Ages Past

“Mind your appearance Magni…It is hard enow on your mother that your brother and sister have fallen on the field of battle.” Thor said as he strode forward beside Magni, his stride quickening as the pair neared the hall Gladsheim. “No need to further remind her of past loss by allowing the illusion to fall.”

“Ah…of course father…I had forgotten mother’s loss at the hand of the foul Loki…” Magni answered, his platinum blonde and ebon black hair hanging loose around his noble if not weary face. He closed his eyes and with a muttered incantation he forces the faltering illusion to re-enforce itself. The ebon black flowed out through his hair, replacing every trace of gold from his hair. Opening his eyes he studied his father, taking note of the scarred and battle worn armor but focusing on the mighty hammer Mjolnir, the head of the powerful mallet was badly cracked and chipped, showing evidence of the last weeks struggles. “I would not wish to add to the despair that already grips mother…she has fallen to the blackest of depths since Modi and Thrud fell in the forests of the elven folk.”

“Aye, every day she withdraws deeper…I do not know if anything but true vengeance will reignite the fire within her soul.” Thor said, his own face growing darker at the mention of his lost children. He ran his fingers through his matted and tangled beard absently, blood and flecks of ash breaking loose. “Our family has not been the only one to suffer loss…ever since Loki brought Ragnarok upon us there have been much cause of lamentation.”

With an arm girded with muscle, Thor pushed open the great doors and with Magni stepped into the great hall of the Gods, the table filled not with food but with a maps that stretched across its surface in a vast tapestry, forming a comprehensive image of the whole of Asgard. Around the table were the remaining Gods, dour faced and dark of mood. Tyr, God of war stood with his arms crossed over his dull and ash covered armor, his eyes troubled and his once finely tended mustache loose and unruly. Unsheathed at his side was a broad bladed sword, hilt of ivory and edged in ebon. Magni took note of this, for in the days before the end times no weapon would be allowed to stand unsheathed in the hall of Gladsheim without given consent by Odin. Beside Tyr stood Freyr, his horned helm broken, his vast unruly beard burned and frayed was weary and sat heavily in his chair. To his side was Vidar, brother of Thor and son of Odin, his humble bearing evident as he wore no armor nor carried a weapon of any kind save a stout walking stick. Across from these three Gods was Freya, wife to Odin and Goddess of the very cold. Barely could she raise her head for so heavy was the weight of the events that had passed. Beside her was only Hogun the grim and Fandral, the former warrior’s three who had lost the lion of Asgard, Volstagg days before. Beside them, clad in armor of blackest steel was the Goddess Sif, her ebon black hair unkempt and loose shadowed the pale and grim face. Her eyes cold and very nearly lacking of all emotion. It was her most of all that caused Magni the mighty to fall toward the unrelenting blackness.

At the head of the table stood Heimdall the eternal watchmen, his keen eyes gleaming from underneath a tall horned helm. His armor cracked and worn, yet his manner was of grim determination as he counseled the All Father who stood beside him. The all-father himself was majestic even under the black mood that held sway over all the remaining Asgardians, his armor seemingly untouched by weapon or magic was golden like the sun and his cloaks were layered blues, rich in color as the morning sky. His vast beard flowed over his chest and in his hand he held the mighty spear Gungnir. Only the tired look to his eye could betray that even the All-Father suffered under the end times of Ragnarok.

“My son, what news do you bring of Midgard?” Odin asked without looking up. “Has Midgard fallen to ruin as the traitor Loki claims? Is all naught but chaos and blood for man as well as for God?”

“It has father, brother has turned upon brother and the land is barren and frozen. Death runs rampant and none are taken to the halls of Valhalla to join the brave Einherjar.” Thor said, taking his place at the table. “If Loki and his foul horde are not stopped, if Ragnarok not halted there will be nothing left of once fair Midgard.”

