Bound by the Elements |Kratos x OC|

Prologue

The Songbird's Cage

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The air in Asgard was thick with tension, the kind that made Elowen's heart beat faster. She stood before her father, Odin, his towering presence casting a long shadow over the golden halls. The All-Father's eyes, usually sharp with the wisdom of ages, now seemed clouded—perhaps with anger, or worse, with the cold calculation that Elowen had come to fear.

"You must understand, Elowen," Odin's voice was a low rumble, deceptively gentle. "Your powers are growing, but you lack the control necessary to wield them. This... this is for your own good."

Elowen's fingers twitched by her side, the faint hum of power beneath her skin betraying her emotions. "But I don't want to be locked away. I can learn, Father, I just need more time—"

"You've had enough time," Odin cut her off, his voice like ice. He turned away, robes billowing as he waved a hand in dismissal. "You're too dangerous. Even to yourself."

Dangerous.

The word felt foreign to Elowen, a sharp stab in her chest. Her brothers, Thor and Baldr, were praised for their strength, for their power. But her powers—her connection to the elements—were seen as a threat, something to be contained. She swallowed the lump in her throat, willing herself not to cry.

"Father, please..."But Odin did not respond. With a simple gesture of his hand, the world around her began to change. The golden halls of Asgard shimmered, and in an instant, Elowen found herself standing in a place that was both familiar and foreign: her grove.

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The grove had always been a sanctuary, a place where Elowen found peace among the towering trees and the soft murmur of running water. But now, it felt different. The air here was too still, the magic too heavy. It pressed down on her like a weight, making her feel small, trapped.

Her reflection danced on the surface of the small pond at the grove's heart. Long, silver-white hair, woven into a delicate flower braid, shimmered in the dim light. The enchanted flowers intertwined in her hair glowed softly, casting a warm, ethereal light around her. Her fair skin, soft and pale, seemed to glow faintly under the enchanted sunlight that filtered through the canopy, though it did little to lift her spirits. The flowers, once a symbol of her bond with nature, now felt like a mockery of her imprisonment.

Elowen knelt by the pond, her soft pale blue eyes staring back at her, filled with warmth and a sadness that seemed to deepen with every passing moment. Rosy cheeks, once bright with life, were now tinged with sorrow. The gentle glow of her skin felt out of place in this lonely, magical prison.

Her hands traced over the fabric of her dress, a flowing, earth-toned garment that clung to her Asgardian heritage and her deep connection to the elements. The greens, browns, and blues that draped her were reminiscent of the forest's leaves, the vines that curled around her wrists, and the flowing water that trickled through the grove. Subtle floral patterns adorned her sleeves and hem, vines weaving into the fabric as though nature itself clung to her.

She reached into the water, letting it slip between her fingers. As she did, a flicker of power sparked from her fingertips, causing the water to ripple unnaturally. It was small, just a hint of the elemental power she could command, but it felt wild, untamed. She quickly pulled her hand back, staring at it as if it had betrayed her.

This was why her father had locked her away. This uncontrollable force within her, was something she had never fully understood. And now, alone in the grove, she feared she never would.

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The Passing of Time
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Seasons passed in the grove, though time seemed to hold little meaning here. The trees grew taller, their leaves turning gold in the autumn, then falling softly to the earth like silent witnesses to her solitude. Winter's chill came and went, though Elowen barely noticed it. The magic of the grove kept her warm, kept her alive—but it did not keep her company.

The animals were her only friends. Birds fluttered around her, chirping softly, and small woodland creatures nuzzled against her legs as she walked through the grove. Elowen tended to the plants, coaxing them to bloom even in the dead of winter, using the faint touch of her powers to nurture them. But every flower, every tree, reminded her of the cage she could not escape.

Each day was the same. Each night, she dreamed of Asgard—of her mother's voice, soft and soothing, calling her home. But when she awoke, it was always the same grove, the same silence.

Until one day, it wasn't.

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A Change in the Air
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It was subtle at first, a shift in the air, a disturbance in the magic that surrounded the grove. Elowen felt it before she saw it—a crack in the barrier, a break in the spell that had kept her confined for so long. She stood at the edge of the grove, her heart racing.

Could it be?

She placed her hand on the barrier, expecting the same unyielding resistance she had felt countless times before. But this time, there was something different. The barrier trembled beneath her touch, the magic flickering like a dying flame.

Hope bloomed in her chest, fragile and tentative.

Something was coming. Something—or someone—was about to change her fate.

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Author's Note: This is my first official time writing here on Wattpad so I'm really nervous about it but excited to post something that I personally would like to read but have never seen. Also sorry if the format is weird I'm typing the story on my phone and i really dont know much about writing on this app.

Anyway, thank you for reading and please leave a vote!

Disclaimer: I dont own anything besides my OC, Elowen.