I apologize in advances for this.
There is dialog in here right out of Thor 2, and I really don't know any of it.
1st beta: Heather
Final beta: Erica
Part II: In the Dark
Chapter 12: All Hearts Burn
Eleanor stands at Frigga's side on the wide gilded stairs directly to Odin's left. He sits on his throne as Thor approaches, flanked by Sif, Volstagg, and Fandral. Hogun is notably absent.
The warriors detail their victory over the marauding fiends of Vanaheim and Eleanor tries not to yawn or fidget.
"Finally, after all the destruction wrecked by the disgraced prince, the Nine Realms are at peace once more," says Odin. Eleanor rolls her eyes. "Tonight we shall feast."
Eleanor wants nothing more than to go back upstairs to the undoubtedly morose, disgraced prince, but it is her duty to at least show up to the celebrations. Frigga says that it is important for people to see her face.
Plus Eleanor really did miss Thor, Sif, and the rest. It's been over six months since they left to chase after the fiends. Apparently it took a great deal of time to root them out of hundreds of hidden mountain caves. The little skirmishes were easy Asgardian victories, but time consuming.
She drinks too much ale as she attempts to enjoy the victory party. Fandral makes her laugh. Volstagg recommends a truly bizarre combination of dishes that turns out to be excellent. Sif promises to take Eleanor to the training yard tomorrow and then excuses herself to catch Thor on his way out.
Eleanor drinks some more ale and watches Sif, smiling and leaning towards a stunningly clueless Thor. She thinks about Jane. She misses Jane. She wonders how Thor could be such an idiot.
The pair does not talk long and Sif doesn't do a very good job of hiding her disappointment. Thor is on his way out again, and Eleanor hands off her tankard to some random warrior that was trying to chat with her before rushing after him.
While they were feasting it started to snow and Eleanor huddles in her cloak, trying not to slip on the wet snow as she tries to catch up with her brother-in-law.
"Hey, buddy," she says, falling into step at his side. Extremely difficult to do, given that the length of Thor's paces are triple hers.
"Sister," Thor greets, slowing slightly.
"Where are we going?" she asks.
"We?"
"You look sad."
Thor sighs. "I am a bit sad," he confesses.
"Because you miss Jane."
"After all this time, I continue to grieve for my loss. Yes, I miss her." Thor murmurs. "I am going to the bridge now, if you'd like to join me."
"You know she thinks the spying is creepy, right?"
"Better she think me creepy than her end up dead because we left her unprotected," Thor says ruefully. "She still resides in London, Eleanor. And after your strange trances that attempted to bring you there, how could I not have Heimdall keep an eye on her?"
"Dude, I'm not saying you are wrong. Watch her. Watch the hell out of her. I still can't believe she's in London. And Darcy too."
"Will you join me?"
"No," she says, pausing when they reach the long winding steps that lead to the road that leads to the bridge. "The old ball and chain does not like it when I'm out so late."
"Ball and chain?"
"Loki," she says, containing her sigh. Sometimes it's impossible to have a normal conversation with the thunder god. "Loki does not like it when I'm out this late."
"And you call me creepy. At least I am not controlling."
Eleanor laughs. "Goodnight, Thor."
"Are you all right to get back to your rooms?"
"Yup. We've been here a year and a half. I've got a pretty good handle on the layout of this place. Plus, I'm sure Ido's lurking around here somewhere. He's my shadow."
"Very well. Good night, Eleanor."
Someone is pounding on their door and Eleanor groans, scooting as close to Loki as possible and hoping it will just go away.
After ten minutes it becomes clear that it will not go away.
"Go answer," Eleanor mutters, pushing Loki towards the edge of the bed. "Whoever it is will just end up coming in anyway."
"The downside of living in a prison," Loki mutters, pressing a kiss to her forehead before rolling out of bed. She opens one eye to watch him pull on pants and a tunic top before moving into the main room.
Loki is snapping at the knocker. It must be a guard or maybe Thor. But Thor only knocks for approximately six seconds before barreling on in. It's happened before. Many times.
And now Loki is yelling, although Eleanor can't make out the actual words.
A guard then, because Loki doesn't yell at shy little Neela. She hopes it is not Ido. She's grown rather fond of her shadow and Loki is scary when he doesn't get a full night's sleep. It's closing in on dawn.
