A/N: Hi there. If you are liking this story so far I am really happy. I would really like to know what you think, read your predictions and know what you would like to happen. It would be nice and fun.
It's not that she hated those words, she just hated them on that specific order and with such a grim mood around the room. She inhaled deeply and fully crossed the threshold, quietly closing the door as she did so. Eydís didn't know where to go so she just stood where she was, ready to bail if needed. Well, at least that was the plan until her father called for her.
– Please, come closer.
The All-Father walked next to his beloved wife as he offered his hand to his daughter. Reluctantly, the Princess took it after slowly getting closer. She was asked to sit down to the Queen's left. Her eyes being unable to settle anywhere betrayed her uneasiness.
– My child, – Odin began after a few moments, – are you wearing your necklace?
It was an odd question to begin a casual conversation, let alone a very serious one. At least that's what she thought. Her left hand went up to the dress' small cleavage, taking out from underneath the fabric a golden chain from which a silver, oval locket hung, just a bit bigger than a thimble. Yggdrasil skillfully carved on the top half. As far as she could remember, that necklace had barely left its place around her neck. She wore it even underneath other jewelry. Sometimes she would just change the chain to make the whole set silvery but other than that, the piece remained unchanged.
When she was a little girl, a friend of hers had pointed out that a locket was supposed to open to reveal something on the inside. A strand of hair, a portrait or the like. The Princess gave it a thought and realized he was right. She had tried to open it but to no success. She had even let her friend give it a try but this boy just ended up with sore fingers and a broken nail. Eydís thought it very strange.
– It must be stuck, – she declared.
Next thing she did was run like the wind in search of Loki. Her big brother would most certainly be able to open the locket or find a spell that did the job. She caught eye of him turning a corner as she approached the library.
– Brother! – she yelled.
The Prince stopped on his tracks and turned to face her. He was surprised to be called out loud so suddenly but his face grew gentler as his little sister approached. She was almost out of breath but she smiled widely at the sight of him.
– Eydís, you are not supposed to be screaming. A proper lady does not raise her voice like that in public, – he said in a playful tone.
– Oh, pardon me brother but I would have lost you should I had called you in an appropriate tone, – she answered shyly and a bit contrite looking down.
Loki laughed lightly.
– It is quite fine. Worry not, I shall tell mother nothing about this incident. It will be our secret.
Eydís looked up, smiled and nodded.
– So, what was so important that you forgot your manners like that little star? – he asked while resuming his way.
– Fritjof asked me if I would open my locket for him to see what was in it but we realized something, – she answered while looking at her brother and trying to keep up with his pace at the same time.
– Huh? And what was it?
– It is stuck.
– Stuck?
– Yes. I could not open it and neither could he. Frit even wounded his fingers due to the stuckness.
Loki looked at his sister from the corner of his right eye. Her face was so serious that he dared a half smile.
– Serves him well.
– Pardon me?
Out of nowhere, Loki stopped walking and kneeled to his sister's eye level, putting his hands on her shoulders.
– Eydís, it is of great importance that you listen to what I have say, – her little face showed astonishment but she nodded with confidence. – This is YOUR locket. It is special and the secrets contained within are just for you to know when the time is right. Do you understand?
– So there ARE secrets within this locket? – she whispered.
– Yes, but just for you to know about. So, can I entrust them to you?
She nodded again and her brother smiled. He stood up, offered his hand and resumed his walk. After a few paces Eydís asked:
– Just for me to know about?
– Yes, just for you, – Loki answered without catching the meaning of his sister's words.
– What if I do not want them? What if I want to share them with someone? – her tone was almost melancholic.
– Share them? With whom, may I ask? Frit? – he countered almost sarcastically.
– NO! – she said energetically. Then in a much softer tone she continued, – With mother or with Thor or with… you.
Now he understood.
– Well, by the rules of secrecy, they are yours. Would you not rather like to have them for your own?
– Only if I can share them with at least one person.
– At least? If you shared it with more people, why should it be called a secret anymore?
– So I have to pick only one? Only one person to share all my secrets with? – she asked a bit worried.
– That sounds right.
– Then I choose you, – she said without hesitation.
The prince turned to her, startlement all over his features.
– Me? Why me?
– Is it against the rules to choose you? – she asked on the verge of panic, tightening her grip to her brother's hand and her innocent features constricted in a face that said that tears were close by.
– No, no, of course not little star. I was just a bit surprised to be your first choice, – he soothed.
