When Skadi was a little girl her mother would always tell her about the love story between the sun and the moon. That the moon ─ she was so alone one evening, shining in the midnight sky and although she was surrounded by myriads of tiny, sparkly stars, she felt as if there was no one to understand her. She so eagerly searched the skies for a friend, perhaps a meteor, with whom to discuss the joys and sorrows of her life. But there was nobody . . . something Skadi could relate to right now.

Then, unknownest to the moon and on the other side of the world, the sun gave a yawn and awoke to shine his light upon the realms.

But the moon continued to stay alone, suspended in the sky with none to touch her. Then one day, a tiny star whispered to her of a great being, the sun, who brought joy and light to the world. She had listened with interest, for it seemed that once, a long time ago, she had seen a being such as this. Beautiful as he was, the sun seemed always just beyond her reach. She would visit the places where he had been, and would always find that he had just left. Those who knew him spoke of his wonder and his glory, and she felt unworthy to be in his presence.

Now the sun was unaware of her yearning at the time, for he was too busy making the crops grow and warming the world. Those who wished his light had only to look upward to heaven and he was there, beaming down upon them.

After hearing the star's whispers, the moon continued to follow the sun, always coming nearer to him, always hearing that he had just left that portion of the sky, or was just over the next mountain range. Where before there was despair, now she was ever more hopeful, for she knew that she was approaching his presence.

She came closer and closer, until one glorious day came when she stood before him, naked and unafraid. The world looked up and saw only blackness ─ in the middle of the day. But the moon stood mid-way between the sun and the earth, and all of his glory was for her.

His light blotted out all of her loneliness, all of her pain, all of her past. She stood bathed in wonder before him, and his light filled her soul.

The moon passed away from him full of light and joy, and though his light was too bright to remember, it was also too powerful to forget. She remained dizzy with wonder.

Skadi believed it to be a true love story considering fallen Asgardians would become their own constellation ─ so how could the sun and the moon's tale of romance be no different? It was her favourite story, and even though she was a grown woman now she wanted nothing more than for her mother to be able to tell her their story again.

Looking up at the sky from her balcony, Skadi began to search the stars which dotted the dark canopy for her mother's constellation. The waning, gibbous moon that which hovered tenuously in the twilight firmament bestowed a very dim light upon the realm. It was a warm, windy night; the swaying of trees and rustling of leaves could be heard but not seen, as the encompassing darkness had blotted out all but the faintest light.

When Skadi's ice-blue eyes finally found her mother's constellation, a small smile to curve onto her face. It was beautiful, just as her mother had been.

"Oh mother," Skadi began with a sigh. She leaned down on her elbows, placing her cheek against her knuckles as she continued to view up at the shimmering constellation. She swore for a moment that she had seen the cluster of stars grow brighter, as if her mother had heard her words from the heavens and was saying something back to her. It brought Skadi comfort and caused tears to build up in her eyes.

"I wish that you were here," she continued. "Odin and the Horae, they wish for me to take your place in a couple days. But I don't want your throne, mother. I never wanted it. I know that it sounds aawful of me to just want to abandon my birth right, but it is the truth. Being the Winter Goddess is not what I want." Skadi chuckled slightly as she stared up at the sky. "But you always knew that, didn't you? I think you always knew what I was thinking or feeling before I even knew myself."

By now, melancholy tears had begun to fall from Skadi's eyes, cascading gently down her cheeks and dripping onto the balcony floor. "I'm afraid. Not because I don't know anything about being a Horae, but because I am afraid that I won't make you proud. You have always had this outstanding faith in me, more than anymore one else in my life, but what if you are wrong? What if I never become a great ruler like you were? I don't want to ruin the legacy that you left behind."

"You won't," spoke a voice from behind her. Skadi nearly jumped out of her skin as she hastily wiped at her tears.

"You will make her proud," the voice said again, and that is when Skadi realized it was her father. The very man who has been avoiding her like a plague since she found her mother dead.

Skadi turned slowly and indeed there he was. Brown, sleek hair neatly coiffured to reveal his wrinkled and solemn face. His glistening dark brown eyes, set sunken within their sockets, watched her with sadness. The daughter allowed her eyes to wander the familiar freckles and thin scars that are spread gracefully across his face before she finally met his gaze.

"Father, what are you doing here?"

The words stung Ullr's heart as he looked toward her with a fresh pain blossoming within his chest. Ullr understood the hostility she held towards him though. After all, he hasn't been in his right mind set since his wife passed away. He blamed himself really, for if he had realized that she was dead and not sleeping that morning, then perhaps Skadi never would have had to see her mother as she did. Now because of him, that moment was permanently branded within his daughter's brain.

"I've spoke with Queen Frigga recently. She tells me that Loki has been keeping you company." Ullr smiled softly. "Your mother and I have always known that boy is fond of you since you were both children."

Skadi furrowed her brows. She loved Loki, yes, but only as a friend, her one true friend that understood her like no other. It made her wonder . . . did Loki think their relationship otherwise? Did he . . . love her? Actually love her?

Shaking those thoughts away, Skadi allowed her eyes to meet her father's. "Loki is my friend. And yes, he has been here for me, which is more than I can say for you," she all but spat as she brushed by him and into her room, causing the silk curtains to gently sway in the wind.

Ullr sighed, turning on his heel to watch her sit on the edge of her bed and stare down at her hands. He knows that he should have been there for his daughter after the funeral but the pain of facing her was just too much to bear. She looks so much like Beira it hurts. Ullr had to force himself to even come to her on this eve. He had stood outside her chambers doors for nearly fifteen minutes before finally entering.

He approached her hesitantly, sitting down beside her and causing bed to sink. He stared at the side of her face for several moments before sighing. "I am sorry, Skadi. Truly, I am. There is no greater guilt than a parent abandoning their child when they are hurting."

"Why?" Skadi managed to ask. She viewed up, meeting his gaze with tears in her own. The sight of then made his heart clench within his chest. "Why did you choose to leave me alone in this darkness? When I needed you most of all."

"I have known your mother long before you were born. Losing her, it broke something inside of me that I know can never be fixed. Beira was my entire life and now that she is gone, I wasn't sure how to live without her. When I looked upon your face the evening of her funeral, I saw only her. My Beira." Ullr brought a hand up to caress the tears from his daughter's cheeks. Skadi leaned into his touch, the longing within her heart to simply be held by her father beginning to grow. "You look so much like her that it hurt. But now, as I look back upon my actions, I see my mistakes. I shouldn't have left you to mourn her alone."

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Skadi allowed herself to sink into his arms. She fisted up his tunic and breathed in the familiar scent that was musk, wood and sweat through her nostrils with a smile on her face. She missed him dearly, even if it has only been a few days.

Ullr felt his own tears fall as he held his daughter and kissed her platinum blond head. "I love you, Skadi," he then whispered, causing her heart to swell.

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a/n: I apologize for the short chapter, but it was to just be a filler anyway. Next chapter is Skadi's coronation!