an: so here we go, Skadi's finally on back on Asgard! I've can't wait for things to pick up now :)
Chapter 8: I Should Approach You With Caution
Dreams didn't do Asgard justice. It was far more beautiful than any dream Skadi had ever imagined. The golden buildings shimmering in the shining skyline with lush giant mountains off behind them in the distance. Skadi had forgotten how breathtaking it truly was, taking it all for granted as a child. She felt her breath taken away from her, almost making her forget about what was awaiting her at the palace far off in the distance.
She would've kept staring in awe at what stood outside the awning of the watchers keep if a rough, edgy voice hadn't snapped her out of it. She turned around, seeing a bald man with two thick lined tattoos on his head in bulky body armor closing the gate to the Bifrost. She looked at him questionably, unsure who he was and why Heimdall wasn't the one holding the sword.
The man, seemingly understanding the look on her face looked frazzled himself, frantically trying to unsheathe the sword from its keyhole and bow to her at the same time. In his scramble he managed to bow but also let the sword clank to the ground, echoing throughout the room. The Warriors Three and Sif rolled their eyes at him, this seemingly was nothing new to them.
"You want to know why it took so long to find you; here is your answer." Fandral shook his head, trying to hide his annoyance by placing an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his side.
"What happened to Heimdall? Who's this?" Skadi scorned, unamused by the man who was now trying to pick up the sword but without grace.
"The name's Skurge your highness," The man, Skadi now knew was named Skurge said, bowing one more time. "I'm the new watcher, since Heimdall was fired for negligence of duty."
"What? And my father gave the job to you instead?" Skadi scrunched up her nose. Her father must be really losing it if this was Heimdall replacement. And also from the fact that Heimdall had to be replaced at all; what really did happen over all of these years?
Now it really did make sense as to why no one could have found her all these years. Maybe Loki did really go to get her and when she wasn't there anymore, he could never find her because of this Skurge guy. "How long have you been doing this?"
"About four years your highness," He said, looking around at the warriors nervously, bowing to her one more time.
"Just Skadi is fine." She kept her face scrunched up at him, not used to being called that or bowed to. Rocket had called her your highness before but as a joke or well more of an insult and not at all in any form of seriousness. And there'd been a few times where Peter would have bowed to her, but again as a joke. Skadi guessed she wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't done after every time he addressed her.
Fandral began to lead her away from the mess of a watcher, unamused by his antics. Beginning their long walk across the rainbow bridge, Skadi tried pushing back thoughts of regret that she'd been trying to ignore since deciding to come here, trying to focus her attention on the city's skyline as it got closer and closer. Fandral had gone on explaining how elated her father will be now that she was back, also trying to get her mind off of the people she left behind.
Sif watched, knowing that Fandral was doing nothing but wasting his time seeing that it was obvious Skadi wasn't even paying attention to his words. The palace in the distance making her more nervous by the second. Sif took a few steps closer to her, giving her a gentle smile in hopes to get her to understand that she made the right choice.
It took longer than Skadi had hoped to reach the palace, having forgotten how annoying it was to cross the rainbow bridge. Once they crossed, they still had to walk through the streets of Asgard and through the awaiting eyes of its people. Luckily the All-father had horses waiting for them so the ride to the palace didn't take nearly as long as the walk from the bridge did. Skadi couldn't help but spend the time it did take looking around the streets with curious eyes, occasionally sparing a glance at the people who gathered the streets, excited about the return of their princess. Their happy faces made her feel slightly better about choosing to come back home.
She snapped back into a nerve wreaking stare as the palace gates came to view. Her breath quickening and heart thumping up to her ears. It was like she was panicking all over again. Or did she really stop panicking, she wondered. It wasn't until the gates opened did she realize she never stopped. The stairs up at the end of the court yard led right to the throne room, right to where her father was sure enough waiting for her. She felt her horse stop once they were all close enough to the stairs.
Volstagg had been the one to help her off her horse as he was also the one to help her up her horse. It'd been years since she'd ridden one and had silently wished it would be another couple of years until she'd have to ride one again. She hated how uncomfortable they were, and how bouncy the ride had been. She was so used to flying everywhere with her powers and with ships, and other far more technically advanced modes of transport.
She brushed her hair out of her face as her feet were placed on the ground. When Volstagg's hands left her waist, Skadi couldn't help but take in her appearance. Her father would surely disapprove; she had long abandoned her old Asgardian sense of style. She wasn't the cute little princess any longer, always wearing the fanciest dresses and had her hair styled in multiple braids. She now stood wearing her clunky big black buckled covered boots with her classic black beat up leather jacket. The rest of her outfit was nowhere near as modest compared to what a princess was expected to wear. She wore dark high waist tights and a see through black mesh crop top with a black tank top underneath. Her father would definitely not approve and that was partially why she had chosen this outfit.
Her feet smacked against the steps, her taking them each slowly as she dreaded getting any further. She thought she'd have at least some time to get settled before being throne straight into the lion's den. Her breath hitched as she saw two guards opening the large towering doors for her, revealing the inside of the throne room. She could see a figure sitting on the throne and knew that it was too late to turn back.
She couldn't continue to let herself regret coming here; it would only make her time here worse than she knew that it would be. Moving forward, she noted that her companions weren't following her and sighed. She'd have to face her father alone.
