(A/N: So the myth comes back in these next few chapters. It is going to be very exciting and all that.)
Andromeda stared up at the ceiling of her Asgardian suite, willing time to slow down. She had tried to go to sleep, but the butterflies in her stomach would not settle. In less than four hours she was going to be home and the voices in her head would not stop screaming about it.
The princess sighed and got out of her large bed, running a hand through her wild curls. She slipped on some slippers and wrapped a robe around her body, quietly leaving her room. She tip-toed through the palace hallways, trying not to think about how this would probably be the last time.
Andromeda opened the door to that lead out to the royal garden and slipped through it, brushing her fingertips against the tops of flowers. She looked up at the full moon shining over Asgard and smiled, feeling rejuvenated by its glow. She sat down at the garden's stone bench and put her feet up, wrapping her arms around her legs and placing her chin on her knees.
She supposed she could have wished on a star, but who would be listening?
"Please let everything be alright…" Andromeda whispered to no one.
"I am sure it will." A voice sounded from the side of her and the princess turned her head, smiling when she saw it was Thor. The prince walked over to her and sat on the other side of the bench, putting Andromeda's dainty feet in his lap. "Why are you awake Andromeda? You should be getting your beauty sleep."
"It is not like I need it." Andromeda retorted smartly, making Thor laugh. The princess smiled at the laughter but it soon faltered, "I am scared."
"Aye it is understandable, you have been gone for a Midgardian year." The golden prince stated, slipping Andromeda's slippers off her feet and massaging them.
Andromeda pouted and sniffed, "What if they resent me for the wrath of the Gods? What if they want to burn me alive?"
Thor raised an eyebrow, "Then I will save you and bring you back here to be my queen." He finished with a smirk, tickling the bottom of Andromeda's feet.
The princess giggled and kicked at his hands, "Thor I am serious!"
"I am serious as well, Andromeda." The golden prince's calloused hands rubbed the princess' exposed legs. "They will continue to love you, I am sure."
Andromeda bit her lip and looked away from Thor's doting eyes, suddenly feeling guilty. "Thor," She started, looking up at the stars, "When I return to Aethiopeia I am to be wed." The slow circles on her legs did not falter, the fingers just dug deeper into her skin. "It is a very odd thing to think about...being married. I really can not imagine it. I feel like I am so young, compared to all of you. Our lives on Midgard are so insignificant and short. I am afraid now that I know there is something better I…" Andromeda stopped talking when she felt tears run down her cheeks.
"Oh come now," Thor cooed, opening his arms to the princess, and Andromeda scooted in, "Do not cry."
She let out a sad little laugh, "I am always crying." She muttered into Thor's chest.
The golden prince boomed out a laugh and rocked her back and forth like a child. "You are a very compassionate woman, there is no shame in that."
"I am going to miss you." Andromeda sniffled, closing her eyes. Thor said nothing in reply, just continuing to rock her back and forth. The princess soon fell asleep, breathing softly against the prince's chest.
Thor smiled down at her and stood up, cradling her like a bride. He walked through the hallways of the palace, making his way to her room. He opened her bedroom door and kicked it shut behind them, walking over to her bed. As gently as he could, he placed her on the bed, marveling at how her hair flowed around her like a halo. The golden prince leaned over her and brushed his lips against her forehead, inhaling her scent, before standing straight and preparing to leave. A hand grasped his wrist and he looked back, seeing Andromeda's sleepy amber eyes. "Thank you." She muttered, smiling lazily. Thor nodded silently and patted her hand, leaving the bedroom as Andromeda's eyes fluttered closed.
Five hours later, Andromeda was standing at the bridge between worlds. The young woman's curls were left down, caressing her back. The princess' body was adorned with a white gown that cinched at her waist and crossed over her shoulders in a cape; her last Asgardian gown. A thin, golden crown was placed on her head.
Standing in front of the princess were the King and Queen of Asgard and their eldest son; the youngest prince was not in attendance.
Andromeda bowed her head, smiling prettily at the royals. "Thank you for your hospitality." She breathed, standing straight once again.
The queen returned the smile and pecked the girl on each cheek, "It was an honor to have you, Princess Andromeda." She wrapped her arms around the princess and whispered in her ear, "I am sure my youngest will miss you, too."
Andromeda smiled sadly in reply as the queen took a step back, standing by her husband. Thor was last to say goodbye, walking to the princess with a straight face and taking her hands in his. "Your presence will be missed by all, Andromeda. But you are a strong ruler for choosing your kingdom over yourself." The prince leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek, "I hope to be as formidable of a ruler as you one day." Thor finished with a wink.
"That day will be far in the future I am sure." The beauty teased the prince one last time with a smirk. Thor chuckled lowly and nodded, a wide grin on his face.
"It is time." Heimdall, the gatekeeper informed Andromeda and the beauty nodded.
