"Father!" Natasha raced forwards, feeling the eyes of her brothers and their various guards remarking her flustered state. "I've just heard from Heimdall, tell me you are not considering this?"
The puzzlement relaying on Clint, Thor and Loki's faces as well as the anger flaring in Odin's eyes, told her that they were yet to discover.
"Natalia, we have business to attend to. Why don't you have Stephen" he turned to his head knight, Steve, who eyed her with concern "escort you on a walk around the gardens?" The choice of wording had James muffling his laughter into the side of his helmet. He always did manage to play with fire.
Clint, Natasha's birth-brother, stirred in anticipation. "Consider what, Natalia?"
A hard line stabbed between her gentle eyebrows, as she turned to her brothers, taking Clint's hands in hers. "Father wishes to give my hand" her eyes switched nervously to Steve, who concentrated on remaining impartial to the deliberating King and Princess of Asgard, despite his strong affections for the Princess, though his jaw did sharpen and become more defined as she continued.
"To the same heir of the kingdom we are battling within a fort night." A gasp carried throughout the void chamber. Odin lost his temper vividly as his sons grew argumentative.
"Silence! This is not up for debate."
Natalia started fiercely, stepping forward "Not up for debate? Father is this not my hand in marriage that you are giving away to the dogs? Is this not the future of the kingdom you are deceiving?"
"Natalia I said silence!" His adoptive daughter still showed signs of further rebellion but the warning glint in Steve's eyes left her nagging on her bottom lip instead.
"This is bigger than all of you, bigger than the whole kingdom...do you really believe" he turned to his sons "I'd throw away my only daughter without reason?" He turned to Natalia, taking her delicate hands in his and walking away from the circle of stares "Do you, my darling daughter, really think so little of my love of thee?"
She squeezed his hand back "Surely, it is out of the question." She felt all eyes on her.
The sad tilt to Odin's smile was answer enough "I wish it were, child. You see, Asgard is not the kingdom it used to be. With my lacking health and the disdain of our hunting season" he eyed Clint knowingly, with a rarely tender flicker in his golden hues, showing his charisma and lack of actual anger. "We're weakened and SHIELD...they're rising strongly, I hate to think it, but if it came to war...our chances are not as strong as one would hope."
He turned back to the entire assemble of knights and princes, leaving his princess, alone on the far side of the chamber as he walked back.
"Your mother and I, have been under much deliberation over our options...we've been converting with our allies, Stark...with his kingdom and ours joined, we're stronger. But I fear it won't be enough...and you're becoming of age Natalia, you knew this was coming."
She stared in horror, her mouth a gap. Eyes circling between her shocked brothers, hurt Steve and halfhearted father.
"You...you promised-you said, did you not, I could choose which kingdom I settle! You...you, said-"
The tone and violent pace he turned to her evident enough for the anger burning in his veins. "I know! I know what I said Natalia! But sometimes, you cannot always fulfil promises. Believe me this is no harder on me than it is on you-"
"Really? It seems to me that handing me off to the ENEMY solves at least half of your current problems!"
His next reaction, though brief, proved of his illness. He slouched into his throne, placing his head in his palm. "Natalia, what is the alternative? Fighting...and losing and then the arranged marriage to the heir of SHIELD and Asgard?"
"No" she stepped closer until she was kneeling before him, right in the trajectory of Steve's vision. She felt his eyes on her, heated with warning...she knew this was almost as painful for him as it were for her, the only difference being he wasn't allowed to display any discomfort.
"We fight and we win and then..."
"And then your marriage is long overdue!"
"Not necessarily, perhaps..." Her eyes focused on the jewels behind him, in the gold of his thrown, a smile reaching for her eyes and beyond. "Perhaps, I do not marry and instead take your thrown as a Queen, without a King." Once again her eyes danced to Steve's, this time he caught her glare, curious. This was, after all the first he'd heard of her latest plan.
"Natalia, you know those are mere tales...of imaginary dreams, dreams I am afraid shall not be granted."
She replied rather childishly for the eldest of his children. "Why not?"
"Because you shall never, no matter your intelligence, wit, wisdom, - besides by your family - be looked upon as equal or worthy of this thrown."
"Well let me prove myself!"
Odin stared at her in mockery, "How do you plan that, my dear?"
The thought crept from her rose, petaled lips before having been considered thoroughly "Let me fight."
