Asgardians dined happily upon the arrival of Thor. His Father had ordered a feast in honor of the Asgardian King who saved Midgard from his younger brothers siege. Loki was placed behind Asgard prison bars under the watchful eye of Heimdall. Thor feasted willingly conversing with friends. Maidens of the court danced and entertained while warriors happily spared over mugs of ale. Their laughter was soon interrupted by his Father's thunderous voice. "My son, King of Asgard." Thor bowed respectfully to his father. "Yes father? Do you have need of me?" Odin smiled at his son, "No my Son but there is another who need speak with you immediately. Come to the throne. Let us have a audience with those who call on us so urgently."
(Throne room)
Thor sat on the Throne with his father at his side. Thor would happily give his throne to the former king but Odin had no desire to sit. He seemed more livelier then as of late. Something had sparked this energy within his father and Thor couldn't help but wonder what it was.
A man dressed in black leather and silver walked through the massive doors along with several others who wore similar garments. The material was common but the design of the clothes did not match Asgard nor Midgardian style. The man in front had pale gray eyes that starkly stood out against his tanned skin. His white hair hung in jagged layers to his shoulders giving this man an edgy look. His features were slender but strong. The others behind him were just as peculiar in look and stature but Thor did not pay them as much mind as their obvious leader.
"Your lordship Odin and King Thor of Asgard. It is an honor to meet such powerful men in this bleak part of the universe." Thor furrowed his blond eyebrows in confusion. "You speak as if you have powers in your realm unknown to ours. From where do you hale?" Thor's voice boomed through the throne room causing shivers to twine their way down the spines of all present. "From a world unknown to the present King of Asgard but not to the late." Thor's eyes shifted from the man to his father. "Father? From which of the seven worlds do they hale?" Odin did not look at his son but merrily looked to the ground as he spoke, "Their are many wonders to our universe that even I can not answer. One is the creation of such a vast existence of many races and worlds within its endless reaches. I have seen many wonders in my time as king of Asgard. I thought I had seen everything until I met a barrier cast down the center of the universe. One that neither allowed you to venture nor see into what lay on the other side. Its mystery plagued my mind for centuries until something crossed over it. A man with white hair and tanned skin." Thor glanced at the man who was before him. "No Thor." Odin's voice called his sons attention back to him. "Not the man you see now but I imagine it would have been either his Grand-father or great Grand-father. A man of great power he sought a new world in our part of the universe to make his home but there were none he could claim. I sent him back across the universe in hopes that the barrier that had held me at bay would also keep whatever lay on the other side from crossing over as well."
Thor interjected listening intently to his fathers story, "But it didn't. The powerful man passed over. Would he not just come back?" Odin smiled finally meeting the eyes of his son. "I have used a great portion of my power over the centuries to reinforce the barrier insuring that he would not be able to cross even if he tried. I feared what may come from the other side of the universe and trusted the creator of the barriers judgment in making it. It was obvious that it was their for a good reason."
Thor looked back at the men before him, "Father? Did not these men cross the barrier? How is it that they stand before us when you have insured the barriers strength?" Odin nodded towards the young white haired man watching their conversation patiently. "My strength has wavered, the barrier has faltered, and like his predecessor he has the power to cross through the barrier between our universes." Thor stood from his thorn pointing an accusing finger at the men still standing before the throne. "You will leave, my father sent your predecessor back and you will leave as well. As is my fathers wish I will up hold it." The man smirked taking a daring step forward. "I will leave in due time but first I have a request of your father and of you king of Asgard." Odin held his head up in a stance of great pride, "I make no deals with you young traveler. I know of your grandfathers intentions in this part of the universe and I will not have it here.
The man took another step forward ignoring Thor as he gripped his hammer threateningly. "Great Odin. You indeed sent my father away for his intentions were not good. He was a servant of a great and devastating power. One that wished to not only concur the universe but destroy all life in it. I am not a follower of this great evil. I am an ambassador of my people. I come seeking the wisdom and aid of those that would have the power to help us."
