Unforgotten

Chapter 16

As the brothers landed in front of Heimdall, they were met by the warriors Three, and Lady Sif. 

"You found him," Lady Sif said, going to Thor's side.  Thor nodded, and Loki looked between them.

"They know?" Loki asked.

"Yes." Heimdall answered, and all turned to him.  "I have watched over you and Lady Paige since your return to Midguard.  But when the order came from Asgard to open the gate to Jotunheim, I wondered ." Loki narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.  "When the person returned, and I then saw the opening to Earth allowing the Frost Giants to enter, I became concerned.  Then I saw your woman taken.  This is not the way." Heimdall looked down and shook his head.   

"Heimdall alerted me, and I gathered the others." Thor said.  Loki looked around, and the warriors nodded their heads. 

"We are with you, Loki."  Fandral said. 

"Let's go find her.  To Jotunheim." Hogun said.  Loki simply, nodded, then looked at Heimdall, and they traveled forth.

I felt so cold, it was almost burning.  I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy.  I instinctively curled myself around my belly, keeping my baby safe, and tried hard to open my eyes.  I blinked a few times, trying to get my bearings, but nothing looked familiar.  I was in a wooden shack.  Full of snow?  No wonder I was so cold, I was lying on snow.  I tried to sit up, but my joints didn't want to cooperate. 

"Ah, you wake, child." I jumped, and saw the same being in front of me that I had encountered at the tree farm.  "Welcome to Jotunheim." I frowned, confused. 

"I don't understand," I said quietly. 

"You carry the child of Loki Laufeyson in your belly," the giant being said, raising a finger to me.

"Loki Odinson," I responded harshly.

"He is the son of Laufey!" The thing boomed, and I shrank back.  He reached forward and yanked me to my feet.  "Our fallen king who betrayed us.  It remains the time of his rule," My arm burned where his fingers made contact with my skin, and I cried out.  "Hush, woman.  An ancestor of Laufey will pay for his mistakes.  It is the time of the Frost Giants!" He tossed me back to the ground, and I landed hard on my hip and arm.  I quickly scooted back to the corner of the shed, shivering, trying to put as much distance between myself and the Frost Giant as possible. 

I wrapped my arms around myself, and tried to rub my arms vigorously, anything to keep warm.  Assess the situation, I thought.  I glanced at my arm - my bracelet from Uncle Tony was gone.  I was no longer on Earth, obviously.  I felt the tears begin to well in my eyes, and I tried to wipe them off my face before they fell and froze to my face.  It really didn't matter how much I tried to plan – I truly had no idea what I was going to do.

Loki, Thor, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three landed just outside the main city in Jotunheim, and began moving toward the center while trying to make a plan to find Paige.

"I assume that is where they are keeping her," Lady Sif said, leading the way.  Loki had yet to say anything, he had been silent since leaving the Bifrost.  "Loki, will you be able to conjure enough magic to keep us each covered as we go into the city?"

Loki shook his head.

"That is not my plan."

"Well, then pray tell, what is your plan, brother?" Thor asked, but stopped in his tracks when Loki suddenly turned and faced him.

"No, you tell me, brother.  Who from Asgard came here, and let the Frost Giants know about Paige's pregnancy?" Thor looked back at Loki silently, and the warriors behind them also remained silent.  "Tell me now!" Loki shouted.