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❛ ᴇᴛᴏɪʟᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴀɴ ᴇᴠᴇɴɪɴɢ sᴛᴀʀ ꒱


❝ WHEN THE NIGHT IS OVERCOME,
MAY YOU RISE TO FIND THE SUN ❞

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A L F H E I M

Every night, she dreamed of the boy who would become her glorious purpose. Unlike the many beings of the universe, Eleanora had been born knowing her reason for life as Stars often did. There was no wondering who am I or why am I here, there was simply knowing.

When she slept, the boy she saw had dark hair as black as a raven's wing. It was his eyes that she admired most, though. They were green and shone like emeralds against his pale skin. They were never without a mischievous glint that spelled trouble for whoever was on the receiving end of his schemes. But with the mischief there was intelligence as well, turning his amused expression thoughtful as he pondered over his next trick. Although he never noticed that she was there, Eleanora's heart would skip a beat whenever he turned unknowingly in her direction.

Protect him, sister, the gentle whisper of a thousand scintillating voices reminded her— as if she needed it. As if she didn't already feel the tug of belonging, wishing she could be by his side to shield him. He is yours to keep safe and to love. He will need your guidance in the coming years to steer him away from the wrong path. He will be tested beyond anything you can imagine. As will you, but you are stronger as One. Together, you are fated to shape the destiny of galaxies.

In the morning when she woke, she would lie in bed and gaze at the sunlight streaming in through the window of her room. Her sisters' voices would replay in her mind and she felt both burdened and liberated by the task that lay before her. But right now, she was only a child. It would be many years before she met the boy from her dreams and the brightness of the day chased away the weight of her future.

Despite the promise of greatness that she would eventually live up to, her beginnings were far more humble in the idyllic countryside of the realm she lived in. Adjacent to her mother's small cottage was their farm which provided enough sustenance to keep them content. She stepped into the barn, her worn boots crunching on the straw-covered floor. Her light blonde hair was tied back with a kerchief to keep it out of her way as she began her daily routine of taking care of the farm animals.

She first approached the horses, their gentle eyes lighting up as she entered their stalls. Eleanora spoke to them in soothing tones, her hands running over their velvety muzzles. She checked their water buckets, ensuring they were filled to the brim, and adjusted the blankets to keep them warm on the cool morning. Next were the chickens, clucking and scratching in their coop. Eleanora scattered feed on the ground, watching with a smile as the hens pecked contentedly. She collected the freshly laid eggs, cradling them in her hands like precious treasures.

As she moved towards the pigsty, a group of curious piglets squealed and scampered around her. The girl knelt down, giggling as they nuzzled against her. She filled their trough with a mixture of grains and vegetables, ensuring they had a hearty breakfast. With a soft stroke, she bid them farewell and promised to return late.

She returned to the cottage with the items she had gathered to see her mother preparing breakfast. Elin wasn't really her mother, of course. Stars did not have any biological family as they came as a gift from the Heavens. But Elin had taken her in, protected her and raised her, so that's what Eleanora called her. The older woman turned to her as she entered, her expression softening at the sight of her daughter, her arms laden with goods. "Good morning, stjarna. It looks like a bountiful harvest today."

"Good morning, mother," the blonde replied brightly as she set the items down on the table. "It is. Remember how I told you that I think Celestia was feeling nervous about the storm the other day? You should have seen how delighted she was when I gave her that extra portion of hay. I even sang her a lullaby last night. I don't think she's scared anymore."

Elin was used to hearing about her daughter's exploits around the farm. The animals seemed to gravitate towards her warmth and the girl could greet each one by name. The older woman abandoned her task to come over to her daughter and gently cupped Eleanora's face between her hands. There was a soft smile on her lips as she murmured, "you have more kindness in your little finger than most people possess in their whole body. You must always remember this, no matter what trials life throws at you. To have courage and choose kindness, even in the most difficult situations, has power, more than you know. And magic. Life is filled with challenges, my dear, and not everyone will understand your kind heart. But never let the world harden you."

Sometimes Eleanora wondered if her mother was privy to her dreams somehow since she often echoed their message the next day. She gazed up at Elin with eyes the color of stardust. "I'll remember, mother. I promise."

