The cobblestoned streets beneath Verdandi Dalla's bare feet felt cool and paved with memories. She stood alone underneath dawn's pink glow before her old, shabby house and took a deep breath. It would be the last time she would see the home that had been hers for the last seventeen years.
"Vera," Called a deep voice belonging to her father, Biorn. "Time to go."
Vera turned to see a small, white carriage awaiting her. Her father, dressed in his most formal attire, sat inside besides her younger sister. She climbed in to sit opposite to her family and placed her small leather suitcase besides her.
It's going to be a new adventure, Vera told herself optimistically. Yes, think of it like that.Her little sister, Halldora, looked up at her with glittering, innocent blue eyes. Ones that only children of six years could give. She reached over to Hally's pale face and brushed back the couple golden curls that escaped from her bun gently.
After four hours worth of travel, they finally halted before Asgard's palace. The family of three all gasped in unison. There were fountains made of marble, statues made of stone, and enormous golden castle walls and doors.
"Well," Biorn announced and brushed off his suit, "This will be our home from now on."
Birds chirped faintly in the background, nestled in the blooming trees, unseen from eyes. To Vera, it was as if she were in a dream. Her feet ghosted through the palace garden, trailing behind her father obediently. With one hand, she clutched Hally's shoulder protectively in case her little sister wandered off.
"If it isn't Biorn Dalla," Boomed a rich voice. The three spun around quickly and all bowed deeply to the All Father. He shut the golden gate behind him and strode towards the new family.
"King Odin, we were just making our way to the North Tower."
"Yes, of course. And I trust that your baggage has been taken care of?"
"It has been, my Lord, and we are all very grateful of being received with such good care."
"It is no problem- after all, you will the palace's architect from now on and I see no reason to treat you with hostility." King Odin replied, his blue eye twinkling merrily. "And these are your daughters?"
"Yes, this is my first, Verdandi, and my second, Halldora."
"It's an honor to meet you, All Father," Vera smiled warmly.
"And I must say the same to you, Lady Verdandi," King Odin said and turned to the younger girl. "You as well, Lady Halldora."
Hally, being shy and introverted blushed and hid behind Vera's legs, much to Odin's amusement. The gate to the palace garden was creaked open and a boy slid in.
"This is my second son," Odin boomed, beckoning for the boy to come. "Loki. This is Master Biorn, who will be designing the South Wing Tower, and his daughters Verdandi and Halldora." Everyone bowed while studying the odd-looking boy quickly. He was slender and pale, unlike most of the inhabitants of Asgard's palace. Slicked-back raven hair adorned his hair, while everyone else had golden hair. His green eyes were keen and sharp, and his aquiline features seemed mischievous to say the last. "And I'm sure he'll be happy to show you the quickest way to the North Tower." The All Father clapped Loki hard on the back while smiling jovially.
"Of course," Loki replied, almost robotically.
"It was a pleasure finally getting to talk to you, King Odin." Biorn spoke as Loki stepped forward to lead them away.
"I'm sure we'll get to know each other even more throughout your days in the palace, Master Biorn." Odin said, "Now go! I'm sure you're all weary from your travels and I do not wish to disturb you further!"
"Those will be your chambers, Master Biorn." Loki announced and gestured towards the large, white doors at the end of the golden halls. He pointed to another set of doors down the opposite hall way. "And those will be yours and Halldora's."
"Thank you Loki," Biorn bowed politely.
"It was no trouble." Loki replied, bowed, and started to walk down the long hallways to leave the Northern Tower.
"You should go take a nap, father, I know you haven't slept in a day." Vera said, taking note of her father's weary face. "I think Hally needs a nap too."
And just to prove Vera's point, the younger girl promptly fell asleep leaning against her sister's leg.
"And what will you be doing?" Biorn asked, knowing full well of his daughter's adventurous and sometimes mischievous streak. He gathered Halldora in his arms gently.
"I suppose I'll just wander around." Vera shrugged. "Nearby though. I won't be long. I'll be back in time to get ready for the feast tonight."
Biorn sighed. There was no use trying to restrain Vera. She always found a way out in the end and enjoyed running free more than anything.
"Alright. Come to my room at six to wake me up."
Vera nodded quickly and sprinted down the hall at a surprising speed, leaving a weary father and dozing sister in her wake. She rocketed down the spiral, stone staircase and burst out the golden gates. Smiling, she took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh air of the palace grounds.
