THE BEGINNING OF THE END

CHAPTER 10

"Princess?"

"Princess, are you alright?"

The voice persisted in her head. Diana's eyes fluttered open and she tried to focus. Her head pounded and she felt as if the room was still spinning. Something wet was being placed on her forehead. She pushed it off and tried to sit up.

"Gods! My head!"

"No. Lie down. Please, Your Highness, your have a terrible cut on your head and it needs attention."

Diana saw it was Cacia above her and she was lying on her bed. The guard was looking at her with real concern. Diana found the Lariat of Hestia lying curled up next to her.

Cacia was speaking. Diana had to struggle to focus on what she was saying. "I heard a commotion and by the time I came here, I saw you lying on the floor bound in the lasso. What happened, Your Highness? The corridor is in a mess. Was there a fight?"

Diana sat upright. "I must get home!"

She swayed and held her head. She felt dizzy. Cacia held her as if to steady her. "You need medical attention. Let me get you some water and clean that …"

Diana pushed her off. Her face was white. "No! I need to go home! Now!"

She grabbed the lasso and headed for the portal. She activated it and tripped into the long corridor of light, leaving Cacia confused and worried.

Diana appeared in the portal chamber. It was an oval room that was guarded to ensure that no one could enter or leave without the Queen's sanction. The two sentinels looked up in some surprise as she stepped off the platform and bowed.

"Princess, welcome, again."

Diana gave them a look of dismay and took to the air, leaving them somewhat bemused. She flew straight to her chambers ignoring her sisters who saw her and bowed and waved.

She burst into the room to find Myrrha tidying up. The elder Amazon looked up in some surprised.

"Your Highness, have you forgotten something?"

"Where is Lara?" she demanded.

"What?"

Diana rushed to the bedroom to see an empty cot. Her eyes looked around in vain and she cried, "Where is my daughter?"

Myrrha stared at her in some concern and bewilderment. Diana looked disheveled and she could see the matted blood on her hair and the crimson stains on her t-shirt.

"Princess, you came and took Lara an hour ago."

Diana shouted, "I did not! That wasn't me! I was in the Embassy. Hera, she…it took Lara!"

Myrrha took a step back. She looked at the Princess with real concern now. She wondered if she was raving. She began confused, "Princess, I do not know what you are talking about. But you came and took the little one. You said you were taking her to the Embassy. To see her father."

Diana held her head and seemed to sway. "Gods…No!…No!"

Myrrha reached for her and steadied her. "Princess, you are not well…"

Diana clutched at her and choked, "Where is my mother? I must see my mother!"

Hippolyta firmly held Diana's shoulders as Epione attended to wound on her head. It was as much to keep her stationary as it was to comfort her, to show her she was not alone. The entire island was in shock. It seemed someone or something had come onto the island in Diana's guise and had taken Lara.

No one had thought anything of it. Who would question a mother from saying she was taking her child? Lara had been fast asleep and she had been taken quietly and without a murmur of protest.

Diana had been impatient and anxious to leave to find out who took her child. But she had been stopped by her mother who told her in no uncertain terms that she needed her wound attended first before she went off on what could be a fruitless search.

Hippolyta whispered, "We don't know who took her, Diana. Where will you start?"

She clenched her hands into fists. "I don't know…But I swear when I find who took my child I will…" She swallowed, feeling her throat close up.

Hippolyta felt the emotion in her and knew Diana was near to losing control. She felt the fear and the anger and the confusion. Hippolyta herself was feeling a pain growing in her heart. She felt guilty. Lara had been under the care of the Amazons and it was here she had been taken away right under their noses. She had assured Diana that her daughter would be well looked after and safe.

Epione said soberly, "I am finished, Princess. Drink this. It will ease your headache."

Diana hit the cup away and snapped, "I must find her! It was someone who looked like me! Was it a clone? Someone from another Earth? Who could it be? Circe? A God? A demon? "

Hippolyta came around her and took her hand. "I don't know, my child. I am consulting the Oracle…as we speak."

Diana cried "I cannot stay here doing nothing! Lara could be hurt. She could be moved farther and farther away from us as we speak…I must find her…I…"

Hippolyta titled her chin. "Daughter, calm your self. The warrior must take the place of the mother. Or else you will not be able to face this…"

Diana stared at her and she swallowed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Hippolyta murmured, "Remember what I taught you. Do not fall to pieces now."

