A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

FOURTEEN

     Malekith has found his way to Odin's Chambers. As they hear him approach the great doors, Jane stands fearful and runs to Frigga's side. Frigga places herself before Jane and faces Malekith as Jane moves into the back.

"Stand down, creature, and you may still survive this." Frigga stands confident, holding her sword behind her back.

"I have survived worse, woman."

"Who are you?" Frigga questions the strange being before her.

"I am Malekith, and I would have what is mine." Malekith approaches, Frigga glances behind her to Jane, understanding what it is that Malekith wants. Jane scuttles further back. As Malekith draws closer, Frigga strikes him across the face with her sword. He withdraws his own sword and they begin to fight.

Frigga proves herself to be a strong warrior and not only disarms Malekith but pins him beneath her with her sword to his throat. At that moment, Kurse comes up from behind, Frigga doesn't expect it and looks at him in fear as she sees an unconscious Astrid hanging over his shoulder. Kurse drops the young princess on the floor without care and disarms Frigga, lifting her in the air. He presses her sword against her back in warning. Malekith then approaches Jane.

"You have something, child. Give it back." He reaches out to Jane, but as he grabs at her she dissolves. Realising she's a projection, he turns to Frigga.

"Witch! Where is the Aether!" He was losing his patience.

"I'll never tell."

"I believe you."

Kurse slides the sword into her back. At that moment Thor's anguished cry can be heard as he arrives and sends a burst of lightning from Mjolnir. The lightning strikes Malekith in the face instantly blackening one side, but he and Algrim run to the balcony. Quickly grabbing Astrid on their way. Thor throws his hammer, knocking them over the edge but as he runs forward, a harrow ship flies up and past, out of even Mjonir's range, escaping.

Odin arrives, he stares in shock and grief at Frigga for a moment before gathering her still body in his arms.

~

In his cell, Loki's reading is interrupted by the arrival of a guard. The guard passes him news of Frigga's death and of the kidnapping of Astrid. Loki inclines his head; dismissing the guard. He then calmly places his book on the small round table before him, moves to the center of the room and clenches his fists at his side, releasing a burst of energy that sends his furniture flying. He realises he's just lost the two people he loves the most.

~

Time has passed and Thor approaches Loki's cell. Loki walks towards the energy barrier to meet him.

"Thor. After all this time and now you come to visit me. Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?"

"Loki enough. No more illusions." Loki closes his eyes and bends his head disappearing with a ripple of magic. The illusion of a neat tidy cell drops away, to show a room scattered with upturned furniture, and Loki sitting against the opposite wall. His foot bleeding, his clothing torn, his hair a mess.

"Now you see me brother." Thor approaches him from the other side of the barrier.

"Did she suffer?"

"I did not come here to share our grief. Instead I offer you the chance of a far richer sacrament."

"Go on." Loki is intrigued.

"I know you seek vengeance as much as I do. You help me escape Asgard and I will grant it to you; vengeance. And afterward, this cell."

"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?" Loki chuckles at Thor's behaviour.

"I don't. Mother did. Astrid does. But you should know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with the glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you."

"When do we start?"

~

Meanwhile, Astrid starts waking up. She can't tell where she is. Her head hurts and her body aches. She can feel she's lying on a hard metal floor, it's not comfortable whatsoever. Eventually her eyes adjust, she can see she's in some sort of ship. As she looks around she sees a couple of figures. She goes to reach up and grab something to pull her up, but realises she can't. She looks at her hands and sees handcuffs around her wrist and a chain attached to the floor of the ship from the handcuffs.

"There's not point trying to escape." Astrid looks towards the voice but it unsure to where it is coming from. Looking at her confusion the figure of the voice steps closer towards her where she can see him in the light.

"I am Malekith, lord protector of the dark elves, and you Princess Astrid Freydottir of Vanaheim, are in Svartalfheim." Astrid only looked up at Malekith in shock and confusion.

"What do you want from me?" She questioned him. He smirked at her evilly.

"Your powers Lady Astrid are quite something..." she looked down only just remembering what she did. Malekith must have been there. She didn't even know if her father was alive. Although she didn't care that much at this point. She was tired of being used for his games and tired of being used as a prop. Though whatever Malekith wanted, she probably couldn't give to him. She didn't know how to use her powers and she had no control over them.

"Look I don't know how to use them. I'm sorry but I won't be any help to you. Now please, just send me home." It was a long shot asking something of the dark elves but it was true. What use could she be to them? Malekith chuckles at her, and she didn't like the sound of it.

"Oh my dear Astrid. You don't need to be able to control your powers..." she stares at him worryingly unsure what he is implying. "...for I am going to take them for myself."

Astrid looked horrified. She looks around the room now that her eyes have fully adjusted at the machinery. She knew what was coming and by the looks of the technology, she knew it was going to be excruciating. Malekith knew that with the powers that were surging through Astrid and the aether. He would be invincible.

"Besides... with you here, Asgard will come to us."