Chapters 11:Avengers In Asgard Part 3
The Hulk's charge actually startled Ulik. It had been a long time since he had faced an enemy such as this, whose battle rage was very much like that of the Trolls themselves. Ulik barely had time to brace his wide, splayed feet and even then, when The Hulk slammed into him, Ulik's two toed feet dug deep trenches into the rocky ground underfoot as he was forced backwards about sixty feet before he could dig in and halt himself.
Ulik's hands went up to grasp The Hulk's thick wrists and keep those great gray fists from pounding his skull into paste. The sweltering hot breath of The Hulk was like air venting from a furnace in Hell itself. With a roar, Ulik smashed his thick skulled head into The Hulk's nose. Red blood gushed as if pouring from a garden hose turned on full and the gray skinned goliath stumbled backwards, roaring. Ulik leaped forward desperately. If he could take this monster by surprise and get in one punishing blow-
-but The Hulk was too canny a fighter to be taken like that. His right fist came up in a beautiful uppercut that caught Ulik squarely under his bearded chin and the troll's head exploded with pain as he was thrown up into the air, tumbling over and over. The Hulk, blood smearing the lower half of his face galloped on all fours like a mad bull and just before Ulik hit the ground, rammed into the troll with such an impact that Ulik's vision went totally black as he speeded across the cavern like an expertly hit tennis ball to collide with a stalactite. A section of the stony ceiling collapsed on the troll warrior with an awesome roar of shattering rock and great gouts of dust.
Wiping away ropy drools of blood from his chin with a thickly muscled forearm, The Hulk stomped over to the pile of rock. "Get up outta there! I ain't finished with you! Not by a damn sight! GET UP!"
And Ulik came up in a storm of brittle rock that crumbled like ice, a pair of boulders in his hands that he brought together with The Hulk's head's right between them. The sound of the boulders being pulverized was horribly explosive and almost drowned out by The Hulk's howl of anguish. The man-monster dropped to his knees, choking from the cloud of dust enveloping his head, his face mangled and brutalized, his lips mashed and shredded. One ear was completely torn off and one of his eyes looked as if it had been pulped right in the socket. The Hulk rolled over on his side in agony, struggling to get back to his feet.
Ulik brought both of his fists down on The Hulk's back.
SNAP!
The Hulk bellowed in disbelief as his legs suddenly refused to work. He rolled over and one fist swept out to catch Ulik in the stomach. Even a glancing blow from The Incredible Hulk was enough to double the rock troll over as air was forcibly driven out of his squat body. Ulik stumbled backwards. It was enough time for The Hulk to wrench himself to his feet. Everything from the waist down was white-hot agony. Ulik had broken something, The Hulk could feel it. But he could still fight and he'd rip the ugly head right off this bastard before he-
-Ulik gave him no time, coming in low and fast like a linebacker, his fists pounding into The Hulk's midsection. The Hulk reached down and grabbed Ulik by the head and drove his knee up into the troll warrior's face. Ulik grunted, shook it off and one hand went upwards to grab The Hulk by the crotch and his other hand caught The Hulk by the throat. With a surge of massive muscles, Ulik actually lifted The Hulk completely up off his feet and hurled him some eight hundred feet across the cavern. The sounds of rock smashing to bits as the blocky form of The Hulk careened through the cavern, tearing through stalactites and stalagmites as if they were tissue paper echoed and re-echoed through the gigantic underground chamber. The entire cave, weakened by the battle between the two titanic adversaries groaned like a tired old man trying to walk up a steep flight of stairs. Crazily zigzagging cracks in the ceiling appeared, tons of dirt pouring down through the fractures.
