I take great liberties creating the history of Alfheim, as well as the backstory of Loki's ancestors and the whole Ice Wars... sorry, but I know nowhere near enough of the comics to use that, and this fit with what I was already doing. I hope you'll like it anyway.
For those who wanted Loki to sing. Here you have it!
This story will be having more songs per chapter than any before (there is a reason this is called Necklace of Songs... aside from a certain poem); the ones used in this chapter are:
- Turn the Sky by Angelzoom, feat. Apocalyptica.
- In her Eyes by Josh Groban.
- Everytime by Britney Spears (with a slight word change to fit with the times and such).
- Someone's watching over me by Hilary Duff.
That's it for now. Enjoy!
Necklace of Songs
(Sidestory to Nexus)
By: Lalaith Quetzalli
The elven princess and the asgardian prince who chose love over duty and blood and fate. Music bound them both, and their union gave birth to light. Their story became legend and crossed all Realms. And a Thousand Years later their love still shines just as bright, with the light of every star in the sky.
Solo
Alfheim was an old realm, some even believed it to be older than any other, including Asgard itself. And as could only be expected of an old, well-respected, powerful world, it was filled with history, culture and, most importantly, traditions. Like the Mother Queen and her court.
It all began in an ancient time mostly remembered as the Dark Days, a time Asgard has very little recollection of, and only when it comes to the war of King Bor (Odin's father) against the Dark Elves and the power of the Aether. But a lot more happened back then, many worlds were shaped by events happening during that time; including Alfheim.
It was during that time that Alfheim became a Queendom, and all clans turned matriarchal. It was consequence of necessity; with so many men having gone to war, so few of them to return. It was necessary for the women to assume command, and once it happened, it just stay that way. From the very start it had been proven that female elves had a stronger connection to the earth, the Mother, than males did. But it was until the Dark Days that the sister of the Last King, Princess Adlanniel took the throne, she would be the first in a long line of Queens.
It was Queen Adlanniel who stated, in her speech after being crowned, that to be a good Queen, she had to see Alfheim as her only match and every Ljósálfar as her children. It was how the title Mother Queen, came to be. It was also how it came to be declared that a Queen was never to be married or have any family, for all her devotion was to be for her realm and her people.
Being the time that it was, there were many orphaned girls around Alfheim. And, as if by some divine inspiration, the head of each tribe decided to send one of those girls, the most gracious, most talented, to serve the Queen. Most would have expected those girls to become handmaidens to Her Majesty and nothing more... instead they became princesses. A sisterhood that acted both as handmaidens, and royal advisers. Also, when the moment came it was one of them, Lady Meldamiriel, Daughter of the Jewel Forest, to whom Queen Adlanniel passed the crown.
And so, every generation, each tribe sent its most gifted girl to become part of the Queen's court; each of them knowing that, one day, one would be the next Mother Queen. It wasn't only a great honor, but also responsibility of the highest order, and all the girls grew up knowing that. With the years and the generations some of the details in that tradition would evolve, as the tribes went from sending orphaned girls to the heiress of their most powerful clan. The decision could be challenged, if someone believed another girl to be a better option, but it hardly ever was; few girls, once truly conscious of what would be expected of them, truly wanted to be princess, and less even Mother Queen.
And while that happened with the girls, a new generation of boys was being formed as well. In Alfheim, the males had always been the warriors, that part didn't change. What did was the creation of the Order of Protectors. Which existed with the express mission of protecting the Sisterhood of Princesses, and the Mother Queen above all else. The leader of the Order, the Lord Protector, was the personal bodyguard of the Mother Queen, and another who was forbidden from every marrying and having a family of his own, as all his attention and strength was to be for the Queen and no one else.
That was Alfheim, its history and its traditions when it came to royals and their duties. However, none of those were the best known, or the most popular by far. No, Alfheim's most beloved tradition, the one that marked its people, was in its music. Long had it been believed by the Ljósálfar, that music was a gift the Creator had given them, a way to communicate, to express themselves, and most importantly, to love. Music was a way for young elves to show themselves, what they were inside; and it was believed that it took the right song for a man to gain his lady's affections. Music served well to show everything even the shiest she-elf could have never put into words under normal circumstances.
Another thing was that the Ljósálfar were firm believers of True Love. While there were arranged marriages, like in any other society, any such union could be trumped by a match. It was said that nothing could be more powerful than a match made by the stars. Trying to break or block a match was the worst crime possible, for it was said that one such individual, if they were to lose their match, darkness would settle in their souls, a void form in their hearts and madness would whisper into their ears until their minds were lost. It was double murder for, in the end, one member of the pair could never exist without the other.
Incredible stories had been told throughout the years about such unions. About individuals who would survive terrible tragedies, surpass insurmountable odds, carried on by the love and faith of their other half. Yet their were also stories about people dying hours after their beloved, just dropping with no wound and no pain, simply unable to survive without their love; or even just collapsing, regardless of what they may have been doing, life leaving them in an instant, at the exact second their match had fallen, wherever they might be.
And all those traditions, in one way or another, came to affect one life, that of Lalaith, Daughter of the Jewel Forest, princess of Alfheim and... much more.
xXx
Millennia after the Dark Days came another Inter-dimensional War. It began when Laufey, King of Jotunheim, grew arrogant and greedy, and wished for a kingdom greater then his own realm. For many, many years, all of Jotunheim's history in fact, they'd been a savage land. Clans and Tribes fighting against each other to survive, only the strongest did. And then came Loptr, the only son of a minor Clan. Most would have never expected him to survive past his first year, but he did. He grew strong, and vicious. In the course of a thousand years he managed to take control first of his clan, then his tribe, and little by little he took over more and more, until all of Jotunheim was under his rule. He became Jotunheim's first King.
Loptr had a number of children, most of them sons, with several mates. The youngest of his sons was Laufey. For the place he'd been born in, he got nothing from being prince, he had no special talents either. But he had one thing: he was greedy. Laufey hated his father, and his brothers, especially the brother that preceeded him in age; he was a runt, so small compared to nearly all of their race, yet he was the one King Loptr favored most, for his tactical mind and his gift with ice. There were rumors that Loptr would name him King, instead of his oldest.
However, the night before Loptr would have named his successor, everything changed. In the middle of the night almost every member of the household was viciously murdered. King Loptr, his five oldest sons, their mates and children. The only survivors of the massacre were Laufey and his only sister Farbauti...
Most had no doubts who was responsible for the deaths, but there was little that could be done.
There were those who tried to rebel when Laufey took the throne, stating he was the only rightful heir left... but he executed viciously each and every one of them, as well as their families, to make sure no one would come after him in vengeance. So in the end, nothing could be done, Laufey became King, and he took Farbauti as his first mate, stating that it needed to be done, for the bloodline to remain 'pure'.
Farbauti bore Laufey two sons. The oldest was Byleistr, he was harsh and vicious like his father, the perfect heir, in Laufey's mind; the second was Helblindi, level-headed, strong but kind, like Farbauti whenever Laufey wasn't pushing her down.
What few knew was that Laufey had a lover, a sorceress from another world, one unknown. She bore him a son. Laufey believed that a child from her would be powerful, and that in turn would give him the power to achieve what he'd always wanted: control over more than just Jotunheim.
It was a plan he'd set in motion years before. Waging war against nearby realms, though he wasn't being too successful, until his second son accidentally found an odd cave-system, one that did not lead to a different part of their realm, but to a different one, one filled with small, fleshy, fragile things. A world so different from Jotunheim, with an actual sun, a world Laufey intended to add to his new empire...
At least that was the plan, until Asgard interfered. The war had gotten worse then, though Laufey wasn't about to give up. He was too greedy, and too arrogant for that. The child with the foreigner spell-caster was part of his plan. The lady wouldn't fight for him, for his war, but she would fight for the world her son belonged to. And that would give him the power he needed to crush the Aesir and taken over the other realm, and from there, all the others.
What he never counted on, was on that son being so small... a runt. Like the brother he'd so hated. A runt... a weakling. Laufey was so furious he killed the sorceress were she laid, weakened by the hard birth and distracted by the newborn. Then he left the baby were it laid, in the middle of the temple where children were always born, before picking up the Casket of Ancient Winters and rejoining the fight. He couldn't have known that, later on that same day, after finally losing the war against Asgard, Odin Allfather would happen to walk past the temple, and hear the baby cry. Even drenched in the blood of his enemies, the King found compassion in his heart, for the young and the elders, those who couldn't fight or had surrendered, and stopped pursuing them; but most of all, he found it for the abandoned newborn, whom he took in his arms tenderly.
The boy's magic reacted automatically at the Aesir's touch, changing its cobalt blue skin with the tribal-like markings into pale-alabaster, its black on red eyes into bright emerald ones. Odin Allfather couldn't help but think that the child must be prodigious at magic, to be able to do such a thing when he was obviously not even a day old, and decided to take the boy with him.
Odin had a son, Thor, still an infant. He also knew that the pregnancy had been hard on his wife: Queen Frigg, it was unlikely she would ever have another child, and Odin simply loved her too much to take a second wife, or a mistress. He hadn't really planned on adopting the baby Jotunn himself when he took it, but the moment he presented the child to his wife, and she took him in her arms, cooing at him, holding him so tenderly, he couldn't help but feel it was right. He didn't even need to say a word, the moment his wife's eyes met his, they were both clearly thinking the same. So Lady Frigg offered the baby her breast, and the baby became their son.
