Odin and Thor rushed quickly to the darkest part of the dungeon of Asgard. A guard was there to meet them.
"My lord, she has awoken," said the guard. From inside, they could hear a woman grunting. It sounded, to Thor, like she was fighting off something or someone.
"When did this happen?" Odin asked.
"Only minutes ago, my King. I sent Agmund to you the moment it happened," the guard replied.
"Well done," Odin said, and made to go inside. Then, he stopped. He realized that Thor had not been told this secret. It had only been entrusted to the King and a few select guards. He was going to find out sooner or later, the Allfather thought. "Thor, what you are about to see is not to be told to anyone," he said, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. When Thor nodded, Odin led him inside. Thor couldn't believe his eyes.
A Dark Elf. A female Dark Elf was lying on a table...well, strapped to a table, being attended to by a few physicians. She did not look happy at all. However, the struggles she made were anything but powerful. In fact, she seemed weak.
"There's no point in struggling, Elf," Odin said. "You'll not be leaving here anytime in the near future." The girl looked at Odin, and frowned.
"And what makes you think you have any power over me, Asgardian?" she sneered, meeting Odin's kingly stare with pure confidence. Thor was impressed. Even he faltered under his father's gaze every so often.
"You have only been kept alive at my father's order, and my own. Do not try my patience," Odin replied.
"Is that all? You threaten me with death?" The Elf laughed. "You are Odin, aren't you? Yes, I remember you. You've grown old." Odin made no reaction, but Thor could tell that she had touched a nerve. Apparently, so could she.
"Who are you?" Thor asked before she could say anything else. Her blue and black eyes flicked to him, and she grinned.
"Ah, is this your son?" she asked, looking back at Odin. "It's no mystery to me. He wouldn't be here otherwise. I am called Vielae."
"It does not matter what your name is, Elf. When you have served your purpose, I shall decide your fate," Odin spat, and walked out. Thor remained behind.
"I apologize for my father," Thor said, when Odin was gone. "We have been very busy as of late, and it has taken a toll on him."
"It is what I have come to expect from the universe," Vielae muttered. She laid back and allowed the healers to work on her, her face sullen.
"Surely you have seen some kindness before," Thor said.
"Yours is the first kindness I have encountered since my capture," Vielae replied. Thor was about to ask a question when the doors burst open, and Queen Frigga stalked in. With a single look, she ordered the healers out of the room, and took over their work.
"Of all of the things for your father to keep from me, this is the worst," Frigga muttered as she went to work, rebuilding Vielae's atrophied muscles. When she caught the look of confusion on Vielae's face, she said, "I am Queen Frigga, Thor's mother." Vielae blinked, just watching her work.
"Why are you helping me?" Vielae asked after a moment.
"The Allfather seems to forget that we are not above other creatures. You have done nothing wrong, and should not be treated as such," Frigga said, unstrapping Vielae's body. "Thor, handed me those bandages, please." Thor did as he was told, and Frigga went to work on the old wounds that had not been allowed to heal due to the stasis. She then sent Thor out of the room so that she could take Vielae's old armor off, and wash her. The whole time, Vielae had the confused look still on her face. She remained wary of Frigga while they helped her get undressed. Confusion turned to embarrassment as Vielae remembered her scars that covered her body. Her alabaster skin was riddled with scars on her arms, back, and legs. Not removing her breast cloth or loin cloth, Frigga started examining her. Aside from a few bruises and cuts, there was nothing serious.
"These should heal nicely," Frigga commented, finishing the last cut.
"Thank you," Vielae said quietly. Frigga gave her a smile, and grabbed a robe for the girl to put on. With a few painful grunts, Vielae got the robe over her shoulders.
"Wait here. I will have some food brought down," Frigga said, and walked out. Vielae nodded her thanks, and watched the Asgardian Queen walk out, and leaned against the table she had been lying on moments before. The room was solid white, aside from the instruments lying on a few smaller tables next to hers. In the reflection of one of the smaller tables, she could see herself. What she saw surprised her a bit.
Vielae looked exactly the same as she did when she had been captured, however long ago that was. Granted, aging physically took very long for her people, but not THIS long. She still looked like a child! Her once muscular body was now skinny. She felt very tired, and her body and face showed it. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Vielae closed her robe, and turned towards the door.
"Come in," she called. A young maid came in with some meat, vegetables, fruit, and a mug of mead. Under her right arm was a bundle of cloth.
"Queen Frigga sent this, along with some clothes. She also sends her best wishes, but is sad to tell you that Odin has ordered you imprisoned until further notice," The girl said. Vielae, normally, would have struck her for this news, but she knew that this girl was not responsible for anything but telling her the message. Vielae took the food from her, and the clothes, and thanked the girl. She ate and drank quickly, and looked at the clothes that the Queen had sent down. A soft, silver tunic, black leggings and boots, a leather belt, and a black, knee length jacket. Queen Frigga at least wanted me to look good, Vielae thought.
No sooner had she fastened her belt, then two guards walked in, one holding a pair of shackles. Vielae's insticts told her to fight and run, but she knew full well that her body wouldn't obey. Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be shackled, and led away. As the three walked by, various prisoners stopped their conversations to look at the woman walking by. No one had seen a Dark Elf in centuries, and one being led from the lower dungeons was something to see.
The guards put her in a corner cell closest to the dungeon doors. They unshackled her, walked out, and activated the cell walls, which hummed to life with a gold glow. Vielae sighed slightly, and sat down to center herself when she heard a silky male voice call to her from the cell across the way.
"Well, aren't you a sight?"