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Chapter 2

Adalwin had grown accustomed to life in the palace. To others she was Adalwin, but to Loki she was always Alfhild. She became used to her studies and found the Nine Realms fascinating. She grew adeptly at her magic abilities and soon took after her father in his skills.

She lacked physical strength due to her mortal blood, but quickly made up for that in her magical talents. Her favorite weapon became a knife and one time Loki even found her attempting to use his set of knives. He promptly took them away after panicking about the sharp objects in her immediate vicinity.

She grew ever closer with Loki and he ended up being the only person she trusted, and the only one she ever thought she would trust. He was also the first and only person to make her smile.

“Alfhild,” he said as he crouched around the room, “Where are you my little minx?”

Adalwin stayed hiding under the bed during the game of hide and seek. She had gotten better since their first game. She covered her mouth to keep from giggling at the success of her plan.

Loki crept around the room towards the curtains. Then she felt a hand on her ankle.

“Gotcha!” he cried as he pulled her from under the bed. Adalwin let out a shriek and looked over at the other Loki, which disappeared.

“Dang it!” She said as she tried to escape. She giggled and squirmed.

“You are my prisoner now! Prisoners are subject to torture at my mercy!” Loki cried.

Adalwin struggled harder but his grip was iron. “No!” she begged.

“Yes!” Loki cried. He then began to tickle her sides.

Adalwin couldn’t hold in her laughter much more. “No! Let go!”

“Beg for mercy and the king may be merciful!” he taunted. She couldn’t hold it in anymore; she began to laugh.

Loki’s eyes lit up, and he only tickled her harder. “Beg, my prisoner, or you shall never see light of day!”

“No! Stop!” Adalwin said between gasps. And then she was smiling. A huge grin splattered across her face.

“Alfhild, you’re smiling!” Loki said.

“Yeah, I guess I am!” she cried happily. Loki’s torture continued. “Loki! Stop! My stomach hurts!”

“Magic words…” Loki pressed as he tickled her sides until she was blue in the face.

“Merciful king, stop!” she cried. Loki grabbed her and flung himself with her to his chest back on the bed. Adalwin finally began to get some air back.

“I made you smile,” Loki mused.

“Yeah, is that what smiling is like?” she asked. “It’s nice.”

Loki grinned, “Is that a request for more?” his hands began to move back to her sides.

“No, no, we’re good,” Adalwin said quickly pushing his hands away. She was still small, although she was nearly 7 now; she had grown a bit in her time in Asgard.

Loki couldn’t hide his joy. He had been able to make his daughter smile, not simply happy, smile. No body else had accomplished this task before. No amount of fun they had, or stories she was told, or hilarity that surrounded her had ever made her smile much to the disappointment of the Warriors Three as they tried day in and out to get her to.
And Thor, he had tried the hardest and yet it was his brother, Loki, who had been the one to make the girl smile. Not just smile, grin so wide he thought her face would split. That was his doing, not Thor’s, him.

Loki rolled over so Adalwin was now on the bed and facing him.

“Papa?” she asked him. She had begun to call him that. She also would also stop saying he wasn’t her father. To her, he was her only father.

“Yes Alfhild?” he replied.

“Another,” she said.

“Alright. One, two, three…”

“Alfhild,” Loki said breaking the silence of the room.

Adalwin looked up from her spell, “Yes Papa?”

“Hold your hands like this,” he said, gently adjusting her hand sign. “You want your thumb towards your body, but the other two splayed.”

“Yes Papa,” she said. She turned back to her work. Loki loved to watch her learn. He would often tease her, saying he could see her gears turning when she worked.

“Alfhild,” Loki said again.

“Yes Papa?”

“Your 7th birthday is coming up, what do you want?” he asked turning back to his own book and planning the next lesson.

Adalwin looked up at him, then back to her hands. A small flame was beginning to form but she extinguished it.

Loki noticed her silence and looked up as well. She was very good at hiding, especially when it came to thoughts or feelings, but she could never trick him when it came to things. He simply knew her too well.

“Alfhild, I said what do you want for your birthday?” he said again getting slightly agitated.

Adalwin didn’t want to ask him for what she wanted. She was always skittish about asking for things.

“I…don’t know,” she lied.

“Alfhild,” Loki said tiredly. “What do you want.”

