ASTRID TRAVELS TO ALFHEIM TO SEE HER FAMILY. After sleeping on the events of the previous day, she decided it would be best to get the lecture from her mother out of the way soon rather than later. Zithara aided her queen from the silk nightgown and replaced it with a white, off-the-shoulder dress that was embellished with rose-gold embroidery and gems around the collar and hems and around the torso. Zithara sat Astrid down at her vanity desk so the blonde could watch as the handmaiden turned and twisted the short light stands of Astrid's hair until her hair was sat in a loose low-set bun with pearl hairpins decorating her hair.

Astrid decided to bring Athena along to Alfheim, allowing Jinx and Janus to watch over Infinia on her leave. Zithara adored Astrid's older brothers, especially Cedrick. The two shared a similar personality, both were loving, caring, and compassionate - hence why Astrid cherished them with all her heart.

Now in Vanaheim's throne room, Astrid and Zithara were greeted by Ymir, Christa, and her four brothers. Christa embraced her daughter and good friend before going falling into a rant about Astird's actions the day before.

"What did you think you were doing?!" Christa exclaimed, holding her daughter by the shoulders and sending her a forceful glare. Christa was average in height, perhaps half an inch taller than her only daughter. She had long, thick dark hair with matching eyes and thick eyebrows, and sharp cheekbones. The Goddess of Spring was dressed in a striking yellow lolita dress with a tangle of darker golden strings acting as a sort of corset around her torso. On top of her rich head of dark hair sat a crown decorated in glittering gold and small vines and blossoms. She was very overprotective of her children, especially when they do silly things that could result in their deaths.

"Go easy on her, dear," Ymir spoke. The tall god smiled down to his wife but his smile quickly turned into a look of fear as the smaller woman he called his wife glared up at him. Though many admired her Christa, Goddess of Spring, for her calm and soothing persona, when one of her children was put in a dangerous situation, that calm and soothing persona would take a turn for the worst. Especially if Ymir knew about it without telling her.

"Go easy on her?! She could've gotten herself killed!" Christa practically shrieked, causing her giant of a husband to take a step back.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Mother, I'm a grown woman with my own Realm. I can handle a little fight."

"Little fight? You, your two guards and six Asgardains against an entire race of Jotuns; you call that a little fight?!"

Olav stepped forward, placing a hand on Astrid's shoulder. "Proud of you, sister. It sounds like it was a legendary battle." Olav was her oldest brother. The God of War. He had his father's features - a strong jaw and broad shoulders. Yet, her copied after his mother with his thick brows, brown eyes and dark brunet hair that sat naturally just below his shoulders that he insisted to wear in a low ponytail. Olav - or Oly as his siblings called him after learning how much he hated it - enjoyed fight stories, so when news came around that his little sister was getting herself in battles, he was ecstatic.

"I agree with Oly, for once," Ashjørn grinned, wrapping his arm around his older brother's neck only to be flickered off a second later. Ashjørn was the second eldest Ymir child. The God of Light. Ashjørn had dusky hair that stopped at the nape of his neck with matching dark brown eyes. He held a more feminine appearance, features he inherited from his mother, but received a strong and broad posture from his father. Though Astrid would never dare to admit it for the sake of Ashjørn's ego and the feelings of her other three brothers, Ashjørn was her favourite. Ever since Astrid was born, Ashjørn took it upon himself to make sure she was safe and included. He realised quickly that being the only daughter in a family with four sons would be difficult for her so he made it easier. Even if he did tease her constantly.

"Thank you so much, I definitely needed your validation," Astrid sarcastically spoke, resulting in a glare from Olav and a poked-out tongue from Ashjørn.

Their mother glared at her two oldest children. "You two are not helping. Cedrick, Edvin? What do you two think?"

Cedrick and Edvin were the calmest among the Ymir children.

Cedrick was the God of Peace, so he naturally disagreed with any battles of any kind (and anything that Olav got himself involved in). Cedrick was the only child of Ymir and Christa that was not a blood relative, but that did not mean he was loved any less. When he was just a baby, Christa had discovered him on the footsteps of their palace alone with only a note placed over his blanketed body that simply had the word 'Cedrick' scribed on it in cursive. He had warm brown ochre skin with short black hair. His body was lean like his father's yet his personality and tone were soothing like his mother's.

Edvin was the God of Nature and the youngest of the Ymir brothers. He and Astrid were close in age and therefore close overall. He had fairer hair, a mixture between Ymir and Christina. Like Ashjørn and Astrid, he shared more feminine facial features that they inherited from their mother but had his father's strong physique. He cared more for animals and the outdoors than fights.

Neither brother stepped forward to state their opinion knowing that whatever they would say would get themselves into someone's bad books. Christa sighed and turned back to Astrid who showed off her teeth with a grin. The smooth hand that belonged to Christa caressed Astrid's cheek lovingly. "Do not do that ever again. I can not have the only other woman in the family dying."

Astrid smiled. "I won't. I promise." It was a lie obviously. How could she ever promise to not engage in a fight? It was like asking a baby to not cry or asking a dog not to bark.

Christa sighed softly, seeing through her daughter's promise. "I know you too well, Astrid. You have your father's spirit of adventure and your mother's stubbornness. It's a deadly combination." She scolded gently, causing Astrid to sheepishly smile. Christa continued, her eyes sparkling with relief, the thought of her only daughter safe and sound finally settling in. "Tell us of what transpired."

Astrid's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, Mother, you won't believe it! I was sat there, bored out of my mind, then boom! They appear at the gates. Thor was defiant, refused to give me respect but he came out thanks to his brother. Oh my! Loki was amazing and charming. I know of his abilities through the grapevine but seeing him in action was marvellous! He did not have the pleasantries to speak for long but I feel like I made an ally in him from our short interactions. Oh, I'm sure Father told you about Thor's banishment, how scandalous!" Astrid gushed out all in one, refusing to stop and allowing her mind to run a mile a minute.

Christa raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Charming, you say? Is there a particular reason why you find Loki intriguing?"

Astrid's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she avoided her mother's gaze. "N-no, Mother. It's just... he's an enigmatic figure, and his complexities intrigue me. That's all."

Christa couldn't help but tease her daughter. "Oh, Astrid, it seems there's more to it than mere intrigue. Your blush gives it away."

Astrid cast her gaze down, regretting spilling so much information to her nosey mother. "Surely... my flushed face is a result of being so excited about recalling my ventures to my dear Mother," she stumbled over her thoughts, trying to conjure up a good excuse for her reddening face.

Christa tutted with a teasing smile and turned to her husband. Ymir shrugged, not caring much for his children's courting situations. He leaves such arrangements to his wife as she has a better read on potential suitors. After all, she did pair up of most of her sons with their partners easily, and their flustering relationships show her talent. Astrid cast her eyes towards her four brothers, seeing Ashjørn and Edvin faux-gagging at the prospect of their sister entering the courting world, while Cedrick smiled delightfully. Olav rolled his eyes at his brother's actions, not interested in this change of topic.

Christa turned back to Astrid just as her daughter's eyes drifted back to her mother. "Would you say you're... attracted to him?"

"Mother!" Astrid groaned as she threw her head back, hearing Zithara chuckle from behind her. "Can we leave it, please? I've barely spoken to him and you're already trying to marry me off!"

Her mother chuckled delightfully. "Alright, my dear. I only tease," she smiled. "However, you should visit him. I can only imagine the anguish he must be going through with his brother being banished, he might need a shoulder to lean on and why should it not be that of my beautiful daughter."

Astrid groaned. "If it will make you drop the topic, I shall visit tomorrow."