Chapter 2
Harry had cloaked sensor probes moving throughout the palace and the surrounding city searching for gravitic engine signatures in case the enemy returned. Meanwhile he continued to work on the problem of the Aether for that was what Malekith had been after when the Dark Elf had sought Jane. It was through one of these sensor probes that Harry observed a confrontation between Odin and Thor.
"Is Jane your prisoner now, Father?" Thor demanded of Odin as Thor entered the throne room.
"Leave us," Odin commanded his guards, Fandral, and Volstagg who had been advising the king that they couldn't detect the enemy and the palace shield was unable to be restored very quickly.
"My quarrel is not with you, son. It is with Malekith," Odin said.
"I agree. That is why I intend to go after him. With Harry Potter by my side I think it very unlikely we could lose," Thor suggested. "I have fought with him in battle and together we are a mighty force to be faced."
"The Aether is with us and therefore there is no need to go after Malekith. He will come here and face us where we are strongest," Odin pointed out.
"But how many of our people will die in the process?" Thor questioned. Odin did not immediately answer. "Harry has explained to me that the Aether seems to have been created to respond most effectively to the essence of its creator. In other words Malekith is the best one to pull the Aether from Jane. When he does this the Aether will be exposed and vulnerable. I will take that opportunity to destroy both the Aether and Malekith."
"If you are not successful in this plan you risk a terrible weapon being returned to its creator," Odin pointed out. "If Malekith returns, he and his men will fall to 10,000 Asgardian blades," Odin assured.
"How many of our men shall fall on theirs?" Thor questioned.
"As many men as are necessary," Odin shouted. Odin grunted in pain and Thor picked up on his father's change in demeanor. "We shall fight my son to the last Asgardian breath."
Thor waited until his father had left before asking in a whisper, "How are you any different from Malekith, father?"
Harry, Sif, and Natasha were sitting in a tavern sharing a drink with Thor when Heimdal came in and sat down, removing his helmet.
"You were absent from Odin's war council," Thor observed.
"Your father has ordered the Bifrost closed. We face an enemy that even I cannot see. What use is a guardian such as that?" Heimdal replied.
"Malekith will return and I believe it is wiser to face him in a small group away from our people. I do not want more people of Asgard to fall," Thor stated.
"Is it better for our prince to fall?" Heimdal questioned.
"If Thor falls I will just bring him back," Harry pointed out.
"Unless he runs afoul of the cursed dark elf," Heimdal rebutted. "I saw what you did in the Battle for New York, Harry Potter. You were quite impressive."
"Thank you," Harry said. "But I have examined the remains of those affected by the cursed dark elf and have devised defensive runes preventing that same type of magic from harming those protected by my runes. The clothing of those who will face Malekith and his ilk have already been enchanted with the runes."
"We wish to move Jane off-world but the Bifrost has been shut down. Harry assures me he could take us back to Midgard but that would just bring Malekith to that realm and the humans are even less prepared to face Malekith than Asgard. There are other realms though. One in particular would be a good battleground to face Malekith for it is devoid of most life. My brother knows how to get there," Thor explained. "Harry can't take us where he has never been."
"What do you need of me?" Heimdal asked.
"For you to delay your reporting of what you see," Thor answered.
"I can do that," Heimdal agreed.
"You don't need to delay long. It might not even be noticed that you delayed. Thor assures me you would see through what we are doing immediately so we thought we would ask," Harry clarified.
"Well then, I am off to talk to my brother," Thor declared as he stood, finishing the rest of his drink in one go.
On his way to the dungeon Thor was pulled into a storage room within the palace by a small but strong hand. Thor immediately recognized the touch or he would have fought the pull.
"Mother, what troubles you?" Thor asked as he picked up on the troubled expression of his mother.
"My kingdom is under threat of attack, I die momentarily, my one son is locked up in the dungeons, my other son and husband are at odds, and now that same son is intending to commit treason against the realm," Frigga said. "Still you ask me that question."
Thor was momentarily silent while he contemplated trying to deny what his mother said. But he knew it was pointless. She before anyone else knew when he was lying.
"A mother always knows," Thor said while Frigga nodded agreement. "I do not wish to risk the lives of our people. With my allies we stand a very good chance of ending Maliketh's threat before it can harm more Asgardians."
"I agree with you," Frigga told her son. "I tried convincing your father but he is blinded by so many emotions chief of which are anger and fear. He fears losing any of his family members. He has already lost me once. He would rather have you angry at him than dead."
"Harry would just bring me back," Thor pointed out.
"Powerful your friend may be but we both know there are deaths he cannot bring you back from," Frigga rebutted. "Still, I believe your plan is sound. I sense there are abilities Harry Potter possesses which he has not revealed to the nine realms of this universe. With Sif going with you lot at least you will have a level headed woman to keep you on target."
"If you didn't pull me in here to stop me then why did you bring me here?" Thor asked.
"To tell you I love you and to urge you to be careful," Frigga answered as she hugged her son tightly. "Malekith is like no enemy you have faced previously. Don't take any foolish risks. Hit him with everything you and your allies have and try to do it with surprise."
"I love you too, mother," Thor replied as he gently hugged his mother.
"Now go. I will do what I can to keep the palace guards from pursuing you more swiftly than they normally would," Frigga said.
Thor left the storage room and continued on his way towards the dungeons. He knew all the shortcuts and was swiftly entering the dungeons proper. With the recent attack the dungeons were considered a low priority position to defend. Only one guard stood at the top of the stairs leading down into the dungeons and Thor was neatly able to bypass that entrance using a hidden passageway few knew about. He immediately spotted his brother's cell and headed towards Loki. This would be a very interesting and possibly difficult conversation. But Thor could deal with difficult. He had a lot of experience.
Harry flew into the room Jane was in while invisible. He used a focused switching spell to replace Jane with a golem duplicate. The real Jane was now invisible and silenced holding onto Harry. She could see him and he flew them back out the way he had come in.
