"I'M BORED," A common phrase that was uttered by a woman of pure elegance and regality, a phrase that tethered her to reality. Astrid Eli Ymirdottir was not only a queen and a leader, she was a goddess. Goddess of Eternity, Queen of Menvǫllr and Leader of The Militibus Auream, otherwise known as her Golden Warriors. Astrid was one of the most important figures in the Nine Realms. Ever since she was born, her godly parents noticed that their child was suffering. Their power that flowed through her veins was cases her unrest, on the brink of death. They ruled that her powers matched the same level as the Infinity Stones, hence why she could not contain the sheer power that was granted to her. Her parents restlessly tried to find ways to ease their daughter's suffering, concluding that they had to extract part of her powers into a stone. A stone that she now wears as a necklace, day in and day out.

Her guards, Jinx and Janus, sighed as they heard their ruler's favourite two words for the 50th time that week. "We know, Your Majesty," the twins said in unison. Jinx and Janus had always been Astrid's most loyal subjects and guards for nearly a century. Though they were twins, with Janus being a mere 14 minutes older than his sister, the two Hod children looked nothing alike. Janus was tall, broad-shouldered, with tan skin that was mapped with countless battle scars and tribal tattoos and hazel eyes peeking through his long dark sun-kissed locks. In contrast, Jinx was shorter, with a broad build, fairer skin decorated with light freckles and a few faint and deep scars scattered here and there, and green eyes contrasting with her bright red hair.

"Can we not bother one of my many brothers?" Astrid leaned her head on her open palm, her tall, golden crown nearly sliding off at the angle she rested at, but Jinx quickly nudged it back into place.

The Hod twins shared a look, almost tired but also sympathetic. "You've already met with Asbjørn today, you saw Edvin yesterday, Olav has been busy recently, but you've arranged to meet next week, and Cedrick agreed that he'd get back to you for a catch-up," Janus listed off from the top of his head.

"What about mother and father?" Astrid looked up to the twin who stood on either side of the throne she sat on. "Surely, they'd have time to see their only daughter?"

"King Ymir and Queen Christa have been in contact since your last invitation; they said that Alfheim needs their full attention at this moment in time," Jinx commented. "The people of Alfheim have been keeping all your family busy as of late."

Astrid tutted, tapping her fingers against her temple in thought. "Oh! What about Freyja? I haven't seen her in, uh..."

"You saw her two days ago, Your Majesty," Jinx and Janus finished her sentence for her. Freyja Njörddottir — Daughter to the god, Njörd. Freyja was gifted the powers of fertility, making her the Goddess of Love. Though the title sounds intimidating, Freyja held her responsibilities it's an air of playfulness. Whenever Astrid would visit her, Freyja would consistently ask about her love life, teasingly telling her of possible suitors for the Queen. Astrid would kindly decline, knowing that most of the people she suggests are not her type. Freyja tended to think anyone was graced with her own beauty; however, when Astrid finally agreed to a blind date, she was greeted with a half-boar, half-man hybrid. After that, she lost faith in Freyja to find a good match for her. Not that it mattered; she was fine by herself. Though, she must admit, in themes like this, she wished she was not as lonely.

"So I suppose she's off the table then?" Astrid asked. Though she never got a response. She was cut off by a large blast of light at the end of the throne room, one she immediately recognised from the faint rainbows flashing through the shards of white light. "Are we expecting company?" Astrid asked, sitting up straight, both hands resting idly on either armrest.

Her army of guards all stood to attention at the intrusion, pointing their swords at the intruders who had yet to reveal themselves. Jinx and Janus tensed, their hands secured around the handles of their weapons. "No, Your Majesty," Janus grumbled lowly. Once the light diminished, what was left was rather lacklustre in the eyes of the Hod twins. But it was exactly how Andy imagined it.

A group of six Asgardians aimlessly looked around their surroundings, and from the puzzled looks on their faces, the golden elegance of Astrid's throne room was not what they were expecting to be met with. Astrid raised her hand, halting her soldiers' movements, silently telling them to stand down.

"Asgardians, to what do I owe the pleasure?" The group quickly turned to the noise source, seeing a fairly short blonde woman dressed in an elegant white and gold slim-fit gown that reached just above her toes, enough to see her golden-coloured sandals made of willow leaves and vines. Her hair flowed down to rest a few centimetres above her shoulders and was a light blonde in colour. Her eyes were the most piercing in the room, two glittering teal-coloured orbs that stared down at each of them — not condescendingly, more curiously. The simple silver chain that hung around her neck stood proud against her collarbone, the white gem that dangled from it catching their attention. She sat proudly on her throne as if it were made only for her, and no being in the universe deserved her pedestal.

Five out of six of the Asgardians kneeled once they realised who they were stood before. Astrid smiled, but that soon disappeared as her eyes travelled to the last man standing. He stood tall, and his armour looked heavy, but he showed no strain. His combed-through blond hair and blue eyes stood out, as well as his angered expression. "You must be Thor, correct? I've heard many stories."

"Who are you? Where are we?" The blond bellowed, disregarding Astrid's question.

"I'll take that as a yes," Astrid sighed. She did another quick glance over the rest of the group, still kneeling, before looking back to Thor with a twisted smile. "Kneel."

"I beg your pardon?! I'm Thor, Son of Odin! I don't kneel before wenches!"

Astrid's smile dropped immediately, and her right eye twitched in anger. "Son of Odin, it has come to my attention that you do not know who I am."

