My Mighty Thor

Part 5

Sif and the Warriors Three still wait before the crowd. Camila and Frigga enter. Camila takes her place at the front of the hall alongside the others. With another blast of the horn, the crowd goes silent as the EINHERJAR HONOR GUARD moves into formation. 

They part to reveal -- Odin. Sitting atop his throne, clad in full ceremonial armor. He holds his spear Gungnir before him. Any trace of weakness in him is gone now. He exudes all the power and majesty of a Ruler of Asgard. 

Frigga joins him at his side. He looks around the hall, casts a glance over to the Warriors. Liam is nowhere to be seen. Odin looks to Camila. 

Camila shrugs. 

Odin isn't pleased. 

A murmur spread through the crowd.

"Where is he?" Volstagg asked Camila

She shrugged "He said he'd be along." 

Sif realizes the truth, shakes her head in disapproval. 

"What?" Volstagg questioned

Sif scoffed, "He wants to make an entrance."

"Well, if he doesn't show up soon, he shouldn't bother. Odin looks like he's ready to feed him to his ravens." Fandral laughed 

"I wouldn't worry. Father will forgive him. He always does." Camila giggled.

Just then, at the back of the hall, up the steps from the lower level -- MJOLNIR Roared up into the hall, Liam strides cockily into the hall behind it, catching it behind his back. The crowd erupts in cheers. Liam spined his hammer with a flourish and held it up before the crowd, basking in the moment, relishing the adoration, whipping his audience up into a frenzy. 

"Oh, please." Sif scoffed

Odin watched from the front, not liking this showy display. 

^^^^^^^^^

As the sound of the cheers echo from above, the odd, cold breeze picks up in the Vault. The Guards rub their limbs to warm themselves. They grow increasingly uneasy, sensing something's not right. They exchange a look, then walk the length of the Vault's hallway to its end, where a casket sits undisturbed upon a pedestal. Large shadows suddenly loom over them. They look up and shout in terror as they raise their weapons. 

Liam finishes stirring up the crowd, then reaches the front of the room, kneels on one knee before his mother and father. Frigga cast him an admonishing glance. Liam winked up at her. She can't help but smile. 

Odin strikes Gungnir upon the ground with a deafening BOOM. The crowd falls silent. Odin speaks with quiet, effortless authority. He raises Gungnir before him. "Gungnir. Its aim is true, its power strong. With it I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms since the time of the Great Beginning. And though the day has come for a new King to wield his own weapon -- that duty remains the same. Liam Odinson, my heir, my first-born. So long entrusted with this mighty hammer, Mjolnir. Forged in the heart of a dying star, from the sacred metal of Uru. Only one may lift it. Only one is worthy. Who wields this hammer commands the lightning and the storm. Its power has no equal -- as a weapon, to destroy, or as a tool, to build. It is a fit companion for a King".

^^^^^^^^

The bodies of the Guards are flung to the Vault's floor, now strewn with ice. We don't see their attackers clearly, just catch glimpses of them in the shadows -- but they are large and BLUE-SKINNED. One of the creatures lifts the Casket off its stand and turns to go. But, as they do, the intricate latticework behind the Casket starts to separate and retract, revealing something standing in the shadows behind it. As the creatures walk away, a fiery glow rises behind them. They turn back around. Now it's their turn to scream.