Twisted Hearts

A New Life -Part 2 (Heimdall)

I shrugged as the last rays of sunshine for the day hit my back as I headed toward the wall. Those last fingers of warmth reaching out to me felt delightful after spending so much time indoors serving the All-Father.

Since Thor's giant blunder, the All-Father had much more work for me to do. I had had to put less scrupulous guards around Asgard's borders to maintain consistency. I could sense the All-Father weaving the current threads of the world into a design of his liking. The giants were a problem. The All-Father had me spread the message wherever I went, especially in Svartelfheim where I had been most in the recent months. Many contracts had been struck to arm the influx of Einhejar I had requested for the defense of Gladsheim. The wall-builder I had foreseen was due to arrive any day now, thankfully. Our security at home was the first step towards victory should an angry giant ever come our way.

Now that my mind was not pre-occupied with work, it very quickly wandered to Brynhild. Although I had only been able to spend a few precious moments here and there with her, things had been progressing well. Her father remained illusive as their family home continued to rise up, but I was not too worried about him while he was so occupied establishing his family in Gladsheim and Tyr was focused on the Jotnar issue. Besides, Brynhild had been busy with her own duties and did not seem to mind my scarcity.

It was a shame. I would likely not see her tonight with all the patrol duties and additional assignments from All-Father to complete. Brynhild's touch was no longer so overwhelming after slow practice, to the point that sometimes all I could think about was her body next to mine. She continued to make good on her promise of honesty, for better or for worse, which I valued beyond everything else. I had begun to see with her what I had never seen with other love interests, a future. Even if her father was found to be treacherous, I was sure I could protect her from that fallout and prove her innocence. Sure, it was not ideal, but it would be worth it.

Just then, my thoughts were broken by the sound of sobbing. I was in the heart of Gladsheim. Most people were at home eating the evening meal with their families. Who on Yggdrasil's branches - Brynhild. The person sobbing was Brynhild. I traced the sound and found her, head to knees, on the ground in an alleyway. She probably thought she was hidden from notice.

I knelt down beside her and said, "Whatever is going on, Brynhild, I don't think crying about it is going to help."

She startled and looked up at me. I could not help but smile at unexpectedly seeing her beautiful face. Even through tears, she was gorgeous.

"I didn't expect to see you today. I must say it's a pleasant surprise. What has made you so upset?"

Brynhild shook her head and began sobbing again, covering her face with her hands. "I...I don't ... belong here... Heimdall," she said in between sobs.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. This was more serious than I thought. I reached out my hand to have her eyes meet mine and wiped away her tears. My blood boiled as my mind's eye found the reason for her distress. "Sif... and Idunn," I spat out the names. Bitter vipers, they had no right to treat Brynhild so poorly.

"Please don't get angry Heimdall. It will only make things worse for me. I don't think they will ever accept me, no matter what you do."

"They are inconsequential. I think you belong here. I have accepted you. Everyone else will have to get on board and rest-assured, they will. I will make sure of it." I lifted her up to stand on her feet and kissed her on the forehead. The sobs had all but stopped now. "Go to my hall. You're welcome to stay there as long as you need. The whole night even." I hesitated, "In fact, I'd like that very much. It will be better than your father's tents at any rate. I will have a conversation with Sif and Idunn and come back to you."

Her unease was still present. "Heimdall... I-"

"Yes?" I said softly. With the anger clouding my mind, it was hard to see into her thoughts. She had acquired some new doubt or question, but she wasn't spitting it out.

She shook her head slightly and said, "I'll see you later.

One last goodbye kiss and I was off. Sif and Idunn would have to pay for their cruelty. I would have to ask after Brynhild's hesitation later.

As I approached Idunn's miserable excuse for a hall it was hard not to rip the door out of its hinges. Somehow I managed to resist, but opted for slamming the door open instead.

"Idunn!" I commanded her presence. "We have urgent business to discuss."

Idunn rose from her seat at the back of the small hall. Only a few ladies were left huddled around her, including Sif, but it was clear from all the clutter strewn about that the group had been much larger earlier in the day.

"Do we?" She said with feigned innocence. Her cool exterior hid her nervousness well to all except myself. She knew what the consequences for her actions were. Similar ramifications had forced her into an early marriage to stave off the nastiest of the rumors I planted and ensure her new man did not leave her high and dry. Foolish and pathetic woman.

"Listen carefully you empty headed, apple pecking  bitch. Brynhild will not be going away anytime soon. If you cannot welcome her, stay away from her. There will be consequences if you do not heed my words. The same goes for you Sif!" Sif had not moved from her seat. It was honestly surprising she was conscious at all, considering how much alcohol she had been chugging down these days.

Idunn began to laugh. "How adorable. I never thought your taste in women would become so bland. I shouldn't be surprised though. With your demeanor, I doubt you could get any woman the All-Father did not hand to you on a silver platter. Even with his help, it seems the only way you've been able to keep her so far is through lies anyway."

"Enough! You clearly are as brainless as ever. Heed my words, or remember them in your future misery. Your choice."

"As soon as you show that poor girl who you really are, who you're really loyal to above all else, she will leave you. She may be naive but she's not stupid. She's also not a cruel and she won't stand for your cruelty once it truly unveils itself. When that happens, she will have my acceptance and help and you will be the one basking in misery. Not that it's an unfamiliar feeling for you now."

I rushed forward to face her just inches away from her pointed features. "No lies have passed my lips to Brynhild. She is loyal to me with the truth in mind and it is the same for me with her. We have something that you could never even dream of: real, genuine love. That concept doesn't even exist in your small-minded world, does it? I don't think you even have the capacity for the emotion."

Laughter erupted from her mouth, "Somebody's getting ahead of himself. Love?? Already?? Doubtful. No, Heimdall, you simply have a new fixation. A doll to try on your hallucinations." Idunn shook her head. "I was able to love you, once. Until I realized, just as Brynhild will, that I could never be your priority. That your 'love' for me was hollow. Your father would always take first place in that twisted heart of yours. The All-Father, Asgard, and yourself above all else." Idunn paused, a cruel smile crossing her lips. "Have you really told her everything? Have you really shown her the real you yet?"

A raven landed on an open windowsill and cawed out, demanding my attention. It was a messenger from All-Father. He could not have had worse timing.

"Daddy's calling." Idunn cooed.

I slowly turned to face her again. I could feel my rage building and my hand reached for her throat. As my hand clamped down I whispered in her ear, "Brave words from someone sitting inside a glass house. I'd hate to throw any stones, but Bragi should really know who he's competing with, don't you think?" I laughed at the absolutely absurd thought I had plucked from her mind earlier. "Magni, really??" I could see the light go out of her eyes in that moment. How satisfying.

Sif finally dragged herself from her drunken stupor to slur some inane protest out. "This doesn't concern you Sif! Although I do have the same message for you as this delightful ray of sunshine." I gave my brightest smile before letting it fall. I could hear Idunn's breath grow ragged as my grip tightened around her neck. "When it comes to Brynhild and I, stay out of our way. Do not go near her. If you disobey... suffer the consequences."

I released my grip and let Idunn drop to the floor as I walked away to see what in the nine realms the All-Father wanted from me now.