✧ ✧ ✧

A S G A R D

The boy who was to become Eleanora's glorious purpose was not as far away from her as she feared. He lived only a branch above her on Yggdrasil in the kingdom of Asgard, but to Eleanora, who had never left the confines of her small farm, it might as well have been lightyears. The boy's name was Loki and he grew up in his adoptive father's palace alongside his brother, Thor.

The pair could not been less alike if they tried: Thor was the golden child of Asgard, their crown prince who would inherit Odin's throne. He had the looks to match, with honey-blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was prone to combat and could often be found in the training grounds, even at his young age. The people viewed him as a beacon of light and, when he got older, he would catch much attention from the ladies at court.

Loki, on the other hand, stayed in the shadows. As much as he claimed to crave the spotlight— and, to be sure, he did get it, even if it wasn't exactly in the way he wanted it— he did not mind the darkness. After all, it was easier to pull tricks when one was partially obscured and deception came second nature when the focus was somewhere else. His skills lay more in the intellectual and those who lived in the palace became accustomed to finding him in the library.

On this particular day, Odin had decided that the boys were old enough to visit the Vault. One of their favorite stories was about his defeat over Jotunheim, which is the one he chose to tell as they walked:

"Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: that they were not alone in this universe. Some worlds man believed to be home to their gods. Others, they knew to fear. From a realm of cold and darkness came the Frost Giants, threatening to plunge the mortal world into a new ice age. But humanity would not face this threat alone. Our armies drove the Frost Giants back into the heart of their own world. The cost was great. In the end, their king fell and the source of their power was taken from them. With the last great war ended, we withdrew from the other worlds and returned home to the Realm Eternal, Asgard. Here we remain as a beacon of hope, shining out across the stars. And though we have fallen into man's myths and legends, it was Asgard and its warriors that brought peace to the universe."

"It was also thanks to the Star wasn't it, father?" Loki asked. "It helped Asgard win the battle."

"In some ways, yes," Odin replied as they stood before the Casket of Ancient Winters. It glowed an eerie blue that reflected off their faces. "It is true that we must acknowledge it's presence. However, it is important to remember that the Star is simply a tool. It is the wielder of such a weapon who guaranteed our success."

The dark-haired boy frowned a little. "But I read some of the accounts from the battle and they described the Star as an Asgardian—"

"It is not," the Allfather snapped, rounding on his son. His one blue eye glinted fiercely. "The Star is useful, certainly, but it is not Asgardian. It only appears to be humanoid so our minds can comprehend its power. Should either of you ever encounter a Star in your lifetimes, you must keep this in mind."

"So it is a servant?" Thor wondered, trying to understand. "Or is it more like an object?"

Odin's features smoothed at the boy's questions. "You are not incorrect," he answered cryptically, "but it is also more than either of those things. It is its own category, but I believe trophy would be the best term to describe it."

Thor looked around the Vault as if he expected to see a Star pop out of a dark corner. "Why do you not have one in your trophy room then, father?"

The older man sighed and his eye closed. For a moment, he almost looked regretful before his usual expression returned. "The last Star perished in the battle against Jotunheim. That was one of the great costs, but it protected us until its final stand."

"Will there be another Star, father?" Loki wanted to know, then added, "do the Frost Giants still live?"

"I believe there is another Star in our futures, but first we must wait for its powers to mature. It is useless to us this young."

Thor didn't seem to hear him and exclaimed excitedly, "when I'm king, I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all! Just as you did, Father." He waved his arms around to imitate slashing the air with a sword, as if defeating the unseen enemies in the room.

Odin smiled fondly at him, though his tone remained stern as he said, "a wise king never seeks out war, but he must always be ready for it."

They turned away from the Casket and he took each boy's hand in his own. The blond looked up at him with the same exuberance, undeterred by his father's wise words. "I'm ready, Father."

"So am I," Loki agreed.

"Only one of you can ascend to the throne. But both of you were born to be kings."

