When I was back on solid ground, I found myself clutching at Thor, slightly dizzy. We were in a large golden room, circular in shape, several bodies littering the floor. "Get him to the healing room," Thor announced, motioning to the man who seemed to have collapsed in the center of the room, clutching at a large, golden sword. The warriors jumped into action. "Bryn, don't you move a muscle. I have my brother to deal with."
Swinging his hammer, Thor flew off to the golden palace in the distance as the four warriors helped drag the injured man to his feet, helping him across the rainbow bride that connected this Bifrost to the rest of the kingdom.
Seeing as I was on an alien planet and knew only five people, I decided for once, to obey orders. I made my way towards the doorway near the bridge and sat down just inside, out of sight from anyone entering.
Before long, I heard the clomping of horse's hooves against the bridge. Thor, most likely, coming to fetch me. I stood, ready to pester him with the questions I had long last wanted the answers to, when in stormed a different man. He was tall, his black hair slicked back, a green cape over his shoulders. I gasped.
He turned to look at me, his eyes melting as he saw me. "Brynhild," he muttered, his eyes glossing over. "My child." I looked him over, unsure of what to do. He glanced out the entrance behind me before speaking again.
"Hold on," he said softly. "In a few minutes, everything will be alright."
He turned away from me, picked up the golden sword, and slid it into its pedestal. A whirring noise filled the air as the Bifrost sprung to life, A tree-like structure of ice and electricity stemming from the sword and blossoming around the circular room above our heads. I glanced at the man, my father. "Is it supposed to this?" I asked fearfully.
"In just a few minutes, this will be over," he said over the noise. "Then I will tell you everything you wish to know. Everything Thor hasn't told you."
Just as he finished speaking, Thor appeared in the doorway, a look of bewilderment on is face. "You can't stop it," my father said, his voice deep and angry. "The Bifrost will build until it rips Jotunheim apart."
My heart plummeted in my chest. This was the brother had to deal with. My father.
Thor went to strike at the base of the tree but before he connected the blow, my father sent a blast of energy from the scepter that hit Thor straight in the chest, knocking him backwards.
I scrambled to help him up, our eyes connecting for a moment. "Bryn, get out of here," Thor urged. "Do as I say."
I knew not to disobey him this time. I climbed to my feet and ran out of the Bifrost, watching the two brothers fight from some ten yards out on the bridge.
"I never wanted to be King," my father growled. "I only wanted to be your equal." He sent Thor falling backwards for a second time.
"I will not fight you, brother!" Thor bellowed back in return. I grit my teeth.
"I'm not your brother," my father spat. "I never was."
"Loki, this is madness."
My father seemed to convulse with anger. "Is it madness? Is it?"
I shook my head, biting my lip. I knew that I couldn't interfere. I would be of no use to Thor, I would only get in the way. The two dove towards each other, Loki brandishing a staff, Thor his hammer. They landed on the ground, rolling over each other and scrambling to get up as the fighting turned to close quarters combat. Without warning, the two blasted out of the Bifrost and flew over my head, my father toppling off the bridge. I screamed, heart skipping a beat as I spied him dangling from the side.
"Brother, please." Thor knelt to pull Loki up, but the second he reached down, my father shimmered and then disappeared, re-materializing behind Thor and stabbing him with the tip of the staff. Then one Loki split into a hundred, all laughing at his brother as he laid on the bridge. Thor, tired of the tricks, lifted his hammer into the air.
"Enough!" He bellowed, blasting the Lokis with lightning until only one remained, lying on his back, several feet away. Thor advanced slowly towards his brother, stopping only to place the hammer on is chest. Loki groaned, unable to get up.
Thor, ignoring his struggling brother, advanced cautiously towards the Bifrost, shielding his eyes from the bright light now emanating from it.
"Look at you," Loki hissed. "The mighty Thor, with all your strength. What good does it do you now?" He let out a pained noise, the weight of Thor's hammer bearing down on him.
"Take it off of him," I cried, lunging forward and grabbing onto Thor's arm. "It's too heavy." Thor shook me off.
"Hear me, brother!" Loki yelled over the noise. "There's nothing you can do."
Thor didn't react, but grabbed me by the shoulders. "Run as far down the bridge as you can, Bryn," he ordered. "Go. Now."
I did as I was told, not stopping as I sprinted past my own father pinned to the ground. I only paused when I heard the familiar whoosh of the hammer and a loud pounding. I slowed, glancing over my shoulder. Thor had summoned his hammer and was not hitting the bridge before the Bifrost, cracking the rainbow into millions of colors.
"What are you doing?" Loki asked, sitting up. "If you destroy the bridge you'll never see her again!" He was growing desperate.
"Forgive me, Jane," Thor cried, hitting the bridge with one last blow as Loki jumped at him from behind, staff raised. The bridge splintered, a giant wave rose up from the waters beneath. The shock threw me back into the air, the world devolving into blackness.
