Assemble | Avengers | Second Part

Kapittel (34) Trettifire ~ Alex's Cousin Linnea

~Alex~

Loki's POV ~

Things were finally stealing down here in Earth's Asgard. While I haven't seen it in person in a while, I have been told by Heimdall that Asgard herself has been prospering, with our people that live there continuously working hard to build Asgard to her former glory.

Mother had left not long ago to oversee things there while Thor and I stayed on Midgard, and Lady Stark had left about a week ago to deal with some family matters, so it was just Frig, Thor, Brunnhilde, and I amongst our people.

That was until a woman appeared out of seemingly nowhere.

"Your Majesty! There's someone here who wishes to speak with you. They're being held off by some other Valkyries at the entrance to the main roads" Brunnhilde ran up to me, sending a glair to the merchants I was speaking to and causing them to scatter.

"Is it one of Midgard's governments? It sure took them a while. I thought they would be here ages ago." I mumbled, though followed behind the Valkyrie.

"It's no one like that. It's... well, she says she knows Alex."

My pace halted upon the news, and I looked to Brunnhilde with furrowed brows before rushing forward, quickly teleporting to where the Valkyrie said the woman was.

"It sure took you long enough." An elderly voice said as soon as I materialized in front of her, not even flinching at the new presence. "I thought you would have come to find us long ago, and yet here you stay. Keeping the little one from her other family."

"Who are you?" I glared at the woman, examining her features. Her greying red hair swayed in the steady wind, the sun causing the dark red to appear brighter than it was. Her blue eyes looked at me with a knowing glint, wrinkles appearing around her eyes and mouth as she smiled at me.

"You wouldn't remember me from looks alone. Unlike you, I have aged considerably since our last meeting. My name is Linnea Dagdottri, the youngest twin of Dag and Ella. I am now the head of the Tønsberg Vann Tribe. But I am also known as Linnea, cousin of Alexandra, Midgard's fiercest protector."

My breath caught in my throat upon hearing my beloved wife's name, and I could tell that the Valkyrie around me were giving each other confused looks.

"You - you're related to Alex?"

"Indeed. We weren't very close, however, so it is of no surprise she didn't mention me. We were quite different, the two of us. She would stay away from the water, opting to play in the woods." The woman gave me a pointed look, making me clear my throat.

"She must have had quite the interest in forestry."

"Or she had quite the interest in the Asgardian Prince that visited once a week." Linnea raised her brow in a knowing manner. "I mean, it's not as if she was beaming one day and then sulking over his departure the next."

"She sulked over my leave?" My head raised a bit at the knowledge, and I had to clear my throat once more. "I mean..."

"Yes, she was very disappointed whenever you had to depart. Now, are we going to continue to ramble about my departed cousin, or am I going to be allowed to see her child?"

"Oh, um, yes. This way." I stammered, becoming lost for words as the older redhead walked ahead, seeming as if she knew exactly where she was headed.

The Valkyre women looked at me in confusion, but I just waved them off, following Alex's cousin as she seemingly found my hutt, walking right in and making herself at home.

"Oh," Linnean sighed, peering into Frig's crib. "She looks just like her mother."

I stood beside the woman, looking down at my sleeping daughter, her little toughs of red hair messily spread over the top of her head.

"She does, doesn't she?"

"Well, the others will be so glad to meet her. They've been talking about this little one since you came to Earth."

"The others?"

"Well of course! The whole tribe has been talking of Frig. They wish to meet her. You two are family, after all."

Linnea's words caused me to freeze for a moment. I mean, I never truly met Alex's family, yet they considered me family nonetheless. It was... odd.

"Alright. I'll have to clear some things up, but I should be able to bring Frid over at the end of the week." I nodded.

"That's perfect! I'll be back on Saturday, then, to pick you both up. I'll see you then."

Without letting me say anything else, Linnea walked out the door, disappearing through the village.

"Strangeness must run in the family."