Time was kind and it should have been cruel, Tove thought as her young Astrid was enjoying her teen years now. Truly a lovely and vibrant young woman with her rose hair curling down to her back, soft amber eyes glistening with life and warmth, her body starting to look more like a woman's. Tove did notice Astrid would sometimes forgo traditional dresses of Asgard and would make her own flowing blouses, tunics, and trousers. Considering she spent most of her free days and times with Thor and Loki with their games, spars, and outdoor adventures she didn't get cross with her. Egil enjoyed the fact his daughter was close to the princes but he wondered if she had a favorite among the two. Egil and Odin knew what they wanted and it was already common knowledge for Egil that his daughter would be a wife to Thor someday. Tove on the other hand, while seeing some innocent sparks for Thor; there was more energy and fire with Loki even if Astrid didn't know it yet. Astrid was bolting out of the house with her bag and her father chuckled in amusement as he stopped her.
"Where are you off to?" he asked.
Astrid chuckled softly as she swiped his apple with a quick swipe.
"Where do I always go off to father? Do take a guess." she sassed somewhat.
Egil looked at his daughter's clothes and he knew when she dressed in trousers that she was going off to see both young princes for an outdoorsy outing or training. Now when she wore dresses or riding skirts that was a different story.
"You seeing the princes again. Don't they get sick of seeing you yet?" he joked.
Astrid frowned slightly and Egil realized he made a mistake. He knew Astrid considered Loki and Thor like family and she was very close to them.
"Oh Astrid, I didn't mean it like that. I only jest..."
Astrid laughed softly and kissed her father on the cheek.
"I know you are papa. But to answer you anyway...no they don't. The princes love seeing their 'princess' of sorts."
Egil chuckled since her daughter had gotten a bit sassy in her years and yet there was still a sweet softness to her.
"Make sure you bring your bow and arrows just in case you decide to spar with them."
"Magic is more my style but I do love my bow." Astrid raised her hand as she summoned her bow and quiver of arrows from her room with simple telekinesis. She kissed her father once more on the cheek before putting her bow and quiver on her back before heading off.
Astrid munched on the apple as she walked through the city. She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought just what Thor and Loki were up to. Knowing them, they were probably sparring in their courtyard; Thor swinging away a sword or axe while Loki was using his magic to gain the upper hand with a spear or daggers. Astrid arrived at the palace and carefully used a shortcut to get to the courtyard so she wouldn't be seen by the boys just yet. She perched herself in a big tree up high and finally saw Loki and Thor coming her way, playfully sparring with each other.
She couldn't believe just how much they have grown despite growing up with them and there was charms in both of her dear friends. Thor was getting bulky in muscles and they matched the strength that was growing in him. His blonde hair was becoming a bit like a lion's mane and he was starting to gain a bit of facial hair. His blue eyes had a fiery passion and determination in them. Loki was also getting stronger but he had more of a refined and lankier build to his toned body. His hair had grown a bit as well and it framed his delicate yet charming face, complete with calm yet focused ice blue eyes.
"Strange Astrid isn't here yet. You think she's caught up in the book you gave her?" Thor asked as he and Loki stopped their sparring.
Loki was resting on the tree Astrid was near and answered,
"She finished it with me the night before. Have you known her not to come see us, whether separate or together."
Thor chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah you're right. Just wish she wouldn't keep us waiting." Thor mentioned.
Astrid laughed softly and that caught Loki's ear. He smirked as he got his back off the tree and Astrid gracefully jumped on his back. Astrid had her arms wrapped around Loki's neck softly and he held her legs that wrapped around him. Thor chuckled but a part of him didn't like the softness and care on their faces.
"How long did you know I was here?" she asked Loki, playfully kissing his cheek.
"Since we got here, your pink hair shows through the green leaves." he retorted in a soft tone.
Astrid got off Loki's back and went to give Thor a hug and a peck on his cheek as well to not leave him out. Loki playfully scoffed but he could see Thor's hands resting in a dangerous position on her body and he grew annoyed when Thor fondled her lower back.
"So did I miss much?" she asked as she pulled away.
"Not really, just simple brother sparring."
"Yes and I see Loki had the upper hand." she playfully teased.
"Hey!" Thor exclaimed in annoyance.
Astrid shook her head and smiled.
"I'm kidding Thor, you both seem to be well matched. You know I don't like picking sides between you two."
