Making Friends
Thor and Evie rode down to the village. Evie sat in front of her father, looking around in wonder at how beautiful Asgard was. They quickly arrived at the town, and Thor dismounted his horse and helped Evie down. He tied his horse then took Evie by the hand, and they began walking through the town. Thor decided to take Evie to the marketplace so that she could see all that Asgard had to offer.
As they walked through the town, people would bow to Thor and Evie. Word had already spread that Thor had arrived from Midgard with his daughter, and people were excited to see her. At first, Evie felt a little uncomfortable with all of the attention she was receiving and hid behind Thor. But Thor explained to her that they were only anxious to see their new Princess, so Evie summoned up her courage and began smiling and waving at the people as she and Thor walk through the market.
As they walked through the market, people gave Evie flowers and sweets as gifts for her new princess while smiling happily at her for having the honor of meeting her future ruler. They went to the village square where some of the villagers were playing instruments and entertaining the people. Soon enough, children and adults began to dance. A little boy a few years older than Evie bowed to Thor and asked Evie if she wanted to dance. Evie looked at her father, who smiled at her and nodded, “If you want to, Petal go ahead.”
Evie smiled shyly at the boy, and he took Evie by the hand, “I don't know how to dance,” Evie told him.
“Do not worry, I will teach you,” The boy said.
The boy led Evie out into the square; he but his hand on Evie's waist and put her's on his shoulder, then holding her other hand; the boy began slowly teaching Evie the dance steps. While they were dancing, the boy introduced himself, “Hello, Princess Evelyn, I am Bjorn Tyrson.”
Evie blushed, “Hello, Bjorn, please call me Evie.”
Bjorn smiled at her, “It's nice to meet you, Evie.”
“It's nice to meet you too, Bjorn.”
The two children began talking, and as they spoke, Evie didn't notice that her dance partner had started to make the dance steps more difficult, but now that she had relaxed, she was able to follow the steps quite easily. When she finally noticed, she began to giggle at how well she was doing. Bjorn began spinning Evie around the square. They eventually switched partners, but Evie's confidence had grown, so now she didn't feel as self-conscious. Evie laughed and joked along with the other children, and when the music had stopped, they all ran over to Thor to ask his permission to take Evie to get something cold to drink.
Thor was ecstatic that his little girl had found children to play with that he let her go, “As long as you stay within my sight,” Thor said,
They thanked their prince and led their new princess off to some of the stalls to get some juice and sweets. After a while, Thor felt someone sit down beside him, “I see my boy has taken an interest in the Princess,” Tyr, the god of war, said to Thor.
“Yes, he has. I know what you're thinking, Tyr. They are much too young for a betrothal. I am only now beginning to get to know my daughter. I am in no rush to see her married off.”
“I know that Thor, but, interestingly, that the children of two gods are drawn to each other.”
“Yes, it is. Perhaps the children's friendship will blossom into something more when they are older, but for now, we will be returning to Midgard, Tyr.”
Tyr nodded. He hailed a barmaid to bring him and Thor each a stein of ale while they waited for their children to return. It wasn't until mid-afternoon that the children had returned from their adventure. They had shown Evie most of the village and all of their favorite places to play. When they returned, Evie's blue eyes were shining from all the fun that she had.
“Did you have fun, My Princess,” Thor asked.
“Oh, yes, Daddy. They asked me if I could come back tomorrow.”
“We shall see. We may have to return to Midgard tomorrow,” Thor said.
Evie groaned, “Do we have to?”
“Yes, Loki's punishment is not over, he must return to Midgard, and we have to be with him.”
Evie nodded, “Okay, Daddy, let me go tell my friends.”
Evie ran to her friends and told them what her father had said; they all groaned and said to her that they hoped she could come back tomorrow. But if not, they wished her a good trip to Midgard. Evie waved to her friends and walked back to her father and the man that was sitting next to him. Bjorn had joined her.
“Evie, I'd like to introduce you to my father, Tyr god of war,” Bjorn said.
“It's an honor to meet you, Princess Evelyn,” Tyr said, then kissed her hand.
Evie blushed, “The honor is mine, Lord Tyr.”
Thor and Tyr looked at each other and smiled, “I hope you had fun with my son, Princess Evelyn.”
“Oh, yes, I did thank you. Bjorn showed me all around town,” Evie said.
“Good.”
“It was good seeing you both, but it is time that we got back to the palace, Tyr. I'm sure my mother is upset that Evie has missed lunch with her.”
Tyr bowed to his monarch then beckoned his son. He put his arm around Bjorn's shoulder and led him back to their Mansion on the other side of the city. Tyr would have to make sure that Bjorn came to court a little more often while Thor and Evie were on Asgard. He didn't want to force anything; he only thought that the Princess could use more friends. Thor had told him of the rough life she had led until he had found her. And Tyr thought that his son would be a perfect playmate for the princess. Bjorn's instinct to protect those he cared about would serve him well when it came to Princess Evelyn.