“A guitar,” she said quietly. “I want a guitar.”

“What is that?” Loki asked.

“An instrument. An expensive instrument.” Adalwin looked up at him. “But if I can’t have one that’s fine too.”

“If you want one, I shall get you one,” Loki said. There was more she clearly wanted to ask for. “What else do you want?”

“Nothing,”

“Alfhild, if you try lying to me again the lesson is over now,” Loki reprimanded. He was the God of Lies, yes, but he hated when his daughter tried to fool him. She knew he was the best at it, and her attempts were futile.

“Some books, and some music.” Adalwin added.

“Tell me everything you want,” Loki said his patience wearing thin.

“I want music from Midguard, like what I used to listen to. I miss it.” Adalwin said. “But it is impossible to get.”

Loki thought about this, “Not impossible for a God honey.”

And it wasn’t. For her birthday, Adalwin got a beautiful black guitar, and everything she needed to go with it. It was nearly as big as her, but she loved it. And Loki retrieved some music for her, in the form of CD’s. Of course Heimdall helped a little bit with the knowledge of the gifts but it was worth it. Adalwin loved everything.

After the party, the exhausted Adalwin followed her father to her quarters. It was a simple servants room that she had been staying in for a while. The inside was sparsely furnished but she liked it. It meant she was close to her father.

Loki put down the nearly dozing girl and then covered her eyes, “Close your eyes,” he said.

Adalwin did so and allowed herself to be led into the room. When she opened them she gasped. The room had been decorated to her liking. It was now a deep green, like she liked, with a mix of gold, black, and red. There were books along shelves all around the room. There was a bed with a canopy above it, and a balcony bay window. There was even a cauldron in the corner surrounded by mountains of ingredients begging to be made into potions.

“Papa, this is amazing!” Adalwin cried. “Did you do this?”

“Nothing is to much for my little girl,” Loki said kissing the top of her head. “Do you like it?”

“No,” Adalwin said flatly. Loki stiffened. “I love it.” She looked up at him and smiled.

Loki grinned and laughed. “Now, I know you get a bit lonely, so I put in something extra special.” He walked over to a wall with a tapestry of the World Tree on it. Pushing it aside, there was a wall, until Loki pushed against it and there was a door that opened.

“This passageway connects our rooms so if you ever need me, you can get to me.” He said.

Adalwin put her gifts on the table in the corner and then slowly walked over to the bed in a trance. She touched the soft cover and then broke down in sobs. She sank to her knees crying.

Loki instantly noticed and ran to her aid. “Alfhild, Alfhild what’s wrong? Speak to me! What did I do?”

“Everything,” Adalwin managed to speak.

“I...I’m sorry. I’ll put the room back as it was I just,”

Adalwin hugged Loki cutting him off. “No, you have done everything for me. I wouldn’t change this for the world.”

Loki hugged her back relieved that she was not hurt. “So, these are tears of joy?”

“Yes,” she nodded into his neck.

Loki held her tightly. He nuzzled her trying to calm her down. He was also the first person to show her that you could cry without sadness in your heart.

“I love you, Papa,” she whispered into his neck.

Loki’s blood went cold. “What?” he asked hoarsely.

“I love you,” Adalwin said again, even softer.

Loki pulled her back and looked her dead in the eyes. “Alfhild, do you mean that?”

Adalwin nodded and quickly wiped away her tears thinking she had crossed a line. Loki grabbed her and held her so close it was impossible to separate them. “I love you too,
my Alfhild,” he said into her hair.

And that is how they sat. Loki nuzzling her hair and Adalwin clinging to his neck crying out of the pure happiness from what she had been given in this new life; her life with her loving father.

Adalwin ended up crying herself to sleep, held in the firm embrace of her father. Loki, upon noticing her breathing had deepened and evened out, pulled back and carried his daughter to bed. He was exhausted from today as well, and was about to leave to his own room when Adalwin curled around his arm, like a monkey to a tree limb.
He attempted to slide his arm from her grasp without waking her, but she only clung tighter and slightly shifted in her sleep.

Loki sighed, “We really need to fix this.” He was to tired to care and with a flick of his wrist, his armor was off replaced with light clothing and he simply fell asleep lying on the bed next to Adalwin.