"Yes, Mother," she replied, knowing in her heart Hippolyta was right.

Hippolyta gestured to Epione to bring over the cup. "Now drink this. "

Diana drained the cup of its contents. Hippolyta took the empty cup and promised, "We will find her. If we have to move heaven and earth. We will find her."

There was a knock on the door and Penelope entered. She looked unhappy. She bowed and said quietly, "Princess, I have tried to consult the Oracle but we cannot see who took Lara. Whatever it was has cloaked its trail. It must be powerful magic."

There was abject silence. Even Hippolyta did not know what to suggest.

Diana stood up. "I must tell Clark."

It was a change over of shift. The Martian Manhunter was about to hand over the reins to Batman, who was to act as coordinator. The Flash, the Atom, Black Canary and Plastic Man were also on duty. Superman had just teleported in. He had only just disposed of the Parasite and was feeling truly tired now. He just wanted to go to his quarters and get some rest.

They all stood on the main observation deck. Batman was listening to J'onn give him a run down of the current status quo, indicating situations that might need watching and those that needed no intervention. Plastic Man was trying, rather unsuccessfully, to get Black Canary to go on a date with him, whilst the Atom was trying to ignore Wally who wanted someone to swap shifts with him.

"Wally, I would like the New Year off too. I worked it for the last three years."

"Oh come on, Doc! What do you need it for? You have no wife, no girlfriend. Your head is always buried in research! What are you gonna do? Party with the lab rats?"

"That's the tact to persuade me, Wally," said Ray sarcastically.

"Aw, come on. I got a hot date lined up. Help a guy out."

Dr Palmer said firmly, "No."

Wally saw Superman and his eyes brightened. "Ah forget it. I see someone who I can ask. He's got no reason to want the New Year off. He's worse off than you in the romance department."

The Atom shook his head wryly as Flash dashed in front of Superman. "Hey, Blue, I have a proposition for you."

Superman said, as if on automatic, "I'm not racing you, Wally."

"No…It's not that…It's better. I got a way I can save you time and money."

Superman heard Ray snort and he said wearily, "Go away, Wally."

"Hey, hey!" he protested and gave Ray a glare and followed Superman as he went up to J'onn and Batman. "Come on, at least listen to what I have to say!"

"Clark, all secured in Metropolis?" asked Batman.

"Yes, the Parasite is in custody," Superman replied and then looked at Flash with a firm, "I said no, Wally."

"But you don't even know what I'm going to ask!" Flash protested.

Batman spoke over Flash. "Good. J'onn said you've been on the go for days. I think it's time you go get some rest, Clark."

The teleporter began to beep. Batman queried, "Who is that? Everyone booked for duty has reported in."

J'onn turned to the control panel and saw the signature. He uttered in surprise, "It's Diana!"

Everyone turned. Superman's brow creased. Even Wally's eyes widened.

Plastic Man turned away from Dinah and exclaimed, "Wonderbabe is back? No disrespect there, Dinah, but let me show you how a real woman would talk to Patrick "Eel" O'Brien."

Canary rolled her eyes. "Good luck with that."

Diana appeared on the platform. She was in her Wonder Woman uniform minus the tiara and the look on her face made J'onn and Clark start towards her. Something was wrong. They both knew it at once.

She began huskily, "Clark…"

"Diana? What is it?" demanded Clark.

Her eyes met his and he could see the distress in them. She whispered, "Lara…Someone took Lara."

Superman's face seemed to lose its entire colour. "What?" he grasped her by the upper arms. "What are you saying? Who took Lara?"

"I don't know…After you left, someone or something that looked like me attacked me. It was powerful and managed to bind me with my own lasso. It went to Themyscira via the portal and it duped my sisters. They thought it was me. It took her and I don't know who it is…and where it took her…" Against her will her voice broke and he instinctively drew her close. She didn't even think of resisting. She hid her face in his shoulder and felt his hand on her hair.

J'onn went up to them and seemed to rest his hand on both their shoulders as if in a gesture of comfort.

Wally frowned. "What's going on? Why is Diana here? Why do they look so upset? Who the heck is Lara?"

Batman said calmly, "Lara is their daughter."

Plastic Man, the Atom, Black Canary and the Flash gasped unanimously. "What?"

