After being apprised of the situation on Jotunheim, Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg appeared apprehensive and uneasy upon hearing that Loki, unaccompanied, would travel to Midgard to attempt to locate the mysterious Phil Coulson. Their anxiety was not due to a belief that he was ill suited to the task. Midgard was known to be a chaotic, violent realm and considered underdeveloped and backwards throughout the universe. It was a disunified planet in all aspects, various governments and groups constantly at odds with each other. Midgardians often behaved in an ignoble manner and in general were obsessively self interested. Murders and assaults were commonplace along with a host of other crimes. Though killing or severely injuring an Asgardian would be extremely difficult for a mortal to achieve, it wasn't completely outside the realm of possibility.

After leaving Odin's presence, Volstagg, Hogun and Fandral had taken their leave of Loki to retire for the night. It had, of course, been a long day for everyone. Exhaustion overtook Loki once more, adrenaline having momentarily lifted it due to Sif's attack followed by the summons to Odin's presence and the astonishing news of Laufey's demise. Loki had trailed behind the others as they made their way down the corridor, Sif ahead of him. Though he believed that he had planted at least enough of a seed of doubt within her that he would likely not have to worry about another assault, he wasn't taking any chances.

Once they were alone, the Warriors Three having rounded the corner, Sif came to a halt, turning to Loki, putting Loki on his guard, though he did his best not to make it obvious. He relaxed somewhat as she bowed her head, looking towards the stone floor, her countenance exuding shame.

"Thank you….for your discretion. I should be in the dungeons." Sif told him after a moment of silence, as if she had been in a battle with her ego to be able to speak the words. "I was mistaken. If Laufey fell in the same manner as Thor..."

Loki in that moment was glad that he had chosen to keep his newfound knowledge a secret for the time being. He had yet to decide if he would disclose his origin to anyone. It seemed to him that it would be wiser for many reasons not to do so. Here seemed to be a sign from the universe that course was the correct one. If Sif knew, and with the coincidence of him having found out the truth mere hours before Laufey's murder, it would not have assuaged her suspicion of him but would most likely have bolstered it.

"My brother would not have been pleased for you to be locked away."

"Neither would he have been pleased with my actions." Sif responded.

"We don't know what is to come. Asgard needs you and all its warriors to be ready for whatever that may be. I know how high in esteem you held my brother. When I find who is responsible they will be for the axe. If it's your wish, as king I will be pleased to bestow on you the honor of swinging it. Goodnight, Lady Sif."

"Goodnight." Sif replied, turning and disappearing down the corridor.

Loki entered his chambers, dark but for the large fire in the cauldron in the center of the room. On the chaise sat Verda, what appeared to be a small leather bag lying on the cushion beside her. In her palm she held an assortment of stones like quartz crystals of various shapes and sizes, clear but for a rainbow effect in their center.

"What are you doing with those?" Loki asked, sounding perturbed as he briskly strode over to her and snatched them from her hand along with the bag, placing the stones back into it. "I'll thank you to stay out of my things." Loki was well aware that Verda had to have employed a spell to sense the presence of and to reveal magically hidden objects in order to have found them. He didn't recall teaching her that particular trick. But then, he had never taught her how to do what she had done in the corridor either. He wondered what else she was now capable of.

"You told me to come here. I grew restless awaiting your return. What are they?" Verda asked.

"I came by them fairly recently. I have not had the opportunity to fully explore their capabilities." Loki replied brusquely, the bag of stones disappearing from his hand as he magically stowed them away. "What were you thinking?" Loki asked with displeasure. "I thought we had an understanding."

"What was I supposed to do? Sing a song? She was going to kill you! If I'm not allowed to save someone's life….and not just anyone's...the only one for which I'd gladly sacrifice my own, what's the point?" Verda said heatedly as she rose from the chaise. The expression of animosity Loki displayed began to fade as he processed her words.

"You would give your life…." Loki said in disbelief. The einherjar were sworn to protect those closest to the throne with their lives of course. Thor likely would have done so, and his mother, and probably even his father simply because it would be what others would expect of a father, his 'duty,' but it was not a position he believed anyone else held or would ever hold regarding himself.

