❀ Beauty and the Beast ↠

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I lay peacefully in my bed. When I was awake and alone was the only time that I could achieve such an emotion. Nightmares plagued my dreams of what happened on Jotunheim. The nightmare was always the same. Standing alone in a dark abyss. Looking down at my hands to see the horrid blue creeping up my arms at a torturous pace. Mornings were bliss. I placed a heavy hand over my chest to control the rate of my heart and my rapidly rising and falling chest. Just as I was about to slip into a clam state, a loud banging came from my door, startling me once again, so much so that my body jolted up and knocked a pile of books from my bedside to the floor with a thud. I growled and picked up the books, replacing them where they were, subconsciously checking them for damage. Books were the only things in Asgard that I truly valued. "Brother, are you alright?" Thor's voice boomed from outside the door which only scrambled my head further. I brought my hands to my ears and growled back at him, demanding to know why he had disturbed me. he knew full well that I liked mornings to myself yet he didn't know the reasoning behind that. Only mother knew that. It caused me unimaginable pain knowing that Frigga wasn't my mother by blood but along with that pain came confusion. Why would she care for me and defend me like she did if I wasn't even of her family. When I took a seat on the edge of my bed once again and placed my head in my hands, Thor spoke up again. "They're back!" He told me which caused me to look up. I yearned to hear what he was going to say next. The Aesir-Vanir War had been raging for years. Known only really to my Thor, mother and others that lived in the walls of the palace, I was rather interested in the political side of Asgard, unlike Thor who's attitude was more fight now, think later. It infuriated me to discuss such topics with him. "The war is over, brother, we won!" He cheered outside my chamber. I stood in shock and relief. The warriors would be returning, an event for which I was required to be present for. I honestly wanted to go, to congratulate the warriors and their leader on their victory. I had heard bits of news of a fearsome warrior that had solidified Asgard's victory and I was rather eager to meet him. "Yes, yes. Give me a moment," I told him. With that, Thor was content and made his way, presumably, to the throne room to await the warriors return. Once I was properly clothed and presentable, I made my way down to the throne room. Odin regarded that I was late to which I rolled my eyes, placing my hands behind my back as Frigga gave me a sympathetic yet understanding glance. I looked away. Why did she worry such? I was a grown man! I had my problems and I dealt with them alone. I didn't need anyone else to pity me. After a moment, the large doors were opened to let in a small group of men, lead by another - whom was actually quite a bit shorter than I had imagined. He was the only warrior to wear a full helmet, his face shrouded from us. I raised an eyebrow from behind Odin at the small man as he continued to approach. The men stopped as the lone warrior continued to drop to his knee before the stairs. He reached his hands up to his helmet and pulled it away. The whole room filled with gasps and whispers. Long, blonde hair spilled from the helmet and fell down her body, resting on her back and over her shoulders. Long, wavy blonde hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from gold fabric. Both Thor and me gasped quietly at the shock of this new revelation. The mighty warrior that brought us our victory, was a woman! Frigga just smiled, first at the woman then at us. When i noticed this, I managed to collect myself unlike Thor and the others in the room who stared down at her in awe. She was quite breathtaking for a warrior. The woman looked up, she had blue eyes, like the sea, were cunning and fearless. Her eyes sparkled like storm clouds right before lightning hit. Clouds of grey and blue threatened floods and fury while pupils dilated in passion, eyelashes that could bat any man to her will. I though that even in the dark you could see her, like a shining beacon. The white creamy tone of her skin reminding me of the strong rays of the moonlight. I couldn't help but wonder if she had won us the war because she was simply a ghost, that if I took a swing at her, my blade would go right through her. When Odin himself had composed himself, he told her to rise and asked her name. Freya. It was a rather lovely name yet one that I had heard before. I had read it in some book somewhere, I was sure of it. Freya, goddess of war, death, love and beauty. An intriguing woman indeed."Welcome to Asgard, my dear," Odin welcomed her to which she smiled up a him, thanking him graciously. I scoffed at her innocent facade and crossed my arms. I didn't believe it for a second. "You must stay here in Asgard, as a reward for your work to secure our victory!" Odin declared and whispers erupted again. Freya thanked him once more. It was then that I noticed the other men in the room - including poor Thor - practically drooling over the woman. And no wonder! Long, blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin - she was practically the definition of perfect Asgardian beauty.But I wasn't fooled! Freya was a beautiful woman, no, not a woman, a goddess, but only on the outside. She was highly practiced at seduction. With her angelic looks and high cheek bones it was all too simple for her. Nothing so pretty could possibly harm a man, right? I knew better. This woman was a viper who's only goal was to suck each and every man of Asgard dry!