Chapter Text
The stillness enveloped Annalisse in a dreamy state of consciousness. She sat up. From her window she could see that everything was covered in a delicate shell of white. A soft mist settled over the gardens and shielded the view of the distant city of Asgard beyond the golden palace gates. The cold air nipped at her skin as she stretched. Wrapping her blanket around her bare shoulders, she padded over to the balcony to get a better look at the frosty gardens. Annalisse had always preferred the weather to be a little chilly, the heat made her clammy and frustrated, and she found the soft chill of morning to be a gentle kind of beautiful. Serene and pure, it was simple in its beauty, but no less intricate for it. She studied each individual snowflake shaped frost on the balustrade, allowing her mind to wander through the meaning of her dreams. This night she had dreamt that her hands were bound together by a chain of white calla lilies. She sat in a large, unfamiliar room, surrounded by the royal family. They conversed with her in a far more familiar manner than was fitting for the daughter of a duchess. She could feel that they expected something of her, but she could not remember what it was, only that she doubted her ability to fulfill their expectations.
Annalisse was snapped out of her reverie at the sound of her bedroom door opening.
Annalise’s handmaid stepped into the room, “Blessed be the day, lady Annalisse,” Raija bowed her head as she fell into a small curtsey.
“Hale be the day.”
Raija frowned, “Is everything alright my lady?”
“Yes, I am quite alright; I simply had a troubling dream last night.”
Excitement overtook Raija, “Was it another prophecy? May I hear, my lady?”
“Fetch Lady Tove for me and I will tell you both.”
“As you wish, my lady,” Raija scurried out of the room.
Raija had always enjoyed hearing Annalisse’s prophecies, simple as they were. She was fascinated by Annalisse’s ability, and was convinced that with practice she could expand her gift. Annalise thought back to her dream.The obscurity of it was possibly what troubled Annalisse the most. Her prophecies and visions were usually more straightforward; this one seemed entirely metaphor. This was the type of prophecy that a more powerful or experienced seer would have, such as one of the few seers utilized by the royal family, and Annalisse was not used to it. She had started having visions and prophetic dreams when she was very young, but her visions had never been particularly useful to anyone but herself. She only saw simple things about the goings-on of herself and the people around her. Therefore her mother did not deem it necessary to further train the skill.
~
Tove and Annalisse had been friends since the beginning of time, it seemed. As the daughters of two of the queen’s highest ranking ladies in waiting, it seemed only natural that they were to be friends. They had seen each other through the best and the worst times in their lives, and become stronger friends each time because of it. They knew everything about each other, therefore Tove was the first, and many times the only, to know of anything happening in Annalisse’s life.
Tove stared out the window at the frozen gardens, “What a strange dream. Are you sure that it was a prophecy? You have strange dreams all of the time, but never have you had a prophecy such as this.”
Annalisse shook her head, “This was undoubtedly a prophecy. Prophecies feel different than dreams, they are more real, and I wake up to my skin tingling.”
Tove looked to Raija sitting in the corner, watching with rapt attention.
“If it is in fact a prophecy, as you say, then what does it mean? I mean no disrespect, Annalisse, but I can not see the royal family giving you private audience, even if your mother is the Allmother’s mistress of the robes.” Tove said.
“Verily. I am unsure what the prophecy means,” She paused to look out at the gardens once more, “I will think on it throughout the day. For now, let us break our fast.”
~
At the doors of the dining hall, Annalisse stopped short, eyes unfocused and staring down at her folded hands. Tove gently guided Annalisse out of the way of three ladies entering the hall, and waited patiently for her friend to snap out of her trance.
Annalisse watched in her mind’s eye as Prince Thor sauntered into the dining hall, followed closely by the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. The light from the large windows indicated that it was morning. All eyes turned to Prince Thor, as they most often did, as he bid his friends goodbye and made his way to the royal table at the front of the dining hall. As the Warriors Three and Lady Sif cleared from the doorway, Prince Loki stepped through, slipping something into his pocket before making his way to the royal table after his brother. What was it that he slipped in his pocket? Annalisse wondered. In response, her mind’s eye was filled with the vision of a translucent yellow citrine crystal, held aloft by a delicate gold chain. In the center of the stone was a muddy yellow stain, shaped almost like a bird taking flight. When is this to happen? Annalise focused her energy once more and the day’s date flashed through her mind.
