Chapter Seven

"What do you mean no?!" Nel shouted as she sprung out of her chair.

"S.H.I.E.L.D cannot interfere with this," Fury responded sharply from his chair.

"He is an Avenger! He has helped you as a consultant on multiple things for this organization! Why can't you help?" she asked as she slammed her hands on his desk.

"Stark called out a terrorist. This is out of S.H.I.E.L.D's hands," Fury stated calmly.

"You cannot be serious!?" she sighed as she threw up her hands and stalked towards the door.

"Where are you going Lithoniel?" Fury sighed.

"You said S.H.I.E.L.D could not get involved Fury. Well guess what, I don't work for you," she yelled as she pulled the door open.

"Do not make me remand you to this facility," Fury called after her and she paused in her track. She turned to face him, and her anger was evident in her amber eyes.

"You would not dare," she bit.

"Oh, do not underestimate me. Stark is capable of handling his own mess ups," Fury stated as he stood.

"And Pepper? What about her? She may be involved with Stark, but she is still a civilian. She needs help and she is my friend," Nel bit out as she took deep breaths to tamper her anger.

"No one is arguing that Nel. We just need you to be smart about this and think about it from our point of view," Nat chimed in.

"What point of view is that?" she asked as she crossed her arms.

"People know you were in New York and people know your connection with Steve and the rest of the Avengers. You can cause a lot of damage in a fight but if that terrorist were to get his hands on you," Nat trailed off.

"We cannot risk this terrorist getting his hands on any of you," Fury said.

"Where do you stand on this?" Nel asked turning to Steve.

"I know you can handle yourself Nel, but Natasha has a point. If they got a hold you, you know I would do anything and everything to get you back," Steve said crossing to her with his hands raised trying to calm her.

"Fine, I will not go. But I want to know anything that happens when it happens Fury," she said before turning and leaving the room.

"Nel," Steve called chasing after her.

"I said I wouldn't go Steve. You don't have to follow me," she replied as he caught up to her.

"You look like you need to relieve some of that tension. Come to the training room with me. We can practice hand to hand," he said as he grabbed her hand and turned her to face him.

"When is the mission?" she asked after a sigh.

"How did you?" he asked.

"I know you, Rogers. Better than you know yourself sometimes," she answered as she placed her hands on his arms.

"It is in a day or two. It was pushed back given what just happened," he said calmly.

"I guess I will just have to binge on junk food and horrible movies till you return home," she sighed.

"Actually, given what is going on. I would feel better if you stayed here," he said calmly.

"Steven Rogers, you are lucky I love you and want you back in one piece. You are asking something of me that you know I will not like," she sighed. "But, if it gives you peace of mind on the mission, I will do it."

"I thought that was going to be a lot harder," he sighed.

"Do not push it. You are walking a fine line," she joked.

"Well then, how about I take you to diner to make up for it?"

"You could do something else to make it up to me," she smirked as she raised herself up onto her toes and tightened her grip on his arms.

"Nel," he started as he leaned down to meet her.

"Captain Rogers, Lithoniel," Fury's voice came causing them to both stiffen and back away.

"Director," Steve responded with a nod of his head.

"I would appreciate it if you would not do that in the middle of the agency," Fury responded before walking away with a small smile.

"You definitely owe me for staying in this building," Lithoniel whispered as Fury walked away.

*Few Months Later*

Tony and Pepper have both finally recovered and healed from the events that unfolded from a few months ago. Lithoniel still was tense with Fury after he failed to inform her of everything that had happened. Anytime she walked into S.H.I.E.L.D., she instantly tensed up and avoided the Director as much as possible.

"Where are you headed now?" Nel asked as Steve suited up.

"Nel," he sighed.

"Never mind. I know you can't tell me," she sighed as she leaned against the lockers. "Maybe I should have taken Fury up on that offer. Then I would at least know where you are, if not going with you."

"I promise I will be safe. Soon as I get back, we can spend some time together and explore DC. How does that sound?" he asked as he crossed to her and placed his hands on her arms.

"Promise?" she asked.

"Promise," he smiled before leaning down and giving her a brief kiss.

"Just come home in one piece," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and held on to him tightly.

"Captain, mission is cancelled," Fury said as he walked into the room.

"We just received new intel. Lithoniel, you might want to see this," Fury added as he handed her a file.

"What could I possibly want to see?" She asked as she released Steve and took the file.

"I believe you know those symbols," Fury stated as she opened the file.

"What are they?" Steve asked glancing over her shoulder.

"The Bifrost. Thor fixed the Bifrost," she gasped.

"That is not all," Fury said nodding for them to follow him.

"Thor was spotted in London and, according to Jane Foster's intern, disappeared with Jane. No one can locate them," he said as they walked out of the locker room and towards his office.

