The Warrior and the Trickster
Chapter Eleven:
The underground tunnels seemed to stretch endlessly. Balder glowed an iridescent blue and provided a decent amount of light by which to lead them. Loki's mind was still trying to process the fact that he'd picked up Mjolnir without any real effort. It didn't seem possible and yet it happened. He'd done terrible things in his thousands of years of life. Some of his sins were harmless pranks, but murder and mayhem were first and forefront of the more serious crimes. Why did the hammer decide he was worthy and yet denied Balder? Wasn't Balder the one they were trying to instate as king? Did that mean he wasn't worthy to be king? Was the entire adventure a foolish waste of time? Lady Sif's life was in danger for what purpose?
"Heavy thoughts, brother?" Thor asked. The tall and golden Asgardian had kept pace alongside Loki as they trailed behind their other two companions.
Loki arched an eyebrow at the brother honorific. Did Thor decide to consider him worthy of his affections once more? Perhaps the big lug was more observant than Loki gave him credit for – perhaps he wasn't fooled by the hastily cast illusion. Mjolnir deemed Loki to be of worth so Thor had done the same. "Just trying to gage our distance," he murmured.
Strange, red glow worms slithered along the underground tunnels. They seemed attracted to Balder's blue illumination. Loki was familiar with the glow worms from his research about phoenix birds. The benefit of not being particularly athletic and having few, if any, friends meant Loki spent a great amount of time in the library.
"We're getting closer," Loki announced.
"Not by my calculations," Ivory disagreed. He whirled around and waved his elaborate hat in front of his face, his elfin ears cast great shadows on the walls from catching Balder's light. "It's stifling hot down here," he whined.
"And what do your calculations say?" Loki challenged. "Exactly how many trips to Muspelheim have you made?" His hand had crept to the dagger at his hip—Lady Sif's dagger. Thor cleared his throat and gave Loki's hand a pointed look. The trickster relaxed his hand away from the dagger's handle.
"I may not have traveled here before, but I know about birds. There's no way a bird would be near this area. There's no natural food source for it to eat. The birds of Longrose Hall eat seeds and drink nectar. Do you see any plants?" Ivory asked waving pointing around them with his hat.
"First of all we are not on Alfheim. We are underground," Thor said. He pointed to the roof of the tunnel above their heads. "I do note the scraggly roots that have reached this deep into the ground. Surely, there is some plant-life on the surface."
"I see red glow worms," Loki answered dryly. "Maybe on your happy little elf world the birds are omnivorous, but here they eat worms. These worms," he said gesturing at the walls and the creatures slithering across the stone. "And these worms are grubs that feast on these scraggly roots."
"How do you know this?" Thor asked quietly.
"I read a lot of books," Loki answered. The roots and the worms were evidence enough of their proximity. They needed to explore the surface. Surely, they were close to the home of the phoenix birds. "Look, we need to get out of the tunnels. Is there an exit?"
"I will make one," Thor vowed. He gripped his hammer and sent it flying through the nearest wall. Loki cringed as he envisioned the tunnel collapsing around them and trapping them amongst the debris of stone and dirt.
"Worry not, my brother. It is a magical hammer after all," Thor said with a cocky grin as he caught Mjolnir and casually tossed the hammer in the air, catching it by the handle with ease.
"I don't know why you insist on calling him brother," Balder huffed. "I am your true brother." He glared at Loki with an obvious distaste marring his handsome features. "This Frost Giant was merely adopted out of father's pity. We are the sons of a king."
"As is Loki, his blood father was king of the Frost Giants." Thor rounded on Balder and faced him directly. "Loki is a trickster yes, but he is loyal when it suits him. He would see to Asgard's preservation above all other things. He had been a valuable ally to me in the past. We can at least trust Loki to be clever. We were raised alongside one another. He is more brother to me than you have ever been."
Loki cleared his throat, trying to stop the fight between the two true heirs of Asgard. He hadn't realized that Thor didn't much care for Balder. Now that he reflected upon it, Balder was a bully to Thor when they were growing up. The Avenger did seem to prefer playing alongside Loki and Sif when they were younger. His relationship with the frail human Jane Foster started to make sense to Loki. Perhaps Thor's hero complex obligated him to protect those weaker than him. Sif didn't need him for protection, but that human girl certainly couldn't defend herself against the enemies of Asgard.
