A midgardian sun beamed down onto royal skin. A forgotten land was replicated in the deepest of dreams and as bare feet walked along the soft grass, it felt all too real.
In a draping gown of white and gold, Andromeda slowly made her way through the plains of her childhood. She was so warm, yet her face remained blank. Even in her dreams, she couldn't help but be melancholy.
"Come in close, now it's time to tell a story." A voice floated with the breeze, making her halt.
Turning on her heel, she went in the direction the breeze, her long hair floating behind her.
"Long ago, and so many years before we…" Andromeda pushed the long stalks of the sunflowers out of her way and walked through the maze like field, remembering the trail from when she was a child.
"Ever were, ever dreamed we even could be…"
"Mother?" The princess finally allowed herself to breathe as she made it to the other side and the sun disappeared from her sight. She was in her old home, the marble floors cold against her feet. She glanced behind her and saw a stone wall.
"There was her and her very first heartbeat…"
The soft voice carried once more, though the breeze was gone. It now bounced off the walls, echoing through the empty halls. Andromeda returned to her journey to find the singer, the short trail eventually leading to her bedroom, where the door was cracked.
The bronze beauty paused for a moment, leaning into the crack of the door and hearing her mother's hushed voice. She raised a hand to open the door, but the sound of a baby cooing stopped her. Getting her nerve back, she slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside her room, her face spreading in a watery smile at the scene before her.
It was her mother, her face not yet marked with age, and she was holding a baby wrapped in golden blankets. She was seated in an old rocking chair made of wicker, handmaidens busy at work around her.
"Little Andromeda," Her mother cooed, nuzzling her nose against the baby's, "Ruler of Men. I am so blessed that the Gods sent you to me." Her mother's smile was bright and in the next moment, those dark eyes were on her.
"You, girl!" She called and Andromeda froze, "Do you want to see the baby?"
"Yes, your highness." A tiny voice chirped behind her and when she turned around, a ten year old Cosima ran past her. The albino child bowed to the queen before peeking at the infant.
"She's beautiful."
"I know." Andromeda's mother beamed, the baby giggling. "I have prayed every day for a daughter but never could I have imagined that she would be so…" The words faded out and Andromeda was snapped out of her trance. She looked around the room with furrowed brows; everyone was still talking, yet she heard nothing.
In a moment, the picture perfect moment began to melt away and she was left with an empty room and a cold feeling. Chills ran up her back and she wrapped her arms around her body, to try to recover some of the warmth. She made her way to her empty bed, sitting on the comforter. From a distance, something gleamed and she glanced at herself in the mirror to see a green pendant hanging from her neck.
Andromeda's hand shot up to clutched the necklace but when she looked down at herself, nothing was there. Her heart dropped into her stomach and one name ran through her mind.
With a sharp inhale and a heaving chest, Andromeda shot up from the bed, her eyes frantic as she looked around the room. It was still dark, yet streams of light fought its way through the thick curtains. The absence of warmth told her she was alone.
Getting up from the bed, Andromeda padded to the curtains and opened them, sunlight flooding into the room. Pursing her lips, she turned around and headed into the bathroom, glancing up at her reflection in the mirror.
It was still her. Her eyes were still brown and her skin was still dark. Her curls were still to the start of her back and her face was still a mirror of her mother's. Nothing had changed and yet everything had.
Splashing water onto her face, she patted her skin dry with a towel. Padding back into the bedroom, she opened the dresser and picked out a dress for the day, choosing something very loose that she could move in. She had the dress made ages ago, wanting more pieces that reminded her of home, and it was white with gold spun into the fabric. She slipped on her lightweight slippers and sat at her vanity.
Andromeda braided her hair into two plaits, then pinned them around her head in a halo. Grabbing the crown made for her by the children, she placed it over her hair, then covered that crown with her golden one. She dusted gold powder onto her cheeks and applied gel to her lips, staring at her neck for a moment before tying the bracelet Thor had given her to her wrist. She pressed her lips against it and stood, grabbing a cloak as she left the chambers.
Andromeda heard her footsteps echo as she trotted down the hallway, her cloak flowing behind her like a cape. She nodded at the people who passed her politely, though her mind was on her desired destination.
The princess reached the stables in no time and as she approached the doors, she picked a fruit from a basket. Bright green eyes found hers and she gave a tight smile, offering up the fruit to the steed. She stroked her son as he finished the fruit then pressed her forehead to his.
"I missed you, too." The beauty whispered, leaning back with a smile, "Are you up for a ride?" The beast's eyes lit up and he neighed, shaking his head up and down. Andromeda smiled and took a step back as the stable hands rushed to free him.
