Chapter 33
The coronation itself was simply Thor taking up the crown. He had already sworn the vows, and gotten crowned the day after Odin's funeral rites. But after the actual recreation of the coronation here, he would have to mingle, and make connections and socialize and everything that came with being a public figure whose standing requires everyone else’s approval.
Surprisingly for Thor himself he was most nervous about his speech afterwards. He had never had trouble with that aspect of being royalty, the people had always loved him. But his speech was going to be the exact opposite of what they expected, his speech was going to reveal all the truths his father had aimed to keep secret, he was going to be publicly reinstating two people known only as traitors, and he was going to be officially announcing his engagement to Jane. It was a lot, but he was ready.
Thor regretted his earlier thought. He was entirely not ready. He was ready. He forced himself to believe it. He had to be. The short official coronation process had already been completed, now it was the time for his speech.
Once the noise died down, he started. “Eight years ago I nearly stood in this same position here, as the King of Asgard. Now, I stand here, and the nine realms are much changed. But if there is one thing I have learned in my last three months as acting King of Asgard, it is that the wise embrace change instead of stalling it. My father made that mistake, and it cost him his life. Asgard will not fall on that sword again.
My father, my predecessor, made two large mistakes. He let Asgard stagnate, believing in our superiority so much we refused to change anything. If my time on Earth has taught me anything, is that anything can change very quickly and it is not only our responsibility but our duty to keep up.
And my father’s second mistake, for all of his wisdom, was keeping too many secrets, too many enemies. I aim to fix that. Gungnir allows me to see what he has hidden, and no longer will limitless secrets be kept and the truth feared. The biggest of those secrets was that of the full collective of the House of Odin. For all I was Father and mother’s only true-born son, my siblings deserve no less acknowledgement.”
Mutters spread around the hall. Everyone knew about Loki, but siblings said as plural, only one wasn’t confused. Lilith whispered, and only Tony caught her words. “No damn way. He’s actually…. Well, he’s got guts.” Tony didn’t have long to wonder.
“It is known to anyone who looks far enough into our history, that Odin’s elder sister died in childbirth over two millennia ago, and Odin took in her daughter, Hela, as his own. Before I was born, Hela was exiled over an issue that has since been resolved, and today, as I fully ascend to the throne of the King of Asgard, I reintroduce my sister, Princess Hela of Asgard.” She swept in on her cue, and the hall clapped, lightly. Everyone either did not know her, or knew her from records that said she had killed the Valkyries while acting as their commanding general.
“And while I admit that my brother, Loki, must still pay for his misdeeds on Midgard,” everyone read the undertones before the next part was said, “he is still a Prince of Asgard, and family, is, after all, everything.”
“Dammit.” Lilith muttered to herself.
Loki had a much less enthusiastic entrance, with several expletives from the Earthen guests.
“And the best news I have looked forward to finally announcing. Introducing Lady Jane Foster of Earth, the future Queen of Asgard.” Jane swept in a glorious ball gown, easily identifiable as Jessica Montrouge’s style.
The applause was the largest any had ever seen, especially from the guests from Earth.
Thor ended his speech with the applause, leaving it on the shorter side but still very much a speech befitting a king.
Darcy stayed by Jane's side as much as she could. Let people assume she was Jane's handmaid or even lady in waiting in training, even though the clothes dictated otherwise. She spotted Lilith on a balcony and decided that was her cue, however.
“And how exactly does this constitute as success?” Lilith hissed.
“We couldn’t exactly stop him.” Eugenia Zemo said.
“Yes, you very much could. Or need I remind you of the literal legion of extremely well-trained dragon riders at your command?”
“It was a calculated risk.”
“Then inform me of what the possible payout could be?”
“The King owes us, and he knows it.”
“No, I think not. You know he knows he owes you, and as of yet you have not cared to inform him who you work for, and you’re using that to your advantage. That was your play, Baroness Zemo.”
“My father is still the Baron.”
“Unless you give me a valid reason and step up your competency, not for much longer.”
“You would turn to Hydras' methods?”
“Oh I won’t kill him. I’ll just tell Wanda Maximoff whose bomb killed her parents. Your father was aiming for the next building over, but I doubt she’ll care. I simply won’t stop her. She nearly destroyed me when she connected me to the name Stark on that bomb. Do you think your father will stand a chance? Pietro shipped out three months ago.”
“Would you? Sentence my father like that?”
“Give me a good reason and I won’t.”
“Why do you want Loki in prison so bad?”
“Look into my eyes and tell me you don’t all suspect by now? I only deal directly with the best of the best. You already know.”
“And you know it’s not going to be a secret for much longer anyways.”
Lilith smirked. “Fair play, Commander Zemo. Make sure those tactics stay and you remember who owe.”
As Eugenia left, Darcy came into the balcony, meeting her sister. “You good?”
“Avoiding all three royal siblings as I maneuver through the ball, mostly hiding in plain sight as Tony’s arm candy, but yes.”
“Who's watching Ron, after the SHIELD thing?”
“Teddy. Ron is 6 years old and Teddy 19. I don’t doubt everyone else at Culver loves the kid as well.”
“Lilith, your son has all of your and Tony's charisma with all of his childhood innocence and the best parts about both of your looks. The kid is stronger than magnetic. Also Culver’s professors have a tradition to let younger siblings into classes, so prepare for the kid to join his dad in the lab.”