As suddenly as the vision had come on, it ceased. Annaliesse raised her head, eyes focusing on Tove. “The princes and their entourage are to return this morning, they will be arriving soon, I would presume.”
Tove nodded and led the way to two empty seats. Just as Annalisse and Tove settled into their seats, in sauntered Prince Thor, followed by the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. Annalisse watched as they bid each other goodbye, Prince Thor making his way to the royal table, and the Warriors and Lady Sif moving to occupy one of the few empty tables left in the hall. Their departure from the doorway revealed Prince Loki, who discreetly slipped something in his pocket, and made his way to the royal table, greeting his mother with a kiss on the cheek before settling into the seat next to her.
Annalisse grabbed a pastry from the center of the table and began to nibble on the frosted corner.
“Your dream continues to trouble you,” it was not a question; Tove knew Annalisse like no other. She had a sense for her moods and, knowing Annalisse’s entire history, the reasons behind every action and feeling. “Have you seen anything else regarding the dream or its meaning?”
Annalisse set down her pastry, “Nothing more has been revealed to me. I have set my intention but nothing has come of it so far. The day is still young, I trust that what must be revealed will be in time.” She hoped that the time would be soon, as the dream unsettled her greatly. To be in the company of a member of the royal family was an honor, let alone the entire family at once; a very strange occurrence indeed that would be. Yet, this strangeness was almost overshadowed in her mind by the chain of calla lilies that bound her hands. Why would her hands be bound, why was she not simply holding the flowers?
~
Following the breaking of their fast, Annalise and Tove found themselves in the gardens. The morning frost had melted, making way for a beautifully temperate spring day. They strolled at a leisurely pace, enjoying the flora along the little stream that ran through their favorite section of the gardens. Annalisse always liked the peonies best, the way they smelled made her feel light and romantic, their delicate pink petals reminded her of the innocence and purity of childhood. She was just admiring a particularly spectacular blossom when a regal voice sounded from behind her.
“Good morrow, ladies.”
Annalisse felt Tove straighten beside her, and she turned around with as much poise as she could muster, knowing who was behind her. Being in the presence of the Allmother was a grand mix of emotions; on one hand it was nerve wracking being face to face with the most powerful woman in the Nine Realms, however there was a sense of peace and grace that Queen Frigga resonated that made anyone in her presence feel at ease.
Both girls bowed their heads and sunk into two perfectly executed curtsies. After a respectful moment, the girls rose.
Tove was the first to speak, “Good morrow Your Majesty, how fare you?”
“Quite well, thank you,” came the queen’s reply, “And how do you fare?”
“Very well, it is a lovely day for a stroll through the gardens,” Tove was doing a splendid job of keeping her composure despite her flurry of nerves.
The Allmother smiled, “Yes, it is.”
She turned her attention to Annalise, “Lady Annalise, would you care to accompany me for a quick stroll?”
Annalise was startled by the queen’s request, why her? It must have something to do with her mother, that was the only thing that Annalisse could think of that would put her in the Allmother’s attentions as such.
“I would be honored, Your Majesty,” Annalisse turned to Tove and shared a meaningful glance as she bid her friend goodbye.
The Allmother made a leisurely pace beside the stream, leading Annalisse to a section of the garden that she did not often visit. “It is a beautiful day, is it not?”
“Verily, Your Majesty, and the gardens are as spectacular as ever,” As they continued to make their way, the stream began to widen, eventually opening up into a small pond.
“Yes, I have always appreciated this section of the gardens in particular,” the queen came to a stop in front of a cluster of white heart-shaped flowers, “the calla lilies are some of my favorites.”
Annalisse tried not to let her surprise break her poise. Did the queen know of her prophecy?
“They are quite beautiful,” she managed.
In an attempt to calm her nerves, Annalisse reached out to touch the large petal of one of the flowers. The moment she touched the flower, she began to hear bells ringing throughout the palace. She looked around in confusion.
“Are you quite alright, lady Annalise,” the queen observed Annalisse in concern.
“Yes, I am fine, I just-” Annalisse looked around once more. She had never heard such bells before, “do you hear those bells?”
“ No, I am afraid I don’t,” Queen Frigga laid a gentle hand on Annalisse’s arm, “do you need a moment of rest?”
