Chapter 12

Jane grunted as Hikesh pulled her through a corridor leading to a deep area beneath the chambers. Behind them, Frigga sealed the door, darkening the corridor. Hikesh lifted his aura up around himself, lighting up the room so that they could see which way they were going.

"Where are we going?" Jane said.

"I'm keeping you safe like she asked." Hikesh said back. "There are various passageways in this place that lead to safe-houses. This being one of them."

"How do you know that?"

Hikesh glanced hard at Jane. "Because I know this place."

ooooo

After sealing the door, Frigga pulled a large dagger from a nearby holster, and glared at the door. Beside her, an image materialized in the form of Jane. Through her will, Frigga made the hologram look afraid as the door to her chambers were bashed from the other side. Frigga stood waiting, her gaze never leaving the door when it was suddenly busted open.

Malekith stood in the doorway, his electric blue eyes gazing hard at Frigga. He lifted an eyebrow at her, and she gripped the dagger threateningly.

"Stand down, creature." Frigga demanded, glaring at the Dark Elf. "You may not survive this."

Malekith merely scoffed, not finding the woman threatening at all. "I have survived worse, woman."

"Who are you?" Frigga demanded. "What reason do you have for invading this sacred realm?"

"I am Malekith, of Svartalfheim." Malekith introduced proudly. "I assume you've heard stories of me in your peoples' history."

"I have heard of you, yes." Frigga said, circling Malekith as he drew closer to her. "I must admit, your presence surprises me. I had assumed you and your kind had died out long ago."

"Die, no." Malekith said. "Became stronger, yes."

"Strong indeed." Frigga said, looking over the Dark Elf. "I can sense the presence of machines within you. Although they predate something much older than your race..."

"It is no concern of yours." Malekith cut her off, glaring. "Now, stand aside. My quarrel is not with you, so you need not die."

"You know I can't let that happen."

Malekith glared again, and turned his gaze to the image of Jane, which looked at him with fear. Not realizing the illusion, Malekith gave a wicked smile, and tried to move past the Asgardian queen. Then, with a whip of her wrist, Frigga slashed the tip of her dagger across Malekith's cheek, and the Dark Elf hissed when a deep gash was left in his flesh. He put his hand against his cheek, looking at it to see blood. He snarled at Frigga, who merely smiled.

"What's the rush?" She said, getting into a battle stance. "If you are as strong as you claim, you should have no trouble dealing with the likes of me."

Malekith barred his teeth, and growled deeply.

Pointing his hand out, Malekith fired a bolt of blue lightning at Frigga. Eyes widened, Frigga quickly lifted the dagger up and the lightning deflected off the side and hit the wall nearby, scathing it. The hologram of Jane jumped at the impact, and while Frigga staggered back from the force of the attack, Malekith quickly pulled out his own blade and engaged the queen directly. He struck at her with harsh movements, but with great skill you wouldn't expect from a woman with such regal authority, Frigga blocked each strike.

Ducking to avoid a strike from the queen of Asgard, Malekith pointed the blade outwards, but Frigga swiftly swerved away from the blade and slashed her dagger across the armored section of his back. Hissing as the blade barely touched the skin beneath his armor, Malekith swung his blade towards Frigga's head, only for it to be intercepted by her dagger. The two struggled against each other, Malekith attempting to force Frigga down with their locked blades. Frigga contineud to glare, not showing weakness despite the Dark Elf's greater strength.

Suddenly, Malekith smiled, and Frigga's eyes grew wide when she saw his eyes flash, and electricity traveled up his arms and into his sword. The blue lightning traveled through his blade and then into hers, and Frigga yelped when she felt the electricity surge through her hands and force her away. She landed hard on her back, and groaned as Malekith strode over to her.

He smirked down at her. "I warned you, woman. Now, you will feel death."

Malekith lifted his blade up, and started to bring it down fast to impale her, when, with fast reflexes, Frigga kicked her leg out and knocked Malekith's out from underneath him. With a grunt, Malekith fell on his back, and Frigga quickly held him down by the throat with one hand and took Malekith's blade with her other.

"Will I?" Frigga teased, but Malekith merely smirked, staring at something behind her.

"Yes."