✧ ✧ ✧

Later that night, Loki went to his mother, Frigga's, chambers. He was closer to her than he was to his father and he greatly respected her magical talent. As soon as he was old enough, he hoped to learn as much as she had— even more, if given enough time. After knocking to be allowed admittance, he joined her outside on the balcony of her room.

All of Asgard lay spread out before them— quite literally, since it was a flat planet. He could see the multitude of buildings that surrounded the palace, which housed all of his father's subjects. Beyond that were the still waters that flowed into an endless waterfall. The Rainbow Bridge glittered in the vast expanse of darkness that surrounded it, ending at its golden watchtower that housed the Keeper, Heimdall.

"My son," Frigga began once he was standing next to her. She did not tear her gaze away from the sight before them so she only knew of his presence by sense. "What do you see before you?"

It seemed like an obvious question— Asgard, of course— but his mother's queries were never that simple. Loki took in the view slowly as he thought about his reply. His eyes flicked upwards to the stretch of space above them. Stars glittered overhead, rivalling the lights of the city below. But they weren't just stars— they were also planets and solar systems, all with countless different types of species living amongst them. "I see the universe, mother, all of the realms and galaxies, each holding its own mysteries. Asgard is only a small part of the universe."

Frigga nodded in approval as she put a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "Indeed. It is important for you to remember that. Right now, you only have the perspective of your family and those that live in Asgard to guide you. As you grow up, you will meet others whose views vary from yours. If knowledge is what you seek, keeping an open mind is the key to your education."

Loki finally looked away from the night sky to glance at his mother. "Did father share with you the questions I had about the Star?"

The older woman smiled, not at all surprised by how perceptive her son was. "Yes. Although I love him very much, our opinions. . . differ on some subjects, as I am certain you can imagine. I merely wish to offer you some advice as to how you interpret your father's wisdom. Come."

After saying the last word, she extended her hand to the brunet, who took it willingly. She led him inside where they sat at the edge of her bed. "It is still your wish to learn magic, is it not?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed eagerly, sitting forward a little more as his eyes lit up.

She chuckled at his reaction. "I'm afraid that you are not quite old enough to truly begin training, but I can teach you a simple spell to start out with, just to test your prowess. But first, you must heed this warning: magic, while a useful skill to learn, must be used with care. It can aid you in battle, certainly, but too much, and—"

Here, she broke off to wave her hand. The room around them changed and Loki looked around in shock. Where there had once been an orderly bedroom was now a chaotic mess of broken furniture and tarnished hangings. The walls were smeared with soot. The fine rugs looked like they had been burnt, the handwoven details blackening to a crisp. Underneath them, the bed tilted at an awkward angle, indicating that one of the legs had been broken.

Frigga waved her hand again and the room righted itself. "That was just an illusion, my dear, but magic is capable of causing such destruction. But, like with many things, it is also capable of great beauty."

The older woman opened her palm. Watching her with intense interest, Loki startled slightly as bright lights appeared in midair. They let out tiny explosions, each one bursting with all the colors— and more— that he'd seen shining in the Rainbow Bridge. He reached out to touch them, wondering if they gave off their own heat. His hand passed through empty air. The action of his fingers swiping through the fireworks caused them to disappear and his mother closed her hand.

"You will be able to do much more than conjure simple fireworks," she told him warmly. "But that is where we shall start."

A/n: well, as they say: third time's the charm. I've been trying to work on this book for several years but each time I lose interest/motivation/confidence that I can write it. I'm older now so hopefully that will improve the chances of me finishing it. I really want to get to Avengers 2012 and beyond as I have a lot of exciting (read: heartbreaking) plots to share, but I have to finish this book and Evergreen first. I've been in a (high-key) Loki mood (lol) for awhile now and even after finishing EWTRT I'm still not done with wanting to write him.

The initial part of this act will largely follow the 2007 movie Stardust, which Eleanora is based off the main character (Yvaine), with changes made to fit MCU/Norse aspects.

I've also added a Spotify code to the playlist chapter since I've made an *actual* playlist for the series if you want to check it out. I've been listening to a lot of Loki playlists while I write and let me just say that Hold On by Chordoverstreet gave me a great (again, read: heartbreaking) idea for the first chapter of my take on Infinity War for Loki/Eleanora :)