Chapter Text
If Surtur and his ill-fated coup of several seasons ago had succeeded, he would not be in this mess, Krampus mused, eyeing the children huddled on the slimy stone of his commandeered dungeon.
The Vanir and human huddled together pathetically, similar enough in physical appearance that neither seemed perturbed by the close contact with a technically-alien race.
Or, they were simply sufficiently frightened. Would add to the flavor, Krampus told himself, eyes traveling from them to the Muspel child, its flaming flesh dimmed by an hourly dousing of frigid water; limbs quaking, the odd whimper escaped its flaking lips. It would die soon, kept in such a manner, and he would have to take his leave of Asgard soon, to make it worth it. That fool, Heimdall, guarding the rainbow bridge above, knew nothing of the ways in and out of the Golden Realm.
All of the children were grimy and weak; this was not his usual manner of storage, but he hadn't the means to keep corpses fresh enough for his taste at the moment.
The human woman, the Lewis girl's mentor, he thought she was, was sorely disappointing in her apparent lack of fear. This was why he chose younger prey. He'd observed her since their arrival, displaying a keen interest in everything from the plant life in Asgard to how the lighting system was powered, asking questions incessantly of the thunder god. He'd felt her bright gaze on him since he had dumped her in the corner, observing and cataloguing data, no doubt. She would need to be dealt with.
No, it would have been far simpler had that damned coup succeeded. Perhaps if he had not simply watched the affair from a limb from Yggdrasil, but offered some sort of assistance…But that wolf's appearance had sealed his decision. He would not face that thing, with its odd, dogged loyalty towards the illusionist bastard. It was lucky it had not been seen in months, not even to intervene when Krampus took the time to dismantle the strange contraption that allowed the mortals' devices "reception". His courage had increased after that.
He could grudgingly respect, however, the subterfuge and conniving strategies that the trickster had employed in his attempt at taking Asgard. He'd even succeeded for a fair while, as Krampus had seen, nestled in nearby branches of Yggdrasil as he'd watched Asgard's goings-on carefully. The trickster would have made a fine ally in another life.
Darcy's necklace was made for Darcy to use, and Darcy only, Jane had realized hours ago. It was now solely a meager source of comfort, something to run her fingers over and along as she mused how best to attempt escape, hope diminishing with each passing minute. She was determined not to let her uncertainties and growing fear show in her expression, though; a show of bravado was necessary both to face Krampus with, and hopefully bolster the spirits of the various youngsters who were her fellow prisoners.
It was freezing, her joints feeling unwilling to try anything at the moment, and there were several children down here with her. The creature hadn't searched her, but she really hadn't had anything of use on her person back in the catacombs, anyways, prepared to leave the heavy lifting to Thor. What a mistake that had been, she now saw. And she couldn't just make a dash for it and risk angering the creature, or a swipe from those claws, steeped in centuries' worth of children's blood.
The creature – Krampus, had Darcy said? - had flinched upon contact with Darcy, but what had been different between them? Darcy had liberally sprayed on some of that stress relief perfume before they'd left, but Jane had laughed at the homeopathic remedies Eir was always forcing upon her, claiming their healing and protective powers. Now, it seems, there was some credibility to the concoctions. But too late. She could only hope for a distraction of the creature, and try to keep the young ones calm.
Jane Foster hated feeling helpless. Even when Malekith possessed the Aether, an unstoppable force – even when she herself had contained that destructive power – she'd felt that something could be done, that there was a solution. Eyeing the creature's movements around the dim, dripping dungeon he was apparently using as a base, she noted how he seemed to nurse his left arm.
A distant noise echoed down the tunnel towards them, and the creature spun on its feet, grimacing as its right claws crossed to clench against that left arm. Jane's eyes narrowed in thought, and she edged closer to the Muspel child, whose skin had dried from the horrible dousing it had received almost an hour ago, and which was now starting to emanate a faint glow again.
Loki was pacing, with no other strategies and nothing to do but ruminate on his failures, it seemed. He and Thor were outside the main hall, unable to face those whom they were failing to protect. He couldn't look Darcy in the eye, not while her mentor and ex-boss and friend was captured, locked in the bowels of the palace.
When first they had faced the being called Krampus, it was Frigga's gifts that had enabled them to spot his antics several hundred years ago, and Loki was now filled with a sense of inadequacy, that he had not the same skill and foresight to have seen the creature coming. Of course the rebuilding stages of a regime represented weakness and opportunity for an enemy with a grudge. Not to mention the fact there were dozens of vulnerable mortals in Asgard at the moment, with no knowledge of the dangers lurking in the corners of even the Golden Realm itself…What had they been thinking?
