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Chapter 1

Adalwin was dreaming about her parents. She was back in the ring, but when her father came around to lead her to the edge of the circle, Adalwin never let go of his arm.

She cried and screamed but they shook her off.

The arm slipped from her hand and she was roughly shaken awake.

“Adalwin!” Loki was saying. It was dark, and Adalwin was crying. “Adalwin it’s a dream!”

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, but she could barely get a gasp in.

Loki looked at her, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Adalwin nodded.

“Where?” Loki asked worried. Had his new daughter already injured herself? Did the healers miss something?

Adalwin pointed to her chest, “In here,” she said softly.

Loki understood then. “Come, it’s alright.” He pulled her close to his chest. Adalwin fought him for a minute. “Shush,” he said pulling her closer.

Adalwin sat in his lap in the darkness of this strange room. She buried her face in his shirt and bawled.

“Hush, darling, it’s alright.” He went to pet her head but she slapped his hand away.

“You aren’t my dad, I want my family.” Adalwin said.

“They gave you away, how can you want to go back to them?” Loki asked.

“They’re my family, no matter what they are my family. I’ll always love them, I have to.”

“Well, I’m your family now, and I’ll be a better family than them.”

“You’re a small family,” she said clinging back to his shirt.

“It’s not just me silly,” he said. He began to pet her head and rub her back in soothing circles. “The man that found you, he’s your new grandfather.”

“Odin?” Adalwin asked looking up.

“Yes,” Loki said smiling down at her chocolate brown eyes. They were filled with a pain that shouldn’t be felt at that age. They should still have their innocent shine.

Loki gave a small shake of his head and continued, “And Frigga is your new grandmother. And I have a brother, his name is Thor, and he’s your new uncle. You’ll love him, he’s an oaf and dull at times, but he is fun. You’ll meet him tomorrow, if you want to.”

Adalwin nodded, “Yeah,” she whispered. “I want to.”

Loki nodded to himself, “But you stay by my side, Adalwin,” he warned protectively. “Thor is very rough and often not aware of his own strength. You are much more fragile than he knows. Until he gets used to your fragile nature, I want you near me so I can protect you if he gets to rough.”

Adalwin nodded again. Listening to Loki was making her being to fall back asleep.

“You will be happy here,” Loki promised. “Your new family is a family of gods. There is nobody more powerful than us. We will protect you and nothing can stop us. You are more safe here than anywhere.”

Adalwin pulled herself closer to Loki, “Promise?” she asked.

“I promise,” he replied.

“Loki?” Adalwin said after a while. Loki had begun to nod back off and snapped awake.

“Yes Adalwin?” he asked.

“How did you do that?”

“What do you mean?” Loki asked recalling his last actions.

“How did you make my heart not hurt? And how did you make the dark less scary?” she asked innocently.

Loki chuckled to himself and her curiosity. “I didn’t do that,” Loki said.

“Yes you did. How?” Adalwin asked.

“Well, I saw you were crying and I held you. Isn’t that what your parents did?” Loki tried to explain.

“No, whenever I cried they sent me to my room. They said I cried to much.”

Loki stopped and thought his next words. “Well, you are young. You should cry. The world is scary.”

Adalwin nodded. “All of them.”

Loki chuckled again and shifted so Adalwin’s head was in his lap. He continued to pet her hair. It was soft for someone this age. It was also a deep raven black. Darker than his own. They did look alike in a lot of ways. Their skin in the darkness nearly glowed with an ethereal pale.

“Are you afraid of the dark Adalwin?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Adalwin nodded.

“Are you scared now?” he asked again.

“Not if you’re here. You won’t leave will you?” she asked looking up at him.

“I would never,” he said. He then slid back down under the covers, and pulled his small daughter to him. She curled up against his side.

“I’ll always be here,” he said softly.

“You’d better,” was all she said before her breathing deepened and she went back to sleep.

“How can you care for something this deeply before you even know it?” Loki asked himself. “You just met this girl, and you’ve already fallen for her.”

“She’s just lovable,” he answered his own question.

“Goodnight, Adalwin,” he whispered softly before he kissed the top of her head.

*Le Time Skip*

Adalwin opened her eyes and bolted upright when she didn’t recognize where she was. Then it all came back to her, her parents, everything.

Then she took a better look around the room. It was huge. Everything was either gold, green, or black.

She laid back down and snuggled under the warm golden sheets before she realized she was alone.

She bolted back upright and looked around for Loki. He wasn’t in the bed. She leapt out of bed her breath in her throat as she ran around the room.

“Loki?” she called out tentatively. She stood in the middle of the room, indecisive about what she should do.

“Wait,” she thought. “Maybe now I can go back to the golden room and get back home.”

Then she heard footsteps outside the door. She hid in the wardrobe in the corner of the room and waited.

Loki walked into the room quietly. He was wearing armor and looked like a knight.

Loki noticed Adalwin wasn’t in the bed.

“Adalwin?” he called out. He stood still before he turned towards the wardrobe.

“Adalwin,” he said again.

