Early the next morning, before the sun had even rose over Aethiopia, Andromeda was shaken awake by her mother.
"Mother?" The princess squinted, "What are you doing?" She looked over her mother's shoulder to see the brown eyes of Cosima staring back at her.
"I will explain in a minute, child." Her mother urged her out of bed, "But for now put your shoes on! Cosima grab her a cloak! Hurry!"
Cosima obeyed going into Andromeda's closet and the young girl put on a pair of flats. "Mother you're scaring me." She whispered and the Queen shook her head.
"It is all my fault." Queen Cassiopeia remarked sadly as Cosima draped the cloak over Andromeda, pulling the hood of the black cloak on her head. Queen Cassiopeia put her hood on and Cosima followed the action.
"We must leave, now." Cosima informed the two of them, opening the door to the bedroom. "I know a passageway." The three woman hurriedly walked through the castle, a million question running through the youngest woman's head.
"Hey!" Ares voice called out to them and Andromeda jumped. "This way, my Queen." The dark man lead them down a stairway and through a door out of the back castle.
The rain poured on the three of them hard, soaking through their cloaks as they walked in the forest behind the castle. Andromeda had not been in these woods before, her mother and father always forbid her from going in them. The three woman walked through the trees until they were in the middle of the forest.
Queen Cassiopeia turned to her daughter with a frown. "I am sorry, my child. Please do not be mad at me."
Andromeda furrowed her brows, "What's going on Mother?"
The queen swallowed thickly before putting her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "I want you to know that I did not mean to cause this. I was always just so proud of you…" She trailed off, "Maybe too proud."
Andromeda turned to Cosima to see that the albino woman was crying, patting the young woman on the back.
"Mother," Andromeda repeated, "What's going on?"
"I have offended the gods. They are going to send a monster to attack our kingdom." Queen Cassiopeia informed her daughter and Andromeda covered her mouth in shock.
"What?" The princess gasped, tears forming in her eyes. "But...I... what can we do?"
"Your father has spoken to the oracle. The only way to stop the attack is to...to…" Her mother stammered, shaking her head.
"To what?" Andromeda asked, tears now streaming down her face.
"To sacrifice you!" Cosima exclaimed, putting her face in her hands and sobbing.
Andromeda said nothing, only starting to hyperventilate. Her mother wrapped her arms around her and kissed her forehead, trying to sooth her but Andromeda started to shake. "I'm going to die." She whispered to herself, before sobbing aloud, "I'm going to die!"
Queen Cassiopeia pulled back from her, shaking her daughter. "No!" The queen protested. "This is my fault! I will not let my child die for what I have done."
"But the kingdom will be destroyed!" Andromeda argued. "I do not want the kingdom to suffer in exchange for my life!"
"If anyone should die, it should be me!" The queen insisted, shaking her head. "Not you. Not my child."
"What am I going to do?" The bronze beauty yelled, yanking away from her mother, "Live in the forest the rest of my life while my kingdom is destroyed?" The young woman shook her head, angry tears falling from her eyes. "I will be sacrificed to the gods! A noble way to die mother!"
Queen Cassiopeia walked up to her daughter and slapped her, making Cosima sob and Andromeda snap a hand up to her cheek. The princess looked at her mother in shock, she had never laid a hand on her. "Listen to me." Her mother stressed sternly, taking the princess by her shoulders once again and looking into her eyes. "You will not die tonight. I will not let you be sacrificed, do you hear me? You will be safe."
Andromeda eyes snapped closed and she let out a quiet sob. "Where?" She whispered to her mother and the queen's fingers played with the emerald pendant around her neck.
"Asgard." The queen whispered in reply.
The princess opened her eyes in shock. "How?" She stammered out.
"Prince Loki is indebted to our family. This will be his way to repay the debt." The queen explained, moving the curls out of her daughter's face lovingly. "You will be safe." The older woman repeated to her daughter, cupping her cheek.
