𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 || 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴

LEILA REMEMBER'S HEARING STORIES OF A LAND DARK AND COLD. No civilization was in sight and a natural darkness clogged the sky, blocking the sun. As far as the eye could see, dunes claimed each stretch of land. A culmination of rocks standing tall and casting shadows on the already dark land.

And the further they ventured, the more to the world was revealed. Structures to what Leila guessed had been ships were scattered. Metal scrap covering the surface. A war had occurred. That's what it looked like to Leila at least. In an odd way, it looked beautiful. Leila only found it strange that after taking Loki's secret escape route, they managed to teleport here without so much as an issue.

"What I could do with the power that flows through those veins," Loki said aloud, staring at Jane's sleeping figure.

"It would consume you," Thor countered, glaring at her brother.

Leila tilted her head slightly, leaning slightly into her spear. Since they had arrived in the Dark World, there was a level of tension that she couldn't shake. No matter how long she stared out at the open landscape or focused her gaze on Jane, she knew there was a battle coming. However it may play out, she had to keep Jane's well-being in mind. But Leila had to be honest if she got the chance to kill Malekith, she had to take it.

"She's holding up all right," Loki pointed out, looking between the pair in front of him. "For now."

"She's stronger in ways you'd never even know." Thor sat down, looking off in the distance.

"Say goodbye." Loki grinned devilishly.

"Not this day."

Loki rolled his eyes, scoffing. "This day, the next, a hundred years, it's nothing. It's a heartbeat." He stood to his feet, keeping a faint grasp on the tiller. You'll never be ready. The only woman whose love you've prized will be snatched from you." Then he smiled, pointing to Leila, who continued to keep her back to the pair. "She's already given up on you."

"And will that satisfy you?" Thor growled in annoyance.

"Satisfaction is not in my nature," Loki replied.

"Surrender is not in mine."

Leila had to purse her lips from yelling at the pair to be silent and stop acting as if she and Jane were not there. She did not understand if Loki strived to get into Thor's head, but she knew it was not the time for them to do so. Especially when a fight was likely awaiting them when they landed.

But when she heard Thor yell, pinning Loking to the side of the ship, she acted with haste. Grabbing his cape and yanking him back with her spear pressing to his chest and her other hand twisting Loki's wrist. Just enough that he knew not to act stupidly.

"You two bicker and fight like damn children. We don't have any room for this bullshit! If you two are to fight, then I expect the both of you to put your anger toward our enemy." Leila laughed, scoffing as she looked between the two. Lowering her spear, she placed it on her back and freed Loki's wrist. "What would your mother say?"

And Loki smiled faintly. "Well, she wouldn't exactly be shocked."

Thor smiled brokenly, shaking his head sadly. "I wish I could trust," he pushed out before turning and facing outward to the landscape.

Loki stood to his full height, eyes unwavering from his brother as he whispered. "Trust my rage."

Stepping to Thor's side, Leila scoffed. "You two find the worst moments to start yapping like children," she huffed. "You two fight with one another to get the last word and it is childish."

"I shouldn't expect you to understand-"

"Do you think I don't hate him as well?" Leila spat. "The man hurt me. But he gave me the truth that people wished to dance around. He told me I would be banished from Asgard and no matter how much I wished to doubt it, it came true," she whispered, looking up at him. "And no matter how much you think you hate him, he is your brother. I still hold fondness for him even after everything he's done. And you still do too."

Many would've found that obscured. How could she hold a fondness for a man that had been willing to kill her? Well, she simply sympathized with where his mind was. It became clouded in an intense rage that drove him to punish Thor and their father. She might've even done the same in his shoes. But the best reason for her forgiveness is simply put; it was in the past. He was here to help them, and if he didn't help she had no problem making sure he couldn't walk until they were done with Malekith.

"Leila, I'm sorry-" Before he could finish, Leila scoffed under her breath.

"Save it, Thor," she murmured. "You may not see it clearly, but we have a war to fight. One that the both of us must win for the one we love." Grasping his arm, Leila clenched her jaw. "This is our promise to her."

