Earth-717: Thor Vol 2
Chapter 1: Follow Your Duty
The Nine Realms. Nine specific locations in the enormity of reality that form the branches of Yggdrasil, the World's Tree. Each realm is a part of a greater whole, while also being a world in its own right, with its own history, its own geography, its own purpose. The links between worlds are the foundation for the universe, keeping everything in balance. Midgard. Alfheim. Svartalfhiem. Vanaheim. Nidavellir. Hel. Jotunheim. Muspelheim. And at the top of the tree is the golden realm, the realm eternal, Asgard.
Although Asgard shines as a beacon of hope for the whole universe, there is also a great evil within it that few know of. For weaved in the space between realms, between realities, is a mysterious netherworld that is consumed only in darkness. It is a place without hope, without light, and with no tangible connection to the universe where most people reside. And below the Palace of the Gods, in a reverse image that no one can see or perceive, is the sinister reflection of Asgard: a purple castle wreathed in shadow.
Narcisson.
This is where our story begins.
Within the dark, floating castle, a tall, thin mirror was embedded into the wall of the main observatory. Suddenly, the mirror's surface turned into a shiny silver substance, and started to flow like a viscous fluid. A hand-print materialized on the surface of the fluid, as if someone were pushing against it from the other side.
Seconds later, a hand broke through the fluid and gripped the edge of the mirror. Moments later, a woman stepped through the fluid. She was wearing a stylized green dress, and had a viridian cloak over her head, concealing her golden hair and most of her face. She turned to the side and looked out the window of the room she was in.
Her heart seized up as she saw that the castle she was in was truly floating on nothing. Narcisson was surrounded not by land, but by a never-ending storm of dark, swirling energy, with the entirety of this foreboding realm being made of it. She had learned in advance what Narcisson was like, but nothing could prepare her for seeing it first hand.
The woman stepped away from the mirror as another hand reached through it. She watched with a subtle smile as a three metre tall Dark Elf marched through the mirror. He had charred armour, a set of tusks, red war paint on his face, and a twin set of curved horns emerging laterally from his temples. He sniffed the air and growled.
She could tell just from the way he was breathing that he was more agitated than usual. She placed both her hands against his chest, with the smooth skin of her palms being a contrast to the rough, jagged armour he was wearing. His breathing slowed as he looked down at her.
"Calm yourself," she said, her tone gentle and soothing. "Be at peace, my darling."
"This place feels wrong."
"I know. It is not of our world. Or any world."
"I've never felt this. I don't like it."
"Neither do I, but we won't be here for long."
The two of them walked down the steps from the observatory, which led into the castle's grand hall. In the back of the room was a throne, and on that throne sat a man. None of his skin could be seen, for he was completely encased within black armour with purple and golden lining. A violet cape draped from his shoulders, and his entire form carried an aura of malice.
This was Perrikus, the God of Darkness, and the master of Narcisson. If he had a reaction to the two people who had just entered his realm, he did not show it. He calmly and silently watched as they approached his throne. The woman gave a short, courteous bow.
"Lord of Darkness."
Perrikus spoke in response, with his voice carrying a menacing gravitas the likes of which she had never heard. He didn't even sound like a man, but rather an entity.
"Who are you who has pierced my domain?"
"I am Amora the Enchantress. My companion is Kurse. We come from Asgard."
"For over one hundred thousand years, I have been clad in darkness. The sole surveyor of this realm between realms. My name has long since been struck from history, the knowledge of my existence destined to be as intangible as my domain. All of its power is mine to command, and yet I am enslaved, bounded to this place as it is to me. My sentence is eternity itself. For without my charge, the universe would be rendered asunder. But my purgatory was not of my choosing. My arbiter, the agent of my betrayal, the one who thrust such injustice upon me, was also of Asgard."
Amora felt a chill shiver down her spine.
"Have you come here to forever become one with the darkness? To gain eternity in the swirling storms of the cosmos? To gaze upon infinity and be lost in time?"
Amora lowered her head slightly. She found gazing directly at Perrikus to be unnerving.
"No," she said. "I've come to make you an offer."
"Something of an unruly one, isn't he?"
Sif rolled her eyes as Faradei smirked.
"Your gift for description is unparalleled," she said.
Sif and Faradei both watched as Thor was thrown through the air, slamming into the rock wall behind them. Rather than crying out in pain, the God of Thunder smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
"Finally, some real sport!"
