Chapter 4
Loki was fuming as he an Thor trekked their way to the caverns. This time he would be sure Malekith died by his hands and there would be no question to his return.
“Loki.” Thor grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
“What?”
“I need you to focus, brother. I cannot sense the dark forces at play so easily. You must be my eyes to help me see through the treachery Malekith would have me see as truth.”
“I want his head on a stake to be displayed as a warning to all who seek to destroy Asgard.”
“As do I brother.” Thor gripped Loki's shoulder. Malekith had brought them enough heartache it was time to put an end to him for good.
Brunhilde met with the two brothers on the eastern side of the caverns. She and the other Valkyrie warriors arrived shortly after them and immediately began scouting out the area.
“We spotted two elves coming out of a tunnel just there, below that cliff. We’ll stage a head on attack through the main entrance.”
“Klaern’s army should be here soon to aid you in distracting Malekith's men.” Informed Thor.
“He’ll be expecting me I’m sure.” Loki’s doppelganger appeared and left with Brunhilde while he and Thor made their way down to the tunnel.
They were met with little resistance and ducked behind some large rocks as a small unit of Elves charged through the hall towards the main entrance.
“Just wait until my husband gets here!”
“That’s Lyla.” Loki’s ears perked up as he made his way around the corner towards the sound of her voice.
“Wait! Loki, are you sure it’s not a trick?” Thor was worried Malekith might know they were there and have been trying to lure them out of hiding.
“You’re hurting my arm! Let me go!”
“Shut up!” Said one of the Elves just before being forced by a pulse down to the entrance of the hall.
“That’s my girl.”
The elf turned to see the two and Thor quickly flung Mjölnir, knocking him unconscious. The second elf that was escorting me back to the cell with my family pushed me inside and slammed the door shut.
“Honey, are you okay?” My dad ran over searching for any injuries.
“I’m fine…”
The cavern began to shake and the door flung back open. My dad pulled me behind him to shield me.
“Loki!” I pushed my dad aside and ran to him.
“Sweetheart!” He wrapped his arms around me, thankful I was alive and looked to my family. “Mom, Dad, Abby. We must get you all out of here.”
Thor came running into the room and closed the door. “Would you good people mind stepping aside for just a moment?”
Everyone stepped to the side as he threw his hammer into the rear wall of the room breaking through to the other side. “Brother, you mind holding the door?”
“Me? You’re the muscle.”
“Well then maybe you would like to use my hammer to finish breaking through the wall so we can get out of here.” Replied Thor sarcastically.
“Fine.” Loki and my dad tried to keep the door barricaded while Thor broke away enough of the wall for everyone to climb through.
Once we were all in the opposite corridor my dad and Loki followed letting a small group of elven soldiers through. Thor shot a charged bolt of electricity into the room taking them out.
We made our way through the winding caverns bumping into Brunhilde.
“Take them, get them to safety.” Ordered Loki.
“Where are you going?” I asked, unable to hide my worried look.
“To deal with Malekith once and for all.”
“Let his people take care of him.”
“He killed my mother and kidnapped you and your family. I have to see to it he is stopped. For good.”
Of course, I didn’t want him to go. Not just because I worried about his safety, but of what Malekith might say if confronted.
“She will see to it you and your family make it back to Asgard. I will be right behind you.”
I squeezed his hand, not wanting to let go. “You promised to never lie.”
“A promise I intend to keep.” He pressed his lips into mine and left down the hall with Thor.
There was a ship waiting nearby that we boarded. We watched the scene down below as Asgardians, Elves, and Valkyrie fought.
“My child, I am glad to see you and your family are safe. Where are my sons?” Odin looked around waiting for Thor and Loki to follow.
“Still on Svartelfheim looking for Malekith.”
“Come now, let’s see to it you are all made comfortable while we await their return.”
My mom was anxious. She was never good at being in stressful situations, surprising considering she was married to a cop.
“Come with me.” I took her hand and we went for a walk in the castle gardens it was late afternoon so there was a nice breeze in the air.
“It’s beautiful here. I can see why it was so hard for you to come back.”
“I didn’t stay for the flowers mom.”
“I know. But I would.” She smiled and squeezed my hand tightly. “I wish you weren’t so far away.”
“I know. But I can still visit. It only takes a second for me to come home through the Bifrost. I may be sick for a few days, but it’d be worth it.”
My father found us in the garden and cleared his throat. “Honey, would you mind, giving us just a minute?”
My mom walked back towards the palace and my father stood by staring at the ground before speaking.
“I know it wasn’t yours.”
“What?”
“The coke. I didn’t know it at the time and once I found out it was Abby's you were already here on Asgard. You held on so tightly to your innocence, so I made her do a test at home. She pissed hot. You know, saying I’m sorry doesn’t come easy. It’s even harder when your baby girl has moved on without you in her life.”
“It hurt to hear you take her word over mine. You always did and I always covered for her.”
“We know. It was the one thing about you me and your mom were so proud of, you would always stick up for your sister, even when she did wrong. I guess over the years we forgot that.”
“Everything happens for a reason, right?”
“Yea, but I wish it didn’t cost me so much time with my little girl.”
Thor and Loki found Malekith in the middle of the fight surrounded by his men while they battled the Valkyrie and Dark Elf reinforcements. Loki charged, fueled by rage. Thor followed closely behind as they fought their way toward him.
Malekith smiled as Loki approached, but Thor’s pursuit was interrupted by a heavy blow from a club that knocked him back six feet onto the ground. Before him stood a dark elf Groth, Malekith’s right hand man. The same elf who had spoken to Lyla in the garden during the peace talks, sent by Malekith to spy.
“It would be wise of you to stay down.” He grunted as he walked towards the God of Thunder.
“I am not a wiseman.” Thor stood to his feet and realized his comeback had sounded better in his mind than on his lips.
“I thought you’d show up sooner or later.” Snickered Malekith. “I hope you put up a better fight than that illusion of yours.”
Loki said nothing. Once he was within range, he pulled his daggers and went for blood.
Thor had his hands full trying to fight Groth while keeping his eye on Loki. His brother was fighting with emotions and that was the surest way to lose a fight. Thor threw Mjölnir not intending to hit his opponent but to give him the feeling of having an advantage with him weaponless. Groth swung his club while Thor fought him bare handed. He was able to disarm the elf and could feel the presence of his hammer nearby.
“Stop!” Thor held up his hand and Groth looked at him with a hearty laugh as he reached for Thor’s neck.
The dark elf mistakenly took the action as a sign of fear for his life, but Mjölnir returned just as Groth lifted Thor from the ground crushing the elf’s skull as it made contact with it’s owners hand. Thor grabbed its handle and gagged as he shook the bits of elf brain from his hand before heading towards Loki and Malekith.
I took my family on a small tour of the palace while Odin made arrangements for food and drinks in the dinning room. It seemed like a meaningless task, but I know he recommended it to keep my mind off of things.
“You and Loki don’t stay in the palace?” Asked Abby.
“No, we have a cottage out in the woods near the river.”
“Hang on a second. My sister, who is now a literal princess, lives in a cottage…in the woods?”
“Loki feels closer to his mother being out there.”
“Don’t be so jealous Abby, you’re still my princess.” Joked their dad.
“Lyla!” Called one of the maids. “The dinning room has been set.”
My family followed me as we made our way back down the hall. I paused for a moment before walking in behind them. Outside the door hung a painting of Thor and Loki with Odin when they were just little boys. I had passed it many times wondering if there would ever be a picture of Loki and our children. I bit my lip and fought back the tears of not knowing if I would ever see him again.