Chapter 37: Fevered Decisions

"Wait, you're not going to go and see to him yourself?" Darcy asked anxiously. "But I thought you were the most powerful creature here; you are the king, right?" He smirked and nodded. She groaned and looked away for a beat. "Then how is he going to get better?"

"There are many great healers in the nine realms, particularly among the elves. You needn't worry, my dear, he will be fine," Malekith said softly. He gently placed his other hand over her own, resting on his forearm. Darcy shuddered at first and looked up at him apprehensively. He stopped and looked down at her in concern as they neared the end of the longest of at least five hallways they had already traversed. "What troubles, you, young one? What has you so frightened?"

Darcy frowned and cleared her throat. "Well, it's just that I've heard some things about the magical worlds, especially places that are considered dark, and none of them were welcoming to . . ." she said as she glanced over at him. He gazed at her with an unyielding and strange urgency. She shifted a little and thought about pulling away to speak further, wondering if he was using some sort of tactile magic at the moment, but then realized that he didn't need to exert force at the moment if he wasn't asking any truly invasive questions. In fact, he hadn't seemed to ask as many questions as he had answered. She bit her lip and cleared her throat. "I mean, a lot of stories about magical creatures involving humans don't end well all the time."

"I see," Malekith replied with a nod. "Rumors and so on, of course. Granted there was a time when even I abducted a human every now and again." Darcy froze and stared up at him in shock. "I adore your kind, your capacity to endure and learn and . . . survive. Those of you without parents to watch after them seemed a perfect chance to enjoy their company without ripping someone away from their home."

"You mean you adopted human orphans?" she asked in confusion.

"I wouldn't call it that, they weren't raised as the rest of our young, too short-lived, after all," he explained as the doors opened. "But we did provide them with years of companionship and affection until they reached adulthood. Spirited little things and yet wonderfully obedient."

"That's, um, interesting," Darcy commented. She was unsure if that meant the children he readily admitted to kidnapping had been welcomed guests, well-treated and adored, or if they had merely been some kind of game that, once the amusement was gone were either discarded or destroyed. After what she had seen in the trickster and in his memories from Asgard she leaned more towards the second. After all, if Odin was willing to mistreat an adopted son, how much less would Malekith be willing to treat fondly a child that truly wasn't even making the pretense of being his own? "So where are you keeping him?"

"He's resting in one of the healer's chambers," Malekith replied. "I believe he is still sleeping. A wound from Mjolnir is likely to take a great deal of time to heal."

"Oh," Darcy said as her stomach sank an inch. Just how long was a great deal of time to an elf? To a human it was ambiguous enough, but in an immortal sense it could be downright fatal. He led them into a chamber that seemed very much like a small dining room meant for private conversation, well-furnished and dimly lit. She glanced and around and found herself suddenly wondering how they had made their way here from the other room; it suddenly seemed as if no time had passed at all. She shuddered and groaned a little at this terrifying displacement she was feeling. She suddenly felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. She turned and let out a small shriek at the intrusion. She panted as she recognized the figure and shock gave way to embarrassment. No, she and the elf were still the only two creatures in this chamber. "Oh, I am so, so sorry. I'm just really, really out of my element right now, your majesty."

"I didn't mean to startle you, Darcy Lewis," Malekith purred. She gasped and nodded. "You should sit. You look terribly pale and I can hear your heart growing tired. You must have been for a long while without proper sustenance of any sort."

"Oh, I've been through a few things, alright, but nothing I couldn't handle," she countered with a measure of pride behind her words. At least with this creature she could feel a sense of both dignity and power from time to time. "But I am thirsty."

"And tired and hungry no doubt. You shall have whatever you desire," he said with more than an undertone of enthusiasm at this. "I shall see to it myself."

"Oh, no, that's not necessary, your majesty," she stammered defensively. "You must have so many other things to see to."

"At the moment your presence takes my utmost priority," he replied. "What can satisfy you for the moment?"