“Nothing left of Midgard, nothing left of any of the nine worlds…” Tyr said softly, his voice a deathly whisper but heard clearly over the utter silence that held sway in the once inviting hall. “While you and your son were away Odinson, the forests of the elves was burned away and as Hogun and Fandral can attest…the dwarfs were slaughtered.”

“Aye…the dwarfs are gone…bodies enough to choke rivers and flood the ancient holds.” Hogun said, “The dead rose and fell upon them, upon myself and Fandral…upon lost Volstagg. We fought but even a glorious last stand by the Lion who we often called the Voluminous could do nothing but delay the inevitable.”

“Volstagg numbers among the fallen?!?” Thor cried, his fury clear across his face as he slammed Mjolnir down upon the table sending cracks outward in a spiders web. “Countless have fallen to Loki’s treachery….now a brother in arms is lost to us…so much have we lost…”

Magni could not hide the pain that showed through his eyes as he watched the fury drain from his father, replaced quickly with a sullen pain. The loss of his Uncle, of his brother and sister threatened his resolve. Knowing he could offer little he walked to the guards and servants who stood at the walls, and from them he took a bowl of broth and a flagon of mead. These took to his mother who had done little to show acknowledgement of her only remaining child.

“Mother…you must eat, your strength will be…” Magni began but was quickly cut off as Sif smacked the food and drink he offered from his hand, sending it skittering across the floor. Mead spilling out in a long arc. Her voice was cold as ice as she responded to his entreaty. “Food and drink feed me not, only vengeance can nurture by being, only the blood of vile Loki could quench my thirst…now away Magni, away…”

Doing as his mother bade him, Magni stepped back and returned to his father’s side in time to hear the end of Fandral’s tale.

“Only the collapse of the very mountain we fought beside kept us from dying beside out brother.” Fandral added, his fair face marked with ash and blood. “Now by Odin’s will, we will get our vengeance when we slay Loki.”

“Far easier said than done, I am afraid,” Heimdall said, looking out past the assembled Gods and seemingly out into the world beyond. “Though you will have your chance…they come Lord Odin, within a day the armies of Ragnarok will arrive at our very gates with Fenrir and Jormungand at the head.

At this news the Gods looked to him in surprise, all save Odin and Sif. The former nodding his head, his manner that of a man resigned to a fate he long expected.

“Grave news indeed, Heimdall. Loki has taken so very much from us already…Balder through his mischief, Hod through the same…Our comrades Thiafli, Volstagg, and Hermod…now he seeks all of the realm eternal.” Odin said, standing tall once more. “He will not have it, even with his monstrous children leading his army. There is no choice…we shall call forth the Einherjar in all their glory, eight hundred X Five hundred and forty shall take to the fields with us!”

With this proclamation life seemed to be restored to the gods, rousing them quickly to their feet in fury and even hope.

“Heimdall, take Frey and Tyr with you to the halls of Valhalla, rouse the Einherjar and prepare them for the end times for which they have long awaited.” Odin said, his gaze upon the watchman of the Gods. “It is time we dealt with the traitor and his foul children.”

“As you command, All-Father,” Heimdall said, raising his sword in salute. “I shall retrieve Gjall and call for the brave warriors in all the known worlds.”

With that said Heimdall took his lead, Tyr and Frey following quickly behind him.

“It is time, everyone prepare yourselves and go to the walls,” Odin said. “The traitor and his foul children will arrive shortly. They will find us ready, they will find their deaths. Go now and make ready for Ragnarok has come!”

“As you say, Father,” Thor said, bowing his head for a moment as the others beside Frigg stood and left the table, heading out the door. Thor turned and looked to the quickly departing Sif who had left as soon as the command was given. His eyes shifted to his son, his only remaining son and a look of determination came to them. “Magni, let us go to the walls together. I have much to say and there is little time to say it.

“Of course, father,” Magni answered, he had been looking out the door with his eyes only on his Mother but now turned his attention back to his father. He began to absently clench and unclench his hands into fists. “You can regale me with the tales of victories won in the past.”

