Astrid could hear her parents arguing and she got a bit curious as to what about. She hung about the top of the stairs and could hear it escalating as she saw her parents arguing. They were so into it that they didn't see their daughter.

"We haven't been to see him, Egil! He's your brother!"

Astrid raised an eyebrow since father never discussed that he had a brother. She knew mother had a sister in Vanaheim and thought her father was an only child. Based on the rage on her father's face, he was a person he did not like at all.

"He's dead to me in more ways than one Tove! You want to see him, go right ahead but I shall not accompany you! He's lucky he wasn't not eaten by frost giants! He was a trickster, cunning, ruthless and overall a miserable man!"

Tove shot an orange blast of magic at him, causing him to stumble and hit his back against the wall. Egil threw a vase near her feet in relatilation since he hated when his wife used magic against him.

"What an awful thing to say."

"Don't you even start that! You're lucky I allow you to see him after what he's done to me all my life and...you know well what he's done to nearly tear us apart." He growled.

Tove sighed and shook her head.

"I'll be within a day's time, maybe two. Just don't start another war with our daughter before I get home." Tove expressed firmly.

Egil glared at her and Tove crossed her arms.

"You heard me. You have such big ideas for our daughter you never once think to put her first. If we followed codes by our people, I wouldn't be married to you in the first place. Don't instill other people and race views on our daughter."

Egil threw a chair at Tove but missed her as Tove teleported away from that spot. Astrid trembled a bit at the sight and got furious at her father for being such a brute. Her mother had magic but she wasn't using it to harm or scare her.

Tove sighed and went to Egil, forcing a small smile.

"I know you have a vision of her and Thor; I'm just saying she has two friends who are both sons of Odin. You need to realize you can't take away something that might be in her to seek out."

Astrid seemed confused by her mother's words and Egil sighed, answering,

"I don't want her heart broken and I want her to be stable. Even more of a reason we should be careful with how much she spends time with that boy."

Tove shot a glare at him once more and Astrid did as well. She knew which boy her father was speaking about.

"That boy is Loki and he treats her kindly and as a magical equal. Now do keep on your best behavior and I will be home. Astrid should be heading out soon and don't you dare force her to spend time with Thor or limit her time with Loki."

"I can't make any promises dear but fine." he grumbled.

Tove kissed her husband's cheek before learning. Astrid was very curious about her mysterious Uncle and wondered why he was very contentious between her father and mother. She had a feeling where her mother might be going and she wanted to bring her friends along for the adventure. Astrid got her pack and bow just in case and ran out without alerting her father. She first went to get Loki since she knew he would be all for going where they would be going. Naturally, he was in the palace library and smiled softly at him. Loki just had a way of charming her without any words...wait were friends supposed to charm each other? That aside, she went over to his table and asked,

"Want to accompany me to Vanaheim?"

Loki's ears perked up at that and placed his book down to see if he heard right.

"I'm sorry, did you say Vanaheim?"

Astrid nodded and caught Loki up on the fight she witnessed between her parents. It made him frown slightly since it seemed to bother Astrid a lot. However, her information intrigued him and it was good to know more about her family history.

"So you have this uncle, your father's brother, that your mother is seeing and he really angers your father. Based on the rage it sounds like your uncle was a prime Vanir and very gifted in magic. And you want to see why your mother goes off to see him without telling you?" he summarized.

Astrid nodded. She read what Vanaheim was like but had never been there before herself. Odd since she thought they would have made a trip by now in her life, but her father was dead set on making this their home and keeping them in Asgard for as long as he could. Astrid knew she was growing up and sooner or later she would want to see where she was born and maybe spend some of her life there.

"I know it seems a bit reckless, dangerous...it might even be a little mischievous; but I want to know about the family I don't know about."

Loki chuckled softly and liked the idea of Astrid wanting to stir a bit of mischief in her endeavors. However, he cared about Astrid and he did find it odd that Astrid hadn't been to Vanaheim at this point. Also the secrecy with parents about her uncle was curious to say the least.

"You have that right to know. I mean, Vanaheim I hear from my father is a lovely place if not as sprawling as Asgard is. However, I do agree that you shouldn't go alone. You'll need someone to get past Hiemdall and thankfully my tongue can work wonders."

Astrid chuckled softly as she saw a glint in his eye that she found very amusing and alluring...Astrid didn't linger on her weird thoughts about her friend but it did sound like Loki wanted to come with her.

