A/N: Well, here it is (finally), the last installment of this story. I really hope you all enjoyed it. I know it is a "short" story but I hope to get better at that. All in all, it has been fun. Thank you for everything.

A/N2: The second part of this series is already up and finished. You may check it out if you like. It's called: Asgardian Princess: Little stories.

Epilogue

After the celebration which had lasted for a few days, the crew was finally leaving Atlantis. Besides the crystals, King Kashekim rewarded the group generously and all that richness was being loaded into a special flying device. Both princesses, Milo and the asgardians were there to either bid them farewell or join them. The monarch had remained at the palace at the sisters' insistence.

– Atlantis will honor your names forever. I only wish there was more we could do for you, – Kida said a little sad.

– Eh. You know, thanks anyway but, – Vinny looked at the cargo, – I think we're good.

– They'll take you as far as the surface, – Milo added.

– We are really gonna miss you Milo, – Audrey said sweetly.

– You know. I'm gonna reopen the flower shop, – Vinny began getting closer to Milo, – and I'm gonna think of you guys every single day. Monday to friday, 9 to 5. Saturday till 2. Sunday,… I'm gonna take sunday off probably and maybe I'll go in for a couple of hours you know but,… August! I'm gonna take August.

– I ain't so good at speech of bye but I want you to have this, – Cookie said giving Milo a small vase. – It's the bacon grease from the whole trip.

Eydís hid a smile with her hand when she saw the look on her brothers' faces.

– Is he really speaking the truth? – Loki asked a bit disgusted.

– Of course not my dear brother, – Eydís began looking at Cookie going away and Audrey kissing Milo on the cheek. – We all ate the other half on our way here.

All asgardian eyes fell on her and she knew she would have to tell them this particular story at some point, or not. She saw Milo patting Mole on the head and Sweet embracing him in a bear hug (very similar looking from the ones Thor gave her from time to time).

– Can we go home now? – Mrs. Packard asked.

– Comm'on y'all. Let's take one last shot in front of the fish, – Sweet invited.

The all began to choose places but the asgardians remained unmoving.

– Hey, aren't you coming? – Milo asked.

They looked at each other, not really knowing what to say. None knew what a photograph was. True, Eydís had seen Mrs. Packard use that funny looking box on various occasions throughout the journey but never had the time to ask what it did.

– What is that? – the Princess finally said out loud pointing at said box.

– It's called a camera. It's used to… mmm… how should I put it? – Milo wondered. – To capture moments and put them on paper.

– Capture moments? – Loki arched his right eyebrow.

– In a way. I can tell you more about it later but first, come, – Milo made a hand gesture and the crew seconded the motion.

The asgardians didn't look all that convinced but Eydís began walking with purpose.

– Coming? – she asked looking back.

– I believe you deserve this more. Capture your moment, – Loki offered and all the other asgardians agreed.

Eydís smiled and sat on the treasure right in between Sweet and Mrs. Packard.

– Say "Gaag", – Jitakamah called out.

– Gaag!

There was a flash of light and it was done. Everyone began moving again. The fish was fully loaded and the crew went in.

– Do you really have to go? – Kida asked.

– I'm sorry sister, but the answer is yes. I must show myself to the Council if only out of formality. My family will be by my side. I only wish it was my whole family but you are far more needed here than I am at the moment, – Eydís answered.

– Once this is settled, we shall properly welcome you into our realm, – Odin added.

Kida nodded and both sisters embraced tightly. One by one, the asgardians followed the crew into the fish, Eydís being the last one and turning back once again to wave at her sister. Kida waved goodbye.

The journey to the surface was actually very fast. It only took a couple of hours in which the asgardians inquired about the journey and Sweet retold the whole adventure with a couple of interventions from Cookie, Vinny and Eydís. The sons of Odin listened carefully but were actually intrigued by the whole version Eydís would undoubtedly tell them during the welcome feast. Still, it was nice to have a different point of view of the story and some insight before anyone else. True to their word, the fish left them on the island with the volcano and then submerged back. The asgardians said farewell too as the All-Father opened the Bifrost to take them home.

Home.

What a funny word that was to Eydís at the moment. She had two homes now, or at least, that is what she wanted to think. Heimdall bowed his head for the royal family acknowledging their arrival and his eyes lingered on the Princess for a moment longer than usual. He smiled to himself, returning his gaze to the stars.

Eydís looked to the front with her head high but her mind was elsewhere. She didn't even notice that they had walked the whole bridge and were entering the skirts of the city until she caught sight of Loki and Thor slowing their paces to flank her. The Warriors Three, on the other hand, were walking very closely from behind. The men were trying to cover her from prying eyes.