“No…this will not be a time to rejoice in the glories of the past,” Thor said, leading Magni out the door. “Wait for me outside.”

Stepping outside, Magni took his place beside the door. While he waited for his father he watched the other Asgardians head off to prepare. Listening to them discuss as they left he heard where each intended to go. Hogun and Fandral of the former warrior’s Three headed to the gates, both intent on being the first into the fight. Vidar moved on to his chambers, though Magni knew he needed no weapon there was an item he believed he had dire need of and could not leave it behind. Within moments Thor joined him outside of Gladsheim, “Come, we will talk while we do as my father has commanded.”

The two Asgardians walked out into the vast city of Asgard, taking in the majesty of its grand buildings with the knowledge that it would soon be very different. They made their way steadily toward the Gate where the whole of the Einherjar would assemble. Even now they could hear the clear, resonating sound of the horn Gjall sounding out over the whole of the city summoning the chosen of the Valkyries.

“Hold here, Magni,” Thor said, stopping among the homes of many of the Asgardians. He studied his son with the ghost of a grin breaking through a beard short but thick. The powerfully built God of Thunder took a seat upon a white marble bench. “Let us talk here a moment.”

“This day we face the foretold end times for our people. My traitorous brother Loki has taken from us again and again and we must stop him hear…” Thor began once Magni had taken a seat beside him. “This battle shall decide the fate of all the nine worlds…From Midgard to halls of the dead in Niffleheim. Against us stand the risen dead, the trolls, the Giants and the foul children of Loki…Jormungand, and Fenrir…To face such odds is more than any true warrior could ask for.”

“Perhaps for you father but I find the odds unfair,” Magni said, leaning forward and cracking his knuckles. “There are far to few of them, it is not sporting to my dearest Uncle…his army is badly outnumbered.”

“Outnumbered?” Thor asked, raising a brow. “I am not so old as to have lost my hearing boy, explain yourself.”

“Loki brings Giants, Trolls, the dead, a long worm and wolves to face us,” Magni said, a grin partly forced crossed his face. “All of that to battle the mightiest warriors in all the nine world…Father, even the youngest Asgardian child could best such weak foes, unarmed.”

Thor studied his son, head tilting to the side slightly for a moment before he began to laugh, long hard and loud. The sound of his laughter echoing out around them. He smacked Magi on the back, knocking the young man forward nearly off the bench. Magni soon joined his fathers laughter with his own, throwing his head back. It took many long minutes for the two to calm themselves.

“True Magni, true…” Thor said, grinning broadly for a moment but quickly it was replaced by a look of saddness. Before Magni could see, he had stood up and walked away. His gaze on the black and violet sky. “It is unfair to Loki and his ilk that he faces the might of the Gods. You alone could best this army with neither weapon nor armor. The might of your arm surpasses my own. I do not say this enough and your mother has often said as much but my son, I am proud of you…proud to stand beside you but it is not to be.”

Before Magni could so much as stand and bring voice to his questions Thor had turned and within his hand he held a silver orb. Flowing from it quickly was a stream of azure energy, forming a web like globe. With no words needed, Thor released the power in the form of a blast of energy which struck the young God with such force as to knock him from his feet and to through means he had to little time to understand, render him unconscious.

ANSWERS

By Kristi Manchester

The Present

“That was the last thing I remember, Grandfather…a flash of light and then nothing…” Magni said, brushing his ebon hair away from his eyes. He was seated across from Odin in what remained of Gladsheim. They were alone by command of Odin who was studying the young man with a careful eye. “Until I woke here during the battle…I assumed this was the onslaught by my foul Uncle Loki. I see that it is not, things feel…seem different here.”

“I see…Thou art from a past cycle…” Odin said, more to himself then to the young man before him. Upon noticing Magni’s confused look, he sighed softly. “Do not concern thyself with these matters, thou art home here but thou must keep thy tale of origin to thyself. Much is different here as thou hath felt. Once these times of trial pass we shall look into what hast happen to Thee…Until then, hold thy tongue around mine son and the noble Sif.”

