The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 50

"I'm in position." Stark declared over the radio hovering high above the ground in his gleaming red and gold suit. "And so is the rest of the Iron Man fleet."

Loki wiggled the earbud to make sure it fit snuggly in his ear. "So am I."

Barton was perched at the best vantage point outside the henge, a flat-topped boulder, perfect for shooting arrows from.

Natasha stood at his side with her guns. "We're ready here too."

The Asgardian archers under Barton's command were scattered around at the highest points in the plain.

Tyr had about fifty former royal guards stationed around the henge to cut off any escape once the enemy arrived with Cassandra. The rest were evacuating civilians from the village in case things became dicey.

Strange's spell concealed everyone from view. The sorcerer floated nearby, with his arms crossed over his chest. Wong and Li had joined them the previous evening citing three sorcerers were better than one.

The pair would provide support to Tyr's guards.

As the full moon rose over the horizon and spilled across the monoliths, Loki rose from his crouch, Excalibur's hilt crushed in his fist. He was a part of the first wave. His job was to go in and rescue Cassandra leaving everyone free to attack the enemy. While they were routed Loki and Cassandra were supposed to cast the spell to banish Morgan le Fey.

Loki patted his pocket to make sure the spell scroll was secure. He had a pouch of dried herbs from Kamar Taj's apothecary tied to a belt loop to ignite the incantation.

It was a haphazard plan with lots of holes but the best they could conceive in three days.

Seconds ticked by then minutes as they waited for the enemy to appear.

The ocean breeze blew drifts of snow off the altar in the henge, revealing the aged and weathered rock.

"Something's wrong. They should be here." Banner declared; voice strained with tension.

"Did you screw up the calculations, Banner?" Stark demanded. "You were adamant the ley line well was located here. If they're somewhere else, then there's nothing we can do now to stop them from freeing Morgan le Fey!"

"They should be here." Banner insisted. "I don't understand what's going on. This is the correct location."

Loki cursed and kicked a stone plinth. "Perhaps you lost some of your brains when you turned into that green beast permanently!"

"Not helping Sideshow!" Stark barked.

But Loki didn't give a fuck. Panic clawed at his throat as his eyes darted around the henge. Cassandra wasn't here.

So where was she?

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Nimue led Cassandra up a set of ancient stairs carved into a giant sloping hill. Springy moss created a nice carpet for her naked feet.

They climbed to the top of the hill, which Cassandra believed was called a Tor because of the rock formation near the ledge of the cliff.

The nymph had yet to speak again since ordering Cassandra to follow her. She only did out of a thirst for answers.

Nimue walked over to a narrow ledge where a cluster of wildflowers bloomed. She paused to admire them, watering them with a fine mist from her fingertips.

The air crackled with Cassandra's growing impatience. "If this is not a dream, then what would you call it?"

Nimue raised her hand to stall her. "Do you understand the concept of astral projection?"