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Ch. 11
—Fadrielindë—
Bruce dismounts the vehicle and strides over to us, looking around at the destroyed city.
"So, this all seems horrible," he muses.
"I've seen worse," Natasha says seriously. Bruce looks taken aback at her comment.
"Sorry," he apologizes. She shakes her head.
"No, we could use a little worse," she says. Steve talks into his earpiece.
"Stark? We've got him," he says, referring to Bruce. "Just like you said."
"Then tell him to suit up," Tony's voice rings in my ear through the device given to each of us. "I'm bringing the party to you." I hear jets to my right and turn too see Tony flying around the corner, with the monster in tow.
"I don't see how that's a party," Natasha says sarcastically. I smile slightly.
"Dr. Banner," Steve places his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Now might be a really good time for you to get angry." Bruce smirks and starts casually walking toward the creature.
"That's my secret, Captain," he says, looking over his shoulder at Steve. "I'm always angry."
With a loud roar, Bruce's body swells and enlarges, resembling melting wax. He lets out a roar, transforming into the Hulk before our eyes. The creature draws nearer until the Hulk's fist connects with its head. The monster catapults upside down, in a full 360 spin. Just as the creature's underside is exposed, Tony launches a missile into its soft flesh. There is a slight pause before the missile explodes, sending bits of the creature flying into the air. Steve raises his shield over himself and I, the metal reverberating as the chunks of the creature's hard shell hit the shield.
"Thanks," I tell him. The Chitauri screech at the defeat of their monster. Tony raises his arms triumphantly. We gather in a tight circle, ready for battle. All of a sudden, more roars ring throughout the air. I lift my gaze up to the portal. My eyes widen as thousands of Chitauri warriors and more monsters flood out. "Well, then."
"Guys." Natasha is staring in horror at the aliens swarming around the city.
"Call it, Cap," Tony says, recharging his suit. I look over at Steve, who is deep in thought.
"Alright, listen up. Until we can close that portal up there," he looks pointedly at the top of Stark Tower, "we're gonna use containment. Barton." Barton gives his full attention to Steve. " I want you on that roof, eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash." Tony nods. Barton turns to Tony.
"Wanna give me a lift?" he asks, taking out his bow.
"Right. Better clench up, Legolas," Tony remarks as he lifts Barton up and onto the rooftop. Steve turns to Thor.
"Thor, you've gotta try and bottleneck that portal. Slow them down. You've got the lightning. Light the bastards up," he orders him. Thor swings Mjolnir around and flies into the sky onto the top of a tower. Steve turns to Natasha and I. "We stay here on the ground, keep the fighting here. Fadriel, use your Shouts to keep them from all coming at us at once." I nod as he turns to the Hulk, who has been patiently awaiting his orders. "And Hulk," Steve raises his finger, "Smash."
The Hulk smiles widely showing all his teeth and leaps into the air, striking multiple Chitauri as he does so. I watch in awe as he easily kills at least a hundred Chitauri in mere seconds. I ready the Mace and summon more flames to my hand. I hear thunder booming in the distance and see Thor atop a building summoning lightning. He directs the lightning to the portal where the Chitauri are electrocuted and fall to the ground. Tony flies around, shooting blasts of energy at the flying Chitauri in chariots.
"Fadriel!" I hear Natasha voice behind me and turn at the last second to avoid being struck by a Chitauri warrior. I see at least fifty more warriors behind it. Round two, I think. I raise the Mace and strike it on the head, killing it. I glance behind me at Natasha and Steve, who are beginning to fight off the coming Chitauri slowly surrounding us. I aim my left hand at a group of Chitauri and blast flames as I slash through the air at another group. Ducking and striking, I manage to kill ten at once.
"VEN GAR NOS!" I shout, creating a cyclone with my Voice. The whirling cyclone spins through another group of Chitauri, throwing them thousands of feet into the air. I hear a Chitauri behind me and whirl around, shouting, "ZUN HAAL VIIK!" The Chitauri's weapon is ripped from its grasp and I catch it. I quickly aim it at the warrior and pull the trigger. A blast of white-hot light shoots out and chars the Chitauri's head. "Ah, it's like a crossbow!" I think aloud. Natasha chuckles behind me and then grunts as she beats a warrior over the head, killing it.
"Hey, Nat and Fadriel! A little help over here!" Steve calls. I immediately turn around and join him in fighting a hundred more approaching Chitauri. Swinging his shield and dodging blows, Steve asks me, "Fadriel, know any good Shouts you could use right now? Not that I'm feeling overwhelmed or anything." I laugh at his sarcasm and delve into my Thu'um word bank. Ah.
"Watch out!" I warn Steve and Natasha before Shouting, "YOL TOOR SHUL!" A stream of red-hot blazing fire explodes from my throat and burns the approaching Chitauri to a crisp.
