This Is Stella's Reality

May 17, 2015 PT. 2

I felt sick to my stomach, and I ripped my thoughts from him.

He stared at me with wide eyes, and I stood, pacing his cell. "My lady," he started.

I cut him off, turning to him violently. "You recognized me. How?" I stormed towards him and glared into his eyes. "All this time. You know me. And you've just been playing stupid?"

Loki held his hands up in defense, "You are going to cause a scene. Please," he sighed. "Sit down."

My fists clenched together, and hot tears threatened to spill over my cheeks. "Who were those people? Who am I?" I whispered.

He closed his eyes. "Sit," he commanded again.

I did, staring at him with my blurring vision.

"Release me from this prison, and I will tell you all I know," he promised.

Acid burned in my throat. "You won't tell me now," I muttered.

He laughed, unpleasant and harsh in my ears. "What other bargaining chip do I have?" He asked. "This is the nature of politics, my stupid girl. You will learn your past in due time. For now, I expect you to complete your end of the bargain."

I bit my lip and stared at him. "Why is nobody from that world looking for me." My voice was thin and quiet.

"Do not ask questions you do not want answers to," he said simply.

My body trembled with the overwhelming information. The world through the wormhole looked like Asgard. What the hell did that mean? Maybe I could ask Steve to show me the clothing I was wearing when I fell. Perhaps there would be answers there.

I stood and glared at Loki. "You should be grateful I believe in your innocence," I said before I requested the guard to open his cell. I left without speaking to him anymore.

My feet thundered up the stairs and down the winding hallways in search of my boys.

They were outside with Thor and Bruce and the Warriors Three. They held swords and spears and clumsily trained with the Asgardians.

I smiled to myself, and Lady Sif walked up behind me.

"Hello," she said gently. Her eyes were warmly brown and bright in the afternoon sun, as if she held the gold of Asgard within her irises.

I smiled at her. "Hello," I replied. "Stella," my hand extended to her which she took graciously.

"Sif," she replied simply. Her lips pulled into a smile. "Would you care to spar with me?"

"Oh," I breathed. "I've never fought with a sword before. I'm not sure I'd be a great partner."

She laughed and pointed to Steve who was clumsily swinging his sword in a wide arc. "Didn't stop him," she quipped.

I laughed and nodded my head, following her down the stairs and into the dirt training grounds.

The boys cheered at my entrance. "Go easy on her, Sif," one of the Warriors yelled. "Loki still needs her."

"All the more reason to not go easy," another Warrior joked.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the sword Sif held out to me. Strangely, it felt comfortable in my hands. The weight was familiar, and I moved it easily with my wrists, swinging it in gentle arcs in front of and behind me.

Sif watched, a smile tugging at her lips. "Seems like you're a natural," she remarked.

My eyebrows pinched together, and I shook away the strange nostalgia that bubbled up my throat. I locked my eyes with her just as she lunged towards me.

I parried her blade, and we stepped in time with each other like a deadly dance. The sword was like water in my hand, moving every way I wanted it to with an unusual grace.

We locked our hilts together and struggled for control. I snapped my wrist, and her sword flew from her hands, sticking in the dirt behind me. My free hand knocked her weight to the ground, and I stood over her with my sword in her face.

Our chests heaved, and a round of scattered clapping erupted from our small audience. I blinked away the trance I felt I was in and offered Sif my hand.

She took it, standing and staring at me with wide eyes. "Well done, Lady Stella," she whispered.

Bucky and Steve joined us, gently touching my arm. "When did you learn to fight with a sword?" Bucky asked.

I shook my head, "I don't know." I looked down at the blade in my hands. It was Asgardian, gold and shining in the sun. It was strange, and my head started to spin. "Let's go inside, please," I said, practically dragging the boys behind me.

Inside, I steadied myself against a railing. The boys stood on either side of me, unsure what was happening. I didn't know either. All I knew was I felt very strange.

"Steve," I said suddenly. I felt him tense.

"Yeah?" He asked.

I turned to him. "When I fell from the wormhole in 2012, what was I wearing?"

He stared at me like I had grown three heads. "Why?" His voice was thick with confusion. He pressed his hand to my forehead. "Love, are you alright? You look sick."

"Please," I begged. "Do you remember?"

Bucky placed his hands on my shoulders, "Darling, let's go sit down somewhere. I'm worried about you."

I shook him off of me and gripped Steve's arms. "Do you remember?" I asked again.

He stared at me. "You were wearing a black bodysuit with high boots," he said, confusion deep in his voice. "You had a thin, deep purple, almost black cape. It's all what Tony designed your current mission outfit on. I think he still has the original clothing somewhere." He paused looking at me. "Why?"

I bit my lip. "I just wanted to know," I breathed. "Forget I asked." None of it meant anything to me. It just confused me more.

"Stel," Bucky sighed. "We'll drop it if you swear you're alright."

"I am," I promised. I thought I was. Regardless, there was nothing to do about it then. I looped my arms with theirs and started walking through the maze of hallways.

"Tomorrow, Thor wants me to speak to Odin about what I've seen in Loki's memories. He'll deliberate with his council, and should hold the trial in early June." I looked between them. They were indifferent. Loki didn't mean anything to either of them. But they were here anyways which made me happy.

"So we'll have to come back in a few weeks?" Bucky asked.

I nodded. "Loki's innocence or guilt will be determined by the council. They'll give their final verdict in June, and then he'll be either completely acquitted, his sentence will be modified, or he'll remain in prison."

"But you say he's innocent?" Steve asked.

"I think so," I sighed. "I relived those memories in his head. He was afraid. He was under the same mind control Clint was, but he's a god, so it didn't show as easily."

They nodded, unsure if they fully believed it, but they didn't question me.

"If you say so, doll," Bucky said.

We rounded the corner to a magnificent garden, pleased we had the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted. We lounged, ate cheeses, and drank our fill of sweet wines.

Tomorrow would be difficult. Odin was no fool, and according to Thor, he was just as headstrong and tricky as Loki was. But if I could handle his son, I could handle him as well.

I breathed, one day at a time.