When they were far enough away Harry removed the silencing charm while saying, "We are taking you off of Asgard."
"Where is Thor?" Jane asked.
"Retrieving his brother," Harry answered. "We are going to meet them now."
Harry touched down in a hallway where Natasha, Sif, Thor, and Loki were waiting.
"You're," Jane said but didn't finish her sentence as she hauled off and smacked Loki hard. "That was for New York."
"I like her, brother," Loki said with a grin. "How did you plan on getting us out of here?"
"A little diversion," Harry answered as he caused duplicates of all of them to appear while at the same time he made the originals invisible to all but each other.
"Quite impressively real," Loki complimented. "But I would expect nothing less."
The golems ran off planning on taking the intact dark elf ship which had crashed into the palace during the recent battle. Harry had learned enough from the dark elf vessels in the starship chamber of Asgard's vault to repair the downed ship and how to fly it. Thor wrapped his arms around Loki and Jane while Harry did the same with Natasha and Sif. Then the invisible six shot off into the air out of the palace.
"You have a truly beautiful city, Sif," Harry complimented as he admired the city they were flying over.
"Thank you," Sif replied.
"Which way is it to the realm of the dark elves, brother?" Thor asked Loki.
"In the mountains out over the water," Loki said while pointing.
The group flew in the direction Loki indicated while their golem duplicates led the palace guard on a merry chase in the dark elf ship. Loki guided them to a narrow crevice opening in the side of one of the mountains. As the group entered streaks of purplish blue light formed around them and the group flew through the natural portal between realms in this universe. They emerged moments later in the desolate and barren Dark World. Jane had fallen asleep on the journey as the Aether messed with the systems in her body. Thor and Harry touched down.
"The power that flows through her veins is wasted on her," Loki told his brother while eying Jane.
"It would consume you," Thor rebutted.
"Just like it is her," Loki answered.
"Stop it you two," Sif barked. "Be courteous for now."
"Alright, so I will keep all of us invisible but Jane and Thor until Malekith has extracted the Aether from Jane," Harry said. "You know what to do, Thor."
Jane woke up shortly after with her eyes changed a different color. She looked at the sky as Malekith's ship descended through the clouds. She could sense Malekith. The Aether inside of her cried out to the being it was created to bond most strongly with. The massive dark elf ship landed with its base spire sunk into the ground and a small party numbering less than a dozen emerged. Malekith was at the lead with half his face badly burned from Thor's attack. The cursed dark elf was right next to Malekith. Thor walked with Jane down towards the party. Unseen by the elves Loki, Sif, Natasha, and Harry floated invisibly after Thor and Jane.
"Malekith," Thor called as he drew nearer. "Take the Aether out of Jane."
"And why would you just give me such a weapon to use against your people?" Malekith asked, suspecting a trap of some sort.
"This woman is my lover," Thor declared, causing Jane's breath to catch. "I only care about her safety. Nothing else matters to me."
Malekith was silent for some time as he contemplated this.
Then Malekith said, "I think not. I think you mean to destroy the Aether after I have drawn it out. It matters not for the Aether is strong enough to survive your power when it is without a host. It only gets stronger when it returns to me."
As he spoke Malekith gestured with his hand using a beckoning motion and Jane gasped while rising in the air and drifting towards the elf. The reddish Aether which looked rather like a vaporous mist began to flow out of Jane's skin towards Malekith. Sif and the others in the Asgardian force watched as at the same time Harry's hand outstretched towards the Aether. Harry's face gained an expression of intense concentration. Sif observed and knew that Harry was trying to summon the Aether to himself to contain it for later destruction or at least isolation. She felt worry for the handsome wizard and for all of Asgard. Sif had only known Harry Potter for a short time but had come to care a great deal for him. He was a very easy person to feel great affection for.
"Something is wrong," Natasha whispered.
Harry had cast a number of spells along with the invisibility magic which would allow the invisible individuals to communicate with each other without alerting the dark elf forces.
"What is it?" Sif questioned.
"Harry has just realized that what Malekith claimed was somewhat true. The Aether may be able to be destroyed in its free state. We just don't know that for certain. But while the Aether enhances Malekith's power greatly it also comes at a price. The Aether is more vulnerable to destruction when it is in Malekith," Natasha explained.
"He is considering letting it go into Malekith and then overpowering Malekith," Loki spoke up to say.
"Yes," Natasha confirmed.
"An intriguing idea," Loki mused. "But you don't know just how much it will enhance Malekith. Free me and I will aid you in taking on the enhanced Malekith," Loki said while holding out his hands with suppression manacles on.
"Or you could just as easily stab us in the back," Sif pointed out.
"These creatures tried killing my mother. If nothing else trust in my hatred of them, Sif," Loki rebutted.
Sif stared intently at Loki for several moments before removing the cuffs. As Loki rubbed at his wrists Malekith had managed to draw all of the Aether out of Jane. Thor had yet to hear the updated plan so threw a powerful attack at the Aether cloud using Mjolnir. Thor was expecting an attack from Harry to accompany his assault on the Aether but it never came. In any case the effort of trying to wrestle the Aether away from Malekith's control had not gone unnoticed by the dark elf leader. Thor's attack failed and Malekith drew in the last of the Aether.
"There are invisible enemy here," Malekith shouted.
As he shouted Malekith had immediately begun to retreat while his forces surged forward. They drew out dozens of their spatial compression grenades and threw them all around the dark elf forces. Harry suddenly discovered the grenades had some kind of energy field around them that resisted his telekinetic efforts to catch them. He had just enough time to throw up his best shields around his group and had to drop the concealing charms. Malekith had enough time to retreat through a portal created by the phenomenon the Asgardians called the Convergence of Realms. Harry had dispatched a few probes to study these newly appearing Convergence portals after having talked briefly with the Asgardians about the phenomenon. But otherwise he hadn't had much time to devote to the research of the portals due to his time being taken up getting to know Sif, exploring Asgard, trying to find a way to help Jane with her Aether issue, and otherwise getting to know Thor's friends and family. But the cloaked probes would gather a large amount of research data on the incredibly rare phenomenons that were Convergence portals.