They named him Loki, because the Queen said he would one day break the chain of pain and destruction created by Laufey, and he would one day be the end of something... though even the Queen with all her gift of prophecy knew not what.
And so Asgard gained a second prince, Odin and Frigg a second son and crown prince Thor a little brother. And life continued.
xXx
When the Ice Wars began (the name that was given to the wars that began across all the realms to stop Laufey and his army from taking control), Alfheim wanted nothing to do with the conflict. They had already lost so much in another inter-dimensional war, the last thing they wanted was a repeat of it. However, that did not save them in the end.
Laufey wasn't truly interested in Alfheim, the realm was, for the most part, too warm for his tastes. Even if there were a few cold areas, it wasn't enough. Still, he wanted to take it, for the things he could demand of them. He thought that the elves not wanting to fight meant that they did not know how, that was until the forces he sent were decimated. And it was that Jotunn had not only a disadvantage when it came to the environment, but they'd never before had to deal with weapons like the arrows, which elves were famous for.
Still, and even though in the end Laufey decided to cut his loses, he wasn't about to let the elves be truly victorious. So he sent a team of runts (whom he only allowed because of their ability as spies and assassins), straight to the silver tree, the one that had been shaped through elven magic and songs into the Royal Palace of Alfheim.
That night the Mother Queen was assassinated in her sleep, as was every single princess present, the servants and every off-age member of the Order of Protectors who'd been on duty. It was a blow of which Alfheim was never expected to recover... until she stepped forward.
Lalaith, Lamirima's daughter, youngest child of the Lord of Jewel Forest, the farthest province from the Royal Palace. It was the coolest sector in all of Alfheim. Lalaith was the sister of Merilwen, one of the most favored princesses in the sisterhood (though not the favorite to be the next Mother Queen); she was the only sister. It was so rare for elves to have more than one child, and even when they did, they usually waited for years. It was part of why they simply weren't ready to lose all the court at the same time. Especially with no more girls ready and willing to replace the ones that had been lost.
In recent years, being a royal had become more a duty than an honor or a pleasure. More girls wanted families, as well as other freedoms they would have to give up, were they to become part of the Sisterhood. Which was one of the reasons why it was so surprising when Lalaith stepped forward. The other? She was only five years old.
More than one person though it was crazy, how could a little girl possibly make such a choice? Princess were usually spotted between the ages of ten and twelve, and finally sent to join the rest of their generation between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. Never had a five year old become a princess (no one could be Queen before their twenty-fifth birthday.
In the end they Alfheim no longer knew how to exist without a sisterhood, even if it was there more in name than in reality. So, during the MidSummer festival (which was more a memorial that year), Lalaith Mirloth (given that name for being a child of Jewel Forest), became princess of Alfheim, as well as potential Mother Queen, under the watchful eyes of Lord Protector Erynion (the oldest of the remaining Order, as he'd been shy of his fifteenth birthday, and therefore not on duty when the attack took place) and Lord Frey, a Vanir chosen by King Odin of Asgard to oversee Alfheim and aid them in any way possible (he had no actual authority, was just there to watch, report and help where possible).
xXx
Almost two decades later Lord Erynion was standing, half hidden behind a huge white-ash tree, the oldest trees in the universe (and the most common in Alfheim), watching his princess, in her favorite long, ruffly, sleeveless, pale lilac dress, sitting on her knees on the grass surrounded by her roses. It was the princess's meadow, almost like her personal garden (except it wasn't in the palace, not even in the city itself but just past its limits), limited on one side by a cliff, on two others by two creeks coming together; on the final side was the huge ash tree and from it enough leaves and vines grew as to create a virtual wall that could only be bypassed with very specific movies, almost like a labyrinth, one only two people could get through...
At first Erynion hadn't liked it when his princess would go there. She was Alfheim's hope, their only princess left, their future Mother Queen... if she passed the necessary tests in the course of the following year (though there was no reason to believe she wouldn't). He had no idea what their realm would do if they were to lose her. If a tragedy like that were to take place...
And yet, he'd seen her one day, it'd been a bad season. A plague of some sort had ravaged the crops on the south, and people were arriving, looking for help, for food, for salvation. Anyone with eyes could see how much it pained the young princess (she'd been fifteen at the time) to see her people suffering and hardly be able to do anything.
Something was done in the end, with the help of Lord Frey agreements of trade had been made with Vanaheim and Asgard, exchanging some of Alfheim's most valuable healing plants (which only grew in Alfheim) for the food needed to help the grieving elves survive, as well as new seeds, which would allow them to grow new crops, resistant to the plague. There hadn't been such relations with other realms in thousands of years; the Queens of the past constantly stating that the Earth would always provide... Princess Lalaith hadn't been willing to take a chance.
There were those who opposed the decision of course, but in the end it was done. In the end the realm was too used to the kind of ruling a Queen did; and while Lalaith was technically still a princess, and would be for a few more years yet, she'd been making decisions for the good of her people on a scale reserved only for the queen for almost as long as she'd been in the palace. At first she'd accepted the council of others, like her Lord Protector, some spell-weavers and Elders. But not that day, that was the day she stood her ground and made a decision all on her own for the first time. Many elves probably would have died if she hadn't. It was also that day that the most cynic finally began believing that one day Alfheim would go back to its former glory. Erynion himself included.
And yet, what he was focusing most in that moment, was the memory of how sad the tragedy had made his princess that day, how no one but he could see it, for other than him there were few who ever truly looked at her as anything but the future-Mother-Queen.
He'd seen her that day, the moment court was finished and she was free, take off her heavy gown, kick off her fancy slippers, pull her long hair down from the elaborate, tight hairdo to let the curls fall down her shoulders, before putting on a simple dress (the kind the wood-elves, who lived on trees in the middle of the forest rather than actual cities, wore), and with her feet bare. She'd slipped out of the palace, jumping straight out of the window and beginning to move through the branches of nearby trees, indeed like a wood-elf herself.
It'd taken a while, but he'd eventually managed to track her down, as far as the 'green wall' past the border. He'd sat there, waiting, until she eventually came out. They had a row that day, for he hated that she'd slipped away like that, and she hated that he followed her, like she couldn't take care of herself, or worse, as if she were some kind of criminal. Erynion had to admit she was right, hard as it might be for him to admit it. Alfheim was so afraid of losing its princess, its hope, that at times they treated her no better than a glass figurine, or a prisoner... Also, the elven warrior couldn't deny it'd done good for his princess to get away, it was there in her expression, and in her eyes, in the way they were shining again.
So a deal was made, Lalaith would get to keep her place a secret from all but Erynion himself, go there whenever she needed to have time for herself, she didn't even have to tell Erynion. But he needed to know how to get in there, so if she ever went missing, or something happened, he could reach her (and if she happened not to be there, he would know something had truly happened to her). She agreed.
It'd taken a while, but eventually Erynion heard her sing, it was something she never did in public, too embarrassed, she said; though Erynion did not understand what of, hers was the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard, of that he was sure. Yet she'd never sung for anyone other than him (and even that was arguable, since most of the time she didn't know he was there to hear her). Not even in the Mid-Summer festivals, where so many young elves went to sing, in hopes of being able to find their match...
"What would the point be of doing that, my lord?" She asked him once, serene as ever. "My match is the earth, Alfheim itself, and that's all I shall ever need."
Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if she knew that for sure (some elves were born with the Sight, though it was rare) or just something she wanted to convince herself of, after all, she was to be Mother Queen, and as such she would never be able to marry or have a family of her own.
In recent years the princess had taken to slipping to her sanctuary more and more often, and not even Erynion knew why. Things on Alfheim were going wonderful. The realm had finally fully recovered from the Ice Wars, as well as the plagues. Trade was going well with Vanaheim and Asgard, and there were talks of adding Nidavellir to the treaty. Everything was wonderful... so why then was their princess so out-of-sorts so often?
He had no idea, which was why he decided to go look for her, ask her once and for all, except before he could say a word he was distracted by her beautiful singing voice:
"If I was a bird in your hand
Longing for a new Fairyland
You've opened up my door
You've set me free
Always would return to your hand."
"If I was a pearl on the ground
Only deep blue sea all around
But you would find my light
You'll rescue me one day
When all my calls will resound."
"But if I was a flash in your daydream
One day you'll see my sign on your way."
"I turn the sky to dive into your dreams
I turn the sky to fall into your dreams
A million times for you
I hope, I beg, I pray for you...
A million times for you
I hope, I beg, I pray for you..."
"If I was a tear on your face
Fallen like a star lost in space
I crossed your galaxy a hundred times
To fall asleep inside your embrace."
"But if I was a flash in your daydream
One day you'll see my sign
I will wait, I wait..."
"I turn the sky to dive into your dreams
I turn the sky to fall into your dreams
A million times for you
I hope, I beg, I pray for you..."
"I turn the sky to dive into your dreams
I turn the sky to fall into your dreams
A million times for you
I hope, I beg, I pray for you..."
Erynion could only watch in silence, the way Lalaith seemed to practically sag the moment she was finished singing, as if a lot of energy had just left her.
"Who are you waiting for, my princess?" He asked before he was even conscious of it.
"I don't know." Lalaith answered in a breathless whisper.
