Both girls stepped out the carriage, their eyes widening at the sight of Asgard's front gate. There in front of them was a huge golden fence, decorated heavily with runes and fancy crests that poked out of the top. Everything was a shiny gold- making it incredibly regal looking. The guard standing in front of the gate looked at them with a scrutinizing expression. He didn't move; not even his darkened fingers twitched off the spear he was holding.
Takumi shifted nervously on foot to foot as the Vanaheim guard closed the carriage behind them. He rode off without another word to them or the Asgardian, and they were left alone.
"Uhm.. Greetings." Takumi said blatantly, holding up her hand in a friendly gesture. She racked her brain for the proper way to introduce herself as a Princess, but nothing was coming to mind. Her mouth moved as though she wasn't in control. "We're from Vanaheim, and we're here to see the All-Father himself. There was some sort of marriage deal- I'm sure you've heard of it."
Kaisa hissed at her in embarrassment, but she didn't say a word.
The guard blinked, the only movement that Takumi had seen so far. His golden eyes shifted over the two sister's, looking over them slowly as though he was judging on how they moved, how they breathed, even the way they stood. It made the skin on Takumi's neck prickle. After a moment, he spoke in a deep, powerful voice. "So, you are the Princesses from the opposite realm." He said slowly. "Asgard has been expecting your arrival."
"I am sorry for my sister's impolite manners." Kaisa said hurriedly. "I am Kaisa Vanir, the eldest. My sister is Takumi Vanir. We would like entrance into your kingdom, if you would allow it."
Takumi rolled her eyes as Kaisa kept talking to the guard. Of course they wanted to get into the city- thats why they were there. And her greeting wasn't THAT bad. At least she had bought up the stupid marriage deal in the first place. She huffed to herself and looked around at their surroundings, blocking out the conversation between the strange man and Kaisa.
Everything was different, she realized. There wasn't much grass outside of the gate, it was mainly a worn-down cobblestone path that lead up and over to the great beyond of the star rivers. She remembered the strange feeling of riding along the star river for the first time, a wobbly ship among the glowing balls of light. Leaving behind the mechanical city of Vanaheim was almost a relief; she had been anxious to see something other than the metallic linings of the palace. Her mind wandered a bit. How did Asgard look? Did it look like the rich and lush kingdom like in the scrolls? Or was it empty and expanded, like the tribal realms? She could only wonder.
"We would be happy to meet with Odin." She heard Kaisa say. Takumi glanced a look at her sister, now paying rapt attention to what they were talking about. "Thank you for your service, gatekeeper Heimdall."
The guard, Heimdall apparently, bowed his head. "The pleasure, Princess Kaisa. You and your sister will be escorted to the palace at once."
Before Takumi could say anything, Heimdall had picked up his large staff and bumped it against the ground. There was a loud rumbling sound, and the golden gates started to swing open. Takumi could see the kingdom of Asgard slowly coming into view. Two other guards dressed in heavy armor were waiting for them on the other side, silent and unmoving.
Kaisa gently grabbed Takumi's arm and started to walk forward, the both of them slowly walking over the border into Asgard. Takumi felt twists of anxiety in her stomach, turning her palms sweaty and her knees weak.
"Beware, Vanir sisters." Heimdall spoke suddenly, just as the two of them had crossed to the other side of the gate. His head slowly turned towards them, his golden eyes piercing into theirs. "As the gatekeeper of Asgard, it is my job to make sure that this kingdom is safe from intruders and outsiders. If opposing realms are to hear of your arrival, then you will be protected at all costs. There is always the possible threat of war between the realms. Beware of this, Princesses."
"War? What the hell are you talking about?" Takumi snapped, before she could stop it. Kaisa slapped a hand over her mouth, effectively shutting her up.
"Thank you, Heimdall." Kaisa said kindly.
Heimdall nodded silently, and with another bump of his staff, the huge golden gates started to close. The path leading out to the other realms slowly disappeared from view.
Takumi angrily wrenched herself out of Kaisa's grip and nearly lost her footing, stumbling backwards into one of the guards. She flinched forwards and stood still, her face flushed red.
They chuckled, much to her irritation. "Come with us, Princesses." One of them said, sounding amused. "We must see Odin at once and inform him of your arrival."
As they walked down the long bridge leading into the kingdom, Takumi made sure to keep her humiliated gaze on the ground and away from Kaisa's glare. In front of her, she saw one of the guards nudging the other and the two of them snickering.
"Aye, lassie, graceful one eh?" He said to her, laughing heartily as he said it. "I thought the Princesses of Vanaheim would be more graceful and prudent!"
"I'm not a clumsy oaf." Takumi snapped to them, ignoring another glare from Kaisa. "My foot slipped and I accidently landed on you dunces."
One of the guards with a busy red beard turned around and stared at her. "You have a mouth on ye, lassie. You should watch yourself, before you say the wrong thing. We don't take kindly to women who smart off to us, and it will not be tolerated around the All-Father."
"Maybe you shouldn't act like a total dic-"
"Takumi!" Kaisa said sharply, cutting her off. Her sister looked at the guards with a sorry expression. "I apologize for her. She is unhappy with the journey, and the both of us are tired. We are grateful that you have volunteered to escort us to the palace. Neither of us have ever been outside of Vanaheim."
The guard grunted, accepting Kaisa's apology. Takumi glowered at him, feeling a flicker of red-hot anger surge once in her veins. She longed for her magic staff that was still in her hidden compartment at home. It was the only thing that calmed her nerves down. Her fingers reached up to the belt on her waist, where they gently touched the handle of the dagger she had stuffed in there. It was Kaisa's old hunting knife, the kind that she used when she was younger. It soothed her nerves a little, but she kept imagining swinging out the dagger and stabbing it into the guard in front of her.
