So, the long chapter was taking too long. Here is a sneak peek. I promise the best is yet to come. :) Be aware of lots of foreshadowing in this chapter!
The Anaheimien army was lined up for at least a quarter of a mile in width and many more soldiers stood behind the front line. All of them held shields and spears, with swords clipped to their torso armor. Ordinarily, they were without the swords, but Svleiva had instructed them to include it this time.
The army was to the west of the palace between the commons and the royal grounds. The citizens had all been evacuated, but a large group of soldiers stood watch over their homes.
The northern alarms were the first to be set off and the last to stop ringing. They assumed that was where Thanos would be approaching. Thanks to Loki and Loki only, the God of Death would find them ready and waiting.
Valder and Odin stood at the front of the group, with Thor, Hena, Frigga, and Svleiva right behind them. The Anaheimien queen had two personal guards beside her. Her eyes were narrowed as she waited for the first sign of invasion. She feared for her unborn daughter, but that only made her more dangerous than ever. When the fighting started, the leaders would fall into a more protected area just beneath where they currently stood. It was meant to be a place where they could collaborate before heading back out into war.
Valder had tried to convince his wife to go there now, just to keep her out of view, but she had refused. She was still queen and would support her husband as he commanded their realm.
Although they did not show it, both of the kings were grim about the upcoming fight. When Valhalla's footmen arrived, there would be better odds, but they both knew that this army alone would not be able to stand indefinitely against Thanos'. They would have to outsmart him long before he got the chance to overtake their soldiers.
"I imagine someone who comes here will know how to get your hammer back." Hena said to Thor without looking over. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she stared ahead at the empty field. Anaheim's territory had purposely been set up in the event of an invasion. There was a long field that separated the commons and palace. Their enemies could attack one or the other or they could divide their forces to attack both.
"They might have to be killed to break the spell." Thor replied, looking at her without very much emotion.
"Well, if it's Thanos, I don't think we have a lack of people willing to take his life." Hena said.
Svleiva glanced back towards the palace, though she did not say anything. Adden had yet to return with Mazi and she was beginning to worry. Only Cooper had ended up going with her to the pastures, but he had returned early. He, his siblings, and Laura were all safely hidden with the rest of the Anaheimien women and children. Since the king and queen had hindered the princess's powers, not one of her family members could try to reach her telepathically. Hawkeye was frequently going back to the haven where his family was and he confirmed that Mazi had not been taken straight there.
No one was surprised when the mortals all opted to stay and fight. Even Hawkeye was leaving his family to the Anaheimien protection. Captain America was near immortal himself and they all had experience fighting these aliens. They were lined up with the Warriors Three and Sif. With Valder and Svleiva's help, Tony had also been able to bring his suit to the foreign realm. They could still influence his "artificial" power without too much effort. Although, he wasn't entirely sure where from Earth the suit had come. This wasn't the one from Hawkeye's place.
Thor looked up with a small narrow of his eyes. The sky was still dark, which was more nerve-wracking to those from Anaheim than those from any other realm. Valder controlled their climate day to day, so when it changed, that meant another power was counteracting his own.
"How far along are you?" Frigga asked softly to Svleiva. The younger queen looked over with creased eyebrows. She didn't ask how Frigga knew she was expecting. She doubted that Asgard's former leader had been observing her from Valhalla.
"Nineteen weeks." came her reply.
"How is she doing?"
Svleiva drew a deep breath as she glanced back at the palace again, hoping to see Adden appear with Mazi and Cooper.
"She is doing well. But my other children appeared that way as well. We were hoping that she would develop without being inhibited by the same bane that my other daughters were. It's unlikely that this will be the case."
With a few blinks, Thor remembered what he had been on his way to do when the alarms rang. He nearly spoke aloud to Svleiva, but stopped. He intended to tell them about his brother's book, but it could very well distract them from the upcoming battle. He let out an angry breath. The very thought of Loki made him angrier than ever.
"We will help where we can." Frigga responded "You should not have to endure the loss of another child."
"That is my desire." Svleiva said fervently. Even as she said this though, her thoughts went to the God of Mischief just as Thor's were. Then, they returned to Mazi with a fresh wave of worry.
"What do we see on the barrier?" she asked, trying to distract herself as she pointed a question to her husband.
"Nothing yet." Valder reported back to her "They wanted to distract us with the small invasions all around the realm. To scatter our forces first. But we have the advantage. We know they're coming full fledge."