Lacking his mother's propensity for fate-gazing, the resentful fire he and Thor had lit within the creature was hard to predict. And unknowingly, Darcy's incredible success as an inter-realm diplomat had led to Krampus coming here and wreaking his particular sort of havoc.
Loki would just have to meet like with like. Hela could always use fresh beings in her domain, and he was certain she'd appreciate a sacrifice of such a bloodthirsty caliber.
"We should be down there again. We should be searching for her, brother! Jane would do the same for us!"
"That was far too close, you oaf. I will not risk Darcy and the child again."
"Oh, but it was perfectly fine to risk Jane, was it? She was taken, Loki!" Thor's gruff tones roared across the corridor they argued in, just outside of the great hall where most of Asgard had tried to convene for protection. The raven Huginn, who had arrived some time ago to apparently just watch the exchange, rasped out a caw in response. Loki rather thought he was cheering Thor on. "The two of us should be smiting the creature down, even as we stand here!"
"I am quite aware she was taken, and likely mistaken for Darcy. The creature likely knows her worth, regardless, and won't simply kill her. We have a chance," Loki hissed back, pacing the hall agitatedly. "But if we blast in there with hammer swinging, as the creature expects of you, there will no doubt be some trickery at play that will simply result in harm coming to Jane."
Thor was standing uncharacteristically still himself, and suddenly swung out with Mjölnir against the closest wall with an echoing boom. Startled cries sounded from inside the hall, and Freja came racing down the corridor, armor clinking and sword drawn.
"What in the blazes-?" She spat, eyes narrowing as she looked between the brothers. "Petty squabbles in the halls while Lady Jane is missing are not conducive to anyone's goal here, gentlemen. Kindly do not bring the palace down upon our heads, Odinson; we have guests, if nothing else."
Thor looked properly chastened, head hanging as he slowly pulled Mjölnir back from the shallow dent it had made in the stone palace wall. "I apologize, Freja. I am distraught at Jane's abduction."
"It was you fools' own bloody plan to travel into the catacombs with mortals in tow. You have no one to blame but yourselves, and it is not I you should be apologizing to." Freja's tone remained biting, her sword remaining unsheathed. She was done with playing paltry sentry while Asgard threatened to come down around them again.
"Instead, I think it is I you should be listening to," Freja continued, placing a hand on her hip and pinning the brothers with a cool stare.
"…We're listening," Loki managed after a brief glance exchanged with Thor, and both turned to Freja with eyebrows raised.
From deep within the caverns of Hel, its ruler and Asgard's ally was indeed watching. Idly twisting a gnarled lock of black hair around a bony finger, Hela's mouth twisted into a semblance of a grin. That creature would indeed make an interesting addition to her collection of souls. Odin and Frigga had been a mistake; their constance yammering on and on about duty and honor had done nothing but bring the rest of the souls towards their corner of Helheim, and now they all had ridiculous notions of redemption.
No, things were much more interesting with the living, which was often how it was nowadays, with Darcy Lewis picking apart Asgard and putting it back together. Hela admired the girl; her connections within the realm, her affability, and most of all, her complexion.
Yes, she could well imagine herself taking this difficult creature off their hands, but not to fix the situation for them; they had to do the gruntwork themselves, as she now expected of Lofi Laufeyson.
Christmas was tomorrow, and she had led dozens of individuals to the worst sort of Yuletide gathering they'd ever seen. Intergalactic grudges, folkloric monsters with grisly to-do lists, and the underlying prejudice towards otherworldly beings that humans held, all combined to form the realization that she had made such a mistake. Such a grave mistake, Darcy thought, pacing a corner of the grand hall with a hand crushed to her forehead. She would have to begin drafting her resignation if she survived this.
Quiet steps tapped against the stone from behind her, and Darcy swiveled, raking her hair back from her face as she spotted Eir. The healer was in yet another Midgardian hippie-inspired outfit, a kimono made of olive green yarn over a coarse beige tunic, with red chevron-patterned soft pants to complete the look. "You look very Yule," Darcy said blandly, hands falling to her sides.
"And you do not," Eir replied, sweeping to Darcy's side and tilting up her chin to get a good look at her face. "The beast did not harm you in the catacombs?"
"Just bumps and scrapes from falling on the ground several times," Darcy said bitterly. "It's Jane he got. Should've been me."
"I'm sure the creature agrees," Eir said distractedly, frowning at the fatigue she saw in Darcy's features. "You've got that perfume I gave you on your person, right?"
"What, my lavender spray? Yeah," Darcy replied, puzzled as she retrieved the small bottle from the bag still slung across her body.
