Chapter 19
The Asgard Universe - The Twins of Fate Saga - Summary/Content Note
The next morning, Gwen runs into Einarr in the hallway between their rooms.
"Ready to start today?"
Einarr gives her a lazy grin, still looking half-asleep, yawning and rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other tries to tame his messy blonde hair.
"Morning."
His gaze takes in her appearance, lingering for a moment on the marks of passion along her neck and collarbone. Then he whistles softly, eyebrows raising. "Looks like you had a late night. Did I hear a little screaming coming from your room?"
Gwen keeps her expression perfectly neutral. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Einarr lets out a snort of laughter, folding his arms as he leans casually against the wall.
"Sure you don’t," he drawls, "because I definitely imagined hearing—what was it?—'Yes! Loki, right there!' echoing down the hall at midnight." His smirk widens into a full-blown grin. "I may have just happened to pass your door when you and your Loki were at the … ahem, height of your ‘vigorous marital activities.’”
She blushes at his impression of her last night. She might be shameless and obscene with Loki, but with everyone else, she is still a lady, especially sober and in the morning.
Einarr's grin only widens at her blush. He's clearly quite amused, enjoying the fact that he's now gotten her a bit flustered after her behavior the night before. He pushes himself off the wall and takes a few slow steps towards her.
Einarr chuckles, falling into step beside her with an easy stride. His tone is teasing but respectful as he adds, "Ah, don’t worry. I've heard worse from soldiers in the barracks." He shoots her a knowing look. "But if it bothers you, I can always hum loudly while passing your room... or cover my ears."
Then, because he can't resist, he leans in slightly and mutters under his breath, "...Or knock next time before joining in."
She blushes again, and a small shiver goes through her involuntarily. She did not expect to have that reaction. She pretends she didn't hear him, though.
"I'll wake the children."
He watches her retreat, smug and far too amused with himself—until Gwen disappears into the twins’ room and the grin fades. He exhales hard, raking a hand through his hair.
This is his job now. No lusting after a married woman. He can control himself.
When Gwen returns with the twins fully dressed, Einarr snaps back to attention. His expression softens as he crouches slightly to meet them.
"Morning, little ones," he greets them, bending down to their level with an easy, almost lazy grin so they won't be intimidated. "I'll be watching over you all day today. Don’t get into any trouble, yeah?"
The children beam at him. Gwen watches the interaction with a small smile before turning practical.
“The job is less ‘watch the kids’ and more ‘watch everything around the kids.’ You’re a second pair of eyes.”
Einarr straightens, expression shifting to something more professional. “Understood.”
They head to breakfast. Gwen doesn’t expect to see Odin and Frigga seated at the table since usually they eat earlier, but both look up as she approaches with the children in tow.
“My apologies,” Gwen says quickly. “We can come back after—”
“Nonsense,” Frigga interrupts with a warm smile. “Sit with us. We enjoy seeing our grandchildren in the morning." Her eyes flick to Einarr, measuring him silently before she adds, "...and meeting new friends."
Odin doesn’t look up until Liv tugs on his sleeve and proudly shows him her toy sword. He studies it solemnly, then her, and something like fondness cracks through his stern demeanor.
Gwen steps aside so Einarr can be introduced properly. He bows his head. “Einarr, at your service.”
Odin’s gaze rakes over him, evaluating every inch. “So you are the one entrusted with my grandchildren.” His voice is low, weighty. “Protect them well.”
“Aye, my king. With my life.”
A brief pause, and then a curt, approving nod.
Frigga immediately smooths the tension, offering pastries to the children while Gwen exhales.
"They’re excited to have him here," she offers quietly to Frigga, watching as Liv enthusiastically recounts Einarr’s "dragon fight" story to Odin between bites of honey cake. "I think he’ll be good for them."
"And perhaps... good for you, my dear. A little less weight on your shoulders." Her knowing glance lingers just a beat too long before she turns back to Varian, who is now attempting to balance a berry on his nose.
Gwen can't help but be amused by the children. They are quite charming even when being silly.
Gwen leans towards Frigga and lowers her voice. "When you are with the children, he is to guard you too."
Frigga pauses, then covers Gwen’s hand gently. “You don’t need to sound apologetic, my dear. I know why he’s here.” Her gaze sharpens. “Some courtiers have grown too bold in how they speak to you.”
