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Day 2 - Immortals
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"Nade! Nade!"
All around you, the natives of this planet reach out their hands. Not in anger, not in fear but in supplication. They touch your dress reverently, with light caresses. Their fingers ghost across your bare arms and hands. All around you, dozens of natives drop to their knees and call out one word.
"Nade! Nade!"
You turn to one of the Einherjar that guard you and ask, "What are they saying?"
He gives your a solemn look before answering, "Mercy, my queen."
More natives pour into the square from their stone houses. Most of the town has gathered now and even more seem to be coming from the fields. With tears in their eyes they throw their long, thin arms into the air and drop to their knees. Mothers hold up their infants as if offering them to you. It's unnerving and heartbreaking, watching a hundred or more aliens kneeling before you and chanting as they cry and smile at the same time.
Overwhelmed, you can only stand there as the entire town calls out to you. Behind you, your guard yells over the noise...
"They believe you are the Goddess of Mercy."
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It started small.
After the conquering of the planet Glaxar, your husband was overseeing the signing of the peace treaty and official surrender. Loki was tired and irritable after days of combat, snapping at every little thing and scaring the hell out of the Glaxarian delegation.
You had stepped up beside him, gently wrapping a hand around his bicep. His face lined with aggravation, Loki turned his head towards you. You gave him a reassuring smile and whispered, "Just a little while longer, my king."
Loki's face relaxed and he gave you a slight smile in return. Under your hand you could feel his muscles loosen and his shoulders dropped a fraction on an inch. When he turned back to the terrified delegates, your husband's mood was noticeably lighter. The signing proceeded quickly and within minutes Asgard had officially added another star system to it's empire.
But something just as important had happened.
The Glaxarians had watched in awe as you calmed the great God of Judgement with nothing but the touch of your hand and a few words. Word spread that you were no mere mortal who captured the heart of a god. You couldn't be!
Then there was the incident on the planet Polis.
Your brother-in-law Thor, the terrible God of War was in a right foul mood. He had been looking forward to a great and glorious battle against Polis' largest army only for them to throw down their weapons and prostate themselves before him and his army.
Thor, in a word, was pissed.
He had been denied his battle and proceeded to rage and shout. Huge bolts of lightning struck the ground between the Polian soldiers, making the men shake with fear. Great gusts of wind pushed the men across the dirt and the ground itself trembled beneath them.
All in all it was an impressive temper tantrum.
You weren't supposed to be so close to the front lines but things happen in war and thank goodness you were there. Even as his own warriors backed away from the furious god, you ran forward without fear and laid your hands on Thor's broad chest.
"Thor, stop this!" You shouted over the cracks of thunder and the howling wind, "There is no honor to be found in killing these men!"
For a moment it seemed nothing would stop your brother-in-law from slaughtering the entire army before him..... but then he looked into your eyes and lowered his upraised arm. Around you the lightning stopped and the wind calmed. As the ground ceased its shaking, Thor took a deep breath and let it out, the rage draining from his body. He raised one massive hand to cup the side of your head.
"Thank you, my dear sister." Thor rumbled deep in his chest, "You are right. There is no honor in killing those that surrender. Such a thing is not worthy of a god of Asgard." Thor pats your head before his smile is replaced with a look of concern, "Now get yourself back away from the front lines, little sister, before my brother hears you've been here and gives me a earful."
The Polian soldiers look on in utter disbelief as you saved their lives with nothing but a few words. There was no doubt you were more then a mortal. A demigod perhaps?
And then there was the planet Drema.
Early in your relationship with Loki, you learned that letting his sister Hela get bored was a dangerous thing. The dread Goddess of Death did not handle boredom well and tended to do horrible things to alleviate it. Things like sic her massive pet wolf on the populace and create new and terrible plagues. She had been doing these things and more to the population of Drema for several weeks when you arrived.
"Hela!" You called out, catching sight of your sister-in-law lounging on a balcony as she watched Fenris in the courtyard below torment some poor soul who had annoyed her.
Looking up from her perch on the railing, Hela smiled warmly at the sight of you. The nearby servants nearly wet themselves seeing the Death Goddess smile. "Darling sister." Hela called out, raising elegantly to her feet, "What brings you here to this dreadful place?"
You walk into Hela's open arms and give her a hug. Drawing back you smile up at her, "I couldn't wait. I know you're coming back to Asgard in a month but I just had to bring it to you!"
Hela's eyes go wide and her smile grows, "It's here?"
"Yes!" You nearly squeal, "Waves of Passion! The newest book in The Pirate's Bride series!"
Hela looks as excited as a child on Christmas morning. She pulls you in for another hug, "You are truly the best sister ever and my brother does not deserve you."
You laugh, your face buried in Hela's long black hair, "That's what Thor keeps telling him. Also, I brought a couple more new books I think you'll like."
Hela lets go and calls out, "Fenris sweetie, come!" From below the screams of terror stop as a giant black wolf leaps onto the balcony next to you. Hela scratches Fenris' muzzle, "Such a good girl. Come, mommy has some new books to read!"
Yes, a bored Hela was a dangerous Hela but fortunately, you discovered that the much feared Goddess of Death had a love for bodice-rippers. The more trashy the better.
As you watched your sister-in-law hurry off to catch up on the romantic adventures of Captain Johnathan Cutthroat and his lover, Princess Catherine, around you the Dremian servants were whispering to each other in shock.
