Deep Space
Kurse waited as his ship approached Malekith's flagship, he had sent Kurse to oversee the small scout force he had sent to Earth to test their defenses. Malekith however would be very angry to hear that Thor had appeared and not only stopped the scouts but one of them had cracked under pressure and given away information.
Once the ship docked with Malekith's and Kurse started walking through the ship to the main command deck. Kurse was a deformed Dark Elf, he had been discarded by his parents but had managed to survive the harsh wilds of Svartalfheim. Malekith had found him and allowed him to serve him in his rise to power among the Dark Elves.
The door to the command deck opened and Kurse walked through and found Malekith standing at the observation window. "What happened?" asked Malekith as Kurse approached. Malekith had been of the higher born members of Dark Elf society, he had lead several incursions against Asgard over the centuries but had an unfortunate run-in with Odin that left him horribly disfigured with half of his face burnt.
Kurse knelt "Our scouts were attacked by Thor while fulfilling their objective, one was captured but I stepped in and prevented him from giving away any important information" informed Kurse.
Malekith turned and walked towards Kurse, Malekith had found Kurse in the middle of a battle between the Dark Elves and the Light Elves where he slaughtered dozens of Light Elves with ease. Malekith had seen the potential of having a monster like Kurse by his side and he used Kurse to his fullest potential and now Malekith was the unquestioned ruler of the Dark Elves. "What does the Asgardian know?" he asked circling Kurse.
"Only the mission to test the Humans…I stepped in before anymore could be revealed" explained Kurse. Malekith walked back to the observation window.
"If Asgard has any sense of what we are doing, we will have no choice but to prepare for a battle with the Asgardian army" stated Malekith prompting Kurse to stand quickly. "We will meet them on the battlefield and they will fall beneath our might."
Kurse looked around, the idea of going against the Asgardian military was not something Kurse had ever even considered. The Asgardians were better trained, better equipped, and more importantly than anything far outnumbered the Dark Elves under Malekith's command. Taking on the Asgardians in open battle would be suicidal and despite everything that the normal Dark Elves had done to him, Kurse wished to try and save the Dark Elves not send them to their deaths. "Perhaps we should focus more on finding livable planets that are not affiliated with Asgard" advised Kurse hoping to sway Malekith away from the open war he was discussing.
Malekith turned on a dime and looked Kurse over "I do not take advice from a foolish creature such as yourself Kurse. You have my trust in the matters of battle but leave the planning and decision making to your betters" snapped Malekith prompting Kurse to nod and drop to one knee.
"Forgive me" he said keeping his head down.
Malekith looked out at the other Dark Elves, all watching as Kurse bowed and begged Malekith for forgiveness. This was Kurse greatest purpose, if the monster that could crush everyone here, who all the Dark Elves feared in their nightmares was bowing to Malekith, then certainly Malekith was truly the one you should fear. Malekith let the words hang in the air just a few seconds longer.
Kurse hated these moments, the waiting for forgiveness that he didn't need or really want, but Malekith had saved him all those years ago and despite what Kurse thought Malekith was the most capable mind that the Dark Elves had.
"Very well" stated Malekith turning his back to Kurse to stare into the dark of space. Kurse stood up and watched Malekith "Take us back to Svartalfheim we shall await the Asgardians there." The Dark Elf fleet started the long trip back to their dying home world.
Earth
Jane Foster was stuck waiting on the Shield Helicarrier waiting for Thor to return from helping Shield. The last three months together had been wonderful but finally Shield had pulled Thor away but at least Darcy was working on the Helicarrier when Jane was called in. Darcy had been added to the ranks of Shield once Jane and Erik joined as scientists. Darcy had been explaining something about the phone she had received from Shield when she was brought on but Jane wasn't listening.
Jane had hoped that she would get used to Thor helping people and being in danger but the sinking feeling she had when Thor left her to fight his brother and when word started to circulate about him being back on Earth fighting with the other heroes. He had reassured her over the last three months but she still struggled with the knowledge that he was in danger and she may never see him again.
"He's back" came the voice of a Shield agent over the radio to Darcy. Jane shot up and made her way to the deck where Thor landed. She turned the corner and found Thor in perfect condition and he smiled when he saw her. They embraced for a brief moment.
"Jane, I must speak with Fury but after that I must ask you something" he said heading past Jane to speak with Fury.
Thor found himself in Fury's office and found the eye patch wearing Director of Shield at his desk going over various files. "Coulson tells me you have the situation under control" he said standing up and meeting Thor in the middle of his office.
"The Dark Elves were testing your defenses…Asgard has always kept the Dark Elf threat under control, but they managed to get here. I fear I've been gone too long and Asgard needs me" stated Thor with a slightly guilty look on his face.
Fury nodded in understanding, he had been hoping for Thor to return home soon. Letting Loki go was against what Thor's father had wanted and disobeying a king is bad, disobeying a king of gods is probably far worse. However, Fury's interest in Thor returning home was far more selfish, he had faced immense pressure from the Security Council to open official ties with Asgard beyond Thor. "When do you plan to leave?"
"Immediately" stated Thor turning and moving out of Fury's office. Fury thought of stopping him but changed his mind.
Thor disappeared from sight when Fury pulled up his radio, "Send Agent Lewis up immediately" he ordered.
Jane stood when Thor entered and gave him a kiss when they embraced. "Jane, I need to return to Asgard" he said and Jane's heart sunk, the last time Thor had gone back to Asgard he didn't come back until Tony Stark had flown Jane from a conference in Paris to see him and they had been together every day for the three months since.
"Ok, just promise you'll come back this time" she asked hoping to hide her unease from the blonde Asgardian.
Thor smirked "Actually I was hoping you would join me, I wish for you to see my home" informed Thor hoping that the smile that spread across her lips when he offered was a good sign.
"Are you sure?" she asked getting a reassuring nod from Thor. Jane smiled "Well I need to pack some things up" she said prompting a confused look from Thor.
"Nope" he said picking her up in his arms and making his way out to the deck of the Helicarrier. "There is no time, trust me we have everything you'll need on Asgard" he explained as they approached the door.
The Helicarrier had landed on the Atlantic Ocean after the alert and the Ocean air filled Jane's lungs. Fury was standing outside with Darcy waiting for them. "Thor, we were hoping that you could take Agent Lewis with you to Asgard" said Fury hoping that Thor would not object.
"I suppose Darcy could come along as well" replied Thor with an affirmative nod from Jane who Thor put down on her feet. Thor turned to face Jane and the now joining Darcy "When the Bifrost opens you need to hold on to me tight" he explained getting nods from the two women.
Darcy was floored in the last half an hour, Fury had called her to his office and spoke to her for the first time ever and he gave her a mission which was to gauge the interest of the Asgardian leadership in a treaty with Earth. She looked at Jane who looked part thrilled and part petrified.
Jane watched Thor carefully "Heimdall" he shouted into the sky, a bright beam of energy exploded from the sky and landed on the deck of the Helicarrier. Jane was amazed even though she had seen the light show once before. Her destiny was calling her and she was going to answer.
Jane and Darcy grabbed Thor and the two of them stepped forward with the God of Thunder into the Bifrost.