"Unless he is capable of illusion, that is not the man." Verda said quietly to Loki as they left Himinbjorg which held the mechanism that powered the Bifrost and stepped out onto the Rainbow Bridge, following Sif who continued to lead the stunned and confused Coulson by the arm.

"To my knowledge, no mortal has ever had such abilities. What the people of Midgard refer to as magic is merely distraction and sleight of hand." Loki responded.

Verda's revelation did not surprise Loki. Coulson had not uttered a word, seeming to be in awe of the experience of travelling via the Bifrost and finding himself on Asgard as one would expect to be the reaction of a mortal who had heretofore been ignorant of its existence. Coulson viewed the sights around him with a mix of fear and child-like wonder. Surely if he had been involved in Thor's murder, he would not behave in such a manner. Yet the presence of his card on the person of one of the assailants pointed to some link and Loki was determined to uncover it.

Loki came to a sudden stop as a vision flashed before his eyes, accompanied by a shooting pain in his head that Loki could only equate to his skull being run through with a spear. Putting his palm to his forehead, he bowed his head, squeezing his eyes shut.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Verda asked anxiously, gripping his shoulder. Loki raised his head, opening his eyes, before he stepped to the edge of the bridge.

"It was here I let go…plunged into the abyss." Loki said, looking down into the void of space below with a deeply troubled expression.

"That will no longer be." Verda assured him.

"Only because my brother is dead."

"You shouldn't think such thoughts. Your experience with the stones and your time on Midgard was draining. You should rest." Verda counseled.

"I must first speak to Coulson."

"He's not going anywhere. He will wait. Time alone in the dungeon may serve to loosen his tongue."

"You may be right." Loki agreed, continuing to stare down over the edge of the bridge. Verda moved to stand next to Loki, reaching out and taking his hand in her own.

"I will never let you fall." Verda said before gently leading him away to continue following Sif and Coulson.

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

Sif led Coulson down the dreary stairway into Asgard's dungeon and past cells occupied by detainees of various humanoid species, some appearing to Coulson to be human, though they were Asgardian or another terran-like race from elsewhere in the universe, others clearly alien. Coulson peered into the cells as they passed, the occupants staring back at him.

"What is this place? Why have I been brought here?" Coulson asked, finally finding his voice.

"I am to believe you are ignorant?" Sif asked in a hostile tone.

"Humor me." Coulson answered.

"You are on Asgard. Thor, son of Odin, our king, was murdered. Your card was found in the possession of a mortal of Midgard like yourself, one of those responsible."

"Thor…Odin?" Coulson repeated, bewildered. "This is why I don't drink on the job. He's good. No one's succeeded in slipping me a Mickey in a long time. I have no idea who you people are. I had nothing to do with anyone's murder."

Sif led Coulson into an empty cell, removing Coulson's shackles and stepped out, activating the force field. Coulson turned to face her.

"What now? Do I get a lawyer?" he asked.

"You will remain here until you are questioned and brought before Odin. If you are innocent as you say, you will be returned to your people. If you are guilty...I have been granted the honor of swinging the axe." Sif answered, a look of terror crossing Coulson's face. Sif turned and walked away, leaving Coulson alone in the cell.

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

Loki and Verda entered Loki's chambers. They had both dispelled the illusion of Midgardian clothing before entering the palace, Verda now dressed in leggings and a leather top, the clothing of a female warrior of Asgard. As Loki made his way to the chaise, Verda stopped, remaining in place, Loki turning to look at her with a questioning gaze.

"What?" Verda asked.

"Nothing...your clothing..."

"They're Sif's. Do you like them?" Verda asked.

"Not particularly." Loki answered. Though she had said she had fought in a battle on Earth and survived and of course had received the training in the basics of the art of war all Asgardian children and young adults, both male and female, were given, he could not picture her as a warrior. He wished to see her in lavish gowns that he felt could only accentuate her beauty.

"I know, they're not me. I should change and return them to her." Verda paused for a moment before continuing, "Did you mean what you said...you wish me to leave my chambers?"

