Chapter 1
When dawn came Xeomina was escorted to the clearest spot in the palace surrounded by seven Royal Guards, two stewards and a hand maiden, as well as, a chest of gifts for the protectors she was about to see. Her pulse raced and she was feeling a little ill, though she showed nothing but confidence and courage to the others it terrified her that she was going off the only place she had ever known. In a moment when the beam of light comes to take her to a distant place she will have no reference besides the books she has read, and the visions she has seen. There was a thunderous boom from the sky and a beam came down and within a moment she was traveling weightless through eons of space and reality.
It was less than a minute to travel but it felt like the surge had lasted her lifetime and a few more. She stood in a circular room of gold with stars gathered all around a large man in golden armor and a golden sword stood before her "Welcome to Asgard, Queen Xeomina of the Cerulean Moon." he greeted them politely.
From behind him three men stepped forward, the man in the center she knew to be the Thor the protector of all 9 realms, to each side was one of his fabled companions Fandral & Volstagg and standing alongside of them was the Legendary Lady Sif. "Xeomina welcome, my father awaits us at the castle allow us to escort you…" he said in a deep voice that could melt any woman.
"Yes, thank you." Was all that came out, as she gave small courteous bows to the three men and a deep bow of reverence to Lady Sif.
Thor arched his eyebrow in question but stepped forward and offered his hand for the visitor to take. "it is so rare we get visitors from your home," Thor made polite conversation as he led her to the caravan of carriages awaiting "You must tell me more about your home, we know little of the wonders of it…." He said taking her hand aiding her in climbing into the floating carriage. Thor waited for Lady Sif to aboard the carriage before he and two of the Xeomina's Royal guards boarded as well.
"You flatter me Thor son of Odin, our moon is a speck of dust in the universes you protect. We are a small people of little significance, but on occasion our gifts lead to a clandestine meeting from off world. I do not believe either of us were alive the last time a Blu came to Asgard." She said smiling kindly.
Thor's heart jumped "You are very beautiful." he stated plainly breaking topic completely "you remind me of…"
"Thor son of Odin do not be taken in by the veil," Xeomina said "Women from my world have the natural protectant of the veil, I will appear to you as what you perceive to be beautiful, or that similar to what you love, you are only seeing in me what you find beautiful in another."
Thor held out his hand and caressed the side of her face "You seem so real…"
"I am real, I am just not as I appear to be…to you or anyone." Xeomina explained taking his strong hand and returning it to him.
"Can you stop it?" Lady Sif asked also gazing at her longingly.
"No it is in my skin itself, no one ever sees my true form, they only see their own mental projection of beauty and love. This is one of the many reason my people do not go off planet, especially our women, back in the Era of Seilia on our moon we would leave to other planets and moons, the women would distract while the men plundered. It was a dark time for our people, as we are not violent or thieves by nature, we were led astray by poor leadership in times of war." She looked down shamed of her ancestry "Others have come to our planet demanding us for wives, starting wars over what they considered their soul mate, which is why we have all but forbid visitors to our moon, as well."
"On your planet the women rule, then?" Thor asked still gazing at her with adoration.
"Yes, the women are the rulers, great minds, political leaders, and strategist." She answered looking out the window at the most beautiful sights she had ever gazed upon.
"And your men?" Thor said moving a strand of hair that was loose behind her ear.
"Our men, are great warriors, protectors, and providers for our people." she nodded at her guards. "They may not have the same veil as we do but they are highly regarded as well." Xeomina finished.
"My father will see you as my departed mother," Thor said and a tinge of pain could be detected in his booming voice.
"Perhaps he shall," Xeomina agreed "but I assure you I am not here to cause havoc in your beloved home, I came for help…"
"I will aid you in any way, with my life I swear…" Thor said confidently.
"Thor son of Odin you are a selfless, beautiful man who has a troubled heart… before you offer your life to the illusion of the woman you really love, you should hear all of the news and tidings I bring…" she said placing a hand on his cheek looking into his eyes squarely.
He nodded as they arrived at the palace "We are here, you are kind and wise Xeomina Queen of the Blu." he said before helping her out of the carriage. They made small talk as he showed her to the crowded grand hall where a throne sat elevated and a man in gold sat eyeing her every move.
As they approached the throne the room went quiet and everyone stared at the approaching woman with their prince. When they arrived at the grand stair case leading to the throne Thor boomed "Father, I present to you Queen Xeomina of Cerulean moon and ruler of the Blu."
Xeomina bowed deeply and rose to meet his eyes, her head cocked to the side slightly "King Odin?" she asked confused.
"Welcome to Asgard, Xeomina daughter of Norane" Odin said "we have not had a visitor from your world in 34,000 years, it is quite an honor."
"The honor is all mine your grace," Xeomina said as if on cue "Odin guardian of all 9 realms and King of Asgard, thank you for seeing me, I bring you gifts from our home, as tokens of my appreciation for your kindness." Her stewards came forward with 2 swords the blades the color of sapphires and curved and the end, the hilts were ornate with brightly spun metal that changed color as the light reflected off of it at different angles "Swords of the Sky; the blades are unbreakable, the edges will never dull, and once they are bonded with their wielder they will work for no other."