– Then it is settled. All my secrets shall be yours as well. I will never hide anything from you brother, – her body relaxed and she smiled sweetly at her brother again. – I love you Loki.
Loki responded in kind and gave her a slight squeeze to her hand.
– As do I little star.
– So, when will the time be right? – she had asked after a few corridors.
– In a while.
– Is that soon?
– I hope not.
– Why?
– Just because.
– But I want to know.
– Patience.
– Patience? But why?
– Just because.
– Loki!
Loki's laugh was overwhelmed by her pleas all day long but it had been worth it. They both enjoyed the other deeply. Teasing was merely a part of their relationship. And just as suddenly as it came, Eydís' flashback, faded once again in her memory.
– Of course father, – she answered.
– Have you ever tried opening it?
– Once, but Loki told me not to try again until the time was right.
Odin nodded.
– Your brother was wise to advise you against it.
He took the locket with one hand as he asked.
– My child, do you recall the story of the infinity stones?
– Yes of course. It is one of my favorite stories. There are six gems forged by the first being. He was so powerful that he contained his essence on this stones just to allow the universe to exist. There is the Power gem, the Soul gem, the Mind gem, the Time gem, the Space gem and the Reality gem. All of them spread through the realms of Yggdrasil, dormant and only wieldable by a few, overly powerful, beings. Like you father.
Odin smiled, pleased.
– Eydís, there are very few people left to remember this but there was actually whispers from afar that assure there had been a seventh gem. It is said that the last remains of this Being decided to gift himself to his favorite realm, – he made a pause. – After ceasing his existence as he conceived it, a little part of him remained and so, he traveled through his creation. He appreciated all that was done and he also regretted a couple of things that had spurred from his power. After a time, it was evident that he had fell in love with a particular realm for he always lingered there the most. He saw the thriving of the people for knowledge and the need of protection. He took pity on them and chose a tiny village upon an island to offer this gifts.
– Which realm? – Eydís asked a bit impatient.
– Midgard, – silence followed for a moment. – This Being, compacted himself in a seventh gem and revealed to the people. Still, rumor has it that the humans were deeply afraid and would hardly get close to him. The Being hid himself in a cave, high above the sole mountain the island had. One day, a young man grew too curious of the floating light above his village that had suddenly taken home in the mountain. He climbed to try and find out more about this thing.
- - Little is known about the man for when it all happened not even my father had been born. What is known is that after the man came down, things changed. He came down bearing a special gift, a little part of the gem. He fashioned it in a way that he could wear it all the time and once a year, up he went to the cave for a month. When he came down, he would bring more of this things which he gave out to his family and close friends. Pendants you see. The villagers saw what wearing the necklaces did to this man and his kin and they began asking for them as well.
- - Soon they also realized that their lives were being extended and that their health began to improve. Their mind expanded and the beginning of a whole civilization bloomed into existence. At some point the gem was brought out in the open and no longer did it install fear but rather devotion and gratitude. The village became a city, a very great and prosperous one. My father even told me of a time he was there. It was as if the gem allowed the people to do anything. Unfortunately, sometime after the last Convergence, the city disappeared. The ocean claimed it and we never knew exactly why. I was very young and ignorant when it happened.
- - We mourned for the loss of a mighty ally but as time went by, people thought no more of what happened. Most of them even forgot it completely for Midgard meant little on their minds and hearts. The great empire fell into myth even to its own realm. You must understand that I am speaking of a very ancient empire whose history could easily match ours, – he added with a twinkle of amusement in his eye.
– Father,… are you trying to tell me that,… I… that we… –Eydís began but the words tripped on her tongue.
– My daughter, family does not end in blood. Our lives and hearts are as entwined now as the roots of Yggdrasil and for that, I am grateful.
The girl let out a nervous laugh.
– But we still share no bond, – her eyes were becoming watery.
– Oh Eydís, – the Queen interceded. – You are still our daughter. Tell me, is you bond with Månen any less strong or any less real than your bond say with the Lady Sif or with Lady Eir.
– That is different, – Eydís countered.
– How so?
– I… they… we… we were not… supposed… to be… family, – she stumbled quietly.
– If I recall correctly, – Loki stepped in, – you are always saying that that horse of yours is as much family as we are. I fail to see the difference now unless it was nothing more than a convenience argument.
Eydís just looked at him. Of course it was not just a mere convenience argument. She meant it. Månen was as much her family as her parents or her brothers. Her argument was invalid in her mind but her heart felt betrayed and would have none of that logic.
Finally she lowered her head, speaking softly as she continued.
