The news of new war with Jötunheim spread fast throughout the Realm Eternal. According to reports, every singe male Jötnar from adolescence to adulthood was trained and readied for battle, they had apparently also harnessed the great Jötunn ice beasts to use against the Æsir, and had done so to great effect. An entire legion of Einharjar had been eradicated swiftly towards the furthest outposts of Asgard. The frost giants had somehow managed to pass through realms without a major power source such as the Bifrost. The Casket of Ancient Winters, their greatest source of power, remained closely guarded by the most experienced of Einharjar and the Destroyer within the weapons vault of Asgard's great palace.

Odin had little doubt but that they were being assisted by the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim. Who else had the power and the means to aid the Jötnar? And seeing as most other realms had offered their assistance to the Æsir, it left the Allfather to the obvious conclusion that his two greatest nemeses had joined forces against him and his armies.

Rumours circulated as to the numbers which Asgard's great armies would be facing. Concern grew among its citizens as to whether the many legions would be enough to defeat their foes. Listening to his people, the Allfather and his council agreed that there needed to be a conscription to help defend Asgard from its newest threat. It was decreed that every family would send one man to be trained to aid the realm.

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You sighed as your mother forced you to put on yet another ridiculous dress. "Just one more, it will match your features perfectly." She beamed as she pulled out a red and golden ensemble.

"And this one of course has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that these are Prince Thor's colours and that he is to be present at the gala being held at the palace, has it mother?" you asked bemusedly.

"Well it does not hurt to attempt to catch his attention now does it?" She continued as though you had not just seen right through her plan, though at least she had the decency to blush slightly.

"It reeks of desperation Mother."

"He is the crowned price, the future King of the realm." She attempted to justify.

"If he's the future, I fear for it, he's an egotistical moron." You grumbled.

"Do not mumble dear, it is not lady like." Your mother chided, clearly not having heard what you had said.

You forced a grimace of a smile onto your face as she surveyed you in the hideous monstrosity of a dress she wished for you to wear. "Perfect." She smiled gleefully. You were about to argue with a loud knock on the door interrupted you.

"M'Lady, there is an Einherjar guard at the front door." The maid informed your mother.

"Thank you Katrin. Eleonora, stay here and take off that dress before something happens to it." Your mother ordered as she left the room.

"Katrin, help get me out of this blasted thing this instant." You pleaded as you struggled to reach the clasp that was located in the centre of your back. The maid rushed over and assisted in opening the garment. "What does he want?" you asked, earning you a bewildered look. "The Einherjar, why is he here?"

"I assume it has something to do with the conscription." She explained.

You scrunched your face up in confusion. "But there are no men here to be conscripted."

"Each household must give a man to join the armies, no exceptions. My own brother was called yesterday."

"But Katrin, there is no man here fit for battle." You reiterated. The solemn look on the girls face caused your blood to turn to ice. "You cannot honestly think…" but you already knew the answer.

Wearing only s dress slip, you bolted from the room toward the main entranceway to where you saw the Einherjar leaving through the front door. You watched as your parents shared an understanding look that broke your heart and you knew your worst fear had come to pass. They both turned and realised you were there.

"Eleonora!" Your mother declared on seeing you only partly dressed. "Get back to your room this instant and do not shame us by going around so indecently." She shrieked with tears in her eyes.

"Helena, please, do not take out your frustrations on her." Your father voiced calmly, trying to placate her.

"So you do have to go." You stated, your voice shaking as tears cascaded down your cheeks.

"I have no choice; every house must send someone to defend the realm from the Jötnar." Your father explained.

"You have already defended the realm from them; in fact you defended both our realm and that of Midgard from the blasted beasts." You argued.

"It is the price we have to pay for the realms safety Eleonora."

"You have paid enough already. Your arm left to rot on Jötunheim as you defended the Allfather while he took the Casket of Ancient Winters, or have you forgotten?" you all but screeched, pointed to where his right arm should have been, but instead, was only folded material where the sleeve of his shirt was pinned up.

"Eleonora, please." Your mother pleaded as she too cried.

"How can you be alright with this, you know too that this cannot end well." You turned to her.

"Eleonora, enough!" You were stunned into silence as your father used an authoritative like none he had ever used before. Without another word, you headed back to your room, ignoring the pity-filled face of Katrin as you went.

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For hours you sat, starting out the window as the sun continued its journey over Asgard before it set and darkness descended on the realm. You remained as still as stone as you thought of all the great memories of times you had spent with your father. Him teaching you to ride, or how to use a shield and sword (much to your mother's dismay) and how he even helped deter men you knew your mother would have considered as adequate suitors, but whom both you and he had found lacking. A sad smile graced you face as more tears continued to trickle down.

A faint knock on the door pulled your attention from your thoughts. Looking toward it, you gave permission for the person to enter. You dried your tears as your father entered. "May I speak with you?" he asked almost sheepishly. Were it not for the severity of the situation, you almost would have laughed at the big burly man using such a manner. "I am sort for my tone earlier Cubby." Your eyes filled with fresh tears at the affectionate nickname he had given you as an infant. "But if I am honest…"

"I struck a nerve." You finished, your voice broken from all the crying. "I kept saying everything you did not want to hear."

"Only because it is the truth, and to admit that is to admit that I am scared."

"I thought nothing scared you. I have said since childhood that you were without fear. You have made a liar of me." You joked, trying to make light of the situation.

"Every little girl thinks nothing can scare her father. But Eleonora, I am now faced with being in war once again. Against a race that has nothing to lose, and everything to gain. The Jötnar are ruthless, they kill their own young if they see them as unfit, they will slaughter every Aesir they can, and will take immense pleasure in doing it. I am absolutely terrified. The only solace I can take in this is that I am glad you are my daughter and not a son, for then you would have to go."

"I would go in a heartbeat if it could save you."

"No woman is permitted in the armies, it is punishable by death. So think no more on it my little Cubby." He kissed your forehead and left, leaving you to your thoughts.

After less than a minute, you jumped up and walked to the reading room, scanning the selves until you found every book your family possessed that referenced the Frost Giants, and took them back to your room, researching them at length.