The bells gradually began to fade, and a tingling sensation spread from Annalisse’s chest through the rest of her body, “No, I believe I should be fine. It appears to have just been a strange intuition.” she looked up from the flower. Her eyes landed on the Allmother, where a golden glimmer caught her eye. Resting gently between the Allmother’s collarbones was a translucent citrine crystal, with a muddy yellow stain with the appearance of a bird taking flight.
The Allmother seemed to brighten at the mention of intuition, “A prophecy. Do you have them often?”
“Quite frequently, Your Majesty. Mostly in dreams.”
“I see. I don’t recall Duchess Lynae ever mentioning this, who was your tutor,” the queen enquired.
“I did not have a tutor for my Sight.”
“Why ever not,” the queen politely enquired.
Annalisse hestated, “My intuitions are not particularly important, I don’t make grand prophecies. I mostly just see pieces of my life and the lives of those I am close to.”
The Allmother let slip a gentle laugh, “My dear, that is how all great Seers begin. Very few make grand prophecies to begin with; Seeing is a gift that takes practice.”
A moment of silence fell upon the two as Annalisse considered this news, and the queen seemed to consider something as well.
The Allmother was ultimately the one who broke the short silence, “I would like to assign you a tutor, if that is something that would interest you.”
Annalise looked at the Allmother in surprise; why had she suddenly taken such an interest in Annalisse? She had made no indication that this was anything more than a polite visit, but why would she desire a visit with Annalisse of all people? It appeared not to have anything to do with her mother, as the queen had only made one mention of her in passing. Annalisse could not wrap her head around why the queen was suddenly concerned with her education, or with anything to do with her at all. When she was very young, Annalisse’s mother and the queen had tried to introduce Annalisse and the young princes, Thor and Loki. It would have made sense for them to be friends, as Annalisse’s mother was an essential part of the queen’s everyday life and the highest ranking duchess in Asgard. However, nothing ever came from the attempts to make the children friends, and eventually the queen and Lady Lynae accepted defeat.
“I would be honored, Your Majesty. I give you my deepest gratitude,” Annalisse presented the queen with a curtsy.
The Allmother smiled, “Very good.”
~
Annalise was to start her lessons the following week. Within that week, she had the same strange dream every night. Just as the first time, she was sitting in a large, ornate room with the royal family, conversing amicably while her hands sat in her lap, bound tightly by a chain of white calla lilies.
Annalise was starting to feel like her whole life was one strange dream; she could not seem to catch a break from her visions. On a trip to the street market with Tove, Annalisse had a particularly startling vision. She had been trying on rings at a jeweler's stand, when the little emerald ring she had on her ring finger began to shrink. She scrambled in vain to get it off, the ring growing tight to the point of pain. Just when she thought her finger might break, she snapped back to reality, where the ring sat innocently on her finger, unchanged. She pulled it off and set it on the table with urgency as the tingling in her chest began to spread throughout the rest of her body.
She had begun to avoid long hallways, as every time she walked down one she was thrown into a vision of herself walking down a white runner rug towards a shadow.
One of the strangest things was that Annalise had many times caught the Allmother observing her discreetly during meals. She could feel someone’s eyes on her, and when she caught the queen’s eye she was greeted with a well mannered nod.
Annalise thought that if things got any stranger she might just lose her natural composure.
~
Annalisse’s first lesson with her new tutor was not until midmorning, but she was eager, and slightly nervous to begin. Therefore, she found herself in the library by sunrise, reading a tome she had chosen at random in an attempt to settle her nerves. She sat curled into the window seat in a back corner of the winding library. The shelves spiraled throughout the enormous room, making for plenty of good hiding places in shady corners and hidden nooks. The rising sun shone through the stained glass, turning the pages of her book watery shades of blue, green, and pink. She found herself lost to the world as she read, completely unaware of her surroundings. She sat as such for half an hour before she felt eyes on her. She looked up from her book, taking a slow look around the corner, but there was no one there. Discomposed, she tried to settle back into her book for the next few hours.
~
By the time midmorning arrived, Annalisse felt ready to finally begin her lesson. She met Lady Sagga in her greeting room, which she found to be very pleasant. Lady Sagga had an admirable collection of books, candles, and cushions. The room radiated comfort and warmth that Annalisse came to realize reflected her teacher’s character ideally.