In another ten minutes, she was off, her cloak covering her head. By midday, she was crossing the rainbow bridge and a little after that, she was at the observatory. Patting Slepnir's head, she climbed the steps, taking her hood off as she faced Heimdall's back.
"Princess Andromeda." Heimdall greeted, not turning to her.
"Heimdall." The princess greeted back, toeing around the large space. "My friend. You see and hear everything." She muttered before biting her lip, "You know why I am here. Tell me, and please do not mince words; did you feel him, too?"
It was silent for a moment and Andromeda closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "Heimdall, please."
"I cannot see him."
The princess trotted up the platform, making the guardian face her. She looked into his golden eyes and swallowed, "He's in my dreams." She spoke the admission aloud for the first time, "B-b-but he's just beyond my reach."
"I have seen what you have you seen." Heimdall admitted with a short nod, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I am sure it is nothing."
"Do not lie to me." Andromeda begged, her lips pursing, "I know you feel it, too. If he's alive, something isn't right." She desperately tried to explain, her fingers tugging at her bracelet. "It was like he was trying to contact me but he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough."
"Princess Andromeda you cannot keep harping on this. You have other things to worry about." The guardian warned cryptically, making her step away.
"What does that mean?" Andromeda questioned with a frown. Her guide turning away from her was the only answer. "You see all," The beauty repeated, turning around and raising her hood, "You know all, but what do you really know?" She sneered, floating out of the observatory.
"You will see."
Andromeda paused but did not look back, instead raising her fingers to her lips in a whistle. Sleipnir galloped toward her and she jumped on, urging him to take her home.
As soon as they reached the palace doors, she dismounted the steed, telling the stable hands to take him home. She kissed her son's head and watched the hands lead him away with a reassuring smile.
When she couldn't see them anymore, her grin dropped and she turned on her heel, walking into the forest. She let her feet guide her to her special place, her mind racing. Before she knew it she was at the spring.
Sliding her slippers off of her feet, she fell to her knees and stared at the water. The grass under her welcomed her touch and caressed the bare skin of her feet. She lost track of how long she sat there but the sound of the stream was relaxing.
The sound of rustling alerted her to someone in the brush. Raising herself from her knees, she glanced behind her, "Show yourself."
A very young man dressed in the palace guard uniform stepped from behind a tree, his hands up in surrender. Andromeda furrowed her brows as she got a look at the man's blue eyes. They were familiar in a way.
"Boy," The princess chimed, slowly stepping towards the guard, "What is your name?"
The man looked down and bowed his head, placing a fist over his heart, "I did not mean to scare you, your highness."
"It takes more than that to scare me. Now," Andromeda lightly touched his chin and brought his face up to examine him. The guard's cheeks promptly turned red. Recognition rang through her mind and she smiled. To confirm her suspicion, she removed his helmet, a bright grin on her pretty face.
"Little boy," Andromeda beamed, "I do believe I know you."
The man turned ever more red and sputtered, "M-m-my n-name is-!"
"Oh I know who you are, little Asger." The beauty laughed, pinching his cheek. "Gods, have you grown! Almost as tall as Thor and just as handsome as can be!" Andromeda cooed like a mother, setting his helmet down to cup his cheeks. "And to be a guard at the palace, as well! I am so proud."
"T-t-thank you, your highness." Asger tried to bow his head, but the grip on his cheeks kept him upright. "I-I was j-j-just making sure you were alright."
Andromeda smile faltered a tad but it soon returned, "How is your sister? Alva, was it? I still have the original crown the two of you made me. Now all these children do is make me crowns and braid my hair!"
Asger nodded a bashful grin slowly growing on his face, "She is well. She works in the kitchens now."
"Oh I have to make sure to visit her!" The beauty chimed, searching his face. "Gods, it seems like just yesterday you were a child who could not even look me in the eyes."
"I…" The guard started before bending down to pick up his helmet, "Pardon my candor, your highness… But you made me nervous… I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen."
Andromeda looked down bashfully and shook her head. She met his eye again and slipped off her hood, "Thank you." She muttered, before getting an idea. "What is your post at the palace?"
"I guard the perimeter." Asger replied shyly, "It's the lowest post, but I am not complaining, your highness."
"Of course not." Andromeda shook her head with a knowing smile, "I will get you a better position. Who is your kin?"
"Oh," Asger shook his head frantically, "N-n-no, your highness, I could not-!" The beauty raised her hand to silence the guard, her mind made up. The man blonde sighed, his rounded cheeks puffing, "Gunne, your highness."