Thor shifted his hammer on his shoulder and started for the hole he had created. Loki and the others followed him outside into the dry sulfuric air. The volcano chain was near and the great firebirds swooped about the sky in mass droves. Loki's lip curled into a smile. Now he simply had to pick one, place it within a magical container, and then bum a ride off Surtur to Hela's palace. Easy as pie!
"What do you intend to hold the bird within?" Thor asked rubbing his thick beard absently. "Surely you do not intend to hold it."
"A cage with plenty of circulation would be ideal," Ivory said. "I have several such cages back in my realm, unfortunately I have no access to them."
"Them keep such useless comments to yourself," Loki scolded. He closed his eyes to concentrate and then using his magic he pulled a cage of appropriate size for a smaller firebird out of thin air. If he had stashed away a muzzle he'd have brought that forth too, but his foresight didn't grant him suspicions of such an annoying companion. He'd kept the cage stored in one of the spaces between spaces. Not all sorcerers had access to the realm between realms, but it was a skill he'd learned to master. It was a skill that helped him find passages between the nine realms.
"Shall I shoot one down for you?" Ivory asked, brandishing his pistols in enthusiasm.
"No thank you, Sir Honeyshot. I would prefer the creatures to be unscathed," Loki said. According to the mythology of the Northmen from a millennia ago Loki was the god of fire. That could have been from his teaching the cretins how to create fire, his fickle nature, or his affinity for destruction. As a Frost Giant he wasn't particularly fond of heat. However, he chose to believer that the moniker would aid him in acquiring a firebird.
There was a density in the area around them. A dark mist began to fall heavily upon the scorched ground. "We're about to have company," Loki murmured. "Put your weapons away and act pleasant," he hissed with a pointed look at Thor and then Ivory. Balder stared at the dense cloud with his hands behind his back. He never moved to touch his blade. What did that mean that his first instinct upon witnessing a possible hostile force was to do nothing?
Materializing before them was the King of Muspelheim. Surtur was a great creature with a height stretching hundreds of feet into the sky, his skin was crimson red, the horns on his head terrifying, his tail was thick and heavy and could wipe out a street block with a single swipe. His dark eyes focused on the company of four, lingered on the cage at Loki's feet, and then settled on the light elf.
"You have dishonored and disturbed my daughters you foul creature of light," Surtur rumbled in a deep voice that vibrated the ground under their feet. He turned his glare to the three Asgardians. "What brings Odin's sons to my realm? Should not I have been informed of a royal convoy?"
"King Surtur," Loki greeted with a formal bow and a dramatic sweep of his hands. "We disturb your lands on a personal quest. I did not wish to bother you. I seek a phoenix to sooth the temperament of Hela, the Goddess of Death."
Surtur's tail twitched in agitation behind him. "Had that been all I would have no dispute with you, Loki. You are an ally. And I have many daughters recently sent to Hela's realm so I would wish to remain in her good graces." He directed his piercing gaze at the other three. "Though I find your company to be distasteful. Had this one not been fed to the worms years ago?" he said gesturing with his great sword to Balder.
Surtur was of course referring to a battle where Loki had been his ally against Odin, Thor, and Balder. It had been a close fight and there was no definitive winner as Surtur and Odin were evenly matched in terms of strength. However, Surtur had the greater intelligence so Loki had sided with the Fire Demon King. The end of that battle had been Loki's banishment of two hundred years and then Loki's manipulation of events that led to Balder's untimely death. He'd not killed his brother himself, but he had aided the assassin that Surtur had sent after the crowned prince.
"The Lady Sif and I bargained with the Goddess of Death to bring him back to life. I am fulfilling the bargain so that I may free Sif from the bondage of the goddess," Loki explained. He stepped in front of Thor as he could sense his brother eager to battle.
Surtur grew thoughtful. "I remember the female warrior," he said with a nod. "She is worth a fine quest." He reached out and grasped a phoenix flying nearby in the sky as if it were a simple feat. He brought his hand toward Loki and he wasted no time taking the firebird and containing it within the small cage. "A gift for the Goddess of Death that she might have leniency on my recently slaughtered daughters." Surtur turned his dark, angry eyes towards the elf of Alfheim.
Ivory began to fidget. "Sir, it was self-defense," he said in a small squeak of a voice.
"You murdered a dozen of my daughters for sport with your companions. Your tortured death was fair compensation and yet here you traipsing about my lands," Surtur said. He waved his hand to his right and a pair of pillars materialized. "And I am no sir. I am a King!"