Ulik stalked toward the prone from of The Hulk, who was lying on his back, unmoving. Ulik's hideous face was twisted in what another troll would have recognized as a grin of triumph. The monster had been a worthy foe. Ulik would honor him with a swift and merciful death as a sign of the respect Ulik had for him. And then he would find the mortals the monster had defended and slay them quickly, before they had a chance to release The Asgardians. Ulik stood over The Hulk, looking down at the giant gray form that was so unmoving, so still. Ulik bent down, his hands reaching for The Hulk's throat-
-The Hulk suddenly lunged upwards, exploding into action, his enormous gray hands moving with a speed that was uncanny. Ulik gasped and tried to leap backwards but it was too late. The Hulk had wrapped his hands in Ulik's tangled mass of a beard and with a tremendous yank, jerked the troll warrior off his feet. The Hulk whipped Ulik and down into the ground with a BA-WHOOM! that made the cavern vibrate.
The cracks in the ceiling grew even wider and now rivers of boiling golden-red lava were pouring into the cave, turning the underground chamber into a replica of Hell. The Hulk turned a dazed Ulik over and the troll warrior was amazed to see that The Hulk's ear had apparently grown back and the ruined eye was now whole and along with the other one was glaring down at him with madness tinged fury.
"Thou be some sort of demon!" Ulik roared.
"Got that right," The Hulk grunted and lifted Ulik high over his head. He brought Ulik down on his bended right knee and the sound of Ulik's back breaking was as loud as the scream torn from the troll's tortured throat.
And that was when the ceiling gave way and a flood of scalding lava poured onto The Hulk and Ulik, covering both of them in an eye blink.
"Explain to me why Odin would have a giant sword that can end the universe if it's ever drawn, Thor." Captain America asked. He was running at the side of The God of Thunder as they made their way through the cathedral like corridors of Gladsheim. The vaulted ceiling above Captain America's head was so high that he got dizzy if he tried to se how far up it went so he stopped trying. The ceilings and floors were dazzling enough in their barbaric splendor.
"Mayhap if we survive this strange and mournful day we may sit together over mead and mulled wine and I will tell thee the story of The Odin Sword, Captain. But there be not time for such tales now!" Indeed, Captain America had rarely seen Thor look so grim. Captain America knew that his immortal teammate was given to hyperbole and bombastic pronouncements and had at first taken Thor's statement about The Odin Sword to be such. But the urgency in Thor's every movement bespoke of a truth behind The Thunderer's words too horrible to imagine.
"There be the chamber of The Odin Sword!" Thor charged forward, his brawny shoulder striking the double golden doors inscribed with the sigil of All Father Odin and the door parted as if they were made of no more than balsa wood.
The chamber of The Odin Sword was smaller than Captain America would have thought. He had quickly gotten used to everything in Asgard being outrageously oversized. But the chamber was ridiculously simple: a long, tunnel like room with a curved ceiling. A gigantic scabbarded sword, easily some eight hundred feet long was suspended by hundreds of thick black chains from the ceiling. The links were easily as thick as one of Captain America's own considerably muscled thighs.
Who in the world could wield a sword that size? Captain America wondered in amazement. And then he snapped back into combat mode and leaped out of the way as a sizzling bolt of mystic energy pulverized the spot he had been standing into ash.
"Curse thee, foul mortal! Curse thee and all thy misbegotten kind!" Enrakt The Enchanter stood atop The Odin Sword, outlined in a shifting, blazing corona of pure magical energy. "Whatever be my fate I swear I shall end this day with thy death!"
Thor hurled Mjolnir that sped straight and true as always and slammed into the protective corona around Enrakt.
KRAKA-WHOOOM!
Enrakt stumbled backwards, visibly shaken but still on his feet as Mjolnir bounced off his protective shields and curved away to the right and back to Thor's waiting hand. "The Odin Ring may be lost to me but still have I The Living Talisman!" And yes, the cracked gray talisman was on Enrakt's chest, its stony lips twisted in a sneer of defiance as if poured its considerable mystic might into the body of its host.
"We've got to take the fight to him, Thor!"
"Stand thee back, Captain! Thou are no match for an Enchanter! Let Thor take the brunt of this battle!"
