Hello, just here to drop by my weekly chapter. Hope you like it. Review to ask anything you might want to know.
That name ringed a bell in Eydís' mind. She vaguely remembered reading a very old story book that talked about the lost empire. It ended with a huge flood that consumed the capital and all that once was, was no more. Indeed, the story had been a very sad one but there were lots of things that still annoyed her.
– Father, I need to know. According to a story I read as a child, Atlantis was destroyed and, as you yourself have pointed out, you were very young when it all happened. If this is so, how did I end up here?
– I believe your brother has already answered that question.
– Yes, no, yes, – she stumbled to find the right words. – I meant, how did I end up here during Thor and Loki's childhood? How did I end up here and now if Atlantis was destroyed a generation ago? Were there any survivors? If so, how did they send me here? How did this got past Heimdall? Father! There are just too many questions!
Her voice level had risen again and she felt as if she was lacking air.
– Easy Eydís. Unfortunately, I have not too many answers for you. I can tell you that right after we learned about the atlantean's particularities, I asked Heimdall to look for any midgardian that would fit the description but even he failed to achieve this. Were you sent here by some survivors that were not on the island at the time of the misfortune, we could not determine.
– You spoke a lot about their necklaces. How did you conceal mine? Where is it? – she asked in a calmer tone now but lacking of better words though she already suspected the answer.
– Why, you have been wearing it your whole life, – Odin answered with fake surprise.
Eydís looked down to her locket and rolled it in her fingers. It was so small but then again, his father had great power and concealing her jewel wouldn't be that hard. At least that is what she thought.
– How do I open the locket?
– Patience my child. You should not be that hasty in this kind of matters, – Odin responded calmly. – To make this locket, I had to use a great amount of strength and very old magic. Once you open it, it is highly unlikely that it will go back to the form it has been contained in for so long. Likewise, my spells casted upon you shall be broken and your origins would be revealed. I deem it wise to find the proper moment to do so after you have blended with the midgardian expedition.
She fell silent once more in evident concentration. After a while she said:
– But you will tell me how to do it, will you not father?
– Of course my star.
– Even if I decide not to go on the expedition?
– If you so wish to, I shall tell you how.
– How long do I have to consider this offer?
– I am afraid that time is not on our side at the moment. You have until tomorrow night.
Eydís nodded and asked to be excused. She left the room saying no more. There was a lot to think about and a very close deadline.
This brought us to the present moment. Eydís still clinging to Loki, the second a little afraid to let go before time but he had to ask.
– Will you go to Midgard?
– I do not know Loki, – she answered and raised her head for a moment. – What should I do?
– What do you want to do? – Loki asked a little regretful.
– I know not. A part of me wants answers but I do not wish to leave home, – tears sprung from her eyes.
– What are you really afraid of? Answering your questions, not liking the answers or… liking them too much?
He truly was able to see through her (most of the times anyways). She buried her face in his clothes again.
– All of them.
– Would you be able to live without regret if you missed this chance?
– For a while, I guess.
– Then I believe you have your answer.
They lost track of the time their embrace lasted. They just knew that they didn't want to let go. When they finally did, Loki wiped away his sister's tears. Gently, he took her by the hand with the intention of guiding her to her room. They were already halfway there when Eydís spoke up.
– No.
Loki turned to see her.
– I do not wish to go to my room. Let us go to the Sky-map tower please.
Her brother smiled softly, guiding them to the tower instead. As she walked in she let go of Loki's hand and began roaming through the piles of tomes that both siblings had filled with knowledge. She stopped in front of the great astrolabe that had given them so much information. Neither knew what to say because there was not really a need for words. They understood each other very well in the silence but the melancholy of the moment was making Loki edgy. He broke the silence first.
– I remember the first night you stayed with us at the summer palace.
That caught Eydís' attention.
– The few servants that had been witnesses of your mysterious arrival were bound by oath to silence, once we arrived at the palace. We were supposed to be there on a two-week holiday. Instead, we remained there almost a year. Father of course came back to the capital after the two weeks but we were told to remain behind with mother at the summer home. Mother explained that no one was to know about you just yet. You were our secret. Thor and I were thrilled with the idea but when mother added that you would become our sister we were not so sure, – Loki smiled at the memory. – You were so small,… and a girl.
- - That first night though, you proved yourself as a great noise maker. You would not stop screaming and wailing. Not even mother was sure of what to do. I remember getting up and walking to her room just as she was leaving. With the door open, I thought you would blow my ears away. I got close to the magically, forged crib to look down on you. Took you out and wrapped you in a heavy blanket, resolved to put you back where I had found you and, you know what? That awfully loud baby stopped crying and stared at me. Suddenly it burst into laughter and a tiny hand, set free from the blanket, began touching my face, – he made a pause. – I think that was the moment I decided that having a little sister would not be that bad.
Eydís smiled warmly.
– I guess that was when I chose my favorite brother as well.
They both laughed.
– I resent that, – came Thor's voice from the threshold.
– You know I love you too Thor. Had it been you to have gotten me out of my crib, you would have been my favorite brother.
