HALF THE WORLD AWAY
vi. THE WONDERS OF ASGARD
❝SHE DOESN'T BELONG HERE.❞

THE SUN SPARSELY PEEKED OVER THE HORIZON when the God of Thunder had arrived on Meridian through the Bifrost, causing the pale skies to be filled with the bright colors of the rainbow bridge. She had been in her bedroom, reading through one of her books when she had heard the familiar boom. Katrina  felt the electricity course through her veins as she bolted out of her room. The woman barely greeted the guards that stood outside, but the desire to leave Meridian for the first time left her bold. Besides, the guards couldn't do much to stop her. They could inform her parents, but that was it. As expected, they didn't say anything as they followed behind her from a distance. It didn't bother Katrina too much since she was used to the presence of soldiers at every waking moment. She had learned to ignore them over the years, knowing she couldn't do anything to be rid of them.

It wasn't hard to find Thor in the massive palace; she only had to follow the sound of thunderous laughter and the cheers of Meridians. And, with one step into the gardens, Katrina found the man she had been looking for. He was surrounded by the gardeners as they showed off the flowers they had spent ages planting and taking caring of. Truly, the gardens were the most beautiful part of the palace and Katrina was grateful for the hard work they had put in. Finally, Katrina's presence had been noticed and the maids bowed to her before they backed away from Thor to continue working. However, Thor's reaction was different. He rushed forward with a bright smile. "Princess Katrina!" he boasted, picking her off the ground to give her a spin. "I have missed you so!"

The guards tensed, preparing to unsheathe their blades, but the sound of Katrina's laughter allowed them to relax. "Prince Thor, it has been less than a day since we've seen each other," Katrina reminded, holding onto Thor as he gently allowed her feet to touch the ground again. He wore a wide contagious smile that caused one to appear on her lips as well. "How has your morning been?"

"Better, now that you're here," he replied, shooting her a playful wink as he looked down at her. She still couldn't get over how tall the man was, towering over everyone in the courtyard. "I realize I have come at an early hour, but I couldn't wait to take you to Asgard. And, this way, we'll have more time to spend with each other as well."

The courtyard grew quiet, causing Katrina to tense as she watched the gardeners straighten out in a line ━━ signalling to the pair the King and Queen of Meridian were in close proximity. Katrina stepped away from Thor, creating a respectable distance between the two. Finally, the two stepped into the courtyard dressed in their typical extravagant attire. Her mother wore a tense expression, but the woman's words still echoed in Katrina's ears.

Thor cleared his throat, straightening his back as he bowed to the two. Though, his playful smile did not vanish from his lips. "King Arman, Queen Hira," he greeted. "It is a pleasure to meet again."

"Prince Thor, we did not expect you so early," King Arman stated, raising a brow as he took a glance at Thor's dirtied armor. It was covered in a thin layer of dirt and grime whilst his unkempt hair added to his disheveled appearance, but Katrina did not mind. He was an adventurous man ━━ must have spent the morning chasing down monsters and fighting demons. Her father tsked, looking back at Thor with narrowed eyes. "So, I assume you intend to take my daughter to Asgard now?"

His tone was indecipherable, but Katrina could see the fire burning within her father's brown eyes. The older generations of Meridians held deep hatred for the Asgardians, refusing to forget the horrors the War had brought. But, the younger generations had been more accepting of the alliance being formed between the two entities. Katrina stole a glance at Thor, noticing his awkward expression. She gave him a reassuring smile, silently reminding him her father wouldn't do anything since the alliance was needed between the two to ensure peace and prosperity. Of course, her father wasn't foolish enough to destroy it in mere moments.

"Yes, King Arman. I intend to show her our future home and introduce her to our ways of life," Thor informed, standing tall and proud as he talked about Asgard. It was clear to Katrina the man was itching to get back home. She wondered if she would feel the same way when she began her life on Asgard. Meridian was her home, leaving the planet would hurt. "She is in safe hands. I'd watch over her at every moment, I promise."

"I think some guards should go to Asgard as well to ensure Katrina's safety," King Arman said, ignoring Thor's words. "It will give me peace of mind."

"With all due respect, sir, but I do not think it'll be necessary," Thor reassured, placing a gentle hand on Katrina's shoulder. It wasn't much, but the action sent butterflies to the girl's stomach. "My friends, brothers, and myself are more than enough to protect her."

"If not the guards, then take Alis along," he said, clasping his hands behind his back as he stood tall and proud. Her father had never been one to back down, but he couldn't continue his argument with Thor for much longer.

