Twisted Hearts

A New Life (Brynhild)

I made my way out of the Great Lodge. Lady Frigg had just dismissed me after a long day serving her. It had been many months since I was selected as her handmaiden and I had loved every minute of it.

Lady Frigg's days usually started with the Valkyries; overseeing their training, working to incorporate the selected Vanir women with the Aesir and ascended Midgardians, and of course, managing the transport of the honored dead to Valhalla as well as defending those sacred halls. I mostly just watched and helped as I was requested. Sometimes Lady Frigg would include me in some of the Valkyrie training exercises. Today was one of those days and she said that I was showing promise.

In the afternoons, I accompanied my mistress in her household management and queenly duties. This could range from completing textile projects with the other Asgardian women to setting servant schedules and duties and even accompanying her to political meetings. Heimdall was sometimes there which was a joy. The topic of most of these meetings lately had been the giants. Tyr and the All-Father usually dominated those conversations, endlessly debating about the threat or lack there of that they posed. Heimdall did not have much to say except to advocate for bolstering Asgard's own defenses as well as beginning to call more soldiers from Valhalla to increase our fighting forces.

After the political meetings were over, I was usually dismissed as the evenings were for my mistress and the All-Father to spend together. This did not happen as much in the beginning of my handmaidenship, but lately, it had been happening every night. The two seemed to have warmed to each other. And the gifts flowed freely from All-Father's hands to my mistress's rooms.

Usually once I was dismissed I would spend time with Heimdall or my family. Heimdall was unfortunately unavailable tonight, but that was alright as I was walking to a weaving circle with some of the ladies of Asgard, including Lady Sif, Thor's wife. It had taken even longer for the women of Asgard to acknowledge me, let alone invite me to gatherings, than it did for Frigg and Odin to warm up to each other. This particular weaving circle was hosted by Idunn at her and her husband Bragi's house. I was so excited to finally be included.

Finally, I approached the hosts' house. I opened the door and was greeted by the rush of voices and the clicking of needles and shuttles. There were so many women stuffed into the main hall of Idunn's home that they didn't even notice me walking in. That was fine by me. It allowed me to find one of the few empty spaces in the room and settle in with my own sewing project.

Although these gatherings were called weaving circles, it was really just an excuse to make progress on whatever textile project you had going on at the moment while gossiping away in good company. I myself had begun working on a glorious tunic for Heimdall. It felt only right to finally give him something after all his generosity towards me. My mistress had given me a bolt cloth of gold  and I had bought a beautiful magenta yarn to match Heimdall's eyes that would make up the borders of the tunic I had started. The girl to my right was nalbinding what looked to be a hat and the girl to my left seemed to have forgotten about the knitting project in her hands as she gossiped away with her own neighbor.

"I heard our new Queen may already be with child!" The pretty blonde girl whispered loudly.

"Hah! If anyone is with child it is most likely one of Thor's mistresses, not that witch. I can't believe the All-Father can even stand to look at that harlot he calls wife." This particular girl looked to be older than her blonde counterpart, but had a much more sour expression. She had red hair with no ties or braids in it.

I opened my mouth to defend my mistress but just then the host of the party approached me.

"You must be Brynhild!" Idunn practically cooed at me. She was very birdlike. Tall and thin with hardly any muscle visible in her. Her posture made her look as if she was perching on one leg all the time and her youthful face carried dark brown eyes that looked like they were ready to peck at anything they did not like. "Please don't be a stranger. Come sit with me and Sif!"