The members of the League who were on duty gathered in the conference room. They sat Diana down and got the full story from her. Superman stood behind her chair, arms folded, looking as grim as anyone had ever seen him. Batman was sitting, hand on chin, clearly pondering, while J'onn kept a supportive hand on Diana's shoulder.

Flash, Black Canary, the Atom, and Plastic Man could not stop gaping. It was not everyday one learned that there existed a child born of a union of two of the most powerful heroes on the League. And that everything they had believed of their friends had been wrong. There had been no affair. Just two people who had been thrown together for one thousand years and been played by a twist of Fate. They actually felt ashamed for their part in gossiping and speculating about them and looked at the anxiety Superman and Wonder Woman were trying to hide with real sympathy.

"Someone that looks like Diana. Who could it be?" asked Dinah.

Batman said, "The possibilities are endless. It could be a clone. It could be a Wonder Woman from an alternative earth. Ultra Woman. Circe…"

J'onn interrupted. "Anyone with shape shifting abilities."

The Atom said wryly, "That could just be about anyone. Gemini, Everyman, the Insect Queen, White Martians, the Duke of Deception…"

Batman said, "It has to be someone with a rationale."

Plastic Man said, "Er, Superman and Wonder Woman? Surely that's reason enough?"

"Yes and if it's an enemy, they usually bait and lay traps. This makes no sense."

Flash jumped to his feet. "We can start by going and questioning every shape shifter and witch and demon we know."

Dinah sighed. "That will take forever…but seems the only option we have."

Batman rose and everyone followed suit. "I'll go call in some more reinforcements. Unless you don't want others to know about Lara?"

Superman looked at Diana. She sighed and nodded. Clark said grimly, "It makes no difference now. We need all the help we can get."

Batman stopped near Diana. "I'm sorry. For that incident in Kefalonia."

She said softly, "You didn't know, Bruce."

"No, but I guess I was out of order. I should have known better."

As if to show she held no grudges, she touched his arm. "It's okay."

J'onn began, "We should all work in teams as we don't know what…."

Before J'onn could even finish, a blinding flash of light appeared before them. Everyone stared. A golden haired man wearing winged sandals, carrying a caduceus hovered above them.

Diana pushed to the front and went down on one knee. "Lord Hermes."

He looked at her. "You have to go and fight for the little one, Champion of the Gods."

Diana jerked to her feet "Where is she? You know where she is?"

Hermes looked at Superman. "You too, Son of Krypton. You must go and retrieve your daughter."

Superman began angrily, "If this is some test of the Gods to amuse themselves at the expense of an innocent child..."

Hermes cut him off. "It is not. And the Gods of Olympus cannot do anything as it is beyond our realm. I am Hermes, Patron of Boundaries and those who traverse them. I can transport you where your daughter has been taken. But that is all. I cannot get involved. It is up to you. But you must not tarry. Time is of the essence."

Superman came to stand alongside Wonder Woman. Diana said, "We are ready."

They felt themselves being teleported and they landed on what appeared to be the remnants of a courtyard covered in snow. They looked around them and stared. The walls of what looked like a great Castle seemed to surround them. It was crumbling and they could see half broken battlements and spires. The light in the sky seemed to have been dimmed. There was only a darkness and heavy cloud. Superman could not see the sun or the moon.

Clark muttered. "I know this place."

Diana shivered as they walked into what used to be a huge hall. "Bilskirnir," she whispered.

Clark turned to stare at her. "What?"

Diana said, as she knelt near a slab that seemed part of a fireplace and brushed the snow down to reveal runes on the mantle, "Clark, we are in Valhalla."

He stiffened and he remembered. Bilskirnir. Thor's golden hall. It was where the God had lived with his wife, Sif, and their children. It was here he and Diana had sat and dined on occasion long before the war had gotten so terrible.

He looked around. "What happened here, Diana?"

A voice sounded behind them. It was a familiar one. "You have come at a time when a doom that has been foretold is coming, Kal-el and Diana."

Diana spun around and saw a tall robust man with red hair, in armor and furs, appear. "Thor!" She went to him and embraced him.

"Aye." He gave her a paternal pat on the back. "Tis good to see you once again, Princess." He turned to grasp Superman's outstretched hand. "And you, Kal-el."

Clark asked, "Thor, what's happening here?"