Light started to form from the heavens and the three woman looked up. Andromeda marveled as she looked around her, the rain around the three women seem to stop as the bright light came closer. As the light hit the ground around them, a figure appeared. The figure seemed to be a tall being.
The light subsided and Andromeda could see the figure clearer now. It was a tall man with the chiseled face and body of a Greek. The man had golden hair, straight as a blade of grass, a feature Andromeda had never seen before, and he had a full beard.
The tall man stepped in front of the women and the three women bowed, as did the man. "I am Thor," His loud voice seemed to boom as he bowed, "Son of Odin, Prince of Asgard."
"I am Queen Cassiopeia of Aethiopia." The queen introduced herself, her voice loud and regal as she bowed her head. "This is my daughter, Princess Andromeda of Aethiopia."
Andromeda curtsied in her cloak and Prince Thor took her hand, lightly brushing his lips across her knuckles.
"Nice to meet you, Princess." He smiled boyishly at her, and if it weren't for the situation Andromeda's dark skin would have a red tint to it. Thor dropped her hand and nodded to her mother. "I will escort the Princess to Asgard, your highness. My brother apologizes for his tardiness."
Andromeda's brows furrowed, "You're not coming with me?" She asked her mother.
Queen Cassiopeia shook her head with a sad smile. "I have to stay here and face the wrath of the gods. I am at fault, after all."
The princess frowned. "I do not want to go without you mother!"
"You must Andromeda. Now stop crying, girl, you'll get frown lines." Her mother chided playfully before embracing her daughter.
Andromeda laughed even though tears were streaming down her face and she hugged her mother tightly. The queen pulled away from her daughter and Andromeda turned to Cosmia.
"Come here, Cosmia." The princess ordered and when Cosmia got close enough she wrapped her arms around the servant. "Keep my mother safe, Cosima."
As they pulled back Cosima nodded, "I'll protect her with my life."
Queen Cassiopeia nodded to Thor. "She is ready." She announced, urging the young woman toward him.
"Excellent." Thor boomed, wrapping his arm around Andromeda. "Stand close now." The light from the heavens shined down on the duo.
"Goodbye Mommy." Andromeda muttered in a soft voice, but Queen Cassiopeia heard her and choked back a sob.
"Goodbye my baby."
Light surrounded Andromeda and it felt like she was floating. She felt like the only thing that was keeping her from floating away was Thor's arm around her waist. The light was so bright, she thought that she would go blind from it. It felt like the two of them were floating forever until they 'landed' in a golden room with a man standing in the center of it in golden armor.
Thor caught Andromeda before she could fall. His hands were wrapped around the princess' waist and her hands were on his chest. Andromeda blinked her amber eyes in shock before pushing away from him, muttering a soft word of thanks.
Thor smirked turning to Heimdall. "Hello Heimdall." He greeted the golden-eyed man, who in turn nodded to him.
"Prince Thor."
Andromeda walked around the platform and marveled at the view of the heavens, before turning her gaze on the guardian in golden armor. She stared in wonder at his eyes and how they contrasted against his dark skin. "He's beautiful." She muttered quietly to herself, but Heimdall's eyes snapped to her. The princess looked away in embarrassment and walked back to Thor, who led her outside the golden chamber.
Once outside, the princess took of the hood of her cloak, her face fully visible to Thor for the first time. The Asgardian Prince stared at the young princess, taking in her beauty.
The princess didn't even notice the prince's gaze on her face as she turned to the Asgardian kingdom. "Oh my gods…" Andromeda gasped, seeing the shining view of Asgard for the first time. The sky was the clearest blue she had ever seen and planets could be seen from their sky. The kingdom was filled with towns and tall golden buildings. The grass was a vibrant green and the palace...the palace was solid gold and extended high into the sky.
Thor grinned at the bronze woman before coming up behind her and lightly putting his hands on her shoulders. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Welcome to Asgard, Princess."
