My dreams have been filled with memories of my homeland since the day I left. I wake up each morning with the pain of longing in my chest. Every night Bygul waits by my bedside, prepared to comfort me from the aches of nostalgia. Mother really must've known what she was doing. There is no greater companion than he.
The first few years in Asgard are spent in a private school. Upon hearing of my place in the palace, the high council ordered that I would be educated as an Aesir. To take my place in the Asgardian royalty, I had to become one of them. I had to re-learn everything I was previously taught by Vanir tutors. I receive lessons from an accelerated, prestigious school on the edge of Asgard's fields.
Mother was right about the Aesir arrogance. Everything I learned related to glorifying the Asgardian gods and kings. I participated in their studies and focused on gaining high marks. But in secret, I held fast to the beliefs of my people. I prayed to my mother and sought to contact my father. He hadn't been seen by the Vanir for over five hundred years. I wondered if the dwarf had gone into hiding with the Asgardians.
My search proved fruitless, and I was eventually assimilated with the Asgardian people. Rather than keeping my hair down and unkempt, I learned to braid it. My slouch was corrected, and now I walk with a straight back. My Vanir slang faded, too. I never lost touch of my mother tongue, but I can speak the Asgardian language as well as any native can, now.
Bygul was also taught to be a proper pet. Since there had never been any creatures akin to him, the trainers acted as though he was a stallion. They trimmed his hair and crafted a saddle for his back.
I often wondered if my mother could see us. If she could, I think she might've wept. Mother would've hated to watch her daughter become royalty in the eyes of the Asgardians. Maybe she didn't understand the process of it all, or maybe she just didn't care. A wartorn country would have been better than the years of torture I endured to become one of them.
But today is different. Today, the etiquette training ends. My last challenge awaits. I sit with perfect posture, my hands lay delicately on my lap. My legs cross at the ankle. The white dress I've been provided rests on my shoulders without a single wrinkle. I've braided my long, strawberry hair down my back. A tutor even placed flowers through the weave to showcase my elegance.
"Ah, my darling! It is so wonderful to see you!" The teacher rises from her chair to greet the Queen of Asgard with a warm embrace.
I stand as well, folding my hands behind my back.
"Laga! Greetings my dear friend."
So this is the Frigga my mother told me to find. She's not at all what I thought the queen might look like. All this time, I imagined her as an old hag. The All-Mother appears exactly as her title might suggest. Rather than bow to an all-powerful queen, I want to run into her arms. She reminds me of my own mother.
The Queen approaches me, and I curtsey as I've been instructed to. Just as I bend, Frigga takes my hand in her own. I'm startled out of my skin that the queen of the gods has my hand in her palm. I'm waiting for her to slap it. That's what Laga did whenever I made a mistake. Instead, she squeezes it.
"You must've had such a difficult road, young one. Tell me, what do I call you?"
I worked for years to correct my stutter. When the queen asks me a question, I almost feel it creep back up on me. "Sigyn, Daughter of Freya, Princess of Vanaheim."
"What a pleasure to finally meet an heir of Freya," Frigga says. "Please, tell me of Vanaheim."
Is this a part of my final exam? I sit with her on a lounging couch, hyper-aware of my body language. Not once in our conversation do I flinch, slouch, look away, or perhaps even breathe. I begin to answer her question with my fonder memories of Vanaheim. I tell her of my many sisters, and of the vast forests. I recall my home as if it wasn't ravaged by war.
She listens intently to my story, pressing forward like she's holding on to every word. After I've finished, Frigga leans back against the couch, releasing all sense of elegance and perfection.
"It's exactly as I remember."
"You've been there?"
"Been there? Child, Vanaheim is my homeland."
The Queen of the Aesir is actually a Vanir! One of my own people rules over the nine realms. If she could become so powerful in Asgard then perhaps I can turn out well, too. For the first time since I arrived in the golden realm, I feel a surge of hopefulness wash over me. Relief fills every crack in my spirit.
"I had no idea. When was the last time you visited?"
"At least a millennium ago," she says, sadly. "I wanted to return so dearly, but my duties have kept me here."
"Are you aware Vanaheim is at war?" I ask, despite the harsh glare from my teacher.
"I am. The Asgardians stand with your people, Sigyn."
Promises mean nothing to kings and queens. At least, that's what mother taught me. She told me never to trust royalty. Kings and queens are only in authority because of trickery and bloodshed. Their words are full of selfishness, especially as they make promises. But with Frigga? I want to believe her.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The queen clasps her hands together. "Well, I think Sigyn is ready for the Asgardian courts. Wouldn't you agree, Laga?"
The teacher smiles through clenched teeth. "Most definitely."
