Welcome back avid readers another new chapter!
Thank you all so much for the support you've given me so far, just reading this story makes me happy.
I may not be able to post another chapter until next week as I do have an assignment due this week that I've been working on for this entire uni semester (lots of essay writing I can tell you). I thought I would warn you now. but other than that I shall be free to invoke the emotions within ye
until then.
"Brother?" Thor creased his face up in confusion as he glanced between his father and the entity that sat on the throne.
But it was no entity... it was Loki.
While he looked exactly as Loki did, Thor knew it was not him... He could feel it. His eyes had been polluted from his rich emerald green to a sickening mixture of black and gold. Even the way in which it now moved, sat, spoke... it was not his brother.
"Father, I do not understand." Thor pressed.
Odin stiffened further as the demon leaned forward, clasping his hands together between its knees as it gave a short bout of laughter.
"You did not tell your son about me?" It smiled softly after it calmed, "It makes sense after all."
"Thaëir" Odin whispered.
"I tried to look for mentions about me in the tomes, rekindle the time you stole from me...but upon searching I found nothing."
Thor looked at his brother sitting in the chair, his mind clicking as he remembered the conversation with his father on the nights Loki had been absent.
"Loki was keen on seeing the eclipse; he had been rather puzzled that there were no records in the great library regarding the last."
Realization dawned on Thor as they both looked at Odin.
Thaëir leaned back and closed his eyes, embracing the hurt features of Odin's son with satisfaction.
"You destroyed it all didn't you Odin…every mention about me. You wiped my name from history and from the minds of Asgard."
Odin remained silent as Thaëir grinned.
"I know this to be of truth. I've delved into the minds of all those who've encountered me... those who've failed to contain me. I was about to lose hope dear friend, until one little prince fell into my grasp. "
Thaëir stood up from the throne and wrapped his arms around himself, humming in appreciation.
"It was almost too coincidental, I hardly believed it myself."
Thor's eyes darted back and forth trying to comprehend, but Thaëir continued.
"Shall I tell you how he fell Odin… what sound was made as his bones broke," Thaëir smiled cruelly, twisting Loki's features unnaturally, "How the red of his blood stained my prison, because there was so much of it brother."
Thor opened his mouth, his breath hitching.
I fell.
"Father!" Thor yelled, unable to bear the silence of Odin any longer.
"Release my son." Thor heard his father command with such power, even he leaned back.
Odin reaffirmed his grip on Gungnir and pointed it towards Thaëir. Thaëir dropped his hands limply from his self embrace and turned his full attention towards the Allfather. Thor cast himself in a defensive stance, he still could not feel his ability to summon Mjölnir within him, but he remained alert nonetheless. Thaëir's body shuddered momentarily before he stumbled backwards, his eyes narrowing dangerously that only Thor could see the darkness of his eyes.
"You dare challenge to exorcise me?" Thaëir snarled.
Odin kept the tip of Gungnir pointed in his direction as he raised his palm, curling his fingers slightly. Thor could feel the explosion of his father's aura as it collided with another power he knew not to be his brother's.
The floor beneath them began to rumble, shaking violently as it made Thor stumble sideways and fall to one knee. Dust and small bits of debris fell from the grand ceiling, clattering against the ground in an almost harmonious nature. Thor looked up from his steadying hand, feeling the clashing of power fill the room.
Deep shadows had surrounded Loki's already polluted eyes, seeping out like veins against his seemingly white skin. The veins grew more prominent with each second that passed between their silent attacks.
Together his father and Thaëir stood silently… their gazes locked on each other, caught within a battle Thor had no understanding of.
Thor pushed himself up, glancing to his right as the floor cracked beneath him, splitting like lightning into one to the grand palace columns that supported the roof with ease. Large chunks of stone fell from its ancient place and collapsed to the floor. Thor raised his hand, trying to summon Mjölnir, pleading with it to hear his call.
Nothing.
Thor turned his hand to his gaze, not understanding why. A sense of vulnerability overwhelmed him.
