A/N HELLLLLLOOOO READERS! OMG it has been so long since I updated, but I didn't forget about you. I have been busy as I have gotten a new job, which is very time consuming, but I always till try to make time for writing ;)Readers Once again I have to thank you so much for your responses to this story. I thank each and every one of you for your reviews, favorites and follows. it is your encouragement and enthusiasm that has kept the story going! Thank you...thank you...give yourselves a round of applause. :D This chapter has been particularly challenging, but I didn't want to give up on it. I think this was the hardest chapter I have written mostly because I had to blend it in to the story of Thor 2 seamlessly. I still don't know if I'm completely satisfied with it, but I think I've given it the best effort. Well this chapter is dedicated to you! You all rock my socks. Well with out further ado, enjoy happy reads, writes and reviews and God bless you
Lady Sif laid under her plush purple satin quilts plotting as she stared at the image carved into the dome ceiling directly over her bed. She smiled with a sort of wicked contentment as her plans for what to do with the Lady Jane Foster grew more and more elaborate. The queen had commissioned that she take lady Jane and Lady Sigyn to the training ground in an effort to keep Sigyn distracted while the queen and a few other noblewomen arranged for Lady Sigyn's betrothal ceremony. She could in no way disobey her lady queen, but she most certainly could see fit to make the mortal woman's day more challenging than expected. She grinned pleased with the notions that tumbled through her head as she looked at the painting that was on the dome interior of her ceiling.
Sif continued to smile as she focused on the beautiful painting on her ceiling. The painting was one that Sif had always loved, it was for that reason that she had chosen that room as her chamber. It was an image of several fearsome Valkyrie flying on the back of winged stallions. The strong women had their swords and arrows drawn. While another group of mighty Valkyrie swung their lassoes and wrangled a particularly gruesome looking bilgeschnipe. Sif found this to be a simply splendid visual. It filled her dreams with the thrills that could only be had from victory in battle.
She realized she was in a battle now...with Lady Jane. She was no stranger to warfare, she was a shield-maiden the thrill of battle ran hot through her blood, but this was a different sort of fight...it was abattle for Thor's affection. Sif could admit that at this point it was battle that she was losing. She'd never faced this type of battle before. Dor years she'd watched the warfare of women with confusion. Women who became like wild cats scrapping over a bit of antelope fighting for a man. The warfare was different subtle, stealthy, but none the less brutal. There were the victors and their were the vanquished and to the victors went the spoils of war. She'd always mocked them. Always thought that women should rather be hardening their skills for real battles rather than worrying about how they batted their eyelashes and paraded their assets, but Sif flt helpless, but to succumb to the ways of maidens in love with me. For more than 2000 years the brave shield-maid had waited patiently in the shadows watching as Prince Thor ran from arm to arm of different maidens who tickled his fancy any particular night. All the while she'd watch as he lleft the boudoirs content for the moment, but ultimately unsatisfied. She always thought that one day the golden son of Odin would find contentment in her arms, but he had fallen head over heels for this mortal woman. For the life of her the female warrior couldn't fathom what made Thor so attracted to the human. Jane was fair she supposed but their were many women in Asgard and throughout the realms who were far fairer than she. Thor had bedded many beauties. Women whose flawless caramel skin only brought out how unattractive Sif's own battle-scarred flesh was. Sif frowned as she looked down at her hands and felt over palms, calloused and bruised. Her nails were short and stubby, she buried her hands under the heavy purple and burgundy sheets that lined her bed.
What made Jane so much more in Thor's eyes than she? Yes, the human woman was clever, but when since had that ever been important to the mighty Thor? He'd never been interested in the female scholars of Asgard. There were many women in Asgard who practiced medicine, alchemy, astronomy, and poetry, but they'd never caught Thor's vivid blue eye in the way Jane did. Besides, Sif wasn't exactly an ignorant woman. She was smart, articulate, self-assured, strong. What made Jane so much better? The notion troubled the brunette warrior woman.
She felt tears prick behind her eyes, she bit a cherry painted lip to fight back a tear. She'd not cry. It would not be said that Lady Sif, Asgard's mightiest female warrior cried over such womanish matters. She rolled her brown eye up to glance at the roof of her chamber. Once again the artwork spoke to her. It empowered her. It strengthened her and gave her an idea. She had been going about this battle the wrong way. Her personal fighting style had always been to fight strong and forceful, coming at her opponent head on and weakening them, beating the enemy back with her strength, but of course their were other techniques. One this painting exposed. And that was to exploit the weakness of your enemy. In the painting the Valkyrie attacked a land beast from the air. The bilgeschnipe would have naturally had the advantage on an even playing ground, but aerial warfare surprised the creature. So they forced the creature to fight outside of its comfort zone and in that they had found themselves victorious.
The dark-haired shield-maiden couldn't help the devilish smirk that trickled across her mouth as she devised a plan. That would be how Jane would be tomorrow. In natters of womanly affection Jane had the advantage. She was a dainty damsel with womanly graces, but on the battlefield that was where Sif could shine. When Thor watched as the mortal woman bumbled on the battlefield training grounds, surely he'd not be so impressed. When he saw the way jane would cringe at the blade or would cower at the sight of a wound, surely Thor would not find her so beguiling then. Then he'd see her for what she was, nothing but a mortal unworthy of him! She would even wear her best battle armor onto the training field. She paint her face. it wasn't practical, but if that was what it took to make Thor see...than so be it.
Lady Sif sighed contentedly through tired eyes. Her eyes started to shut, but before she allowed herself to drift into slumber she gave one last glance at the strong Valkyrie portrayed on the roof of her quarters. She smiled affectionately up at them as if they were old friends and comforting aunts who doted upon her. In fact maybe they were. They had always been a source of inspiration for her. Her muses. She winked at them and blew them a kiss thanking them for the idea that they had helped her with before she rolled over with a grin on her safe and drifted into sweet slumber.
Elsewhere in Asgard, in the dank dungeons, other plots were being made. Ones far darker and sinister . The guards had just announced lights out for the prisoners. They tapped on the prisoners glass walls and with that the lights went out automatically. In one of the darkened prison chambers, while his cell mates were sleeping, the Minotaur like creature, pulled out a tiny communication device and muttered into it in a mysterious ancient tongue. "have you located the one the Other told us of?" a dark tone questioned harshly through a small communication device.
"I believe I have, my general," the disguised elf spoke in his native tongue. " He is not very impressive looking," the concealed creature confessed.
"Be not deceive by appearances," Malekith warned, "he is a formidable mage,a trickster," the elfin leader spoke.
"Need we tricks to take the tesseract from these weak Asgardians," the hidden enemy grumbled. Trickery was not the way of the Dark-elves. The light-elves often relied on wits and mysticism, but the dark-elves used sheer force to subdue the other realms.
"It was the trickery of this one that showed the Other the power of the Tesseract. Thanos thinks highly of his ability, so highly that he has given him a second chance upon failure," Malekith informed
"Thanos?" the imprisoned elf warrior questioned. He had been convinced that the mad titan who first aided their people in conquest had been killed allowing Malekith to step up as leader of their forces. .
"our time to take the Aether back is at hand," Malekith save breathing in his words with delight.
"Shall I begin with the plan, my liege?" the prisoner of Asgard asked.
"No." Maliketh immediately stated. "We are still a days off from Asgard do not attack til midday in a days time we want to give the Asgardians no warning of their destruction," Malekith instructed with a cruel chuckle in his tone. The other dark elf echoed the laughter of his general.
"Quiet in there!" Bellowed a palace guard as his fist slammed on the glass shield of the cell. "If there isn't complete silence all inside the cell shall be flogged!"
As soon as Loki heard the footfalls march away simultaneously to the rhythm of the patrol march. He slammed his dusty burgundy leather-bound book shut. He started to chuckle. Simpletons. They were so concerned over him and indeed they needed to be, but it if they were more attentive to the rest of their prisoners they would have seen that it was not him singularly who was to bring about what was to come. He rubbed his white palms together greedily as he relished what was to come. His freedom from this retched prison that he'd been confined to for nearly a year. Then he'd take his rightful place upon Asgard's throne. He'd see Odin and Thor bow at his feet and beg him for mercy. Death would be merciful in comparison to the animal-like existence he'd been forced into. Well his "honored father" and "beloved brother" would find little mercy from his hand. Yes. Everything was falling into place perfectly. All he needed to do was wait...wait for the opportune moment that Thanos' messenger had told him about. And that moment was nearly here. With such sweet thoughts of revenge in his head he felt he could retire for the night. A wicked grin spread across his keen features and he slowly walked from his high-backed reading chair and over to his small porcelain wash-basin.
The basin was half-way filled with tepid water. The prisoner sunk his hands into the lukewarm water and cupped his hands allowing them to fill with water and bringing is hands up to splash his face. It was a refreshing nightly ritual. The closest thing he had left to the luxury of proper bathing. The water rolled off the edge of his pointy nose and dribbled down his narrow chin. Loki's long raven eyelashes batted gently over his emerald eyes clearing the water from obscuring his vision. His jade eyes refocused glancing at the pool of water below. He saw his reflection there and gasped in horror as he looked at it. For one split second the face he saw reflecting back in the poor scared him. For the face..the face hand looked so like unto Laufey. Loki stumbled backward nearly tripping over his own bed. He plopped down on the bed, panting and breathless, his heart beating like a drum in the cavity of his chest. His slender ivory fingers immediately strayed to feel his face. He felt over is flesh it was moist and cool to the touch but still tender, Aesir skin. It was rough and jagged like the ice cliffs of Jotunheim. He continued to feel and prod at his own skin desperately fumbling along his cheeks and brow to find the barbaric carvings that were common in Jotun skin. But he found none. His skin was smooth and flawless.
Loki's breath hitched as his deep green eyes darted to glance down at his hands and arms the were still pale not a hideous blue. The once prince of Asgard heaved a sigh of relief. He thought he'd been slipping back into Jotun form. But he found that his powers still remained intact to keep his true heritage concealed. Then why... why had he seen those horrendous red eyes staring back at him from the water of the basin?
Then he heard a disappointed and shaky voice whispering in his ear. "You really are Laufey's son, Loki. You are just like him," he heard Dagmar confess before she vanished before his eyes and if it hadn't been for the fact that he'd tasted her succulent pomegranate lips he surely would have believed he'd just imagined her visit. Loki hung his hair, his dark locks falling in his face as he leaned over heavily on his knees and he felt a shiver run up his spine. He thought of what Dagmar had told him...about the child...about the fact that their child could be alive. He cringed hearing his own harsh voice tell her he didn't care. Wasn't that just like Laufey?
When he was born had whatever healers the Jotun's possessed shown him to his father ( a small and sickly child) and had the Jotun King's own response not been the same that he cared not if the child lived or died? He was the same type of man. No. Not man... creature...monster. He remembered that day. That fateful day when his life was completely altered. The day he'd gone to Jotunheim. He'd stood before the giants crumbling throne. He'd held discourse with his biological father, he had been surprised. He had expected the Jotun King to be gruff, burly and boorish. Instead he found him to be fairly reasonable, articulate and polished. Like himself he supposed. Of course he supposed that the fact that the Jotun's were a dying civilization, with few resources and no allies, once a great threat to the realms now a powerless people, Laufey less haughty and more docile. Laufey had stared him in the face and didn't know who he was. Even when they had struck a bargain, Laufey had looked at him without recognition. Had the savage ever even looked at him as a child? Surely if he had he would have recognized his own offspring. Even animals could recognize their own progeny by scent. Had Laufey merely wished to dispose of him as she as he came squalling into that frozen world? He'd looked at him long enough to determine he was a runt a worthless runt who was a bad omen, long enough to determine that his life was better used a sacrifice to the ice spirits for favor in the futile war waged with Asgard than as a prince of the Frost giant people. Much like his own child had he just been instantly considered worthless and needed to be disposed of. He growled his eyes growing dark. Well he'd showed him. He'd showed that monster. He had equally found his life just as worthless, he'd died at his own hand.
"Your death came by the son of Odin," he announced right before he fired a death blow from Gungnir at the Frost Giant leader. He now regretted those words. He was not a son of Odin and he wished he had told him who he really was. He wished he could have seen those bloody eyes fill with shock as it dawned on him that the Jotun runt he'd left for dead had survived and had grown into a prince of Asgard. Or for Laufey to have known that in the end his son valued his life as little as he had valued his sons. Their would have something poetic about such irony. They both wanted the other dead. They were both a disgrace to each other, but it was he in the end who would accomplish what they had both longed set out to do. He sat up straightened his shoulders and pushed his long, tangled, black hair back as he flopped back on his pillow.
"What if your child one day tries to kill you?" a said small voice in the back of his mind rose up to ask. The voice gentle and calm as it was startled the raven-hired enchanter. His evergreen eyes popped back open, darting around the room anxiously as if he expected to see an embodiment of the voice. He breathed observing that there was no one in the stark cell, but him. He relaxed for a moment allowing his tensed shoulders to slump into the folds of his comfortable cot. His milky lids slid closed. "What if your own child one day tries to kill you?" the nagging voice echoed once more in the back of his head. Loki growled
" Impossible," he expressed calmly taking deep relaxing breaths still keeping his tired eyes shut.
"Why?" the tone inquired precisely.