The palace is exactly as my mother described in all of her stories. It rises high into the sky, towering above with clouds with unparalleled majesty. Gold and precious jewels adorn this home of royalty— my home, now. I only wish she could she could be here with me. I want her to feel the same exhilaration and excitement that I do.
That spark of joy ignites once we pass through the gates. Orchids of apple trees and thick gardens span to my left. On my right is a large battle arena that I can only assume is for training Asgard's top warriors. As soon as we enter, everyone stops their activities. They bow to their queen but don't hesitate to show their distaste for me. I feel the heat of their sneers on my back, and they don't try and hide racist remarks.
"Don't pay attention to them. They will receive correction when the time comes."
I'm grateful to have Frigga at my side. There's no one else I could've done this with. All eyes are on us, and all of them are negatively affixed on my presence.
"Come, I'd like for you to meet my sons."
Bygul follows her steed through a paved path of the garden. A group of young Aesir approach the queen and I. Leading them is a blonde male who runs up to my pet without fear. He scratches just behind the cat's ears, eliciting a hard purr from him.
"What a magnificent creature!"
"Thor, this is Sigyn," Frigga says as she dismounts her horse. "A daughter of Freya and a princess of Vanaheim. She's now a member of our courts."
Thor bows at the waist. "Welcome to Asgard."
A dark-headed woman walks up to Bygul now, only slightly more apprehensive than Thor. "Sif," she says. "I'm going to be the first female on the King's guard. What are you here for?"
"I—"
How can I tell her I'm here on the last plea of my mother, who might not have survived a war that's destroying my home? Thankfully, I don't have to.
"Sigyn is here to study with you all."
"A foreign exchange student?" Another boy asks. This one has obviously been kissed by the sun. "Who's going to Vanaheim, then? It's certainly not me!" He bows. "Fandral, by the way."
"No one is going to Vanaheim," Frigga assures.
"Volstagg." The largest boy welcomes me with a warm smile. "I've dreamt of feasting on the rich delicacies of Vanaheim since I was a boy."
"You still are a boy," another one chimes in. This one greets me in the way of my people: a generous hug. "Greetings, Sigyn. My name is Hogun, and I'm also from your homeland."
"Oh? When did you leave?"
"I was a child when my parents were invited into Odin's council. I don't remember much of it, but I would love to hear about what it's like now."
Frigga looks around, searching for her other son. "Where is your brother, Thor?"
He thinks hard before answering. "I believe he's still in the library."
She instructs Thor to take my pet to his stable as we say goodbye to the crew of up-and-coming royalty. On our way to the library, Frigga gives me a general tour of the palace grounds. There is a training and tournament arena on the far side of the grounds. On the other side are the orchids and gardens we walked through earlier. In the back is a pool that seems to stretch on forever.
The ground floor of the palace is used for official business. Both the throne room and school are on this floor. The second floor is strictly for enjoyment. A ballroom, feasting room and library sit back to back in this humongous space. The third floor is strictly for living quarters. No one is allowed on this floor unless they are a member of the royal party.
Even though the palace is the most beautiful structure I can imagine, I already feel trapped within these walls. My people prefer to do everything outside. We meet outdoors, we feast in fields, and we dance in forests. These metal halls feel cold to me. I wonder if Frigga feels the same way.
I find my mouth agape once we enter the giant library. All of the stories of the nine realms must be in here. I reach for the first shelf, completely forgetting my company. The first book I pry open is one of war stories, the second one is flooded with ancient spells, and the third one is of mythical creatures and their uses. Bygul and his brother appear in this one.
"Ah, yes. The felines that lead Freya's chariot," a voice hums behind me. "I believe they're only a myth, now."
I slam the book shut, startled at the voice. My pale cheeks flush with embarrassment when I hear a soft laugh come from Frigga.
"Sigyn, meet my other son, Loki."
The holder of the voice greets me identically to his brother, although they appear to be complete opposites. Loki's hair is black as the night, while Thor's is golden. Loki's skin is pale, too. Much unlike Thor's complexion.
"Greetings."
"Hello," I say breathlessly. Swooping the hair out of my face, I try and gather my thoughts. "And no, the cats are not a myth. My mother gifted me one before I left Vanaheim."
Loki doesn't seem to believe me. "There's one here, then? On Asgard?"
"There is. You're welcome to see him-"
"After dinner." Frigga finishes his thought. "The All-Father is waiting on us, and he is eager to meet you, child."
A NORDIC FUN FACT OF THE DAY: Laga is actually a goddess of the spring and bffs with Odin. I couldn't find another suitable teacher for Sigyn (and Loki and Thor before her), so I opted for a family friend and a lesser known Aesir.