"As well as being remedial, the blend in that is protective, and effective against most evils Asgard can conceive of," Eir said with a nod at the unobtrusive crystal bottle. "All-purpose use, if I recall the slogans from those television ads correctly…" Darcy smiled faintly, spritzing on more of the stuff before replacing the bottle in her bag. "It did something, but it didn't help Jane. And now I'm stuck here while the boys go off to war or whatever."
"Your strength is in your wit, Darcy," Eir said soothingly, rubbing a hand across Darcy's shoulders. "I am not well-versed in the foes of Asgard, but you are by now well-educated in such things. Think. Think of this creature's motives, it's goals. You'll find a way to help."
With that, the quiet healer swept away to converse with Volstagg, who'd stepped in from the far end of the chamber, looking uncharacteristically weary.
A lyrical voice chimed from behind Darcy, and she turned around to see Idunn approaching now. Short, slim, with the sort of vibrant, gold hair you would only see in a French hairspray commercial, Idunn was one of the most impressive specimens of Asgard. Her skin lightly tanned, white teeth glinting in the light, she was the picture of health, the perfect keeper of the special apples grown in an orchard outside the palace walls that were part of the reason for Asgardian's longevity and vitality. Now, though, her expression was troubled, her gait nearly unsteady as she made her way towards Darcy.
"Are you alright, Idunn?" Darcy asked in concern, brows furrowing.
The small blonde reached her side, inhaling deeply and closing her eyes. "It has taken a lot out of me to ward the great hall, and as much of the palace as I can. But given the kind of elemental magic it is said that this creature employs, which, how do you mortals say it – "breaks the rules", I would not want to wager on our magic working. I would not let the lord Loki use any of his magic, as I'm sure he will need it in the confrontation against the monster Krampus…But it was still very taxing. I'm afraid I won't be of much more assistance." She looked upset at the admission, and Darcy moved forward to put an arm around the keeper of the orchards. "You've done more than I ever could, safeguarding this place and keeping everyone calm, Idunn. I just feel like I've caused all the trouble."
Together, they moved to sit on a bench pushed against one wall, side by side with their hands linked. Darcy's recuperation in Asgard had been owed as much to Idunn as Eir's assistance and remedies; the goddess' sunny demeanor and optimism were healing methods of their own. It was weird, to put it lightly, to see her so weakened and downcast.
"Asgard has not showed so much Yuletide spirit since the Lady Frigga was lost," Idunn said with a sad smile, nudging Darcy with an elbow. "We owe you much. The vengeful urges of a sad, spiteful creature are not your fault. Asgard had, has, and will have many enemies, just waiting for a moment to strike. You have done much in the rebuilding of our reputation among the nine realms."
"That's some pep talk," Darcy said dryly, smiling to soften the remark as she looked sideways at her friend.
"We do not speak without meaning here," Idunn said with a wink. "Now, have you come up with any strategy yet yourself?"
"The…Krampus showed some sort of interest in me, I think. I think he got Jane by mistake when he meant to catch me. I'm not sure why, but maybe I can use that, use myself as bait somehow."
"Where?" Idunn frowned.
"If we could get him into the open, his tricks seem to falter. Like Loki – straightforward fighting isn't this thing's gig," Darcy said slowly, thinking hard. "A quick, hard battle would be the best thing, I think. As much as I've read on the thing and seen it in action, I don't think it can disappear in a cloud of smoke like, say, Loki. I think what you see is what you get, and most of its power comes from speed, or something."
"Exactly what I said," called a commanding voice, and the pair looked up to Thor and Loki striding towards them, led purposefully by Freja. The blonde Valkyrie's hair was done up in her usual coronet of braids, kept out of her face for combat purposes, and her sky-blue armor looked as battle-ready as ever. Her sword was out, and the crowds in the great hall quickly cleared to make a path for her.
"The beast needs flushing out of those tunnels," Freja said as they stopped before the two seated women. Darcy squeezed Idunn's hand one more time, and rose to move to Loki's side, scanning his expression. He seemed content to let Freja have the reins on whatever plan they'd devised out in the hall, and squeezed Darcy's hand in a silent, encouraging gesture.
Great, because she herself didn't have much of a plan yet.
They formed a loose semi-circle in the hall, and the Warriors Three and Sif also headed their way, the latter hanging back, of course, and focusing only on Thor.
"Create a ruckus in the tunnels, use a tracking spell to move behind the creature when it leaves whatever disgusting den it has created for itself," Freja explained, sword glinting as she motioned with the deadly blade. Volstagg's eyes widened as it whistled within reach of him, and he sidestepped back to Darcy's other side with a clearing of his throat. Fandral, however, looked enraptured by the motion. "Once the children and Lady Jane are clear, get the thing above ground somehow. Get it into the grounds, and see what we can do with it there. Einherjar at every exit, the Great Hall staying closed with Idunn and Sif in here." The brunette warrior sniffed a little at the mention of mere sentry duty for herself, but Freja had her stiffening with a glance. Not liking Darcy Lewis was apparently a sure way to alienate yourself these days, and the ambassador blinked at the subtle display.
