Odin was deploying Asgard's warriors throughout the palace when Frigga approached and gently placed her hand on his. Odin squeezed her hand in return, his face lined with worry.
"I've never seen you like this," Frigga said softly. "You're acting impulsively."
"I almost lost you, my beautiful queen," Odin sighed, his voice heavy. "It felt as if a piece of my heart was torn away." Even the All-Father could not remain calm when faced with losing the one he loved most.
Frigga knew her husband better than anyone. After centuries together, they could read each other's thoughts without a word. "What did he say to you?" she asked quietly.
She knew John's conversation had left Odin unsettled, but she couldn't imagine what would make the King of Gods lose his composure so completely—enough to risk offending the Wizard King.
Under Frigga's gentle touch, Odin's tension eased a little. "I am grateful he saved you, Frigga," he said, dismissing the warriors with a wave. Fatigue crept into his eyes. "But there are some things I'd rather not discuss."
Frigga understood and let the matter drop. The Aether was still locked away in the vault. For a brief moment, Odin allowed himself to enjoy peace with his queen.
"Your Majesty!" An Asgardian warrior burst in. "Heimdall has an urgent report!"
Odin frowned, released Frigga's hand, and hurried away. She watched him go, worry etched on her face.
Odin reached the Bifrost, half-expecting another problem with the Wizard King. "You have something urgent?" he asked Heimdall.
Heimdall turned, his expression resolute. "Yes, Your Majesty. There has been a treason."
Odin's eyes narrowed. "Who is the traitor?"
Heimdall drew the sword that controlled the Bifrost and said, "I am."His oath demanded he confess his own treason.
Thor, meanwhile, had come up with a plan so bold it bordered on madness. From the library, John watched as a Dark Elf fighter, previously crashed into the palace, was now being chased by Asgardian ships.
"A clever plan," John mused, raising an eyebrow. The prince of Asgard was indeed resourceful. Heimdall, now under guard by Odin's men at the Rainbow Bridge, would be too busy to keep an eye on John. Closing his book, John muttered, "Looks like Heimdall won't be watching me for a while."
Thor was piloting the Dark Elf ship, rampaging through Asgard's skies. He was clearly less skilled than Loki when it came to flying. Asgardian ships fired relentlessly, and Thor did his best to dodge, but the ship took several hits. What bothered him most wasn't the enemy fire—it was Loki's constant commentary. Finally, Thor simply opened the hatch and shoved Loki out.
Loki, expecting to plummet, instead landed on another ship piloted by Fandral. Thor abandoned the Dark Elf ship and leapt down. Loki found Jane waiting for them.
"Hello, I'm Loki," he said.
Jane slapped him hard across the face. Loki blinked, then grinned. "I like this woman."
"That's for New York," Jane snapped.
Thor explained, "Malekith can't fully sense the Aether. For some reason, he didn't find it in Jane last time."
"You're going to use that to lure him out?" Loki smirked. "A crazy plan—definitely your style."
Jane didn't object. She felt responsible for Asgard's disaster and was determined to help set things right. They needed to draw Malekith out and defeat him before he realized the truth.
More pursuers arrived, and Odin did everything he could to prevent his sons from doing anything reckless. Fandral leapt from his ship to block the pursuers, while Loki took the controls and steered toward a secret exit only he knew. They sped up, racing toward what looked like a dead end—a narrow tunnel. At the last second, the ship squeezed through, and they escaped Asgard, arriving in Svartalfheim.
Back in Asgard, the realm was on lockdown. No one but Loki knew the escape route. Heimdall, under guard, suddenly asked, "Do you hear that?"
The guards exchanged glances. "Hoofbeats."
Heimdall tried to leave but was blocked. "Sorry, Heimdall. King's orders."
Heimdall looked up, searching for the source of the sound, but the hoofbeats faded away, leaving only silence.
Inside the throne room, an officer rushes in and reports:
Officer: "Your Majesty, we can't find Thor or Loki. They've vanished from the palace."
Odin's reaction is stern and frustrated. He immediately understands what has happened and that Loki must have been involved in Thor's escape. He dismisses the officer and, in a low, bitter voice, says:
Odin: "Loki..."
He doesn't say whether he's proud or furious—his face is a mix of anger, disappointment, and resignation. The subtext is clear: only Loki could have helped Thor escape, and now the brothers are united against him, their father.
Odin felt a headache coming on as the brothers headed for Svartalfheim. As king, he could not abandon Asgard. The Aether was sealed in the vault, but the Dark Elves could strike at any time. Even with faith in his warriors, Odin knew the Dark Elves were not to be underestimated. This would be a battle for the ages.
Suddenly, Odin's expression changed. "The vault!" He sensed an intruder. "Guards!" He led his men to the vault at once.
The Destroyer, once the vault's guardian, had been sent to Earth by Loki. Now, the vault relied only on mortal guards. A chill swept through the halls. The guards shivered, barely able to react.
Hoofbeats echoed in the icy fog. A skeletal horse appeared, ridden by a red knight who swung his weapon, cutting down the guards. The Wild Hunt rode straight for the Aether's resting place. Asgard's gates could not stop the phantoms' advance. By the time Odin arrived, the guards were dead and the hoofbeats were fading into the distance. Odin hurled Gungnir, unleashing a blast of energy that struck one of the riders—but he could not stop them all.
"The Aether," Odin muttered grimly. These beings had crossed Asgard and entered the vault as if they were creatures from the underworld, yet there was something different about them. He couldn't understand what they truly were, but he knew the Aether would likely end up back in the hands of the Dark Elves. This was trouble.
Malekith could feel it: the Aether was coming to Svartalfheim. The King of the Wild Hunt had kept his promise. But there were other surprises.
Malekith looked at the two figures approaching—he would never forget the one who had sent him flying with a hammer. Thor and Loki saw him as well.
"Your plan is going to get us killed," Loki said, holding out his shackled hands. "Don't you trust me yet?"
Thor hesitated, then unlocked the cuffs. Loki flashed a wicked grin and, with a sudden motion, stabbed Thor in the abdomen.
"No!" Jane gasped, shocked by the sudden betrayal.
Thor rolled down a sand dune, and Loki pressed the attack, slicing off Thor's right hand before he could reach Mjolnir.
Malekith watched the brothers' infighting with cold amusement. Loki appeared to surrender. "I am Loki of Jotunheim. I have only one condition—let Asgard burn!"
Malekith was unmoved, but the Cursed Warrior beside him, remembering Loki from the prison, whispered in his ear. Hearing this, Malekith reconsidered.
He looked at Jane. "It's not you."
"What?" Loki was stunned.
Then Malekith looked up. Hoofbeats echoed across the barren land. The Wild Hunt appeared, and from above, a bottle fell from the sky—inside was the Aether.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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