Chapter VI "The meeting"
The retinue had reached Asgard. It was composed of Lady Elbereth, queen of the stars, Írimë¨, who walked behind her with the greatest of sorrows and a group of elves
They met an Asgardian who wore a shiny silver armor who welcomed them.
-I am Heimdal, guardian of the Realm of Asgard, welcome beautiful people of Alfheim
He said with solemn reverence.
-We are grateful for your hospitality.
Lady Elbereth said, but Írime barely heard her.
Her heart was too sad and she felt that her presence in Asgard was a betrayal for her beloved Jotnar. Even if the mission meant peace, they were their enemies.
Írime could not think clearly and the encounter with that first Asgardian had made things more difficult.
There was something in him, in his eyes, something she immediately identified with danger.
She remembered that night in Jotunheim, in the Temple, felt the same fear and could not understand this.
The Asgardian named Heimdal stopped his eyes on her after responding with another gallantry to Lady Elbereth.
His gaze was cold and terrifying, írime thought. Something in him told her to take care of herself, he was not someone she could trust. she recognized him as an enemy as soon as she saw him, a bad start for a mission that aimed at peace.
Once the welcome was over, the delegation headed towards the city of Asgard but when Írime passed by the Asgardian, he dedicated some words that made her stop.
-Welcome to Asgard, Sigyn.
lrime observed him perplexed, she did not understand why he had called her that, her name was not Sigyn so she knew that it meant something different.
But even when their eyes met and they both felt that they did not belong on the same side, Írime pretended to hide her feelings and speak friendly, that required great effort on her part.
-I am sorry mylord- she said humbly - but my name is Írimë
The Asgardian nodded and shook his head in a gentle bow.
-Welcome Írimë, Sigyn …
He insisted. It was clear that this was not a name but a denomination but the Istari observed him still not understanding, She had to continue on her way and that she did, a few steps later she turned her head to meet Heimdal's gaze again. What would he have wanted to say? she sighed, she would find out later, she weighed.
They passed through the huge golden door, an incomplete wall of enormous proportions rising up on either side.
The heart of Írimë was distressed, she walked with her head down, she did not want to be there.
Entering the palace worsened things. Two guards opened the way for them and when crossing the enormous doors they found a huge golden room that was surrounded by a crowd of heavily armed soldiers. At the end of the great hall rose the majestic throne and seated on it Odin, the king of Asgard.
Írimë returned to her head-down as soon as she saw it, She recognized Thor at his side.
But none of this mattered because what she felt later distracted her from anything she could see there.
She felt the same cold embrace she felt every time she came to Jotunheim.
This was not possible at all, she was very far away from there. Then an idea made her feel better. Maybe the betrayal of her people, her beloved Jotnar, is not real, maybe they were letting her know that. She was part of their world, and although she had lost their appearance, she still felt like a Jotun. Then, they were reminding, in her heart, that they were at her side at that moment. Maybe they understood, in their enormous wisdom, that she was fulfilling an order and that her presence there, although against her will, was good for them.
This sentiment eased her grief and she was able to continue the path less sadly.
But the cold grew stronger as she approached the throne.
She had never felt that outside of Jotunheim, it was very strange.
What happened later was even more so.
While walking behind her queen, with her head looking at the bright floor of the palace, Írimë heard a firm voice that said with a tone of disapproval -"What a waste of time! Peace? They will not find peace in Asgard-"
Írmë raised her head immediately. It was impossible that she had heard someone speak so clearly at such a distance and yet the voice was clear and strong, she knew that it came from inside her head.
Írimë could read the thoughts of those who shared her gift, could not enter the minds of everyone, only those who could also do so, it was like a communication channel that was little used by her.
Someone in that room shared her gift and had entered her head.
This scared her because if someone had been able to do it, maybe he would soon discover that she did not feel any love for them and this could jeopardize her mission.
The cold embrace, as she called it, was increasing.
But now she was worried about looking for the owner of that voice. Her eyes scanned the room, perched on each of those present.
She then looked forward, Odin sat majestically on the throne, on his left Thor and two other Asgardians she did not know, on his right a beautiful woman who understood was his wife, the queen. And then she heard the same voice again. -Someone should tell them to return to their world … -
Írimë's eyes stopped at the Asgardian who was standing next to the queen and when they did, he returned her gaze with a confused gesture.
He was dressed in green and gold and his head was covered by a helmet with two huge horns.
When their eyes meet Írimë felt something different. Who was he? Why did he provoke that feeling? Because she had discovered that she did not feel any rejection of that Asgardian. That if it was new for her.
She stopped in his bright eyes. They were beautiful, the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, but they were so sad .
It was as if those eyes were pierced her soul
They stared at her with an almost amused curiosity. Then she heard his voice again
-Can you hear me? He asked her, and she nodded her head slightly while he raised his eyebrows in a gesture of surprise.
-Oh! Well, I did not want to scare you, I was just thinking, it's not my fault that you could hear my thoughts …
Írmë thought that it was quite haughty to be someone who aroused in her such a pleasant feeling.
-Your words have not scared me, I'm not the one who has decided to come,My Lord Manwe has sent us, he believes in the peace.
She told him using the same way of communication.
He smiled when he received her words and respected in the same way.
-Well, your lord is very optimistic or very naive.
This offended her a lot but she decided that she would not show it
-It's very wise and that makes the difference.
He stayed a few seconds watching her.
- But if he is so wise? He should not see that your mission will fail ?
Írime nodded her head in a majestic attitude.
-Your vision may be too short.
And with this she decided to end the dialogue. She knew how to close that channel of communication when she wanted it. However, he smiled a mocking smile almost mocking, it seemed to her.
The lady next to him noticed this exchange of thoughts, Írimë observed her and knew that she did not share her gift and she was relieved that she had not heard her, even though she felt ashamed, maybe she had been too rude in her response and she did not intend to offend anyone, so she looked at her and bowed her head in reverence, the queen did the same.
It was not worth anything to írime to close her channel and prevent him from continuing in her head, because he was still there. Her thoughts were upset, she was not used to feeling something like that. She knew that even though she had forbidden him to continue urging in her mind, he was still in her mind because she could not stop thinking about him, his sad look and even his mocking smile.
She tried to concentrate her attention on the words of her Lady Elbereth, announcing their peace message.
-My Lord Manwe sends his respects and thanks for allowing us to enter his Realm.
Odin nodded to Elbereth's words
-It is an honor for us to have such distinguished guests.
He said.
It was the first time that Írime heard his voice, the first time she stepped on Asgard, and what she felt pierced her heart like a dagger.
A strange shudder ran through her body, each of her fibers tensed, her muscles and all her senses were placed in a position of alertness. She could not understand it, but her Istari spirit had prepared to attack.
To who? Odin? She could not understand it.
This is how the Istaris reacted to a threat, that was the signal that alerted them to danger. She knew that Odin was extremely dangerous.
Her gaze turned to the strange Asgardian next to the queen, for some reason she needed to know that he was fine. He also looked at her but with a gesture even more confused than before. Írime tried to recover her calm. What was happening to her?
Maybe having accepted that mission had not been the best of ideas.