"You'll be far safer here. If this man who brought you here would return looking to do you harm…"

"Oh...yes… I suppose you're right." Verda said, looking somewhat crestfallen. Loki, realizing his statement had been misinterpreted, approached her, taking both her hands in his.

"That's not the only reason. Your safety happens to be my greatest concern at the moment. I'm going to assign an einherjar, perhaps two to escort you when you leave my-our chambers."

"Will it not appear strange for a chambermaid to be given a guard?" Verda asked.

"A chambermaid, perhaps, however a queen in waiting is a different story. Unless, of course, you'd rather retain your current position...I always did enjoy watching you work. You must have thought me quite slovenly, all that I left lying about." Loki responded with a grin. Verda looked to Loki in astonishment.

"Do you not think it too soon? You said only days ago that you believed love required more."

"Was there another that honored me for five years that you haven't told me about?" Loki asked.

"No...not that I know of."

"What more could I require? You were right. I was afraid. I've been afraid my whole life..., afraid I would never be good enough, afraid I would never find my own place outside my brother's shadow, afraid to love as I was afraid of the loss of it. I wish to be done with fear...with all of it. It's what led me down the path I took in the visions that were revealed to me."

"It was the same for me. I was afraid I was not worthy to speak to you. Sometimes I thought I was unworthy to even think about you. My sister would tell me how unworthy I was. Because she was older I believed her."

"I can think of no one more worthy. Will you have me?" Loki asked.

"You aren't concerned with what others may think? Your father?" Verda asked.

"I care nothing what others may think. I care nothing what my father may think. He's quite accustomed to that by now, I would imagine."

"That is most likely so. It is of your father we must speak." Loki heard his mother's voice say. Looking past Verda, Loki saw Frigga standing before the door. Loki recognized the expression of worry on her face.

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

"What is it? Is father unwell?" Loki asked, concerned, and not only for Odin's wellbeing, as he entered his mother's chambers following behind her. Loki was well aware of the toll that the death of his favored son and heir had taken on his adoptive father.

"Thor's death weighs heavily upon him. He must rest soon. If he does not, I fear the consequences. He has not yet had the opportunity to prepare you as he wished to do, it is sooner than he intended, and all are still in mourning for your brother, but I believe the coronation should take place soon. He has agreed. Once it is done, I am hopeful he will feel all is settled enough that he will be willing to take his rest."

"There is another matter of the utmost importance I must speak to him about before he does so." Loki informed Frigga.

"The girl, Verda...I have known for some time of your involvement with her but chose not to speak of it. You are a man now, I did not feel it was my place. When you had her reassigned I thought that you had put an end to it as you had with others. You intend to take her as your queen?"

"If she will have me. She has not given me her answer. That was not what I was referring to, but yes, I intend to speak to him regarding that matter as well and to seek his blessing." Loki told his mother.

"If he refuses to give it? Will you go ahead?"

"What reason would he have to refuse? Unless to love me is a crime, I have often felt that it must be so, she herself has committed none."

"If to love you was a crime, I myself would be in the dungeon along with your father. She has done no wrong of which I am aware and I do not believe your father holds her sister's crimes against her, but that is not the only concern. If the people do not accept her as their queen, they may not accept you as king." Frigga explained.

"Would they accept me as king if they knew my true origin?"

"Your father may be concerned that the people might fear that she is manipulating you, through sorcery or otherwise, that it could lead to her sister gaining her freedom."

"Verda has been quite clear that she wishes never to see her sister set free, not only due to her crimes, including the death of their parents, but also for the manner in which Lorelei mistreated her as a child. She wishes that father had ordered Lorelei's execution. I myself question why he didn't do so. I ask only that she be given a fair chance...but perhaps I ask too much. I was denied the same. Father knew long ago he would never willingly place a frost giant on the throne of Asgard. Perhaps my choice of queen will give him the excuse he seeks not to."