"Something is not right," Nel said softly.

"Why do you say that?" Steve asked as they reached Fury's office.

"Odin has one rule above all else that he would enforce even from the grave. 'No Midguardians on Asguard'. If Thor has taken Jane there, then something is severely wrong," Nel explained as she flipped through the file before gasping and dropping the file. "I have to go to Asguard," she said as she quickly walked towards the elevator

"Nel!" Steve called running after her. "What do you mean you have to go to Asguard?"

"I know why Thor took Jane to Asguard. I have to go, I may be able to help," she said as she pressed the button for the elevator to take her up.

"Care to fill the rest of us in?" Fury's voice came in from behind her. Nel sighed before turning to face him.

"Jane's assistant stated that Jane was missing for hours and when someone attempted to touch her, dark red exploded around her and caused destruction," Nel stated as the elevator arrived, and they entered it.

"You know what it is," Fury stated as a matter of fact.

"I do. One of the perks of growing up betrothed to a prince of Asguard, unlimited access to the library, which is where I spent most of my time before and after I was married," she stated, and she felt Steve tense next to her. She reached out and intertwined their fingers together. "There is a book in the library about something called the Aether. It is said that it existed before the creation of the Nine Realms. It can turn any matter into dark matter. It is a parasite that feeds of its host. If the host is strong enough then it will enhance then, if they aren't," she trailed off.

"If they aren't, it kills them," Fury finished.

"Yes. About five millennia ago, the leader of the dark elves was going to use the Convergence to release the Aether into all Nine Realms and plunge them all back into darkness. They were defeated and the Aether was locked away. If the Aether has been located, others will come for it. Jane is in graver danger then Thor realizes," She finished as the elevator opened to the roof.

"I am going with you," Steve said as they stepped out of the elevator.

"The hell you are," Fury stated giving him a look.

"Steve, you cannot come with me," Nel stated as she turned to face him.

"Yes, I can. I lost you once, I won't again."

"Steve, I love you. You own my heart, and I will return to you," she said as she placed her hand on his cheek. "You have to let me do this. Thor may be able to get away with bringing Jane to Asguard, but Odin would not be as forgiving of me would I break his rules. I need to know you are here and safe."

"I don't like this," he sighed as he pressed his forehead to hers. "Loki is there and who knows what has happened since they left New York."

"He was punished for his crimes. Thor assured me he would be. I will return to you as soon as I can," she breathed before placing a kiss on his lips and walking away.

"Nel!" He called causing her to turn and look at him. She met his eyes and snapped her fingers to change her outfit.

Steve crossed to her as her jeans and sweater changed into an elegant night blue dress dotted with crystals and stars. As her hair changed into braids dotted with stars and her circlet appeared around her head, he reached out for her waist and pulled her to him, crashing his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with every ounce of feeling. She felt his tongue brush against her bottom lip and she quickly gave him access. He explored every inch of her mouth as he kissed her so hard, she felt it in her toes. His kiss was branding and claiming. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

"Come back to me," he whispered.

"I always will my love. Di qualunque cosa siano fatte le nostre anime," she said as she took a breath and stepped backwards away from him.

"Tuo e mio sono la stessa cosa," he finished as he stood frozen to the spot where she had left him.

"I love you," she mouthed to him before looking up to the sky and yelling, "Heimdall, Open the Bifrost!" She looked back at Steve as light surrounded her and she was pulled through the Bifrost.

"Welcome back Princess," Heimdall smiled from his post.

"Thank you Heimdall. Now where is my brother and Jane Foster?" She asked as she summoned her cloak.

"I believe they are in the palace with the healers," Heimdall responded. "A horse will be here any moment to take you to the palace."

"Thank you Heimdall," she said with a nod of her head before taking a deep breath and walking towards the entrance.

"He is imprisoned Princess. Odin will not even let Frigga visit him in person," he said as she neared the entrance.

"Not even Frigga?" she gasped as she turned to him. The thought of that made her heart ache.

"Odin does not want to risk it. Loki's powers are also limited to the confines of his prison."

"Thank you for telling me, Heimdall. You truly are a good person," she responded before exiting the Bifrost and mounting the horse that had just arrived.

"Princess!" Heimdall called from the entrance, and she turned her head to look at him. "Still be careful of him."

"I will, thank you Heimdall," she said with a small nod before nudging the horse into a full run and heading straight towards the palace.

As the horse reached the palace courtyard, she dismounted quickly and ran up the stairs as fast as her heels would allow her.

"Princess," a guard greeted before doing a double take.

"Princess Lithoniel, where are you going?" He yelled after her, but she waived him off and continued her fast pace towards the healers.

As she reached the doors, she could hear Jane's raised voice, questioning Odin and Nel could not help but smile a little. She slipped in as Odin told the guards to take Jane back to Midguard.

