GEM:

.

I walk with Sif through the crowd of citizens who chatter and smile happily. Golden light beams through the glistening stone pillars of a complimenting color, cascading the fire orange shade on the floor beneath us. The view from the halls is a stunning one of the tall towers of gold forming the royal city around us; in the palace.

My hair—small waves of white locks and a length reaching my lower back that doesn't match my dark eyebrows—flows behind me gracefully, though my own grace isn't too promising. Never has been. The skirt of my maroon dress catches the breeze from the grand balcony; my dress that I only wear for very special occasions. It is a single layer with a collar that wraps around my neck to it is sleeveless. It reaches the floor and is complimented with a golden belt at the waist.

My fingers go to the top of my head to make sure the braided crown that takes up the top back layer is still in tact. But Sif urges me along. She does not wish to be late and nor do I.

I smile and follow her into the grand halls of the palace. Our friend has honored us a close spot in this glorious event; the coronation of Thor Odinson who is taking his place as Asgard's prime ruler.

My friend beside me wears a silver and blue gown to this event. We stand lining the first steps towards the throne. I am on the floor, Sif stands on the first step, Thor's brother and our friend Loki Odinson stands on the second step, and the queen on the third. Across from us on the opposite steps stand our other closest friends and greatest warriors of Asgard.

It seems the whole city is a shade of gold in this worthy hour. Thor has been our dearest friend since before we knew what the word "friend" meant. And this day is indeed a very happy one.

"How much do you want to bet Thor has already had his share of wine?" Sif asks me quietly with a smirk, looking down at me because I am significantly short than she. Unlike my hair, hers is a deep black. But she's as pale as I am.

I frown and pretend to think, "how about three-hundred pieces?"

She laughs and so do I.

"But I know for certain that he is probably more excited than his father and Odin is the one getting to take a break," I giggle.

She chuckles. "I dare say that all of us will get to see just how happy he is during the celebration afterwards."

I laugh a little but cover my mouth with my hand.

The people around us begin to quiet down and look to Odin, the powerful king standing before his enormous throne. The old man has seen many long years as King of Asgard. It is time he passes on his responsibilities to his worthy son. Like him, the king has a beard though now white as snow along with his shoulder length hair, the golden patch covering his eye lost in war many centuries ago, and cape of royal red on his broad shoulders. His wife, the Queen of Asgard stands with him with her hair even longer than my own flowing down in golden locks with her stunning ornamented gown.

https://youtu.be/SuxCmC9GRqc

All of us stand to wait for the official ceremony to begin. And once it does, there are smiles on all our faces as we watch Thor, the son of Odin and Prince of Asgard, walk down the long isle to his father, kneeling down to listen to the king, though he made sure to put on a good show from the moment he entered the room, lifting his hands and cheering as the crowds did the same. Sif and I shook our heads at this because we know him so well that he always must make a party of everything.

He is just how you would expect the prince of a golden city to look; exceedingly handsome with shoulders like his father and enormous muscles everywhere else to add to that, with a thin golden beard that matches his hair that ends at his shoulders.

A wide smile is plastered on his lips and his eyes of a piercing blue say the same as he looks up at his mother, a wink slipping by much to her disapproval, though she seems to want to smile anyway. He wears the armor he has always worn; silver chest plate and a traditional, royal chainmail on his arms, plated boots and gauntlets with a cloak that matches his father's.

And of course, Mjolnir, the trusty war hammer given to him by Odin, passed through generations of kings and worthy carriers, at his side.

As the crowd applauds, the king of Asgard stands from his mighty throne, a crown; helmet of gold, on his head, as he looks down upon his son. With staff in hand he lets it stomp once before him, the group of warriors quieting to hear his speech once this happens.

There is a moment of silence before the king's powerful voice echoes in the great hall, "Thor Odinson," he speaks and already I feel tiny. "My heir," he continues, "my firstborn. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star, its power has no equal, as a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build. 'Tis a fit companion for a king... I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms from the time of the great beginning. Though the day has come..."

