Chapter Text
Yggdrasil. The connection to every single realm, beholding powers that could not be fathomed by the mind. No one would have thought the tree would bear a child. A child left abandoned and they named her, Asterix. Visitors braided her hair, golden with light that resembled her parent, it curled in waves, her skin brushed a soft cinnamon. She spoke with the beasts that resided on her parent, she was loved. The Norns taught her of many things she ought to need to know about the realms. She never left Yggdrasil, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her parent who gave her life and friends.
Within her was a fragment of Yggdrasil’s core that thrummed through her veins, her powers of life and creation bloomed from within, the Norns taught her to control her power, there were visitors and then there were enemies. Enemies that wished to hurt her friends, the serpent, the dragons, the birds, her friends were strong, she knew but the Norns recognised the importance of battle. She used the naganita, it was a long-brandished polearm that held a blade at the end, it was enchanted to respond to her, it hummed with power, her name Orphena.
In Asgardian terms, she had lived 1041 years, she was nurtured with the honey of the brilliant bees and the leaves of the tree. It was a nice life she had lived so far, despite the life she had she felt the need to know more, she was young, curious, the Norns told her as much as they could about the realms, there’s only so much as they could tell her.
“Ratatoskr... have you left Yggdrasil before?” She asked the furry beast, scratching behind his large ears.
“Many times.” The beast spoke to her. “Why do you ask, child?”
“Will I be able to venture the realms?” She paused her petting.
“You may, though will you be prepared? The realms will show you betrayal, pain and much more beyond what you have known.”
“I want to learn beyond tales, Ratatoskr, I want to know and have experience.”
“Bid your goodbyes, the most honoured place of the realms is of Asgard. You are the child of Yggdrasil, ensure that you keep it a secret.”
“Why?”
“You have seen many venture for the power of Yggdrasil, you have a fragment within you, they will not falter and may try cause you harm. Remember your training and be in control of your powers, do not trust easy, my child.”
“Thank you, Ratatoskr.” Asterix pressed kiss onto his fluffy cheek, “I love you, I will return.”
“I love you too, child.” Ratatoskr’s black eyes curled with a gleam of affection.
.
.
.
.
Asgard was interesting. Asterix saw the land, gold, green and earthy. The market area was filled with life, she kept her naganita next to her person at each time, it hummed as they passed various warriors, eager to test their strength. “Orphena, we have not even been here for two sun rises, be calm.” Asterix said to her dear naganita softly.
“Fruits! Fruits! Fruits that are the best of the realms!” A vendor called, Asterix would doubt that but the fruits were peculiar.
“May I have one of those?” Asterix pointed at a glossy red fruit.
“Ah, the apples.” The vendor smiled at her, “A nugget would suffice.” Asterix reached into her pouch and picked out a golden nugget, a currency she figured was used here, she didn’t quite understand how they did things but she mimicked what she had seen from the other beings that resided on the land. The man packed in seven apples into a meshed bag and gave it to her.
Tentatively she bit into one. The burst of flavour from the peculiar fruit was interetsing, a smile grew on her face as she chewed, “My gosh, these are wonderful, good sir!” Her eyes twinkled happily, glowing with a curious light.
“They are the best of the realms.” The man gave her a boisterous laugh. “Do you come from Alfheim? You seem to hold powers of light.”
Alfheim was home to the light elves, she must have shown a bit of her Aesir through her delight. It would be most difficult to explain her being so she meekly nodded. “Yes, my mother was a Light Elf.”
“Then your mother must be quite beautiful.”
“She is.” Asterix agreed, Yggdrasil was neither male or female but they were her parent. “Thank you for the fruit, I wish a good day.” And then the girl was off on her merry way, finding herself deeper within the marketplace.
.
.
.
.
She wandered around for a few hours just buying things that intrigued her, such as hairclips, another sturdy pouch and a few small trinkets that reminded her of home. Until she bumped into someone, “My apologies, I had not been looking where I was going.” Asterix grabbed one of the apples that had been jostled from her bag from the sudden collision.
“You dare--” The insult certainly died on the man’s tongue as he tutted before brushing past her, he walked in a way that exuded his presence, chin up, eyes level, hair fairly draped down his shoulders, his clothes a deep emerald embroidered with black and gold, golden rings on his fingers though on one hand the set didn’t look complete. Asterix stepped forward and her feet crunched on top of something, a golden ring that certainly seemed to belong to the man. She picked it up and rushed after the man as he got swallowed up by the crowds.
“Excuse me, sir!” The maiden budged past people, trying to make sure that they didn’t get hit by her naganita. She caught up to the man at a stall. “Sir, I believe you dropped this.” Asterix presented the fallen ring.
