"Welcome home, Darling."
I blinked twice, eyes squinted in the bright light. A hand found its way to my back, helping me sit up in the unfamiliar room. A woman sat on the edge of the bed, her long hair done up in intricate braids. She smiled gently, taking my hand and rubbing her thumb over my palm. I looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed at the maternal action.
"Home?" I asked, my voice dry. I glanced around the room. This was definitely not my home or any place I had ever set foot in. The bed was far too large, the decorations too intricate. I was used to gray walls and blinking lights, but here I was blinded by gold.
"Asgard," she prompted. "Where your father and uncle were raised. Your legacy is here, Brynhild."
I groaned at the sound of my name. "It's Bryn," I corrected. "Just Bryn."
The woman nodded, rubbing soothing circles into my palm. "Of course," she said, correcting herself. "My apologies."
She stood, rubbing her hands on the front of her dress before holding one out to me. I hesitated. "Now then," she started. "Let's get you dressed. Odin is waiting to finally meet you."
My eyebrows furrowed. "Odin?" I asked.
The woman smiled kindly at me. "My Child, I forget how very little you know," she said, her eyes sad. "Odin is the Allfather, the King. My husband."
I tried to recall what little I had learned from Thor. "And Odin is Thor's father?" I asked curiously, rubbing my forehead to ease my pounding headache.
"Yes, Darling."
"That makes him my grandfather."
She nodded in approval. "And I am Frigga, your grandmother."
I looked her over. "I've never had grandparents before," I said simply. "I've never had a family."
"Well, let's change that, shall we?" I smiled and took her hand.
Half an hour and a lot of complaining later, I was finally dressed in the least fanciest thing that Frigga deemed acceptable and marching towards the throne room. The halls of Asgard were magnificent and golden, and I felt dwarfed within the walls and microscopic compared to the painted murals on the ceilings of brave warriors, kingly gifts, and times of a thriving peace. After what felt like solid minutes of wandering through the golden-coated maze of hallways, I found myself staring at a large set of doors. I knew, without asking, that behind those doors waited the King.
Although we were technically family, I couldn't help but feel anxious as I approached the doors. I was on an entirely different planet in an entirely new realm. Everything was unfamiliar, from the simple gown I was wearing to the shiny black boots I had convinced Frigga to let me wear. I even felt different, stronger, and strangely at peace with the situation despite my buzzing nerves -- it was as though I recognized where I was. I frowned, shaking away my thoughts as the giant doors opened.
The throne room was massive, and like the rest of Asgard, covered in gold. At the far end of the room stood a large throne, and in it, a graying man rested his hands in his lap as he gazed at me, one eye obscured by a golden eyepatch.
"Come closer, Child," he said, standing up as I continued inching my way forward. "I don't bite."
I let out a small laugh as I approached, stopping a few feet before the foot of the steps. Slowly, Odin descended down the steps, his gaze never leaving my face. My eyes glued to the ground, I didn't look up until I felt two finders under my chin, lifting my gaze.
"Welcome to Asgard, Brynhild."
