Three months later
“I still feel like a farce in all this finery.” I fussed with the stiff high collar of my dark silvery gown. The winged crown on my head was a heavy reminder that I was Queen of Valsgard now and needed to act like it.
“You look beautiful,” Sylvi said, as if that should make up for how uncomfortable the too-tight gown made me in the unbearably warm carriage.
“I’m with Thea. I could do without all the finery.” Druan tugged at his collar.
“Two peas in a pod.” Sylvi shook her head from her seat opposite us. “And that brother of ours is just as bad as you two.”
“You always said I was three.” I leaned into Druan, resting my hand in the crook of his arm.
“I miscalculated.” Sylvi peeked out the window to find Pasha keeping pace with the carriage. “Clearly, you are four.”
“I’m so much more than that, Sylvi.” I thought of all the people who helped me reach this day. I couldn’t have done it without my family and closest friends.
“Now I’m outnumbered,” Sylvi said.
“You have Fiske and Leda to help keep us all properly proper.”
On any given day since my coronation, I could be found running around the palace in yoga pants and tshirts, and sometimes jeans. As my wedding present, Ben and Druan had surprised me by making the most epic Target run of all time, traveling to the human realm to collect all my favorite things. I had enough comfortable human clothes to last a lifetime, along with a supply of gummy bears, and Diet Dr. Pepper. How they’d managed to bring it all back while navigating the bridge was beyond me. I made them swear never to take such a risk again.
“It’s strange not having Mother or Astrid or even Leda with me on such an auspicious occasion. It’s like flying solo for the first time all over again.” Nerves swarmed inside me like a storm of angry bees. Today I would ascend to High Queen of the Nine Realms. In theory, I was as prepared as I could possibly be. In reality, I didn’t think I was emotionally mature enough to get through this day without embarrassing myself.
“That’s why we are here.” Druan squeezed my hand. “You will never be alone in this, Thea.”
As the carriage rolled to a stop, I took a deep breath. Sylvi and Druan exited first, standing on either side of the door. Druan took my hand as I attempted to navigate my exit from the small space wearing the contents of an entire fabric store. Grateful for my new husband’s assistance, I managed to get my feet on the ground without incident. As I made my way along the cobblestone pathway through the forest, Sylvi arranged the massive train of my dress to flow behind me. I walked ahead of my council, my wings fanned out in all their glory. I gazed up at the tall trees creating a canopy over the ancient ruins of Asgard. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of where I stood now. This was the hallowed ground of the gods. The same gods who found a way for their people to survive when all the prophecies foretold the demise of all at the final battle of Ragnarök. By ceding his power to the first Valkyrie queen, the Allfather gave us all a second chance, and a new world was born on the ashes of the old one.
It was now my duty to lead our people into a new era of ascension. I was the first of the new nine. The other young rulers would follow in the coming years.
And it all began, right here today. Though I had high hopes my new sister, Vendela would join me soon. But now it was time to meet the aging rulers who faced the twilight of their reign. Some, like my mother, approached their final years with dignity and grace, while others clung to their thrones with desperation, like my father. Today was for them. I would not speak until the end of the ceremony, yet they would have the chance to speak to me without fear of my response.
At the end of the path, I paused to take it all in. The forest floor was covered in a thousand shades of green moss, like the softest carpet under my feet. Castle ruins lay scattered around the ancient throne room and the crumbling walls of Asgard largely remained in haphazard sections encircling the forest. I could only imagine how spectacular the hall of the gods must have been once.
Eight thrones rose from the ground, built from the very ruins of Asgard millennia ago. Hundreds of queens and kings had sat on these thrones through the ages. At the opposite end of the throne room stood a raised dais for the High Queen’s throne—said to have been built from the remains of the Allfather’s throne. I made my way there now, walking along the aisle between the rows of thrones, four on each side. As I passed each ruler and their advisors standing behind them, they bowed, murmuring their greetings.
“Welcome, your Majesty,” Queen Orlagh of the Druids—and my husband’s aunt—was the first to speak above a whisper. “I bid you congratulations on your happy union with my nephew.
“Greetings.” Queen Elva of the Jötnar gave a nod of respect. Small for a Jötnar, she still towered over the rest of us, but she had kind eyes that reflected a desire for me to succeed today.
“Child queen.” King Ulric of the Warders had no kindness for me, though I expected none. “You have robbed me of a daughter. It is good that I have many sons, though they are all bastards unfit to carry my name. Perhaps I will just live forever and keep my throne.”
I walked on, not acknowledging his grievances. There would be time for that later. My steps faltered as I approached my father, King Hagen. Mother was convinced he would send his brother in his stead as he normally did. Hagen had very little to do with matters of state within his realm.
“Your mother has robbed me of a son.” My father turned red-rimmed eyes on me. “All the realms are talking about the son she kept from me.” Spittle flew from his mouth as I passed. “The son who will ascend in my place!”
My eyes burned and my throat seized, but I refused to acknowledge his words. My unshed tears weren’t because my father showed no interest in me. I knew the man my mother loved was no longer there, lost to the Berserker madness. My emotions were for the man I would never get to know.
I hardly heard the greetings of the kings and queens of the Southern Kingdoms. I just kept walking until there was nowhere left to go.
Standing before my throne, I took the final step, allowing Sylvi to arrange my train behind me. I took Druan’s hand as I ascended the steps up to the dais and turned to face my subjects. Beside my throne sat the crown my mother once wore.
The crown I wore now was that of the Valkyrie queen. But today, I became much more. Removing my winged crown and setting it on the empty pedestal beside me, I lifted the High Queen’s crown over my head. The simple band of silver and diamonds sparkled in the sunlight as I lowered it onto my head. Taking up my scepter, I sat, gazing at each of the rulers before me.
“I am Alithea Viktory Skuld Ahlstrom, Queen of the Valkyries, High Queen of the Nine Realms, and I have become.”
✨✨✨
I hope you have enjoyed Alithea’s story, but we are just getting started. Vendela will begin her ascension in The Rejected Queen: Berserker: Ascension of the Nine Realms Book 2 coming later in 2022.
But in the meantime, who’s up for more Druan? The Chosen Sons will be available very soon, and best of all it’s FREE and exclusive to Subscribers. Sign up here to be among the first to read all about Druan’s time training to become the Chosen Son.