Visitation

by kalimecat

Loki has returned to Asgard and is imprisoned for his crimes. While in prison he has the occasional visitor, will the love of others bring back the fallen prince or is he truly too far gone?

36. Final Countdown

A/N: HELLOOOO READERS! I hope this update finds you all well. I want to thank each and everyone one of you so much for your favorites, follows and reviews. I still read each and everyone of them and appreciate them very much. It is your continued interest that have kept this story going as long as it has. I am giving you all a round of applause. ;D ;D :D Anyway, I hope you can forgive me for the long time between updates. I thought that I was going to get a lot more in this chapter plot wise, but none the less I'm pretty pleased with it and I hope you will be as well. As always happy reads and writes and may God bless you.

Without further ado...

Chapter 36

Disoriented, dark eyes blinked themselves into coherence. The leader of the Dark-Elves looked around him. He found that The Other was nowhere to be found and that the black vacuum of space had faded from around him. He was now surrounded by four sturdy golden walls. The ground beneath his feet was no longer the cavernous rock of an asteroid, but rather the polished alabaster floors of the Asgardian palace. He was not in the cold atmosphere of space, but rather in the comfortable warmth of the Communication Tower. Everything was in order. It was all so perfect and polished and sickeningly pretty. Malekith exhaled through the nose. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been impressed by the Asgardian mage's ability to transport them into The Void, but his own powerlessness in the scenario unnerved. He did not like being without control. He was the wielder of the Aether not the would be King Loki after all.

The Dark-Elf general turned his head to the left and found Asgard's new king. Malekith's white lips curled into a severe frown as he beheld Loki. He seethed. How dare Loki be proclaimed king and given charge over him and his forces. He'd not stand for it. Powerful as the Asgardian enchanter was he was still weak and sentimental. Malekith doubted he would have the strength to do as The Other had requested. When he failed, Thanos would see him for what he truly was a spineless weakling and then Thanos would grant him the title of King of Asgard. Asgard was nothing to him, nothing but a pawn for him to exact his revenge. Svartalfhiem had been turned into a graveyard after King Bor of Asgard and his armies had stripped them of the life giving power of the Aether he intended to return the favor to Asgard when he unleashed the Aether and awakened Ragnorok. He would rule the Aesir who survived mercilessly and he would grind them into the dust until there was nothing left of their brilliant and beautiful, golden culture. Their golden locked prince would be the first to fall. With such evil intentions running through his brain the general managed to convert his frown into a smile.

A few feet away from him Loki sat his back straight and in perfect posture and his eyes were focused on what was in front of him. Malekith's soulless eyes followed the king's gaze. He found that Loki was staring at nothing but a fixed point on the wall. He started to speculate that perhaps Loki was still locked in a trance. The ebony coiffed magician didn't bat an eyelash, but his jade eyes were wild and wide, certainly vexed. A clear trail of sweat trickled down his brow and traveled down the sharp line of his angular jaw. . His breathing was haggard and shaky. Despite his rigid posture, he could not hide the heaving of his shoulders. Absentmindedly, Loki's hand strayed to his lip. He ran his forefinger over his upper lip. He rubbed so hard that the alabaster skin reddened with brush burn.

Lord Malekith's grin only widened as he beheld smirk the rolled across Malekith's white lips was a sickening devious grin worthy of the trickster himself. He had not yet had the privilege of seeing the Asgardian so ruffled. He had only had the chance to observe an arrogant, and unflappable trickster who wielded smooth words like he did enchantments. The sight of Loki so vexed was a welcome one.

Boldly, Malekith pushed himself from his seat opposite Loki. He strode just a few steps closer so that he was in Loki's view. Once again the newly appointed king of Asgard did not bat an eyelash. Malekith cleared his throat, but still Loki paid him no heed. "Awaiting your order, oh king of Asgard," he sneered and gave a mocking bow. On his face a harsh sneer.

Finally, Loki blinked. He recognized his own surroundings for the first as he took in where he loved. He heaved an exhale. He was safe, out of The Void. No longer trapped in the black pit that was Thanos' realm. He was out of the grasp of The Other's cruel hand, away from Thanos. For now. In a few short hours Convergence would come and Thanos would be ready to make his entrance back into the realms would expect full obedience to his requests and he'd be sure to make good of his threats if he did anything less than comply with his orders. After a moment of pause, Loki finally seemed to gather his wits about him and looked directly at Malekith. If the appointed dictator of Asgard had felt frazzled milliseconds before his nerves were imperceptible as he faced the Dark-Elf. Loki's face was controlled and expressionless.

Without a word he pushed himself from his seat and walked over to the window. Outside the window his green eyes beheld nothing but destruction and chaos. Chaos he had caused. He ran his hands over his skin. His flesh once again felt on fire as he realized he was about to cause a little more. "Loki!" Malekith shouted from behind general's voice was ever heavy and cruel. His hard footsteps came up quickly behind, "Have you no command to give?" Malekith demanded as he followed behind Loki. Loki didn't respond. "Are you not going to give command to your force?" He began to rant bitterly. Once again the Asgardian did not reply. "I knew it!" The Dark-Elf warrior muttered to himself. "You are not fit to lead in this matter!" He barked behind Loki. "Every moment that you delay in giving instruction is a minute that brings us closer to not beinrepared for Thanos' arrival," Malekith continued to rant. Loki remained tight-lipped and kept his back turned the Dark-Elf General. His back was straight as a board and his eyes were transfixed in gazing out the window. The only sound the King of Asgard made was the drumming of his finger along the golden edge of the windowsill.

Loki could hear Malekith talking. Though he scarcely made out the words of the elf's muttering. His voice was grating as nails on a chalkboard. He cringed under the sound of Malekith's voice. He could hear that the Dark-Elf was starting to go into his native tongue. The white faced leader of the forced of Svartalfheim continued to ramble on and on in his own language. All the while becoming the more infuriated the more he thought about that fact that Loki had been given the privilege of being entrusted to act out Thanos' commands. He'd been demoted. There had been a time when he had been the one Thanos had used. Thanos had placed the utmost confidence in him to enact his bidding. But now he had been replaced by that spineless whelp. The new king of Asgard was nothing more than a child in comparison to him. His weakness would ruin Thanos' plans and ruin his own revenge. He cared not what The Other had decreed. He had waited more than 1000 years for this day. He'd lied bound in a cocoon, in restless hibernation dreaming of nothing more than the day when he would watch Asgard crumble and fall just as his own kingdom had fallen. Malekith had grumbled on for quite sometime. His commands, demands and protestations had done little to arouse the usurper of Asgard's throne. "If you will not give command, the I will. I will not have your weakness to interfere with my plans of revenge!" he barked.

Upon hearing Malekith's words Loki immediately stopped drumming his fingers. He clenched his hands into tight knuckled white fist and dug hiss too long fingernail's into his palms and punctured his skin. He bit deep into his thin lip and squeezed his jade eyes shut. He heard Malekith suck in another sharp breath. He'd not allow the bloodless elf to speak another word of disrespect to him. "Lord Malekith!" He shouted back at the elf as he spun around on his heels. Loki's crisp voice bounced off the wall of the communication tower and commanded Lord Malekith's attention. "My first command is that for you to be silent!" Loki stated.

The Dark-Elf bristled and then let out a low shook his head and began to speak in the language of the elves of Svartalfhiem. "You do not give orders to me, Loki," the Aether wielder retorted.

"You dare to defy Thanos?" Loki raised his jet-black right brow and quirked a lopsided smirked to the left side of his mouth.

Malekith snorted. "Thanos may have given you the right to call yourself King of Asgard, but I am not of Asgard. Nor are my men!" He snapped.

"You are of no where?" Loki rolled his eyes and then instantly returned to his inquisitive expression.

"How dare you!" Malekith raged. He could feel the Aether boiling inside his veins. "I'm Malekith of Svartalfheim, son of Idok, General of the 5 armies of Svartalfheim, Leader of the Dark-Elves and wielder of the Aether," He proclaimed thumping his chest. If he banged it hard enough he was sure his chest would burst and the Aether would explode from within him, launch out and attack Loki, send him hurling through the window and he'd be done with the miserable enchanter once and for all.

"You have one army now," Loki reminded him, "The Dark-Elves are extinct and Svartalfheim is nothing more than a wasteland," King Loki declared as he dusted his fingernails against the velvet gold embroidery of his surcoat.

"Because of your ancestors!" Malekith yelled as he pointed a condemning finger toward Loki's sharp nose.

The usurper rolled his eyes, his clever smirk turned to a pained grimace, "hardly," he mouthed. He started to turn around and go back to staring out the window.

"It is you who is of nowhere!" Malekith shouted behind Loki's new king stopped all movement. Loki's posture immediately went rigid. His shoulders hunched upward as he cringed. He bit deep into his bottom lip as he clenched his fist. "You look like an Asgardian and yet you claim you are of Jotunheim," Malekith deduced. "Yet you desperately wish to be the ruler of Asgard or Midgard. It matters not to you because you are of no people. You might as well have crawled out of one of those holes from within that asteroid where we met The Other," he continued to lambast.

Quick as flash Loki spun around on his heels. Before Malekith could blink he saw the glare of Loki's silver dagger flash before his eyes. A pale hand gripped Malekith by his white neck and the sharpened tip of the silver dagger was pointed directly under Malekith's chin. It pressed uncomfortably against his jaw. "That's it, Malekith," Loki growled. "Hold your tongue or lose it," he swore his breathing becoming ragged, "I will cut that wagging tongue of yours out of your mouth slit your throat and you will not have the chance to release the Aether or see Ragnorok come to pass as you so desire, do you understand?" Loki practically screamed. The leader of the Dark-Elves winced, but did not utter a word. "Do you understand?" Loki asked through gritted teeth. Seeing Malekith's refusal to make utterance, Loki dragged his the blade of his dagger across the bottom side of Malekith's jaw and chin, deeply pressing it in.

Malekith groaned and finally pushed Loki off of himself. He grabbed his chin that now dribbled with dark-brown blood. He howled as he felt the sting. He doubled over as he held his chin. Finally, he brought his black as coal eyes to glare up at Loki. He growled at him and attempted a feral assault. He grabbed his blade from its hilt and went for the attack. Loki dodged the wild attack easily. Malekith slammed into some of the valuable communication equipment as he continued to try into Loki. Malekith roared as he turned around. His black eyes saw the red of the Aether swirling with in the as he looked on the slender magician. Once again, the general ran toward Loki hollering, his sword drawn and swinging. Loki stared blank eyed at Lord Malekith as he charged forward, The Svartalfheim general's razor-sharp black blade was set and aimed to go right through Loki, but just as his blade was set to meet with Loki's body, it passed right through nothing more than an image of the raven haired mage.

Malekith screamed in rage. As his blade met with only air and he watched Loki's image vanish and reappear with ease. Determined to cut the new king down to size, Malekith attacked once more. Instantly Loki made himself invisible once more to avoid Malekith's sword and Malekith fell flat on his face after losing his balance in his wild assault. "TRICKS!" He yelled as he pushed himself to his knees. The power of the Aether burning like a fire with in his veins; scarcely contained and longing to be set free.

Loki simply smirked to himself and turned a flippant hand toward the elf prostrate on the floor. "Naturally," Loki responded with boredom. He yawned and once more returned to his liesurely stroll toward the window. His jade eyes somehow kept being drawn back to stare and the mayhem and catastrophe he had caused to the place he had once called home. He told himself that Asgard had never been his home. He'd never been accepted there, he'd always been rejected, mistrusted and scorned by the populace and forced to walk in Thor's shadow. He reminded himself that this place was no more than an elaborate sham, the greatest illusion made by a liar who put him to shame, Odin himself. His reasonings were sound, but that did not keep his eyes from looking onto the crumbling city and filling with liquid, nor did it stop his heart from beating against his eardrums and his skin from burning with no rational cause. "Some battles are easily won when an opponent is easy to fool," Loki remarked slight grin tugging on his thin lips, but his eyes were distant and staring at the scene of fire and smoke and black ash clouds and sirens ringing and people running in the streets right outside the window.

Malekith staggered to his feet. His breathing heavy. "And some use tricks because they are too cowardly to fight for themselves, knowing they will lose!" Malekith insulted. Loki did not rise to meet Malekith's taunts. "Too womanish to fight like a man!" Malekith railed. The King of Asgard continued to ignore the white-faced elf. His eyes transfixed on the streets of Asgard. He could no longer see the gorgeous gleam of the golden roads that ran through the entire city. The bright yellow bricks had disappeared. They were buried alive under rocks and dust and asphalt and blood. Blood thick as mud ran through the streets like rivers. "You fight just like your wench," Malekith jeered with ragged breath anxious to rile Loki up to fight him once more. He knew he had struck a chord. He hoped that such words would provoke Loki to fight him in hand combat and when he did he would watch the Jotun runt fall at the edge of his sword. he waited with a cruel grin on his face for Loki to respond.

Loki inhaled intensely upon hearing Malekith's taunt. The emerald-eyed enchanter froze. He tried to block out the elf's words, normally he was good at ignoring people, but he could never ignore an insult to the honor of the woman he loved. How dare the Dark-Elf insult her. How dare he call her a wench. She who was the daughter of nobility, she who had been an ambassador for her people, she who was one of the best healers in the Nine Realms, she who would ever be his gorgeous goddess, his perfect princess, his idolized enchantress, his prized partner, his flawless lover, his best friend. Loki reached out his hand to touch the windowpane. He gritted his teeth, clenched them together tight to keep from screaming. He knew well that Malekith only wanted to get a rise out of him. "She put up a good fight, you know," Malekith added, he took slow steps closer toward Loki. He watched with perked interest as the emerald and gold clad king trembled with rage. He could picture her, fighting hard, waging war against the enemy using powers not of sword and steel, but strength that came from within her own mind. "Such a similar fighting style," Malekith stated as he continued to creep up toward Loki, "Did she teach you every thing that you know?" he teased. He craned his neck desperate to see Loki's pained expression, But Loki's arms were held out straight in front of his face blocking his narrow features from view. "Or did she learn from you?" the general inquired.

Loki's shaking became even more violent. He could feel the power of his fury welling up inside of him. His dazzling jade pupils went wide as his mind was flooded with memories. He and Dagmar were sitting in the library, their favorite location. They were playing a game, a game that only the two of them seemed to find particularly interesting. It was a typical rivalry between them, they'd race in their book reading. They'd both read the same book and race to see who could finish it first. The person who won would be able to chose the next book that they read for their private book club. They were both accomplished speed readers and even many of the longer tomes in the library could easily be breezed through in a day a most by the pair.

They'd been at this game for a few days now and Loki admitted he was falling behind. Dagmar had won the past 3 of their challenges. She kept insisting that her kindly friend had been letting her win. That wasn't entirely true. It was just that he had been becoming incredibly distracted by the sight of Lady Dagmar reading by candlelight. Her face was illuminated beautifully by the warm glow of the hearth. She'd let her ebony hair down and it would cascade around her like a waterfall. Dagmar was beautiful with her hair done up in elaborate braided styles and tucked into neat little wimples, but somehow when her tresses were able to flow free and unbound she was all the more lovely. Also when she was reading she was ever trying to get comfortable. Sometimes that meant she was laying flat on her belly, flipping through the pages of her book with her backside up in the air. He'd try not to look, but he couldn't help, but notice the new found curves that were starting to appear on her body. Other times in her efforts to find the perfect position she'd flop on her back on the couch next to him. She'd kick off her jewel studded sandals and place her feet upon his lap. She had pretty feet. Her toenails were painted and she had rings upon her toes as well as jeweled anklets on her ankles. It took restraint to keep from trying to tickle them. Sometimes she would sit up and press against him. They would sit shoulder to shoulder or back to back. It was hard to keep his focus on whatever they were reading when the sweet smell of her was perfuming the air and wafting into his nostrils.