With one last doting look she stepped into the portal from which she came, holding in her tears as light began to flash around her. She lifted her hand in a wave but before she could make the motion the royal family disappeared from her view. Andromeda traveled through the worlds, her hair waving wildly around her, until she was transported into a large grass plain.
The princess landed with a jolt fell into the dirt, where a foreign marking was burnt into the ground. The curly-haired woman lifted herself out of the dirt and smoothed her gown. Unlike Asgard, where it was the early morning when she left, the sun was just setting over Aethiopia.
"Andromeda?" The princess' head whipped around at the sound of her name. Standing there with Cosima and Ares was her mother. Queen Cassiopeia wrapped her arms around her only child, squeezing her tightly. "My Gods, you are alive!"
"Mother." Andromeda breathed, tears running down her cheeks. "I can not believe…" The princess got choked up as her mother pulled away and held her at arm's length.
The queen's smile turned into a frown as she looked her daughter up and down, "Gods, what on Earth are you wearing?!" She exclaimed and Andromeda laughed, turning to her albino handmaiden.
"Cosima!" The princess smiled, embracing the pale woman.
Cosima returned the embrace, crying. "I thought I would never see you again." The woman muttered to her surrogate child, nuzzling into her hair. Another dark set of arms wrapped around the two women, "I am glad to see you back, Princess Andromeda." Ares deep voice bellowed.
"Alright, alright." Queen Cassiopeia waved her hands, separating the three. "That is enough. Come Andromeda we have much to discuss."
The Queen and Princess of Aethiopia walked through the field, a servant holding a canopy over their heads.
"Andromeda tell me about Asgard. What was it like?" Her mother inquired, a beautiful smile gracing her face.
The princess smiled back and hummed in absolute bliss, "Oh Mother is was beautiful! Golden walls, bright skies, beautiful people! Oh and they had these flowers! Even if you cut them they still bloomed!"
"That sounds wonderful, dear." Queen Cassiopeia cooed, twirling one of Andromeda's curls around her finger like she did when the girl was younger. "How did you get along with the royals? That Prince Thor seemed to take a liking to you when he transported you there." Andromeda's face flushed and she looked away from her mother. Cassiopeia raised a dainty brow at her daughter's reaction. "Andromeda, my beautiful girl, please tell me you are still virtuous."
"Mother!" Andromeda snapped with a grimace. "Of course I am! Gods, why would you say something like that?"
Queen Cassiopeia narrowed her pretty eyes, "Do not raise your voice at me unless you want to wake without a tongue."
The younger woman bit her tongue with wide eyes and nodded, changing the subject quickly. "How did the kingdom survive the wrath of the Gods? What happened?"
The queen's glare melted and she shook her head, "Oh Andromeda it was awful! It rained for weeks! Thunder boomed through the land and lightning struck at every hour!" Her mother dramatized fluttering her fingers in the air. "But none of that could compare to the worst wrath of them all! Poseidon sent a monster to ravage the kingdom. It rose from the harbor and killed many of our citizens!"
"Gods!" Andromeda gasped, a hand over her chest.
"Yes." Cassiopeia nodded with wide eyes, before smiling, "But a brave warrior seeking refuge slayed the monster and saved us!"
"What?" The princess exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Yes!" Her mother replied once more, a large smile on her face. "You will meet him at the banquet tonight." The older woman looped her arm around her daughters and lowered her voice, "He is very handsome, Andromeda."
Andromeda furrowed her eyebrows, forcing herself to say, "Mother that is not appropriate, I am engaged, remember?"
Queen Cassiopeia stopped in her tracks, making the princess stop also. She turned to her daughter and put her hands on her shoulders, a solemn look on her face. "Andromeda," She started in a low tone, "Your uncle Phineus is dead." The mother searched her daughter's face and embraced her, whispering, "He battled with the monster and perished."
Andromeda swallowed thickly, feeling terrible about the relief that washed over her. Her mother stepped away from their embrace and continued to walk, seeing the palace just across the horizon. The princess was silent for the remainder of the journey, a pensive look across her face. When they finally arrived to the palace, the doors were opened for them. King Cepheus stood at the doorway with his arms opened wide.
"Father!" Andromeda called, running into her father's arms. The king gave his daughter a tight hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. The princess giggled and squealed, feeling like a little girl again.
King Cepheus set his daughter down and grinned widely, pinching her cheek. "My family is complete once more!"
"Alright dear," Queen Cassiopeia said to her husband, "Andromeda has to get ready for the banquet!" The mother turned to her daughter and looked her up and down distastefully. "I can not have her be seen in such an obscene dress! And with her hair down no less!"
"Mother…" Andromeda started, only to be tugged away by Cosima.
The albino woman hooked her arm around the princess' and whispered, "You have just gotten home and you are already causing a ruckus, Princess!"
"I am not!" The young girl huffed as Cosima opened the door to her old bedroom.
Andromeda's eyes scanned over her bedroom and smiled, taking a deep breath of air. Everything was just like she left it, though her bed was made; even her cosmetics were in the same place.
