My Mighty Thor

Part 7

The group trudges behind Liam across the frozen wasteland, shielding themselves from the howling wind and cold. Camila looks around them, anxious. Volstagg shivers. 

Liam, invigorated, turns back to his comrades. "It feels good, doesn't it? To be together again, adventuring in another world?" 

Fandral scoffed. "Adventuring? Is that what we're doing?" 

"What would you call it?" Liam smirked.  

"Freezing." Fandral shivered.  

"Starving," Volstagg whined.  

"Whining." Lady Sif complained.  

"How about a song to lift our spirits?" Liam chuckled 

The others groan. 

"No, not that!" Hogun complained.  

"Please don't make us sing again!" Sif complained. 

(I'm finding this hilarious because they are singers.) 

Fandral groaned. "If I have to listen to Volstagg's singing voice one more time, I'll fall on my own sword!" 

"Well, now I'm on board." Sif laughed 

She and Liam share a grin. 

The party reaches the edge of the city -- its ancient structures of jade and ice melting and crumbling, ravaged by warfare long ago. A temple lies before them, across a central plaza. 

"Where are they?" Sif asked confused looking around the city.  

"Hiding. As cowards always do." Liam leads the others onwards towards the central plaza. Camila reluctantly follows. They don't notice as shadowy figures move in the shadows of the structures nearby. 

The party reaches the plaza. They sense the Frost Giants in the shadows and crevices, surrounding them now on all sides. The Asgardians reach for the hilts of their weapons. 

A Jotun Sentry calls to him. "What is your business here, Asgardian? The Jotun's voice itself sounds like cracking ice.

"I speak only to your King. Not to his foot soldiers." Liam told the Jotun Sentry. 

"Then speak." Liam turned towards the source in a balcony of the temple, where Laufey sits, veiled in shadow, behind a cascading waterfall. The Jotun King is ancient, noble, powerful -- too proud to reveal even a hint of the years of suffering he and his people have endured. "I am Laufey, King of this Realm." 

"And I am--" Liam was interrupted. 

Laufey's deep voice spoke "We know who you are, Odinson. Why have you brought the stench of your blood into my world?" 

"I demand answers." Laufey stands, sizing up Liam, tries to piece this together. 

"You 'demand'?" Laufey spoke. 

Liam growled. "How did your people get into Asgard?" 

"The house of Odin is full of traitors." Sif and the Warriors Three exchange a puzzled look, disturbed by the Jotun King's words. 

"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies." Liam glared.  

"Your father is a murderer and a thief. He stole what was ours, and left our world in ruins. We have the right to reclaim the Casket." Laufey yelled.  

"Not when you'd use it to make war against other Realms." 

Laufey laughs, cold, mocking. "And why have you come here? To make peace? You long for battle. You crave it. I see you for what you are, Liam Odinson. Nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man."