Adalwin stood perfectly still. How had he known where she was?

Loki began to slowly walk towards the wardrobe. “Adalwin? Where did you go? Are you in the…wardrobe!” Loki threw open the doors.

Adalwin gave a small shriek before he grabbed her and scooped her up into his arms.

“There you are my little minx!” he said.

“How did you know where I was?” Adalwin asked him.

“That’s my little secret,” he said nuzzling her.

“Do it again!” she said. She wriggled out of his grip to the ground. “Close your eyes and count to ten!”

“Adalwin, not now,” Loki started.

“Please!” she begged.

“Alright,” Loki sighed. He closed his eyes. “One, two, three,”

Adalwin ran off to hide. She hid under the bed as quietly as she could.

“Four, five, six, seveneightnineten!” Loki said before he turned quickly. He scanned the room before he began to walk towards the wardrobe again.

Adalwin stayed under the bed being as quiet as possible before a hand grabbed her ankle and pulled her out from under the bed.

“Gotcha!” he said.

Adalwin squealed with delight. “You opened your eyes!” she said.

“No I did not!” Loki playfully shot back.

The other Loki disappeared.

“Again!” Adalwin said.

“One more time,” Loki agreed before he once again closed his eyes and counted to ten.

This time Adalwin went near the wardrobe, shuffled around it a bit, then hid back under the bed.

Loki once again opened his eyes and went towards the wardrobe. He scanned around it, and looked towards the bed. He crept towards it and then looked under it. It was bare.

He stood back up, looking around confused. He was sure he had followed the tracks to the bed.

Then he heard giggling from by the curtains. There was a nearly invisible outline of a little girl.

Loki approached it and then threw it back with a triumphant laugh. “Ah ha!”

Adalwin jumped and tried to run when Loki grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

“You’re good,” he said.

“So are you!” She squealed. “Put me down!”

“No, you are now my prisoner, and I shall keep you forever and you shall be my snuggle bug.” He said swinging her back around so he was carrying her in his arms.

“No!” Adalwin gave feigned defeat.

Loki giggled and nuzzled her. “Now, enough games, let’s get you dressed and go down to meet your family. You must be hungry.”

“A little bit,” Adalwin nodded. “But can we play when we get back?”

“No, when we get back I am showing you the palace,” Loki said.

“Aw,” Adalwin let out a sound of disappointment.

“After words we can play,” Loki said.

Adalwin brightened up and then Loki pulled out a small, pink dress for her to wear.

Adalwin crinkled her nose at it. “Ew.”

Loki looked at it, “What’s wrong?” Loki asked.

“It’s pink,” Adalwin said. “I hate pink.”

Loki looked shocked. “You don’t like pink?”

“No. It’s ugly,” she said. “I don’t want to wear it. I hate dresses.”

Loki thought about this, then began to laugh. “You are my daughter! My, Sif and you will have loads in common. What is your favorite color?”

“Green,” Adalwin said. “Dark green.”

“Like this?” Loki asked. He touched the dress and it turned a signature dark green, his dark green.

“Yeah!” Adalwin said happily. “Much better!”

Loki stooped to dress her but Adalwin pushed him away. “I can do it,” she said.

“I’m sure you can, but this will take time and we need to get down soon,” Loki tired again to pick her up.

“No,” Adalwin again fought against him. Loki sighed.

“Fine, here,” he practically threw the dress at her. She then ran off to the bathroom and shut the door tightly. “You’d better be ready or I’ll leave without you! I’ll say you fell off the balcony!” he called.

She then looked at the dress, and quickly figured it out. She was a very smart girl for her age.

She put on the dress, and gathered her discarded pajamas into a pile and ran out to see Loki.

Loki had been looking over the city on the balcony. He turned expecting her to ask for his help when he saw his new daughter clad in his green. He smiled shocked. “You did it.”

“Told ya so,” she said back. She threw her clothes on the floor. Loki cleared his throat and she then threw them on the bed.

“Better,” he said.

“I need help tying it,” she said. She turned to show him the laced backing that she couldn’t tie.

Loki stooped down and tied the dress for her. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you to tie behind your back.”

“I don’t know how to tie,” Adalwin said. “I haven’t learned it.”

“Oh, well I can teach you that too,” Loki said before he picked her up and carried her to breakfast.

Adalwin hid her face in his shoulder as they passed. She was shy and scared. Whispers were heard talking about the prince and the little girl.

When they stood outside the door, Loki put her down. “Now, stay close to me, and be on your best behavior. Don’t play with your food,”

“I know,” Adalwin cut him off. “Can I hold your hand?”

“No,” Loki said. “Just stay behind me.”

The guards opened the doors and Loki strode in. Adalwin scampered after him. She stayed behind him and she saw all these strange servants carrying trays of food.

Then she saw the table of people. There was Odin and Frgga, and then there was other strange people. There was a big man with a beard who was laughing loudly, a scary looking woman, an angry looking man, a man with several women around him, and a tall man smiling.