"I know you don't care for the sentiment, but regardless of what it is I am to you, if I'm anything at all, a horse in a field or whatever, I love you. I'd do anything for you! Of course I'd give my life for you or if I couldn't save you I'd die with you! I would have if I'd known! I didn't want to go! They lied to me! They told me you were-" Verda said, tears beginning to course down her cheeks, before abruptly going silent. Loki now looked at her in confusion. Verda appeared fearful for a moment before turning from him. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. You're right, this must end. I should go. I don't wish to cause you any more grief." She turned towards the door, making her way to it. She was halfway there when a wall of flame sprung up across her path. She came to a halt.

"A horse would shy away from flames. You're not a horse." said Loki.

"Thanks for noticing." Verda replied.

"I should be publicly flogged for a lout."

"Knowing you, you might enjoy that." Verda responded, unable to hold back a grin from the corners of her mouth, a smile crossing Loki's face as well. The wall of flames before her vanished.

"You may be right." Loki said, approaching Verda, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I've just met with my father. That was the cause of my delay. Tomorrow I go to Midgard." Verda turned to face Loki, appearing shocked and anxious.

"Midgard? Why?"

"There's someone I must find there. He may be the one responsible for Thor's murder...and that of Laufey, the King of the Jotunheim who has fallen this night in a similar manner to my brother. If he's not responsible, surely he knows who is."

"But if he is responsible...you can't go! Why would your father send you? You're his only son now, his heir. This man could kill you too! He must send someone else!"

"If they'd wanted my death, they had every opportunity to slay me along with Thor."

"Yes, but if you pursue this man, they may change their mind. Besides, Midgard is an awful place, it's not like Asgard at all...I couldn't stan-" Verda said, again breaking off before continuing, "I couldn't stand the thought of you there."

"I've been there before, though it's been quite awhile since my last visit."

"How long will you be gone?" Verda asked.

"As long as it takes to find the man I seek. I'm hoping not long."

"Do you know exactly where he is? To find one man among all those on Midgard, it would be like finding one particular grain of sand on the beach." said Verda.

"No, but I may be able to convince him to come to me."

"How?" Verda asked.

"It doesn't matter. There's no need to worry over me. I'll be fine. When I take the oath and the throne, I want to do so knowing that my brother's murderers rest in the dungeon to await their fate. My first act as king will be to sentence them to the axe."

"You would have them executed? Odin hasn't sentenced anyone to the axe since before either of us were born. He even refused to execute my sister, though it would not have troubled me in the least if he had. I wish he would have."

"I'm loath to begin my reign with bloodshed, but I can think of no punishment more fitting for the murderers of the heir to the throne of Asgard. My father had not yet made the formal announcement but everyone knows Thor was my father's choice to succeed him. It's likely why he was killed." Loki told Verda.

"That's why Sif…she believes that you-"

"She did, but no longer, not after learning of Laufey's death as well. She was in love with my brother. She had been since we were children. She also lost someone else she loved long ago...the only man to equal my brother in her affections. His name was Haldor. He was one of Lorelei's victims."

"To lose one would be enough, but two...no wonder she lost her mind."

"In the state she was in at the time, you're lucky she didn't know who you are."

"I wish I could speak with her. I want her to know I'm not my sister, that I despise Lorelei as much as she does."

"Perhaps in the future once the dust from all of this has settled, I'll arrange it. I don't believe now would be the best time."

"I thought you didn't want anyone to know...that's why you wished to be rid of me…" Verda said.

"I've given the matter more thought. I asked my mother to find a position for you because I believed it unfair how you were treated by others but then I behaved no better. You're right. What should I care what others think? You've committed no crime...actually, you have...you've stolen something from me…" Loki said. Verda looked at him questioningly.

"I've taken nothing from you. What do you-" Loki reached over and took hold of Verda's hand, raising it to his chest and placing it over his heart, looking into her eyes as understanding came over her before kissing her.

"Neither of us are horses...though I suppose we could pretend." Loki said suggestively into Verda's ear.

"Should you not rest before your journey?" Verda asked.

"There are still many hours until morning. I'll sleep far better..."

*********************

Loki awakened at dawn and carefully removed his arms from around Verda, slipping out of hers as she dozed. He had been correct, he had slept very well, once the both of them had gotten around to it. Upon taking Verda to his bed, he had experienced a second wind, or more accurately a third. Afterwards, however, both had rapidly given in to exhaustion. Though he had gotten fewer hours of rest than was customary, which had been the case the previous night as well, the deep nature of the sleep he had fallen into had made up for the quantity.

He couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty. His brother had been murdered and right in front of him. How could he have even considered engaging in what he had with Verda the last two nights? But then, perhaps it was what had kept him sane over the last two days. The blessing for the dead did say not to mourn but to rejoice.

Loki had prepared for the day and dressed, finishing just as Verda rose and dressed, preparing to return to her own chambers as she had duties to attend to.

"Promise me you'll be careful." Verda said as she embraced him in the great room of his chambers, almost on the verge of tears.

"I promise you." he assured her.

"I'd feel better if someone were going with you."

"It's better that I go alone. I'll send word upon my return. I must be on my way soon." he said, kissing her before she made her way to the door, turning to look at him once more before exiting his chambers.

Loki began to walk over to the hammer that had once belonged to Thor that he had sat next to the chaise. He stopped, staring at it for a moment, then as he had seen Thor do countless times, reached out his hand towards it. Just as it had for Thor, it rose from where he had placed it and came rocketing towards him, Loki closing his hand around its handle. Tossing it away from him, though not hard enough to go all that far, he caught it once again as it returned to him.

He considered whether he should bring it with him to Midgard. It still did not feel 'right' in his grip. It still did not feel as if it belonged to him. However it was a useful weapon and he could easily disguise it as something mundane that would not attract attention. Gripping it, he made his way to the door of his chambers.

*********************

"Uh….Jane? Would you call this weird because you said to let you know if there was anything weird." Darcy, Jane Foster's intern, said as she approached Jane holding a device that was somewhat larger and bulkier than a cell phone. Jane sat at a desk in front of a computer inside the abandoned service station that now served as her and Erik Selvig's base of operations. Jane took the device from Darcy, examining it and quickly rising to her feet.

"What the hell?!" Jane exclaimed, befuddled.

"So I guess it's weird, then."

"I'm not sure what it is...yes, it's weird...it's more than weird...where's Erik?"

"Right here...what's going on?" Selvig said, a paper bag of sandwiches held in one hand.

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this. It's not like before…" Jane said, handing the device to Selvig, Darcy taking the bag from him and opening it, looking down into it.

"You told them to hold the mayo on mine right? I hate mayo..cream of egg...blecch…"

"Yeah…I had them put your name on it." Erik answered Darcy as he looked at the device Jane had put into his hand. "This can't be right. Are you sure it's not picking up some kind of interference?" Erik asked, looking bewildered.

"Yes, I'm sure. We have to go...now!" Jane exclaimed, rushing towards an older beige colored military style all terrain vehicle.

"What's the big deal? Can't we eat first? I'm starving!" Darcy whined.

"You can eat on the way!" Jane said as Erik and Darcy followed her.

"On the way to where? You know I hate eating in the car."

*********************

As the dazzling light of the Bifrost lifted, Loki found himself standing in the middle of the circular pattern it left behind, burned into the surface, as he surveyed the landscape. He appeared to be in a desert. It wasn't what he'd expected. Heimdall had told him that the experts on Midgard in Odin's service were sure that the origin of the card found on one of Thor's assailants was from North America, specifically a land called the United States. There were a few out of the way places where he could be safely deposited in that land without drawing attention but no one was sure exactly which would be closest to this Phil Coulson's location so one was as good as another. It was more important for him to procure one of the Midgardian's communication devices so that he could ascertain the man's exact location and possibly coax him into coming to him instead.

The air was stiflingly hot. Loki appeared to be dressed in a black button down shirt and trousers, a pack on his back. Attached to it was an umbrella, though Loki looking at the dry, dusty ground was reconsidering the wisdom of the illusion he'd chosen to disguise the hammer. He would think of something else as it looked as if he would have plenty of time to do so as he searched for the nearest city or town or any sign of civilization...though he used that term loosely when it came to Midgard.

Rethinking the color of his clothing as he began walking under the blazing sun, the shirt transformed from black to white, the trousers to a khaki color. He was not a fan of those particular shades but he would be far more comfortable. Trekking across the barren landscape he finally came upon the first sign of mortals' presence in the area, a two lane road. Entering the roadway, Loki looked to his left and right. In the distance to his left he saw what appeared to be a large sign. Turning in that direction, he made his way down the center of the right lane towards it.