The Secret Asgardian (An Avengers Fanfiction)

Chapter 11: We Meet Again

11. We Meet Again

From the windows came a steady stream of grotesque creatures that vaguely resembled people. They landed on the marble floor with a loud smack as the stone cracked under their heavy weight, and they snarled at the guests as they screamed and backed into the middle of the ballroom, as far away from the creatures as possible. I recognised them for what they were as I took in the blue skin, glowing evil red eyes, thick muscles and lack of clothing aside from thin animal skin armour partially covering their bodies.

“Frost Giants,” I breathed, grabbing Diana, who had frozen in fear, and pulling her with me. I still needed her.

The Frost Giants surrounded us, an unwavering wall stopping any humans escaping.

I wiggled through the crowd, towing a reluctant Diana, until I was stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up at the casual figure at the top.

Loki, dressed in his trademark green and gold robes, grinned at the sight of cowering humans. I felt a hand touch my arm, and turned slightly to see Peter stood beside me, glaring at our shared enemy.

“Ah, you humans, how amusing you are to watch when you fear for your lives,” He laughed evilly.

At least he hadn’t noticed me yet, which meant that we still - hopefully - had the element of surprise.

“But enough talk. I will spare your pathetic lives if you tell me were Iva Sykes can be found,” Loki said softly, and the humans began to shuffle and whisper.

I knew in that moment that Loki had found out that he needed Iva to read the book. Why he wanted to learn about this “Atlantis” was beyond me, but I knew that it couldn’t be for a good cause.

I saw someone stumble forwards as they were shoved by the crowd, and the woman looked up at Loki without fear. She gave a sneer to the crowd at their cowardice.

“I’m Iva Sykes,” Iva said boldly, sounding braver then I had thought she would. Obviously she was not as affected by the Frost Giants as everyone else seemed to be.

Loki’s eyes fell on her, and he smirked.

“Well, wasn’t that easy? It seems that not all you humans are useless after all,” He said almost admiringly.

“Come to me, mortal. You are of value to me,” He continued, beckoning to her with a crooked grin on his face. She began to mount the stairs, not even pausing in her journey.

“Peter, guard this girl with your life,” I whispered fiercely to Peter, “There’s no time to explain – just do it!”

I pushed Diana towards Peter who gripped hold of her arm before I jumped forward out of the crowd just as Iva reached Loki.

He looked at me the same way one does a fly that is about to be squashed by a newspaper. With one hand grabbing hold of Iva’s arm, he spun her around to face the crowd. I had to hand it to the woman, she looked relatively composed, if a little annoyed. But then on closer inspection, you could see the plain fear in her eyes.

“Eldrid. Once more, you are a bit too late to stop me, aren’t you?” Loki laughed.

“You brought Frost Giants all the way from Jotunheim to Earth without using the Bifrost? I’m impressed,” I stalled, casually beginning to pace at the foot if the stairs.

His narrowed eyes followed my path.

“I did. It was easy when you have my power,” He shrugged, not sounding very modest.

Iva tried to break free of his grasp, but there was no way that a human could match the strength of a god.

“Power, hmm? Well, I suppose you do have some … but I didn’t think you were that powerful.”

“Of course I am! I am ten times more powerful than any Asgardian,” He sniffed.

While we conversed, the humans were getting more agitated and frightened by the second.

“Father, let the humans go. They need not be part of your business,” I sighed, stopping midstride and looking at him with tired eyes.

Loki paused, and I wasn’t sure whether he was more shocked at my casual use of ‘father’ or that I actually cared about a room of mortals. Suddenly, he nodded sharply, and the Frost Giants guarding the door grunted and shuffled to the side.

“Fine, Eldrid. I’ll let the mortals go – but you stay where you are. You and your “avenger” friend,” Loki grinned, turning his green eyes on Peter, who stiffened slightly, and then murmured something in Diana’s ear. She nodded, looking determined but worried.

All at once, the guests began to push and shove, all trying to reach the door first. Loki swiftly stepped to the side, taking Iva with him, so as not to be trampled by the crowd.

In less than a minute, only Peter and I stood on the ballroom floor with the Frost Giants still in formation, leering down at us from their abnormal height. I counted at least twenty of them, and my heart sank.

“I’ve done as you asked, though I am not sure why you’d think that the mortals would be grateful. The only think they care about are themselves. They don’t want heroes,” Loki said mildly.

I said nothing, but longed to retort. He laughed outright as he read my face like an open book.

“You’ll learn in time that humans don’t care what happens to you, daughter. But enough chatter – I think it’s time you become reacquainted with the Frost Giants.”

Loki dragged a now-screaming Iva through the door, which slammed shut with an echoing bang. Two Frost Giants stood in front if it again. I morphed into my Asgardian red armour and unsheathed my sword just as the Giants began to attack. 

Peter, quick as a whip, sent a stream of web from both wrists at the ceiling and climbed up so that he was suspended upside down. He pulled a communicator out of his pocket and began to shout into it, calling for back up. While he did this, flames licked my blade as I swiped at the first snarling Giant. Each Frost Giant had the ability to grow ice to make a sharpened block of ice on each hand, which served extremely well as deadly weapons that could cut through flesh  and bone easily.

The Giant crumpled to the ground as the hot metal left a bloody, smouldering gash along the length of its chest.

I darted between the legs of the next one, and leapt onto its back before it had the chance to turn. I stabbed into its back, and it roared as the sword hit its heart. I jumped off, pulling the sword with me.

Peter joined the fray, shooting webs into their eyes so I could easily dispose of them, and also using some surprisingly good combat moves with just his fists and feet. We made a suprisingly good team.

After about ten Giants were taken care of, we backed up and bumped into each other in the centre of the ballroom, now surrounded by the remaining ones. We were tired, and wounded, and knew we wouldn’t be able to defeat them all. A steady scarlet stream of blood dripped into my left eye from a cut above my eyebrow, and I was limping by this point.

A Giant swiped at my right arm with his pointed iced-hand, and cut along my wrist before I could react. My sword clattered to the floor as I gripped my wrist in agony. Blood spurted out, and I heard Peter breath in suddenly as he was punched in the gut.

We weren’t going to make it.

The Frost Giants knew this, and seemingly thought we weren’t much of a threat anymore, as the majority stepped back to watch as one Giant hauled me up to my feet with the neck of my armour and another grabbed Peter.

The Giant faced the roaring crowd of Frost Giants, and I looked into their bloodthirsty eyes in disgust. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me afraid. I was an Asgardian after all, and a stubborn one at that. The Giant triumphantly grabbed my own sword off the ground, and pressed the sharp blade across my throat, ready to send me to Valhalla.