Chapter 306: Of Darkness and Kings

Chapter 306: Of Darkness and Kings

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7th May 2013, Royal Palace, Asgard

(Odin Borson POV)

"We're almost there, it's almost over. This is the climax, the chance I have been waiting for. I cannot let that go, even if it means that I will need to break my vow to you. I love you Frigga, but I have a responsibility to my people, to our people."

Frigga sighed, "I can tell that this is serious, on a personal level."

Odin gritted his teeth, "do you have any idea how horrible it is to be trapped in your own mind, not being able to control your body, and watch as your people perish time and time again, without being able to do anything? I have seen you die countless times. I have seen Loki betray us countless times. I have watched the realms fall into chaos and war countless times and I couldn't even try to stop these miserable scenarios, forced to pretend to be someone I am not, seeing my body speak and move without making a word. Believe me, Frigga, this is very personal."

Frigga nodded, "You have my blessing, husband."

Odin nodded, "Yes, it's time to assemble Asgard's army."

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Same Time, Svartalfheim

(Malekith POV)

Malekith was a proud dark elf. Their species was often disregarded, hated on occasion, and perhaps even dismissed. He himself was the undisputed King of the Dark Elves, the symbol of their hopes and dreams. And he wasn't even born to be a king. He was born as nothing, a seventh son of a weak family of Dark Elves during the warring age.

Back then, the nine realms were constantly at war. The Light Elves and Dark Elves were always on opposite sides, sometimes a side would be supported by the Vanir or the Aesir, but in the end, it didn't matter much, the Dark Elves were bred for war, and they wouldn't have it in any other way.

But with war came death and poverty, and thus they were poor people. Even the nobility often bankrupted themselves just to wage the wars that they craved. Malekith himself was sold as a slave by his mother in exchange for weapons, and while he loathed his mother, he expected nothing else from a dark elf, for they were creatures of darkness and betrayal.

Malekith had lived for almost a century as a slave until he was freed by a dark elf sorcerer. The sorcerer had taken him as an apprentice, and it didn't take long for the student to surpass the master. Malekith was simply unnaturally talented in the arts of dark sorceries, a true prodigy as his master told him.

"And why can't you smite them? You are the Gods of the Gods; you are certainly capable of that?" Malekith drawled.

He could hear a mummer's tale from a mile away. Dark Elven politics were filled with betrayals and manipulations. The King has had to rebuff many rebellious movements who tried to assassinate him to claim the throne for themselves. He put those down hard.

The Shadows shifted slightly, "We will be busy. The foolish Asgardians are planning on releasing Nidhogg to attack us. We will need to bind it once more to prevent further damage. We need you and your battalion to deal with the Asgardian army that seeks to break into our realm."

Madness. Had these Asgardians lost their minds in the centuries that he was absent? Nidhogg, the Dragon of the End, was a breast that couldn't be reasoned with, that couldn't be controlled or manipulated. It simply consumed everything it ever touched. Anything that touched its cursed jaws was destroyed, even the fabric of space and time. Malekith would not have dared to seek such a fight even if he had the Aether back on his side once more. After all, for all his experience, Malekith knew for a fact that he barely used a fraction of the potential that the artifact held.

The Dark Elves relished darkness, true, but the Dragon of the End brought only the void with him, the emptiness, and that terrified him far more than anything else did.

If the foolish Asgardians truly planned to go to such drastic lengths just to deal with these Gods of the Gods, then there must be more to it. Alas, Malekith does not think that he'll have the luxury of refusing. Without the power of the Aether, he was a shadow of the being he used to be. Still, this was a bargain, not a call of duty, he needed to understand what they were offering in return, "It is an intriguing proposal, but you did not mention what you will give in return for my allegiance."

Malekith felt that the leader of these Shadows was giving him a smug smirk, "Should you and your forces assist us, you will be free to continue your ambition, but most of all, we will give you what you wish the most."

Before he could express his confusion, a portal, assisted using the convergence opened in front of him and Malekith could see the other side of it. He could feel it, greeting him as an old friend, the Aether.

It was trapped in a pocket dimension of sorts which made sense as to why Malekith could never sense it before. That cursed King of Asgard, Bor Burison, was a clever one indeed. The Aether was obviously trapped, and Malekith could feel its desperation to escape, to join him once more.

The King of the Dark Elves slowly walked towards the portal, but a force field stopped him. He looked at his hosts questioningly, "You have found it?"

The man nodded, "Yes, we have. We are offering you your previous power, and our personal blessings in the fight to come."

"I could just try to find it on my own"

"The Aether is in a single pocket dimension that you don't know the coordinates to. The best you could do is to go through countless convergence portals and hope for the best. Finding it would be a one in a million chance of happening and the convergence will last for a few weeks at most. Are you willing to risk this chance and wait another five thousand years just to have another chance?"

Malekith inwardly cursed, the self-proclaimed God was correct. He was not willing to wait for another chance. And yet, the thought of being his attack dog grated him. And yet, the being's power was no illusion, Malekith knew that for sure.

Perhaps after regaining the Aether once more, he would be able to resist somehow. It didn't matter now, it was not like he had a choice in the matter, and from the smug feeling he got from his summoner, he knew it as well. In the end, there was only one thing to do, "I accept the terms of your proposal. The Dark Elves will stand by you, during the coming conflict."

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