"You are Asgardian. Your origin had nothing to do with who was to be your father's choice to succeed him. You ask for her to be given a fair chance, you claim you were not given one, yet you refuse to give your father the same. He only wants what is best for Asgard and for you as his son. You are still young. You have often been impetuous. Are you certain that you could never love another? Are you truly prepared to make such a commitment?" Frigga asked.

"I am. It's true, I often failed to look before I leapt. I have never been a man easily satisfied. I had pushed her away, fearing as you do what others would think. But now...things have changed...I've changed." Loki informed his mother. Frigga was silent for a moment as she examined him, considering the certainty with which he spoke.

"I believe you have. If that is due to her influence upon you, I can only be grateful for it. I am concerned only for your happiness. That is all I have ever wished for. I will accompany you to speak to your father and intercede on your behalf." Frigga said, approaching Loki and taking both of his hands in her own.

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

Loki approached his chambers, a plethora of disparate thoughts crowding his mind. Upon first being handed Coulson's card by Heimdall in his father's study, he had naively believed, had hoped, that simply finding the man would provide him with the answers that were necessary to solve the mystery of Thor's murder. However, though the man now sat cooling his heels in the dungeon, things had become more complicated after Verda's confession and her observation that he was not the man that had brought her to Asgard and that point in time. Were the two events even related? They most likely were, the mystery time traveler's threats would seem to point in that direction. A man simply looking for a cure for his ailing son and then to return to his own time would have no reason whatsoever to threaten Verda who he would be leaving behind in the past.

Nothing made any more sense than it had from the moment he had watched Thor being run through with the blade. Complicating things even more were the visions and the mindset they had put Loki into. Guilt flooded over him as he realized that though he mourned for his brother, knowing what would have been had the attack on his brother never occurred, he now knew his life at the current moment and his future would be better for the tragedy having taken place. He wished he had heeded his brother's warning, whether it had truly been Thor or not, but then he knew he would have been as equally troubled not knowing, sensing that his life had been somehow altered but ignorant of how. As Loki had often felt over the course of his lifetime, he had been damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

Loki turned his thoughts back to Coulson. Coulson had obviously known by name and by sight one of Thor's mortal assailants. The damage that Thor had done to the man's face had forced Loki to have to compensate for it when he produced his illusion but he must have done at least a passable job for Coulson to have recognized him. Would he also know the man Verda had dealings with? If only he himself had seen him so he could share the memory with Coulson as he had shared Thor's murder with Selvig.

Loki entered his chambers, Verda, much to his satisfaction, had changed out of the clothing she had borrowed from Sif and into an Asgardian gown. She rose from the chaise and approached him, the gold of the necklace he had gifted her catching the light.

"Is everything alright?" Verda asked. Loki looked into her eyes, the eyes that were the only ones that had seen the mysterious man as his had been the only witness to Thor's murder and had stored it within his memory banks to later share those memories with Selvig.

"Yes, for the moment anyway. I have something to ask of you…"

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

Loki had decided Coulson's interrogation could wait until the next morning. After assigning an einherjar to escort Verda to collect her things and assist her in moving them to his chambers, which had amounted to only one trunk of clothing, they had shared a meal, Loki requesting that it be brought to them. The events of the day and the rich food in his belly sent him to his rest earlier than usual. Verda, having now changed into a long nightgown of a silver hue after removing her necklace and placing it back in its box which she had stowed in her trunk, slipped into bed beside him. Both lay looking towards the ceiling. They had never come together there merely to sleep, the two having little energy for more at the moment.

"I never gave you an answer." Verda finally said, breaking the awkward silence. Loki turned his head on the pillow towards her. "I never wished to be queen. The idea itself is frightening, but if it must be...yes. I will have you. Unless your mother has changed your mind."

"No, of course not...in fact she is to intercede on our behalf to obtain my father's blessing." Loki said, turning onto his side to face her, reaching out and taking her hand that rested on her abdomen. Verda turned her head to face him with an expression of astonishment.

"She approves of me?"

"She had her concerns of course, as I expected. She's grateful to you for your influence on me." Loki said with a grin.

