XII
"I have been meaning to ask, young Perseus, how does Asgard compare?" Odin spoke as the walked through the halls to see what had been discovered concerning the mortal Jane.
Percy was snapped from his monotonous thoughts. His eyes drifting over to the King of Asgard.
He didn't know what to think yet of Thor's father. A mixed bag of thoughts pervaded through him whenever he did. Imperial was certainly an encompassing word. He certainly looked the part of a king.
Old wizened features were present with a gold plated eyepatch over one of his piercing blue eyes, that reminded him of Ethan Nakamura from all those years ago, or even the more recent SHIELD Director.
Where Zeus would dress smartly but casually, Odin was prepared for battle. With ornate and intricate dark gold armor over what appeared to be mail made of scales with a wild and stringy snow beard, he looked more as an oldened general than a ruler of peoples.
But he digressed, he didn't know much of Asgardian customs though it appeared his thoughts on addressing the King worked in his favor. They seemed to respect strength but Perseus was not naïve enough to think that his stubbornness was what ensured his life.
No, the Gatekeeper had said as much. It was his reputation that had apparently proceeded him. They respected strength but a healthy dose of fear was certainly what granted Percy the audience that was had.
Of that Percy had no doubt, even if he felt they were greatly overestimating his capabilities.
"Its…different." Percy settled on. He didn't want to offend. If he was as long lived as Thor portrayed him as and as he looked, then dealing with him would be similar to dealing with other immortals. Prideful and stubborn creatures. "Being on Olympus…unsettles me. I much prefer Atlantis. Here, its like I don't belong." Which put into perspective, would make sense considering the circumstances.
It would be safer to just stick with answers that would offend no one and all he was doing was telling the truth. The Son of Poseidon much preferred his father's kingdom than either Asgard or Olympus. Even if he had only been there for a handful of times.
"I suppose that is to be expected." Odin acquiesced with a slight inline of his head. They continued the walk. The only sound being conversation from nearby men and woman along the halls and the marching of small squadrons of Palace Guard.
In Percy's opinion, similar to Olympus, there was too much gold. Everything shined and glinted wherever the sunlight touched. Though as he said, he preferred the realm of his father over even the seat of power of the Olympians.
He may have been entirely biased but that was besides the point.
There was more silence and Percy didn't mind. In fact, he cherished moments like this even after a year of meditation and small excursions to hunt nearby monster bands and it seemed that everyone else was as comfortable with the quiet trip as he was.
Which was odd because with the way Thor acted on their journey to Bifrost and the other Asgardians he had encountered, that they seemed a rather boisterous and talkative bunch.
He also figured it was safer to not speak unless spoken to. So his thoughts drifted back to the water spirits of Asgard. The Undine, they had called themselves, who had believed him to be a reincarnation of their lord, Njord, if he remembered correctly.
While Percy didn't know exactly who that was as he wasn't brushed up on his Norse mythology, it was a safe bet to assume that he was some sort of Asgardian water deity that had passed on, given the reverence with which the name was spoken by the nymph.
Or at the very least they thought him to be someone related to the Asgardian. They spoke in garbled and bubbling words that he couldn't entirely make sense of. But the intent was clear, they believed him to be someone that held dominion over them.
Well, the Undine girl he encountered did. He internally smirked at the suggestive tone she had taken near the end of her words. The intent was definitely clear at that. Though he frowned as he thought deeper into the interaction before mentally shaking himself from the thoughts.
He would return to them soon enough, if they were that important.
They soon arrived at the healer's room where a half a dozen women garbed in form-fitting robes that were a combination of teals, soft light greens with accents of glittering golds and shining silvers, with pale scarves and sashes that either ran across their lithe figures or wrapped around their necks and heads in a manner similar to a cowl.
They were attending Jane who was laying on her back across what looked to be an illuminated slab of stone with a glittering orange mist that seemed to emanate from the curved golden poles and spires that edged the machine. It reminded Percy of an MRI machine to be perfectly honest. Only one that was far more advanced than what the people of Earth had.
He noted Thor to be smilingly fondly at the girl who was laying down and waving her hand through the orange particles that depicted her body, seemingly entranced by the astral projection of herself that was floating just a foot above her.
His eyes instantly attached themselves to the crimson smoke that was being depicted inside the girl's body. Swirling and contorting as if it were a pile of nesting snakes.
The group fanned out, however, Perseus remained at the entryway, beside who he assumed to be one of the healers and the two guards who he recognized as escort to the queen. The woman with the silver armor and small kite shield took a post inside the stairwell while the other six of the royal procession took posts around the average sized chamber.
Considering the weapon of the Lady Warrior and where she had positioned herself, it was clear that the moment he did anything that could be considered dangerous, the first thing that blade would be doing would be an attempt to remove his head from his shoulders while also digging into the engraved threshold after cutting through his flesh.
Not that he had any intention of being a threat to them. He didn't just secure a truce between Olympus and Asgard to merely tear it to shreds minutes later. Albeit, it was a tentative truce, to be fair. One that most likely only secured his safety while on Asgard and Thor's seemingly frequent excursions to Earth.
It was in all honesty, a deal made on well wishes and what most would consider as an unhealthy amount of hope but it was, nonetheless, one made in genuine good faith.
Zeus nor any of the Olympians tolerated trespasses on their realms and the actions of Thor, even if he was ignorant to the political and social ramifications of his constant interference, only set them a hair's edge from forcing Percy to strike him down and such a thing would force the hand of Odin who would undoubtly wage war against the Olympians.
A third war would break Olympus or at least weaken it to the point of collapse. He would rather not see his family be on the receiving end of whatever conflict that would erupt. The truce, if one could even call it that, was made with them in mind after all.
Percy was pulled from his thoughts when Odin spoke. His presence apparently, unnoticed as the Asgardian Prince, Queen and Jane continued to speak amongst themselves. Though from the subtle glances and slight smiles from the Queen sent to Odin, Percy suspected that the Queen wasn't as ignorant as to the sneaking of the King of Asgard.
"What have you discovered?" His imperial voice cut through whatever conversation that was being had at the moment as his golden spear clambered with the King's every step. Thor also took a step forward, placing himself between his father and Jane.
An admirable gesture, Percy admitted, but if the demigod was being honest with himself then Odin would have cast the mortal out already if he truly wished to. He didn't take the King to be one for showmanship.
Percy felt the warrior behind him stiffen at the movement. It was a subtle thing and not one he was often prone to noticing but considering the place he was in, he had his senses already dialed. It was only luck and his own desire to not the be the one stabbed in the back and not to be separated from his head, that he was flush against the stone walls and that his hands were already clasped behind his back.
Otherwise, the lady warrior would have seen him react to her own stiffened posture. The demigod wasn't sure he could explain his way out of having the hidden kopis underneath his loose jacket.
He may have trusted Asgardians enough to not arrive geared for battle but that didn't mean he was entirely unarmed. To be so, especially as a demigod and all that entails, would be foolish.
"It's an infection. Like Perseus spoke of. It is self-defending." The Queen stepped forward in between the two. The mediator, he noted. He chuckled in his mind. The mother and wife would always keep the family together. It was no accident that Gaea targeted Hera first. "It is the Aether."
The Son of Poseidon heard the King of Asgard take a sharp breath and saw him stiffen. Well as much as his armor would allow. It was more of him straightening his neck rather than his back. "That is not possible. My father hid that away." He let out a growl.
