Can Love Triumph?

Chapter 4

  The world of Jotunheim was cold and still despite the whipping wind as the group of Asgardians stepped onto the icy tundra and the Bifrost closed behind them. Everyone observed their surroundings as they took notice of the eerie silence.

   Hogun spoke up, "We shouldn't be here."

   Saying nothing to acknowledge how correct his friend was, Thor simply began to walk ahead and ordered everyone to follow; determined to get rid of the problem before it got out of hand.

   Towers of ice crumbled as they walked through the decrepit village outside the palace, creepy silence surrounded them, save for the occasional crackled of ice settling.

   Sif was the first to break the silence as they continued towards the palace, "Where are they?" she asked in reference to the lack of visible lifeforms.

   "Hiding, as cowards always do." Replied Thor cockily.

   A deep voice called to them as they entered the open and rundown throne room, "You've come a long way to die, Asgardians."

   "I am Thor Odinson."

   "We know who you are." The voice answered.

   "How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor demanded and drew his gaze up to find a large man with icy blue skin that was embedded with strange marks, and red eyes sitting upon a throne of frozen rock.

   The figure turned his own gaze upon the group below with a few deep breaths then growled, "The House of Odin is full of traitors."

   "Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies!"

   Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, stood up from the throne in a rage, "Your father is a murderer and a thief! And why have you come here? To make peace?" You long for battle. You crave it. You're nothing but a boy trying to prove himself a man."

   "Well, this "boy" has grown tired of your mockery."

   Loki quickly stepped up beside the blonde warrior and tried to talk him down because the group was now surrounded by Giants, "Thor, stop and think. Look around you, we're outnumbered."

   "Know your place, brother." Thor growled back.

   Laufey spoke again, gaining the brothers' attention, "You know not what you actions could unleash. I do. Go now, while I still allow it."

   Two Giants who were double the Asgardians' size stepped up to them and Loki spoke gratefully, trying to defuse the situation, "We will accept your gracious offer."

   Thor looked at the raven-haired sorcerer as if to refuse but kept his mouth shut as Loki slowly turned away to begin walking, "Come on, brother."

   Just as the warrior turned his back, the Jotuns began to speak, "Run back home, little princess."

   "Maybe I'll pay that pretty fiancé of yours a visit." The other chuckled darkly.

   Loki froze in place at the comments and growled, "Damn."

   Then the battle began. Thor swung his hammer and slammed it into the first Giant's jaw which sent him flying into a wall head first. As Volstagg was engaging in hand-to-hand combat, his opponent grabbed onto the section of bare skin between his armor and bracer making him scream in pain and kicked the Giant away. He stole a glance at the charred burn on his arm and called out, "Don't let them touch you!"

   Unfortunately, Loki was too late to heed the warning as his left hand, with a dagger, punctured a Giant in the chest to which the Jotun attempted to grab the sorcerer's arm to dislodge the weapon. But when the icy touch broke the bracer and began turning the pale flesh blue, both men paused and locked eyes in confusion. Loki broke the gaze by lodging a second dagger under the Jotun's left pec which made the Giant release him and fall back dead.