"The child is dead," Loki explained as he folded his hands over his slowly rising and falling chest.
"Laufey thought your were dead..." his inner-self reminded him. "What a surprise when you shot him in cold blood."
Loki squeezed his eyes shut and rolled over to his side trying to ignore that voice he so long had tried to squash, but somehow kept creeping back into his life. He couldn't ignore it though, the voice waited in the silence. Waited patiently and repeated it's points until the youngest son of Odin was forced to answer. "The child is dead!" he erupted finally.
"Is that what you want?" the conscience questioned him. Was it what he wanted. He had told Dagmar so coldly how he cared not if the child was alive or dead. He'd looked a woman in the eye and he told her he didn't care about the fate of her babe...his child. It must have been the most heartless thing a person could do. So much like Laufey. Had the Frost Giant who bore him pleaded for his life with that cruel ice monster. Her name...what was it again? Mother...Frigga had mentioned it. Fartaubi. Had Fartuabi faced the same rejection about him as he had given Dagmar. "Do you really not care if your child is dead or alive?"
Did he not care? He'd meant it when he'd said it. He'd meant it because he wanted to hurt Dagmar because she'd hurt him. She'd hurt him so bad. One time he'd seen a vision... a long time ago a vision of he and Dagmar living a life together they had three beautiful children. It was a beautiful vision, they were happy, walking hands laced across a sandy beach while their children frolicked happily about them. All their children were beautiful, they had a sweet little girl and two boys one of which looked much like him the other looked like Thor. What did this child look like? Was it a beautiful little girl who would remind him so much of the woman he loved. A little girl who would be chubby and pale skinned with sparkling silver eyes just like Dagmar. Maybe the child was male. A son. Maybe his son would grow up to be a scholar like him a student he could teach. How long had he always longed to be a student of Odin's. How many times had he envied the hours that Odin and Thor would spend together sparring and talking over war matters? He could perhaps have a son to share his passions with as well. Or daughter...he would teach his daughter magic as well. He sighed. He was such a far cry from that peaceful vision of romance and family. It was a distant dream a star to far to hold.
Most likely the child wasn't a pleasant plae skinned little bundle... his mix blood seed was probably a hideous monster. Loki's thin lips curled into a scowl. A cobalt blue child with nasty carvings in its skin. A child who would look at you with glaring red eyes and would scream with a deadly black tongue. That would be a nightmare of a child a child that would force him to face his greatest fear that he was sired by a race of monsters. Perhaps he could find some enchantment to hide the child's identity, but what if the child grew to normal Frost Giant size. The child would surely be considered a freak. He cringed.
"So you would prefer that the child was dead, because you do not like the way it looks" the voice surmised almost stoically. "Just like Laufey," the small voice surmised.
"No," Loki admitted with a shallow breath. Because he didn't. He didn't wish that Dagmar's child was dead. Their child that they'd made together in a night of passion and love. He did love her then... now...he was sorry he wasn't there for her while she had conceived. they they couldn't share in the blessed event of the birth of their first child together, that he couldn't watch her flat stomach grow and blossom with the life and see her become even more lovely as her she became heavy with child.
"Do you really want this Loki? All the death and destruction that you know the Aether shall bring?"
"It shall bring me my throne," the green-eyed mage replied as he clenched his fist together. He'd grown so tired of this voice's nagging persistence.
"At what cost? What is a throne really worth when you have nothing left?"
"I will have everything!" Loki protested.
"Nothing of real value." the voice pointed out and he could hear the voice sigh like tutor who was disappointed with a particularly slow student. "You will have no family left, no friends, no people, no woman...no heart" the voice warned.
"ENOUGH WITH YOU!" the prisoner roared. "Enough," Loki said once more as his voice cracked behind eyes squeezing tight to hold back tears. "As if I have those things now! I have no family, no friends," Loki insisted.
"Because you have pushed them away," The voice explained with some urgency.
"I have no people!"
"Because you betrayed them," the voices practicality was becoming annoying.
"And the woman I loved betrayed me!" He shouted back.
There was a pause. A silence and Loki relaxed thinking the voice had finally out-witted the smooth talking voice that stayed buried in his heart. "Perhaps," the voice admitted and Loki could hear the regret and disappointed that echoed his own pain. "But Sigyn did not betray you," he was reminded. "Yet you have chosen to push her away," The voice continued.
"BE QUIET!" Loki erupted with fury. "LEAVE ME BE! THIS IS WHAT I WANT!" he yelled.
"Very well, Loki" the voice whispered. And all of a sudden Loki felt oh so very alone.
"SIF!" the golden prince's voice rang out through the hall shaking the crystal chandelier overhead. He had just come from the halls of healing. The warrior of Asgard halted in her tracks at the commanding voice of the future king of her realm, but she did not turn around. She heard his feet stomping briskly toward her. He snatched her by the shoulder and spun her around. The warrior woman was breathless and gaping when she came face to face with the Crown Prince of Asgard. He'd never laid his hands on her like that. Never had he gripped any part of her body with such unnecessary roughness. No man ever had. Sif wouldn't allow it. Her own brother, Leif had tried it once. She knocked him flat on his back.
The hold Thor placed on her shoulders didn't hurt. No, Sif was far too tough. Her body was strong as any Einherjar. Every muscle in her body was hardened and toned, her skin was rough and calloused, she was far from a dainty damsel, she was a soldier it took a lot to cause her physical pain. It wasn't bodily pain that pried a slight gasped from the Einherjar's lips, it was the roughness in his touch and the anger that flashed through his eyes. "What happened back there?" He roared. Sif fixed her expression, she closed her lips that were stained with the cherry paint, she steeled her gaze so that her mahogany eyes didn't look like a frightened deer. Her dark brows knit together and she meshed her lips together before she attempted to push Prince Thor off of was too strong, too powerful in build and even Sif, forceful shove only made Thor rock back on his heels. He tightened his clasp on Sif's muscular forearms. "WHAT HAPPENED?" the thunderer boomed in her face.
"I DON'T KNOW!" the warrior maiden shouted back her voice loud as the prince's. Sif growled as she ripped her arms from Prince Thor bronzed fingers. She snorted at the golden prince as she stomped her foot standing her ground as if she posed for a steal-cage fight to the death.
Thor didn't back down. He towered over the female warrior, but his posture softened ever so slightly. Lady Sif was a force to be reckoned with. "Do not stand here and lie in my face!" the prince continued to roar his breathing becoming irregular with the frustration he felt. Jane was in the halls of healing once again and even though Lady Dagmar assured Thor that she was fine, he could not help panicking at the thought of her being hurt and while under his watch and by the hand of one of his friends. "The two of you were racing," Thor pointed out with puffing breaths as he tried to control himself from slamming Mjolnir at the wall.
"She fell from her horse!" Sif shouted back, "Do not act as if I..."
"Do not act as if you had nothing to do with it!" Thor countered immediately interrupting the brown-haired shield maiden
"It was not as if I pushed her!" Sif immediately retorted.
"You challenged her!" Thor announced pointing his thick finger in her face. "And now look what has happened!" he scolded like parent who had returned home to find that their prized vase was smashed to bits by their children's reckless play. "She is hurt!" Thor elaborated. Truly Lady Jane had been hurt. She'd been tossed from the back of a reckless steed racing to the top of a steep cliff. She'd hit her head on the loose stones on the jagged mountainside. She'd tumbled all the way down the hill to the foot of the cliff, which was 20 feet below. At the bottom of the basin Jane lied unconscious bruised and battered, cuts and scrapes and bruises on her arms and legs, a big contusion on her forehead. Her eyes were open and tinted and her whole body trembled something fierce. Thor had frantically called her trying to pry her from her trance. Jane spoke things, but her voice was a raspy whisper and her words were in no language that the Einherjar warriors on the ride could decipher. The mortal's eyes fluttered rapidly, her eyeballs rolled about her head. Even as the blonde prince shook her and gathered her in his arms she remained unresponsive to his deep base voice. Thor immediately called for his troop to return from the their maneuver and head to infirmary."You could have gotten her killed. You could have gotten everyone killed!" Thor hollered in Sif's face. 'You didn't know how jane's body was going to react to falling, she could have had an Aether surge!" Thor hollered. "Why? Why were you two racing on that dangerous cliff it was too reckless,?Thor accused.
"You are one to talk about recklessness," Lady Sif mumbled under her breath.
"How could you put Jane's life in danger like that?" Thor demanded.
"I did not force her Thor. I presented her with a game and she chose to play. She was the one who kept bragging of her skills as a rider, I merely put them to the test," Sif nearly snorted.
"You put her in danger, Sif," the golden prince's voice rumbled with agitation at the way Sif was trying to dismiss what had happened to Jane.
'Is she a child?' Sif retorted back her face turning red as she yelled in the prince's face. Sif tossed her brunette locks back in laughter. "I didn't realize I was her nursemaid," the brunette pointed to herself defensively. "I didn't realize I was responsible getting her to her naps on time a wiping her nose. I didn't realize that I was caregiver," Lady Sif spoke with disdain in her tone.
"Enough of this, Sif!," Prince Thor started throwing his hand out and slicing through the air as if he intended to end the conversation. "Enough!" the sapphire-eyed wielder of Mjolnir commanded as he reached out his powerful, muscular hand and grabbed Sif by the wrist. Sif pulled and bucked and to stomp on Thor's booted foot, but the prince of Asgard did not relent, "What is this? What is it you have against Jane? " Thor asked her, Sif finally calmed down and stopped her physical protesting. Her hair was flying about wildly in her face from shaking and trying to rip herself free from Thor's strong grasp.
"Nothing!" Sif replied with out thought.
"Sif I have known you many years, I know you better than almost anyone," Thor began to explain his grip on Sif's tanned arm' slackens. "You cannot lie to me."
Lady Sif pulled herself from Thor's grasp and turned around giving the blonde haired prince her back. She brought her hands up and rubbed them over her shoulders and arms as if trying to warm herself from a cool autumn breeze. "You don't know me as well as you think," Sif muttered her hand methodically rubbing over her arm as if her skin was chilled as she was trying to warm her flesh.
"Of course I do, Sif," Thor protested mildly his voice becoming smooth and tender. He took a few slow steps behind her. "You are one of my dearest friends, my most faithful warrior," he paused seeing that Lady Sif still was not dignifying him by even turning her head. Thor's mallet wielding hand reached out his affection and clasped slow and tender around the brunette shield-maiden's padded shoulder. He felt Sif's body slightly shudder beneath the weight of his palm. He stepped closer to her. She could nearly feel his rippling pecks pressed against her back. She sighed and let his crisp musky scent waft into her nose. She started to smile. "You are like a brother to me," the prince whispered kindly a pleasant smile on his full, gentle lips.
Lady Sif sucked in a sharp breath. She felt as if a javelin had just been tossed through her side. It pierced through the veil of toughness that she wore like armor and it punctured through the tender tissue. Thor might as well have dropped the silver head of Mjolnir on her heart because he'd crushed and obliterated it. The pain shot through her soul sharp as a knife. In the back of the mind she could hear wild, manic, high-pitched cackling, she heard the chains and fetters rattle as Loki shook with his crazed laughter. She heard his words spoken through a forked tongue. "He thinks of you the same as he thinks of me," he taunted. "Like a brother!" he hissed. Sif had ignored him. Telling herself that Loki was a liar from the start. He was only saying things that he knew would get under her skin, but here... here and now... she found that critter that lied with in the depth of the palace had spoken truth. Her blood-boiled and she wanted to scream and rip out her hair.
"That proves nothing!" lady Sif snapped whipping around and allowing her long chestnut ponytail to smack the prince in the face. Thor's head reeled. Her mane had slapped the gentle smile off of his full lips. "How well did you know your own brother?" the shield maiden challenged. "And he is the very dragon that lurked in our midst all along!" Sif snapped at the son of Odin. Before she started to walk away. She was desperate to get away. If it wasn't for the fact that she had the pride of warrior she would have fled down the red hallway.
"Sif come back!" Thor called. Sif paid the prince no heed, she continued in a swift pace to dash down the corridor. "Sif, stop!" Thor ordered.
The female warrior did not get far before prince Thor's thick mitts caught her by the wrist. 'Stop it Sif, stop it," Thor protested. He held her wrist while twirling her around to face him. Both of his strong hammer-wielding hands wrapped securely around her shoulders. "I can tell you have something against Jane," Thor gave a crude observation. Sif kept her look harsh and her mouth set in a particular scowl as she opened her lips to protest. "I know it is not just your usual disdain for the members of your sex," Thor cut her off. "So what is it?' the crown prince of Asgard persisted. "Why do you dislike her so?
Thor was relentless in his pursuit for an answer.
"Why does it matter," Sif shot back plucking Thor big hands from her muscular shoulders. She tried to keep her own gaze hard and unwavering and staunch and detached during the conversation, but she was failing miserably. Her warrior exterior was cracking, she felt the heat of hurt pricking behind her eyeballs. She looked away but she never looked down. Sif wouldn't look down. Looking down showed shame and Lady Sif had never once been a shamed. Casting one eyes down showed insecurity, she was far from insecure. It showed subservience and Sif had never bowed to any man.