– But I was not. You imprinted on him like a duckling would imprint on its mother, – he chuckled.
– I am not feathery Thor. I can not understand your fetiche with those animals, – Loki responded.
– Perhaps that is why his helmet has wings. I knew they were not eagle's, they are duck wings, – Eydís sided with Loki.
The three siblings laughed lightly.
– Then what about Loki's helmet. If mine is shaped after ducks, how about him?
– A ram is a perfectly noble animal. It is strong, fast and it may survive even under precarious circumstances, – the younger brother countered.
– That may be true but it also has funny eyes, – their sister commented.
– What?!
– And it makes weird noises. And I am actually amazed of their lifespan considering their recreational rituals.
Thor was unable to keep it together and boomed into laughter.
– You are such a traitor Eydís.
– I am merely being honest, – she said with an expression of such innocence that anyone else would have believed her.
– You will know honesty soon enough.
That said, Loki leaped on her, pinned her down with one hand and began tickling with the other. Thor joined as soon as Eydís began laughing. The Princess began to feel her tummy ache and there was little air in her lungs. Her brothers laughed as well and were both firm and gentle on their grip. After a while, she managed to cast a little spell to freeze them for a moment. Then she casted yet another one and once her brothers resumed the tickling, they began feeling it too. Both men rolled on their backs after a short while.
– Not fair sister, – Thor said through a fit of chortles.
– The Mirror Spell is the only thing that would make this 2-on-1 fair, – she responded chokingly.
The three of them laid on their backs, still trying to put themselves together. Eydís hadn't been aware of just how much she needed this. Neither her brothers. Still smiling, she sat up and then crawled on her fours to fit herself between both men. She took one hand of each, staring at the ceiling. The sky moved in front their eyes.
– I love you boys.
– As do we little star, – Thor responded.
– Promise me something. No matter how far away we are from each other, no matter how long it takes us to find each other, no matter what happens, we will always be family.
– I give you my word, – Thor vowed.
– And I give you mine, little star, – Loki complemented.
She smiled.
– At least that is yet another solved mystery.
– What is? – Thor inquired.
– Why you call me little star. Now that I know, I think I like it even more.
– Oh, so you believe we named you after those astral bodies that we so thoroughly study because the first time we saw you, it appeared that a star, fallen from the sky, suddenly began irradiating light into the woods, leading me to find you and your silvery head instead? – Loki summarised teasingly. – Because if so, you are very wrong little sister. We call you star because you are gassy.
– I AM MOST CERTAINLY NOT! – she smacked Loki's hand.
– Yes you are sister, – Thor joined.
– YOU ARE THE GASSY ONE!
– I am not.
– Is it not true Loki?
– Well, it was a highly competed nickname.
– LOKI! – both shouted at the same time with a smile.
Minutes turned to hours and suddenly, supper was upon them. They had skipped their meal so it was no surprise when stomachs began rumbling. As the threesome stepped into the dining hall, all eyes fell on them.
– We were wondering when you would show up, – the Queen said. – Come. Have a seat.
Eydís didn't want to be parted from her brothers but saw them take their seats to their father's right (first Thor and then Loki). Their mother, right on the other head of the table, pointed to the seat on her left (Eydís' usual place). The girl took it. Between her and her brothers sat Lady Sif and The Warriors Three. Opposite to them were various members of the court that looked intently towards the just-arriven but shortly afterwards began talking among themselves.
During mealtimes, Queen Frigg wouldn't allow politics' talk surge and would often change the subject with amazing wit. That day, nonetheless, she was so focused on the Princess that, if there had been that kind of talk, she missed it completely. Instead, she engaged into a one-on-one dialogue with Eydís.
– My child, are you feeling better?
– Yes, thank you, – the girl answered. – Thor and Loki helped a lot.
– I see. Will you go? – there was sadness in her tone but she kept a shushed voice.
– At first I was not sure. Loki aided me a great deal on that matter. Then Thor came along and helped me understand that, indeed, we are still a family and nothing will change that fact. I will not deny that I was very confused and sad, though being entirely honest, I still am a bit. I am sorry however if I caused you any grievances mother.
Listening the word: "mother" coming out of her youngest's lips lightened the Queen's heart to the point where a tear escaped her right eye. She wiped it with a quick flick of her hand while she softly smiled. Eydís told her about what happened at the tower leaving a couple of details out but without any embellishments, there was no need for any of those. In return, the Queen complemented Loki's story and even shared a couple more with her daughter through the evening.
At last, the meal was over and everyone but the royal family were dismissed. Eydís walked towards her father, her head slightly low. Then, she embraced him tenderly.
– I am sorry for my outburst father. I was not thinking properly.
– Little star, if you had, I would have been completely puzzled. This reaction of yours was the very least I had expected. To be frank, I did not foresee such a quick recovery, – the All-Father said while caressing Eydís' hair.
She parted from him.
– My mind is still restless and my heart is not as lightweight as it used to be but I shall endure.
– And we shall be here for you, should you need us, – Thor added.
Eydís smiled.