Odin's boots scraped against the debris as he was pushed back. Thor felt his father intensify the assault as he stepped forward, regaining the distance he lost. Thaëir began to descend the stairs, with the same difficulty Odin appeared to have… each locked against the battle of their auras. Each step Thaëir took in Loki's body sent cracks around his feet, as if an immeasurable weight was placed on him. The power had increased to the point where Thor could visibly see a golden haze appearing like speckled dust against sunlight, surrounding his father. It surged towards Loki's body but as Thor looked on with horrified wonder he saw the golden haze drift around his brother's form in a near perfect circle.
Thaëir was deflecting it away from him as he continued to push forward, his gaze locked onto Odin with sheer resolve. More cracks broke the floor and cascaded up the walls as everything shook dangerously.
Thor screamed out to his father, but Odin did not turn.
The noise as the two auras collided screamed through Thor's ears, deafening him. He once again stumbled sideways as the floor shifted violently. A strong wind had picked up from within the throne room, dispersing the debris and dust that had fallen making the entire situation hard to distinguish.
"Thor!" he heard his name distantly.
Thor turned around to see the sight of his friends, armor clad and weapons unsheathed, steadying themselves against the walls and doorframes around them. Each warrior looked on with confused horror, their minds unable to process what they were seeing.
Loki… holding up a fight with the Allfather, and making ground.
"You always thought you were the greatest caster brother!" Thaëir yelled over the noise erupting around them.
Odin remained silent but continued the pursuit in purging Thaëir from Loki's body. Thaëir struggled to make ground as the distance between him and Odin closed. Thor did not have to feel the power to know not even Mjölnir could conjure such immensity.
Thaëir stopped and began to raise both his arms from his side and bended them as they lifted.
Thor widened his eyes against the onslaught.
He screamed for his father and brother as he felt his friends pull him back, dragging him towards the door. It took all four to muster the strength to move the thunderer.
"Thor, we must go!" Fandral screamed as Thor continued to watch, unable to keep his eyes away.
Loki.
Father.
Thaëir's arms were almost parallel to the ground, dust and debris rising with the same tempo as his pace. As Thor was dragged out of the room and into the hallway he watched as time seemed to stop.
Thaëir brought his hands together with such speed, clapping them as a deafening explosion blew through the room.
Thor had barely been moved around the corner when a powerful force blew them all backwards. Thor felt himself be thrown into a wall, hearing it crack behind him before he slid down his vision spinning erratically.
As he recovered, he pushed himself up, glancing over his friends who stood with delayed reactions but overall remained unscathed. Thor turned to rush back to his father, ignoring the calls of Sif to remain out of danger.
They too felt the auras Thor thought as he entered the destroyed room.
Thor's hands fell to his side in silence as he glanced at the destruction, narrowing his eyes as the dust settled. Upon hearing a small grunt and the sound of debris clattering against the ground he turned his gaze. Odin was pushing himself up with great difficultly.
"Father…" Thor said softly as he rushed to his side, helping him up.
Thor looked around for Loki, but found only empty space.
"He is gone, Thor." Odin whispered with exhaustion, Gungnir falling from his grip.
Thor looked at his father, not flinching as the sound of the clattering golden spear broke the silence between them. The other warriors had surrounded their King, holding him as he appeared to falter.
"You…" Thor began.
"Depleted him for now… he fled my son." Odin said as the others led their king to the healing rooms.
Thor stood in silence, unable to comprehend the situation.
That had been his brother facing Odin… and without restraint they both had attacked each other with intent to kill.
Thor looked up as he felt a gentle hand shake him.
"Thor." Sif said, "I do not understand this either… but standing here does nothing."
Thor nodded slowly, and let Sif lead him out of the throne room.
Thor had given his father a day of rest, understanding full well what it may have cost him… but it did not deter his anger at the lack of information he was receiving.
Loki had disappeared and no one knew where. Even Thor knew he would be wasting his time with Heimdall as word would have been sent of his whereabouts by now. The questions had built over the few hours that Thor was left alone as Frigga stayed by her husband's side. Guards were placed on high alert throughout the palace as he remained within his quarters.
Thor scoffed at the thought.
Compared to what he saw, it would make no difference if they faced him.
Sighing he raised his hand silently opening his palm a few times. Mjölnir did not respond as it continued to rest in its place atop his table. Thor frowned and tried again with more energy. He quickly stood in frustration as it failed to move.
Thaëir, or whoever it was had done something to him.