Darcy bit her lip once more. She hadn't had food or fluid in probably more than 24 hours and it was beginning to wear terribly thin on her. Still, Loki had told her not to eat anything. But did that also mean not to drink any of their water? She would die without water after only a short time. She couldn't last much longer without either for the moment, she thought. She stared uncomfortably at the elf who watched her touch the back of one of the seats apprehensively, wondering if sitting in his presence was either disrespectful or wise. She glanced back at him. "Just water, that's all I need," she said softly.

"Very well," he replied and waved a hand. A chalice appeared on the table in front of her filled with clear fluid that she assumed was water or at least meant to look like it. "But perhaps you'll find more of yourself after it. I must see to our friend for a moment if you will only wait here for me."

"But, I think it's best if I stay with him what with . . ." she began. He turned and gazed at her in surprise. Darcy frowned. She sighed, unused to being in the presence, let alone the natural dwelling, of one that was considered royalty. "I'll wait here for minute, your majesty. Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Darcy. I shall return in less than a moment," he said before moving fluidly out the doors once again.

She sighed heavily and slid into the chair nearest her. Staring at the chalice for several seconds she began to feel her mouth grow more and more dry. Her stomach churned at the thought of doing without anything much longer. Cautiously, she reached out and touched the chalice. No magic, no electricity. Electricity . . . She quickly reached a hand into her pocket and felt for her taser. To her relief, it still lay in perfect condition where she had last left it. "Well, even if he tries anything I can always light him up like a Christmas tree, er, elf," she muttered to herself. She glanced down at the chalice again, feeling more empowered by the taser and yet so much more weakened by her growing thirst. She frowned and pulled the chalice closer, sniffing the smooth golden edge with only a visible starburst symbol carved into the bottom of the cup for décor. She swirled the fluid in the light and then carefully in front of her. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. "It's only water," she said aloud to reassure herself and potentially ward off any threat. She drank deeply and felt the rush of fluid entering her satisfy very deeply. The taste was more pure and clear than even natural mountain water. She smiled and looked down at it, sighing with relief. "He's just trying to scare me. There's nothing wrong with anyone here except for their fashion sense and whatever weird superiority complex every race outside earth has towards humans," she muttered. She took another deep drink from the chalice, not noticing at the moment that it had barely emptied. "It's only water."

(*)

"No, not yet. I will leave only when I am good and ready, do you hear me?" Jane said firmly for the umpteenth time to the Asgardian prince, staring at her in disbelief. She finished typing out the message on her phone with the appropriate numbers from Dr. Selvig and hit send instantly. She heaved a sigh and turned to face him angrily. "Did you ever, ever at any point think to yourself that she might've interpreted that gesture as a threat? Cheese and crackers even I know that and I've never been in that situation before! What were you thinking?!"

"I thought I would take her back here and allow your Avengers to watch after her while I reasoned with my father," he replied. After his arrival Jane had promptly approached him and seemed to have been overjoyed to see him. The joy was, however, overwhelmed with reason and Jane managed to stifle an embrace to ask where Darcy was and if she was well. Remembering her last accusation, Thor decided to tell as much of the unselfish truth as he could, only to be met with sharp disapproval and now the thought that Darcy had seen his gesture as a threat. "I simply reached for her, I did nothing wrong!"

"Yes, you did, Thor. You didn't tell your father no, you let your brother who just ripped apart Manhattan walk away with a captive, you bash your stupid hammer into the ground near where that captive is dangling for life from a cliff," Jane exclaimed furiously. "And then you just up and leave, knowing that he could just make off with her if he wanted to!"

"I left his arm a bloodied mess, I don't think he'll be travelling very far, is that a more suitable circumstance for you?" he asked angrily. It shocked him within and Jane outwardly as well that he felt so cross with her and that he was willing to show it. After the last few days he suddenly felt as though there was nothing he could do to restrain himself as he had been trying so desperately to do while his brother was present. "Darcy is alive and well. I am sure Hogun will see her safely back to the palace."

"Back to the palace?! You idiot, that's where the primary source of danger is for her!" Jane shouted. "Who the heck are you?! You never would've done anything like this when I met you."

"Because I did not yet know what either of them was capable of!" he shouted defensively. A clap of thunder rumbled in the background matching its namesake's ire.

"So now it's partially her fault?" Jane demanded.