Walking into the room she let her eyes wander. It was just as beautiful as it had been when she was a child. The tall pillars of gold reaching up to the ceiling with carvings engraved on them and the colorful artwork that was painted on the ceilings let her nerves feel more at ease. It all felt welcoming to her, having spent the years with her memories back trying to remember what being home felt like. She pulled her attention back to her father as she noted that she was close to him now. The sound of his staff hitting against the floor snapped her back to look forward at him.
He was using his staff to help himself stand, slowly pulling himself up. His face looked stern, looking her over after all these years of trying to keep her image in his mind. She'd grown much since he'd last saw her. She was no longer the girl he last saw her as and clearly the galaxy had influenced her chose of appearance. He moved down from his throne, taking each step slowly, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He spent so many years searching for her, never knowing where she was.
"My daughter," He said softly once he came face to face with her. He took in her fearful look, wanting to make it go away. "I've missed you, I'm so glad you've finally come back home."
Skadi looked down, unsure if she'd actually missed him over the years. She'd always felt anger towards him whenever she thought back. She'd missed her mother, her brothers but they weren't here; it was only him. She bit her lip, knowing that he raised her to be respectful but then again Yondu raised her to stand up for herself and the only people who deserved respect were the ones who respected you.
"I came back because Fandral told me what happen to mother and Loki," She frowned, taking a step back. "But I'm not staying permanently."
Odin frowned, wishing that he could have been the one who told her first. He felt angry remembering that he gave them strict orders to simply retrieve her and bring her back to him, he didn't want them to tell her a word about what had happened over the years. It angered him enough that they got captured and couldn't return her to him in a timely manner. Sighing, he turned towards the side, facing one of the exits of the room. He ushered her to follow him.
"And what did they tell you," He asked, reaching the door and pushing it open to reveal one of the private courtyards and gardens.
"That Loki died because he and Thor went after the Dark Elf's for killing mother. And now Thor's on Earth or something like that." She said sadly taking in the outdoors and the peacefulness of it.
"And that was all?" Odin asked leading her in further. Skadi nodded, knowing that there was more to the story and that her father would tell her what really happened. Odin led her to a small fountain, the same one her and Loki used to spend time together a lot when they were younger. Loki would bring books and read to her for hours on end until their mother would call them in for dinner or bed.
Skadi frowned when her father took a seat on the edge of the fountain motioning for her to join him. Placing a hand on her knee he let out another long sigh, trying to find the right place to begin. He'd been planning what he'd say for years now but now that he saw her expecting eyes he wanted to through it all away and say something else entirely. But he knew he couldn't, he had to stick with what he originally planned to say.
"Your brother, Loki, he told me what he did, years after your escape; the guilt eventually getting to him after seeing how distressed your mother had become. He told me how he helped you escape all those years ago." Odin began looking out in the distance. "I was furious and demanded that he bring you back. He complied and he and Thor went to that planet he dropped you off at.
"Amora, that witch," Odin said with a sneer, "was there alone without you. She confessed that she had placed another spell on you, canceling out Loki's and taking away all of your memories. She sold you to the Kree. She said that that had been her plan the entire time, the whole reason why she agreed to help you and Loki, to help get revenge against the crown. You see, long ago, her father betrayed our people, back when we were at war with the frost giants and gave them details on our attacks. It wasn't until we won did I find out and I had him executed."
"So it was because of her, I ended with the Kree." Skadi said bitterly trying her hardest to remember and connect the pieces of what the long speech her father said, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
She remembered Amora being so kind to her back then. She took care of her, continued her magic lessons. Skadi remembered looking up to the sorceress and felt nothing but betrayal.
Clenching her fists she took a deep breath to try and calm herself before letting her powers take control over her. "Where is she now?"
"I had her executed." Odin said without emotion. "Your brother's wanted to go to war with the Kree, to get you back, but I didn't allow it."
Odin's voice sounded bitter as well, as if he was angry at that decision. In truth he was, he didn't understand why they never tore down every Kree settlement to get his daughter back. Odin had always said his reasoning behind it was because he wouldn't let innocence's suffer over the actions of a few. It was a decision his sons never agreed with and openly showed their frustration with.
"Heimdall couldn't find you because of that witch's magic and after years I had enough, who was he too watch over my people if he couldn't find you? So I trialed him for negligence but he escaped before I could start the trail. I found you by pure luck." Odin said looking at her up and down. "You've made quite a name for yourself, my dear, I would be lying if I said I wasn't proud."
Skadi frowned, looking down at his hand on her knee. She had so much more she wanted to ask not caring about him being proud or even how he found her anymore. Odin had his ways and she couldn't care about how he did things. She looked up at him, pushing his hand off of her, ready to get the answers she needed.
"You need to tell me what happened while I was gone," Skadi demanded, knowing that her father was trying to avoid the subject.
"You will want time to rest, you must be exhausted-,"
"No, I need to know now or else I'm going back to where you found me and I will not come back." Skadi spoke, harshly.
Odin sat back, running a hand over his beard, knowing he'd no longer be able to prolong the inevitable. Letting his hand fall to his lap and exhaled, "You deserve the truth, and I will tell you it but I promise you that you will not like it."
Skadi let out a deep breath, sitting back herself and getting comfortable as her father began to fill her in on everything she had missed out on while she was gone. It didn't take long for her to wish that she had never come back home and stay ignorant back with the Guardians. She dreamed of being back on the Benatar, being held with Peter as they swayed around to the music on his Zune.
review reply-
Arianna Le Fay: I do intend to follow Infinity War/Endgame but there will be a few changes to different plot points and things I'll be adding that I'm excited about and hopefully you all will like :)