Thor leaped forward again. Ulik, the King of the Rock Trolls, let out a savage roar as he pounded his chest. Ulik was a full metre taller than Thor, and lowered his fist as the Asgardian leaped towards him. Thor narrowly avoided Ulik's punch, before slamming his hammer against the troll's chest. Thor and Ulik continued to trade blows, with Sif and Faradei battling Ulik's troops around them.
The long, protracted war between the Rock Trolls and the Dwarves of Nidavellir had finally reached its apex, with Thor and the Asgardian forces slowly but surely pushing back the monstrous trolls. After months of battle, they had managed to force Ulik back to his stronghold, the subterranean cave network known as the Realm Below.
The main army of Einherjar and Dwarf Knights had surrounded the entrance to the caves, and were dealing with the last vestiges of Ulik's forces. Thor, Sif, Faradei and a handful of warriors had managed to pierce the cave's defenses and entered Ulik's throne room, where he was now making his final stand.
Sif carved her blade through the flesh of one of the trolls, splitting bone and muscles alike. Spinning around, she blocked an axe strike from a second troll before stabbing him in the throat. Turning again, she ducked under a club swing before slicing the head off of a third troll. Two more came for her, but she was more than ready for them.
However, one of them was shot down by an arrow in the back, which was from Faradei's bow. Making a quick turn, he jumped over an axe swing before dashing across the wall for a couple steps. Leaping off of the wall, the Light Elf tossed a dagger into the arm of another troll, causing him to drop his weapon. Faradei then landed behind him and stabbed him in the spine with a long knife.
Ulik repeatedly tried to strike Thor, but his attacks were clumsy because he was so enraged. Still, Thor knew that even one blow from the insane troll might be enough to turn the battle around. Backing off as Ulik slammed the ground again, Thor noticed that the entire cavern shook, creating cracks in both the ground and the ceiling.
Thor bashed Ulik back with his hammer, causing the troll to roar again.
"FIGHT ME, ODINSON! SHOW ME YOUR STRENGTH! NO HAMMER!"
Thor smirked and rolled his shoulders.
"As you say."
Thor then threw Mjolnir into air.
Ulik grinned, but didn't notice that Thor had thrown Mjolnir into the ceiling, striking the crack in it. Large chunks of rock fell down, and Ulik gasped as they landed right on top of him. With the troll king stunned from the falling stones, Thor ran for him and landed a double hammerfist attack against his face, knocking him to one knee.
Thor followed up with several more strikes, before Ulik finally swatted out with his arm. But Thor moved out of the way, ducking under Ulik's elbow. He then threw a haymaker punch against Ulik's jaw, shouting as he did so. The powerful blow completely knocked the wind out of the troll king, and he fell to his back.
Having finished off the other trolls in the room, Sif and Faradei turned to watch Ulik's defeat. The troll king coughed as he looked up at Thor, who was standing on his chest.
"No hammer," said Thor.
Thor then stomped on Ulik's face with his right foot, finally knocking him out.
"Today is for celebration, my friends," said Eitri. "Our campaign is ended. King Ulik has fallen. The war that has ravaged our great nation for so many months has finally concluded. And once again, our alliance with the good people of the golden realm has protected us all."
King Eitri, leader of the Dwarves of Nidavellir, stood up from his throne. He had an orange beard, royal robes and a silver crown atop his head. He carried a battle axe, and slammed the end of it against the ground. Thor, Sif, Faradei and many of Asgard's warriors, who were in the grand hall of Eitri's castle, all took a knee.
"Nidavellir's greatest honour be upon you all. I graciously bestow the gratitude of my people and my crown upon the Einherjar, the God of War, and the Prince of Asgard himself. Glory be to the Aesir, our allies in life and in death."
The dwarves in the hall started cheering and applauding as the Asgardians stood back up. Eitri nodded with respect at Thor and Sif, who returned his gesture. The royal ceremony was followed by a celebration across the entire kingdom, with food, drink, dancing and good company shared by thousands of people from multiple realms.
Although Thor wanted to join his friends in celebration, he found himself unable to. He stood at the entrance to one of the castle's balconies, and from here he could see many tents and tables on the castle grounds where Eitri's subjects had gathered. The Royal Family and the most honoured Asgardians were at the castle's main dining hall.
Seeing that Thor had not joined them, Eitri stood up from his place and walked over to him.
"You have not yet eaten your fill, my Prince," said Eitri. "Come, share a drink with me."
"I will," said Thor. "Perhaps in a short while."