As he speaks I glance up at Loki to my left, on the other side of Sif, at his long cloak of green as it moves slightly when he fidgets. He has never been the one to care for his brother's celebrations and boasting. But this is an event that will mark Asgard's history and isn't to be taken lightly. Loki has been a companion of ours as his brother has been, a slightly mischievous and trickster companion but only for harmless fun. He's taught me all I know about the art of magic. He tells me that I have a natural gift for it, as do we all. And in time I'll find my element. I wasn't sure what he meant but I trust his judgment when it comes to spells. He just might be the best in the universe with them. Unlike his brother, his hair is charcoal black and his thin brows the same, quite flawless cheekbones and pale complexion, with stunning green-blue eyes. He is less bulky than Thor (but not skinny) but just as tall and only a year younger, with a clean face and prefers colors of black and green rather than silver and red like his brother.

Most people prefer Thor's company than quiet Loki. But I know him better to rather speak to him sometimes. All of those I am friends with are very kind to me. They call me things like "little", "innocent", "a sweetheart", and "intelligent". So perhaps I have a friendship with Loki because of these traits that people admire and can't force to be rude to me either. Loki has always called me kind  yet powerful. That was only a few times. He isn't normally the one to exchange compliments and that I understand.

https://youtu.be/tXjrNaMfZ3w

Normally his behavior is mostly glad or indifferent. But today I might be only one but I notice he is troubled. He swallows more than necessary and shifts his gaze frequently, his expression normal enough but I know better. He seems to be breathing a bit shakily. If I was beside him I would ask what is wrong but not only would it be wrong to speak now, but Sif is between us. So I just leave my suspicious gaze on him until he detects it and I look back at the prince being crowned.

"Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?" the Allfather asks his son.

"I swear," Thor replies surely and strongly.

"Do you swear to preserve the peace?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of the Realms?"

"I swear!" he lifts his hammer with confidence.

I think the selfish ambition part might be harder than he thinks but we'll see.

Loki's head looks to the left suddenly, his eyes alert.

"Then on this day," Odin continues, "I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you..." the king stops for a moment...

Thor's smile relaxes as his brows tense.

There is silence in the air as Odin lifts his head, looking around the room. He senses something? But what?

"Frost Giants," he mutters with hate.

My heart beat quickens immediately. Frost Giants? Here? Now? Where?

Sif and I exchange a frantic look as people begin to panic a bit.

The warriors and our friends do the same, gripping their weapons.

"Where?" Thor asks when he stands, almost sounding like a demand.

"The treasury..." the king answers. But before anyone can act he stomps his staff down to summon the Destroyer, a guardian made of metal controlled by magic only found in the king's staff. One command it awakens, the giant being of destruction. But not here. In the treasury. And we are sure that it will take care of the job. But are there more?

People start to scatter and I take Sif's arm, both of us running to our rooms for our armor just in case. I hold the skirt of my gown to my knees as I run, showing off my legs that are in black tights. I push past frantic people trying to figure out what to do. I leap to my room to retrieve a weapon and yank off my dress once the door is shut. Quickly I change into a long grey tunic with sleeves that are flowing at my wrists and reach my knuckles, my light black boots and light golden webbed chest plate that reaches my neck, and ends above my bellybutton. I grab my weapon which is two curved long knives of mine and hook them to my back before fleeing the room. 

I run down the halls as my eyes search for Sif. But the people crowd around and she has disappeared. I look for someone, anyone I know around me, but through the citizens it's nearly impossible. I don't see any signs of Frost Giants but it's still chaos as the guards try to remove people from the great hall and contain or control them. I run down the golden stone steps and across the floor past a few of them, on my way to the treasury. That's when I see a familiar face. Loki heading down there with Thor and Odin. Immediately I chase after them. But they don't seem to be in a rush. The Destroyer has most likely taken care of them all.

I catch up with Loki and walk beside him as we travel into the vaults of precious Asgardian items. He no longer has on his helmet.