Adalwin ran up and grabbed Loki’s hand clinging to it. She was terrified. Loki lost a step in his stride by the sudden grabbing.

“Let go,” he growled. Adalwin was to scared to hear him.

All eyes turned to the new people. The tall smiling man stood up and ran over to greet them. Adalwin clung to Loki and stood frozen in fear.

“Bother! You have made it! And is this the girl the whole palace is talking about?”

“Great, the whole palace is talking,” Adalwin thought.

The tall man stooped down to her, “And what is your name, fair maiden?”

Adalwin couldn’t answer. He was so much taller, and so big! He could kill her if he wanted to very easily.

“I…I…” Adalwin couldn’t speak.

“He asked you a question,” Loki nudged her.

“Adalwin!” she said as fast as she could.

“Adalwin?” The blond asked.

She nodded. Her face was bright red.

The man laughed a loud laugh that made Adalwin jump.

“Brother! You have found a chameleon!” he said making fun of Adalwin’s bright face. She turned a darker red.

“Adalwin, my hand needs blood,” Loki chided her. She looked to see her gripping his hand so hard her knuckles were white and his pale fingertips were turning purple.

She had lost control of her hand and couldn’t let go if she wanted to. “I…I,” she couldn’t form a sentence. What were words? What was she trying to say?

“Ah, Adalwin,” Frigga said coming over to the two. She saw how scared she was and tutted, “Thor, you have scared the poor girl.”

Thor kneeled down so he wasn’t towering over her and gently took her hand before he kissed it. “I am sorry to have frightened you, Adalwin,” he said.

“It’s ok,” she said again. It was even faster than before and her voice was just a squeak.

“Loki, what are you doing with this shy maiden?” Thor asked standing back up and addressed his brother.

“Thor, this is your niece.” Loki said with a smug grin.

Thor shocked looked down. “Why you sly dog, and she isn’t an animal,” Thor started. Frigga quickly scooped down and covered Adalwin’s ears.

“That is enough talk around this girl,” Frigga scolded the two of them. “She is adopted,” she then said turning to Thor before she uncovered Adalwin’s ears.

“Come, Adalwin,” Loki said. “Let’s go meet your new family.”

Adalwin stiffly walked behind Loki to the table. Odin stood and smiled at her, before the other people came to see the new edition to the family.

“Loki, who is this?” The man who was surrounded by women asked.

Loki nudged her, but all of Adalwin’s confidence had been used to talk to Thor and she had absolutely none left. Out of instinct, she clung to Loki’s leg and tried to hide herself from everyone.

“Aw, she’s shy,” Frigga said coming behind Loki.

“Not a good quality for a warrior,” The scary woman said.

“Sif, she is more like you than you think,” Loki said. “She doesn’t like pink or dresses. And she is certainly smart enough to be a warrior.”

Adalwin looked at Loki, was he defending her?

“She’s so thin! She needs food,” the big man with the beard said. He filled a plate with food before he set it on the table and put Adalwin in front of it. “Eat child eat!”

Adalwin was to scared to move and from the sudden pick up from the man, she felt like she was going to hurl. If she had eaten anything she would have. Instead she just sat there and stared at the food with huge eyes.

“Adalwin, are you alright?” Odin asked.

Adalwin just looked at him. Odin understood, “Ah.”

He gestured to the people and Adalwin spun around on the bench to meet them.

“Adalwin, this is Lady Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, and Thor,” Odin said introducing each one.

“My goodness where are our manors?” Fandral said before he kneeled and put a fist over his heart. “My lady,” he said.

The others followed. Adalwin didn’t move. She desperately wanted out of there but now that she saw the people weren’t bad, or so she had been told, she began to relax.

She then suddenly realized the massive plate of food beside her and then looked to Loki for confirmation. Loki nodded, “It’s for you.”

She would have planted her face in the food if she could have. There was nothing in her way of eating and it stayed that way. Everyone leaned back at her sudden animal ferocity.

Volstagg didn’t cut the meat before he had put it on the plate, and the young girl didn’t know how nor was she strong enough to do so on her own, so instead she picked it up and tore it with her teeth.

“Slow down child! You act as if you haven’t eaten in days!” Fandral said.

“I haven’t,” Adalwin replied.

They all looked at her shocked. “What do you mean?” Frigga said sitting beside her.

“They spell would only work if I hadn’t have eaten for three days before hand. They wouldn’t let me eat, but when the day came they were behind so they made me wait for 2 more days, so that means I haven’t eaten for,” she counted on her fingers, “five days.”

“Who is they?” Thor asked.

“My parents,” Adalwin said around a mouthful of eggs. “Or, my old parents.” She swallowed hard but continued to eat.

Thor slammed his fist down on the table and Adalwin jumped and choked on her eggs. “That is unacceptable treatment!” he roared.

Adalwin coughed and sat there trembling from the sudden outburst she thought she had caused.

“There is nothing to be done,” Odin said calmly. Thor shot back.

“Nothing? Look what they did! They deserve a punishment for their doings.”