"That works!" Steve laughs, lowering his shield. I look around and see even more Chitauri coming for us. Panting, I glance up at the portal atop Stark Tower and see the silhouettes of two figures standing on the balcony. Thor and Loki! I stealthily project into Thor's mind to listen in without him knowing.
.
"Look at this! Look around you! You think this madness will end with your rule?" Thor yells at Loki. I see Loki's shadow move away from Thor's.
"Fadriel!" Steve shouts. I leap out of Thor's mind just in time to dodge a coming Chitauri. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to find out what's happening up there!" I shout, pointing at the Tower. "Keep me covered for two minutes!" I draw back into Thor's mind as Steve moves in front of me.
"It's too late. It's too late to stop it," Loki says, defeated. I frown, confused at his tone.
"No. We can. Together," Thor says hopefully. Loki's shadow shifts to look at Thor's. Then, I see Loki's hand stab a small dagger into Thor's stomach.
"No!" I cry out.
"Sentiment," Loki spits. Thor struggles to his feet and grabs Loki by the throat.
Fadriel? Thor asks me, realizing my presence.
I wanted to see what was happening, I tell him as he slams Loki down onto the ground. I cannot help but wince.
I'm sorry, Fadriel, but it must be done, he tells me. I nod, even though he cannot see me.
I know. But Loki rolls away from Thor and off of the Tower, landing on a flying chariot. Damn it! I hear Thor curse in his head.
.
"Fadriel!" Steve yells at me, but this time I don't react fast enough. A Chitauri warrior pounces from behind me and wraps its arm around my neck. I plant my feet on the ground and push off hard, launching myself backward into the air. I flip around behind, the Chitauri clinging to my neck now in front of me. In one motion, I duck down and stab it in the heart with the Mace. Its hold on my neck falls away as it slumps to the ground, dead.
"Whew, that was close," I laugh, my hands on my knees. My energy is beginning to drain. I reach into my pocket for a soul gem, but my pocket's empty. Ah, I already used it on the plane, I remember, frustrated. Oh, well. Looks like I get to see how long I can last without absorbing a dragon soul—or any soul for that matter. I look over at Natasha and see that she is getting tired as well.
"Guys, none of this is going to mean a damn thing if we don't close that portal," she pants. Steve turns to her.
"Our biggest guns couldn't touch it," he says. I nod, chiming in.
"Yes, there is some type of magic surrounding it—protecting it," I say, looking up at the swirling blue sphere around the Tesseract. Natasha shrugs.
"Well, maybe it's not about guns," she muses, tilting her chin up at the flying chariots. I grin.
"You don't mean—" She is crazy. Steve must think the same because he raises his eyebrows at her. But then he backs up and tilts his shield up. Natasha strides away from him and readies herself.
"Are you sure about this?" Steve asks her.
"Yeah, it's gonna be fun," she says unconvincingly. Natasha sprints towards the shield and plants one foot on a nearby vehicle and her other on Steve's shield. Steve pushes his shield up, launching Natasha into the air. Natasha grabs onto a chariot flying by and hoists herself up onto it. I watch as the chariot speeds by, losing sight of it as it flies farther and farther away.
.
Suddenly, Steve and I hear Barton speak in our earpieces.
"Captain, the bank on 42nd past Madison—they caught a lot of civilians there," he says. Steve nods.
"I'm on it." He gives me an inquiringly look. "Care to come along? We could really use your Shouts." I grin, fighting back the wave of exhaustion struggling to consume my body.
"Of course," I say. "I never say no to a fight." Steve laughs.
"Alright then. Let's go!" He sprints off in the other direction with me following close behind. As we run, I clearly feel the effects of combat on my body; my legs slowly become heavy as I run, and the Dragon power running through my veins weakens. Sure, I have fought countless of enemies at once before, but these Chitauri are unlike any creature I have ever encountered. I have managed to kill them with ease so far, but for how much longer will I be able to hold them off?
After darting around debris and fighting a few stray Chitauri, we finally reach the bank.
"Follow me!" Steve shouts, hooking his shield on his back. I mimic him, sheathing the Mace as we leap onto a ledge of the building. Steve jumps and crashes through a glass window. I follow, shards of glass piercing my exposed face. I roll onto the floor and land next to Steve. In front of us are three more Chitauri warriors, one holding a strange beeping device. Steve throws his shield at the one holding the device, and it goes flying through the air. The two other Chitauri charge at me. I unhook my Mace and leap to my feet. I strike one with the Mace, but it catches my arm before I can withdraw. I shoot flames at it with my other hand and push off the ground, kicking the other Chitauri straight in the chest. The two warriors are both knocked to the ground. I turn and see Steve fighting the last Chitauri, the device nowhere to be found. But the beeping grows faster.
"Everyone! Fadriel! Clear out!" he shouts, pushing the Chitauri away and grabbing my arm. All of a sudden, the device explodes, throwing us backwards and smashing through another window.