Chapter Thirteen
It took longer than you had expected to get to where Loki had given you directions to. Gungnir was difficult to manoeuvre through the smaller stairwells and as soon as you reached a public hallway, you were forced into combat, thankfully as well as being able to focus the wielders magic; it was a fairly formidable weapon in a fight. Finally you reached the rendezvous point, only to see each of the warriors were somewhat dishevelled and with some slight injuries.
"About time." Cnut snarled, not taking the time to look at you properly. "Did you take your sweet time so not to fall in your shoes?"
"Actually I was busy being choked by Malekith, forgive me for not telling him to hurry on somewhat." You retorted.
Volstagg checked your neck. "You will live, but I dare say talking is no easy task, and you will have some marking for several days."
"Thor's hold was stronger, though thankfully his nails do not resemble claws." You jested. "I believe you were looking for this." You smiled, holding out Gungnir for Loki to take.
Loki nodded, taking the staff. His fingers touched over yours for a brief moment, causing you to shiver slightly. Loki cocked his head as he looked to the other side of your face from where Volstagg had inspected. "What happened your neck?" He demanded.
"I just stated, Malekith choked me." You repeated. "Volstagg just commented that it is bruised."
"Not that, the other marking." His finger tips slid over the mark he was speaking of, which was slightly hidden under your damp, loose hair and you gasped as a bolt of pain shot through you as he did so, causing you to shy away from his touch. "He has used some sort of old magic on you." He growled.
"He did this odd thing to see if I was you in disguise because of the colour of the dress, it felt odd, but it did not hurt as that did." You went to rub the area again only for it to once more become painful, though for the brief moment you had touched it, you could tell the skin was raised.
"I am unsure as to if any can heal it fully. He is the most powerful of all the Dark Elves." Loki frowned.
"I'll survive." You shrugged. "Or I will if we ever get the Destroyer."
The momentary distraction now forgotten, everyone jumped to their feet. "This way." Thor ordered, and all followed.
"You are not dressed in a manner that suits the rest of this mission." Hogun stated factually, looking at the dress.
By the time you even looked down, the dress had changed and you were looking at the hound donned breastplate once more. You looked to Loki and thanked him, he merely nodded and continued on.
The air around you got increasingly cooler the more steps you descended as you were going into the bowels of the great palace, until you came to a large door, with no handle, hinge or lock. Loki tapped Gungnir against the ground once, and it disappeared. As you walked through, your mouth dropped.
The room was surely almost the size of the entire palace above it; it was a vast empty space bar the single path that led directly to a small room within the centre of it. The chamber was suspended by what you assumed had to be magic over what appeared to be a bottomless hole. The group walked straight toward the room, without saying anything as they continued on. As they approached it, two Einharjar walked out with weapons raised, on seeing the princes, they relaxed visibly and lowered their swords.
"Has there been anything to report here?" Thor asked.
"No sir, none have seemingly found their way here." One guard replied.
"Malekith and Laufey were asking your mother to give up the Casket's location, she refused." You informed them.
"Of course she did, she would die before telling them anything." Loki smiled proudly.
"Loki." Thor called, causing Loki to step forward into the large chamber. Inside there were many great weapons, some of which you had read or heard about from Asgard's great wars, but at the back of the chamber, on a pedestal was a large glowing blue cube, you could only assume it was the Casket. Behind it there was a wall that seemed more like a portcullis. Loki stood not too far from it, looking passed the Casket and tapped Gungnir against the ground once more. The odd gate began to dissolve, and with large clanking footsteps, came a large fully armoured being, far taller than any Æsir, and almost as large as a Jötunn, the Destroyer.
The warriors chuckled in relief as the great weapon continued to walk forward, giving it the space necessary to get by, it walked from the vault and along the stone bridge path and toward the exit.
"Brother, you have done well." Thor complimented.
"When have I ever not?" Loki smiled in return.
"That will surely help us." Cnut sighed in relief.
"You know what will help more, us getting our own pelts up there and helping." You stated, walking back toward the door.
"I liked her as a man; I like her even more so as a woman." Fandral stated as he watched you leave.
"Are you really going to try and seduce her in the middle of a full scale war?" Volstagg queried in disbelief.
"Have you taken leave of your senses man, I would never dream of trying such a thing, she is a formidable fighter and an even more formidable mind." The blonde stated. "She makes a great point; we are missing all the fun here." He smiled, drawing his sword and walking out also. The others quickly followed suit.
The kingdom was almost in utter ruin as the Destroyer lived to it title and destroyed everything that stood in its path that was not of Asgard and her allies. The armies of Alfheim and Vanaheim also descended on the Realm Eternal, and some very strategic lightning bolts from Mjolnir on Thor's command did their fair share of destruction on the enemy also.
You stood on the high balcony of the palace, looking down at the battle below with Loki and Frigga by your side. From that vantage point you were capable of seeing every weakness in your enemies' ranks, as well as instruct the prevention of flaws in your own. The Queen and prince used their seidr to ensure that your messages were given to only those whom they were meant for. On more than one occasion, all three of you had to fight off some Jötnar and Dark Elves that had some way or another gotten up to the balcony, but they were easily disposed of.
The battle was fierce and exhausting; it was long into the darkness of night when finally the remaining Jötnar and Dark Elves surrendered. They were swiftly rounded up and sent to the dungeons as Thor and Loki decided what to do with them. Laufey had met his demise thanks to Loki during the battle, and Malekith lay clinging to his life as a result of Thor. It was decided that their highest generals that were still alive were to be beheaded in the morn, and the remaining soldiers would remain and serve sentences in the great dungeon.