Lady Sagga was a stout, graying woman. She greeted Annalisse by holding her face in her hands and looking into her eyes with the kindest smile Annalisse thought she had ever seen. When Lady Sagga seemed satisfied with her greeting she gave Annalisse a gentle pat on one cheek before letting her hands drop. She insisted that Annalisse call her Sagga, she believed that a student should feel wholly comfortable with their teacher and that formalities got in the way of the learning process.
“Well, come sit! Make yourself at home, my dear,” Sagga curled up on a well loved couch and gestured for Annalisse to do the same.
Annalisse chose the velvet chair across from Sagga, sinking into the comfortable cushion with ease.
“Now,” Sagga began, ”the queen told me that you have been having visions since you were a child, but have never had any tutoring for the subject.”
“Yes, my visions are quite mundane, so it was deemed unnecessary to provide an education on the subject.”
“Well, my dear, that is silly. Tell me more about your visions.”
Annalise gave Sagga some examples of her typical visions and dreams. Sagga had many questions, and Annalise did her best to answer them.
When all of her questions had been answered, Sagga nodded and said, “Very good, I believe you have potential, should you take your studies seriously.”
“Thank you, Sagga. I am honored that you have agreed to take on my education.” Annalisse gave Sagga a gentle smile.
Sagga returned the gesture.
“You have impeccable manners, Annalisse. I sense a gentle soul and an agreeable temperament within you,” Sagga mused.
Annalisse looked down to her hands folded in her lap, “You flatter me, Sagga. Thank you.”
The rest of the lesson consisted of Sagga teaching Annalisse how to meditate. She insisted that meditation was the Seer’s greatest tool. Annalisse was pleased that she seemed to pick up the skill quickly. Meditation mostly consisted of patience and focus, which had never been a problem for Annalisse. She had always enjoyed the slower things in life, like reading and the arts.
The lesson came to an end too soon, in Annalisse’s opinion. Sagga assigned her the reading of three tomes, one on the subject of meditation, one on the history of Seeing, and one on the basics of Seeing. She was to have them finished by the end of the month. This was not a problem for her in the slightest, she was elated about her studies. She was also relieved by the prospect of gaining clarity on her unsettling dream and visions.
~
Annalise was strolling the halls looking for Tove, when her mother’s servant, Hilja, approached her.
Annalisse offered her a gentle smile, “Good day, Hilja.”
Hilja curtsied respectfully, “Good day lady Annalisse. Your mother requests your presence for tea this afternoon.”
“Certainly, you may inform her that I would be glad to join her. Thank you, Hilja.”
Hilja curtsied once more before scurrying off.
~
Annalisse switched the purple orchids from one hand to the other as she made her way to her mother’s door. She needed knock only once before her mother answered and ushered her in with a warm hug.
“Greeting mama, how do you fare,” Annalisse released her mother, “I brought you flowers.”
Lady Lynae’s face betrayed her delight, “Orchids! My favorite. You sweet girl, you spoil me so.”
Lady Lynae took the flowers from her daughter and added them to the vase on the table near the window where they were to take their tea. The table was set elegantly with little tea sandwiches, tea cakes, and Lady Lynae’s favorite purple tea set.
Both women took a seat and Lady Lynae proceeded to pour herself and her daughter each a cup of tea. They made pleasant conversation, updating each other on the happenings of their lives since they had seen each other last. Annalisse made a point not to share her recent prophecies with her mother, as she did not want to worry her. But they talked at length about her first lesson with Sagga. Her mother seemed strangely hesitant about the new arrangement, but Annalisse chose not to inquire for the time being.
Once the conversation had lulled, Lady Lynae seemed to grow more serious.
Annalisse took notice of her mother’s changed demeanor, “Is everything alright, mama?”
“Yes, lovely, everything is quite alright,” Lady Lynae paused, “I have some news, however, I struggle to find the words to tell you.”
“Do not fret, mama,” Annalisse reached to hold her mother's hand, ”Whatever it is we will face it together, as we always have.”
Lady Lynae looked at her and her daughter’s joined hands resting on the table, “I’m afraid that may not be the case this time.”
This gave Annalisse pause, “Whatever is the news, mama?”
Lady Lynae took a steadying breath before meeting her daughter’s inquisitive gaze, “I have been conferring with King Odin and Queen Frigga. We have come to the agreement that you are to marry Prince Loki.”