"Of course not. Hey you brought your bow with you. Yes! We can train you more with it or perhaps I can work on my slashes and accuracy." Thor exclaimed.
Astrid chuckled at that as she checked how many arrows she had in her quiver. There were a lot of them, but she couldn't keep mending them with magic and needed to just get new ones eventually since they were looking old and ragged.
"So long as I can add something extra to the tips or the whole arrow and you getting me new arrows Thor, then sure." Astrid offered.
"Alright!" Thor exclaimed as he got out his sword.
Loki scoffed but he did like when Astrid engulfed her arrows in elements. Astrid started off simple and just drew and shot regular arrows. Thor managed to cut through them like butter and Astrid couldn't help but admire his strength. Astrid moved with grace when she drew her arrows at Thor and it was like she and her bow were one. She did this a couple more times before she decided to spice things up by making the arrows be engulfed in fire and ice. That mattered little to Thor as he was able to cut down all the arrows. Astrid looked over her quiver and saw she only had six remaining.
"Okay that's enough." Astrid told him.
"Aw but I was just getting started." Thor frowned.
Loki chuckled and shook his head.
"You owe Astrid some arrows Thor. We will need to go to the market to procure some for her. " Loki told him.
Thor nodded and he looked at Loki and Astrid.
"Why don't you two work on magic now? There's hardly anyone to spar with Loki in magic. Plus you will give him a fair fight." Thor suggested.
Astrid shook her head.
"Loki and I train differently with our magic so we don't hurt each other by mistake." she told Thor softly.
Thor raised an eyebrow and Loki shook his head.
"We don't just conjure and aim magic at each other. There's more finesse and grace to how we train. " Loki expressed.
Thor scoffed and that somewhat annoyed Astrid. If there was one thing she noticed about Thor was that he was getting a bit arrogant as he got older. Well Loki got more mischievous so both boys weren't without fault.
"Care to share your thoughts?" Astrid asked, somewhat hurt by the scoff.
Thor looked at Astrid's face and sighed.
"I didn't mean for you to take offense, but is there something you both can show me. You both go on about magic that it would be good to see what you do that's a bit combative." Thor expressed.
Loki rolled his eyes and looked at Astrid.
"I'll be willing if you will."
"I mean we can but nothing too dangerous since I don't want to hurt you." Astrid expressed.
"Aw yes now we're talking!" Thor cheered.
Astrid chuckled while Loki sighed.
"Alright fine, but the safe word is wolfhound if it gets too intense for either of us."
"Safeword...Loki, how messed up does this get?" Thor asked with a slight grin.
Loki immediately made a copy of himself behind Thor and had the copy stab him in the thigh before it vanished. Astrid was amazed and Loki grinned at her amazement. To think if she could make copies of herself she would be able to do a lot more and be of use to people. Well that and maybe be able to sneak out of the house more to see Loki in the library or be in two places with her family and Thor when he wanted to ride horses.
"You must try to teach me that since I don't think Frigga wanted you to learn that yet!"
Of course she hadn't, but he wanted to learn it since it would be very useful to him. He had many talents Frigga and Tove hadn't taught them yet and he would be honored to teach Astrid if she really wanted to.
"But of course, it does take time and energy Astrid. Now it's your move."
Astrid shifted into a hawk and was able to fly around to show her control over her form. She flew down to the ground and shifted back. Loki then was able to create a small force field while Astrid conjured some wind to twirl the broken arrowheads and aimed it at the force field. As the pair showcased their magical abilities, there was a soft gaze they shared with the other and a coursing of energy that spiked when they were together. They ended their small training session and Thor seemed to be impressed if not curious.
"How is it that you're good with magic Loki? Father and I aren't good at it." Thor asked.
"I must get it from my mother then. No need to worry, we all have our strengths and weaknesses brother."
Astrid smiled softly as she retrieved her bow and quiver from Thor and placed it on her back. She looked at her clothing and shifted them into a nice mulberry dress. Thor and Loki's eyes widened slightly at Astrid since the dress brought out the beauty of her hair, face, and body. Astrid seemed confused and said,
"This is nothing new boys and I want to look nice for a shopping trip. Why is this not a good color on me?"
"No, it is a very good color for you." Thor complimented softly.
Astrid looked at Loki and he had a soft smile on his face.
