A.N. Hello! This is my first time writing an MCU fic so I am super nervous, I have such a deep love for the MCU and Marvel comics in general so just know that. Just a warning this is going to be a SLOW burn, and take place throughout time, and eventually will follow the Avengers storyline. Hope you all enjoy it, and please let me know what you think!
Chapter One
1872 AD – Asgard
Heimdall's eyes were trained ahead of him, his gaze reaching far from the confines of the room. Behind his golden eyes, the nine realms flickered in all their glory, shining with brilliance and mysterious darkness. And while he watched peacefully, he could see her outside the door. The child pressed her ear against the ornate doors a giggle escaping her lips as she tried hard to muster her excitement.
A small smile graced his lips at the sight of her, the child frequented his sight. Heimdall had a deep affection for his sister and it extended to his niece just as naturally. Although, she was known to test his patience he didn't have the heart to discourage her visits. Heimdall continued his watch, his ears pricking as the door opened in a gap large enough for the seven-year-old.
He had to constantly remind himself of her youth, her life was a mere blink compared to his thousands of years. And yet she was she had in her short time extracted an infinite amount of warmth and adoration for the young girl. Her steps were quiet across the floor as she snuck closer to his side, Heimdall said nothing as the girl crept closer her small hands inching for his sword. Suddenly his skin began to itch, a gentle warmth washed over his skin like the caress of leaves on one's skin. He knew instantly that it was her magic, he raised a surprised brow at her antics
"Astrid." He chided, although the growing smile on his face made it lack conviction. "We do not touch the sword." His eyes left their usual post and he relaxed his posture, his attention splitting. His physical eyes took in his niece while his magic scoured the nine realms the familiar flicker still there but muted if only slightly.
His heart warmed at the sight of her, she smiled brilliantly holding a small basket over her head as an offering. Her golden eyes shining with mirth, and her gapped tooth smile reminding him of the stars themselves. In many ways she reminded him of his sister Vala, both with their warm brown skin and gold eyes; but her joy and curiosity reminded him of her late father Hasrf.
"But I had to uncle, it was the only way to get your attention." She replied batting her eyelashes at him.
She then hefted the basket higher bouncing it above her head as an invitation. Heimdall chuckled and took the basket from her finding bread and fruit within.
"Are you trying to tell me something Astrid?" He laughed already biting into the fruit, Astrid smiled that crooked grin that seemed to cause mischief whenever it arrived.
"Well uncle, I am only trying to make sure you are fed! Imagine what would happen if you weren't cared for." Heimdall's laugh boomed in the small room, echoing back at them the sound more akin to thunder. His gold eyes shimmered from the force of his laugh, he beckoned the girl forward and she took a seat at the floor looking up at him expectantly.
"You surely have inherited your mother's knack for meddling." Astrid pursed her lips at the comment but smiled nonetheless her gold eyes shining as she stared at him.
Heimdall sighed knowing her request, "Another story little one?" Astrid nodded eagerly; she had always loved stories so Heimdall indulged her he told her of a land far away in a land he had visited long ago.
He told her the story of Midgard and the people they had met when they inhabited their lands. They weren't like Asgardians they weren't as strong, and they lived short lives. But they made the most of their time, contributing beautifully to their world before returning to the stars. Heimdall leaned down as he reached the conclusion of his story; Astrid was enraptured by his voice and the words he uttered.
"Remember Astrid," he whispered his fingertip gently poking the tip of her nose. "We're all made of stars, and in the end, we return to them."
At his last word Astrid remained quiet, her eyes widening in awe as she stared at her uncle. "Stars." She whispered softly, her eyes closing as she smiled to herself a faint glow surrounding her. Heimdall watched intrigued, feeling the slightest pull of magic, something he recognized only in his sister and himself. The sight.
"I see stars" She whispered her small voice unlike anything he had heard her utter before, he couldn't quite place what emotion she conveyed but it left him cold. He was afraid to utter another story to her ever since.
"Astrid!" The young girl turned towards her mother quickly dropping the pouch she held and pushed it under her shift. She smiled up at her mother a wide grin on her face.
"Yes mother?"
Vala crossed her arms at her chest her sharp gold eyes narrowing, "Are you hiding something Astrid?" The girl thought about fooling her mother, but she knew she'd be unsuccessful, her mother was a seer after all.
"I was just going to play with… Asa!" Astrid looked at her mother expectantly who with a flourish of her hand produced the pouch she hid pulling two snakes from within. She sighed and with another twist of her hands the snakes were gone.
"Astrid, we do not throw snakes at people." Vala tried hard to be stern but her lips did twitch a bit at the statement, "Now we must make haste, I cannot keep the queen waiting." She held out her hand to Astrid who took it with a pout on her face.
"They were really pretty snakes' mother; it took me three days to find them." Vala's laugh carried through the square as she tried hard to remain firm with her daughter.
"No matter, we must not use magic for such things Astrid." With another roll of her eyes, Astrid mutely followed her mother into the palace.
The young girl fought the groan from leaving her mouth as she saw once again the hall. Astrid was not permitted in the council meetings with the other women of Queen Frigga's court. The women of her court were witches and seers, and Astrid desperately wanted to learn their secrets and harness magic that powerful.
