Choices

Chapter 125
"Thor?" Jane's sleepy voice asked. Thor sat on the edge of the bed, the blanket draped across his lap in the small stuffy room. He was accustomed to a much larger, airier dwelling, but that wasn't what had him awake at such an early hour.
One would think he'd be happy. He was free.
Free from his direct shackle to the throne. His choice to help guard the nine realms his own way and winning was to be celebrated. He was with Jane who brought out a joy in him he hadn't felt quite like this before. No enemies to bother him in his peaceful days.
However, it had only been a days since he'd left Asgard behind and he had yet to deliver the devastating news to his sister-in-law that Loki was dead.
"She still mourns Frigga, as do we all, but her sadness is not as controlled as our own. Perhaps, it would be best to avoid telling Cephera of her husband's fate. Give her time to calm her saddened heart."
That was Tyr's suggestion before he left. The suggestion still did not sit right with Thor.
To allow her any means of joy right before crushing them again seemed cruel. He had done wrong by Cephera before in the past, he couldn't allow their relationship to remain so torn.
"I've decided,"
"You're telling her?" Thor smiled. Jane knew what had been weighing heavily on his conscience and such a vague statement was enough for her to put it together.
"It's the right thing to do. She will heal in time, but I'm sure she would rather know now. There is only a matter of time before the rumours begin in Asgard and her people catch wind of it. If she hears it from someone other than me, she will hate me." Thor flexed his fingers.
"If it were you, I'd want to know as soon as possible, no matter what," Jane said giving him the extra push he needed to help him decide he had made the right choice.
Thor stood and began to dress. "You're going now?" She asked glancing at the window where night was still clearly the hour.
"New York is far enough away. By the time I arrive, she will have woken." Thor replied.
"You're not flying?" She sounded surprised.
"I'm quite enjoying my days doing things as you do." He turned to her and grinned. She returned his smile and jumped to her feet.
"I'm coming with you." She announced. Thor didn't argue. He'd love for Jane to meet Cephera. She just might need the company. Besides, it would give Thor time to see his friend Tony Stark.
"Excellent. You know transportation better than I." He replied.
XxX
A little over 8 hours later, Thor and Jane arrived at Stark tower. "Impressive, Stark has done much work on this since I was here last. It seen plenty of damage during Loki's attack on your world." Thor admired the architectural work that was the tower before they headed inside.
Inside was empty on the ground floor. It puzzled Thor. He'd expected to see it bustling with life. To his left he saw the doors to an elevator and the numbers above it were descending. The doors slide open when it reached the bottom and Seraphina stepped out.
"Thor, it's a surprise to see you," she said looking him over before moving her eyes to Jane. "Tony's computer alerted us to your arrival." She answered before Thor could ask.
"I was wondering how I might get a hold of him." Thor admitted. "I bring news from Asgard." He could not say it with a smile on his face. It was not good news.
"It's about time. We've been waiting to hear from someone since the gates closed." Seraphina crossed her arms and gave a look of annoyance.
"I am sorry," Thor formally apologized. "May we venture upstairs so that I may speak with your sister. I will explain everything." Thor was eager to get this over with.
"Follow me," Seraphina escorted them back inside the elevators.
"Jane Foster, this is Princess Seraphina Drogo, sister to Cephera." He used his time going up to make a quick introduction.
"Nice to meet you," Jane extended her hand with a soft smile. Seraphina shook it and once again looked her over.
"You're not bad looking. Cute really." Seraphina commented. "I hear you're super smart,"
"I wouldn't say super smart, but I'm happy with the work I've accomplished using the things I've learnt over the years." Thor felt as if Seraphina wanted to say something further, but she didn't.
Given her close friendship with Sif, Thor felt as though Seraphina didn't approve of this match, but Thor did not care for Seraphina's dislike for it. He loved Jane.
"Hey big fellow, no cape, no hammer, I hardly recognized you." Tony Stark said striding over toward them when they reached their destination.
"I live on Earth now, so I do as you mortals do." Thor replied.
"That must be utterly boring." Tony replied with a smirk.
"It is good to see you Tony Stark, man of iron." Thor returned a smile but then looked around for Cephera. "I must speak with my sister, where is she?" He asked.
"Me and you will have to have a little chat later about how you dropped her off on my doorstep without coming clean with me, I'm still sore about that." Tony told Thor.
"I'm here. Sorry, I was bathing Ikol." Cephera had the child in her arms as she approached. It had been the first time Thor had seen him. There was a vague familiarity about him, something Thor couldn't put his finger on.
Cephera stopped in front of them and put her free hand to Thor's bicep. "I'm sorry about your mother," she said a shadow of sadness clouding her usually vibrant eyes.
"She died a warrior. She died protecting Jane." Thor replied before embracing his sister and her son. It was still awkward to hold her this way. "Forgive my manners this morning. This is Jane Foster, Jane this is my sister Cephera Drogo." He let Cephera go so she could properly meet and greet Jane.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jane said. "I'm sorry to stare, I just..." She paused.
"Just what?" Cephera tilted her head waiting for more.
"It's just when I think of Loki having a wife I guess I didn't picture you," Jane turned a little red, embarrassed.
