"I would challenge you to a battle of wits,
but I see that you are unarmed."
- Shakespeare
It was on a warm day in the middle of spring that the new princess of Asgard was born. The news quickly spread through the streets, stall vendors hollering the news from their stalls. Asgardians excitedly turned to one another, chattering about the new princess. From his position at the Bifrost, Heimdall smiled as the news reached him, the universe shifting slightly as it heralded the arrival of a princess.
All around the royal chambers, guards stood to attention as the King led his two sons to meet their new sister.
"Come in and meet your little sister," Odin whispered holding onto his eldest son's hand as he led them into the room. Thor grabbed hold of his younger brother's hand as the two walked up to their mother. Sitting up in the bed, there she was, holding a small bundle buried in white cloth edged with gold. She looked up with a smile as both boys gently clambered onto the bed and inched closer to the bundle in their mother's arms. As the boys leant forward a soft gurgling noise came from the bundle. A tiny, pink hand appeared, stretching into the air. Both of them smiled in excitement as their mother leant forward and showed them their baby sister.
"Meet your little sister, Karina," their mother whispered. They both stared down at the bundle in their mother's arms. Loki reached out his little finger and his sister grasped onto it tightly, refusing to let go.
And in that moment, both brothers made a vow to protect her with their lives.
1800 years later
Karina slowly awoke to the smell of roses wafting in from her window. She shifted under her sheets, stretching her arms as she fumbled about for the bell to summon her ladies - in - waiting. With a gentle ding it fell off the cabinet next to her bed and rolled under the bed frame. Karina looked over the side of the bed and laid back with a sigh.
She really did not want to get up.
Savouring the last few moments of warmth and comfort she forced herself to tear the sheets off her body and sit up. She crouched down and retrieved the bell from under her bed and rang it gently.
She hadn't asked for the bell. She didn't actually want it. But her father had insisted.
Her ladies - in - waiting bustled in and pulled open the curtains allowing the early morning light to stream in. Karina sat on the side of her bed, one hand in her tangled blonde hair as her eyes adjusted to the bright light. Outside she could hear the cheering from the streets and wandered what on earth they were celebrating now. One of the ladies - in - waiting, Mariana, set a cup of tea down next to Karina.
"Mariana," Karina started as the maid began to turn away.
"Yes, Karina?" Mariana replied with a small smile, a knowing glint in her eyes.
"Why are they making such a racket at this early hour?" Karina asked, tilting her head to the window.
Mariana chuckled quietly and smiled. "It's Thor's coronation day," Mariana reminded her. Karina was immediately awake. How could she had forgotten Thor's coronation day? Anxiously she looked up at Marianna who gave her a relaxing smile. "It isn't until noon, don't worry."
From then on, the morning was a blur. Karina barely remembered eating her minuscule breakfast — because otherwise she wouldn't 'fit in her dress' according to Livia, the oldest of her ladies - in - waiting, who despised Karina but still served her — having a bath nor having her hair done. What felt like barely a minute after she'd awaken, but was in fact four hours later, she was dressed and ready for her brother's coronation.
There was a gentle knock at the door and Karina looked up, a smile on her face. Livia opened the door just a crack and Karina heard the calming voice of Loki waft through.
"I'm here for Karina," he said through the gap.
"On whose orders?" Livia asked and Karina rolled her eyes.
"Oh, for Odin's sake, Livia," she exclaimed, standing up from her vanity table. "Let him in." With a not-so subtle glare sent in both Loki and Karina's way, Livia opened the door and allowed her brother into the room. Karina walked over to him, her silver heels clicking on the stone floor as she went.
"Hang on," Loki called causing her to stop.
"What?" Karina asked, looking down at herself.
"Nothing, I just wanted to savour the moment of you being dressed up," Loki replied and Karina glared at him.
"It's not that rarer a thing," she grumbled in reply, taking Loki's offered arm. Loki smiled down at his sister as the two made their way down the corridor and towards the throne room.
"I'm loving the purple," Loki said, playing with the edge of the long sleeve on Karina's dress. "And the lace."
"Will you shut it," Karina muttered, punching her brother in the arm. "I didn't chose it."
"Mother?"
"Obviously. If I had it my way I'd be wearing something less ostentatious."
"That's a big word," Loki gaped.
"Your horns appear to be making you even more of a prick than usual," Karina stated, reaching up and flicking Loki's helmet. "You look ridiculous, by the way."
"Thank you, so do you."