Gwen grimaces softly. “I thought hiding behind Loki’s reputation would be enough.”
“Nothing protects like the feeling of being watched,” Frigga says simply. Then, with a sip of wine, she adds, “If anyone tests that warrior, they’ll discover exactly how fiercely this family defends its own.”
Across the table, Liv beams up at Odin with all the innocence and happiness only a little girl can muster, her tiny fingers still delicately working on his beard. Odin's eyes are soft, even though the corners of his mouth are pulled into something nearly resembling a smile. His voice rumbles low as he pretends to wince at the tug of the braid.
"Careful now, little one. You're pulling my whiskers."
Frigga leans closer to Gwen and murmurs, "I think your children have already won over my husband, my dear. That alone is no small feat."
Gwen laughs. “Loki would faint if he saw this.”
Breakfast winds down. Odin departs—beard now partially braided—with a small nod toward Einarr. Frigga follows, pressing a gentle kiss to each twin’s head before taking her leave.
Gwen gathers the children, feeling Einarr fall into step smoothly beside her.
“Ready for the rest of the day?” she asks.
Einarr cracks a small, earnest smile. “More ready than I was this morning.”
Gwen smiles back. “Good. Let’s get started.”
The courtyard is warm and bright when they step outside. Varian immediately tugs on Einarr’s sleeve.
Liv adds sweetly, "We promise not to stab anyone important." Her smile is pure mischief, so much like her father’s.
“Will you teach us to fight like a dragon slayer?” he asks, swinging his wooden sword like he might actually slay one.
Einarr shoots Gwen a look that is equal parts alarmed and amused. “Not today. Lessons first.”
They walk the children to the library and Gwen introduces him to the tutor. Once the twins are settled, Einarr automatically shifts into an alert watchfulness—calm on the surface, but his attention sweeping the room and the halls beyond.
Gwen gestures for him to follow her to the doorway. “This is one of your on-duty moments. Stay close, keep an eye out, and if they start using you as an excuse to avoid learning, tell me.”
He nods, taking it in with quiet seriousness.
The hours pass without incident. They usually do. After their lessons, Gwen walks him through the typical weekly schedule, what’s expected, and what isn’t.
“You’ll have weekends mostly free,” she finishes. “Evenings too, unless something unusual comes up. We’re next door, and you’re across the hall. If you hear anything strange, step in. Otherwise, your time is yours.”
Einarr's expression relaxes as he takes in her words. It's clear he's been expecting a long list of strict rules and demands, but her offer is far more lenient than he was prepared for. There's a hint of a lazy grin on his face when he adds, "So you're telling me I could go get wasted all weekend in some nearby tavern and come back late Sunday night still reeking of liquor and you wouldn't care?"
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your job or cause problems in the palace, I don't care."
Einarr's smile broadens a bit into his familiar cocky grin. Even though he's technically on duty, the easy confidence is seeping back into his stance and expression. He leans against the doorway, arms folded, his tone almost insolent as he continues:
"You know, I'm almost offended you trust me that much. You don't even care if I spend my time off carousing with women?"
"Again, as long as it is outside of the palace. I don't need any crying or pregnant servants."
That earns a bark of surprised laughter. “You really aren’t like other ladies.”
“My status is new,” she says simply. “I still operate by Midgardian standards. You’re a person with a life. I’m not your keeper.”
He seems almost moved by that. He glances toward the twins, then back to her. “What do I do with all the free time, then?”
“Whatever you want.” She pauses. “Actually—Loki and I are planning a trip back to Midgard. I want the children to see where I grew up. Would you like to come?”
His head snaps up. “You’d let me?”
“Of course.”
Something unguarded flashes across his face—hope, excitement, disbelief. “Then yes. I’d like that very much.”
She smiles. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”
In the days that follow, Einarr falls easily into the routine, adapting faster than she expected. He’s vigilant without being overbearing, good with the children, and already beginning to relax into palace life. Even Loki has warmed to him.
By the end of the week, plans for the Midgard trip are already forming. And Gwen finds herself more than a little pleased with how well Einarr is fitting into their strange, newly formed family.
The children are asleep, the palace quiet, and Loki off completing some task Odin insisted was urgent. Gwen and Einarr sit in the garden with a pitcher of wine between them, the lanterns casting warm, gold patterns across the stone floor.