True to his word, Thor leaped forward with an agility that even Captain America envied and he brought down Mjolnir in a devastating blow on Enrakt's shields. The chamber lit up with a multicolored burst as the mystic forces of The Living Talisman and of Mjolnir conflicted as they struggled one to overcome the other. Captain America squinted as he struggled to see what was going on.
BA-DOOOOOM!
The sudden surge of power threw Thor up and out in a curving arc, his body smoking as he crashed into the stone floor, dazed. He still clutched Mjolnir in one sinewy fist but it was obvious that he was out of the fight until he could clear his head. But Enrakt wasn't going to waste time gloating about his temporary victory over Thor. He bent down and stretched out a hand. Sizzling energies surrounded his fingers as tendrils of magical power extended and wrapped around the ornate golden hilt of The Odin Sword.
"No!" Thor howled. "Thou knowest not what thou do!"
Enrakt's hysterical laughter was tinged with insanity as he screamed back; "Do I not, Odinson? Do I truly not know?"
And The Odin Sword ever so slowly began to slide from the giant scabbard.
Captain America dropped to his knees in agony. Somewhere deep in his soul he could feel the death of two thousand solar systems and every living being that inhabited those untold millions of worlds. The horror he felt was only matched by the horror he had felt during some of the darkest days of his World War II service when he had spent eight weeks helping to liberate concentration camps in Poland. And he knew what he had to do, even if it cost him his life.
Captain America sprang forwards and upwards, bringing his shield down on Enrakt's shoulder, hoping against hope that the protective spell Loki had placed on him was still in effect. If it was, maybe his could do some serious damage to The Enchanter. At least enough to buy Thor some time to recover-
-the shield bounced off Enrakt's shoulder as if it were a trash can lid without doing any damage at all. And then, Enrakt's free hand was around Captain America's throat, cutting off his wind as effectively as if a concrete plug had been shoved down The Star Spangled Avenger's throat.
"I will take my time peeling the flesh from thy bones, mortal dog," Enrakt whispered. "But first, I think I shall allow thee to watch the death of the universe…"
…and The Odin Sword trembled as it continued to slide free of the scabbard…
It seemed as if the wide stone steps they were descending would go on forever. The Wasp was flying, naturally. And thanks to his ten-foot tall height, Goliath easily cleared thirty to forty steps with every stride. And since Loki was riding on his shoulder, he didn't slow them down at all. But it still seemed to take them an age before they got to the bottom of the stone staircase. A pair of imposing pillars flanked the bottom of the staircase and an arching tunnel before them seemed to invite them to enter its Stygian blackness.
"Where are we, Loki?" The Wasp demanded.
"The lowest dungeons in Asgard. Even Odin ceased using these dungeons, so far beneath the surface were they. I'd thought they'd been forgotten." The God of Mischief. "The Enchanters were imprisoned here the first time they attempted to conquer Asgard. No doubt it amused them to imprison my fellow Asgardians down here."
The stench was overpowering and rats as large as Dobermans skulked in the gloom. Loki turned his eyeless face on the rats and whatever they saw there gave them cause to scurry away, squeaking in panic. "Come," Loki said imperiously. "We must make haste." He started forward, the unlit torches on the curving, slimy walls bursting into flaming life as he passed. Goliath and The Wasp swapped uneasy looks.
"Seem to me as if Loki's getting more confident the deeper we go," Goliath muttered. "What do you want to do?"
"What can we do? We've committed ourselves to a course of action and we've got to play it out to the end." The Wasp impulsively flew over and kissed Goliath on his cheek. "But I'm sure we can handle it together, big guy."
Goliath smiled, somewhat embarrassed. Even though they had talked it out and The Wasp had insisted she was okay with Bill Foster wearing a variation of the Goliath costume worn by Henry Pym and Bill's using the Goliath name, he was still a bit uneasy. It hadn't been all that long ago that Henry Pym had died in combat at the hands of the mad mechanoid Ultron. The two Avengers followed Loki as he proceeded down the tunnel. Goliath followed closely, the top of his helmeted head barely brushing the top of the tunnel. With a mental command he reduced his height by about a foot to give himself some more room.