It was the truth. She was waiting for something, she could feel it inside, in her blood, her bones, in every inch of her soul... she just did not know what it was supposed to be. As if the stars had whispered some great secret to her, yet didn't give it to her complete, leaving her gasping for more and unable to find it. In the end she could do nothing for wait, if she couldn't go out there herself, she would have to wait for that something to find her.
What neither princess nor protector were aware of, was the tall, lithe figure standing on one of the highest branches of the ash tree, the blacks and greens of his attire making it easy for his form to get lost in the brush. He'd been listening to the princess sing, and it wasn't the first time he did so either. There was just something about the young elf that seemed to drew him in, had from the very first time he'd found his way through the Hidden Roads and emerged on Alfheim of all places. Her voice was like a spell he'd never seen or heard of before, and it had no apparent effects, none except pulling him back time and time again.
Abruptly his whole demeanor changed, he could sense someone trying to force the doors to his chambers open. He'd left a spell there, just in case... which meant he had to run or else he'd be discovered. Only his mother knew he traveled the Hidden Roads, or even knew of them; and even she did not know how often she did it, or where he'd been. So, with that in mind, the young sorcerer used a quick spell to teleport from his spot to the ground, in the shadows where the two elves couldn't see him. Then he went for the cliff and stepped straight into empty air... except not, for right beneath the edge was the entrance to the very Road that had lead him there.
Lalaith raised her head abruptly. She could sense... something, there had been another presence in the clearing. She knew not what or who, but it was important, she could feel it.
"We must go princess." Erynion said solemnly, he'd obviously not noticed a thing. "It's getting late and with the Equinox in three days things are going to be a bit hectic soon."
"Yes, of course." She nodded, getting on her feet and brushing her dress free of dirt, leaves and petals. "Lets go then."
And yet, even as they left she couldn't help but look over her shoulder more than once, in the direction of the cliff... Something had been there, she was sure of that, and she would find out what it was, sooner or later.
If she'd just known just who the 'something' was, and what finding it would entail, she probably wouldn't have been so keen on doing so. Or maybe she would have, even being an elf (the kind of being who valued virtues like patience, compassion and peace above all others), Lalaith was a bit odd in that she liked chaos every now and then, she thought it kept things interesting...
xXx
Thor Odinson, the blue eyed, blonde prince of Asgard and god of thunder, stumbled into his brother's private chambers when the lock finally gave in. He immediately found the one he'd gone there looking for: his brother was sitting by the window, looking out silently. The blonde approached the black-haired prince as one would prey, before jumping, intending to scare his 'little' brother a bit. Except the joke was on him, the moment the thunderer went straight through his brother and crashed against the drapes and wall.
"Wha...?!" She was completely confused.
"You should be more careful, brother." A voice drawled behind him. "That could have been an open balcony rather than a closed window you would have crashed into, and what would Asgard have done if their golden prince went flying and crashed on the yard so terribly?"
"Brother!" Thor spun around to face his brother. "I've been looking for you!"
"That much has become obvious already Thor." His green-eyed, raven-haired brother stated. "I believe I made it abundantly clear that I wanted no one to disturb me on this day, as I intended to practice a new, quite complicated spell."
"You're always working, practicing, studying, brother..." Thor shook his head before smiling brightly. "You should go out Loki! Have fun! Live a little! How do you expect to find ladies if you're always locking yourself inside these walls?"
"That you are all for bedding the first wench that winks at you doesn't mean I want to do the same." Loki stated, almost forcefully.
"If the ladies want me..." Thor chuckled humorously, before turning a bit serious. "I understand that such dalliances are not your style. I still wish you would at least try going out every so often." He let out a breath. "I miss you brother..."
The last part of the speech erased every single snide comment and insult Loki might have been thinking of before. Truth was, there were times when he missed his brother too. The two of them had been so tight when children... then they'd turned ten (Thor a year before Loki, but still). And Thor had begun training as a warrior in earnest. With Loki it'd soon become obvious that while quite cunning, fast and flexible, he just wasn't as physically strong as usual asgardian warriors, nor as muscled. Only a few hand-to-hand styles worked for him, and while he was quite handy with knives and daggers, swords tended to be too heavy for him to hold right. He was also good with a staff, though that wasn't an acceptable weapon for a warrior, while bows and arrows were only meant for ceremonial purposes.
Unable to become a good warrior, Loki had turned to magic. He'd been good at that since he was very young. In fact, his mother had begun teaching him the basic since he was but five years old (necessary when any strong emotion caused his magic to act up in the most unpredictable ways... there was a reason people had begun calling him god of mischief).
It had been nine years since, and it almost seemed like with each year the chasm between the two brothers grew wider. Thor had become great friends with Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun, three talented warriors that would train with him every day. As well as Lady Sif, a slip of a girl who'd turned Asgard upside down five years before when she'd defeated every single aspirant to joining the Asgardian army as recruits, wearing old boy-clothes and an armor that had most definitely seen better days. Loki hadn't been able to stop laughing for weeks afterwards.
Sif, from all of his brother's friends, was the only one Loki considered as his own friends as well. And it was quite easy to see why: she, a girl trying to move forward by doing things that were usually reserved for men... True, there were the valkyries, but they were a different case entirely; they had already proven themselves, had the people's approval before they even arrived, unlike Sif herself, who kept dealing with ridicule and despondence.
It was for that same reason that, whenever there was an important event in Asgard, Sif and Loki tended to stick together; helping keep each other's admirers (stalkers, fangirls/fanboys) at bay. They had no interest in each other beyond friendship, and that was that.
"Sometimes I miss you as well, brother." Loki admitted, hesitant at showing sentiment.
He'd been such an empathic boy when young, easy to smile, and also easy to cry. But adults kept telling him he was a man, a prince, he shouldn't be showing his feelings so openly, it wasn't right... so he'd taken to hiding behind all kinds of masks, mostly emotionless or arrogant ones. He knew his mother did not like it, being quite empathic herself, Frigg did not understand what was so wrong with showing feelings openly. But she could see her son had been hurt one too many times over it, and so did not insist.
"Then come!" Thor stated, all animated again. "Spend some time with me and our friends!"
A part of Loki couldn't help but want to remind the blonde that Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun (the Warriors 3, as they called themselves) were no friends of his... but in the end decided there was no point. At least Sif could be expected to be there with them.
They were on the way out of Loki's chambers (a quick spell repairing the broken lock and restoring the privacy spells), when the emerald-eyed prince thought of something.
"Was this really the only reason you chose to break my door down rather than wait for me to come out?" He asked, brow arched.
"I waited! For a long time!" Thor pointed out. "You wouldn't come out."
That might actually be true, the sorcerer wasn't quite sure how long the proximity alarms on his chambers might have been buzzing until he finally noticed and rushed out of Alfheim and back to Asgard and his quarters.
"Thor..." Still, Loki just had the feeling there was something else.
"It's Ostara, in three days." Thor stated, finally.
"The Vernal Equinox." Loki nodded in understanding.
"Mother wanted to ask if you would go to Alfheim in her place, as she's been called to Nornheim and won't be able to make it." Thor explained. "She says it's important that a member of our family attends, as its the beginning of the Testing Year for the potential Mother Queen, and with the treaties the princess has been pushing forward in the last few years, it's only right that Asgard make an appearance in support of her and her rule."
"I shall go." Loki nodded.
He was so interested he didn't even notice the wide-eyed expression his brother sent his way. And it was that never before had Loki agreed so easily to attending any event, of any kind. For the most part Asgard's younger prince seemed to downright hate such things. So the fact that he so easily accepted going, immediately showed that something was afoot.
Yet, Thor had long since learnt not to get into his brother's business, or at least not directly, unless he wanted to end up with maggots in his food, serpents in his bed or vinegar in place of good mead (Loki did love his mischief). So he decided to wait and see if something happened; if not he would ask Sif, or his mother.
xXx
Lalaith had always loved all the festivities that formed the Wheel of the Year (nothing to do with the fact that she was born in one: Imbolc, a day dedicated for purification, the arts, as well as healing), each for different reasons. Ostara (the Vernal Equinox) in particular for the blooming, so many flowers, and she'd always loved those, especially the roses. Even if they weren't originally from Alfheim, and were quite rare in her world (she'd read in some old journals about and adventurous elf who had found secret roads to other realms, and had found the flower in one of those, returning with some to Alfheim, where they were allowed to grow in certain places (though she'd never seen as many and as various as the ones in her sanctuary).
She didn't love the event any less that year, though the fact that she was forced into the most elaborate, somewhat obnoxious (and heavy) gown yet was certainly a problem. The dress was bright scarlet (a color she would have never chosen for herself) and on her head was a crown of flowers, symbolically, as a reminder of the crown she'd (hopefully) be given a year from that day, when she became Queen. Some had wanted her to be granted the crown and title earlier, ignoring the rules of age, as well as bypassing the tests entirely, stating that she was the only potential queen anyway, and there was no point in testing her. Lalaith had opposed that course of action strongly, stating that if they were to remain true to their history and traditions they had to respect all of them, and not just the ones they found convenient. So she'd remained princess and would go through each test as was expected (they were seven, one taking place in each festival, aside from the one where she was 'presented').
