BLISSFULLY UNAWARE, JINX AND JANUS FOUND THEMSELVES ENGROSSED IN THE GRANDEUR OF ASGARD. They wandered through the vibrant streets, taking in the sights and sounds, their gold-tinted armour glistening under the sunlight as their looked at stalls in the marketplace.

As Jinx was casually flirting with a woman at a stall, her main goal was to get the set of rings she had her eyes on for a discounted price. It, of course, worked. Jinx winked at the stall owner as she clutched the bag of rings in her hand, walking back to her brother who crossed his arms in a huff.

"Aww, is someone jealous because he tried and failed?" Jinx joked. Janus had tried doing the same technique as Jinx to a different stall owner, one who was selling cooked meat for a midday snack. It did not have the same effect as his sister. "No need to hate the player, hate the game," she teased further, pulling a few rings from the bag and placing them on her fingers, examining them smugly.

Janus rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

They continued chatting, the air that surrounded them calm and serene as they did not have a chance to have relaxing days out much. But as time ticked on, a sense of unease settled on their shoulders. They realised that Astrid and Loki had been absent for far longer than anticipated. Concern etched scarfed faces as they hurriedly made their way to Heimdall's Observatory, seeking answers.

Arriving at the towering structure, their breaths quickened as they approached Heimdall. Jinx's voice shook slightly as she spoke, her worry evident. "Heimdall, we seek news of Lady Astrid and Loki. Have they returned?"

Heimdall's gaze bore into the armoured twins. His eyes glazed over, a white cloudiness wafting over them. "Loki returned alone. Lady Astrid remained in Jotunheim."

"Take us there," Janus ordered.

"I've been ordered by my King to not allow anyone other than himself to travel through the Bifrost," Heimdall spoke gravely, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword. The man stepped away from his sword that remained in its slot. The twins watched confusingly as the watchmen walked off, down the bridge towards the centre of Asgard.

"What now?" Janus placed his hands on his hips, staring at the retreating figure of Heimdall.

Jinx tilted her head at the remaining sword. She walked towards the metal blade, twisting it. The Bifrost portal opened. "We go save our Lady."

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THEY MATERIALISED AMIDST THE ICY TERRAIN, THEIR EYES SCANNING THEIR SURROUNDINGS IN SEARCH OF ANY SIGN OF THEIR QUEEN. The blistering cold gnawed at their skins, but their determination burned brightly.

"Why would she remain here?" Janus asked himself, confusion etched on his brow.

"Whatever the reason, it surely cannot be good," Jinx replied.

They rushed to their last meeting spot - the edge of Laufey's throne room - believing they could find traces of her presence there if any. Pressing forward, they left no stone unturned. Until they discovered an unconscious, jolting figure laid upon the uneven surface of Jotunheim half a dozen feet from the throne room. They immediately recognised the figure as Astrid.

Rushing forward, the twins knelt at her side, checking her pulse. Thankfully, it was still beating. Jinx sighed slightly.

"What should we do?" Janus questioned.

"Pick her up?" Jinx questioned her brother's sanity as if the answer was obvious.

He pointed to her bare neck. "No necklace."

Jinx looked to see if he was right. She groaned slightly. "Shit. Me or you?"

Janus looked down at Astrid's passed-out state, the visible waves of energy washing over her body. "You. You're better at finding things."

Jinx nodded, rushing up, sprinting towards where she suspected the white gem necklace could be. The redhead was a skilled assassin, she was good at killing and hiding, so hiding away from the watchful eyes of Laufey and his guards was simple enough for her.

She hid around dark corners, her eyes peeking over the edge to see Laufey on his throne. She scanned the room, seeing a few guards stationed around the room. The necklace was discarded on the arm of his throne, seemingly forgotten due to not understanding how to make use of it. Jinx chuckled silently under her breath. "Too easy," she whispered. Following the dark shadows along the rocky walls of the throne room, she made her way behind Laufey. She sneaked her way forward silently, reaching her hand out to the arm of the chair. Just as she was going to grab it and sneak away, Laufey shifted in his chair, causing Jinx to retract her limb quickly. Waiting for him to be distracted once more, she tried again, hooking the chain around her finger and pulling the necklace from the throne.