For a moment she didn't understand but then, Eydís looked down and remembered she was still wearing atlantean garment. Not just any garment indeed but quite a revealing one. Due to the climate, Kida had offered her several pieces of hers to remain fresh and, Eydís had to admit, they were quite comfortable to wear at the subaquatic city.

The ensemble she was displaying that day consisted of a magenta, strap of fabric that attached tightly to her breasts. The lower part was a tulip kind of skirt, little over her knees that started at her hips. The bottom part of the skirt's fabric was lined with a deeper shade of magenta. She was wearing a new pair of dark-brown sandals (which was the only "usual" part of the attire) but the temporary tattoo (still on her face), the silver-white hair and the fact that the royals were "escorting" her, made Eydís the center of attention.

Eydís blushed a little. Why had no one reminded her about her clothes?

It was funny to think how back in Atlantis she wouldn't be second glanced as she walked around the city due to her clothes. Perhaps because she was a royal but nothing more. Not even her brothers or friends would have been harassed because of what they wore. True, they wore foreign clothes but atlanteans simply didn't care about that,… much. Aside from the initial curiosity, there was no more malice in the folk's reaction to the difference of attire so the matter was discarded almost as soon as it began. In Asgard, it was almost opposite. Showing so much skin was really weird and, thus, it attracted too much attention for Eydís' liking. People were making a fuss over a very silly matter. They approached the nearest stable.

– Father, – Thor called out softly but with a hint of urge embedded on it.

Eydís snapped back to reality.

Odin nodded and the blond Prince embraced his sister with his right arm.

– Hold on tight, – he told her as he stopped walking.

She obeyed quite anticipating the next move. Her arms surrounded Thor's waist and clutched strongly. Right then Eydís heard the whooshing sound of Mjolnir being spinned followed by a breathtaking take off. She had to admit that she loved flying with Thor. It was amazing, exhilarating and very fun. The only problem was that, with the high speed they traveled, the journey never lasted enough. This was no exception when, after only a minute or two, they landed in her room's balcony.

Eydís deactivated her traps before opening the glass doors. Thor had bothered her for months after she had put them up, insisting it was an unnecessary measure. Childish even. But she knew better. After Loki had shared with her a couple of pranks their older brother had attempted on him early on, he had helped her put up her own wards and alarms without telling anyone. A couple of days later, Thor had stumbled upon two of them which resulted on him having a blue face for over a week. The Queen had been startled at first until the three of them explained themselves. It was then that she had turned to her eldest with an additional punishment for his actions but did ask Loki and Eydís for the disarming spells or tricks so that it wouldn't happen to her should she need to enter their bedroom under an emergency. Thus, it was that the only two people, apart from herself, that knew how to have access to her room were Loki and Frigg.

– Thank you for the flight. I suppose I will change my garments now so, if you please, – the Princess told Thor.

– Nonsense little star. You must remain like this for the court to see.

– Excuse me?!

– Father's commands.

Eydís looked down.

– I guess it makes sense. To show my true parentage in such a natural way.

Thor smiled.

– Worry not. It shall be fine.

– I know, – the young one smiled.

Thor left after instructing her that she would be sending a guard to fetch her once the Council was gathered. Eydís asked whether or not she had a saying on whom Thor could send. Odin hadn't been terribly specific about this part so Thor allowed her to pick the guard under the premise that if she was going all the way to the throne room escorted by someone, that person should at least attempt to make her feel comfortable and not as an oddity in display. As neither brother nor close friend could be chosen, she named the next better pick and sat on her bed to wait.

It was a bit weird. Now she had two bedrooms. Having nothing else to do, she began comparing.

Back in Atlantis, she chose a room with a balcony as well, both were almost as big and had huge beds along with a dressing table and a mirror but that was as much similarities as they had.

Over there, the bed was exactly in front of the main door. There was a night table to the left side of the bed topped with a pretty lamp. There wasn't, whatsoever, any kind of material that covered the entrance through the balcony (whose opening was on the same side as the night table) but for two layers of curtains. The first layer was a thin, white fabric and, over that, a thicker, deep blue curtain.

The bed had four posts that held another white curtain that covered the bed at night to protect from insects. Also, ever since she arrived, the sheets were of a soft lavender color and very fresh (just to use in case really). The whole room was made out of dark gneiss. From the floor, all the way to the ceiling. The furniture was a mixture between granite and wood which included, the previously mentioned dressing table and night table as well as a wide desk to the left of the room and a wardrobe on the far right wall. There wasn't much more besides that and such thoughts brought her to Asgard.