"Eleanor," he says, suddenly standing right next to her side of the bed.
"Shit!" she says, jerking into a seated position. "You are so sneaky."
Loki does not reply. Looking grim, he simply hands her a piece of parchment.
"Who's it from?" she asks, taking it.
"Thor. Your presence is required in the healing rooms."
"Jane's here!" Eleanor says. Her excitement is short lived as she continues to read. "Jane's sick? She's got something in her? What the fuck does this mean?"
"I have no more information than you do, my love," Loki says, running his hands through his hair. "But I suggest you get dressed and depart. Bring me all the information you can gather and I will do what I can."
Eleanor nods and gets up, but she's too shocked and shaky to do anything but stand in front of the dresser, worrying her lip between her teeth.
"Eleanor," Loki says, handing her one of countless floor length dresses. This one is modest with a high neckline and long sleeves. It is hunter green and draped beautifully, but Eleanor is staring at it like she's forgotten what one is supposed to do with a long sleeved, beautifully draped, hunter green Asgardian dress.
Loki pulls her t-shirt off over her head replacing it a moment later with the dress.
"Oh," says Eleanor.
"Shoes," says Loki.
He sends her off fully dressed, reminding her to bring him all the information she can get.
"She'll be fine, Eleanor," Loki says, kissing her as he opens the door to the hallway.
"Okay. I love you, Loki."
The guard posted at the door snorts as if she is joking, but she ignores him.
"I know, Eleanor. Off you go. Hurry."
She hurries.
Before Eleanor enters the room she can hear Jane's voice, gleefully correcting one of the healers on quantum whobewhatsits. She certainly doesn't sound sick and the whole thing is so very Jane it has Eleanor tearing up.
She runs, sliding on the marble and literally crashing into a wall of the examination room in her haste to get to Jane. Various healers gasp in surprise but from somewhere to her right she hears Thor's deep chuckle.
"Ellie!" says Jane, delighted.
Eleanor doesn't say anything but leaps onto the raised bed where Jane is being quantum soul thmopbopomized.
"Aw, Eleanor," says Jane, chuckling she returns Eleanor's fierce hug. "I missed you too."
Suddenly all the hundreds of letters they've exchanged in the last eighteen months are crap and no replacement for the real deal. Eleanor's never missed Midgard and her old life there more.
"London, Jane. Really? We warned you about London. What happened?" Eleanor asks, ignoring the healers that are snapping at Eleanor to get down now!
"I went somewhere."
Eleanor stares blankly. Jane launches into a whole big thing involving science and physics and wormholes and other shit.
"Jane, come on," Eleanor says. "Loki wants a full report on your condition and I don't even know how to pronounce half of what you just said. Oh! He gave me paper so you could write it down."
Eleanor hands Jane the little notebook and Jane laughs, starting to write.
"Why does your husband care for this mortal's condition?" asks the head healer, Eir, crossing her arms over her chest and scowling. Thor rises from the bench where he silently sat through their reunion.
"Because he wants to make sure she's all right and if she isn't he wants to help fix her," Eleanor explains, sighing.
Pretty much everyone in the room makes a lot of doubt-filled noises at that.
"Loki and I are friends," Jane says. The healers gasp again, as if it is the most absurd thing to ever happen in the history of the universe.
"Yeah, he doesn't even want to push you out windows when you talk," Eleanor says.
Jane laughs. Thor and the rest are much less amused.
"Princess Eleanor," says Eir. "Remove yourself from the examination tablet at once. You are interfering with our patient's care."
"Sorry," mutters Eleanor, doing as they say and taking the notebook from Jane.
"Cranky," Jane mouths at Eleanor.
Eleanor elbows Thor and waggles her eyebrows, but the thunder god is too focused on Jane to pay attention to Eleanor's gentle teasing. He watches intently as Jane lies back down and the healers start up their soul forging once more.
"She was somewhere outside Heimdall's sight," Thor whispers. His worry is contagious and Eleanor immediately sobers, reining in her excitement at seeing her best friend once more. "Between worlds. Somewhere ancient and hidden. Something… infected her. It was red and vile and powerful."
"Red," Eleanor repeats, deeply uncomfortable.