Not that her mother or any of the other women would permit her to sit in on the meetings. But one day and that was enough for Astrid. Vala turned to Astrid and kissed her forehead her face suddenly morphing into a serious gaze. "Be good Astrid, and don't give Kadlin a hard time."
Her mother turned to smile at the young woman that often watched Astrid and the other children around the palace. But they both knew it was a pointless task, Astrid would wander and before the meeting was over, she'd be rooted to the bench as if she never left.
With another stern look over her shoulder, she left with the other women into the room. Astrid turned to Kadlin with a smile and took the girls hand. They reached their usual spot in the and for the first few minutes, Astrid was the perfect child. They were drawing pictures together, as soon as they ran out of paper Kadlin gave Astrid a pleading look. "I'll be back…please Astrid stay put."
She nodded solemnly, as soon as Kadlin rounded the corner Astrid began her stroll down the hall. In truth, she was more than familiar with the palace; after countless meetings, she knew the place well. It lost its interest months ago, but the gardens weren't yet explored and that was where she planned on going.
She crept past one of the guards before seeing a familiar one, with a smile she stepped into his line of vision pretending to creep past him. "Astrid", he warned just as he spoke Kadlin's auburn hair flitted past a corridor as she called for Astrid. The guard's eyes flitted back to where Kadlin had been standing a light blush beginning to bloom on his cheeks.
Astrid looked up at him with feigned innocence, "Henrik, before you get Kadlin imagine how grateful she'd be if you were to accompany her on her search." He looked down his lips twitching from the onslaught of a smile.
"You little menace, an hour at most." Astrid flashed a smile before continuing her escape, she dashed down the halls her eyes roaming on the architecture until she found herself where she wanted. The archways opened to a beautiful garden, the marble of the palace gave way to soft green grass and large hedges. A large tree was rooted in the center of giving off a faint glow that pulsed life throughout the garden.
Flowers perfumed the air their hues ranging from soft pinks to vibrant purples. All bathed in a soft golden hue from the magic in the air. It was Frigga's personal garden from the looks of it, and Astrid had hit the jackpot. It was unknown and distinctly magic two things Astrid always searched for. She wandered the garden her fingertips trailing on the hedges and bushes, she had no destination in mind she simply let the garden guide her.
As she got deeper into the garden the more the air crackled with magic, but it was more than magic it was power. Astrid went deeper and found the princes themselves, her heart thundered in her chest at the sight. Her face grew hot, as her eyes trained on him. Since she first laid eyes on him her young heart belonged to Prince Loki.
Currently, he was engaged in combat with Thor, the area crackling with their combined power. Thor rose in the air and with a battle cry brought down his hammer, the surrounding foliage shook as if his voice alone was the thunder. Loki dodged the attack easily, his eyes narrowing in focus as he shimmered out of existence.
Astrid watched in awe at the way he maneuvered, he didn't rely only on strength like Thor did but his wit alone. He confused and taunted his brother, making more of himself or surprising him by changing his face to Thor's likeness. Astrid was transfixed by the way he fought; it was nothing like the training she was receiving.
She liked it much better.
Astrid hid behind a bush her heart hammering at being this close to the Prince.
"Astrid!" She turned to find Kadlin's auburn curls bouncing, with a sigh she turned to return to the hall when her shift got caught in the branches of the bush. Astrid struggled for a moment before falling through the bushes and straight into the prince's sparring space.
Astrid grunted from the impact and dusted herself off before making eye contact with no other than Loki himself. Astrid squeaked her face reaching dangerous levels of heat, the prince looked at her curiously a smirk on his face.
"It seems we were being spied on brother." He leaned down to her height his smirk turning into a smile, "Ah I know you, you're the menace."
Astrid cast her eyes to her feet as she fumbled with the seams of her dress, her face burning at being so close to Loki. She heard a quiet grunt from Loki before feeling a heavy hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see Thor smiling down at her. His stormy blue eyes reminded her of the blue after a storm, "You're Heimdall's niece, the daughter of Hasfr and Lady Vala."
Astrid nodded mutely, her usual bubbly demeanor squashed by her proximity to Loki and now Thor.
"I remember your father fondly." Astrid ducked tugged at her braid; she never knew what to say to the warriors that knew him. "I've seen you wandering the halls before, your mother is the great seer Vala." He stated rather proudly, Astrid puffed at that, she never tired of bragging about her mother.
"I-I am my family has been blessed with the sight." Thor nodded, thinking of her uncle who often saved his hide from trouble countless times. Loki perked up at that stepping closer, Astrid fidgeted; she had never been this close to Loki before. Thor turned to him flashing a look that said, be kind.
"You like causing trouble, Astrid?" She looked up at Loki her eyes widening before nodding very slowly, a slow grin began to spread on his face. He took a step forward crouching down to her height his eyes never leaving hers. "Don't ever lose that." Astrid beamed at the compliment as Thor rose to his feet.
"I suppose I should point that young woman here to find you…But if you were to go that way." He pointed to another opening in the garden where more trees and flowers grew, it was less uniformed than the opening with a wild rawness that called to Astrid.
"I believe it would be much harder for them to find you," Thor said innocently his eyes shining with mischief, Astrid smiled before taking off as the princes smiled at her. Thor continued towards the castle, but Loki lingered watching the girl with a fond smile.
She reminded him of himself.