𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐘 ☼ 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑

TWO

TWO: GODDESS OF THE SUN

Thor finally left his home after three days of doing absolutely nothing but sleeping and staring at the wall. He got bored, and maybe he needed to preoccupy himself in order to feel accomplished.

He was walking down the dirt roads of New Asgard, wearing a brown leisure robe and his hands in the large pockets. The commoners glanced at him out of respect, but many elders looked on in concern. He smiled at them though, not feeling one hundred percent but still putting on so no one had to worry as much. The worst of it was over.

Brunnhilde was sparring with an Asgardian teen on a grassy hill, their swords clanging together as other teens and smaller children looked on in excitement. Thor smiled at the sparring, noticing she wasn't going so easy on him, which meant he was better than most.

She beat him though, because he made a mistake and took his gaze off her footwork, getting tripped and landing flat on his back. She pointed the sword at him and grinned. "Careful, Mitidr."

"Oh, Gods," he groaned breathlessly, grabbing her outstretched hand and dusting himself off. The other kids were pretty supportive of him and his small fight, and soon they all began sparring with each other. Brunnhilde put her sword in its case on her back and turned to Thor.

"Your majesty." She bowed.

"Teacher," he replied, chuckling when she rolled her eyes and put a hand on her hip, "are the children still in school, or am I supposed to figure it out?"

"No, in your absence I made sense out of the schooling thing, sorry for not asking. But, it's supposed to restart in the next week or two. While we're done building."

"I saw that building. Need help?"

"Probably not," she replied, beginning to walk down the hill with him beside her, "You're not the only one that needs to find something to do. It's a process but...it occupies the mind."

"About that," he stopped and she turned to him, raising a brow questioningly, "where are these counsel goddesses?"

"Well, I found out one of them was dusted, so there's three left. Sòl is the one I go to. She's been my best friend for years," she blinked, "and I forgot how much I missed her. But anyway, her home is on your end of New Asgard."

"Sòl?" he repeated, walking with her again, "Goddess of the sun?"

"That's the one."

"I swear she was killed during Ragnarok."

"That's what the prophecy says, doesn't it?" she picked up a random beer bottle that was tipped over on the ground and drank from it, "she lives, though. Talk to her. She's smart."

"Take me to her."

"As you wish, master," she again bowed dramatically and Thor smacked her head, "ow!"

"Stop it."

"God of what again? Disrespect, yeah?"

"That too." they strolled back into the village, towards the center, where all the healing goddesses resided in several small homes. Brunnhilde turned to one on the right, knocking on the old, wodden door.

"Don't make me kick the door down—"

"I'm over here, Brunnhilde," they both turned to the sound of a sword being put back into its holder. Thor raised his brows at the goddess who was dusting off her pants. "The earthlings have these pants that stretch really wide and I had to buy some more—" she cut herself off when she noticed the king standing in front of her, looking at her in wonder, "oh! Excuse me, King," she bowed, then stood up straight.

"That's quite alright. You're Sòl? The sun goddess?"

"Goddess of the Sun, that is correct," she said proudly. Her skin was a warm, nutty brown, almost glowing despite the cloudy sky. Her thick and coarse hair fanned out below her collarbones in an outward curl on both sides. Her eyes were a dark brown and lips full, having a natural dark pink tint to them.

"There's a difference?" Thor questioned.

"Why...yes. I don't mean to boast but I'm...not just a sun goddess."

"Sòl here takes pride in everything she does," Brunnhilde stood beside the goddess and put an arm around her shoulder, "when you've lived as long as she has you don't take anything less."

"Right." Sòl looked at them both in confusion, "and what brings you two here?"

"Thor," Brunnhilde gestured to the king, "he needs help talking things out and if figured you're perfect for that."

"The king requires solace for ten years of heartache?" she inquired, a finger to her chin, "I think I can try."

"Wait, years?" Thor frowned, "I only ask for help of me being a failure."

Sòl blinked. "Like I said, ten years."

"Are you making fun of me, woman?" He balled his fists up and stepped closer to her, "I only asked for—"

"Failures, I get it," she wasn't backing down and Thor wasn't prepared for that, "if it's fear you seek from me you won't get it. You are a ticking time bomb, Odin's son."

Thor was becoming more angry by the second at what Sòl was saying. She may have been right, but she didn't have to say it. Not now. He didn't like what he was hearing, he didn't like not being in control of things.

"Am I wrong?" she asked rhetorically, slipping past them both and entering her home, "the door will be open if you want to come in, otherwise I suggest you get going before the storm comes."

After she shut her door, Thor turned to Brunnhilde, who had a hand over her mouth and tried not to look for him. "This was the counsel you suggested?"

"I admit, she can come off strong sometimes—"

"Strong? I was ready to summon Stormbreaker!"

"Yes, yes, I get it," she put her hands up when he got closer to her, "maybe she's having an off day. Maybe it's because you are the king and your family business has been put on display since the beginning of Odin's reign. There's a lot to be discussed, Thor."

Thor huffed, looking at her for a few more seconds before rolling his eyes. "Fine. Whatever you say, Valkyrie."

She grinned happily. "That's more like it. Let me just tell her to relax on you a bit then you can get started—"

"Come in already. I can hear you both."

Thor huffed, still a little angry at her words, but deciding he had nothing else to do but at least try. Brunnhilde left, and he walked into the home, closing it behind him.

Sòl turned, a small smile on her face. "Tea?"

.......tea? thanks for all the love y'all ugh I'm soft rn