"Volstagg, Fandral?" The two warriors snapped to attention themselves, Fandral going a bit googly-eyed at Freja's commanding tones, if Darcy was reading him right. "You two need to get into the forest, find our furred friend from before. Elemental magic against elemental magic is the best strategy now, besides butchering the monster, but if we can't get close because it unleashes some trickery, our luck runs out." Volstagg might have whimpered at the thought of summoning Fenrir again, but Darcy would never tell, just patted the warrior's elbow – all that she could reach – comfortingly.
Fenrir came easily, once it was explained that Darcy Lewis was in danger; none showed the wolf such respect and lack of fear simultaneously, and it could appreciate her for that. It was known by now that the wolf was not found unless it wanted to be, witnessed by the fact that more than a year had passed since it had made itself visible. The rugged woods behind the palace housed a good many things, but luckily the wolf found them, once again, before they had encountered many unsavory creatures in the dimming woodwork.
Padding slowly behind the warrior Volstagg, who was nonetheless trying to keep well ahead of the wolf, Fenrir scented the air every few paces, hoping it would identify the creature before it was upon them, if the plan worked, that is.
The noise she had heard earlier repeated itself, but more forcefully, and now Jane could hear a faint crackling noise reverberating through the tunnel network. It was impossible to tell from here where the noise originated from, and she hoped it was the same for the beast standing opposite. The gnarled tufts of fur that she supposed passed for ears on the monster were perked as he stood still, apparently listening too; the children whimpered, and she finally edged over the remaining few feet to crouch between the Muspel and the other two. Her jeans and thin windbreaker that she'd had on were little protection down here in the dank, cold cellar, or whatever they were in, and she set her teeth against the chill.
Krampus flicked his eerie yellow eyes over a shoulder at her, but her actions were apparently now a lesser priority to him, and he darted out of one of the honeycombed tunnels he had to choose from. Blue light flickered across the stone walls of one of the tunnels a moment later, and then another, igniting hope in Jane herself.
"Do you think you can do it?" She murmured hoarsely to the Muspel child next to her, who had fully ignited in the absence of the monster. It nodded, standing with what looked like a grimace on its fiery features, but moved determinedly towards the entrance of the tunnel the monster had left through. With a little screech, the small fire demon bent over, placing flaming hands to the moist stone. Despite the moisture, the stone caught fire, shooting out from the child's contact with the floor and racing up the walls.
In Jane's experience, earthy monsters disliked fire. Everything from Frankenstein's monster to the creatures in Bambi had been frightened by it, their actions becoming panicked at the first flickering. She hoped Krampus was similar.
Next, the Muspel child moved to the other remaining tunnels, setting their entryways ablaze, with the exception of one, the one furthest from the exit Krampus had taken. Jane stood on shaky legs, supporting the Vanir children under one arm, and the human under the other. The latter, a boy, was very weak now, and Jane had to support most of his weight. The Vanir girl seemed better off, perhaps because of her heritage, and moved out from Jane to take up on the boy's other side and support him out. Jane smiled, murmuring encouragement to them, and they followed the Muspel child down the final tunnel, the demon's flaming flesh lighting their way.
She sincerely hoped whoever was in charge of luck was on their side tonight. Or was it morning?
Freja's plan was working, they thought. It was pretty hard to tell. Thor was sending what blasts he could down into the catacombs, Loki using his magic to amplify the blasts. But at a certain point, too much damage could simply bring all of the tunnels crumbling down, perhaps on top of the beast, but more likely on top of Jane Foster and the beast's captives.
The chief of the Valkyries seemed to realize that too. "Stop after this one," Freja muttered, drawing her sword. "We'll pry it out." They were again at one of the sources of the tunnels, below the kitchens; Freja would take one way, and the brothers another. The kitchens had but a short hallway until they opened into an open-air commons area, for ventilation, so it wouldn't be hard to usher the creature outside, or so they hoped.
With a nod, Freja and three of her Valkyries, their wings furled in the tight confines, darted into the right-side of the tunnel. With a responding nod, Thor and Loki took their own, their shoulders again mashing as each tried to go at the same time.
"I ought to go first, my magic will work best down there-" Loki ground out, while Thor simultaneously growled "Jane is down there-"
At last, Loki slipped ahead of Thor, a fall of green light swiveling at his fingertips to light their way. Thor was muttering Norse curses under his breath, hefting Mjölnir from one hand to the other as he followed the trickster.