Exhausted, you crashed again the first wall you came across inside the palace, and slid to the floor. If you ever saw a bed again, you were convinced you would never leave it.
"It is done." The Queen smiled in relief, cupping her younger son's face in her hands and leaning up to kiss his forehead. You smiled to yourself as you watched the display, saying nothing to break their moment. Thor soon joined them and the Queen repeated the action to the even taller son.
"This is yours now brother." Loki stated, held out Gungnir to Thor. "I mean, Your Majesty."
"Loki, I have no business holding that staff, I cannot wield it to its full potential, nor can I ever strive to. It obeys you even better than it ever obeyed father, it is clear it is yours now. I have Mjolnir, she is loyal to me, and I to her." Thor answered.
"Very well, I have to admit, I look good with it." Loki stuck out his chest smugly as he spoke.
Unable to remain silent, you snorted a laugh, bringing the family's attention to you. "We owe you the gratitude of all of Asgard." Thor declared walking over to you.
"You don't remember my name, do you?" you laughed.
"I…" He rubbed the back of his neck dejectedly.
Loki laughed. "El, he is right, we could never have succeeded but for you."
"You better believe it, you owe me one hell of a consignment of mead at this stage." You smiled, not even caring that he called you that ridiculous name.
"I may as well do as I threatened before and give over Asgard's whole supply."
You stood up slowly, every ounce of your body aching, pulling your sweat drenched hair from your face.
"What in the Nine?" the smile fell from Frigga's face as she noticed the marking on your neck. "We need to have Eir look at this." She ordered.
"It's after spreading." Loki noted coming forward. "It is about to reach your face."
You slid your hand up, again the sharp pain shot through you. "It still hurts like Hel too." You hissed.
"What is it?" Frigga asked.
"Apparently Malekith caused it." Loki explained.
Frigga gently turned your face so to look at it better. "It is the Darkest of Elvin magic, I can prevent the spread of it, but I fear it can never be removed, that scar will remain for eternity." She told you sadly.
"I am sure I will cope. I can speak and I can turn my head, so I am not impaired by it in any way." You dismissed.
Frigga's hands glowed golden as she held your face in her hands, a warming sensation filled you, but it was icy cold where the mark was, allowing you to feel its exact design, which it would appear, was in the shape of a lightning tree. It seemed to be from just under your jaw line to your collar bone. At the very tips of each piece, there was a slight pain telling you that the Queens magic was preventing it from going any further. "That will do it." The Queen stated confidently.
Slowly you reached for it again and touched on the skin. It was still raised, but you could actually rub your fingers over it. It would no doubt be a defining feature on you now, but you thought you would wear it with pride as your father had done regarding his arm. Bowing you thanked her Majesty.
The door opened and in came the Warrior's Three, exhausted looking, but none the less, cheerful.
"I can honestly say I have not had a battle like that in all my years." Declared Volstagg heartily.
"What of your family?" Fandral asked.
"They are safe; they were visiting my wife's family on Vanaheim. My brother told me not fifteen minutes ago, they are all well." He sighed in relief.
"Thank the Norns for such blessings." Thor stated solemnly, glad that his friend's children were safe away from the destruction.
"What now?" Hogun asked.
"We rebuild, and we remain strong." Thor ordered. "Asgard must show she is as powerful as ever, even after such an attack."
"Agreed." Loki added.
The group was silent for mere moments before the door swung open again. "There she is." Cnut pointed to you. Two Einharjar stepped forward, looking at you in full armour.
"What is the meaning of this Cnut?" Volstagg asked.
"She is a traitor, she is guilty of breaking the highest of laws in all of Asgard and she is to be punished accordingly." The Einharjar barked.
"She is not going to be punished." Thor stated.
"What?" Cnut's jaw opened.
"She is not going to be punished. I swore no harm would come to her, and none shall. She is the only reason Asgard remains standing. She saw the Ice beast and save your regimens lives, she is the reason you found us in the temple, she is the one who thought to block the portal, she is the one that again saved us from that beast, she helped convince me that our troubles were in Asgard not Svartalfheim, she saved my mothers maids, she got Gungnir, she dictated battle strategies to us, and she is why we are alive. She is Asgard's greatest warrior and our saviour." Thor stood to his full height, staring down at the now sheepish looking soldier. "And any who dare lay but one finger on her will suffer the most excruciating of deaths." He looked to the two guards as he spoke, immediately they backed away.
"But the law…" Cnut began.
"Is outdated." Thor finished. "It makes you think, were it not for that law, could Asgard have prevented wars, could more of our people and the people of our allies have been saved before now. How many women of great mind have we overlooked in our history?" Thor wondered aloud.
"He is speaking sense." Loki looked to his brother in disbelief.
"Yes, it's official, Ragnarok is upon us." You added. Thor looked at both you and Loki in bemusement as the warriors, the Queen and Loki laughed. "Thank you your Majesty, I am relieved you are a King of his word." You bowed.
"So what do we do first?" Fandral asked, looking around.
"First thing is first, we organise the dead and we prepare for a coronation, Asgard is in a fragile state now, it requires its King to show that it is still stable." Frigga ordered. "But for now, you need some rest. Eleonora, come, I shall show you to where you shall sleep tonight." You barely could move, yet you forced yourself to follow the Queen.