"Do I have your company?" she asked somewhat softly.

He grinned as he closed his book.

"Let me gather some things and I will meet you outside the palace."

"We should get Thor as well. It would be an adventure for the three of us. Our first place outside of Asgard...wouldn't that be a memory for us all to share." Astrid mused softly.

"But of course...Thor will probably like to venture out with us. Just hope he doesn't make too big a fuss or get us into trouble."

"Isn't that you?" Astrid teased lightly.

Loki grinned softly and shook his head.

"I'm not a god of trouble Astrid, no but I can assure you that you will find some answers today."

Loki swiftly went into his bedchamber to pack a few things for their trip. Loki also went into Thor's bedchamber to pack things for him since he did care for his brother and wanted him to be prepared. He met with Astrid outside the palace without anyone seeing him and they went through the town to find Thor. It didn't take the pair long to find Thor sweet talking to a woman with blue eyes and blonde hair near a dress shop. Loki and Astrid looked at each other and then back to Thor with annoyance.

"I care for Thor but this honestly makes him look bad. I mean he was trying the same act on me."

Loki scoffed and responded,

"Thankfully you weren't charmed by him in the romantic sense. I would hate for you to be like that girl right there. Truly sad...well let's go save him from himself and the woman from him."

Astrid nodded as they both went up to them and Thor seemed bothered.

"Now's not really a good time." Thor told them.

"Brother you are needed, Astrid needs you to come with us."

" I'm a bit busy." Thor told them.

"Busy for our date Thor? I thought you wanted to take me riding and have me spend a night." Astrid lied, fluttering her eyebrows slightly.

Thor's eyes widened and of all things he grinned, causing the girl he was chatting up to slap him. Loki was taken aback in the best way that Astrid was gaining a bit of a naughty side and found amusement in his brother's floundering.

"You already have a girl and yet you want to go on to me, how awful. Enjoy your date then Thor." she expressed before storming away from him.

Loki got a chuckle out of that and Thor rubbed his cheek. He was confused by Astrid's sudden shift but he still was intrigued with what she wanted.

"So uh...do we have a date?" Thor asked.

Astrid rolled her eyes at him and giggled lightly.

"Only unless it's with you two going with me to Vanaheim...sorry." Astrid comments.

Thor's face gets red with anger but soon was processing what Astrid had told him.

"Wait...you're going to Vanaheim...where you were born...why?" Thor asked.

"If you're coming we'll explain while we're walking on the bridge." Astrid expressed.

Thor nodded as Loki tossed Thor's bag. Astrid smiled softly at the two of them and set out. As they walked, Astrid's head was filling up with questions she would ask her uncle. Why did he and her father not get along, was he a good friend to her mother, what kind of magic did he like casting and all other things. Her father being so different and inept at magic made her wonder if they left because of her uncle; if he was some sort of god to their people. Her father was a prideful and stubborn man so it wouldn't be a shock if he left for Asgard to be a realm away from his brother. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt her arm being snaked up by a strong arm. She glanced over to see it was Thor.

"I'm still mad about you chasing that girl off. Could have had her too."

Astrid chuckled softly.

"Then what; you're not at a stage to start sleeping around with them. We're still far too young for that." Astrid teased.

"If that's the case why lie to the girl you and I planned to?" he grinned.

"Since I know that would be what would shoo her off. Women like her are easy to read; like picture books."

Ouch Thor thought but he did smile softer at Astrid since she was very bold in her words.

"You come a long way from cowering behind your mother from us."

"I was a child Thor; being introduced to two princes; one of which will someday be king. If roles were reversed you would be reserved as well." Astrid spoke softly.

Thor simply nodded as the three of them got to the gatekeeper. Loki grinned a bit and asked,

"Hiemdall, we need to accompany Astrid to where her mother is. Sorceress Tove must be worried about her daughter not keeping up with her."

Hiemdall looked at the young prince and shook his head.

"Tove didn't say anything about bringing her daughter to Vanaheim. Your words won't work on me Loki. You are all too young to venture off alone."

Astrid smiled since she was right on the location.

"She didn't mention Astrid because it was part of her practical. Must have slipped her mind to tell you since it must be a hard day for her. I assure you Astrid has what Tove wants and she needs."

Hiemdall shook his head.

