The curtain rose slowly, as did my eyes. They fell to the bare feet of a gentle and dainty woman. A golden anklet round her ankle, my eyes slowly continued upwards. Her light blue gown was studded with what looked like jewels...all barely glimmering in the light of the hall...as though fearing to take away even a little of her beauty. For as my eyes met hers...it was as though the most beautiful woman in the heavens were before me now. Her fair white complexion, blue eyes and golden hair that flowed like a river of molten gold...she was almost a replica of Freya herself....yet there were not one...but TWO beauties.
Standing just beside the golden-haired marvel...there was another fair maiden. Her red/golden hair was nearly the same length, and she had piercing eyes of emerald. As though they were the gem themselves. Her complexion was a bit darker...but just BARELY and only made so by her dark blue gown. It was tied around the waist elegantly with golden rope...and like the other maiden's...seemed to glow with jewels that only served to "accent" her beauty...not take away from it. I was left speechless....as was Domix.
"Oh my....it really is you...." The golden-haired woman spoke in elegant-shock and clasped her hands over her mouth. Her voice was JUST as beautiful as she was. "Magni...Modi..."
My eyes examined her face once more...she was saying our names as though she KNEW us...the former us at least. Yet I couldn't place her...
"It couldn't be! Hnoss! Gersi!!!!" Domix exclaimed in happy realization.
"YOU REMEMBER?!" The red-haired maiden shouted and rushed Domix. She jumped into his arms in a full-on hug. I was still completely in the dark.
"What's wrong Magni? Don't you remember me at all....?" The golden-haired woman asked quietly. She looked sad...almost ready to cry...and then a memory came back.
"Hnoss thinks she's SO BEAUTIFUL! But look at her ALL ALONE! No one wants to play with you!" Children scorned a lone little girl.
"Please...just give back my doll....she's precious to me!" The girl begged.
"Ha ha ha! This? NEVER! It's going over the mountain and down to the mortals! Then you'll NEVER see her again!" They laughed and ran towards the cliff-edge. Holding a raggedy doll over, they laughed as the little girl fell to her knees ready to cry.
"Give it back now!" A voice rose up from behind. A child rode up on a brilliant horse...the horse Golden Mane. "Didn't you hear me?! I said GIVE IT BACK!"
The children were paralyzed by the grandeur horse...they knew immediately WHO rode it...yet they didn't want to lose merit by cowering in fear.
"Oh yeah! Why don't you make us Magni?! Or do you need to call your father to do it for you?!" They taunted laughing, but taking steps AWAY from the edge.
Magni stepped down from his horse...paying no heed to their taunting and giggling. He walked over to the little girl and kneeled over. He wiped away the single tear streaking down her face. "You mustn't waste your tears on them...they really aren't worth it." He consoled. For Hnoss's tears were gems...of the greatest beauty and worth...not to be wasted on rabble such as this.
He then stood and walked over to the crowd. It was 5 to one...but Magni's confidence was overwhelming. He seized the doll in a matter of moments...and TRIED to go easy on them....yet still they all lay in a pile of mangled and unconscious bodies when he was through.
"Here...your treasure right?" Magni stated bending over the girl as he handed her her doll.
"Yes." She nodded slowly. "Thank you so much Magni...I'll never forget what you did for me....never."
"Ah, it's no problem...if they ever pick on you again just call for me. I'll teach them a lesson they won't soon forget!" Magni laughed, blushing slightly with his hand behind his head.
"Hnoss....THAT HNOSS?!!!" I exclaimed stepping back nearly a foot. "But you're so.....so.....different."
Hnoss giggled. "Yes Magni...but in all fairness....so are you. I worried for you....you disappeared...just like my father. I thought I'd never see you again...."
"I'm not the same as before." I stated flatly. I had to tell the truth. Hnoss was one of my FEW childhood friends...and now she was...my betrothed? "You shouldn't go through with this engagement Hnoss...there are better suitors for you..."
"NO!" She suddenly exclaimed. "I will repay you Magni! I want to do this...if you'll have me! I want you to be able to return...here...to Asgard. I don't care what you are now...you are still Magni inside. I can feel that just by looking at you now!"
"Hnoss."
"I have no objections." Domix suddenly spoke...his voice was almost giddy. Then again...he'd always been completely obsessed with Gersemi. This was like a dream come true for him.
"You better not." Thor finally spoke. He'd been talking with Freya, but now they both entered...smiles plastered on their faces. "This is going to happen. Tomorrow in fact."
"Tomorrow...." I stumbled. This was incredibly soon...how long had they been planning this. Didn't they even care if I had things to settle?!
"Magni...Modi...how you have grown!" Freya stated hugging us both. My thoughts were all a blur as she continued to speak. I didn't hate Hnoss...I really DIDN'T. I just felt so rushed...things that were unsettled weighing heavily on my mind.
"Magni...if you DON'T want this..." Hnoss mumbled with a sad look in her eyes.
I sighed, pulling away from Freya. "There's no problem Hnoss. Everything is fine."
She smiled gently. She'd really become so beautiful...and not just on the outside....
Ximh
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Dark: ^^ Looking forward to what happens? Just you wait!!!
Ximh: .____.' I can't believe that's the same crybaby Hnoss....she's sooooo......
Dark: HEH! She grew up Ximh! Try it sometime!