The handmaiden laughed and sat on the bed as servants came in to get the princess ready. "You are still hard-headed I see!"
"I am not!" Andromeda repeated, giggling when she realized her words gave her away. The maids made quick work of stripping her out of her dress, tossing it carelessly to the side. "Hang that up." She insisted with a scoff and her demand was quickly obeyed. She was led to the bathroom where a marble tub was filled with warm water. She slowly sunk into the warmth, sighing in content. Her body was scrubbed clean of Asgard, the scent being replaced by rose petals. When her body was completely cleansed, Cosima came into the bathroom and massaged soap into her hair.
Andromeda moaned, "I missed your hands, Cosima."
"I missed your ruckus, Princess."
The beauty laughed and it carried through the bathroom. "I do not know how you and Ares survived without my antics bringing the two of you together."
Cosima giggled and rinsed the soap from her curls, "We did just fine without you."
"You are not married yet." Andromeda retorted, her sapling eyes now open and staring up at the handmaiden.
"Oh?" Cosima raised a brow, covering her mouth with her hand.
Andromeda's eyes widened and she turned in the tub, squealing in delight. "Cosima! Oh my Gods! You and Ares are-!"
Cosima nodded with a huge grin and the princess wrapped her wet arms around her, drenching the poor woman. "Princess!" She exclaimed with a laugh.
"I want to cry, I am so happy for the two of you!" Andromeda beamed as Cosima wrapped a towel around her body. "How long has it been?"
"We will be approaching five months in the next week." Cosima informed her, wiping the moisture from the younger woman's body.
"I cannot believe this." Andromeda whispered, shaking her head. "My Cosima and Ares...married!"
Cosima just smiled as she wrapped a robe around Andromeda and sat her down at her vanity. Two servants came swarming to the princess, quickly combing through her hair and drying it with towels. As they began to braid her hair, Cosima watched through the mirror.
"You know princess," The albino woman started, a small smirk on her face, "You could be the next one to be wed."
Andromeda snorted unattractively, straightening her posture when Cosima sent her a look. She cleared her throat, "Why do you think that?"
"This warrior the Queen was speaking of is very handsome."
The princess rolled her eyes. She had been adored by gods; how handsome could this mortal warrior be?
Cosima saw the unconvinced look on the princess' face and continued to speak. "He is beautiful, Andromeda, he looks like a statue come to life!"
"A married woman should not talk about a man that is not her husband in such a way!" Andromeda teased in a scandalized voice, wincing when a servant pulled a curl too tight. Her hair was finished and it was braided back in small plaits, all of the hair gathering in the middle of her head in a large, braided bun.
"I am just trying to warn you." Cosima stated wistfully, "You might fall in love tonight."
Andromeda rolled her eyes once more as the maids began to paint her face in bronze hues. "Love, love, love. I am quite sick of the notion." Her face was painted in metallic colors of gold and bronze, the maids coloring her lips with mashed berries.
"What brought on this attitude? You used to be an Aphrodite incarnate." The albino woman questioned, going to get Andromeda's dress for the evening out of her wardrobe.
Andromeda bit her lip and shook her head, looking in the mirror sadly. "It is not any of your concern. Just know that I am sick of it and whoever this warrior is will not make me change my mind." The princess finished sternly, standing from the vanity. Cosima took the robe off of her and dressed her in a beautiful white gown with gold embroidery. The collar of the gown was gold and it scooped down, stopping just above her cleavage. The sleeves of the gown had thin gold cuffs on the elbows and thicker gold cuffs on the wrists, the white fabric flowing between the tucks. The body of the dress draped over Andromeda, the cloth falling on her body and hugging it, though it was not as tight as her Asgardian gowns.
"Beautiful." Cosima breathed, smoothing the dress down with her hands and fastening golden sandals on the princess' feet. "I have to go get ready myself. You are to stay in this room until I come get you, understood?" Andromeda didn't answer, to busy gazing at herself in the mirror. "Andromeda." Cosima growled and the princess waved her off.
"Yes, yes. I will not leave."
"No one can see you. Please do not leave this room or your mother will have my head." Cosima pleaded, giving her one last look before leaving the room with the servants.
Andromeda stared at the door for a moment before huffing, going to her bookcase. She ran her hands over the book spines, smiling when she found her old journal. She took the book and flipped through the pages, laughing as she read her childish thoughts. She put her journal back and sat on her bed, kicking her feet. The princess got up from the bed and began to spin in circles, watching her dress twirl around with her. She stopped twirling when she got dizzy and sat down once more, smoothing her dress with her hands.
The beauty walked out onto her balcony looking up at the night sky. Just this morning she was up there in Asgard and now she was back home on Earth. The woman felt like she should be happier than she was, but she could not help but feel sad.
Andromeda sighed solemnly and leaned against her balcony railing, placing her hand on her cheek. Little did she know was that someone was watching her from below.