Thor's grip on his hammer loosened as his gaze fell on his father. Odin watched the man carefully judging his intentions and seeing if they were indeed pure. After a while Odin nodded his head at his son. A gesture that implied that Thor should proceed. Thor looked at the man again. "What is your name traveler?" The man smiled slightly lifting his chin pridefully just as Odin had done, "I am Castrof speaker of the Darmerild people." Castrof bowed his head in greeting. Thor did not return the friendly gesture. "And what is your purpose in this realm Castrof of Darmerild." Castrof's eyes fell to the floor, "My people thirst. We have little water to give them. Our lands are dry and dark. Though clouds swirl above our world blocking out all light they offer no rain to the lands. Our food supply is dropping and our people are dying." Thor showed remorse for Castrof's people. "How can we help?" Thor asked sympathizing with the stranger. Castrof gave Thor an even stare, "A world near ours is fruitful being covered in almost 1/3 of water. Its resources could easily help my people but sadly there is no way to converse with its people to ask for their help. A barrier similar to the one separating our universes surround the world. There is no way to break though it."
Thor furrowed his brow in confusion. "How is it that you can cross the barrier to our universe but not to the world of water?" Castrof sighed heavily, "The creator of the great universal barrier did not make this same barrier that surrounds the world. The one that separates our universes is older and much weaker. It would take a great sorcerer to pass through the barrier or veil as we call it to get to the world. A sorcerer I have come to understand you have in your realm." Thor's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "My brother is no more powerful then the all father. How do you expect him to break the veil?"
"The tesseract." Odin answer his sons question before Castrof could. Thor's face grew as red as a tomato. His glare bore into Castrof as if his stare alone was enough to pierce his heart. "Loki would use the tesseract to concur any world he finds. He is confused and should not be allowed near the tesseract at any cost." Castrof sighed deeply, "I thought the sorcerer was an allie of Asgard not a threat. It grieves me to hear this. Without the sorcerer's help my people will surly die. I would not ask more from you then what you can do. Me and my men will leave peacefully." The man turned to leave as Thor's anger deflated to that of shame and regret, "Wait."
The man turned back around to Thor. Disappointment lingered between him and Thor for several heart beats before Thor couldn't take the guilt any longer. You are a powerful allie and with our combined strength we can control my brother long enough to break the veil. I will not allow your people to perish when we have the means to help but are unwilling to do so." Castrof smiled broadly, "Excellent. Please bring him here so that we may discuss our plan further." Thor looked to his father. With his nod of approval Thor sent for the guards to bring Loki to him.
It took no time for the guards to arrive with the bound and gagged Loki. The look on Loki's face was of dark amusement. He could not speak thanks to his gag. It kept him from casting any spells while imprisoned. Thor felt deep sympathy for his brother but knew he deserved his punishment. "My brother, these men come to ask for your help. A chance to redeem yourself from your past crimes against Asgard and Midgard." Loki continued to stare at his brother. The darkness in his eyes grew with every word he spoke. Thor felt like he wasn't getting through to him but he continued none the less, "They call for your aid in saving their people from thirst. They are in need of water and a near by world has it but they need a magic wielder to break the veil that surrounds it. Will you help them?"
Loki glanced at the travelers. To Thor's surprise his eyes lightened slightly. He looked curious. Like he use to look when he found a book he had not yet read or studied a new magical object. Loki's eyes drifted back to his brother with an unasked question. Thor understood his brother well though he could not say a word. "My brother. They are not Midgardian or Asgardian. They are from a knew world known until now only by our father." Loki glared at the remark 'our father' but Thor ignored it. "The world from which they hale is called Darmerild. If you help them then we will consider your past transgressions paid for. Pay for your past sins by saving their people. What say you brother?"
Loki seemed to think on this for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement.
Thor beamed, "Excellent! Then we shall start immediately. Guards! Remove my brothers shackles and gag. He will need to converse with us freely." The guards removed Loki's binds along with the large gag allowing Loki to move his jaw freely. He rubbed his jaw with a free hand trying to relieve himself from the soreness left behind, "And where did you discover this new world Thor?" Loki asked not looking at Thor. Thor's mood dampened when Loki continued to treat him like a enemy instead of the brother he had been for so many years. "The all father discovered it while exploring the universe. There is a barrier that passes through the center keeping our worlds separate. Odin has kept it strong for years but in his weakened state he can not continue to keep out those who would pass through it. Loki followed Thor's gesture to the new beings standing off to the side. The man with white hair, obviously the leader, nodded to Loki. A curt greeting Loki did not return.
