The Old Gods | Book 2

Four: Two More Heads

Many strange things have passed these halls of Shield's headquarters. Weaponry and strange people too. Nothing as strange as an Asgardian goddess. Her silver hair was in soft curls and tiny braids. She adorns no crown. The leather of her black attire reflects the white lights. Tiny stitching of golden threads formed Celtic patterns. Different blue fabrics are layered to form depth in her clothes. The most notable thing was the iconic loin cloth and golden armory.

Most humans didn't believe she was who she claimed to be. A goddess? Impossible. Simply not true. The gods don't exist and neither do monsters that live under your bed.

Princess Sigyn was escorted into a conference room where she greeted Nick Fury. "Been a while, Princess." he returned the welcome, inclining his head respectfully.

"The pleasure is mine." she inclined her head in return.

"Coulson tells me you accepted the offer?"

"I did." she replied, sounding confused. "I thought, well, if I have had a run-in with Hydra in the past, what was another?"

Nick Fury sits at the head of the table. "As my intel tells me, you've been on Earth before. Why didn't you tell us?"

Sigyn sits adjacent. "I hadn't a reason. You know all there is to know about me."

Nick Fury slid over a photo. "The boy in the picture. Who is he?"

Sigyn looked at the photo and smiled. "Oh, I remember this day. That is my son."

"Where is he these days?"

"In Vanaheim training to become a warrior in the Vanir army."

"Right." said Nick Fury. He didn't need to track down a loose god on Earth. "Do you understand the importance of this mission, princess?"

"I do. I also know how dangerous Hydra can be. If its true that they are creating high-tech weapons then they must be stopped. However, it is not the place of the gods to meddle in mortal affairs. It is why I stepped away. It is not my place."

Nick hummed. "Then why accept this one?"

"If my suspicions turn out to be correct, then Director Nick Fury, I am afraid we are in more trouble than we think."

"How do you mean?" he asked.

"First I will confirm what I think. And I will find out what they are using to make their weapons. If it turns out they are using materials not of this Earth then, yes, like before, I will be forced to step in."

"Like before?"

"The last time I was sent to Midgard. My son's mission was to find and locate the Tesseract before the humans did. He failed. Which is why I was sent down from Ida Plain. I came here to his aid to find the Tesseract. It fell into the hands of Hydra. Johann Schmidt who was the leader of Hydra back then, was obsessed with capturing us when he became aware of our existence. He had been tracking us, you see. It was Hydra's mission to use the power of the gods to fuel their weapons and they nearly succeeded I was told. The Tesseract was plunged into the ocean."

"We have the Tesseract safety locked away."

"As it shall remain."

"So we can rule out tesseract-fueled weapons."

"When was the last time you checked the Tesseract?"

Nick paused. He turned to an Agent and nodded his head. "Check on the damn thing." he ordered. The Agent gave back a 'yes sir'.

"We have tracked a small group working out of a warehouse in Brooklyn. My men will take you there tomorrow. In the meantime, we'll give you the mission run-down."

Time passed that evening and the princess was given accommodation for the night. She was planted in a wealthy room with all the accommodations that she needed in one room. She learned that it was normal on Midgard to have everything confined to one house. Rather than have an entire living quarters on one palace floor. She found the bath relaxing, but her mind was unsettled.

Every morsel of her being missed him.

She missed her home. Her family.

And above all, she was stressing about what Forseti said to her. Abdicating the throne will make her princess heir to Vanaheim. She was never meant to even be thought of as an heir. It meant that she would have to think about not having her mother and father one day. They make fine rulers, yes, and they have taught Sigyn everything they know about ruling and how to be a ruler, but she never wanted it.

Yes, the thought of a little girl giggling and wanting to be queen one day was just that. A child's foley. No matter how she looks at it, she could have ruled either way - if she married Thor. She thought that prophecy was wrong then, or maybe a mistake. Something her father took out of proportion.

He was never able to confirm the words of the Seer because shortly after he was killed in the war. It remains a mystery, even now.

During her time on Midgard, she searched the four corners of Scandinavia in lure of finding hope. A way into Nornheim. Some secret that would give her passage. She searched the hidden passages on Midgard and none took her to the dwelling of the Norns. It was absolute secrecy. No scripture of text she searched gave her an answer. There is no record of a gateway to Nornheim.

"Heimdall, friend, can you see me?" she spoke to the space in front of her.

Nothing for a moment.

Sigyn blinked and her blue eyes glimmered golden. She is standing in the halls of Asgard's palace and beside her is Heimdall. "Princess," he answered, stoically. "What do you need?"

"I have searched and searched, Heimdall. Is there a way?"

"A way for what, princess?"

"You know I have been searching for Nornheim."

"You cannot change the past, present or future. Even if you gain an audience with the sisters of fate they will do nothing. You have my condolences, but it won't change what happened to Loki. You must concentrate on your son. It is he who needs you most right now."

Sigyn's shoulders faltered. "How is he?"

"He is a fierce warrior, always has been. He fights furiously and with the courage. He is top of his class as expected of the young prince. He is rather shaping out to be a fine young warrior. You should see him now. His entire attitude has changed. His mind sharp, his focus sharper. He has honed his skills to a fine point. He has the charisma and potential to lead an army. All his companions rally to his side."

"Is that good?"

"Why yes, princess. A good way. Should the day come that war comes knocking on our door one more, I believe the prince will lead our warriors to victory. Vali, at the helm, the Vanir behind him. You as his queen."

She sighed again. "Do they know yet?"

"That Forseti is abdicating the throne?" he chuckled. "Not yet."

"They will be furious."

"Yes," he said, smiling. "But that will secure your position as heir. Making you one step closer, so your father says." he quoted.

"So, what you are saying, dear friend, is that there is NO way into Nornheim. Nothing in Asgard's books will say?"

Heimdall smiled at her with pearly whites and golden eyes. "Maybe, princess. But that knowledge is long lost to us."

Sigyn's head perked up again and that fire was rekindled. "So there is a way!" she exclaimed. Heimdall turned away from her and began his walk again.