She licked her lips and looked around her. There were colors that flashed with every step that she took, flashing underneath her dress and illuminating her steps with tiny lights. It was the famous rainbow bridge- and now that she was up close she saw that it was made with tiny crystals and stones. Takumi peered her head over the side of the bridge and saw a vast ocean underneath them, rushing into a waterfall that poured down in a frothy fog that she couldn't see beyond. She lifted her eyes to the sky; a brilliant splash of orange and red as the two suns were setting.
Asgard. This was Asgard.
Odin stood silently on his outdoor crest, watching over his kingdom with his one good eye. The evening was coming to a quiet close- it had been a quiet day altogether. There wasn't much for him to worry about, for once, and he had spent most of the day relaxing and restoring his powers without stooping to Odinsleep. Refreshed, he was now thinking strictly on the two Vanaheimians that were probably making their way to Asgard at this very moment.
He was worried about how the marriages would play out. There was much to be done; the entire kingdom would participate in the wedding ceremonies and there would be a grand feast prepared by the best chefs in the Nine Realms. He would have to appoint his guards to every place of weakness, especially the weapons vault where the Jotunheim cube was stored. He knew that during the course of the wedding, his enemies would be watching very carefully.
He sighed and put his hands on the golden railing, leaning on it. He felt a small gust of wind behind him, and he closed his eyes as he gripped the rail even tighter before he turned and faced the shadowy man standing behind him. "Sveigoir. You know better than to sneak up on me at a time like this."
"I know this as well as you do. My time is short, All-Father, I will only be a moment." Sveigoir nodded, his features becoming more prominent as his spell took it's affect. The King of Vanaheim stood in front of him, his dark eyes shining with the old wisdom that all the realm leaders shared. Even with the hairs on his head and his beard spotting grey and the wrinkles lining his eyes, he looked as powerful as ever.
"Pray, what are you doing here?" Odin asked, shaking his head in confusion. "Do not take offense to this, Sveigoir, but I believe that our last talk covered up things nicely."
Sveigoir tilted his head ever so slightly, his Vanaheim crown sparkling in the setting sunlight. "All-Father, I take no offense. But I am not here to discuss my daughters; I am more worried about the impending forces against our realms."
"War has been avoided for centuries, my old friend. There is no point in worrying about it now, especially when the leadership of our kingdoms are about to be shifted." Odin gestured to the outside window, showing off the sparkling kingdom of Asgard. "Laufey has kept his terms with Asgard, even after the breach with Loki's misbehavings. We have not had another incidence."
"I am not talking about Laufey or Jotunheim." Sveigoir said seriously. "I am talking about an ancient enemy, one that has been asleep for many centuries. It has now awakened, and it is watching over both our realms."
Odin was astounded, and he felt a twinge of anger deep inside his gut, a feeling that he hadn't had for a long time. "Do you mean...?"
"Yes." Sveigoir looked grave. Odin stared at the floor and then slowly turned towards the railing again, his fingers clasping at the golden rail once more.
He closed his eyes and concentrated hard, using his powers to detect the aura around him. At first he felt nothing but the calming essence of light, and then he felt the aura of the great king behind him. It was a bright white light, and a calm sense washed over him. Then he felt it- a darkness that was slowly spreading over the white light. In his vision he could hear the dark laughter of the old enemy, someone that he hadn't seen in many centuries.
His eyes flew open and he stumbled back a little, gasping for breath. Sveigoir was right.
"This cannot be." he breathed, trying to labor his thumping heart. He turned towards his old friend, who's spell was wearing off and making his figure look smoky. Sveigoir looked sad as he shook his head, looking disfigured as the remnants of the spell wavered.
"My friend, we must be prepared. This is no longer our war, but our sons' and daughters'. This curse has carried onto them, I fear."
Odin shook his head. "We cannot force this onto them. Besides, it is tradition, and women are not able to fight in the wars."
"Traditions change." Sveigoir said simply. His body was becoming transparent. "My daughters have abilities, All-Father. You have your mistakes with your children, as I do mine."
Loki.. Is he talking about Loki...? "We will see, Sveigoir." Odin said quietly, as the figure of the Vanaheim king disappeared into the air. He knew that it would be a very long time before Sveigoir would appear again, depending on whether there would be enough spell materials to conduct such a powerful transportation, and whether he was still as powerful or not. No matter, he said what he needed to say.
Odin looked over and sighed. There was much to be done, as soon as possible. If his hunch was right, as it usually was, it would be a dangerous and long war, complete with the deaths of many warriors. Perhaps the old Vanaheim king was right- perhaps it was time to change the old traditions. He didn't understand what Sveigoir's mistakes with his daughters were; not that it was any of his business.
The door to the hall suddenly opened, and a guard poked his head through, bowing his head respectfully. "All-Father, the Vanaheim princesses have arrived. They are waiting outside the palace."
"I will be out momentarily. Call for Thor and Loki." Odin instructed. The guard nodded and closed the door, leaving him in the peaceful silence.
We will take this one step at a time. He decided. There is no use in fretting over the events to come.
I did some research on who the king of Vanaheim was, and his name was a lot more complicated than the spelling here. I made it more simpler for me to write and its a lot easier to say.
Please tell me if you don't like my portrayal of any of the characters. Or tell me if you do. Either or, I'd like some feedback of the story in general.
Review.