– I always thought about the possibility. I guess my mind knew it all along but I just wished for this to be real.
Now there were tears rolling down her cheeks.
– It still is, – her mother soothed.
Frigg embraced her daughter with care, placing her face on top of the Princess' head. Eydís whimpered quietly while her mother rocked her from side to side. No other sound could be heard in the meantime.
After a couple of minutes. The girl regained some composure and dried her tears. Loki offered her a handkerchief for her nose which she gladly accepted. Then proceeded to ask.
– So, I am Midgardian. Is that not against the law? I mean, for me to be here?
A bit surprised that this was her very first question Odin replied with a bit of mischief in his tone and a playful smile on his face.
– There is a bright side of being the king my star. Furthermore, we have always presented you as our own child so to every person in the Nine Realms, you are our daughter.
– How did I end up here?
– Loki found you, – Thor said almost immediately, speaking for the very first time since the nightmare began.
Eydís looked at Thor and then turned to Loki.
– He did? Could you tell me Loki?
He was silent for a moment.
– Unfortunately there is not an awful lot to tell. We were all traveling to the summer palace for a holiday on a pretty, sunny day. We were just children and, as such, we began a game of hide-and-seek as soon as the servants had established the campsite to cook us a meal. Thor was counting so I made sure that he was not going to find me that easily. I went into the woods a little deeper than I should have and found a small cave. It was the perfect hideout. Suddenly, there was a blinding blue light that came from behind some nearby bushes. It was a little similar to the Bifrost's transportation so I waited to see what came through. I saw no one but heard a cry. A baby's cry. I rushed to the sound and found you, picked you up as carefully as I could.
- - You were so small, so scared and completely alone. I could not understand what or how it all had happened. To this day, I still can not. Around that moment, Thor came running towards me and saw the bundle in my arms. He suggested we went to our parents. Carefully, we ran all the way back to the camp. Mother, father and Ba… They were all waiting for us for they too saw the light. I presented you as the reason of the disturbance. Mother took you in her arms, you fell quiet, smiled at both our parents and you have been with us ever since, – he finished his tale with a smile and a distant look in his eyes.
– Why tell me now?
Odin reached for her left shoulder.
– When Loki found you, you had nothing but your clothes and a necklace. I did not recognize it at the time. It seemed an ostentatious jewel to put around a baby's neck so I tried to remove it. Not only did you burst into a wailing cry, I also felt a mighty surge of power flowing in that pendant. So I instructed the Queen to keep it a secret until I found some answers. Took me over a month to find them and they were in the most unlikely place.
- - My father, Borr liked keeping journals which he passed down to me once he departed but never did I read upon their pages before. In the beginning I suppose it caused me too much grievance to look at them, then all the responsibilities that come with the crown dragged me away from my father's mourning and memory. I have kept those in my study and after reading every volume on magic pendants or lost relics I came to be seated on my chair just as ignorant as before. It was almost by chance that I laid my eye upon the chest that contained the journals. I rummaged through some of them until I found it. A picture with the exact same pendant you were wearing. My father had written that every person in the empire had one, it was their birthright and their honor to wear. It spoke very briefly about what little he had learned from that sole time he had visited the city. It also described a pair of unique traits of the residents: they all had cinnamon skin and silver-white hair. No matter the age they were.
– Wait! – Eydís interrupted, a gleam of hope foolishly growing inside her. – If there is truth in your words, how come I do not share these traits. I do have cinnamon skin but I got dark-brown hair, not silver.
The All-Father smiled sadly.
– I am afraid that is too simple to explain. Magic my dear. Once I had an idea of what we were dealing with, I concealed the identity of your jewel and altered a couple of your original traits. I thought it was for the best.
Hope crumbled down just as quickly as it had been built.
– You have not answered my question yet. Why now?
– After having a fairly good idea of where you came from, I had Heimdall keep watch for anything relevant about the ancient capital. As it turns out, through the years there have been a couple of people obsessed to know more. We learned that one of them even wrote a book but there was no knowledge of its whereabouts. Until recently. Heimdall has reported me about an old man who has in his power the book with the instructions to find the lost city and he will give it to a younger man along with every piece of equipment he may need to get there.
Everyone was silent once again.
– Come to think about it, – Eydís said, – you talk about an empire, a capital but I know not its name. If I understand correctly you would like to know whether or not I want to be part of this expedition, but, what would I be looking for?
– My star, you would be looking for the ruins of the once great city of Atlantis.
A/N2: Well, that is all for the week. Hope you liked it.