"No, I would not," Thor said as Nel yelled, "Don't!" But it was too late. The guards reached for her and the Aether pulsed out of her and knocked them back.

"Touch her," Thor finished as he ran to Jane's side as she fell back on the table.

"Jane are you alright?" Thor asked and Nel slowly made her way over to the table.

"It's impossible," Odin mumbled.

"The infection? It is defending her?" a healer asked.

"No," Thor said as he looked up at Odin. His eyes shot to Nel as he notices her. "It is protecting itself." Nel nodded in response. "Sister."

"Brother," she sighed as she crossed the rest of the room and stood next to Odin. "All Father," she bowed.

"We shall talk in a moment my child," Odin said softly before addressing Thor. "Come with me."

"Sister, this is Jane Foster. Jane this is my sister, Lithoniel," Thor said as they followed Odin in the direction of the library.

"I recognize you from New York," Jane whispered before turning to address Thor. "You didn't tell you had a sister," she whispered sternly at him.

"I am not his sister by birth. I married into the family," Nel explained quietly. "But we can go more into that later if you wish."

"Please? I would love to hear your story. It is a pleasure to meet you Lithoniel," Jane responded.

"Please, call me Nel. It is less of a mouthful," Nel whispered, and Thor smiled at her. "Do not even think about it brother," she added as she glared at Thor. "I have been training with Steve and I can beat you in a fight."

"I will have to test that theory," Thor smirked right before Odin spoke.

"Enough," Odin stated as they entered the library. Jane gasped as she looked around and Nel couldn't help but smile at her.

"I like her for you brother," she whispered in Thor's ear before crossing the library to where she knew Odin was going.

"Is it what I think it is All Father?" Nel asked as she reached the table, he was standing next to.

"I do believe it is my child," he sighed as he opened the book and spoke again. "There are relics that pre-date the universe itself. What lies within her appears to be one of them, The Nine Realms are not eternal. They had a dawn as they will have a dusk. But before the dawn the dark forces, the Dark Elves, reigned absolute and unchallenged."

"'The Dark Elves come to steal the light away.' I know these stories. Mother told them to us as children." Thor cut in as he joined them at the table.

"Their leader, Malekith, made a weapon out of the darkness and it was called the Aether. While the other relics often appear as stones, the Aether is fluid and ever changing," Odin continued.

"It changes matter into dark matter. It seeks out host bodies, drawing strength from their life-force," Nel added as she gave Jane as sympathetic look.

"Malekith sought to use the Aether's power to return the universe to one of darkness. But, after eternities of bloodshed, my father Bor finally triumphed ushering in a peace that lasted thousands of years," Odin finished.

"What happened?" Jane asked.

"He killed them all," Odin responded.

"Are you certain?" Nel asked.

"The Aether was said to have been destroyed with them. And yet, here it is," Thor added.

"The Dark Elves are dead," Odin stated as he pinned Thor with a look.

"Does your book happen to mention how to get it out of me?" Jane asked after a few moments of awkward silence.

"No," Odin answered swiftly. "If you will excuse me," Odin said before he left the three of them standing there.

"Sister?" Thor asked looking at her.

"I know no more than he does brother. In all my healing knowledge and knowledge of this library, there is no mention of the Aether outside the past," Nel sighed as she placed her hands on the table.

"Are you certain?" He asked as he placed his hand on top of hers.

"I did not study things like this Thor. The Aether is dark. I only wished to focus on the light, focusing on ways to heal the dark," she sighed. "But," she continued, "there is one person who may know. He has knowledge of almost every book in this library. More than me."

"No," Thor said swiftly.

"Brother, if it can help Jane, I will do what I must," Nel answered swiftly.

"Why do I feel like I am missing something?" Jane asked under her breath.

"He is in a cage. He can bring me no harm. If need be, I will ask for Frigga's help so that I do not need to be their physically," Nel said trying to calm him.

"Nelly," he said with a tilt of his head. "Steven would murder me on the spot for letting you anywhere near him."

"Well then, I guess it is a good thing that Steve is not here and that I am. I am going to talk to him," she responded as she straightened her spine and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Jane yelled causing her to turn towards her. "How are you related? You have a sibling relationship that is unusual."

"You need not worry Jane," Nel smiled. "I have known Thor since we were children. We grew up in the palace together. We were siblings by marriage for many years. Now, we are siblings by choice. I would do anything for him and his happiness."

"Loki. You were married to Loki!" Jane exclaimed as the realization dawned on her. "You fought in New York against him. You are with Captain Rogers now. How did you get here?"

"The same way you did. I simply called for Heimdall. I will return to you when I know something," Nel said with a bow of her head before leaving.

"Be careful!" Thor called after her.