"Why should I?" Thor sneered, his grip on his hammer tightening, and his brow furrowed deeper.

"Brother, stop this now," a hushed whisper emerged from the group, low enough to go undetected, but Astrid had a keen ear.

"You should listen to your brother, Thor; he offers very sound advice."

Thor growled. "Enough! Answer my questions! Who are you, and where are we?"

Astrid chuckled, her fingernails tapping the armrest creating a loud and consistent clicking noise that travelled through the air. "Oh, dear, it looks like we've come to a disagreement. I won't answer any of your questions unless you kneel. It's a reasonable offer, Thor. Kneel, and in return, you'll get the answers you're looking for. Simple," Thor didn't budge. "Fine. If you don't kneel willingly, I'll make you," she smiled. With a small wave of her hand, a warm yellow glow emitted from her fingers; the trails of yellow light surged forward towards the blond god, wrapping themselves around them and forcing him to the ground. "There, that's much better. But since you didn't do what I asked, I won't answer your questions. Perhaps your friends could since they seem to have a better understanding that there isn't just one member of royalty in the room."

Thor grumbled, turning to his friends and brother, who remained kneeling beside him. "Well? Brother?"

The man closest to Thor looked up, glancing between Astrid and Thor and then back to the prior. Astrid gestured for him to go on before resting her head in her palm once more, her thumb, pinky and ring fingers resting on her smiling lips in amusement.

"Brother, this is Queen Astrid. The Goddess of Eternity... and you've just disrespected her in her palace, in front of all her armed guards, while you're tangled in her magic," he whispered the last bit to Thor only.

Thor's face grew pale as if he had seen a ghost. "Perhaps, I won't be needing this anymore, shall I?" She clicked her fingers the yellow magic evaporated, releasing Thor, but he reminded on the ground with his head bowed, partly out of respect but mainly out of humiliation. "Please, rise," the Asgardians all stood up, looking up at Astrid. "Now, one of you, state your reasoning for entering Menvǫllr without an announcement?"

The man Astrid successfully identified as Thor's brother stepped forward. "We are here by mistake, Your Majesty. We have business elsewhere. It seems our gatekeeper sent us here by accident. We were—"

"Loki, isn't it?" Astrid interrupted, tilting her head to the side. "God of Mischief? Son of..." Astrid looked him up and down with a wary squint. "Son of Odin?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Loki nodded.

Astrid smiled. "And Prince of Asgard, correct?" Loki once again nodded. "Then you do not need to refer to me by my regal title. You may call me Astrid if you wish."

Loki's lips twitched upwards into a small smile. "As you wish, Your... Astrid."

Astrid hummed. "Your brother has sense, Mighty Thor. Unlike you, he knows when not to talk back," Loki chuckled under his breath. "Your gatekeeper, Heimdall? Rather rude to immediately blame him for the mistake. Perhaps he was doing it for your good. But that all depends on your intended destination."

The only female of the group stepped forward, the leading female warrior of Asgard — Lady Sif. "Jotunheim, Your Majesty."

Astrid's brow furrowed as she suspiciously eyed the group of six. "Jotunheim, you say? What would a group of gods and warriors from the luxuries of Asgard be wandering around Jotunheim for? If it were for pleasure, I can assure your gatekeeper made the right choice in sending here rather."

The group looked amongst one another as if begging someone to say their reasoning. Thor, not understanding his allies' wariness, stepped forward with confidence clear in his stance and deep in his voice. "The Jotuns invaded Asgard's vaults."

"Did they take anything?" Astrid asked, her elbow resting against the set rest with her pointe finger tapping steadily against the temple.

Astrid watched as Loki tried to pull his brother back, but the bulky blond shrugged him away. "No, but they attempted to take the Casket."

"The Casket?!" Astrid screeched. "The Casket of Ancient Winters?! My father's casket?!" Astrid's fury increased inside her with every word she spat. Though she treasured her creations, her family's possessions were just as valuable to her. "And I suppose it was you who saved the day," she pointed to Thor, her voice levelled and controlled now. She knew it wasn't, but rather his father, Odin Allfather. But she knew if she spoke proudly, his ego would snatch the achievement from his father. Thor smugly smiled and nodded, even though his friends looked at him with confusion. "Are you aware how this affects my trust in your leadership, future king? I'm sure if the Jotuns were successful in their mission, your allies here and in Alfheim would be lost," Choosing not to stay angry at the Asgardian, at the end of the day, the casket was still safe, and she knew Odin was at fault, not Thor, even though it was amusing for her to pretend.

Astrid rose from her throne, descending the stairs so she would stand before the group of warriors. "Your Majesty, what are you thinking?" Jinx asked, she and Janus following after their queen.

"We are going to join our new friends in Jotunheim. I just want to talk," she smiled innocently. "Get Zithara to the throne room as soon as possible," Astrid announced to any guard listening, noticing one guard closest to the hallway leading to the chambers. Zithara was Astrid's lady-in-waiting. Even though the average lady-in-waiting's duties were just to attend to their queen, Astrid trusted Zithara to carry the responsibilities of the throne in her absence. She, along with the Hod twins, was one of her most trusted allies. Astrid waved her hand, and warm red magic fanned over her body, transforming her gown into her bronze-coloured battle armour.

"Looks like we're doing more than just talking," Jinx grinned towards her brother.

"Oh, I like her," Thor grinned.