“As you wish, All-Father, but I do not understand why I cannot tell my father who I am…” Magni said, leaning forward as he looked up to Odin who had risen to his feet. “Surely at least he should be told who I am.”

“Thou doth not know what hast happened and thus cannot know what the consequences of thy intentions or what they may very well do to thy kinsmen,” Odin stated, his voice carrying the full weight of his authority. “It is of the utmost importance that thy origins remain a secret at this time. Do not disobey me young Magni, the punishment will be severe. Now the time for discussion on this matter is done for the time…to thy Father and Mother’s side, I know tis where you wish to be.”

“As you command,” Magni said, rising and bowing his head to Odin before walking from the remains of the hall, his destination the halls of Idunn.

With Magni taken care of for the moment, Odin was at last able to clear his thoughts. So much had happened in the last few hours that he had been given very little time to concentrate. From the moment Magni had carried Thor from the ruins of so many homes to the discovery of Heimdall who lay near just outside the icey grip of Hel upon Bifrost. Odin had been unable to focus, to track the very nature of the events occurring around him and his people. It was time to discover who was behind this most recent conflict with the Trolls and Giants of Jotunheim. Closing his eye he drew upon the very Odinforce and extended his senses across the whole of Asgard. A faint aura of energy was all that marked his omnipresence but it was no less effective. Untraceable to all but Odin, faint runic energy could be felt throughout the realm eternal. Magicks that led from Bifrost to the very palace itself. The palace where the well of Mimir stood, stood unguarded because of the attack by the combined armies of Jotunheim. His eye snapped open and within the space between seconds he had vanished in a flash of light.

Reappearing once more, Odin stood in what had once been the majestic library within the Palace. The illusion he had so cleverly crafted was dispelled and lay bare was the well of Mimir. He knew very well that the fire spirit would not grant him the knowledge he sought but he did not need the creatures assistance in this matter. With a thought he reversed the flow of time, though not the same as traveling through the flow of time, it did allow the king of the Gods to witness the events of the past. Everything that had occurred in the library revealed themselves to him. It did not take long before Loki stood before him, leaning over the well and talking with no fear of discovery. Odin ceased the reversal of time and watched with a very careful eye.

“Wise Mimir, cursed fire elemental…I hath a question for thee and hath also the reason for thou to grant me thy answer.”

“Loki, son of the Giant Laufey, what doest thou sacrifice for mine wisdom?” said a voice from the well, somehow resounding throughout the chamber. It was full of power and an ancient wisdom and it belonged to Mimir. “For I do not answer questions when nothing is offered.”

“Mine reason shalt more than take care of what is necessary,” Loki said, resting his hands on the edge and looking down into the water at the being of fire just under its surface. “Vengeance and rebirth.”

“Vengeance?” queried Mimir, the orange glow flickering brighter in the room and reflecting in the God of Mischief’s eyes. “Over who doest thou offer me vengeance?”

“I offer thee vengeance over the All-Father…” Loki answered, his voice serious though well hidden flickers of a smirk began to cross his face. “Vengeance over Odin who turned thee into a being of fire and imprisoned thou in this Well.”

“Thy offer is intriguing…though thou art the God of Lies,” said Mimir. “T’would be unwise to trust thee but perhaps simply your attempt twill be enough to gain a simple answer.”

“I hath already begun to pay for the answer I seek oh wise Mimir for I hath brought war to Asgard once more,” Loki responded and allowed the smirk he was holding in to curl his lips. “Now what say thee? Shall I be given what it is I seek?”

“Thou shall, for the payment is accepted,” Mimir answered.

“Very wise of you, Great Mimir,” Loki said. “Now tell me of the power hidden in the very depts of Nifelheim. Tell me of the elder magicks mine ‘Father” hid in his cowardice.”

“I see…thou seeks the door that Odin decreed never be opened. The gateway to the very power of the old ones,” Mimir said, the being of flames voice barely hiding a note of surprise. “Doest thou know what they seek? Hast thou understanding of the power hidden behind such a barrier?”