"How could Frost Giants get down hear so easily? Weren't there guards here?" I ask quietly.

"I don't know," he answers a bit too quickly. "...But it was certainly unexpected."

"But all the way into the vaults? It would take them an army to get down here."

"Perhaps they've found more convenient passages to slip past our eyes. Most guards were in the palace after all," he replies plainly.

"If they had gotten their hands on the source of their races power down here then there's nothing sopping them from going to war with Asgard and killing all of us," I say harshly as I look ahead. But it's true. The Frost Giants are a race like us and they reside on the frozen planet of Jotunheim. Long ago we were at war with them, to defend Midgard which is better known as Earth among the mundane. Because of the Frost Giants' attacks against the humans we retaliated with winning the war and stealing the base of all their power to hide within our vaults. They are not to be trusted with it. And they would never receive it again.

But when I say these words, Loki looks at me finally, something in his eyes that might suggest at worry but also thought. But he seems to shake off the thought and continue walking.

We reach the treasury and open the doors down into the depths of the room. There we see the devastation. It's nothing really. Though I know what they were after and I was right. The rectangular weapon that is a box filled with the frost magic visible inside sits atop its stand straight ahead, just recently put back in its place by the Destroyer who returns to its sleep behind the wall. 

https://youtu.be/Q6owWXAJd0g

My eyes fall upon the ground where ice paints the walls and floor where they were. The bodies of our guards lie there against it, the blood spilt on the grand stone looking purple in the blue light. But my heart cannot bear to see them, their eyes still open with the wounds of ice spiked through their chests.

Around them are the remains of the Frost Giants, blue limbs four times the size of ours frozen in their own icy graves. The chill in the air immediately makes me shiver whilst everyone else is indifferent. Though their breaths are that of tiny clouds (except Loki's but he hardly looks like he's breathing).

Thor rages with anger as he looks around him, astonished as I am that they got so close. "The Jotuns must pay for what they've done," he growls, his hand on the mighty weapon of Mjolnir gripping tightly.

"They have paid," the Allfather says as he approaches the sacred object, "with their lives. The Destroyer did its work, the Casket is safe, and all is well."

"All is well?" Thor asks. "They broke into the weapons vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics—"

"They didn't," Odin says, his eyes still on the object as he speaks calmly.

"Well I want to know why!" Thor says, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Loki and I stay quiet for a moment.

"I have a truce with Laufey, King of the Jotuns," Odin says.

"He just broke your truce! They know you are vulnerable," Thor argues.

His father turns to face him now. The three of us stand in a line before the king. "What action would you take?" he asks his firstborn.

"March into Jotunheim as you once did. Teach them a lesson—"

"Thor," I start but I get a look from Loki of disapproval, telling me to keep quiet. This is between him and his father.

"Break their spirits so they'll never dare try to cross our borders again," the prince continues.

"You're thinking only as a warrior," Odin says.

"This was an act of war!"

"It was the act of but a few, doomed to fail."

"Look how far they got!"

Loki's eyes are wide and I don't know whose side to take. Both make excellent points... this just keeps me in thought.

"You will find the breach in our defenses and it will be sealed," Odin says calmly.

"As King of Asgard—!"

"But you're not king!" he snaps... "Not yet..."

Loki swallows a bit.

Thor looks furious and a bit hurt. But the look in his eyes suggests he is worried for his people.

His father keeps his composer but walks forward to exit with his head down. Since I stand in the middle of the isleLoki's hand takes my arm gently and moves me aside out of the king's way in worry he might trample me maybe. Thor clenches his jaw and is the next to leave rather angrily.

Loki's brows are still lifted as he watches them walk away. "Not so happy now, is he?" he asks with a stressed, but also joking tone.

I turn to him with harsh eyes. "Death isn't something to be taken lightly, Loki."

He seems to be taken aback by my words, expecting I'd reply teasingly. But I don't. Two guards died along with three Frost Giants who are people too. And this danger puts all of Asgard at risk if the Jotuns think they can return and take their power back.

