The Guardian chosen by the Moon

The palace of Asgard was bathed in golden light as night began to settle over the skies of the realm. After Odin's revelations, a silent tension had taken hold. Jane was under constant watch, guarded and monitored by Asgardian healers. But I… I remained a stranger here, observed with caution by the Asgardians but tolerated due to my association with Thor and Jane.

It was Frigga who came to meet me.

I found her in a vast hall adorned with frescoes depicting Asgard's battles, seated near a fountain whose water shimmered under a soft light. She possessed an ageless beauty, her gaze filled with infinite wisdom. With a gentle motion, she invited me to sit beside her.

"You feel uneasy, don't you?" she asked in a soft voice.

I lowered my eyes, hesitating. "It's complicated… I'm stuck in a world that isn't mine."

She placed a hand on the surface of the water, creating delicate ripples. "Fate sometimes leads us down unexpected paths, Ethan. You believe you are a stranger here, but Asgard has already begun to accept you, even if you do not see it yet."

I furrowed my brows. "You… you know who I really am, don't you?"

She nodded slowly. "I see far more than what the eyes perceive. Your essence is one of change, of renewal. Your arrival here is no accident."

A shiver ran down my spine. "Then… will I be able to return home?"

Silence fell between us. Frigga looked away, gazing at the stars through one of the palace's grand openings. "Perhaps not."

The answer hit me like a gust of freezing wind. Despite everything, I had hoped to find a way back. My fists clenched. "Why?"

Frigga gently placed a hand on my arm. "A darkness has followed you across worlds, Ethan. A shadow born from your universe, seeking to corrupt you. I sensed it the moment you arrived."

I shuddered. "The voice…"

She nodded. "This is only the beginning. You must be strong, for your battle is just beginning."

I swallowed hard. "And what if I told you that I know the future? That I know what is going to happen?"

Frigga looked at me with a gaze full of both kindness and authority. "Then I would ask you to keep that knowledge to yourself."

She stood, taking a few steps forward, her eyes lost in the infinity of space. "There will come a moment when you will want to act, when you will believe you can change the course of events… But some destinies are immutable."

I understood then what she meant. My stomach tightened. "You… You're asking me not to save you."

She turned to me, a sad smile on her lips. "It will be difficult, I know. But my fate is sealed. And what happens after my death is crucial for the balance of the world."

I felt my throat tighten. "Thor… Loki…"

She placed a hand on my cheek, her gaze filled with infinite tenderness. "Never tell them what we have just spoken about. It would break them even more than my loss."

The words stuck in my throat. How could I accept such a thing?

After our conversation, Frigga invited me to accompany her to see Jane. We walked through the long golden corridors of the palace to a chamber where Jane was resting. She looked exhausted, but a smile lit up her face as Frigga entered.

"You came to see me?" Jane asked, visibly moved.

Frigga nodded warmly. "You are under our protection, Jane Foster. This palace is now a refuge for you."

I stayed in the background, observing their exchange. But before Frigga could say more, a familiar voice rang through the room.

"Of course, unless my father suddenly decides that you are a threat and banishes you to another realm. He has a tendency to do that…" Thor joked as he entered with a mischievous smile.

Jane raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Oh really? Is that a habit of his?"

Thor shrugged, feigning innocence. "Let's just say he has a particular talent for grand speeches and radical decisions. I suppose that's what happens when you wear such a heavy helmet."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "It's true, his helmet seems as heavy as his judgments."

Suddenly, a deliberate cough drew our attention. Frigga, arms crossed, wore a falsely stern expression. "I see my son enjoys making jokes about his father in my absence…"

Thor straightened up immediately, a guilty look on his face. "Mother! I… we were just… uh…"

But before he could stammer further, a clear, warm laugh escaped from Frigga. "Oh, Thor… You are not wrong. His helmet is indeed too heavy."

Jane laughed too, visibly surprised by the playful bond between mother and son. Frigga sat beside her, smiling gently. "Odin has his flaws, that is certain. But he watches over Asgard and all who reside here. He is a king before he is a father, and that is his greatest burden."

Jane nodded, listening intently. "Asgard is fascinating. I can hardly believe a place like this exists… It's a blend of magic and advanced technology."

Frigga smiled. "We call it science and magic, but in Asgard, the two are one. Our ancestors mastered cosmic energy long before your world discovered the knowledge of fire. Every artifact here is built on a delicate balance between nature and raw power."

I crossed my arms. "So… the glowing swords, flying ships, and interdimensional portals… just another Tuesday for you?"

Frigga chuckled softly. "Indeed, Ethan. For us, this is normal."

But as the conversation continued, a sudden explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the foundations of the palace. Frigga turned sharply, her eyes glowing with concern.

"They are here."

The skies of Asgard darkened with a menacing red hue as the first strikes of the attack rained down on the golden city. Massive ships, dark as the night, tore through Asgard's defensive barrier, unleashing devastating energy beams upon the palace towers. Alarms blared, and soldiers rushed to their positions, raising their rune-forged weapons against the enemy looming above.

On one of the ramparts, Heimdall watched the shadows in the sky, his piercing gaze discerning the threat before the first impact even struck the ground. With a swift motion, he unsheathed his sword and braced for battle. His instincts never failed him—Asgard was in peril.

Deep within the palace, a man stood in the darkness of his cell. Loki, still imprisoned in the dungeons, felt the ground tremble beneath his feet as the explosions grew closer. His gaze lifted to the enchanted bars of his prison, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"So, they finally arrive…" he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.

In the great prison of Asgard, a massive figure stirred in the shadows. Algrim, disguised as a mere marauder, awaited his moment. In his hand, he clutched a dark artifact, a crimson glow pulsing at its core. In mere moments, he would shed his human appearance and embrace the power of Kurse.

An explosion rocked the walls, and the prison erupted into chaotic pandemonium. The captives scattered into the corridors, overpowering the surprised guards. Algrim smirked as he felt the transformation take hold. His skin cracked, black flames coursed along his arms, and his strength multiplied in a surge of pure destruction.

The Dark Elves' attack had begun, and Asgard had only moments to react.