~ Chapter 53 ~
Thor sat next to his beloved, holding the pale hand in his as he tried not to think about anything except on their future together, but doing so brought back his conversation with the man of iron and the doubt of their future family.
He knew he shouldn't make to much of it, he wasn't a thinker like Loki after all, but his mind was being drawn to the worst conclusion. Wanted or not, they were facing an uncertain future.
The glass doors swished open, bringing Thor out of his thoughts. The tiny man who was looking after Loki stood inside the room as the doors closed on their own behind him. He gave Thor a tiny, hesitate smile before he raised the book in his hands.
"Thought you might want something to take your thoughts of everything." he walked forward slowly. "There is also a possibility that Loki might hear you in his sleep. It might bring comfort for you both." he held the book out so that Thor could easily take it, just then a thought hit him. "Ah, that's right. You can't read our language." he said regrettably.
"I can read any language, except the ancient ones." Thor said as he tried to stop the retreating man. He couldn't make heads of tails about this little man. All other Midgardians was acting more reserved in their presence. "Our language is universal so that I can read and talk any language of the nine realms." he held out his hand for the book.
Bruce looked amazed. "That must be handy. Considering your fiance is from another world." he slowly handed over the book.
Thinking about it for the first time, Thor realized how different things could have gone for them if for Asgard's universal language. They might not have understood that the other was friendly and done something horrible.
"You are a curious mortal." Thor said as he laid the book on his lap.
"Why's that?" Bruce blinked his eyes.
"I see no fear in you from being in our company. You speak freely and relaxed." This he had observed. "Not only that, but you didn't hesitate to help my beloved when he needed it. Even after what he did to your people."
The human man scratched his head with a shy smile. "Really? I guess it puts my mind at ease to be around those I can harm or kill. You see," he hurried when he saw Thor's questioning look. "I have a condition that when I get angry, I change. Loki's people is blue, I turn green. Let's just say that you don't want to see me mad, and it's caused me to withdraw from the company of others. I don't want to harm others. You being Gods and everything I doubt I could actually do anything to you before you stop me."
Thor had no idea how to take the little man's words but he didn't like the subtle agony this man showed in his manners. "Let me share some words with you." Bruce fell silent. "I've been to war and I've seen many things. I've seen wonders that would take your breath away. I've seen monsters without peers. I've seen beauty in its truest form. And I've seen life. So I can tell you this; any being able to care for others are not evil." his mind filled with everything he had seen in Jotunheim. "An Ice Wolf licking you from head to toe is not evil. Jotuns guiding you through their realm is not evil. Spirits watching over the living is not evil. But Heklas who kills everything without hesitating is evil. You, my friend, is not evil."
Bruce was stunned. He really didn't know what to say to describe the warm feeling spreading out his heart. He might not know what some of the things the God mentioned was, but he understood the underlying message. It was something he had desperately needed to hear.
"Thank you." he really meant it despite his voice coming out weak. He gestured with his hand. "I'll leave you to read. I'll be back in a few hours when the results are done." and he made his escape.
Thor stared after the mortal before he shifted his attention back to Loki. He still couldn't get used to the pale skin and his worry that something was really wrong with his love ate at him.
"Please wake up soon." he whispered before he let go of Loki's hand to focus on the book. The cover was of brown leather and it looked really old. He caressed the spine just like he had seen Loki do so many times with the many books he had been forced to read after coming to Asgard.
Books was really not his interest, but he was not discouraged by just one book, and maybe, just maybe, Loki would be able to hear him.
He opened to the first page and came to an index with what looked like ten chapters. After that was an old inscription that sounded like a poem.
"I wasn't born for man. I didn't live for man.
But I will die for man. Oh, how I curse you, my King."
~ The book of legends, Millennium Dragon
Thor turned the page and came to what looked like the first chapter and started to read:
"Long ago, in an age where the Gods walked among mortals. They were revered and worshiped and it was a time of peace. With their life being eternal it happened that the Gods took mortal lovers to their beds. These mortals were treated with out most respect and no one dared to raise their hands against them in fear of the wrath it would bring.
Among these Gods were five that ruled over the other Gods. They were; Thar, God of Peace; Benter, God of Time; Kihla, God of Wisdom; Ninheky, God of Light, and; Vonziel; God of Life.
These Gods lived in harmony together, even when they grieved the death of their mortal lovers, for all life were loved and cherished.
Thar was the God who was known for his gentleness and couldn't stand the sight of blood. Kihla was the God who taught humans and animals how to coexist together and also the knowledge to survive. Vonziel was the God who loved all kind of life and were also the one guiding the souls of the departed so they could be reborn. Ninheky was the God who brought day and night into the world, giving them a time to work and a time to rest. Lastly, Benter was the God of Time, controlling time, past, present and future.
They lived in harmony with each other and in some very rare cases, a child between them were born. There were no children between Gods and mortals because the human female body couldn't handle the seed of a God and the seed of a human male was to weak to grow inside a God. But even this hard fact didn't stop humans from flirting with the Gods or the Gods seducing the humans.
Then, the earth caved in, oceans dried out and nature died. The God Vonziel declared death against the other Gods. His anger ravaged the land of the mortals, uncountable numbers were killed in the crossfire before the other Gods could defeat him.
But there was no way of killing a powerful God, especially one with such magnificent power like Vonziel who controlled life and death, so the remaining Gods decided to split his power into pieces and each fragment created a copy of the original. Harmless and mortal. But there was one problem, there were 381 fragments and they couldn't all exist on one planet without reuniting. Benter then laid forth a suggestion, she knew that there were many more worlds and parallel worlds than the one they occupied. The alternative was that they send the fragments across time and space, scattering them so they could never be collected and revive Vonziel ever again.
The mortals celebrated the defeat of the evil God Vonziel and lived thankfully for the other Gods who had saved them.
All except one who cried bitter tears."
Thor stopped for a moment, trying to understand the text but in some weird way it was completely useless. So he flipped the pages until he was about half way through and began to read again:
"Dragon," The young King screamed at the top of his lungs. His fingers clawed the ground in futility; his left foot had been crushed under a stone pillar. The Kings green eyes searching in desperation for his old friend. His comrades in arms spread out around him in a sea of blood. "I never meant this to happen. Believe me."
In the raging flames, in what used to be a holy temple, stood a man on top of the stairs leading to the holy alter. Dressed in torn white robes, they were coloured by the light of the fire, making his whole shape seem like it was on fire. The long black hair which had once been tied into a tight braid had come undone, and now left all of the onyx tresses free. With eyes which could have cut diamonds, fell on the King. Purple eyes stared in disdain at the man on the floor.
"I will never forgive this treachery. I will never forgive you." The giant pillars, shaped like people in prayers, collapsed across the altar, taking everything with them. "I will never forgive you."
Once more Thor stopped himself in shock of what kind of book this was. "I really hope you can't hear me, Loki." he said honestly before closing it without any intentions of ever finishing it. "Who can write something this horrible?" Thor asked.
"Sometimes lies has more truth than truth itself." a voice said behind him.
Thor's eyes didn't even have time to wide as his body reacted on its own and he turned around before the chair even had time to hit the floor. Ready to defend them from anyone who might want them harm, he glared at the intruder in the strange robes.
"Peace, my friend." the stranger said with his hands held high and a smile on his face.
"Who are you?" growled Thor.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the stranger bowed deeply before standing straight. "I am Doctor Strange - Sorcerer Supreme."
TBC