Loki appeared around the corner, and walked up to his brother’s side.

“Nervous brother?” he asked with a smile.

Thor laughed. “Have you ever known me to be nervous?”

Loki thought for a moment, “Well, there was the time in Nornheim.” Loki teased.

“That wasn’t nerves brother! That, was the rage of battle!” Thor countered.

“Ah, I see,” Loki said humoring him.

“How else could I have fought my way through a hundred warriors and still pulled us out alive?”

Loki turned confused to Thor, “As I recall, I was the one who veiled the Sin Smoke to aid our escape.”

A servant came up interrupting their banter presenting Thor with his helmet. “Ooo, nice feathers,” Loki teased.

“You don’t really want to start this again do you, Cow?” Thor gestured to Loki’s horns.

“I was being sincere,” Loki countered.

“You are incapable of sincerity,” Thor argued.

“Am I?” Loki said in mock hurt.

“Yes,” Thor stated.

“I’ve looked forward to this day as long as you have,” Loki said becoming serious, “You’re my brother, you’re my friend, sometimes I’m envious, but never doubt that I love you.”

Thor smiled and put his hand on Loki’s neck in a gesture of affection. “Thank you.” Thor said smiling.

“Now give us a kiss,” Loki said lightening the mood.

Thor laughed, “Stop it!”

They turn away laughing, followed by a silence. Adalwin came running around the corner in a deep green dress.

“Father! Uncle!” She cried when she saw the two of them.

“Adalwin!” Thor said happy to see his adopted niece.

“Father! Look at my dress! Isn’t it pretty?” She said twirling around. It was a beautiful dress Frigga had made for the occasion since Adalwin was to young to have ceremonial armor yet.

“My, you look beautiful.” Loki said. He notice how Adalwin would never call him Papa in front of others, just as he wouldn’t call her Alfhild. “Perfect for a princess.”

“Good luck with your coronation, Thor,” she said happily to him.

Thor chuckled, “Thank you dear niece.”

Loki knelt down to Adalwin’s level, “You look beautiful Adalwin,” he said smiling. “How did I get such a beautiful daughter?”

“You adopted me,” she teased.

“Ah, yes, that’s how.” Loki smiled. “Now, why don’t you run along and meet me at our place ok? I’ll be along soon.”

Adalwin grinned, “Yes father.” She ran off to find her and Loki’s position for the coronation.

“Coronation, that’s a big word for such a young girl,” Thor said.

“She’s an intelligent girl,” Loki countered.

“Yes, Father,” Thor teased.

Loki chuckled and elbowed him.

Thor stood there for a moment looking at his helmet, “Really, how do I look?”

Loki turned to him, “Like a king.”

“Go ahead,” Thor said not looking at Loki. Loki turned to Thor slightly confused. “Go on I’ll be along.” Thor urged. Loki smiled a knowing smile and walked to go find his daughter.

Adalwin waited towards the top of the stairs overlooking the gathering crowd, and sure enough, she saw the horns come around the corner and approach her.

“Hello, my little warrior,” he said as he hugged her from behind, “Waiting as loyally as ever I see.”

Adalwin looked up at her father’s smiling face, “Of course!”

Odin took his seat at the throne, and soon after Thor entered to the cheers of the crowd. Adalwin stayed silent by her father’s side. She had always harbored a secret fear of Thor. His spontaneous nature and fiery temper terrified her along with the fact of his massive strength and size. And from her studies of the Royal Family, she understood that Thor would be King next, and not her father.

As Thor began to kneel in front of the Allfather, Adalwin decided that if she were to sneak off for just a little bit, it wouldn’t hurt anything. She couldn’t have cared less if she had tried.

Then she felt something. Like a strange presence, she turned to see if someone was behind her, but there was no one. Just air. The call seemed to beckon her away from the room. She tugged at her father’s sleeve but he ushered her to be quite.

She didn’t like this presence she felt. It terrified her, and even more terrifying was that she didn’t know how she was feeling this. She had never felt something like this before.
Then she noticed that Odin had suddenly gone silent and quickly turned her attention to the throne.

“Frost giants,” Odin whispered before he slammed his staff on the ground making Adalwin jump and cling to her father.

Loki quickly bent down and pulled her away from him, “Alfhild,” he whispered roughly to her, “you need to hide. Go and hide in your wardrobe and I will come find you later. Do you understand?”

