Svartalfheim

The trip home to Svartalfheim had gone smoothly and soon the Dark Elves were exiting their ships and setting foot on their home planet. Kurse walked out with Malekith who immediately ordered his troops to prepare for battle. Kurse loved his home but also understood that its time in the universe was coming to an end, Svartalfheim was in the same solar system as Muspelheim and being that close to basically amounted to a sun was never a good thing. The vegetation died long ago making Svartalfheim dependent on its spaceships successfully bring home food from other planets.

So many rulers of the Dark Elves attempted to fix the issue and all up to this point had failed, Kurse was much younger when he met Malekith. He had been singled out as a freak and often treated as so but Malekith had protected him and soon made Kurse his right-hand man. Kurse had been there when Malekith was nothing and was there when Malekith had the other leaders of the Dark Elves killed several decades earlier consolidating power and taking full command of the Dark Elves military and people. Kurse had been there every step of the way and now here they were and what will be their last opportunity to save their people from extinction.

The battle to come would be their final chance at a future, Asgard stood in their way and Kurse would ensure that they were moved even if he it meant destroying each and every Asgardian one by one. He looked at Malekith who was giving marching orders and explaining where he wanted the army placed in the control room of his capitol ship. "They will arrive here and march to us, we will meet them on the plain a few miles away where we will finish them off once and for all" he strategized. Kurse looked over and nodded along as the various Dark Elves scurried around Malekith and himself.

Kurse knew that Malekith was lying, the Dark Elf army had no chance in a standup fight with Asgard even with all their ships, Asgard would still be too much to overcome. Kurse had learned long ago not to mention these things and contradict Malekith and chose to hold his tongue and allow Malekith to complete his plan one way or another. "He has the best interest of our people at heart" Kurse reasoned when an alert popped up on the screen. "The Asgardians cannot be here already" stated Kurse as he looked at the screen.

"They must have moved quicker than we anticipated prepare our army" ordered Malekith.

"Wait" remarked Kurse bringing everything in the control room to a standstill. "It's not the Asgardians. It's a ship coming into our perimeter…of unknown origin. Our scanners are not picking up any readings."

Malekith looked out of the front of his ship and could see a small scout ship landing just inside the camp they had made. The doors to the ship opened and a solitary figure walked out towards the capitol ship. "Bring him to me" ordered Malekith as he took a seat in the captain's position on the ship. "Kurse, be ready for anything. This is not the Asgardians but it does not mean that it is not a threat to me" whispered Malekith while they waited for the visitor. Kurse nodded making a note that Malekith had said "Me" and not "Us."

The doors to the bridge opened and Dark Elf warriors entered surrounding the new arrival in order to maintain security. They parted in front of Malekith and the visitor was finally revealed. The being was not any bigger than the normal Dark Elf and he wore a black leather suit that was accented by silver pieces of armor clearly indicating his status as some kind of warrior. He bowed not with respect but because it was expected of him "Good day" he said his voice was gravely as if the years had slowly caused his voice to grind away. He was not human or Asgardian or even elf, his skin was white like bone. He was lean but clearly strong to Kurse's eyes and his mouth was wide with slightly yellow sharpened teeth with his chin coming to a sharp point.

The Warrior spoke no more as he scanned the room taking in all of his surroundings. Kurse stepped forward a few steps in order to get the man's attention. "Who are you?" asked Malekith who wanted to know who would find themselves on Svartalfheim and coming before him while not being summoned.

"Who I am is not important" answered the Warrior as he began to pace in front of the Dark Elves who still surrounded him. He was sizing them up, Kurse could tell. He could see the wheels turning in the warrior's head. He was playing all the scenarios in his head and he was winning in probably every single one. "What is important, is what I am here to offer."

The Warrior turned seemed to be looking directly into Kurse's eyes. "What could you a lowly traveler offer me?" laughed Malekith who clearly lacked the complete understanding of the situation.

Without losing Kurse's gaze the Warrior continued "I, myself bring you nothing but an opportunity to reach your full potential. The one I serve believes that you are being wasted here and that you would be better served under his command, as well as the rest of your kind of course."

Malekith continued to snicker which finally seemed to break the Warriors concentration on Kurse. "If you are not interested I will be on my way" he said as he turned to leave.

"I did not dismiss you foul creature" shouted Malekith who could not stand signs of disrespect. He stood from his chair and began to approach the Warrior who had stopped but not turned around to see Malekith. Kurse held his heart in his throat as he moved with Malekith but kept himself between him and the Warrior who seemed uninterested in what Malekith was saying. Malekith was laying into the Warrior with words but Kurse could tell that they were not being heard. The Warrior's eyes once again locked with Kurse before a small grin crawled across the Warriors increasingly frightening face.

"My apologies" he said without looking at Malekith who finally gave the Dark Elves orders to go with a wave of his hand.

They began to escort the Warrior out when Kurse spoke up "I shall go with them to make sure it is made clear that he should never return here." Malekith nodded and Kurse walked with the group as they made their way out of the capitol ship and towards the Warriors ship. The Dark Elves stayed at the capitol ship as Kurse walked with the Warrior "You weren't talking to Malekith were you?" he asked as they approached the Warrior's ship.

The Warrior smiled "My Father was correct, you are indeed smarter than the rest of your people. Why do you follow an imbecile like that?" he asked as their pace slowed so they could speak.

"He is the leader of our people and will save us from certain destruction" explained Kurse.

The Warrior laughed "His plan is basic and for the simple minded. Here" he said as he no look passed a small round object to Kurse. "When you see that he is not the one who will lead your people hit the button in the middle and I will return and we can discuss the future." The Warrior stepped into his ship and turned to look at Kurse in the eyes again "He will betray you and your people" he said as the door to his ship closed and it began to take off.

Kurse looked at the object and hid it among his equipment before turning back and making his way towards the ship, they would only have a few days before the Asgardians would be coming for them.