"Done!" She cried out excitedly slamming a large, leatherbound title shut.

"What?" He remarked blinking and quickly casting his glance down at the book in his lap to make it look as though he had actually be reading "You must be cheating!" He cried.

She gasped, feigning shock, "Prince Loki, how dare you impugn my honor," she chastised. "I would never stoop to cheating," she insisted.

He rose to his feet and allowed her feet to slide from his lap. He gave a sweeping bow, "do forgive me, my dear lady, I would never, I suppose I am just a sore loser," he stated and took her by the hand and kissed it.

"A sore loser indeed," she shook her head, "Perhaps, my prince Loki is too kind to deny me my choice of literature so he let's me win, time after time of late?" She questioned.

"Nay, Lady Dagmar, I deny it," Loki said with a slick grin on his angular face. He rose back to his feet and gave a lazy stretch.

Dagmar to rose to her feet, cheeky grin written on her pomegranate lips, playfully she pushed Loki on the shoulder. "You may deny it, but what does that mean? You are such a clever liar after all!"

Now it was Loki's turn to feign hurt at the insult, "You dare to call a son of Odin a liar?"

"Yes," Dagmar retorted, "Because I am your best friend and I know you too well," she insisted wagging a finger in his face.

Prince Loki caught her graceful, porcelain hands in his own, he smiled brightly, "Then you should know I have never lied to you," he said in earnest, he was laughing, but staring deep into her enchanted silver-eyes.

She laughed too, sometimes the way Loki looked at her made goosebumps appear on her skin and butterflies flutter through her stomach. She slipped her hands out of his hold and practically danced her way over to the bookshelf. "Perhaps if milady is kind and gracious she will still allow this loser to pick our next read," Loki inquired following behind her.

"Ah-ah-ah," Dagmar chided turning around to him and shaking her finger in his face. "Such an honor must be earned," she teased as she slipped a book out of the shelf from behind her back.

"Please," Loki begged pout on his thin lips and eyes wide like a sad puppy.

She threw her head back with laughter at his face. "Oh stop your pouting, you will like this one," she stated and tossed a thick book at his slim chest.

He coughed as he caught it for it slammed against him. "Combat Magic?" He inquired. Dagmar nodded hard and deep her lips formed a gorgeous smile. Loki's lips pursed, his inky brow raised. "I believe I have already read this volume," he said nonchalantly flipping through the pages.

"Well too bad," Dagmar expressed, hands on her hips, "You shall just have to read it again!" She commanded pointing at his chest.

"What interest have you in this?"

"I should think it would be painfully, obviously, Loki, I wish to learn it," she explained.

"Planning on going out and slaying ferocious fire-breathing beast sometime soon," Prince Loki teased.

"Maybe," she sung to him batting her silver eyes from behind a another book.

"Dagmar," the young prince voice deepened with sternness.

"What? Can't you picture me battling a dragon?" Asked and took a jab at Loki with the pointed end of her quill. "it would be a great adventure, wouldn't it?" she dug continuing to poke him with her quill on his arms and in stomach. Loki stood arms crossed doing his best to remain stoic, but when the feathered end of the quill managed to find its way under his chin, he burst into fitful giggles that resulted in a signature snort. His snorting caused her to laugh as well. He snapped his fingers and the feathered quill vanished before her bright blinking eyes. She looked around wide eyed trying to find the quill, but then she saw Loki's impish smirk and him twirling the gray feather between his fingers. She jumped at him, trying to grab the quill, back but Loki was swift and tricky, he kept yanking the quill just out of reach and hiding it behind, his back forcing her to chase it and wrap her arms around his waist. "Two can play that game, Loki Odinson," she whispered intently, she then snapped her fingers and returned her own property.

The dark-haired son of Odin immediately rushed at Lady Dagmar scooping her up from behind the waist and twirled her around as she squealed. He twirled her until he was both breathless and dizzy. They tumbled into the bookcase in bundle of laughs. "you know, adventures aren't all fun and games," he said laughing sweeping his hand back through his raven locks.

"Who says?" Dagmar asked through chuckles trying to catch her breath.

"You know you can have great adventures through books," Loki reminded her.

"If I have my own adventures I could be in books," she countered.

"So you want to learn this to write your own swashbuckling novels?"

"I want to learn it to be a well rounded mage! It looks exciting and challenging," she added.

"Yes, but it is for war," the raven-haired prince went on.

'Or for self defense," Dagmar countered. "I thought you and I could spar together," she shrugged.

Loki's dark-brows furrowed. "You know your father will not approve," he went on wagging the book at her.

"Who says my father need know? You could teach me what you know while I'm in Asgard," Dagmar exclaimed.

"You are supposed to be studying to be a healer, Dagmar,"

"I am, but is that all I am allowed to know? We have always supported one another in our training, Loki I thought you would be excited about me showing an interest in this, she threw her hands in the air.

"It's not that I'm not excited, Dagmar, but this magic much more powerful, more complexed,"

"And you think me not up to the task?" She huffed hands on her hips again.

"No, It's not that, you know that your magic is powerful, but combat magic is dangerous,"

"I'm not afraid of a little danger," Lady Dagmar Audricdottir expressed as she tossed her back and laughed

"Maybe you should be," he muttered more to himself than to her. He shook his head and wrung his hands

"Why? You have studied for years." She pointed out. "Were you afraid?"

"Yes, no," Loki shook his head, "It is different, everyone in Asgard has to study combat. I study combat because as a prince of Asgard I am expected to go into battle. I don't take it lightly and I don't think it's something to rush into."

"I'm not rushing, Loki," she sighed. "I'm nearly of age to have an apprenticeship," the Vanir maiden expressed. "You and I have been training together for years," she rolled her eyes.

"Yes, but I thought you wanted an apprenticeship with a healer?" Loki inquired. "You could get hurt,"

"I'm a healer, if I have an injury I will heal myself,"

"Every wound is not so easy to recover from, Dagmar," Loki warned.

"You would be my tutor, Loki," Dagmar said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "Would you ever hurt me?" She asked.

He flinched, "No, of course not, Dagmar. Never," he said in earnest.

She beamed at him and brought her hand to cup his thin cheek, "Such a sweet friend, you are. See, then it is perfectly safe."

"You want to learn lethal enchantments, Dagmar?" Loki asked still flabbergasted by her request. "Isn't that the exact opposite of a healers oath?" He shook his head. He started to walk away from her. "I don't understand is that not a total dichotomy?"

"Oh," she growled with irritation, he gray eyes flashing with lightning"it's not that I want to harm anyone, but I do feel like I should be able to defend myself," she expressed.

"Do you feel in danger for your safety" he asked.

"No, not necessarily." She shrugged.

"Then this is an unnecessary precaution. What is the point of learning combat magic if you have no need to for it. Besides, You have your father to protect you,"

"My father is no longer a young man Loki, he's not the warrior he once was and I can't bear the thought of him going into battle as is, and I am not a child. I'm nearly the age of courtship now," she shook her shoulders and tore them from his hands.

"But when you've come of the age," Loki pointed out, "in time you will have many a suitor, possibly a husband all of whom should be willing to lay down their life in defense of you," the emerald-eyed prince of Asgard elaborated.

Dagmar shook her head, her silver eyes filled with tears, "I can't believe you," she said with disgust. "So that's it! That's it then!" She started to shout.

"What's it?"

" I can't believe you of all people Loki, growing up here in Asgard where women are promoted to train in battle, that you would hold the same archaic..."

"Archaic?"

" And Chauvinistic!"

"Chauvinistic?"

"Views as my father and my people!"

"Dagmar that's not true!"

"You think I shouldn't learn combat because I'm a woman?"

"W-wh-what? NO!" Loki yelled back at her. He never yelled at her and felt awful about his outburst. He composed himself quickly, "No,you know that isn't true of me," he insisted. My mother is a shield maiden and knows combat arts and I am friends with Lady Sif, I don't think I would still be standing if I held such opinions," he joked.

Dagmar turned from him in a huff. "This is no jesting matter to me, Loki Odinson," she stated crossing her arms. "I thought you would understand," she began sniffling. "I thought you would encourage me of all people. Especially after how people have felt about you pursuing magic rather than traditional warfare, as a man on Asgard she shook her head. "They say it's for women..."

"Please, Dagmar," Loki raised his hand and touched his fingers to the bridge of his nose, "I hear enough of that I don't need it from you as well," he nearly growled.

"I'm sorry," Dagmar immediately reached out to touch him on the shoulder. "I don't think that. There are many powerful wizards and you will supercede them all," she informed him. His anger dissipated instantly at the touch of her gentle hand, "It's just you not wanting me to train in combat arts, saying that I should depend on my father or other men who may come into my life makes it seems as if you don't support me because I am a maiden,"

"Dagmar," Loki felt his gut clench. "You know I don't feel that way," he sighed, "No one should be stopped from doing anything because of their sex, especially if they have a gift." He took her by the hands and looked her in the eyes. The soft look of her silver pupils made his heart flutter. "And you do have a gift Dagmar," he whispered. Dagmar's porcelain cheeks flushed with crimson. Loki's own started to burn as well. He loved having the chance to make her blush. Not that he wanted her to be embarrass, but seeing her feature glow like a cherry made him think that maybe she returned his feelings. "But I don't understand why this is so important to you all of a sudden."

"Vanaheim is still plagued with petty feuding lords," she said once again pushing away. She clutched herself as she walked back toward the couch. "So often there is news from the outlying villages and shires of marauders ransacking homes," she shuddered.

"The fighting will stop one day," he stated taking slow steps to follow her.

"My father has been saying that since I was a little girl, that is the reason he sent me to Asgard in the first place," she explained. "I believe that, but at the same time I realize that the fighting could still last for centuries." She shook her head.

"Then you should come and stay here in Asgard. Permanently, live here in Asgard where there is peace and it is safe," he offered. "You won't have to be afraid, you'll be hear in the palace well protected, father, mother, Thor...myself," he breath hitched, "I'll protect you," he stated and placed as sturdy cool hand on her shoulder.

She turned around and looked at him with disbelief, "You miss the point," she shook her hands with frustration "My mother died in a raid on our home!" "I was a young child asleep in my bed and my mother was scrambling for her life. She was the wife of the Prime Minister, a healer and philanthropist, she set up hundred of free clinics and hospitals for the poor in our realm. She was a new mother," the prime minister's daughter's voice broke. She gasped and brought the back of her hand to her mouth to cover her trembling pomegranate lips.

Dagmar," the young prince spoke her name tenderly.

"They killed her in cold blood," the raven locked daughter of the Prime Minister of Vanaheim started to sob. "She didn't do anything to anybody," Dagmar whispered shaking her head. She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, but as quickly as she wiped them away fresh ones would fall.

"Dagmar," Loki said trying to comfort her. He reached out his hand to hold her once more. "It's alright."

She flagged him off, took deep breaths, sniffled and wiped her eyes and turned to face him, "I can't help but think had she been versed in some form of combat magic she would have been able to defend herself against her attackers," she shook her head and tears fell.

"Dagmar, who can say, you can't dwell on it now," Loki tried too soothe his dearest friend's distress.

"My father couldn't get to her in time ...I know he tried, but he just couldn't," Dagmar continued. "If our traditions didn't forbid women from learning enchantments besides healing then maybe I wouldn't be motherless," she exhaled and finally turned to him and he saw the tear stains on her face. The sight of her delicate porcelain features streaked with tears and her bright silver eyes bloodshot and puffy made his heart ached. Dagmar hugged herself tightly and for a moment covered her face. After a moment she pulled her hands down from her face, "I can scarcely remember my mother's face now, Loki, I was so small when I lost her," Dagmar's voice trailed off. She was no longer looking at him, her beautiful silver orbs only stared the floor. "I can't remember her eyes or her smile, her laugh or the perfume she wore, half the time. But what I do remember is being dragged out of my bed by a servant and hiding in a closet the night of the raid, I remember walking around the house in the morning wondering where my mother was and finding her blood stains on the carpet, in our family music room." Dagmar confessed.

"Dagmar," the youngest son of Odin stammered, "I...never knew," he shook his head. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" He was standing right behind her his cold hand touching her shoulder.

She shrugged, sniffled, laughed in disbelief, then reached her hand to her shoulder so that she was holding his, "we were children...I...I tried not to think of it...I didn't want you to feel afraid or awkward around me," she murmured.

"I would never have felt that way," he explained.

"I know that, now," she nodded smiling through the pain. "It's just...it wasn't your burden to bear," she finally announced before her face crumbled once more. She turned around and looked at him. Loki's enchanted emerald green eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, his young face pinched with pain that seemed to match her own. He removed his hand from her shoulder and opened his arms wide. She fell into them. Without thought or care she wept openly into his chest. She cried long and hard into his chest. Her tears ruining his royal tunics. He didn't care. His arms wrapped around her protectively although he was but a young adolescent himself.

"Dagmar," he whispered. He could feel her trembling, he squeezed his arms tighter around her and rested his chin on her ebony mane. "shh, shh," he cooed. "Please, don't cry," he begged stroking her hair. "I'll teach you," he promised. "I'll teach you whatever you want to know...I just don't want to see you get hurt," he explained.

"I know," she nodded against him, "I don't want to be hurt either, that's why I want to learn," she explained.

"I'll protect you," Loki offered.

"I know you would, but it's bigger than that, my friend, I never want to see the blood of the people I love on the carpet again. I never want to have to hide in the closet if someone I care about is endanger. I want to protect them to."

"I understand," the dark-haired some of Odin muttered. His adam's apple bobbing with a hard swallow.

Lady Dagmar peeled her head away from Loki's thin chest, a weak smile trickled across her full pomegranate lips. "Truly, Loki?" She inquired.

"Yes," he mouthed.

"Oh thank you, Loki you don't know what this means to me," she said as she stood on her tip-toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. Loki beamed from the feel of her soft lips along the peach-fuzz forming along his jawline. He wondered if she felt his thin stubble. Did she notice? Did she like it. "I know I won't get hurt when I am learning from the finest mage in all of Asgard!" She announced,

Loki made good on his word. He did teach her. He taught her the enchantments that she wanted to know. He taught her how to create a fireball, an electric charge, he taught her the tricks that could help her increase her speed and strength in the heat of battle. He even taught her some of his own shape-shifting incantations. They practiced together for years. She became good. She became great. She was a most worthy sparring partner. He loved being in the ring with her. Once she had learned the basics Dagmar was a creative and challenging opponent, she kept him on his toes and beat her more times than he'd care to admit. She and him had been a team in a wizards' duel once in Alfheim and they had won first place. But maybe he hadn't taught her everything. The darkest and most lethal of incantations he hadn't shared. He thought he was sparing her. Dark-magic not only had a devastating effect upon its victims, but also upon its wielders. The physical tole that it could take on the body was bad enough, Loki shuddered when he remembered the weeks he'd spent bedridden after he'd been beguiled and pressed into conjuring those terrible beasts. But the psychological effects had been even worse. After his body was strong his mind was still plagued with nightmares of the horrendous beast he created. Those creatures were monsters and yet they were apart of him, made of his sweat, blood, toil and lust. He never wanted Dagmar to have to face such a fate. So there were some secrets he kept.