Harry dropped the shield against the effects of the compression grenades in order for he and his companions to engage the dark elf warriors. Sif, Thor, Natasha, Harry, and Loki immediately began cutting through the dark elves with relative ease. Harry began to feel something was off.
"Something isn't right," Harry called as he sliced through a dark elf with his sword.
"I sense it too," Loki called. "Something is being concealed from us."
Harry sensed something was being concealed at a point closer to Loki who was fighting off to Harry's left. Harry sent out a spell designed to disrupt cloaking fields of multiple spectral types. For a second there it seemed like the cloak wouldn't fall as an object the size of a large pumpkin showed a shimmering outline. Then the cloak fell and a compression grenade which dwarfed all the rest materialized.
"Oh shit," Jane said just as the grenade went off.
Harry's magic was fast and surged out in a protective barrier meant to encompass all those from his party. For a moment Harry thought he wasn't fast enough as Loki appeared to be caught in the effects of the dark elf weapon.
"Loki, no!" Thor shouted as his brother appeared to get pulled into the heart of the massive compression zone.
But Harry sensed the illusion at work and could feel that Loki wasn't dead. Loki was trying to fake his own death. Harry felt he could have revealed Loki's continued existence at that point.
At the speed of thought he held a conversation with Natasha, starting with, "Loki is using an illusion to try to fake his own death."
"Do you want to let him?" Natasha queried. "I think it would really badly impact Thor."
As Natasha and Harry were conversing the wizard dropped his protective shield after the compression field had dissipated. The only being that had survived outside of the protective shield was the cursed dark elf which had only done so because it had stood clear of the radius of the weapon's effects. Thor roared and charged the creature and Sif wasn't far behind the Asgardian prince.
"I don't think Loki realizes how much his family still cares for him and I don't think Odin really understands how much he still loves his son. I think this would be a good lesson for all of the members of the Asgardian royal family. We will tell Sif and ask her to tell Frigga that Loki is still alive. We will leave it up to Frigga to decide when her family should know," Harry suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Natasha agreed.
Even Sif and Thor together were having trouble with the cursed dark elf but while Thor brute force faced the creature Sif managed to use her superior speed to dart in and take off first its left arm and then its head. The creature died and a clearly distraught Thor returned to the group. Thor's feelings were reflected in the massive storm brewing in the atmosphere of the war torn planet. Jane came over and hugged Thor tightly. Even Sif seemed a bit startled at Loki's demise. She had known the trickster for many years.
"We need to pursue Malekith," Sif suggested. "But I am unsure where he will go."
"He will go to Earth," Jane called out. "I saw a vision of him starting to unleash the Aether on Earth."
"Can you take us to Midgard, Harry?" Thor asked with a grim tone.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I could apparate us there but there is a Convergence portal in that cave over there. I have cloaked sensor probes around us and they can detect the portals. The portal Malekith went through has already closed up but the portal in the cave has just opened. From what little I know about these portals I think maybe that new portal will take us relatively close to the same location in spacetime from which Malekith will have emerged on Midgard."
Harry, Sif, Natasha, Jane, and Thor took off towards the cave and swiftly made it through the portal. Harry figured Loki could get back to Asgard or wherever the trickster was intending to go alone.
"This is the place I first found the Aether," Jane declared as they emerged at night. "Let's go to my apartment."
Jane guided the group to her apartment and when she opened the door Jane's friend Darcy was there.
"Jane," Darcy said in surprise. "You can't just leave like that. The stuff we saw before you disappeared is spreading. The world is going crazy."
"Erik," Jane said with surprise when she saw Erik Selvig.
"Jane," Erik said as he stood from a desk with no pants on and hugged Jane. "It is wonderful that you are here."
Erik was wearing tighty whities as the Yanks would say Harry noted. Jane looked uncomfortable but that was to be expected.
"You have been to Asgard," Erik commented.
"Where are your pants, Erik?" Jane asked.
"He says it helps him think," Ian, Darcy's intern, explained.
"Erik, I need all of the research you have been doing on gravimetric anomalies," Jane informed Erik.
"Erik, are you well? We did not get a chance to converse after New York," Thor said.
"That depends. Is your brother coming?" Erik questioned.
"Loki is dead," Thor said solemnly.
"Oh, thank god," Erik said with relief. "I meant….I'm so sorry."
"That is ok. Given what Loki did to you I do not blame you for your feelings towards him," Thor responded while Erik approached Thor as if to hug the prince. Harry magicked a pair of pants onto Erik before the hug could take place. "Erik, Darcy, these are my friends Sif, Harry, and Natasha."
"Of course we have already met, Dr. Selvig," Natasha greeted Erik.
"And Jane has told us a bit about you," Harry told Darcy as he shook her hand.
"Harry Potter is shaking my hand," Darcy said with an amazed light in her eyes and a wide grin.
"Darcy, you never told me you were a Harry Potter fangirl," Jane said with surprise.
"Umm…no comment," Darcy replied. "That is Ian. He is my intern," she added in a somewhat nonchalant tone.
Jane shared a grin with Thor and chose not to comment further on Darcy's obvious fandom for Harry. Darcy considered herself more important to rate having an intern.
"Hello," Ian greeted and saying nothing more.
Like Darcy, Ian was a little awed at the powerful beings in the room. The others nodded greetings to Ian.
"Let's get to work. We need to do some serious analysis before Malekith makes his move in order to determine the best way to counter his planned attack," Harry urged while summoning forth one of his computers with a holographic interface.
