Mirror ∞ Marvel ∞ bk. 1

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Paige gasped as she gazed upon the grand golden gates of Asgard at the end of the Rainbow Bridge. Tall, glistening in the ambient starlight, they opened without a word, soundlessly. Thor grinned back at his friends. With a laugh at their expressions, he led them forward into the world of Asgard.

"It is quite a walk to the palace," Thor joked. He gestured far ahead to where there stood a great pyramidal structure, or set of structures. "Usually I would just fly, but..." After he trailed off, he stopped, turning to look at them again. "No, no. We'll take one of the patrol vessels."

As he spoke, what Paige swore to be a flying viking ship zipped overhead. Thor laughed again. Glancing around at the others, she was hardly surprised to see only Thor not hesitating. But she didn't hesitate. Somehow, something deep in her knew this place. She felt it in her essence, in her magic. She had come home.

"Come on," Paige said.

Thor led them down a fan of stairs until they reached a great courtyard of tile and stone. Trees stood tall around them, their white flowers blooming in the night. Silence dominated Asgard. But as they continued on, being led through the courtyard down a long pathway to a wall of stone, they heard a raucous.

Thor grinned. He opened a door into a great guardhouse only to find warriors of Asgard drinking mead and feasting. Upon the entrance of the Avengers, they silenced themselves in wonder. But as soon as they'd quieted, another song began, and attention turned from them.

A tall man, fair haired and blue eyed wearing green clothes and golden armor, walked forward. "Midgardians? Thor you bastard. Bringing these people among us?" But then he laughed. "I love it!"

"Fandral, you would do well to learn to watch your tongue," said another, darker haired and dark eyed. "Princess Gersemi is with them!"

"As always, Hogun is correct," replied Fandral. He bowed.

Paige rolled her eyes. "I'm not Gersemi. Though, I'm starting to see this is going to be a trend."

Fandral and Hogun turned immediately to Thor. Fandral spoke up. "Not Princess Gersemi? She's not-"

"She cannot-"

Thor laughed. "She is."

"Um, hi, Avengers here," Tony waved. "Yeah where can we change? I'd like to get out of this, stat."

"Forgive me, Stark." Thor nodded. "Fandral. Hogun. We need to borrow a ship."

Hogun nodded. He gestured to Thor and led them through the tables around the outside. A roaring fire lit the relatively small hall through the center. Even Clint found himself smiling at the antics of the off duty soldiers as they passed them by, though he did find himself dropping back to walk by Paige at the back. Fandral followed them.