Freja had her sword drawn in one hand, a blazing torch in the other, and paused at a noise further down the tunnel. It was a whimpering noise; had they already hurt the monster? Possibly, but not likely, given that they'd only sent cursory blasts of lightning down what areas they could reach.
Holding a fist up to her fellow warriors, who paused like her, Freja took a moment to listen more intently. It only grew louder, and she frowned, passing the torch to one of her Valkyries, who stepped astride of her and illuminate the path.
"Wounded, perhaps, Milady?" Her fellow Valkyrie ventured, and Freja shrugged, certain only that something was ahead of them. Tentatively, they moved forward, Freja easing into a battle stance as they went.
The tunnel was luckily wide enough her to permit them to walk two abreast now, and when it came to an awkward corner, a faint glow was visible against the wall. Freja plastered herself flat against the wall, nodding at the torchbearer to leap around the corner as she peeled herself around it, sword held high.
What greeted her in the glinting of torchlight off her sword blade was not the murky, furred beast she'd come to expect, but the frightened gasps of Jane Foster and several children. Wide eyes flickered in the flames both from her torch and the ablaze skin of a small Muspel child who'd apparently been leading their party.
"My Lady Jane," Freja said at last, stuttering over her words as she moved to sheath her sword and sketch a hasty bow. "We did not expect to find you so quickly, or so well-"
"These children aren't well, Freja," Jane broke in, ushering the two in her possession towards awaiting Valkyrie arms. "We have to get out of here – it's in one of the tunnels."
Freja nodded. "We hope to flush it out – my lords Thor and Loki are in the other tunnels."
"Together?" Jane asked with a wince, eyes rolling at Freja's responding nod. "We've at least got to get out of here, then."
The Vanite child and mortal were now wrapped in the borrowed cloaks of a couple Valkyrie, the unfortunate Muspel child left without any protection, since they hadn't anything with them as effectively fire-resistant as the clothing the Muspels made themselves. It didn't seem to mind, though, already looking better to Jane's eyes than when Krampus had kept it drenched with foul-smelling rainwater, or whatever that had been, and trotted cheerfully ahead with Freja as they went back the way they had come.
Cautiously, Freja emerged into the wide-open storeroom, eyes darting everywhere she could see in the dim light. It was evening by now, any light coming in from windows now much diminished. Hefting her torch higher, she scanned the room, thankfully as bare as they had left it earlier, and waved the rest of them forward. No sound came from the other end of the tunnel, the way Thor and Loki had gone, and she frowned at the dark entryway.
"The Muspel child – do you have a name, by the way? – guided us out," Jane explained. "Set the other tunnels on fire, and we just headed down the one that seemed safest."
"Brenna," the child muttered in its croaky, flaming tones. "Brenna was a great help to me," Jane said firmly. "We should get her back to Surtur and his people."
Wondering idly how she'd figured out the Muspel was indeed female, Freja led the way out of the kitchens and to an open walkway that could either lead further into the palace, or out into the grounds. Since the latter was intended for the monster, Freja ushered Jane and the children in the direction of the Great Hall, spying Darcy and the Warriors Three out in the grounds as planned. The Wolf was there, too, looking tame as anything as Darcy spoke quietly to it.
"Is that Darcy?" Jane asked, having appeared at Freja's shoulder. Startled, the Valkyrie replied in the affirmative, and the petite scientist, looking filthy and rough from her stint as Krampus' prisoner, edged past the Valkyrie and started moving towards Darcy.
At a wail of dismay from the children who were being led away, Jane waved a friendly hand and assured them she would be back soon. Freja stood watch, up on the cobblestoned walkway, one eye on Jane and the other making sure her warriors took the children back to the great hall. Her sword stayed unsheathed, edged in the direction of the dark tunnels.
"Darce!" Darcy turned from having a word with Fenrir, to an unbelievable sight. Jane Foster, looking worse than when she hadn't seen Thor for two years, was racing towards her. Jane, who'd been kidnapped by a dark Pagan entity mere hours before. Either luck was finally on their side, or the creature had something odd up its sleeve. She was hoping it was the former.
The two women met in a fierce embrace, Darcy nearly incoherent in her joy at seeing her mentor alive and well, and so soon.
"How-?" Darce was uncharacteristically at a loss for words, even more so when Jane pushed her necklace into her hand, intact and untarnished. "Sorry I forgot to return that," Jane said with a feeble grin. "Just glad you returned yourself with it," Darcy shot back, with another quick hug. "Now get yourself inside, and make sure Idunn is okay. She didn't look too well earlier." Idunn was a favorite of Jane's as well, and the scientist nodded before turning to trudge back up to the palace. Fandral darted along with her as escort, probably hoping to gain some points with Freja.
"You're doing it wrong-" "How is there a wrong way to illuminate our path with my own magic, pray tell, Thor?"