Harry began showing Jane and Erik detailed sensor readings from the Convergence portals as well as a real time map of the Convergence portals currently in existence.
"This is fantastic," Jane said admiringly while gazing at the layout of the portals currently in existence. "Can you track Malekith's ship using these cloaked probes?"
"I think right now his ship is stationary and landed so it isn't distorting spacetime any. My probes can track gravitic distortions of a certain level of intensity," Harry explained.
"So basically if Malekith stays under a certain speed your probes can't track his vessel while cloaked," Jane clarified.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "But his cloak won't work around the kind of energy his Aether based attack is going to be generating. So he will have to drop his cloak to make his move."
"And with how fast you can teleport us we can get there pretty quickly," Natasha pointed out.
Just then a hologram was projected to the side of a main screen with something Harry had been waiting for.
"Shite," Harry swore.
"What is it?" Sif asked.
"I have been running a comparative analysis between the readings I have taken of the Aether, the Tesseract, and the Mind Gem from the scepter I have in my possession," Harry explained.
"Two of those are Infinity Stones," Thor stated.
"According to my analysis there is a pretty good chance the Aether is also an Infinity Stone. Malekith has changed the Infinity Stone somewhat so the changes make it harder to be sure," Harry explained.
"Ok, what does that mean for the good guys?" Darcy questioned.
"It means it cannot be destroyed," Sif answered.
"Well…maybe it could," Harry mused while thinking of some of the destructive weapons he had knowledge of. "But doing so might damage this universe. So it is inadvisable."
"Then we must contain it once more and make sure Malekith dies so that he cannot attempt this again," Thor declared.
"Let's get busy planning," Harry urged.
Greenwich England…
Harry, Natasha, Sif, Thor, Darcy, Ian, Jane, and Erik appeared as a group outside of the local college library in Greenwich. The bottom spire of the dark elf cruiser touched down in the river as the vessel de-cloaked. The mortals began to run screaming from the area as the ship headed towards land. The spire crashed into land barely slowing down. There was a loud crash as the vessel started tearing through stone, metal, and earth without regard. The vessel came to a stop in the center of the university square. A small section at the front of the ship came down the front much like an elevator car until doors opened from that small section. Malekith stepped out followed by over a dozen dark elves.
A portal formed in the sky at that moment.
"The Convergence is happening," Erik declared.
"That's our signal," Harry said before he and Thor leapt forward.
The two immortals were half-flying half-leaping. They touched down with a crashing booming sound while deforming the stone beneath them. This was more for intimidation. Harry wielded his magical blade in his right hand while his left crackled with bluish glowing light that was almost pure magic bent by his will to destructive purposes. Thor held Mjolnir which crackled with lightning.
"You needn't have come so far, Asgardian. Death would have come to you soon enough," Malekith proclaimed.
"Malekith, Malekith, Malekith, I find myself hurt by your lack of concern over who I am," Harry said.
"He is Harry Potter, the greatest wizard of all the nine realms," Thor declared. "It is important to know who kills you."
"It matters not," Malekith rebutted. "You will die like all the rest, wizard."
"Are you sure about that?" Harry asked as a giant glowing sword of light and energy appeared in the sky overhead.
The blade of the sword was longer than most of the buildings on the campus. The energy-sword hung suspended for several seconds crackling with power and causing the mortals who had been fleeing to stop and stare in awe. Harry gestured with the sword in his right hand at Malekith's ship and the result was for the glowing energy-sword to slash down and slice right through Malekith's ship. The noise was tremendous as the top half of Malekith's vessel fell back into the river. Harry had created several relay probes earlier which allowed him to amplify and relay his telekinetic powers so that he could safely bring the top half of the ship into the water without doing a lot of damage to the surrounding structures.
Malekith had turned to stare at the destruction of his vessel and now that the top half had fallen into the river he turned back to Harry and Thor. There was a new look of appreciation in Malekith's expression.
"I think you have rendered him incapable of speech, my friend," Thor declared.
"Your abilities matter not. Your universe was never meant to exist. I will make sure that it does not for much longer," Malekith shouted as he gestured with his hand.
Tendrils of dark blackish-red energy lashed out from Malekith towards the wizard and prince. Harry raised his hand and brought up a shield. The Aether smashed against the shield with tremendous force and the shield flared brilliantly as it held back the attack.
"Bloody hell that is strong," Harry declared between grunts as his shield deflected the attack.
Thor spun Mjolnir and then sent the hammer shooting through the one directional shield straight at Malekith. Mjolnir hit Malekith like a meteor and the dark elf was sent hurtling back through his underlings to the other side of the square where he crashed down. Harry and Thor flew after the dark elf and began tearing into him. Thor pounded with Mjolnir and Harry began stabbing and slicing with his blade. Wherever damage was dealt the Aether regenerated Malekith's form. Meanwhile more portals began to form overhead each showing a different realm.
Sif and Natasha meanwhile began taking out Malekith's remaining underlings. Jane and Erik were currently calibrating a system to manipulate the Convergence portals. Erik had already worked out much of the idea in his earlier research but with Harry's data and technology they could more effectively influence the opening of a Convergence portal. Midgard was at the center of this Convergence which is why he had come to Earth in the first place. If Malekith could be kept busy long enough for Jane and Erik to calibrate the system then much of Malekith's threat could be mitigated. The Convergence would eventually pass. Malekith was actually drawing power from the Convergence. By that point Malekith should be so tired and mentally stressed that he should be able to be taken down.
Suddenly mid-fight Malekith dropped through a Convergence portal that had just opened up. This allowed him to avoid the next several blasts. He surged back out of it after having built up some speed and delivered a powerful jump split kick. Thor was caught by the unexpected move but Harry was able to move to the side and grab Malekith's ankle. Harry tossed the elf face first into the ground and stabbed down with his sword right into Malekith's arse. Malekith shouted in agony and a blast of Aether exploded out of the dark elf. Thor who was coming forward to renew the attack was thrown back violently and so was Harry but a shield formed at the surface of the wizard's skin which caused the flow of foreign energy to break around him.
