Agent A: Displaced

Facing Odin

Six weeks to the day since the attack, she found herself walking down the same corridor, with Loki gently supporting her elbow. There was no evidence of what had happened to her, but the corridor still felt cold and threatening, she expected another attacker to jump out from behind a pillar at any moment.

Loki stopped her at the point where her body had been found, looking sadly at the cold marble floor. "I'm sorry I wasn't there," he started.

"Please don't do this again," she reached up to him, cupping the back of his neck as she looked up into his eyes. "I know you're sorry and I know you feel really terrible about what happened. But that won't change anything, I just need you to help me now. Help me get better and learn how to defend myself properly, because my last set of lessons clearly didn't stick," she giggled, prompting a smile from him.

"You are perfectly capable of defending yourself, Little One, Even the strongest warrior can be taken by surprise every once in a while. But as I've told you before, I have no intentions of leaving your side. Are you ready to go see the AllFather?"

She sighed. "Yes, if we must." Frigga had mentioned the tense conversations she'd had with her husband in the aftermath of her attack and she wasn't looking forward to facing him.

"It's good to see you are feeling well again, Lady Annalise," Odin's greeting was tinged with frost.

"Your Majesty," She gave the smallest of bows before meeting his cold gaze.

"Can you remember anything of your attacker?"

"Haven't you been able to find him?"

"Thor is leading the search as we speak. No doubt there will be another attempt, once they hear of your recovery." He cleared his throat and glared at her, "You are not to leave the palace. Any time you are out of your chambers you must be accompanied for your own protection."

"Yes Your Majesty." She said quietly, head bowed. A burning wave of guilt washed over her; if she'd defended herself properly, like she'd been trained to, none of them would be in this position.

The doors flew open and Thor strode in, clutching a man who hung limply in his fist. "Father, we have found him." He threw the man down on the floor.

"We had heard of a man claiming that the house of Odin would soon fall thanks to his actions and found him in a tavern with a group of vagabonds plotting his next move. The others are in the cells, father, but I thought you would like to deal with this one first?"

She looked over him, a faint shiver of recognition running through her as she saw his thick, calloused hands covered in thin scars, uselessly tugging at Thor's fingers. His thin frame was covered in dirty, loose clothing, but even the rags couldn't hide him from her.

The edges of her vision went blurry and she fought back tears, determined not to let him see how much he'd wounded her.

Loki squeezed her hand and she risked a glance at him, her expression telling him all he needed to know.

"Lady Annalise?" Odin's unspoken question rang out loudly.

She nodded slightly, knowing that her movements carried a death sentence.

"Right then," Odin growled, slamming Gungnir on the marble floor to get everyone's attention. "Lady Annalise, please return to your room and do not leave without an escort and a valid reason."

Frigga stepped forward to accompany her as Loki and Thor remained, waiting for Odin's next command. She allowed herself to be silently steered out of the throne room.