"Midgard might be surprising,” Gwen says, swirling her cup. “They do things differently, and there are technologies you have never heard of. Actually, even in the time I've been gone, I'm sure things have changed so much that I won't recognize some of it."
Einarr grins, leaning back against the wall of the gazebo and stretching out his legs. His manner is relaxed, but he looks genuinely intrigued by the thought of seeing something so foreign. It's almost like watching a kid on Christmas morning. He takes a sip of wine before replying:
"You've mentioned this concept of 'technology' before, my lady. But the more I hear about this 'Midgard', the more it sounds like a land of magic or illusions. I don't think I've heard of anything as strange."
"It will certainly seem that way at first. I'll explain it as we go. It'll make more sense when you see it."
Einarr chuckles softly, raising the wineglass to his lips. When he speaks again, his tone takes on a wryly amused note.
"I have a feeling this is going to be a test of just how much my mind can stretch. You say things like 'cars' and 'computers' and 'mobile phones' and all I picture are strange, magical machines that do impossible things."
Gwen smiles. “Before I came here, I lived in a ninety-story tower. I had my own apartment, a greenhouse, a lab… and a movie room. That was my favorite. We’d sit on these big comfortable couches, lights dimmed, eating snacks, watching films together. Did I explain movies yet?”
He blinks. “You did, but… I don’t understand. Are they like plays? But inside a… box?” He framed some phantom object with his hands. “Tiny people acting out stories?”
She laughs. “You’ll understand when you see one.”
She goes quiet then. Her gaze drifts, her smile fading just a little. “I hope the team remembers me. I hope they’re okay.”
Homesickness presses against her ribs. Asgard was her life now, but not home. And the home she once knew had moved forward without her.
Einarr watches as Gwen's expression shifts, and his own expression softens. He reaches out and gently rests a hand on her arm without really thinking about it.
"Hey," The word comes out gentler than he meant it to. “Anyone who knows you will be just as happy to see you as you are to see them. They'll remember you.”
"I'm afraid I don't belong there anymore."
His thumb traces slow, reassuring circles against her wrist. He doesn’t seem aware he was doing it.
“I can’t promise everything will be the same. But people who care about you don’t need you to fit the same way. They’ll just be glad you’re back.”
She smiles gratefully. His touch doesn’t bother her; it felt familiar, like the comfortable closeness she had with friends back on Midgard.
She tells him stories—of her childhood, her life as an Avenger, the tower, the missions, the laughter.
Einarr drinks in every word. He doesn’t interrupt. He doesn’t posture. He just listens. Her leg brushes his under the table; his thumb keeps its absent-minded little circles. He looks fascinated, almost captivated.
Eventually the wine is gone, and the stories fade into comfortable silence. Gwen lifts the empty pitcher with effort. “I think that means it’s time for bed.”
Einarr rises immediately, movements loose and warm from wine. "I'll walk you to your room."
She laughs a little. "Easy job since you are going that way, anyway."
Einarr grins, not even bothering to deny it. His hand settles lightly on the small of her back.
"Hey, don't insult my job. It's very strenuous and demanding, you know. Walking you to your room is one of the hardest parts of my day."
She snorts. "Yes, because I am so unruly."
Einarr grins and his hand slips down to the curve of her hip, keeping her close as they walk.
"You are. Always running off and getting into trouble. You're a complete menace, my lady."
She doesn't say anything or pull away. She knows Einarr's feelings, and if she were single, things might be different. He is undeniably attractive, and big and very strong. And the way he’d effortlessly hauled her over his shoulder at the tavern…
No, that was inappropriate... She is more than happy with Loki. She loves him so much it makes her ache and think of everything she wants to do with him when she sees him again. The dirty thoughts make her run warm and bite her lip.
Einarr notices. He notices the flushed cheeks and the unfocused eyes. His smirk sharpens. His grip on her hip tightens, drawing her fractionally closer.
"You seem distracted, my lady."
“Hm? Oh. Just too much wine.” Thank the gods her door was finally there. She steps back quickly. “Thank you for the company. Good night, Einarr.”
He bows slightly, keeping his distance now—but his gaze lingers unapologetically.
“Good night, my lady. Try not to cause trouble while I’m not watching.”
She slips inside and shut the door.
The room feels too quiet without Loki. She undresses slowly, lets her hair down, and crawls into bed, deciding to wait up for him.
She doesn’t last long.