That Far Gone
Thor sat beside his father as they dined in Valhalla, though Thor had barely touched his meal. Frigga cast frequent worried glances in their direction as Odin sat in stubborn silence.
"Father," Thor tried again for the hundredth time.
"Thor." Odin said his tone hard and clearly stating his warning. But Thor, just as stubborn as his father, pressed on.
"We must talk about this," he pleaded.
"Not now," Odin replied shortly.
"Then when!"
"What would you have me do?" Odin snapped as he turned to face his son, his expression hard. They stared into each other's eyes, both of them unwilling to back down. But as they searched each other's gaze, they realized that both of them were feeling the same amount of hurt, betrayal and regret as the other. Odin's expression softened and he sighed tiredly.
He opened his mouth to speak, but he never got the words out before the explosion wracked the hall. The force of the blast knocked them out of their chairs and onto the floor. Thor lied there for a moment until his ears stopped ringing and his vision cleared.
When he was able to see again, he pushed himself off the floor and watched as the first wave of heavily armored soldiers poured into the hall.
Who were they? Where was their warning? Where did they come from?
Thor had no time to further contemplate these things before he was attacked. He struck the armored face as it neared and moved on to the next one out of the endless stream of attackers. He had no time to stop to summon his hammer, for there were too many. Thor fought, beating back the intruders with the others that had been in the hall with them…those that were still alive that is.
Through the noise of the battle, Thor heard his mother scream. He knew it was his mother because she had screamed a name. She had screamed 'Loki'.
As Thor turned, he saw his mother running. Thor followed her path with his eyes and saw his father fighting with Gungnir against the black armored soldiers. What his father failed to see was Loki walking up casually behind him. The look in his eyes was that of a wolf stalking his prey and his movements were as fluid as a snake ready to strike. Thor watched helplessly from across the hall as his father turned at the last minute. He had raised Gungnir to strike, but hesitated when he saw Loki standing there right behind him. Loki took advantage of Odin's hesitation and thrust the wicked blade of the scepter through his father's heart. He didn't even blink.
"NO!" Thor bellowed and reached out his hand. But it was already too late.
Loki gripped Odin by his golden armored plated shoulder and ripped the scepter out of his chest. He pushed Odin down to his knees until he was kneeling in front of him, the scepter, dripping with Odin's blood eyelevel with its victim.
Thor stood paralyzed, watching as if in slow motion as Loki looked up from Odin kneeling before him to meet his eyes from across the hall. When their eyes met, he smiled wickedly.
Someone ran across his line of sight, and when they were out of the way, Thor saw Loki turn to leave. Another obstruction blocked his vision, but this time when he was able to see again, Loki was gone.
It was only then that Thor realized that he had been running. He cleared the ruble that blocked his way and made to his father's side. Thor felt like he was still in a fog, or underwater. Frigga made it to Odin's side shortly after he did. She clutched her husband's hand desperately and wept.
Thor looked down into his father's eye. His mother's cries seemed so far away…
Odin was already dead.
No last words. No final goodbyes.
His father was gone.
And Loki had killed him.
Thor trembled with rage. Loki had done this. He had killed his father and attacked Asgard. Thor didn't know how he had done it, but he did. Loki was really that far gone. He had nothing left but destruction inside him.
I will not let you tear apart what is left of my family. I will not let you destroy my kingdom. My duty is to protect Asgard and the nine realms from you. And I will do it. And I will not let you or my feelings for you get in the way of that again…
And Thor would keep his word.
Rising to his feet, he left his mother and his father behind as he ran to find Loki.
He was going to find him. And when he did, he was going to kill him.