"Come on! Astrid needs to see her mother! We wouldn't lie about this!" Thor exclaimed.

"Yet I think you two are getting Astrid involved in matters her mother does not wish to have her be a part of. There is a history she's not ready for and I don't think Tove would want her first day to be this day." Hiemdall professed.

Loki shook his head.

"Best to have a first be on a day that's not pretty. She wants to open her daughter's eyes to her past and what she can hope for in the future. We are all needed." Loki mentioned.

Hiemdall held himself firm and Astrid sniffled a bit.

"Please gatekeeper...I want to see it...I want to see where I came from at least one. My heart cries for it." Astrid spoke poetically.

Loki thought Astrid was going to ruin their chances at leaving but the look on the gatekeeper's face softened. He knew Astrid had never been to Vanaheim before and could feel her sense of wanting to see where she came from. He knew of her father and he was as stubborn as they came. Word might reach him of this, but he was going to grant a young girl's wish.

"Just prepare yourself for where I am sending you. Not everything is pretty in Vanaheim." he said.

The three teens ran into the round part of Bifrost and waited for Hiemdall to come in the middle with his trusty sword.

"Don't stray far. Though Vanaheim and Asgard are at peace; focus on finding Sorceress Tove."

He struck his sword into the pedestal and the whole of Bifrost seemed to come alive with electricity and energy. The three of them were transported in a spatial aura wave and landed in densely packed forest. Astrid was helped up by Loki and she was in awe at where they were. The air seemed much clearer than that of Asgard, birds could be heard chirping peacefully for miles, and the verdant grass and flora truly was mesmerizing.

"W-We're actually here." Astrid expressed happily.

"Yes, now let's find your mother." Thor stated.

Loki rolled his eyes since it was very cool that they were in another realm and yet he was not that fond of being here. Maybe it was perhaps there wasn't a fight for him to partake in.

"Honestly Thor, you want to rush an adventure?" Loki scolded.

"What we're not fighting anything here and besides, we want to be sure we don't miss Astrid's mother so she can see her uncle right. We are strangers here so we can't waste any time right?" Thor responded.

Astrid nodded and she dug out a small trinket, her mother's bracelet that she made for her at a small tender age. She hovered her hand over it and murmured a soft spell, and an orange trail of smoke formed and went in a particular direction. Astrid followed the path while Thor and Loki followed behind, taking in the mountain landscapes in the distance. Thor didn't seem to impressed and asked,

"They don't believe in advancement do they?"

"If you read about Vanaheim, you know it's a realm where they are one with nature. They build with nature in mind in order to keep the landscape serene and not disconnect from the magic of the realm." Loki expressed.

Astrid looked back softly to Loki and smiled since he seemed to have read a lot about this realm and cared where she was born. Thor simply nodded and asked,

"You think father will let us hunt here?"

Loki rolled his eyes as they followed Astrid. They ended up walking across a vast valley and plain before Astrid could see her mother. They hid behind a nearby bush to see if her uncle would arrive shortly. Tove was kneeling in a small grove of trees near a lake that showed a vast mountain range. The sounds of a gentle waterfall nearby could both be seen and heard. Astrid seemed confused why her mother would be in this place alone until she noticed a large stone in the center of the trees. Astrid felt a small pit in her stomach as she saw her mother shed tears, placing more flowers on what they now know was a grave.

"Again I am sorry Frode; you know how awful Egil can be. I'm thankful I am able to see you again after all these years. I miss you terribly and I hope we can see each other again when my life ends. You should see just how wonderful Astrid is...you would have loved her very much...she's a lot like you in some ways."

Thor clumsily stepped on a tree branch and Loki cursed under his breath. Tove emerged from the ground and slowly walked in their direction. Astrid came out from the bushes and Tove breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't appear to be mad at her daughter for following her...in fact she dried her eyes and smiled softly at her.

"I know you have questions and wonder why I never brought you here." Tove asked.

Astrid nodded but was still taking in the beauty of this place. Tove took her daughter's face in her hand and stroked her cheek softly.

"You made a huge step today Astrid; it shows me that you are ready for my plans and your awakening."

Astrid tilted her head in confusion while her mother chuckled softly.

"I'll explain that later...but right now I should tell you a bit about Frode Trygveson...along with Thor and Loki."

