You still cross my mind from time to time. And I mostly smile.
Still so set on finding out where we went wrong and why.
Andria.
Alvheim, despite being slightly underrated compared to some of the other realms, was quite a beautiful place. Gardens were often vibrant and full of life, as was most of the population. For me, Alvheim was home. Home is where I spend countless hours trying to look after younger siblings of mine and trained in my downtime to stay worthy as one of Freyr's warriors.
It was a rarity in Alvheim to meet an elf that was not blessed with the capability of magic, but only the best were sent to be defenders of our realm while others trained. Though I had the title, I knew a real warrior never stopped trying to best themselves once they've reached a goal. Especially since I knew I was one of the more common of the magicians that dealt with elemental manipulation. The only thing that set me apart was my ability to call upon the dead as an element, and I supposed that was the only reason Freyr kept me around.
"Althea, Althea!" At the sound of my shrill, baby sister, I looked up from the plants I was tending in our personal garden. "Everett won't let me have a tart!" Rika's ash blonde ringlets were pulled into two high pigtails, swaying in the wind as she jutted out her lower lip.
"Did you ask him nicely?" She nodded, looking like she was about to burst into tears. A short exhale of breath left my nostrils in amusement as I took off my gardening gloves and scooped up my baby sister. "Alright then, let's go inside." She squealed in joy, her ultramarine eyes sparkling and her developing elven ears twitching. "Everett! Get over here!" The minute I set Rika down, she scrambled to a chair at the dining table, patiently awaiting her treat.
"What is it, sister?" Everett poked his head in from the hallway arch, his long blond bangs framing his face. I had a kettle going to make tea and coffee for the family and place a tray of cherry tarts in the oven to heat them up.
"Why did you tell Rika she couldn't have a tart?"
"It's not tea time yet, Althea." I rolled my turquoise eyes. I knew I had a soft spot for Rika, and both Everett and Elvira knew that, but she was just a baby. "You spoil her, sister."
"Everett, she's like my child." The only son in our family rolled his eyes before calling for Elvira, announcing that it was tea time. Footsteps approached our little kitchen and breakfast nook, revealing the second born, Elvira. She went to the cupboard, fetching teacups, mugs, and saucers and set up the table. A mug for myself and Everett, teacups for her and Rika. My siblings all took their seats, leaving the one closest to the kitchen empty for me.
After the kettle boiled, I poured into each cup, leaving enough for them to add coffee and tea. Elvira fetched the teabags and coffee bags, along with sugar, milk, and honey while I brought the heated tarts to the table. This was routine for us. Such a ritual presented normalcy to us, and also allowed us to have a sort of family time. A smile brightened Rika's cheeks as she sank her tiny pebbles of teeth into the tart, making a solemn smile appear on my own face.
Chatter was exchanged between us all. Everett was telling me of how his training with Elvira was going. The two were hopeful warriors in training, working hard every day only to get better. Everett had very limited magical abilities, only being able to conjure a force field and teleport short distances. No matter how hard he trained, Everett had come to learn that he was much more suited for physical fighting. His sharp eye helped him with archery and his agility aided him greatly with hand to hand combat. Elvira, on the other hand, was a wonderful distortion magician. She was able to freeze and speed up time within a ten mile radius. She could turn herself, or whomever her magic is directed at, invisible and conjure force fields much stronger than Everett's. Also being an archer made Elvira a deadly threat. Rika did not have any powers that any of us were aware of. Then again, she was extremely young, barely reaching the age of four in Midgardian years, and only one and a half years in elven. A knock at our wooden door ceased our conversations, and though I pushed my chair out to answer it, Everett held up his hand and made his way to the front of the house.
"Althea!" At Everett's voice, I excused myself from the table. Much to my surprise, there was a royal messenger at the door. A scroll of parchment was perched in his hand, sealed with Freyr's mark.
"My Lord demands your presence."
"Mine specifically?" My eyebrows rose in confusion before I grasped the scroll from his gloved hand and broke the seal. The signature script was familiar, though the only other time I'd seen it was when I was officially inducted as one of Freyr's warriors.
To the first born daughter of Alarick, Althea.
Join your elven sisters in the court immediately.
Freyr.
Obviously, this was an urgent matter. Freyr rarely ever sent for his warriors unless there was a threat to Alvheim. I looked to Everett, my expression passive. "Look after your sisters for me, would you?" He only nodded before heading back to them. Probably telling them that our Lord demands for my presence, no doubt. "Shall we leave now?" The messenger nodded. A grimace touched my face slightly in realization that I was not suited for a confrontation with Freyr.
"He wishes for you to ride there on this horse here."
"What about you?"
"I am to ride with you, but you must control the reins." It was an odd request, but nothing difficult. After mounting the beautiful creature, I helped the messenger in behind me before kicking the steed to a start. She was a mighty one with impeccable speed; it was obvious this was one of the castle bred creatures.
After our arrival, I stalked off on my own towards the castle. Two guards nodded at me with recognition after my entrance and allowed me towards the throne room. Two more guards, however, did not let me pass so easily.
"State your lineage." They said simultaneously in brooding, masculine voices.
"Althea. The first born daughter of the royal guardian, Alarick." At my father's name, the two pulled their spears away from blocking the door and granted me access. Much to my surprise, other women that were elven warriors were present as well, looking just as confused as I. Yet they all held their noble faces to me as I approached the line they stood in, tacking myself on at the end. I kneeled onto my right, looking up at Lord Freyr in a respectful greeting before standing at full, warrior's attention.
"It pleases me that you were all able to attend to my needs on such short notice." Freyr said from his golden throne. The others said nothing, allowing himself to continue. "It ails me to announce that the treaty between Asgard and Vanaheim is being amended." Though it does not directly have our name on it, Alvheim was very much a part of the Aesir-Vanir war. The elves aided the Vanir, though we still were conquered by the Aesir and hold peace through a treaty in which all three rulers had consented to.
"The All-father is gradually growing weaker, and is preparing his sons for the throne. The addition to the treaty is that both Alvheim and Vanaheim provide one woman fit to rule to be wed to one of the sons to strengthen our bonds with Asgard as well as having powerful rulers. Naturally, I cannot just select one woman as all of you are more than capable candidates." I felt myself swallow at the splurge of information. This was so much.
"So I will be a holding a contest of sorts. The one who can deem themselves worthy enough to be Alvheim's chosen one, will be sent to Asgard to wed one of the princes."
AN: And there's my new story idea. I have a few chapters already written, but I would love some feedback on the first chapter to see whether or not I should continue posting. The title of the story is taken from the song The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit by La Dispute, and the lyrics at the beginning of the chapter are from Andria by La Dispute. I think pretty much the whole story is inspired by the poetic band, so if you do decide to check it out, I would highly recommend the song Four, and the other two already mentioned.
Ta ta for now, colormeloveless.