"Um, excuse me." Jane sat up, using her elbows as support. The orange projection of her mimicking the movement until it flickered away as the mortal touched it. "I'm right here."
Odin must've leveled a look at her that spoke volumes of his intent and thoughts because the mortal had almost fallen off the iridescent slab of stone in her attempt to move away.
Mortals were simply incapable of matching eons of experience in leveling glares.
If it wasn't for Thor catching her arm then she would have completely fallen off the slab.
"What is it?" The demigod asked, curiously and received looks as the attention in the room shifted to him. "The…Aether that is."
Was he supposed to know what that was? Why was it surprising that he didn't know?
Since everyone was looking to him, none noticed the way Jane's eyes flashed crimson at the mention of whatever was in her. Though Percy did and he watched her eyes blink rapidly as they returned to her normal brown irises as if she were adjusting her vision.
Odin didn't respond and turned back to Jane. "Your arm, girl." Jane hesitantly offered her arm, but not before looking to Thor who nodded slightly in reassurance and offering his own tentative smile.
She did so and Percy stepped forward as did the woman behind him. While the demigod didn't get close to the King, he did maneuver to see more clearly. He had only caught a glimpse of it in the throne hall as two burly Asgardian guards had blocked much of his view.
But he had heard it call to him.
That same serene and melodic whisper that crashed upon his mind.
Just as it did now when Odin caressed the bottom of her forearm, an orange wisp began emanating from his fingers as it coaxed the Aether forwards, most likely an attempt to remove the substance. A reddish golden glow that ran like rivers of water through her very veins.
The whispering grew louder until it became a demented screams and he had to suppress the urge to physically recoil and lash out from the painful sound. No one else had heard it.
He wasn't successful in his endeavor in concealing the pain and he clenched his clasped hands into tight fists that drained the blood making the tissue appear a sickly pale in comparison to the healthy pink that it usually was.
He hoped that none saw the action.
However, just as soon as the Asgardian King removed his casting hand, everything turned sour.
Jane's eyes washed over into a crimson curtain as her gaze snapped to Perseus, the roiling waves of energy lashed out in a tide of red, pushing those close to her backwards. Only Perseus, Odin and Thor were unaffected by the display, but only barely as all three took a bracing step back.
She collapsed as soon as it happened. Thor rushed forward and caught her before she could hit her head against the hard rock that she had been resting upon. She clenched her fists and brought them to her head and the Son of Poseidon also rushed forward, recognizing the agonizing pain that was sure to come, just as it did last time.
He made to summon the Mist, to engulf his hand like a glove as before but it fought against him. As if it were being repressed. As if it retreated from his call and refused to be so easily bent. Jane began screaming in pain and thrashing and convulsing as she clutched her head in pain.
"Hold her down!" Thor barked, his voice booming in both anger and fear, his eyes darting ferally about the chamber and several of the healers and palace guard had dropped their weapons and shields to assist their Prince. "She'll hurt herself!" Thor's gaze whipped up to Percy's own. "Do something!"
Sif had pulled the Queen behind her armored form as the King was forced to do the same by two others of the palace guard who held shield and spear at the ready.
Red energy began snaking about her body, tendrils of crimson light in their multitudes whipping about but fading from existence just as fast as they appeared or whenever they touched another being.
Percy willed the Mist once again. This time commanding the energyto come forth, further reinforcing his own divine authority this time while feeling a painful but familiar tug in his navel at the amount of energy he was expending. He felt that same piercing pain in his head. The pain magnified tenfold and he felt his mind and body begin burning from the sensation.
His will, now, brooked no resistance from the all-encompassing essence as the usually white translucent smoke fully formed in the center of his palm as a small orb of solid pale light. Percy held her shoulder down and Thor did the same on his own side.
Jane bucked against the grips that were pinning her to the medical bench, the healers almost being forced away from the sheer strength she had. The mortal should not have the capability to so easily resist their strength as even Percy was struggling to hold her shoulder down.
Still, just as soon as the Mist manifested itself upon his hand Percy near slammed his palm to the mortal's forehead. The orb of Mist being sandwiched against his hand and absorbed by the body of Jane. Instantly, she collapsed as if spent of energy. Her muscles twitched, erratically though those quickly died down as the healers moved to issue their own remedies to the pained mortal, everyone in the room exchanged uneasy looks.
Her face was contorted into an expression of pain but resting all the same.
Some released sighs of relief, not realizing the heavy breaths of air they had imprisoned within themselves in fear and anticipation. Thor and those holding Jane were panting slightly at the exertion of restraining the mortal that had the strength of defying Asgardians and a Greek Demigod.
Percy, on the other hand palmed the bridge of his nose, where his right eye met the browbone, in an attempt to ease the pain and tension felt. The piercing whistle turning to a dull thrum. The whisper was still there but as an echo and spectre of its normal unintelligible urgings.
"Your nose is bleeding." Thor pointed out as he sniffed and cleared his throat. A thin sheen of sweat had overtaken the forehead of the Prince of Asgard and the blonde Asgardian took a handful of his cloak to wipe some of it away.
Percy brought his wrist to his nose to wipe it away but the blood had already dried and only dead crimson flecks remained and those were quickly scoured.
He nodded his thanks to Thor and the Son of Poseidon suddenly felt a lot more of his own faculties failing demanding rest as he collapsed to a knee, while while a hand steadied himself from completely falling in the form of clutching the side of the stone slab, not noticing the web of cracks that dispersed from his grip.
For something as mundane as conjuring Mist, arguably the easiest piece of magic that was available to every demigod, had drained him as if he had just fought the Primordial Mother again.
He took a measured breath as an Asgardian healer brought a chalice of water to him. He downed half of it and dumped the rest on his head, uncaring of the looks he was no doubt receiving. There were no errant droplets as they gravitated towards the Son of Poseidon before being absorbed by him. It had an immediate effect on him as he regained some of his strength, not enough for him to have entirely recovered from the exertion but enough to have a noticeable impact on the child of Poseidon.
The water felt as it looked when he stood over it along the Bifrost bridge, crystalline and pure. He suspected that it was enchanted or imbued in some way as not even the waters of Earth had such a rejuvenation factor to it. Well, that was false. The purifying abilities of his father's Sand Dollars had much the same effect on him. It was…untainted, freeing…refreshing to say the least and a most welcome aspect to liquid that was often polluted.
He stood finally noticing the looks he was receiving. Most suspicious, from the guards mostly as they eyed him with narrow looks but said nothing. Most of them appearing glad for intervening when he had.
Percy guessed that they would have taken more drastic measures to subdue Jane had he not done what he did. The protection of the Royal Couple was paramount and though, and Percy only guessed, they would rather avoid coming to blows against their Prince, they would do what their oaths had sworn them to do.
Others looked to him appraisingly, the healers, the Queen and King as well as the Lady Warrior that seemed to be the personal guard to the Royal Family.
His ability to subdue whatever this Aether is was probably cause for it.
Thor was the only one that looked unsurprised and unfazed as he went to shouting commands to the healers snapping them from the stupor to find out what happened.
"Nice armor, Greek." The Lady Warrior said blandly. The first time she had spoken in their brief time that they had been in each other's presence. Her voice was throaty and held an undercurrent of authority as if it had been used time and time again to shout her own commands in the heat of battle. Though it had an airy and regal quality to it too. Confident and assured. Percy assumed that these traits extended from not only her words and voice but also to her actions considering her position.