"It is in her, Eleanor. The energy threatens her life."
"Fuck."
Eleanor watches in horror as the swirling golden soul forge is discolored by something dark, and Jane remains relatively unconcerned. She seems giddy to be back on Asgard. Last time she was here for less than two days. That was Eleanor's doing and she resolves to give Jane a proper tour this time around.
"My words are mere noises to you that you ignore them completely?" Odin asks, filling the room with his stern voice and swarming guards. He sweeps into the room with an overabundance of regality.
Eleanor tries to make herself very small in the hopes that the Allfather might not notice her. Usually the king simply ignores her, but sometimes he is mean and cruel if Eleanor makes the mistake of acting a bit too Midgardian around him.
"She is ill," Thor replies, putting himself between the Allfather and Jane, sitting up on the examination table.
"She is mortal," replies Odin. "Illness is their defining trait."
"I brought her here because we can help her."
"She does not belong here in Asgard any more than a goat belongs at a banquet table."
The Allfather's words make Eleanor snort. Odin leans to the side, peering at her from around Thor's massive form.
"Ah," he says. "I see both goats are in attendance."
"Half goat," Eleanor says, grinning slightly. "Princess Half Goat."
Odin actually chuckles before resuming his glaring at Jane.
"Hi," says Jane. "Nice to see you again, your majesty."
Odin makes a low sound in his throat but is unimpressed by Jane's manners.
"Something is within her, father," Thor continues. "Something I have not seen."
"Her world has healers," snaps Odin. "They are called doctors. Let them deal with it. Guards, take her back to Midgard."
Hidden by the billows of her dress, Eleanor flips the Allfather the bird.
"Whoa, hey," says Jane, sitting up. The healers are apparently done because they allow it. "Thor and I aren't even together anymore, but this really crazy explosion thing happens when people aggressively touch me, so we thought it might be a good thing to get checked out by people who have some experience with the magical."
"Guards!" Odin booms.
The guards move in on Jane.
It does not end well for said guards.
As the Einherjar reach for Jane an explosion of red and black dust seems to blast from her skin. Eleanor ducks at the last moment as the guards are thrown back into the wall. Jane crumples to a heap as Eleanor blinks up in shock.
Thor is at her side the moment the swirling energy coils and retreats back within Jane. He smooths back her hair and she clutches at his wrists.
Eleanor is faced with the horrible realization that this burden was meant for her, not her best friend. There is no way this plague could be different from the darkness of her dreams. It beckoned her to London and settled for her best friend when she didn't show up.
Getting to her feet is suddenly extremely difficult.
"Impossible," Odin mutters, fucking around with the soul forge again.
"The infection, it's defending her," says Eir.
"No, it's defending itself," Eleanor mutters. Her legs are shaky but she manages to stand, gripping the edge of the examination slab. She exchanges a panicky look with Jane.
"Wise words, Sister," replies Thor.
The Allfather stares at the gold and red and black lights still hovering over Jane. "Come with me."
Jane slides down and Thor's hand goes to the small of her back. Jane leans into his touch and Eleanor tags along.
Eleanor loves the library, even though the history lessons she attends here are a complete bore, and the only Princess Lesson that she hasn't managed to succeed in thus far.
Past the towering carved wooden doors at the entrance to the library resides a living, moving tree representing Yggdrasil. It's several hundred feet tall, and the floors of the library circle it. Eleanor likes to crawl under the low-hanging branches for her study breaks and look up at the colors, like she used to do as a little kid with the family Christmas tree every year.
Lying under the world-tree makes her feel so insignificantly tiny, yet part of something all the same.
She dreams of coming here with Loki. He's spent so many hours in this library and knows all its secrets. They could spend days exploring.
When Odin leads them through the double doors, Jane's mouth falls open as she gapes up at the tree.
"Yggdrasil?" she mouths at Eleanor.
Eleanor nods back. She described this room in great detail in one of her first letters to Jane, but seeing is a different thing entirely.
"There are relics that predate the universe," says Odin, verging off to a room to the left of the tree. It holds the truly ancient history texts, and Eleanor spent far more time in here than she'd like to think about. "What lies within her appears to be one of them. The nine realms are not eternal. They had a dawn, as they will have a dusk. But before that dawn, there were dark forces. The dark elves reigned absolute and unchallenged."