"She chose to return with me to Asgard, with both of us. Don't think for a moment it has escaped me that there is a tender gleam in her eyes when she glances in my brother's direction. I've seen it in hapless women before," he remarked unhappily. "Part of it is most assuredly her own doing."

"Not the part I'm talking about," Jane countered.

"Hey!" The two turned and saw Dr. Selvig watching them from a short distance away. "That's enough out of both of you. You're not fighting fair, so stop fighting and think about why you're really angry."

"Erik, he left Darcy, LEFT her with his maniac brother while his maniac father tries to find a way to kill her in her sleep!" Jane protested, pointing accusingly at Thor. She turned and glared at him, shoving him furiously as the anger became more of the physical manifestation of the resentment she harbored. "You left her!"

"Do not do that again," Thor said sternly in an almost warning tone. Jane growled and shoved once more, prompting the Asgardian to turn away and draw in a sharp breath. When he made no other movements she shook her head and sighed, turning to walk away. Thor acted quickly, snatching her painfully by one arm and holding her in front of him angrily. "I said, do not do that again."

"Now you're going to threaten me?" she asked with a frown. He pulled her firmly up to him, glaring at her and fighting away tears. "You're hurting me."

"I am trying not to," he said flatly, doing his best to not show any faltering emotion for the time being. He looked down into her eyes, a fiery thunderstorm behind the ice blue. "Do you know why your kind feared us in the infant years?"

"I'm starting to get an idea," she replied hotly.

He pulled on her arm firmly once more, now making the two flush against one another and asserting his superior height. "Because we had a bad habit of abducting your race without warning for our own purposes," he said with menacing suggestion. Jane's eyes widened in surprise as he leaned down towards her. "Some of us still hunger for it."

"It's not abduction if I say yes," she corrected. "You lose that game."

"I win either way," he countered. "You'll be with me."

"Worst pick-up line ever," Stark's voice announced from what was clearly within the suit of armor as he landed. Jane turned instinctively as did a confused Thor. "Got your message," he added as he moved forward to join them. Thor watched in a combination of confusion and dread as the other heroes joined them as well. "Seems like we're missing someone, though. Let's see . . . archer, soldier, widow, damsel, bonehead, doctor, Dr. Selvig, and me. Anyone else that should be here that isn't?"

"I don't understand," Thor stated aloud, unable to think of anything more proper to say.

"Where's the kid? What did you do with her?" Banner asked quickly.

"She is safe and on Asgard," Thor replied. Jane scoffed prompting another firm shake from her beloved and, at the moment, chosen abductor. "Do not scoff at my words she is safe and that is final."

"Abuse!" Stark shouted, pointing at the two. "That's domestic violence right there, somebody get an officer."

"Knock it off," Rogers interjected, turning his attention back to Thor. "The message told us where Darcy Lewis is and what happened. Will your father hear a diplomat or an ambassador from us?"

"I do not know," Thor replied in low tone.

"Well, don't stand there like a quantum-locked statue, let's find out," Stark said with sarcastic enthusiasm. He moved to stand beside the two, staring defiantly into Thor's eyes. "Take us back with you."

"Out of the question," Thor replied with a frown.

"It most certainly is. Gentleman, Agent Romanov, assemble," Stark said firmly. In an instant the rest of the group sans Selvig gathered around, close enough to reach out and touch one another, but not so close as to seem like they were attacking. Thor shook his head sadly. "No other way out of this," Stark added, reaching out and grasping the warrior by the arm. "Come on kids, everybody buckle up."

"This is not a wise decision," Thor stated with resignation. In truth the thought of having the blow of his father's wrath deterred by a horde of angered mortals who had just had to defend their realm from one of his greatest mistakes was a far cry better than simply showing himself back on Asgard again with Sleipnir, the journeystone, and the Othala having been stolen in turn, not to mention the words his father would no doubt have for him when realizing that he was accompanied by his mortal beloved. "But it is one that all of you have made."