The delegation from Asgard was the last to present their respects and best wishes to Princess Lalaith Mirloth that day; though it did not seem as specially important, until Lord Erynion (who'd personally overseen the list of the members of the delegation) noticed that instead of Queen Frigg and an escort (unlikely to be the King, since he was always busy), the one leading the small group was the youngest prince: Loki, the god of mischief; at his side stood Lady Sif, the goddess of war, who even as young as she was was already becoming quite famous.
"Elen sîla lúmmen' omentielvo (A star shines in the hour of our meeting)..." The prince greeted in perfect elvish.
If Lalaith was surprised, she didn't let it show; though Erynion certainly was. The words the Aesir prince had just pronounced were the traditional words elves used when meeting each other, or at least they'd been in the old times, few people used them anymore. To have someone, especially a foreigner used them in that moment... Erynion wasn't sure if it ought to be seen as a great sign of respect, or an omen of something incredible (and possibly terrible) to come.
"Saesa omentien lle (A pleasure meeting you)..." Lalaith replied in a melodic tone.
The fact that the princess herself offered the correct reply (which was a higher level than the words she'd used to receive anyone else), didn't help matters any, where Erynion was concerned. Still, he couldn't help but think it was all for a reason.
"My mother sends her regrets at not being able to attend this most perfect celebration, Your Highness." Prince Loki stated, back in Common Tongue. "She means no disrespect, which is why she sent me in her place. I have heard nothing but wonderful things of you, my lady, and I have no doubt that all the Realms will be fortunate to have such a remarkable individual as Alfheim's Mother Queen. We can all see all the good you've done for your realm thus far... may this be the beginning of brighter and happier times."
"May the stars hear your words and light our paths." Lalaith told him with a nod.
One more bow, and the Asgardian delegation moved on... and Erynion couldn't help but notice his princess's eyes following them until they disappeared in the crowd.
Loki and Lalaith did not speak again to each other for the rest of the day, and yet, they would continuously gaze around, as if looking for the other, always believing no one could see it, though some did, specifically two someones...
xXx
Beltane was the next celebration, though that was mostly limited to Alfheim. It was also Lalaith's first test. It was the easiest, just checking her mental knowledge: history, folklore, traditions, languages and the like. She was quite talented, knowing the original language of every realm as well as Common, and a number of other Ancient Tongues.
The next festivity, that of Summer Solstice, was another matter entirely. The test took place early, before the celebrations began. It was a test of purity. Of mind, soul, heart and body; while mostly it implied spell-weavers and a chosen with the Sight confirming that she was untouched by evil, an added point was making sure that she was untouched by any man. Erynion thought it was terribly insulting; though Lalaith had shut him easily enough, once again stating that they would follow all traditions, even the ones they did not like, because it was right.
The hard part should have been done and over with once that was finished. The rest of the day was meant to be nothing but celebration, and it was, until the time came for the singing.
Erynion wasn't surprised when the princess took the first opportunity to leave the dais from where she'd presided over the beginning of the celebrations. He even had a pretty good of where she might be, as she seemed to prefer watching the night's events from a distance; more specifically, the second level balcony, keeping herself hidden in between the vines up there (which wasn't easy with the heavy orange gown she'd been dressed in that day).
As the night was one where everyone in Alfheim took the change to try and find true love, it was customary for them to be masked (that way they only had to reveal themselves to the one who's song called to them, and only if they were willing).
Many voices were heard that night, and it seemed like nothing special, until one. Even afterwards Erynion wouldn't be able to say what exactly drew his attention to that song, that voice, only that he instinctively knew it was important:
"She stares through my shadow
She sees something more
Believes there's a light in me
She is sure
And her truth makes me stronger
Does she realize
I awake every morning
With her strength by my side."
It was clear, from the very beginning, that that wasn't the song of a man looking for love, of those who sang in the hope of someone listening to them, anyone, feeling drawn to that song. No, that song was obviously meant for someone, a very special someone, though there was no way for anyone to know who, or even who the singer was. One thing was clear though, he was a sorcerer. It was clear in the way he'd woven magic to make the instruments follow him, rather than let the musicians find their way into the melody he was creating with his own voice. There was great power in him, and amazing focus. If only they knew who the song was meant for...
"I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am..."
All around the clearing, activity stopped, as all eyes turned to the singer on the dais. They were all drawn by the song, even if no name had been given, and no one was reacting in any particular way that made it seem they were the object of the song. And the singer, above all, was giving nothing away, his eyes to the sky as he continued, never meeting anyone's gaze... or so it seemed.
"This world keeps on spinning
Only she stills my heart
She's my inspiration
She's my northern star
I don't count my possessions
All I call mine
I will give her completely
To the end of all time."
What no one knew was that the singer was no elf, no, it was an Aesir; and not even any Aesir, but the second prince: Loki. He'd returned to Alfheim, hoping to meet again the woman he couldn't get out of his mind, no matter how hard his tried. Time and again his brother had taken him to pubs and parties, pushing him in the direction of this or that girl, but none of them mattered in his eyes; his mind was always bringing up another one. And it wasn't even the picture of the perfectly poised princess he'd seen on the Equinox, but that of the girl in the simple dress, kneeling a midst a hundred roses in a secret corner of Alfheim. She fit so perfectly in that surrounding, as if she were a rose that had been blessed with elven form. Hair a mix of browns, reds and the darkest gold, and her eyes... a perfect, earthly mix of brown and green. How those eyes haunted him... to the point that when he'd heard that elf say that the highlight of that night's celebration was the chance for any elf to express their love through song, he hadn't been able to hold himself back. It mattered not that he'd never before sung, that he had no song in mind, he just let his heart, his soul, speak for him, and the result was more than he could have ever dreamt of...
"I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am..."
"In her eyes I see the sky and all I'll ever need
In her eyes time passes by and she is with me..."
Also unknown to anyone in the clearing, Loki's eyes weren't staring at the sky, no, they were fixed straight on the one hiding on the second level's balcony. And she knew that as well as he did. Still, she was so shocked by his song, by his daring, that she wouldn't move, wouldn't say a word, she hardly even breathed, even as she couldn't help but feel inside her body, her heart-rate pick up, her song come alight, the fire growing brighter with every verse sung.
"I am not a hero
I am not an angel
I am just a man
Man who's trying to love her
Unlike any other
In her eyes I am...
In her eyes I am..."
Even after the song ended, Loki did nothing but stare straight at her, the young princess hiding behind the flowers and vines. Willing her to acknowledge him, his song. Yet she wouldn't, she knew she couldn't, something he couldn't seem to be able to comprehend. So she simply turned, fleeing the balcony and the celebration as a whole, not to return for the rest of the night. And Loki was left standing there, having sung his heart out, with no idea what else to do.
Unknown to Lalaith, even as she ran, the wind carried her sobbed words to Loki's ears:
"I cannot, I must not..." She murmured to herself. "No love, no passion, only duty. My body, my mind, my heart to Alfheim, and nothing else matters..."
So said she... yet her soul knew that wasn't true, not anymore, it might have never been...
xXx
Erynion would hate to admit it, but it actually took him a while to notice something was very wrong with his princess. After a month he began seeing her constantly stressed out, yet thought it was simply the next test coming. A test of her judgment, of her decision-making; yet she'd been doing such things for years by then, so it wasn't that hard. Not really.
Then Lammas, and her test, passed, easy enough, and the princess's tension only seemed to escalate. It was then that Erynion decided to investigate. He noticed she was almost permanently depressed, eyes straying around her, as if looking for something that ought to be there yet wasn't. As if the absence of that something were breaking her inside a little bit at the time. During the first six weeks it hadn't been quite as obvious, the stress back then had been more a speculative one, the anxiousness of hoping and fearing for something at the same time. And then the festival passed, and it was then that depression set in.
It still took almost six more weeks for Erynion to fully understand the cause for the depression. It couldn't be the tests, everyone agreed the princess had been doing wonderful thus far, that and the near twenty years she'd spent as princess were more than proof enough that she was capable, and also exactly what Alfheim needed.
Then a day came when he saw her leave the palace in the middle of the night (late enough that they were closer to dawn that to dusk already). She was in her sleeping clothes, a robe haphazardly thrown over, no shoes and her hair still in its loose sleeping braid. Erynion was so afraid of what she might do when in such a state that he followed her instantly. He lost her a couple of times through the woods, but knowing where she'd end up helped. He reached the sanctuary just in time to see it begin.
It was a song, or supposed to be; Erynion wasn't actually sure it ought to have that name, there was so much pain in each word, it wasn't what elves used their songs for; though, at the same time, they were her feelings, she was expressing herself, and that was most definitely why the elves sang, in the end. It was obviously what had her singing...
"Notice me
Take my hand
Why are we
Strangers when
Our love is strong
Why carry on without me?"
"Everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you darlin'.
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, it's haunting me
I guess I need you darlin'."
From the moment the song began the Lord Protector knew, without a doubt, that what made his princess sad wasn't really a thing, but a person. She was depressed for the absence of a person. Someone she'd expected to attend Lammas ahd hadn't, someone she kept hoping to see... And it wasn't just in her voice, but in her posture and her every gesture. The way she knelt rather than sat in between the roses, eyes to the sky, arms extended, as if reaching for something (someone) that wasn't really there, and all he could do was wonder who it was she missed so strongly?
"I make believe
That you are here
It's the only way
I see clear
What have I done?
You seem to move on easy."
"And everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you darlin'.
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you darlin'."
"I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song is my sorry..."