"I get that a lot. I dunno, people expect someone a little less tiny, and sweet and mix me up with someone voluptuous, and fiery." She glanced over at Tony.
"I'm sorry. I'm not judging...," Jane began.
"Don't worry, I don't take offence." Cephera assured her touching her arm. "This is my son, Ikol." Cephera turned the attention to her child.
"He's gorgeous. Look at those eyes." Thor did. Ikol's eyes were open wide and staring around in curiosity. They were veiled by thick eyelashes that made him look almost mysterious.
"Would you hold him while I speak with my brother," she asked.
Jane immediately reached out and took the baby. "Would I ever." She agreed her smile widening. "Look at you so well behaved," She said to Ikol once she had a hold of him.
"What's happened in Asgard? Rorik told us what he knew, which was very little." She urged turning back to Thor.
Thor took a deep breath. "Jane discovered a force called the Aether, here on Earth. It's discovery awakened a race called the dark elves. I took Jane to Asgard not knowing these elves were on their way to take the Aether, which had taken Jane as a host to live inside her body." He began and took a seat.
"They attacked Asgard and while trying to protect Jane, mother was killed." Thor looked down fidgeting with playing with his fingers. "My father closed the Byfrost locking us all inside. The elves had a way to enter the city undetected. Father wanted to wait for them to come back at the risk of losing more of our people, but I wanted to take Jane and lure them away."
"Typical of your father," Seraphina commented.
Thor didn't respond. "I couldn't get Jane off Asgard using the Byfrost and so we, myself and my friends, devised a plan. Loki knew of paths off Asgard so we broke him free of his prison and he aided us in our escape."
"Loki's free!" Thor wished he had told her first that he was dead. Perhaps then the hope that lit up her eyes would not be there.
"Uh oh," Seraphina muttered as if reading Thor's weary expression.
"We met with Malekith, the leader of the dark elves with a plan to defeat him and destroy the Aether. The plan almost worked, but it would seem the Aether cannot be destroyed. He obtained the magic, hosting it from Jane to him and escaped. He left behind a minion powered by old magic and some other elves. We were forced into battle, during which..., Loki tackled the large beast and killed him, but not before sustaining grievous wounds." Thor almost couldn't say it.
"No," Cephera said immediately. "You are not saying what I think you are saying." She sat up straight her face tight.
"He did not survive." Thor looked away, looked to Jane. Jane was focusing her attention on Ikol, also unable to look at Cephera.
And then Cephera laughed,
"Loki fell into the void below the Byfrost, he should have died but he survived. He is a trickster, what makes you think he is dead this time when we all thought so last time," she said. Thor realized how strong her denial was and looked back to her. He took her hands in his and forced her to stay where she was.
"Cephera, I held him in my arms during his last breaths."
"Did he speak my name? Did he say goodbye to me?" She asked sternly.
Thor hesitated to answer, "no." He finally replied.
"Then he is not dead. On the Byfrost he did not say goodbye or send me word through you on his departure from this world and he would not do that. I believe he knew he would survive his fall that day and so I believe he tricked you this time as well. He was in prison Thor and he would have gone back, am I right?" Her expression was tense.
"Yes, he would have gone back to prison." He agreed.
"Then this was his way out. Where is his body?" She asked still firm in her belief.
"I do not know. I was forced to leave him behind while we arrived on Earth to save it from Malekith." Thor frowned and looked away.
"You do not even have a body to confirm." She looked triumphant and Thor worried for her sanity, but was she right? Could Loki have tricked them all a second time.
"I will return to Asgard and see my father. He sent troops to find us, perhaps they found Loki. I hadn't a mind to ask when I left." He now felt ashamed for not having asked.
"Thor, I'm telling you, Loki would not make the mistake of leaving me behind twice without so much as a goodbye." Her face softened and her posture slackened.
"Cephera, his death could have been quick, maybe he just didn't have time to say it." Seraphina interrupted the silence. Cephera turned a glare to her twin.
"Until I know what happened to his body, I refuse to believe that I am without a husband and Ikol is fatherless." She announced and stood.
"I was there when he passed. I'm sorry but..., I don't think there was anyway he survived that wound." The two women stared at one another and for a second Thor felt worried.
"I stand by what I said," Cephera told them.
"Sir," Tony's AI's voice cut in. "Agent Romanov has arrived downstairs and is already on her way up."
"I really need to invest in a doorbell," Tony said.
"Maybe she's here about Steve," Cephera quickly said. Thor felt the topic of Loki being dead close as Cephera walked away. He hated to think how hard this might hit her once he finds out that Loki's body was indeed retrieved and that he was, without a doubt, dead.
"Maybe we'll get answers about this whole HYDRA thing all over the news." Tony was saying to Cephera. It seemed even Stark was unwilling to push her any further where the news was concerned.
"I dread coming back here once I've spoken to my father," Thor said turning to Jane.
"I didn't expect her to react this way." Jane admitted. "I was ready for boxes of tissues and tears." She added. Thor glanced down at Jane holding his nephew.
"As was I," Thor turned his attention to the elevator, curiosity peeking as to what else was going on.

Notes