Though Percy did not dwell long on the quality of her voice, no he was more concerned with how his armor had been summoned. He had not called on it to appear. That was not all that caught his attention. As he looked to his armor, he had to force himself to not appear surprised or overly alarmed as the familiar grey Delta on the center of his chest was now a blood red.
He slowly took off his Corinthian helmet to confirm his fears and curiosity.
The sharp gunmetal frill that was previously only edged in the blood red of Ares were now bathed in the color.
Just like in his vision aboard the plane to London. His armor no longer possessed the gunmetal colors that was inherent to Stygian Iron and instead were scoured in the crimson blood of war. Even his shoulder pauldrons were gone, and he had to feel his body for the flask of nectar and the moleskin of ambrosia. Interestingly, the enchanted satchel was also clipped to the back of his hip beside the godly food and drink, just below his dagger that was still resting at the small of his back.
What the hell was going on?
He blinked it away as he instinctually, tucked his helm underneath his arm taking care to set the sharp frill against his imperial gold cuirass. It wouldn't do to nick himself on his own helmet, that would be embarrassing. Percy looked to warrior woman. "Thank you…? Yours isn't too bad either."
He didn't know what to say in that regard. He had actually never been complimented on his armor. Despite the intricate and ornate and obvious high quality of it, it had always served him on more of a functional basis rather than ceremonial.
It had after all, been subjected to melting from acid and fire, arrow piercings and attacks from all sorts of bladed weapons.
"What did you do?" The Queen questioned, looking at him warily as if he would lash out at any moment. While she may have been trusting of the mortal Jane, the Queen of Asgard clearly knew who he was and was understandably wary given his sudden form of attire.
"The Mist." Percy spoke as he thought carefully. "The last time this had happened I used the Mist to ease her mind. This time, it was…fighting me." He looked at his hands and attempted to summon the veil magic again, normally that is.
It did not come to him and he felt that same resistance as before.
He thought for a moment before attempting to manifest a sphere of water from the air. He felt that tug in his gut again, this time he felt a prick of annoyance in his navel but the sphere appeared nonetheless, though where it would easily be a smooth and perfect orb of water, this one was rippling as if being affected by some unseen wind.
It was as if the water was fighting his control as droplets would fall from the form before rising back up to join the sphere once again. It was as though he was twelve years old again and how his abilities were as every bit as unrefined as back then.
He felt the water in the air and extended his senses to the oceans he had traversed.
Unlike on Earth, where the oceans and seas were wild, chaotic, lively and would call and sing to him, where the waters responded eagerly, hungrily, devoutly. Asgard was almost the polar opposite.
The ocean here was serene and calm. There was an order to the seas that was a stark contrast to the inherent nature of the depths. These waters had none of what made them the uncontainable forces of nature that they were supposed to be. They felt dead. Empty. They held no emotion. The waters were magical but that was about the extent of the life and promise that they held.
Percy flicked his eyes towards the mortal before answering. "My abilities…something feels wrong." He had never been the best at explaining his inherent gifts in the first place and having to explain what was wrong with them would be an even more daunting task.
She nodded as she watched the orb dissipate into a fine water mist, becoming unseen moisture in the air once again. "Perhaps your heritage prevents you from fully using your powers here."
"I guess." But he had his doubts. Something was wrong with the ocean realm of Asgard and he would be damned to the Fields of Punishment if he didn't find out and fix it.
The Undine girl had alluded to as much. Something was wrong. She had a…desperation. Her tone may have been flirtatious and inviting but Percy would have to be blind to be ignorant to the way her eyes exuded the hope.
In Percy's opinion, he was obligated, no he was honorbound to help whatever was ailing the seas of Asgard. His own conscience would demand nothing less.
He just had to figure out how to do it without provoking the ire of the King of Asgard. The Son of Poseidon would have to be careful and not overzealous as he was before. Here, he should expect absolutely no support.
Thor may help, for no other reason to save an innocent people. The Asgardian Prince wore his heart on his sleeve and it was easy to see where his thoughts were if he were to test the subject with him. If there was something wrong with the Undine though, it would be best if he handled it. If for no other reason, since he breathed water as if were air.
Percy didn't think correcting or fixing Asgard would endear him all that well to the King or its people but he wouldn't abandon the Undine to their fate.
Thor would've loved nothing more than to ease Jane of her pain. This Aether would consume her until she was naught but ash and dust.
The Prince of Asgard looked to the demigod. Perseus looked worse for wear. Miniscule droplets of perspiration trailed on the sides of his forehead and a thin line of dried blood had traveled just short of his upper lip.
Even as the Asgardian told Perseus, he didn't move to clean himself. He looked more worried about his own abilities. Thor would know how he felt.
Being banished from Asgard and separated from his birthright felt like a part of him was missing. A void that couldn't be filled until he had them back.
Thor was also glad that he had been able to call upon his magic, if not Jane would still be in a tremendous amount of pain. He couldn't bear to see her like that.
That feeling of powerlessness was not one he liked to feel. He couldn't do anything to help her or protect her.
This wasn't the Marauder bands that terrorized and raided across the Nine Realms, where he could simply pummel and fight them into submission.
The Aether was a cosmic force. A dangerous Elven artefact that in the wrong hands could spell doom for the entire universe.
Still, as Perseus lightly experimented on his powers, he was not as forsaken as Thor was. They responded though less refined as the Prince of Asgard had come to expect. They seemed to require a considerable effort and focus on the demigod's part to manifest and it still seemed to buckle and waver.
Odin intervened any further questioning his mother may have had regarding the Greek Demigod. His one stormy eye scanning Perseus and him as if measuring their worth. "Thor, Perseus with me. I have something to show you." He began leaving, gesturing for Sif to follow but directed the rest of his guard retainer to remain Jane.
Thor looked to Jane but was intercepted by his mother who gracefully moved in front of him and clasped his rough her hands with her own delicate ones. "Do not worry, I will watch over her. I will send for you should she wake."
He trusted his mother implicitly and left without anymore hesitation.
With Odin in the lead, Thor and Perseus took up positions behind the King of Asgard on his right and left respectively while Sif walked behind the Greek Demigod. Thor figured as the appointed escort for Odin, the Sword of Asgard would want to be in as advantageous position as possible to deal with Perseus should he turn hostile.
Perseus easily kept pace with Thor but even the imperceptive Prince of Asgard could see that the demigod was fatigued and his thoughts distracted as they silently walked through the halls of the Palace.
If a fight were to break out, Thor knew that the Greek posed no threat in his current state. Had he been refreshed however, the Prince of Asgard had his doubts on whether he could be a threat easily dispatched or if half the palace would have to be replaced in the aftermath.
But the Son of Poseidon was as intelligent as he was powerful. He would not fight unless he had the upper hand and was in his element.
He could summon storms to be sure, but with the amount of effort and concentration he had to put into manifesting his veil magic that Thor knew he could usually do with ease, Perseus would be at a decided disadvantage.
Even his attempt at conjuring an orb of water seemed to need the strain of considerable concentration.
Thor chanced a glance to Sif but she was pointedly ignoring him. For what reason, he didn't know. Most likely it was Jane's presence but Thor didn't think her the jealous nor petty type to go so far as to snub her friend and prince. He turned his attention back to the area around them, fidgeting slightly at the silence.
It was not long until Thor recognized the corridors they were traveling. They were heading to the legendary tree of life. Even now, the ancient magics of Yggdrasil began to descend upon the quartet like a thick and heavy air.