Her mother cleared her throat, placing a hand on her husband's arm. "Alis is on leave, visiting her family in Sundar. She won't be back for a few days."

"Do not worry," Thor reassured, biting his tongue as he faced the King. He knew he shouldn't say anything to provoke King Arman. "I will protect Katrina as if my life depended on it."

"Oh, it does, boy," King Arman stated, strong-toned and harsh. Yet, it didn't deter Thor as he continued to smile at the man. Finally, the King sighed as he faced his daughter with a saddened expression. "Be safe, Katrina, and do not leave Thor's side. Asgard is a new place and challenges will be hidden at every corner ━━ do not falter and make us proud."

"Yes, Father," Katrina nodded, giving her parents a nod before she looked back at Thor. He held a glint in his eyes, radiating confidence and pride. But, he still found himself giving Katrina a smile.

"I assume you're travelling through the Bifrost," Queen Hira spoke, causing Katrina to shoot her an icy glare. It was cruel, but Katrina still felt hurt by her mother's heartless words from the night before. Her mother's stoic expression cracked for a moment, but she was able to immediately compose herself. She looked emotionless, but Katrina knew her mother well ━━ the sorrow hidden behind her eyes was something she could not hide.

Thor nodded in confirmation, stealing a glance at the sky which had remnants of the light from the Bifrost. "Are you ready to go, Princess?" he asked, meeting her eyes. She nodded, feeling him snake his arm around her waist. He kept her close, giving her a warm smile. "Hold on tight."

"Goodbye, I will see you soon," Katrina mumbled to her parents, giving them a wave as she memorized the stern expressions on their face. Behind them, the maids bowed to show their respect and say their goodbyes as well. The intensity was growing within the garden, making it hard for Katrina to breathe. However, Thor hadn't noticed the brewing tension. And, if he had, he didn't say a word.

With their final farewells, Thor grinned as he looked at the blue skies and the sun shining down on them. "Heimdall!"

The Bifrost came raining down on them, engulfing the two with every color imaginable to the eye. Katrina clutched onto Thor for dear life as she stared at the strangeness around her with wide eyes. A small laugh escaped her lips as she held her hand out, feeling the sparks against her fingertips. She had never seen so many colors at once, causing the young woman to be in utter awe. Finally, Katrina could feel solid ground underneath her feet and the world had morphed into a large golden room. And, just like that, they were on Asgard.

A hand clasped her shoulder, forcing her to look back at Thor. "Are you alright, Katrina?" he asked softly, giving her a warm smile. "I know going through the Bifrost for the first time can be difficult. We can rest if you━━"

"Prince Thor, I appreciate the concern," Katrina said, continuing to look around the room with a bright smile, "but I am perfectly fine."

She walked toward the man that stood in the center, immediately recognizing him from the paintings in the War Room back home. Heimdall. He was the eyes and ears of Asgard, being able to see everything and anything. Of course, Meridian had ways to bypass his gifts but it wasn't always successful. Part of the reason why Asgard always had the upper hand in the War was because of him. But, the war was on the brink of being resolved. She shouldn't hold any animosity toward Asgard and its citizens. After all, she would be part of them in the near future. So, the woman found herself giving him a kind smile.

"This is Heimdall," Thor introduced, placing a gentle hand on her back as he gestured to his friend. "He's the guardian of the Bifrost and the protector of Asgard. Though, the latter tends to fall on the Goddess of Protection, Hlín"

"It is an honor to meet the Princess of Meridian," Heimdall stated, giving the two a bow before he looked at Katrina.

"Likewise," Katrina replied, returning the bow. He looked like a God with his golden eyes and the gold armor he wore, causing her to be in awe. "I look forward to making your acquaintance."

Heimdall smiled, nodding his head. "Enjoy Asgard."

━━ ━━ ━━

BEING ON ASGARD WAS OVERWHELMING TO THE YOUNG MERIDIAN, but the bubbling excitement within her was enough for Katrina to drag Thor across the rainbow bridge and into the busy streets of Asgard. She could hear the clamour of the crowds, waiting for the return for their Prince. Asgard was stunning, being a golden city with lush greenery everywhere you looked. It was smaller than Meridian, but it allowed their King to have an easier time to govern his people due to the size. Still, the beauty of the realm was evident to the woman.