(*)

In one of the foremost healing chambers, Loki groaned and twisted himself anxiously in a fever. The elf set over him frowned and applied another cloth to his forehead trying to draw it out. It was born of a wound from Mjolnir and proving to be too great even for their skill. The elf was interrupted from trying another, more stringent, method of curing the fever using bloodletting. The interruption was quite unmistakably the king and the elf bowed quickly before hurrying from the room. Malekith moved closer to the bedside, but kept himself a good few paces away just in case. Loki was cunning and not to be trusted at the best of times, but in a fever or traumatized state he was dangerous. In his blistering dreams he relived several moments of the past and in each one with Darcy he noted past her fear and playfulness was something unique, compassion. She had genuine compassion for him, something he had only thought possible in his mother. He had to awaken, to ask her about this. Malekith recognized the trickster's thoughts and raised a hand, forcing a blast of energy infused with the chill of the room into him. Loki gasped and sat upright, opening his eyes and coughing.

"You're awake, how expected," Malekith said as he watched the trickster center himself. "Hello, Odinson."

"Malekith," Loki replied flatly, nearly hissing. "Your powers are diminishing greatly if even you have not seen the revelation of my heritage."

"I did not wish to speak disrespectfully, my prince," Malekith replied with a mild tone of disdain hinted in the final word that emphasized he would never acknowledge the trickster's kingship. He moved three paces closer, keeping a firm gaze with him. "I am most intrigued by this human you keep for company. Darcy Lewis . . . a creature quite unaware of her own powers, but so fearful of your weaknesses." Loki growled at him and the trickster noted a look of pure satisfaction on the elf's features. "Darcy believes that you would do better under my care directly. Would you like that?"

"No!" Loki shouted defensively and scooted back timidly an inch or two. The trickster caught his breath as Malekith stared at him reproachfully. "I do not need your sentiment, Malekith, or your feeble mind-craft! I remember well what you did to me as a child."

"I brought you out of a deadly fever and healed both the bone and flesh that were torn to create it," Malekith replied casually. "Your mother was ever so grateful and so very touched by the gesture."

"Yes so touched that she warned you after payment was made to not return to Asgard under pain of death," Loki added. Malekith looked at him with one brow raised. "You hurt me, deliberately so."

"I told you to hold still and at first you refused. After the nudge your body obeyed and you were the wiser for it," the elf remarked. "You should be grateful to me for such mercy. After your father, or rather, your king's command I very well could've repaid both Frigga and the helpless, dying child in her arms the very same kindness afforded me. I chose to do what was right."

"You chose to serve your own purpose," Loki snarled.

"Is that not the privilege of any king?" Malekith replied with a wicked grin. "Speaking of purposes, the mortal is quite unaware of having any. I would have thought by this point that you'd have at least planted some falsehood in her mind."

"She is not for me or for you, Malekith," Loki stated angrily. "She is for someone else entirely and I will not have you poisoning her with your simpering faerie magic."

"Oh, I hardly think I would need to use any amount of force on this one," the elf replied with an even broader grin. "She is so easily made comfortable by small gestures thanks to your cruelty that all kindness becomes entitlement."

"You would do well to leave her alone," Loki warned.

"Pity. I had hoped to bargain with you in a more civil manner once you were healed," he said with feigned disappointment. "Now, I suppose it shall all have to be left to us while the human decides her own fate."

"She is not strong enough to withstand such a decision, I have already decided her place in my mind," Loki replied with a scoff. Surely Darcy was frightened enough to heed his warnings particularly in the presence of so sinister a creature. Humans were naturally afraid of elves, after all.

"Oh, you poor creature. The fever has stolen some of your manners," the elf replied in an oily tone. "I should let you rest while I go and see to Darcy. She was quite parched when I left her. I do hope she has taken the water she asked for as well as you took your first."

"Malekith! Let her alone, she is not for you!" Loki shouted. A searing stab of pain shot through his shoulder yet again, more profound than before as the fever slowly began to return. He pleaded inwardly with his own strength, begging for more presence that would enable him to stand and follow the elf out of the room and issue another firm warning to his companion. Even for a fate in the hands of Thanos that wouldn't last for long, a rescue being inevitable after being so connected to others of her kind, she didn't deserve torment at the hands of a dark elf. He groaned and panted heavily as darkness began to cover him yet again. "Please, Darcy," he said in a desperate breath. "Please do as I ask."