As soon as Malekith climbed to his feet Thor came flying forward like a rocket and Mjolnir smashed into Malekith. The dark elf was sent hurtling through another portal and Harry shot in after them. Several cars had been brought along by Thor and they came crashing out onto the rocky hills of Malekith's home world. The group tumbled off of a mountainside and fell through another portal back to Earth. They came out in the skies of Washington, D.C. and bounced off the dome of the capitol building before falling through yet another portal. All the while Thor pounded on Malekith and Harry sent curse after curse meant to rend and tear flesh into Malekith. They tumbled back out on the dark elf world. Thor sent Mjolnir at Malekith but the hammer disappeared through a portal.
"Not good," Thor said as the hammer was sent to Earth.
Malekith sent out a stream of Aether at Thor but Harry stepped in front of Malekith's blast and shielded Thor while lashing out with his own blast of energy. The bright white beam of Harry's magic struggled against the Aether for a moment and then began to shove the Aether beam back. Soon the beam of concentrated white magic hammered into the dark elf and the resulting explosion sent Malekith flying a mile back. Malekith hurtled through another portal. Harry grabbed Thor's shoulder and apparated to and then through the portal. They appeared above a city Harry didn't recognize and watched as Malekith hit the top of a skyscraper and then fell off. Malekith fell through yet another portal on the way down.
As he followed Harry said, "Now this is just getting a bit ridiculous and tiresome."
"The Norns must be laughing at us," Thor stated.
The trio reappeared in the realm of the Frost Giants known as Jotunheim. An enormous Frost Beast leapt out of a nearby ice cave and landed on the ledge Malekith was standing on. The ledge broke off. Harry and Thor were still floating but followed as the ledge with its two occupants fell through another portal this time back to Midgard. When they came back out in Greenwich in the square below the larger portals Harry and Thor noticed that the larger portals which showed the nine realms were coming into alignment.
"Enough," Malekith shouted and sent out a blast of Aether greater than he had managed yet.
This blast managed to push Harry back two hundred yards and he held onto Thor to keep the Asgardian from being thrown further. Malekith reached skywards and extended tendrils of Aether-energy towards the aligned portals.
"Enough is right," Harry growled. Harry's sword burst into brilliant light as he bent reality to his will using the arcane energy he could summon to his command. Where the white magic touched the Aether burned away. "Thor, give him everything you have."
Thor spun his hammer and summoned a massive lightning storm. Bolts of destructive plasma began to rain down on Malekith. Some of the bolts were stopped by the Aether but many more got through. The tendrils of Aether reaching towards the portals slowed in progress. Harry rose into the air as his shield was replaced by an aura of white magic. Harry flew high above Malekith and the cloud of Aether and then began to fly rapidly down towards the dark elf. Harry's sword glowed brighter and brighter until most mortals had to look away. Those that could still hold the gaze saw the wizard's blade slice right down through the top of Malekith's head and slide right up to the hilt in the dark elf. A cloud of reddish energy expanded outwards and then the Aether cloud was drawn back into the dark elf. When the cloud had cleared Malekith was still standing there but with a mask of pain and his entire form appeared to be made of reddish crystal. Harry's sword was still in place.
Harry landed while breathing heavily. Thor, Natasha, Sif, Jane, Darcy, Ian, and Erik approached the panting wizard.
"Is he dead?" Natasha asked.
"As long as the sword isn't pulled out of him he will remain in this imprisoned form. I can build a prison which should further contain him and the Aether even if the sword is pulled out. I was thinking it could be built on Malekith's home-world," Harry answered.
"Asgard will station a rotating guard at this prison to reinforce whatever enchantments you put in place," Thor promised. "It is always impressive to see you in battle, my friend."
"Agreed," Sif added with a certain aroused gleam in her eyes.
"You aren't so bad to watch yourself, Thor," Jane informed her lover.
Simultaneously the couples of Jane and Thor along with Darcy and Ian began kissing. Harry decided it was a good opportunity to follow suit and partook in kisses with both of his lovers present. Afterwards with both beauties he took Malekith to the dark elf home-world. Thor took the others back to Asgard and began getting a regiment of guards together to station at the dark elf prison.
Begin Smut Scene (Warning All Anal)
Sif hungrily kissed her lover. Seeing him in battle was exhilarating. He had just saved all of Asgard and likely all of the nine realms from destruction. He deserved thanking with whatever his heart desired. She broke this kiss to find out what it was though she had a pretty good idea from watching him with Natasha and Sif's discussions with the redhead. Natasha wasn't in Sif's chambers having wanted to give Sif the time to thank Harry properly.
"My love, you deserve a boon for your deeds this day," Sif said. "Anything that your heart or rather your loins desire, I will give it to you if it is within my power," Sif promised with her most sultry purr while gripping Harry's turgid bulge.
Harry knew what Sif and Natasha talked about sometimes. Although he never pressured either woman Natasha knew how explosively Harry climaxed while sodomizing her rump and had likely told Sif as much. Harry's hands wrapped around Sif and settled on her butt. He squeezed tightly. His desire was clear. Sif smiled and turned around while reaching down to pull off her pants and undergarments. Harry watched appreciatively while Sif's luscious butt was exposed. Her rear was sculpted beautifully. She reached back and spread her cheeks while bending over slightly. Her pucker glistened.
"I prepared myself with some tips from Natasha in anticipation of your desire," Sif informed Harry. "I am ready for you."
Harry walked forward as Sif finished peeling off her pants and vanished his pants without missing a beat. His shaft was solid and erect as he pressed himself against Sif's backside. He felt her cheeks slip around his shaft as she turned her head enough to kiss him. Lubricant on her anus slid onto his prick. Harry cupped Sif's sex and found her to be highly aroused just like she had said. He stroked her pussy for a few moments before he reached down with his right hand and gripped his prick. He straightened it and pushed the head against Sif's butthole.