"Ah, there's the happy couple!" the sound of Thor's brother, Loki, boasted over the crowds as they continued to watch in awe. Thor's smile widened even further (a seemingly impossible task) at the sight of his brother, allowing Katrina to assume the two were close. She hadn't grown with siblings, but it seemed like a nice prospect to always have a friend by your side. Loki stopped in front of her, taking Katrina's hand before he placed a chaste kiss upon it. "Pleasure to see you again, Princess Katrina."

"Loki will be accompanying us throughout Asgard," Thor informed, taking Katrina's hand as he nodded at Loki ━━ the green-garbed man smirked in return. "Since the war hasn't exactly ended yet, I do not want anyone trying to... You know..."

"Kill you," Loki finished for his brother, trying to hide his amusement as he faced the shorter woman. He seemed entertained at the notion they may have trouble coming to them, but it caused Katrina to have dread start to build at the back of her mind. "But, I'm sure it will not come to that."

"Yes, it will not come to that," Thor reassured, squeezing Katrina's hand. "I do not think the people of Asgard will attack at all."

"I see," Katrina commented, following the two into the townsquare where the vast majority of the people were waiting. They watched, whispering amongst each other as they giggled in excitement.

"Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are not happy about Thor's engagement to someone from Meridian," Loki added, looking down at Katrina. "I would assume the people of Meridian feel the same way?"

"It is to be expected, Prince Loki," Katrina said, looking up at the black-haired man. She still held Thor's hand, staying close to him. She didn't want to be the damsel in distress, but the woman had no formal training and was used to lifting stacks of books not a sword. "Meridian and Asgard have been at war for a thousand years, causing turmoil on both sides. Those feelings of hate won't go away with a diplomatic marriage."

"I'm sure they will fall in love with you as they get to know you," Thor reassured, grinning down at the brown-haired woman. He hadn't seemed to notice the glares sent in their direction by his own people as they walked through the plaza, nodding toward his people as he waved to them with his free hand. "I enjoy your company very much and I have only known you for a day!"

"Thor isn't one to be grounded in reality," Loki snickered; he was the one who easily noticed the glares of the people as he studied the crowd. His words caused Thor to send him a sharp glare, knowing the man was about to say something harsh. "In my opinion, I think they'll resent you and continue to hate you for as long as you shall live."

"Lovely," Katrina muttered, shaking her head as a small laugh left her lips. His joke may have been mean-spirited, but it was still amusing to the woman as she walked between the two men. It felt strange to be before so many people at once, but Katrina felt more excited than nervous.

"Prince Thor!"

"Prince Loki!"

The crowds cheered, clapping their hands as the three walked into the main square where the people had been waiting for them to arrive. It made Katrina smile to see such excitement amongst the crowd. Large gatherings were not allowed in Meridian since they usually ended up in brawls, but Katrina wished they could enjoy the occasional festival as well. They used to have them in the past when times were more peaceful, but the War caused people to be on edge and live their lives in fear.

"Asgard!" Thor roared over the crowds, causing them to quiet down as they awaited for the words to leave the man's mouth. He gestured to Katrina, showing her off to the people. "This is Katrina, my betrothed and your future princess!"

Silence.

Complete and utter silence.

It made the woman stiffen, stealing a glance at Thor as he continued to grin with bated breath for the people to respond. Finally, murmurs began to sound. Most of the people shouted words of praise and they clapped, cheering the War was about to come to an end. But, there were some in the crowd that glared with darkened eyes as they tightened their grips on the weapons that hung by their sides.

"I do not think this will end well," Loki muttered, moving closer to Katrina's side as he set his hand on top of his dagger. He took in a sharp breath, clenching his jaw as he studied the crowd. "Stay close."

"What do you mean, brother?" Thor asked, looking to Loki with a raised brow. He gestured to the crowds, puffing out his chest as he spoke. "They love Katrina!"

"I, uh, have to agree with your brother, Prince Thor," Katrina whispered, looking at the people that had begun to approach them. "They don't look very happy."

Thor mulled over the woman's words, stealing a glance down at his betrothed to see the fear shining in her eyes. He hesitantly looked back at the Asgardians, seeing their smiles turn into snarls as they hurled insults in their direction. "Let us leave," Thor mumbled, wrapping his arm around Katrina's shoulders. "Katrina will be more safe in our home than on the streets."

Yet, before they could leave, an arrow took flight through the air and passed dangerously close to Katrina's head. The harsh action caused Thor to pull the woman close to his chest as his brother took out his daggered ━━ the blades of silver glowed with the magic the man possessed. Katrina tried to get a glimpse of what was happening, but Thor's arm blocked her gaze. But, she could see a group of men and women that approached from the crowds. They held weapons of all shapes and sizes, but the majority of them carried heavy-bladed swords that were out for her skin.