Standing over Mjölnir he let his palm brush softly against the leather handle before he wrapped his fingers around it. Picking up his weapon he spun it around silently, familiarizing himself with the weight and lightness of it again.
If he could no longer easily call to his weapon, then he would have to carry it with him. Hooking his hammer to his belt, Thor made his way to his father's chambers with determination.
He would get answers.
Reaching the door he burst through without civility, giving his mother a fright.
Odin stood, letting go of Frigga's hand, as though Thor had interrupted something personal.
"Boy, you barge in here without permission."
Thor clenched his fists at his father's sudden coldness.
"I have come here for answers."
Odin tiredly sighed.
"I am in no mood for this right now."
Thor could see the strain on his father's face.
"I don't care… "Thor immediately replied, "I demand you to tell me what you so failed to mention before."
Odin narrowed his eye.
"You demand?"
"Whatever has a hold of my brother you will tell me how to defeat it."
Frigga looked down and brushed her hand against Odin as he opened his mouth.
"You must tell him Odin." She whispered, looking up at him with pleading eyes, "It is the only way."
Odin sighed as Frigga excused herself, knowing it was best to leave.
As the door clicked silently shut, Thor turned to his father, waiting for him to speak. Odin closed his eye, lowering his brow as old memories surfaced.
"Who was that father? He called you his brother…" Thor said as calmly as possible.
Odin opened his eye and Thor clearly saw pain flash across his face.
"His name was Thaëir, Thor." Odin began slowly. "He was…" Odin looked towards an open window and paused for a moment.
"My brother in arms." Odin looked back to his son, and smiled weakly, "my dearest friend."
"But that was a long, long time ago my son."
Thor frowned in confusion, but silently pleaded with his father to continue, he needed to know what he was up against. Odin regarded his eldest son, knowing full well that it was not enough to satisfy him. Taking in a deep breath he began to recall his memories.
"A new age was approaching, one that signified the end of another long cycle. A new era was to be born, and with that it brought concern, worry, and fear to the people. The realm was evolving, changing, it was only in these days did we truly connect with the nine realms and those who were at level with us. But even with all we knew… with all we had, there would always remain the danger and battle for power." Odin looked at his son.
"It was here that we knew what difficult position we had placed ourselves in. In opening Asgard to the Nine we opened ourselves to attack. Thaëir, the greatest sorcerer I knew…my friend… noticed the warning signs of an oncoming war. I was a young king you see… I had been caught in the decision between the need to act, and the knowledge that in doing so would endanger this realm."
Odin walked towards his son slowly, taking deliberate steps as Thor remained silent.
"Have you any knowledge of what happens when the moons cross the sun?"
Thor shook his head.
The eclipse, he thought.
"When the moons block the sun in an alignment, two branches of Yggdrasil connect." Odin gestured absentmindedly. "It is, for a sorcerer, like an open feast…A direct line into the roots of all things."
Odin tried to smile, but it faltered.
"We both thought that if we could channel this energy, this power, it might protect us. It was Thaëir who volunteered to see if it might be done."
Odin's features faded.
"In the end it changed him, ruined him. He could not control it, and it destroyed him. He turned not only onto the other realms, but to Asgard itself. Instead of protecting life, he sought to consume it. I pleaded and begged my friend to end it, but my words no longer reached him… and so I had to end him."
Odin put his hand atop Thor's shoulder.
Thor remained speechless.
"I wanted there to be another way, but there wasn't one, my son…. not for him."
Thor breathed in deeply.
"But he has returned."
"I was young, inexperienced, and brash even… and now my mistakes have carried into another new era. Thaëir it seems endured. I had tried to expel him from your brother but my method proved unsuccessful."
Thor's heart raced with worry.
"Then how do we save Loki." Thor asked gravely.
Odin remained silent, and Thor questioned him silently.
"Father?" he asked after he could not bear it any longer.
"Thaëir consumes, Thor. You felt it yourself when you encountered him." Odin said.
It dawned on Thor what his father was about to say, but he could not bring himself to accept it. Odin, who saw the distress on his son's face, could only give a gentle squeeze of his hand against his shoulder.
I am never good with writing long dialogues but I felt this chapter needed it.
an alert lets you hire a cleanup crew for the throne room. A review lets you hit Odin, honestly secrets do no good for Loki
-Brought to you By the Broadcasting Service of Mimbillia-