They were convinced that you were something truly special. No mortal, not even a demigod could stay the hand of Death herself.
You had to be a Goddess.
The Goddess of Mercy!
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"It would seem...."
You look up from the letter you're writing to your friend Jane back on Earth to see your husband standing in the doorway. Loki has a strange smile on his face.
".... that we have a new goddess in the palace."
You blush, uncomfortable with this new title you've gained, "Loki, I'm...."
"Not that it's truly surprising." He cuts you off as he slowly moves towards you at your desk, "You've always been a goddess to me, my queen." Stopping next to you, Loki leans down, his face so close to yours as you look up. "My beautiful goddess." He whispers before leaning in to capture your lips.
You wish Loki's kisses could go on forever but unfortunately your need for air wins out. You pull back reluctantly. "Loki, please. I'm just a human but all those people out there think I'm a goddess and..."
"But you are, love." Loki sits on the edge of your desk and takes your left hand in his. He holds it in one hand and plays with your wedding ring with the other. "I made this for you. With my own magic I crafted this very ring. I poured more then just my magic into it, I.... I poured myself into it. My very essence. My soul. What makes me a god."
You blink, trying to process what your husband is saying, "Loki?"
"I couldn't stand the thought of loosing you." Loki says softly, his eyes firmly on your hand in his, "A few decades, a century at most wasn't enough. I had to have you for all time and the only way to do this was to make you one of us. Myself, Thor and Hela. So I found a way to not just extend your life but to make you more then human."
"But...." You frown, trying to understand what's happening, "Why didn't you tell me before now?"
"I was afraid." Loki admits painfully as his plays with your ring, "Others have tried before to make mortal lovers into gods and it did not end well. The mortals grew crazed with power and became feared by those around them. I had hoped by not telling you, you would grow into your powers and that they would blend seamlessly with your personality.... and they did."
Loki finally looks you in the eye, a radiant smile on his face, "You became a light in this universe of darkness. Your kindness, your caring soul became the heart of your powers and you turned into just what we needed. A loving goddess who seeks to help those in need. Not just the masses, but us.... here."
Loki raises your hand, pressing it to his chest so you can feel his heart beating. "You saved me from the shadows in my own heart. Showed me that love was real. You saved my brother from turning into a heartless beast who craved nothing but war and blood. And Hela.... before you I had no memories of my sister smiling. Somehow, you managed to make Death herself laugh."
"You saved all three of us." Loki whispers.
With tears in your eyes, you jump to your feet and wrap your husband in a hug. You bury your face in Loki's neck as his arms wrap around you tight. Sniffling, you mumble into his skin, "Thank you..... but I'm still a little pissed you didn't tell me."
Loki chuckles softly, one hand running up and down your back, "That's all right, my love. I'm a bit perturbed with you as well. It seems you've been keeping something from me."
You stiffen in Loki's arms and lean back. Loki gives you a knowing look, "Come now, darling wife. Did you think you could lie to the God of Judgement? A lie of omission is still a lie and you have not been truthful with me about your resent illness."
You look down, a bit ashamed you've been caught, "I just.... wasn't sure how to tell you. I...." You look up at Loki through your lashes, "I'm pregnant."
Loki's smile shines like the sun. "Pregnant? Truly?"
You nod, your own smile just as bright. With a shout, Loki leaps to his feet and sweeps you into the air. Both of you laugh with joy as he spins you around the room.
"What noise is this?"
Loki stops and sets your feet on the floor. Filling much of the doorway is Thor, his massive arms across his chest as he frowns, "Your caterwauling could be heard all the way across the palace."
"It sounds," Hela ducks around Thor to step into the room, "Like someone is celebrating and didn't invite us."
"Brother. Sister. I have a question for you." Loki loops an arm around your waist, pulling you against his side, "How do you feel about become an aunt and uncle?"
It takes a moment but the realization hits the pair at the same time. Hela gasps and Thor bellows. An instant later you're enveloped in Thor's massive arms and being lifted into the air.
"A baby! What joyous news!" Thor shouts loud enough for the whole of Asgard to hear. He sets you back on your feet and asks, "Who's the father? I jest, brother, I jest!" He quickly adds as Loki reaches to summon a dagger.
Hela pushes Thor out of the way to give you her own hug, "Congratulations, my sister."
You lean in, knowing how precious a hug from her is. "Thank you." You whisper, "Careful. All these hugs and smiles.... they'll think your going soft."
Hela chuckles in your ear, "As if."
"A feast!" Thor shouts, one arm wrapped around Loki and keeping him pinned in place, "Come, brother! To the kitchens! We must inform the cooks! All of Asgard celebrates tonight!"
"Let go, you buffoon!" Loki snarls at Thor drags him from the room.
You and Hela share a laugh as you both wrap an arm around the other, following Thor and Loki. You trail after them, passing through the Throne Room and under the magic infused ceiling.
If you had bothered to look up, you would have seen that the images of Loki, Thor and Hela no longer frowned menacingly down at you. Instead they each bore a different smile. Thor's was broad and joyous. Hela's was small and almost serene. Loki's was soft and loving.
And standing with them was a new figure.
A likeness of you, smiling warmly down at all those below.
The newest goddess of Asgard.
The Goddess of Mercy.
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