"Son of Gunne." Andromeda chimed nodding her head, "It shall be and," She turned around going to pick up her slippers from the spring's side, "I will make Alva my handmaiden, she is too pretty to be working in the kitchens."
Asger tripped over his words trying to thank her and she just shook her head, raising her hood once again. "Oh hush, put your helmet on and escort me back to the palace." Hooking her arm through his, Andromeda began to ask him about his life, needing the distraction.
By the time they reached the palace, Andromeda had learned that Asger and Alva were the equivalent to adolescents on Earth. Their parents had died a little after she left and Asger had to fend for the both of them. When they became of age, they got jobs at the palace because it gave them food and shelter.
"Now don't you worry, Asger, I will have the two of you straightened out in no time." Andromeda patted his bicep and winked, trotting down the hallway to do her chores. She lowered the hood from her head and made her way to her garden.
The princess walked into the courtyard and breath deeply, smiling at her plants. "Hello children." She chimed, going into the small greenhouse to get her watering can. Taking off her cloak and placing it on the stone bench, she began to feed her babies.
As she was watering her hybrid roses, meaty arms creeped around her waist and lips pressed into the crook of her neck. She couldn't help the smile that spread over her lips but she tried. "Thor I am busy." The beauty snapped with a giggle, worming her way out of his arms to water a different section of her garden. "Go bother someone else."
The prince frowned playfully and grabbed at her dress, tugging her backwards. "Princess," He whined like a child, "Andy…"
"Oh do not call me that." Andromeda laughed, turning around to face him, "How can I help you?"
Thor grinned widely and rocked on his feet, his eyes teasingly bashful. "I just wanted to see you."
"I bet." The princess chimed, tapping her nails against the watering can. She stared him down for a moment before he surrendered, leaning down to press his lips against hers. She giggled against his lips and returned to her plants. "What did you do today, noble son of Odin?"
"Boring meetings." Thor grumbled, slumping down on the bench, "Father thinks I need to learn more of our history."
"A good king must know the kingdom's history, or he will be doomed to repeat it." Andromeda chatted, finishing up and putting the can away. She padded up to her lover and sat in his lap, pressing a kiss against his temple.
"What did you do today?" The prince questioned, rubbing her thigh.
"It was the funniest thing," The beauty giggled, "I was at the spring and I heard a noise. I turned around and it was the little boy from centuries ago. You know the one at the stables? Him and his sister work at the palace now-!"
"You want to help them out." Thor interjected, finishing her thought before she could.
Andromeda smiled brightly and nodded, "They are kin to Gunne. Asger Gunneson and Alva Gunnedottir. He works the perimeter and she works in the kitchen. I want Alva to be my new handmaiden and as the general of the warriors I am sure you can find a better place for him." She batted her lashes prettily, twirling blonde around her finger.
"As you wish." The prince grinned, nuzzling his nose against hers. "Whatever you wish." He muttered above her, pecking her lips.
A batch of hybrid roses bloomed behind her as she returned the kiss. She leaned back slightly and bit her lip to stop her beam. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Thor's smile was tight as he pinched her cheek. "Andy." He finished in a song.
"Do not-!" Her protest was stopped by another kiss, her breathing being stolen from her. "I tell you one story and you can't shut up about it." Andromeda whined and Thor snickered, pressing apologetic kisses against her cheeks, nose, lids, and chin.
"I like your dress." He murmured against her lips as he fingered the fabric.
"Rip it and I'll rip you." Andromeda replied sweetly, brushing her fingers over his scratchy face. "You already owe me ten dresses."
"Oh I owe you much more than that." Thor teased, reaching under her skirt to rub at her bare legs. "The leaves on the trees," He started, slowly trailing his fingers up, "The stars in the sky," He continued to murmur, separating her legs slightly as his eyes stayed on hers, "The moon," Andromeda's breath hitched as he stroked the place she wanted him most, "The sun," Thor nuzzled his nose against hers, "And everything in between."
Andromeda cupped his cheek and pressed her lips to his, gasping when he suddenly stood with her in his arms. She laughed as he held her up with one arm, the other fiddling with his cape, lying it down on the grass. He then laid it her on top of it.
"Well this is a first." Andromeda snickered as Thor fiddled with the skirt of her dress. He pressed a kiss to her knee and lifted his armored shirt over his head. She spent no time pressing her hands against the taut muscle.
"We have done this outside before." Thor murmured, pressing his lips against hers. He gripped her thick thighs in his hands, kneading them.