"You look lovely and it will be nice to shop with you." Loki expressed.
The three of them looked around the shops and Thor did get her a lot of arrows for her quiver. Loki and Astrid hung around a book wagon a lot to check if there were any stories of interest while Thor looked to be bored out of his mind. Astrid lingered on a story about two princes fighting over a princess' heart and was intrigued by it. Loki glanced at it and he encouraged her to get it for some light reading. They returned to the palace and rested their backs on the grounds to take in the warm sunny day breeze. Astrid's thoughts wondered as she glanced at both Thor and Loki; her two best friends and princes of Asgard. She worried that these days would be days of the past and that she may lose one or both of them someday. She sighed as she slowly sat up, glancing a worried glance at the two.
"You think...things will always be like this?" Astrid asked.
Loki and Thor looked at each other and then to Astrid.
"Where's this coming from Atti?" Thor questioned.
Atti, an endearing nickname that he and Loki would sometimes call her which did make her smile.
"Things are starting to change; I can feel it in my bones and blood. Nothing can remain as they are; but will our friendship still last? The whole world can change but...will we always be close?"
"Of course it will! I would love for that to remain Atti. I mean Loki and I will always be brothers; but you're still going to be our closest friend no matter what. No need to stuff your head with mindless doubts! We will always be there for you!" Thor professed boisterously.
"Yes, no matter which one of us will take the throne someday, it's not going to change how we care and feel for you Astrid. You matter a great deal to us and never feel you don't have a place in our lives." Loki spoke calmly.
"Yes of course...Asgard will need an advisor and sorceress, both roles I will perform with pride and dedication. It's now a matter of who your father picks."
Thor chuckled and he asked,
"Are you still neutral on who you would like to see on the throne?"
Astrid nodded and smirked gently.
"Both of you have traits that a great king should have. You Thor have the strength of a warrior and a gigantic heart for Asgard. As for you Loki, your intelligence and magic can bring a new era to Asgard and can make changes in the Nine Realms. Not to mention you are both charming in your respective rights."
Both princes were moved by Astrid's words and she smiled softly at them both. She looked to the sky and she noticed it was starting to shift with the setting sun.
"Oh shoot I need to get home!" Astrid exclaimed as she shot up to her feet and retrieved her bow, quiver, and book.
"Don't forget to shift your outfit." Loki advised.
Huh oh right she thought and changed it back to her magenta top with purple trousers.
"Remember, you and I are going to go to the stables tomorrow to ride horses!" Thor professed.
"Yes she will meet you Thor, right after our magic training and book." Loki told him.
"Magic, books, and horses...you guys really know how to make a day full and meaningful. See you both tomorrow." Astrid told them as she raced out the courtyard.
When Astrid was gone, both Thor and Loki glared slightly at the other. They knew the other was trying to put on their charms and moves on Astrid and it angered them. They weren't lying about wanting Astrid in their lives, but they both wanted her beyond ties of friendship.
"She's going to like me someday, like the way mother does father." Thor told his brother firmly.
Loki scoffed since Thor was being stupid. What she and him had in common paled in comparison to what he had with her. She was more a match for him than his brother.
"Ah yes since she truly would rather be with someone who can't connect to her on a magical level. You're a brute and she doesn't like you." Loki sneered.
"Hey there's more to a relationship than magic Loki! I have everything a woman can ask for!"
"And there's more to what a woman wants than just brawn and looks Thor!"
Thor scoffed but he recalled what Astrid had discussed with them and sighed.
"What are we doing?" he asked Loki.
Loki thought for a moment and he too sighed.
"I think we might both be wanting to see if Astrid would want to be more than friends with one of us. I don't want to ruin things with her as you don't."
"Yes since she just talked about change and...she would hate for us to be against each other." Thor admitted.
"Even in our childish games where she was our princess, she never wanted the games to end with a victor; only in draws." Loki chuckled.
"Yeah but she's kind and warm about that with us. I hope we can keep her promise."
"As do I." Loki spoke before they went inside the palace to enjoy dinner as a family with their parents. They were thinking just how their future will be like and about Astrid. Both Thor and Loki wanted to be there for Astrid and have their friendship with her last for their lifetimes; but will things change?
Author note-Eye color for Loki is not conclusive. Many fan fics give him green eyes where Loki's actor has blue eyes. Needless to say, I'm going with the movie portrayal and that means blue eyes.