The Arbor Guard definitely made their presence known and felt. While less known throughout the Nine Realms and even Asgard itself, the Arbor Guard's sole duty was the defense of the World's Tree. Even though they were less known and less numerous as their more known compatriots, this did not mean they were less prestigious.
If the Einherjar were the best of Asgardian warriors and the Palace Guard were the best of the Einherjar, then the Guardians of Yggdrasil were the best of the Palace Guard. The veritable best Asgard had to offer.
Their armor, a stark contrast to the golds and blacks and silvers of most of the standing army's. Mimicking the Tree itself, their armor was painted a pale and withered white with equally pale green veins but was formed much the same way of the standard Einherjar, while their arms were colored same pale white. Spears stood like stalwart pillars of bone and shields that appeared as discs of leaves. Their capes similarly colored with a sparkling green on the outside and a bone, pale white on the inside.
Their presence did not go unnoticed by the guardians of the tree as craning heads trailed their forms but they did not move from their posts. It was not the most exciting position but it wasn't supposed to be. Exciting meant something terrible in their perspective. No, they may be some of the best that Asgard ever has to offer but their post was a sacred one and not one taken lightly.
They soon entered the Arbor itself.
The great Ashen Tree was in full display at the center. Much like at the Bifrost chamber, Thor was in awe every time he came to meditate at the legendary tree. Pale roots dug into soft brown soil at the base and under the intricate engraved stone floor while branches stretched far into the chamber and further into the ceiling.
Verdant green leaves made the tufts and tops of the tree seem more like bushes were growing on it while the dim everlight that was ensconced at various points in the chamber glittered off the tiny leaves giving the impression of flickering starlight while the wood swirled with images of nebulae as the torchlight reflected off the sheen ashen wood.
Arborists tended to the tree, carefully trimming the edges, decayed branches and errant roots that would occasionally stray further than intended. The Arborists of Yggdrasil were a quite different order from other Asgardians. Sworn to a life of pacifism they did not carry weapons nor bear armor that most others would. Their garb was similar to the guard in their colors but of warm cloths, silks and linen instead of cold Asgardian steel.
Others were there, Asgardians seeking respite, peace and counsel. Kneeling or sitting cross legged on small carpets or soft pillows, they either gazed upon the World's Tree in wonderous contemplation or had closed their eyes in silent meditation.
They quietly made their way beyond the Arbor Chamber and into one of the many Archives that pocketed the Asgardian city. Though this repository was one of a handful within the Palace, it was known for its more esoteric knowledge, much of which Thor was not privy to.
Not that he was forbidden to it, as he wasn't, but he often neglected his studies and thus didn't frequent the libraries of Asgard as often as his brother did nor as much as his mother wished him to do.
He didn't know whether to be ashamed or embarrassed of the fact. Though considering the current situation, he was certainly feeling more of the former than the latter.
They entered with little fanfare. A handful of Asgardians were about. Most were in deep study at polished tables made of ash wood, pouring over tomes eons old while an attendant came quickly to the group.
"King Odin." The librarian bowed slightly at the waist and his eyes flicked briefly across the group, offering another slight bow to the Prince, though didn't acknowledge them directly. "How may I be of service?"
"Acquire the tomes on the Aether, particularly the detailed accounts of my father during the war with the Dark Elves." The voice of Odin, though quiet and respectful given the location, held an air of command that only added weight to his words.
"At once." The attendant bowed slightly once again before leaving to retrieve the tomes requested.
The King of Asgard led them to an empty area of the library as they waited for the information Odin requested for them.
It was silent all the while. None daring to speak. Whether this was done because of the sacred atmosphere or because they didn't want to talk, Thor didn't know.
Thor would speak with his friend but as before during their journey here, she was pointedly ignoring him, having stood as far as she could and looking far more interested in the bland ceiling and the bindings of the books.
His father was looked to be in no better mood as he was sat down in the nearest chair available, with the King's Spear held. While Odin didn't seem to be enjoying the situation, there was no anger in his eyes. Just a weary expression of contemplation.
Perseus stood against a shelf, arms crossed against his chest after he had set his golden helm on an empty section of shelf. His face was set in stone and he didn't look all that interested in the matter at hand at least not entirely. His mind was elsewhere, that much was certain.
The attendant soon arrived with a set of three tomes and set them in front of his father. "Is there anything else you might require?"
The Allfather waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "That'll be all." The man bowed slightly once again before departing from them. Odin grunted as he stood, thumbing the book open as he did so and both Sif and Perseus stepped from their positions.
Thor did as well. He was curious to say the least. He knew of the Aether from childhood stories but never thought much of it as it was supposed to have been destroyed by his grandfather, nor of the wars waged. It simply didn't interest him all that much, mostly it happened near hundreds of thousands if not millions of years ago.
He only knew what most others knew. That it was an corrupted form of the Reality Stone that it was destroyed in the final stages of the war with the Dark Elves.
His father began. Thor recognized it as his 'teaching voice' and he had heard it many a time as he had been on the receiving end of it more than anyone else. "There are relics that predate the universe itself. What lies within the mortal appears to be one of them. The Nine Realms are not eternal. They had a dawn as they will have a dusk." He gestured to the book.
Six bright gems were painted on the page of varying colors. Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Amber, and Purple. Thor recognized them as the Infinity Stones. Objects that were the physical manifestations of creation itself. The Tesseract, a housing for the blue Infinity Stone of Space. That was about the extent of he knew of their locations.
Thor gauged both Sif's and Perseus' reactions. Sif, undoubtly heard the same stories as a child but like himself had never put much stock in them. The stones were rare in and of themselves. Six stones near the size of small rocks scattered in the expanse of the universe. It was near impossible that one was found, and often one stumbled upon them rather than seeking them out.
It was only luck that Thor had been able to gaze upon the Space Stone and that luck only grew now that the Aether was simply down a couple hallways away from them.
Perseus looked uncomfortable as he shifted in his space but other than that he was transfixed on the lecture that his father was giving. Thor never took the Son of Poseidon to be one for history lessons.
"But before that dawn," His father turned another page. "there was darkness. An endless abyss of nothingness. All-consuming and all-encompassing. Here, the Dark Elves reigned supreme and unchallenged."
"Born of Eternal Night, the Dark Elves come to steal away your Light." Sif quoted. Her voice a near whisper. Thor shivered involuntarily at the words and even the Sword of Asgard looked slightly uncomfortable. A popular if a bit grim story, making the Elves the figurative monsters of the night, and to admonish and scare misbehaving children.
He had thought them and regarded the Elves as such. Such words sourced in truth but in relation with what Jane was currently being possessed by, made the monsters all the more real despite their extinction.
"Their leader, Malekith, brought about that darkness. However, at the birth of the universe, the Light became whole and began encroaching on them, driving them back across countless stars and worlds. My grandfather, Buri, was the first to fight them near the end of his reign. Soon after, my father, your grandfather, Bor, took up the mantle and also began to combat them in open warfare."
Another page turned and the three were now enraptured by his words. Thor had to suppress the smile that threatened to overtake him. It was not often when his father delved deeply into the histories of their people but when he did, his normal dour and stoic attitude took on one of pride.
