Brother Avengers

Brother Avengers Chapter 3

For the first section, I listened to the Thor soundtrack "Ride to the Observatory," and then the "Destiny In Space Theme."

Thanks, and enjoy!

VVVV

THREE

The crowd, packed onto either side of the bridge just before the towering gold sentinels, cheered and whistled as the two steeds trotted right into their midst. Einar's bridle jingled and his hooves clattered against the weathered white stone, his strong body jogging beneath Loki and Jane as he tugged against his bit. Loki leaned just to his left, around Jane's head, watching Thor and Sif so he could keep pace.

Thousands of bright-eyed courtiers and commoners alike, all dressed in flowing, multi-colored robes, their hair bedecked with wreathes of flowers, clapped, grinned, shouted and tossed petals in the air as the royal horses passed by. The sun blazed straight overhead, enlivening every scarlet and violet and amber and sapphire to its most vivid shade, and touching everything with a sheen of glowing gold.

Loki half smiled and closed his right eye as several plump, giggling young women hurled fistfuls of rose petals at his head. Jane yelped, then laughed, bringing her hand up to protect her face as the soft bits of flower rained across them.

Thor's flashing form pulled back on his own reins as the two horses drew near the mountain-sized iron gates.

Thor glanced over at Loki as they drew up next to him and Sif. Loki met Thor's brilliant eyes, and Thor winked at him. Loki hid his smile, and lifted his head to gaze at the solid, twisted ironsmithery of the ageless gate.

He sensed the crowd close in behind them, and settle. Then, Thor's mighty voice thundered through the quiet.

"Heimdall!" he called. "Open the Asbru Bridge!"

Silence fell. Loki waited. Jane went still.

Then, the great gates heaved apart.

The crowd exploded. Billions more petals shot into the air and showered down across them, and cheers deafened them.

Memories flooded Loki's mind—memories of him and Thor, standing just here, on the threshold of their very first adventure together. Then, more vibrant images—of Nornheim and Midgard and Jotunheim and even Niffelheim—all rushing through his blood and roaring in his ears even louder than the masses. Loki winked back at Thor. His brother grinned. He remembered.

The gates clanged into place. The two horses pranced and snorted, champing at their bits. Sif wrapped her arms tight around Thor's waist and lowered her head, narrowing her eyes. Thor gripped his reins and took a deep breath.

"Hang on," Loki murmured in Jane's ear. Jane grabbed Einar's mane—

Thor let out a bellowing roar—and his stallion leaped forward.

Einar needed no other invitation. He lunged after, galloping through the gates and flashing through the light and shadow cast by the mighty sentinels.

The two horses charged forward, neck-and-neck, their thundering hooves sending flashes of light blazing up from the rainbow surface of the Asbru. In an instant, they cleared the sentinels, and the vast sky opened up before them—rolling clouds, then galaxies, nebula and glittering stars. Ahead of them stretched the gray ocean, whose near horizon frothed and foamed right where the Asbru ended. The scent of salt, and a spring gust filled Loki's lungs as his wind-swift horse strained to overtake Thor's.

Thor let out a rumbling laugh as the waves flashed by on either side of them, and the Bifrost gate rose up before them. Loki pressed closer to Jane, letting her hair banner out over his right shoulder.