"Can't you summon the damned creature out of hiding?"
"I think you know my magic better than after centuries-"
The bickering was so intense by the point they ran into the creature that it was a wonder they noticed it at all. Krampus certainly noticed them, and with a roar of rage, tackled Thor, who had by now taken the lead. A blur of dark fur and crimson cape was all Loki could see a for a moment, and Thor's muffled roar of rage was deafening. Stepping back from the fray, summoning a spell to his hand, Loki paused, looking at the bracer he had enchanted to communicate with Darcy. Her face was there now, lit by the sunset outside, and he flicked a nervous glance back up at the fight, which Thor appeared to have the upper hand in for a moment.
"Darcy?" He said quickly, bringing the bracer close to his face and knowing he would've looked like an idiot anywhere else.
"Jane's out, the kids are out. Get yourself out, Fenrir is here," she said quickly, eyes flicking up as if she knew the scuffle was ongoing in front of him. Then the bracer went blank, and Loki launched the magic from his hand, hoping it hit its mark.
If the smell of burning fur a moment later was any indication, it had, and he sighed in relief, trying to aim another spell. Thor yelled in anguish before he could hurl it, though, and the thunder god emerged from the wrestling match clutching at his side, where crimson that was not of his cape now spread across his armor.
Krampus, now standing on its own across the tunnel from the two brothers, seemed to gauge who it would be easier to make its way past. Coldly-assessing yellow eyes, identical to the pair they'd faced on Midgard centuries ago, calculated Loki's reflex time, and then the creature took its chance and leaped.
He was ready, already flinging himself back to take the momentum from the creature's leap. It took him down with a solid impact of fur and claws, and Loki found himself pinned underneath a mass of enraged monster. Snarling, the creature swiped at his face, Loki narrowly dodging the blow, only to have it land on his shoulder instead. An agonized yell left his lips, even as the claws came away bloodied, and the creature smiled, if that was what it could be called, yellowing fangs revealed by the furred mouth peeling back.
"Hurts, does it not, trickster?" the thing ground out with its rough voice, pulling back for a killing blow. "It would be fitting to leave you scarred as I am, but I would rather leave you dead-"
And then another voice joined the fray, breathless and pained. "If Loki is to die," Thor managed, "then it will be by my hand, monster!" Another spurt of lightning left Mjölnir, and even with limited capabilities, the direct hit was effect, blowing Krampus forward and off of Loki, who accepted Thor's hand and heaved himself to his feet. Both turned in time to see the gray mass scurry out of sight, and they nodded at each other, hefting hammer and dagger alike before setting off in pursuit. The thing was at least heading in the right direction, but it was headed towards Darcy, something that wasn't good either way.
"I sensed some sort of ancient being entering the realm some time ago," the wolf admitted when he and Darcy were several paces away from the other. "I considered it not my problem unless it made threatening gestures…"
"This definitely counts, and I appreciate your assistance, again," Darcy said gratefully, rubbing a hand into the large wolf's thick coat. "I don't pull out the big guns unnecessarily, but I think Thor and Loki upset this thing a while ago."
"Whom have they not upset centuries before?" The wolf's tone was wry, even for its dry, toneless voice, and Darcy conceded the point with a nod and nervous smile. Her message had seemed to translate correctly to Loki – he'd nodded and responded to her words, which she'd count as a win, but they weren't talking dogs herding sheep here. This was wresting a being of darkness and the element of surprise, out from its hiding place and into the open grounds of Asgard. There was every chance this could go wrong.
"It will not," the wolf murmured beside her, in another of its odd moments where it appeared to read her mind. Trying to subtly edge away and get some air, Darcy nodded, looking back up at the palace and at the high windows of the great hall. The damn Secretary of State was in there, along with how many other inter-realm dignitaries? A lot was on this right now; it was a good thing Fenrir had large shoulders. She wasn't sure hers could take much more.
A blast of activity sounded up the sloping grass from them, and Darcy looked up to see Freja leap into action with her sword; the Valkyrie was pretty impressive, she had to admit, justifying Fandral's hopeless pining completely.
A flash of her sword, a yell from what could have been Thor, and a blur of gray was rushing unsteadily away from the palace. Volstagg started, grabbing Darcy and dragging her away from Fenrir's dangerous side, but the gray blur had paused. Yellow eyes had locked onto Darcy, and narrowed. "You. Girl," it growled, before springing her direction.
Volstagg cursed, dragging Darcy back and hefting his axe, as Hogun dashed to his side and brandished his wicked-looking mace. Fenrir was gone, and Darcy blinked rapidly, scanning her surroundings. "F…?" Her outcry was cut off when Krampus rammed into the two warriors in front of her, claws immediately raking deep into the handle of Volstagg's weapon. There was no time to think – she scrambled backwards, swearing when she tripped and rolled backwards on the steep grass.