"Born of eternal night, the Dark Elves come to steal away the light," Eleanor mutters, thinking of Bragi and his dreams. Red and black, calling her to London before Loki finally took her away.
"You know this tale, Eleanor?" asks Thor.
"Princess Lessons," Eleanor explains with a shrug.
"These stories, Mother told them to us as children," Thor replies.
"Their leader, Malekith," Odin says, his voice rising as he glares at Thor and Eleanor for the interruption, "made a weapon out of their darkness that was called the Aether."
"Fuck," mutters Eleanor, putting together the pieces. She should have connected this to Bragi's warning when Frigga first had her learn all about the Dark Elves.
"The Aether is fluid and ever changing." Odin selects a familiar gilded book, opening it carefully. Jane and Thor huddle together to see the pages better. Eleanor does not need to see them to remember the pictures printed there.
"It seeks out host bodies, drawing strength from their life force," Odin continues.
"Fuck," Eleanor mutters again. That's why it was supposed to be her, not Jane. Because of her freaky alien genetics, Eleanor has more life force than the typical Midgardian. This darkness, the Aether, sought her out until Loki took her beyond its reach.
And now the darkness has polluted Jane's weak mortal body.
Odin goes on to detail the Dark Elves' attempt to throw the whole universe into eternal darkness, and how his father Bor killed them all.
"He thought he killed them all," Eleanor corrects, knowing without doubt that this is it, the big time threat that's been hovering over them for two years.
"He did kill them all," Odin snaps, turning his one-eyed scowl back on Eleanor. "Why are you even here? And you should be ashamed of your foul mouth."
"Moral support," says Jane. "She's here for moral support."
"Are you certain?" asks Thor. "Did he truly kill them all? The Aether was said to be destroyed and yet here it is."
"The Dark Elves are dead," Odin insists.
"Does this book happen to mention how to get it out of me?" Jane asks, running her hands up and down her arms.
"No. It does not," says Odin. The bastard actually manages to sound apologetic so that's something. "Excuse me."
Odin sweeps out of the room, leaving Thor, Jane, and Eleanor to gape at each other.
"Ellie, do you think—" Jane starts.
"Oh, yeah. This has to be it. Bragi's dreams. My dreams. The fucking London thing. The end of the universe. This has to be it."
"Our first priority must be removing this substance from Jane," Thor decides, as if this was ever really a question. He runs a palm up and down Jane's spine and she leans into the touch.
"Also you should probably work on convincing Odin that this Dark Elves business could be the real deal," says Eleanor.
"That is easier spoken than accomplished, but I agree. Go tell my brother of this."
"Wait," says Jane as Eleanor nods. "Give me that notebook. I'll right down the science stuff."
Jane writes down the science stuff and then Eleanor rushes through the halls, back to their rooms.
"I do not like this," Loki says, pacing the length of the main room. "It wanted to be awoken, Eleanor. It wanted you and was forced to find a poor substitute. Why now? After lying dormant for thousands upon thousands of years why…"
He stops pacing just as he stops talking.
"Loki?" she asks, watching him from her position curled up under his fur cloak on the sofa. The sun is out, providing a nice counterpoint to the snow of the previous night, and things are warming up. The weather is certainly not the reason for Eleanor's current chill.
"Now," he finishes, turning on the spot to face her. Loki studies his hands, slowing moving his palms together until all five fingers on each hand line up. "Oh, dear."
"What?" Eleanor says, pulling the cloak a little tighter around her shoulders. "Loki, what?"
"The Convergence."
"Convergence? Convergence of what?"
"The Convergence of everything," Loki replies. "The Convergence of the realms."
"All twenty seven of them?"
Loki rolls his eyes.
"What does that even mean?" Eleanor demands.
"All nine realms will be aligned totally for a few moments. The barriers between worlds will be nearly nonexistent. It happens only every five thousand years and if circumstances were different I would be very interested in the chaos that results," Loki muses.
"What does this have to do with the creepy darkness inside Jane that wanted to be inside me?" she demands.