Frigga frowned, and gasped when she felt a large hand grab her forcefully from behind, causing her to drop the blade. She glanced back, and she gasped when she saw Algrim. The monstrosity held her in a bearhug, and Frigga gasped when she felt him squeeze her tightly, threatening to shatter her bones. The blue cables and implants protruding from the Dark Elf's body singed at her flesh.

Smiling, Malekith picked himself up, taking a moment to grin smugly at his opponent, before turning to the hologram behind him. 'Jane' stepped back as he approached, trembling with fear.

"You have taken something, child." Malekith gently, yet firmly stated. "Giving it back."

'Jane' said nothing as Malekith cornered her, and proceeded to reach out to grab her, but he blinked when his hand passed right through her and she faded in a shimmer of gold light. As the hologram disappeared, Malekith's eyes narrowed dangerously, and his rage began to boil. He turned his wrathful gaze to Frigga, who smiled smuggly at him.

"Witch!" He roared, stomping over to her so that he was face to face. "Where is she? Where is the Aether! TELL ME!"

Frigga didn't flinch at the Dark Elf's tone, and stared back at him with defiance. "I will never tell you."

Malekith eyes still shown with anger, but his snarl had been replaced with a frown. "I believe you."

With a curt nod to Algrim, Malekith stepped back. Frigga gasped when she sensed Algrim pulling a blade from his holster, and closed her eyes to await the inveitable. But just as the Dark Elf was about to stab her fatally, a hammer flew seemingly out of nowhere and nailed Algrim right in the skull.

Malekith blinked in surprise as the hammer sent Algrim flying and crashing into the wall nearby, while Frigga was released from his hold and fell safely to the ground. Then, Malekith's eyes grew wide when the hammer ricocheted back and flew straight at him. It hit him right in the gut, and Malekith let out an inaudible gasp as the wind was knocked right out of him. He fell to the ground as the hammer flew behind him, and he got up, gripping his chest in pain as he watched the hammer fly into the hand of a blonde woman in Asgardian battle armor.

Standing in the doorway that Malekith had come through previously, Darcy glared at the Dark Elf sorcerer. "Sorry, bucko. You've caused enough trouble for one day."

Malekith quirked an eyebrow, and slowly pulled himself up. He studied the girl before him, and gave a curious hum. "You are different... Your garb and weapon are of Asgardian origin, yet your stance, your speach implies you are from a different culture."

Darcy gripped Mjolnir wearily as Malekith drew closer, studying her. "You are mortal. The same mortal who defeated King Laufey, am I right?"

"Technically that wasn't me." Darcy explained.

"That is of little relevance." Malekith sneered. "You are Darcy Lewis, slayer of Odinson, warrior of Midgard. To be honest, you are one of the few mortals I have ever encountered. I saw little of Midgard in my early days. Never cared much for your kind. Nevertheless, you are a threat, and must be dealt with."

Before Darcy could react, Malekith shot his hand out and a volley of lightning hit Darcy right in the chest. Unprepared, Darcy was thrown back and crashed against the wall, sliding down. Malekith smirked and fired another bolt, but Darcy acted quickly and lifted up her hammer, which absorbed the lightning.

Stopping his attack, Malekith glared as Darcy stood, her hammer intensifying with energy until it was pulsing with white hot fury. Smirking, Darcy twirled her hammer around and raced at Malekith, hammer outstretched, and the two crashed into the ceiling, Malekith yelling in pain as he felt his ribs crack. Glaring in fury, Malekith grabbed Darcy's wrist and gripped it tightly, and Darcy yelled as she felt her gauntlet crushed around her. Reeling back and landing back on her feet, she quickly rushed at Malekith as he landed before her.

Mjolnir collided with into his cheek, and spit and blood flew from his mouth as his head reared back from the impact. Reeling the hammer back, Darcy channeled energy into the weapon and kneeled down so that she could strike the hammer into a certain sensitive area.

The feeling of pain that overcame Malekith was staggering, and his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he raced up and slammed head first into the large ornate wall of the royal quarters. He fell back down to the ground only for Darcy to slam her hammer into his side and send him slamming into the wall this time, and he slumped down to the wall.

"Had enough, Elrond?" Darcy said mockingly. Malekith merely looked up slowly, his eyes glowing and his teeth showing with a god awful grin.

