Alfheim
The horror of defeat was something that Aelsa had never faced before and not something she had faced without Faradei to stand with her. The creature had come within view of Ljosalfgard which of course meant that Faradei had failed and the Light Elves were on the brink of complete devastation. She looked at the only advisor she had left, Hrinmeer, he was a fearful man who often tried to weasel his way out of any problems that he could. Aelsa rarely if ever accepted council from Hrinmeer but with Faradei gone and Ljosalfgard on verge of collapse she found herself with very little choice.
Hrinmeer was weakly even for the lanky builds of most elves but his ability to employ diplomacy was what had gotten him to his position within the royalty of Alfheim, but he feared that diplomacy would not save Alfheim or him this time. His scouts had just informed him that Dark Elf ships had just landed a few hours away from the city. "The Dark Elves must have conjured this creature to destroy us for them" he hypothesized to Aelsa who quietly nodded as she looked out into the field surrounding the walls of Ljosalfgard.
Aelsa weighed her options, she could stand and fight to the last and hope to defeat the creature but without Faradei that would certainly end up being an impossible task, they could attempt to withstand a siege from the creature and the Dark Elves but even that would eventually prove too much for the city to withstand. She could attempt to flee the city with as many civilians as she could but what good would that do without her army they would not last more than a few weeks. Aelsa only had one viable option, "Send word to Asgard of the Dark Elf invasion…we need their help and we need it now."
Asgard
Darcy was almost hyperventilating as she walked down the hall to the throne room, she had asked one of the guards to tell Thor to meet her in the throne room so she could tell him about something. She reached the door, a guard stood next to her and looked her over from top to bottom.
Darcy and Loki had been up most of the night preparing her story for Odin, Loki had been very specific that she needed to be as honest looking as she could be. Loki had left after she laid down for a few hours and he hadn't reappeared yet which just made Darcy even more nervous.
The doors to the throne room opened and Darcy spotted Odin sitting in his throne very much like he had been the day before when she had briefly spoken with him. His eye once again pierced her soul as she walked towards the throne. Thor was standing in front with Jane and his mother. Darcy's shoes echoed in the silence of the throne room as she approached the throne, the guard had followed her the whole way and stood close behind her.
Odin broke the silence "It is rare that people who are not royalty get an audience with the King of Asgard, much less two days in a row. You are quite the rarity Lady Darcy."
Darcy was sweating her nervousness was beginning to get the better of her, she needed to get this over quickly before she stopped breathing out of nervousness. "I had a dream last night, a dream that a monster was attacking a city."
Thor looked at Odin who was as still as stone "What kind of monster?" he asked.
Odin stood "This was just a dream Darcy Lewis" he walked down the stairs and then turned to leave the room.
"They looked like Elves from Lord of Rings" she said quickly before Odin could, Odin was who she had to convince.
Odin turned and looked back and Thor moved closer to Darcy "So the elves are being attacked by some monster?" Thor asked rhetorically.
Odin began to approach Darcy slowly with Gungnir in his hands "Dreams are just dreams Thor" he said as he got closer and closer to Darcy who stood her ground surprising even herself.
Thor turned to Frigga who had yet to speak "Mother, you once told me that dreams can also be prophecies, that the universe sometimes grants us visions so that we can be prepared to stop them. What if Darcy is having such a dream?"
Frigga shrugged her shoulders "That is true but I've never heard of a human having a prophetic dream about Elves" she stated as Odin continued his slow march towards Darcy.
Odin could already see it all happening, prophetic dreams were possible but Darcy Lewis was certainly incapable of having such dreams unless she had always had them and if she had then Heimdall would have already told Odin of her. This was something else, this was mischief at work and Odin intended to draw it out.
Odin came to a stop a few inches from Darcy and leaned down to whisper in her ear "Where is he?" he asked quietly and sternly. Darcy nearly choked, she had failed. Thor and the others were still discussing her lie that Loki had promised would work but Odin was clearly not tricked. "Tell me where he is or I will have no choice but to make you tell me."
"I don't know" she whispered back.
Odin sighed, he believed the girl when she said she didn't know where Loki was but he also knew that Loki would certainly be watching. Odin raised Gungnir in an attacking stance towards Darcy who froze under his intense stare.
Jane leapt without thinking and moved to put herself between Odin and Darcy when the guard behind Darcy sprang into action. He put his hand on Darcy's shoulder and he shimmered for a brief second.
Loki should have known that Odin would see through his deception but despite his thirst for destruction he had put the girl in harm's way and had no intention of letting Odin harm her if he could help it. Once Odin made his move, Loki made his. He pushed back on Darcy's shoulder and called his staff forward and placed the end into Odin's chest, and the two locked eyes for the first time since his fall into the void.
Odin had guessed right, Loki was waiting in the wings and he had been drawn out of hiding. Odin could now make things right, he could stop this war with Jotunheim before it started and maybe he could change his future.
Frigga nearly collapsed at the sight of her husband raising his weapon towards a human woman whom their son had brought as a guest, but she did collapse when Loki appeared to seemingly protect her. Her family was back together even if they were at each other's throats.
Thor raised his hand instinctively and called Mjolnir and he threw himself between his father and brother. Loki had attempted to use Darcy for something and Thor needed to know what, he had promised his new Avenger friends that if Loki caused trouble again he would put an end to it, he only hoped now was not that time.