A quiet gasp grabbed the group's attention. They looked at Jane and found her eyes devoid of colour except the gentle navy iris that stared strikingly into open space. Leila dropped to a knee, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Jane?" Leila whispered.

She watched Jane sit up and look out toward the clouds and three followed her gaze. Seeing the ship that had once loomed over Asgard like a totem of despair. It burned a fire deep within Leila's chest. Enough to make her withdraw her spear and give whatever essence she stored from the invasion into the blade.

"Malekith," Jane whispered.

Landing the ship, the four ventured forward until they reached a steep slope. Grey sand flew up around them as they looked down at Malekith and his troops who stepped from the ship, marching forward. And they stopped, eyes looking at the four.

"You know, this plan of yours is going to get us killed," Loki stated.

"Yes, possibly," Thor replied.

Leila smiled. "As long as we're all in agreement."

Loki looked at his brother, turning his wrist toward him. "You still don't trust me, brother?"

Thor stifled a laugh. "Would you?" Nonetheless, Thor undid the cuffs around Loki's wrists and tossed them to the side.

"No, I wouldn't."

Before either Leila or Thor could respond, Loki stabbed Thor in the chest and shoved him down the slope. And Leila tried to act quickly, finding a blade meeting her gut and twisting. Finding Loki's mischievous gaze as he said, "That fondness you hold me, Leila? It's going to get you killed." He shoved her back and watched her roll down the slope.

She groaned, hissing in pain from each sudden impact her head made with rocks peeking from the sandy surface. Until she came to a slow stop and was forced to watch the distant yells of Loki, grabbing Jane and shoving her toward the Dark Elf lord. Jane's body is lifted into the air and the Aether is pulled straight from her body. Every pore opened to rip the essence from her.

Maybe Loki was capable of acting.

Leila grasped her bow, creating an explosive arrow and aiming. Firing, she used Mjolnir that shot lighting from it, to deflect off the weapon perfectly and hit the Aether with a masterful shot.

When it exploded, dust was knocked up in the air and obscured her vision. She sprinted, pulling her spear from her back and came to a slow stop when she saw the dust and fragments of the Aether be slowly pulled back, revealing Malekith unscathed by the blast.

The fragments formed together in an instant, reverting to their liquid form. It allowed Malekith to absorb them once more, and he did. He let out a yell before his head fell forward suddenly. A stillness takes its place in the air. But just as fast as it appeared, it disappeared just as so. He snapped his head to the brute beside him and began to walk away.

She took action. Averting to her raven form, she gained height before readying her bow with multiple arrows. Firing them and watching each hit every soldier surrounding the Dark Elf and vaporizing them to ash. In her raven form, Leila flew directly at Malekith. Reverting and grasping her spear and directing it toward the being.

And right as it could pierce him, she was stopped within the second with a hand grasping her throat. The grip is dangerously tight, tensing tighter each moment that Leila thrashed in his hold. Choking as she tried to force the spear closer to the man's neck. Catching his curious gaze as his eyes flickered to her hand.

"The Edith Ring," he breathed, almost of amusement. His gaze lifted to hers again, smiling. "I thought I killed you all."

Leila's lips parted to speak, but the grip tightened making her grip on her spear fall limp with her hands desperately grasping his wrist. Nails baring and digging into the metal with a painful screech emitting from the friction.

Tears formed in her eyes, the fight in her eyes lessening each waking moment. Fists that pounded against the man's arm became less forceful. Falling ill to weak presses of mercy.

And Jane watched onward as Leila's hand was grasped, the Edith Ring being pulled from her finger. The moment that vivid glow fell dull, Leila coughed up blood, teeth gritting as a broken sob ripped from her constricted throat.

Malekith grinned devilishly. "I think I will enjoy torturing you, Alexian."

Before Leila's eyes fell shut, she watched the hand that held the ring be crushed, the blue essence drifting into the air. And then silence.