"You both look very handsome my son's" Frigga said as she smoothed each of their capes inspecting them very carefully. Thor batted her hand away as he walked towards his father "I only want you both to look your best." she sighed.
"Yes mother, but I care not." He replied smirking at her, she smiled at him lovingly then turned to her youngest "I have never heard anyone complain." he added laughing.
Frigga smoothed a loose strand of her youngest black hair caressing his cheek causing him to smile his famous smirk "You will behave Loki," she eyed him with a small smile playing on her lips "this is a very important day."
"Yes mother," he said as she handed his golden horned helmet to wear with the rest of his princely attire.
"They will be arriving soon." the warrior goddess Sif announced as she and the rest of the warriors three entered bowing to the Royals. "Everyone seems to be in quite a frenzy."
"Those who remember the last time they came to Asgard, have been busily spreading news of them." Frigga replied commenting to Sif "It was before Loki was born, Thor was yet a baby."
"Yes, it was." her husband said as he summoned them all to him with a wave of his hand, "It was indeed quite a spectacle."
"How so my Lord?" Fandral asked inquisitively rearranging his hair which was already perfect, Loki rolled his eyes as he watched him.
"The God King of Kmt, and his family are indeed quite unique. They too once were worshiped as we were in Midgard. They however reigned as gods for well over three thousand of Midgaurdian years. The mortals still are amazed and fascinated with the treasures, temples, and culture they left behind with their influence. Their skin glows of gold, and it is said their bones are made of silver."
"Made of gold and silver?" Sif asked shocked yet intrigued.
"Yes, they all are unnaturally beautiful." Frigga replied smiling at her.
"They believe they are gods themselves, as do their people." Loki added smirking.
"How vain," Sif replied arrogantly.
"They are quite powerful, do not assume them soft Sif." Odin added eying her, she bowed her head to him in respect and spoke no more.
"Father," Thor boomed as he looked over at them all."do they enjoy the same sport as we do? Hunting, feasting, and battling?"
"Indeed they do, though they are more reserved in their behavior." Odin replied "If you like you and your brother should suggest hunting to the God King Ra and his retinue. I shall attend should Ra."
"What do you think brother?" Thor asked Loki as he swept towards him as Frigga handed his helmet to him next.
"Yes,"Loki replied softly looking at his older brother "I assume the rest of our friends will be in attendance?"
"Well of course! It would not be a hunt without them!" he laughed as he clapped his brother's shoulder hard. Loki sighed and walked back to lean against one of the pillars nearest to them. "What sport we shall have!" Thor spoke loudly out of excitement began actively planning what they wished to show the royals.
"My King, they are arriving." one of the royal guards announced.
"Send the rest of the Lords, and Ladies inside." Odin said as he walked to sit upon his throne, the others took their places at his side. Quickly the rest of the Asgardian court entered into the Gold Hall they all buzzed excitedly about the impending arrival of the guests, a few moments more had passed then the great doors of the hall opened.
In walked the Royal family of the Realm of Kmt, each dressed in splendid attire with crowns of various shapes, sizes, and textures; made of gold, silver, stones, or feathers. The women wore long tightly fitted dresses of varying colors, and designs, while the men wore knee length kilts of white linen. The all were adorned with varying belts, necklaces of varying sizes, earrings, bangles on their wrists and arms. All the women had long flowing black hair either straight or carefully braided into thin strands, the men either had short dark hair or none at all. They all looked regal and strong with bare chests that were adorned with large pectoral plates that surrounded their chest and neck. Each one of them held a gold staff with an animal standard or animal like symbol atop it. As they walked they walked with a powerful grace as gold sandals glinted softly, and just as Frigga had said as the sun hit their exposed skin they indeed looked "unnaturally beautiful," and just as Odin added "their skin glowed as though they were made of gold". As they drew closer to them they all had the same style of black lined eyes that were drawn out in a cat like fashion. They all looked other worldly, godly, and powerful like stone. They bowed their heads to Odin and his family respectfully, and then parted on two sides, as the last of them entered sitting upon a golden throne with a shade over it, which was seated in a boat having been carried in by 20 servants on each side. To his side sat one of his children who seemed younger than the others, she wore a smaller gold disk upon her head with a gold cobra resting in the middle encircling it. She too had the same style of lined eyes, except she wore every possible shade of gold upon her. She sat motionless next to her father staring straight ahead with unmoving eyes. Once the boat was safely placed onto the floor of the hall the same servants opened a door and guided the God King and his daughter out from the boat. The God King wore a magnificent crown with gold cobras all over, with a solar disk in the middle and two great plumes arising on top of it. He was covered more than the younger men in his retinue, but in a similar fashion. He took his daughters hand, and escorted her revealing that she wore a heavy tight gold dress, and a pectoral necklace of gold, silver, and blue stones, a smaller long necklace of an elaborate eye hung from her neck as well. Her long dark hair hung plainly behind her as she and her father walked closer to Odin's throne as he rose to meet them both.
