The Royal Asgardian

Chapter 23

Fandral and Odin inspect the damage to the palace where Malekith had crashed his ship.

Fandral reports to Odin  "We are still unable to restore the palace shields. Our artillery cannot detect them, even Heimdall cannot see them. My King, we are all but defenseless."

Thor approaches them. "She's your prisoner now?" Thor turns to Fandral, Volstagg and the guards. "Leave us."

they all start walking off and leave Thor with Odin.

Odin looks at Thor "I do not wish to fight with you"

Thor upset "Nor I with you, but I intend to pursue Malekith."

Odin- "We possess the Aether, Malekith will come to us."

Thor "Yes, and you will destroy us."

Odin looks away from Thor "You overestimate the power of these creatures."

Thor "No, I value our peoples lives. I'll take Jane to the Dark World and draw the enemy away from Asgard. When Malekith pulls the Aether from Jane it will be exposed vulnerable, and I will destroy it and him."

Odin looks intently at Thor "If you fail, you risk this weapon falling into the hands of our enemies."

Thor "The risk is far greater if we do nothing. His ship could be over our heads right now and we'd never even know it."

Odin "If and when he comes, his men will fall by ten thousand Asgardian blades."

Thor "And how of our men shall fall on theirs?"

Odin starts "As many as are needed!" there's a moment pause "We will fight! Until the last Asgardian breath, the last drop of Asgardian blood."

Thor responds "And how are you different from Malekith?"

Odin chuckles "The difference, my son, is that I will win." Odin turns and walks off.

Thor is sat alone when Heimdall walks up to him.

Thor looks at him. "You're not in Odin's war council?"

Heimdall "The Bifrost is closed by your father's orders. No one is to come or to go."

Heimdall takes off his helmet and places it on the table. "We face an enemy that is invisible even to me. Of what use is a guardian such as that?" he sits down looking defeated.

Thor looks at him "Malekith will return, you know this. I'll need your help. I'm not asking you to. The Realms need their All-Father strong and unchallenged, whether he is or not. But he is blinded, Heimdall, by hatred and by grief."

Heimdall sad and upset "As are we all."

Thor looks straight. "Well I see clearly enough."

Heimdall "The risks are too great."

Thor "Everything that we do from here on is a risk, there is no other way."

Heimdall hesitates before replying "What do you require of me?"

Thor sighs "What I'm about to ask of you is treason of the highest order. Success will bring us exile and failure shall mean our death. Malekith knew the Aether was here, he can sense its power. If we do nothing he will come for it again, but this time lay waste to all of Asgard."