It came to him rather abruptly, as his princess sang those very lines, along with the memory of a man with the eyes to the sky, singing seemingly to the stars... except he hadn't been looking at the stars; Erynion realized that, finally. Lalaith had been on a balcony in the second level, and the man had known, he'd sung that song for her. He'd obviously not gotten the response he was expecting, she hadn't gone to him, because she was the princess, Alfheim's future queen, she just couldn't... and that had caused him pain, and was causing her pain, even three months later...
"At night I pray
That soon your face
Will fade away"
"And everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you darlin'.
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you darlin'."
The Lord Protector moved before he was even conscious of it, rushing down from the tree and to his princess's side in an instant. He would have called to her, if he didn't think that would only make things worse, he looked so weary, so fragile in that moment, as if a single word could break her, either his or hers.
"Lalaith...?" He called, kneeling by her side.
The she-elf's eyes snapped open abruptly. Erynion hardly ever called her by her given name; in fact, she was rather sure he hadn't for almost a decade... It took a few seconds but eventually she seemed to remember what she'd just sung, and realize that he must have heard her. Her rosy skin went pale so fast Erynion feared she could faint.
"Amin hiraetha (I am sorry)..." She croaked.
The fact that she was asking for forgiveness in their own ancient tongue was more than enough confirmation about something being very wrong.
"What ails you, little one?" He asked her in a thick brogue and a brotherly manner.
So many times he'd asked her that, in the quiet of the night, in the privacy of her own quarters, many years before. At a time when she'd been so young, technically still a child, and yet she'd willingly left all she knew behind to become a princess. Erynion, almost ten years older than her, had been an older brother to her back then, her confidant, before ever becoming her protector. It seemed at times to him that their respective duties had only pulled them apart.
"My soul weeps..." She answered in a low voice.
He immediately realized that was a very specific choice of words, and also that, together, they could only mean one thing: a broken match...
But how?! He would have known if his princess had a match, wouldn't he? Except... no. He would have known if his little sister had found her match, but he hadn't treated her as his little sister for many years. With everyone around always talking about duty, about when she'd be Queen; with everyone constantly reminding her of her place, even him... it was probably no surprise that she hadn't confided in him. He wondered when the last time was anyone called her Lalaith, rather than simply princess?
What he didn't understand was, how could it be? The Mother Queen had no match, she lived for her realm and its people; even the princesses, they could only marry if they surrendered their crowns and titles, and even to do that they needed first to have chosen a successor and for the Queen to approve of the change... Still, those were just protocols, he had rarely seen a princess step down, and it'd never happened with a Queen. It was believed to be impossible. They were born to serve Alfheim...
Except Lalaith wasn't born to be Queen, not even a princess, was she? The little girl might have selflessly offered herself in Alfheim's time of greater need. And they'd all been so terrified at the prospect of existing without a Queen... that they accepted, never thinking about how they might end up hurting her sooner or later.
"It's alright, Lalaith, sweetheart, it'll be alright." He would do everything in his power to make sure of that.
"I... I shouldn't..." She kept trying to apologize. "My duty... I..."
"Sh..." He crooned at her, as if she were a little girl once again. "It's alright little one. Everything will be fine. We didn't know, no one could have known..."
"I did." That affirmation shocked him to his core.
She had known she had a match?!
"Nana (Mama)... she had the Sight, though hardly anyone knew." She admitted, taking a deep breath. "She said no one outside our family could know. Because if they knew they would want to take her away, send her with the coven, and that wasn't where she was meant to be."
"What did she See?" Erynion dared ask after several seconds of silence.
"She saw our future, my sister's, and mine." Lalaith began saying, sounding half-absent. "She said that both of us would carry crowns, one by fate, the other by destiny. She said Merilwen's heart would always be for her Queen, her body and mind on her duties, and her soul would be for Alfheim; meanwhile I... she said my body and mind would lead me to duties, as would my heart and soul, until the day a song would shatter the duty and claim me completely. Then my soul would never be my own again. I would instead live for the roses, the stars and magic..."
"Magic...?" Somehow that part seemed to be what confused Erynion most. "But I thought you had no magic..."
"It's what she said." Lalaith murmured, not quite paying attention anymore.
Erynion would probably be the first to admit he did not understand a lot of what was going on, at all. He knew Seers were quite real, though by the way Lalaith had explained things, it was quite obvious he wouldn't be able to find that prophecy in the archives. Which meant that all he knew about them was whatever the princess remembered. He wondered what it meant about one of the sisters carrying the crown for fate and the other for destiny... Though still, it was quite obvious that the most important part was the one that mentioned Lalaith surrendering her heart and soul to a song (though that certainly fit what he'd been able to deduce thus far). And yet, that did not help him decide what he ought to do next.
"Lalaith..." He called, when he noticed her eyes beginning to close.
"I'm tired, big brother..." She murmured, barely in a whisper.
The Protector's mind was made up the moment the she-elf went limp, unconscious, surrounded by wilting roses. She'd been suffering so much, in silence, for weeks, it was time it stopped. He knew his actions would have consequences, and yet he couldn't help but feel it needed to be done. His princess needed help... no, his dearest friend, needed help.
Thenidiel, the young but very promising spell-weaver seemed to be waiting for him when the Lord Protector arrived. She didn't allow him to say a word, and he could guess why, as long as the words weren't said they each could claim deniability in their own way... she simply handed him what looked like a translucent bauble, though he could feel there was power in it.
"Drop it at your own feet when you're ready." She told him in a calm voice, with the cadence all spell-weavers seemed to have. "It will take you where you need to be."
"How will I get back?" That truly worried Erynion, how could he help Lalaith if he couldn't get back to her?
"He will know how." Thenidiel told him simply.
Erynion didn't ask who 'he' was, even if he himself did not know. They were still in the palace, and walls had ears. He didn't want word of anything getting out until it was absolutely necessary. If Lalaith truly had a match (and everything seemed to point in that direction), the implications of such a thing... there was no way of knowing what would happen.
xXx
The moment his feet touched ground again, Erynion immediately began looking around, soon noticing the golden palace rising behind him. He was in Asgard... the moment he fully processed that, he had a very good idea who the mysterious singer was.
Getting inside the palace was easy, even cloaked and with the hood up as he was (he didn't want someone to recognize and ask what the Lord Protector of Alfheim was doing there). What wasn't quite as easy, was finding prince Loki. Until someone found him instead. At first he was sure the Lady Sif would turn him over to the guards, until he said he was looking for Prince Loki. He would never know how exactly that had been enough o convince the Lady Sif to help him, rather than believe him insane, or worse, a criminal. But she guided him to a different hall, which he soon realized was the Royal Wing.
Erynion wasn't expecting what he found once he was in; though, on hindsight, he should have. The young Aesir prince looked almost as bad as his princess was, though he was obviously still fighting to hide it. The elven-warrior remembered the first thought he'd had after Lalaith had told him what was wrong with her; though he still couldn't wrap his head around how it was even possible. The two had never so much as touched each other, they'd hardly even spent time in the other's company; and the only two times they'd exchanged words were during his visit to Alfheim during Ostara and his song while masked in the Solstice. How then had they developed a bond so strong they were suffering from the breaking (or at least the weakening) of it? It was almost as if the bond had formed all on its own...
Erynion chose to push the thought away, rather than to follow that line and be forced to consider the implications of a soul-bond, a match, forming all on its own; for it was one thing for them to say that the stars created matches, usually they were people who got to know each other before anything happened, but with those two...
The moment the black-haired prince laid eyes on the elven protector, as the hood was pushed down, he reacted (though Erynion could see he was forcing himself to move).
"What's happened?" He asked, trying for demanding, but only managing to sound breathless.
"I think you already know, my lord..." Erynion murmured.
"But... no..." The aesir was in denial. "It's not possible. She... it was her choice."
"I don't think anything is truly her choice, or yours, anymore, where it comes to your situation, your Highness." The Protector murmured, waiting a beat before adding, hesitantly. "I don't think it ever was, not really."
"What are you talking about?" Sif demanded abruptly.
"My lady..." Erynion began, not really knowing what to say.
"Don't my-lady me, Lord!" the goddes of war snapped at him. "I brought you here because you obviously knew something about what's wrong with Loki. He's been like this for weeks, getting worse every day, now tell me what's wrong with him!"
"The closest thing I have to describing it is a stressed-out bond." Erynion told her respectfully.
"Stressed out..." Sif repeated, before fully processing it. "What?! What bond? How?" She turned to Loki abruptly. "When did you bond with anyone?!"
"That's the point exactly Sif, I never did... at least not consciously." Loki admitted quietly.
"But... an involuntary bond..." Sif's eyes widened dramatically. "That's almost unheard of! It's supposed to be just a legend..."
"Yet here we are..." Loki drawled sarcastically.
"Who...?" Sif asked, eyes intense.
Erynion snapped his mouth closed abruptly. He couldn't make the choice for the prince, but he wasn't giving up his princess, not with something so delicate.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to say it Sif." Loki murmured, looking straight at his friend and willing her to understand. "It's not that I don't trust you, I promise. I just don't trust whoever else might happen to listen..."