Thor turned and looked up at the sky. "The wolf Skoll has devoured the sun and his brother, Hati, has devoured the moon. The land is in darkness. The stars have fled from the sky. Asgard has been plunged into winter for three years." His once vibrant and booming voice seemed to fall. "Brother has fought brother and slain each other. Kinship has been deviled. The age of the wolf and wind comes and no man will have mercy on each other."

Clark murmured, "Ragnarok."

Thor looked at him sadly. "Aye."

Diana began, "But what has this to do with my child? My God, Hermes, brought us here…"

Thor said, "I called upon the Messenger to bring you forth, Champion of Olympus and Once Keeper of Mjolnir. Both honored Asgardians. I needed your help once again. It heartened me to hear that you had been blessed with offspring and pained me when I realized what my calling had wrought."

Clark and Diana looked at him confused. He explained, "Mjolnir has been stolen."

"What? By whom?" asked Diana

"By the trickster, Loki. He murdered Baldur, and for it had been bound and punished, but he escaped and stole Mjolnir and has joined his own kind, the Jotunn."

Realization dawned on Clark. Loki, the God of Mischief, was not only one of the giant race but had the abilities of a shape shifter.

Diana gasped as well as the same thought came to her. "Loki! It was he that stole Lara!"

"Yes, because he knows that I have summoned you. He will use your daughter as a battle shield."

Clark demanded, "Where is he? If he hurts a hair on my daughter's head, only Odin can help him."

The bridge that separated Asgard, realm of the gods from Midgard, realm of the mortals, was called Bifrost. East of Midgard was a placed called Ironwood. There dwelled the witch who bore Fenir, the son of Loki; she was Angrbooa, known as the "one who brings grief". She had also borne Loki's other two children, Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent, and Hel, one of the rulers of the dark underworld.

She now sat in a hall of a dark Manor watching over a baby girl that lay in a cradle with spikes on the sides. She stared at her somewhat scathingly. Why did Loki bring this creature to her? This ugly, little, golden skinned, human looking child with black curls and eyes as blue as a fjord. Angrbooa looked at the tiara in her hand. Loki had gifted her with it. It was a powerful weapon and she could feel the magical properties in it. It was the only reason she relented to watch over the child. The child herself had been wailing for the last hour as she had waken and found herself in a strange dark place. But the crying had to eventually stop as it did not bring forth any face she knew. Now Lara just laid whimpering and sucking her thumb.

Angrbooa rose from near the cradle and went to a mirror. A pale visage with eyes that looked as black as night with no pupils was reflected back at her. She rested the tiara on her long white hair and smiled.

"Flirting with thy self? Watch the she-cub!" ordered a voice behind her.

She turned. It was Loki. He stood, with his face hidden behind a garish jester's mask. Mjolnir was in his hands. He added, "You cannot trust her fledgling face. Thor will come for Mjolnir. He has summoned aid. They will come."

Angrbooa walked to him and stroked his arm. "But we are prepared. The children are assembled. Fenir leads them."

Loki turned to the window where the dark forest surrounded them. He could hear the blood curdling howls even now.

Thor rode his chariot. Superman and Wonder Woman flew along side him. All were now attired in armor and carried swords and shields. They could hardly recognize Asgard. It seemed strange and almost morbid steeped as it now was in mist and darkness. They had to go across the Bifrost, the rainbow bride, guarded by the God, Heimdall. Hearing what Loki had done he had allowed the three to pass.

They entered the Ironwood. It was a dark forest covered in snow and was reputed to be inhabited by trolls, giants, and wolves. Thor landed his chariot. The canopy was thick and too dark and dense with magic. Even Superman could not breach it with his super vision. They landed on the ground and Thor warned, "Be on guard."

They had not gone further than a half a mile when Thor's sharp ears picked up movement. He whispered, "On the right. I can hear them. It sounds like a score and ten."

Diana whispered, "We split up and outflank them."

They broke ranks and darted off in various directions, and in the dark recesses of the forest, they attacked those that stalked them. It was a troupe of trolls and goblins. The three warriors made short work of them. They met back in a glade, swords stained with a kind of black blood.

Thor pointed to a light dancing through the trees. "That is where the witch dwells. The murderer and trickster would be there with Mjolnir and your babe."

Diana jerked forward. "Let us stop wasting time."

