The Girl With Six Marks

Princess of Asgard

Chapter Three

Asgard Throne Room

The green satin dress flared with each step Alyanna took. The gladiator shoes she wore clicked against the marble floor along with the thick boots that Thor wore. With her hand in his, Thor lead them through the corridor where his father, Odin, sat upon the grand chair. Beside the King was Thor's mother, displaying a warm smile as her eldest son walks proudly towards them with his bride beside him.

Nerves were jumping like a flea circus inside Alyanna the closer she got to the mighty King and Queen of the gods. Once they were a few feet in front of them, Thor bows and Alyanna follow suit.

"Mother, Father, this is Lady Alyanna of Midgard. My soulmate and future wife," He booms proudly, pulling Alyanna closer.

Odin's old and wise eyes look down upon his future daughter in law skeptically. "It never occurred to me that an Asgardian could be soulmates to a human," His deep voice rumbles through the whole hall. Alyanna felt herself tense and she couldn't help but swallow thickly. "Tell me child, what do you do on Midgard?"

Inhaling deeply, Alyanna remains calm. "I was a soldier," she answers honestly.

"A soldier?" He says in surprise. "Why you are so small and quiet."

Alyanna felt annoyance through Thor, and he stands to his full height as he faces Odin. "I can assure you father, that my soulmate is well capable of holding her own."

Alyanna remained silent, something told her it wasn't her place at the moment to defend herself. She looks up at Thor whose face was very serious and it made her shiver. The last time she saw him be so serious was when he was facing off with Loki.

"My child, come forward," Frigga motions towards Alyanna. She gives a look towards Thor who nods for her to go ahead.

Holding her head up high, Alyanna walks forward towards the queen. Frigga stands and steps down towards Alyanna, her finger coming up to lift Alyanna's chin. Her eyes bore down into Alyanna's brown ones, and Alyanna couldn't help but feel as through this magnificent woman was analyzing her soul.

"She has the spirit of warrior with the heart of a goddess. She belongs greatly with our son," The woman declares and Alyanna felt her whole body relax with relief.

"Thank you mother," she hears Thor say behind her.

Alyanna bows her head. "Thank you your highness."

Odin holds his hand out for his soulmate to return to her seat and Frigga does. "If my wife believes you are worthy, then I do as well," Odin projects. "The wedding ceremony will be held tomorrow evening."

Alyanna's eyes widen and she snaps her head to Thor. "Tomorrow?" She mouths to him.

He stands beside her and drapes a strong arm around her waist. "Tomorrow it is," Thor says with a grin and Alyanna felt like she was about to explode with a mix of nervousness and happiness.

The pair bows before saying their goodbyes. As soon as they were out the doors of the throne room, Alyanna turns to Thor with a huge sigh of relief. "Man that was stressful," she breaths.

Thor chuckles. "They think highly of you I promise."

"They barely know me," She points out as they continue to walk.

"True, but my soulmate would be no one but the best," He counters, poking her in the shoulder.

She laughs and shakes her head. "So...our wedding is tomorrow. What is an Asgardian wedding like?"

Thor shrugs simply. "It is a massive celebration, especially since it is a royal wedding. Everyone will be invited, even the lowest on the social structure."

"Even your brother?" She questions causing Thor to stop in his tracks. The mighty thunder god seemed to be lost in thought before he speaks.

"Prisoners are not considered to be on the social structure. Besides, after what he has done to you, I don't want him near you," Thor proclaims before continuing to walk. His soulmark fluttered with a hint of sadness, and Alyanna could tell that Thor truly wanted his brother to attend his wedding.

Alyanna figured it was a sensitive subject for him, and decided not to bring Loki up anymore. Instead, she snakes her arm around his and leans her head against his large arm. "I wish the others, or even my mother could attend," she sighs bittersweetly.

Thor nods in agreement. "We could have an earth wedding too if you like," he suggest.

Alyanna laughs and kisses his arm. "I would love that."

The couple continues to walk down the grand Asgardian hall that was lined with paintings that looked to be telling a story. This caught Alyanna's attention and she breaks away from her soulmate to take a closer look at the art.

"Do you like them? After every major event in Asgard history, a memorial has been created," He tells her.

Her eyes widen. "Even from the very beginning?"

He nods and motions for her to follow him. They walk to another room that was a circle room with massive paintings lining the walls. He took her to the first one.