She made sure to nod at the palace guards politely as she strolled through green grasses of the courtyards. Underneath the sun, dreaming about the adventures she would have, feeling the cool Earth beneath her bare feet, leather sandals in one hand. That was the way Vera liked it. Being free.
Vera came to a halt before a small alleyway between two marble towers. The grass from the courtyard seemed to continue through the brightly lit alley. Absent mindedly, she slid her fingers across the bars of the gate that prevented her from entering.
Curiosity was Verdandi's biggest curse or… a blessing, in some cases.
The girl gathered her simple toga in one hand and dropped her leather sandals to the ground. She backed away a few feet before charging full speed at the gates. Using her momentum, Vera managed to swing her small body up and climbed swiftly to perch atop golden gates. She leapt off and landed with a gentle thud.
A garden- filled with fragrant, multicolored flowers of all shapes and sizes. Flowers she didn't even know existed, all arranged to create a wonderful labyrinth of colors. As if in a trance, Vera began to follow the carefully laid path until she came to a halt in the center.
Sitting upon the intricately carved stone bench that was placed in the middle of the flower garden was Loki. His back was facing Vera, and he was slumped over with his head in his heads. His elbows rested on his knees.
Vera cleared her throat awkwardly to break the silence and alert him of her presence.
Loki's head turned to look at the red-haired girl.
"Hello." Vera whispered, taking a wary step forward and pushed a few long stems of yellow flowers out the way.
"What are you doing here?" Loki asked while his back straightening immediately.
"I was just wandering around."
"The gate's locked."
"I climbed over the gate."
Loki eyed the girl carefully.
"I'm sorry I disturbed your peace," Vera apologized hastily and smoothed out her toga. "It's just that my curiosity got the better of me. Again. But this place really is beautiful. Is this where you come to just… sit down and think?"
"I suppose so," Loki answered, raising an eyebrow as the girl took a seat besides him.
"Well that's wonderful. Back where my home is- or was- I used to go up into the meadows and sit down in the middle of it. And I'd just think. Sometimes, being alone really helps my thought process." Vera said and quickly added, "Aurora Mountains, ever heard of it? That's where I used to live."
"Yes, I have heard of Aurora Mountains. It is quiet the distance from here." Loki replied. He didn't like small talk, but this girl was different. She always seemed to be distant and her mind wandering else where. Her voice was lulling and melodic.
Strange.
"I'd like to go back there now. It's almost sun-down time, my favorite time of day. That's when I'd go visit the meadow and sit and think." Vera whispered, staring at her fiddling fingers.
She looked strange too, Loki observed. Her teal eyes were large and doe-like, filled with curiosity and compassion. She was slender and her hair, the color of fire, cascaded in messy waves and tangles to the middle of her chest. Cheerful freckles were spilled over her nose bridge. Different- like he was.
Normal Asgardians had soft, blonde hair, an unvarying shade of icy blue eyes, and flawless skin. They were light and happy, while Loki was dark and mysterious. He didn't fit in at all, but neither did Vera.
"Do you like reading?" Loki blurted out, suddenly happy with the fact that they were both so different.
"Of course I do!" Vera's dreamy expression suddenly snapped back to reality. "Books of adventures and wars fought by brave heroes or heroines! And books teaching magic, I love those especially. Though I don't think I can perform any magic beyond the elementary spells."
"You can perform magic?" Loki asked, bewildered. He never met another magical being in his life.
"It's nothing special, though. I'm no sorceress." Vera sighed. "Simple spells like making water ripple without touching it, and making my hand disappear."
That was how Loki started realizing he was capable of magic, back when he was a young child.
"I see." Loki whispered, reluctantly drawing his gaze else where.
And they sat in silence, getting comfortable with each other's presence. Loki let his back slump, eventually, and returned to his thoughts. Verdandi let her mind go else where. Time flew by.
Loki started a bit when he felt the cool brush of someone else's hand brush against his own.
"I have to go," said Vera, getting to her feet. "But thank you."
"For what?" Loki, squinting his eyes from the orange sunlight.
"For letting me sit and think with you. I find it rare now-a-days that any one still shares thinking-time with me." Vera smiled, humor brushing her eyes.
"Perhaps… perhaps we should meet again." Loki managed to stutter out, causing the other girl to cock her head to one side slightly. "And perhaps we could talk more next time."
"Yes, I would like that."
"Until tomorrow then?"
Vera nodded.
"I'll see you here, at the same time." Vera suggested.
Loki watched her disappear amongst the flowers underneath the glow of the sunset.