“They have had their punishment, they lost the thing they loved most,”

“That didn’t sound like love,” Thor interrupted.

“Not the kind you or I would assume with parents, but they valued her as she was their bartering material for their wish. They loved her in a pure material way, and they have lost it and will never get it back.”

“They might have more children,” Thor started.

“No they won’t,” Frigga said. “She has lost her ability to have children. She no longer has my blessing, and they will never gain their wish.”

“What was their wish?” Hogun asked.

“Immortality,” Odin practically spat the word.

“Mortals, think they can get whatever they want,” Sif muttered. Adalwin wasn’t listening. She was terrified and the subject of her parents was a touchy one and she still couldn’t breathe.

Loki patted her back, and Frigga pulled her close, “It’s ok,” she whispered. “It’s alright.”

Sif noticed the meat on Adalwin’s plate was still uncut and she pulled out a knife to cut it. All Adalwin saw was scary lady, knife, her.

She quickly grabbed the cup nearest her and spun it so the handle blocked the knife. Adalwin stood frozen in fear.

“Adalwin, how did you do that?” Frigga asked.

“I was taught to,” she said her eyes never leaving the surprised Sif’s face.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Adalwin said quietly.

“I wasn’t going to child. What do you mean you were taught?” Sif asked.

“My parents taught me how to clean armor so it wouldn’t be ruined, how to clean floors the most efficient way, how to cook, everything because they assumed I was going to be a servant to you guys,” Adalwin said.

“You can be if you want to,” Loki said.

Adalwin looked at him with a look of utter horror. Frigga smacked him. “He’s kidding honey,” she said.

Adalwin looked absolutely terrified. Then she noticed Hogun was the only one not smiling at Loki’s joke.

“Why aren’t you smiling?” she asked him.

“He never learned how,” Fandral said. Adalwin thought about this, then took her plate to sit by Hogun.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I never learned how to smile either, there was never anything to smile about. That makes us friends.” She said simply, then continued her meal.

She ignored the adults while they muttered things and when attention was turned back to her, she was happily nibbling on a bone from here meal, her plate licked clean.

“Are you still hungry?” Frigga asked. She shook her head, “No,” she said softly.

Fandral handed her a knife, “Show us another trick warrior,” he said jokingly. Adalwin looked down at Loki’s hand sitting next to her and slammed the knife down.

It landed right between his ring and middle finger. Loki looked down in shock while Adalwin muttered to herself, “I missed.”

Everyone cheered, and only Loki heard her comment. Fandral wanted her to do it again but Loki quickly dismissed the plan and excused the two of them.

Loki then led her out of the room and proceeded to tour her around the palace. “This is where we will teach you everything you need to know about everything.” He said as they walked, his hands clasped behind his back. Adalwin hurried to keep up. “You will learn your runes, Nordic language, the Nine Realms, and everything about being a Royal.”
He turned to her, “And most importantly, I’ll be teaching you how to master magic.”

Adalwin’s eyes widened. “You mean like the butterfly you made?”

“Yes,” he nodded, “and much more.”

Adalwin followed Loki all around the palace, nothing really caught her eye except for the gardens, and the last place they visited.

“This is the library,” Loki said as he opened the door. “I have a few things to do here, so I expect you to be good and quiet while I do so, is that clear?”

“Yes,” Adalwin said softly. She had never seen so many books all in one place before.

She followed Loki around while he picked random books off the shelf. Adalwin followed until a bright purple book caught her eye. She pulled it out and opened it, and to her dismay it she couldn’t read what was inside. Instead she flipped through looking at the pictures.

Loki hadn’t been paying attention and continued down the line. Adalwin grabbed the book and followed him to a table. She sat down across from him and continued to look at the pictures in the book.

“You’ve been so quiet I forgot you were here,” he said after awhile. “What are you reading?” Loki looked over her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Adalwin said. “A book. The pictures are confusing.”

Loki quickly grabbed the book away from Adalwin, “That is not a book for little girls!” he said quickly. “Where did you get this?”

“When you were grabbing books,” she said innocently. “What is that book?”

“A book you can read when you are older.” He said. He quickly made the book disappear and grabbed the other books he had picked before he ushered Adalwin out of the library.

“You know, I don’t like that name Adalwin,” Loki said to her as they walked. She began to fall behind and he slowed his pace.

“Why not?” she asked looking up at him.

“It doesn’t fit you, a name is supposed to fit someone,” Loki said musing. “You’re a clever little girl, a fighter, not really a noble friend. Well, noble now because of your adoption.”

Adalwin walked beside him saying nothing. “My parents named me that,” she said.

“But your parents are no longer in the picture. Why don’t we baptize you with a new name? I’m your father now, and we can leave everything in the past. Start anew. How about Alfhild?”

“I like that name,” Adalwin said. “And I can keep my A.”

“Alfhild it is,” Loki said triumphantly. “Much better name.”

They returned to his room, and Adalwin collapsed on the bed. Loki set the books down and turned to see her fast asleep on his bed. Loki smiled to himself, and while she was asleep, turned to other matters.

