Hiemini

"Hurry along now, children. We don't want to keep the All-Father waiting."

The two of you had to pick up the pace to keep up with him. You didn't even have time to look around before Heimdall was already leading you down a flight of stairs, at the bottom of which he spread his arms.

"Gulltoppr! Who loves me the most? Whooo loves me the most??"

While the Aesir gave his mount a few pats, you finally had a chance to look around - but the view from below was as sobering as the one from above. (You would be careful not to say that out loud, however.)

You exchanged a confused look with Atreus. Then you followed the god all the way down and saw that "Gulltoppr" was by no means Heimdall's oddly named lover, but rather an oversized Gradungr with pale fur and clad in golden armor. Funnily enough, it kind of looked like the Gradungr version of its master... You suppressed an amused snort at the thought.

Just as you were warily eyeing a creature on a rooftop that looked suspiciously like a dragon, Heimdall called you both over and ordered you to mount Gulltoppr. A moment later, he was already sitting on the animal's back himself. You glanced at Atreus and nervously signaled for him to help you out here. There was no way in Hel you would make it up there on your own. The young god gave a quick nod and then crouched down next to the Gradungr.

No sooner had you placed your foot on his folded hands than mocking laughter rang out from above. "I would have thought you had taught your pet a few tricks by now, Giant. How did she even survive this long?"

Atreus gave you a push, and soon - accompanied by a soft "Oof!" - you were dangling over the beast's back. You silently cheered. However, just as you were about to reposition yourself, Gulltoppr grew restless, and your eyes widened as you felt yourself slipping. You flailed your legs in the air and tried to cling to the armor plates, but your hands were too sweaty and couldn't get a grip. The only thing left for you to do was watch the ground come closer and closer and let out a panicked "Nonononooo...!" until-

Your face grew hot, but you were determined not to lose your cool. No matter how skilled you might have been, even if you had been a natural at Gradungr riding he probably would have found something to mock you for. That was just the kind of person he seemed to be.

The asshole kind.

You suddenly felt a grip around your arm before you were abruptly pulled up again. It happened so fast you were still half in shock moments later, when you found yourself pressed against Heimdall's back.

"Must I do everything around here", he sighed. "You're welcome, by the way."

You were so close to him that you could practically feel his voice... Nope! Definitely too close for comfort.

"Uh, th-thank you", you stammered against his shoulder before quickly moving to put a little more distance between you.

This proved to be a futile effort, however, as Atreus leaped up right behind you, successfully trapping you in place. Much to your horror. You could barely move! Why the Hel did Heimdall think this was a good idea?? It was hard to imagine that he was okay with a mortal pressing her nose against his shoulder. Or, maybe he was just such a little shit that he could ignore his own discomfort as long as the other person was having an even worse time…

Either way, you were now part of a god-sandwich and prayed to all the others that the ride wouldn't last too long.

Fortunately, the Gradungr started moving soon after (you could imagine it wasn't particularly thrilled about having to carry three passengers at once), and you watched as the city passed by. Atreus said something, but you didn't pay attention. Instead, you made every effort not to slide further into the Aesir each time Gulltoppr took a bigger step. But with no one to lean on but Heimdall himself your struggle was doomed from the start, so you gave up pretty quickly and just kept your head firmly turned to the side.

You passed place after place where people were fighting, and soon you started to wonder if Gladsheim was actually half training ground. Rather funny. No wonder Heimdall loved this place, what with him always being so on edge and ready for a fight.

"...Goodness", you heard him say in mock surprise, "you really don't know anything about our culture, do you?"

"I know your wall was built by a Giant", Atreus replied, a hint of triumph in his voice. Point for Team Good Guys! You couldn't help but grin.

Heimdall laughed incredulously, and you could feel it shaking your own body. So weird...

"A Giant. The wall was built by a Giant to keep out the Giants. Are you even listening to yourself?"

"Hrimthur, son of Thamur. I know the whole story."

"Really? Oh, I truly can not wait for you to tell me more of your little revisionist tales about my own culture. Believe me, I am dying to hear more."

You wondered how he would react if you elbowed him in the back right about now. Arrogant prick.

The next moment, Gulltoppr carried you past a group of Einherjar warriors, including a few dragon tamers. They were all armed to the teeth, and suddenly you were quite happy to be sitting up here, sandwiched between these two gods...

