Smoke + Mirrors | B. Barnes

One

"You can take the witch out of the hedge but you can never the the hedge out of the witch."

Octavia, Goddess of Witchcraft and Mystery. She now sells her goods in her small dark store in the capital of Asgard. The rich men and women of the capital needed magic, everyone was clothed in magic and gold, and the most reputable person to get magic from was the goddess herself.

The rich and powerful would have their clothes woven and brought to Octavia, she would enchant them and they would pay. That was how she did business, no small talk, no exchanging of hellos, just work. This brought her to the attention of Odin, the All Father, he knew about her before, he made her a goddess, but he never bought anything from her. Until one day, after years of her being a goddess did he bring her to his castle.

The small yet powerful goddess walked into his throne room. Covered in gold and magic, flanked by his sons, sat the All Father. The swell of energy and magic the young goddess felt coming off of the old god filled her with power. As she bowed she felt as though she was bowing under the weight of the magic, bringing her to smile lightly.

"Octavia, Goddess of Witchcraft and Mystery!" A man announced to the God.

"Yes, yes, I know who she is!" He barked at the man. "I need to commission something from you."

"Yes, Your Liege?" She asked, her rough voice carrying to the ears of the God and his sons. The two younger God's flinched, not expecting her voice to be so harsh, for she looked like a delicate little girl. But she was far from. The tan of her skin from hours in the sun gardening, glowed under the golden ceiling. The dark, frizzy curls from standing above brews all day framed her face giving her a soft look. But she was not soft, she was hardened by years of disappointment and work. "What can I do for you? Enchant your wardrobe? Give you charms of protection and healing? Cure someone? Reverse the effects of ageing?" She drawled.

"Lady Octavia, I did not call you here for any of your little trinkets, I called you here to help my sons." He spoke, voice thundering around the large hall.

"What can I do for the Princes?" She asked looking at the boys, studying them, eyes hard and full of mystery.

"I need you to make them practically imortal. No wound of sickness shall kill them, only ancient age." He said. "Name your price, I shall pay in full."

"Ah that, yes I can do that, but I need a powerful beings soul and I need Prince Thor to bring me to Midgard when he travels there next." She smirked.

"Thor can bring you, but who's soul?" He asked.

"All Father, I need your soul once you die." She looked the God in his eyes, "if you are willing to pay, I shall make your sons imortal." She grinned.

"I cannot give you my soul." He spoke with the athorities of a thousand gods.

"Then find someone else Sir. I am going to charge for my time though." She said bowing once more and walking away.

"What is the price for your time?" Thor called after her.

"I shall let you know soon Prince, but I still need passage to Midgard." She spoke over her shoulder at the God.

"Then you shall have it!" He called again.

"We leave tomorrow at dawn, pack your trunk Sir." She said. And with that she left to prepare for Midgard.