Adalwin nodded, “But,” she started.

“No buts this time Alfhild,” he said sharply, “Go and get one of my knives, you know where they are, remember your training and hide. Seal the door behind you. I will find you. If anything happens don’t hesitate to use your training on anyone but me that comes into the room, understand?”

Adalwin nodded terrified of using her abilities on someone. “Yes Papa,” she whispered.

“Go,” he said and pushed her towards the back of the room. She followed the rushing crowd and ran to her room. She quickly shut and locked the door before casting the sealing spell her father had taught her. She then picked up one of his knives he had left in her room and hid in the wardrobe.

That is how she sat for what felt like an eternity. She heard people go rushing by and the like and at every sound she tensed.

Then she heard the door handle jiggle. She held her breath. Then slowly let it out. Her father had warned her not to hold her breath because she might pass out and this was not a good situation for that to happen in.

Then she heard some muttering from the other side and then the door opened. Who ever it was undid her seal.

“Alfhild, it’s me,” Loki said cautiously. Adalwin stiffened.

“It’s alright Alfhild. I’m here,” he said as he walked over and opened the wardrobe. Adalwin sprung out and Loki caught her quickly disarming her.

“Papa,” she cried relieved and hung to him for dear life.

“Yes, Alfhild, it’s me. It’s alright.” Loki said hugging her tightly and falling to his knees “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I was so scared, Papa, I thought something bad had happened to you.” She hid her face in his neck.

“It’s alright darling.” Loki said soothingly. “It’s ok.”

“The Frost Giants,” she started. Loki shushed her.

“They were just a band of rouges attempting to get the Casket of Ancient Winters. The Destroyer stopped them.”

Adalwin settled herself in Loki’s lap. “Papa, is it bad I’m kind of glad the Frost Giants attacked?” she asked softly.

“Depends on why,” Loki said cautiously.

“They ruined Thor’s day,” she said simply. “It was all really boring, but they made it better in a way.” She looked up at him innocently and Loki had to laugh.

“I have to agree with you Alfhild,” he said simply. “I have to agree.”

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Chapter 2

Adalwin had grown accustomed to life in the palace. To others she was Adalwin, but to Loki she was always Alfhild. She became used to her studies and found the Nine Realms fascinating. She grew adeptly at her magic abilities and soon took after her father in his skills.

She lacked physical strength due to her mortal blood, but quickly made up for that in her magical talents. Her favorite weapon became a knife and one time Loki even found her attempting to use his set of knives. He promptly took them away after panicking about the sharp objects in her immediate vicinity.

She grew ever closer with Loki and he ended up being the only person she trusted, and the only one she ever thought she would trust. He was also the first and only person to make her smile.

“Alfhild,” he said as he crouched around the room, “Where are you my little minx?”

Adalwin stayed hiding under the bed during the game of hide and seek. She had gotten better since their first game. She covered her mouth to keep from giggling at the success of her plan.

Loki crept around the room towards the curtains. Then she felt a hand on her ankle.

“Gotcha!” he cried as he pulled her from under the bed. Adalwin let out a shriek and looked over at the other Loki, which disappeared.

“Dang it!” She said as she tried to escape. She giggled and squirmed.

“You are my prisoner now! Prisoners are subject to torture at my mercy!” Loki cried.

Adalwin struggled harder but his grip was iron. “No!” she begged.

“Yes!” Loki cried. He then began to tickle her sides.

Adalwin couldn’t hold in her laughter much more. “No! Let go!”

“Beg for mercy and the king may be merciful!” he taunted. She couldn’t hold it in anymore; she began to laugh.

Loki’s eyes lit up, and he only tickled her harder. “Beg, my prisoner, or you shall never see light of day!”

“No! Stop!” Adalwin said between gasps. And then she was smiling. A huge grin splattered across her face.

“Alfhild, you’re smiling!” Loki said.

“Yeah, I guess I am!” she cried happily. Loki’s torture continued. “Loki! Stop! My stomach hurts!”

“Magic words…” Loki pressed as he tickled her sides until she was blue in the face.

“Merciful king, stop!” she cried. Loki grabbed her and flung himself with her to his chest back on the bed. Adalwin finally began to get some air back.