"Hey, is that Odin's palace?", Atreus asked.

"'Palace'? You think the All-Father needs to puff himself up like some mortal chieftain? Oh, no..."

Gulltoppr came to a stop, and you could breathe easier as Heimdall jumped to the ground. Your eyes briefly wandered to the large building in front of you, a kind of... oversized lodge. But soon they were searching for the Aesir again; you didn't trust him one bit.

"True power does not need to flaunt", he continued, looking up at you. "It emerges when the time is right, and not one. second. earlier."

His words hung in the air between you for a moment before he suddenly grabbed your leg and, with the other hand, gave Gulltoppr's back end a firm slap. Immediately, the animal reared up and charged forward, causing you to lose your balance and fall to the ground. The air was knocked out of your lungs, and you saw stars for a moment. From a distance, you heard Atreus yell, and looked up just in time to see him being violently tossed around by the Gradungr before he, too, was unceremoniously thrown off its back.

You had already opened your mouth to give the Aesir a piece of your mind when he shouted: "Hey! Helmet heads! I brought you a new training dummy!"

Horrified, you watched some of the warriors you had passed on the way here climb over the fence and head toward Atreus, who assumed a defensive stance. You were about to do the same, but Heimdall was faster. He grabbed your elbow and yanked you to your feet as if you weighed no more than a feather.

"What are you doing?! I thought you were taking us to Odin!", you heard Atreus shout before the fight began and he was busy keeping the Einherjar at bay.

"You see, the thing is - you obviously have treacherous intent. So I will not bring you anywhere near the All-Father", Heimdall replied, pulling you closer.

You tried to break free, struggling this way and that, even clawing at his hand, but he didn't budge. On the contrary, his grip only tightened. You cried out, and Atreus called your name, but he was too busy to come to your aid. So in the end, you did the only thing you could still think of:

You bit his hand.

Immediately, Heimdall loosened his grip on your arm and let out a pained cry. You didn't hesitate for a second and spun around, but before you could take another step toward Atreus, Gulltoppr blocked your path. Angrily, you changed directions yet again, ready to go to the extreme - however, it was as if the Aesir god suddenly didn't even notice you anymore. No, instead, he was just staring at his hand, as if he couldn't believe that a mortal had dared to hurt him.

And if the situation had been less stressful for you, you might have realized just how unbelievable that actually was...

As things stood, though, you could only wait with a pounding heart for his next move. And you didn't have to wait long before his head snapped back up, expression literally murderous, and your courage vanished in an instant. Your eyes darted around in panic as you desperately scanned your surroundings for a way out. But the longer you searched, the more you felt like a mouse trapped in an underground tunnel with a giant snake blocking the only exit. No chance.

It took the Watchman only three steps to reach you, and you braced yourself for the inevitable pain that was sure to follow... When, all of a sudden, there was a loud bang above your heads. It seemed to shake the whole world, and you quickly covered your ears and crouched down in fear.

You remained in this position for some time, listening only to your wildly beating heart and the blood rushing in your ears. Until Heimdall eventually pulled you to your feet once more and roughly dragged you into the makeshift arena. 

Straight toward the big man who had suddenly appeared right next to Atreus: Thor, the God of Thunder.

You had flashbacks of his surprise visit to your cabin a few weeks ago - the moment that set all of this in motion, really - and couldn't help but feel a little panicked at the sight. However, it seemed like your worry about Atreus was misplaced; Thor didn't pay him any attention. Instead, he just watched calmly as Heimdall rushed forward, you in tow. A few feet away, he finally let go of you, and you immediately rubbed your sore arm.

In the blink of an eye, Atreus appeared beside you. "Are you okay?"

You nodded, even though you were still feeling rather shaky. "You?"

He returned the gesture, smiling slightly, before you both turned your attention back to the spectacle unfolding before you.

Heimdall got all up in Thor's face and growled: "What are you doing here."

"They are guests of the All-Father, whether you like it or not. No playthings", the mountain of a man growled back, his voice so deep you could almost feel it in the air. "So knock it off."

You were spellbound. The two Aesir gods didn't seem to get along very well - to say the least. Which, you had to admit, was extremely delightful to watch.

Heimdall bared his golden teeth. "And what if I don't? Hm? What will you do to stop me? Drink yourself into another stupor?"