"I need to go after Mazi." Svleiva said, leaving her place and stepping towards him. Valder immediately looked back and then turned.
"No. I am not risking sending you now. Adden is retrieving her. He has not even had time to make his rounds back here."
"It does not matter who you send if I have to wait for her to return. I need to go myself. I don't want her alone when the battle strikes." Svleiva said forcefully.
"Will I lose my wife if not my daughter?" Valder responded, staring at her with an intent gaze as he repeated the same phrase she had said to him earlier "I am asking you to wait here until Adden has at least had time. Then I will go myself if necessary. But I'm not sending you, or anyone else, until we are certain something is wrong."
"She knows her way." Hena spoke up to her mother "She knows what to do if we are invaded. She will go into hiding."
"Not if they are directly attacked." Svleiva said numbly.
"There has been no sign of that yet." Valder was just as worried as the queen. But the only way to calm her fears was to reason with them.
"I've seen her." Frigga said gently to the woman next to her "She is smart. Likely she'll show up here of her own accord. She will know something is happening."
"But that is my fear. She should have heard the alarms. She should have already come." Svleiva replied.
"There has not been time." Valder repeated with the same amount of patience "Adden will get her here. I promise." his eyes lifted to the sky as he spoke. Then, he glanced at Frigga. She briefly shook her head.
"Valhalla has not entered your world."
Valder grimly turned to face forward again "Then they're here."
Svleiva stepped back, chin raising slightly. Thor breathed slowly as he stared across the courtyard.
The air shimmered, just as they had seen so many times. But, it was just as shocking that Thanos was the first person to appear. He wore a vaguely triumphant expression as he stopped to stare at them. Red Skull and the two surviving darkness infused beings were right by his side. Chitari began to appear on either side as they opened the portal further.
The Anaheimien soldiers didn't move a muscle, waiting for their order.
Thanos started walking forward, as if simply taking in the situation. Valder and Odin did the same, but they did not go as far.
"You were warned." the Titan said matter of factly "And I imagine I know by whom." he tilted his head with a flash of a smile "How is Loki doing?"
None of them jumped to the provocation, but it did make Thor flinch angrily.
"Oh, couldn't you get to him?" Thanos continued "That's unfortunate. Whatever refreshment they gave him down in his cell didn't seem to be too helpful for his health. I was too distraught by that to think of anything else but coming here to warn you. I hear, though, that we were too late. My sources told me you confirmed his demise. I'll be sure to send my regards to him in Helheim."
He was around one hundred feet from them when he stopped.
"Thanos." Valder greeted him plainly.
"Yes, you're Valder, I assume." the Titan responded "I'm sorry, I've never acquainted myself with you. After all, we really are not that far away."
"No, we're not, but I am most grateful this is our first encounter." Valder said "We were warned and we're prepared for the war you want to bring on us. I'll invite you to leave now, before we have to see the bloodshed of our men."
"My soldiers enjoy the spilling of blood, whether it is theirs or not." Thanos replied.
The blue glow caught Thor's eye and he glared. The scepter was in Red Skull's hands. The mutant smirked at all of them.
Even though he hated the vile thing, Thor wished it were in Loki's grasp instead.
"You're certainly not a very honorable leader if you sacrifice their lives so easily." Valder said, gaze sweeping over all of the creatures in front of him.
"Being honorable is a perspective, not an attribute." Thanos said, moving his weapon into his other hand "My motives are very sincere. When I rule the universe, no one's needs will go unanswered."
"Yet, you will kill everyone to get there." Odin spoke "You have nothing but empty promises to anyone who follows you. And that is all you will ever give, as long as it secures their loyalty."
"And Loki didn't realize that until the end." Thanos responded, with a dark smile "My family is always taken care of, as long as they don't have a family other than me."
Red Skull raised the scepter above his head and the Chitari and Outriders began screeching a battle cry.
"This is a battle you cannot win. But I will see you for the surrender." Thanos said, although they could not hear him. He stepped back into his crowd of soldiers. They were now at least a third larger than the Anaheimien army.
In complete unison, the first row of Outriders ran forward, all four clawed feet ripping the ground to shreds.
"Firo." Valder said grimly "Send in the first unit."
Sorry this is short, but the other one is in the works and should be done sometime soon. Please leave a comment if you would! :) XOXO