𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐘 ★彡 ˡ.ˡᵃᵘᶠᵉʸˢᵒⁿ

XXX

AS FRIGGA LEFT TO SPEAK TO LOKI, ASTRID HAD INDEED GONE TO THE GARDENS. The same one Loki had brought her to. She sat on the same stone bench she sat on with Loki that sat in the middle of the luscious greenery. Her eyes scanned the overgrown twines, flowers and moss that sprayed around her. Her face was covered by the shade casted by the trees over her head. Pink blossom trees. Their pink petals fell onto her head and lap in the gentle breeze. Her nose was gifted with the scent of a mixture of flowers. Lavender, roses, lilies, wisteria, jasmine. The list goes on.

Her eyes caught sight of a bed of mixed flowers, tangled lavenders and yellow rattles. The sight sent a pant to her heart. She fiddled inside her dress' pockets, pulling out the little white cloth she always had on her. Her fingers traced over the embroidered flowers and patterns, reminiscing on the time when she was wooed by Loki over a year ago.

She sighed as she thought about how she was going to gift the handkerchief to the man himself. But then her nerves got the better of her. I suppose it was a good thing. She thought to herself. But now she has to keep it.

"Can I join you?" Odin spoke behind her. Astrid stood and nodded. "Frigga designed this garden for Loki. They both used to love it here." Odin sighed as he looked up to the blue sky through the tree branches. "I'm glad someone is still finding the beauty in my wife's creation."

His eyes turned to Astrid who was still looking down to her hands. He followed her gaze to find her handkerchief. He eyes the pattern that was weaved on the cloth. "May I?" He extended a hand out, asking to see the handkerchief. Astrid agreed, placing a small fabric in his hand. He stretched the cloth in his hands gently to examine the embroidery. "You did this?"

"I did," Astrid smiled.

"It's lovely." Odin smiled, his aged face creasing around his eyes and lips. "Would you like to know something?" Astrid nodded as Odin handed the handkerchief back. "When you get a mere child, you and Loki used to be the best of friends."

"Oh, really?" Astrid asked, astonished.

Odin nodded. "Indeed. You used to do everything together. Frigga and Christa would bring you here, to this very garden, and would play for hours. You two would plant flowers and trees. You would watch the animals too. I remember once there was once a bird with a broken wing who landed in this garden, and you and Loki cared for it together."

Astrid looked to the garden before her, flabbergasted at the fact she had been here as a child but could not remember a single moment from it. "How come I don't remember any of it?"

Odin sighed once more. "You were very small, as was Loki. Children don't remember things very well. But you were a special case. It took a while for your parents to craft your stone necklace so you would suffer from seizures a lot. We concluded it altered with your memory."

A tear slipped from her eye. It slid down her cheek and dropped from her face, landing on her hand that had subconsciously clenched the handkerchief. She looked down at the crumpled cloth with regret. "That stinks," she chuckled out through her tears.

Odin laughed as he stood, patting her shoulder before leaving her to her own devices. "If it's any consolation, I remember Loki having a rather large crush on you as a child."

And then he left. Astrid's wet face was burned red as she smiled at his words. Frigga then approached her, noticing her wet cheeks. "Oh darling, what did my husband say to cause such a beautiful woman to cry?"

"Oh, nothing bad, Allmother. He just gifted me with something precious that I had lost." Astrid smiled up at the woman.

Frigga stroked the queen's cheek gently. "That's very swell, my dear. I'm going to go see Thor and Jane now, care to join?"

Astrid shook her head. "No, thank you. I fear that Jane is worried of my friendship with Thor."

Frigga laughed. "I understand her worry. You are a beautiful woman. I think any women would be jealous of you."

Astrid sighed, slouching slightly. "I don't want her to be jealous. I don't see Thor as any more than a brother. He's a bit much for me either way."

Frigga chuckled once again. "I also know your affections are reserved for my other son."

Astrid rolled her eyes with a smile. "Whatever you say, Allmother."

Frigga smoothed down Astrid's wavy hair. "I think it'll be a good idea to see Loki before you leave. You should gift him that handkerchief you've been fiddling with for far too long."

And just like that, Frigga left leaving Astrid reeling sighing her own thoughts. Her eyes drifted to the garden before her once more, gazing at the mass of flowers. She remembered Odin's stories, imagining herself as a child with a small Loki planting flowers. Planting their favourites. Lavenders and yellow rattles. The same ones that we're tangling together in their beds. The same ones were tangled on the handkerchief.

Clutching the cloth in her fist, she stood up. Astrid marched confidently down the hallways to the dungeons. But before she could enter, the doors barged open causing her to fall to the ground. Freed prisoners rushed out, hopping over her fallen figure. An alarm blared throughout the castle, causing her flight or fight to kick in as she jumped up.

She turned her head to the side to see Fandral and Volstagg rushing toward her and the dungeons, weapons drawn. "Your Majesty," Fandral breathed out a dashing smile. "Shall we?" He gestured toward the dungeons where some prisoners still remained fighting each other and other guards.

Astrid nodded, conjuring her sword in her hand, readying for a fight, though she remained in her dress due to not having time to gather her armour. The three entered the dungeons, springing into action. Knowing each other's fighting style, the two of warriors remained close together. Astrid stayed close to them too, remembering how they fought from the battle on Earth over a year ago. Astrid fought off multiple beings with her sword. Though she didn't account for the giant approaching her from behind. Yet, it never had a chance to touch her as Fandral grabbed her waist and pulled her out of the way, slicing the head of the giant in the process.

Astrid fell, landing in Fandral's sculpted arm as he dipped her slightly. The blonde queen looked up at her saviour, her hand gripped his armour to keep herself up. The dirty blond warrior looked down at Astrid with a dazzling smile.

"I could never let a lovely lady such as yourself get hurt," Fandral flirted, causing a pink tinge to creep up Astrid's face. "Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful blue eyes?"

Astrid's eyes widened, blood rushing to her face. "Oh! T-Thank you," she stammered out as the man helped her back on her steady feet.

"You two done fawning over one another?" Volstagg asked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice though it was covered by a teasing tone. Fandral smiled cheekily, removing himself from Astrid's side, yet stayed close. They continued to fight as Thor arrived and fought alongside with them.

Unbeknownst to Astrid, from his cell, Loki had been watching her interaction with Fandral with clenched fists, a tight jaw and a cracking heart.