Beyond The Stars (UNDER REVISION)

The Message

A VERY QUICK NOTE. THIS TAKES PLACE A YEAR BEFORE THOR! THE STORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE ENTIRE MCU, THOUGH. THE FIRST 11 CHAPTERS ARE BEFORE THOR!

I tuck my light brown hair behind my ear, rapidly taking notes. I sit on my bed, one knee in the air and the other folded in front of me. I put my pencil between my teeth as I flip through the book pages. My phone begins to ring on my desk. I swiftly stand up, stumbling across the room. I trip on my shoe in the floor and fall. I reach up and grab the phone from the desk and answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Dri. You're still coming by today, right?"

I look at the clock on my wall. "Shit! I'll be there in 30!" Before the caller can say anymore, I hang up and climb off the floor. I stumble around as I swiftly get dressed out of my pajamas. I pull my hair up into a high pony as I lock my apartment. I climb into my car and drive to the nearby cafe. It's nestled into the street corner and always has an inviting smell. When I walk up to the counter, I smile at the server. "Can I just get the biggest cold brew you can make? And, if you don't mind, adding an extra shot of espresso to that?"

The barista gives me a tired smile. "Alright, and who is this for?"

"Dri. D-R-I." I pull out a ten dollar bill and hand it to her. After she gives me my change, I drop it into the tip jar. Its always important to give. After a short wait, my coffee is done.

"Uh... Dry?" The male barista says.

I smile and walk up. "Thank you!" I smile again and take my coffee. I climb back into my car and resume my System of A Down CD. I drum of my steering wheel, nodding to the music. I pull up to the familiar, large house. Walking inside, sounds of laughter and playing fills my ears. I see a familiar woman with greying hair. "Mom!" I hug her tightly.

"Dri! I'm so happy you made it. Adam is going to be so happy. Adam!" She calls out.

"Yeah, mom?" The seven year old runs in, holding a foam sword. He looks up at me. "DRI!" He wraps me tightly in a hug.

"Happy birthday, Adam," I smile and hug him back. I take the foam sword from him. "Playing Vikings again?"

"Yeah! We need another bad guy! Wanna play?"

I smile brightly. "Of course! Let me grab my sword!" He runs back out. I laugh and walk to the linen closet.

"He's missed you, you know?"

"I'm sorry, mom. I've just been so busy with my essay. It's not due until the end of the semester, but I have a lot of research I need to get done. And not to mention, my dissertation is due after that." I rummage through the various boxes. Not finding it below, I look above. As I pull a box out, a book falls, hitting me in the head. "Oh, Jesus!" I set the box down and reach for the book. I run my fingers over the smooth, dusty leather cover. I focus on the ornate silver lock. "Mom... What's this?" I close the closet door.

She looks over at the and her eyes widen. "I have forgotten all about that! I was supposed to give it to you years ago."

"It's mine?"

"Yeah. Sorry I forgot. There was 6 of you at the time and it slipped."

"It's okay, mom. Is there a key to it?"

"Strangely enough, no."

I read the title. "'The Story Of Asgard'? What the hell is Asgard?"

"More like where. I looked into it when we first received the book. It's something about Nordic mythology? A bridge between realms. It's some weird stuff."

"Where did it come from?"

"With you when they found you outside that police station."

"Huh..." A loud yell followed by laughter snaps me out of my thoughts. I remember the kids playing outside. I set the book on the kitchen bar and go back to searching the box. I find my fake moustache and my foam sword. "This sounds like a job for Loius!" I say in a funny voice. I run outside and begin playing with my brother and his friends. Once it's time to eat, I entertain their questions.

"So you're a foster kid too?"

I smile at the innocent question. "I was. They found me outside the police station when I was 5 months old."

"Why do you have a funny name?"

"Dri? Well... my full name is Eldrid Iverdottir, but that's too complicated." I shove the fork full of spaghetti in my mouth. It's Adam's favorite and since it's his birthday, he got to pick dinner. I always picked soup, for some reason.

I walk into the empty park. The darkness surrounds me. Walking to the swings, I take a seat. I take the bobby pin from my pocket and pick the lock. I begin flipping through the leather book. It talks of Earth's defenders, Asgardians. King Odin and his two sons. It talks of a bridge. A beautiful bridge connecting Asgard to Earth. With a wide smile, I flip to the back. I read the message aloud. "Call unto the name of Heimdall. Return to the realm eternal." I stare at the beautiful handwriting. What does this even mean? I think to myself. "Call unto the name..." I repeat. I then get an idea. I rush to my car and I grab the phone book I keep stashed away. I rapidly flip through names starting with an H. I didn't find anything. "What was I even thinking? If I called this person, what would I even say? 'Heimdall. Take me to the realm eternal'?" Just then, I'm surrounded by a bright light. "What the hell?" I look around me as bright, beautiful colors rash past. With a woosh, I fall to the ground. It's not the same ground I was just standing on. I feel the smooth floor.

"Welcome, Eldrid Iverdottir," a masculine voice says. I jump up, scared.

"H-How do you know my name?", I look around the expansive room. My eyes land on the man's beautiful headpiece. "Where am I?"

"Asgard."

I let out a loud snort before bursting into laughter. "I must've fell asleep reading again. Okay, Dri. Time to wake up."

"I can assure you-" I cut him off my slapping myself. I wince in pain and hold my cheek. I'm really not asleep?

Footsteps echo loudly as two people rush in. "Odin demands to know who is here."

I'm taken aback. "Our guest is standing right there." The man points to me. The two men who rushed in sternly lead me to a lavish palace. With their spears against my back, I walk into the large doors. I look around at everyone. They're all wearing Nordic style clothing. Is this... Really Asgard? I'm lead into a throne room and forced onto my knees.

"Who are you?" A thunderous voice asks. I look up to see a white haired man with an eye patch staring at me. He is with two other men and a woman.

"I-I am Dri Iv-" I think for a second. "My name is Eldrid Iverdottir."

"Iverdottir. I do not remember Iver having a child," he softly says. "Where are you from?" His voice loud again.

"Uh, New York." I finally steal a look at the others in the room. My eyes first land on the tall man with blonde hair. His long red cape compliments the silver on his... Armor? Why is he wearing armor? I turn my gaze to the other man. His is strikingly different from the other. His black hair accentuates his pale skin. The green and black suit him. He seems... Manipulative. As if he heard me, the man huffs and looks away.

"How did you get here?"

"A book." The man in throne just stares at me, awaiting an explanation. "I had found an old book tucked away in my linen closet. My foster mother said it belonged to me. That they found it when they found me."

"Who's they?"

"The New York Police Department. The book had something written in the back. Honestly, I hate it when people write in books. I mean, they can just use a sticky note. Even a piece of paper pinned or taped to the inside would work-..." I realize I'm blabbering, so I stop myself. "It said 'Call unto the name of Heimdall. Return to the realm eternal'. I didn't know what it meant at first, so I searched the phone book."

"Phone book?"

"The Yellow Pages? Big book full of phone numbers? Anyways that didn't work. So I was like 'what would I even do if I found him? Say 'Heimdall, take me to the realm eternal' and then there was a flash of light, a lot of colors, and here I am." All three mean just stare at me.

The woman, who's elegant dress flowed softly, stands up. "Odin, please. She looks exhausted. Can you not tell? This has been a lot on her. Let her rest."

I was grateful to the woman. I didn't realize how tired I was until she brought up sleep. The man nods. "Take her too the healing room. The healers will assess her there."