However the abruptness of her suggestion, did not excuse the laughter she was met with. Natalia turned to her brothers, all of them, chuckling as if they were drunk on mead. Even Clint, her actual brother, was stifling several mild chuckles.
"You? In battle?" She turned back to her questioning father. "What good would that evoke?"
"I'd prove myself whilst we win!"
"If we win, Natalia and I'm not risking the life of my only bargain in a bloody battlefield!"
She froze at the cold words. "Your only bargain? Is that all I am?"
Odin looked to amend his mistake "Natalia, you are much more, more than you will ever know" his hand rested on her cheek, "But this is about more than you or I or even the current Kingdom. It is about the best fit for our Kingdom, as well as Starks', not just now, but in a 100 years time, also."
"But why? Why shan't I fight? Especially when you allow Lady Sif to journey with the knights?"
"Lady Sif, is neither my daughter nor the heir to this throne!"
Soothingly familiar footsteps were approaching from the chamber, if it were not for their gentle and distinctive click on the floor then the kneel from Stephen, James and Samuel along with Thor, Loki and Clinton would have noticed Natalia of her mother's presence.
"Odin!" Frigga's calming tone immediately showed through the lifted lines around his warm eyes.
However, Natalia's snappy response was more than enough to draw him back from the relaxing wisps from his wife, his love, his Queen.
"What if I wish not to be either of those things!" It was harsh and sharp, blunt and brash as well as a little chilling to the bone. Though Natasha felt it was needed.
Frigga's tone turned cold "Natalia!" She gasped, covering the sound of simultaneous squeals of stunned silence. Even Stephen had muffled a glimmer of shock at his Princess' harshness.
Immediately, Natalia stood from her knees, attempting to flee the chamber, dress flowing behind her. However, the arm of her mother held her still for a moment. They shared a stern stare, Frigga willing her daughter to apologise.
Natalia made no such move and proceeded to storm to the doors of the chamber, until Odin cried "Halt!"
For whatever reason, Natalia stood frozen. Odin and Frigga, may not be her true parentage, however they were still her King and Queen.
"Lord Stephen, please escort Princess Natalia to her quarters, where she will be spending the remainder of her tantrum." Steve stood to attention, before proceeding down the steps of the platform of the chamber and leading Natasha out of sight.
As they marched, the Princess caught the last few strands of conversation before the doors closed. "This is why, she shall never be ready!" She could practically see Odin pacing in a mild panic, Frigga besides him, daring to calm him. "She's too selfish, too inexperienced, too-"
Frigga took his hand and breathed for him "too young" her tone portraying her understanding and the middle ground between her daughter and husband's disputes.
They passed through several large corridors and ballrooms before reaching a corner leading to the staircase of her quarters. With no warning Natalia spun once round the corner and wrapped her slender arms around Steve, adjusting to the rough material of his armour. But seeking comfort non the less.
He returned the gesture, his hands caressing her back and warming the shivers away from her spine. She shook gently in his embrace. Feeling the worry and concern piercing his brow. As she slowly pulled away from the hug, her chin lifted as she sought to catch his lips in a generously, needing, kiss.
Their lips barely brushed, for a second Stephen allowed himself the pleasure of such intimacy and closeness with his only love, however he pulled away. His hands still remaining on her arms, his eyes surveilled the sharp, dark but empty corners beside them.
"That was improper."
She whispered to him, craving for another kiss "Nothing about this is proper, Steve..." Her tone filling him with longing, but...just like always he refrained. The perfect knight, knowing full well the consequences of being caught. As did she, therefore, deep inside her, Natalia knew he'd be forever taken away from her, possibly worse, if their relationship were ever discovered. So she knew, it was not always worth it, however, sometimes she needed him so desperately...what else did she have to lose?
At least with her threat of not wishing to be Odin's daughter nor the heir to the throne, being discovered to having an improper affair with the head Knight would be a nice little cherry on top, one that no doubt would not only get her forever locked away in the dungeons but most likely give her father the heart attack his aching body to smartly dodged.
Steve stared down at her, the true heat of his undying love for her a constant current in the blue of his azure orbs. He smirked knowingly "You, my Princess, are certainly your mother's daughter." The smirk continued to grow and flourish at her pout. Natalia was loath of anybody, other than the King or Queen, referring to her as 'Princess' especially Steve.
She stepped closer, wrapping his body heat around herself, her fingers toying with the hard metal of his uniform, causing Steve's eyes to follow her movement and occasionally gulp down a lump in his throat when she toyed with the fabric, almost as if she were intending to rip it.