"The God of Thunder himself delaying a victory drink?" asked Eitri, chuckling. "Surely some great evil must be afoot! 'Tis the only explanation!"
"Not evil, but rather a heavy heart."
"Ah."
Eitri gestured for Thor to follow him out to the balcony. Eitri placed his hands on the railing and looked out at his kingdom, which looked beautiful under the moonlit sky.
"Are you worried about returning home?" asked Eitri.
"In part," said Thor. "It will be the first time I face my father since we started this campaign. He has vowed punishment for the negligence of my duties."
"And the other part?"
Thor frowned and glanced down. Eitri stroked his beard.
"You are quite taken with Midgard, aren't you?" asked Eitri. "Or . . . . is it someone in particular you are taken with?"
Thor looked back at Eitri.
"Rumours spread, Odinson. Your decision to abandon this war to aid Midgard in their hour of need caused much discussion in the realms. Your actions in battle are, as always, above reproach. But your motivation is what has become suspect. After all, you are no ordinary Asgardian. The future of your realm is on your shoulders, and people are asking questions."
"Do you have something to ask of me?"
"I cannot number how many virtuous deeds you have done in service of my people," said Eitri, shaking his head. "You will always have your honour in my eyes. Yes, you stepped away from your vow of alliance, but in the end, you were faithful to it. Some will not see it that way, but when I look at my kingdom, and know that my people are safe, I cannot bear any ill will towards you."
"Thank you, Good King. Your gracious words humble and honour me."
"As for what others will feel towards you, I cannot say. But I believe that anyone with a fair and just heart can only look fondly upon you."
Thor smiled. Eitri held out his hand, and Thor firmly shook it.
"Your people and mine have been friends for ten thousand years," said Eitri. "May that friendship last ten thousand more."
Thor nodded as Eitri walked away. As he walked back into the dining hall, Sif walked out of it. Thor stood up straight as she approached him.
"Gravitating to balconies again, my Prince?"
"Playing coy again, my Lady?"
Sif scoffed as she stepped up to Thor's side. He looked back out at the landscape, while she kept her eyes on him.
"After all the battles we have waged, all the blood that's been shed, you cannot even take the time we have allotted to celebrate?"
"I find myself with little enthusiasm for festivities at the moment."
"That is a disposition that our good friend Faradei does not share," said Sif.
Thor and Sif both turned around and looked into the dining hall. Faradei was sitting at the table with a handful of dwarf children, and he was juggling the three smallest ones as they screamed and laughed with glee. Eitri and his wife, Queen Egvanda, both chuckled at the show.
"A natural family man, that one," said Thor.
Thor looked back out at the distance. Sif leaned her back against the balcony and folded her arms across her chest.
"Are you thinking about the All-Father?"
"Yes."
"I know he spoke harshly to you when you left to aid the mortals," said Sif. "But I don't believe he ever spoke out of malice. He loves you, Thor. As we all do. As I do."
Sif reached out and placed her hand on Thor's. He turned to look into her eyes. Before anything else could be said, Sif reached forward and grabbed Thor by the back of the neck. She firmly kissed him on the lips, and although she caught him by surprise, he did not pull away. After several seconds, their lips parted, and the two looked at each other.
"As if you're surprised," said Sif, with a sly smile. "Did we not share each other's first time behind the trees of Idunn? When we were so young, so many years ago?"
Sif gently caressed Thor's cheek.
"Did you forget how loving and gentle you were with me back then? Or the promises we made for our future?"
Thor saw the sadness in Sif's eyes.
"We were but children," he said.
"Has your heart grown so cold to me that you cannot even acknowledge what we shared?"
Thor took Sif's hand and squeezed it.
"I know your heart is confused," said Sif. "I don't begrudge you for caring about Jane Foster. Or for Earth. But you have a responsibility to the throne. You are the Prince of Asgard. Your father knows that your time is coming. That is why he spoke so harshly. Not because you abandoned the dwarves. But because he's afraid of losing you."
Thor sighed, sensing the wisdom in Sif's words.
"Very soon, you will be crowned the King of Asgard, and you will need to take a Queen. Whatever your choice may be . . . . I will always care for you."
Sif kissed Thor on the cheek. She then turned away and returned to the dining hall. Even after two conversations, Thor still found himself unable to join them. Instead, he found his thoughts drawn to the stars. He did not share Heimdall's gift for being able to observe any point in the universe, but he could still imagine what he was thinking of.
And right now, he was thinking of Earth.