In Asgard, there were many forms of creatures, cities, and beings in their world; but they did not dwell among the land. In the waters, the Sirens were their own kingdom, but they always left Asgard alone; until now. Odin had requested a meeting with their King, King Almere, but would be bringing his wife and daughter to the kingdom. Odin was not a fool, he knew King Almere was one to attack first, talk later.
And Lord Almere attacked.
He had attacked Odin's fishermen, and Odin was ready for war but would give Lord Almere one chance for peace before starting a war. Thor and Loki had stood by behind him, his wife standing beside his throne. The King was designed in tribal markings along his naked chest, a leather strap across his chest with a spear turned staff, wearing linen pants with a waist armor piece and a large gold crown above his head. His wife wore tribal markings along her body as well with her hair covering her breasts, but could see a thin robe between her cleavage, wearing a linen dress with a waist armor piece as well with a large golden crown on her head.
The daughter was dressed like her mother, but held her head up high, glancing down at everyone almost in an arrogant way, reminding him somewhat of his son Thor. Odin noticed a short woman beside queen and their daughter, and took note of her.
The woman was short that was adorned with tribal markings but had a simple silver circlet adorned on her forehead. She wore a slim dress with Northern Lights colored them, her hair braided to the side, but she kept her sight to her level to the ground; she was their lady-in-waiting.
"Arrogant man, isn't he?" Loki teased, noticing the way the majority of Lord Almere's family presented themselves. He wasn't ignorant to the small woman in the background, but he wasn't sure why she was exactly here.
"All-Father, thank you for summoning us. We are honored to be here-"
"Let us skip the pleasantries Almere, and speak on why I called you here," Odin said as he stood, "your men were caught red-handed in attacking my people."
"All-Father, my people were not involved-"
"MY PEOPLE," Odin shouted as his staff hit the floor, "are severely injured but can vouch to your heinous crime. Bring them out!"
King Almere was alarmed when he saw several of Odin's fishermen's come out wounded, some worse than others but flashed a fake frowned.
"All-Father, we humbly apologize but we assure you…"
Odin stopped listening when he saw the small woman frown sincerely at the fishermen's and hesitated, but was stopped by her princess, harshly pushing her back.
"Enough! Loki," Odin ordered, "bring me that small woman in the back."
"Of course, All-Father." Loki spoke softly, his eyes locked on target to the short woman as he made his way down. Thor followed behind him, feeling just as suspicious of this family. The family hissed, pulling the small woman behind them protectively, but the echo of Odin's staff hit against the floor went throughout the hall.
"You will step back from the woman!" Odin exclaimed.
King Almere saw the look on Loki's face and although he was scrawny looking, his eyes pierced Almere's. There was something about Loki's presence that frightened him suddenly. Almere grabbed the woman of interest's arm, pulling her against him harshly.
"Do not tell him, Ezri." King Almere before he pushed her towards Loki's direction.
Loki caught her, notating not only the treatment of her, but also how she looked up at him. Ezri pulled back, bowing her head respectfully to him before he guided her back towards his father. Thor flashed her a smile, but he wasn't oblivious to the treatment the family gave her.
"I'm afraid our lady-in-waiting is mute, All-Father. It is pointless to ask anything of her." Almere's wife spoke, but Loki knew better.
"Will you provide me your hand, darling?" Loki asked softly.
Ezri smiled and nodded, offering her hand to him. Loki was pleasantry surprised by her smile, something not many did here on Asgard, but refused to show that to her. Taking her hand gently into his, he noticed how cool her hand was.
Before Loki could investigate Ezri's memories, he was hit with a memory of Ezri in the ocean.
Ezri swam with a mermaid fin; swimming was a fury speed as she made her way towards a gathering of sirens. He watched her as she healed a fellow siren before she looked up to the surface, where Loki recognized some of the fishermen fall into the water.
Ezri swam up, helping them to the surface but after assisting the third one, she was pulled back by the king pulling her hair roughly that made her hiss in pain.
"Get her back!" Almere yelled, pushing her towards the sirens she had just helped before we swam up with what armored male sirens.
Ezri had watched as she watched Almere swam towards the male sirens who were rocking the boats. Ezri watched as he and his men slayed the male sirens in front of her, closing her eyes painfully from the sight before her as she felt their pain.
Loki looked to Ezri; she tried to help Odin's people, and she seemed to have abilities of her own.
"You wanted to help them?" Loki asked, and she nodded, smiling sympathetically.
"I'm the kingdom's healer." Ezri signed, surprising Loki.
"It'll be alright." Loki signed, noticing the small smile on her face.
"What's happened?" Thor asked.
"Speak, so we may all hear you." Odin announced.
"King Almere's people did attack our ships. It seems Lady Ezri here saved some of our men, but it seems King Almere stopped her. He killed those responsible for our men's injuries instead." Loki explained.
"Why not simply admit your error?" Odin questioned.
King Almere approached forward, grabbing Ezri from the back of the head as their family bowed down to Odin, her circlet falling to the ground. Frigga approached them, her sons watching carefully as she picked up the circlet.