Karina rolled her eyes, her teasing mood fading away as soon as the entrance to the hall appeared. There were two large gold braziers either side of the door, the fire casting weird shadows around the room.
Loki helped Karina up the stairs, holding some of her dress out the way so that she didn't trip over, and straightened it out for her, giving her his trademark smile.
"Stop it," Karina hissed, smiling. She was trying not to be nervous. But the cheering the other side of the door wasn't making it easy. Karina cracked her knuckles and wiped her hands on her dress, straightening out the bracelet on her wrist.
She didn't really do big events where the attention was entirely on her. It wasn't her thing. She'd rather just hide at the back and go un-noticed but, being the only Princess of Asgard, that wasn't going to happen.
Karina went to crack her knuckles again but Loki grasped her wrist, turning her to face him.
"Stop panicking," he whispered quietly, rubbing a soothing circle on the back of her hand. "It'll be over before you know it and then you can eat all you want.
"I'm trying," she replied looking into the bowl of fire. "I just…I don't want to mess this up for him."
"And you won't," Loki told her confidently. "Out of everyone in this family, you are the last person I'd expect to mess things up." Karina smiled and squeezed Loki's hand tightly, taking a deep breath in and letting it out slowly.
The door behind them slammed open and Karina jumped, turning to glare at her older brother as he marched in. He drowned the rest of alcohol in the bottle he was holding and threw it into the brazier.
"ANOTHER!" He yelled and Karina rolled her eyes, turning back to face the doors.
"Can't you ever just set a bottle down normally?" She asked as Thor came and stood on her other side.
"Where's the fun in that?" Thor asked, nudging her shoulder and smirking. He looked at Loki. "Nice horns."
"Nice feathers," Loki replied, smirking.
"Wish I had feathers," Karina muttered, "then I could fly away."
"Oh, stop complaining, Ria," Thor said, putting an arm around his sisters shoulders. "It'll be fun. There'll be food and wine and more wine and women."
Karina smiled at her brothers antics and gently removed his arm from her shoulders. "Ahuh, of course."
The door below them opened and the noise of the crowd got louder. Karina glanced over at Loki and gave him a thumbs up.
"Don't let your horns weigh you down!" She exclaimed as he made his way down the stairs.
Loki just rolled his eyes and scoffed, the doors shutting behind him with a loud thud.
An awkward silence fell between the two remaining siblings. Karina and Thor had never been extremely close to one another; they simply didn't have interests in the same thing.
Thor was about fighting, drinking, sleeping with women, a bit more fighting and a bit more drinking. Karina was, however, interested in reading, history and, maybe, women. She took after her mother more than her father. Frigga hadn't given Karina magic like she had Loki, Karina had just woken up with it one day.
"Good luck," Thor said suddenly, patting Karina's back as the doors opened once again.
Karina looked up at her brother. "Thanks," she replied, smiling. "Enjoy yourself," she added, beginning to walk down the stairs, holding the front of her dress up.
She'd only taken one step out into the hall before she was all but deafened.
The cheering.
Either side of the hall was packed with people, waving banners and ribbons around and cheering. Karina couldn't see the end of the crowds as she walked through them all, waving occasionally. She caught Loki's glance and he gave her a smile as she approached them.
At the bottom of the stairs, Karina swooped down into a deep curtsey, one hand over her chest, head bowed.
"Allfather," she greeted.
"Rise, my child," Odin said.
Karina stood up and walked up the stairs, taking her place behind her mother with a wink to Sif as she passed.
"Nicely done," Sif whispered to her as she smoothed her dress out. "Didn't fall over this time."
"Shush," Karina whispered, catching the glare her mother was sending her. "I've practiced since then," Karina added once her mother turned away.
Sif hide her giggle of amusement as the doors opened once again, the trumpets being drowned out by the cheers as Thor emerged, tossing his hammer up into the air.
As he walked down the hall, Thor continued to show off, throwing his hammer around, winking at the ladies and smirking. Odin looked on, un-amused at his arrogant behaviour, and sighed slightly in disapproval.
"Show off," Sif muttered as Thor begun making his way up the stairs and Karina struggled to hide her bark of laughter.
The crowd fell silent as Thor knelt down in front of Odin, placing Mjolnir on the step in front of him.
Odin sat up straighter in his throne, looking down on Thor. "Thor Odinson," he begun "my heir, my firstborn. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer, Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal. It's a weapon to destroy or as a tool to build. It is a fit companion for a king." Odin looked up at those gathered in the room. "I have defended Asgard, and the lives of the innocent across my realms in the time of the great beginning." Odin looked back down at Thor, his eyes cold and focused as he recited what was written down in the ancient books of Asgard. "Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?" Odin asked, his eyes never leaving his son.