Loki sighs heavily and moves to flop next to Eleanor on the couch. He vigorously rubs his palms over his face. "I know not," Loki says, full on pouting. "I loathe knowing not. It has been said that Malekith would destroy all the worlds with the Aether, and using the Convergence would do so with the utmost efficiency. But he is long gone."
"When is this converging supposed to happen?" Eleanor asks, reaching out to rub the back of her neck.
"I know not," Loki says though a clenched jaw. "A matter of weeks? Perhaps a matter of days. This is not the sort of thing I kept up with in my exile, although I am sure Heimdall is aware."
Eleanor arranges the cloak around both of them, cuddling into his side.
"Conceivably, the Aether is not aware that its creators were eliminated long ago, and now it longs to fulfill its original purpose of destroying the universe at the only moment in five thousand years that it is possible do to so all at once," Loki says into her hair.
"Are you sure they were all eliminated?" Eleanor asks, highly concerned.
"Yes," Loki says, as firm in his conviction as the Allfather was. "I've seen the most desolate corners of the universe but encountered no Dark Elves."
"You haven't seen the whole universe, Loki."
"True," he agrees. "No possibility can be ignored at this point. You will gather all the available literature on the Convergence and the Dark Elves from the library."
"Yeah, yeah," she says, closing her eyes. "I'll go in a minute. I was just there, you know."
"By now you should have known that I would demand this of you," Loki says with a chuckle. His fingers are in her hair and Eleanor relaxes slightly, even if there will be no loosening of the knot of guilt and fear in her stomach until they fix Jane. "You should have had the foresight to collect these works for me while you were there."
Eleanor grumbles indistinctly
"And I would like to see Jane myself, if you could possibly drag her away from the Crowned Oaf."
"Do you think they'll get back together?"
"I care not."
"It's what Thor wants."
Loki sighs heavily.
"Although, he really doesn't deserve her after disappearing for a couple of years and his ridiculous theory about you and Jane doing it."
"Eleanor, I am dying of boredom."
"But they are so sweet together."
Loki groans, tightening his fingers in her hair and dragging her mouth to his. He kisses her thoroughly until a brisk knock sounds on their door.
"Come in!" says Eleanor, making Loki groan again. He buries his face in her neck.
"My, the pair of you certainly make a pretty picture," says Frigga. The queen sweeps into the room with all of the regality and grace of Odin, but none of his arrogance.
Loki blushes and attempts to pull away, but Eleanor tightens her grip on his shoulders.
"Thanks," she replies. "We really are cute."
Her words are carefully selected to annoy Loki and he gives her a look of epic horror.
"Cute?" he snarls. "Release me, woman!" He wiggles but makes no real effort to dislodge Eleanor.
"Hush, Loki," Frigga says, dropping into the chair across from them. "You are wed. It is to be expected."
"Yeah," Eleanor echoes. "We're married."
Loki stops trying to get away. "That we are."
"So, Jane," Frigga says, launching into the reason for her unscheduled visit. "The Allfather shared with me your conjectures, Eleanor, that the Dark Elves live on in some desolate corner of the universe. And what are your thoughts, my son?"
"I think it is a possibility that cannot be overlooked," Loki says. "Remote as it may be. I do not believe in coincidence. This must be related to Bragi's premonitions and Eleanor's trances. What is the Allfather doing to uphold his end of the bargain? How does he plan to keep Eleanor safe, given this new insight?"
"Loki," Eleanor says, trying to soothe his mounting agitation. "Jane's the infected one, not me. Can we focus on her please?"
With a growl of disgust, Loki is up and pacing. Eleanor and Frigga share a look that the God of Worrying misses as he stalks around, picking at his hand.
"Odin has the very best and most intelligent discussing possible solutions to Jane's misfortunes," says his mother.
"And what of Eleanor's suspicions? Does he have the very best and most intelligent searching out the enemy behind the awoken Aether?" Loki demands.
"Heimdall does not see—"
"There is much Heimdall does not see! Odin himself taught me that, while Eleanor is living proof. Now does the Allfather recognize the possibility that the Dark Elves might exist still?"
Frigga sighs heavily. "I came here to bring Eleanor to luncheon with Jane, not to discuss—"
"Does he?"
