Chapter Text
Long ago there was a sorceress queen who ruled over Alfheim by the name of Aslaug. Married to the Asgardian noble, Asger, their union was believed to be the key to a millennium of peace among the Æsir. Aslaug and Asger were smitten with each other and were fair, kind rulers.
With their reign, Alfheim fell into a period of peace- the longest golden age in the history of the 9 realms- spent hand-in-hand with Asgard. Thousands of years passed, when Aslaug became pregnant with an heir. Upon hearing the news, the realms were alight with celebration. There were many gifts and revelry that lasted for years upon end in anticipation for the prince or princess to be born.
Joy peaked upon news of the birth of the child; a princess had been born at sunrise on the eve of spring. People rejoiced in Asgard and Alfheim alike, and for nearly a year bright flags flew upon the highest towers in the royal palaces.
The small princess was named Astalva, and was rumoured to be the most beautiful creature in all of the realms. She was lean and strong, with hair the colour of a sunbeam hitting gold. Her eyes were rumoured to be like droplets of the sunset, and her magic was a brilliant amber that filled the room around her with warmth. She grew to be a well beloved princess, and spent many trips playing amongst the gardens with the children of odin. There were talks between the allfather and Aslaug of her betrothal to the oldest odinson, Thor.
Years passed, and not long after the princess’s 1,200th birthday, tragedy struck. The beloved queen took ill. Aslaug the Benevolent was plagued by a mysterious curse that banished her to bed. It made her weak, frail and slowly devoured her magic. The Healers from 6 realms attempted to banish the curse, but only succeeded in accelerating it’s growth. Desperate and with no other options, King Asger called to his allies in Asgard. The Allmother tried to heal her, but also to no avail.
Queen Aslaug was eventually put into stasis by the allfather using the OdinForce and entombed inside of a great tree within the Alfheim Palace Gardens. With the loss of the queen, the kingdom fell solely under the rule of King Asger the Strong, who then began training his daughter, Astalva, to become a strong warrior and queen.
It was 300 years after the queen’s entombment when news came of a plant in Vanaheim that had the potential to heal the queen. The king, determined he could attain it and faithful in the way he trained his daughter, Asger assembled a party with the strongest warriors in the realm and set off for Vanaheim. Leaving Astalva behind to look after the kingdom..
The trip to save the Queen was supposed to last for less than a year, but nearly half a decade went by with no word from the King or his warriors. The council had to make the decision that Astalva was to be crowned queen.
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“Quit fidgeting,” Loki snapped quietly, “It’s bothersome,”
“Tell me, brother, do you think she recalls our friendship? Do you think she remembers us? It’s been quite a long time,” Thor asked and Loki looked over to him, vaguely annoyed. The two were standing by the gates of Asgard, awaiting the final members of their travelling party. They were preparing to leave for Alfheim, for the coronation of their childhood friend, Astalva.
“It’s been hardly 300 years, Thor,” the younger of the two replied, “I’m sure she’s far from forgotten you,” Loki’s words seemed hopeful, but his body told a different story. Thor stared into the heavens as if they would provide some sort of solace from his unspoken thoughts.
“You seem quite sure of your claims,” Thor commented and Loki’s fingers halted from smoothing his own green tunic, surprised, “I cannot help but to think...”
“Well that’s a first,” Loki quipped before attempting to reassure his brother and himself, “We’re simply seeing an old friend, Thor. What is there to possibly fret about?” In lieu of response, Thor just sighed, an unfamiliar sound coming from the normally optimistic blonde.
“It’s been nearly half a millennium since we saw her last, brother,” Thor returned to fidgeting with his shirt. “Many things have changed.”
“Ah, yes. I, for one, have grown to be far more charming and dashing than you,” A vaguely playful smirk slid across Loki’s face and Thor couldn’t help but smile.
“A debate that is far from settled,” Thor retorted. The two chuckled a little before they fell into a silence.
Feeling a little awkward, Thor spoke again, “I must ask you. What does one do in the situation we have found ourselves in?”
“Please elaborate,” Loki replied, confused, although he tried not to show it.
“Lady-erm princess- Astalva has lost everything in the centuries since we last saw her. Her father has gone missing, her mother is under the OdinForce, and now she must become queen, I cannot imagine the stress she is under.”
“Since when did you have such a distaste for the crown?” Loki inquired, fingers returning to adjusting and readjusting various parts of his outfit.
“It’s not distaste for the crown,” Thor corrected his brother in a rushed tone, “It just seems very… sudden,” Thor then dropped the hem of his shirt and looked up, “She’s hardly 1,550, much too young to lose everything and then gain a country.”
“Yet if you were to be offered the throne of Asgard tomorrow,” Loki mused, “You’d gladly take it, would you not?”
“That’s different, brother,” The god of thunder reasoned, “I have been training to become king for my entire life,” Thor glanced back to his brother once more, “She is so young. She needs time to be a child.,” Loki scoffed at Thor’s words, and, deeming his attire worthy, clasped his hands regally behind his back.
“She’s not even 500 years younger than you,” he remarked, “And she has been vigorously training for this day for hundreds of years. Do not downplay her achievements in light of the circumstance,” For a long while, there was silence between the two. It carried on as they began to move towards the Bifrost, and Thor commenced fiddling with the hem of his shirt once more.
“It just seems rather depressing,” he finally said, quieter now and Loki spared him a vaguely concerned glance. It was quite unlike the older of the two to worry so much over something of this nature. It was out of character, and Loki felt a worry twist slightly in his gut for the upcoming event.
“Well, then perhaps I should remind you of one of the greatest faults with rule,” Loki told his brother as they neared the Bifrost gate. Heimdall was visible where he stood guard.
“What is that?” Thor asked inquisitively and Loki nodded to Heimdall in respect.
“The throne is hardly ever given when desired. Most often it is and unwanted burden, or in some cases,” A cold smile appeared on Loki’s face “It’s taken,”