"Our kingdom apologizes, we had hoped to avoid this and prevent a war. I hope we can forgive and forget this day has happened." King Almere apologized.
"Look to me, child," Frigga spoke, gently grabbing Ezri's chin as Ezri slowly rose to meet her eye to eye. She frowned when she saw the fear on Ezri's forehead; this child did not deserve such a fate awaiting her if she went back home.
"You are a kind person, and your voice is just a divine," Frigga continued, "why do you choose to be mute? Or use your ability?"
Ezri's eyes widened, surprised by her question but Frigga only smiled.
"You have no right to ask that question." King Almere protested, but Odin was already by his wife's side.
"You will be well to remember you do not rule Asgard. You will NOT speak to our Queen in such a way." Odin reminded Almere.
"You will not answer, Ezri. I forbid it." Almere's wife spoke, Ezri lowering her head in obedience.
One thing that Loki and Thor did not like was seeing a woman treated in such a way.
"You will answer Lady Frigga's questions by the order of your All-Father, or you will be thrown in the dungeons for treason- all of you." Odin ordered his guards to circle them with their weapons drawn.
"…" Ezri opened her mouth the speak, but she struggled, feeling King Almere's wrath where she stood.
"Don't be afraid, you are safe here." Frigga reassured her, holding Ezri's hands in her own.
"…I am afraid." Ezri signed.
"Your natural siren abilities?" Frigga questioned.
"The allure we have is dangerous." Ezri answered in sign language.
"Explain, King Almere." Odin questioned as well.
"Just a simple song will allure our prey, All-Father. Our voice could seduce if done right. It is more potent and effective if the siren is without a mate or a partner." King Almere's wife explained.
"Our lady-in-waiting refuses to have the mates we offer; we are more powerful with the more mates we have but she refuses. We are willing to accept her having one mate, but still, she blatantly refuses. It is the highest dishonor and even insulting for our kingdom." Ezri's sister explained in more detail.
"If she were mated, she'd be able to speak without arousing such attention. She knows of this. Until she mates, she is a threat." The King spoke.
"Yet, you have another ability, don't you?" Frigga asked, and Ezri nodded once more.
Ezri looked to Loki, and he nodded in understanding, "She has the ability to heal."
"Could you be a dear and show us?" Frigga asked as she guided Ezri to their injured fishermen still standing before them.
Ezri nodded, placing her hand gently on the first fishermen. Within seconds, his cuts and bruises had disappeared, stunning the men and women of Asgard.
Ezri took her time to heal each one before she turned to Frigga, who was smiling at her.
"We are willing to forget this treason act today," Frigga offered, "if you give me Ezri."
"Mother…" Thor objected, but Frigga held her hand up to stop him.
"Your Queen should not be making a tall request. She is the kingdom's head healer; she is not replaceable." King Almere told Frigga, but Odin nodded.
"We lost few valuable men today. One life for the many." Odin said. Looking at Ezri, she was a potential ally, someone worthy of Asgard as Asgard is worthy for her. Her abilities would be deadly on the field; yes, he liked this idea.
"It's for the best dear, at least for now." King Almere's wife suggested, not wanting to start a war today. Almere wanted to fight this, but it was pointless. He would get her back, but for now, they were outnumbered.
"…Very well, but we will have her back. She is still obligated to her people." King Almere said, refusing to look at Ezri.
"Escort them out, we are done here." Odin ordered, Ezri frowning as her king left without a glance but she was now more worried about staying here.
Would they treat her as a prisoner? She deserved whatever punishment she was to receive for her people's doing in the fight from earlier. Honestly, it probably not much of a difference in her treatment back home.
"You can relax now, my child, none of this was your fault. How are you feeling?" Frigga asked as Odin ordered everyone everyway.
"Nervous." Ezri hand signed.
"Don't be, you are welcome here. You will be treated as a guest." Frigga signed back.
Ezri gasped with a large smile on her face, making Thor and Loki smirk at the excitement on her face.
"Oh, my Gods, you know sign?" Ezri signed back.
"Of course, not all our people can speak. I'm glad to see such a beautiful smile on you." Frigga signed.
"No, you're beautiful. All-Father is indeed a lucky man." Ezri signed, making Odin scoff under his breath.
"I am indeed lucky." Odin said in agreeance.
"What is she saying?" Thor asked Loki in a whisper, but he flashed him a look of annoyance.
"Did you seriously learn nothing?" Loki asked in irritation.
"I was too busy training." Thor said, giving him an apologetic look.
"She's nervous but excited to know mother knows sign. And that mother is beautiful." Loki said simply. He had a feeling he'd do this often and would get annoyed very fast.
"Why don't we take you for a bath and change into something more suitable? We can provide you a tour of the castle if you'd like?" Frigga suggested.
Ezri nodded, smiling excitedly, and signed, "I'd love that."
"Guard, please escort Lady Ezri to a guest room, she is a guest." Odin ordered.
The woman guard nodded before Ezri was escorted out of the hall, keeping her head low as she was escorted out.
"What are we going to do with her exactly?" Thor asked, looking towards his mother and father.