“I made you smile,” Loki mused.

“Yeah, is that what smiling is like?” she asked. “It’s nice.”

Loki grinned, “Is that a request for more?” his hands began to move back to her sides.

“No, no, we’re good,” Adalwin said quickly pushing his hands away. She was still small, although she was nearly 7 now; she had grown a bit in her time in Asgard.

Loki couldn’t hide his joy. He had been able to make his daughter smile, not simply happy, smile. No body else had accomplished this task before. No amount of fun they had, or stories she was told, or hilarity that surrounded her had ever made her smile much to the disappointment of the Warriors Three as they tried day in and out to get her to.
And Thor, he had tried the hardest and yet it was his brother, Loki, who had been the one to make the girl smile. Not just smile, grin so wide he thought her face would split. That was his doing, not Thor’s, him.

Loki rolled over so Adalwin was now on the bed and facing him.

“Papa?” she asked him. She had begun to call him that. She also would also stop saying he wasn’t her father. To her, he was her only father.

“Yes Alfhild?” he replied.

“Another,” she said.

“Alright. One, two, three…”

“Alfhild,” Loki said breaking the silence of the room.

Adalwin looked up from her spell, “Yes Papa?”

“Hold your hands like this,” he said, gently adjusting her hand sign. “You want your thumb towards your body, but the other two splayed.”

“Yes Papa,” she said. She turned back to her work. Loki loved to watch her learn. He would often tease her, saying he could see her gears turning when she worked.

“Alfhild,” Loki said again.

“Yes Papa?”

“Your 7th birthday is coming up, what do you want?” he asked turning back to his own book and planning the next lesson.

Adalwin looked up at him, then back to her hands. A small flame was beginning to form but she extinguished it.

Loki noticed her silence and looked up as well. She was very good at hiding, especially when it came to thoughts or feelings, but she could never trick him when it came to things. He simply knew her too well.

“Alfhild, I said what do you want for your birthday?” he said again getting slightly agitated.

Adalwin didn’t want to ask him for what she wanted. She was always skittish about asking for things.

“I…don’t know,” she lied.

“Alfhild,” Loki said tiredly. “What do you want.”

“A guitar,” she said quietly. “I want a guitar.”

“What is that?” Loki asked.

“An instrument. An expensive instrument.” Adalwin looked up at him. “But if I can’t have one that’s fine too.”

“If you want one, I shall get you one,” Loki said. There was more she clearly wanted to ask for. “What else do you want?”

“Nothing,”

“Alfhild, if you try lying to me again the lesson is over now,” Loki reprimanded. He was the God of Lies, yes, but he hated when his daughter tried to fool him. She knew he was the best at it, and her attempts were futile.

“Some books, and some music.” Adalwin added.

“Tell me everything you want,” Loki said his patience wearing thin.

“I want music from Midguard, like what I used to listen to. I miss it.” Adalwin said. “But it is impossible to get.”

Loki thought about this, “Not impossible for a God honey.”

And it wasn’t. For her birthday, Adalwin got a beautiful black guitar, and everything she needed to go with it. It was nearly as big as her, but she loved it. And Loki retrieved some music for her, in the form of CD’s. Of course Heimdall helped a little bit with the knowledge of the gifts but it was worth it. Adalwin loved everything.

After the party, the exhausted Adalwin followed her father to her quarters. It was a simple servants room that she had been staying in for a while. The inside was sparsely furnished but she liked it. It meant she was close to her father.

Loki put down the nearly dozing girl and then covered her eyes, “Close your eyes,” he said.

Adalwin did so and allowed herself to be led into the room. When she opened them she gasped. The room had been decorated to her liking. It was now a deep green, like she liked, with a mix of gold, black, and red. There were books along shelves all around the room. There was a bed with a canopy above it, and a balcony bay window. There was even a cauldron in the corner surrounded by mountains of ingredients begging to be made into potions.

“Papa, this is amazing!” Adalwin cried. “Did you do this?”

“Nothing is to much for my little girl,” Loki said kissing the top of her head. “Do you like it?”

“No,” Adalwin said flatly. Loki stiffened. “I love it.” She looked up at him and smiled.