"It matters because Jane matters!" the golden prince railed. Thor was breathless after the shout. He took a few deep breaths collecting himself. "Jane matters and you matter," Thor admitted with a sigh. "Jane is the woman I love," Thor expressed his baritone voice trembled with emotion as he thought of Jane. Sif heard it, the tender quiver the wistful whisper that lingers on his tongue after he said her plain name it made her stomach turn and it made her heart sink to the pit of her chest. Sif bit hard into her lip any pain felt better than the one tearing through her chest. "And you, Sif," Thor uttered reassuringly he'd noted her rigid posture, "Are one of my best friends. Is it so wrong that I should want two women who are important to me to get along?"
"Please Thor simply let me be about the matter," Sif begged her voice coming out higher and shriller than the prince had ever heard it before. Sif too, noted how frail and vulnerable her voice sound. She snapped her mouth shut and clapped her stubby nailed hand over her lips. "I'm sure Lady Dagmar is done tending Jane," Sif replied after a few moments of her and Thor blinking at each other after a drawn out silence. "Don't you want to check on your mortal pet," Sif spat her lip curling with repulsion as she shook her head and proceeded to turn away.
"Is that why you did this, because she is mortal? Is that what bother's you so?" the thunderer inquired.
"No," Sif stated. "I don't dislike Jane because she is Midgardian, but it is not my fault that she is a frail and flimsy mortal who has no business in Asgard either," Sif explained sharply.
"Then why is it that you dislike her so?" Thor's gold bows knit together with harsh questioning.
"You really want to know?" Sif asked her visage cracking into a smile.
'Yes!" the blonde-haired son of Odin erupted, his fist jutting out in back of him as he leaned into her face. He blustered like a tempest, but the warrior maiden stood tall and strong like a mighty oak riding out the storm.
Sif couldn't take it anymore she looked up, she looked away she patted her foot trying to keep herself from what was to come next. The brunette Einherjar warrior meshed her crimson painted lips together and folded her arms, trying to keep it bottled up inside. She felt like she would burst. She shook her head. She refused. She refused to let the words part her lips. She had kept her peace all this time. She was a warrior of Asgard. She would not give into such base womanly sentiments. It was things like this that made women, weak and soft and vulnerable to be used by the men they would submit themselves to. Finally she brought her eyes to look back at Thor's they were still sparkling like the waters of a crystal blue lake, they looked so innocent, so completely clueless. His handsome mouth formed into a small disappointed frown. She couldn't bear the look. "You really want to know!" Sif blurted out in a shriek, she blinked rapidly refraining from allowing a single tear to shed. "It's because...because," she swallowed the words were on the tip of her tongue. They bubbled up from the deepest part of her heart. It was so hot and heavy. Her breath started hitching. She couldn't contain it, like lava trying to escape a sleeping volcano.
"Because what?" Thor barked back. His fair locks whipping about his face.
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" Sif spilled. Sif panted as if she had just come from a bloody battle, her heart pounded in her chest like marching drums. Her stomach was twisted up in knots. And yet it felt good. It was like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. It was like taking off her heavy armor after a long day of training. She loved wearing her coats of arms. They made her feel proud and strong they set her apart, but t still they were heavy and cumbersome and hot and after a while they chafed the skin. It felt good to take it off at the end of the day and wear a loose-fitting robe ad tights or sometimes to just wear nothing at all.
Thor stood dumbfounded. His mouth hung open, his sapphire eyes bulged from their sockets, he was amazed. Of all the things Lady Sif could have said in her defense for her feelings against Jane... in one thousand years he would have never guessed she'd say that. He shook his head, stuck his little finger in his ear. This couldn't be. He must have heard her wrong. Sif couldn't possibly. He nearly laughed. The very thought of Sif being in love with him was utterly the most ludicrous of things there could ever be. The thought of Lady Sif being in love with any man was preposterous! "W-w-what did y-you s-s-say?" the blonde prince sputtered.
Sif scoffed tossing her dark locks back, "I SAID..." she started to shout feeling the frustration rise. She caught herself. She swallowed before speaking again, her deep mahogany eyes darted around the room looking to see if any nosy servants were listening behind closed doors. The coast seemed clear. Finally the chestnut-maned shield-maiden allowed her deep set eyes to fall back on Thor. They softened just a bit. They looked as tenderly at Thor as he had ever seen Sif's glance. "I said," she cleared her throat. To keep the girlish squeal from escaping. "I said I love you, Thor Odinson," she confessed once more, her mahogany eyes wide and hopeful her calloused hand reached out to clasp Thor around the wrist. She could see the shock written on his face. His mouth still gaping and his beautiful sapphire eyes blinking back at her. She couldn't help but sigh and smile up at him. He looked so adorable.
"Sif...I" Thor stammered shaking his head.
"I've always loved you," she breathed and started toward him. Her voice was soft and gentle words that Thor had never used for Sif's voice before. Commanding, loud, harsh. These were words for Sif voice. "All these years we've been friends. I've stood by your side, fought on the battlefield with you for centuries." she explained as she marched toward him. "I've confided in you and you in me. I've bound up your wounds and you've bound mine," she went on pulling up her sleeve and exposing a severe scar that ran the length of her arm from wrist to elbow. Then she reached out her hand to take Thor by the wrsit and trace an identical scar they shared. "I've seen the maidens you've bedded come and go, beautiful princesses and courtiers and dignitaries from far off realms, I figured if they didn't have what it took to please you then maybe you hadn't found what your truly sought after, perhaps what you were looking for in a maiden was in me," Sif pointed to herself as Thor continued to blink holding his mouth open like a cod-fish. "Maybe you didn't really long for some frilly powder puff princess or some exotic enchantress. I... I... always hoped that maybe after centuries of meaningless relationships you'd conclude that you wanted a woman who could be your equal on the battlefield and words. A woman you could trust with your life as well a your throne. A woman whose hair ointment was not sweet-smelling jasmine but was the mixture of sweat and dirt." Sif elaborated as water started to prick behind her mahogany eyes that were painted with mascara and eye shadow. "I waited...I waited patiently, thinking that one day...But Now this!" Sif tossed her hands in the air. "How do you think it makes me feel to see you with her?" Sif questioned harshly. Thor still stood before the shield maiden wordless. "To see you stumbling over your words and following her around like some love-sick dog...to see how you've fallen for her fleeting human charms in a day...when I have been here for centuries," Sif started to protest. "To see how you've fallen head over heels for this mortal women in merely a weeks time when you've known me for over 1000 years!" Sif pointed out. "How do you think that makes me feel?" The mahogany eyed warrior entreated. "I cannot stand for it," She said after a pause to catch her breath. "I didn't intend for her to get hurt," Sif told the prince, "I only wanted to stand out in your eyes. I just thought if you actually had a chance to really compare," the shield maiden expounded shaking her head as her words became flustered.
"Sif," Thor started. His tongue felt like lead as he tried to process what his friend was saying. "I never knew...you...you felt that way," Thor stated somewhat dully.
"And now that you do?" Sif spun around and inquired. Her dark brows lifting her mahogany eyes twinkled with hopefulness that after so long of hiding her feelings her love may have been requited.
"Sif," Thor whispered his head dropped and his golden tresses fell in his face. He shook his head and finally raked thick fingers through fallen blonde locks as he brought his gaze back at the proud shield-maiden. He looked at Sif. Studied her rather. He attempted to look at her with new eyes, eyes that he never used on her before. When ever he looked at Lady Sif he saw his play mate from childhood, a rough and tumble girl who could never keep her dresses tidy. She was always running around with mud caked on her boots and grass stains on her leggings and leaves and in her hair. He saw the scrawny young maiden who was bold enough to walk about in trousers and tunics and not wear long flowing gown. He saw the girl who wasn't afraid to go toe to toe with any lad in battle. He'd seen Sif naked on occasion and honestly hadn't given her so much as a teasing remark. Now he attempted to look at her as a woman...She was tall, slender and toned, her body was muscular not soft and curvy like most Asgardian women did. She had a pronounced facial structure with high cheekbones. She was wearing powder and rouge, lip-paint, black eyeliner and even earrings today. Thor rarely saw Lady Sif so festooned and polished. Except for on special festival days and banquets Lady Sif never ventured to paint herself as a maiden. She actually looked quite feminine and womanly. He imagined she must have felt uncomfortable in such ladylike adornments. Thor remembered as a lad one time he caught Sif and her mother arguing. Her mother had tried to brush Sif's hair up in some fancy style and put her in a frilly, lacy summer gown. Sif squealed like a pig in protest as her mother and sister-in-law brought over powder for her cheeks. But she'd put powder on today...all to impress him. Thor looked at Sif with guilt resonating from cheerful blue sky eyes.
Sif saw it. Her own eyes narrowed she sunk her teeth into her reddened bottom lip. "Now that you know you would still chose the mortal over I? What has Jane that I don't have?" Sig begged of the thunderer. "She is not so fair Thor. You have had better. Far better," the dark-haired shield maiden utter with a chuckle. "Some would argue that I am the fairer," Sif insisted. She'd never particularly felt like a beauty among Aesir women. She was peculiar pelican amongst swans, but compared to the meager appeal of mortal women surely she who had centuries of youth on her side was more attractive
"Sif," Thor finally spoke up he dropped his hands from being held out in front of him and brough them to his side forcing Lady Sif's down aswell. "I'm so sorry I have hurt you," The son of Odin confessed and she could tell from the shutter and shimmer in his eyes that it was heart-felt. Sif sighed contentedly as she heard his sincere apology. She loved the sound of his deep tenor voice.
"Oh Thor," she whispered back in a pant in the most feminine voice she could muster. She wanted to be soft in the presence of his masculinity and feel like a woman and not a warrior for once.
"I never wanted to hurt you, my friend. You are so special to me Sif," Thor confessed he released her left wrist and brought his manly hand to run against her jawline. Indeed Sif had always been special to him. She was one of his oldest friends. He'd always admired Sif for her strength and courage, besides his own mother there was no braver woman that he knew. But in all his years he'd never imagined Sif like this. She was so tough and tumble so rugged and hard. She was always so willing to go against the grain to defy the standards that society defined for womanhood that he never thought Sif would fall in love. If she fell for anyone he thought it would be for Loki. She always teased him so, always pick on his young brother so, pushing him and shoving him trying to find ways to make contact. Thor had always thought that Sif had held a crush on Loki in their younger years. He still wasn't convinced that she hadn't. He shook his head. He had to keep his mind on the present. Sif hadn't confessed love of Loki she'd confessed she loved him. He swallowed down a lump forming in his throat. . He'd never thought of Sif in that way. He had never thought of Sif in a womanly way at all. Honestly, she had always been like a brother to him. Sometimes she'd been more of a brother than Loki. There were days when Loki would prefer to stay inside to read and study and he'd want to go out and ride, hunt and fish, he could always count on Sif. There were times when Loki could become withdrawn, moody and sullen, Loki's mood were often fickle, but Sif was always ready to spar or go drink at the tavern.
"I forgive you Thor," Sif responded. She slipped her skinny wrist from between his finger and thumb and draped her arms around his neck. "I could forgive you of anything," she laughed. She felt light as a feather, "You big lug," she jested her short fingers teasing Thor's golden tresses. With that she lunged upon Thor. She thrust her body against Thor's feeling his strong abs crashing into her own tight stomach. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Thor. Her kiss was clumsy and sloppy and brazen. She'd never kissed a man before. She didn't know what to do, but she had a feeling that Thor would teach her well soon enough. She smiled against his mouth. She was surprised at how soft his lips were. Even the hairs on his face felt good against her skin. Her pulse began to flutter. It felt so good. It was a dream come true. She didn't want the dream to in, she want to delve deeper into their passion. She didn't know how to push for a deeper kiss short of demanding that he open his mouth. She gripped Thor's face tight in her palms, massaged her bronzed hands through his light-colored locks. Her body and heart were on fire. She parted her painted lips from his just for a second her mouth was still next to his. "I love you," Sif muttered against Thor's mustache as she started to dive in for another inept kiss.
"Sif!" Thor yelled pulling his head from the shield-maiden iron clasp and shoving her off of him and into the wall. Sif's hair was tousled wildly about her. Her dark tresses obscuring mahogany eyes and hiding her crimson lips. Her arms were flung carelessly about the royal red wall in a nearly scandalous pose. Her small chest rose, quickening with desire. Thor noted Sif tongue dart out and trace the rim of her smudged lipstick."I love Jane!" he concluded breathlessly.
Lady Sif pushed herself off of the wall. She felt her heart shatter inside of her bosom. She'd never felt more humiliated in all her life. She could feel her cheeks starting to burn with fury. Her eyes stung with tears. She soon felt them bubbling and brimming uncontrollably, against her will. She felt the moisture on her face. She brought her hand to feel her cheeks they were damp. She was crying. She couldn't remember when she had last cried. She hated it. She flicked her dark mane out of her face so she could stare Thor in the eye. She snarled and wiped the back of her hand roughly against her mouth. She smeared her lip paint across her cheek and chin. She spat at the ground in a great big wad. It was disgusting and disrespectful to the house of Odin but that was the way she felt. After centuries and centuries of harboring such strong feelings for the oldest prince of Asgard she had finally confessed and then he claimed to love that flimsy mortal female who couldn't even ride a horse. She spit upon their romance. Sif looked at Thor with betrayal in her eyes. Then she walked away. She had her pride. She had the warriors dignity. She'd not run like some brokenhearted schoolgirl. She heard the prince bellow behind her, but he didn't chase her and she didn't stop. She walked until she rounded the corner where she knew she was out of Thor's sight. Once free of his gaze. Lady Sif bolted toward her bedroom chamber. She ran in, her dark brown eyes blinded by the flood of tears. She flung the door open making it slam against the wall. Once in her chamber Sif flung herself over her burgundy colored bed grabbed her pillow and sobbed.