“Aye, I hath studied the ancient tomes, every single rune etched into the pages is within mine very mind. I know of the power and the knowledge contained but there tis one thing I do not know,” Loki answered, his eyes narrowing as he gripped the edge of the well. “I do not know where the door is, without that knowledge I cannot even begin to fathom passing it’s threshold.”

“What thy seeks to know may be something I wouldst hath answered without even asking a price for what thou shalt release twill be devastating to all the nine worlds.” Mimir said, the pleasure in his voice reflected in the blaze of fire red light that shown from within the well, lighting up the lean long face of Loki. “What thou seek is defended by one thou knows very very well.”

“Though I enjoy a cryptic clue and a long winded tale as much as any other denizen of the nine worlds…I do think it time that thou move on to the answer I seek,” Loki said, his grip tightening on the Wells edge. “Who defends the door I seek, where is it…There is only so much time I can devote to idle chatter before some fool attempts to ruin my glorious destiny.”

“Thou worry over thy brother, always thy “noble” brother Thor who brings ruin to thy machinations,” Mimir said, the water rippling as the fire elemental’s face spit in a wide grin. “Still thou art right…Tis no time for veiled words. Why thy seek is held within the world of the dead, the very realm thy own daughter Hela and thus defended by her by the decree of the All-Father.”

“I see…very clever of Almighty Odin…” Loki responded, standing up tall while stroking his chin slowly. “There tis no place better to defend something beyond Hel. The armies of the dead art without number but they art no match for mine power or with the very tightly bound ties of family.”

“Perhaps thou thinks to highly of thyself oh clever one,” Mimir said, his tone barely hiding what it was he thought of Loki, son of Laufey. “T’would not be wise to put to much weight on thy familial ‘bonds.’ For when hast Loki cared for such things?”

“How little thy know me, oh fallen God of Wisdom,” Loki answered, a wide wicked grin crossing his face. “I hath always favored mine own family, just not the one which hath always stood in the way. That will all change…The aid thou hath given me will prove invaluable. Perhaps when the power is mine, we shall free thee from thy prison so that thou can twist the knife in Odin’s throat.”

With that said Loki turned away from the well and walked toward the doors, he passed by the standing form of the All-Father as he began to laugh, loud and clear within the empty library. Once the slender form of the evil God had exited, Odin let the flow of time restore itself. Leaving the All-Father alone with only the Mimir for company.

“Tis worse then I hath feared…” Odin said, walking toward the Well. “Wake Mimir, thou hast much to answer for.”

In response to Odin’s entreaty, nothing happened as the water remained still and only the soft glow of the rooms own lights illuminated it. For long moments Odin waited, his hands resting on the edge in very much the same way as his adopted son had hours before.

“So I must make thou answer mine call…so be it,” Odin said, his ice blue eye blazing bright with power. From his hands flowed energy in rippling bolts of energy, they ran through the well and through the water and deeper through the very essence of the one who was held within. A scream of pain, of fear and of hate tore through the air with such primal emotion and before even a second could pass Mimir appeared. The fiery light flooding out though now weak and pulsing with a dull unsteady beat. “Doest thou know what thy hath done? Can thee not see what peril thou hast released upon all the nine worlds?!”

“So thou knows what thy adopted son seeks to do…Good…once he releases that which thou hath bound and hidden away…there will be naught but death for all the nine worlds,” Mimir answered, his voice weak and thin. “Thou couldst not kill it, only bind it and now thou greatest fear shall be released and thou shalt suffer for thy failure.”

“Does the depths of thy poisonous soul know no limit. Thou may hath doomed all of existence. Thy own as well…wouldst thou destroy thy only chance of escape from this well?” Odin asked, his hands trembling and his eye blazing bright with barely contained rage. “Thy thirst for vengeance consumes thee, sapping all of thy sense and vast intellect. When this is done, thou shalt be judged and the punishment will be far worse then any thou hath endured to this day.”