"In the twilight years of the war, it was made apparent that Malekith had turned one of the stones of creation into a weapon, it was called the Aether, corrupting it and defiling it to serve his needs. He made it fluid…ever-changing, to turn matter into dark matter, seeking out host bodies and drawing strength from their life force. Malekith sought to use the Aether's power to return the universe to one of darkness." He paused. "But after millennia of bloodshed, King Bor finally triumphed and issued a general execution of the Dark Elves, ushering in a peace that would last for thousands of years."
Sif and Thor looked to Perseus at the mention of the genocide. Though he didn't look to perturbed at the notion nor did he make comment on it.
Though the Prince of Asgard was fascinated by the tale, it did raise questions. "It is said that the Aether had been destroyed in the final battle, yet it is here."
"A fabricated tale. One created and kept to ensure that the Aether wouldn't be further sought after. Instead it was hidden away. After all, none would look for something that existed no longer."
Sif spoke next. "I've read before that Malekith intended to make use of the Convergence to quickly spread that darkness. Isn't that event near upon us? Seems convenient." Her worried expression betrayed the nonchalance with which her words were said.
Odin nodded though it was Perseus that would speak, his voice low but uncaring. "It does seem convenient. But if the genocide was carried out then there would be no threat. Even if small pockets remained, they wouldn't pose any significant threat and I doubt that they would have sufficient forces to attack here directly, else they would risk what little they would have left."
Thor nodded in agreement. Even with most of the Einherjar out extinguishing the remaining fires of war on Vanaheim, there still remained the rest of the standing armies of Asgard and while not as elite as the revered Ten Thousand, they were all formidable in their own right. Besides it was a fool's errand to attack Asgard, even with a massive army much less a handful of soldiers.
Not only would they be assaulting one of the most heavily defended locations in the known universe, Heimdall would see it. They would have time to prepare if Asgard didn't simply preemptively attack in response.
He missed the appraising look his father sent to Perseus, who instead had turned from them and made his way back to the shelf. "So we wait for the Aether to kill Jane." His words though posed as a question was said with that same uncaring tone that it was hard to differentiate his curiosity from a simple statement.
Thor shot from his chair, making it scrape against the stone floor as it was pushed backwards from the force. Disturbing the peace of the archive, many of the Asgardians present looked over.
The action made Odin rise as well and leveled Gungnir in between the two before he could even approach the Greek demigod.
"Enough!" His voice low but harsh. Sif stood off to the side, unsure of what to do while the Son of Poseidon made no move to defend himself, having turned back to the Asgardian Prince and stood at ease. His face betraying nothing. "Perseus speaks the truth. There is nothing we can do for her."
Thor snapped his head to his father. Of course, he would side with the Greek against his own son if it meant getting rid of the mortal.
"Do you think I would simply leave the Aether in the possession of a mortal?" Odin whispered, his voice like the tip of the King's Spear, sharp and unyielding. Thor looked away, a grimace on his face as he still regarded the demigod that was understanding and at the very least sympathetic to his situation, not a handful of hours previous. "I already attempted to draw it out her and look what it did. Injured Asgardian healers and palace guards, nearly killing them and your mother."
He looked away at that as his thoughts drifted towards what would be capable of saving Jane. The Dark Elves were dead, though they would sooner use it to destroy the universe and kill them all rather than help them. His thoughts strayed towards the history his father told them of. The nature of the Aether itself.
Its fluid and ever-changing…fluid…His eyes snapped to Perseus. He had powers capable of summoning any liquid and he also seemed to be the only one capable of subduing the worst effects of the Aether. The sea-green orbs were glued to him as he spoke his next words to the Allfather. "The Aether is fluid, yes?" At his nod, Thor locked his gaze to the Son of Poseidon's. "Would you be able to draw it out of her?"
A look of contemplation but also one of discomfort overcame his features as he thought. "It's possible." Thor was about to speak but Perseus continued, cutting his words off and also cutting off his hope. "Here, in Asgard my powers are weakened severely. You saw yourself how incapable I was at conjuring a simple sphere of water. Back home, I can fill a space the size of your throne hall with hundreds of thousands of perfect orbs of water with little effort.""
"Then we take them both to Earth!" Thor spoke quickly. "Allow him to draw it out of her!"
Odin was the first to protest before Perseus could even begin. "Absolutely not!" Odin declared. "I will not have the Aether in the hands of Olympus! I wouldn't trust Zeus to not use it against anyone!"
Thor made to counter but Perseus spoke the moment his father was done. "Regardless, its not guaranteed. If this is really the Aether, then it's a pillar of creation. An object of immense power. I may be able to subdue it but to control and manipulate it is an entirely different thing. We would need a being like my dad or Oceanus to do it. And Jane most likely wouldn't survive the process, in fact, I am surprised she still lives with that amount of energy coursing through her."
"Then your father or Oceanus can help." Thor said, his tone hopeful but becoming ever-deflated at being countered at every turn with very sound arguments.
"Oceanus was recently killed for waging war against Poseidon and Olympus. It will be millennia before he rises again." Perseus scoffed as he also shook his head. "He would much sooner use it as a weapon to destroy Olympus than to help a mortal. My father would be too busy taking care of his realm to even think about helping us. Besides, Earth wouldn't be safe with it. There are still immortals that would love for nothing more to use the Aether for their own ends. I would rather not risk it even if it was just for a couple of minutes."
Thor didn't expect such nonchalance at the words but he should have. He had only said much of the same before they left for Asgard. Why would he expect anything different?
It was at that moment, a guard came through into the Archive and bowed at the waist. "Prince, the Lady Foster has awoken."
Thor sent a glance to both Odin and Perseus, who looked as uncaring as the words they both so recently uttered. Thor made his way to follow the guard, before looking to Sif, looking for at least a small modicum of support from his friend. Though while her eyes expressed slight worry, Thor found no other emotion as she turned her gaze away from him.
"Guard, Jane Foster is not to leave Asgard under any circumstances." Odin ordered, his tone brooking no argument and putting an end to the matter at hand. "Is that understood?"
"I will spread the word, my King." He bowed again but still waited for the Son of Odin. Most likely under orders from his mother to escort him to wherever they were.
"Take me to her." Thor left without another word. He vowed to save Jane from the clutches of the Aether.
The Prince of Asgard would not see Jane die.
Sif did not offer support to her oldest friend.
It chilled her. Not unlike that chill that struck Asgard the night prior but all the more noticeable. Before it was subtle. Like a quiet wave that lapped at shorelines or even a rustling wind that would cut silently through forests, canyons and valleys, unnoticed and unseen but subconsciously noted.
This chill was more apparent. It chilled her to her core. It bit at her bones and slowed her blood to crawl. Where the chill earlier felt like an inevitability, this one was like a sheer of gale, reminiscent of her brief stint on Jotunheim. It lacked subtlety and had caught her off-guard as she truly realized what she had done.
But it was not a chill of the air about them.
No, this was the chill of betrayal.
Lady Sif, the Sword of Asgard, Sworn Protector of the Throne and the veritable Asgardian Goddess of War, had abandoned her oldest friend.
She had never done that before, not in all her years of living.
Sif had been with Thor throughout it all. Countless conflicts and battles, side by side and had even near committed treason with him not many years previous and went against both Loki and Odin when they sat upon the throne during Thor's banishment.
Even the more recent skirmishes against those that would threaten the realms of the World's Tree. It felt and reminded her of old times when it was just them against a multitude of enemies. Though, she could tell he was distracted.