A horrid red mist swirled about interspersed with dark, black, red and gray specks that looked like volcanic ash. Horrid ships hovered over the palace of Asgard. The horrid ships were firing huge fireball cannons at the palace shields. The force field was broken. It fizzled before them exposing the palace and its inhabitants. The ships crashed into the palace desperate to break down the palace defenses. hundreds, thousands of Asgardian warriors went charging toward the enemy ship. Their gleaming swords and strong shields were drawn, but the might of their weapons was powerless to stop this wicked foe. Beings emerged from the ship. They were few in number and hideous in appearance, bloodless white faces and soulless, black eyes. They attacked with vengeance. Their weapons obliterated the obstacles in their path.
"Jane! Jane?" Lady Dagmar called gently as she placed a cool cloth on top of Lady Jane's olive colored forehead. Jane batted her eyes allowing the dark images to fade away from her mind. "How are you feeling?" A silvery voice asked compassionately as it called her back to reality. Jane blinked the deadly colors fading from her eyes and the world coming back into focus. She was able to make out the sterile whites and the peaceful blues of the healing chamber she was in. She noted silver pupils wide as the moon looking back at her and plump, pomegranate lips pursed with concern over her. "Jane are you alright. Is your head still bothering you?" the young, Vanir healer inquired as she still gently dabbed the cool moist towel on the tender spot on Jane's head.
"What? What?" Jane asked as she reconnected with the world around her. She was in the healing chamber. Again. She sighed. She'd always hated hospital. Lucky for her shed never been prone to getting sick, but now in Asgard a land of eternal youth and beauty she found herself ever reduced to being a patient in their infirmary. "What happened?' she stammered.
"You're head dear," Lady Dagmar reminded her. You took a nasty little tumble off the back of your horse," She explained. Shaking her head. "You and Lady Sif were racing as if you had money down on a charioteer race. "It could have been a lot worse, I don't even think this will leave a mark," The raven-haired maiden stated as she gently massaged a soothing cream on the spot where Jane had struck her head.
"I've been unconscious the time?' Lady Jane asked worriedly.
"You've come in and out. It was an interesting semi-conscious state. Sometimes you were more responsive than others. You complained about your head and you were muttering in your sleep," The silver-eyed healer explained as she pulled out a data pad. The raven-haired enchantress studied some of the notes hat one of the other healers had scribed on the data pad. She pointed a porcelain finger at a key piece of information. "I'm surprised you didn't have an Aether surge," Jane remarked quietly.
"Well that's a good thing!" Lady Jane announced as she brought herself to full siting position. "Maybe this whole Aether thing is just going away," she reacted with immediate optimism. She wanted to wake up and allow this whole Aether affair to be nothing more than a terrible nightmare.
"Mmmm," Dagmar winced, she clicked her tongue, "I'm not so sure," lady Dagmar mumbled. She then pressed her top teeth into her plump pomegranate lip. She had continued to research the curious case of the Aether. There was so much they did not know. Still she had managed to find a couple of very old tomes that talked about the Aether bonding with a host the Aether would become less and less volatile. It would settle and start granting the host visions. Still, she didn't want to worry to human woman. Mortals were extremely tender. "Have you had any visions?" Dagmar posed cautiously.
"Visions!" Jane balked. "What! What! NO!" she declared all too rapidly.
"Alright! Alright!" the Vanir maiden responded raising her hands in surrender and rushing toward Jane Foster's side. She clamped her hands down on the mortal woman's shoulders trying to calm her down. "Take it easy," the prime minister's daughter soothed. "I was only asking because I remember you were curious about other symptoms of the Aether," Dagmar expressed.
"I've never had a vision!" Jane blurted out a falsehood all too easily. She wanted to clap her hand only her lying lips, but she felt that would look like to obvious a liar. She settled for just averting her eyes focusing on one of the strange Asgardian healing contraptions.
"Very well," Lady Dagmar articulated slowly, skeptically. The Prime Minister's daughter moved from the bed and went to the sink in the room. She placed her datapad on the counter top to the right side of the sink while she filled up a small cup of water. She carefully walked back to Jane's bedside and passed her a refreshing glass. "If you did have a vision," the starlit eyed maiden qualified. "It would be paramount that you informed someone," Dagmar explained.
"I haven't had any," Jane once again blurted out. She hated that she kept lying about it. The visions she had were so vivid and frightening she didn't want to think about it. Besides just because she'd seen these things didn't mean they were things that were really going to happen they could have been delusions, hallucinations brought about by her body spiking fever as it tried to fight off the Aether. There was no need to inform anyone of fever dreams. She didn't want to start a panic over nothing.
"OK," Dagmar nodded her expression mild and reassuring she gave Jane's shoulder a tight squeeze as Jane finished her cool drink. She collected the cup from the auburn haired woman's hands. "well I think you should rest for the rest of the evening you seem a little out of it," Dagmar placed mildly.
"Rest!" Jane gasped. "Why? I feel fine and you said yourself that you doubted that the bump on the head would even leave a mark," she countered
"Jane you should rest," Dagmar instructed with the air of a healer. "I'm surprised you didn't have a an Aether surge," Dagmar qualified. "Since you aren't reporting any symptoms, I'm wondering if you will have some type of delayed reaction later." Dagmar mentioned. "Are you feeling light headed or dizzy at all?" she asked her silver eyes scrutinizing the mortal woman. Physically Jane seemed fine. Thor had immediately scooped her up after she fell and carried her back to the palace. She'd been conscious the time, slightly complaining about a headache although she'd been fairly quiet, staring blankly from time to time, the scans had proved that she hadn't suffered any severe head trauma.
"No, no, no I feel fine," Jane insisted managing to stand to her feet. She popped up fresh as a daisy and stretched from side to side and touch her head, shoulders, knees and toes. She smiled. "Nope...no traces of the Aether," she assured the healer taking her by the hand. Lady Dagmar still looked skeptical. "Tonight is Sigyn's betrothal party! I can't miss that," the auburn hair scientist reported. "Oh we have put so much work ingot planning this big day for Lady Sigyn. She has been so sweet and helpful to me, I don't want to miss out on all the fun," Jane admitted drawing her eyes down and looking like a little girl as if she was begging an older sister to let her tag along. "I've never been to one of these things before..."
Dagmar bust out laughing, alright fine we will meet in Lady Sigyn's chamber in about an hour, bring Sigyn then," the ebony coiffed maiden instructed. 'I sent her back to your room to tidy things up a bit, she was worried about you after the ride," Dagmar explained.
'Oh dear," Jane mumbled to herself. "Poor Sigyn is going to become a nervous wreck thanks to me," Jane expressed slightly chuckling. "She'll probably be so relieved when I'm gone," Jane nodded.
'Nonesense!" the pale-skinned Vanr noble woman flagged off Lady Jane's statement as she escorted her out of the hall of healing and walked ith her back toward the women's chambers. She partly did it because she wanted to monitor the mortal woman, but she also did it because she knew that Jane still got lost walking through the palace. "We will all miss you dreadfully when you are gone. I have been a friend to prince Thor for many years. He is like a brother to me, Thor has always been a happy person, but I say with you there is something different. Why, I have never seen him so happy. I will miss seeing that giddy boyish look in his eyes wen you walk in the room," Dagmar insisted with a giggle.
"I cannot believe Lady Sif," Jane continued to grumble after she had come from the bathing salon. She was still wet with simply a silk pink bath robe and a fluffy white towel on her body. Another towel was tied around her head as she attempted to dry her auburn hair that went limp and stringy when wet. Jane walked over to her large canopy bed that had been turned down by lady Sigyn . She flipped her hair and shimmied the towel back and forth and tried to dry her mane once more. "Did you see the way she glared at me throughout the night, ugh!" Jane growled as she finally sat down on the edge of her bed. Her head pressed toward her knees as she continued to try to wring the excess moisture out of her locks. "She didn't even apologize to me for what happened," Jane murmured
"Tis my fault milady," Sigyn immediately apologized as she followed closely behind the beau of the crown prince with a brush in her hand. "If I would have paid more attention during the ride..." lady Sigyn mumbled her cheeks flushing shamelessly. She bent her head and cupped her hands in front of herself.
"Sigyn no!" Lady Jane protested as she spun around and reached u her hands to keep the turban wrapped white towel on her hair balance. "It's not your fault at all. It was Sif. I feel like she is out to get me I can feel the way she glares at me She looks at me as if I am some bug she wishes to squash," Jane insisted. She blew and exasperated breath out of her mouth before she plopped down on the soft cotton quilts of her canopy bed. "I can tell she hates me," Jane confessed playing with her fingers worriedly as she allowed Lady Sigyn to start stroking her light brown tresses.
Sigyn's lips pursed. "Oh no I am sure she doesn't hate you," Sigyn pleaded with Jane wrapping her warm colored hands around Jane's shoulders.
The female scientist immediately pulled from Sigyn's comforting hold. "Yes she does!" Jane snapped and Sigyn drew back, tucking her hands back toward herself. "What else would you call a woman who would try to get you killed on a ride," Jane expressed. She looked back at Sigyn and immediately she felt sorry. Sigyn so easily could make a pouted like a scolded child. "I'm sorry," Lady Jane apologized as she brought her olive colored hand to pat Sigyn's tanned one. Jane Let out a sigh. "I know she is one of Thor's best friends, but...Oh Sigyn I am so sorry," Jane gasped dropping Sigyn's hands and tossing her own hands up in the air. "This isn't about me! This is your night! Your night!" Jane declared. "You're getting married!" Jane squealed and clapped her hands. Sigyn beamed. "Are you excited! How do you feel?" the scientist asked eagerly clapping her hands. "Did you enjoy the party?" Jane pushed further.
"Oh yes!" Sigyn replied with a bright grin on her face. "It was wonderful! I cannot thank everyone enough. I never expected to have a bridal shower," Sigyn confessed. "And to have my mother and sister there, after the way I had embarrassed the family... it is more than I could ever imagine. Queen Frigga has always paid me more honor and respect than I have ever deserved," the blonde-haired lady-in-waiting to Queen Frigga explained as she went toward the writing desk in the corner of Jane's bedroom. "I don't even know where to begin in expressing my gratitude," she went on pulling out quill and parchment. Sigyn attempted to look as if she was just planning to write a few thank you notes to those who had been gracious enough to attend the soiree thrown for her. She pulled out several pieces of parchment and lined up several quills and inks. But her mind was concentrated on the open drawer wear there was a scroll with a Vanaheim seal.
She'd had it for a few days now. It was from Vanaheim and it was addressed to Lady Dagmar. Sigyn's tanned hands quiver as she reached out to take the scroll. She managed to plop it down on the top of the desk. There she let it rest. She could feel her hands still shaking and she tried to still them by grabbing onto the sides of the wooden desk frame. She had sent Lady Dagmar's letter of inquiry to the midwife's home who served Olaf Dirkson's family for many generation. The midwife was a very old and respected woman in Vanaheim she only assisted in the births of children of the most wealthy and prestigious families throughout the realms. She had debated not sending the letter. Lady Dagmar would be none the wiser and what if the baby really was dead? Why should lady Dagmar have to read about the fact that her child was dead after having so much hope that the babe was alive? But Sigyn had decided to send the letter. It was the right thing to do. Anything as the Prime Minister's daughter had requested. It had been several weeks, but finally it had returned. The palace courier had returned the reply letter to Sigyn even though it was addressed to Lady Dagmar. Sigyn started at the parchment scroll wrapped in red ribbon. Her tanned fingers itched to unravel the crimson colored thread. She balled her twitchy fingers into tight fist. No. She had to refrain. It was her reading of Dagmar's correspondences that had caused this whole mess. She had never meant to cause anyone pain. Especially not Lady Dagmar. She had no really quarrel with the Vanir noblewoman. None at all, she liked Dagmar. She simply jealous of her. "In all honesty, mistress, I understand how Lady Sif feels," the blonde-haired Lady-in-waiting expressed quietly to the auburn haired astrophysicist. She closed her liquid gold eyes as she felt tears slowly welling up in them. She wrapped her hands around the scroll. This scroll held the answer to whether Dagmar and Loki were truly meant to be. What if Dagmar's baby was still alive. If the baby lived then her own dreams of a future with Loki were dead.
"What?" Jane squeaked as she whipped her head up and her damp hair splattered water around the room. "H-how can you say that?" she asked with slight disgust.
"I am only saying Jane that I know what it is like to be in love with a man and watch him fall for another," Lady Sigyn expressed solemnly.
"Oh Sigyn," Jane sighed touching her hands to her heart. She got up from the bed and walked toward Lady Sigyn. Her hand hovered over Lady Sigyn's shoulder for a few seconds as she thought of what to say. Timidly she reached out the touch the amber-eyed waiting gentle woman. She felt Lady Sigyn's shoulders relax and she felt Sigyn's warm hand reach out and pat hers. "I'm sorry," the brown-eyed mortal stated. "I wasn't trying to be insensitive...I just...Thor told me," she went on.