Magni studied the hall of Idunn, a tall once beautiful tower like structure of crystal and ribbon thin silver. At its tallest point was set in stained glass the great eagle who sat at the top of the great tree Yggdrasil and at its base in dark muted metals the dragon Nidhogg who gnawed at the great trees roots. Under the eagle in a ring was engraved apples so gold as to appear nearly a brilliant white. Magni knew full well that the tower was to represent the world tree and the beings who sought its destruction. The apples were to signify the source of the Asgardians youth and vigor. The tower itself was damaged though, the glass cracked and broken in places while the magically crafted crystal had cracked far and wide, spiders threads spreading across one side. Even with the damage, to the young God it looked glorious but so very different from the dark long torch lit hall he had known…in fact he felt as if he had just saw hours ago when now it seemed as if it had been many a year.

The very concept of sleeping against your will was alien to the God of Strength but he had never doubted Odin before and would not start now. Magni sat upon a bench before the hall and began to mentally gird his strength for the trials he felt he would face. For the next few minutes he instead considered all that was different about the Realm Eternal…The differences extended beyond the buildings, the lay out of the city and even the very Asgardians themselves to the very feel of this world. He knew not if his father and mother would even accept him when they did not even know him. He was a stranger now among his own people and he did not even know why but Magni would do as his Grandfather had commanded him and keep his own counsel. Rising to his feet he concentrated for a moment and dispelled the illusionary color of his hair, letting the platinum gold spread out slowly till not even a single hair was ebon black. There was no need for the deception since Sif did not know she even had a son.

Magni walked to and into the hall, focusing not on the damaged grandeur but on the God’s that lay in wide long beds of ivory and red wood. He walked among the beds, seeking Thor and Sif but along the way he came across many of the other wounded. Sitting on a bed was Tyr, no longer unconscious with many of his wounds healing swiftly due to the healing of the golden apples and the skillful touch of Idunn. The God of war was stripped to the waist and his armor, cracked and ruined was discarded. He was not alone, around him in various state of recovery but all awake were Hermod, Vidar, and the few other Asgardians who had taken part in the battle. As soon as Magni came into sight, they raised their voices in cheer for though he was new to them, they knew what he had done and it was a great deed indeed. Magni offered a grin, the reaction surprising but only because these were not the Gods he had known so well. He did not pause his stride and continued his search until the Mighty Thunder God, Thor was before him.

Thor was awake and sitting on the side of the vast bed with his hand on his knee and a golden apple in the other. Wearing a simple garment of white to replace the ruined scraps of his armor he was no less impressive. Of his injuries, Magni could see none but the barest of bruises. Thor had heard him coming, the cheering heralding his coming and watched him with a good natured grin on his face.

“Ah the hero of the hour!” Thor cried out, rising to his feet and moving to meet the young man. He smacked him on the shoulder. “I am told that thy art the one who saved mine life and bested the troll, Ulik. Truly a great deed.”

“It was I, yes,” Magni said, looking up at his father as he accepted the praise with a grin. “Though it was nothing that you yourself have not done many times before.”

“Tis true that I hath bested the troll many a time in the past but tis only with that experience do I know what a deed it truly is,” Thor said. “I am told that thou bested him by strength of arms alone with no weapon to aid thee…Magni was it?. Tis strange that I hath not met thee before today.”

“Yes, my name is Magni. We have met before my lord Thor…Many years ago in fact though I have not been in Asgard for much of the time that has passed since then,” Magni answered. “I left to seek glory for myself and for all Asgard.”

“Aye? Perhaps then thou can regale me with thy tales when the trolls and giants pay for this grievous assault,” Thor said. “Until then it is good that thou had arrived when thou did.”

“I wish I had arrived sooner…I would have been able to help you fend off the foul beings of Jotunheim,” Magni said. “So many of our kin were injured…perhaps if I had been beside you this would have never happened. Though I see that the healing arts of Idunn are as strong as ever. I had heard Sif was injured…how fares she?”