Thor's eyes narrowed, studying the assassins that watched with stoic expressions as they readied their weapons. "You dare to open arms on us!" Thor shouted, causing his chest to vibrate as his brash voice echoed throughout the plaza. The rest of the Asgardians ran for safety, knowing a fight would break out. But, the brave stayed to watch the storm that would unfold. "It is a crime!"

"No, it is a crime to attack the Royal Family of Asgard," one of the men in the group said as he took a step forward. But, their attention was caught by the bow and flaming arrows he held in his hands. "We are after her ━━ the Princess of Meridian. She is the enemy."

"Meridian is no longer our enemy!" Thor replied back, hoping the Assassins would back down from their mission to kill his bride-to-be. The God of Thunder did not fear them, knowing his brother and him were skilled enough to take them down. But, he worried for the wellbeing of Katrina ━━ the woman was not trained and had been shielded from violence for the majority of her life. It wasn't right to thrust her into it. "Asgard and Meridian have entered into a peace treaty. They are our allies!"

A blonde-haired female laughed in their group as she shook her head. "Prince Thor, how could you say such a thing?" the question left her lips as her expression contorted into one of pain. "Her people slaughtered my brothers! They're nothing but vicious savages meant to live below us!"

Katrina kept her gaze focused on the woman, noticing the tears that sprang to her blue eyes as she held onto her sword. She was aware Meridian had done terrible things to survive, but Asgard had been ruthless to her people as well. Their soldiers had destroyed, pillaged, and murdered over half of Meridian's population through their cruel and reckless methods. Some of Meridian was still occupied by Asgardian soldiers as they kept a tight grip on their lands and people. Neither Meridian nor Asgard were in the right. It was war ━━ no heroes or villains in this story. She cleared her throat, moving away from Thor as she kept her eyes on the Assassins. "Asgard has done the same to my people," the Princess began, clasping her hands together. "We need to leave this bloodshed and hatred in the past and find ways to move forward. Or else, people will die on both sides. Please, stand down. Peace is upon us and we should welcome it with open arms ━━ not greet it with arrows."

"Princess Katrina is right," Loki added with a shrug of his shoulders, twirling his blades as a small grin appeared on his lips. "So, you can leave or you can rot away in the prisons for years to come. Your choice, really."

When the Assassins didn't budge, Thor and Loki shared a look. It was a quick glance, but it spoke a thousand words as the two lept into action. Thor rushed the Assassins as Loki stayed by Katrina's side. He tossed her one of his daggers and she barely caught it, looking over the fine craftsmanship of the blade and the hilt. "Please, tell me you've used a dagger before," Loki muttered but when the woman shook her head, he sighed. "Alright, no matter, I shall protect you then, but keep the dagger close by."

He didn't stay for long, rushing to help his brother fight off some of the assassins. Thor used his Mjölnir to knock some of them to the ground, breaking a few of their bones in the process. They tried to get back up, but ultimately stayed down as they groaned in pain. Some of them had fled, taking the wounded with them as they disappeared amongst the crowd. Only a handful remained, leaving Thor and Loki in a state of relief.

An arm snaked around her throat, causing a gasp to leave the woman's lips as was dragged back. She tried to call out for help, but a gloved hand was placed on top of her mouth to keep her from crying out. She felt a sharp prick against her back, quickly realizing a blade was pressed to it. She stole a glance back, noticing the blonde hair. It was the same woman from before. Her hair was pushed from the back of her neck, causing her to flinch as the woman examined it. "A symbol from the old world," the woman whispered, tightening her grip on Katrina. "Well, aren't you a little witch?"

"This isn't wise," Katrina reminded, knowing her death would escalate the fragile situation between Asgard and Meridian. It would cause millions to die as the two leading powers fought to the death. But, with Meridian's limited resources? Asgard would be sure to win. She could not allow her people to suffer any longer. "Please, we want the same thing. I am sorry about your brothers, but there is nothing I, or anyone else, can do to bring them back."

The woman snarled, throwing her onto the floor before she straddled her, so she could not escape. Katrina clawed at the woman, but the action was futile as the woman wrapped her hands around her throat. "I'll be doing Asgard a service by ridding the world of you," the woman justified her actions as she continued to strangle Katrina. "It'll ensure my place in Valhalla," the woman whispered, "but, most importantly, it will avenge my family."

Katrina could begin to see the darkness edge around her sight as her lungs struggled for air. It caused her to leave deep scratches on the unwavering woman's arms. But, then she remembered.