Besides in order to practice the dark-arts one had to have subjects to practice on. He couldn't have imagined Dagmar wishing to make anyone her victim. He thought he'd spared her by not showing her how to squeeze breath from someone's lungs or control their movements by manipulating their blood like water, But he'd left her vulnerable. He'd allowed her to be a victim to the Kursed.

Loki squeezed his eyes shut. The feelings of guilt and grief were overwhelming. His breath escaped him and his legs felt as if they would fall out from beneath him. Perhaps, Dagmar had never wanted to play the damsel in distress, but he'd longed to be her knight in shining armor. He could imagine the moment, having the chance to rush in and save her from the clutches of the monster, slaying the foul creature before her eyes. She'd rush up to him, with tear making her starlit eyes shimmer. She fling her arms around his neck and shower him with endless grateful, passion, pomegranate kisses. Such imaginings were useless. That wasn't the case. He hadn't saved Dagmar, he'd allowed her to be slain. One large tear rolled down Loki's slender face despite himself. His hands shook uncontrollably as he heard Malekith's gruff voice mocking her death. Magic exploded from his palms and fingertips breaking the glass windows he had his hands pressed against.

He turned around snarling like a rabid beast at the Dark-Elf general. Immediately Loki's hand gripped Malekith by his white braid. He yanked the warrior's head back and caused his bloodless neck to be exposed from underneath his black leather and armor. Loki's dagger immediately found its way to a prime position near Malekith's jugular as his arms wrapped firmly around Malekith's neck placing him in a chokehold. "Enough of this, Malekith!" Loki said threateningly as scraped the edge of his blade against Malekith's neck it was enough to cause discomfort but not enough to make him bleed. 'Don't you dare speak of her!" He shouted

"Fool," Malekith spat. "Don't you realize I could kill you, Loki?' Malekith ground out. While one of Loki's arms was wrapped tightly around his neck with the dagger in hand pointed to his throat, the other hand gripped him around the wrist and was holding it firmly in place. Loki stood several inches higher than the Dark-Elf and Malekith's struggling attempts to break free of Loki's hold was futile. He shook his head and bucked, trying to pull his arm free. "I'd kill you! I'd kill you!" He ground out. "One blast from the Aether and you would be an epitaph!" He yelled.

"And when you've blasted me into the oblivion, how do you intend to free Thanos from The Void without the use of the Tesseract?" Loki questioned with a harsh tone in Malekith's ear. "The Aether, powerful as it may be does not possess the power to hold the bridges between the world open any longer than Convergence allows," he explained. Loki allowed his words to sink in to Malekith's thick skull. He could sense Malekith's mind reeling with thought. "Yes, how does leaving Thanos trapped in The Void for another millenia fit into that elaborate plan of yours to get back in his good graces?" The dark-haired mage knew that Malekith had already disappointed Thanos. It was his lost in the Great Battle of Svartalfheim that left him trapped in The Void, initially. The only reason Thanos had spared him thus far was for the use of Aether, but Thanos would not show leniency twice. For more than 1000 years the leader of the Dark Elves had been tormented by vicious nightmares of the vengeance Thanos would exact upon him for his failure. Whether the dreams had been forms of torture sent by Thanos himself or just his own frantic mind, Malekith knew not. His only relief from the plague of nightmares were the sweet dreams of revenge on the house of Bor that also came to him in his long slumber. Still, he had no desire to make his dark visions of his own pain and suffering at the hands of Thanos come to pass.

As a shudder raced down his spine he soon heard Loki's cool articulate tone snarling next to his pointed ear. "If you wish to have a prayer atever making this doomsday for Asgard a reality, I suggest you start recognizing your need for me," Loki whispered harshly in his ear. The Dark-Elf general hissed at Loki's works. "It would be prudent, Malekith and start showing gratitude for my leadership and acknowledge your vast need for my careful guidance in such matters," Loki continued to insist. Malekith only growled. "These are Thanos' orders Malekith, your disobedience to me in the end will only cost you the things that you desire, the Aether, Ragnorok and revenge," Loki admonished. "Svartalfheim is gone, destroyed by you, you are on Asgard, now and I am king here," Loki proclaimed. "You have nowhere else to go, so since you are a refugee in my kingdom you will abide by my edicts and obey me, Malekith," Loki explained as he pressed the knife deeper and deeper into the general's snow white flesh. "Or you will find yourself at the wrong end of either my knife's point or Thanos'," the jade eyed enchanter warned. The tip of his dagger digging deep enough into Malekith's flesh to make him wince. "Do you understand?" Loki asked once more he brought the knife away from Malekith's throat and up to pricking his pointed right ear.

"Yes, your majesty," Malekith reluctantly offered bitterly through gritted teeth.

Loki gave a tight-lipped nearly patronizing smile and then gave Malekith a gentle tut-tut on the head. The sickening grin plastered on his face only deepened. "Good boy," Loki whispered almost tenderly as his hand stroked Malekith's long white braid. Had the general been at liberty he would have most certainly rammed the same black blade that had killed the Asgardian's beloved enchantress straight through him. Finally, with a ragged and gusty sigh he gave up resisting. When he settled, Loki released him. Malekith stumbled forward out of Loki's clasp. He nearly fell to his knees panting as he finally caught his breath. He looked up at Loki with malice in his black pits, his shoulders heaved. Loki remained cool and relaxed. "Now," he said taking a deep breath. He took a seat on the air and crossed his legs as if he was sitting on a stool. "If you are done with this...tantrum," He qualified looking down at the out of breath general, "I do have order for you to enact," Loki smiled deviously. "Send your strongest warriors to be posted around all the exits of the Imperial City. Many of the citizens may try to make a run for it and I don't want anyone to escape. Get your technicians and have them to get the communication tower up and working again. I want to broadcast a frequency so that every man, woman and child in Asgard, to hear," Loki muttered as he rubbed his porcelain palms together.

The leader of the Dark-Elves sneered at the Asgardian who had somehow found unmitigated favor in the sight of Thanos. With a curled lip and a rigid bow he managed to utter the disdainful words, "as the king commands." He straightened himself and skulked toward the door and call to his troops. Just as his hand was about to touch the door the general froze. "You still have to go through with it, Loki of Jotunheim," Malekith added. "Thanos will not let you out of his bargain. No trick you can devise will change that."

"What are you praddling about!" Loki snarled at his counterpart.

"You Loki will have to kill Prince Thor of Asgard, the man who calls you brother."

"We are not brothers," Loki spat. He declared that boldly to the elfin general. His bright green eyes never batting as he looked into Malkeith's soulless pits. They most certainly weren't brother's now. The new king of Asgard was the first to break eye contact. His evergreen orbs darted down to stare at the floor. "We never were," Loki muttered.

"Then the kill should be easy enough to perform," Malekith offered back.

Loki's eyes immediately shifted to staring back at his allies bloodless face. There was a twisted smile on his colorless lips,

He was waiting to see him flinch, Loki knew, but he'd not give the Dark-Elf such satisfaction. He straightened himself and the deceitful monarch was able to put on an equally as repulsive smile. "Easy as pie," he replied coolly.

"Then you should have no problem making it painful, slow and merciless," Malekith added.

"I need not answer to you, General Malekith." Loki held his head high.

"No, you don't, oh great king of Asgard," he admitted. "But you do need answer to him," He paused. Malekith's beady eyes searched Loki for the slightest sign of nerve. "He'll accept nothing less," he warned. "Thanos will want to see the blonde-haired son of Odin die either way," Malekith shrugged. "And if you can't do it, I will," Malekith stated simply before slipping out of the communication room. There he left Loki alone. The new king started to pace about the chamber, one hand clasped behind his back while the other rubbed his upper lip raw.

---

Lady Sigyn slipped back behind the gilded walls of the palace and into the catacombs. Tears were streaking down her dirty face as the smell of Dyson's burning corpse filled her nostrils. At least behind the walls she did not have to inhale the putrid stench of a burning body. She wished she had the time to administer the proper funeral rights to her fallen friend. Generally the body was prepared for days it was perfumed and covered in incense so that the smell coming from the funeral pyre was the sweet fragrance of remembrance. She hadn't time for that with Dyson, She felt guilty about the fact that now King Odin's throne room was filled with such a terrible smell, but all and all it somehow seemed befitting. The events that had transpired had been horrible and those memories were far from sweet so why should the air be scented with anything less than that which was sickening. She hoped that somehow Dyson's soul was pleased. She hoped that she had rendered him enough of the ancient rights as to appease the gatekeepers of Valhalla so that he would be allowed in.

Sigyn leaned against the wall inside the catacomb and whispered one last prayer. She cared for Dyson and she hoped that he had known it and in his last moments felt her love and gratitude, but she knew that there was no more that she could do for him. He was now in the hands of the first Valkyrie who led the mighty fallen into Valhalla, All she could do now was try to stop what was coming by whatever means necessary. She asked for the strength to be able to do that,

She reached her hand into the folds of her cloak. She dug into the pockets and there ever so carefully hidden was the scroll. The scroll that had been through so much, but was somehow unscathed. It was perfectly preserved. She knew that it had been preserved for this time. The Words etched on the parchment were meant to be given to Loki, she just knew it. He would see. He would see that his child was alive and then he'd see the error of his ways and he'd do that which needed to be done to amend it and freedom from the shadow of Ragnorok. With such a thought snugly planted in her mind Sigyn pushed the scroll back into the pocket folds of her cloak for safe keeping and forged ahead.

Sigyn had only taken a few steps when a sinking feeling came over her chest and stomach. Loki was so different now. He was nothing of the man that she once loved. The man she loved was a wise, kind prince, perhaps he was mischievous, perhaps he had been a trickster, maybe he wasn't everything that For her hands trembled fiercely when she thought about aiming a golden Asgard thought a son of Odin should be, but he was a good person nonetheless. Or at least she had thought he was. But perhaps all the time he'd been something wicked and evil. Perhaps people had been right about him all along when they said that said that he was a liar and a cheat, when they said that his tricks were not always childish pranks, but sometimes malevolent in nature. She'd never believed it. She believed now.

Now she'd had the horrible privilege of seeing him for exactly what he was. A heartless fiend who would stop at nothing to destroy his own people. A ravenous beast who could kill for sport, a terrible monster without even a soul or any natural affection. The very thought of Loki's abominable acts made Sigyn's blood run cold and sent a shiver up her spine. She'd watched it all. Every terrible thing he'd done from his marching across the rainbow bridge with Prince Thor gagged and chained being dragged behind a posy of Dark-Elves, to the horrific tempest he'd created with his own magic and the Aether combined that tore through the Imperial City like it was nothing more than a paper town, to his ruthless murder of Dyson, was burned into her psyche, permanently engrained and branding Loki as a true villain.

Such thoughts filled Lady Sigyn with dread. How could a man who had committed such unfathomable atrocities be touched by the words written on a tiny rolled up piece of parchment. Such a hope was ridiculous. Sigyn laughed bitterly at the notion. She didn't even know what was written on the scroll. She knew not the contents of the message. The Vanir midwives good have very well written Lady Dagmar to inform her that the babe she carried had died. If that was the case then there would be nothing left to stop Loki save her golden arrow.

Sigyn had to catch her breath as an image of her aiming an arrow at Loki's heart filtered through her mind. It was just a split second, a momentary flash, but it had been vivid and clear as daylight. She saw her trembling hand release an arrow from her chin, she saw the golden arrow twisting and turning, spiraling beautifully and burrowing its way through Loki's golden armor. It dug in deep and tight, through the armor and through the leather fabric and into his milky white flesh. Then blood spewed forth from the center of Loki's like a geyser. It ran down Loki's gilded breastplate and stained the polished armor, Loki slowly toppled to his knees. His ghostly white hand clutched at his chest, his eyes looked up at her, wide and weak, the gleam completely drained from his enchanted evergreen pupils. The last thing she saw was his thin lips staggering to say her name.

The vision caused her own heart to hurt as if the arrow had been fired at her. Her lower lip quivered and tears pricked from behind her amber eyes. She'd never killed before. She never wanted to. How could she? How could she take a another's life? The life of the man she loved? Sigyn shook her head. Then she thought of all that would suffer if Loki did not die. All that had already perished because Loki had been allowed to live as long as he had. Her whole being was consumed with rage when she thought about how she didn't act and how young Dyson had paid the ultimate price. Lady Sigyn's gentle hands curled into tight fist. She choked out a gasp and then let out a cry, "Dyson!" She yelled out loudly her voice bouncing of the slime slick walls of the catacombs. Immediately, after her outburst, Sigyn clapped her hand over her mouth. She slammed her back against the wall. She waited with trembling thinking that any Dark-Elf soldiers who might have been patrolling the hallways would have heard her.

Sigyn sat tight lipped for a few minutes, listening for any sound of rustling from the hall ways. After a few moments of not hearing any movement, Sigyn lowered her hand from her mouth. She swallowed and then nodded, somehow she was feeling strengthened. She'd avenge young Dyson if she needed to. She'd avenge all of them if that's what it came down to. No matter what, Lady Sigyn was now convinced that she wouldn't let this apocalypse come to pass.

She dried her eyes and started to move as swiftly as possible through the hidden hallways deep within the palace walls. She was running at full speed through the darkened, winding secret paths. Her long, golden tresses bouncing off her shoulders, her feet wet and soggy with the mud and grime in the catacombs. Despite the fact that she was carrying a fully lit torch, Sigyn was running blindly through the hidden halls. She knew she still had to get the scroll to Loki, although she didn't know if it would do any good, but more so now she was completely terrified of facing him. Admittedly, she was scared of what his reaction would be when he saw her. Their eyes had locked for just a split second. She'd stared at him, searching him, but she'd found nothing of the man she'd fallen in love with so many centuries ago. In those emerald orbs she she did not see the soul of a man, All she saw was a monster. She didn't know what Loki would do when he saw her, would he even give her a chance to speak or just kill her ruthlessly? Would he strike her down without a second thought as he had done to poor young Dyson? But after her vision, she was even more frightened by what she would do when she saw him. Would she be able to formulate a word to him or would she collapse in a petrified puddle at his feet or would she just end him with an arrow through his heart without even batting an eyelash, driven by rage and vengeance and adrenaline.

The very thought made her shudder. She drew her hand to her mouth covering it as she gasped. Lady Sigyn felt fresh tears formulate behind her large golden eyes. She had never killed anyone before. Not even a roe on a hunt. She ever wanted to hold another person's life in the palm of her hands. It was a powerful feeling that she never wished to understand.

Time was running out, every second brought all of Asgard and the Nine Realms closer to Ragnorok, but she was not ready to face the tyrant Loki just yet. First she had to find out where the rest of the hostages were being held. She knew what Captain Frell and the others were planning. They'd do anything to stop Loki and they wouldn't hold back in their strike on the palace just because soldiers and high councils members were there. She had to make sure everyone was out of the palace safely. Everyone deserved to spend their final moment before Ragnorok with the ones they loved.