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Chapter 1

Adalwin was dreaming about her parents. She was back in the ring, but when her father came around to lead her to the edge of the circle, Adalwin never let go of his arm.

She cried and screamed but they shook her off.

The arm slipped from her hand and she was roughly shaken awake.

“Adalwin!” Loki was saying. It was dark, and Adalwin was crying. “Adalwin it’s a dream!”

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, but she could barely get a gasp in.

Loki looked at her, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Adalwin nodded.

“Where?” Loki asked worried. Had his new daughter already injured herself? Did the healers miss something?

Adalwin pointed to her chest, “In here,” she said softly.

Loki understood then. “Come, it’s alright.” He pulled her close to his chest. Adalwin fought him for a minute. “Shush,” he said pulling her closer.

Adalwin sat in his lap in the darkness of this strange room. She buried her face in his shirt and bawled.

“Hush, darling, it’s alright.” He went to pet her head but she slapped his hand away.

“You aren’t my dad, I want my family.” Adalwin said.

“They gave you away, how can you want to go back to them?” Loki asked.

“They’re my family, no matter what they are my family. I’ll always love them, I have to.”

“Well, I’m your family now, and I’ll be a better family than them.”

“You’re a small family,” she said clinging back to his shirt.

“It’s not just me silly,” he said. He began to pet her head and rub her back in soothing circles. “The man that found you, he’s your new grandfather.”

“Odin?” Adalwin asked looking up.

“Yes,” Loki said smiling down at her chocolate brown eyes. They were filled with a pain that shouldn’t be felt at that age. They should still have their innocent shine.

Loki gave a small shake of his head and continued, “And Frigga is your new grandmother. And I have a brother, his name is Thor, and he’s your new uncle. You’ll love him, he’s an oaf and dull at times, but he is fun. You’ll meet him tomorrow, if you want to.”

Adalwin nodded, “Yeah,” she whispered. “I want to.”

Loki nodded to himself, “But you stay by my side, Adalwin,” he warned protectively. “Thor is very rough and often not aware of his own strength. You are much more fragile than he knows. Until he gets used to your fragile nature, I want you near me so I can protect you if he gets to rough.”

Adalwin nodded again. Listening to Loki was making her being to fall back asleep.

“You will be happy here,” Loki promised. “Your new family is a family of gods. There is nobody more powerful than us. We will protect you and nothing can stop us. You are more safe here than anywhere.”

Adalwin pulled herself closer to Loki, “Promise?” she asked.

“I promise,” he replied.

“Loki?” Adalwin said after a while. Loki had begun to nod back off and snapped awake.

“Yes Adalwin?” he asked.

“How did you do that?”

“What do you mean?” Loki asked recalling his last actions.

“How did you make my heart not hurt? And how did you make the dark less scary?” she asked innocently.

Loki chuckled to himself and her curiosity. “I didn’t do that,” Loki said.

“Yes you did. How?” Adalwin asked.

“Well, I saw you were crying and I held you. Isn’t that what your parents did?” Loki tried to explain.

“No, whenever I cried they sent me to my room. They said I cried to much.”

Loki stopped and thought his next words. “Well, you are young. You should cry. The world is scary.”

Adalwin nodded. “All of them.”

Loki chuckled again and shifted so Adalwin’s head was in his lap. He continued to pet her hair. It was soft for someone this age. It was also a deep raven black. Darker than his own. They did look alike in a lot of ways. Their skin in the darkness nearly glowed with an ethereal pale.

“Are you afraid of the dark Adalwin?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Adalwin nodded.

“Are you scared now?” he asked again.

“Not if you’re here. You won’t leave will you?” she asked looking up at him.

“I would never,” he said. He then slid back down under the covers, and pulled his small daughter to him. She curled up against his side.

“I’ll always be here,” he said softly.

“You’d better,” was all she said before her breathing deepened and she went back to sleep.

“How can you care for something this deeply before you even know it?” Loki asked himself. “You just met this girl, and you’ve already fallen for her.”

“She’s just lovable,” he answered his own question.

“Goodnight, Adalwin,” he whispered softly before he kissed the top of her head.

*Le Time Skip*

Adalwin opened her eyes and bolted upright when she didn’t recognize where she was. Then it all came back to her, her parents, everything.

Then she took a better look around the room. It was huge. Everything was either gold, green, or black.

She laid back down and snuggled under the warm golden sheets before she realized she was alone.

She bolted back upright and looked around for Loki. He wasn’t in the bed. She leapt out of bed her breath in her throat as she ran around the room.

“Loki?” she called out tentatively. She stood in the middle of the room, indecisive about what she should do.

“Wait,” she thought. “Maybe now I can go back to the golden room and get back home.”

Then she heard footsteps outside the door. She hid in the wardrobe in the corner of the room and waited.

Loki walked into the room quietly. He was wearing armor and looked like a knight.

Loki noticed Adalwin wasn’t in the bed.

“Adalwin?” he called out. He stood still before he turned towards the wardrobe.

“Adalwin,” he said again.