"Welcome once more to our Realm of Asgard my friend." Odin said graciously taking the free hand of the God King.
"We thank you all for having us." Ra replied with a nod. Though he was much older than Odin, his appearance seemed no more older than his own children eternally youthful as though trapped in the peak of vitality. Odin seemed like an ailing old man compared to the God King "I am very pleased to once again be in the presence of such a fine household." he replied smiling pleasantly observing Thor and Loki.
"Allow me to present my sons. Thor my eldest, who was but a baby last you saw him." he said as he motioned for Thor to come to him which he did in his usual boisterous fashion. Thor smiled and bowed to them both, the God King smiled at him, while his petite child studied him "You have turned out to be quite a strong, fit, handsome young man." he commented and Thor thanked him. "My youngest Loki." Odin added as he motioned to Loki who walked quietly to his fathers side and bowed his head. Ra looked at him pleasantly once again, "He has keen intelligent mischievous eyes, and such a regal handsome face. Do you not agree Sekhmet?" The petite goddess looked over at Loki who locked eyes with her for a moment, they studied each other, then she nodded in agreement with her father. "You must be quite proud of them both? Such uncommonly handsome sons you have. Allow me to present my daughter Sekhmet. She was not able to attend the last we were here, she was detained due to some, how should I put it business I needed her to attend to." he pulled her out in front of him to be presented to them all. She nodded her head to Odin, "I am pleased to meet you all, my father has told me much of you Odin King." she said looked back to Odin. "You are most welcome child, I do hope that you will enjoy your visit to our Realm." she made a ghost of a smile, and thanked him once more she once more looked at Loki from the corner of her eye then looked away. "Please show our guest to their rooms." Odin said as he motioned for the attendants to prepare for them. "We will have a great feast in honor of this occasion. If your daughter would like a tour since she is the only one of your children who has not come to Asgard. I am sure that my sons, and their companions will graciously take her to see a few things?" Ra looked down at his child and she nodded in agreement. "Thor, Loki please escort the Princess."
"This way my Lady." Thor said with a large bear like smile as he motioned to her to follow him. She looked at him with amused eyes, and then walked besides him. Loki grinned kindly at his father, and then bowed to Ra then followed them both, as the rest of the warriors followed after him, they walked into the main hallway and stopped.
"Where would you like go first?" Thor asked kindly, as he removed his helmet placing it on a tray a servant carried, she sighed and thought for a moment then replied "I would like to see what you all do regularly here in Asgard. Had you all come to my home, I would suggest the same idea? I would have taken you to see many things."
"I don't think that you would like what we do." Sif pipped up from the back as she rounded to face the Princess. Sekhmet looked at her with a smirk playing faintly in the corner of her mouth. "We train for battle mostly, ride our horses, go on adventures, charge into battle. Well, not all of us always are, Loki is a bit boring with his nose in a book generally, or practicing his magic tricks." Sekhmet looked at Loki who rolled his eyes in anger as he took off his helmet making it disappear with a wave of his hands, he was about to speak up but was interrupted by Sif again "You might destroy your dress, and lose your jewels?"
"Ah, I see now." Sekhmet who still observed Loki's demeanor, smirked and replied coolly "You must be what the mortals called the Goddess of War? Are you not?"
"Yes, I indeed am." Sif replied proudly smiling.
"I too am known as a Goddess of War... among other things." she replied lightly.
"You, a Goddess of War?" Sif laughed "The soldiers must have worshiped you as a mascot?"
Sekhmet's eyes glittered dangerously "Yes, a type of mascot too."
"I have lead battles, and fought in them along side my battalion." Sif replied boastfully with an arrogant smile. Sekhmet looked at her rather bored as though surveying a child who thought they had more knowledge and understanding than the most intelligent of adults, then smirked.
"Sif" Loki started
"Loki, I know a true warrior when I see one. This is not a warrior." she interrupted as Loki went to continue. She surveyed Sekhmet noting all the imperfect things about her that made her in her ideas a prefect icon of a typical simpering weak princess.
"Prince Thor, may we proceed with the tour you all kindly offered to take me on?" Sekhmet said in her attempt to change the subject.
"This would be a bit of fun though wouldn't it?" Volstagg commented as he too surveyed the glittering petite lady.
"Indeed it would be, don't you think Thor? Loki?" Fandral added smiling sweetly.
"Why don't we just do as Father suggested." Loki said firmly trying to reason with them. Sekhmet looked at him, watching the argument that was about to begin.
"Loki, you are indeed a bore! What are you thinking?" Thor asked grinning at them both, as he dismissed his brother with a wave of his hand. Loki growing frustrated crossed his arms frowning at constantly being pushed aside.
"A match to see which Realm has the stronger Warrior Goddess." Sif replied beaming at the Four of them. Hogun said nothing, only watched amused as their foolish argument continued.
"Trust me this will not work out well." Loki mused to himself but loudly enough for all to hear.