They came to a massive ironbound door that was covered in grayish moss. Goliath grunted; "Looks like something out of a Sinbad movie. The Asgardians are behind there, Loki?"
"Aye. Canst thou get us past the door, giant?"
Goliath charged forward like a defensive linebacker and his shoulder struck the door with a satisfying KABOOOM! And it flew off the huge rusty hinges. "Like that?"
"Aye."
The trio carefully entered the dungeon. It was a gigantic stone tomb that seemed saturated with darkness and despair. Loki waved a hand and huge braziers filled with chunks of coal burst into bright flaming life, illuminating the chamber. The Wasp and Goliath could only stare in amazement at the dozens and dozens of rows of black stone columns that stood like eerie signposts. Goliath whirled on Loki. "What kinda game you playing with us, Loki? Where are The Asgardians?"
Loki pointed at the black stone columns. "There they be, giant. The Enchanters, using the power of The Odin Ring were able to imprison The Asgardians into the stone columns you see here. But if my oafish brother and his mortal dog have completed their task-"
"Watch your mouth, Loki," The Wasp snapped.
"-if my oafish brother and his mortal dog have completed their task then I shall be able to break the spell. I cannot do so while The Enchanters possess The Odin Ring. Considerable though the power of Loki be still it cannot match that of The Odin Ring."
"You mean the mighty God of Mischief admits that there is something he cannot do?' The Wasp mocked, flitting around Loki's head. "I must mark this date down in my day planner when I get back to Earth."
The sudden hullabaloo of noise in the corridor outside caught the attention of Goliath and he went back outside the dungeon. Behind the compound crimson lenses of his helmet, his eyes widened in surprise at the army of troll warrior charging down the stairs. He ducked his head back inside the dungeon. "INCOMING!" he bellowed.
"Then do thou the task thou were entrusted with!" Loki snapped. "I need but a few minutes to craft the spell and release my fellow gods! Canst thou do it or not?"
Goliath cracked giant knuckles. He reached down and picked up the ironbound door he had knocked off the hinges. "Do your job, Loki and I'll do mine. C'mon, Jan!"
Goliath held the door in front of him and The Wasp as they went back out into the long hallway. "No matter what, we've gotta buy Loki enough time to do his thing! Agreed?"
The Wasp's answer was non-verbal. She let loose with a full power double handed bioelectric blast right in the middle of the swarming hoard of troll warriors heading at the two Avengers, all of them screaming in one ragged raw voice full of bloodlust: "Death to the Gods of Asgard! Death to all who oppose The Trolls! Death! DEATH! DEATH!!!!"
Goliath charged the trolls, holding the door in front of him and they slammed into each other with such force that The Wasp clearly heard bones popping and snapping as the troll warrior were forced back. But only for about ten seconds. And then they were swarming over the door and clambering all over Goliath like cockroaches. Goliath swept out one huge arm, slamming a dozen troll warriors against one wall which they stuck to for a couple of seconds before sliding to the mossy wet floor, leading broad bloody smears on the cracked stone. Goliath swung the door which splintered and snapped as it collided with the bodies of the trolls, scattered them, sending them flying.
A troll warrior stabbed a rusty blade deep into Goliath's side. Goliath let go of the door, snatched the troll from his side and flung him like a bowling ball into the hoard of his fellow warriors, bowling them over. Another troll scampered up Goliath's leg, up his side and back. He stood on Goliath's shoulder and lifted his iron mace, intending to bring it squarely down on top of Goliath's head.
The Wasp blasted the troll warrior full in the face with a bioelectric blast. The troll toppled over backwards, his face a mass of crisped, smoking flesh. Goliath brought the remains of the door smashing down on a group of trolls. "Jan! Fall back to the dungeon! Make sure that Loki's-"
"No! I'm not leaving you!"
"Dammit, Janet-"
"Either Loki's doing it or not! And if he's not I'm not powerful enough to make him do it! Either way I'm not leaving you!"