Loki grinned and laughed. “Now, I know you get a bit lonely, so I put in something extra special.” He walked over to a wall with a tapestry of the World Tree on it. Pushing it aside, there was a wall, until Loki pushed against it and there was a door that opened.

“This passageway connects our rooms so if you ever need me, you can get to me.” He said.

Adalwin put her gifts on the table in the corner and then slowly walked over to the bed in a trance. She touched the soft cover and then broke down in sobs. She sank to her knees crying.

Loki instantly noticed and ran to her aid. “Alfhild, Alfhild what’s wrong? Speak to me! What did I do?”

“Everything,” Adalwin managed to speak.

“I...I’m sorry. I’ll put the room back as it was I just,”

Adalwin hugged Loki cutting him off. “No, you have done everything for me. I wouldn’t change this for the world.”

Loki hugged her back relieved that she was not hurt. “So, these are tears of joy?”

“Yes,” she nodded into his neck.

Loki held her tightly. He nuzzled her trying to calm her down. He was also the first person to show her that you could cry without sadness in your heart.

“I love you, Papa,” she whispered into his neck.

Loki’s blood went cold. “What?” he asked hoarsely.

“I love you,” Adalwin said again, even softer.

Loki pulled her back and looked her dead in the eyes. “Alfhild, do you mean that?”

Adalwin nodded and quickly wiped away her tears thinking she had crossed a line. Loki grabbed her and held her so close it was impossible to separate them. “I love you too,
my Alfhild,” he said into her hair.

And that is how they sat. Loki nuzzling her hair and Adalwin clinging to his neck crying out of the pure happiness from what she had been given in this new life; her life with her loving father.

Adalwin ended up crying herself to sleep, held in the firm embrace of her father. Loki, upon noticing her breathing had deepened and evened out, pulled back and carried his daughter to bed. He was exhausted from today as well, and was about to leave to his own room when Adalwin curled around his arm, like a monkey to a tree limb.
He attempted to slide his arm from her grasp without waking her, but she only clung tighter and slightly shifted in her sleep.

Loki sighed, “We really need to fix this.” He was to tired to care and with a flick of his wrist, his armor was off replaced with light clothing and he simply fell asleep lying on the bed next to Adalwin.

Loki appeared around the corner, and walked up to his brother’s side.

“Nervous brother?” he asked with a smile.

Thor laughed. “Have you ever known me to be nervous?”

Loki thought for a moment, “Well, there was the time in Nornheim.” Loki teased.

“That wasn’t nerves brother! That, was the rage of battle!” Thor countered.

“Ah, I see,” Loki said humoring him.

“How else could I have fought my way through a hundred warriors and still pulled us out alive?”

Loki turned confused to Thor, “As I recall, I was the one who veiled the Sin Smoke to aid our escape.”

A servant came up interrupting their banter presenting Thor with his helmet. “Ooo, nice feathers,” Loki teased.

“You don’t really want to start this again do you, Cow?” Thor gestured to Loki’s horns.

“I was being sincere,” Loki countered.

“You are incapable of sincerity,” Thor argued.

“Am I?” Loki said in mock hurt.

“Yes,” Thor stated.

“I’ve looked forward to this day as long as you have,” Loki said becoming serious, “You’re my brother, you’re my friend, sometimes I’m envious, but never doubt that I love you.”

Thor smiled and put his hand on Loki’s neck in a gesture of affection. “Thank you.” Thor said smiling.

“Now give us a kiss,” Loki said lightening the mood.

Thor laughed, “Stop it!”

They turn away laughing, followed by a silence. Adalwin came running around the corner in a deep green dress.

“Father! Uncle!” She cried when she saw the two of them.

“Adalwin!” Thor said happy to see his adopted niece.

“Father! Look at my dress! Isn’t it pretty?” She said twirling around. It was a beautiful dress Frigga had made for the occasion since Adalwin was to young to have ceremonial armor yet.

“My, you look beautiful.” Loki said. He notice how Adalwin would never call him Papa in front of others, just as he wouldn’t call her Alfhild. “Perfect for a princess.”

“Good luck with your coronation, Thor,” she said happily to him.

Thor chuckled, “Thank you dear niece.”

Loki knelt down to Adalwin’s level, “You look beautiful Adalwin,” he said smiling. “How did I get such a beautiful daughter?”

“You adopted me,” she teased.