Sif knew what he meant. How could she not? She had spent a lot of time in Loki's company in the last ten years or so, practically lived in the palace herself! She knew that there were always people trying to listen in on others, and most weren't good. If Loki truly was part of something as rare and legendary as an involuntary match... then it probably was better to keep her soul-mate's identity a secret, at least until they knew more of what was going on. Though, truth be told, the elf's presence was enough to make her suspect; and yet she would never say anything about it, she knew Loki trusted her a lot, allowing her to remain present as he and the Lord Protector had such a delicate conversation, she wouldn't let her dear friend down.
When they got back to Alfheim Erynion took a moment to process the existence of the Hidden Roads (he'd read about them once, but never imagined seeing, much less traveling through one). Sif had stayed back, so the two of them were the only ones to travel. Erynion was specially unsure about the fact that the Road lead straight into his princess's sanctuary... Then, as he turned to express his opinion to either his princess, the prince, or both, he couldn't help but freeze as his eyes laid on them.
Loki was half lying, half sitting against the over-grown roots of the huge white ash tree, eyes closed; Lalaith was curled into his body, her head on his shoulder one of her hands being held by one of his, the other fisted on his forest-green tunic; meanwhile, the prince's free hand was carding through her auburn hair (which, at some point, had been released from its braid).
A part of Erynion expected to feel affronted by the fact that a foreigner (a man at all) was holding his princess (his little sister) so closely, and when she was dressed in nothing more than sleeping clothes and a thin robe. And yet, something just felt right, about the way the two were holding onto each other, so much that, in the end, Erynion said nothing. Besides, there was nothing sexual about the way the pair held onto each other, it was tender, emotional and so many other things the Protector couldn't quite put into words, yet in no way improper.
"Worry about nothing." He said, eventually, not even truly thinking about the words before he said them. "I'll let the council know that our princess is feeling a bit under the weather and would rather be left alone for the day."
He thought the two might have nodded, but he wasn't quite sure. Still, he trusted they would know... and he had to go and make sure no one would notice the princess really wasn't in her quarters; he honestly had no idea what they'd be doing later but, hopefully, there would be time for that... later.
The next day, Erynion couldn't help but feel like he was seeing his princess for the first time, or a whole new her. It wasn't that she'd regressed, not at all. She wasn't who she'd been before that fateful Midsummer festival, (with the declaration and the apparent rejection), not even as she'd been before first laying eyes on him during Ostara. No, it was like a new version of her, a better one... and wasn't that the whole purpose of a bond, to bring out the best in a person? To inspire them, push them forward and complete them... And that last part was precisely the problem, for how could she ever be their Mother Queen, when she'd already been completed by her match.
That day's test (the princess's connection to the land) went easy enough. Erynion, as always, was there to offer his support and give his approval in the end. He knew he could have said something about the growing bond between Lalaith and the Aesir prince, but in the end decided not to. He would wait and see. After all, if the two got nowhere with the bond there was no reason to ruin everything she'd worked for during the last twenty years, right? Right... he had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy.
xXx
Weeks later came Samhain, once again a festival that was limited to Alfheim. Still, Erynion was not surprised at all when he saw Prince Loki in attendance. He was alone, as was to be expected, and doing the best not to call any attention onto his person, and Erynion decided to help him by not approaching him at all. Instead he just watched from a distance the looks he and the princess kept giving each other, making sure no one noticed (though he was still surprised no one did, even with all his efforts).
Later that same day, after the test (about the stars, that time), the feast, and right before the starlit vigil that would last for the rest of the night, Erynion made up his mind to meet with the two of them and remind them of how delicate it would be if people were to so much as suspect anything improper was going on between the two of them. What he wasn't expecting was the conversation he ended up overhearing from just outside his princess's private quarters.
"It hurts still, you know?" She whispered, her voice low and watery.
"I know..." He murmured back, and it sounded like he truly did. "I feel it too..."
"It's like... sometimes I feel like everyone else has forgotten everything, forgotten them. Like they are now just part of one of the festivals... but I still remember. I remember Merilwen's face so clearly. She was always the most beautiful of the family, tall, lithe, the prettiest she-elf in the village, everyone said. So many elves wanted her hand, but her heart was completely devoted to Alfheim, to serving our people."
"Like you..." Loki murmured to her.
"I try." She sounded hesitant. "But at times I'm not sure I manage. It's just, if I was really a good princess, a good future-Queen, I would see everyone as equal... and I don't, not always. I still see Erynion as my big-brother, and all the orphans working in the palace like kids I have to protect. And... there are times when I see someone who seems extra-special to me, because they remind me of Merilwen, or of Nana in some way; and I care for them a little more, for that same reason. I know I shouldn't, but I do... I loved them so much. Merilwen in particular, she was my whole world for those years in my early childhood. As my mother kept losing herself more and more in her Visions, Merilwen took care of me. And then she had to go, I was still very young, but she told me I needed to be a big girl, because Alfheim needed her, and Mama needed me." She let out a breath. "She's the reason I offered myself as a princess, you know?"
"I knew not that it'd been your choice." The prince admitted.
"It was." She agreed. "Mother did not agree. Even as she knew it was meant to be, she feared for me, I think. Feared that the weight of the crown might push me down. And it had, almost completely, until the day I met you."
"The day we met was quite remarkable for me too. I'd never felt such a connection with anyone just when meeting their eyes... And then I got to see you, and I heard everyone talking about you. You're quite a remarkable woman, princess..."
"Don't..." She was almost pleading. "Don't call me that, not you."
"I don't understand..."
"That's all I am to them, to all of Alfheim, sometimes even to Erynion. I am their princess. The future Mother-Queen, the one they have staked all their hopes on, their faith that one day Alfheim will go back to what it was before the Ice Wars... I don't know if I can do it... All that weight on my shoulders, sometimes I feel it might crush me."
"It won't. You're so strong..." He made a pause before adding. "Would you rather I call you by your given name then, Lalaith?"
"I'm not sure. That name doesn't really feel like mine anymore. The only one to use that name in the last twenty years is Erynion, and even then it happens so rarely that whenever he does call me that I need to take a moment to remember it is me he's talking to..."
For several seconds, not a word was said. The Lord Protector was about to walk away, deciding to leave the two royals to their private conversations, when he heard Loki speak again:
"But that's not what has you down today." He commented, low but intense. "Today is Samhain, the day of the dead... does this have something to do wth your sister?"
"For the last nineteen years the Elders have taken to making a mention of all we lost the Bloody Night, during the Ice Wars." She explained quietly. "The loss of our last Mother Queen, the court of Princesses as well as the legion of Protectors. They always ask me to say a few words to lead the vigil, and remember them. It's become so normal that I almost think that they no longer truly care, it's just become habit. And I don't know if they're the ones being insensitive, maybe because none of them had any personal connections to anyone who perished that day; or if I'm the one in the wrong, still caring this much after all these years."
"It's never wrong to care..." Loki whispered. "You have a big heart, my dear, it's not a weakness."
"Same to you..." She murmured, almost too quietly. "You have a greater heart than anyone else I've ever known. And I love that."
"You might be the only one who does..." The young prince admitted.
Erynion didn't hear more, he did not need to. He simply turned and left.
He saw his princess again once the sky was completely dark, the stars the only light illuminating anything in that moment. She was, as was tradition, in a completely white hooded cloak, her face all that could be seen, and in her hands she was holding a lit candle; then, from the second level balcony (the same where she'd once hidden), she addressed the elves gathered all around. Some were also on trees, others on the ground. Erynion himself was standing on a nearby ledge, meant to be the one to receive the light from her candle on his own, passing it over. He could also see, with some effort, a figure hiding in the shadows behind her, out of view of anyone but the two of them: Prince Loki.
"People of Alfheim, my family..." She called with the serenity of always, but a quiet intensity that was very recent. "We all know what this night means. Samhain, the night of the spirits, and of the stars. Long have we believed that the people we love are never truly lost to us, even when they leave this life behind, they rise to become stars, and from there they keep watching over us. That is why tonight is so very important, it's the day we remember them, everyone we've cared for who might no longer be by our side." She took a deep breath, before saying something no one could have ever expected. "As we begin our vigil, I would like to do something different this year. Rather than remember our loved ones in the silence that is death, I would like for us all to remember them in voice, in song, as has always been our best way of expressing..."
There was no actual answer, but in the end the princess seemed to take the expectation in their eyes as approval enough. Soft music, soft piano and possible something with chords, began sounding behind her. Erynion was so shocked by her announcement he barely remembered his duties when she lit his candle with her own. Her smile finally convinced him to move on, even as her voice began filling the night, for the first time ever...
"Found myself today
Oh, I found myself and ran away
Something pulled me back
The voice of reason I forgot I had
All I know is you're not here to say
What you always used to say
But it's written in the sky tonight."
"So I won't give up
No I won't break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
Someone's watching over me..."
No one but Erynion had ever heard her sing before, and even for him it was a whole new experience. He'd only ever heard Lalaith sing out her pain and grief, and while in that moment there was obviously pain, in her voice, her words... there was more than just that. There was hope, and light and so much love... And as her voice grew stronger with every verse, more and more candles came alight, the points of light in the forest mimicking those high on the night-sky.
"Seen that ray of light
And it's shining on my destiny
Shining all the time
And I wont be afraid
To follow everywhere it's taking me
All I know is yesterday is gone
And right now I belong
To this moment to my dreams."
"So I won't give up
No I won't break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
Someone's watching over me..."