At that, Thor seemed to grow even larger, his eyes practically shooting thunderbolts at his counterpart. You instinctively swallowed at this display of power, and it wasn't even aimed at you! The God of Thunder was just that terrifying.

"Want to find out?"

The situation was so tense that you half-expected them to actually start fighting. But then there was a loud whooshing sound, and suddenly, the All-Father himself was standing right next to you. You nearly jumped out of your skin and quickly put some distance between you, while all heads immediately turned in his direction.

"Loki!", he exclaimed, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "You made it! I am truly honored."

He nodded at you, and you smiled back shyly.

"I see you had an… interesting reception." He eyed your dirty clothes, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw Heimdall stand a little straighter. "He's one of my best men, you know. Reads minds for me."

As if on cue, Heimdall approached Odin and said with a slight bow: "You have misjudged them, All-Father. They intend to deceive you."

Odin gave him a stern look. "Of course they do, Heimdall, don't be ridiculous. Why else would they be here, hm? Better explain to me why they're covered in mud!"

The younger Aesir repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, making him look like a fish out of water. You couldn't help but grin, but then his purple eyes met yours and you immediately straight-faced. "This isn't over", they seemed to say. You found yourself rubbing your arm again.

"There is something else, All-Father-"

Odin sighed. "What now? Heimdall, will you just relax? Were you intending on killing me first thing, Loki? Hm? No? Well then. They're here because they have questions, Heimdall, and I have plenty of answers to give. No need to be so tense."

The God of Foresight still didn't seem convinced, but now Odin had enough and sent him and Thor away. You let out a relieved sigh. Even if you never had to see Heimdall again, it would still be too soon. What a piece of work…

You caught Odin's eye, and he chuckled softly. "I know. He's something, isn't he? Very useful, but sometimes he just forgets… to think, you know. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you any more while you're here. ...Ah, but I believe it's time for a little change of scenery!"

In an instant, you were surrounded by countless wings, and this time, you couldn't help but hold on to Atreus. You felt like so much had happened in the last few hours that your brain could barely keep up. A few heartbeats later, you were already in another part of the city.

Odin approached you again. "I don't want to presume. I mean, ha! How could I possibly know what it's like for a mortal to stand here in Asgard? But I'd hazard a guess that it's a fair bit overwhelming, so if you could use a break, that would be perfectly understandable."

You quickly shook your head and let go of Atreus' arm. "Uh, no. No need, I'm fine."

He nodded and then took you on a little tour of this part of the city. You mostly just listened while he talked to Atreus, but that was okay and exactly what your head needed right now. A break would have been nice too, actually, but you didn't want to show any weakness in front of Odin. Also for Atreus' sake; he did emphasize that he wasn't mad at you for following him here, but still. You wanted to be as little of a burden as possible.

The three of you passed by a large training ground (because of course), and you immediately suspected that this was no coincidence. Odin wanted you to see this, the many skilled warriors of Asgard. The great army of Asgard. And you had to admit: If that was meant to impress, he had succeeded. At least as far as you were concerned.

What also greatly impressed you were the Einherjar themselves. Once ordinary people like you, they now stood here, having died and reached Valhalla, and were being trained for Odin's army. They scared you, but in a different way than, say, Heimdall did. Every time you looked at them, you couldn't help but search for a remnant of humanity in them… But all you found was emptiness and death.

You were glad when that part of the tour was over. But then you found yourself back in the raven vortex, and this time you felt a little nauseous even. Maybe it was just your mortal stomach acting up...

Luckily, no one seemed to pay you or your wobbly legs any attention after you arrived back at the big lodge. Instead, Odin instructed a servant, who had apparently been waiting for you, to hand Atreus a huge stack of books.

"Oof", he grunted.

"Just a few books from my personal collection. You like to read, no?"

You and Atreus exchanged a glance before hurrying after Odin.

"Uh, sure... I mean, yes, that's right. Thanks", the boy replied, a little taken aback. It was good to know that you weren't the only one having trouble processing what was happening.

You entered the big building, and wow, it really was big. Much bigger than it had looked from the outside. That seemed to be a common theme in Asgard: Nothing was as it appeared at first glance. And of course, Odin was no exception. You looked thoughtfully at his back as he led you through the lodge. Hearing from Freya how captivating and charismatic he could be was one thing. Experiencing it firsthand was quite another. You shot Atreus a quick look. Hopefully, he would remember her words as well...