“Aye, the fair Sif was injured in the battle…gravely so but due to the timely aid of Idunn, she recovers swiftly,” Thor answered, looking back over his shoulder at the nearby sleeping form of Sif. “Given time to rest, she will be fit for battle once more.”

“That is great news indeed,” Magni said, the grin on his face now one born almost entirely of relief. “The loss of a warrior as brave as Sif would be to much to bare.”

“Aye, twould be a grave loss indeed…” Thor said, nodding his head. Before he could go on he was interrupted by the voice of Odin echoing out from the very ether.

“Thor, prepare thyself for battle and join me in the library,” Odin commanded. “Time is of the essence.”

“As thy commands, mine father,” Thor answered before turning from Magni and moving back to the bed he had occupied. Near it lay his armor and Mjolnir. As he swiftly dressed he addressed Magni. “Though tis I who owe thee, I ask that thou do me a favor…watch over the Lady Sif in the coming battles. Thy deeds proclaim thee a warrior of great power and I feel as though I can trust thee to protect her. Do this for me and I shalt owe thee beyond all measure.”

“Of course Fa—Lord Thor, I will gladly protect the Lady Sif on the field of battle,” Magni responded, bowing his head. He stepped back after a few moments as Thor placed his winged helm upon his head. Thor was clad now in the garb he had worn so often in his past adventures and as he strode back to Magni he slid the enchanted mallet Mjolnir into his belt.

“I thank thee for this service,” Thor said as he clasped wrists with the young God, taking note of his strength. “Till we meet again, Magni the brave,”

“Till we meet again,” Magni said.

With that said, Thor left the halls of Idunn and headed to the great palace.

Elsewhere

Appearing in a flash of light, Loki stepped forward into the realm known as Niffleheim, the very land of the dead. It was ruled by his daughter Hela and it was her very throne room which he had entered. He approached from the main doors, not wanting to seem a manner less clod. The grand throne room he was greeted with was dark, as if set inside a cave instead of a hall of ebon and crimson stone. A lush blood red carpet ran from the entrance to and up the long winding stairs that led to the throne. The staircase itself was made from the same black stone and was unsupported, hanging in the air.

Sitting in the throne was Hela herself, her tall helm sitting on the wide arm rest, emerald and black. She was beautiful, strikingly so in fact with ebon black hair framing a well crafted face upon which full lips set in what Loki always assumed was a pout of unhappy service. Her skin though was pale, close to the shade of corpses and her eyes were the color of blood, glowing faintly in the torch lit room. She wore a gown so dark it was only shown to be a rich green when light played across it, shimmering like liquid in the sparse light. In her hand she held a goblet of gold and swirled it absently. Loki smirked slightly, the corner of his mouth curling up as he strode forward. He knew many things about his daughter, she was strong willed, prone to deep depression and poorly set in taste for decorum but he also knew she could be more easily convinced to join him if she had become bored with her land of the dead.

“My dearest daughter, how good to see the looking so very full of health and vigor!” Loki called out as he walked toward the stairs. His step was light and once he was mere steps from the stairs he bowed low with his arms stretching out wide in a flourish but his eyes stayed on her no matter how low he bowed. “Hast thou done something with the place? I see the colors truly give off the feel of the blackest of plague. Bravo!”

“Father…” Hela answered, her brow furrowing as she glared down at her father, setting her glass down beside her helm. The room itself seemed to grow colder as she leaned forward. “What cause doest thou hath to darken mine doorstep with thy presence? Thou hast only come on days where thy scheming requires mine aid…what shalt it be this time? What doest thou think will topple Odin this time?”

“Thou wound me fairest of my loved ones, tis simply not true…I visit thee whenever I am able for after all…I am unjustly persecuted by our very kin,” Loki answered, his tone so clearly yet just as equally falsely hurt. “How can one so very harassed by his very family manage to visit his few remaining favored relatives? I hath missed thee daughter, tis that not enough reason?”

