A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

FIFTY ONE

     Astrid remembered nothing of what just happened, all she knew was she was falling. Her chest tightening, breath speeding, she managed to force her eyes shut, bracing for impact. She was powerless against gravity.

As she landed, she felt nothing. She expected pain, she expected death. But maybe that was what this was... death.

As she stood she looked around, the dark abyss swallowed everything in the room. She held her head, confused of her whereabouts, her mind still fuzzy from what happened. She then remembered the fight against someone, but she couldn't work out who, only blurry images flashed in her mind. She also remembered getting thrown backwards and hitting her head. She brought her hand up to where she hit her head, there was no sign of injury. No blood, no bumps.

She looks down feeling a familiar fabric hug her body. She was wearing an Asgardian dress with her hair done up as if she was a Princess again. The dress wasn't just any dress, it was her favourite she wore when Loki had asked for her hand in marriage. So many memories of their time together flooded back, she fiddled with her ring wishing for more time. Just like that... her wish was granted.

"Hello, love." That voice. That familiar voice she hadn't heard in five years. At first she didn't want to turn around, it seemed too good to be true, but it was too real not to be. She spun around seeing him. He was right there in front of her very eyes. He stood there tall and proud, his signature smirk drawn onto his face and his emerald eyes locked onto her.

"Loki!" Her breath was shaky as she ran to him, but before she could reach him he disappeared. She felt his energy as he glowed behind her appearing once again. This time he opened his arms out inviting her in. Without a second thought she was running again. This time as she fell into his arms, she fell through him. The dark room she was in was replaced with the front gates of the palace of Asgard. Her home.

"Lady Astrid. Please follow me." An Einherjar guard called for her. Without any questions she followed. As she walked down the halls of the palace she missed so much, she started to think harder. What if she was dead. One minute she was on the battlefield against Thanos, the next she was close to being reunited with her husband.

She was lead to the doors of the throne room. She stood there alone as two guards opened up the doors revealing a crowd full of people inside. As she was escorted down the isle, she looked at each civilian, remembering a few of them before Asgard was destroyed, in the crowd she saw Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg. Towards the front of the room, was Odin and Frigga. That's when it clicked. All these people had already died. She came face to face with another familiar face...

"Heimdall?"

"My Lady." He bowed his head in respect. "I must say it is good to see you again. You have certainly grown in the five years." Astrid welled up with tears. Too happy to see her family again to ask what all this meant. Heimdall bowed again before moving out of the way to reveal the one she had been waiting to see all this time. Loki was stood at the very front of the room, his own eyes looked glassy from his own tears he refused to let fall.

She walked towards him slowly as he held his hand out to her inviting her up with him. She hesitated to take it, scared he would disappear again. As she reached out and their fingertips made contact, she gasped, not quite believing how real he felt. Without wasting another second she threw herself to him. Everything about him was real. His touch, his smell, his voice.

They pulled away slightly making eye contact as she rested her hands on his chest. "My darling Princess."

He gently held her face in his hands caressing her cheek and wiping the tears that continued to fall down her face. Astrid closed her eyes as she felt his lips brush against hers, soon enough it turned into the most passionate kiss she may ever had experienced with him.

"You have no idea how much I missed you." She whispered to him.

"And I you."

They held one another in their arms for a long time before Astrid felt the need to speak up. "Loki? Where am I? And what is going on?"

Astrid felt his body tense as she asked the questions that had been on her mind since she woke up.

"Astrid... this is Valhalla." This news wasn't exactly shocking. She had a feeling she had died to end up in her husbands arms again.

"I-I'm dead?" Astrid looked down to her feet. Even though she had wished to be reunited with Loki, she couldn't help but feel for her family back home on Earth. Especially Thor.

"Not exactly."

"What?"

"This is temporary. Yes you should've died when that blast went off but... there is still something you must fulfil."

"What do you mean? You're just going to send me back?" Astrid gripped onto Loki's arms. She didn't want to leave him again. She wanted to stay here.

"My Prince." Heimdall stepped forward to warn Loki his time was up. Loki nodded to him thanking him for his warning.

"There is no time to explain. I will see you again Astrid. But now isn't your time." He stroked her hair as she held his face in her hands as is she was trying not to let go of him again.

"I can't! I won't!"

"You have no choice my Princess." Loki chuckled. "One day you will be back here. Besides, there is someone you still have to meet. But now there is no time."

"Wait! Who, Loki? Lo-"

"Goodbye Astrid." Suddenly Astrid was shot backwards. The figures of Loki and the rest of the Asgardians becoming distant.

~

Astrid woke up laying against the rock she hit her head on. Every breath she took was painful. She lifted her hand up to the side of her head and felt a deep cut with blood still trickling down her face. She looked around watching the battle unfold, the noises were muffled and her ears were ringing. She forced herself up to her feet, every inch of her body aching.

She looked ahead to see Thanos battling it out with Carol. She immediately started running over seeing that Thanos had the gauntlet back on his hand. They had all worked way too hard to let him win... again.

She had finally reached him after he had sent Carol flying backwards by using one of the stones. He was about to click his fingers when Astrid grabbed his hand stopping him.

Astrid was unsure as to where this energy had suddenly come from. Her body was battered, bruised and broken. But she would not let that stop her. She would fight with everything she had. Until her final breath.

Thanos finally had the upper hand and pushed Astrid away. He brought his hand up, thinking he had finally won. "I am, inevitable."

He snapped his fingers, but sat there confused. Nothing happened. He saw a flash of light from his side and looked to Astrid who had sat up. He saw all six infinity stones implanted in her glove Tony had made for her. The burning sensation had shot down her arm and up her neck as the power entered her body. She refused to let the power of the stones beat her. Not yet. She took a few deep breaths finally adjusting to the power she holds.

"I am Astrid, princess of Asgard..." Astrid said sounding breathless. Thanos looked at the girl in awe. He had to admit, she was strong. "And you... will never be... a God."

Just like that. She snapped her fingers.