"Our plan to save our world is simple enough. You will use the tesseract to transport the creator of the veil off her home planet here. That way we can converse with her freely about using her planets resources to save our own." Loki listened to Castrof gingerly perking up at the mention of the veil's creator, "Her? A sorceress?" Loki asked intrigued. In all his years he had yet to meet a female with the ability to wield magic. He had read tomes of such women in books but had not seen one.
Castrof nodded. He gestured to one of his men. A man with long black hair pulled back in a low ponytail pulled out a small cube from his pocket. He placed the cube on the ground pressing a button that made the small object float and glow. Before their eyes a holographic screen appeared with a picture of a young woman on it. She had long strawberry blond hair that fell in straight jagged layers down to her hips. Her face was oval, her lips of dark red turned up in a smirk. She was skinny but voluptuous. Her eyes narrowed in a slight glare. Her Golden orbs burning with mischief. Loki had not seen such a woman before.
Castrof smirked at the image of the girl. "We have learned that her name is Anlania. Her people were called the Fillerails. Anlania in her youth decided that the universe was too dangerous to allow her people to be exposed to it. So she cast her greatest spell to keep the universe out. As of late we have discovered the veil growing weaker. Obviously she is growing ill or faint. We are not sure which. Either way the veil is weak enough that we can extract the girl from her world by use of the tesseract. Transported here we will be able to negotiate with her better." Thor seemed confused. Not a rare expression for Loki believed a piece of toast could baffle the king of Asgard. "Transport her here? Why here and not go there?" A good question Loki thought but he already knew the answer. He also knew that these men were lying. He can tell. After all he is the God of mischief and lies.
Castrof chuckled slightly, "If we were to go there then we could start a war. No. Its better if we have a private conference on equal ground. Taking her to our own world would be hazardous to her health at this time given its condition so this realm would be the better choice. Unless, you know of a better place for our meeting King?" Thor thought about this for a few minutes, "No. I can not. Here would be best. I will agree with that. Though I have never seen the tesseract summon one from another dimension. I am not sure if it is capable of such a feet." "It can." Odin simply stated eyeing the knew comers wearily, "Though it is dangerous. If not done properly the girl could be ripped in two."
Thor looked to his brother. Concern written all over his face, "Could you do it?" A simple question that need no response. Loki knew how to extract the girl but he had never done it before. If what Odin said was true then they would risk a war between worlds. If the girl should die along the way then the barrier would fall for good and it would be open to harvest so to speak but Loki still did not believe that that is their true purpose in all this. He would have to be careful as to not kill the girl on her arrival. Her life is now connected to his own fate. She dies he go's back to being the war mongering frost brat Odin believes him to be.
Thor was watching his brother patiently. Everyone in the room seemed to still waiting for Loki's response. A smile finally broke out on Loki's face showing confidence, "I can but it will be tricky. I will use up a great deal of strength transporting her here so I will be defenseless should the girl start casting spells at us in her own defense." "A welcomed argument. I trust being a magic wielder yourself that you would know how to subdue her long enough for us to explain the situation?" Castrof's eyes locked with Loki's. A very daring move. This man obviously think of himself worthy of a God like status if he would so willingly look Loki in the eye. Loki's smile broadened, "The gag that was just removed keeps a sorcerer from casting spells but it also takes away the ability to talk. Negotiations would be one sided." Castrof chuckled at this, "Not a problem. She will only be wearing it long enough for us to explain the situation. Hopefully we can convince her that we mean her no harm and she'll agree not to attack us. Meanwhile you are our biggest defense. Even in a weakened state you will have the tesseract. She will be weary of you. Maybe even scared enough to comply." Thor stood hearing this last part, "I thought the objective was to show the girl we mean her no harm not to frighten her."
Loki smirked at his brother. The valiant knight in shining armor for any damsel in distress. So typical. Castrof put up his hand defensively, "We do and we will but we have to stay alive long enough to explain that to her. Its better if we scare her enough that she will listen to reason. Otherwise she'll just kill us all before we utter our greetings." Thor looked to the ground. Obviously he did not like this plan but couldn't come up with a good argument or solution to the problem, "So be it but I will not tolerate any striking her in my presence. Understood?" Castrof laughed nervously taking a step back, "I would never hit a woman even one that was trying to kill me. I am a gentleman after all. You have my word." Thor nodded in confirmation, "Very well, When shall we summon the sorceress?" Castrof's smile brightened, "Immediately."
So this was my first fan fic for Avengers. Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't.