Earth-717: Thor Vol 1
Chapter 1: Darker Days
Far beyond the imagining of any being, be they giant or insect, king or peasant, god or mortal, is the infinity of the cosmos: that which is forever unknowable and unattainable by even the most divine amongst all things. Gentle whispers flowing between the stars, voids of space that stretch to the unexplored nether-realms of existence, and more secrets than could ever be collected by anyone. The setting for everything and anything, from all possible times is here; the canvas upon which all of creation has, is, and will forever be painted.
Yet despite all the enormity of the universe, there still are specific points of importance; a cosmic chain of locations that bind the fabric of reality together, and this chain takes the form of Yggdrasil, the World's Tree. Along the lines of this, the greatest of all great life-bearers, are the Nine Realms, and at the very top of the tree lies the one place that would become the greatest of all, the location that would be forever immortalized through myths and legends from across the universe. It is the home of the gods, the true pantheon of the cosmos, the realm eternal.
Asgard.
This is where our story begins.
"Gently now, gently!"
Frigga chuckled to herself as the children all took their seats on the floor of the learning hall. The young minds sitting before her, with their legs crossed and their eyes bright, always served as a reminder of what was truly great about the ability to give the gift of life to others. She herself was sitting atop her stone bench, allowing her to look down at the students, each one eager to consume the knowledge with which she was ready to impart upon them.
Taking a moment to collect herself, she smiled upon seeing her own sons, both of whom were sitting at the front of the class. There was her first born, the boy with the golden hair, and the true heir to the throne of her king, and his younger brother, the one with ebony hair and as fair skin as could ever be asked for.
They were her sons. The Odinsons.
Thor and Loki.
Sitting just behind them were their good friends, and fellow children of Asgard. There was the energetic but brash Sif, who was always the first one to jump into any situation; her brother Heimdall, who was blessed with umber skin and a keen, studious nature, and the lovely Amora, known for her golden curls and for being quite cunningly perceptive given her age. About a dozen other children of the realm made up the class.
Frigga took in a deep breath before she began speaking.
"I know you've all been quite eager for this lesson, and thus shall I give it."
Weaving her open palms in circles around each other, Frigga then formed packets of golden dust that floated through her fingers. Tossing them upwards, she and all the children watched as the dust formed into the image of a tree. The eyes of the children glowed with the wondrous sense of discovery that youth so frequently enjoyed.
"What you see before you is an image of Yggdrasil," explained Frigga. "The World's Tree. All of creation is tied together by her branches, all life sprung from her leaves. Along her perfect form, there are nine sockets, each one corresponding to one of the realms."
Sif jutted her fist against Thor's back, and they shared a smile before looking back up in awe. Amora noticed this, and slyly glared at Sif for a brief moment.
"At the apex of Yggdrasil is our realm, the realm eternal, Asgard. Home of the Aesir, the gods. Next is Vanaheim, home to the sister race of Vanir, where I come from. The Aesir and Vanir are so closely bonded, that one can call either kind Asgardian and not speak false."
Weaving her hand again, the image of Yggdrasil then started to change to show a lavish visual depiction of each realm as she explained them.
"Then there is Alfheim, home to the Ljosalfar, the Light Elves, keepers of knowledge and lovers of freedom for all. Their sister planet is Svartalfheim, where the Svartalfar, the Dark Elves, reside, masters of dark magic that is said to run deep in the blood of their race. Next is Nidavellir, home to the mighty Dvergr, the Dwarves, known for their great iron halls and prowess in the field of forging."
Loki laid his head upon one of his hands as he continued to listen.
"The lower realms are known for being places of great danger and turmoil. There is Jotunheim, home of the Jotunn, the Frost Giants. It is a world full of pure, uncompromising ice, which would freeze even an Asgardian's skin in time. Next is Hel, the realm of the dead, where all beings are destined to eventually meet together, be they mighty kings or dishonoured souls."
"One day, I'm gonna visit all the realms!" shouted Thor.
Sif again gave him a gentle punch to the back.
"Better take me with you!"
Some of the children laughed. After a few moments, Frigga put up her hand, and the class was silent again.
"Not all the realms, my son. The most dangerous of all, and that which is forever forbidden from being entered by anyone, is Muspelheim, lair of the infernal Fire Demons."
All of the children gasped as the image showed a volcano erupting, and a massive fire demon bursting out from within it.
"But you have nothing to fear of any of these places, my children, so long as you follow the teachings that have been so wisely graced to you."
Heimdall then put up his hand.
"Yes, Heimdall?"
"What of the centre realm? You told us about only eight. There's a ninth, isn't there?"