She didn't know where to search for those soldiers, noblemen and council members who had been taken away by the Dark-Elves. The palace was huge; Full of winding halls and back ways, there were levels upon levels. It would take hours to search every floor. That was time she certainly didn't have. Time was of the essence. Sigyn paused and stopped her furious running and halted in the cold, damp catacomb. She held the torch up high and pressed her free hand to her temple and tried to think. She concentrated. She forced her, fuzzy, frantic mind to think. It was hard to think past the tangled web of emotions that consumed her. She closed her eyes. "Think! Think! Think!" Sigyn chanted to herself and she squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth forcing herself to concentrate. Finally, the thought hit her. In the horrific moments in which she had watched Loki slaughter Dyson she could vaguely recall the orders being given to the Dark-Elf soldiers. "Take the Aesir to their rooms," she repeated to herself.

Sigyn snapped her fingers and smiled as it dawned on her. So that's where the soldiers, noblemen and high council members were being held captive...in their room But where? There were hundreds of bedchambers in the palace. She couldn't possibly check them were guest rooms and suites for the courtiers and visiting dignitaries. There were the servants quarters and army barracks. They could be anywhere. Sigyn felt a lump form in her throat. She felt panic creep over her. She didn't know where to begin. Her eyes darted back and forth, the catacombs were so intricate, she didn't know which way to turn to start her search. What if she couldn't find anyone? What if she couldn't even find Loki? Then all of this was in vain.

Lady Sigyn slammed her golden eyes shut once more. No. She couldn't allow herself to think like that. She had a mission, she needed to complete it. Standing around panicking was just wasting more of the precious time she was running out of. With her heart still pounding in her chest, she once again she broke out running.

Sigyn Arndottir ran for a great length of time. She ran straight and determined and headed for the rooms that were closest to her. Being that she was on the lower level of the palace the she was closest to the barrack. The soldier barracks were in the lower levels of the west wing of the were strategically placed there so that even in the middle of the night if need be, if the palace was under siege, the warriors could sprang from their beds and rush into the main atrium of the palace, the throne room and the grand hall and stair well to protect those sleeping on the higher level floors.

Sigyn had only been to the soldiers' barracks once. It had been on a dare when she was an adolescent. One of the stuffier young courtiers, Lady Astrid dared her and her best friend, Liv to sneak into the barracks and tie a favor to a soldier's bed. Both she and Liv had both been young, girlish and giggly as they'd done so, but they had accomplished the feet nonetheless. They gave quite a start to the men changing and dressing in their domiciles. What she hadn't known was that while her and Liv had been completing the dare oggling and laughing it up with the handsome Einherjar that Lady Astrid had made it a point to report to her mother of her inappropriate actions. It was safe to say that after that one time she'd never dared to enter the sleeping quarters of the soldier ever again.

Sigyn's face reddened with embarrassment at having her father come and drag her out of the barracks like a child. She had been doing her best to act like a mature woman of court, flirting with the warriors of Asgard, catching full glimpses of beefy six packs when she could, a copping good feels of bulging biceps. It was humiliating when Admiral Arn had shown up revealed her as nothing more than a child and dragged her away from the handsome men. Besides her own embarrassment there was also a hard fast rule, the ladies-in-waiting to Queen Frigga were expected to be chaste maidens. There were already those members of court and the populace who disapproved of the gracious queen taking her on as a Lady-in-waiting. She was a woman of ill-repute after all. A woman whose very name had been tarnished by the fact that she was found being unfaithful to Prince Loki. She'd been incredibly grateful for the queen's graciousness oh her behalf. Without the benevolence of Queen Frigga she could have surely ended up in a brothel. Knowing this, she hadn't wanted to do anything to cause the queen to regret her decision. She'd readily avoided any appearance of her even creeping by the soldier barracks.

Despite, her nerves Sigyn forced herself to tap on the wall of the catacombs to find the loose panels and bricks in the wall. Sigyn patted the walls down frantically, pushing and nudging every single brick, but none bugded in the slighted. Frustrated, Sigyn even tried to pry her fingernail into any loose space she could find. She only ended up breaking a nail as a result. Sigyn groaned and stuck a dirty finger into her mouth as a result of the pain. She should have known that the catacombs wouldn't open up to the barracks. It would have left the military open to attack.

"Drat!" Lady Sigyn spat. With one arm still raised holding the torch and the other pounding on the wall in anger as she slid to the ground. As she sat down of the ground she once more hit the bricks in the wall. She struck the bricks on the lower level of the wall. Her hand throbbed from the strike, but she was amazed to find that she felt one little panel in the wall give a little.

Gold eyes went wide. "It moved!" She gasped. "It moved!" She reiterated as she scrambled back to her feet. She immediately started to dry to kick the loose panel in. Furiously, her little foot kicked against the wall, trying to push the loosened brick in. Her foot became sore. It was to know avail. The stubborn brick wouldn't give another inch. Exhausted from her efforts, the queen's handmaiden nearly passed out. She leaned against the inner wall, her soft cheek, mixing with the dirty cement, cobwebs, dust and grime. "is anyone in there?" She called. "is anyone in there?" She screamed once more. "Can you here me?" She asked face and ear pressed against the stones. For a moment, Sigyn heard nothing, but her own defeated sobs and gasps. She couldn't give anymore time to this, she had to move on. The could be wasting precious moments trying to push a lever and no one was there.

Just as she was about to forge ahead she thought she heard faint, muffled cries. "Are you in there?" She quested pressing her lips against the gaps in between the brick layers. She couldn't be sure of what she heard. Her mind could have been easily playing tricks on her. She was so tired and scared and bewildered, overwrought, dirty, hungry and thirsty. Sigyn knew herself. She was highly impressionable, susceptible to getting carried away with her own imaginings. Such was the case with those who were simple minded she supposed. Still, the sounds from behind the wall sounded authentic enough. She had to try.

With a burst of energy and doggedness, Lady Sigyn curled up her pink lips and snarled as she reached her free hand back into her quiver. She yanked an arrow from her sack and dug it into the space between the lose brick in the wall. With her hand forcefully pushing against arrow and stone to the point where she felt her hand would start to bleed and her teeth gritted tight enough to cause a toothache she managed to jimmy the brick out of the wall. The beautiful, golden arrow broke in half from the strain. But the stone was loose enough so that it could be pressed back in. Sigyn did so, tapping it with her toe and watched as the wall opened up and led into the soldier's barracks.

---

There chained and fastened to the bottom of the bed, tied hand and foot and gagged was Lord Algrim. Sigyn didn't know whether to squeal with glee or scream with horror when she saw him. "Lord Algrim!" She exclaimed as she rushed through the opening. Upon her entry the wall closed behind her. She jumped at the sound of it.

As she made her was closer to Lord Algrim she noted how tight the manacles were around Lord Algrim's ankles and wrists. The bands were bound so tightly that they were pressing into Algrim's thin wrists and ankles were bleeding. She crept around the side to get a better look at his face. His pale skin was bruised. His white-face nearly made purple from the bruised he received. He had lacerations on his forehead and it looked like her had been beaten over the head. A thin trail of blood trickled down the side of his face and ran into his eye. The same eye that had blackened and swollen shut and the other eye matched. Even Lord Algrim's regal vestments looked as if they had been ripped and rent and torn in a scuffle. His normally, shiny, golden curly-toed shoes were scuffed and had been uncurled. His pointed ears drooped. She saw how tight the gag was tied around Lord Algrim's mouth. The prime minister of Asgard could barely breathe. He was panting and wheezing and whimpering.

"Lord Algrim?" Sigyn whispered gently as she stroked the Light-Elf's pale cheek. Algrim started to stir. His lips moved and his eyes batted. He blinked at her without recognition. "Lord Algrim, Lord Algrim," Lady Sigyn muttered. "Oh don't you were sir, I'm going to get you out of here in a jiff," she expressed as she carefully unbound the white cloth from around his mouth. The advisor to the king gasped and coughed as he felt his lips being set free. Sigyn's tanned hand brushed against Algrims, black and blue face. "Let me see if I can get these shackles off of you," she said as she watched Lord Algrim's chin flop against his chest.

Sigyn scurried around to the back side of her bed on her hands and knees to look at the chains. She pulled and tugged at the chains, doing her best to try to free Lord Algrim. The more she pulled and tugged the more the Prime Minister of Asgard groaned. "Ooh," Sigyn winced as she heard Lord Algrim grunt, "Sorry, I'll be more gentle," she explained and went back to trying to break the binds. It was useless. "We need a key," the handmaiden to Queen Frigga thought out loud. "Lord Algrim, have you seen the key?" Lady Sigyn asked frantically as she sprang to her feet. Her large gray eyes searched all around the room. She darted back and forth, searching the dressers and looking under the beds and behind the sinks. She was hopeful that perhaps one of the Dark-Elf soldiers had left the king behind. She should have known that the warriors would never make such a clumsy mistake. "Ohhh," Sigyn trembled with nervous. She played with her fingers and worried the hem of her dress between her fingers. "There...there must be something," she muttered to herself. Lady Sigyn scrambled around the cramped barrack for something that she could pick the lock with. But Asgardian soldiers were taught discipline in all areas and the room was immaculate.

Lady Sigyn started feeling through her own hair. Her hands fumbled through her blonde ringlets. Her curls were unbound, but she normally had a stray hairpin within her nest of amber wheat. Sigyn scratched her scalp in desperation to find just one to use to pick the lock, but she found nothing. She heard the Prime Minister groan and moan from his uncomfortable position with his back pressed rigidly straight against the iron bedpost. Sigyn once again rushed back to Lord Algrim's side. She stroked his thin, white hair, "Don't worry, Lord Algrim, I'll think of something...I'll get you out...somehow," she muttered nervously. She started to nibble upon her nails. Finally, that's when an idea struck her. The queen's lady-in-waiting looked at her hands. Her graceful fingers were attached to beautifully manicured nails. Her fingernails had already taken a brutal beating in the past few hours, The polish had come off almost entirely and her hands and nails were caked with grime and dirt and the hints of random red that showed up implied that there was still blood on her hands. Many of nails had broken off, but she still had a few ones that she thought might do the trick.

Sigyn bit her lip and plunged her index finger into the center of the chain's lock. She dug her finger in as deep as it could go. The sharp metal pressing against her delicate skin. It scraped her tender cuticles and fingertips, but Sigyn pressed on. Once she felt she had wedged her as deep as it could go, she felt around inside the lock. She thought she could feel the piece that had to be turned in order to open the lock. Excitedly, she twisted and twirled her finger around. She panted. "Just a little bit more," she encouraged herself, "Almost there," she whispered. "That's it," she went on with a strain as she felt something give, then she heard a snap. It was soon followed by a sharp pain radiating through her pinky finger.

The lady-in-waiting frowned at the defeated finger. "Oh...oh...Oh," Sigyn moaned shaking her finger and still looking around wild for something to use to open the lock. "Oh, Lord Algrim, I am so sorry. I'll get you out! I'll get you out of here, somehow," she promised. Sigyn snapped her fingers, "I'll go for help," she chimed and snapped her fingers and jumped to her feet. The blonde-haired handmaiden sprang into action and starting feeling along the walls trying to find another loose stone to open the wall again. Then it dawned on Sigyn...there was no one in the palace to seek help from and to leave the palace now was far too risky, she had to figure out something.

Once more Lady Sigyn recalled her arrows. She pulled one from her quiver. It was such a beautiful weapon of war. The gold of the arrows gleamed as if it was been freshly polished and the gems that beset the elegant arrow shined in radiant splendor. Yet what was truly marvelous about the instruments went beyond their physical properties. Sigyn whipped out her silver and ivory bow and placed her arrow just so against the bow string. As she studied the arrow once more she noted that arrow's tip seemed to be perfectly pointed to fit inside the lock. Pulling the arrow tight, she whispered. "Aim for the lock," then she launched it.

She wasn't standing far off from Lord Algrim and she probably overshot the arrow, but amazingly enough somehow the golden arrow made its way to finding the hole within the lock and sticking there. Sigyn batted her eyes in astonishment, a wide grin spread over her smudged face. Girlish glee momentarily got the better of her and she stomped her feet excitedly. Lady Sigyn managed to compose herself long enough to dart back over to Lord Algrim's side. She ran to where the arrow stuck out from the keyhole of the lock. She poked and prodded and wriggled and wiggled and twisted and tugged at the arrow while it was inside the keyhole until finally she heard it pop. Lady Sigyn gasped as she watched the lock open.

The lock fell off from the shackles and Sigyn was able to free Lord Algrim. She unshackled his ankles and wrists and then undid the heavy iron chain that was tied all too snuggly around the frail, elderly elf's narrow waist. Once no longer tethered to the metal bedpost Lord Algrim's body slumped forward. He fell like a rag doll into a puddle on the floor.

Without delay Lady Sigyn was at his side. She gathered the leader of Asgard's High Council in her arm. His breathing was harsh and labored. His face was scratched and marred, eyes blackened and blood trickling from his forehead and temples. The always prim and proper council member had his royal robes nearly torn to shreds and soppily hanging off of his thin frame. "Lord Algrim, Lord Algrim," Lady Sigyn called as she rapidly tapped his cheek. She him cough and grunt as he tried to rally himself. She took to trying to minister to his wounds. She had him relaxing against her lap, but soon shifted him so that he was slightly propped up by her quiver. The white leather and silver silk on the satchel made it a supple and comfortable pillow. Gingerly, she laid his head down to rest on it was she stripped the beds of the barrack so that he could have cover. She then went to the sink and found a tin cup and a small porcelain basin. She filled both items with water. When she came back by the Prime Minister's side she dipped bits of cloth into the water and began cleaning the cuts of Lord Algrim's face. He winced and gasped ever so slightly at her delicate touch. "oh...Oh...I'm sorry," she sighed noting his discomfort. Algrim mashed his lips together and nodded allowing her to continued in her care of him. She pressed the cool water from the tin cup to his lips. His chapped lips trembled as they wrapped around the rim of the cup. He guzzled greedily. The cool water was a balm to his parched tongue. His mouth had dried out after being held open for ours by the gag.

Finally, Lord Algrim's blackened eyes squinted open, ever so slightly allowing him to behold the visage in front of him. At first the face was nothing but a puff pastry of swirling colors, but after a few moments of bewildered blinking things came into focus. "L-L-lady...S-s-sigyn?" He coughed.

"Yes, Lord Algrim. It's me," the blonde maiden nodded. The Light-Elf looked around in a daze. Finally recognizing that he was in a shared soldier's quarters. His slight lips trembled. He winced as he tried to sit up. "Don't move, don't move," the Aesir noble woman cautioned. She tried to still him as she continued to dab at his forehead with a cool rag.

"W-w-what are you doing here? H-h-how did you find me?" He rasped.

"It was quite by accident," Sigyn admitted with a slight chuckle. "But I'm ever so glad I did find you," she continued to wipe away the blood and dirt on his face.