Sigyn spun around on the cushioned seat to face lady Jane. Her sunlight colored eyes lit up with fear. "Thor told you what?" Sigyn asked innocently as her shoulders shrugged and she turned around to face Lady Jane with the scroll on her lap.
"He told me about your arranged marriage to his brother," the brown-eyed scientist elaborated her nose crinkling ever so slightly with the last word.
Sigyn amber eyes that were already big and innocent got wide as if they were attempting to swallow the room whole. She gulped. All of a sudden she felt nervousness gnaw at the pit of her stomach. What had Prince Thor shared with Lady Jane and why? "W-what?" the fair-haired ladies-in-waiting asked breathlessly.
"He told me about how the marriage was arranged," Jane whispered as if there was someone else in the room who she didn't want to be privileged to the intimate conversation. She shook her head. The thought of an arranged marriage to a monster like Loki made her skin crawl. She couldn't imagine what lady Sigyn must have felt knowing that she would be forced to knit her soul with such a cruel man. Lady Sigyn felt her palms begin to sweat and she slowly began to fiddle with her long pink champagne colored skirt. She bunch and played with the delicate material of her nightgown.
"Well," the Queen's lady-in-waiting started. "I...I...I never really considered the marriage arranged," the pink lipped maiden expressed as he lip quivered. "I...I...I suppose it was an idea of our families that we start courting... my father had moved up in the ranks and he was being honored by Odin as an Admiral and I suppose they agreed that being that prince Loki and I were about the same age and having known each other during our schooling years that we should be brought together. Queen Frigga invited my mother to tea Something that she had never done before and my mother took me and Queen Frigga asked Prince Loki to come," Sigyn explained as he mind flooded with memories of that fateful meeting. Sigyn shook her head breaking herself from her reminiscing and bringing her eyes to lock with Jane's once more. "D-d-did he tell you much else?" Sigyn asked bringing her finger up to worry her small pink lip.
Jane nodded as a smile spread across her face. She took Sigyn tenderly by the hand and clasped it firmly. "He told me about how you..." Jane paused trying to think of how to put the matter delicately. She so rarely had these types of conversations. She couldn't say she could remember ever having a conversation like this. "He told me how you cheated on Loki," Jane finally blurted out after a moment's pause.
Lady Sigyn gasped as he wide gold eyes instantly began to fill with hot tears. Sigyn's infidelity had been public knowledge to the people of Asgard since her father dare try to challenge Loki's account and had been publicly flogged and made to spend nearly to weeks in the stocks. She had felt safe with Lady Jane for the very reason that Jane didn't know about her great disgrace. With others they were being kind and gracious if they didn't bring it up, but in the back of her mind she knew that many of the court women still considered her a harlot for what she had done. "Please Lady Jane...it is not as you think...I...I...I am not a whore," Sigyn pleaded.
"No, Sigyn...no!" Jane shook her head protesting the very thought. "I don't think that at all," Lady Jane expressed she smiled fondly at the blonde-haired handmaiden who'd been so helpful and kind to her in the few weeks that she'd had to live in Asgard.
"Y-y-you don't?" Sigyn asked with a hiccup as she sniffled trying to keep water from splashing down her cheeks, but at this point she was failing miserably at that. Her hands quickly went to wipe the tears from her face, but Jane's cupped her cheeks before she could. She held her face with tender affection like a parent would a child and smiled sweetly back at the gentle-faced Asgardian maiden. "Not all,"Jane expressed. "I completely agree with you," the astrophysicist nodded with an easy and reassuring grin on her face.
"What?' Sigyn asked with confusion.
"I think what you did was very brave," Jane nodded convincingly. "You did what you had to do to get away from a bad relationship," the auburn haired mortal confirmed. "There are so many women who aren't like that. They stay trapped in negative relationships with cruel abusive men because they feel like they have no way out," the olive-skinned Midgardian continued to pat Sigyn on the hand for reassurance.
"Lady Jane, no!" the blonde-haired daughter of Arn protested.
"I must admit I find it terribly romantic," Jane slightly swooned. "You risking everything, family honor, rank and wealth to be with Theoic," Jane sighed as if she had read the last page of a terribly romantic novel. went to be with the man you loved, despite being betrothed to another. I don't blame you at all for that. No matter what the risk, I don't fault you for wanting to get away from Loki," Jane expressed.
'Oh my lady is that what you think?" Sigyn questioned pulling her face from Jane's soft grip on her cheeks.
Jane shrugged and looked back at the blonde woman with a puzzlement that matched her own. "Well...Thor did not go into great detail..." she began to back pedal.
"No! Tis not as you think!" She protested. "I... I would never have betrayed Loki!" Sigyn pleaded frantically.
"Sigyn it is ok," Jane tried to insist seeing as tears were pouring down Lady Sigyn's cheeks.
"No, no, no" the queen's lady-in-waiting argued waving her hands violently in front of her face to keep Jane from grabbing her hands. She leaped to her feet. "All of Asgard thinks that of me," she went on. "They think of me as a silly whore. A foolish woman who was about willing to give myself away to a country bumpkin when I had a chance to be a princess of Asgard, but that is not true," Sigyn did her best to explain herself between tears.
"Oh Lady Sigyn please," Jane stated as she rose to her feet. "I did not mean to insinuate that I thought those things of you. I don't think that of you at all, Sigyn. I agree with you. Had I been in your position I would have done the very same thing. Loki is a ruthless, heartless man,"e explained as she tried to grip Sigyn's hands once more but the waiting woman to the queen of Asgard moved her hand from Jane's path.
"No! NO!" Sigyn shouted in frustration. "I...I...I...I" the golden locked maiden hiccuped as she tried to keep herself from weeping all the more. "I never wanted to be with another man," she finally sputtered out her words and shook her head. "I...I...I loved Loki...I love Loki," she confessed as she dropped her head and started to sniffle as she collected herself. She rubbed her right index finger beneath her nose and dabbed at her eyes with her left wrist doing the best the could to stop the waterworks."But he's always loved another," Sigyn was forced to tell. As she allowed once last silent tear to slip from her sunlight eyes.
The human scientist's auburn brows furrowed in confusion. "Dagmar," she assessed. Sigyn bobbed her head in confirmation to the scientist's assessment. "Oh Sigyn," Jane said reaching out her arms and engulfing the sweet chambermaid who had tended to her in a hug. "Do not waste your tears over a man like that," Jane instructed mildly as she rubbed Sigyn's quivering back. "You have someone better now, Sir Theoic!" Jane tried to express joyfully once Sigyn looked up at her. "A man who thinks the world of you!" the brown-eyed woman exclaimed and flashed a large grin at Lady Sigyn. The blonde broke forth in a watery smile and nodded her head as she tried to listen to and take solace in Jane's words. They were words of wisdom. And had she been a wise woman she would have already told herself the same things and she would rejoice in the blessed events that were about to face her. She was a disgraced woman, a woman who thought that her days to dream of marriage were long past. Who thought that her family honor would ever be tarnished thanks to her, but Theoic had pulled through and done the honorable thing even if it was a century late and asked her to marry him. Yes if she was a smart woman she would count her blessings and put the thoughts of the once prince of Asgard far behind her. But she couldn't. She couldn't pretend that this was completely what she wanted because Lady Sigyn was a foolish girl.
The queen scheduled the high-tea to be served on balcony that over looked the Einherjar training grounds. It was always great entertainment for the Asgardians to watch war sports. There were several tables set up on the balcony. All of which were draped in the table-cloth of amethyst and fine linen. The tables were filled with all sort of sumptuous delicacies, plump grapes and fresh olives and squash rolls of every variety and samplings of meat, mutton and quail and of course tea. Different dinning tables were scattered around tlarge balcony and the courtiers took seats around and about the queen's table which was in the center of the tea party. Minstrels and bards came around to the different tables and serenaded the nobles as they enjoyed the mid day meal.
The queen sat at the largest table she was surrounded by several courtiers, court ministers and nobles. Some of whom Lady Jane recognized like Lord Algrim, Mistress Eir, Lady Dagmar and a few other of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting.
A few of the Einherjar warriors had taken the occasion to leave the battle ground and join the other courtiers for high-tea. She noted that Volstagg was among the guest guests at the queen table. She laughed to herself she was beginning to onbserve that the Viking warrior never missed a meal. The swordsman of Thor's group was present at the table as well and the way he was seated between two lovely maidens had convinced Jane that he too had quite the appetite this afternoon. Seated next to Frandal was Lady Sif, she had been laughing and teasing with her comrades mostly pointing out the mistakes they had made in battle practice that day.
'Frandal you footwork was a tad sloppy," the shield-maid pointed out cheekily. Her nose crinkled in a cute grin as she shoved an olive into her mouth.
"Forgive me Lady Sif, but can you blame me for being a bit distracted," the romantic blonde expressed with a sigh as he turned his attention to the women who were dangling on each arm. There was a lovely brown skinned maiden with fiery red hair and full lips and high cheekbones. The other was light skinned with a wavy hair the color of black sand. She had large gold eyes that only highlighted the rest of her exotic features.
"Yes I can," Sif immediately remarked as she rolled her eyes hearing the way the maidens giggled in Frandal presence. "Such poor swordplay could result in a lost battle," she concluded crossing her arms across her chest.
"There is more to feast upon than the thrill of battle, Lady Sif" Fradnal retorted his smile was light and easy as he draped his arms around the shoulders of the maidens and they swooned leaning into his strong chest. 'There is song," he expressed nodding his head toward the talented musicians who graced the tabled. , "There is wine," he continued as one of the noblewomen at his side brought a gold goblet up to his lips allowing him to take a deep drink from the goblet. Frandal inhaled the delicious wine as allowed it's flavor to linger on his tongue. He toyed with his lip to get all the flavor from it. Then he gave a debonair smile to the brown skinned woman who had served him. The smile sent her into a tizzy.
"There is meat!" Volstagg interjected as he reached for the barely rolls on the table and shoved one in his mouth.
"There is love!" Frandal proposed as he tickled the two fawning females under their chins. "Now who can fault me for taking time to feast upon such beauties?"
The female Einherjar rolled her eyes once more but she allowed a smile to crack through cranberry painted lips. She laughed slightly. "I suppose I wouldn't know," she admitted lightheartedly until her eyes caught sight of Lady Jane. The mortal woman stood before her in the most unassuming of fashions. She was dressed regally, dressed like a princess of Asgard. Unlike Sif who was dressed in armor. Her hair was free flowing and curled gently at the end. Sif's hair was tied up in a wispy ponytail and their were fly-a-way strands all about her head. She was dainty and demure, soft and delicate. The type of woman that should be with a prince she supposed. It made Sif's stomach turn in uncomfortable knots. She felt her heart clench and she felt the horrid feminine response of bursting into tears as she faced this foe. "No, I wouldn't know," she automatically replied. "I am heading back to the training arena," she announced and quickly stood to her feet, " Shall you gentlemen join me?" she asked turning her head from meeting Lady Jane's gaze. She plopped her napkin down on her cushioned seat and grabbed her sword from her side.
"Sif we have not even eaten yet," Volstagg pointed out his plump hands gestured at the table that had not yet been served.
"We are supposed to be fighting not feasting anyway," Sif stated. She didn't wait for her comrades to make up their minds. She could feel Jane's eyes looking at her. Se knew that the mortal woman was looking for her to apologize for the other day. She had another thing coming. It wasn't that Sif didn't feel bad about Jane's unfortunate accident, but the apology would mean admitting that she had intentionally tried to harm lady Jane and she hadn't...not necessarily. With that Sif nodded toward Frandal and Volstagg before she darted off of the over looking balcony to hurry back down to the arena.
"Sif," Lady Dagmar called the woman in a discreet voice noticing the warrior maiden was fleeing from the table. "Is everything alright?" she asked knowingly. Her silver-eyes darted toward Jane.
"I am fine Lady Dagmar," the Einherjar responded stoically. "It is just I have grown tired of all the feminine gentle activities," she expressed and pulled a fake grin onto her cranberry stained mouth. " After having to attend Lady Sigyn's bridal party I think I have had enough," she expressed. "I shall see you later tonight perhaps," Sif said rapidly dismissing herself.
"Lady Sif," Jane's voice squeaked out as the brunette shield-maiden attempted to rush pass er without a word.
The soldier froze in her tracks. Propriety called for her to answer when spoken to. "Jane," she responded civilly as her mahogany eyes looked the Midgardian up and down. "I am glad to see that your little tumble yesterday did not result in any permanent damage," she expressed before giving a quick nod and proceeding back to the training grounds below.
"Lady Jane and Lady Sigyn, your Majesty," the chamberlain announced as he walked the mortal and the lady-in-waiting toward the queen's table. Immediately, heard swiveled and eyes turned to stare at lady Jane.
"Welcome ladies!" Queen Frigga extended her hand as she greeted the pair. 'Food shall be served shortly, come and take a seat," the queen's hand movements were graceful and delicate as she pointed out several place settings still not filled by guests yet.