Frigga smiled at the question. She then weaved her hands one last time, and the image changed to show a full view of a blue and green planet, hovering in space.
"Yes, there is. This is the realm of Midgard, and it is both special and peculiar. Unlike the other worlds, the people of Midgard are mortal. They are born, they live and they die, their time tiny and fleeting compared to ours. They have little knowledge of the cosmos, nor do they have any significant effect on the rest of the realms. Still, their world is at the centre of the Great Tree, and thus, they may have some part to play in all our fates which we cannot even begin to imagine."
Frigga wiped both of her palms through the air, and the dust dissipated. The children were so mesmerized by watching this that they did not even notice the man walking into the room behind them. He was draped in regal, aurous armour, with a scarlet cape flowing down his back. A golden helmet adorned his head, and he carried a royal sceptre in his left hand.
He slammed the bottom of the sceptre against the ground, immediately getting the attention of everyone in the room.
"Odin!"
"My King!"
"Father!"
The children all stood up and turned to face him, the majority of their faces positively beaming with delight upon seeing the All-Father. Odin grinned in response to their smiles, and warmly received Thor rushing up to and giving him a hug. Thor then stepped back, still smiling at his dad. Loki was the only member of the class who did not seem pleased to see Odin.
"I hope you've all been paying attention to your lessons this morning," said Odin.
"We have, All-Father," said most of the kids in unison.
"Good. Good. It always warms my heart to see the growth of Asgard's children. Now, come with me. We must attend to your physical exercises for the day."
"May I walk beside you, Father?" asked Thor.
Odin nodded.
"Anything, for my first born."
Thor ran up to his father again and eagerly grasped his right hand. Odin then turned and led the class out of the room. Loki started to follow, but then stopped, instead standing in place and folding his arms. Frigga got off her bench and walked up to him.
"Loki? Go on."
Loki shook his head and turned around, walking a few steps away from his mother.
"Loki! What ever is the matter?"
"I don't want to go to class today."
"But you must. All children must complete their schooling. It is our way."
Loki exhaled, but did not budge. Frigga frowned to herself, considering what to do. After a few seconds pause, she then walked next to her son and held out her hand.
"Come, sit with me."
Loki hesitated for a moment, but then took Frigga's hand and allowed her to lead him over to the stone bench. She sat down, and he clambered onto her lap. He leaned his head against her breast, and she started stroking his hair.
"Loki . . . . please . . . . tell me what troubles you."
Loki sat up straight and closed his eyes, sighing as he did so. It took him a few minutes of rumination to finally open up.
"I don't see why I have to do this," blurted Loki. "There's no point! Why learn all these things, why do all these things . . . . when no one notices . . . . because they're all too busy with Thor."
Frigga continued stroking Loki's hair as she took in what he had said.
"This . . . . is because of your brother?"
"It's not just him! It's everyone! The way everyone looks at him, talks about him. Not just Father, but Sif, Amora . . . . it's all about Thor, all the time. Father doesn't even see the things I do. He never looks at me. Never speaks to me. He's always so busy with his 'first born'. Sometimes I feel like I don't even belong here."
"Oh, Loki . . . ."
Frigga pulled Loki in for a hug, closing her eyes and embracing him tightly. He placed his arms around her the best he could. They then pulled away and looked at each other.
"It's not fair," said Loki, with a single tear on his cheek.
"Loki . . . . I know what it is like to be the other. I felt the same way once. I was from Vanaheim, and when I was brought here by your father, I felt out of place. It took a long time to feel like I belonged."
"But you're the All-Mother! Our whole family . . . . All-Father, All-Mother . . . . heir to the throne . . . . then there's me. I'm just . . . . the extra one."
Frigga wiped his tear away before placing her hands on both of Loki's shoulders.
"Now you listen here, Loki. You are my son, and I love you. You are just as important a member of this family as any of us."
Loki frowned and looked down at the floor, unresponsive to her words. Sighing to herself, Frigga then picked Loki up and placed him on the floor before grabbing his hand.
"Let me show you something."
His curiosity piqued, Loki consented to Frigga leading him away from the learning hall and to a different part of the palace. Arriving in Frigga's chambers, they then walked to a door that led to a small room that had nothing but a circular well at the centre. There was an overhead hole in the ceiling that allowed for sunlight to pour directly on to the water. Frigga closed the door behind them once they were inside the room.
"I've never been here," said Loki.
"It's my secret," said Frigga. "No one but I, your Father, and now you know about it."
Placing his hands on the stone, Loki looked at his reflection in the water. Raising an eyebrow, he then looked at Frigga in dismay.