And then there was no more time for talk. The troll warriors were too numerous and poured over Goliath and The Wasp, swords, battleaxes and maces glittering in the torchlight.
Captain America's vision was nearly black. He could not feel his legs or arms and it seemed as if he could hear the sweet voice of his long dead mother bidding him to go to sleep…to sleep…to sleep…
Suddenly Enrakt let Captain America go and The Star Spangled Avenger fell to his knees, drawing in great lungfuls of life giving air. His vision cleared almost immediately and what he saw made his sky blue eyes widened in astonishment.
Iron Man was hovering over Enrakt, pounding full power repulsor rays into The Enchanter. Enrakt had been taken completely by surprise and was knocked off The Odin Sword. He fell heavily onto his back and Iron Man continued the barrage, giving Enrakt no time to counter attack.
Thor charged in, Mjolnir held high. "Cease thy attack, Iron Man!" he commanded and his teammate immediately complied. Thor brought Mjolnir down right on The Living Talisman, whose stone face was contorted in utter terror.
The Odin Sword chamber was filled with the purest silver light that Captain America had ever seen and his brain felt as if it were being split in two by a razor sharp sword of ice as The Living Talisman screamed.
And then, it was painfully silent. Captain America got to his feet and retrieved his shield. He walked over to join Thor and Iron Man who were standing over the unconscious Enrakt. The Living Talisman lived no more. Thor's final blow with Mjolnir had shattered the evil icon into powder.
Iron Man turned his head toward his friends. "I imagine I arrived at just the right time?"
"That doesn't being to describe it, mister! I'm amazed you're here at all! How'd you get your armor to working again?"
"I didn't. All of suddenly, everything just came back on-line. I homed into the tracking chips in your communicards. You and Thor were closer than Goliath and The Wasp so I checked you guys out first."
Captain America was rubbing his sore neck. "I'm glad you did."
Thor turned and walked over to The Odin Sword, putting the Odin Ring on his finger as he did so. "It must have been Brona or Magnir who placed a spell on thy armor, Iron Man. Once they were defeated their spells became null." Thor placed the hand that wore The Odin Ring against the pommel of The Odin Sword and with one surge, shoved the giant sword firmly back into the scabbard. "And that, my friends, is that."
"Not quite," Iron Man said. "What about Goliath, The Wasp and The Hulk?
Goliath and The Wasp were overcome and the trolls were holding them down. The Wasp had been struck with a lucky blow from a mace and had spontaneously returned to her full size. The disgusting hands of the trolls freely roamed over her shapely form. The Wasp raged and snarled as she struggled in their grip.
"Kill the giant and keep the woman! She has much spirit and should be good for some sport before we feed her to the children!"
Goliath was held down by at least twenty trolls. One leaped on his chest and lifted up a huge battleaxe. The chipped, bloodstained blade slowly was raised. The troll warrior holding it was drooling in anticipation as he brought it down.
CLANG!
The axe stopped just bare inches from Goliath's nose, halted in its deadly course by a broadsword of purest silver that shone as if forged from moonlight. It was held in the hand of a tall Asgardian warrior resplendent in crimson and gold armor. His clear eyes locked onto those of the troll with utter fearlessness. The other trolls crowding the corridor drew back, a single name rumbling among them in a hushed, fearful whisper;
"Balder!"
And he was not alone. Standing to his left in her armor of crimson and white was Sif, her black eyes smoldering with righteous rage. At Balder's left stood The Warriors Three: Fandral, Hogun and the voluminous Volstagg. And they were not alone. Emerging from the dungeon with their weapons drawn and lust for battle in their hearts was the assembled Gods of Asgard. Their regal bearing filling the dank, smell corridor with light and glory. Balder's lips barely opened as he uttered a single word to the trolls:
"Run."
And run they did. Climbing over the bodies of their injured, clambering over the shoulders of their slower fellows, the trolls fought each other in a mad stampede to get as far away as they could from their hated foes. They saw the look of the faces of the Asgardians and knew that this was not the day to pick a fight with them. Another day, perhaps. But most certainly not today.