“Ah, yes, that’s how.” Loki smiled. “Now, why don’t you run along and meet me at our place ok? I’ll be along soon.”

Adalwin grinned, “Yes father.” She ran off to find her and Loki’s position for the coronation.

“Coronation, that’s a big word for such a young girl,” Thor said.

“She’s an intelligent girl,” Loki countered.

“Yes, Father,” Thor teased.

Loki chuckled and elbowed him.

Thor stood there for a moment looking at his helmet, “Really, how do I look?”

Loki turned to him, “Like a king.”

“Go ahead,” Thor said not looking at Loki. Loki turned to Thor slightly confused. “Go on I’ll be along.” Thor urged. Loki smiled a knowing smile and walked to go find his daughter.

Adalwin waited towards the top of the stairs overlooking the gathering crowd, and sure enough, she saw the horns come around the corner and approach her.

“Hello, my little warrior,” he said as he hugged her from behind, “Waiting as loyally as ever I see.”

Adalwin looked up at her father’s smiling face, “Of course!”

Odin took his seat at the throne, and soon after Thor entered to the cheers of the crowd. Adalwin stayed silent by her father’s side. She had always harbored a secret fear of Thor. His spontaneous nature and fiery temper terrified her along with the fact of his massive strength and size. And from her studies of the Royal Family, she understood that Thor would be King next, and not her father.

As Thor began to kneel in front of the Allfather, Adalwin decided that if she were to sneak off for just a little bit, it wouldn’t hurt anything. She couldn’t have cared less if she had tried.

Then she felt something. Like a strange presence, she turned to see if someone was behind her, but there was no one. Just air. The call seemed to beckon her away from the room. She tugged at her father’s sleeve but he ushered her to be quite.

She didn’t like this presence she felt. It terrified her, and even more terrifying was that she didn’t know how she was feeling this. She had never felt something like this before.
Then she noticed that Odin had suddenly gone silent and quickly turned her attention to the throne.

“Frost giants,” Odin whispered before he slammed his staff on the ground making Adalwin jump and cling to her father.

Loki quickly bent down and pulled her away from him, “Alfhild,” he whispered roughly to her, “you need to hide. Go and hide in your wardrobe and I will come find you later. Do you understand?”

Adalwin nodded, “But,” she started.

“No buts this time Alfhild,” he said sharply, “Go and get one of my knives, you know where they are, remember your training and hide. Seal the door behind you. I will find you. If anything happens don’t hesitate to use your training on anyone but me that comes into the room, understand?”

Adalwin nodded terrified of using her abilities on someone. “Yes Papa,” she whispered.

“Go,” he said and pushed her towards the back of the room. She followed the rushing crowd and ran to her room. She quickly shut and locked the door before casting the sealing spell her father had taught her. She then picked up one of his knives he had left in her room and hid in the wardrobe.

That is how she sat for what felt like an eternity. She heard people go rushing by and the like and at every sound she tensed.

Then she heard the door handle jiggle. She held her breath. Then slowly let it out. Her father had warned her not to hold her breath because she might pass out and this was not a good situation for that to happen in.

Then she heard some muttering from the other side and then the door opened. Who ever it was undid her seal.

“Alfhild, it’s me,” Loki said cautiously. Adalwin stiffened.

“It’s alright Alfhild. I’m here,” he said as he walked over and opened the wardrobe. Adalwin sprung out and Loki caught her quickly disarming her.

“Papa,” she cried relieved and hung to him for dear life.

“Yes, Alfhild, it’s me. It’s alright.” Loki said hugging her tightly and falling to his knees “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I was so scared, Papa, I thought something bad had happened to you.” She hid her face in his neck.

“It’s alright darling.” Loki said soothingly. “It’s ok.”

“The Frost Giants,” she started. Loki shushed her.

“They were just a band of rouges attempting to get the Casket of Ancient Winters. The Destroyer stopped them.”

Adalwin settled herself in Loki’s lap. “Papa, is it bad I’m kind of glad the Frost Giants attacked?” she asked softly.

“Depends on why,” Loki said cautiously.

“They ruined Thor’s day,” she said simply. “It was all really boring, but they made it better in a way.” She looked up at him innocently and Loki had to laugh.

“I have to agree with you Alfhild,” he said simply. “I have to agree.”