“He’s also in full control of his accidental magic, not to mention there’s Teddy, who is like a carbon copy of Hermione but with his dad's boosters.”
“You told him?”
“Of course I did. Three years ago.”
“Sixteen. As old as you were when it all happened.”
“It all started when I was ten, but he’s not me. I can’t expect him to be.”
“Well, at least the worst of the daddy issues end with this generation.”
“Amen to that*.”
Tony noticed as Lilith draped her arm over his, back to the position as charming armcandy. She was a good actress, and nobody doubted it. He noticed she had returned as soon as he had finished talking to Thor.
As they entered the dance floor for another dance, he saw the stone she was fiddling with. “Are you alright?” He asked into her ear, as they hugged each other close on the dance floor.
“It’s the anniversary today. Teddy doesn’t mind, but even the veil is thinner. I can feel it, at least the evasive maneuvers are helping distract me.”
“You said it’s been since you were ten.”
“He’ll know what I look like if he does see me for more than a split second. If anything, it’s going to be the eyes. Both him and my mother, it was inevitable.”
“I have an idea.”
As she whispered it in her ear, she smiled , saying, “Tony, I am so in.”
As one dance ended and another began, the light suddenly dimmed. Written in 6 different languages simultaneously, so everyone could understand it in a language they spoke fluently, text appeared on the wall as the lights were dimmed.
Earth, New York City. Population 8.199 million people. The year 2012 Common Era.
There were short clips of a busy bustling city, peaceful underlying the topmost layer of chaos.
Earth, New York City. Population 8.199 million people. May 16th, 2012 Common Era.
The clips this time were of pure chaos, fear and terror. People fighting back as best they could and getting killed for the effort. And then The Avengers came in. There were clips of Loki in all his gloating insanity. And then there was the nuke, and the chitauri were dead.
Then came the clips of the rebuilding efforts. Digging people out of rubble. Or rather, nearly all of them cooling corpses. People crying over their loved ones, some not even finding bodies.
And then came the names.
A slowly creeping list of names, so that everyone could see each name. And each of them was voiced (in one of JARVIS’ backup voices), read aloud.
It took hours, but everyone stared transfixed.
11,395 people died that day of the verified bodies.
632,856 had their lives overturned or their livelihoods ended.
The price of rebuilding was the same as that of all of the gold on Asgard put together.
Seven years later, few have completely put their lives together for good.
King Thor may call that a temper tantrum, but by the laws of the United States of America, if Loki of Asgard ever sets foot there again that will be taken as an act of war and the full might of the United States Armed Forces will be directed at Asgard., treaty or no
Most Earth people may not have such long lives as Aesir, but we do not forget.
And we will make sure everyone else will remember.
“Aunt Petunia died in that battle.” Lilith said, face grim.
“Where wolfs eyes are, wolf's teeth are near.” Darcy muttered to Lilith, repeating the proverb she had heard Loki say in one of Lilith's memories.
“And the wolf will get devoured by the dragon. Let him.” Lilith muttered back. “I won’t stop at a silencing charm and a stunner this time.”
“So what now?” Darcy asked.
“Now we enjoy the ball.” Lilith said. “That is what we came for? A deranged criminal like that walking free in our midst shouldn’t ruin the happy nature of the event.” She said in a slightly louder volume.
And so they did.
Lilith's luck didn’t last that long.
Before long, she and Tony were approached by Hela.
Hela had zeroed into the woman on Tony’s arm, acting very well but still with a calculating gaze in her green eyes.
She approached them, and playing the part of the arm candy perfectly, the woman smiled at her, fake, and greeted her.
Hela greeted back. “Princess Hela Odinsdottir, right?” The man asked.
“Yes, although I don’t recognize you.”
“Tony Stark. Oh, right, Asgardian last names are just patronymic. Tony Howardson.” Hela glanced briefly at the woman. “And my wife.”
“Lilith Lilydottir.”
“You use your mother’s name?” Hela asked, because who knew, maybe midgardian names were that strange.
“Yes, I do.” Hela grew even more curious.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the tradition is for the father’s last name, only bastards use their mothers.”
The woman gave a serene smile Hela knew very well from amongst the vipers at court. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but on Earth we have better things to do than fret about what or who one was born. If that was meant as an insult, I am afraid you’ll have to try a bit harder.”
“Oh? And your father?”
“Irrelevant. It is not of much matter either way, you’ll find these things wary from world to world. My eldest son, for example, is adopted and you’ll find that though only his mother is known, we care about what one does, not who they are born. And neither are such trivial things any sort of justification for mass murder.”
“And what is?” Hela asked.
“Pardon?”
“What is justification for mass murder on your world?”
“How would I know? I am neither a judge nor a law-maker or enforcer.”
“I am the goddess of death, Lady Lilith. I can feel the reek of death around you.”
“That?” Lilith asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “That’s this little trinket. Gives off a strange aura, I’ve heard. A gift I received a long time ago.” She lifted up a necklace she wore, with a deep black stone at the end.
Hela gave the stone a quick glance but didn’t find anything peculiar but the fact that it did, in fact, give off the aura. Such a trinket was likely a protection amulet of sorts, what she would expect a rich and important man’s wife to own. She swept away, the mysterious aura her most recent dead end.