"I swear," Thor replied, his voice bouncing off the gold walls.
"And do you swear to preserve the peace?" Odin asked again, his voice getting louder.
"I swear."
"Do you swear to cast aside your selfish ambition and to pledge yourself only to the good of the realms?"
"I swear!" Thor yelled.
Odin sat back with a small smile. "And on this day, I Odin, All-Father, will proclaim you — 'Odin trailed off and looked off into the far distance. Karina could sense something was wrong; it niggled at the back of her mind.
Suddenly, her vision was obscure by a vision of the vault and the dead bodies of the guards guarding it, frost trailing away from them. She gasped quietly and stumbled back a step. Loki reached out a hand, placing it on Karina's back as she blinked.
"Frost Giants," Odin muttered quietly. He stamped his staff onto the floor and several sparks emerged and Karina quickly realised he'd released the destroyer. Odin stood up, his robes sweeping behind him. "Come with me," he announced, waving a hand in the general direction of the siblings.
Karina risked a quick glance over at Thor as the four of them left the hall and could see his anger and embarrassment at being interrupted. It was radiating off of him and his grip on Mjolnir was almost crushing.
Karina stayed behind Loki as they hurried down to the vault, desperately wishing she wasn't wearing such a large dress.
"I wish they'd just show me what happens in bloody order," Karina muttered, frantically walking down the stairs.
"What, your visions?" Loki asked, frowning. "You know you can't control them, Ria."
"Really? I wasn't aware of that!" Karina exclaimed sarcastically.
Loki rolled his eyes. "I get that its annoying."
"It's like been given a sneak peak of a story but not being told what fucking story it is," Karina muttered. "Or when it happens. It's so frustrating. Not to mention the fainting."
"You done?" Loki asked quietly, holding out a hand to help her down the endless stairs.
"Maybe," Karina replied, accepting his hand begrudgingly.
She came to a sudden stop behind Loki, putting a hand out to stop herself bumping into him, and simply stared.
Three dead Frost Giants laid inches away from one of the many artefacts in the vault and at the foot of the stairs laid the bodies of the guards sent to protect the vault.
Karina cautiously waited at the foot of the stairs, Loki slightly in front of her, as Thor and Odin approached the dead Frost Giants.
"The Destroyer did its job," Karina said quietly.
Loki nodded, obviously distracted. "It did indeed."
"The Jotuns must pay for what they're done!" Thor yelled and Karina flinched at the loud sound.
"They have paid," Odin replied calmly as he turned around. "With their lives. The Destroyer did its work; the Casket is safe and all is well." Odin turned around and begun walking back up the stairs.
"All is well?" Thor growled and Odin slowed down, visibly sighing. "They broke into the weapons vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics — "
"They didn't!" Odin yelled back, raising his voice to match Thor's.
Karina could feel the tension in the room growing and knew it was only time before father and son exploded at one another.
Again.
"Well, what I want to know is why?" Thor demanded, gesturing to the dead bodies.
"I have a truce with Laufey, King of the Jotuns," Odin reminded him.
"He just broke your truce! They know you are vulnerable," Thor shouted, throwing his hands up.
"What action would you take?" Odin asked calmly.
"March into Jotunheim as you once did. Teach them as lesson; break their spirits so they'll never dare to cross our borders again!" Thor exclaimed.
"You're thinking only as a warrior," Odin stated.
Karina knew Odin had a point. Her father nearly always did.
But her father's words seemed to only anger her brother more.
"Well, this was an act of war!" Thor reminded him.
"It was the act of but a few doomed to fail," Odin corrected.
"Look at how far they got!"
"We will find the breach in our defences and it will be sealed," Odin said, calm against Thor's rage.
"As King of Asgard – "Thor begun
"But you're not King!" Odin yelled, finally losing his temper with his war-hungry son. Odin sighed. "Not yet," he added in a calmer voice.
Thor stared at his father for a while before growling and storming off out of the vault. He barged past Karina and stomped up the stairs.
Karina glanced over at Loki and the two of them let out a sigh and followed after their brother.
It wasn't hard to find Thor. They simply followed the trail of destruction he'd left behind.
There was a loud crash as they walked into the dining room. Karina stared at the upturned table, plates and food scattered everywhere.
She blushed when she realised her stomach was growling loudly and flipped Loki off when he gave her a questioning stare.