Adalwin stood perfectly still. How had he known where she was?

Loki began to slowly walk towards the wardrobe. “Adalwin? Where did you go? Are you in the…wardrobe!” Loki threw open the doors.

Adalwin gave a small shriek before he grabbed her and scooped her up into his arms.

“There you are my little minx!” he said.

“How did you know where I was?” Adalwin asked him.

“That’s my little secret,” he said nuzzling her.

“Do it again!” she said. She wriggled out of his grip to the ground. “Close your eyes and count to ten!”

“Adalwin, not now,” Loki started.

“Please!” she begged.

“Alright,” Loki sighed. He closed his eyes. “One, two, three,”

Adalwin ran off to hide. She hid under the bed as quietly as she could.

“Four, five, six, seveneightnineten!” Loki said before he turned quickly. He scanned the room before he began to walk towards the wardrobe again.

Adalwin stayed under the bed being as quiet as possible before a hand grabbed her ankle and pulled her out from under the bed.

“Gotcha!” he said.

Adalwin squealed with delight. “You opened your eyes!” she said.

“No I did not!” Loki playfully shot back.

The other Loki disappeared.

“Again!” Adalwin said.

“One more time,” Loki agreed before he once again closed his eyes and counted to ten.

This time Adalwin went near the wardrobe, shuffled around it a bit, then hid back under the bed.

Loki once again opened his eyes and went towards the wardrobe. He scanned around it, and looked towards the bed. He crept towards it and then looked under it. It was bare.

He stood back up, looking around confused. He was sure he had followed the tracks to the bed.

Then he heard giggling from by the curtains. There was a nearly invisible outline of a little girl.

Loki approached it and then threw it back with a triumphant laugh. “Ah ha!”

Adalwin jumped and tried to run when Loki grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

“You’re good,” he said.

“So are you!” She squealed. “Put me down!”

“No, you are now my prisoner, and I shall keep you forever and you shall be my snuggle bug.” He said swinging her back around so he was carrying her in his arms.

“No!” Adalwin gave feigned defeat.

Loki giggled and nuzzled her. “Now, enough games, let’s get you dressed and go down to meet your family. You must be hungry.”

“A little bit,” Adalwin nodded. “But can we play when we get back?”

“No, when we get back I am showing you the palace,” Loki said.

“Aw,” Adalwin let out a sound of disappointment.

“After words we can play,” Loki said.

Adalwin brightened up and then Loki pulled out a small, pink dress for her to wear.

Adalwin crinkled her nose at it. “Ew.”

Loki looked at it, “What’s wrong?” Loki asked.

“It’s pink,” Adalwin said. “I hate pink.”

Loki looked shocked. “You don’t like pink?”

“No. It’s ugly,” she said. “I don’t want to wear it. I hate dresses.”

Loki thought about this, then began to laugh. “You are my daughter! My, Sif and you will have loads in common. What is your favorite color?”

“Green,” Adalwin said. “Dark green.”

“Like this?” Loki asked. He touched the dress and it turned a signature dark green, his dark green.

“Yeah!” Adalwin said happily. “Much better!”

Loki stooped to dress her but Adalwin pushed him away. “I can do it,” she said.

“I’m sure you can, but this will take time and we need to get down soon,” Loki tired again to pick her up.

“No,” Adalwin again fought against him. Loki sighed.

“Fine, here,” he practically threw the dress at her. She then ran off to the bathroom and shut the door tightly. “You’d better be ready or I’ll leave without you! I’ll say you fell off the balcony!” he called.

She then looked at the dress, and quickly figured it out. She was a very smart girl for her age.

She put on the dress, and gathered her discarded pajamas into a pile and ran out to see Loki.

Loki had been looking over the city on the balcony. He turned expecting her to ask for his help when he saw his new daughter clad in his green. He smiled shocked. “You did it.”

“Told ya so,” she said back. She threw her clothes on the floor. Loki cleared his throat and she then threw them on the bed.

“Better,” he said.

“I need help tying it,” she said. She turned to show him the laced backing that she couldn’t tie.

Loki stooped down and tied the dress for her. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you to tie behind your back.”

“I don’t know how to tie,” Adalwin said. “I haven’t learned it.”

“Oh, well I can teach you that too,” Loki said before he picked her up and carried her to breakfast.

Adalwin hid her face in his shoulder as they passed. She was shy and scared. Whispers were heard talking about the prince and the little girl.

When they stood outside the door, Loki put her down. “Now, stay close to me, and be on your best behavior. Don’t play with your food,”

“I know,” Adalwin cut him off. “Can I hold your hand?”

“No,” Loki said. “Just stay behind me.”

The guards opened the doors and Loki strode in. Adalwin scampered after him. She stayed behind him and she saw all these strange servants carrying trays of food.

Then she saw the table of people. There was Odin and Frgga, and then there was other strange people. There was a big man with a beard who was laughing loudly, a scary looking woman, an angry looking man, a man with several women around him, and a tall man smiling.