Thor caught her arm. Coming out of the shadows were looming, robust figures and leading them was a huge, black wolf. He muttered, "He sends the Jotnar led by Fenir."

Clark and Diana knew, from their knowledge of legend and history, that the Jotnar were a race of giants with superhuman strength and Fenir was the wolf that was destined to kill Odin himself.

Diana swallowed. "Hera, help us."

Thor said to them, "So Kal-El and Diana, it began in Asgard, it may end here for you this day."

He took a step forward.

Clark held his sword tight, his heart beginning to pound in anticipation and as he fixed his gaze on the enemy, he said, "Diana, if we never see our child again or each other…"

She kept her face straight her ahead too, but replied softly, "I know."

Thor roared. "Attack!"

Clark and Diana took to the air and Thor pointed his sword aloft as they met the giants head on.

The sounds of battle could be heard raging from the forest floor into the manor itself.

Angrbooa looked at Loki. "The fighting sounds fierce."

He said derisively, "The two that Thor summoned are almost as powerful as Gods themselves. But I have the child and I have Mjolnir."

Angrbooa said throatily, "Fear not. Fenir will finish them off."

Diana had used her lasso to loop it around a Jontar and sent it flying so hard it smashed itself into a whole section of trees. She turned to slam her fist into the head of another coming up behind her, and ran her sword under her arm through it. She stood up for a moment breathing heavily, looking for Thor and Clark.

Thor had already hacked down about six of them. Clark was on his fourth. He was quick and matter of fact. He did not stop to decapitate anyone like Thor did but took them out cleanly and quickly, aiming successfully for the heart. He had learned that cutting off a limb or stabbing an opponent and leaving them to bleed out was not a kindness. And any warrior, be they man, beast, giant, or troll would prefer the honor of death that having to survive without an arm or leg or be in any way disabled. It was the warrior's code in this land and it had taken him centuries to accept it. Now he knew no shame in it.

They were closing in on the manor. Diana could see it. A misshapen, black facade and spiked gates and walls surrounding it. The hulking, black wolf, Fenir, had, all this time, seem to be containing himself and just pacing the snow watching the giants fall, one by one.

It was when the last one fell and he stood alone facing the three warriors that he howled and reared his back. He was ready to attack. He stood between them and the manor.

Clark shoved Diana towards Thor. "Go! Go and get Lara. I will keep this one at bay…"

"But…" Diana knew he was not up to his full strength. He had not rested in days. Plus magic and lack of sunlight put him at a grave disadvantage.

"I said, go! Now, Diana!"

Diana sheathed her sword and grabbed Thor under the arms and they lifted off the ground. Fenir leapt as she went up but just barely grazed her heels. He then turned and growled at Clark.

Clark took in a deep breath and held his sword with both hands and took a stance. The wolf came forward. They circled each other. The wolf's eyes glowed red in the night and his jaws dripped. He suddenly lunged and Clark's shield was hit with such power they both went tumbling, and hitting down trees. They skidded to a halt in a mound of snow.

The shield was dented in. Clark shrugged it off. He lifted his sword arm and tried to slash but Fenir grabbed his arm with his powerful jaws. Clark gasped as he felt the razor-sharp teeth go in deep. He lifted back his fist and punched the wolf hard. It went flying backwards. Clark stood up wincing. The wolf stood up, shaking its head as if dazed, and came again. Clark flung the sword away and waited. He grabbed its neck and they both rolled and flailed on the ground. He tried using his heat vision but it was difficult trying to aim as it was intent on ravaging his face and neck. Shots of heated beams just went off target, hitting the trees and slicing off branches.

He gritted and heaved him over his head and stumbled backwards, reaching sideways for the sword. Fenir landed on his feet and swiftly came and jumped onto his back. Teeth sunk themselves into his shoulder. Clark groaned and used the hilt of the sword and slammed it into the belly of the wolf. Fenir let out something like a grunt and fell sideways. Clark was gasping now. Blood was seeping down his shoulder and from his right arm onto the white snow. The wounds burned.

The wolf came again.

Diana and Thor landed on a balcony and Thor kicked the doors in. He bellowed.

"Trickster! I know you are here!"

They could only see blackness and hear nothing. Diana said to Thor, "We need to split up."

Thor nodded as they came onto a maze of corridors. He gestured left and Diana flew off to the right.