Here, the room's layout was different. To the left of the entrance was the bed which had a night table on each side. To the far right of the door, there was a chimney (lit during the cold months) with two comfortable armchairs and a high table in between. Parallel to the bed was the balcony's gold and glass doors. The curtains (one thin and white; the other of a deep burgundy) covered the entrance whenever she wanted them to. Directly in front of the room's main entrance were various bookshelves that covered the bare wall all the way to the window on the right side. Sometimes, she would move one of the arm chairs to the window and gaze through it. It was very relaxing, especially during rainy days.

Now, to the far left of the room, close to the left night table, there was a second door which lead to a dressing room and an adjacent bathroom. It was huge and full of light. Back in Atlantis, the bathroom was very spacious but wasn't nearly as well illuminated as hers. Besides, she had had to share it with Kida once and learned that the King bathed there as well. It certainly had something to do with the city's general decay and Eydís expected that to be corrected with time. She certainly didn't expect to have a larger wardrobe down there. That was unnecessary.

The colors predominant in this room were the whites, golds and dark browns from the wood furniture that contrasted with the elaborated ocean design painted on the ceiling. The colors of said paining were pretty much the same ones as her atlantean room (blues and dark greys). Eydís liked the combination.

As for the views, they were completely different as well. In Asgard, she could see the gardens. She had a especially great view of her own garden though her room was not as high from the ground. Fourth, may be sixth floor, tops. Back at the other city, her room was one of the highest, therefore, she had an almost peripheral view of the place. It was a bit sad to think that there was little vegetation in such a city but that could change with some good disposition and time.

Eydís' thoughts drifted away onto which flowers and trees she would plant, how long it would take and what new fauna could be studied in Atlantis, when there was a soft knock on her door.

– My Princess, it's time, – came the familiar voice.

After a sigh, she stood up and walked to the entrance. With one last dubious sigh, she opened the door. The guard had his back to the Princess at the moment so when he turned around to face her, Eydís almost laughed. First, he paled at the sight of so much skin from the young woman and then, he blushed for staring a second longer at the just acknowledged royal. True, his Princess had baby blue eyes and dark hair whereas this person had silver hair and dark eyes but…

– I am glad to see you too Sindri.

That voice, that smile, that way of standing. It was most definitely her.

– I feel terribly sorry my Princess. For a moment I did not recognize you, – he said falling to one knee, his head bowed low.

– It is understandable. Please, arise. There is no offence taken from my part.

Sindri stood up still a little blushed, waiting for Eydís to lead the way.

– Would you walk by my side again? – she asked closing her bedroom's door.

The guard nodded, allowing a small smile on his face again. His Princess hadn't changed at all. A couple of minutes went by silently.

– What did my brother tell you?

– That you were back and that you needed to be escorted to the throne room.

– Nothing else, – she was a bit doubtful.

– Well…, – there it was, – his Highness might have mentioned that you looked… different but to be honest, I could not imagine just how so.

Eydís smiled.

– May I ask what is it that you imagined?

Sindri blushed wildly.

– I would rather you did not.

– Huh, you have just caught up my curiosity, but I guess if you do not wish to tell that is fine too.

– It is nothing embarrassing! I can assure you! – he said almost in panic.

– I shall have to trust your word for it, – Eydís teased.

– I… I just imagined your Highness with short hair, – he blurted out.

The Princess looked at the poor young man as red as Thor's cape and giggled. Spending all that time with her silver-tongued brother was not in vain. She had learnt a trick or two of her own to get information and up until now they had proven very useful.

– Just that? No wonder it was such a surprise when you saw me. This is a little more than a haircut. I understand it can be overwhelming at first. I am still getting used to it myself to tell the truth.

Sindri relaxed and smiled as well.

– I know it is not my place to ask but I can not help to wonder about what happened to you my Princess and what could that glowing jewel around your neck be.

Eydís stopped.

– I am sorry your Highness, I was out of line.

– It is fine. All shall be cleared soon enough, – she resumed her pace. – I only hope it is not a disappointment.

Sindri couldn't help to notice the sad note at the end of the sentence but they were approaching the door. They waited there for a moment and then the doors opened entirely. Eydís stepped in with all the grace and authority her title required of her. Sindri following from behind, noticing all the eyes that fell on his Princess. Curious, prying, alarmed and, was that, ashamed? The Princess climbed the stairs to stand at Odin's left and the guard stayed at the foot of said steps. Thor and Loki were at her father's right and Frigg was sitting on her usual place.