When Thor and Evie arrived at the palace, Thor was informed that his parents were waiting to have lunch them. So Thor and Evie quickly went to their rooms and changed, then met with Odin and Frigga in another part of the garden to have lunch. Thor held Evie's hand as he led her through the halls of the palace towards the garden where his parents were waiting.
Thor and Evie enter the garden, and Evie smiled brightly at her grandparent. She ran up to her grandmother and grandfather and gave each of them a hug. Odin was a little stiff at first, but then he relaxed and squeezed his granddaughter back. Frigga crushed Evie to her, “How was your morning, Evie?”
“Oh, grandmother, it was so much fun, Daddy took me into the city. We went to the marketplace, and he showed me around. There were some musicians play, and a boy asked me to dance.”
Odin and Frigga looked at each other then at Thor, who smiled, “What was his name, Evelyn,” Odin asked.
“Bjorn Tyrson.”
Odin relaxed at hearing that his granddaughter was dancing with a god's son. Evie regaled Odin and Frigga about everything she did that morning and how she ran around with her new friends exploring and having fun. Frigga smiled at seeing how happy Evie was. Odin was delighted seeing how many times she mentioned that Bjorn was with her and would show her most of the sights.
When Loki showed up, lunch was served. They continued to talk about all the fun the Evie had with the children of the city. Odin and Frigga would ask her question about how she was liking being in Asgard so far, “Oh, it's wonderful, I don't ever want to leave! But I know that we have to. I hope that Daddy lets us come back soon, though,” Evie said.
“I'm sure some arrangments can be made, Evie,” Frigga said.
While they were eating, Evie suddenly heard a voice further in the garden. It was very faint, but Evie could listen to it. If only thessse people would be quiet, I could enjoy my sunbath in peaccce Evie heard
Evie's eyes widen when she finally realized that it was a snake. She slowly got up and made her way through the garden, “Evie, is there something wrong?” Frigga asked.
“No, grandmother, I only want to see something.”
The adults all looked at each other when Evie got on her hands and knees and crawled under a bush. On the otherside of the bush, Evie found the most beautiful snake she had ever seen lying on a rock. The asp turned its head and hissed at her. Evie kept her distance, Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you, Evie hissed.
The viper's mouth fell open, You underssstand me! What trickery is thisss?!
Yes, I can understand you perfectly. I'm known as a parcelmouth on Midgard, Evie said to the snake.
Ah, I have heard of your kind, but I have never spoken to one. They do not exist on Asssgard. The snake said, What is your name, mortal?
Evelyn Thorsdottir, Evie responded.
You are the Princessss'ssss daughter? Very interesssting, I am Amunet, an Asgardian viper.
Are you poisonous?
Oh, my, yes, but I would never harm you or your family now that we have met, little Evie. How fortunate that we have crossed paths, I would like to be your friend, Evelyn Thorsdottir.
And I would like to be yours, Amunet, would you like to meet my family?
I would love to, Little One.
Evie picked Amunet, and the snake wrapped itself around Evie's shoulders. Evie crawled back out from under the brush. Everyone looked at her when she did, and suddenly, Odin jumped to his feet, “Evelyn! You must put that viper down; it is deadly!”
“No, grandfather, Amunet won't hurt me, she is my friend.”
“How can you know that, my sweet,” Frigga said, looking at Loki to get the snake away from Evie. Loki only smiled as did Thor.
“She told me.”
Frigga and Odin looked at each other confused, “What do you mean she told you?” Odin asked.
“Perhaps I should explain, Father. Evie is a parselmouth. She can talk to snakes,” Thor said.
“Is this common among Midgardians,” Frigga asked.
“No, Mother, it isn't. It is a trait that only Magicals have, and it is rare among them as well. It must have been a dormant gene somewhere in Lily's line,” Loki explained, “Or it could have come from the parasite I removed from Evie.”
“What parasite,” Odin asked.
Loki proceeded to recount what had happened at the hospital and what he had found. He told them that it had been feeding off of her magic, “I believe that it was a sliver of the man Voldemort's soul,” Loki said while Thor was talking to Evie about the snake.
Frigga gasped, “Do you think that there could be more out there?”
“Perhaps, I shall look into it.”
“So then, You believe that this parasite gave Evelyn the ability to communicate with any serpent?”
“It would seem so,” Loki said.
Evie looked at her father, “Can I keep her, Daddy?”
“Does she want to come to Midgard with us, My Sweet?”
Evie hissed at the snake; she was quiet for a moment, then Amunet nodded. When Amunet agreed, a bright golden light appeared between Evie and the snake. Loki laughed, “The viper is Evie's familiar.”
“What do you mean, Loki.”
“Every witch or wizard on Midgard has a familiar. An animal that has a strong magical attachment to them. They are linked together forever.”
“Really?” Evie asked.
“Yes, Little One, that is the reason she wants to go with you to Midgard,” Loki informed her.
Evie cheered, but then she smiled faltered, “Do you think Tony with let me keep her?”
Loki laughed, “I'm sure he will let you keep your scaly friend, Evie.”