She pressed a little more water to his lips. "Ah," he side feeling the cool water hit his throat. He coughed a little more then relaxed in Lady Sigyn's tender care and smacked his lips. "It is I who should be truly grateful dear lady," he responded. He brought his shaky hand to wipe the water from his lips. "But how?" The skinny councilman continued to question. "How did you escape from your room?"
"I was taken to no room, my lord," Sigyn shrugged. "I just ran. I ran to Dyson. None of the Dark-Elves bothered me," she stated.

"Dyson?"

"The guard who fought against Loki and died at his hand," Sigyn confessed. Her voice rippled with grief and rage.

"Loki! He is a beast!" The Prime Minister of Asgard spat. He once again started to choke.

Lady Sigyn couldn't bring herself to speak the word, but she nodded. She hated that in her heart she agreed with the white bearded Algrim's words. Sigyn swallowed, "Did he do this to you?" She asked as she surveyed, Algrim's bruised body. The cuts from the shackles on his wrists still needed to be bound.

Lord Algrim let out a bitter, chortle. "No. Wish to Yggdrasil, he would have though," he choked out his words. "I would have rather had Loki do this than those bloodless Dark_Elves," he confessed. "The Dark Elves attacked my people centuries before I was born. They envied the beauty and vastness of our kingdoms, the relationship we had with nature and our peace with the mortals. They only wanted to torment and enslave the worlds. They nearly destroyed my race. Having them beat me and stuff me in here was like allowing them to defeat all my people once again," his brow furrowed.

"Twas not your fault, my lord," Sigyn squeezed Algrim's bony fingers.

Slowly, he closed his black and blue eyelids. "Wish I could say that, Lady Sigyn, but the fault is indeed mine. Twice, I have surrendered the throne of Asgard to that monster, Loki and each time it has ended in disaster!"

Lady Sigyn's delicate features were pinched with concern, "You did not know," she offered.

"Perhaps the first time I did not know. Loki was legitimately the next in line for the throne. Queen Frigga has approved," he started to shake his head. His coughing spasms only intensified. She offered him more water, but he shooed it away. "What did he do, but lead the Frost Giants into the city and attack Prince Thor," he shook his head. "Has he not done the same thing this time? How many times must a person see such vile acts before he learns?" Lord Algrim chastised himself. "King Odin always looked at me as wise and trusted in my counsel. But I am a old fool. Their Majesties granted me regency over Asgard while they went into hiding. Queen Frigga believe that I would lead with wisdom, protect the people and come up with and execute a plan that would stop this apocalypse. I have failed my queen," he said with a deep sigh. His old, purple eyes filled with tears.

Sigyn mashed her lips together, her own eyes were starting to leak. "Please, Lord Algrim, you did all you could. You did the best you could. I know my King Odin and Queen Frigga would understand. You had a wonderful plan. We all expected some type of return attack from Malekith and the Dark-Elves but no one knew that Loki would be with them. No one could have known that Prince Thor would be taken hostage. Such a notion was simply impossible to think."

"There is no excuse for what I did. I gave Loki Gungnir. Without Gungnir the Aether cannot be defeated."

"You gave him that in order to save Prince Thor's life!" She pressed and her large gold eyes looked intently at Lord Algrim's. "Any warrior of Asgard would have done the same," she urged him to believe

Algrim scoffed to himself. "A better man, a stronger man would have taken his own life, rather than see the throne of Asgard in the hands wretches the likes of Loki and Malekith. We are doomed and it is because of me," he finally stated and she watched one silent tear slide down his angular cheek.

"Oh, no, no, Lord Algrim, I do not think that is so," Sigyn shook her hand refuting the notion and her tender hands caught the tear on his cheek. "My father, Admiral Arn used to tell me that a true warrior of Asgard fights to the last breath, never gives up. He told me that such an act would be the act of a coward," the golden-haired handmaiden to Queen Frigga admonished the king's advisor.

Once more a hollow and humorless laugh escaped from his lips. "Then count me as a fool and a coward, Lady Sigyn. I suppose that is why I was born an Elf. I have not the constitution of the men of Asgard for I would much rather take my own life than live to know the part I played in this dark day which is to come," he admitted and finally sat up from resting in the lap of the lady-in-waiting. He groaned as he sat and Lady Sigyn tried to give some assistance, but defeated as he felt the Light Elf leader of Asgard's High Council still wanted to maintain some dignity. Limping, he dragged his bloodied wrists to the sink and started to rinse them. Sigyn followed behind dutifully. He washed his wrists free of blood and started looking ointments and salves within the cabinets in the barracks. Surely the soldiers were stocked with many bandages to treat their numerous wounds. "Forgive me for saying this lady Sigyn," the Prime Minister started, but I think even your father might have to retract his statement in face of Ragnorok," he confessed. As he watched the blood flow from his wrists and pool into the sink's basin.

The blood was dark, rich, deep and thick. It overpowered the water and splattered on the sides of the basin. The blood was everywhere; red and blaring. No matter how the Light-Elf Prime Minister of Asgard tried to rinse himself free of the blood he simply couldn't. His purple eyes couldn't help but become entranced by the crimson liquid. He stared without blinking at the way his blood ran down his white wrists and over his skinny hands. The distinguished councilman forgot how the sight of his own blood could often make him queasy. He continued to try to allow the cool water to wash over his skin, hoping that eventually his bleeding would cease, but the blood was slow to cease in its flow and the time it took Lord Algrim noticed that the pallor of his flesh was changing from its naturally delicate ivory hue to a muted gray undertone. A shiver ran up the Prime Minister's spine, he felt lightheaded and dizziness overtook him. The elderly elf felt his legs sway beneath him. Lord Algrim did his best to steal himself from giving into such weakness. He had already proved himself to be a pathetic leader in the absence of their highnesses, but he'd not have it remembered of him in his final moments that he fainted in front of a woman.

No sooner had Lord Algrim determined to stand to his full height proudly and strongly, than did his legs buckle beneath him and he collapse against the sink. "Lord Algrim!" Lady Sigyn screamed seeing the royal adviser nearly fallen. She ran to him wrapping gentle hands around his shoulders. He waved her off, but she did not budge. "Come, sir you must sit down," she said.

"Tis nothing," Lord Algrim reported back dismissively.

"Tis something, sir," Lady Sigyn Arndottir insisted. Her soprano voice was not harsh, but it was commanding. Maybe it was the forcefulness of Sigyn's words or the frailty of his own body, but either way, Lord Algrim offered little resistance when Sigyn's gentle hands ushered him back toward the soldier's bed. "You must lay down," she directed. Lord Algrim followed suit and laid down, obedient to the gestures of Lady Sigyn's tender hands. He laid his head down on the pillows of the bed. All the while Sigyn busied herself going through the cabinets and cupboards in the barracks. She found gauze and bandages and a few other ointments to tend to the elf's wounds. When she came back to the bed she sat down beside him and rolled up his sleeves and slowly began to bind his bleeding wrists with the clean bandages. His wrists bled for a while nearly soaking through the bandaging, but Sigyn continued to wrap more and more tightly and with enough pressure the bleeding stopped.

"Would, that you just let me be Sigyn," he stated through heavy breaths. The pressure on his injured wrists hurt, but in a good way. "I deserve to die here and be but the first partaker of the catastrophe I have brought on us all," he shook his head against the pillow. His wispy, scraggly, long white locks spread out on the pillow and his eyes were still filled with tears. The daughter of Admiral Arn looked at him with great pity. Her small, pink lips turned into a frown. She be bit her lip. She played with her fingers as she walked away from the Prime Minister of Asgard and refilled her small bowl full of water.

"You mustn't say such things, Lord Algrim," Sigyn stated in a soft voice. She shook her head. She took him by the hand and felt him give it a squeeze. "Can you sit up?" The lady-in-waiting asked. Lord Algrim nodded, but struggled to do so as it was hard for him to put his weight on his hands and wrists. With Lady Sigyn's aid he managed to do as the gentlewoman requested. Soon his feet were on the floor and his uncurled, curly-toed shoes were coated with the blood that ran down his ankles. Lady Sigyn slid from the bed and down to the floor. She sat upon her knees and slowly and carefully started to remove his shoes.

"Lady Sigyn, don't" he pleaded although he was a man very use to pampering. Lady Sigyn smiled up at him, before rolling up the leggings on the Prime Minister's legs and dipping his feet into the cool water within the basin. She poured a few drops of a cleansing antiseptic oils into the water. Lord Algrim, the Prime Minister of Asgard and Advisor to King Odin looked at Lady Sigyn with astonishment as he watched her careful ministrations to his wounds. She ever so gingerly washed the old elf''s thin wrinkled feet free of blood and bound the sliced ankles.. Lord Algrim knew that the golden-locked lady-in-waiting to Queen Frigga hardly had the aptitude needed to be a healer, but she certainly had the heart to be one.

"You mustn't say such things, Lord Algrim," Sigyn whispered again still on her knees before the highest official in the land. "Convergence has not yet taken place. There is still time," she explained.

"Lady Sigyn, do not be naïve," he shook his head with a frown. "Ragnorok is as good as upon us," he expressed.

"There is still hope, Lord Algrim," she stated in earnest. She brought her large golden dubloon eyes to look into Lord Algrim's blackened, purple ones.

"Hope!" The Prime Minister of Asgard tossed his head back in mocking laughter. "Lady Sigyn you have seen with your very eyes what has happened. Hundreds are already dead, Prince Thor is powerless and in chains and Malekith is in possession of the Aether and Loki had Gungnir," he threw up his hands,

'But there is still a resistance," Sigyn informed proudly.

"Resistance?" The politician shook his head in confusion.

"Yes," Sigyn nodded an ecstatic grin formed on her face as she rested her hands on his knees and began to inform Lord Algrim of Captain Frell and the other Einherjar and palace guards and able bodied men and women of Asgard who even as they spoke were preparing a counter attack to launch in one last valiant effort to save Asgard. She told him of how they planned to storm the palace, liberate Prince Thor and kill Loki and Malekith before they had a chance to unleash the Aether.

Algrim nodded, "Ah, thank goodness for the fighting spirit of the Aesir," he clenched his hands into a fist with victory. Both of them smiled at each other for a moment but soon Algrim's grin turned into a grimace. "Alas," the Light-Elf lord shook his head, "The chances of them prevailing are slim to none. The Aether is so powerful, impervious to attack it would seem," he dropped his head staring down at his bare, wet feet. "Without the weapons Gungnir and Mjolnir I fear nothing can stop the Aether," he confessed.

"But they can get Gungnir away from, Loki and once Thor is free surely he will be able to wield Mjolnir and save us all," she explained.

"It is a long shot," Lord Algrim stated, he drummed his fingers against his knees. "They'd most likely have to kill Loki to pry Gungnir out of his merciless fingers. This is also assuming that they can get to Prince Thor in time." He expressed.

"Perhaps it is a long shot, sir and a risk, but it is one we have to take it could be the only hope we have," she placed her hands upon his knees to stop his vicious fingers from drumming.

"It will be our only hope," Lord Algrim stated sharply. "And if it fails..."

"There is still this," Sigyn confessed and pulled out the small scroll that had been carefully concealed in the folds of her cloak.

Lord Algrim's purple eyes went wide. His thin lips quivered and formed a snarl. "Sigyn! You still have this?" He grabbed her by the wrist causing her to drop the scroll.

"I'm sorry, Lord Algrim," Lady Sigyn said with a tremble in her voice.

"This is lunacy, girl!" He yelled. "Do you really think that anything on this scroll is going to make a difference to him?" Sigyn didn't respond, but her lips shook and her eyes trembled as they welled up with tears. "Do you?" He demanded of her. "You have seen everything he's done! He's an animal. No matter what is written he won't care. He won't stop. He would destroy us all just like he did that poor guard if he were given the chance. Do not give him that chance! Give that infernal scroll to me so that I may dispose of it!" He growled,

"N-n-n-nnn-No!"

"No? Lady Sigyn, you are being insubordinate," Algrim stated.

"I'm sorry, my lord. Tis not my way," she bowed her head and shook it. She felt his grip of her slacken and her hands scrambled to pick up the scroll and hid it behind her back. "To disobey," she panted, "but I have come so far...too far to not complete my mission, sir. I promised I would deliver the letter," she told him again. "it was Lady Dagmar's dying wish that Loki know the contents of this scroll. She died fighting for Asgard. Fighting to keep the Aether out of Malekith's hands. She died fulfilling a mission...maybe her mission failed, but she did complete it. I have no right not to do the same. We all must play our part to prevent Ragnorok, my lord. And even if there is only a flea's breath of a chance that this little scroll can stop Loki...it is a chance that must be taken."

Lord Algrim, looked at Lady Sigyn with disbelief. His mouth hung open as he heard her words full of conviction. He bit into his lip and his pointed ears twitched. He shook his head and looked at her with a slightly aggravated grin. "Damn you, Lady Sigyn," he muttered to himself. Sigyn dropped her golden eyed gaze. "You are a stubborn and foolish woman," he chided.

"Yes, sir I know," she admitted shamefacedly.

"I'm not going to allow you to do this," he said sitting up straight.

Sigyn's amber eyes darted up to stare at him. "But sir..."

"I will take the scroll to Loki," he said. "Perhaps it will absolve me of my sin of even giving him the scepter," he stated.

Sigyn's soft, pink lips trembled something fierce upon hearing Lord Algrim's words. It was against all propriety, but she flung her arms out and hugged the skinny advisor to the king around his neck. Lord Algrim gave a slight chuckle and returned the embrace. "You have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that, sir," Sigyn began. Liquid spilled from her sunlit eyes. "But I can't let you do that. It was my promise. It wouldn't seem right if I gave my duties to someone else to fulfill," the golden-locked lady-in-waiting to Queen Frigga explained.

"Merciful, Yggdrasil, Sigyn, but by my faith you are a bold lady. You are braver than I," he confessed nodding to himself. "You are as brave as any man of Asgard," he commended her.

"I thank you, sir, but I do not believe it is a matter of gender. I believe twould be easy for anyone to be brave when they fight for what they love," the Aesir noblewoman expressed.

"I love Asgard as much as if I was born of Aesir blood," the light elf stated. "And what is it that you love so, Lady Sigyn? Asgard or him?" Sigyn's cheeks managed to blush through the dirt smudged on them. Despite the young maiden's coy demeanor, Lord Algrim's slender face remained pinched and cold. "But you know that this may not work," he said gesturing toward her.

"Yes, I know," Sigyn said trying to correct her face.

"And are you prepared for that?" He demanded. You have seen the things that Loki has done and yet it seems as though you still do not know what he is capable of. He is a savage! Ruthless. He may kill you soon as he looks at you!" the Light-Elf ranted. He stood to his feet. His ankles ached from the weight of having to support his body but he pressed pass the pain. He pulled his feet out of the bowl of water where they had been placed and marched toward Sigyn. "He could stab you right through the heart!" He yelled as he stepped closer to her and hurled a finger toward her heart. "Slice your neck!" He yelled. Sigyn wrapped her hands protectively around her throat. She staggered backward until she stumbled against another one of the beds within the chamber. Before long she plopped back over the bed and was staring up at the Prime Minister. "Or work some spell on you!" He declared waving his hand and wiggling his fingers over her head. "Are you prepared for that, Lady Sigyn? Are you?" The advisor to King Odin questioned abruptly. Sigyn started to respond..."Are you? No, Lady Sigyn, I do not think you are!" He accused.