"It doesn't matter what people say
And it doesn't matter how long it takes
Believe in yourself and you'll fly high
And it only matters how true you are
Be true to yourself and follow your heart..."
It was a Samhain night like none Alfheim had seen in all its history. The night of the dead, of the stars, the spirits, have always been one of memorial, of mourning. But that night, with one song, their princess had turned it into one of remembrance, of hope, light and love... so much love...
"So I won't give up
No I won't break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe...
That I won't give up
No I won't break down
Sooner than it seems life turns around
And I will be strong
Even when it all goes wrong
When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe
That someone's watching over
Someone's watching over
Someone's watching over me...
Someone's watching over me..."
When the song ended, not one said anything openly, though for the rest of the night Erynion was sure he kept hearing elves all around whispering the same words over and over again: Someone's watching over me...
Eventually the candles were consumed the sun came up, pushing the stars back into hiding, and the people began slowly returning to their homes. Erynion went looking for his princess, only to find her in a half-hidden alcove, with Loki. The Protector was actually beginning to get used to seeing the two together, after six weeks of going to find his princess in her sanctuary, and more than half of those times finding her with him (either in his arms, or side by side); they never did anything improper, just sat talking, sometimes even without saying a word. One time in particular Erynion had found his princess sitting in the middle of a veritable twister of rose petals, being moved around by Loki, both of them laughing exuberantly. It'd been so long since he'd heard Lalaith laugh like that, so carefree, so full of life...
"Tinúviel..." He heard the Aesir prince murmur, almost reverently.
"Nightingale?" The elven princess inquired, confused.
"I've been trying to decide on a name to call you." He explained. "A name that is just yours, that fits what you are now, beyond your title, and beyond the girl you might have once been. And I think it fits, as your voice is truly the most beautiful I've heard my whole life..." He reached a hand to cup her face before whispering, again reverent: "Tinúviel..."
"I like it..." She admitted, almost shyly. "Thank you..."
"No need for that." He assured her, kissing her knuckles. "I am the grateful one, to you, and to the stars that guided my path to yours, the most beautiful creature in all the realms..."
There was no verbal reply from the princess, but Erynion could see the reflection of her face on the glass of a nearby lamp, she was smiling...
xXx
Erynion had thought nothing else could surprise him anymore, not with all the surprises he'd gotten already; he was wrong, as he found out ten days later when his princess approached him, to let him no she'd be nowhere to be found the following evening.
"What do you mean you're going to Asgard?" He fought with himself not to yell and call anyone else's attention. "There are no plans for a visit to Asgard... we're not ready for..."
"Not we, Erynion, me." She interrupted him. "And I am not going there as the crown princess of Alfheim, but simply as Loki's friend."
The Lord Protector just didn't know what to say to that.
"It's the feast for the Eihenjar." Lalaith explained to him. "Loki usually feels a bit lonely during such events, as he's the only one in his group of friends who's not a warrior; so I offered to go and keep him company. I will wear my favorite dress, a sand-colored cloak and my hair down. No one will know who I am, I assure you. Besides, it's not like anyone outside Alfheim has ever seen my face, what with the traditional half-veil I wear in public... sometimes I have a feeling even my own people would not recognize me if I were to meet them without the heavy dresses, elaborate hair-dos and veil..."
Erynion had no idea what to say to that, so he kept silent; he could also realize that Lalaith wasn't really asking his permission for the trip the following day, she'd already decided to go. All he could do was make sure no one would notice her absence. It wasn't time for Alfheim to find out the truth about their 'potential queen', not yet.
xXx
Lalaith was right when she said no one would recognize her. No one seemed to be paying much attention to the fact that the young prince was staying very close to the girl in the lilac dress, or the fact that no one had seen her before. The Warriors Three simply thought that Loki had finally managed to sweet-talk someone; Thor was glad his brother seemed to be enjoying himself for a change, but was too busy himself to pay attention to the fact that he stayed with the same girl throughout the night. The only one who noticed everything and decided to investigate what was going on, was Sif.
"Ok, what's going on here?" The golden haired goddess of war demanded as she reached them.
"So pleasant to see you too, Sif, my friend." Loki drawled.
The she-elf couldn't help herself, she giggled.
"Who is this?!" She hissed.
"Right..." Loki smirked as he went through introductions. "Sif, this is Tinúviel; Tinúviel, this is the Lady Sif, my dearest friend in all of Asgard..."
Sif's expression softened at those words, even as she continued studying the she-elf carefully. She could see the moment the girl turned inquisitive hazel-eyes to Loki, a question in her expression, which the sorcerer apparently could read, for he nodded almost imperceptibly at her.
"What's going on between you two?" She asked, brows furrowed.
"Sif, meet my bonded." Loki announced with a smile.
"Fintalëharyon calls me Tinúviel, but if you must know, my name is Lalaith Mirloth." The she-elf said, twisting her hand before her chest in the traditional elven greeting.
"Lalaith Mirloth?" Sif repeated, contemplative. "Where have I heard that name before?"
"I am the princess of Alfheim." Lalaith said calmly.
Sif could only gape, long enough Loki actually chuckled at her.
"This cannot be..." The goddess turned to stare at her friend. "You went and bonded with the future queen of Alfheim?!"
It was probably a good thing that the young sorcerer had discreetly raised a privacy ward the moment Sif had joined them, for his friend truly lost it there for a moment, voice shooting through one or two octaves.
"It was an involuntary bond, lady Sif." Lalaith told her quietly. "Neither of us chose this. We tried to fight it but... it didn't work out."
Sif actually winced at the reminder, she'd hated seeing her friend like that. Still, the implications something like that would have... she really didn't want to think about it; so she decided not to, instead focusing on something else.
"What did you just call Loki?" She asked the elf. "Fint-something..."
"Fintalëharyon..." Lalaith pronounced slowly. "Roughly translated it would mean trick-prince, a prince of tricks, both for his magic and his mischief." She smiled, looking at her bonded briefly. "We don't really have a word for what he is and can do."
"I don't think anyone has a word for what he is..." Sif quipped. "So, tell me, what was it you two were silently-conversing about?"
"Well..." Lalaith actually hesitated before admitting the truth. "Back in Alfheim no one except my protector, Lord Erynion, knows about us, our bond. I wanted to know if it was safe to share the truth of who I am with you." She sighed. "I know that when the truth comes out, things will get very, very complicated. I cannot be Queen if I am bonded."
"But you're already bonded..." Sif began, before breaking off in shock.
"Exactly." Lalaith smiled grimly.
"And you're telling me all this..." Sif really did not understand that part.
"Loki trusts you." The elven princess said, as if it were that simple, and maybe for her it was.
Sif did not say a word, she couldn't. To have that level of trust... she didn't think even Thor trusted her that much. It was amazing and humbling at the same time. She smiled, silently promising herself to do all she could never to break that trust.
xXx
Weeks passed, a new test and festival on Yule. The test had been on relations with other realms, and it took the form of the re-negotiation of the trading deal with Vanaheim (some people were unhappy with the current one). It went wonderfully. What no one new was that the princess had gotten prior coaching from one that knew the in and outs of Vanaheim's politics in a way very few did: Loki. Still, in the end everyone was happy, which was all that mattered.
Then, as February came closer, and with it Imbolc, Erynion knew they were running out of time. Something needed to be done about Lalaith's bond to Loki, and her queen-ship, and it needed to be done soon. Still, he wasn't sure what to do, which brought him to Thenidiel again:
"You know there is a reason why sorcerers cannot be part of the court, right?" She asked softly.
"I need the advice of someone I can trust." He admitted quietly.
"And you will always be able to trust me Erynion, you know that." Thenidiel assured him. "We have known each other since we were very young, before we knew the paths Fate would lead us to. But it's really not right for you coming to me to talk about your princess's future, especially behind said princess's back. I shouldn't know as much as I do, as it is."
Not that she wouldn't have known anyway. She was one of few (even among those with magic) who could see bonds, and even potential ones; that was even true for her own (possible) future match, though she knew he wasn't ready for that, not yet, and she was willing to wait, knowing it would be worth it. She'd seen the potential for a match-bond in the princess from the very first moment she laid eyes on the slip of a girl, days after her arrival to the palace. The spell-weaver also knew that for someone that young to show any signs of a future bond it showed something truly amazing indeed, a love that would leave its mark, not just in the ones to share it, but in everyone around them... the only princess of Alfheim and the youngest prince of Asgard (who had his own secrets, even if Thenidiel couldn't quite see them) being together would certainly send its own message across the realms.
"Just, give me something, anything." Erynion practically pleaded with her. "I don't know what to do anymore Thenidiel... whatever I do, no matter what I say, things will end up a mess, won't they? That much seems inevitable."
"Sometimes things are meant to be messy, if only so the right people will take notice." The she-elf commented. "But the crux of the matter is, Erynion, that whatever may need to be said and done, they aren't your choices to make."
Erynion knew that, deep down, he did. But he'd spent the last twenty years of his life protecting the princess, after the tragedy that was the Bloody Night he'd rebuilt the pieces of his life around her and his duty to her. He simply didn't know how not to get involved. Leaving her to her own decisions, her own mistakes, went against his every instinct.
"The princess needs to make a decision, between what's best for Alfheim, and what's best for her." Thenidiel revealed eventually.
"It's not possible." Erynion shook his head. "During all the years I've known her... she believes too much in her duty to Alfheim, to the people, to ever put herself above everyone else."