"I'm going to be very gentle with you and make this feel amazing for you. It will be amazing for us both," Harry promised in a gentle tone.
Sif nodded and bore down with her rectal muscles to open herself up just like Natasha had advised. Sif bent over enough to brace her hands on her bed. She felt Harry's stiffness pierce through her back passage. It was not unlike relieving herself except Harry was so much bigger. She felt herself being stretched but the accompanying sensation was only pleasant and not the slightest bit uncomfortable. Sif felt him sliding into her bowels and filling her. Finally she felt his groin press against the cheeks of her rump.
"Oh…bloody hell…Sif," Harry moaned. "You are tight!"
Sif grinned as she flexed her butt muscles. Natasha's advice was proving invaluable. Sif felt her man's organ pulse within her insides. Harry was enjoying the rectal massage he was getting from Sif's innards. The warmth of her colon was addicting. Harry stared down at where his body joined with Sif's and saw her sphincter tightly clasping his girth as it widely stretched around his organ. Her backside looked so inviting. It was shaped perfectly, slightly different than Natasha's rump but no less inviting. Harry was incredibly aroused and attracted to Sif right then. He began moving. He drew his length backwards and watched her sphincter cling to him and distend out slightly with his withdrawal. Then he reversed direction and pushed his spear back into Sif's backside. The brunette beauty let out a deep moan as he fully entered her once more. She reached between her thighs with her right hand and intended to start playing with her pussy. But the moment she spread her thighs Harry summoned his synthetic appendage and did that for her. Sif groaned approvingly and with satisfaction as she focused on the sensations she was feeling. She pulled her top off over her head and leaned back. Harry's hands automatically went to her full breasts and cupped them. He never paused in his buggering of her backside. Both lovers enjoyed the amount of skin on skin contact they were experiencing with her back pressed fully against his front. They seemed to fit together perfectly. Harry's mouth found her neck and shoulder and he started tasting her flesh.
Sif especially liked this new position. She was not one to take being dominated easily and this new position where they were both standing upright allowed her to feel a better sense of control. That was not to say Sif didn't enjoy surrendering depending upon what mood she was in. This angle also gave her the ability to rock her hips too and she used this motion to pull forward as he drew back and then to push her rump back when he came forward into her. She felt his softly coated hardness slipping in and out of her bowels rubbing against her guts. Sif had never experienced this sensation before but found it to be profoundly satisfying. She was becoming aware of nerves in her guts that she had not previously had so deeply stimulated. Harry was making some varied noises in her ear that were deeply gratifying to Sif. His desire for her was obvious. He really enjoyed reaming out her ass. She felt magic being injected into her intestines through his tool and the direct stimulation was causing pleasure to slowly pool in her belly. His hands played all over her form and he possessively fondled everything he wanted to touch. Sif lost track of time as he continually thrust away at her backside and she responded. She consciously kept up the massaging techniques that Natasha had instructed her on.
Sif's feminine wiles were very enticing. Harry was entranced by her scent and taste. Her moans caused surges of lust and arousal to shoot through his loins. The softness of her butt slipping up and down his pole never got old. At one point Sif pulled forward and off his shaft. She spun him around and pushed him so that he was sprawled on the bed. She immediately remounted him and straddled his hips facing him. The warrior woman then reached back and guided his dick back into her asshole and sat back onto him. She watched his face as she sank onto his hardness and saw the delighted expressions flit across his handsome features. It made her feel so good to know the feel of her body could inspire such joy. And the expression he was fixing her with was a blend of hunger, desire, awe, and tenderness. She leaned back and reached behind her to cup his testicles. The position was slightly awkward but her great muscle control allowed her to maintain it while still moving her butt on his shaft. She squeezed his organ as she slid her rectum up and down his hardness. She felt the magic flowing in gradually greater amounts from his prick as they moved. It was like being carved out inside by a hot steel rod but instead of pain she felt the exact opposite. Sif couldn't get enough of the feelings. Natasha's advice hadn't prepared her for the reality of the experience.
Harry was enthralled. There was no other way to describe his feelings as he stared up at Sif. She was absolutely gorgeous. Her facial muscles twisted and changed shape as her feelings changed. She was deriving immense pleasure from his shaft and knowing that enhanced his bliss. Harry was pushing his essence into Sif and mingling it with hers. Her essence was not that of normal mortals and the experience was a new one for Harry. Her essence was inherently magical in a way that he had never experienced before. It was like his magic but also at the same time was very different. He couldn't describe it. But blending with her essence felt great. He shared his mind with her and they experienced sensations from the other's perspective. With the position change his synthetic appendage had gotten dislodged. So Harry reached down between their bodies and laid his right palm against her lower abdomen right above her pussy. He began rubbing her clit with his thumb.
Upon feeling the clitoral stimulation Sif began moving faster. She rode his prick with one thought in mind. She wanted to cum and take him with her. When Sif set her mind to something she usually accomplished it pretty quickly. She clenched her butt muscles down on Harry's dick when she sat fully on his shaft and then dragged her body upwards. Then she relaxed and sank her insides back on his manhood. Harry could feel her earnest attempt to extract his seed. He let himself go pretty quickly. Sif gasped and sank onto him when she felt his prick spew forth his semen into her innards, coating her guts with his batter. Sif collapsed forward onto him as her orgasm took her strength away. Her juices poured out of her snatch and she shuddered while clinging to him.
"I now understand why Natasha would not stop smiling at me," Sif managed to say after she began to catch her breath.
"She really likes being buggered," Harry said. "And I really like buggering her."
"I can see why. It feels great from my end…and from your end too. If I had a penis I would want to stick it up a woman's butt all the time. And you are really attracted to my bottom. Some of those thoughts of what you want to do to me…," Sif trailed off as she let out a shiver.
