Chapter One

Esther fidgeted with the ring on her hand as she watched the party continue, people dancing joyfully, everyone seemed so happy. Everyone but the guests of honor. Esther despised parties, they were loud, and hot and someone somehow always managed to spill something on her. It was like a game to see how long she could avoid the drunken men stumbling with their drinks before one of them ruined her dress. The only thing she hated more than these parties, was the second son of Odin.

He was a brash, immature, ungrateful, brat whom she couldn't stand being in the same vicinity as, and now she was going to be forced to call this man, even though he acted more like a boy, her husband. She remembered pitying the poor soul that would have to marry Loki when she was younger. Even when he was a boy he was immature for his age, always playing tricks, and lying, and she had never imagined that she would be the one that was forced into this unholy bond.

Scanning the room she found that she could not even locate the young prince. There were so many many bodies in that room, the space had seemed so large before, but it now felt as though the walls were closing in. After another minute or so she snuck outside before she could suffocate in that horribly cramped space. Once on the balcony she removed her shoes, and wedged one of her heels under the door so she wouldn't be disturbed.

Perhaps I can just remain out here forever, she mused, then sighed knowing eventually someone would come looking for her, and the drop from the balcony was only enough to break a leg or two. It would take a lot more than that to stop this wedding. Everyone was very set on the prince settling down, supposedly a family would calm his wicked demeanor. Esther doubted that, as since she had arrived at the castle she had been treated with nothing but contempt by Loki, perhaps they were meant to be sweet, but she could see right through him, she'd always had an astounding ability to read people, and she could feel every passively aggressive word that came from his lips.

"You know, it's rude to leave one's own party." A silky voice sounded from behind her. She whipped around surprised, and unprepared by the intrusion of her thoughts. Glancing down at Loki's hand she found he held her left shoe. "The trick is to put it between the two doors instead of under, otherwise it only keeps the one door from opening." He explained, with a light chuckle.

"I apologize my lord, it was feeling a bit hard to breathe in there." She murmured, shifting her eyes to her fidgeting fingers as she spoke. Loki took a step closer to her, while she fought the urge to take a step back, if he was to be her husband she would have to get used to being near him anyways, right?

He unexpectedly grabbed her hands, gently, halting her fidgeting fingers. She froze at his touch, her eyes darting up to meet his only for a moment, searching them for a sign of what he was trying to convey, because she highly doubted it was just for the sake of tenderness. After a long moment, his eyes narrowed, he placed her arms to the sides of her body, and raised one of his hands to her chin, holding it so that she could not look away from him. "Why is it that you have so much trouble looking me in the eye." He appeared to be talking to himself, she was unsure if she should answer or not, but after another long moment of her looking at him expectantly she spoke.

"I don't mean any disrespect my lord, my mind wanders sometimes, I apolo-" Loki let go of her chin and threw his head back, a loud laugh escaping his throat, stopping her mid sentence. "Did I say something funny, my lord?" She asked, softly though in her mind it was a far more sarcastic comment.

"I think you forget dear Esther that we have known each other since childhood, whatever happened to that sharp tongue you used to have?" He asked with a daring raise of his eyebrows.

She would not play his game, at first he might find her harsh words fun, but then she would say something to anger him, and she wasn't in the mood to deal with his temper, especially not right then. "Yes, well, as you said I was a child, I spoke brash words loosely, and I learned from my foolishness." Esther retorted stiffly.

"I see, so you're saying you've changed?" He questioned, and a corner of his mouth turned up when she nodded, again not looking at him, but instead at the ground floor below the balcony. "I think that you're a liar, and I think you've just been beaten into controlling your tongue. Speaking of beatings, how is your father."

Do not get sucked into his games, she reprimanded herself. "Did you not meet with my father just last week to arrange this engagement? I'm quite sure you've seen him more than I have as of recently so why don't you tell me." She hissed, as hard as she tried to control herself, bringing up her fathers abusive tendencies was a low blow, even for him.

"I'm sorry we've kept you here, but we couldn't have you showing up at the wedding with a black eye now could we?" He just had to continue to poke the bear.

"You know nothing of my father, or my family." She began, her entire body shaking with anger.

He scoffed, "I know enough." stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her against him he whispered softly. "Why do you think I chose you?"

She took a deep breath as a tear slipped down her cheek. "So what?" She uttered, hoarsely, "You took pity on me? Did you expect me to be grateful for your great sacrifice." Her voice got louder, and a corner of her brain reminded her there was party behind those doors, she turned around to face him, and almost lost her strength she had mustered, when she saw how close he was, but she continued anyway. "I don't need a knight in rusty armour. You are not all that you think you are Loki." She hissed, and would have regretted her words, if she wasn't so stubborn, as his face contorted with anger. Despite his rage she continued. "I would prefer to be trapped in that life than to be trapped in this one." before he could reply she pushed passed him back into the hall.

It was unlikely that he would confront her again that night, at least not publicly.

-;-

Okay so that was the first chapter, hopefully the next one will be better, and longer, let me know what you think in the reveiws...good, bad or evil? Thanks for reading!