"Maybe." Thenidiel closed her eyes briefly. "If so, how could we ever trust someone to take care of us, when she cannot even take care of herself?"
In the end, it was an impossible choice; no matter what was decided, something would be lost. Erynion did not know if there was a way his princess, anyone really, could make such a choice without breaking into pieces...
xXx
As it turned out the young princess was more clever (and devious) than the Lord Protector would have ever believed. Imbolc came, the day after the princess's birthday (she'd gone missing the whole day and Erynion had been left excusing with everyone, saying the princess was nervous for the upcoming last test and would rather spend the day meditating in solitude...).
The last test was more elaborate than any before, it was also called the 'impossible decision' (which was actually kind of ironic, all things considered). Much like the previous one (with the trade deal) the princess was faced with a situation. In the last test it was a hypothetical one, yet also quite important, as it was one thing they all knew could happen one day. The situation: a group of princesses (the ones that would be taking their place as the new court the following year) had been taken hostage by a small group of invaders from another realms, Marauders they were always called. Their demand: for the 'Queen' to surrender herself to them.
It was always the same situation, and always the response was one of three: either the Mother Queen agreed to surrender herself for the safety of her court; she refused, letting them die; or she ordered a group of Protectors to go in and attempt a rescue, in which case it could go either way. The candidate's response had always been one of those three... but Lalaith had never been one to do what was expected of her, and she she did like a bit of chaos in her life.
The princess was left alone in the small room that connected to the one where the council stood, waiting for her to join them and present her decision and her reasoning behind it. They didn't expect it to take long, most had an idea of what she would decide... Which is why when, almost half an hour later, they'd heard nothing, some began worrying. It was Erynion who decided to step into the room, to find what he'd been fearing. Lalaith was not in the room; however, to the confusion of everyone but the Lord Protector himself, her shoes and dress were on a chair.
"What is going on here?" One of the Councilors demanded. "Where is our princess?"
Erynion had a very good idea, but he didn't dare say.
"Lady Santiel!" Another councilwoman called loudly.
Lady Santiel was the head of the coven in Alfheim and she'd been called to witness the tests during the last months. She knew instantly what was expected of her and with a simple touch the huge window on the room turning into a viewing glass, revealing the princess, and a situation none (except maybe Erynion) could have ever planned for.
Lalaith was in her under-dress, barefoot, her tight hairdo the only part of her 'formal attire' that she'd kept. She was crouched low on a branch, just outside one of the windows of the palace and, to everyone's further surprise, she was holding a bow; made of white-ash-wood, somewhat small, nothing like the elegant, tall, carefully-engraved recurve bows, or the even-more-elaborate scythian bows the Ljósálfar had gone to war with. It was more the kind that could be used for practice (or for a covert operation). And soon everyone realized that was exactly the point. The princess wasn't sacrificing herself, or anyone else, she was taking matters into her own hands.
"Does she even know how to use that?" Someone asked, no one paid any attention to who.
"War is not the business of a lady, much less a princess, or queen!" Another cried out.
It soon became obvious that, regardless of anyone's thoughts in the matter, the princess had made her choice, and she most certainly had the knowledge to back it up.
One by one the 'pretend Marauders' fell, to bolts on vital parts of the body, not a single shot missed. The arrows being used weren't real ones, but the fake ones the Order would have used if the princess had chosen to send them in.
The last tried to use one of the princesses as a shield, placing her in between him and the window the bolts had been coming from. A minute passed, and right as he opened his mouth to yell new demands, he suddenly felt a blade in the back of his neck.
"Let her go." A voice hissed in his ear. "Now!"
The 'Marauder' was reacting before he was even conscious of it. The moment his hold loosened Lalaith pulled on the girl's arm, directing her to move to where the others had gone.
"Now, drop your weapons." The princess ordered.
The elf tensed up noticeably. It was as if in that moment he'd completely forgotten that it was make-believe, just a test; all he could think about was that a girl had defeated them all, she might be their princess, but she was warrior, no girl ever was... The 'Marauder' spun around, wielding his knife in an arch, intending to hit the one behind him... only to meet empty air.
The princess saw what was coming just in time, dropping into a crouch to evade the attack, before using her leg to trip him up and make him fall. Before he had the chance to even try and get back to his feet, a hard hit from the bow on the back of the head knocked him out.
For a couple of seconds, nothing and then... the cheering started.
By the time Erynion and the council entered the room the young princesses had made their own mini-party to celebrate their savior and future queen.
It took a while, but eventually the girls returned to their studies and Lalaith went back to the Council Room (having put her dress and shoes back on).
What followed was the most intense interview/interrogation Lalaith had been through in her whole life (worse even than her first test). She had to explain that she'd been training in archery and some basic hand-to-hand since she was a little girl; she had no dreams about becoming a warrior, but she likewise wasn't going to allow herself to be defenseless if there was ever another attack like the one from the Bloody Night.
The council kept trying to chastise her, but she wasn't allowing them. The princess was being stubborn in a way they'd only seen her once, the day she had gone through with the first trade agreement with Vanaheim and Asgard.
"Look." She called, at the end. "My ladies, my lord..." She nodded at each of them calmly. "You may not like the things I've done, but regardless of what you might say to me, nothing will make me regret my decisions. I shall always stand by them, as well as by my most recent one."
Erynion watched her take a really deep breath and froze; he realized what was coming a fraction of a second before the first word left her mouth, and by then it was too late. All he could do was stand there and watch as she re-wrote her own destiny.
"I, Lalaith Mirloth, daughter of Lamirima, lady of Jewel Forest, princess of Alfheim and potential Mother Queen, of my own free will and with full understanding of my decision, hereby surrender any and all claims to the crown of our realm."
The shock was such no one seemed to know what to say.
"Why child?" The Head Elder eventually asked, full of concern. "Why do this?"
"Because a Queen cannot have a match, and a she-elf with a match cannot be Queen..." Lalaith said softly, yet full of purpose. "And I have found my match, honorable Elder..."
No one had anything to say to that, at all.
"So, you may tell the people of Alfheim that I've failed to follow traditions and cannot be your Queen." She went on. "Weather you focus on my combat abilities, or my match, it is still true."
"Are you sure, princess?" One couldn't help but ask. "Couldn't you be... confused?"
"No one can confuse a match with anything else." Lalaith reminded her kindly. "Especially not when it is an involuntary match." At the general gasp she elaborated. "We first met during Ostara, last year; though it was until the Summer Solstice that we acknowledged the growing connection. It took us a while longer to accept it existed and could not be denied, still that is the truth."
"The masked singer at the festival..." Lady Santiel murmured in realization.
"Yes, that was him." The princess nodded calmly.
They knew it was the masked singer from the festival, but not that it was Loki, not yet. That was good, she didn't believe it to be a good idea for them to know, yet; not until they got the chance to explain things personally to Loki's parents...
Silence reigned for several minutes, as Lalaith gave the sorceress and the Council of Elders a few moments to process everything. She didn't say anything to Erynion, just smiled sheepishly at him, mentally begging that he would understand why she'd chosen to do things the way she had. She knew he'd been worrying about her for a while, but it was time they acknowledged the truth. She couldn't be Mother Queen, not when she had a match, and she couldn't deny that match because doing so would destroy them both.
"I want you all to know I am very grateful, for everything you have all done for me in the last twenty years." She stated after what seemed like forever. "It's been the greatest pleasure serving Alfheim as its princess. I regret this needs to be done, but not why its necessary." She took off the tiara on her head, placing it carefully on the table before them. "It's been an honor my ladies, my Lord Protector. Namarië (Farewell)..."
And with that, she turned around and left the room, never once looking back.
xXx
Lalaith couldn't actually leave Alfheim until the next festival, in Ostara, when the announcement was made that no Queen would be crowned. Not much was said on that front, the Council having decided to simply say it was the will of the stars (and since the stars created the bonds, they were technically right).
The part that surprised the former-Queen-candidate most was when Alfheim insisted on having her keep her title as princess. She was given a tiara of dried flowers (jewel dried flowers, to be precise), for her to wear as symbol of her status (the court wore crowns of fresh flowers, none of them jewel ones).
The day after that, before the news of 'no-Queen' reached Asgard, Loki finally took Lalaith to Asgard to present her before his parents. The Allfather, his Queen and Prince Thor were actually together in the throne room, along with the Warriors Three, when Sif went to lead them in.
"Are you ready for this?" She asked them quietly.
"Not at all." Lalaith quipped with a half smile. "Lets do this."
Loki did not answer, simply guided his beloved. They went to stand before the thrones and bowed, before Loki's words sealed the deal:
"My family, and friends. I present to you, Lady Lalaith Mirloth of Alfheim, my match..."
One of the longest chapters I've written. And so much had to happen... And yeah, they're together now, but the story is not over just yet. There's much that must be told yet, as you will see.
This sidestory consists of three chapters, updates will be coming every other week, as my muse is currently giving me a hard time and, as you may or may not know, I am also working on another series (from the Hobbit fandom, a Bagginshield-centered series of short stories, in case you're interested). I hope that by the time I reach the end I'll have something for the AUs.
Describing Sif as 'golden haired' was no mistake. It's all been carefully planned, as you'll see in the following chapters.
As always, full sized poster and set of wallpapers are in my Deviant-Art account (Princess-Lalaith).