Andromeda hummed and lifted herself up, tugging the collar of her dress up. The prince helped her pull it off and placed it beside her, taking facetious care that made her roll her eyes. "Not in my garden."
Thor pressed his lips against her chin and shrugged, tugging his pants down his legs. He fingered her slit and hummed, nuzzling into her neck as he pushed into her.
"We cannot keep going at it like rabbits," Andromeda chimed breathlessly, clutching him in her arms, "Children are sure to arise."
"Children are good," Thor grumbled into her neck, "We can have children."
"No-!" The princess was cut off as he reached between them to rub her clit. "No." She repeated weakly, moaning into his neck. She buried a hand into his hair and didn't bother muffling her wanton screams.
"No?" Thor echoed, snapping his hips to hers.
"Not yet." Andromeda replied, her back arching. "Oh Gods, not yet!" She squealed, not at all talking about children. Her legs were bent even more back and she cried as every thrust hit her in the right spot. "I love you so much."
The prince chuckled above her and pressed his lips to her cheek, echoing the sentiment back to her. With a few more sharp thrusts, Andromeda's eyes were rolling into the back of her head. Her nails scraped against Thor's back and little bursts of electricity made goosebumps appear on her skin.
"You're so beautiful when you cum, Andromeda." Thor beamed down at her, making her cheeks heat up.
The princess just shook her head and tapped his shoulder. Thor took the hint and changed their positions, lying on his back as she now towered over him. "I believe you are prettier when you're buried in me, my prince." She sung as she began to move her hips against his. Thor clamped his hands down on her bottom and groped the fleshy fat, trying his best not to break her bones.
Andromeda bit her lip and raised herself up, dropping down on his prick suddenly. It only took a few moments of this before his cum was dripping out of her. She leaned down and pressed her lips against his, tucking strands of hair behind his ear sweetly.
"I love you Princess Andy." Thor quipped, his smile wide.
"Oh shut up." Andromeda whined, but a smile spread over her face as he kissed her again. "I love you, too."
That night, when she was lying in bed and asleep, she saw a glimmer of green again, though this time it was tinted blue.
As Andromeda twitched in her sleep, loud knocking sounded at the chamber door. She was barely conscious, but she felt the warmth around her leave. Heavy footsteps carried away from her and she peeked an eye open, just catching sight of Thor's back as he left.
The princess furrowed her brows and got up from the bed, wrapping a robe around her bare body and padding out of the bedroom. Hiding behind the wall in the hallway, she listened as a guard spoke to her lover.
"...on Midgard?" Thor muttered, his arms crossed. "Are you absolutely positive?"
"Yes, your majesty. This is coming from Heimdall himself. Loki is alive."
Andromeda slapped a hand over her mouth to keep her gasp inside.
"He has the tesseract."
"Alert father, I will be departing in half an hour." Thor and the guard saluted each to each other and the heavy door shut. As his heavy footsteps headed toward her, he stopped as he spotted her. "Andromeda-!"
"He's alive?" The princess croaked, her sapling eyes brimmed with water, "And on Earth?"
Thor reached for her, "Andromeda-!"
Andromeda pushed his hands away, "Answer me!"
"Yes." The prince muttered, his hands clenching into fists, "He's alive, he has taken some captive and he has the tesseract. I am going to bring him home." He promised, walking around her and into the bedroom.
Andromeda stood there for a moment before whipping around and storming into the room. She watched Thor dress himself in his armor, her heart in her stomach. "Take me with you."
Thor paused and glanced at her over his shoulder, tightening his belt. "Absolutely not."
"Thor, please." Andromeda begged, padding up to him. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her forehead to his back. "I can help."
"No." The prince shrugged her off and went into the bathroom.
"Please!" The beauty begged again, her voice cracking. "Thor I can help, whatever he's done I can make it s-s-stop. He'll listen to me!"
Thor stomped out of the bathroom and loomed over her, making her take a step back. "You cannot help him. You're blinded by the man you once knew but you did not see what I saw."
"All I hear is jealousy." Andromeda retorted, her eyes hard. Thor scoffed and moved around her, shaking his head. "You say I am blind but yet you won't let me help your brother."
"Believe what you will."
"Thor-!"
"Enough!" The royal finally snapped at her, meeting her at the center of the room. "You are not going, in fact, I forbid it. I do not want to hear of this again."
Andromeda shrunk back from his steely blue eyes and looked away, nodding silently. She moved away when he tried to caress her cheek. "Go then." She muttered, a tear falling from her eyes. "I wish you safe travels, son of Odin." Without even looking up at him, Andromeda stormed out of the room, the robe billowing like a cape behind her.