Jane was still in the process of moving when Thor leapt past her and got himself between Loki and Odin and she moved past the two brothers with their father and checked on Darcy who seemed to almost be in a stunned state of mind. She stood behind and moved her friend away from the danger.
"Well if it isn't the would-be conqueror" sneered Odin as his stare down with Loki continued unhindered by Thor's presence.
Loki smirked and shook his head "Thought I would come home and visit, kidnapper" he responded as Thor used his strength to push Odin and Loki apart.
"Enough" Thor shouted as he pointed Mjolnir at Loki, Odin raised energy within Gungnir when Thor then turned and pointed Mjolnir at him. Thor could see the look of shock cross Odin's face "Enough" he stated again much more sternly than Odin was used to be talked to. Odin lowered Gungnir and allowed the situation to play out.
Loki stood straight up while keeping himself ready to move "So this is what I get for coming to warn you?" he said shaking his head in disappointment.
Thor looked at Loki "So you snared Darcy into helping you with something you could have easily just came to me about" he responded taking a step towards Loki.
"Sorry but things didn't go very well for me last time we were all home together" replied Loki and Thor's face grew stern.
"Whose fault was that?" Thor questioned quietly as Loki's face broke for a split second and Thor could have sworn he saw a hint of regret.
"This is clearly some kind of trick" stated Odin from behind the brothers.
"I swear there is a monster that calls itself Mangog rampaging across Alfheim, he killed Faradei yesterday and is no doubt descending on Ljosalfgard as we speak. We don't have time to discuss this, you must go to Alfheim and stop the creature before it gets stronger" Loki explained as Thor backed away and found himself equal distance from Loki and Odin.
Odin shook his head "Why hasn't Heimdall warned us of this monster yet?" asked Thor knowing that part of Heimdall's job was to look for threats.
"That was a question I was wondering myself actually" answered Loki as he looked to Odin for an answer. The doors to the throne room opened and Sif and the Warriors Three entered the room.
"You" Sif shouted as she launched herself at Loki quickly got Loki to the ground and pinned him. "Guards bring me chains" she said as guards from outside the room sprang into action. Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun snickered as Loki was cuffed and brought to his feet and kept still by Sif standing by him.
Odin approached and moved past Thor to come face to face with Loki "You have caused a great deal of problems for Asgard" he said. "You shall be placed in the dungeon until I can come up with a proper punishment for you."
"What about the monster?" asked Thor as he grabbed Loki by the arm preventing Sif from taking him away.
"My king" rang the voice of Heimdall, who moved quickly towards the group. If Heimdall was surprised by Loki he did not show it and looked to the All-Father, "Alfheim is being invaded by the Dark Elves and Queen Aelsa calls for aid. She says a monster has pounded its way through their defenses and the Dark Elves have just arrived."
Thor looked at Loki who gave him an "I told you so" look and Thor then turned his attention to his father who seemed to be weighing what he was told.
"Why didn't you tell us of this monster sooner?" asked Thor prompting Heimdall to turn to him.
"I can only focus on so much" Heimdall replied, "The All-Father asked me to focus on the Frost Giants and Dark Elves."
"You did well Heimdall, send word to our defenses to go on high alert." Odin ordered as he stepped up towards his throne where he took a seat. "Heimdall, I'm afraid that I must ask you to lead Sif and the Warriors Three to Ljosalfgard where you will attempt to thwart this creature." Heimdall bowed and walked off as he needed to prepare himself.
Thor looked around "Why are you sending Heimdall? He must be here to operate the Bifrost."
"Because he isn't sending an army…he can't leave Asgard completely defenseless in case the Frost Giants decide to attack" stated Loki with a slight smile "He will let the Elves die if he must in order to keep Asgard safe."
"Thor, you will travel to Alfheim and find Malekith the leader of the Dark Elves and defeat him. This monster must be his doing and if he is defeated the creature may very well fall as well not to mention his army will scatter" instructed Odin.
Thor was about to speak up when Loki spoke before him "I promise you, that Mangog is not the work of the Dark Elves" said Loki knowing that the Dark Elves had nothing to do with Mangog based on his original confrontation with the beast.
"Silence!" shouted Odin making Loki feel like a small child again "I will not have you trick and lie your way in these halls ever again. Thor will do as I ask." Odin sighed and thought for a moment. "We need to have the focus be on Thor and not on Heimdall and the others…Thor, you will use the Bifrost to approach Malekith and Heimdall, Sif and the Warriors Three will use one of the secret paths between worlds so that they can infiltrate Ljosalfgard and help its defenders."
Loki laughed as Odin finished "Heimdall doesn't know those paths that well, they're more likely to end up on the other side of Alfheim then Ljosalfgard" he said as the guards moved to take him to the dungeon.
"I am aware of that, which is exactly why you are going to lead them into Alfheim" stated Odin with a smile.
Loki's smile vanished and he started shouting excuses as to why he could not possibly lead them while Sif dragged him out of the throne room with the Warriors Three following close behind.
"What if Loki is right? What if the monster is not a creation of the Dark Elves?" asked Thor as he looked at Jane and Darcy who had chosen to remain silent for the tense family meeting.
"If that is the case, then when you are done with Malekith you will handle this Mangog" instructed Odin. Thor bowed and waved for Jane and Darcy to follow him out of the throne room.