The Trinity: Of Gods and Kings

The Hunt Begins

Leif POV

I was not prepared for this, neither the level of delicious that her food was, nor the level of similarity between Hestia and Bridgette. I may have goofed up by lifting Hestia up and spinning her around like that in front of the other two maiden goddesses, but then I felt Heimdall calm them down with an explanation, which I appreciated. You know, since I like all parts of me to stay intact.

Right now, we are eating Hestia's home-cooked food and I cannot describe it. Though Idun's apples are supposed to be the pinnacle of godly food, Hestia could be her any day, and I felt this so strongly, I said it out loud.

"You know Lad-.... Hestia, you might just run Idun out of business. This food is so good, I'd eat it over Idun's apples any day."

Heimdall nodded, his eyes shining with contentment.

"Due to my position on the Rainbow bridge as Asgard's protector, and as compensation for never being able to leave for very long, I have been given a large stock of them. I would give them all away for you to visit me just once with a meal like this."

I chuckled, not for his enthusiasm over the food, but for him basically telling her to come and visit him. Hestia seemed to be getting the same idea as me and briefly blushed before speaking.

"Well, you could always ask me for a meal, I would be happy to summon one for you, even if I wasn't allowed into Asgard."

Heimdall's eyes brightened at the prospect of more of this food. What can I say? We Norse love our food. But then he realized she might not be able to reach Asgard, even if she just was summoning food to him. So, having a bit of mischief in my thoughts and voice, I spoke up.

"Has father never extended the standing invitation to Asgard? How forgetful of him. I can solve that."

They all turned to me with quizzical looks. Well all of them save Ares, he was too busy stuffing his face. With a smirk on my face, I continued.

"I, Leif Tyrson, Prince of Asgard hereby extend an open invitation to Hestia Rheasdottir to visit Asgard whenever she wants. To allow a smooth welcome, I add a title to your long list, my teacher. You shall also be known as The Keeper of the Flames of Home which shall burn by your side when your guard the Bifrost."

Thunder many times greater than an Oath on the Styx rumbled forth as Father acknowledged my command. I winked at Heimdall, who for his part, was completely clueless. I mentally sighed. This..... this was why I am so hopeless with women. Vidar was silent, Father only knew how to speak to mother, Odin was too loose with women for my taste, and Heimdall was clueless. Hel, I was better at seeing the signs than he was, and I'd been stuck in a tree for the last five millennia. I just didn't know how to handle it.

Hestia for her part nodded gratefully at me with the faint blush on her face she spoke.

"I appreciate the invitation. I must warn you however, giving me a hearth in your home will increase my power due to the power of your kingdom."

I raised an eyebrow and shrugged, eating another piece of meat before speaking to her.

"And? Good for you. I care not for that much. If you have need for more power, then merely call for me and I shall see what I can do."

Both Heimdall and I went back to eating, but after a moment of silence, I looked back up from my meal to see all the Greeks, even Ares staring at me with their jaws hanging open. I shot a quizzical look at Heimdall, who shrugged and went back to his meal.

"What? Have I managed to get food on my face?"

Athena was the first to speak. She shook herself back to awareness and looked at me, as if waiting to analyze my response.