Sigyn sat on the bed shivering and shaking her head. She was panting and stammering. When she finally found her tongue she took a deep breath and swallowed hard, "I am, Lord Algrim," Lady Sigyn stated.

"How?" The wizened elf demanded.

"With this." Sigyn pulled the satchel from her back and showed Asgard's Prime Minister the beautiful golden arrows she possessed.

"By the Nine Realms," Lord Algrim muttered as he wiped his brow and whistled. "What wonders," he couldn't help but smile at the ornate weapons.

"Loki gave them to me" Sigyn elaborated as she watched Lord Algrim's long, wrinkled hands pluck one of the golden arrows from the quiver. "Many centuries ago," Sigyn said her voice trailing off. "They don't miss," she explained. "Loki enchanted them...I don't know how," she shrugged. "But they can't miss a target."

Lord Algrim whinnied with a scoff. "If those arrows were enchanted so long ago, how do you know that they still work," he asked looking down at the arrows.

"They haven't failed me yet," Lady Sigyn replied.

The elfin lord's eyes went wide. He gripped Lady Sigyn by her dirty tan hands. "No," he gasped. He shook his head vigorously, "No, Lady Sigyn, I cannot let you do that." The blonde-haired lady-in-waiting face looked perplexed. "It is too terrible. I won't let you do it!" He shouted at her. "You are too gentle of a soul for such an act," he wagged his head like a dog. "You have never known the heat of battle, never known war! You have never taken a life. You should never have to. How can you do it now?"

"I..."

"No! I will not allow it!" He railed. "I am still the Prime Minister of Asgard, I have a duty to protect the people of Asgard. I should bear the brunt of this. I cannot put the burden on you to try to save Asgard from Ragnorok or to kill Loki. I would be less than a man if I permitted such a thing, Lady Sigyn," the elderly elf confessed as he dropped his head. He clasped her hands tightly and in earnest. "I cannot...I cannot," he old voice warbled and cracked. The tears that had been pooling in his eyes finally sprang forth from his tearducts and slid down his cheeks, chin and narrow nose. "If someone must risk their life...let it be I," he went on. "You are so young. Won't you give yourself a chance to run and live?" He finally looked up at her. "A chance to say your goodbyes at least," he offered a pained grin tugging at his lips. His pointed ears twitched with anticipation.

Grimy fingers reached up and stroked Lord Algrim's face. It was as wrinkled as a prune and she feared it would soon gain a few more wrinkles from all the water splashing down from his eyes. She did her best to wipe them away, but it was impossible to catch them all. "No, Lord Algrim," Sigyn refuted him, she shook her head as well. Her amber orbs also glistening with moisture. "You are still hurt," she expressed pointing to his feet and grabbing at his hands.

"Matters not," the white-haired Light-Elf refused her words. "If I die I die with honor," he stated squaring his shoulders.

"You are needed to lead Asgard. You are in command with our king and queen out of reach and Prince Thor who knows where, Asgard looks to you for leadership. the all-father and Queen Frigga need you, Captain Frell and the Einherjar need you and all of Asgard needs you...you must get to the shelter," Lady Sigyn expressed. "That is another part of the reason why I came back to the palace. Not only to deliver this message to Loki, but also to find you and the rest of the soldiers and healers and council members and get you to the shelters before Captain Frell and the soldiers attack," she expressed.

"You have done so much already, Lady Sigyn. You cannot do it all alone," the Prime Minister warned her.

"I have to try," Sigyn stated turning away from him.

"But you don't have to try to do it alone," he explained. "Time is running out! You can't do it all. I will come with you and help you find more of the Asgardians to help get them to the safety of the shelters within the city," Lord Algrim offered.

"Surely, Lord Algrim, I cannot ask that of you. Your wounds..."she pointed out. "You need to get to the shelter. There are healers there that can better tend to your wounds. I am no healer..." She started.

With a flip of the wrist Algrim dismissed all the handmaiden's protestations. He held up a finger that pinned Lady Sigyn to silence. "Please, many valiant warriors have suffered far worse injuries than this and have persevered and continued fighting. In this, the darkest hour that any of the Nine Realms shall face, I have no right to do anything less, milady," the Prime Minister argued. Lady Sigyn started to open her mouth to protest. But the stern gaze that the Light-Elf gave her let her knew that there was no more belaboring the point. "Every moment we tary here with deliberations is one moment less that we have until Convergence cometh and one moment less that we have to save the Nine Realms," he explained.

The amber eyed daughter of Admiral Arn allowed laughter to bubble up from with in her. She couldn't help, but beam back at the Prime Minister of Asgard. "Very well, sir," she said nodding. "It seems as though, you humble servant doth require your services." With that Lady Sigyn and Lord Algrim devised a plan. They would search in opposite directions. They would check as many chambers as possible trying to find the rest of the palace servants, guards and High Council Members who had been taken and imprisoned by the Dark-Elves. They picked a specific spot to meet back at. They would meet back in the catacombs right outside of Odin's throne room. From there they would rendezvous with whoever they had found and Lord Algrim would lead them through the catacombs and into the city and to the shelter. Lady Sigyn would remain behind in order to try to give Loki the scroll.

"You must make haste, Lady Sigyn," he told her. "Do not delay. You must make it out the palace by morning light whether you have given the scroll to Loki or not," he warned her.

"I will." The pair went to the wall and pressed the lose brick and found that the wall slid open easily. They soon walked out of the barrack and into the catacomb. They bid each other good luck before they started off in the opposite direction. Lord Algrim hobbled off one way and Lady Sigyn hiked up her skirts and sprinted off in another. Already winded and in pain from his throbbing ankles, Lord Algrim paused and turned around to watch Sigyn. Her long golden locks bouncing on her shoulders as she raced in the opposite direction. "Sigyn!" The Prime Minister called out. His voice bouncing off the catacomb walls. "if this works all of Asgard will be indebted to you," he told her.

"I'll settle for it working at all, Lord Algrim," Sigyn stated slightly breathlessly, a broad smile was spread across her muck and grime covered face. Lord Algrim offered the young maiden a version of the smile and then waved her off. Lady Sigyn returned the wave and held her infectious beautiful smile on her face. Once more the Prime Minister of Asgard started off again. He limped along. Sigyn's smile slowly faded as she saw the regal elf's pitiful shuffle. It hurt her heart to see him go so. She knew he wanted to help and it was truth that he spoke they could hopefully find more citizens in a shorter span of time with the two of them working together in opposite directions, but still he should be resting. Before long, even with his broken gait, Lord Algrim managed to vanish from her sight.

With that Lady Sigyn started on her way again. For a while she broke into a trot. Slowly, her footfalls fell into a walk and the smile faded from her petite pink lips. She tried to allow her soul to take heart in Lord Algrim's words. Somehow she couldn't. For her chances were slim to none that Loki would actually care and that this apocalypse could be avoided.

---

"AAAAHHHHHH!" A scream broke through the frantic atmosphere of the queen's bed chamber. Frigga sat up bolt straight from her bed. The room was in an uproar. Healers and handmaidens rushed back and forth, hither and thither, in and out, but Queen Frigga's shrill squeal stilled them all. Immediately, all the healers dropped what they were doing and rushed to the queen's side.

"My queen! My queen!" One of the ladies-in-waiting called as she rushed to the royal woman's bedside. The wife of Odin was sitting up bolt straight, chest heaving as she tried to suck in air. Her eyes were squeezed shut and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She was dripping with sweat from her hair all the way down to her toes. Her face was both flushed and pale and her body running hot and cold all at once. "My queen! My queen," the waiting gentlewoman called once more trying to get Queen Frigga's attention. Asgard's golden lady was still screaming as if she was in a fit.

"Someone get Healer Onrac!" One of the younger healers shouted seeing as the queen was still so frantic. Queen Frigga was starting to convulse.

"Give her a sedative, quick!" Another one of the apprentices called. Almost instantly a young healer came with a needle filled with a silver. The young healer carried it quickly and deliberately toward Queen Frigga's bedside.

With haste, others pressed their way passed Queen Frigga's lady-in-waiting. In their urgency, they nearly shoved the attractive Aesir woman out of the way. They started trying to press the wife of the king back against her bed. Queen Frigga shook violently, still screaming and twisting. Her hair which had been done up neatly in a style of elegance and refinement befitting a queen had fallen right out of its wimple and was wild and messy about her head.

"Wait! Wait!" The lady-in-waiting called over the excited healing staff. She grabbed at the arms of one of the strapping male healers who was trying to hold Queen Frigga down. He pulled at him. "Just stop!" The lady-in-waiting nearly shouted.

Finally, the healer turned around, "Milady," he said inclining his head toward the woman who out ranked him, "I'm sorry, but Queen Frigga is feverish and fretful, We need to keep her calm so that she doesn't hurt herself," he explained.

"I understand, but all this pushing and pressing on her and trying to sedate her. I have known Queen Frigga for many years, it is not the way she would want to be treated.,,especially in a time like this...when all of our lives are in peril. She would want to be present and in her right mind to lead us. If you could just give me a minute with her," the woman expressed. The healers exchanged glances. It was against their better scientific judgment to leave a patient without the proper medical treatment, but Asgard needed their queen, so they abided by the lady-in-waiting's counsel.

"Only a few moments can we spare, me lady," the young healer cautioned. "Her heart rate is dangerously close to being erratic. If you cannot calm her then we will have no choice but to administer the drugs as Healer Onrac has prescribed," he stated and stepped to the side.

The queen's handmaiden took her lady by the hands and face. She spoke in a tender whispering tone toward the golden woman of Asgard. "My queen, my queen," she cooed in her ear. She squeezed tightly on the queen's hand as she watched the golden maned queen thrash against the pillows of her bed. She stroked Frigga's cheeks they were damp with a mixture of sweat and tears. "Your Majesty, please you must awaken," she whispered her voice practically begging. She snapped her fingers and signaled for one of the other chambermaids to bring her a fresh, cool cloth to dab along the queen's forehead

As the gentle, cool cloth dabbed at Frigga's feverish forehead and hot cheeks, the queen slowly started to open her eyes. Her blue eyes appeared, but they were cloudy and unfocused. She batted them rapidly as if trying to orient herself. "Nooonooo...stop!" The queen panted.

"Your Majesty," the lady-in-waiting said pressing the cloth deeper against the queen's flushing face.

"Thor!" She called shaking and twisting her head. Queen Frigga gritted her teeth. Her eyes blinked a few more times, "Loki...nonono...Loki," she said groping at the air. Her lady-in-waiting grabbed at her hands and held her down.

"My queen! Queen Frigga! Queen Frigga, can you hear me?" She called.

Finally, the urgent voice of the lady-in-waiting dawned on the queen. Her cerulean eyes popped open wide and bright. She looked around for the first time as if she was taking it all in. She was nearly hyperventilating, panting and desperate for breath. Her chest heaved and she was still slightly trembling, but her surrounding were becoming more clear. The images and faces in the room swam into focus. She saw some figures standing around attentively, but far off. She could hear a light concerned voice in her ear. She finally turned toward the direction of the voice only to behold a round face with concern plastered on red lips and worry in her big brown eyes. Queen Frigga shook her head..."Kareena?" The queen asked in confusion.

The young lady-in-waiting nodded, she squeezed the royal woman's hand tightly. From her eyes tears fell as she beheld her queen alert and well. "She's awake! She's awake!" Lady-in-waiting Kareena called to all around. A collective sigh of relief seemed to be heaved throughout the chamber. There were rounds of applause and squeals of joy. Many of the servant girls and the other ladies-in-waiting flocked toward the queen's bed. They sat down around the queen stroking her hair and cheeks, they kissed her hands and forehead and swarmed her like loving children. The all-mother received them and returned their hugs and affection with beneficence. She smiled and tears pooled in her eyes as she received the love of her people.

"Oh Queen Frigga! We are so glad you are awake!" The ladies yelled

"Thank merciful Ygddrasil our queen is saved!" The healers chimed in.

"Praises be!" The crowd shouted.

"Please someone get her some water," Kareena instructed. Immediately one of Queen Frigga's other waiting sprang into action and went to retrieve a glass of cool liquid for the female ruler.

"We must get healer Onrac," a healer in the crowd called out before sprinting out of the queen's bedchamber. While the healer ran on to find the queen's physician the queen's ladies doted upon her. They stroked her hair, patted and held her hands and fanned her as the water was presented.

Queen Frigga guzzled the cool water in her goblet gratefully. She drank it fully and wholly. When she was finished she nodded and offered faint smiles to her ladies-in-waiting. The cold water felt good sliding down the queen's throat. She was so thirsty, so unbelievably thirsty. Her whole body felt consumed with a horrible heat. She wanted more to drink, but noting the worry etched on the faces of all she knew that she must think of her needs secondly. Such was the role of a queen. "Lady Kareena," she turned to her friend and said. "What has happened?" The queen asked her voice was raspy.

Lady Kareena, looked from one lady-in-waiting to the next. Each wore a frown and furrowed brow. "Queen Frigga," she started. "Recall you nothing of what has happened?" He as were wide and shining.

The wife of Odin shook her head, "I recall only dreams," she stated. "No, not dreams. Nightmares." The blonde-haired wife of Odin qualified. "I had a nightmare of the Imperial City being torn apart ripped from its foundations," she queen muttered. "I saw such things," Queen Frigga pulled the cover up close around her. Despite the fact that she was overwhelmingly hot a shudder was running up and down her spine. "I saw my son, Prince Thor bound and chained and tethered like an animal. "The All-father was gone," the queen expressed. She gasped and choked back a sob. She raised the back of her hand to cover her quivering lips. Before long the queen felt the comforting hands of her friends on her shoulders. Her eyes were filled with water, but not one silver tear escaped her sky blue eyes. She offered broken laughter. "Such is lunacy is it not?' She chuckled. "is it not?' She repeated her voice straining to portray merriment. "I even heard tale in my sleep that my dear son, Loki was the grand architect of such things, A bead of sweat dripped down the royal lady's temple. The golden queen of Asgard felt feverish once more. It was becoming increasingly hard to breathe. She was trying to cough and clear her lungs and trying to gasp for air all at once, but some how it came out as a nervous laugh. 'But such things cannot be true," she shook her head. "Such things cannot be true," she whispered her laughter falling short and flat, dying on her shaking lips. She bit her lip and held her breath doing all with in her power to keep the floodgates within her from springing forth.

"Milady," Lady Kareena spoke soft. She rubbed the queen's shoulder. "You were sleep for a little while," she stated.

"I was glad that the sleep was not longer," Queen Frigga reasoned. "Such a fitful sleep I could scarcely bear for a minute more," she admitted to her friend. She felt one of her waiting gentlewomen usher her to lay her head back down on the pillow. She had propped the pillows up against the headboard so that the queen could sit up more comfortably.

Lady Kareena nodded as well, her face was also starting to perspire. "Yes, majesty, grateful are we all that you did not remain unconscious any longer." He confession was met with a chorus of agreement by the other servants around. "but my lady you were overcome with emotion...and you fainted. That's what caused your fitful sleep," Kareena explained.