"Are you opposed?" Harry asked.
"Not at all," Sif assured. "Mmm…you're still semi-hard. Natasha warned me once might not be enough to sate you. I would enjoy you doing that again but if that isn't enough then Natasha suggested I call her in. She said that way I will be able to sit down later without healing."
Harry grinned.
"Alright…but let's switch positions. Lay on your side and I will lay behind you," Harry suggested.
The couple moved into that position and discovered they liked it very much for a long leisurely screw.
End Smut Scene
After a huge party, the wounds had begun to heal, and life had returned to some semblance of normal for the people of Asgard, Harry was requested to attend an audience with Odin. When Harry and Natasha entered the throne room accompanied by Sif the members of the royal family including Loki were all present. Also present where Erik, Darcy, Jane, and Ian. After Frigga had been told of her son's survival she had decided to gauge her husband's mood at the news of Loki's demise before deciding if she should reveal the truth to him not or yet. She had discovered that Odin had collapsed due to heartache. Loki had been the one to give Odin the news in the disguise of a palace guard. Loki had intended to conceal Odin in the Odin-sleep and assume the guise of the King of Asgard for a time. But Frigga saw right through this and instead worked with the healers to restore Odin's health. Immediately upon his regaining consciousness Odin was informed of Loki's survival and his condition improved. Father and son reconciled at that point. Odin was much more willing to make amends after thinking Loki lost and after seeing his father's reaction Loki was ready to make amends.
"Harry Potter and Natasha Romanov," Odin began. "You have helped my family and the people of Asgard in ways that cannot be matched. For that alone your deeds will be noted in our histories and tales and you shall always be welcome on Asgard. Harry, I promised you whatever you desire if it is within my power to grant. Have you yet reached a decision on what you might desire?"
Harry and Natasha had discussed this very subject in detail and had even discussed part of it with Sif. They had studied quite a bit of Asgardian law.
"I have," Harry answered. "There are several favors I would like to ask of you which I hope will be easy for you to grant. The first is that I would like to build a home outside of the capitol in this beautiful realm. I don't know if it will be my primary residence or just a vacation home. But I would still like to spend more time here."
"Done," Odin easily agreed. "The land you need and some more is yours. What else?"
"I would like to obtain copies of your research materials for all the items in your Vault," Harry admitted. "I already have extensive sensor scans of everything in those vault chambers in some spectrums even your scholars don't have access to. I will provide you with these scans in exchange for your research. By giving me this you would just save me millennia of research."
Odin was less quick to respond this time.
"If I did not know Sif better I would speculate that she told you about the Vault chambers but her honor is without question," Odin said. "How did you obtain these scans?"
"I teleported into the vaults and released cloaked sensor probes," Harry admitted.
"Our wards are supposed to block teleportation," Odin mused. "Apparently not your type of teleportation," he added. "Very well, I believe we can learn a lot from each other. You will have the research. What else?"
"Just one last request," Harry said as he internally debated to the very last second on if he should do this in front of Sif or not. Finally he decided that when it came down to it he wanted his intentions to be clear. Harry summoned a scroll out of extra dimensional storage and floated it up to Odin, "I would like to officially apply for the exception in Asgardian law Section 3.5 Subsection A."
Eyebrows shot up and Sif gasped before looking at Harry in surprise.
"Ok…I must be missing something," Jane said to Thor in barely more than a whisper. The whisper carried throughout the silent chamber. "That sounds like a very obscure law. But everyone seems to recognize it. Why is that?"
It was Odin who answered.
"Lady Jane, the law in question is a law preventing an Asgardian citizen from marrying a non-Asgardian. The subsection in question is infamous because of how little it has been used and the very public nature of those past issues of use. Harry Potter is applying to be considered as a candidate to interbreed with an Asgardian citizen," Odin explained.
"Why would such a law exist?" Jane questioned.
"In the past Asgardian freely interbred with other species and several rather nasty incidents have resulted. Regardless of the percentage of Asgardian they carry within them these offspring caused Asgard to be held accountable for their actions. Some have been quite powerful. So this law was put in place to make sure any offspring won't be detrimental to the nine realms and that the applicant will be able to take care of the offspring," Loki answered. "But what is most interesting here is who Harry Potter wishes to use his exception with," he added while looking between Sif and Harry.
Harry purposefully took Sif's hand in his left and Natasha's in his right as he explained, "My relationship with any Asgardian is too new yet to be ready for marriage. But given the number of candidates who have applied for an exception in the past and been turned down I thought it would be best to use Odin's favor while I still had it in case the exception is ever needed."
"A wise precaution," Odin mused as he glanced over the contents of the scroll. "My Sight tells me that your blood mixed with Asgardian blood would make the universe a very interesting place indeed. Therefore your application is approved."
Sif, Natasha, and Harry were all three grinning. Sif squeezed Harry's hand gently in approval. A marriage with three people involved was actually not taboo and while not common happened often enough to be socially accepted in the realm eternal.
"I am glad to hear that. Now I have a gift for everyone present here," Harry said while summoning up enough arm-bands so that each person present could have one.
"I sense powerful magic on these," Loki mused as he examined the arm-band which had been floated into his hands.
"And it feels like healing magic," Frigga commented.
"What is the purpose of this gift, Harry?" Thor questioned.
"I have been extensively studying Asgardian physiology," Harry began to explain.
"Have you ever," Natasha projected her thoughts at her lover with a sultry tone while thinking of Harry's studies of Sif.
Continuing as if Natasha hadn't interrupted his thoughts, Harry said, "In my old universe the mortals eventually figured out how to first slow and then halt the aging process altogether for their physiology. Given what they had already accomplished it was relatively simple for my kind to use our arcane abilities to further refine the age-halting process and remove any negative side effects. Thanks to my studies of Asgardian physiology I am happy to say I have adapted the technology to work on Asgardians. That age-stopping technology is embodied in these arm-bands."