The Wasp shakily got to her feet as Sif helped her up. "By Odin's Beard! Janet! How come you and your giant companion here? Is Thor with thee? Where be he?"
"It's a long story, Sif. And I'll be happy to tell it to you. But for right now…could somebody find me a good stiff drink?
The Chamber of Justice in Gladsheim was where Odin sat in judgment over those who transgressed against The Golden Realm. And in his absence it fell to his son to perform this task. Silver chandeliers that floated of their own accord lighted the hall of blackest onyx and bright gold. Before the Throne of Justice, fashioned in the shape of a gigantic eagle three forms were on their knees, divested of their proud armor and bound with chains. Thor wore The Odin Ring on his left hand. He was not well versed in the magical arts but he knew enough to strip The Enchanters of their mystical might. They were helpless and they knew it.
Thor had directed The Warriors Three to ride throughout the land and tell the hidden citizens of Asgard that they could return to their homes and that The God of Thunder sat on The All Father's throne. Shortly it would be known that once again Asgard was under rightful rule. The Chamber of Justice was filled with The Gods of Asgard who waited to see what Thor would do with those who had used them so cruelly.
The Avengers stood on Thor's right and there was none among The Asgardians who said word one about mere mortals standing on such a sacred place. They owed these mortals a debt such as they would never be able to repay and they knew it. If any had earned the place they now occupied, they most certainly had.
The voice of Thor was a low dangerous rumble as he said; "What punishment be fit enough for such as these?"
"Give them to me, Odinson!" Amora The Enchantress cried, her voice quivering with indignation. "I promise thee their suffering shall become the stuff of legend!"
"Nay. Let me have them, Thor." Tyr said in that horribly threatening voice of his that made even his fellow Asgardians fearful. "I have learned much of certain arts that I have never had occasion to practice. This carrion would make perfect fodder."
Thor stood over The Enchanters, his towering rage an almost tangible thing. "If not for one thing I would slay thee three with mine own hand and lose not a minute of night's slumber over the deed. But in the absence of All Father Odin thou art the only ones who have knowledge of our hidden foes, these Tegarthu Dalo. For this reason alone thou must be kept alive. Enchantress! Executioner! Step forward!"
The beautiful golden haired Enchantress and the towering cobalt blue armored form of Skurge The Executioner stepped forward. "Enemies of Thor thou hast been in the past but thou were imprisoned with the rest of the noble gods of Asgard and I can think of none better to guard yon prisoners than thee. Wilt thou accept this charge and give me thy word thou will perform thy duties with all willingness?"
"All is past, Thunder God." The Executioner said, glaring black murder at The Enchanters. "I will happily guard these curs until such time as you release me from the task."
"As do I!" The Enchantress agreed.
"Then take them away and secure them in the same dungeons in which they held thee and the others. And hearken to the words of Thor; they must be kept alive and in condition to answer my questions. Aside from that-" the sudden smile on Thor's lips was not entirely pleasant. "-thou mayest…indulge thyselves."
The howls, threats and curses of The Enchanters as they were dragged away to their fate were impressive in their volume and variety. The great black doors closed shut as The Executioner and Enchantress busily made plans as to the exquisite tortures they would practice on their victims.
Iron Man chuckled. "I would have never suspected you had such a nasty streak, Thor."
"'Tis good to know that I can still surprise thee, my friend. Now there but be two matters to resolve: What has become of my brother Loki?"
The Wasp spread her hands as she said, "we looked for him after Balder and The Asgardians rescued us from the trolls. But he was gone."
"No doubt once his work was done he used a spell to whisk himself away." Thor shrugged wide shoulders. "It will be some time before I hear from him. The injuries to his flesh are as nothing to the injuries inflicted on his pride."
"That's a good thing, right?" Goliath asked.