Queen Frigga nodded simply. "Convergence draws closer...Odin still lies with in the Oversleep and we have made heard no word from Prince Thor," the queen started to rambled. "Overcome with emotion...overcome with emotion," Queen Frigga echoed bitterly. "Yes, my dear Lady Kareena, I do say I have been overcome with emotion," she chuckled. "I worry for us all," she explained reaching her hand up and tenderly cupping the face of the lady-in-waiting. "Yet I have not lost hope...there is still time...I still...I still...believe." The golden-haired female ruler of Asgard offered a grin.

"My queen you have been nothing but a bastion of strength for us all," Lady Kareena informed her. "But does my queen remember nothing of what has transpired?" Kareena's eyes were wide. The only response that the queen had the chance to make was the batting of her bright, blue irises. The queen's liquid blue eyes housed confusion, pain, but also knowledge. Knowledge, that she dare not confess to. To confess to it would only make it true. It would only make it more than a vision, more than an apparition of the end, but it would make it real. It would make Ragnorok real. That couldn't be.

"Queen Frigga!" Healer Onrac came barrowing in the queen's chamber with a shout. His white robes swished as he raced across the floor. They crowd of people buzzing about Queen Frigga's bedchamber parted to make way for the queen physician. His face was wane. He had newly formed creases and wrinkles in his warm brown skin. Despite his sprain the head healer could not help the smile that was displayed upon his face. He swiped his hands across his sweaty bald head. "Thank the Norns, you have awakened milady," he said when he was only a few feet away from Frigga's bedside, he sank to his knees and practically slid into her presence. When he was right by her side he took her hand and kissed it. "Thank the Norns," he repeated with a shaken voice. "You gave us quite a fright," he nodded to himself.

Queen Frigga bowed her head, "Quite by accident I can assure you," she stated.

"Of course your ladyship, no one is faulting your for this calamity that has befallen us," he explained. He gave her a tender look and took her by the hand patting it gently. "Tis that animal who has done this to us all," he swore. The healer spat to the ground. "May he rot in the deepest circles of Hel for the crimes he has committed against us all." He rumbled.

"No!" Queen Frigga screamed out covering her ears.

"Majesty!" Shrieked her lady-in-waiting upon seeing her distress. Lady Kareena tried to pry Queen Frigga's hands away from her ears but she could not. "Oh look what you have done!" She scolded the head healer.

Healer Onrac, gawked and gaped and looked around nervously. He started sweating even more profusely. He was nervous enough as it was. They had less than 24 hours until they would all possibly face doomsday and he was responsible for overseeing the health of all the members of the court present. The responsibility was overwhelming. Still, he had to show himself strong and stalwart for the other young healers. They were looking to him for wisdom and guidance on how to administer to the needs of the wounded. But it was he who felt as if he was a novice. He had served as the queen's physician for centuries but by not being able to bring the all-father out of his coma he felt as if he had failed her. He'd already disappointed the female ruler of Asgard with his incompetencies he couldn't bear to cause her anymore alarm. With Odin helpless in the Oversleep and Prince Thor a prisoner of that wretched fiend, Loki and the Dark-Elves Queen Frigga was the sole remaining member of the royal family able to lead the people through these difficult times. None of Asgard could afford to lose her.

"Your majesty," Healer Onrac's earth tone hand reached out to touch her's. He rubbed it soothingly, almost patronizingly.

Queen Frigga opened her eyes and there was fire in her blue pupils as she stared at him. "No! It can't be true!" The queen shouted.

"Your Majesty," the head healer's voice was sympathetic to say the least.

"I don't believe you!" She shouted once more. New tears fell down her beautiful and normally tranquil face. For a moment she just let them roll down her cheeks unabashedly an unashamed. She felt the tender hands of her ladies-in-waiting rubbing on her back. They did all the could to assuage her pain, but kindly as they were nothing could stop the queen's heart from breaking.

Perhaps the rest of the servants and healers present, those who were not so close to the queen, perhaps they had other duties to attend to. Perhaps there were meals to be prepared or others who were unwell who needed tending to. Or perhaps they simply respected the privacy of their queen. Maybe it was too painful for them to watch their always proud, strong, brilliant, beautiful queen becoming so frail of heart and mind in this the final hours of Asgard. Whatever the reason the bustling room that was so crowded and frantic only moments before quickly became quiet and empty leaving only the wife of Odin, Lady Kareena, a handful of other handmaidens to the queen and Healer Onrac in the chamber.

The golden queen sniffled, wiped under her nose and tried to gather herself into having some semblance of a dignified woman once more. She knew she needed to be strong for her people. But as she brought her watery sapphire eyes to glance around the room she was able to note that there were scarcely any people around her accept those she trusted very much. Queen Frigga sat up straighter in her bed and fixed the covers about her so they sat just so and neatly on top of her lap. She folded her hands gently on top of the thick, royal quilts. She licked her lips. They were dryer than she preferred them to be. Her throat was throbbing and she still could note the way her hands were still ever so slightly trembling. None the less the queen did her best to steady herself. "I don't believe you," she uttered once more only looking down at her hands. Those around her exchanged worried glances.

"But your majesty, it is true," Lady Kareena whispered sympathetically in her ear. She placed a steadying hand on her lady's shoulder.

"I don't believe it," she reiterated. The queen of Asgard hugged herself tightly. "I don't believe it," she muttered once more. Her eyes were simply staring at the quilts covering her body. Her legs shaking beneath them. "I can't believe it," she gasped. "My son...my son, Loki would never..."

"Your highness, please! Do not claim that rabid creature as your son," Healer Onrac railed and gripped the queen tight around the arms. "He's a beast! A beast! An insatiable beast! Look at everything he's done. He'll never stop. He's means to destroy us. He's taken over the city and he's put in his lot with Malekith. That's the truth your majesty," Healer Onrac explained.

Queen Frigga brought her hands to her lips. She could feel fresh, warm, salt tears pricking at the back of her eyes, but she would not let them fall. "Perhaps...perhaps...perhaps it is not as it seems," the sapphire eyed monarch breathed. "Loki is a trickster by nature," Frigga nodded a smile danced across her lips momentarily as she thought of her silly little boy with a impish grin and mischievous green eyes who was often tickled pink at pulling punches at the dignitaries who came by the palace. He took great delight at slipping tacks onto noblemen's chairs or fake spiders on a lady's shoulder. She could almost hear his impish snickers and giggles as she catch just a hint of a glimpse of his tunic as he'd scamper down the hall after once of his terrible pranks.

Queen Frigga couldn't help the small smile tugging on her lips as the old scenes played in her mind. Yes, Loki had always been worrisome with his trickery, but when he was young the pranks were more for fun, Loki's way of getting attention diverted from Thor and on himself even for just a few seconds. The chance to make someone laugh or impress them was all Loki had ever truly wanted. A pat on the back, a word of praise a moment in the sun, that was all her boy had been seeking. Those things were hard to come by for Loki and over the years she watched as Loki's tricks became less and less of childish practical jokes, but spiteful tactics of vengeance. But never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined Loki would go this far. It just couldn't be. "Loki wouldn't do this," she refuted the notion.

"Queen Frigga," Onrac's eyes darted about in bewilderment at the queen's words. "He has already done it," he expressed.

"No, Loki wouldn't. Couldn't." She mumbled looking down. After a moment she looked up and stared directly in the face of her physician. "He would never lie to me," she stated boldly.

"My queen,..I know not what to say," Healer Onrac expressed and there was worry in his tone. He shrugged his shoulders. "Loki has always been known as a liar," he admitted.

"He has earned himself the reputation of liar throughout the Nine Realms. Think of the many times his silvertongue concocted deceptions," Lady Kareena urged the queen to recall.

"I can think of many times that he negotiated for our fair realm," Queen Frigga challenged.

"There were also numerous occassions when his fibs and lies nearly cost us our lives," Healer Onrac shot back.

The royal women shook her head. "How short my memory must be then," she laughed humorlessly. "You must forgive me," the Asgardian queen apologized. She could think of times when Loki had played tricks on the armies of other realms to save them all. She could think of numerous ocassions when it seemed that her youngest son had suffered lost and sacrifices to save his brother and friends. Like the time in Nidelvar, when he tricked the dwarves of Gumbral and he suffered having his mouth stitched. Her beautiful son, mutilated at the hands those dwarves and he'd endured such tremendous torment in order to stop the Dwarves from waging war against Asgard. That was how much value he placed on the lives of their people. That was the type of man her son was. He was a warrior, brave as any Viking Asgard had ever produced, but he was also a man of peace. Queen Frigga thought to tell the others of this, but then she decided against it. There was nothing that she could say to defend her son's honor now. All the ire of the people was kindled against him and for his villainous acts she couldn't blame them for it. "Even if that be the case," she sighed. "He never lied to me," Queen Frigga admitted trying to defend her son in the only way she thought she could.

"Your majesty, I know all of this is a lot for you to bear," the lady-in-waiting muttered as she rubbed the queen's quivering back. "but surely you cannot have forgotten how he lied to all of the realm during his short stint as King of Asgard," Lady Kareena pointed out.

"Mmm," the lead healer growled. "Not short enough that reign way," Healer Onrac muttered under his breath.

Frigga shot her physician an incredulous look. If only the people of Asgard knew how Loki had longed to be a worthy king in their eyes, in Odin's. "Loki has never lied to me," she repeated even stronger. The monarchs abrupt tone startled her companions into silence. She knew Loki has told lies then, though he had told none blatantly to her. On the contrary when he came to her he came as a child desperate for truth.

No he hadn't lied to her specifically, but he hadn't been completely honest either. He hadn't lied, but he'd hid. He'd hid his hand and kept secrets. She had been so distracted. She was so worried for Odin, worried for Thor, worried about the seemingly impending war with the Frost Giants. She hadn't hadn't noticed. Maybe she should have. She thought that Loki was telling her all that was going on with him, but so much was left unsaid between them. He hadn't told her that he was going to Jotunheim to have conference with Laufey, nor had he ever mentioned that he had paid a visit to Midgard or how he sent the destroyer there. No he hadn't been completely honest, but he hadn't outright lied to her face either.

Loki knew better than to lie to her by now. Not that he hadn't tried. Surely, he had when he was younger. Always gifted with words he'd often try to use his little silver tongue to weasel his way out of trouble. He'd often try to deny the tricks he pulled on his nursemaid Helga and he didn't always like to admit when he was feeling low, lonely and isolated from his peers. He'd try to brush it off, tell her that it was nothing. Say that he enjoyed being alone. To some extent she believed it. Loki did enjoy his privacy, he enjoyed his time to study and read and practice his magic, but she'd known that that wasn't the whole truth. Sometimes she'd let it go, but other times she would confront him on the untruths he was trying to sell her. "The truth, Loki," she'd command him standing in front of him stiff as a stone, patting her foot with her arms folded across her chest. After a while Loki would finally confess to her the truths he'd been so desperate to hide. Her stern expression would fall as she'd watch shame overtake her youngest boy. Her heart would soon be immediately clenched and siezed with tenderness and compassion. For her child. Her hand would touch his shoulder. She'd feel it trembling, sometimes with rage and sometimes with sadness. Before long she would find her arms pulling into the loving folds of her embrace. She'd drop to her knees and wipe his watering eyes, "I knew the whole time," she'd whisper. Somehow he'd always be so astronished that she knew. Loki was a talented liar after all and when he hid his emotions or fabricated a tale there were few times that people could see through his words. "I am your mother, Loki," she'd state kindly as she brushe his long, dark locks out of his enchanted emerald eyes. "I have known you all your life. I knew you before you could speak one word," she'd giggle and he'd smile. "I knew your every cry," she reminded him wiggling her finger in his face, "When you were hungry, when you were sleepy, when you wanted to play," she laughed and pinch his petite nose, "Or when your britches were dirty," she'd giggle and she's watch Loki squirm and fidget with embarrassment, his cheeks would grow red. He hated when she talked about him when he was a babe. "I know you. I can see through your cleverly woven words, Loki," she explained. "But I prefer your honesty Loki. Doesn't it feel better to have someone to confide in and trust, my love?" She'd ask at the end of the conversation. Loki would respond with a hearty yes.

As he grew older Loki's penchant for deception was still there. She supposed it came easy when a person was as gifted with words as her youngest son was. His natural inclination to lie would rear its ugly head toward her as well. She would normally just listen. Holding a trusting and empathetic look as Loki would say something that was everything but true, then he'd stop dead in his tracks he'd look down swipe his hands across his forehead and through his raven locks. "Goodness mother, I could never lie to you," he'd blurt out halfway frustrated, halfway bemused. He'd click his tongue and rub his finger over his lip. She'd laugh seeing him pouting like a much younger lad irritable over the fact that there was someone who couldn't be tricked by his smooth silver tongue or who he didn't even want to trick.

"I can't imagine why you would ever want to," she would reply rubbing the back of her hand gently across his cheek as if rubbing away the strain there. She'd also laugh at him.

His eyes would light up for a minute he'd gawk and stammer. "Its not that...Its not that I want to lie to you...I...I..." He'd falter, look to the side and get red in the face.

Queen Frigga couldn't help but giggle a bit. "I can imagine that there might be some things that you might not want to share with dear mother at this age," she admitted. It was somewhat sorrowful to her that he beloved little boys were getting older. She shrugged and started to turn away. "You don't have to tell me everything, Loki," she stated. "But you can tell me anything," she reminded her son and flashed him a smile, "and you can always tell me the truth," she stated before walking away. Her feet only took a few steps before she found her lanky child coming up behind her eager to tell her what was going on in his world. They retired and took tea in her pallor just the two of them. She'd always believed that they'd had an open and honest relationship. Maybe she was wrong.

"If Loki lied to me..." Frigga began her eyes closed and her jaw tight."... and I couldn't see through it..." Queen Frigga shook her head. He voice quivering and breaking for just a moment, "Then the fault of all of this is mine," she confessed she looked up into the eyes of Healer Onrac and then toward her ladies-in-waiting.

"No. No. No, milady, that isn't true," Lady Kareena nearly exclaimed. She wrapped her arms tightly around the queen's shoulders.

"None of this is your fault Queen Frigga," Healer Onrac told her.

The Queen of Asgard raised her hand in the air dismissing the kind words of those surrounding her. "No, no, it tis," she whispered.

"What do you mean, my lady?" The healer questioned.

The female ruler of Asgard began to dry her eyes. She looked around at the expectant faces of her friends. She took a deep breath in and gestured her hands so that her waiting gentlewomen would give her room to get off of the bed. "Queen Frigga, please sit," Healer Onrac entreated. "I'd much prefer to check your vitals before you start moving about," he insisted. His words didn't deter the queen of Asgard though. The royal woman moved with ease and grace across the floor and over the balcony window in her chamber. She stared out at the tiny seaside village. It was so gorgeous and tranquil, but foreboding clouds lingered over head and the way the sea roiled and the tides rand high signaled that a storm was coming. Queen Frigga clutched her chest. Her heart ached.

"I freed Loki from his prison," she confessed slowly, softly.

"My queen!" Healer Onrac gasped.

"I asked him to help his brother, Thor to fight against Malekith and the Dark-Elves," she continued.

"Oh Queen Frigga!" Shrieked one of her ladies.

"Majesty, why would you do that?" Onrac questioned as he rose to his feet.

