Jenna Quill had seen more than her fair share of death in her lifetime, so it was safe to say she was quite used to the feeling of loss... but as she stood with the Asgardian people, watching as boats sailed away carrying the bodies of those who perished in the fight, at the head was none other than the queen herself. That was what made it different, the people of Asgard were mourning the loss of their queen when the worst that Jenna had ever lost was her mother... but Jenna had never actually gotten to attend her own mother's funeral and the young woman couldn't help but wonder if it would've felt the same. Almost absentmindedly, Jenna's hand goes to the charm across her neck, pulling it along it's chain as she watches the boats ahead of her burn. Eventually she couldn't watch anymore, tearing her eyes away from the scene before her as a few stray tears fall down her cheeks. 

Somehow her eyes come upon Thor who stood not too far from her, Jane's arms wrapped around his waist as he holds the brunette woman close. They had not spoken a word to one another since he left the prison, Jenna wishing more than anything to offer him her condolences but she also knew her words would not take away the pain he must be feeling. His eyes were still cast out at the boats and from the angle Jenna was standing, she could almost see the flames dancing inside of them. She feels her breath catch in her throat when suddenly he's looking at her, the raw pain inside his gaze enough for Jenna to wish there was something more she could do for him. 

There was something more in his gaze though, something that Jenna didn't quite understand, something that caused her to look away from the sheer intensity of it. She bites down on her lip, looking back out at the water and trying her hardest not to look back at him. She couldn't shake it, that feeling that she knew him, that she belonged in this place... things that didn't make sense to her. She was born on Earth to Meredith Quill exactly twelve minutes after her brother, she had never set foot on Asgard until that week. 

So why did it feel like home? 

Slowly, the crowd began to disperse one by one. Jenna made no move to leave though, her eyes still locked on the horizon with a soft frown on her lips. She was sure she was alone after a while, or at least she thought she was until she feels a presence on her right. She can't bring herself to look at him just yet, but her curiosity as to why he was with her and not Jane would eventually make her.  When she does, his eyes are still looking out at the water where the last of the boats still sailed on. 

"Shouldn't you be with Jane?" Jenna whispers, pulling her arms closer to herself as a gentle breeze blows past. 

"I was but she is resting now, the Aether and the day's events have drained her. I thought it best to leave her be," Thor says quietly back, Jenna unable to come up with a response keeps her eyes on the horizon. "I haven't gotten the chance to thank you properly for your help in the prison."

"There is no need to, I was happy to help. I only wish that I...." Jenna starts to say, her words trailing off as fresh tears start to prickle in her eyes. She almost laughs at it, the ridiculous fact she was crying over the death of a woman she barely knew more than the death of her own mother, but Jenna felt like she had known Frigga. 

"Are all of your funerals like this?" Jenna ends up asking instead, watching as the last of the boats go over the edge. Thor lets out a sigh, tearing his gaze away from the horizon to look over at Jenna for the first time since he'd joined her. Jenna can feel his gaze on her and she almost meets it, but something inside her kept telling her how bad of an idea that was. 

"Yes and no. Normally it is only one or two people we send off and even then it is rather rare. Unless it's a member of the royal family, our funerals are private. " Thor says softly. "It has been some time since I've had to attend one of these..." 

"Your mother told me you lost someone quite dear to you," Jenna whispers, barely seeing Thor nod out of the corner of her eye. 

"It was some time ago, but yes. She was the last funeral I attended, it was much like Mother's... The people adored her and if things had gone the way they were supposed to... Astrid would've been a popular queen," Thor says, Jenna finally bringing herself to look at him. "But things seldom happen the way they're supposed to." 

"What happened?" Jenna asks, her eyes locked with his for a second before Thor forces himself to look away. He takes a deep breath as he moves forward until he can rest his arms against the railings of the dock. Jenna doesn't rush to his side, giving him the space he clearly needed and suddenly feeling like that question wasn't her place. Just as she gets ready to tell him that he didn't have to answer, Thor's voice breaks the silence. 

"Truth be told, I don't really know myself. It was like one moment we were laughing over the victory of a war that had long plagued since our lands and the next she... she was simply gone. Father said it was her time, but I never... I never really accepted that it was," Thor whispers, eyes cast out at the night sky as if he was seeing something far away. "Mother used to tell me that those we lost become the stars in the sky... Astrid never joined the sky." 

"What exactly does that mean?" Jenna asks, unable to keep the curiosity at bay. Thor's eyes move back to her's, something swimming in the dark blue irises that Jenna couldn't quite place. 

"I suppose I'm still trying to figure that out. Now come, it's late and I think it's safe to say we're both quite exhausted from the day's events... Let me escort you to your chambers," Thor says, ending the conversation as he offers Jenna his arm. She takes it, giving him a soft smile despite the fact that the simple touch of her fingers on his arm was causing bolts of electricity to shoot through her body. 

-------------------------------------------------

oh my, it's been three months? 

oooopsie.

thanks for reading, 

connie xx