"We are going to let her live and adapt to this new life. She will need to learn to defend herself with some training. Can I entrust her to you, Loki?" Frigga explained, looking to her son.
"Me? Why not, Thor? He's the warrior here." Loki advised.
"I'd be happy to train her." Thor offered.
"The issue is that Thor doesn't know sign, and she won't talk to men out loud." Frigga reminded them.
"Enough," Odin ordered, "both of you will train her and provide her a tour of Asgard."
Later, when Ezri was dressed and escorted back to the hall, Thor nearly fumbled when he saw her as Loki felt a lump stuck in his throat.
She wore a beautiful teal dress with an embroidered silver and gold design going down her tight-fitted dress with a cloth going over the right shoulder and tucked into the corset; her sleeves were mesh, exposing her arms. The bottom part had a see-through mesh flowy bottom overlay with dark teal underneath. On her left shoulder, she had a flowing cape tucked behind her armored left shoulder with her feet poking out in silver boots.
"Is it too much?" Ezri signed, but Loki shook his head.
"You look like a true Asgardian; you are exceptionally lovely today." Loki complimented her, Thor nodding in agreement.
"Simply beautiful. Are you ready for your tour?" Thor asked, and Ezri smiled excitedly, nodding to him.
Thor and Loki stood by her side by side, showing her all Asgard, leaving the training area for last. Arriving, Ezri frowned when she saw the men and women training hard alongside one another. Thor called his hammer, winking to Ezri as it appeared so suddenly, making her nearly jolt.
"This is where you will normally find me. I take time to train the new recruits, but I will be training you in the mornings from now on. Are you trained in anything specifically?" Thor asked, and Desi nodded.
"I was trained with a spear and a staff; our battles are almost always in the water." Ezri signed.
"She fights underwater, but she uses a spear or a staff." Loki repeated to Thor.
"Good, that's good. Is that your preference?" Thor asked, but Desi shrugged.
"Depends on the battle. Sometimes I use my…more magical abilities then the spear." Ezri answered.
"What type of magical abilities?" Loki couldn't help but ask.
Sirens were a rarity in themselves. They hardly left the water; Loki knew they'd come to the surface if they sought other prey but due to past peace treaties. To know that some had medical abilities was simply wonderous for him.
"Maybe one day I'll show you both. But to answer Thor's question, I prefer magic but since I'm out of the water, it'll be my preference." Ezri signed.
Thor watched the two of them, and was glad to see Loki being friendly, if not entertained. His little brother rarely showed interest in befriending, if not learning about someone, but Ezri was an enigma to them.
"She says she uses magical abilities mainly, but she will adjust to the spear and staff while here." Loki told Thor.
"May I ask a question?" Thor asked Ezri, receiving a nod in response to her.
"Is there a time when you can speak? Where it's safe for you?" Thor asked. Ezri shook her head, smiling sadly.
"It's for the safety of your people. I'm not amazing or anything, but everyone responds differently to my voice." Ezri signed.
"She said it's for the safety of your people. Everyone responds differently to her voice." Loki translated.
"How so?" Thor asked, concerned about this affecting Ezri.
"Children are non-effective. For others, some are hostile…some can slowly go insane, some are deadly smitten…it's rarely a good experience." Ezri explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Loki looked over to Thor briefly, "They respond by hostile, slowly go insane, some are deathly smitten with her. Rarely anyone is non-effective by her ."
"I'm sorry as well, no one should have to go through that." Thor responded.
"Is it like that for all sirens?" Loki asked.
"It is, but only until we mate. Sirens are auto immune to one another's effects. That's why we are encouraged, if not forced, to mate as soon as possible. It lowers our effects on non-sirens." Ezri responded.
"It is until they mate. Sometimes, they can be forced to mate." Loki translated.
"Must be tough to endure," Thor said, "but nothing to fear here. No one will force you to do that here, I will make sure of that."
Loki rolled his eyes, making Ezri smile as she signed 'thank you' to him.
"That's thank you, brother. Please, at least remember that." Loki said, looking at Thor once more.
"Of course, thank you." Thor said, mimicking Ezri's sign.
Ezri flashed her thumbs up in approval, making Thor grin at her small praise.
"Come, let's begin our training while Loki takes a break from translating. Are you ready?" Thor asked. Ezri smiled and nodded as she approached the rack of weapons. Looking at the choices, she grabbed from the rack a wooden spear before she approached Thor once more. Loki had sat beside the rack, summoning a book as they trained. He was not one to do physical fighting but would rise to the occasion if the circumstances requested it.
For a few hours, Thor quickly learned that Ezri was already an exceptional fighter, but their spar was fun. Ezri moved elegantly, not even a pant came from her lips as the training intensified. He quickly realized that a crowd of troops were gathering, watching the newcomer with interest, and Thor didn't want to create attention, or curiosity, on her.
"You're very good, even better than some of my own men. We might need to train you on archery, attacking from the distance next. Is that okay with you?" Thor asked and Ezri nodded, signing 'thank you' once more to him.
"Good. Why don't we go ahead and head back? Are you hungry?"
"Famished." Ezri signed.
"Famished." Loki translated.