Hi everyone! So, this is going to be just a collection of one-shots and deleted scenes from the Renascentia Trilogy that I need to get out of my head. They won't be in any particular order, but I'll explain when each passage took place so you know what's going on. I'm rating it K for now as there's nothing in this part that has anything suggestive or inappropriate but it will change to T eventually. If you haven't read the Trilogy, I suggest you skim through it just to get a good idea of what's going on. It doesn't have a cover yet, as I'm sure you've noticed, but I'll get one in time.
This one takes place before HeartTorn but after Loki's awakening. Just a short drabble on Freyja and Loki's friendship and topics they spoke about during their nights on the Bifrost. As per usual, I hope you all enjoy my ramblings. Thanks to all.
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned Marvel, Thor, or the Avengers.
When Loki was nearly ten and Freyja had just turned eight, the two had made a habit of sneaking out of the palace to talk late into the night on the Bifrost. After the first couple times that Heimdall had alerted the All-Father of their whereabouts, Freyja taught Loki a spell that would shroud them from the Gatekeeper's senses. It was late one night when the two found themselves out on the Bifrost whispering about places Loki had gone with his family.
"Do you never travel with your family?" he asked, leaning his head on his hand to see her.
"When Father was required to conduct business elsewhere, we were not allowed to accompany him," she answered. "But in four years' time, I will have to begin our coming-of-age ceremony."
"That is when you travel to four of the Realms, correct?"
"Five, actually, but I will only travel to four as I have already spent time here," she explained. "I suppose my first stop will be Jotunheim."
"Why is it your people travel to Jotunheim?" he asked, wrinkling his nose at the thought of visiting Frost Giants.
"It is important to learn as much as we can about the Realms of our cosmos. Jotunheim is a part of the Nine Realms, whether the fact is approved of or not."
He nodded before another question popped into his head, "Why did you come to live here?"
He saw the sadness in her blue eyes, eyes that he had once marveled at for their brilliant hue, and wondered if he had asked the wrong question.
"It is difficult to explain."
"Can you attempt to?"
With a sigh, she looked up at the stars and began, "Due to the fact that my people rely so heavily on our auric energy, we tend to be a bit more acute to the auric state of those around us. It is not the same as the bond we share, though. We cannot tell exactly what those around us feel, simply stronger emotions that are naturally projected into the aura.
"When I was in Vanaheim, I always felt…slightly unaccepted. I am unsure how to word it correctly but I could tell my people did not believe I belonged completely. I was more prone to emotions than they were, something my father strived to snuff out. After the years of undergoing his…teachings, I could no longer withstand it. I snuck aboard the nearest flight to Asgard with only a few of my belongings and asked Odin if I may stay."
"What is it like in Vanaheim?"
A bittersweet smile crossed her lips, causing her to look almost wistful, "It is beyond imagination. I am bound by oath not to show you my memories of it, but words are not restricted to me. Simply the colors of Vanaheim cause Asgard to seem muted in comparison. On summer days-"
"Summer?" he asked, confused.
"Like Midgard, we experience what are called 'seasons'. Asgard spends its time in perpetual summer, while Jotunheim is cloaked in an eternal winter and Alfheim only experiences spring. In Vanaheim, we experience all four."
"But you have only named three," he pointed out.
"The final season would be autumn."
He regarded her curiously, "What makes this autumn any different from the rest?"
"Well, autumn is when the days begin to grow shorter, causing there to be less sunlight for the plants. The leaves of certain trees will often begin to change color at that time, turning different hues of gold, orange, brown, and peach."
"The leaves of your trees change color?" he asked, shocked at the idea.
"And when winter arrives, the trees that change lose their leaves altogether."
"Why?"
"It is to preserve energy," she said, laughing at his appalled tone.
"Colorful leaves during the autumn and barren trees during the winter," he mused. "Is that all that changes?"
"It also snows during the winter, as the temperature drops."
"I've heard of snow. Some of the warriors say it is white and bites as it touches you."
She smiled again, "Snow is not alive, it is simply cold. I could show you, if you want to see for yourself."
"You can create snow?"
"Magic makes almost anything possible. The only thing it cannot do is affect time."
"Will you show me?"
"Caligo hiemo," she whispered, waving her hand before her.
Loki watched in awe as little white specks floated down upon them, chilling the air. Sitting up to get a better look, he held out his hand to catch a few in his hand. They lasted a mere five seconds before melting in his palm. They did not, however, feel cold to him. Despite their short existence, he peered at the odd shapes they created.
"Are these patterns natural or did you create them?"
"The designs occur naturally and no two are the same," she answered, blinking away a few flurries that dotted her eyelashes. "Sometimes, it will snow until it reaches your knees."
"Truly?" he asked, eye wide.
"Of course. But when spring returns, the snow melts and does not return until the year has passed."
"How long does it last?"
She sat up, looking at him with a grin, "Winter lasts for three months but it only snows throughout Whitewind and half of Frostwind."
"There are twelve months in Vanaheim, right?"
She nodded, "Meltbloom, Lifebloom, Heatbloom, Greensun, Goldsun, Felledsun, Emberleaf, Deadleaf, Danceleaf, Runwind, Whitewind and Frostwind. You can always remember the season by the ending of the month."
The snow still continued as Loki thought about all she was telling him.
"What occurs during spring?"
"The snow melts, the animals awaken from their winter slumbers and the world explodes with life once more."
"It must be beautiful there."
"It is," she answered sadly.
He looked at her once more, "Do you miss it?"
She nodded, "I do."
"Do you ever wish you could return?"
"I always have the ability to turn back and return to Vanaheim," she started, causing him to wonder if she ever would. "But what good would that bring? We only progress in life by moving forward, not back."
He internally sighed in relief at her answer, glad she was not planning to leave anytime soon, "Are you happy here? In Asgard?"
She turned to meet his gaze, smiling as she did, "I am happier here than I have ever been."
"I'm glad."
And for ten minutes, they sat in silence as the flurries gathered around them on the crystalline surface of the Rainbow Bridge. After simply enjoying each other's company for a time, Freyja suggested they return to the palace. Loki agreed and the two began their journey back to their chambers.
When the sun rose once more, a bemused Heimdall found that a section of the Bifrost was covered in snow flurries reaching just above his knees. The mass of white extended the width of the bridge but did not fall over into the sea below. Odin was perplexed and slightly irate at the mystery behind the occurrence, but deemed it not worth looking into. Loki, however, congratulated Freyja on the prank and laughed about how many of the guards believed it to be Frost Giants. Freyja kept silent at his praise, unsure whether or not to tell him it was the result of her forgetting to void the spell.
In the end, she decided he was much more amused under the impression that she had meant for it to happen. His mirth made her happy, and she didn't want to destroy the mood.