I've come to burn your kingdom down

Ch2: Are you afraid?

AN: For the inspiration to this chapter, I listened to "Let it burn" by Red.

(JANE)

"Wake up! Waaake uppp!" I could hear Darcy's voice ring in my head, making it sound like there was a thousand Darcy's in there. "No, go away!" My voice was weak, but I tried to open my eyelids. That wasn't a good idea.

The second I looked up, a creature came into view. "You are awake." It had a deep, smooth voice, not unlike Malekith. "Lord Malekith wishes to see you." A big hand came down and pulled me up by my hair. "It hurts!" My voice was croaky, seeing as I'd been unconscious since Malekith took me from Smith Motors. My legs were so wobbly that I was sure I was going to fall any second.

Fortunately, my guard moved his hand from my hair and down to my elbow, grasping it tightly. It hurt, but was still better than being dragged by the hair all the way to where Malekith wanted me to be. Eventually, we arrived in front of heavy oak doors, watching as they opened. "Algrim!" My blood began to boil as I heard that voice.

"I see our guest is awake." Malekith came towards us, his face cracked up in a cruel smile. "I trust you had a good night's sleep, Jane?" Cold fingers grabbed my cheek, and he forced me to look up at him, our eyes meeting. "Not really," I replied, trying to keep my voice as acidic as possible. "I knew I was going to wake up to you and your minions."

I recoiled when the palm of his hand connected with my cheek, it hurt worse than I had thought it would. "Watch your tongue, midgardian," Algrim hissed, but Malekith waved a finger at him. "Now now, Algrim, We must treat our guests nicely." We walked through the doors; it looked as if it was some kind of throne room.

Algrim dragged me over to a table and forced me down in a large chair. A chill crept down my spine as Malekith came closer, his eyes fixed on me. "Here." He put down a plate filled with all kinds of food, and a golden cup. "You must be awfully hungry. Please help yourself."

When the smell of the roasted meat attacked my nostrils, the hunger made itself know. I reached out and grabbed a piece of the meat, plunging my teeth into it and savouring the taste. I had no idea how long it had been since I'd been taken from Smith Motors, and my body was trembling at the lack of energy.

" I love seeing a woman with a healthy appetite." Malekith sat down right beside me, his eyes studying me intently. "My dear, tell me what you know about Thor Odinson." I froze the moment he mentioned Thor's name. "I…. I can't help you there, I'm afraid."

His pleaseant demeanour changed instantly I answered. His hand locked itself around my arm. "Do not lie to me." Each word was clipped, his voice too calm to be friendly. I knew immediately what he meant: Tell me the truth, or I will kill you.

(THOR)

The feeling of dread in my heart grew heavier for each step Loki and I took to the armory. Loki's silence said everything, I knew he would rather rot away in the cell than go on a mission with me, Sif and the Warriors Three to rescue Jane.

I pushed the doors to the armory open, and Loki walked inside. " Well, well…" He snorted. "As if any of these weapons will help us against Malekith." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Wait and see, Loki. Maybe they will not work against Malekith himself, but they might slow him and the dark-elf army."

I waited for him as he took his time to pick weapons. He eventually settled on two daggers and a one-hand sword. "Let us go." He passed by me, completely ignoring my words as we walked down the halls and outside to the stables.

The stablemaster did not seem too happy at Loki's presence, but tolerated it enough to tell one of the stableboys to saddle a horse for him. "Are you alright?" I was not surprised, but it still hurt when Loki yanked his shoulder away from my hand. "I am perfectly fine, you need not to ask." His obvious indifference hurt me, but I didn't show it.

"Your mare is ready, my prince." I took the reigns, and put one foot into the stirrup, hoisting myself onto Vigdis' back. She threw her head back, looking up at me. "Yes, I missed you too, Vigdis*." She neighed, and soon we were galloping out through the gates, seeing the observatory in the distance.

As we arrived at the observatory, I could see Sif and The Warriors Three stand inside, seemingly in deep conversation with Heimdall. "Thor!" Sif laid her hand on my arm. "Heimdall told us he has seen Jane Foster in Svartalfheim." She looked as if though she wanted to tell me something else, but I knew better than to pressure her. "Then we must leave at once." They all nodded, fixing their weapons and getting ready.

I saw Loki stand back in the group, knowing that he deliberately distanced himself. Therefore, I stood with him. "Are you afraid, Thor?" I shook my head, running my hand along Mjolnir's shaft. "Why should I be? I am merely anxious as to whether she is unharmed, or if Malekith has harmed her in any way." It was almost as if I could hear Loki roll his eyes. "Sentiment, sentiment…"

Heimdall opened the Bifrost, wishing us luck on our journey. "Thank you, good Heimdall." I replied, giving him a small smile. Then, we were all sucked into the bright swirling light, and taken far away from home, to an uncertain fate.

So… This is not really that much, but I'm dead tired right now. I have more plans for the relationship between Loki, Thor, Sif and The Warrior's Three which I am going to elaborate more on in the next chapter.

*Also, I deliberately chose the name Vigdis for Thor's horse, because Vigdis means 'War Godess' in old norse, and I found it kind of fitting to name her that.