"Lady Jane come sit by me!" the raven haired Vanir maiden called as she sat down her whine glass and motioned for the human to come toward. Lady Jane smiled and relaxed in the company of a friend and darted down to the other end of the table to take a seat by the young healer's side. The pomegranate lipped enchantress placed to friendly kisses on Lady Jane's cheeks. "Jane allow me to introduce you to my father," Dagmar giggled after she released the other woman from an embrace. "Lord Audric, Prime Minister of Vanaheim," she stated proudly as she pointed to the nobleman by her side. The royal from Vanaheim reached out his narrow fingers and took Jane by her hand. He shook her hand and then kissed it. His gesture forced a smile from the young scientist. She didn't know why she hadn't guessed that the man was lady Dagmar's father before. She had seen him throughout the palace several times althought he hadn't seen them in one anothers company before. But they had many similar features. They were both ivory skinned with short, petite noses.
"it's a pleasure to meet you Lord Audric," Jane expressed a bright smile on her face. "Dagmar has been such a good friend to me since I've arrive here in Asgard. I cannot tell you, how much I adore her," Jane bragged and gave the silver eyed enchantress a wink.
"As do I," Lord Audric proclaimed reaching out wrinkled hands to squeeze Dagmar's soft pale ones. " I must admit Lady Jane I have been concerned about the amount of time that Dagmar has spent in the healing chambers lately," the Vanir noble stated his tone growing serous as his lips curled into a small grimace.
"Father, none of that now," Lady Dagmar chided wagging her finger playfully in her father's face. The white haired Vanir allowed a tiny smile to crack through his lips but his serious demeanor remained. "I am a healer after all," the raven locked maiden stated as she took a sip from her tea cup and shrugged.
"Yes and you were sent here for a purpose and you have done as was requested f you by Odin and still you remain. It is too taxing for you," Lord Audric countered. "You will exhaust yourself and wear yourself out," he protested.
"Papa is very protective of me," Dagmar whispered to Jane.
"My angel is very delicate," The Prime Minister declared ad he took his daughter by the hand and kissed her pale fingers. "Please forgive me Lady Jane. I know you are desperate need of my daughter's services," Lord Audric expressed discreetly. The majority of Asgard were not truly aware of the reason why the mortal had been brought to Asgard. They knew not the Aether coursed through her blood and was tainting her system and that everyday she remained in Asgard was a day that put more and more lives at risk as Convergence drew nigh.
"Papa please," Dagmar pleaded not wanting to allow other to become privileged to the tense conversation.
"I am simply protective of my daughter," Lord Audric allowed the conversation to drop seeing the desperate look glowing in Dagmar's silver pupils. "She is all I have left. I lost Dagmar's mother when my dear child was still so very young. She is my sole heir and my very heart and soul." the Prime Minister stated as he gave his beautiful daughter an affectionate look.
"I understand, Prime Minister," lady Jane confirmed with a strong and resolute nod. She gulped just as the servants began to bring out the food to the tables. She couldn't help, but allow guilt to wash over her. Her being in Asgard was putting everyone's life at risk. How terrible! She knew it was true, but still she hadn't insisted that Thor remove her from his kingdom. She'd allowed Thor to argue with his father in her defense that she be allowed to stay. It was out of selfishness because she did not want to die. No one did, but Jane couldn't help but feel like a coward for not being willing to sacrifice for the greater good. She'd always thought of herself as a good person. A person who wanted to do good in the world and make the world a better place. Maybe she was a good person, but she was no hero. A hero was a person willing to lay down their lives for other. She wasn't that type. She surmised that there were few people who really were and she wondered if she could ever be that type of person.
As guilty thoughts rolled through her mind she all of a sudden heard the excited roar of the crowd. The nobles exploded into frenzied claps and hoots and hollers. Jane turned her attention to where everyone was pointing and shouting toward. In the Einherjar training arena below she saw Prince Thor coming out upon a white horse. He looked like a valiant knight from a story book. His helmet upon his head and his whole body gleaming in silver armor that contrasted greatly with his long golden locks. He trotted his horse to the center of the ring He had Mjolnir raised triumphantly causing the spectators to cheer even harder and louder. He roared right along with his subjects as ten burly and strong looking Einherjar warriors came onto the field to face him. There were clad in armor and all carrying impressive looking weapons. They had jagged edged swords, maces, axes and battle lances. They raised their weapons against the blonde-haired son of Odin and the crowd of nobles watching broke into thunderous applause for the sport. Thor cast his glance to his audience waving at them. He winked at Lady Jane. Her heart started to flutter as she caught sight of his beautiful blue eyes. His white horse galloped right beneath the balcony. All the young maidens flung themselves at the railing of the balcony leaning over and blowing kisses at their prince. They dropped their handkerchiefs and flowers at the prince. The Crown Prince blew kisses back at the women of his kingdom as he gathered a few of the trinkets that they had dropped from the balcony to bestow upon him. "Lady Jane!" the weilder of Mjolnir called from bellow. His voice a bellow that was clear and pleasant in the ear as the sound of a heralds trumpet blast. He tossed his head back and laughed removing his winged helmet. "Have you a favor for me?" he asked with an almost boyish hopefulness. The astrophysicist felt her cheeks grow hot and rosy as all the eyes of the young and old turned to her. She had no gift for the prince. She chided herself mentally. Lady Sigyn had offered her several pieces of fine jewelry, but she had refused. She bit her lip worriedly. Why had she refused? At least then she could have had a bangle to toss down at Thor. Thor noted her worried look and for a minute the ever proud Prince of Asgard looked a bt crestfallen like a child expecting a gift only to find out their was none for him, but the look did not last but a moment. "Blow me a kiss and wish me good luck for that is all the charm I need from you," he offered as a handsome grin appeared on the blonde face.
Jane shook her head, but did as the Prince request. She leaned over the balcony and blew Thor a loud kiss . He reached up a massive mallet carrying hand as if to catch it. When he did so the Asgardians applauded raucously. The fight began and Prince Thor fought all comers valiantly. His hammer swung mightily to and fro knocking back those who challenged him. His strength and prowess on the battlefield was unmatched even when the prince was forced to take on three of four Einherjar warriors at a time her continued to fight mightily. He had been thrown from his horse at one point and the other warriors seeing that the prince had fallen thought to take advantage, but just as they were running to attack him he sprang back into action hammer raised and sword drawn frighting with two different weapons at once and never missing a beat. He was a master with both weapons, but his bulky size leaned more toward the hammer. With his sword her slashed through his adversaries and with the hammer he was able to beat back those who opposed him. It took a while but soon all the Einherjar were sprawled upon the arena floor in the presence of the prince.
"I think you were showing off a bit today, my son," Frigga explained as she strolled back into the palace with Thor and Jane at her side. She wore a signature smirk on her face that reminded the eldest prince much Loki's. She eyed Thor and Lady Jane knowingly. The mortal woman clung to Thor's large bicep. The auburn haired scientist had been smiling up at him stroking his ego telling him how fabulously he had done.
"Oh mother," Thor teased with his mouth full of a honey roll that he had snatched from the banquet table as he walked pass. "it was just a little..." he paused allowing himself to swallow the sticky and sweet dough, "Workout," he expressed flashing a golden grin as the food made its way down his throat.
Queen Frigga pursed her lips and shook her head in a playful way. "A little work out?" she inquired.
"Mmhmm," the prince murmured his mouth was till full of a piece of mutton that was on his plate that he was carrying through the halls. . "Just to stay limber," Thor reasoned as he flexed his muscles
"I think you facing ten warriors at once is a bit excessive."
"Alright," Thor admitted "Perhaps I was showing off for Jane," he replied. "But can you blame me mother?" Thor asked as he linked hands with the mortal woman and brought her fingers to brush against his lips. Frigga looked at them. The way they beamed at each other. She watched the way they both became giddy and bubbly in each other presence. It was young love.
'I suppose not," the queen confessed her eyes misting with tenderness as she saw her son so happy and in love.
All of a sudden a group of guards came storming pass the members of the royal family in most hurried fashion. The guards were shouting as they grabbed their weapons and headed down the southern hallway. They were in such a rush that they nearly trampled Lady Jane and Queen Frigga in their haste. The two women jumped back scurrying out of the way of the soldiers. "What's going on?" Jane Foster mumbled as the queen pulled her back out of the path of the palace guards. Her light brown eyes darted back and forth from the queen to the prince and lastly to the soldiers. The soldiers were focused and intense. Queen Frigga's eyes were slightly startled but more so concerned and Prince Thor's blue pupils gleamed with curiosity as well as confusion. "Soldier!" Thor called as his massive mallet carrying hand reached out to grab one of the young men by the shoulder. The warrior immediately halted in his tracks. "What's the meaning of all this?" the blonde-haired Asgardian prince demanded abruptly.
"My prince," the soldier immediately lowered his gaze , hung his head and put his fist to his heart. "I...I...The dungeon my lord," he stammered. "There has been some type of riot," he expressed. "They needed more guards to subdue the prisoners," he explained with a shrug as Prince Thor released his shoulder. "With your leave, my lord," the young guard asked permission before racing behind his battalion.
"Loki," Thor murmured as he watched the soldiers continue to flood toward the lower levels of the palace. He clenched his bronzed hand into a fist a gritted his teeth. He looked to his left where his mother and Jane Foster stood.
"Go," the Queen of Asgard told her son. "I'll look after her," the queen informed the crown prince as she took the human woman by the wrist. The hold that Frigga placed on Jane was protective and firm like a mother with an unruly toddler who all too often wondered off.
The female astrophysicist watched as Thor tossed the powerful hammer out the balcony window as he leaped out the window after it. "Thor!" she shrieked as she watched him catch the mighty mallet in a one handed catch before he zoomed toward the dungeons. She pulled against Frigga trying to rush to the balcony to check and see where Thor had flown of to.
The wife of Odin's grip on the mortal woman remained firm. It held Jane in place. She was actually surprised by the might of the queen. She supposed she shouldn't have been surprised. After all, despite the queen's elegant appearance and gentle regal nature she was still Asgardian, an immortal and a well trained shield maiden. "Come a long," the queen's instruction didn't not allow Jane for a chance to rebuttal. She immediately began dragging Jane in another direction.
The dungeon was a mad house. The prisoners were free from their cells and causing mayhem. They acted as if the palace dungeon was but a manor for them to pillage. They attacked the guards instantly. The great number of prisoners immediately overwhelmed the few guards placed on patrol that time of day. It was an onslaught of steal and iron clashing against the other. The prison was filled with lud blaring screams and battle cries. Of horrid hollers and strangled muffled sounds as one y one the men of Odin fell prey to the fury of the miscreants who had been held captive in the dungeons some who had been locked away for 50 years or more. Suffice to say the captives were ready to unleash their vengeance upon their captors.
Glass shattered as the magic enforced fields that the prisoners had been held behind burst. Shouts and screams rang out as bodies hit the floor. More were the bodies of the guards over the bodies of the prisoners. A roar rang throughout the prison. It was a horrible sound. Like nothing ever heard. It was a deep and evil rumble that shook the prison as the beast freed more and more criminals from their cells. It was a monstrous beast. It stood nearly seven feet tall, towering over the strong warriors of Asgard. It was horned and hideous with molten black skin that had crack in it that seemed to burn with lava and brimstone. The creature reeked of sulfur and smoke. It was incredibly strong even with 4 or 5 guards attaking it, it did not flinch. It was not phased by their attempts to stop him with sword of spear. It's tough rocky skin deflected the blows of the blades easily. The blades often got stuck in the cracks and crevices of the beast flesh breaking off and leaving the guards vulnerable. The monster was pitiless he would rakes his talons into the flesh of the Aesir soldiers, slicing them open and allowing their blood to spill out on the black cement of the prison floor. Other's the creature would pick up by their necks chocking the life right out of the wardens while also burning them. He caused their flesh to sizzle and left their faces and bodies burnt to a crisp and he tossed the dead guards into the prison cells. He stalked onward freeing more of the criminals confind behinds bars and slaughtering more guards without a second thought.
The rowdy prisoners cheered as the beastly leader set them free to do their damage upon the wardens and guards. The guards were unable to stop them. More warriors rushed down the steps of the dungeon ready to aid the overwhelmed troops from the dungeons. Their swords and shields were ready as they fought through the onslaught of criminals. "it's as if they resent being imprisoned," Frandal quipped as his quick blade sliced through several of the prisoners who tried to attack him from the rear.
"There is no pleasing some creatures," Volstagg replied with some strain in his voice as he swung his ax above his head pushing back the rebels.
Rapidly, the golden prince raced down the steps to the dungeon to observe the chaos. He saw as the guards brutally attempted to beat back the rowdy prisoners. He watched the wild and cantankerous inmates punched and wrestled with the guards. There was a sea of people kicking and screaming fighting, and bludgeoning one another. "Return to your cells and I promise no harm will come to you," the crown prince pledged. His regal, baritone voice boomed over the noise of clashing steal and banging iron and shattering glass. Thor blue eyes continued to survey as the guards brought out a wooden battering ram trying to push the grimy prisoners back into their holding places, but there numbers were simply too many and forever few prisoners that the warriors of Asgard managed to subdue or cut down it seemed as though even more were released from their cells and springing into attack.