"King Surtur," Balder said raising his hands in a placating manner. "Three of his companions had been slain most viciously. The Convergence that sent them unwillingly to this realm was at fault here. Your daughters had their revenge."
"You. I never liked you," Surtur said swiping his blade in a dangerous arc toward Balder. Thor rushed toward his older brother and pushed him out of the way. He brandished Mjolnir defensively, but didn't attack.
"Please, King Surtur, we'll just be out of your hair. I ask that you transport us back to Hela's castle so that we may leave your realm in peace. We will not venture here again if you so desire," Loki said. He held his scepter in a white-knuckled grip and while he was tempted to use the Mind Stone he knew that Surtur was too great a will to conquer and an attempt to do so would only incite the king's wrath.
"You and Thor may leave. I respect you two. However, I claim these two as spoils for my benevolence. My daughters must be avenged," Surtur rumbled. With another wave of his hand a dozen female demonesses appeared. They seemed to be the same ones from the cave earlier.
"I cannot leave without Balder," Loki said quietly.
"Would you trade places with him, Trickster?" Surtur said. "Do you find him so worthy as to trade your own life for his?"
Thor locked eyes with Loki, his blue eyes wide and he faintly shook his head in the negative. Loki knew his brother was telling him there would be another way. Thor didn't realize that sometimes for peace — trades were necessary. One could not always best a rival in battle.
"I would accept his place," Loki said trying to swallow the dry lump that had formed in his throat. The air was too dry and arid. He could feel the moisture from his eyes drying out. He wouldn't last long. Perhaps this was to be his end. He'd faked his death many times. There might be a chance that he could work his silver tongue to convince Surtur to have mercy.
"And the elf, I would have the elf too," Balder shouted.
Surtur snorted, steam rising from his nostrils as he glared down at the crowned prince of Asgard. "I would rather see you as a fine jelly beneath my foot."
"As Balder is my chosen king I will have to petition his request, King Surtur," Loki said humbling himself and kneeling before the red demon.
"Loki, no," Thor pleaded in a whisper. "There must be another way."
"There is no other way," Surtur said with an impatient wave of his hand. He sent the three and the caged bird away, the vanished in a puff of smoke. "I accept your offer Loki, son of Laufey. Your companions and the firebird have been transported to Hela's castle. I sent that accursed creature of light back to the horrid realm of Alfheim. You have succeeded in your noble quest." He crouched so that his large face hovered near Loki's. "You'll have to tell me as my daughters strip the flesh from your bones if you believe Balder was worth it."
Loki locked his jaw and steeled his spine to face the king of demons with as much confidence as he could muster. "He is not worth it, but it is worth my life to keep from disappointing Lady Sif. She was a valuable ally and friend and I would not have her last memory of me to be of a self-preserving coward."
Surtur laughed and smiled at Loki with a wicked sneer. "No, instead you will be a dead hero." He waved his hand once more and Loki found himself strapped against the two pillars, his arms and legs spread-eagle. His scepter lay on the ground at his feet. Surtur picked it up. "Perhaps I will use this to pick my teeth after you are dead."
OoO
Verdani's vision of the present had shown Loki and his companions, including a weakling light elf wandering about an underground tunnel lined with red glow worms. It wasn't very helpful, but it did give Sif hope that it wouldn't be too late to change Loki's fate and save him.
Hela had returned them to her palace. She refused to take them to Muspelheim until she received the phoenix she was promised. Sif paced impatiently while Brunhilde leaned against one of the many support pillars in the castle with her eyes half-shut.
"How do I defeat the Fire Demon King?" Sif asked. She looked between Hela and Brunhilde. "I admit my ignorance on the matter. There must be a way to defeat him."
"Odin was unable to beat him with Thor and Balder at his side," Brunhilde pointed out. "Though your friend Loki was on Surtur's side. I don't think the Trickster will be of much use to you in this situation."
"Then let us go back to the fates and ask them!" Sif cried out in frustration.
"We will wait here until my payment is received," Hela said. She lay across her onyx throne with her legs crossed and wearing a bored expression. She tapped her nails impatiently against on her armrest.
There was a great commotion and a clattering in the middle of the room. Thor and Balder collapsed on the floor, a silver cage between them. Flames burst from within the cage. Hela rose from her chair at once. Sif and Brunhilde drew near the two men — they smelled of fire and brimstone.