– All-Father, with all due respect, what is the meaning of this?

– I have already told you Lord Ráðúlfr. We wish for the rebirth of an old alliance.

– With whom? This midgardian princess? – Lord Ráðúlfr asked. – We know nothing about her or her people and by the laws of Asgard, she shouldn't even be here.

Eydís flinched ever so slightly but remained impassive altogether.

– I would highly recommend to choose your words properly Lord Ráðúlfr. That is no way to address your Princess, – Loki said softly but with an almost threatening edge to his words, intervening before Thor could explode.

– I do not…

– Your Highness! – a lady screeched suddenly, covering her mouth and kneeling.

Many of the present looked carefully at the foreign and followed the lady's example when recognition dawned in their eyes.

Lord Ráðúlfr's eyes widened.

– Impossible, – he whispered.

– Not any more, – Eydís spoke for the first time. – One of the most forgotten stories have proven to be true and quite vivid.

– Stories? – some present said in hushed voices.

– The ancient Midgardian empire of Atlantis is real, – Odin made a pause, – and contrary to most people's believes, their city was not destroyed, not entirely at least. For the first time in centuries, we are sure of that and my daughter is proof of it all.

Slowly but surely, everyone began to stand up.

– Atlantis?

– I am sure some of you heard the name from a grandfather. It is a Midgardian empire whose history could easily match ours. They were once our allies and I will see to that alliance restored during my reign if you all agree, – the All-Father said.

Silence.

– I apologize for the straightforwardness my Princess but, how come you do not look like before?

– It is a just question I will gladly answer. I was born this way but the All-Father changed my appearance in order to help me blend into asgardian society with more ease. He locked away my secrets along with my crystal but being in my homeland reversed the spell.

– Why now? – someone wondered.

– That remains a mystery in the grand picture but I can assure you that it was most likely our only chance.

– What is that jewel? – Lord Ráðúlfr asked bluntly.

– It is a part of me as I am a part of it. It connects me to my people just as my heart binds me to Asgard, – Eydís offered after a moment's thought.

It was obvious this arouse even more questions but one comment sounded louder than the rest.

– So a pauper turned princess.

– Excuse me Lord Aghi, is there something you would like to share in a louder voice?

Everyone shut up at once when the Queen spoke up in her gentle, yet authoritarian way. She was already standing next to Eydís' left. The man paled a little.

– I only meant that it might bring political problems to create a second royal house in an empire so old. With two Princesses from different bloodlines and different throne succession places but a same origin could cause some trouble. It could easily destabilize the order of the monarchy and arise conflicts of interest. Or even worse, a flat rejection of the desired alliance between the realms due to the Princess' status in that city, – Lord Aghi said nervously trying to rectify his mistake.

– Oh, I see, – Frigg said in a deceivingly charming voice putting her hands together in front of her and a smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. – For a moment there I could swear you were intending to say that my daughter was taking advantage of her luck as being part of the Asgardian family to enhance her position in Atlantis because she had none to begin with.

She paused letting a chill run down the lord's spine.

– Luckily for both realms there is an important detail that will help the negotiations move smoothly and with the consent of both royal families as soon as this meeting is dismissed, – no one dared to interrupt the Queen, not even if she had paused for a moment.

There were lots of things the Queen was and was not but unfortunately for the Council, an overprotective mother was definitely one of the traits that Frigg possessed and was very well known for that. Going against the Queen on that motherly role modality was little less than suicidal.

– She is part of the Atlantean royal family as well. The Second Princess and Second in line to the throne.

The words hung in the air as the Lords and Ladies assimilated all the implications of this last piece of the puzzle.

– So Princess Eydís has a claim over two thrones? – Lord Aghi pointed out the obvious.

– That is correct, – Odin answered.

– And both royal families agree to this double title? – Lady Bóthildr wondered.

– We do, – were Odin's words.

– If that is so, the Council will not oppose to your will All-Father, – the lady said again.

– We shall work on the modification of our laws as soon as possible to allow atlantean emissaries to enter the city, – Lord Birgir added.

Lord Birgir was the oldest member of the Council and he remembered the stories of old. It just so happened that the lost midgardian empire stories' were his favorites and, seeing the embodiment of all those tales right in front of him and as his Princess, no less, excited him greatly. Some would say it even revitalized the old man with a spark that everyone thought had long left the old lord.

The royal family rapidly assessed the Council's different reactions and understood who would be allies and who would they need to work on a little more. But no problem, they had the time and the first step had already been taken.