're wondering."
The man shakes his head and walks away.
"My dear Ivanna." A cold voice says.
I turn around, "Loki."
"What are you doing here?" He asks, "Are you seeking your Father?"
"Yes, I am." I say, "Not that you should be concerned."
"Ivanna, I'm afraid he is not the same man you remember. He has lost himself already; he is but a shell of what he used to be."
"Then I shall tell him goodbye." I say, trying to act the part, "And I shall return home after."
Loki nods and looks at me sorrowfully, "I came to inform him of the Odinsleep, and he did not recognize me. He did not know who I was, or what I was telling him."
I nod, "Then leave me to my thoughts. I will be back before the day is over."
He seems hesitant, but he agrees and disappears.
We are both clever with our words, with our emotions, but I know what he is doing. The same could be said for him; after all, he was the one who taught me to keep myself composed.
Phil Coulson steps out of the room, "Sorry, had some unfinished business to attend to."
"It's quite alright." I say with a smile.
He leads me through tunnels of plastic and light metal, and into a room full of monitors. A few people look up from their work to look at me, but quickly continue working. One of them, however, stands up, "Is that her?"
He nods.
The young man grabs a small device and sets it on the table next to me. He quickly pulls a small metal rod out and holds it in front of me. He constantly switches glares, from the device to me.
"Can we see whatever it is you have on your back?" He asks.
I look at him cautiously, before pulling Delvameg off of my back, "Do not touch it."
He nods, "Thank you."
He holds the bar over Delvameg and slowly moves it around, until he's traced the entire length of my staff. He stops and starts pushing buttons frantically. I look to Coulson with concern, "Are all of your people this frantic?"
"Only when they're working." He replies.
"Sir, it's a match." The worker says.
Coulson's face drops, "We'd like you to take a look at what we have."
"Where is it?" I ask.
"Right through these doors." They pull open a set of makeshift doors; a small courtyard sits behind them. The center piece throwing me off. Mjolnir; planted in the ground, the runes appearing and fading constantly.
"Is this where you found it?" I ask.
"Considering no one is able to move it, yes."
"Did you find the man who fell with it?" I ask.
"You know what it is."
I raise my voice, "Did you find the man who fell with it?"
"Someone fell with it?"
"How else would someone lose their weapon?" I ask.
Coulson shrugs, "No, we haven't found someone else with readings like yours."
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"No."
"Then I am done here."
"Can you tell us what it is?" Coulson asks, blocking the door.
"It is Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, my Father, and the rightful King of Asgard. Only one who is worthy can move it. Otherwise there it rests, and there it'll stay." I say, "And if you don't mind, I need to find him."
He lets me pass. As I walk through the room I notice one of the monitors. The white room from earlier, in it a man, hunched over. Without splitting my attention from the screen, I ask, "Who is this?"
"We don't know, but he was the one who got in last night. Is he one of yours?" Coulson says.
"I have a good idea." I reply, turning around, "And if I am wrong, I shall find out who he is for you."
Coulson leads me back to the room, but before opening the door he tells me- "Be careful, this guy's dangerous."
I quirk an eyebrow, "I have trained for hundreds of years, I've no reason to worry."
He seems thrown off by my last comment when he opens the door. I step in and cringe slightly; the entire room is pure white. My dark clothes seem unnatural in the light color of the room.
The man does not look at me his head hangs low; as if he's been defeated.
"Look at me." I command.
He slowly looks up, a pair of dulled blue eyes staring at me blankly.
"Ivanna?" He asks, "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to retrieve you." I say.
"I can't go back." My Father says.
"And why not?" I snap, "You may feel sorry for yourself, but by Odin's beard, get yourself together!"
He looks at me with confused eyes, "Loki told me that he made a truce with Jotunheim-"
"It is not his place to make a truce, and any truce he makes will not stand." I say, "He may think he is King, but when we return, Odin will tak-"
"Odin is dead."
"Loki told you that too?" I ask, not surprised, "Odin is in the Odinsleep; he is not dead."
A little light returns to his eyes, but it quickly fades, "I cannot return to Asgard, Ivanna. I am a mortal now. I couldn't lift Mjolnir."
"You may not be able to lift Mjolnir now, but you will, and when you are able to, you shall return and everything shall be as it was." I say, "Until then, I'm afraid there will be a war upon Asgard."
He looks at me with sorrow.
"You and I both know that Loki is no going to give up the throne until he is either forced to or until he is dead. Unfortunately, I believe he would die before he gave in."

(Hey, thanks for reading. Please vote and comment your little hearts out. There may not be many people reading this story- if any of you make it this far... But you all are great. Thanks agains. You're the bomb-diggity)