Thor shook his head. "At such a time as this, with our father missing and unknown enemies plotting against Asgard this be not the time for brothers to bicker and argue. Loki and I have put aside our differences for the greater good of safeguarding The Realm Eternal in the past and I would fain do it this time as well." Thor waved a hand as if to dismiss the subject and continued; "Hast aught been seen of The Hulk or his mortal host?"
"The last time we saw The Hulk he was fighting one of those trolls," Goliath answered. "A really big troll. Called himself Ulik. Banner turned into The Hulk to buy us time to get away. If it hadn't been for him holding back Ulik we'd have never made it. Whatever else, we owe The Hulk for that."
Thor nodded. "We must begin a search immediately for the brute. I shall-"
The black doors of The Chamber of Justice opened with a thunderous BOOM! and The Asgardians drew back at the incredible figure that stomped into the chamber, making the entire room vibrate with ever step.
His skin burned black and still smoking; The Incredible Hulk marched straight ahead toward The Avengers. Over one shoulder was draped the immobile, unconscious form of Ulik, also burned to a crisp. The Asgardians whispered in amazement as they watched The Hulk's skin regenerate right before their eyes, his hair growing back out of the scalp. Huge patches of charred flesh dropped off as new flesh regrew. By the time The Hulk reached the dais where The Eagle Throne rested, he was once again his surly gray-skinned self.
With one contemptuous heave, he dumped the charcoal colored body of Ulik at the base of the dais. "Got somptin' fer ya ta flush down yer toilet, Goldilocks." The Hulk looked at Captain America and The Wasp. "Whatever else, ya can't say that The Hulk didn't pull his weight on this one."
Captain America smiled. "Got that right."
The Hulk grunted. Suddenly he weaved and his entire blocky body spasmed. He started his collapse to the gleaming floor as The Hulk but finished it as Bruce Banner. The Avengers ran to the side of the unconscious man. The Wasp turned him over and gasped, "Oh, no! He can't be dead!"
"He's not," Iron Man said. "My armor's sensors detect weak life signs. He could use medical attention." He turned to Thor. "I had hoped to stick around for the party, but-"
"But thou must return in haste to Earth with our valiant teammate. I understand."
The Wasp stood up as Goliath picked up the unconscious Bruce Banner. "But you're coming back with us, aren't you, Thor?"
Thor walked down the steps of the dais. "Nay, Janet. How can I leave my people and my father's throne empty? The God of Thunder must stay. I must find my father and I must uncover the secret of the Tegarthu Dalo. My responsibilities are clear: I must remain in Asgard."
The Wasp wrapped her arms around as much of Thor's massive torso as she could. So short was she and so tall was he that the top of her head barely came up to the base of his breastbone. "I'm going to miss you so much, Thor! Take care of yourself and come back to us as soon as you can!"
"I shall miss thee mightily as well, Janet. I shall miss all of thee. " Thor kissed the top of her head and walked forward to clasp forearms with both Captain America and Iron Man. "Keep Midgard safe."
Captain America nodded. "If you need us again, you know where we are."
Thor turned and nodded to Goliath. "Thou hast done Henry Pym proud this day, William Foster. Thou hast earned the name of Goliath with the honor, nobility and courage befitting a true Avenger."
"I'm honored by your words, Thor. Really. Thanks, man."
He lifted Mjolnir in salute. "Asgardians! Give all due honor to the finest of mortal champions! The true friends and boon companions of The God of Thunder! All hail THE MIGHTY AVENGERS!"
The great hall was filled with the din of war cries, swords clattering against shields, spears stamped on the floor. Cheer and cheer rang out again and again.
Thor extended the hand that wore The Odin Ring as it glowed with eldritch power. "And now, by the sacred power of The Odin Ring I send thee back to Earth, my friends. Know that you take with thee the gratitude of Thor and all The Gods of Asgard. You have our friendship forever. And for eons to come in song and story this shall be known as the day when AVENGERS walked in Asgard!"
A bolt of energy speared from The Odin Ring and engulfed The Avengers in a golden burst.
It faded and they were gone.
But the cheers continued for long afterwards.