Odin walked briskly through the halls of the palace acknowledging everyone who passed and saying good morning when it needed to be said. He had always done these walks when he was younger but had gotten out of practice over the years as Thor and Loki had started handling a little more responsibility.
Now with Loki on the run and Thor gallivanting on Earth after letting Loki escape, Odin now found himself falling back into his old routines. He came to a stop at the training yard where Sif and the Warriors Three were sparring with other Asgardian soldiers, the four of them clearly were superior warriors but the sparring was doing the others good which would be necessary soon.
"Well if it isn't the old king himself" rang out a shrill old voice. Odin turned to find the witch Volla. She was a small woman and was one of the few beings that was older than Odin was, she had long been an adviser to the Kings of Asgard throughout Asgardian history. She approached Odin and stood next to him looking out over the training yard.
"We were supposed to be meeting this morning?" asked Odin hoping that he hadn't left Volla waiting. Volla shook her head no and continued to say nothing. "Well than what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you?" he asked noting the sour look her face suddenly took.
"I'm afraid I come bearing bad news All-Father" she said generating a sigh from Odin. "I have had several visions over the last few days and none of them are good."
Volla had never been wrong on a vision and Odin had learned over the centuries to trust her words and visions. "What have you seen?"
Volla took a breath "I see Muspelheim stirring, and a force I do not know or recognize marching on Asgard." she said trying to decide how to tell Odin the final and most important piece of her vision.
Odin looked down "If that is your vision than I must try my best to be prepared so that they may be changed" he replied with a level of hope that he couldn't even believe. "If Surtur marches on Asgard I will thwart him as I always have. And whoever this unknown force is, they will meet my wrath and fall to the might of Asgard" he finished looking at Volla who simply grinned sympathetically. "There is more isn't there?"
"I'm afraid that you are not present in the visions All-Father" she said quickly and quietly. Odin looked taken aback at first, shocked by her words. She could see the wheels turning for the old King of Asgard, his mind wrestling with his own mortality.
Odin was shaken but not surprised by Vollas's words, he did not wish to believe her but he also could feel her words ringing true in his heart. The last few years had taken a lot out of him, tensions with Jotunheim had already taken a lot out of him but Thor's folly in Jotunheim, and Loki's betrayal had pushed him even harder. Now here he was, facing the possibility of another war with Jotunheim and his first-born son running around on Earth after letting his fugitive brother escape from what could have been Asgard's saving grace. Odin sighed "How much time do I have?" he asked hoping that Volla could give him something to work with.
Volla dropped her gaze to the gilded floors of the Asgardian Palace, "Not long, I'm afraid. I have no specific amount of time but I know that the end of your reign is coming close and that Asgard will soon be counting on its next king to save it" she explained turning to return to her home in outside the city. She was shocked when Odin spoke to her again.
"How are things in Nilfheim?" he asked dreading what her answer may or may not be. He hadn't asked about Nilfheim since the Valkyrie had beaten Hela back and refortified the fort there.
Volla sighed "Not much change to speak of, the cave is secure. The Valkyrie guard it with their lives despite losing many in Hela's recent escape attempt." she answered garnering a nod from Odin signaling he was finished speaking with her.
"Farewell" he said as she started to hobble away from him.
Alfheim
It moved with swiftness through the woods of Alfheim, the trolls It had encountered and absorbed had filled it but something was still missing. It could not settle itself, it could not remember anything but pain and agony. It stopped when it heard some noises coming from an open field just beyond the tree line. It approached cautiously still unsure of its surroundings and possible threats to its well-being. It looked out and saw the sun rising again like it had the previous few days but for the first time since the trolls it had found living creatures that were speaking.
Two Elf children were playing just outside of their village, they were getting into mischief as children often do but felt a dark chill fall over them seemingly out of nowhere. "What is that?" the older child asked looking around as the feeling of being watched began to poke at his senses.
"I don't know" replied the other younger child, "but I think we should head back home, there could be Dark Elves nearby."
"Don't be such a Loki" sneered the older child using the newest insult that the Nine Realms had come up with after Loki attacked Jotunheim.
"Loki" ringed in It's ear. An Asgardian who many call the God of Mischeif, Loki had often made deals with the Rock Trolls and other enemies of Asgard to wreak havoc and cause trouble with his brother Thor. It shook its head "Where was all of this coming from?" It wondered. It searched its feelings and understood that It somehow had learned this information from the Rock Trolls It had absorbed back when It woke up. It turned It's attention back towards the children.
"Stop that" whined the younger child, "I'm going to tell your Mom" he shouted as he turned for home. The older boy turned to give chase.
"Take them...Discover your destiny" ringed in It's mind. It needed to learn more, It needed to understand destiny. It just needed more as It launched from the woods and quickly took the lives and souls of the Elven children. Information flooded It's mind but was quickly deciphered, there were more older and smarter Elves just over the hill. "Thor, Sif, Heimdall…Odin" ringed in It's mind. Names that It could not place yet but with more It could do just that. "More, more, more" ringed through It's mind as it approached and attacked the Elvish village.
