Hellfire

Buried

Notes:

Hi everyone and welcome to a new year and a new Hellfire chapter. May faith be kind to you, may health and love be generous and may the force be with you~ 

Hope you will enjoy this new chapter.  

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Dark clouds moved over what was once the great Realm of the Æsir. Its people started to murmur, gesturing towards the sky and hurriedly searching for shelter. A storm was coming, one of many, hailing the promise of heavy rain and lightning to the land below.

Vicious winds passed over the fields in the west, shaking the fragile crops and bashing against the scattered farmsteads. Farmers hurried their way towards their lands to herd the cattle back to the safety of their barns, only to gaze in dread upon their already damaged fields.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, slowly creeping in upon the desolate streets.

'Allfather,' a blond man knelt in front of the throne, his head held low, not daring to look the ornery King in the eye. 'I come with news from the Southern Shores.'

'State your business, Fandral,' Thor glared down upon one of the Warriors Three, his two companions tensely watching from the sideline. 'And pray to the Norns that it is worthy of my time.'

'Yes, Allfather,' Fandral gulped, not daring to look up. 'The fishermen are worried, my King. They say that resent- weather changes have scared off the fish. Their pods are pulling up less and less fish each day. They fear the waters will soon be without life were this to continue.'

'... Bring this to the council,' Thor did not move, his stoic expression remaining. He let out a sigh and slowly leaned back into his seat.

'I have,' Fandral tried to remain calm, his palms slowly turning sweaty. 'and they insisted that I brought this issue to your attention.'

'My King,' Volstagg quickly moved forward, Hogun at his side as they watched Thor's hand clasp tighter around Mjölnir. 'Such events do not only concern the Southern Shores. The farmers in the West have voiced their fears as well. They say that their crops are wilting due to the many rain that has fallen and the winds that keep destroying their fields. Their livestock are restless and stressed, causing diseases and inevitable death.

'Our people are facing hunger, Allfather, were this to continue.' Hogun looked Thor in the eye, a grim expression on his face as the blond remained silent. 'They are in need of your leadership.'

'In need?' Thor repeated apathetically. 'What does the common, licentious crowd know of "need?"' He stood up and walked towards a window overviewing his kingdom. The clouds turned an unwelcoming grey, Thor's anger and frustration coloring them as dark as night. 'I have brought glory upon this Realm. They have all that they need. A warm bed, prosperity... companionship...'

Thor's hands rested upon the window frame, the wood nearly splintering under his tight grip as he hissed; 'They know nothing of "need".'

'My King-' Fandral tried to protest, only to be silenced by the rise of Thor's hand.

'Churlish commoners,' he muttered without emotion, without clemency. 'I will give them something to be concerned about. I will show them rain. I will show them a storm, lightning shaking them to their very bone.' He raised his hammer, directing into the distance where thunder roared in the sky. 'Darkness shall fall on Asgard till the laments for the Norns shall ring from every addled soul.'