"I see King Surtur delivered you here directly," Hela said. She walked past Thor and Balder, leaned over, and unlocked the cage allowing the phoenix within to fly free. The firebird flew around the large throne room before it finally settled on Hela's shoulder. She reached up and patted its head. "I see that Loki has delivered." She turned to Sif and waved a hand dismissively. "You are no longer my prisoner."
"Lady Sif," Thor said, grabbing hold of Sif's wrist and rising to his feet. "Loki is in danger and we must find a way to save him," he implored.
"From the sorcerer who the All Father could not scratch?" Hela asked with a laugh. "Loki is a lost cause."
Sif thought back to the memory of Hela's birth and the father who resembled Loki so closely. "You want Loki to die so that he will be part of your domain," Sif reasoned.
Hela scoffed. "You will all die. None of you are immortal. All must deal with the Goddess of Death."
Sif knew that Hela's boast was unfounded. The true heroes of Asgard would find their final rest in Valhalla — a realm of glory outside of Niffleheim and the dishonored dead of Hel.
"What happened to Ivory?" Balder asked. He rubbed his head and glanced around in confusion.
"Most likely he was sent back to his world Alfheim," Thor said. "Surtur has great skills in sorcery."
"There must be a weapon capable of defeating Surtur," Sif said. She realized Thor still clutched her wrist and she gently extracted her arm from his grasp.
"Perhaps Jarnbjorn," Thor suggested.
"The axe?" Brunhilde asked, pushing away from the pillar and approaching them. "Your enchanted weapon before Mjolnir?"
"Brunhilde?" Balder asked. His bright eyes wide in astonishment as he stumbled to his feet. "You are as beautiful as I remember."
Brunhilde looked Balder up and down in appraisal. "It's Valkrye. You look well. The last that I saw you death had stolen your light." She turned her attention to Thor and Sif. "Wasn't Jarnbjorn lost?"
Thor shrugged. "Merely displaced," he confessed.
"Displaced where?" Sif asked. "Is it a place we can reach?"
Hela began to laugh. "If you believe that the roots of the world tree are reachable."
"Why is that funny?" Sif demanded rounding on the Goddess of Death unafraid. She could feel her Berserker rage building and her common sense rapidly dissipating. Loki was in danger for fulfilling his promise for the good of the realm and Hela laughed at his expense.
"She laughs because the roots of Yggdrasil are guarded by a great dragon known as Nidhoggr that gnaws on its roots. It is said that the dragon also feasts on the inhabitants of Nastrond the murderers, adulterers, and oath-breakers," Thor explained.
"You don't have to travel far if that is your destination," Hela said with a sigh. She sauntered near Sif and ran her long, tapered fingers along Sif's armored arm. "Even after all our time together you have so little faith in me," she said with a sigh. "Nidhoggr lives in Hel. If you can acquire the axe I will transport you to Muspelheim. However, if you fail to acquire the axe I will not aid you on a fool's journey." She stepped away from them and wandered back to her throne with the phoenix resting comfortably on her shoulder.
Sif turned to Thor and they communicated an agreement in the silent language they had developed over the centuries as they fought alongside one another in battle.
"We will accept this offer," Brunhilde said. "I will see to it that you are successful, Sif," the blonde warrior said coming to her side. "If you feel that Loki is worth the risk I will join you on this one last grand adventure."
Balder looked reluctant, but he valiantly tried to hide his trepidation. Like all good Asgardians he was always excited to adventure against a worthy foe. "Let us adventure once more before I am crowned. Shall we be off to slay this dragon?"
Hela cackled in a cruel laugh. "You cannot kill the immortal dragon. He has a duty to perform until Ragnarok."
"There is no need to slay this dragon, just retrieve my old axe," Thor said.
"We must hurry. We visited the three fates and Loki's future is bleak and cruel," Sif said. She looked down at the ring on her left hand. It was still a bright green so she took that to mean that Loki and his magic were intact for the time being. While she was grateful to have completed the quest she had set out with Loki to save Balder she couldn't leave him to such a cruel fate. "I always wanted an axe."
A/N: I really enjoyed Sif's guest appearance on Marvel's Agents of SHIELD last night. And that's why you're getting this update. Asgardian motivation! Thanks so much for your reviews and enthusiasm! I love my fellow comic-junkies!