One large and berserk rebel ran toward prince Thor shouting obscenities and waving a massive club as if he intended to take on the leader of Asgard's most elite warriors. The blonde-haired son of Odin immediately thrust out Mjolnir knocking the attacking prisoner back down the steps and causing him to fall into a group of prisoners who were attempting to escape the dungeon and pillage throughout the palace. Thor grabbed another one of the prisoners by the hair. "Very well," The prince sighed with an sigh that was both exasperated and invigorated. "You do not have my word," he warned his deep voice growling as he cracked the prisoners neck and tossed the dead body aside and set his might hammer in motion. He swung it underneath the prisoners' feet causing them to rotate in the air, he waved it over their heads and clobbered them left and right.
At the other end of the prison the molten skin beast continued to free the prisoners from their cells. They climbed and clambered behind the forcefield walls begging to be freed from their squalid prisons. With pleasure the monster released them. They were all part of the plan. All the prisoners had been crying out for an escape as the hideous horned monstrosity walked through the dungeons. All but one. Loki had just seen fit to allow the racket of the prisoner riot to pull him from his early afternoon reading. Slowly, the dark-haired magician walked toward the window of his cell to look out and see all that was occurring. It was full scale jungle madness and Loki couldn't help but relish in it. His tongue darted over his thin pink lips. It was mouthwatering. Ahhh revenge was a dish best served cold and when it was served without warning with out precedence, ahhh it was delicious.
His emerald eyes look out from the shimmering, gold magic enforced shield. As behld the anarchy spreading. His thin lips pulled back into a small but tight grin. Giddiness, welling up from the darkest recesses of his cold heart. He felt himself nearly snort as he watched the prisoners overrunning the guards. His jade pupils took note of the gruesome charcoal face that started back at him. The eyes were glowing with a frightening glow of red and oranges as if from the inside out the creature was consumed by fire. The beast looked at Loki with distrust as it saw his smug grin.
He had been told of the one he was supposed to find. Someone powerful who could help them in their quest to regain the Aether and rebuild their home world and bring about the darkness that had helped their people reign supreme for many years. But as he looked on the slim, waif-like figure trapped behind gold bars he could not help but question was he truly the one. Small and frail looking, and lacking the wildness of the other prisoners he doubted this one could be of much help. Cautiously, the Kursed approached the cell to the once prince of Asgard. Their eyes met and the mater mage had a steely gaze tat did not flinch in the presence of the monster. Loki continue to wear a smug, haughty and telling snicker on his lips. "No," Loki projected his words into the elfin beast's mind halting it in it's tracks as it raised giant bouldy like fist ready to break down the barrier that held the emerald eyes trickster at bay. "I want Thor and Odin to have to free me," he explained his crisp voice was a calculating whisper. The Kursed let out a growl. What manner of trickery was this? If this trickster thought to double cross them he would face the wrath of Malekith and then he'd wis he'd taken the chance to aide them when he could. Still, the Kursed was told not to anger the one he was sent to find, rather to carry out the plan. He withdrew his fit and allowed them to fall at his side all the while his toxic looking eyes continued to glare at the raven-haired prisoner. It lumbered away through the crowd of fighting guards and prisoners "You might want to take the stairs to the left," Loki cautioned the creature and watched as the creature changed its course.
Queen Frigga hurried Jane down the winding corridors of the palace, still leading her by the arm like a child and some how Jane couldn't help but feel grateful. She was jumpy, she had a feeling of dread looming over her like a dark cloud on the horizon. Perhaps now was the time.. perhaps now she should address the queen and tell her of her frightful visions, but some how in the frenzy of hearing the gong ring alerting all the whole of the palace that there was trouble. They turned down one of the halls only to come face to face with king Odin slowly marching another battalion toward the prisons. "Odin!" Frigga called out to her husband. He looked proud and strong in his armor. Seeing him like that reminded her of when he was but a youth. A prince of Asgard and not a wizened ruler. He had been impetuous just like Thor. Even now she could still see the boyish gleam in his eye when the was a call to battle. "What has happened?' the golden queen demanded as she cross over to the king with Jane on her heels.
The king gave pause hearing the natural alarm in his queen's tone. His eye remained calm and he was about to dismiss her, but her own sapphire eyes were nearly frantic and the firm set to her lovely mouth told him that she would have no tolerance for his protective and dismissive nature. "Frigga," he greeted, he almost sounded pleasant as if he was seeing her coming toward him in the gardens. She stopped only a few inches from his face. The retinue of soldiers continued to march on. Tey had heard Odin's orders and indeed to obey them to the letter. "Tis nothing," he expressed. The Queen of Asgard knitted his silky golden brows together. "It's a skirmish," the gray-bearded monarch relented.
"it takes so many to quell a mere skirmish," the sapphire eyed queen mocked her husband's nonchalant tone.
"It is under control," Odin tried to assure her.
"Yes more and more guards are being called to the dungeons," she snapped. "What has happened?" the queen pushed reaching out her hand and grabbing Odin's wrist.
"No doubt Loki has done this to..."
"You do not know that it is Loki," Frigga immediately interjected refusing to have her youngest son blamed for the incident without any evidence.
The King of Asgard held up his hand. "It shall all soon be revealed. Go now," he instructed tenderly allowing his strong palms to rest on her shoulder that was still as smooth and buttery as it had been the night he'd take her as his wife. "Barricade yourself and your handmaidens in your chambers. Tell the staff to lie low this shall all soon be under control and I shall come to you then," Odin assured his wife as his calloused fingers reached out to cup the queens cheek and chin. He gave her a small smile.
Dutiful as ever the queen nodded at her husband's request, "Take care," she whispered back.
Odin couldn't help the smile that trickled through his white whiskered beard and mustache. "After all these years my queen still worries over me?" Odin's arched fuzzy gray eyebrows with the inquiry.
"It is because of my worry that you have survived," Frigga declared cheekily before turning and leading Jane off. They were walking pass the steady stream of soldiers and the mortal scientist scuttled on the queen's skirttails. She walked pass Lady Sif and she could feel the shield-maiden stare her down. Jane thought to return the cold glance for the Asgardian warrior, but before she could Lady Sif was turning her head marching in time with the rest of the soldiers. "Do exactly as I say," Queen Frigga ordered.
The queen and Midgardian maiden quickly went throughout the hall in the chamber of women and alerted those who were still in their quarters to remain their until they were told emerge. They told the servants that they saw in the halls to get to their chambers and spread the word to the rest of the palace staff and mortals. Jane was nervous once she and Queen Frigga entered the queen's queen had collected a few other of her handmaidens and close noble friends trying to keep them calm. Most of the women seemed perfectly cool and collected. They were the daughters and wives of skilled warriors, men who had survived thousands of battles. They were confident that the mild outbreak in the dungeons would be over in a few minutes and to celebrate the minor victory there would be a lavish and wild banquet throne where the mead would overflow onto the flow. Meanwhile as the women chatted of what they were going to wear at this evening gala Lady Jane paced nervously about the chamber room. She wrung her hands and shook her head. "Lady Jane, all shall be well, my dear," Queen Frigga offered words of advice as an easy smile traced across her tender red mouth.
"Queen Frigga there is something I must share..." the light brown-eyed astrophysicist expressed as her palms started to sweat and her breath hitched.
"Yes," the golden female ruler of Asgard prompted.
"I think...I think...I think something... I know... something," Jane babbled.
Just then Lady Dagmar came bursting through the door of the queen's chamber. All heads spun to see the gorgeous onyx-locked enchantress flushed and breathing hard. She leaned over on her knees panting desperate for breath. A warning horn sounded. Such a horn had not been sounded in more than a millennium. The blast of the bugle made the queen's pupils dilate. This was no mere prison riot. "ASGARD IS UNDER ATTACK!" she screamed.
The women in the queen's chamber turned their attention to the outside. The sight was terrible. Several dark, ominous foreign ships were descending upon the imperial city. The ships were moving fast they were as quick as lightening and they were engaged in kamikaze style warfare with the Asgardian fighter skiffs that were sent out to try and attack these monstrous ships. The Asgardinas sent out their quickest and most maneuverable fighters. They launched thousands of flying boats into the air all chasing the terrible t shaped vessels. From out of the of the monuments popped rapidly firing guns. Armed with heat seeking ammo. The guns fired all around, but the Aesir guns could not touch the enemy vessels. It was a massacre to watch as the Asgardian fire arms could not seem to take down a single one of the swift ships of the enemy. The black t-haped planes weaved and dodged in and out avoiding the buildings and smashing into the flying speedboats causing explosions in mid air. They took out the tower guns by simply smashing into the columns. The golden towers crumbled helplessly. Dust, ash and smoke rose and covered the normally glittering skyline of Asgard. The outside world was a symphony of bursting bombs and whizzing plans and spitting bullets. The city was all of a sudden being decimated into a smoldering pile of rubble and flame. The air battle raged and The noise was blaring! All of dark ships were heading right for the palace. The women screamed in horror as they watched the attack. Just then a shimmering golden shield started to rise to defend the palace. The tears and screams of despair for one moment turned to claps and shouts of joy as they saw the golden force-field rise to fend for Imperial Palace and they watched as one of the enemy fighter hips was destroyed upon coming in contact with the ray shield. Still the other ship continued in its relentless attack against the stronghold of Asgard. They watched with fright as the ship got closer and closer toward the glittering palace and crashed into the north side. Shaking the entire castle.
The women broke out into pandemonium. The women ran back and forth screaming and bursting in to sobs fearful for impending doom. "Ladies please! Please!" the queen of Asgard called over the frantic and frenzied noblewomen. "This is no time to panic!" she ordered."We shall be alright, we must go quickly,' the queen explained her voice hushed as she felt along a wall for a secret pad behind one of her exquisite tapestries. Instantly, the gilded wall behind the tapestry opened up. The wall revealed as secret stair pathway. "Quickly everyone get inside. This leads down into the catacombs beneath the city. It also connects us to the other rooms. We will be able to go and warn other," the queen assured her people."Now go!" she shouts with the commanding authority that the wife of Odin should posses. Immediately the noblewomen of Asgard took to rushing toward the whole in the wall as they tried to escape into the catacombs. Queen Frigga and lady Sigyn counted as each woman ran by then darting down the dark corridor with only a few carefully selected torches lit you the way," the queen insisted. "Lady Dagmar," the golden maned queen turned toward Lord Audric's daughter and passed her a lit torch 'I need you to lead the women through the catacombs. I know That Loki has shown
"You majesty,' the starlit eyed Vanir noblewoman gapsed. "But what of yourself, My queen... I have only been through the catacombs a few times... you should lead us," Lady Dagmar insisted.
"No...if Asgard is in danger than it is my responsibility to stand and fight for my kingdom as queen," the wife of Odin announced solemnly.
"Jane! Jane!" the blonde-haired handmaiden to the queen squealed as the last few women hurried down the underground corridor. "Lady Jane is missing!" she told the golden queen.
"What?" the blue-eyed queen asked her azure pupils nearly bulging out of her sockets. "We must find her!" the queen declared. "We cannot allow her to fall into the hands of our enemies."
"Your majesty, there is no time!" Lady Dagmar protested as she started to make her escape down the corridor. "You are Asgard's queen the people need you, you cannot risk your life," she expressed.
"She's right my lady," Sigyn nodded she tugged on the queen's royal sleeve imploring the monarch to follow her in escaping.
" We cannot allow her to be captured!" Frigga protested. 'I promised Thor i would protect her," the queen explained to the two young women who were so much like her daughters.
"I...I...I will go back for her, y-y-your majesty," Sigyn said her voice quivered in a whisper as she gulped. "She was my responsibility," Sigyn nodded licking her puckering pink lips that all of a sudden felt incredibly dry. Her throat felt like sandpaper.
"No, Sigyn," the silver-eyed Vanir woman declared. "I will stay and find Jane," she insisted.
Sigyn gasped her bright gold eyes getting wide. "No Lady Dagmar!" Sigyn protested as she shook her hands in front of the Vanir noblewoman's face. "You are the Prime Minister's daughter," the lady-in-waiting tried to reason. "The second highest woman in vanaheim," Sigyn explained. Of all the women Sgyn felt that he life was the most expendable, she had no title any more other than lady-in-waiting, she had dishonored herself and disgraced her family. She didn't want to die, but if she did perhaps it was he only chance at redemption and to come to Valhalla.
"And you are due to be wed in just a few days time," Lady Dagmar pointed out quickly. "You have no right to risk your life anymore than I do lady Sigyn," Dagmar Audricdottir explained. Just then the sound of rapidly firing weapons could be heard in the distance. Cries, screams and sounds of violence followed. The palace shook as another craft crashed into another tower. The women in the chamber hollered and shrieked as they made their way down into the lower recesses of the palace via the secret stairwell. The second crash caused the ceiling of the queen's chamber to split and debris fell down. Lady Sigyn, Lady Dagmar and Queen Frigga shielded the head from the falling plaster and white limestone. "There's no time for us to stand around and debate," the silver-eyed maiden urged as she gently started push the royal woman and her handmaiden down through the dusty passageway it was caked with cobwebs it had not been used in many years since before Queen Frigga was even on the throne of Asgard, but the catacombs were in tact and the passageway lead to the city square so that if need be members of the royal family could escape. "There's no time!" Dagmar shrieked once more as another large chunk of marble from the ceiling fell to the ground. "You must go," she stressed once more."I can cloak myself for a few minutes. That should be long enough for me to locate her. I will find her and the aether," pledged the raven-haired enchantress.