Alyanna's eyes look at the picture of a beautiful woman with hair that looked to be made out of the galaxies and her body made of the nature of a new world. "That is Mother Mania, the creator of life and souls," Thor says from behind her. "They say when you die, your soul returns to her where she gives you a new life somewhere in the Universe."

"Wow," Alyanna breaths. "People on earth would have a mental breakdown if they knew this." She looks at the next picture where Mother Mania was holding a glowing yellow stone.

"This is the soulstone, a very powerful source of energy that helped create the entire Universe, it's one out of six stones," Thor continues to explain.

The next picture was of Mania in the sky looking down on a village of primitive Asgardians who looked to be sad and lonely. "One day, Mother Mania realized that her children were lonely and lacked love. So she created soulmarks, to bind souls together in hopes they will find love in each other."

Alyanna's mouth drops open as she looks at another picture of two people hugging with Mania smiling above them. "She's the one who created soulmarks?"

Thor nods. "They say she is also the controller of prophecies and destinies. That her pairings are decided by fate and are unbreakable."

"Do you think she was responsible for giving me six?" Alyanna questions in a soft whisper.

Thor was silent for a moment, before he wraps his arms around her small body. "I believe that you were born to bring the avengers together to protect the world, and Mother Mania knew exactly what she was doing when she created your soul."

Alyanna smiles and turns in his arms to look up at him. She's never heard him sound so sweet and wise before, it must be because he is on his home planet and is speaking of things that he is well knowledgeable of.

As she leans up to kiss his lips, her eyes catch a glimpse of a familiar face. Turning away from Thor, Alyanna finds herself walking across the room to stare at a man that she would have never believed she would see here of all places. On the panting stood a man with features that looked exactly like...Erik.

A gasp slips between Alyanna's lips as she stares into the very eyes of the man whose caused so much destruction and loss on Earth.

"What is it?" Thor questions as he looks at the portrait.

"Who is this?" She asks in a whisper, her eyes never leaving the painting.

In his deep voice, Thor answers her. "That is Eirik, god of envy. My father's half-brother and my uncle. Why?"

Alyanna soaks in the information. But she needed to know more before she jumped to any conclusions. "What happened to him?"

"The story goes that he was the offspring of Bor and Norna. Bor is my grandfather and Norna is the only true daughter of Mother Mania. They fell in love before Bor found his soulmate. Eirik was born out of wedlock and thus had no right to the throne. When my father became King, Eirik challenged him and lost. He was banished from Asgard," Thor tells her. "I've never met him," he finishes with a shrug.

Alyanna felt her heart rate increase with every word Thor spoke. Of course! It made sense for Erik to be so bitter about soulmates because his mother lost her love to one. He couldn't become King because of it, thus was banished to Earth!

"We must return home as soon as possible," Alyanna claims as she turns to walk out of the room. If Erik really was this God, then he was probably poisoning the hearts of those who followed him with envy and he could be more powerful than they could ever imagine.

Thor calls for her but she was too focused to realize that she was going the wrong way. "Alyanna will you tell me what you mean!?"

Alyanna stops and turns to him sharply. "I think your Uncle is Erik Ewing, and if the story is true, then he probably plans to rid the world of soulmates and become king. Just like Loki tried to do."

The wheels in Thor's head began to reel as he tried to understand what Alyanna was saying. "Wait you think that wack job that tried to kidnap you is Eirik?"

"Think about it Thor," She says to him. "Even their names sound the same!"

He scratches his chin as he looks down at her. "I believe you. But we cannot go back to earth until after the wedding."

Alyanna sighs and nods in agreement. "Okay, I understand."

Next Scene

Later on

After making her discovery, Alyanna felt rather antsy and found it hard to enjoy touring Asgard. But she did her best when she faced the people of her soulmates homeworld.

Thor and Alyanna walked through the busy market where many of the people gathered to sell food, clothing, jewelry, and art. Many people stopped to stare and give their greetings to their prince as well as the new woman by his side. They walked with guards following behind them and Alyanna truly felt like a princess.

She held Thor's arm and stayed close to him. Being on a new planet was slightly intimidating, even though the people were warm and friendly. They passed by a cart full delicious looking candy apples; Alyanna eyes brighten upon seeing the golden fruit and her footing hesitated just enough to grab Thor's attention.

"Would you like one?" He says warmly and Alyanna sparked with happiness. She nods eagerly and he reaches into his pocket to pull out a few gold coins. "Two please," he says to the older gentleman who beams back.

"Yes your highness, it would be an honor," the man says before plucking off two candy apples and handing them to him.