Loki's dagger.

She still had it.

Within moments, Katrina had taken the silver-bladed dagger and plunged it into the woman's thigh. It cut through the armor and the layers of skin before settling deep within the muscle. The woman howled in agony, loosening her grip upon Katrina as she clutched her thigh ━━ the dagger still stuck out of it. Katrina used the moment to push the woman off her, crawling  away from her. But, the blonde-haired woman was not finished as she took hold of Katrina's long hair to pull her back.

However, the assassin was not able to make her next move as a sword came crashing down on her shoulder. Her skrill scream echoed throughout the air as she let go of Katrina's hair, allowing the woman to scramble toward her savior. The assassin backed off as she writhed in pain, clutching onto her wounds as she sobbed quiet. Katrina felt pity, staring at the woman in question but her attention was quickly stolen by Lady Sif. She held out her hand, waiting for her to take it. When Katrina didn't react, the woman scoffed. "Come on!"

Katrina took the woman's bloodied hand, moving to her feet with the woman's help. Sif held a stern gaze, gesturing for the woman to follow. She was dragged away by Sif, trying her best to ignore the sobbing woman they left behind. "Where are we going?"

"The palace," Sif replied, rushing in front of an empty skiff as she glanced back to make sure they weren't followed. She opened the door, helping Katrina onto the floating machine. Sif climbed on next, moving toward the controls as she started up the machine. She set it in motion, floating upward before straight forward toward the home that belonged to the royal family. From above, Asgard looked beautiful with its golden appearance ━━ the angry people roaming the streets could not be seen from such a distance. Sif cleared her throat. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Katrina replied, shrugging her shoulders as she kept her eyes on the beautiful view. Her fingers traced against her neck, remembering where the woman's hands had been. The blood on her clothing was a reminder of what had happened and the bruises that would follow would be enough to anger her parents. But still, Katrina wasn't too bothered by what had happened. After a thousand years of war, it was to be expected.

"Looks like you're a bad luck charm, huh?" Sif muttered, stealing another glance at Katrina before she looked back at the skies. "Regardless, I'm sure Thor loves to show off how strong he is for his future wife ━━ the man's ego needs constant stroking."

"I see," Katrina muttered, letting out a small sigh. "Bad luck isn't what I want. This marriage is supposed to end the war, not escalate it."

"Our luck is decided by fate," Sif responded, keeping her eyes straight forward. Yet, it did  not matter if her eyes strayed since no one else was in the sky and the buildings were below them. It was clear skies till the palace. "Thor has already become attached to you," the woman muttered, rolling her eyes. "Odin has kept watch on you for years through Heimdall. It is why Thor knows so much."

"On me?" Katrina muttered, frowning as she faced Sif's nonchalant expression as her expression mirrored the woman's. Her mother and father had tried everything in their power to keep her hidden from the public, but with someone like Heimdall ━━ the truth never stayed hidden for long. She sighed, shaking her head. "Do you know why?"

"I'm not sure, but I think Thor and Loki do," Sif replied, shrugging her shoulders as she watched the castle come closer and closer. "It's no surprise Thor is so attached. He's been hearing stories about you for so long."

It was quiet. Katrina had no words to say to the woman, but then Sif continued.

"I think he wants to save you," Sif shrugged, looking back at her. "He has always wanted to be a hero and be branded as the mighty Thor. But, we all know it's a lost cause."

Lost cause, of course.

"The curse of Hela..." the woman winced, shaking her head. "That is something you can't escape."

No more words were exchanged between the two, knowing Sif was right. The notion of being saved by a knight in shining armor was something Katrina had craved since she was old enough to read fairytales, but even her knight could not stop Ragnarok.

♡

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I STARTED THE REWRITE OF THIS BOOK, considering I started rewriting this book about a year ago. But, slow progress is better than no progress! I have kept this so close to the original, but I just rewrote it in my current writing style and added more details. I did have Katrina fight more than she did in the original! I feel like she is a better rounded character this time around than last time, but she is still far from perfect! Hopefully, things will start to look up!

I still suck at action scenes, so it isn't the best and kind of rushed. I FEEL LIKE THIS CHAPTER IS SO MESSY, BUT OH WELL. I wanted to get this out ASAP because I have been slacking so much these days! But, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I hope I can get the next chapter out as soon as I can!

━━ AMARA
[original CHAPTER PUBLISHED ━━ 10.14.2017]
[rewrite CHAPTER PUBLISHED ━━ 11.17.2020]