"Loki, your father—"
"He's not my father!" Loki shrieks, rounding on Frigga. There is such raw hurt in his voice, in his angry, vulnerable expression, and Eleanor can feel it in her chest, as if the pain is hers also. She closes her eyes for a moment to keep from crying, but she gets them open in time to see an equally distraught Frigga slowly rising to her feet.
"Then am I not your mother?" whispers the Queen. Her expression is one of utter heartbreak and even after all these years there are deep wounds in this family that are far from healed.
"You are not," he mutters like a petulant child. Loki glances at Eleanor, who clearly conveys her disapproval with one cutting look. "Technically," he quickly corrects. "You are not technically my mother, but practice is a matter of far greater import, wouldn't you agree, Mother?"
Eleanor can breathe again, and Frigga beams, taking both of Loki's hands in hers.
"I quite agree, my son," she says. "You never did learn to keep your fear from turning into rage."
"Yes, Mother," he replies with an eye roll and a sigh.
"Not to worry." Frigga pats his hands twice before letting go and turning to Eleanor. "I will keep your precious one safe as we lunch with Jane. Get your cloak, Eleanor. That ancient fur is far too large for your height."
Reluctantly leaving Loki's cloak on the couch, Eleanor finds her own.
"You will take Ido," Loki says, walking them to the door.
"I always take Ido."
"And the library first, Eleanor. All they have on the Aether and the elves."
"Yes, dear," she says, only rolling her eyes a little bit.
"Ido!" Loki booms, throwing open the doors. The painfully nervous guard nearly drops his weapon in his surprise.
"Yes, my, my, my Prince," he stutters.
"You are to protect my lady with your life," Loki snarls, in full on menace mode. "Any hurt she sustains I will inflict upon you and everyone you love."
"Loki!" admonishes Frigga.
"Dude, not cool," says Eleanor.
"Look at me, Ido," Loki continues. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Prince."
"Good." Loki pulls Eleanor's cloak more firmly around her shoulders. He kisses her soundly and suddenly lunch with Jane is a whole lot less appealing.
"I love you, you over protective brute," she says.
Loki smiles but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Stay safe, my wife."
Frigga takes Eleanor firmly by the elbow. "We will dine here tonight, so you can see Jane. On the condition that you promise not to fight with your brother," says his mother.
"I promise, if he will promise also," says Loki.
"I suppose that is the best I can hope for," Frigga says with a chuckle. "Until tonight. Goodbye, my son."
"Goodbye, Mother."
They find Jane and Thor by the river, making out like teenagers.
Frigga gasps. The scandalized sound makes Eleanor laugh and the two lovebirds tear apart as it becomes obvious that their little spot is not so secluded after all.
Jane squeaks and slaps Thor across the face.
"I'm sorry!" she says, immediately.
Thor sighs, making Eleanor wonder how many slaps he's received since reuniting with the scientist.
"I'm so sorry," Jane says again, directing this apology to Frigga. "It was instinct! Or something. I don't know. We are still broken up."
"But, Jane—"
"Shush! Not here, Thor! Sorry again, your majesty."
Frigga manages a smile, but she is obviously baffled. Eleanor takes the opportunity to make silent kissy faces at the embarrassed thunder god behind her mother-in-law's back.
"Eleanor!" says Jane. "Oh, my God, stop!"
She stops, lips still puckered when Frigga sighs.
"Not very royal, Eleanor," she says, but there is a smile in her voice. "Hello, Jane. It is good to see you once more, despite the less than ideal circumstance."
"Hi. Yes. You too. Asgard is even more beautiful than I remember."
Eleanor crosses the distance and hugs the shit out of her best friend.
"So luncheon?" says Frigga.
Before anyone can reply, piercing alarms ring out through the city.
It is not magic Eleanor has seen before, and after eighteen months on Asgard that's somewhat shocking. Still, she's heard of this sort of image projection. Before they left Midgard, Loki warned her that this might be the only way Eleanor would be allowed to visit him in the white cells.
She reaches out to touch projection Jane's forehead, watching her hand dissolve into blue magic.
"Cool," she murmurs.
"Stop that," snaps Jane. "This is freaking me out."
"You sound like Darcy. I miss Darcy."
Projection Jane nervously gnaws on her lower lip.