Adalwin ran up and grabbed Loki’s hand clinging to it. She was terrified. Loki lost a step in his stride by the sudden grabbing.

“Let go,” he growled. Adalwin was to scared to hear him.

All eyes turned to the new people. The tall smiling man stood up and ran over to greet them. Adalwin clung to Loki and stood frozen in fear.

“Bother! You have made it! And is this the girl the whole palace is talking about?”

“Great, the whole palace is talking,” Adalwin thought.

The tall man stooped down to her, “And what is your name, fair maiden?”

Adalwin couldn’t answer. He was so much taller, and so big! He could kill her if he wanted to very easily.

“I…I…” Adalwin couldn’t speak.

“He asked you a question,” Loki nudged her.

“Adalwin!” she said as fast as she could.

“Adalwin?” The blond asked.

She nodded. Her face was bright red.

The man laughed a loud laugh that made Adalwin jump.

“Brother! You have found a chameleon!” he said making fun of Adalwin’s bright face. She turned a darker red.

“Adalwin, my hand needs blood,” Loki chided her. She looked to see her gripping his hand so hard her knuckles were white and his pale fingertips were turning purple.

She had lost control of her hand and couldn’t let go if she wanted to. “I…I,” she couldn’t form a sentence. What were words? What was she trying to say?

“Ah, Adalwin,” Frigga said coming over to the two. She saw how scared she was and tutted, “Thor, you have scared the poor girl.”

Thor kneeled down so he wasn’t towering over her and gently took her hand before he kissed it. “I am sorry to have frightened you, Adalwin,” he said.

“It’s ok,” she said again. It was even faster than before and her voice was just a squeak.

“Loki, what are you doing with this shy maiden?” Thor asked standing back up and addressed his brother.

“Thor, this is your niece.” Loki said with a smug grin.

Thor shocked looked down. “Why you sly dog, and she isn’t an animal,” Thor started. Frigga quickly scooped down and covered Adalwin’s ears.

“That is enough talk around this girl,” Frigga scolded the two of them. “She is adopted,” she then said turning to Thor before she uncovered Adalwin’s ears.

“Come, Adalwin,” Loki said. “Let’s go meet your new family.”

Adalwin stiffly walked behind Loki to the table. Odin stood and smiled at her, before the other people came to see the new edition to the family.

“Loki, who is this?” The man who was surrounded by women asked.

Loki nudged her, but all of Adalwin’s confidence had been used to talk to Thor and she had absolutely none left. Out of instinct, she clung to Loki’s leg and tried to hide herself from everyone.

“Aw, she’s shy,” Frigga said coming behind Loki.

“Not a good quality for a warrior,” The scary woman said.

“Sif, she is more like you than you think,” Loki said. “She doesn’t like pink or dresses. And she is certainly smart enough to be a warrior.”

Adalwin looked at Loki, was he defending her?

“She’s so thin! She needs food,” the big man with the beard said. He filled a plate with food before he set it on the table and put Adalwin in front of it. “Eat child eat!”

Adalwin was to scared to move and from the sudden pick up from the man, she felt like she was going to hurl. If she had eaten anything she would have. Instead she just sat there and stared at the food with huge eyes.

“Adalwin, are you alright?” Odin asked.

Adalwin just looked at him. Odin understood, “Ah.”

He gestured to the people and Adalwin spun around on the bench to meet them.

“Adalwin, this is Lady Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, and Thor,” Odin said introducing each one.

“My goodness where are our manors?” Fandral said before he kneeled and put a fist over his heart. “My lady,” he said.

The others followed. Adalwin didn’t move. She desperately wanted out of there but now that she saw the people weren’t bad, or so she had been told, she began to relax.

She then suddenly realized the massive plate of food beside her and then looked to Loki for confirmation. Loki nodded, “It’s for you.”

She would have planted her face in the food if she could have. There was nothing in her way of eating and it stayed that way. Everyone leaned back at her sudden animal ferocity.

Volstagg didn’t cut the meat before he had put it on the plate, and the young girl didn’t know how nor was she strong enough to do so on her own, so instead she picked it up and tore it with her teeth.

“Slow down child! You act as if you haven’t eaten in days!” Fandral said.

“I haven’t,” Adalwin replied.

They all looked at her shocked. “What do you mean?” Frigga said sitting beside her.

“They spell would only work if I hadn’t have eaten for three days before hand. They wouldn’t let me eat, but when the day came they were behind so they made me wait for 2 more days, so that means I haven’t eaten for,” she counted on her fingers, “five days.”

“Who is they?” Thor asked.

“My parents,” Adalwin said around a mouthful of eggs. “Or, my old parents.” She swallowed hard but continued to eat.

Thor slammed his fist down on the table and Adalwin jumped and choked on her eggs. “That is unacceptable treatment!” he roared.

Adalwin coughed and sat there trembling from the sudden outburst she thought she had caused.

“There is nothing to be done,” Odin said calmly. Thor shot back.

“Nothing? Look what they did! They deserve a punishment for their doings.”