Thor had been. Ever since his banishment to Midgard…
It was that damned mortal, Jane's fault for the loss of her friend. Sif did not know what Thor saw in her. He had just met her and in just a handful of days he was smitten. She had known Thor for over a thousand years.
Her thoughts returned to the duo in front of her. Their eyes taking on a faraway look as they both looked to the center of the chamber.
The way they had so thoroughly shut down Thor had been nothing short of a sudden spectacle. Their arguments were sound and logical as even Perseus didn't disagree with the King in keeping it away from Midgard.
"My apologies, Perseus, for the outburst of myself and my son." Odin spoke, his voice weary as he sat down once again, leafing absentmindedly through the tomes on the table. His gaze locked on the inked and etched parchment. "There have been difficulties between him and I these past few months and the imprisonment of his brother is still something that weighs heavy on my family."
Sif frowned. The King was being uncharacteristically open about their affairs, especially to a Greek Demigod.
"Its no matter. Family conflict is something of the norm for me." The reply was immediate as a hollow chuckle escaped the lips of the Demigod and it was one shared with Odin. Perseus' arms crossed against his chest as he leaned back into the shelf of tomes.
It took a moment for Sif to catch on and when she did a brief smile flickered across her face before returning to its neutral façade. It was a dour and dark joke as she remembered that he did technically, fight and defeat his immortal family on numerous occasions and had even put his great-grandmother to the sword.
Most Olympian conflicts were simply internal family feuds now that she thought about it. Feuds that often put the mortal world they ruled at great risk.
"Are you sure Olympus wouldn't help the mortal?" Odin asked, his voice solemn and neutral but with the question the tint of desperation was there. Sif frowned once again. Didn't the King just state he did not want the Aether falling into the hands of Olympus?
There was a short silence and Perseus sighed. "No, I'm sure they would now given what they could gain but your concerns before held truth. I wouldn't put it past Zeus to not use the Aether for his own ends and if any of them had that kind of power available, war would be fought simply due to the imbalance. It's best if it remains well away from Earth."
"I thought as much." Odin scowled as he continued to leaf through the tomes.
Sif couldn't help herself, the betrayal of her friend still fresh on her mind as she spoke. "Even if its just for a few minutes?"
Perseus looked to her. His piercing emerald gaze boring into her own sapphire one. She had stared down numerous opponents from vicious marauders, cunning Frost Giants and great beasts that struck fear into the hearts of many warriors.
But for some reason she could not help but look away from him, feeling as if she had just been reprimanded with a simple look.
"Knowledge is power." He said as he leaned further into the shelf, it creaked slightly under the added pressure but did not buckle under the reinforced weight. "The more that know of its existence, the less likely it is a secret. Olympus has eyes and ears across the world. The moment the Aether made itself known on Earth, they would've surely felt its power and would have been searching for it. After all, I was sent after it, not two days ago with my last location being London. If we go back with that power, they would be waiting for us."
"Perseus is correct." Odin muttered similar to when he heard the words before in one of the Healing Chambers. It was clear he detested verbally agreeing with the Son of Poseidon even after hearing them prior and it looked as if he had tasted something particularly sour.
"I want to make it clear." Perseus broke through the silence and the gaze of Odin and Sif, his eyes hard and resolute. "That I will not do anything that will undermine your authority here. Had you asked it for the right reasons, I would have attempted to remove the Aether from the mortal even if it was dangerous. As it stands, you and I both know that the risks far, far outweigh the benefits."
Both of their expressions softened at the end of the demigod's words as they stood there in what was becoming a seemingly common occurrence when interacting with both the King of Asgard and the Son of Poseidon.
Normally, Odin would never be this quiet, often accompanied by a retinue of guards that were always busy delivering orders or messages for the King. There was hardly a moment for the King to simply contemplate. He had after all had Nine, well Eight, Realms to oversee the protection of.
And the Son of Poseidon was still something of anathema to what she had expected. He spoke softly, most of the time. His voice, while even, never rose above the shouts she expected of a warrior of great renown. But while his words were gentle, they held the weight of authority and surety that she had only ever seen in the King himself.
He didn't even carry his weapons on him, except for that slightly curved dagger sheathed at the small of his back.
Sif had expected to see much of Thor in Perseus. Brazen and hot-headed, not the calculating and intelligent demigod that had been presented. The stories certainly portrayed as much.
"Would you return to Midgard?" Odin's voice asked, he had opened another tome and his gaze was on it as he studied it intently, occasionally flicking through pages.
"I would see the Aether contained once again, to reassure the Council should they ask about it." He paused slightly and looked to Odin. "If you would allow of course."
Had this been before the treaty and the events thereafter, Sif would have been absolutely sure that Odin would have had him escorted back to Midgard. Now though, they shared some sort of comraderie despite the cultural differences and previous blood feud.
Odin also seemed to have taken a liking to the Greek and that certainly helped.
So Sif was sure that Odin would agree to the request as he would be much more willing to have a Greek Demigod roaming Asgard than a human mortal.
Odin nodded stiffly. "Lady Sif will be your escort for the duration of your stay, if she is amenable to it. I trust you boy but not enough to allow you to wander on your own."
Sif thought for but a moment. It wouldn't be so bad guiding Perseus around, a warrior and hero of great renown already. Perhaps she could learn a bit from him or even teach him herself as well. It certainly beat playing guard to Jane and escorting the mortal girl while said girl made eyes at Thor. The Warrior Goddess nodded and bowed slightly to her King with a fist over her chest. "I would be honored."
A smirk tugged at the lips of Odin as Perseus spoke. "It won't be much of an honor I assure you. I am quite boring." He turned to tuck his helmet underneath his arm once again. While his words were quite monotonous the mirth in his eyes betrayed the lack of empathy his voice exuded.
Sif couldn't help herself in her retort. "I guess we will just have to find out but for some reason I doubt that." She felt that small smile return to her features. After the day's events, the small banter was refreshing and something that took her mind off of the stress that was placed upon them by the Aether.
"Right this way, Greek. I believe there is to be a feast tonight." Sif spoke as she began to walk. Perseus easily kept pace with her. She didn't exactly want to tell him that it was in fact a simple dinner, though simple for Asgardians, Sif guessed, was probably a feast for most of those that had yet to experience such a thing.
The previous nights was actually a time for celebrations and Asgardian celebrations often put the most reveled feast seem like a pauper's dinner.
He hummed and drummed his fingers against his golden helm. They continued to walk, through the Archives and past the World's Tree, the Arborists and the guardians of Yggdrasil.
They descended into a silence as she led the demigod through the corridors of the Palace, garnering looks of surprise as they passed. Sif was glad that none crowded them and was rather grateful for the presence of Perseus as he opened swathes of courtiers as they walked.
The crowds would have taken her more than an acceptable amount of time to maneuver around had she been alone.
She pulled a pair of servants to the side and told them to prepare a room for their guest. The young handmaidens quickly nodded and while one was casting fearful looks to the demigod beside her, the other was casting ones of awe. Perseus only regarded them with an arched brow, whether in amusement or annoyance Sif didn't know as he kept the rest of his features as neutral as possible.
"Sorry about that." Sif said as they continued to walk towards where the dinner would be held. "Most have only heard of your exploits in fighting a Primordial and how destructive you were in that battle."
It was all she heard about, but she had the sense not to be so stricken, especially in the presence of said individual.