Flinging herself upright, trying to gain her bearings in the dimming light, Darcy found herself face to face with the monster. A quick glance to the side showed Hogun somehow down already, and Volstagg struggling to rise on an injured leg.
"L-Loki?" Darcy's yell was shrill, far more shrill than she'd like it to be, but the creature was somehow more dangerous than before. No longer concerned with leavings its marks intact for devouring later, it was fighting with a fury she hadn't seen before.
"What do you want?" Darcy let out with a yelp as she took one step backwards and then another, the monster matching her step for step.
"I want my legend back," came the deep response from the gnarled mass of fur and fang. "My prey, my power. Can you give them to me, little mortal? Can you restore my prestige and might as you have for the Golden Realm? I think not."
"Uh, if it's a PR agent you're wanting…" Darcy stammered, eyeing Thor and Loki racing down the hill behind Freja, whose sword was swinging in her battle rage.
A swipe from Krampus' claws had everyone pausing, and Darcy gulped in the sudden stillness; the creature was bearing over her now, blocking out her vision except for its matted fur and stinking, moist breath.
"I-" She managed, before another fierce growl cut her off. "I'm sure you're not used to reasoning with your, erm, prey, but maybe you could attempt to do so with me? I guess I just don't understand, in this day and age, a monster who senselessly kills, and children, at that."
A roar had Darcy scuttling back another step; she was now standing on a rough outcropping of rock that formed its own ledge on the grounds, and the drop was about twenty feet. She dared a glance back, seeing that and closing her eyes tight before turning back to the monster. "You're still mentioned on Midgard, you know."
That seemed to lend the monster pause, and its head even cocked to the side as if contemplating her remark. "The, uh, heathens, er, Pagans, um, they go to Stonehenge at the winter solstice and, um…" She was pretty sure she was mixing up lore and terminology at this point, but what she'd said was true; in fact, she'd seen a novelty Krampus t-shirt online a few weeks ago during a holiday shopping trip back on Earth, but she hadn't made the child-eater connection until recently.
"Heathens?" The voice ground out, before a brown blur had rushed in from the side, knocking Krampus back and away from Darcy. A high-pitched keening noise rent the air, muffled barks and growls matching it.
Darcy stepped forward just in time for a spray of blood to spatter across the ground in front of her, and she stepped back with a squeak into someone else. "I'm here," was all Loki said, pulling her back and to his side, green light flaring in his other hand.
"I don't think the wolf's going to need help, however mad that thing was," Volstagg said, finally limping up to them. Loki guided Darcy carefully away from the edge of the rock, the ambassador's horrified eyes glued to the tumbling mass of fur before them.
Fenrir finally rolled off to a side, mouth bloodied but something triumphant in his expression, somehow. Krampus was a flattened mass of charcoal fur, heaving with its last difficult breaths. Spurred on by something, she wasn't sure what – perhaps pity – Darcy stepped forward out of Loki's grasp and moved to the creature's side.
"Technically, he didn't eat anyone in Asgard yet," she said slowly and loudly.
"Not that we know of," she could hear Fandral mutter darkly.
"Darcy, this creature has ruined everything – your preparations, put everyone in Asgard in danger – " Loki called out behind her, but she put out a hand and he fell silent. She edged close to Fenrir to keep Loki calm, and the wolf escorted her forward to the dying monster.
Yellow eyes, clouding with pain and death, regarded her silently as she approached.
"To finish me," the creature breathed through broken fangs and a throat clogged with blood. It looked as if Fenrir had torn through the abdomen, likely renting most of his organs…If the monster had that sort of thing.
"I just – this wasn't personal. It's like putting down a bear who wanders into a neighborhood – but you knew what you were up to. I'm sorry to put an end to a legend, and…Um, such a figure of…worship," Darcy said unsteadily, realizing belatedly that there was indeed a long slash down her arm.
The creature snorted, or choked, in a derisive gesture. The yellow orbs rolled with annoyance at the pitiful mortal trying to talk it through its final moments; death would be welcome now.
Loki, Thor and the other had by now moved closer, Loki clicking his tongue in realization that Darcy did indeed have a bleeding gash in her arm. A flash of green and the pain lessened, but her eyes were still on the monster, lying prostrate, claws extending and retreating feebly.
"I can take him," came a cold, smooth voice from behind them, and everyone turned to see none other than Hela, mistress of Helheim, approaching. She was in a fashionable winter coat this time, a dark plum concoction trimmed with pure white fur, a matching velvet dress under it as she slunk towards them.
