#renlem

Stjarnavetr has been exiled from her home realm of Vanaheim and has come to Asgard by the mercy of Odin Allfather and Queen Frigga. She is entrusted by Queen Frigga to further instruct the youngest prince, Loki, in seidr, the magic of the Vanir. Stjarnavetr tries her best to deal successfully with the arrogant and impetuous prince of Asgard, while Loki tries to coax from his new seidr tutor the dark secret of why she was exiled from Vanaheim. In the process, the two come to find solace in each other’s company and Stjarnavetr must confront her feelings about Loki and the horrors of her past.

Note: (In honour of the impending release of the Loki miniseries and my sceptical optimism for it, I'm highlighting a few canon-adjacent Loki works that can pass the time between new episodes or, if you're like me, distract from new content long enough to miss the first wave of inevitable Discourse.) I think I happened upon Stjarna's 11 installments as I was poking around in other people’s AO3 bookmarks in May 2020, looking for something to occupy the nebulous quarantine days. I didn’t even notice that its publishing run spanned almost five years until I had reached the handful of One Shots that separate the two major parts. Comprising a word count around 622k, Renlem has made the Stjarnavetr series an immmersive experience that hits hard on darker facets of Aesir noble society. Fingers crossed they’ll be able to finish Part 2 soon.

- Masterpost on Author's Tumblr | @renlem - - Series on AO3 -

I had come to Asgard when the youngest prince was not yet five hundred years old, but in appearance a grown man already. I might never have made acquaintance with him had it not been for Frigga, Odin Allfather’s wife and queen. She entrusted him to me with a special task in mind when I had come as an exile from my home of Vanaheim.

I had been brought before her during my third week in Asgard as her newest handmaiden. I still remember it so very well; we had been in her receiving chamber and she had bade me rise after I had knelt before her. She smiled at me and I thought how beautiful she was, how regal.

She gestured towards her fireplace. Two chairs were set before it with an intricately carved table between. There were a few books lying there, along with a tray and some cups that a servant had brought earlier. She sat in one of the cushioned chairs and motioned for me to sit as well.

I gingerly sat down, dreading any pain that I might feel. I had been in much pain as of late, but thankfully I could move about now without much trouble. Once I was comfortable, she offered me some wine, which I politely took.

“I am most pleased you are here,” she said kindly.

“As am I,” I replied, lifting the cup to my mouth to take a sip of wine. It was by her and Odin Allfather’s mercy—and pity—that I had been allowed to come here.

“Are you healing well, Stjarnavetr?” she asked, inclining her head towards me.

“Yes. Eir assures me that I will be fully healed within the week, though there will always be… scarring. But she has been able to nearly restore me. Asgard’s healers are truly miraculous, Your Majesty.”

Queen Frigga smiled. “I am very glad. You were in quite a state when you came.”