There was a long moment where he didn't respond as they continued to walk. When he did speak, they were alone in corridor and almost to one of the many courtyards of the Palace. His voice was quiet that Sif was sure that even if others were around they would have struggled to hear it. "People tend to forget that we weren't fighting to win, we were fighting to survive. There was nothing glorious about it."
Sif noted that he avoided mentioning the aspect of fear that one of the other handmaidens had so clearly possessed.
He didn't say anymore as his normal piercing emerald eyes dimmed quite a bit to a dull and pale green and he adopted a look that she had only seen from the most hardened warriors. Odin sometimes had that look and she had seen Tyr have this look when he thought he was alone.
From the few times she had seen the Arbor Guard away from their posts and unhelmed as they often weren't, they had the same look.
One that held a weariness and saw nothing.
They continued in silence. Eventually arriving in the corridor that would take them directly to their destination. The boisterous laughs and shouts of Asgardians feasting could already be heard and Volstagg's own rumblings of revelry were quite easily the loudest to be heard.
Fandral would most likely be attempting to seduce a pair of handmaidens. Not that he was ever successful, at least that she knew of. She had heard Hogun once claim that he had gotten lucky one night.
Sif was inclined to believe the more stoic and grim of the Warrior's Three and Fandral had never claimed to have done so, though that just reinforced the truth. Fandral was never one to boast about his sexual exploits but it was well known that he was quite the charmer when he wanted to be.
They entered, appearing upon a balcony that had a pair of curved stairs flanking it that led below. Though their presence similar to their journey here did not go unnoticed. Volstagg was the first to greet them, his booming voice quite easily breaking through the other shouts and laughter that echoed throughout the courtyard. "Ah the Sword of Asgard, herself, has decided to grace us with her presence!"
The man hefted himself up and bowed dramatically, even adding flair to the motion of his hand as he did so. Sif struggled to suppress the smirk that edged her lips.
Fandral did the same, taking his arms off the feminine shoulders that they had been resting upon and spread them widely as he bowed deeply.
The other Asgardians did not follow her companions' actions and instead raised their large mugs of what was probably an assortment of drinks, in merriment. Shouts of greeting found her ears though she noticed one thing, her sharp eyes noted that none looked too surprised by the presence of the Greek as she had expected.
And the Sword of Asgard soon found out why as she turned to her side to find it devoid of a demigod, instead he was a few paces back and not approached the banister where she had stood to overlook the feast.
He looked deeply uncomfortable and shifted in his steps as she looked to him and as she gestured for him to follow her down the steps, she heard him mutter words underneath his breath. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"Relax." She said as she led the way down. "They won't kill you." Sif didn't know if she was saying that to convince the Greek beside her or herself. "Besides, you're an honored guest of the King." Perhaps she should've led with that because it seemed that eased his mind as much as it did hers. They wouldn't attack him because Odin's word was law on Asgard, that guaranteed his safety for as long as he had the King's favor.
They arrived at the bottom of the stairs where the merriment became more subdued at the appearance that
"May I introduce Perseus Jackson." She gestured with her head towards the demigod, who had inclined his head slightly. There was a notable pause in the merriment as gazes locked onto the newcomer. "The King has made Perseus a Guest of the Throne."
Her glare pierced the looks of disdain that had formed at the sight of the Son of Poseidon, who had the decency to at the very least force themselves to either maintain neutrality or force their merriment to return. It was the best she could hope for.
Volstagg, however, the ever-jubilant man had stood and offered a meaty glove to the demigod. They stood at a similar height with only Perseus being slightly shorter only by an inch or two. "I am Volstagg the Valiant! One of the Warrior's Three!"
The demigod had took the hand, Sif couldn't suppress the smile that took over her face this time. Volstagg had near shaken the whole body of the Greek with the amount of force he used as he not only shook his hand but also clapped the demigod on the shoulder.
"And I am Fandral the Dashing. Also of the Warrior's Three." The silky voice of the blonde Asgardian offered a slight bow but did not offer his hand to the Greek as was his nature when greeting others. He was chivalrous in that way.
"Where's the third?" The demigod asked as Sif and Volstagg ushered him to a nearby seat. Sif made it a point to have him seated in between them, something Volstagg understood. While he may have the King's favor, it would not protect him from the more snide and curt of the Asgardians that were around them. With their favor, those that would have probably made some sort of offending remark to the Greek, would be headed off or provoke the ire of the Warrior's Three and the Sword of Asgard.
If Perseus noticed he didn't comment on it. Sif was sure he did though. From the brief time they had spent in each other's presence, he was unnaturally perceptive much like Odin was.
"Ah, Hogun has returned home to Vanaheim to direct the Einherjar in repelling raids."
Perseus hummed as he set his helmet onto his lap, he eyed that was in front of him for a moment and sent a look across the hall before it landed on a small hearth that was almost unoccupied. "Excuse me for a moment." The demigod grabbed his platter that was laden with food, before easily and deftly avoiding a clash with drunk Asgardians.
"You know he isn't what I expected." Fandral spoke, having joined them and abandoned the two woman he had been conversing rather intimately with. "I expected more, 'Rah! I am the Son of the Poseidon! Bane of Primordials!'"
The duelist's use of his hands only served to further exaggerate how ridiculous the womanizer looked rather than how accurate he portrayed the Greek.
Volstagg shrugged, as he didn't seem to particularly care for the demigod. Volstagg was rather good in that regard. The voluminous Asgardian was easy-going like that but Sif figured that having children of his own forced a certain perspective of maturity on him.
Though Sif's eyes trailed the back of the ebony haired man. He approached the small hearth fire, paused for a moment and then shed a portion of the food into the flame. What she hadn't been expecting was the wispy white and green iridescent and glittering smoke that rose into the air and dissipated as it got higher and higher.
He returned to his seat quickly, ignoring the suspicious looks he was receiving from many of the nearby Asgardians that were not so inebriated and had witnessed whatever he had just did.
"What was that?" Sif asked as he sat down and began eating his food. It was not like the eager eating and savoring the most Asgardians had but one of purpose. He ate efficiently almost robotically but quickly.
He didn't answer and instead kept his eyes locked onto his food as he chewed mechanically.
Thor arrived with the Lady Foster not soon after. She was garbed in a golden Asgardian dress that accented her figure and one that was often seen upon the ladies that waited upon the Queen, though it lacked much in the way of any ornamental pieces that usually adorned such an outfit.
She narrowed her eyes at the sight and was about to make her displeasure known, having enough of the sight, when Perseus spoke up. "It was an offering."
It snapped her from her thoughts as Sif looked to the demigod. "What?"
"Your question. You asked what I did." Perseus explained as he reclined as much as he could after having downed his third pint of water. He let out a slight exhale of air. "Excuse me. It was good food."
Sif smiled in response. The amount he ate certainly attested to his appetite. He had put the gluttonous Volstagg to shame. "Who was the offering to, if I may ask?"
"My father, Poseidon and to Hecate." She was familiar with the God of the Oceans and Seas but she was not familiar with the other name, having never really studied the pantheon. At the look of confusion, the demigod explained. "Hecate is the Goddess of Magic or Titaness. I don't exactly know which one she prefers."
She nodded and looked to the the Prince and the mortal beside them as they ate quietly together, but the looks they shared sent chills through her body and caused the hairs on her neck to stand in fury.
The two regarded the other pair across from them with looks of apathy. Perseus had his arms crossed as he leaned back and crossed his legs under the table, leveraging thick and heavy base of the table to ensure he didn't fall backwards.