“Is that right? Would you like a reward for it?” The man sneered at her, green eyes blazing in challenge.
“No, I simply wanted to return it.” Asterix pressed the ring into his open hand. “Good day.” She turned, her rivulets of curls whipped around before she was off.
“Halt.” The man ordered, making Asterix pause and look back at him.
“You are not of Asgard, surely you would have recognised their prince even so?” The man crossed his arms, tapping his arm with a finger in a slow tandem.
“Ah...” Asterix didn’t know what to say, she glanced at him, she had heard many tales of the princes of Asgard however she never paid too much mind to them, “Prince...?”
“Loki.” The man said exasperated.
“Ah yes! Prince Loki, the trickster and epitome of chaos!” Recognition flashed in her eyes, “Your sedir clearly shows that, no wonder!”
“You can see my seidr?” Loki asked incredulously.
“Yes, it is quite fluid, unrestrained and very well-tuned, it suits you, it likes you.” Asterix eyes glowed warmly with a not quite golden gleam.
“How curious.” Loki leaned closer to her, mapping out the strange energy the lady before him seemed to emit. “You’re warrior I presume?” He glanced at the naganita in her hand.
“You assume correctly, Prince Loki.” She smiled slightly, “My name is Asterix, daughter of-” She paused, how should she greet herself? “Daughter of Nobody.”
“Nobody?” Loki echoed, amused, the lady didn’t seem like she was saying the truth or lying. It must be an in between type of thing. The deity was curious of her, she seemed like interesting company, he guessed he could play along and be around her for just a while longer.
Little did they both know a tremendous friendship would begin that very moment.
.
.
.
.
.
Asterix had spent a good few months in Asgard, Loki showed her many things, “Loki, you never cease to amaze me! I never thought of using my seidr in such ways!” The two were sat against a tree, reading the books Loki had brought from his bedroom bookshelf.
“My mother gave it to me.” He said with a soft smile.
“Her highness seems very knowledgeable indeed.” Asterix’s hair glowed happily just as she felt. She could control it of course but when her guard was down it did tend to seep out.
“How peculiar.” Loki brushed a strand of her hair. “You do this a lot when you’re happy.”
“It happens.” She shrugged, “You sedir does the same even if many may not see it,” Her eyes glowed slightly before fading.
“You mentioned this before.” Loki said leaning back against the trunk of the tree.
“It speaks, it speaks the language of those who live upon Yggdrasil.” Asterix explained, “You know of the many brilliant beast that live upon them right?”
“I have heard many tales, though I’ve not made the venture to it yet.”
“Oh, you should! The beasts are ever so interesting, Ratatoskr usually makes his way from the bottom of Yggdrasil to the top to deliver insults, it's hilarious!” Asterix laughed, “The Norns tend to sometimes visit when they can, they taught me so much.”
“The Norns?” Loki eyes widened at the mention. “They know you personally? How do you know so much of about Yggdrasil besides what has been written upon the books?”
“I-” Asterix paused looking at lowkey. “I bind you to a vow of silence on what you hear from me next, do you agree?” She asked him slowly.
“In return I wish for knowledge too.” Loki said confidently.
“Then the vow shall be set.” Asterix’s eyes glowed, enveloping her sclera before her sedir slipped into a golden light traversing around Loki, beckoning his own sedir to mix with her own before both their respective sedir firmly dove into each other’s chests. “I am the child of Yggdrasil.” The light within her eyes dimmed down. “I was left for dead at the roots of Yggdrasil before they gave me more life as a premature babe.”
Loki’s brows furrowed slightly at the mention is her origin, “How did you manage to live?”
“I grew as any child would, I know not of my true heritage but what I do know is every realm has a pathway to my home.” Asterix said sadly, “Here, Loki. A gift.” It was an embellished earcuff, “For being my first friend from the outside, and this shall be my goodbye.” She smiled.
“Goodbye?” Loki echoed, time flew by way too quickly. It felt like yesterday since they met in that market place.
“I have to continue my travels, Loki, that has my sedir inside it. If you ever need a boost, it shall provide for you, if you need me, I will find you, friend.”
“Very well.” Loki said, pressing down his sadness and flashing her a smile. “We will meet again.”
“We shall.” Asterix pressed a soft kiss onto his cheek, “I believe people do that as goodbye, as I have observed here?”
“Some may.” Loki smiled before pressing a kiss on her cheek. “It’s different among many.”
“At least I have gotten this right. I will miss you and I shall never forget you, no matter what.” Asterix told him firmly.
“Goodbye, Asterix of Yggdrasil.”
“Goodbye, Loki of Asgard.” The two hugged and went to their separate ways.