"From you?" He said with a growl. "Yes."

Malekith laid his hands against the ground, and electricity channeled through his arms and into the floor. The electricity raced along the floor to quickly for Darcy to act and struck her feet, travelling up her legs. Gasping at the seering pain, Darcy jumped up off the ground, leaving her body unprotected as a bolt of lightning struck her right in the chest.

While her armor was built to absorb anything electrical, the concussive force behind it broke the armor plating and sent Darcy falling back. Now marching towards her, Malekith fired more lightning, and Darcy quickly lifted her hammer up, absorbing the energy. Sneering, Malekith lifted both hands up, putting more power into it. He drew closer so that he was mere inches from her, driving so much energy into the hammer.

"Your strength is great, girl." Malekith said over the crackling of electricity. "Your control over the Asgardian weapon is impressive, but even you cannot hold up against my power for long."

"You've seen what this baby can do!" Darcy yelled back. "I'll just throw it back at you, and then you'll be sorry."

Malekith just smirked. "We'll see."

"Indeed we will."

Malekith blinked at the new voice, and glanced, eyes widening when he saw the blade of a sword lifted up ready to strike down at him. Ceasing his attack on Darcy, Malekith leapt back expertly as Sif's sword struck the ground. Glaring at Malekith, Sif marched at him and prepared another slash, but Malakith expertly grabbed the blade in a way where it wouldn't hurt him, and then used his free hand to charge a lightning bolt. Sif quickly lifted up her shield to block it, but the concussive force did force her away from her opponent. Firing off more bolts, Malekith pushed Sif further and further away from him, while Sif barred her teeth as she felt the bolts collide aggressively with her shield.

As he was contending with the Asgardian maiden, Malekith didn't notice Darcy stand up and point Mjolnir at him. He yelled as a powerful blast of lightning struck him in the side and sent him flying, landing right at the edge of Odin and Frigga's bed. With a grunt, Darcy hurled Mjolnir at Malekith, who expertly jumped up while Mjolnir collided with the bed and reduced it to a pile of rubble. Malekith did a frontflip, landing right in front of Darcy. Cupping his fingers together knife-like, Malekith jabbed Darcy right in the shoulder, and Darcy yelped as she felt the numbing pain of a pressure point assault race up her arm. Dropping Mjolnir, she gripper her arm as Malekith attempted several jabs, and she just barely stepped back to avoid each strike.

His senses alerting him to another danger, Malekith ducked as Sif swung her sword over his head, and he quickly reached his hand out and grabbed her by the throat. Sif gasped as Malekith's grip tightened around her, and then glanced at Darcy, who was still gripping her arm. He pointed his hand out and casually blasted her away with lightning, and then the electricity went back up his arm, through his body, and exited through the hand that was holding Sif. A flash of electricity forced Sif out of Malekith's grip, and left her hair all frizzy and her skin black and burned. She landed on the floor, groaning at the soreness and burns from the attack.

Suddenly, Malekith let out a loud cry of pain as a blade suddenly pierced through his chest. He looked down at the blade in surprise, before turning his head back to see Frigga. She looked somewhat confidant, but then her eyes widened with shock when she saw the enraged snarl form on his face. He grabbed the blade, and actually ripped it in two. Frigga stepped back, dropping the bladeless hilt as Malekith turned to her in rage. Cupping his hands into fists, Malekith let out a loud roar as a wave of blue energy exploded out from him, the force sending Frigga flying.

Frigga collided with a large pillar, which actually broke from the impact, and Frigga fell face first into the ground. Grunting, Frigga started to pull herself up, but yelled in pain as she gripped her chest. One of her ribs had cracked, and was piercing her from the inside. She looked up to see an enraged Malekith.

She still looked at him with utter surprise. "You should be dead. I wounded..."

"You clearly know nothing of my race's physiology, you Asgardian trollop." Malekith sneered. "Unlike you, our hearts tilt more to the right side, so you just barely missed it. Rest assured though, the pain was agonizing!"

Frigga gasped as Malekith grabbed her by the throat, and lifted her up. "Now, I will ask this once again. Where. Is. The Aether!?"

Frigga just smiled at him. "It is safe. But on a side note, I have something funny I would like to point out."