You arrived at the final stop, Atreus' very own room. And yes, you heard that right, you seemed to have separate accommodations. That wasn't a problem per se; you didn't mind sleeping in different rooms, you had already done so back at Brok and Sindri's. Sure, it had been strange at first, because in Midgard, you, Kratos, and Atreus had shared a single room for many years. Out of necessity, of course. Still, having a little more privacy in the Realm Between Realms had come as a pleasant surprise.

But this was different. You had no idea how the next few days (weeks?) would unfold, but you seriously doubted that you would be able to spend much quality time with the younger god once he started his studies. Because never in a million years would Odin involve you, the silly little mortal guard dog, in his affairs. It was a miracle he had even let you set foot in Asgard! No, it would serve him quite well to keep the two of you apart.

And for that very reason, you had hoped for a shared room at least. And also, because you were still on enemy territory here, surrounded by people who could snap you in half without breaking a sweat. But, you know. No biggie.

Odin, however, wouldn't budge. "Loki, every young man needs his own space, unless he wants to start a family. And think about your studies! It will do you good to have as few distractions as possible, trust me."

You frowned. Odin almost made it sound like you would deliberately try and sabotage his studies. This whole thing made you even more uneasy now, but when Atreus gave you a sheepish look, you knew you had lost.

"All right, fine", you muttered.

Odin nodded, satisfied. "A wise decision. And look, your rooms are even right next to each other", he said, addressing you directly. "I'll ask someone to show you- Ah, speaking of! Sif! Good to see you. I'm just showing our dear guests to their rooms. Would you be so kind-"

"All-Father, forgive the interruption, but there is a matter that requires your attention."

Odin raised his eyebrows, motioned for you to wait, and took the Aesir goddess aside to hear what she had to say. Meanwhile, you admired Sif's elaborate hairstyle and the intricate tattoos on her arm. She was stunning. If someone had told you that she was actually the ruler of Asgard, you would have believed them in a heartbeat. You glanced at Atreus and chuckled to yourself; judging by his awestruck expression, he was having quite similar thoughts.

Odin's sigh caught your attention. "Oh, there's just no end to these problems, is there…" He turned to you with a pensive look. "Would you mind if we rearranged the evening program a bit? I'd like to take Loki on a little trip. In the meantime, feel free to move into your room. Make yourself comfortable!"

You felt the corners of your mouth twitch. Of course they were already trying to separate you right here and now. It was so predictable, so unabashedly-

"No problem. Sounds good."

You stared at Atreus. What? Hadn't you just talked about that, right before coming here, that you would immediately step in if they tried to drive you apart for no good reason? So what was that all about??

The boy felt your eyes on him, but just smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's fine. It'll only be for a short while, you heard him. And, well... I also think a little rest might do you some good- Said with love, of course! I'm just worried."

You bit your lower lip. Well, it was sweet of him to worry about you, but by doing so, he was playing right into Odin's hands. He was right about one thing, though: The longer you stood here, the more tired you felt. Your legs were practically screaming for a break. This day had thoroughly exhausted you.

So in the end, you just nodded hesitantly, while crossing your fingers that he knew what he was doing. And that Odin wouldn't kill him as soon as they were alone...

"Excellent, excellent", Odin said, clapping his hands. "Then please, Loki, put your books down, and let's go visit our good friends, the dwarves! Oh, and Sif-" For the first time, he noticed her tense expression. "Is there something else…?"

"This is Loki?" Her voice sounded strained. "Here. In our home. How nice."

The old man chuckled. "Ah, always the diplomat. Yes, my dear, this is Loki. But don't you worry your pretty little head, I'll keep an eye on him. Now, would you do me a favor and show our other guest to her room? Just like I told you, that one right there. You know the one."

You gulped as you felt her icy gaze on you. "…Of course, All-Father." And with that, she walked away, clearly expecting you to follow right behind her.

You cast one last glance at Atreus, but he merely nodded in the direction Sif had gone and gave you another encouraging smile before joining Odin. Seconds later, the two of them were swallowed up by the raven vortex once more, leaving you all alone.

On enemy territory. Surrounded by powerful gods. A mortal in frickin' Asgard.