There was a stunned silence in the chamber as the occupants absorbed the news. Starting with Thor and Sif who trusted Harry without reserve the occupants of the chamber began slipping the arm-bands on. Odin was the last to put on his arm-band but he did so after a long look at Harry.
"This is an amazing gift," Sif declared with a wide grin for her lover before stepping closer to him and catching his mouth in a kiss which conveyed her jubilation.
After the kiss had ended Sif and Harry turned back to the others with Sif's arm firmly wrapped around Harry's waist.
"I believe Sif best expresses our sentiments," Odin added. "Thank you, Harry Potter. This is truly a gift which I cannot match. All that you have asked for you shall have."
Odin was inwardly pleased. While it was true that some of what the wizard had asked for was hard to give freely and the admission of entering Asgard's Vault uninvited was worrisome Harry Potter had not asked for anything Odin was unable to grant. In truth if Harry Potter ever needed Odin's aid in the future, then the All-father hoped to be able to give it to him.
Harry nodded his acknowledgement and the formality of the situation seemed to leave the chamber. Harry's friends came forward to personally thank him for the immortality and ask a few questions.
"If you need any assistance in building your home I know of some good work-men in the city," Thor offered after he had offered thanks.
"Actually I have already done most of the work already," Harry answered while causing a tiny model home to appear floating above his open palm. "This is the home shrunken down. I just need to enlarge it on the property and begin setting up the wards. Thank you for the offer anyway."
"Your powers still amaze me," Thor said with a grin. "I would like to see you install that house. Let me ask father where your land will be and then I can take you there."
"Sure," Harry agreed.
As it turned out everyone wanted to watch but few of those present could fly. Harry summoned up a large magic carpet. Odin looked as if he didn't want to ride the magic carpet for several moments but then his curiosity at this mode of transport overcame his reticence. The region of land Odin had picked out was gorgeous but that wasn't saying much considering the entire realm of Asgard appeared to be beautiful. A stream ran through the property and forest covered much of the land. A hill overlooked the city of Asgard. Harry decided that would be a good place to put his house. He used magic to level off the hilltop and then set his enchanted house down.
"That was cool but rather anticlimactic considering the buildup," Darcy mused after Harry had re-enlarged his house.
"We can have a house-warming party," Natasha suggested.
"We didn't bring any gifts," Jane replied.
"I can buy or make anything I desire. You don't ever have to get me any gifts," Harry assured.
"You are a good friend to have," Erik noted.
So the group had an impromptu house-warming party for Harry and Natasha. After the others had left back for the palace Harry, Natasha, and Sif remained. They were sitting on a couch in the living room relaxing. Harry sat between the two women.
Sif felt quite a bit out of her comfort zone. As a warrior on the battlefield she didn't have to engage her higher brain functions. She relied on instinct and just acted without thinking too hard. But in relationships she found herself thinking a lot more. Up until recently her relationship with Harry had been primarily physical in nature. Now it seemed to be heading in different directions or rather evolving. She forced her courage to overcome her reticence and broached a subject she was nervous about speaking of.
"I understand completely why you asked Odin for that exception now and that you believe whatever exists between us is too new for the level of commitment the exception might imply. I agree completely. That being said, where does this leave us?" Sif questioned.
"Well Natasha and I still go on regular dates even though our relationship has deepened and evolved over the years," Harry answered. "I was thinking we could add dating to our physical relationship."
"What do you mean by dates?" Sif asked confusedly.
"You might call them courtship events where two people go out and do things to get to know one another," Natasha suggested.
"Ah, you mean engagements. That is what we call them," Sif answered. "What do the people of Midgard do on these dates?"
"A lot of times couples will share a meal and then go watch or engage in some form of recreational entertainment such as watching a film, going bowling, seeing an opera, or maybe a play," Natasha explained.
"What is bowling?" Sif asked.
"It's a game," Harry answered while projecting an illusion of one of his memories of playing the game of bowling. "What do Asgardians do on engagements?"
"Surprisingly much the same as Midgardians though we do not have bowling. We have other games. Flying a Pegasi can be quite fun," Sif answered. "I have heard that some of the royal families even take their engagements to other realms and other planets throughout the universe."
"That sounds intriguing. I will discuss it with Thor and get some information on that from him," Harry suggested.
Sif nodded her head in agreement and gave her lover a warm smile while reaching over and squeezing his hand affectionately.
"Speaking of sharing a meal I'm kind of getting hungry. We need to get some groceries for this place," Natasha said.
Harry suddenly grinned and said, "On that note I have a surprise for you ladies. Dobby, Marmy, and Stara, would you come here please?"
Three house elves popped into existence in the room standing in front of the three beings sitting on the couch. Dobby greatly resembled Harry's friend of the same name from Harry's home universe but appeared much healthier and livelier.
"Harry, those look like the house elves you showed me memories of," Natasha said.
"House elves?" Sif inquired.
"House elves were magical servants created by my kind to serve us. They are very devoted and hard working," Harry explained. "There was one in my house when I got sent here to this universe. I absorbed all information about him and have finally figured out how to recreate their kind. I made some improvements. Sif, Stara will serve you. Natasha, Marmy will serve you."
The two indicated house elves bowed slightly as their names were called.
"I get the feeling existence with you will never be boring," Sif mused while smiling fondly at her lover.
"Based on my past few years of life with him I can agree with that statement," Natasha answered with a matching smile.
Harry didn't respond verbally but just gently squeezed the hands Sif and Natasha were holding before the trio started making plans to go grocery shopping while having their house elves prepare them a meal. Harry knew that many adventures were in store for he and his mates in the future. Some would be as mundane as shopping for groceries (quite an adventure considering Sif was an Asgardian goddess in a super-market) and some would be truly fantastic. Life would be uncertain but that was part of the excitement of life when you were immortal.