"Oh what do you know?" Sif scoffed laughing at Loki. "What of that Princess do you know that would be a force to be feared?" she added looking at Sekhmet with her head turned off in an arrogant twist.
"I would like to go on that tour of the palace." she replied patiently once again trying to change the subject futilely.
"Yes, a match." Thor agreed "Tis an Asgardian tradition at feasts."
"Brother," Loki warned "father wouldn't"
"Loki! Thor interrupted "Come now! Sif is one of the most accomplished warriors of her sex that you or I know. She is stronger and better than most men. How could this not fair well?"
"I think I will just be going back to my family now." Sekhmet chimed finally giving up her attempts to have the subject changed. "I do thank you all for the um... tour of your grand hallway to somewhere? Good day." but her words were lost as the five of them began to plan out the competition. Sekhmet turned to walk back the way that they came from, when Loki walked in front of her to stop her from leaving.
"I will escort you back Princess Sekhmet." he said looking down at her.
"I think I can find my way, thank you. You all seem rather occupied at the moment." she replied as she looked up at him, meeting her gaze. He swore her eyes flashed blood red as she rounded him off annoyed then nudged him out of her way and continued to walk. Loki followed her a few steps then stopped, "I am sorry it didn't turn out the way that was promised." Sekhmet turned around the sun hitting her just right she shined like a thousand suns, it blinded Loki to where he had to shade his eyes by squinting. She was quite a beautiful sight to behold "You are truly made of gold, silver, and lapis lazuli." he whispered breathlessly as he walked towards her. She moved out of the sunlight back into shadow, suddenly self conscious about Loki's reaction. "My mother and father suspected it, but I didn't think it was possible? I even read in books that it was believed by the mortals that their gods were made out of those properties. How is it you shine like a thousand suns while the others do not?" Loki asked amazed wanting to touch her to see if her skin felt cold and hard, he studied every inch of her exposed skin with his eyes.
"I was born of my father's fiery eye, the harshest of all light." she replied as she shifted into further darkness away from all light almost embarrassed by that revelation casting her eyes down then looking back up at him.
"Do you always shine that bright?" Loki asked amazed.
"No, only when... only when. Well it doesn't mater." she replied softly looking at him.
"May I, may I...Touch you, feel your skin?" Loki asked boldly looking into her eyes as he cautiously stretched out his hand to try and touch her with his long nimble fingers. She backed away from him, her eyes glowing as though they were about to flash red again. Loki put his hand down bent his head and moved to walk away, except he felt a hand on his arm pulling him back. He turned his head to see Sekhmet raise her left hand out to him, "If you must." she said quietly. Loki took his right hand in hers, and with the left ran his fingers carefully over the back of her hand. He looked into her eyes as he did that, and grinned when she looked at him as he rubbed his fingers over the whole of her hand then up her forearm. She looked unfazed then he lowered his eyes back to her hand so that he could inspect it as he then turned it so that the palm faced up. He traced the lines of her hand, flexing the fingers when he finished his tracing. "You feel normal, your fingers are a bit cold, but the rest is warm, and soft. Its fascinating, your skin is just like mine." He commented softly as he looked into her eyes which had softened back to what was the normal color he had first seen. They looked at each other for a moment in silence then, she pulled her hand away with a sharp pull then walked away. Loki watched as she walked back the way that they came, the sun hitting her right side, she didn't shine brightly like fire this time, she had a soft glow to her now like the setting sun on a summer eve. He watched her almost mesmerized till she disappeared out of site studying the way her body moved so gracefully, and her hips swayed elegantly. He watched her till he could not see her anymore so then he turned back once she faded out of site to see what stupid thing the rest had been plotting.
"Ever the gentleman?" Fandral laughed "You can not even charm a barbarian with that silver tongue of yours?
"This can be quite amusing I should think? I will play through with this game" he thought as he narrowed his eyes at Fandral. "Father will not be pleased, if you go provoking his most honored guest child into a fight." Loki said as he walked to Thor "What will this prove exactly?"
"That I am the best, and that they are nothing more than glittering jewels claiming to be things they are not." Sif replied.
"So you are indeed plan to provoke her into a fight?" Loki asked impatiently looking at all of them annoyed.
"In so much words, perhaps the All-Father, and the King Ra will agree to it?" she replied shrugging hopefully "To prove the might of each Realm?"
"Now that I can see father going along with" Thor laughed
"Yes, exactly so." Hougun suggested having listened to the whole conversation and finally making his comment.
"This I now can truly see working." Thor said excited "I will suggest it at the feast. Our Mighty Goddess vs their Golden Princess."
"No, no, no, no, no." Loki argued "No, that is a terrible idea."
"Brother, do you not think it wise to show the strength of Asgard to these guest."
"No, do not. Do not do this, you do not know what you are dealing with. This will end in a great disaster. No, no, don't you dare. Thor!" but it was too late, the five of them walked away to scheme their plot of achieving this endeavor. "That was too easy." he whispered to himself joyfully as he walked back to his rooms with a extremely satisfied grin.
..