"It's the prettiest sight I have ever seen." The princess turned to Thor, "Your kingdom is beautiful." Her rosy lips smiled at the prince softly.
Thor shook himself out of his gaze and grinned back. "It is your kingdom for the time being also, Princess Andromeda." His voice boomed as he led her to a horse.
The bronze princess laughed, shaking her head. "I am just a guest, Prince Thor." She noted, "You are the prince of this kingdom." The golden-haired prince helped the princess on to a horse and chuckled at her comment.
"Do not fret, Princess," Thor smirked as he looked up at her on her horse. "I will take good care of you." He cooed flirtatiously and the young princess averted her eyes from him, shyly. Thor chuckled again before mounting his own horse.
"Do you know how to ride, Princess?" Thor asked in a teasing tone before they took off, noting that she was not sitting side saddle like other woman.
Andromeda huffed, "I will do just fine. Thank you Prince Thor."
Thor smiled at her cheekily and took off. Andromeda rolled her eyes and rode after him.
As they rode through the towns of Asgard, people stared at Andromeda. The princess smiled softly at the Asgardian peasants, even lifting a hand to wave. When they were halfway to the palace, Thor and Andromeda stopped at a stable to let their horses take a drink.
Thor helped Andromeda off her horse, though his hands seemed to linger around her waist. The princess rolled her eyes and stepped away from the grinning prince. She walked to her horse, and stroked him as he drank water.
"Prince Thor!" Children exclaimed as the two of them ran up to the prince. The boy and girl looked up at the golden-haired heir to the throne with stars in their eyes, gasping in awe.
"Hello children!" Thor's voice boomed as he ruffled the little boys hair. "How are you on this fine day?"
"Fantastic!" The boy replied, and the girl nodded, before asking. "Why are you at the stables today?"
Thor jokingly looked from left to right before leaning down and whispering, "Can the two of you keep a secret?" The children nodded eagerly and the prince grinned. "I am escorting a guest to the palace."
"A guest?" The girl asked, her little brows furrowing. "What kind of guest?"
"A princess." Thor replied and the children gasped.
"A princess?!" The girl exclaimed, looking to her brother. "Where is she?"
Andromeda walked out of the stable then, and the children stared at her with wide eyes. "Oh, hello." The bronze beauty greeted, smiling at the siblings. She kneeled down to their heights and playfully furrowed her brows. "What are your names?"
The little boy blushed and averted his eyes from the pretty woman, instead nudging his sister to answer for him.
"My name is Alva and his name is Asger." Alva grinned at the princess. "What is your name, your highness?"
"My name is Andromeda. You are very pretty Alva." The princess complimented the little girl, cupping her cheek with one hand. Andromeda cupped the little boys cheek and smiled prettily, "And you are very handsome Asger." The beauty laughed as the boy began to sputter and stood up to her full height.
Alva giggled at her brother before looking up at the princess. "Princess Andromeda," She started as Thor led the horses out of the stable. "Are you and Prince Thor courting?"
As Thor chortled, Andromeda's face flushed and her eyes widened. The princess shook her head and Alva pouted.
"That's too bad." Alva stated, frowning. "You would make a pretty queen, Princess Andromeda!"
"Thank you Lady Alva." Andromeda smiled, still a little embarrassed.
Thor calmed himself and walked over to the group. "I am sad to say, it is time for us to depart."
Princess Andromeda leaned down and hugged both of the children. "It was nice meeting the two of you." She chimed, smiling. Prince Thor helped her onto her horse before mounting his own.
"Goodbye children!" Thor waved as they rode off and the children waved back frantically. "You know Princess," the golden-haired prince started as he rode next to the bronze beauty. "Little Alva was correct, you would make a beautiful queen."
Andromeda looked to Thor with a raised brow. "I will make a beautiful queen," The princess paused before nudging her horse in it's side and speeding in front of Thor. "Of Aethiopeia!"
Thor chuckled at the mortal woman before charging forward. "It will take two weeks." He smugly smiled to himself.