“They have had their punishment, they lost the thing they loved most,”

“That didn’t sound like love,” Thor interrupted.

“Not the kind you or I would assume with parents, but they valued her as she was their bartering material for their wish. They loved her in a pure material way, and they have lost it and will never get it back.”

“They might have more children,” Thor started.

“No they won’t,” Frigga said. “She has lost her ability to have children. She no longer has my blessing, and they will never gain their wish.”

“What was their wish?” Hogun asked.

“Immortality,” Odin practically spat the word.

“Mortals, think they can get whatever they want,” Sif muttered. Adalwin wasn’t listening. She was terrified and the subject of her parents was a touchy one and she still couldn’t breathe.

Loki patted her back, and Frigga pulled her close, “It’s ok,” she whispered. “It’s alright.”

Sif noticed the meat on Adalwin’s plate was still uncut and she pulled out a knife to cut it. All Adalwin saw was scary lady, knife, her.

She quickly grabbed the cup nearest her and spun it so the handle blocked the knife. Adalwin stood frozen in fear.

“Adalwin, how did you do that?” Frigga asked.

“I was taught to,” she said her eyes never leaving the surprised Sif’s face.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Adalwin said quietly.

“I wasn’t going to child. What do you mean you were taught?” Sif asked.

“My parents taught me how to clean armor so it wouldn’t be ruined, how to clean floors the most efficient way, how to cook, everything because they assumed I was going to be a servant to you guys,” Adalwin said.

“You can be if you want to,” Loki said.

Adalwin looked at him with a look of utter horror. Frigga smacked him. “He’s kidding honey,” she said.

Adalwin looked absolutely terrified. Then she noticed Hogun was the only one not smiling at Loki’s joke.

“Why aren’t you smiling?” she asked him.

“He never learned how,” Fandral said. Adalwin thought about this, then took her plate to sit by Hogun.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I never learned how to smile either, there was never anything to smile about. That makes us friends.” She said simply, then continued her meal.

She ignored the adults while they muttered things and when attention was turned back to her, she was happily nibbling on a bone from here meal, her plate licked clean.

“Are you still hungry?” Frigga asked. She shook her head, “No,” she said softly.

Fandral handed her a knife, “Show us another trick warrior,” he said jokingly. Adalwin looked down at Loki’s hand sitting next to her and slammed the knife down.

It landed right between his ring and middle finger. Loki looked down in shock while Adalwin muttered to herself, “I missed.”

Everyone cheered, and only Loki heard her comment. Fandral wanted her to do it again but Loki quickly dismissed the plan and excused the two of them.

Loki then led her out of the room and proceeded to tour her around the palace. “This is where we will teach you everything you need to know about everything.” He said as they walked, his hands clasped behind his back. Adalwin hurried to keep up. “You will learn your runes, Nordic language, the Nine Realms, and everything about being a Royal.”
He turned to her, “And most importantly, I’ll be teaching you how to master magic.”

Adalwin’s eyes widened. “You mean like the butterfly you made?”

“Yes,” he nodded, “and much more.”

Adalwin followed Loki all around the palace, nothing really caught her eye except for the gardens, and the last place they visited.

“This is the library,” Loki said as he opened the door. “I have a few things to do here, so I expect you to be good and quiet while I do so, is that clear?”

“Yes,” Adalwin said softly. She had never seen so many books all in one place before.

She followed Loki around while he picked random books off the shelf. Adalwin followed until a bright purple book caught her eye. She pulled it out and opened it, and to her dismay it she couldn’t read what was inside. Instead she flipped through looking at the pictures.

Loki hadn’t been paying attention and continued down the line. Adalwin grabbed the book and followed him to a table. She sat down across from him and continued to look at the pictures in the book.

“You’ve been so quiet I forgot you were here,” he said after awhile. “What are you reading?” Loki looked over her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Adalwin said. “A book. The pictures are confusing.”

Loki quickly grabbed the book away from Adalwin, “That is not a book for little girls!” he said quickly. “Where did you get this?”

“When you were grabbing books,” she said innocently. “What is that book?”

“A book you can read when you are older.” He said. He quickly made the book disappear and grabbed the other books he had picked before he ushered Adalwin out of the library.

“You know, I don’t like that name Adalwin,” Loki said to her as they walked. She began to fall behind and he slowed his pace.

“Why not?” she asked looking up at him.

“It doesn’t fit you, a name is supposed to fit someone,” Loki said musing. “You’re a clever little girl, a fighter, not really a noble friend. Well, noble now because of your adoption.”

Adalwin walked beside him saying nothing. “My parents named me that,” she said.

“But your parents are no longer in the picture. Why don’t we baptize you with a new name? I’m your father now, and we can leave everything in the past. Start anew. How about Alfhild?”

“I like that name,” Adalwin said. “And I can keep my A.”

“Alfhild it is,” Loki said triumphantly. “Much better name.”

They returned to his room, and Adalwin collapsed on the bed. Loki set the books down and turned to see her fast asleep on his bed. Loki smiled to himself, and while she was asleep, turned to other matters.