Sophia Holmes and the Dark World (Sherlock's Daughter/Marvel) *Completed*

Chapter Six

Thor and I sit together for a bit in one of the Asgardian halls, reflecting on what to do, before Heimdall walks up to us.

"You're not in Odin's war council?" Thor asks as he arrives.

"The Bifrost is closed by your father's orders. No one is to come or to go." He takes off his helmet and places it on the table. "We face an enemy that is invisible even to me. Of what use is a guardian such as that?" Heimdall sits down, looking defeated.

"Malekith will return," Thor says, "you know this. I'll need your help." 

"I cannot overrule my King's wishes," Heimdall responds, "not even for you."

"I'm not asking you to," Thor responds. "The Realms need their All-Father strong and unchallenged, whether he is or not. But he is blinded, Heimdall, by hatred."

"As are we all."

"Well I see clearly enough."

"The risks are too great," Heimdall tells him.

"Everything that we do from here on is a risk," I say, looking down as I think, "there's no other way."

Heimdall hesitates before replying. "What do you require of me?"

Thor looks up. "What I'm about to ask of you is treason of the highest order. Success will bring us exile and failure shall mean our death." Heimdall nods, so Thor continues. "Malekith knew the Aether was here, he can sense its power. If we do nothing he will come for it again, but this time lay waste to all of Asgard. Gather Lady Sif and our remaining Warriors. We have a council meeting of our own to sit." Heimdall nods and stands, setting off to find them. With his superior sight, it shouldn't take long.

Just ten minutes later, we move to one of the smaller council rooms. The Lady Sif, Fandral, Volstagg and Heimdall gather around the table as Thor discusses our plan.

"We must move Jane off world," Thor says.

"The Bifrost has been shut down and the Tesseract locked away in a vault," Sif says.

"There are other paths off Asgard, ways known only to a few," Heimdall puts in.

"One, actually," Thor corrects. The others realise he means Loki and immediately jump to his offence.

"No," Volstagg says.

"Why not?" I ask. "Odin has already granted him a trial, and his information did lead to the rescue of the All-mother. It seems to me a perfectly sensible option: we get the information we need, and Loki gets the chance to redeem himself."

"He will betray you," Fandral says.

"He will try," Thor replies.

"Well, what then?" Fandral continues. "Your lovely mortal is being guarded by a legion of our Einherjar who will see you coming from miles away."

"I won't be the one who comes for her." Thor looks over to Sif, who raises an eyebrow.

"If I must," she says. "And what of the All-Father?"

"It is my sworn duty to notify him of crimes against the throne," Heimdall replies. "I will ensure he is away from the palace."

"Assuming you can get Loki's help, and you can free this mortal, what good would it do?" Volstagg asks. "We'd all be dead the minute we step one foot outside the palace."

"That, my friend, is why we won't be leaving by foot," Thor replies. "There is a ship in the Throne Room which I believe to still be in working order. I need you to fix it up for me and hold it until we get there." Volstagg nods, grudgingly.