Eleanor blinks, abandoning the hologram's eyes for those in her real, physical body. Frigga's hidden them in a secret tunnel and if Eleanor knew the palace a bit better she would lead Jane to Loki, but she would only succeed in getting them horribly lost.
Jane's body is next to her, and she is totally trapped in the projection, seeing only Frigga and the brightly light room where they are hiding out with a whole pack of Einherjar on the other side of the door.
Eleanor has been bouncing back and forth between the projection and her body, getting a feel for this new magic.
"Eleanor."
The Queen's quiet, serious tone pulls her back into the hologram.
Frigga stands under the stone arch that overlooks the water and Eleanor rushes to her side. Everything appears still. The water is placid. The sun is shining, taking the edge off the chill still lingering from the night's snow.
"What?" Eleanor whispers.
Behind her Jane makes a frustrated sound, still unable to figure out how to move her projection's legs.
"Something is amiss," murmurs Frigga. "Something comes."
"What, like something escaped the dungeons?"
This all seemed over-cautious when the alarm first went up, but a sense of dread takes hold of Eleanor now and she wishes they were locked down with Loki, but the trek to the private towers was deemed too far and they got shoved in here.
"More than a prison riot," says Frigga, just as an alien aircraft flies into view, shooting fucking laser beams and destroying swathes of the city beyond.
"Holy fuck," says Eleanor as a great glittering force field goes up around the palace.
The craft crashes into the golden shield and promptly explodes. Frigga exhales, tension draining in her relief.
"We are safe," says Frigga, reaching out to stroke Eleanor's hair and frowning as the projection dissolves before her fingers.
"What was that?" Eleanor asks. Asgard under attack is such a huge, unfathomable thing. War has not reached the borders of the Realm Eternal in thousands of years, since long before Odin's rule.
"I know not, my dear," Frigga says and they both turn to look at Jane.
"Oh, God," Jane says, still unable to stand. She can bring a hand to her mouth so she does. "This is my fault, isn't it? I brought them here."
"No," Frigga says, sliding onto the bench at Jane's side. Eleanor watches the shimmering golden dome that keeps them safe. "The vile substance infecting you brought them here. This is in no way your fault, Jane Foster. No harm will come to you, child. We are all safe here."
A brutal explosion shakes the palace beneath their feet and the golden, glittering globe flickers and slowly falls, just as it rose up around them moments before. The unhampered sounds of battle reach their ears. Somewhere below people scream. Eleanor is brought back to New York and her hands shake.
"Eleanor," says Frigga. "Away from there. Away from the window. Inside. Come sit by Jane."
Eleanor sits by Jane.
They stare avidly at the destruction occurring in the city below and the aerial fighting over the water beyond. The shouting gets closer and something beyond the doors burns. The acrid smell tickles Eleanor's nose.
"Remember to do exactly as I instruct," says Frigga, standing as the double doors swing open.
Something from Asgard's history books steps through the entryway.
"Stand down creature," Frigga says, moving to meet this new threat. "And you may still survive this."
"I have survived worse, woman." His deep voice does not match his narrow, pale features. Eleanor tries not to shiver when he takes her in with her dead eyes. Jane somehow manages to get to her feet and huddles a bit closer to Eleanor's projection.
"Who are you?" asks the queen.
"I am Malekith."
"Aw shit," says Eleanor, garnering the attention of the dark elf. "I fucking knew it."
"Ellie!" hisses Jane.
"Ah," he says. His grin is terrible and Eleanor stands a bit in front of Jane, forgetting for a moment that their bodies are tucked safely away in a secret passage. "The vassal. I recognize you from my dreams."
"Creepy," Eleanor replies. She manages a bored drawl she's heard a hundred times from Loki despite her racing heart and her complete terror.
"But no," he continues. Frigga keeps herself between the elf and the girls. "It is not you. It was supposed to be you, but it is not." His dead eyes fall on Jane. "I will have what is mine."
He reaches towards Jane and Frigga lashes out with her blade, catching the elf in the face. Hissing in shock, he steps away from the queen. Eleanor smirks because she's heard stories from Frigga's warrior past and she knows what's coming.
The pair fights, Frigga a graceful, deadly blur, and Malekith losing ground, struggling to combat the queen's onslaught.
"Wow," whispers Jane.
"I know," murmurs Eleanor.