The golden queen shook her head, "Thor needed him," she explained her voice breaking. "Asgard needed him," she went on, "I needed him to do it...I wanted him to do it...to prove to Odin...to Asgard...to me...to himself," Queen Frigga's voice trailed off. Her eyes misted and soon the water spilled over. The queen sobbed openly into her hands. She sobbed long and hard a gut-wrenching, harrowing wailed tore from her lungs. She felt her heart splitting and shattering into tiny little fragments. Finally, just as it seemed she had cried all that she could and her legs were going to give out from under her she felt Healer Onrac's strong mahogany arms wrap around her.

Healer Onrac was a strong and fit man. His arms scooped around the queen ever so protectively and he didn't allow her to fall to the floor. He held her steady and forced her to remain on her feet. The queen of Asgard wept hard on the shoulder of her long time friend. He rubbed her back and cooed to her trying to quiet her fears. "Shh, shh, shh. It is alright my queen," he assured her. "What has happened is in no way your fault. You are not responsible for this calamity," he stated firmly.

"No, no, no," Queen Frigga said as she broke away from the tight hold of the healer. "I am the Queen of Asgard. It was a risks, I knew it was a risk. I knew it was a decision that Odin wouldn't have supported, but I did it anyway. Now disaster is upon us." Frigga bit into her lip deeply. Loki looked her in the eye and told her that he would help Thor, that they would work together, that they would save Asgard as they had done many times before and then he had done this. How could he have deceived her. How could she have not known? How could she have not seen the duplicity in his beautiful emerald eyes. She could always see through him. There was always something, a hint, a tick, a simple crack in his voice a ever so slight fidget in his stance. These things were imperceptible to anyone else, but to her. She had always known, she had always known because she had always known him. At least she thought she had. She had always known that underneath his arrogant and sometimes austere exterior that there was a sweet, sensitive man. At least she'd thought that she'd known that about him. Her husband's words came back to her like a flood. She could hear him rumbling that Loki was different, he had changed. But she hadn't believed. Maybe she should have. Had the son she loved so much changed so utterly down to his core that he could lie to her without flinching or even batting an eyelash.

Once more Onrac gripped her by the shoulders. He held her fast and still. He watched the queen's face turn red as it was streaked with tears. "You said you wanted Loki to prove himself and he has, your majesty, indeed he did, your majesty, indeed he did," he expressed and his brown eyes too welled up with tears. "He is despicable! He is loathesome, he is a foul and unholy demon!" He spat.

Queen Frigga turned her head unable to hear such terrible words to describe her child. They dug into her soul like knives. "Oh no! Oh no!" The queen muttered over and over.

"Asgard may fall,,, the very fabric of the Nine Realms may be shattered from this evil which he has committed, but he will surely rot in the deepest circle of Helheim for what he had done," he cursed with vehemence as he made sure to annunciate every single word.

Lady Kareena rushed up to be at Queen Frigga's side, she jumped between the head healer and ruler. She could see how stricken the queen's face had become listening to such words come from her friend's lips. "Please, enough, Healer Onrac," she shouted defensively before him.

Kareena's voice finally broke the healer from his infuriated ranting so that he could look at his queen's face. He saw that she was shaking like a leaf, she quivered under the weight of his terrible words. He regretted not one of the words that he had said, but he only regretted that he had said them aloud to the queen of Asgard. He shook himself and made himself dip into a sweeping bow before the female monarch, "My dear Queen Frigga, please, please forgive me. I am so sorry I...I have lost my tongue. I...I did not come here for this. I...I came...I came to check on you and to inform you of my king's condition." He expressed.

"Odin," Queen Frigga gasped. Her husband flashed before her eyes. She was reminded of how very ill he was trapped within a dreadful Oversleep, fitful with fevers, barely hanging on. She shook her head. Her mind drifted from Loki for the first time in ages. "Odin! Odin, my husband. Tell me how does he fair?" She begged.

Healer Onrac stood to his full height. He gulped. "My lady, I wish I had better news to share," he muttered. Once again his bald head started to perspire. Queen Frigga beautiful, cerulean eyes stared at him intently and unblinking. "It does not bode well for him, majesty," the healer confessed.

"Take me to him," the Queen of Asgard commanded instantly. The queen's physician did not hesitate to obey the orders of his monarch. Immediately he started to lead her out. Lady Kareena was at the royal woman's heels, but Queen Frigga halted her. She needed to visit her husband alone.

When she entered the healing chamber where her husband was she could see how grave his condition had grown. With great haste, but also extreme timidity the golden queen drew closer to Odin's bedside. She shook her head in dismay from the appearance of him. "What happen to his aura?" She asked looking up a the head healer with trembling eyes.

Healer Onrac dropped his head and averted his gaze. "It burst, your majesty," he stated. "When the announcement was made about the treachery of Loki."

"No," she stammered. "The golden aura, protects Odin's life force, the Odinforce..." She explained.

"Yes, I know,"
"Without it, if he dies the cycle of the powers of the king of Asgard shall end. It would not be passed on to Thor," Queen Frigga expounded.

"Yes, your highness this is true, but I do not have the means to manufacture another one. Perhaps if we were at the palace or if Mistress Eir were here, but..." His voice broke.

"The Odin Force must be preserved!"

"In all honesty your majesty it is unlikely it will be necessary. My king is suffering greatly. He is not breathing on his own," he explained. He pointed to the apparatus that they had set up for the king. He had a mask and tubes running in his nose. "His heart beat is irregular," he expressed. The healers had set up a device that sent little pulses into Odin's heart every few minutes trying to keep it as regular as possible, but it was taking a devastating toll on his body. His chest was streaked with electrocution marks and it was red. "He continues to have siezures, my lady," Onrac stated shaking his head. "Many of his organs are shutting down," he sighed.

"No!" The queen yelled. "My husband, my dear husband!" She cried as she clutched his hand and flung herself over his chest. Despite the voltage being pumped into his body was cold. She didn't feel a natural heart beat she only heard the thrum of the motor of the electric device. And even with the breathing apparatus that they had suited Odin with the rise and fall of his chest was so minimal that it barely seemed to exist. "My beloved, my beloved, no!" She cried in desperation. "Does anything still work?" She whispered to Healer Onrac through the tears in her eyes.

"Amazingly my queen his brain function is still in order," Onrac shrugged,

"Then his powers remain," the queen sighed in relief. "he can still see and hear within his sleep,"

"It is for that reason, majesty that after counsel with my team we have considered the option of removing all of these support devices and freeing our king from the Oversleep so that he should not have to suffer and see our kingdom die," he informed the queen.

"You think we shall perish?" Frigga questioned wiping her eyes. She sat up straight and tall once more, but her hand still clung to that of her husband's.

"Convergence is upon us, how shall we escape Ragnorok. Why should our king have to die with such a heavy weight upon his heart?"

"Convergence has not yet taken place and neither has Ragnorok, my friend."

"All but, majesty!" The healer stressed. "Shall we not spare him? Odin has been such a good king..."

"Yes, he is a good king," Queen Frigga expressed as she squeezed her husband's hand tightly. "And as a good king of Asgard he has never shirked away from a fight. He has never failed to lead his people into battle. He is no coward and he would never run away from the glory of war," she smiled with pride. "Is this not the day that every Asgardian warrior has dreamed of for all their life," her smile stayed bright and confident. She extended her hands. "To fight on this great and terrible day and save us all?"

"Queen Frigga! There is no fight left to fight. Odin lies in Oversleep, Prince Thor is captured. Loki and the Dark-Elves have taken over the city, the city lies in ruin and our forces were all but obliterated! The bifrost is destroyed we cannot even call upon troops from the rest of the Nine Realms! How shall we be saved?"

Asgard's queen raised her hand silencing the frantic healer. "It matters not how, old friend," she expressed. "Until Convergence has actually taken place there is still a chance. There is a chance that has to be taken. That is what Odin would want," Queen Frigga nodded her voice dropping as she reassured himself. "He'd want to fight to the bitter end and stand with the people of Asgard," she reported.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Healer Onrac relented.

"It is," she confirmed. "But we don't have much time. I need to get a message to Loki!" Queen Frigga declared rising from her seat.

"Loki!" The lead healer shrieked.

"I must convince him to stop this ," Queen Frigga muttered more to herself than to her friend. "I have to convince him to stop before it is too late," she shook her head.

Healer Onrac shook his brown, bald head. He did a double take. His eye batting rapidly. "Convince him to stop this? W-wh-what? Your Majesty he is the grand architect of this apocalypse. He has done this to us!" He exclaimed.

"Then he must be the one to save us," Queen Frigga declared. "Take me to the communication tower," she ordered.

---

When they entered the communication tower within the Southern Palace all the communication specialist and engineers were frantically buzzing about running back and forth and working feverishly. The queen and master healer watched as men and women pressed buttons, wound gears and operated the complex machinery.

A woman repeatedly turned a nob in earnest while shouting to her coworker, "I'm not picking up any signal on frequency 975," she informed. She turned the dial viciously back and forth. The sound emitted from the radio like device was fuzzy and full of static and high pitched noises soon followed.

"Hello. Can anyone hear me?" A desperate voice called into a microphone. "Anyone at all? Please! Please, if you are out there this is Southern Palace Communication Tower, Frequency 212," he echoed.

"There is no answer from the palace, Sir Dreng," a young man with sweaty palms explained.

The man who he was talking to, Sir Dreng was a rather tall man. He was well built with a broad chest and a slightly pudgy, he ran his hand across his brow that was drenched with perspiration. "I see. Try all the outside scanners and towers," he suggested.

"We have tried, sir," the young man expressed. He was breathing heavy and seemed exhausted. "We've been at it for hours, but we can get no response from any of the towers," he explained.

Dreng rubbed his hands together then he rubbed them on his pants. "We must keep trying," he ordered. "Probably after the attack the towers were abandoned," he shook his head, "Try to send out other messages. Send messages on the Emergency Frequency 1877," he urged. "That frequency is strong and it should register on any working communication device. Even simple children's data readers can pick up on a message translated on this frequency," he explained.

The rest of the engineers in the tower sprang to work at the command. They tried to find other means of communication. They used the hologram projectors and they tried to transmit written messages. An elder man tried to send a scripted message in one of the more archaic forms.

"Our Queen Frigga wishes to translate a message to to the Imperial Palace," Healer Onrac announced as most of the communication engineers were too much in an uproar to even notice the queen's royal presence in their midst.

Upon hearing the announcement of their queen's name they froze, turned around and bowed before the wife of King Odin. Immediately, they thronged her majesty. They ran up and rushed at her many talking and speaking wildly. Some came to her sobbing and troubled with questions about their futures others tried to bombard the queen their own worries.

"Your Majesty! Does the all-father still live?

"What of Prince Thor?"

"Has Convergence started?

"My Queen, is Ragnorok upon us?"

"Queen Frigga, how shall we survive? Do we all die?" They sobbed.

"Enough! Enough! Enough!" Yelled Onrac as he shooed the throngs of workers from her. "Our queen has a very urgent message to transmit to the palace," he explained.

"Forgive them Your Highness," one of the communication engineers stated coming up to face the queen. It was a man of noble birth by the name of Dreng. Dreng was from a wealthy family that lived in the seaside town by the Southern Palace. He had worked at the Southern Palace's communication tower for nearly a century and had been appointed chief of staff. "I am sorry for this delay in obeying your command, but we have been experiencing some technical difficulties for the past 2 hours," he replied humbly and removed his hat.

"What is the meaning of this?" Onrac screeched. "There is no time for this delay. Convergence is one moon away!"

"Quite right, Healer Onrac, but that is just the problem we cannot make any contact to the Imperial City," The chief of the Southern Palace's engineering staff could not bear to look into the face of the lovely Asgardian queen with such a pitiful report.

"How can this be? A message was just transmitted from the Imperial Palace revealing that Loki and the Dark-Elves had captured the city!" He pounded his fist against one of the databases within the communication tower.

"Yes," Dreng nodded, "But as I was saying master healer that was over two hours ago. We can get no messages into the city. It is as if all the communication towers in the Imperial City have been jammed, I'm afraid,"

Queen Frigga's beautiful blue eyes grew wide with horror. "Are you sure that it is simply that no one is in the palace tower to answer the messages?" She questioned.

"That would be wishful thinking, highness, but no whenever we try to send a message to the palace tower it comes back reading an error," Dreng explained as he pointed to the hologram screen. In large bright, blaring red letters the error sign was illuminated.

"What about the other towers, the other scanners and surveyors throughout the city, surely there must be something that can pick up a signal," Healer Onrac stressed. He looked around desperately. His breath hitching with nervousness.

"We are trying. We are trying very hard my lady," he expressed to the queen and bowed. "We've even tried to send messages to private frequencies, but we still get no response. Only static. No holograms images can be sent. We have even tried to transmit written messages to personal data readers, but everything that comes back is encrypted and encoded full of errors. It is as if the airways are completely jammed.

"Impossible!" Healer Onrac raged.

"It's quite possible, Healer Onrac," the queen expressed sorrowfully. Most the communication throughout the realm is filtered through the Imperial Palace. It would be very easy for someone like Loki to recalibrate the system and change some of the frequencies," she admitted.

"Majesty, that could be disastrous! That leaves us with absolutely no what to communicate with the Imperial City. What about the people and warriors that are still there?" He pressed.

Queen Frigga closed her eyes for a moment. "What about the shelters?' She asked hopefully as she touched Dreng on the shoulder. "The fall out refuge shelters? Underground beneath the city? They have their own frequency devised for such an occasion as this. Has anyone tried it?"

Dreng shrugged, "Majesty, those systems are terribly old and have most likely fallen into disrepair from a lack of use," he explained.

"They are not so old or antiquated Sir Dreng. King Odin took to updating them with more sophisticated equipment a few decades ago."

"I suppose," he scratched his chin. "I will try to pick up a signal from that frequency," he nodded. "Everyone!" Dreng announced. "Concentrate on communicating to Frequency 0463," he stated. "It is an old frequency, but it may be the only one that is not jammed." All the engineers and communication workers began trying to find the frequency without hesitation. The room became filled with static and fuzzy sounds, there were clicks and whistles, beeps and dial tones. The queen waited with baited breath along with her anxious friend Healer Onrac. They watched as the workers busied themselves twisting knobs, pressings keys, looking at scanners and speaking into microphones their voices seemed to be reaching out over the empty airways.

Queen Frigga felt her stomach clenching into tight knots. Her heart was pounding in her chest and beating through her eardrums. Could Loki have really done all this? Blocked all the towers and cut off the entire city from any for of communication with the outside world? Could he truly have so desperately wanted to see their world destroyed that he would do this? The queen did her best to keep a stiff upper lip. With Odin trapped in his feverish coma and dear Thor a prisoner of his own brother and Loki Asgard's very destroyer, the good people of Asgard needed to see that there was a member of the royal family still with them.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting one of the engineers called out, "Sir Dreng! Sir Dreng! We are picking up a signal," he expressed and pointed to his screen. "It's being transmitted to us," he stated.

"From one of the emergency codes?" Asked Dreng as he leaned over the young man's shoulder.

"No, sir," he shook his head. "From the palace."

A/N: Well there you have it readers, thank you so much for reading. If you liked what you read don't be send me a review. If you didn't like what you read you can review too. We are just a chapter or two away from the climax of this story and I'd love to know what you think. PS I am also going to try to respond to every person who ever left a review before the story is over. That is my little gift to you all for being so faithful to this story.