"A well is your secret?" he asked, unconvinced.
"No. Not the well. The secret is what I can do with it."
Weaving her hands in much the same way as she did at the learning hall, a few strands of green energy then materialized between Frigga's palms. She then reached out with her left hand, and the green energy strands fell into the water, pooling themselves together and lighting up the entire well. Loki's eyes widened with surprise as the water then showed an image of Odin working with Thor and the other children in the palace courtyard.
Smiling, Frigga knelt next to her son and took his hand in hers.
"Tell me . . . . what do you see?"
"It's . . . . it's . . . . Father. And Thor, and . . . . this is happening right now!"
"Yes, my son. With one of my spells, I can use this well to see whatever I want. I think of a place, I cast the spell . . . . and there it is. A window to anywhere in the universe."
"Wow."
Frigga gestured for Loki to turn his head and face her.
"Loki, I know you feel different. I know that . . . . sometimes it seems that all the focus is on your brother. It is true that he has a remarkable responsibility before him. But just because you are not the heir to the throne does not mean that you are not important, or that you are not loved."
Loki inhaled as he listened to Frigga speak.
"Thor has his gifts, yes, but you have yours. I know you have been spending time in the library, reading about ancient tomes and magic. From now on, I will spend time with you and teach you how to use them. Just you and I."
Frigga massaged Loki's cheek with her hand.
"I know most Asgardians value strength over magic. I know that sometimes . . . . the world might seem like it does not appreciate your gifts. But I do, and I will help you any way I can, because you are my son."
Sniffling, Loki finally allowed a smile to form on his face. Frigga returned it and pulled him closer, kissing him on the forehead.
That night, the moonlight was as calming as ever as it melted its way into the royal bedchambers. Frigga finished tucking Loki into his bed, while Thor was in the bed next to his. Thor's crimson sheets stood in stark contrast to Loki's viridian ones. Frigga ran her fingers through Loki's hair as she sat next to him.
"Mother!" called Thor.
Frigga looked over at him.
"Yes?"
"Can you please tell a story before bedtime?!"
"Yes, please," added Loki. "A good story."
"Yes, one about someone with great courage," said Thor.
Frigga rubbed her hand against her chin for a moment.
"Hmmm. Alright, alright. One story before bed."
"Yes!" said Thor and Loki in unison, before they laughed at each other.
"But that is all," said Frigga. "Just one."
Thor and Loki both nodded in understanding. Frigga then started her story, still sitting on Loki's bed.
"A story of great courage . . . . well, I suppose that makes me think of your grandfather, the mighty King Bor. He was a kind and wise king, but that was not what he was remembered for. No . . . . he was remembered for his skill on the battlefield, and how he used that skill in darker days, against one of the most powerful villains in the history of the Nine Realms."
Thor grinned widely as Frigga spoke. Loki was more reserved, but listened intently to his mother's words.
"For long ago, almost fifty thousand years now, there was a great war between the Light and Dark Elves. I know not the reason for it starting, nor how long it went on. However, I do know that Asgard eventually came to the aid of the forces of Alfheim when a terrible master of dark magic came to power against them . . . . I speak of Malekith the Accursed."
Both Thor and Loki shuddered at the mention of so horrifying a name.
"He was more wicked than any Elf had ever dared to be . . . . so vile was he that he willingly bonded with the terrible power of the Aether, an ancient force of unquantifiable destruction, just so that he could wage war against our people."
Loki glanced at Thor, who seemed utterly entranced by the story.
"The battle was long and bloody, but finally, Bor confronted Malekith atop Brigandir, the fiendish tower at the heart of the kingdom of the Dark Elves. Bor nearly sacrificed himself, but he managed to, at long last, and at great cost, vanquish the villain. With their military leader lost, the Dark Elves surrendered, accepting defeat . . . . and they have not waged war on anyone ever since."
"Wow," said Thor, clearly impressed.
"Mother," said Loki, clearly not quite satisfied. "What happened to Malekith?"
Frigga considered his question for a moment.
"As I understand, he was severely punished for his failure by his people. He received a blood curse upon him, hence his title. He would be forever imprisoned along with a handful of his followers, sentenced to an eternity in a state of half-death. He would only awaken upon someone using the power of the Aether to release him . . . . so the legend says."
Loki blinked and nodded at his mother's answer. She then stood up and walked to the door.
"Goodnight, my sons. Sleep well."
"Goodnight, mother," they said in unison.
Frigga closed the door behind her. Thor was asleep within minutes, but rest would not come easy to Loki that night. Rather, he laid awake for many hours, pondering the story of Malekith as he was bathed by the pale moonlight.