"If she only knew…I think it's somewhat the other way around." Verda said with a laugh. "You must have put on quite an act."

"It has been said I have a silver tongue…but it was no act."

"Did you tell her the truth about me?" Verda asked.

"No. Keeping such secrets appears to be tradition in my family. At the moment I see no reason not to carry on with it." Loki moved closer to Verda, she turning onto her side to face him. He looked into her eyes in silence for a moment, caressing her cheek. "I have never said these words to another...I love you."

"I love you, too." Verda said before she began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Loki asked, unable to help smiling though he had no idea what had prompted her fit of giggles.

"You should have seen Sif's face…when I handed her the shackles I stole from the armory. She thought-"

"I'm sure I know what she thought. You have them?"

"Yes. She returned them to me. She couldn't wait to be rid of them." Verda said, the last laughingly, "I'll take them back tomorrow."

"I doubt they will be missed. I see no reason to return them." Loki told Verda with a grin.

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

Coulson had awakened in his cell, raising himself up in the bunk, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the events of the previous day coming back to him as he realized where he was. Obviously all he recalled from the day before had not been a drug induced hallucination or a dream. He had eaten the food that had been brought to him, which he had to admit for prison food was very good. The fact he hadn't eaten since shortly before his abduction the evening before and was famished had perhaps made it even more palatable.

The woman who had brought him there had called it a dungeon, yet it was not exactly what he pictured when he heard that term. The cell was clean and dry, the temperature was pleasant, the bunk he had slept in, though basic, was comfortable. There were no shackles on the wall or obvious devices of torture.

"Phil Coulson" Loki said from outside the cell. Coulson looked up from where he sat on the bunk and rose to his feet.

"Yes."

"I am Loki, son of Odin. You have been brought here on suspicion of involvement in my brother's murder. Tell me what you know and it will go easier for you." Loki looked Coulson up and down. He now realized he had seen the man in his visions. Like Selvig and Jane, he had also played a role in his future that was not now to be, but could not at the moment call up the exact memory.

"That'll be a short conversation. I don't know anything. I didn't even know this place or you existed. I'm still having a hard time believing this is real."

"Your card was found on one of the mortals of Midgard who assailed my brother, the man whom I disguised myself to appear to be when we met at the tavern. What do you know of him?"

"Jeffrey Krieger. Ex-military, special forces. Got mixed up with the wrong people. He'd been recruited by Hydra operatives but pretty quickly became disillusioned. He and a friend of his that had been recruited at the same time made contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. through a third party. I met with him about a week ago and offered him a deal. That's when I gave him my card. I've given a lot of people my card. If I were arrested every time my card was found on someone, I'd spend most of my time behind bars. That's all I know."

"There was a scientist, an expert in gamma radiation. I've been told that after he had contact with your organization he disappeared. Do you know what became of him? Did your people murder him?"

"You're talking about Banner? Bruce Banner? No. He's alive and well. What does he have to do with this?"

"Nothing. I'm asking for a friend."

"He went into hiding. He's in Calcutta, India. S.H.I.E.L.D. has him under surveillance but we've kept our distance. As long as he stays out of trouble, we'll continue to do so. He has some issues with anger management."

"So you claim innocence, you know nothing of my brother...who was responsible for his murder, why he was killed?"

"Until yesterday I thought you were myth. It would have been like me putting a hit out on the Easter Bunny." Coulson answered. Before Coulson's eyes, Loki's form appeared to change. Before him stood another man, middle aged, graying hair cropped close on the sides, his hairline appearing to be receding somewhat. He wore a dark blue sweater over a button down shirt and navy trousers. Coulson stared in wonder at Loki's transformation.

"Do you know this man?" Loki asked.

"Yes. I mean, I know of him. I don't know him personally. We've never met. He's somewhat well known, at least in certain circles. He's been interviewed for a few documentaries on television. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have consulted him a couple of times in the past regarding stolen artifacts. He's a professor, a teacher, primarily of Norse Mythology at the University of Seville in Spain. Randall….no….Randolph. Elliot Randolph."