After only a few seconds Frigga has defeated the ancient elf, forcing him back against a column and holding a blade to his throat.
Eleanor relaxes for a moment until she becomes aware of the giant, lumbering monster that gets his hand around Frigga's throat, yanking her away from the elf. He appears to be solid rock and Eleanor whimpers, suddenly sick with fear.
She considers taking a step forward, away from Jane and towards Frigga, but the queen gives her a look and she stays put.
"You have released something, child, and I thank you for this," says Malekith, approaching them. "Give it back."
He reaches out for Jane and the projection dissolves into rippling blue light. Growling, he grabs at Eleanor next, his hand going through her shoulder but she does not let the projection fade. She stays present in the room, with Frigga and the rock beast, facing down the elf and this disturbing lack of eyebrows.
"Witch!" he yells over his shoulder. The horned rock monster tightens his grip on Frigga and she winces as the elf turns back to Eleanor. "Tell me, vassal. Where is the girl? Tell me or she will die. Her life force will be drained and quickly."
Eleanor says nothing.
"No? You do not care for the life of the child? Perhaps the woman's death will motivate you." He turns to looks at Frigga.
Eleanor wracks her mind for a way out of this, wishing she possessed a fraction of Loki's cunning. Wishing Loki were here to tell her what to do.
"Tell them nothing, Eleanor. Go now," says Frigga, her voice hoarse.
"You try my patience. I will kill her."
The rock beast growls. She sputters and scratches at his wrist as he lifts her off the ground.
"Stop!" Eleanor cries.
Frigga is lowered and gasps for breath.
"I'll tell you. I'll tell you, but you must promise not to hurt Frigga or Jane. Or me." Eleanor will lie. She will waste time until someone more equipped to handle this shows up. Thor or Sif or even Ido.
"I will not lay a hand on them," says the creature.
Eleanor gets the subtext. He won't need to kill individuals. That will all get taken care of when he destroys the entire universe.
"Okay." She closes her eyes and draws out every precious second. She wonders how patient this pointy-eared asshole is.
"Now!" he booms, his voice shockingly loud and deep.
Not very patient it would seem.
"We are being held—"
Frigga snaps her fingers and Eleanor jerks back into her body, the projection abruptly gone. It stings and Eleanor finds herself staring at Jane in the dimly lit secret passage.
"Fuck!" Eleanor shouts, scrambling to her feet. "Fucking, fuck!" And then she is running down the corridor.
"Ellie!" calls Jane.
"Stay the fuck here!"
She emerges a few seconds later through a false wall panel. The palace is eerily quiet and Eleanor steps out of the hidden tunnel with great caution, securing the panel behind her and hoping that Jane stays put.
Satisfied that she is mostly alone, she sets off. She rounds the corner to the hallway that will lead her back to Frigga and abruptly trips, falling forward. She catches herself on her hands and it takes her a few long seconds to realize that she is fully laid out on top of Ido.
Except it is not Ido. Not anymore.
His eyes are lifeless and his flesh still smolders. The stench is unbearable and Eleanor scrambles to her feet, a sob escaping her throat.
Ido, her precious shadow, is just a body now, a burned out hull.
And Eleanor has to save Frigga from a similar fate. She closes Ido's eyes and takes his blade.
The doors to the room that hold the queen are open but another strange creature stands between Eleanor and Frigga. It is facing away, giving Eleanor a glimpse of braided white hair and pointed ears.
Sif taught her stealth. Now she moves as quickly and quietly as possible and she is nearly upon the elf when it turns to her. The blank white mask is a thing of nightmares and it makes no sound at all as Eleanor's blade finds a weak spot between pieces of armor, gutting it under the ribs and pushing until she gets to where its heart might be.
When Eleanor withdraws her blade, a thick spray of hot blood paints her dress. She can't hear anything over the pounding of her own heart, but the creature is undoubtedly dead.
Sif would be so proud.
The thing crumbles to the floor at her feet, giving Eleanor an unobstructed view of Frigga, held in the air by her neck.
The rock beast sticks a blade in Eleanor's queen, in exactly the same spot that served so well to kill the elf dead on the ground.
Eleanor wants to scream, but she's forgotten how.
Don't even look at me.
Feel free to yell at me. It is nothing less than I deserve.