"What do you think of-"
"Everything?"
She nodded, biting her lower lip until his thumb brushed the delicate pillow of red, gracing her teeth and circling her lips. "About my apposed marriage..." She let the sentence hang in the air like a fog.
At that notion, Steve's thumb ceased with his tender touches to her lips. He returned his hands to her wrists, holding them on his chest. "Agreed of Odin's haste, however, as my King he has a duty to uphold and as my King he has to examine every possible predicament, you know this also." she nodded half-heartedly, her eyes falling from his gaze.
"And, as for you fighting"
"Yes?" Her eyes rose.
"I couldn't bear it if you got hurt."
Her motions became frantic, hurriedly she placed her hands on either side of his jaw "And I you! At least, if I were to battle, we could protect each other!" At that he smiled, full teeth grin that reached his eyes.
"I admit, you would be one intimidating opponent."
Her head was tilted down, just at the right angle that her teasing smirk brightened up the room, she nudged their bodies closer "And don't you forget it!"
This time, when the bubbling desire built in his gut, Stephen didn't hold back. He moved forward, catching her lips in a heated kiss, his hold on her wrists strong as they moved together. Until she pulled back, her pupils dilated and lips red rimmed with the stains of their passion.
"That was improper, Sir Knight!" She joked, repeating his earlier words.
The light-hearted air was eviscerated between them at the sound of running knights below. Finally she looked up at Steve, their sadness of these secrets meetings mirrored in their locked eyes.
Finally, Steve, knowing he'd been gone long enough, removed his hands from her reach. "I'll see you soon, Natalia."
She gulped, sulking in her saturation of melancholy as he retreated, not turning back once. Her chin tilted to the ground again, finally, once she was certain her hues were less watery, Natalia retreated to the top of her tower, arriving at a large wooden door and entering into the largely crowded room of her quarters.
Natalia missed supper that evening, not out of choice. That evening was when the King and future Queen were arriving from Stark Kingdom along with Lords and Ladies, Knights, an heir and friends. Also, Lady Sif, Lord Volstagg, Hogun and Fandral were returning from their scouting trip, where they were sent to spy SHIELD and see how the Kingdom was proceeding to the possibility of war.
No, Natalia would not want to miss a dinner surrounded by her friends and family, especially when she had not seen her previous Lady, Virginia 'Pepper' Stark, who was set to be crowned Queen of Stark within the month.
It was after all, the wedding between heir Anthony Stark of Stark and Lady Virginia Potts of Asgard that caused Asgard's most loyal and recent ally.
However, Natalia was just readying herself for the feast, when she reached to exit her chamber and discovered a locked door.
Typically Odin. Not wishing for his daughter and first heir to the throne to mess anything up.
Well, Natalia would not stand for this! Sure, Odin could have his precious dinner, but tomorrow morning, Natalia would be out, she'd be there for the entire day. Her father would not take this away from her as well.
True to her word, Natalia woke early and ran for the door, it was open...
Perhaps, in Odin's perfect world, Natalia won't be any the wiser and would not know that the door had been locked...
Natalia hurried herself with preparations, she domed her best day dress, a blue gown. It started at her shoulders, leaving her colour bones and top of her shoulder blades bare, it then sucked in at her waist, clinging to her hour glass figure and proceeded to puff outwards, not dramatically thought, more gradual. The blue was a vague, undefined deepness. Not light enough to match the sky, however not deep enough to be considered dark. It was a medium blue. Lines were traced around the bodice and neckline of the dress in a golden beach blonde.
After tying her red long curls up in an endearingly messy bun, Natasha left her chamber, shutting the door behind her and proceeding to the great hall. Natalia had just rounded the corner into the hall when a squeal hit her like a pillow.
Natalia turned to see Pepper, draped in a rich red contrasting beautifully with her strawberry blond hair, running towards her. For a second Natalia was oblivious to the surrounding guests as she embraced Pepper, laughing and giggling as well as squealing.
"Nat! I've missed you so much!" Natalia stepped back to glance between Pepper and Tony, who was stood in front of his seat, smiling warmly. "Doesn't look like it." Nat pointed at the golden band decorating her best friends' finger.
She then moved to welcome Anthony Stark. She hugged him warmly and he whispered in her ear "You're looking great Red! And what's this I've heard about you and Ste-" Immediately the Princess moved away, slapping his arm at the tease.
A loud cough then notified Natalia of her father's presence, at the head of the table.