Her hand maiden came forth with a bouquet of small blossoms matching the halo crown on Xeomina's own head they were several shades of pink and purple with silver and gold lines radiating light with in them they looked like cherry blossoms embedded with an inner light. "Flowers of Veiara; these blooms will never die, never fade, and though they may look delicate are harder and more durable than any metal yet found or created."
Finally one of her guards came forward with a golden orb with purple clouds within it "And our greatest treasure a Seers glass." The room had a vibe of unsettledness as everyone shifted to see the orb. "Once it is bonded to someone it will show them secrets of this world and all worlds that only the best of our order are allowed to see. These orbs are made as a great seer dies and gives up her soul to protect those who come after them, it only happens once in a millennia. This is one of the 7 that are known to exist."
Odin eyed the orb with consideration and what could be considered a tinge of greed "You offer me great gifts Queen Xeomina, I give you my thanks now how may Asgard aid the 9th realm and the Cerulean Moon?"
"Before I ask for aid and counsel, I must ask about your son." Xeomina said eyeing the King carefully.
"Thor?" Odin asked.
Thor came up and knelt beside her "I am here my lady, Father I have sworn Xeomina my aid and hammer."
"Of course you have son, you are the protector of the realms, and have a heart of honor…" Odin beamed.
"Your other son…" Xeomina said trying to sound as polite as possible.
"Loki?" Odin asked again. "My son is dead. Why do you care about him?"
Thor rose and in a pained voice said "My brother died with honor, a few moons ago Queen Xeomina." His toned suggested there would be no further questioning.
Queen Xeomina looked crest fallen she turned to her people and gave them a few orders in their native tongue before turning to Thor "You will need to clear the room, everyone except the King and your most trusted men." Thor gave her a questioning look, she then said "please Thor son of Odin what I am about to say could cause…panic?" then she looked at the King and said "Please, your grace, it is of great importance."
With a nod the room was cleared leaving only King Odin, Thor, the warriors three, Lady Sif, and the Blu contingent.
"Now, my lady speak freely." Thor said standing at the bottom of the steps alongside his father.
"Loki is not dead, but he will die honorably, in every version of the future I have seen he is a key player in both the destruction and the saving of all of our realms and all of existence." She stated plainly.
"This is lunacy, my son is dead." King Odin boomed.
"Not yet, he has more do to, his destiny is set in all futures now the path is the same the result varies, his heart is scarred. A god with a scarred heart is capable of many things good and bad…"
"We found his body…" Thor protested.
"And you trust a body of a shapeshifting trickster who loves chaos and out witting everyone? You are strong, handsome, and have a true heart Thor son of Odin but Loki is a God of deception, even to those he loves." Xeomina said and she swore she saw a glimmer of a smirk on the Kings face. "Did you retrieve the body? Did you give him a warrior's funeral?"
"No we…"
"Go, now find the source, prove me & my visions wrong…" she almost ordered "I will stay here with the King until your return, take my men they will help you." Xeomina offered.
"My queen, our orders were to stay with you at all times…" protested one of her guards.
"And I am giving you new orders, go find the body of the only God who has the knowledge to save our moon." She demanded fiercely.
Within minutes and after a few required niceties of honor Xeomina was left alone in the great hall with the King at her side. "Tell me of your visions of my son's death…" Odin said taking her hand and leading her to an ornate chair aside his throne. "I have only read about the powers the Blu women have, I would like to know what your rose eyes foretell, as you are a Goddess in your own rite Queen Xeomina."
"Rose eyes?" she looked at him deeply "King Odin tell me what you see when you look at me?"
"A beautiful women…" Odin said plainly.
"More so, what color is my hair?" she questioned looking at him deeper than before.
"Scarlett, almost matching your lips." Odin said off handedly growing impatient with her questions and gaze.
"And my skin?" she said closing the distance between them.
"Pale blue, that of the first winters morning." He said sighing at the game.
"It is you…" she said looking at him desperately "this is one of the futures I like very much Loki, I never imagined you would see my true form immediately, but you are my destiny, I should never question that."
"This is madness." He said standing up to break her gaze on him.
"My King, our time in this future is limited, let us not play games, I would never marry a fool…" she explained following him and placing her hand on his shoulder.
Odin spun "Marry?!"
Before he said another word she placed her hand along his face and transmitted some of her visions to him. She showed them their love story, she showed him being banished from Asgard but finding home and a people devoted to his rule with Xeomina by his side, she showed him his children, she showed him the war, she showed him the end, and then she showed him how he was the key to their not being an end. When she was done before her stood Loki uncloaked and in shock "How?" he asked smally.
"You are my king, you can see my true form when no one else can…" she said in awe of him, and with no regard to anything else she kissed him.
Soft and sweet, it was the kind of kiss that one waits their whole life for, until Loki blasted her back across the room 100 or so feet, she hit a pillar and went unconscious. "I am so sorry my love, I just have other plans…." He said charmingly off handed and then was gone.