Thor and Loki slowly came out from the bush and bowed their heads apologetically. She led the teens to Frode's grave and Astrid couldn't help but feel a slight pain in her heart for an uncle she never knew.

"This was Egil's brother...what was he like?" Loki questioned.

Tove smiled softly at the three of them.

"Truly a Vanir man among Vanir men. Skilled in magic, wise beyond his years, and he taught Egil everything he knew about strategy and diplomacy. We only first met when Egil proposed to me and when I met his family for the first time. Frode and I became the closest of friends; always pushing our magic to its limits in theory and in concept. In ways he became an irreplaceable part of my life until..."

Astrid recalled a comment about frost giants from her father and she asked,

"Was he killed by the frost giants mother?"

Tove was silent as she placed her hand on the grave.

"He was found by Egil in Jotunheim with his throat slashed and his body gruesomely mutilated. Egil had seen a frost giant over his body and he slayed him where he stood. They were there to try peace relations under Odin's command, but that pushed Jotuns and Asgardians further into war. Once that war ended, peace was reached."

Thor grew angry and he exclaimed,

"When I'm king, I will slay them all! How dare they take Astrid's uncle away!"

Tove smiled though she was concerned for Thor. Only cared for violent ways to end things.

"I'm still looking into his death, Thor. It always bothered me the way he died since frost giants rarely leave their victim's bodies intact. Egil's refusal for us to come back here means I haven't mourned him in a long time. Being here, while under sad situations, made me realize just how much this realm is home to me."

Astrid hugged her mother and Tove hugged her back, stroking her daughter's hair. Tove felt waves coursing in her daughter and mentally cursed Egil for not allowing Astrid to come to Vanaheim. It wasn't too late and Tove knew her daughter needed to reconnect to her roots. She glanced at Loki and Thor with soft eyes. So different she thought, yet both would do anything for her daughter. It was a deja vu feeling for Tove and wondered just how her daughter would act someday.

Astrid knelt in front of her uncle's grave stone and prayed softly. Soft winds swirled around her, light pink winds and leaves danced around her and the grave stone. Loki was mesmerized by the sight and wondered if Astrid was able to connect to her deceased relative or if this was just Astrid paying her respects in a magical way. Thor was also amazed and wondered where Astrid's magic came from that made it so vibrant. Astrid rose up from the ground and made her way to her mother.

"I promise you Astrid, this will not be your only time here. I was ignorant in thinking I could be the only source and tie to your Vanir roots; clearly your ties here are very innate and can't be ignored. Now let us all return to Asgard and I will be sure Egil, Odin, and Frigga don't know you snuck here without their knowledge." Tove told them with a small smile.

"Thank you. We meant no disrespect...we were never told Egil had a brother and that you were going to mourn him." Thor expressed.

"Yes well...not all brothers have the best relationships; and despite what Frode did for Egil; they were different as they came and had a very volatile relationship."

Astrid frowned a bit and looked at Loki and Thor. The strong blonde chuckled and playfully bumped his fist to his chest.

"You need not worry. Loki and I are brothers in arms, differences aside. We care for each other...even if we butt heads." Thor chuckled.

Astrid chuckled.

"Ah and that you do...thankfully you both don't stay mad for long. It would be hard for me to pick a side."

"Would it really be so hard for you, even if one of us is clearly wrong at times?" Loki asked.

Astrid bit her lip slightly and Thor glared at his brother.

"You saying I'm often wrong Loki?"

"Oh of course not, but you do seem to have ideas that are not...fully developed and often get on my nerves." Loki teased.

Astrid got in-between them and interlaced each of her arms with one of the brother's gently. She didn't want them to do this now or here and both of the brothers chuckled.

"It's hard to fight with you here Astrid." Loki mused.

"Hopefully she's not enchanting us to keep us so calm and happy." Thor expressed with a soft smile.

"Perish that thought...I would never want to use my magic to hurt or influence you both. You know that well enough."

"I know Astrid, I know. You're too good to us and we're blessed, truly blessed to have you." Thor proudly told her.

"As I am blessed to have you both. I pray nothing ever tears our bonds apart...it would kill me."

Tove frowned slightly but the teens didn't notice as she rounded them up for them all to return to Asgard. Tove knew better than anyone that the road to adulthood was never smooth; especially with matters and affairs of the heart. Tove knew what her daughter needed...but it would test the very bonds she hoped would never break or come undone.