Astraea is nestled in a window seat, engrossed in a book, when Eos interrupts her with a question about her walk with Thor in the gardens.
"How was your walk with Thor in the gardens?" Eos asks, her voice filled with curiosity.
Astraea glances up from her book, slightly annoyed at the disruption, and responds with a smile, "It was pleasant."
Eos nods, satisfied with her daughter's answer, and then asks, "Good. I should hope you two are getting on quite well then?"
Astraea, sensing her mother's prying, raises an eyebrow and asks, "Mother, are you prying?"
Eos's smile widens, just the tiniest bit, as she responds, "I'm your mother, am I not allowed to ask how my daughter's happiness is?"
Astraea, understanding that her mother's concern goes beyond mere curiosity, reassures Eos that she is indeed happy.
Eos, however, reveals her own painful past, saying, "I suppose I just want to know if he is good to you, if you like him. I cannot express how excruciating it is to be a queen and unloved by her king."
Astraea, shocked by this revelation, asks, "Mother? You are not speaking of father, are you?"
Eos shakes her head, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. "I'm not speaking of your father," she says, pausing as memories flood her mind. "I was married before him."
Astraea is stunned by this revelation. She had always assumed her father was the only man her mother had ever loved. Now, she wonders about the man who had caused her mother such pain and the story of their ill-fated marriage.
The sound of boots clicking against the flood brought the two girls from their talk. Both sets of eyes moving to the doorway where a guard stood. "Forgive me for the intrusion, dinner is ready in the great hall."
Astraea enters the great dining room in Asgard, accompanied by her mother, Eos. The large doors are opened by Asgardian soldiers, revealing a room adorned with ancient carvings that tell the tales of Odin.
Astraea gazes at the intricate carvings above her, mesmerized by the stories they hold. She then looks ahead to see her father, Thor, and Odin seated at the table.
Odin, the Allfather, clasps his hands and announces, "Aha, good. We're all here."
Astraea takes in the rich and unique scent that fills the air, a blend of various food smells that causes her stomach to growl. The air in Asgard is different from the sweet fragrance of Olympus, where the scent of roses dominates due to the gardens her mother and father planted for her. The atmosphere in Asgard is more complex, a bittersweet mix of flavors that creates a sensual experience around her.
Odin, the Allfather, inquires about their experience so far, and Astraea takes a moment to choose her words carefully.
"It has indeed been good, Odin. I thank you for everything," she replies, smiling at the elder man.
Odin, pleased with her response, suggests that it's time to discuss wedding dates. Astraea, however, is taken aback by this sudden turn of conversation and swallows nervously. She glances around the room, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her.
Thor, sensing her unease, reaches forward and places his hand over hers in reassurance. "Father, can we discuss th-" he begins, attempting to buy her some time.
Odin, however, is adamant about moving forward with the wedding plans. "Nonsense, boy. You two are getting on very well, I say it's time we discuss wedding dates," he responds, his tone firm and unyielding.
an unexpected turn as they discuss wedding plans and the impending departure of her parents. The Titan god, Astraea's father, announces that it's nearly time for him and Eos, Astraea's mother, to return home.
Astraea, taken aback by this revelation, asks in disbelief, "You're leaving me?"
Eos, torn between her duty as a mother and her loyalty to her husband, bites her tongue. She knows that speaking out against her husband is not an option, but seeing the pain in her daughter's eyes breaks her heart a million times over. "Astraea, sweetie," she says, trying to console her, "you are to be married; it is time for you to grow up and be on your own."
Astraea glances at everyone at the table before responding. "You're right, I can't argue that."
Eos and her husband exchange a look, and then Astraeus speaks, "I knew you would understand, daughter." The weight of the moment hangs heavy in the air as the family comes to terms with the changes that lie ahead.
Astraea, attempting to move the conversation forward, agrees to discuss the wedding. "Right, well, on to more pressing matters then, the wedding," she says, trying to maintain a sense of composure.
Odin, relieved by her acceptance, proposes that the wedding take place in four months. Just as the idea is settling in, a new voice echoes through the room, "A wedding, and I'm not invited?"
All eyes turn to the doorway where a slender man with jet black hair stands, hands held behind his back, eyes scanning the room. The man is none other than Loki, the God of Mischief, who has seemingly escaped his imprisonment in Vanaheim.
Astraea can feel the tension in the air as she notices the terrified expressions on the faces of everyone present. She realizes that Loki's presence has caused fear and uncertainty to ripple through the room.
Odin, trying to maintain control of the situation, addresses Loki, "Loki, what are you doing here? If I recall, you were settled nicely in Vanaheim." He steps away from the table and approaches Loki, his voice firm and steady despite the tension that fills the room.
"I brought him here."
with the arrival of the Queen of Asgard, Frigga. Astraea, still adjusting to her new life in this realm, had spent her free time studying all things Asgard in the library.
Frigga, the wife of Odin and the mother of Thor, Balder, and Loki, stands before them, explaining her reasons for bringing Loki to the great dining room. "He's our son, and he has the right to be here for his brother's wedding," she says, her eyes shining in the golden lights of the room.
Odin, conflicted by his son's presence, ultimately agrees to let him stay. "Of course, join us," he says, attempting to maintain a sense of composure.
Loki, the God of Mischief, seems to delight in his father's discomfort and pushes the boundaries further, saying, "What, no hurtful words? I would have thought that after not seeing each other in nearly a year, Father, you would have more to say."
The tension in the room is palpable as the family grapples with the unexpected reunion and the wedding plans that lie ahead.
Frigga places her hand on Loki's shoulder. "Loki."
Eos, Astraea's mother, rises to her feet, her voice loud and commanding as she tries to restore order. "Please, come, let us eat. This is no time for disagreeing," she says, attempting to bring the focus back to the wedding and the meal.
Loki raised his eyebrows, something impolite was about to escape his lips when his eyes caught of her, Astraea. Loki took the time to just observe her, let his eyes wander on her body maybe far to long. letting his eyes wander over her body in a way that is both curious and unsettling.
Thor, sensing the uncomfortable shift in the room, stands and politely invites Loki to join them at the table. "Brother, please, eat with us."
Loki, however, is not one to be swayed by his brother's kindness. "It speaks," he replies scornfully, "Thank you, brother, but I'd rather not. I shall seek my time elsewhere." With that, he turns on the ball of his heel and makes a swift exit, leaving the room in stunned silence.