Chapter 2

The small, abandoned fishing hut at the edge of the lake provided great shelter for me. It was large enough to block the evening winds blowing across the lake from my naked body, as well as hid me from the view of any who approached the lake.

I sat upon the dock attached to the fishing cabin's door, letting my tail hang into the cool water. I sat carefully weaving many lengths of seaweed together, creating a blanket of sorts. I didn't need one, it simply passed the time. Lost in my task I hummed to myself, knowing that for now I was alone at the water.

Upon one summer's morning

I carefully did stray

Down by the Walls of Wapping

Where I met a sailor gay.

Conversing with a young lass

Who seem'd to be in pain,

Saying, William, when you go

I fear you'll ne'er return again.

My heart is pierced by Cupid

I disdain all glittering gold

There is nothing can console me

But my jolly sailor bold.

"That's very beautiful."

I jumped in my seat, snapping my head around to see my watching. I froze at the site of none other then the Mighty King of Asgard.

I sat in shock, staring at the gold clad warrior behind me.

"Don't be afraid young one." He spoke softly but there was still a great sense of strength to his voice, "I have no come to harm you. I wish only to express my thanks."

After a moment of silence I finally found my voice, "It was nothing Alfather, I simply did what was right."

Odin looked away from me over the waters edge, he seemed deep in his own mind. I took this moment to quickly make sure that my lower half was covered by my blanket. Once I was confident he had not noticed I did a quick scan of the shore to make sure we were alone. The only over being I found present was Odin large, eight legged mont.

"What is your name child?" He asked, still staring at the moons reflection on the lake.

"Nysa." I almost whispered.

"Nysa." He repeated, "Very unusual name. As I stated earlier I wish to express my thanks to you for saving my son, Loki. My children mean the world to me. As thanks I wish to extend to you an invitation. Tomorrow afternoon I wish to make you an honorary member of the house of Odin. This will give you great status among the people as well as protection from any threat that should ever arise. In the evening my wife wises to have a great feast in your honor. Will you attend?"

Now I was trapped in the Alfather's gaze. I knew it was unwise to reject his offer but my magic would only allow me to maintain a human like form for so long before I would die. Not wishing to upset the king I had no other choice. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure."

"Excellent." Odin now wore a broad smile. "My guards will be informed of your coming. Until the 'morrow, Nysa."

I nodded and watched the Alfather depart.

I sighed once I was again alone. What in the nine realms had I gotten myself into?

. . .

The following morning my crawl onto the dry land was nothing short of pitiful. Once my fins had left the water I began to feel my beautiful tail melt away into a pair of pale, slender legs. The feeling was strange, it had been some time since I had last used this gift I had been granted by my elvish friends in my home realm of Alfheim.

The challenge of standing was even greater then my crawl to shore. I'm not sure how long it took for me remember how to walk once I had managed to stand but it had felt like hours.

Once I could walk comfortably I took to my next task of finding something to wear. Seeing as how I had no material possessions I decided to search the fisherman's shack I had used for shelter from the wind the night before. Luckily I found a few articles of female garments hanging from the ceiling on a rod of metal behind a strange wooden barrier the swung out to one side.

Most of the garments had rotted away over the years since the shack had been abandoned but I managed to find one dress that would be suitable. It was made up of a tube of deep blue fabric, a strangely shaped piece of white cloth that had an opening on either end (one opening seemed smaller then the other) but at one end (the smaller of the two) there was two more tubes. Finally there was a much smaller black tube piece that had a tie up on side and seemed to have a series of harder pieces woven into what I guessed was the inside.

I had seem many women come down to the waters edge wearing similar items, I was confident I could figure these out.

I pulled the white piece over my head first, the larger side down. I slide my arms into the smaller tubes on the side. It seemed to fit my nicely (from all I knew about clothing) with the arm pieces ended just below my elbow. Next I pulled the longer blue tube over my legs so the smaller end rested around my waist and the much wider end flowing a few inches below the knobby parts in the center of my legs where they bent. Lastly I put the black piece around my midsection so that part of it covered my breast as I had seen the Asgardin females do. The long string tying up the one side was on my from to make it easier to tighten, this seemed only logical seeing as I could find no reason in my mind as to why it would run up my back, seeing as I wouldn't have been able to tighten it myself.

Once I was certain I had gotten it right I set out towards the golden palace. The walk to the city was hot and dry, two things which I was not use to. The strange hard flippers that were attached to my legs were becoming very sore from the stony path I was following. At one point from my journey the rocky path followed along the side of a steam and I was very temped to return to my watery home. However something inside me told me that the Alfather would come looking for me if I did not arrive at the palace after accepting his invitation.

Eventually the path began to smooth out. I was also began to see the odd Asgardian at work around the edge of their city. I began to feel very nervous, and with each new Asgardian I see an as their numbers became greater my natural reaction to flee began to become almost unbearable. However there was also a new feeling forming in the pit of my stomach, a feeling of excitement, adventure, and the fearing of the unknown.

I was very conflicted, my natural curiosity was something I also followed but it was that same curiosity that had led to me being abandoned is Asgard by my own people.

I was so lost in my inner struggle that I hadn't noticed that I had arrived at the golden palace until the first step was right in front of me.