His hint of a smile disappears and his brows rest until they almost form a frown. He looks down before I leave him there and walk from the vaults.

As expected, Thor doesn't seem to be taking it lightly either. He is raging with anger once upstairs and in the dining hall. The servants still prepare food for us for lunch even though there won't be a celebration for a crowning.

I follow Thor as he stomps with fury and flips the huge table, food, plates, and goblets all, over onto the floor with a crash.

It is certain that he is nothing if not dramatic.

"Thor," I say and walk around the wreckage to where he sits now on the steps that line the edge of the huge room, the opened wall behind him letting golden light of the setting sun shine against his back and locks of the same color.

I walk up to him as he stares at the ground in anger and thought. "It is unwise to be in my company, Gem," he says to me though doesn't look up.

"I've known you long enough that you wouldn't ever have the guts to hit a lady, Thor," I smirk and take a seat beside him.

"...I suppose I seem quite childish, don't I?" he asks with a bit of shame after a long pause.

"No... I mean you have always been quite the drama king. But this is an important problem. And I don't know if you're right but... I think for now you should trust your father's judgment... at least until you've been king for a while and know much of the burden of a throne... and of your people." I lay a hand on his shoulder to get him to finally look at me, the ice blue eyes seeming troubled. My expression stays kind and sympathetic as it always does.

"It is because of my people that I don't want Jotunheim to feel like they can march in and kill our citizens without consequence. It's not about me."

"Right... because you have nothing to prove right?" I lift a brow. It is true that Thor always wants people to think him tough and higher than others. He wants to be fear and respected by everyone. And he needs to understand that that's not going to happen.

His eyes look harsh again and he looks ahead.

"Thor I understand your concern but think about it. If Asgard marches into Jotunheim and starts killing Frost Giants then what would happen? War would be official. And that would put everyone in our kingdom in danger. We cannot let that happen."

He doesn't look at me any more.

But I don't like seeing him so upset so I lean my head on his shoulder with my arm around him in a casual hug. "Don't be angry with me, my friend," I smile. "We will work things out."

He finally lets a smile crack and it makes me mirror the expression.

"How do you know how to calm me down so well?" he asks with a slight shaking of his head.

I giggle. "Because you're easy."

He chuckles.

Just then the others join us; Hogun, Volstagg, Fandral, Sif, and Loki, I stand immediately, taking my arms away from Thor and pin them to my sides.

They view the tumbled over furniture when they enter and Sif says, "Redecorating are we?" with her arms up and her eyebrows raised. She's in her armor now, a silver plated chest and shoulders with a shirt and leather trousers.

"What's this?" Volstagg, a well rounded and large man with curly red hair and matching long beard, asks.

"I told you they cancelled," Hogun, a black haired thinner man wearing black says.

"We thought you were just being your normal cheery self," Volstagg says to Thor as they approach, trying to walk over the food and things scattered about the floor.

Volstagg looks heartbroken at the scene like it was a murder. "All this food... such a waist, it was just cast to the ground..." he mutters sadly. "Breaks the heart."

Sif rolls her eyes.

Loki walks to Thor and I where we stand.

"I did say we shouldn't storm into Jotunheim..." I tell Thor quietly, continuing our previous conversation. "But we should try to go there to speak to Laufey and find out how this happened and if it was indeed an act of war. Because if it is, then there will be more for us to worry about."

Thor looks at me, thinking I might be right, but not thinking that his father would listen. He doesn't seem to have the will to ever communicate with the king.

"Yes but there's nothing we can do without defying father," Loki says quietly, matching our tones so that the others cannot hear.

"He's right," I say.

Loki looks at me a little surprised I admitted so.

Thor looks at us for a second and then away from us in thought. His eyes skip around until he realizes something and Loki beats me to it for protesting as Thor starts to walk from us.

"No, no, no, no, no," Loki says. "I know that look—"

"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders," he says a bit louder.

"Thor, it's madness," Loki tries to reason.