The Princess moved into her regular seat, next to her brothers and usually opposite Fandral, who was sat further down this morning and Natalia looked up politely to see a new face.
It only took a second for Natalia to register the nagging familiarity she had with the man sat before her. It was Pietro Maximoff, Tony's younger cousin and more importantly the heir to the throne if Virginia and Anthony failed to produce offspring.
Right on cue, the Princess' head snapped back to see her father who was now talking directly to Prince Pietro, "Prince Maximoff, this is my lovely daughter and heir to the throne, Natalia Romanova."
Clint, who was also opposite Wanda Maximoff - Pietro's twin sister -, snaked his hand under Nat's chin and lifted her dropped jaw, closing her previously a gap mouth.
Then Odin turned, a sneaky grin plastered to his jaw "Dig in, everybody please."
Natasha tried to hide her dismay at her father's deceiving deeds, then she caught Pietro's nervous eye, resting on her beautiful face as if he were enchanted and terrified at the same time.
The Princess attempted her kindness smile whilst also sending daggers to the back of her father's conveniently turned head.
After chewing down the building nausea in her throat, Natalia was relieved when breakfast was over and she turned, waving politely to Pietro before disappearing with her Ladies.
"I cannot believe the nerve of that man!" Natalia was pacing backwards and forwards, her Ladies, Pepper, Jane - Thor's fiancée - Darcy - Loki's partner - and Maria were draped over various furniture in the drawing room.
"You mean, the nerve of the King?" Maria corrected with a chiding smirk, one she'd no doubt borrowed from Sam - her husband - one of Steve's best friends and one of the most loyal knights of the Kingdom.
Natalia rolled her eyes "My father." she chuckled coldly "First he tells me that he wishes to marry me off to some no-good-stuck-up-his-own-nuts heir to SHIELD and then he brings the future heir of Stark here, as if he plans on giving my hand in that also!"
From her seat behind the table, a cup of tea in hand, Pepper inputs "Pietro is really not that bad, one of the nicest men I've had the curtsey of meeting." her eyes returned to her best friend "You could do a lot worse."
Darcy gasps, cutting off the Princess' response "Virgina Potts! How could you? As if, Natalia would ever leave Sir Rogers." Fury oozed out of Natalia's skin, as slick and slimy as sweat.
"Darcy!"
The dark beauty turned, "What? It's true! Like you'd ever have the heart to leave Stephen."
Natalia rolled her eyes, though said nothing. Just the thought of leaving Steve...it broke her heart a little.
Opposite her, Pepper sighed, placing her cup down on the table before her. "He's really captured your heart hasn't he?" Nat looked at her throw battered lashes, she nodded once, not trusting her voice at that precise moment. Pepper, being the ever-bright lady, muttered "Shame! I would have loved having you part of the family."
Jane practically leaped onto Natalia "Well tough luck, she's staying right here!" The girls laughed in unison, Natalia returning Jane's embrace just as enthusiastically. Maria, turning back from her previously immersing book, "Perhaps, if Odin knew of your love..."
Natalia shook her head, returning to her feet before the assemble of caring friends. "At best he'd have me wed within the hour of clarification and at worst..." her eyes slammed shut brutally.
Maria stood, her purple dress swaying as she stepped to Natalia, taking her hands gently. "Are you sure? I would hate for you to miss an opportunity, I thought the same about Samuel and I...but Odin is selfless in more ways than one, he even gave us his blessing. And you, you're his daughter after all."
"But you're not the future heir of Asgard and, as father said, I have to be selfless, have to grow up sometime."
Maria smiled cunningly, "You are wiser than you realise, Sam and I-"
"Yes?" The ladies turned, seeing Samuel and James waiting wickedly in the doorway. Sam's eyebrows knitted neatly together, a manipulative smirk playing off his features upon seeing his wife.
Maria turned, dropping Natalia's hands as she stepped up to Sam "Never you mind, Mr" Her hands teasing his arms as she stopped, only just out of reach. "Besides," her head turned to give Barnes a once over "don't you two have a job to do?"
Bucky stepped forwards, speaking to the Princess this time "Actually, that's why I'm here."
Sam turned his head at his friend "We."
James joked "No, I. You're just slacking off again." James then turned to Natalia "Prince Pietro had requested your presence, your highness."
Once again, she felt all eyes upon her, particularly the fierce burden of Barnes, who of course knew of her 'affair' with Steve - they were best friends after all - and wasn't as effective at hiding his loath of the idea.