Thor saw a pale light in a gallery above as he climbed some crumbling steps leading to what looked like a Hall. He entered to see Loki near a fireplace. He had Mjolnir in one hand, Lara in another. Lara was whimpering.

"You have brought reinforcements, Thor. But see what I have."

Thor growled. "Coward. You would steal a babe to shield thyself?"

Loki snarled. "I would do what must be done. You, my once ally and comrade, left me to be tortured. You let them pour venom upon my head .You left me to writhe in pain!"

"You slayed Baldur! Our brother. You lost the right to be called friend. Give over my hammer!"

Loki sneered. "One move and this little one will die."

Thor gritted. "I will cleave your head from its body!"

Loki taunted. "And I will tear her limbs from her little body."

The sound of the trees falling and the ground trembling made them turn. Loki sneered. "You think your champion can really defeat my son?"

Thor said darkly, "Your arrogance will be your downfall."

Loki laughed and raised the hammer and let it slam down upon the ground. Thor had to dart towards the walls as the stone floor split beneath his feet. Loki laughed and hit the floor again. The split grew wider. Loki began to advance on Thor. Lara was wailing now and squirming.

He raised Mjolnir once more. "I will break the God of Thunder with his own hammer!"

Diana flew down a dark passageway. She could see nothing. Hear nothing.

"Hera, where is my baby? Help me find her!"

She went from room to room only to stop when she heard the rumble of the entire manor and felt the roof above her crack and the stone crumble.

"Thor!"

She was about to fly upwards when she felt something hit her from the back and she went tumbling down to the floor with a thud. Her sword spun away from her. Diana looked up to see a pale woman with white hair standing before her. She was wearing her tiara!

"Ah, mother of the little one. Brave you are to come but you will not get her."

Diana's face contorted and she raised her arms to deflect the energy bolts the witch hurled at her. She walked towards the witch, with her bracelets crossed.

Angrbooa gasped. "How did you do that? None can survive my magic."

Diana snapped. "Wait. I'll show you more."

She unfurled her lasso and sent it at Angrbooa and yanked her forward. Her fist slammed into her jaw and the woman went down dazed. Diana gritted, taking her tiara off her and lifting her by the neck, "No one tells me what I can or cannot do! Now where is my daughter?"

Loki was about to go after Thor when he heard a voice behind him.

"You harm him and I will slit her throat. I swear it."

Loki turned and saw Diana was hovering with Angrbooa tied in the lasso, a sword near her throat. His entire demeanor changed and the hammer stilled in the air.

"You dare not!" he hissed.

Thor laughed. "Oh this one is not like the Son from the Stars. She is a daughter of the Amazons. She will slay her if she has to."

Diana gritted. "Release Mjolnir and my daughter! Now!"

Loki suddenly flung Mjolnir and Thor dived to catch it. He then looked at Diana." Catch her then, Champion of the Gods!"

To Diana's horror he hurled Lara with such strength and force that the child's body shattered against the latticed glass window and began to fall to towards the spikes below.

Diana dropped Angrbooa and screamed, "NO!"

Clark waited and the wolf advanced. Fenir pounced. Heat vision seared the air and burned the animal in the face. It roared in pain. They both fell to the floor. Struggling. Writhing. Fenir's teeth were closing in again. Clark could feet claws digging into the flesh of his chest. Saliva drooling onto his face. Hot, foul breath in his nostrils. His fur felt coarse and tough as rope.

Clark grabbed him. This time by the mouth and he grunted. The animal was strong and Clark was tiring. There was no sun. He captured the upper and lower jaw and began to pry it apart. This was taking all his strength. Fenir struggled, body flailing against the ground. One second again and Clark would have ripped his jaws open were it not for the sounds of Diana's screams and the shattering of glass.

Clark stopped and looked up to see Lara tumbling out of the window. He threw Fenir off and tried to go for her. Fenir grabbed him by the cape and pulled. His eyes widened in horror. His daughter's body was heading for the sharp spikes.

"No!"

Fenir grabbed his leg, dragging him back. Clark groaned. Lara was a micro second from being impaled.

He closed his eyes, unable to bear seeing her body break on the spikes. He heard nothing.

His eyes opened just in time to see Lara hover above the spikes and slowly float by herself to the ground. He gasped in relief, but then in pain when he felt the wolf step onto his body, crushing him into the snow, claws digging into flesh.