Malekith merely glared in confusion, and Frigga continued. "One thing that is common knowledge here in Asgard, is that a good warrior is highly perceivable of his surroundings, always aware when danger is approaching, no distractions."

Frigga's smile, if possible, increased. "You obviously lack that quality."

Before Malekith could respond, a blast of gold energy struck him in the side, and he released Frigga, rolling across the ground until the friction caused him to stop. He had stopped right in front of the balcony overlooking the city, which still burned and was in chaos from the Dark Elf battalion besieging it. Malekith looked up, and saw Odin, staff held proudly in his hand, looming over him. Fandral and Volstagg flanked both his sides, and from behind, Sif, Frigga, and Darcy all pulled themselves up.

The group of warriors all surrounded Malekith, who backed away as they drew closer, cornering him on the edge of the balcony.

"Your machinations have ended, Dark Elf." Odin said, glaring at Malekith with his one gleaming eye. "The Aether is out of your reach, as it should be. You and your allies will have achieve nothing but judgment."

Malekith glared at them, but soon started laughing. "Asgard's finest, all joined together to stop me. I should feel proud. But before I face 'judgment', as you so dare to claim, let me gaze upon you all truly, to fully understand what it is that defies me."

He turned to Darcy. "A clueless mortal."

Sif. "A broken shield maiden."

Fandral and Volstagg. "Two bumbling drunks."

Then Odin and Frigga. "And two broken monarchs. You remind me so much of your father, Odin. So old, so wise, yet unlike Bor, you are without an heir."

Odin's eye narrowed as anger boiled up inside of him. This didn't go unnoticed by Malekith, who smiled wickedly. "Do you miss him, Odin? The training, all that time he spent under your wing? And for what? To end up as a mere fly, for mere mortals to swat with little care or preference. And the other, whose life you controlled from the day he sprang from Queen Farbauti's womb, that you and your wife so gladly played house with until adulthood, when his whole world, as well as the rest of the nine worlds, were shattered."

Malekith was standing now, and the group was all staring at him with glares. He didn't seem to care. "You destroyed his faith in you. With a lie that lasted for thousands of years. And I know what that lie has led to. An invasion of Midgard, an uprising from the Nine Realm's most lowliest creatures, but most of all, you shattered what little family bond you had left in your old, dull life. All because of one lie. It seems lying has become your most defining attribute, Odin."

Malekith stepped a foot closer, smiling sadistically at Odin. "Tell me. How long will it take until the lie you've been telling your people since the moment you took the throne comes back to haunt you? Oh, wait. It already has."

Odin roared with rage, and Sif, Frigga, Darcy, Fandral, and Volstagg all felt the huge torrent of Odinforce that washed over them as it exploded from Odin. Malekith felt it as well, and stumbled back, but still smiled triumphantly at the AllFather.

His eye flaring with fire, Odin turned Gungnir to Malekith, and the tip of it glowed with a bright, burning yellow light that contained only death.

"Your words are sin to all of Asgard." He roared. "You will burn in Hel for the rest of your days, Dark Elf."

Malekith, whose face was covered in the glow from Odin's staff, just smiled. "Maybe. But not yet, for as your wife so gladly shared with me a moment ago, a good warrior is highly perceivable of their surroundings, always aware when danger is approaching, no distractions."

He gleered at all of them. "Obviously, you all lack that quality."

Odin was so absorbed in his rage, that he didn't even sense the approach of the one who, for a while, had laid unconcious on the floor of his and Frigga's quarters. The others failed to sense it as well, as they were wrapped up in Malekith's speech. The moment he registered Malekith's words, Odin's senses flared up, and he prepared to spin around and face the intruder.

But instead, fate conspired against him.

Algrim grabbed Odin's head in his two large hands, and in a split second, he twisted the AllFather's neck, and a sickening crack was heard as Odin's neck was broken. The group all looked on in shock, horror, and disbelief as Odin's now lifeless form was released from Algrim's grip, and fell to the ground. Everything seemed to go in slow motion at that time, especially to Frigga, whose face had gone pail and her eyes were welling up with tears.

"NOOO!" She screamed, and raced forward quickly to catch her beloved. As Frigga cradled the AllFather in her arms, his staff fell to the ground. Sif looked at him in shock, and then turned her wrathful gaze to Algrim, who looked at her indifferently.