She clutched the chain in her fist and scurried off the same way she arrived, quickly evading the throne room and sprinting back to her brother. "Pick her up now!" She whisper-shouted to him. Janus nodded, hauling the blonde woman over his shoulder and sprinting before Jinx.

The twins heard a yell from behind them, Jinx quickly checked to see a herd of Giants and Laufey rushing out of the throne room, chasing after them.

The redhead fiddled with the chain in hand, she realised the clasp was broken. Cursing, she wondered what to do. Catching up with her brother, she managed to grab Astrid's hand, placing the white gem in her hand, and clenching the unconscious woman's fingers around it.

Astrid gasped, shocked awake as her power began to subside and jolt her awake. "Jinx?" She questioned, her mind still dazed as she raised her head to see her red-headed guard. "Janus?!" She continued, comprehending that the other twin had hauled over his shoulder as they ran. She looked over Jinx's shoulder to see Frost Giants running after them at a far distance.

"My Lady, open a portal to Menvǫllr!"

Astrid nodded, trusting her companions. She focused her energy on her hands, opening a portal to a lounge in her palace in front of Janus.

The trio jumped in. Astrid closed the portal just as a Frost Giant's hand and spear entered the portal, causing the severed limb and weapon to slide toward the Queen's feet. She sat on the floor, her hands propping herself up. Her heart beat hard against her ribcage as she remembered what happened.

She placed a panicked hand on her chest, not feeling her necklace. Laying on her side, heaving, Jinx patted Astrid's clenched fists. Prompted to open her hand, she saw her snapped necklace, the gem still undamaged. A relieved sigh escaped her mouth as she collapsed against the floor with Jinx and Janus, the exhaustion of her spasms catching up with her.

"What happened?" Janus questioned, breathing hard.

Astrid sighed, her heart heavy. "As it stands now, we cannot put our trust in Asgard... well, while it remains under Loki's rule."

Jinx stood up, holding her hand out to Astrid. Her legs were still unsteady, still shaky. Jinx looped her arm around her queen's back, carrying most of her weight. Janus stands, taking over his sister by picking Astrid up into his arms. The twins led her to her chambers, calling for Zithara. The petite woman emerged from her own chamber and hurried worriedly towards the trio as they entered the queen's bedroom. Janus laid the weak woman on her mattress. Astrid immediately fell asleep, exhausted from hours of convulsions.

"What happened?!" Zithara questioned the twins, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Astrid's free hand.

"We suspect Loki betrayed her, resulting in either himself or Laufey ridding her of her necklace," Jinx responded. A hushed gasp escaped Zithara's mouth as she covered it with her hand. The twins announced to the handmaid that they will leave their trust in her to look after Astrid while they went to get the palace doctors to tell them of Astrid's conditions and then to the stationed guards to protect the Bifrost landing spot, warning if Loki or any Frost Giants enter to unarm them and capture them.

Alone with her queen, Zithara sighed as she brushed her hand through Astrid's hair. "Oh, Astrid, I am so sorry."

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WORD SPREAD TO THE YMIR FAMILY OF THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER AND SISTER, AND THEY DID NOT HESITATE TO BE AT HER BEDRIDDEN SIDE. Freyja joined them, worried deeply for her friend. Ymir stormed through the castle, his face etched with concern and anger. Christa rushed close behind him. The four brothers rushed forward with them, Freyja amongst them. Ymir barged through the doors leading to Astrid's chambers. Zithara stood from her spot on the bed, giving more room for Astrid's family. Christa knelt at Astrid's side, brushing her aged hand through her daughter's hair. "Oh, darling, what happened?"

Astrid opened her eyes, having woken up not long before her family arrived. "Laufey and Loki are plotting to take over the Nine Realms," she spoke. "I believe that Loki will take Midgard first. To get rid of his brother."

Ymir and his oldest son, Olav, scowled. "I knew to not trust that fool," Ymir spat. Christa looked over her shoulder with an unimpressed look. "Well, now, I do."

Astrid went to move from her bed but Zithara, Freyja and Christa held her back to the bed. "Don't be stupid, Eli. You need to rest," Freyja gently scolded.

"I'm not being stupid. I need to go to Midgard," she pushed the three women's hands off of her. She stood from the bed, her necklace had since been fixed before her family arrived by her jeweller and found its rightful place around her neck once more. The jeweller had used a stronger metal for the chain, one that would take something stronger than Thor's hammer to break. "I need to find Thor."