But then again, was he even bothering.
Natalia sighed, glancing once at her ladies in a bide goodbye and then she walked, nodding knowingly at Samuel as she passed. Wordlessly, she followed James, who was marching at least a foot in front of her, despite his lack of conversation Natasha could feel his hatred bubbling under the boiling pressure of the 'brother' code and the territorial instinct of wanting to protect Steve.
When voices echoed down the corridors and Natalia knew they were not far off from her meeting point with the Prince, she reached forwards. Her hand nervously grabbing onto Barnes, who stopped immediately at the touch. He turned to face her, his head bent to the ground.
"Bucky...do you mind if I call you Bucky?"
"Whatever you wish, your highness." His voice unmistakeably cold.
Her tone turned to commanding "James don't be like that with me!"
Silence as James' eyes rose to meet hers, he appeared as guilty as a misbehaving child. "You must realise that if I could refuse, I would. But, this is about more than my own selfish desires."
"Is that what Steve is to you, a selfish desire?"
Were it anybody else who had phrased it in such a way, she may have been disgruntled. However, she understood James, more than he liked. "I love Stephen" she whispered, weary of the continuation of discussing voices. "And yes, if I could I'd be anywhere but here. If I could, I'd never have gotten myself involved with him, for I see no other future for ourselves other than pain after our inevitable heart break. However, to not fall for Steve...would have only been fusible had we never encountered."
Barnes then did something, so mundane, you would never have questioned the bravery and restraint he took to carry such a deed out, he placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing as a sign of assurance.
"If it helps, I wish I didn't have the hots for that Wanda chick."
Natalia could not imagine another response other than sheer laughter, she quirked an eyebrow suggestively, "If you like, I may be able to get you in there." James added on a layer of red to his checks, pretending her kind words had brought a blush on.
"You see, Princess Natalia, where would be the fun in that? I'd much rather win her over with my charm and charisma."
"Good luck." The sarcasm dripping off her tongue left him wincing in mock hurt, then Barnes returned to duty. Walking side by side with Natalia as they entered the hall.
Slowly, Natalia walked up to an awaiting Thor who smiled upon arrival. The siblings exchanged words of solitude and happiness, at the last second before Pietro wondered into the chamber (accompanied by no other than Stephen, who tensed after spotting his Natalia) he declared softly in her ear "Sister, if this is not the man for you, speak and I promise I will fight father from dust to dawn until he is persuaded otherwise."
Nat smiled, giving her youngest brother a thankful hug. "Thanks Thor, I'll keep that in mind." He winked subtly before passing Pietro politely, if a little stiffly and playfully shoving a smirking James and Stephen.
With the guards eyes on her back, Natasha felt goose bumps invading her skin, running along every inch of skin. She turned to Pietro "You requested my presence?"
"Heard you were a big fan of the gardens, wondered if perhaps you'd feel comfortable giving me a hour?" His smile was anything but intrusive. It was obvious he was nervous and yes, maybe he was here at her father's prompt and request, but the least Natalia could do was ease him into a comfortable territory. That way she'd at least feel better when she turned down his offer.
She curled her fingers into her palms behind her back, smiling coyly. "Comfortable...?" she saw the panic rise in his eyes "More honoured! My mother has always taken pride in the gardens surrounding the castle and I'd be more than happy to show you her art work." Relief filled his cheeks and he followed her, as she turned, facing the guards.
Bravely, Natalia took Pietro's hand and linked arms with him, seeing the tension lift out of his shoulders as she did so. Her gaze then turned to the awaiting Knights, truthfully, and she knew it was selfish of her, but the Princess was more than a little surprised to see nothing other than professionalism in Steve's eyes. Not even a grain of jealousy. Natasha didn't know how that made her feel.
"I doubt the tour will need both of you, unless you'd rather immense yourself in the multi-coloured roses decorating the courtyard?"
Bucky rolled his eyes, at ease only based on the body language Natalia delivered the offer. "I'd rather pass, Princess." Natasha twittered her lips, scrunching her nose cutely.
"Well in that case, Sir Barnes you shall accompany us!"
Natalia eyed Stephen apologetically as she and Pietro passed through the main doors. At the last second before following James turned to his best friend "Care to trade shifts, Punk?"
Steve smiled nervously, "Not in the slightest, Buck." James gave him sympathetic eyes, before whispering "She wants you Steve, don't let her think anything less than reciprocation."
Then, he was gone, following the Prince and Princess.