"I meant for us to talk your father into going and speaking to Laufey, Thor. Not you—" I start.

"What's this madness?" Volstagg asks as he carefully cuts what was left of the food into portions to eat.

"It's nothing..." Loki makes a nervous chuckle. "Thor was merely making a jest."

"The safety of our Realm is no jest," Thor says strongly and then faces us. "We're going to Jotunheim."

Loki shuts his eyes with an internal sigh.

My eyes are still wide and I turn around to look at our friends.

"What?" Fandral, a man the size of Loki but with blond hair and facial hair asks with disbelief, a chuckle in his voice.

"Thor... of all the laws of Asgard, this is the one you simply must not break," Sif says to him.

"Your father will never trust you again if you go defying his orders and that you can certainly count on," I say.

"This isn't like a journey to Earth where you summon a little lightning and thunder, and the mortals worship you like a god," Fandral says sternly to try and talk sense into him. "This is Jotunheim."

"If the Frost Giants don't kill you, your father will," Volstagg says.

"My father fought his way into Jotunheim, defeated their armies and took their Casket," Thor replies as Loki puts his fingers to his forehead in stress. "We would just be looking for answers," Thor continues.

"It is forbidden," Sif says strongly.

"Yes and I say we talk to Odin—"

"My friends have you forgotten all that we have done together?" Thor asks with a chuckle.

"Am I the only one who can hear myself speak?" I sigh in frustration.

Loki beside me lets out a chuckle and looks down.

"Fandral, Hogun," Thor says and approaches them. "Who led you into the most glorious of battles?"

https://youtu.be/kZH81E3cW14

Hogun holds back a smirk but looks up with a, "You did."

"And Volstagg," he continues, putting a hand on the man's shoulder as he messes with the cheese, "to delicacies so succulent you thought you'd died and gone to Valhalla?"

He chuckles. "You did."

"Yes," Thor laughs. Then he turns to me. "Gem," he says and walks to me with a beaming smile. "Who grew up with you? Who taught you all there is to know about how to defend yourself?"

I make a thinking look at him and say, "Loki."

Loki laughs once and looks away, shaking his head.

"Very well some of it but what about how to use those fists of yours?" Thor chuckles as he takes my tiny hands in his large ones playfully.

I pull my lips to one side, my cheeks turning rosy and a smile coming forth. "You did..." I say regretfully.

His sweet eyes smile brighter than even his lips before he lets my hands go and walks to Sif. "And who proved wrong all who scoffed at the idea that a young maiden could be one of the fiercest warriors this realm has ever known?"

"I did," she replies.

He lifts a finger. "True, but I supported you, Sif."

I giggle and so does Fandral.

Thor's wide grin doesn't disappear as he faces us again. "My friends, trust me now. We must do this. You're not going to let my brother and me take all the glory, will you?"

Loki perks up at his name and acts confused. "What?" he mutters.

Thor's smile disappears and he approaches him. "You are coming with me aren't you? We fight together... as equals. Always," he smiles.

Loki seems shocked at his words. I know the man well enough to understand he has always thought himself lower than Thor. His big brother has always seemed the more glorified one and he can be a bit conceded or ruthless sometimes, with his father, Odin, often playing favorites with Thor and doting on him, leaving Loki out of the love sometimes as kids. He's grown up with it. Loki has never thought Thor considered them equal so his reply is genuine when his brother's kindness is shown about how he cares for his little brother truly. "Of course I'll come," Loki says with hesitation at first.

Thor smiles and puts a firm hand on his brother's shoulder.

I can't help but smile at them both, my hands locked together in front of me.

"And I," Volstagg says.

We all look at him.

There is a moment of silence before Fandral says too, "And I."

Thor grins and soon enough Hogun agrees as well.

Thor looks back at me with that face you just can't say "no" to. So I hold back a grin and nod my head, my eyes smiling like his.

Sif sighs. "I fear I may live to regret this..." she gives in, turning to leave the room.

We are going to Jotunheim.