The Weakness

3

We stepped out of the Bifrost and Loki glanced at me. I nodded and as we began to walk, fell into step beside him.
Thor led us into the Jotun's castle. I glanced around, sensing eyes on us. A flash of movement caught my eyes and I looked forward.
"You've come a long way to die, Asgardians." A Frost Giant sat on what seemed to be a throne.
"I am Thor Odinson." Thor said.
"We know who you are."
"How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor demanded.
"...the house of Odin is full of traitors." Giant said.
"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies!" Thor called.
Laufey stood and growled, "Your father is a murderer and a theif. And why have you come here, to make peace? You long for battle. You crave it. You're noting but a boy. Trying to prove himself a man."
"This boy has grown tired of your mockery." All around us, Frost Giants' hands froze into long sword-like weapons. Loki stepped up to Thor's side. He muttered words to get him to stop, to think about the consequences his actions could cause.
"You know not what your actions would unleash. I do. Go now. While I still allow it." The Frost Giant called in a grim voice, stepping in front of my brothers.
"We will accept your most gracious offer." Loki said cautiously. From where I stood, I saw Thor look back at Loki in disbelief, then look back at the Giant.
"Come on, brother." Loki said. Thor turned as Loki reached me.
"Run back home, little princess." I heard the Giant say. I closed my eyes.
"Damn." Loki said.
I heard a bang. "Next?" Thor asked cockily. Someone rammed into me, knocking me down. I opened my eyes to see a spear flying above me.
Loki stood and helped me up. I reached for my swords and ran towards a giant that was behind Loki. I slashed his head off and turned back towards Loki. A Frost Giant stood over him. I ran towards them and jumped in the air, willing the wind to buffet me forward. I knocked the Giant down and he grabbed my wrist as he fell. I pushed him off.
The body temperature in my hand dropped, and I cried out as a shard of ice formed in my hand and flew into the Giant's chest, killing him instantly.
"At least make it a challenge for me!" I heard Thor say. I cursed him under my breath.
A few feet away, I saw a particularly large Frost Giant step up to Thor and roar at him. Thor made a pretty bad impression, which would have been comical if we weren't about to be killed.
"Loki, you did warn Heimdall, did you not?" I asked. Loki nodded.
"Don't let them touch you!" Volstagg shouted. I silently agreed.
"Move!" Loki yelled, running at me. Shocked, I leapt aside to see Loki stabbing a Frost Giant. I gasped for air and rolled onto my feet. I saw Loki looking around nervously. He locked eyes with me, and I went towards him.
I heard a groan and turned to see Fandral impaled. I threw a small blade at the Frost Giant next to him and watched Hogun a d Volstagg remove him from the ice shard.
"Thor!" Sif yelled.
"We must! Go!" Loki yelled.
"Then go!" Thor yelled back. I exchanged a glance with Loki and we ran towards the others.
Something shook the ground, causing me to lose my footing. I quickly jumped to my feet and stared, horrified, at a large Jotun monster.
"RUN!" Volstagg yelled, hauling Fandral onto his shoulder. We ran towards the Bifrost site, the creature catching up very easily.
The ground cracked and fell into nothing behind us. That gave me pretty good motivation to run faster. Sif nearly got trapped under the thing's tail, but got out just in time. It fell with the rock.
We finally got to the site and Volstagg yelled, "Heimdall! Open the bridge!" Nothing happened.
A large, blue, clawed hand appeared before us and gripped the edge of the cliff. Thor spun his hammer and jumped into the air.
The rest of us backed into a group. The thing opened its mouth to roar, and a flash of red and gold slammed through its head.
It crashed to the ground and Thor landed in front of it. As it fell, I turned to see an army of Jotuns approaching us. After a moment, they ran at us.
A brilliant light beamed down, bringing a squadron of Asgardian soldiers. A horse neighed and reared back.
"Father! We'll finish them together!" Thor shouted.
"Silence!" Odin hissed. I cast my eyes to the ground. Loki took in a slow breath beside me.
A rumbling of ice brought my attention back up. Laufey stared into the face of Father.
"Allfather." Laufey said. "You look weary."
"Laufey. End this now." Father said.
"Your boy sought this out."
"You're right. These are the actions of a boy." Father said lightly. "Treat them as such. You and I can end this, here and now. Before there's further bloodshed."
"We are beyond diplomacy now, Allfather. He'll get what he came for." Laufey said through his teeth. "War. And death."
"So be it." Father said. An ice dagger grew in Laufey's hand and he slashed.
The Bifrost opened and knocked Laufey away. We were back with Heimdall. I sheathed my swords and kept my head bowed as footsteps led quickly across the bridge into Asgard.
"Why did you bring us back?"
I closed my eyes. Images swam in my head of days as a child, running about and breaking rules with Thor. They lead to killing Frost Giants. Then images of Loki and I watching Thor and Sif fighting, sword on hammer. That lead to Laufey's rage. Another flashed through my head, of me watching Loki and Thor from behind an ajar door. I looked on as Father explained the responsibilities of ruling.
But there was one memory that stood out.
I was a child, no older than 13 in Midguard years. I had ridden out to the Bifrost late at night, terrified of something. Heimdall stood at his usual post, watching as the young girl came towards him. They said words I couldn't remember, then Heimdall put his hand on my forehead, his eyes glowing.
"And you are an old man and a fool!" I heard Thor shout. My head shot up.
Father lowered his head. "Yes. I was a fool. To think you were ready." He said quietly. I stepped forward at the same time Loki did.
"Father-" Loki said.
"HEAAARGH!"
Loki backed away slowly, and took my hand.
"Thor Odinson. You have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you've opened these Realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" He put his staff into the Bifrost and it sparked to life.
"You are unworthy of these Realms. You're unworthy of your title!" Father ripped the cloak and medallions off of Thor's armor. "You are unworthy of the loved ones you have betrayed." I shivered and looked up at Loki. He watched with a hurt expression.
"I now take from you your power!" The hammer flew into father's hand. "In the name of my father and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!" He pushed the hammer forward and Thor flew back into the Bifrost, his armor stripping off of him.
Loki stared at father and let go of my hand, approaching the Bifrost. I reached out and grabbed his arm, keeping him from entering. Father held up the hammer to his face. He threw the hammer in after him and turned towards me and Loki, who watched him once again. I bowed my head, the intricate pattern on the floor suddenly very interesting.
Loki drew me closer to him as Father approached. I raised my head and looked up at Father's face. He glared at the two of us from where he stood.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves. As my children, I expect you to set an example. Killing Frost Giants is not the best way." Odin left and I looked up at Loki.
Heimdall suddenly let out a low chuckle. Loki glanced at him.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
Heimdall blinked, then focused on us. "Thor has been on Midguard for barely a minute and he's already been hit by an automobile and griping about his hammer." He said, smirking.
"What did you expect?" I asked. Heimdall smiled. Loki turned to leave, and with one last glance at the guard, I followed.