“No, never for thee…what is thou real reason? What game doest thou play?” Hela asked, eyes narrowing as she studied her father. “Be quick with thy response, mine mood is black and little patience is left for thy foolishness.”

“Fine fine…deny me mine fatherly due…I hath found a way to do just what thou so truly stated and thou hath the very keys to mine plan,” Loki said, all pretense of hurt falling away from his voice. “There tis a door that Odin hid here, a door I hath a feeling that thou guards.”

“I see, thou seeks the hidden door that Odin forbid any to open,” Hela said, rising to her feet quickly and smoothly. Her gown flowing like water over her slender well curved form. “I shalt hazard a guess then Father, thou wish for me to let thou reach the door, to open them. Even when I hath no true understanding what lay beyond them? Thou expects me to break mine vow to Odin for thee?”

“To all thy ask I say aye, I wish all of it to come to pass,” Loki answered, drawing his hands out from under his layers of cloaks. “Perhaps thou will not do these things for me but thy doest not love Odin, not with any of thy wilted heart. Aid me and I shalt give thee all thy deserve. Perhaps even mine…brother…Thor. Thou hast fancied him in the past.”

“Words, nothing but doest thou offer me. Words that hath the thin sound of lies to mine ears. Doest thou think me a fool?” Hela said, her crimson eyes blazing brighter as she took a step forward. “Thou thinkst I would destroy what I hath managed to create without thy help to help thee with another scheme, that I wouldst cross the All-Father, lose what honor I barely hold on thy feeble chance of victory? I say thee nay! I shalt honor mine vow and thou shalt not see the door, not now and not ever. Begone from mine hall!”

Before Loki could make another attempt to work his through words past his daughters rising anger, he found himself quite forcefully expelled from the hall in a blazing burst of flame and ash black energy. He stood up slowly, thin trails of energy rising off him as he looked around. He had been sent to the very entrance to Hel, to the very gate of sturdy iron itself.

“So that is how this shalt be…so be it, tis no longer the time for words,” Loki said and raised his hand out toward the gate. He narrowed his eyes and tilted it slightly and seemingly from the ether, trails of energy first swirled lazily around his palm and wrist before forming in his palm and exploding out in a blast surprising magnitude. It struck the gate with such force as to blow them inward, sending them crashing far into the realm of the dead. “I shalt come and take what is mine daughter.”

Wasting no more time, the God of Mischief crossed the threshold and began his journey to the very prize he sought.

Meanwhile

Entering the great library Thor was taken aback for a moment for nothing of the vast den of knowledge was left but the well of Mimir and his father standing beside it. Walking further in he joined Odin beside the well.

“Father what hast become of thy library? Hast all the knowledge of Asgard been lost?” Thor asked, his voice dark as he gazed around the bare walls. “Did the foul trolls take from us even…”

“My son, tis not an important matter at this time…I hath a mission for thee, one of the utmost importance,” Odin said, looking to his son with a grim cast to his eyes. “Thou must go to Hel, to Niffleheim and hunt Loki for it twas not only the trolls and giants who attacked us. Thy traitorous brother seeks what must not be found and thou must stop him.”

“Loki…” Thor growled, drawing Mjolnir from his belt and hitting the uru head against his palm. “I will go Father, I will stop his traitorous schemes but what does he seek within the realm of the dead?”

“He seeks to unlock that which must never be opened…More than this thou need not know for time is of the essence,” Odin answered, turning back to the well. “While thou hunts down thy brother, I will lead every Asgardian who art ready for battle to the very gates of Jotunheim to face Utgard-Loki and Geirrodur. We shalt show them the error of their ways but we hath talked enow…To thy mission, go.”

With a wave of his hand a doorway of swirling energy appeared before the Thunder God who looked from his father to the well of Mimir.

“Aye father, tis time for a reckoning,” Thor answered, bowing his head before turning back to the swirling portal. The mighty Thor stepped into the doorway and forward to the very gates of Niffleheim.