Sif had also folded her arms across her chest but was not as relaxed as the Son of Poseidon seemingly was. Though the Sword of Asgard didn't like the girl at all and her relationship with Thor, she did pity her as the statement from Perseus back in the archive was rather cemented in what would happen.
They were, after all, simply waiting around for her to die.
It was rather morbid.
They were pulled from your thoughts when Thor and Jane looked to them. The mortal's eyes burning with curiosity. They flashed crimson and Sif almost jumped at the sight, she almost shrugged it off as the trick of the light until Perseus sat forward with an arched eyebrow of his own curiosity.
It seemed they were the only two to notice it as the other Asgardians continued to converse with each other.
Thor spoke to Perseus though his eyes did flicker to herself when he did. "I would like to offer my apologies, Perseus, Sif." The Son of Odin nodded to them both.
The two said nothing. Sif only nodded, not trusting her voice to speak and she chanced a glance to the demigod beside her. His face was set in a stony expression.
"Regardless, we do not want to damper the spirits here." Thor said, his voice one of positivity and encouragement. Though there was something in the Prince's words that made her shift in her seat. He was plotting something. There was that spark of hope in his eyes, one she had seen before.
Jane spoke next as she regarded them. "Why do I feel like I know you?" He gaze was on Perseus.
"I would be concerned if you did." The mocking tone in his voice was heard and cut through the tension that seemed to settle upon those around them and the conversation and laughter returned full force.
Jane's eyes flashed that crimson curtain again but she blinked it away, seemingly confused with herself and her actions.
Sif pushed herself from her seat as she saw Perseus do so. He may be willing to let the girl die but it was clear he was as uncomfortable with what was going on as she was. Getting close to the mortal would only make it all the harder.
"I'll show you to your room." She spoke quietly as they left. They walked the halls in silence as Sif escorted him. There wasn't much to talk about and the last time they spoke alone, it was done with scathing remarks on memories he did not favor.
"Do you think I would be able to train here?" A sudden question that caught her off-guard as they continued to walk. "Otherwise, the joke about being boring won't be a joke anymore."
She tilted her head, a soft chuckle escaping her at the words. It seemed the Greek knew how to talk and to whom, able to flip on the drop of a coin. Formal and flowery tones were not likely to get far with the guards. Those were best reserved for the King and Queen.
"I can take you to the training grounds in the morning." She spoke as they arrived to his quarters, having been told of its location by a nearby servant. It was also hard to not notice a pair of the Palace Guard flanking the door. "I wouldn't mind a spar with the Hero of Olympus."
He shrugged but it was clear that he was amused. "The Sword of Olympus against the Sword of Asgard? I don't know if I should be worried or scared." She allowed the small smile at the jest.
And with that they parted ways with Sif anticipating the next day as it would surely test how far she had come in her skill with a blade.
It would also distract her from the thoughts of Thor that seemingly continued to enter her mind.
Malekith felt the call before the rush of cold hit him.
A certain serene and melodious whisper snapped him from his dormancy. His eyes snapped open, pale green, near bone white eyes blinked awake and his vision was clouded with a comforting darkness.
So the Aether is awoken. He mused thoughtfully to himself. He willed the protective flagellates plates away and the chrysalis around his head peeled open, like so many mechanical spindly arms and legs. A constructed imitation of an insect on his now barren homeworld.
He willed the plates around his body to also open and they did so. Plates that were once folded upon each other like layers came undone in a matter of moments as they responded to his commands.
He stepped from the stasis sarcophagus, feeling the comforting cold crystalline flooring beneath himself. Malekith checked his body, checking for any sign of adverse affects. "Computer, display current star date."
A nearby console lit up and a holographic image displayed above it. It was exactly five thousand years since he and the last of his people went into stasis. Five thousand years since Bor had laid waste to Svartalheim and forced his hand to sacrifice his people and armies.
But he had to. He had to make the prideful Asgardian King believe that he had extinguished them forever. So Malekith played the part of maniacal warlord and had used the martyrdom of his people to escape aboard a retrofitted capital ship.
Keyed to awaken when the Aether made itself known again, Malekith had already activated the vessel's acute sensors, specially tuned to detect the very darkness that exuded from his weapon.
"Computer, begin the awakening." His voice was stable but hoarse, a usual and harmless after-effect of prolonged stasis.
Lights began blinking on, causing some discomfort to the Dark Elf Lord but it was quickly shaken away.
He stepped onto the nearby observation deck that showed some of the interior of the vessel. It was tight and cramped as there were as many stasis pods bolted into the ship as possible. They had a Zero-Point Reactor, the only thing that limited them was space.
And there was not much of it.
After the capital vessel had been stripped of everything nonessential from officer quarters to janitorial units had been given the top-down and determined if the ship could operate without them.
The only spaces that were left and that had any semblance of its former function were the hanger bays, armories and medical bays and even those had a couple dozen stasis pods in them as well.
Even the bridge was not spared as his and four other pods resided in the space.
Red light began seeping throughout the vessel as the ships functions slowly began receiving a modicum of the vessels energy output.
Soon, Algrim's, his most trusted friend and advisor, pod released its occupant from its dark confines.
Malekith was pleased to see that his people senses nor morale had diminished in the slightest. They knew what was at stake. The survival of their species and none here would be found shirking in their duties.
Hundreds of his people were setting to their tasks about the vessel. Gearing for war and preparing for what was to come.
His friend came to his side. "Malekith." His voice a low hiss as they spoke in their native tongue. "It is good to see you again."
"The search?"
There was a hum of displeasure from Algrim. "It is on Asgard."
"I thought as much." Malekith said as he watched a squadron of Dark Elf warriors march past. They were not armed nor armored but their statures and grim expressions made clear the caste they belonged to. "I could sense its violence and darkness all the way here."
"You are surprised." It was not a question.
"Yes." Though Malekith did not explain himself. Why would the Asgardians awaken the weapon that so nearly destroy their universe was unknown to him.
Was it to draw them out?
No, they couldn't know that they still existed. Malekith made sure of it. The Dark Elf Lord had made sure to make a spectacle of the dropping all his warships on top of both the Dark Elf and Asgardian armies and had ensured that the already-ruined cities on their homeworld were little more than debris to be sifted through.
It was good that the cloaking mechanism had stayed active all these years. He had heard of an advisor to Bor that had been gifted with keen and enhanced sight and could see beyond the cosmos. Malekith was sure that had they been discovered, then they would be dead already.
It was safe to assume that the Asgardians remained ignorant of their continued existence.
Luckily the Convergence was upon them. They could make use of the alignment and distortion to travel quickly to Asgard, right under the very noses of those that had subjected them to near extinction and they would be none the wiser.
But Malekith knew he could not be so hasty. No, the Asgardians were revered and feared for a reason. To face them head on would surely be akin to courting Death and Destruction itself. He had to be smart about this and that was where he shined.
It was his intelligence and stratagem and his willingness to resort to desperate measures to achieve their goals that made Malekith the foremost warlord amongst the Dark Elves.
Martial prowess was more of Algrim's forte than his and he would leave such matters in his capable hands.
"I trust you have a plan?" Algrim asked hopefully. Though the question was rhetorical, Algrim seemed to have his own doubts.
A curved grin slowly formed on Malekith's face as he thought for a moment. "Of sorts."
"Warriors use their intent and will to shape their lives. All of their actions are conscious, intentional and complete."
-Kerr Cuhulain