Chapter Text
Thor is awoken in the middle of the night by his mother yanking him out of bed.
“Wha- Mother?” He mumbles trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.
“Thor! Thor listen to me!” She says intently, shaking him as he blearily tries to scramble upright “Vanaheim is lost. The armies will soon be in the very Realm Eternal... you must go-” she yanks him up and shoves him towards the door. “GO now!”
“But Mother-” Thor tries to argue.
“In a matter of hours the city and the palace will be under siege. You must get to the Bifrost before then. I've spoken to Heimdall, you'll go to Midgard” Frigga says, abandoning her attempts to push him towards the door and trying to drag him out now, Thor resists trying to return to his wardrobe at least, and put on some decent clothes and some shoes, but his mother's grip is relentless and he resorts to awkwardly prying at her fingers as she opens the door.
Thor pauses when he see Hogan and Volstagg outside. They play at being his friends but they are far to old to really want to spend their days seeing to the foolish adventures of a young prince. Thor knows, though he has never been told, that they took oaths to protect him when he was a child, and in Asgard an oath sworn must be kept for life.
Could she be serious? Is she sending him to exile, rather than risking that he fester as a prisoner should Asgard fall?
“I am the Crown Prince of Asgard Mother!” he finally manages to protest “It is my duty to stay, and protect the realm. I cannot abandon it on the brink of a siege.”
She pulls him close and kisses his cheek.
“There is nothing to be done now my dear. There is a shield on Midgard that will protect you. When the time is right I'm sure I shall see you again. Go. Go now. I've sent people for Loki. With luck they will meet you at the Bifrost and you may flee with your brother. Protect each other. And think of me, when you can.”
“But Mother-”
“No, my son. Farewell.” And she has turned away and is walking back towards the centre of the palace.
Volstagg is the one pulling him along now. Hogan hastily drapes a cloak over him as they head towards the city. The entirety of the palace shakes and without a word they break into a run. They run the whole way to the Bifrost. The sky is full of the war boats flying and enemy ships are beginning to appear.
There are others in the streets, guards and soldiers running towards the defenses, and civilians running for their lives towards the palace.
The enemy ships are blasting the warboats to pieces and setting the city ablaze by the time Thor, Volstagg and Hogun scramble up onto the rainbow bridge and make for the observatory.
They are halfway there when Hogun looks over his shoulder and his steps falter.
“Soldiers.” is all he says. Volstagg and Thor turn too and sure enough there is a troupe of enemy soldiers in the eery silvermasks, that Thor has never before seen outside of the oldest and dullest books on history and magic, bearing down on them.
“Well, now's not the time to stop then, Hogun.” Volstagg says as Hogun falls behind.
Hogun shakes his head. “Go.”
“No, Hogun, don't-” Thor starts
“Protect the Prince my friend” Hogun says and takes his spiked mace from his belt.
Volstagg nods and grabs Thor swinging him up over his shoulder.
“But we can't just leave him...” Thor cries, even as Volstagg carries him away.
The observatory is empty of all save Heimdall when they reach it.
“HEIMDALL! OPEN THE BIFROST!!” Volstagg shouts as they stagger through the door.
Heimdall moves to obey.
"NO!” Thor yells,“Loki and his attendants were meant to meet us here! We must wait.”
Heimdall glances at Volstagg “Your Highness, it would not be wise to delay. Your bodyguard who held the bridge has fallen. If your brother made it out of the palace, there is little chance that he could reach us now.”
“B-but..No! Mother said...she said he'd meet us here...I can't...I can't just abandon him.”
“The Queen would not wish you to risk your life for a hope, my Prince.”
Thor nods. “Very well, Heimdall. Open the Bifrost.”
Heimdall bows and moves to use his great sword to open the Bifrost but, there's a crash from outside and they all turn to see a group of elves running towards them.
“Hurry Heimdall!” Volstagg mutters hefting his axe and tossing Thor a dagger.
The Bifrost opens in the same moment that the elves falls upon them. Thor stabs one just as he feels the great light of the bridge surround him.
When he wakes up, he is alone. There is no sign of anyone for miles in any direction, just reddish rocks and sand. The sun beats down on him and he wonders what he shall do alone in this strange place.