Inescapable

Ch. 24

Tony stood there on the singed lawn, his mind suddenly a hell of a lot clearer. She was gone. He fucked up. "She'll be back." He heard Steve say behind him. Tony just nodded silently. "Better make sure you fix yourself up by the time she does. You'll regret it if you don't." Steve continued. Tony turned back and just nodded silently in agreement. He fucked up. But he was sure as hell going to make sure he made it right.

-.-

Heimdall's gold eyes gleamed at your as he helped you off the floor. "I have informed the princes of your arrival my lady. They should be here shortly."

"I - thank you. I wasn't sure if you would hear me..."

His warm smile was comforting, his voice velvety smooth as he spoke. "I will always hear you, my lady. I will always watch for you." That struck a chord in you, and you could see his face fall slightly. "I wish you would have called for me sooner my lady. I would have been able to help."

"I - I didn't. I – I should've thought of that." You stammered. Then beratingly whispered to yourself, "I should have fucking thought about that." You looked up to Heimdall again, "do they know?"

He shakes his head telling you no, "that is your story to share my lady, not mine. And while Prince Loki has asked for you multiple times, it just so happens that he was not around to ask for your wellbeing during your capture. If not, I would assure you, my lady, that he would have acted."

You nodded. Before you could say anything else, the booming voice of Thor thundered in the room. "Lady Y/N!" You turned to see a jovial Thor walking towards you, arms outstretched to take you into a bear hug. Behind him, you see Loki running up, trying to overtake his brother to get to you first. His face was worried, not jovial. He succeeded in overtaking Thor and arrived at you first. His hands taking yours as he inspected you from top to bottom. "Y/N... What is it? Are you hurt?" The worry in his voice breaks you, and you launch yourself crying into his arms.

Both brothers look at each other, expressions worried at your outburst. "Come, pet. Come with us." Loki said softly as he ushered you towards the rainbow bridge. You glanced back at Heimdall as you left, he nodded bidding you farewell. Carefully Loki helped you onto his horse, climbing in behind you, while Thor sat atop his own. Without another word, you all rode across the rainbow bridge and towards Asgard.

The movies did not do this majestic beauty justice. The colors on the rainbow bridge were so vivid in contrast to the dark space around it. The glimmering Asgard in the distance shone brighter than any gold or jem you had ever seen on earth. Momentarily you lost yourself and your pain in its beauty. When you reached the castle, Loki slipped off his horse and then helped you down. You bit back a cry of pain, the jostling of the horse ride affecting you more than you thought. "Pet?" You could see that Loki noticed, he turned to Thor and spoke. "Let us go to the healers. She's not well."

Thor nodded and went ahead of you both to gather the healers. Loki guided you, one hand on your back, another holding your forearm in support through the castle. You felt foolish, unable to find it in your voice to tell him you were fine. Eventually, he led you into a room, where you recognized Eir, from Thor: The Dark World. She looked at you, then spoke to Loki, "place her in the Forge." Loki helped you onto the machine, laying you down softly.

"If the All-Father finds that I am helping another mortal, what do you think will be the consequences?" She bit out to both Thor and Loki as they converged around her. Neither of them answered her question as they watched her work the Soul Forge.

The Soul Forge radiated around you, your heart pounding in time with the lights. When Eir spoke again, she directed herself to you, not the two princes waiting at her side. "The loss was recent was it not my dear?"