"I will peal the flesh from your bones!" She roared, and prepared to deliver a slash with her sword, but Algrim batted the weapon away easily, and then backhanded Sif so hard that she was sent flying so that she was lodged within the wall.

"Sif!" Darcy yelled, and then lifted Mjolnir up, channeling energy into it, but before she could even deliver a strike, Algrim grabbed her by the face.

"MMMHHHMPH! Darcy said, flailing around in Algrim's grasp, when she was slammed hard into the wall, and then thrown away. Fandral and Volstagg attempted to attack Algrim while he was dealing with Darcy, but the Dark Elf just spun around and backhanded both Asgardians, sending them flying right through the wall.

Frigga cradled Odin closely, her eyes welling up with tears and her heart clenching in agony. She sobbed as she sense all life leave him. This should have been impossible. Odin was to die old and valiantly. This was not meant to be! It just wasn't! It should have been her. It should hav...

Frigga's thoughts were interrupted when Odin's form suddenly started glowing with a bright orange light, and Frigga's face shown with shock as the Odinforce, the very energy that gave Odin his god-like power, flew out of him and his staff, which actually exploded as the great energy left it. Malekith, who had been watching the scuffle before him with delight, backed away in surprise as the Odinforce flew up above their heads.

The torrent of energy took the brief shape of a person, and turned wrathfully to Algrim, who backed away as it raced at him. Algrim tried to run away, but the Odin force actually picked him up and raced him around the room, colliding him with Malekith and sending the two Dark Elves flying away.

From below the palace, the mothership, which was still standing guard in front of the great structure, 'looked' up to see the pair falling from the sky. Letting out a loud metallic wail, a blue beam projected from it and enveloped the pair. It beamed them aboard it, and Malekith looked around when he found himself back on the bridge.

He looked up, as if listening to something, and then turned to Algrim. "We must retreat for now. We will hide in the skies above, and wait until the Aether shows itself again. But first, we must ensure that it does not escape this city."

The mothership lifted off the ground, soaring over Asgard as it burned. The ships that were still besieging it all turned to follow the enormous vessel as it left. It drew further and further away from Asgard until it passed over the Bifrost, and the mothership wailed as the optic sensor glowed bright red. A beam shot out and collided with Heimdall's Observatory, and the structure went up in flames, pieces of metal flying everywhere and into the abyss of stars beneath Asgard.

From the palace, the group watched as the ship vanished from sight, and the city was silent save for the fires burning and the civilians screaming. All eyes were on the orange entity that stood before them. Frigga watched with teary eyes as the energy changed, taking a new form. Frigga's heart clenched when it took the shape of Odin, who gave her a loving, but heartbroken smile.

"Darling." It said softly, an echo to it. The group all watched in wonder, as Frigga choked a sob.

"Darling..." She said back. She reached her hand out, and the spirit of Odin did as well, but their faces grew morose as Frigga's hand passed through it harmlessly, and the energy shifted. Slowly, Odin gave Frigga one last glance, and she almost swore she saw a tear fall from its eye, before fading completely. It disappeared, and all that remained of Odin was his lifeless body.

Frigga broke down completely, holding Odin close and kissing him tenderly on the forehead. Sif looked at the scene with devastation, and she to broke, falling to her knees and sobbing. She had failed.

Behind them, Darcy put her hand up to her mouth, eyes watering. Another had died because of her. First Agent Coulson, now this.

Fandral and Volstagg went to Sif's side, looking at the scene with devastation. They didn't pay attention to the secret passage opening behind them, and Hikesh and Jane exited. When they saw the scene before them, Jane gasped, putting her hand up to her heart. Hikesh was expressionless, and he slunk slowly back into the passage, and fell against the wall. He put his face in his hands, and slumped down to the floor.

And elsewhere, deep in the dungeons of Asgard, the sole remaining prisoner stood at the glimmering force field of his cell, his face expressionless, yet a small piece of him had died.

Well, I believe that that was the most intense fight scene I've written for this story as of now. I know, you all hate me for what I just did there. But it fits with my plans for the story... and personally, I never liked Odin. So, no flames please. Now some of you may think Malekith is a lot more powerful than he was in the original canon, and that will be explained later on. So, I hope you all liked this. Later!