Thor thanks the man before turning to his soulmate and handing her one of the apples. Alyanna joyfully bites into the fruits, groaning in satisfaction of the crunch and burst of sweetness in her mouth. "This is incredible!" She gushes as she chews.

Thor chuckles as he bites into his.

They walk further into the market till they stumble upon a tent labeled "Seer."

"Seer? As in fortune teller?" Alyanna wonders as she points to the tent.

Thor looks at what she is pointing too and laugh. "Yes, the village seer likes to read people fortunes in exchange for money. I don't believe that it is real though."

But this didn't deter Alyanna for she was quite intrigued. "Can we try?"

Thor gives her a 'do you really?' kind of look. But upon seeing her puppy dog eyes, he caves in. "Okay, but I'm warning you, it's pretty much bull shit."

Alyanna giggles and pulls Thor towards the tent. As they enter, they were greeted with the sweet smell of spices and candles. It was dark and had a musky arua; long curtains hung from the ceilings and they chattered as the pair walks through them.

Once they get to the main room, they were greeted by an elderly chilling voice. "Your majesty, for what do I owe the pleasure of having a royal in my little hut?"

They turn to see an old woman draped in red and purple clothes peeking out from around the corner.

Clearing his throat, Thor says, "My soulmate wanted to try out the village seer. We've come to get her future read."

Alyanna gives the old woman a smile who looks back at her with squinted eyes. "Come my child, have a seat."

The human girl complies and sits down at the table that only held two chairs. It almost reminded her of the gypsy fortune tellers you would see at the circus, but instead of a crystal ball, there was a bowl made out of stone filled with clear water.

Thor remains standing, slightly behind but still observing. The old woman holds out her hand for Alyanna and she gently places her hand in hers. She then dips her hand into the water, peering down to look at her palm.

"I see..seven souls in your heart," was the first thing she said, startling Alyanna by the quick estimation. She looks back at Thor who quirks an eyebrow. "Is this true?" The woman draws.

Swallowing, Alyanna answers, "Yes, I have six soulmates though."

The old woman looks back down at the hand with a questioning stare. "You have seven souls in your heart. Have you not found the last one?"

It then dawns on her that she must be talking about the Hulk as the added soulmate. "Oh, yes I have." She turns to Thor to explain. "The Hulk counts as the seventh."

Thor nods in understanding. The old woman pulls out a flask from beneath the table and drops a single drop of red liquid. It turns the whole water a shade of red and she waves her hand over the water causing a ripple over Alyanna's palm.

"Interesting…" she trails. "I see destruction, pain, and death."

Alyanna stiffins at her words. "In my future?" she asks timidly.

The old woman continues, "The world is in danger...but you bring your soulmate's to conquer the evil force that threatens it."

Thor places a hand on her shoulder, and Alyanna could feel annoyance from his soulmark. "Do not listen to her, she is clearly talking about my brother trying to take over Midgard."

The old woman glares up at him but ignores his comment. She leans down closer and speaks directly to Alyanna. "My dear, there will be a force that will try to split your soulmates. It is up to you to keep them together. You will face many conflicts, but all will be resolved with unity. But only if you ignore the evil that threatens you."

Alyanna stares into the old woman's eyes, her stomach twisting in knots at what she was saying. "Is it Loki?" She whispers. "Or Eirik?"

The old woman smirks before pulling Alyanna's hand out of the water. "Time's up. That will be fifty pins."

Alyanna blinks as she looks at Thor who wasn't pleased. He throws the gold coins onto the table before grabbing Alyanna's hand and pulling her out of the tent. "I told you it was a bunch of bull shit," he booms.

Alyanna nods shortly, her mind swirling with what the old woman had just said. She wanted to desperately believe that it was a lie, that it was fake. But how did the woman know of her soulmates? And what did she mean that her soulmates would split? The Avengers had an unbreakable bond...but only through her, she realizes.

Thor noticed the sudden mood change in his soulmate so he stopped and placed both of his hands on either side of her shoulder. "What is it my love?"

Alyanna hadn't realize but her lip had been chewed raw. The taste of blood invades her taste buds and gently wipes it away with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. I just can't get what the woman said out of my head."

He scoffs and pulls her into a hug. "That woman doesn't know what she is talking about. Whatever troubles we face we will conquer them together. Have faith in the Avengers for we would never do anything to harm you. We would also never allow any harm to come to the world. There is nothing to worry about."

He was always so optimistic and Alyanna did feel slightly better with the reassuring words. However she still couldn't help but feel that empty pit of her stomach turn at all the possibilities.