Karina quickly walked away from Loki, stepping over the food and spilled wine, and over to Thor who was suing on the stairs at the side of the dining room.
"It's unwise to be in my company now, brother," Thor said quietly as he registered Loki's presence. "You too, sister."
"You're acting as if this is our first time," Karina said as she sat down next to him, her dress pooling out around her.
"This was to be my day of triumph," Thor grumbled, his fist clenched tightly.
"It'll come," Loki said, sitting down on Thor's other side. "In time." He paused for a moment. "If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything."
Thor grunted in agreement and Karina glared at Loki, raising her eyebrows in question at what the hell he was doing.
Loki waved her off and carried on."If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defences once, who's to say they won't try again. Next time with an army."
"Exactly!" Thor exclaimed loudly, raising his hands in the air, narrowly avoiding smacking Karina in the face.
"But," Karina began quietly, scooting slightly further away. "There's nothing you can do without defying father."
Thor gave Karina a knowing look and Karina sighed, hanging her head.
"Please, no," she mumbled, putting a hand over her face.
"What happened in here?" Volstagg asked in disbelief as he, Sif and the rest of the Warriors Three walked into the room. He begun muttering under his breath about loss of precious food and Karina rolled her eyes, turning back to Thor.
"Nothing can be done," Loki reminded Thor, patting him on the back
Karina caught Thor's look to Loki and swore. "Don't you dare," Karina warned, pointing a finger at her brother. "No, Thor."
"No!" Loki exclaimed, catching on. "No, no, no, no, no! I know that look!" He exclaimed as Thor got up and walked over to his friends.
"You just had to tell him that he was right," Karina fumed, glaring at Loki.
"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders!" Thor said loudly, turning to look at is siblings.
"Thor, it's madness," Loki told him, following after him.
"It's suicide," Karina added, following Loki and crossing her arms. "It's madness and it's suicide."
"Madness?" Volstagg asked, mouth full of food. "What sort of madness?"
"We're going to Jotunheim," Thor announced excitedly.
Karina groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose in despair.
"What?" Fandral gaped, staring at Thor. "This isn't like a journey to earth," he said, walking towards Thor, "where you summon a little lightning and thunder and the mortals worship you as a god! This is Jotunheim."
"My father fought his way into Jotunheim," Thor reminded them. "Defeated their armies and took their casket! We would just be looking for answers," Thor explained, making the entire idea sound simple.
"It is forbidden!" Sif reminded him and Karina nodded in agreement.
Thor dismissed her with a wave of his hand and she sighed angrily, turning to look at Karina.
"Don't look at me," Karina said, "I'm not getting involved."
"My friends, have you forgotten all that we have done together?" Thor asked, pacing up and down in front of them. "Fandral, Hogun, who led you into the most glorious battles?" He asked, patting them both on the back.
"You did," Hogun grunted as Fandral tried not to smile.
"And Volstagg, to delicacies so succulent you thought you'd died and gone to Valhalla?" Thor questioned, turning to look at his large friend.
Volstagg hesitated, not wanting to answer the question. "You did," he answered begrudgingly, refusing to meet Thor's gaze.
"Yes!" Thor exclaimed. "Sif," Thor said, turning to look at her, "who proved wrong all who scoffed at the idea that a young maiden could be one of the fiercest warriors this realm has ever known?"
"I did," Sif replied and Karina laughed at Thor's face as he didn't get the answer he was expecting.
"True, but I supported you Sif," Thor said, pointing at her.. "And of course, my siblings are coming too!"
Loki and Karina stared at him.
"Yes,…of course we will," Loki replied slowly, almost trying to convince himself.
"Karina?" Thor asked hopefully. Everyone in the room turned to look at her as she tapped her foot.
"Nope," she replied, shaking her head.
"What? Why ever not?" Thor exclaimed in horror, gaping.
"Because it's suicide," Karina began, taking a step towards him. "Because it's reckless and stupid," she added, ticking them off on her fingers as she went. "I have an entire list in my head, need I go on?"
"But, sister. We've done so much together!" Thor reminded her, walking up to her and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, and I'm choosing to bow out now before I get killed," Karina replied, not budging.
"Please," Thor said quietly, giving her a pleading look.
"No."
"Not even to try and stop me?"
Karina sighed, her shoulders sinking. "Fine!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Fine! But only so I can go 'I told you so'when it ultimately backfires in your face."
"That's fine," Thor replied, looking around, pure glee and excitement on his face.
"My friends, we're going to Jotunheim!" He exclaimed loudly, smiling.