"Get out as soon as possible whether you have Jane or not," the queen ordered as she embraced the ivory skinned healer and kissed her on the cheek before she hurried to lead the women through the tunnel that ran beneath the palace.
"Go Sigyn, Go," Lady dagmar urgere motioning the the sun-kissed skinned maiden to run behind the queen down the passage way. At first Sigyn Sigyn readily darted behind the Queen of Asgard. Just as her foot was about to step foot in the hidden passageway, she froze, swallowed hard and turned back around. " Lady wait," the bubbly blonde haire handmaiden stated rather forcfully turning around and facing the silver eyed maiden in the face.
"Sigyn. you must go,"
"This came from Vanaheim," she pulled out a parchment scroll with lady Dagmar's insignia on it. "I pray it is the news you long for when the battle is finished," Sigyn said looking up at the gray-eyed woman with open amber eyes. She gave her a small but sincere grin. Dagmar was shocked, but took the letter and shove it into her cloak folds as she watched the gold of Sigyn's mane disappear down the underground corridor.
As soon as the gray-eyed enchantress had closed up the passageway and covered it back up with tapestry she cloaked herself so that she could slip through the halls to look for Lady Jane. She didn't need to go far for as soon as the auburn coiffed scientist noted that all the other woman had been evacuated from the queen's chamber she slipped from hiding behind a column that surrounded the private pool in the queen's quarter. The thin mortal was trembling tears streaking down her flushed cheeks as she slowly started to walk toward the heavy gilded doors. "Jane!" Lady Dagmar called as she made herself visible to the mortal woman's light brown eyes. She rushed toward her. "Wh-what are you doing?' she asked allowing her porcelain hands to cup around Jane's damp cheeks. "We've...we've got to get out of here," she patted Jane down tenderly seeking to be a comfort. Once again Jane Foster found herself being lead by the hand like a child. "The palace is under attack," Dagmar panted touching her free hand to he heart. "You must get in to the catacombs with the other women, servants and children," she explained as she dragged Dagmar across the room and to the wall where she'd seen Queen Frigga's secret escape. Jane snatched her delicate wrist from Lady Sigyn smooth alabaster hands. The onyx locked enchantress spun around facing lady Jane with bewilderment. "What are you doing?' Dagmar's silvery voice shook.
"I'm not going Lady Dagmar," Jane confessed in a low and frightened tone as she took tentative steps backward stepping on the cracked and broken crystals that had fallen from the chandelier. The diamonds crunched beneath her feet and made her jump.
"Jane what are you talking about?" Dagmar inquired frantically chasing after the sandy haired Midgardian. Her pale hands desperately tried to take hold of Jane's hands. But Jane like a toddler that was deliberately naughty kept pulling her hands back trying to hid them behind her back. "Jane please, everything will be well, the warriors will handle this, but right now it is imperative that you get to safety," Dagmar begged. "You will be safe in the catacombs," Dagmar expressed as she pointed toward the tapestry.
"It's my fault!" Jane shrieked . She grabbed her head frantically pulling on clumps of her auburn tendrils. "it's my fault, it's my fault!" Jane muttered over and over as the salt water droplets continued to flow down her cheeks.
'No, no, no," Dagmar pleaded she finally managed to catch Jane's rapidly moving hands.
"Yes it is!" Jane yelled back. Her voice so loud that it startled silver-eyed Dagmar. "Yes it is," she stated again her voice dropping octaves because of the painful volume she had raised it to. "They are here for me," she pointed out. "And the worse thing of all was that I knew, I knew about it," Jane gasped as she brought her brown eyes that glistened with tears up to stair into Dagmar gray orbs.
The raven locked Vanir noblewoman shook her head head. "What are you talking about?"
"I knew!" Jane insisted "Whe you asked me if I had had any reactions to the Aether other than the surges...I said no...but...but I lied..." the scientist managed to confess. Lady Dagmar's pupils dilated. " I had blackouts and visions... I saw all this...I saw it...I"
"Why didn't you say something?' Dagmar demanded.
"I was scared...I didn't know what it all meant," the astrophysicist pleaded of the silver eyed daughter of Lord Audric to understand. "they have come for me," Jane continued to explain. She nodded her head and progressed in taking steps backward toward the door. "I'm going turn myself in to them... stop all this," she murmured trying to psych herself up for the deed.
"No Jane don't!" Lady Dagmar begged reaching out her hand as if to keep Jane from falling off of a cliff. "No, Jane please," she cried pulling Jane back toward the tapestry. "The armies of Asgard will defeat this foe, but you cannot allow yourself to be taken by them. If the Dark-Elves get hold of the Aether it will be the end for not jus his realm, but for all." Dagmar entreated with earnest she held Jane by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. With a sniffle, the scientist finally managed to nod toward Dagmar words. Dagmar smiled at the sweet brown eyed woman affectionately.
There was a rapid banging that came to the thick gold door to the queen's inner chamber. "Hide!" Dagmar instructed as her silver eyes got large and she shoved Jane down to ground. The heavy metallic door swung open and the handle of mammoth door slammed against the marble wall. Lady Dagmar gasped her silver eyes wie as she pressed her back against the wall and faced the attacker entering the chamber. "Who are you?" Lord Audric's daughter questioned the Dark-Elf who slowly entered the room. He was a frightful sight. His skin was white and bloodless and so pale that it even made Lady Dagmar's porcelain complexion appear to be tanned. He was dressed in slick black armor that still dripped with the blood of those he'd just killed. His nails were long and black like a vicious beast. His white soulless eyes could burn a hole through ones heart. They sent a shiver up Dagmar's spine as he looked her up and down and cockily sauntered toward her. His thin mouth set in a stern sneer that was most unpleasant.
"I am Malekith, child," he answered her. His voice was deeper than she'd expected, hollow and unfeeling. Dagmar's breath hitched. Malekith? She'd heard that name before a general mentioned in the history lessons she learned long ago. He had once been the leader of the Dark-Elves a warlord who used the Aether's power to spread darkness and chaos throughout the realm. How had he survived after all these years? More than 3000 years had passed since he was last seen... there was no way he should still be alive. "I've come for what is mine, child," Malekith continued as he slowly approached the silver eyes woman.
"Nothing in Asgard is yours, creature!" Dagmar spat as she pressed herself deeper into the marble wall as if she was trying to dissolve into it. Her palms started to sweat making them slick against the light marble stone.
The elf maintained the cold grin on his face. He sauntered over to her and chuckled with malice. "You cannot lie to me, child." he reminded her. "I know it is here," he cautioned and he inhaled deeply through his thin nostrils as if he was on the scent of the mystic crystal. "I can sense it," He rumbled. "The Aether calls to me," he explained as he came to stand in her face. He was standing over her his very presence made her skin crawl as such a darkness radiated from him. She turned her head to the side and shut her eyes not wanting him to see they way they trembled or to look into his terrifying clear eyes. Malekith cupped her by the chin, the hold was almost tender, but the clasp was cold and leathery like being wrapped in snake skin. He brought her face to stare directly at him, but Lady Dagmar's porcelain eyelids remained closed. Dagmar could feel his white eyes searching her body. The way he was looking at her made the Prime Minister's daughter feel dirty from the inside out. "Look at me!" Malekith ordered harshly yanking her chin about making her swanlike white neck feel as if it would snap. Reflexively, Dagmar's eyes popped open, but the look in them was one of a storm brewing with defiance. The Dark-Elf's response to the flash of lightening the flickered w in Dagmar's misty eyes was one of pure pleasure. His lips crinkled as he looked at her. She shook her head repulsed by the hideous sneer on his pasty lips, she tried to twist free, but his hold on her was tight. "Yes," the wicked elf purred as he brought his tar black talons to stroke against Dagmar's elegant ebony jawline. "The Aether often has chosen a beautiful female to be its hostess in the times past," he explained he leaned in closer to her so that his nose was near her ebony locks. He breathed in her scent of jasmines and gardenias and myrrh. "Many of which became mine," he chuckled carnally. His long licorice colored nails moved from tracing against the enchantress' silky jawline to teasing her fleshy pomegranate lip. He toyed with it, fingering her mouth with lustful possessiveness. The silver-eyed maiden n showed her teeth and immediately went to bite at Malekith's fingers. The elfin general tossed his head back and laughed. 'Ah-ah," he cooed as he plucked at her pretty mouth with his dark talons. His claws were so sharp the prick drew blood. Dagmar flinched as she felt the prick and trickle of ruby blood slide down her pomegranate lips. "If only," Malekith expressed with a sigh, 'You were the one," he uttered before he brutally shoved her to the ground.
He turned his white-eyed glace toward the tapestry and ripped it back only to find Lady Jane cowering behind it. "You have what is mine, girl...no give it to me," Malekith ordered putting out his hand like an expectant teacher.
For a moment Jane Foster thought to just give herself to him thinking that perhaps he would leave and cease his hostilities against Asgard, but before she could even react she watched as the ebony haired enchantress pulled herself from the floor crying, "NOOO!" Immediately, the female made rose to her feet and swiftly and silently she bent the water in the queen's private pull into a water whip that she didn't hesitate to crack against Malekith's back. The general's back arched and his head snapped back. He let out a hiss before spinning around and facing the gray-eyed healer with venom in his dilated pupils. Dagmar's shoulders heaved as she came face to face with Malekith once more. "I have told you, nothing here is yours!" she declared before she unleashed of water manipulations at the elfin general. She whipped the water from the pull and spun it around over her heads then slapped it against Malekith's face knocking him down. "Run Jane!" Dagmar ordered as the Dark-Elves' leader popped back up from being splattered against the marble floor. The white-haired elf came charging toward her with his sword drawn and a battle cry ringing from his throat. Lady Dagmar blocked her attacker by putting up an ice wall barrier, but Malekith's sword slicked through the thick ice wall that Dagmar had formed through the water in the pool. His sword was aimed right at her stomach, but Dagmar pivoted allowing herself to just dodge the edge of the blade. She panted as Malekith once again set his gaze on her and went to charging her again with his sword. He lead into the air to attack lady Dagmar. The young enchantress responded with swift reflexes using her powers to push the elf back. She sent him hurling back through the air slamming him against the wall opposite to her position.
Malekith slammed against the marble the impact from his body leaving a dent in the stone. Malekith slid down to the floor on his knees panting and bruised. He grabbed his side, where the Vanir mage had managed to crack one of his ribs. He rumbled low in his throat. "You are powerful," he admitted shaking his head. "But you shall not defeat me!" Malekith s with arrogance as he looked to his left just as the Kurse broke down the queen's chamber door. The look of the horrid creature made lady Dagmar's blood run cold. He was over 7ft tall and had a face that was hideous and frightening it growled and stomped toward Lady Dagmar.
The Prime Minister's daughter back up but the monstrosity did not stop coming toward her. She waved her right hand in rapid movements toward the fallen elf. She raised her hand slowly, mightily into the air and levitated Malekith's body into the air. "Stay back!" she ordered the Kursed as it lumbered toward her. It didn't stop seeing how Malekith was at her mercy dangling midair. Dagmar chanted mystic words and produced a fire wall hoping the block the creature. She was only left to gape in horror as the hellish looking minotaur walked through the flames unscathed. It's molten skin was completely unaffected by the fire, rather it only seemed to make the beast grow stronger. Dagmar whipped more water from the pool, thinking that perhaps she could cause the Kurse to slip, but the rocky beast was sure of foot and stomped relentlessly through the puddles. The enchantress from Vanaheim jetted her left hand out and sent Malekith's body sailing over Queen Frigga's balcony. Malekith struggled as his life hung in the balance 1000 feet in the air. "Stand back!" the Silver eyed healer hollered in the monsters face as he proceeded to walk through the flame. "Or I'll drop him," the beauty threatened the beast with a ruthless snarl on her thick pomegranate lips. The Kurse looked at her and looked at his flailing leader. The look ini her eyes was one of unflinching determination. He charged at her and caught her around the neck and hoisted her into the air. She tried to let out a scream, but the strong hands of the creature blocked off her windpipe. She gasped scrambling, panicking, kicking as she tried to pry the Kursed blackened and charred hands from around her alabaster throat.
As Dagmar scrambled for air her starlit eyes watched in horror as Jane seemed to appear from behind the column apparently rushing to help. "J-j-jane...n-no...s-st-stay back!" she whispered as her neck was squeezed even tighter. Malekith went to the auburn haired scientist. "Give me what is mine!" he ordered reaching for her only to grasp at a fading image. "TICKSTER!" he hollered coiling and turning to face Lady Dagmar who wore a slightly smug expression on her bloodied pomegranate lips.
"I learned from the best," the Silver-eyed maiden informed the leader of the Dark-Elves from the Kursed choke hold.
Malekith was in her face, bearing his teeth like some rabid dog, "Tell me, where you hide the Aether and I shall let you live?" Malekith bargained with a smirk on his pale lips. "I was told when I arrived to Asgard i would meet a great mage who would be my ally. Iwas led to believe it was male... but perhaps it is you..."
"Loki would never help you!" she declared. "So your plans are already foiled," the ebony coiffed ambassador spat.
'Then will you?" Malekith arched an eyebrow temptingly.
"I'd sooner die!" Dagmar Audricdottir confessed
The Elfin warrior clicked his tongue with pity. "Then you have not further purpose." Malekith growled as he thrust his blade through Dagmar's stomach.