He was tired, exhausted. The wolf was ready to rip his head off his shoulders.

Diana screamed and flew to the window. She was no where near catching Lara. She halted. Hera, she could not look! Trembling, she peered over the ledge.

Her eyes widened. There was no sign of her on the spikes.

Then her eyes saw her, sitting on the ground in the snow, some yards away from the gate.

Diana held her heart. "Gods…Thank you…." Her eyes then traveled further down where red blood stained the snow and her heart seemed to stop.

"No!"

She flew down, taking off her tiara swiftly and hurled it. It slashed Fenir across head, cutting a deep gash over his eyes and came back to her hand. He let go of Clark and fell back with a yelp of pain. Blood was pouring down his feral face.

Meanwhile Thor had picked up Mjolnir and was advancing upon Loki. "You will pay for your treachery."

Loki looked around. Angrbooa was lying half dazed on the ground. He could not hear any more fighting outside. He sensed his failure and snarled, "We shall see. This is not the end."

The shape shifter morphed into a raven and flew out of the window. He cawed loudly. Fenir seemed to look up and he growled at Diana but turned and followed the bird. They

vanished into the darkness.

Diana flew down and picked up Lara who was now putting her hands up with a smile of recognition. She hugged her tightly with tears in her eyes. "Oh, my darling. Are you okay?"

Lara gurgled and Diana looked her over and saw that she was unharmed. She then hurried towards Clark who was lying face down in the snow. She dropped to her knees and cried, "Clark...!" And with one hand rolled him over.

His eyes opened. He saw Lara and he reached a bloodied hand to her. "She's alright," he sighed in relief.

Diana bent so he could touch Lara. Diana gingerly touched his shoulder and stared at his uniform, now torn and his body bearing many bites and cuts and scratches. "Oh Kal…You're hurt."

He murmured, "You haven't called me Kal in a long time."

A tear trickled down Diana's cheek at that. A finger touched the tear on her cheek and he said huskily, "It's just a scratch or two."

She covered his hand with hers, cradling it to her cheek, oblivious of the blood.

"It's more than a scratch or two. You've been mauled," she chided gently.

He seemed to smile weakly at that. "Just like the good, old days of Asgard, huh?" But his eyes felt heavy and he shut them.

Diana put Lara down and began to try to staunch his wounds with what was left of his cape and put snow onto places that seemed to be swelling. She heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She spun around with a wary in take of breath.

It was Thor. He had Mjolnir and her lasso. He handed the golden rope to her as he knelt down.

"How is he?"

Diana replied, "Hurt. He needs medical attention,"

Thor looked him over. "Aye. Kal-El?"

Clark opened his eyes. "Thor…You have Mjolnir?"

Thor took his hand. "Yes, and you have your babe. Thank you, Kal-El. I thank you both for coming. But it is time for you to go."

Before Diana could utter a word, the sound of something like a horn could be heard blowing.

Thor looked up and listened. "The Gjallarhorn."

The earth began to shake beneath then. The shaking was violent. Diana grasped Lara close and leaned down upon Clark.

Thor stood up. "Tis the beginning of the end."

He stepped back and said loudly, "This would be the last we see of each other. Farewell, my friends. Lord Hermes, take them home."

"Thor, I…" But Diana's words seemed to die as her body and those that she clung to seemed to dissipate into nothingness, leaving just the God with his hammer standing in the blood stained snow.

Author's Note: I thought it would be more poignant to transport Clark and Diana to the place their love story started as a way to show that that things have sort of come full circle and that matters of the heart had been decided here in Asgard a long time ago.

I loosely used, as DC did, some of the Norse myths to drive my plot. Ragnarok is indeed the final battle of the Norse Gods and does spell the doom of many. It is heralded by a horn blown by the God, Heimdall. Thor will die, after facing and slaying Loki's son, the Jormungandr or the Midgard Serpent.

Fenir does kill Odin and, Vioarr, Odin's son, kills the wolf in a slightly similar way as Clark was going to, by tearing his mouth apart. Only in lore he kicked a foot against his lower jaw and tore at the upper one. Loki and Heimdall will face each other on the battle field, where both will kill each other.

Mjolnir will be left to Thor's two sons, Magni and Mooi, who are among several of the Gods to survive Ragnarok.