"You had the idea, did you not?" She inquired of Loki, who nodded slowly.
"I won't say it will put the beast out of its misery, but, well, it may in a way," the goddess of the dead muttered, moving closer to pace around the prone Krampus.
Fenrir had been inching away from Darcy at the sight of the witch, and Hela looked up in time to make eye contact with the wolf. A long glance, and then a slight curtsy on her part, eyes closing and head inclining in an odd gesture of respect, and then the wolf was melting into the trees a few paces away.
Darcy nodded her assent, burrowing into Loki's side, remembering the last time Hela had taken a less-than-willing victim to Helheim.
But it was different this time; the goddess paused above the monster, leaning over it without a single flicker of fear in her features. She ran a hand down its torso, crimson smoke starting to waft around the pair.
"More stories are told of the dead than the living," was all she said in her dry, cold voice, but the smoke wafted up to conceal both her and Krampus; when it dissipated, the last of the sun's rays for the day showed nothing where both had been a moment before but a dark spot on the ground.
December 25th; Darcy wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the covers when she woke up that morning, particularly since she'd been curled against a warm Loki beneath her comfortable mint bedspread. Nevertheless, she stretched, wincing at the pain from her left arm, sliced by the creatures claws and one of the few remains of its work in the world. Thor had a similar wound in his side, Volstagg, in his leg; Eir had swiftly seen that all of them were treated effectively, and sent them to their respective bedchambers last night.
The children had all been returned to their parents, assured that Ambassador Lewis and the Kings Thor and Loki had all had a hand in the destruction of the monster that had haunted Asgard. Christmas was back on, and final decorations were being laid as of late last night, Darcy checking in quickly with Kvasir before she turned in for the night, sporting a snowy bandage on her forearm.
Something about the whole affair was still bothering her; while it was a bloodthirsty mythical monster they had dealt with, Krampus' motives were remarkably human; the desire to be commemorated, remembered through the ages. Santa Claus was still a major thing; why not his darker counterpart? Loki had told her not to worry, that now the creature's tales would certainly be updated in Asgardian lore, and likely in newspaper across Midgard, once those journalists all got home.
She had to let it go at that, and turned instead to making the foreign Christmas a fun celebration for their guests.
Celia Jefferson and her family had great fun aiming roasted chestnuts at Volstagg's open mouth, who was now immobilized by a legcast and couldn't be happier about all the attention he was receiving. Freja and Fandral were forced to succumb to the effects of mistletoe when Darcy had scrounged up a sprig from somewhere and strategically tied it up in the doorway of the weapons room. Jane and Thor had found an old sled somewhere and were taking Muspels, Jötuns, Vanites, and mortals alike on rides through the grounds, which Freyr had again made extremely snowy to add to the atmosphere.
Darcy and Loki had curled up in the throne room, stoked the fire high, and nursed identical mugs of cocoa on a plush rug in front of the hearth.
"I still think it's weird that the book opened to that particular page," Darcy muttered at one point, picking at the threads of the blanket over her shoulders. As if in response, the flames in the fire crackled, rising higher for a brief moment before settling again.
Loki stared hard at the flames. "It's all in the fuel. Something on the wood."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," she responded with a good-natured jab of her elbow.
"All in all, a successful Yule, wouldn't you agree?"
"All's well that ends well," she quoted from something, clinking her mug to his. "At least no one got blood on the throne this time, or busted down the front doors."
By January 1st, Darcy's resignation was written. She would now serve as the first "consular staff" in Asgard, and no longer as the official ambassador. She recommended someone with more experience be given the position, and she would simply help from the sidelines. She was content to marshall the woodland forces when something went wrong, she thought with a smile, looking out her window as she penned the letter and spotting the figure of a large wolf skulking along the tree line of the grounds.
It was good to have friends in high places – or low, she supposed, with a glance towards the grass of the grounds that was still blackened where Hela had made both her dramatic appearance and exit. Must be able to network, that had been somewhere in the job requirements of this position. She supposed she'd done alright.
With a nod to the wolf out the window in the distance, whom she knew could probably still see her if he tried, she set down her pen after penning a flourishing signature, stretching her arms above her head. Stashing the letter in a drawer of her cute, mint-colored vintage desk, she headed down to the great hall, where Thor was due to give some parting speech to the dignitaries. Negotiations had gone well, after the hiccups before Christmas, and the partnership with Jötunheim was on schedule.
When she returned hours later, the letter was open on her desk, as if someone had been reading it; but it didn't look tampered with otherwise.
"I suppose if you'd disagreed, it would be torn up and in the fire," Darcy said loudly, looking up and around the room.
Her chandelier seemed to bob in acknowledgement, and Darcy rolled her eyes, sealing the letter and preparing it for postage on Earth.