Chapter 2:

Freya paced back and forth along the hallway just outside the throne room, which had been transformed into a ballroom for the "Starlight" festival.

What was taking her Father so long to announce her arrival, this waiting was causing her to become nervous, and frustrated.

"If you continue making that face, it's going to stay like that you know." Said a very masculine voice behind her.

A smile spread across Freya's face and she spun around, her dress twirling with her to face the man standing behind her, "Loki." If smiles could melt someone's heart the one on Freya's face would surely do so, as Loki smiled his signature smile.

Freya flung her arms around him, "I've missed you."

"As have i hækkaði. Tell me why are you out here when your betrothed is inside." Loki asked pulling away from her.

"Father is taking his time announcing my arrival. If i'm lucky him and mother will forget about me, and it will get me out of this party." Freya replied rolling her eyes.

"Your mother would never allow your father to forget about you, and then that dress you are wearing would go to waste." Loki commented just as a horn was blown from within the throne room.

"Presenting Freya Thorson Princess and Heir to the Throne of Asgard..."

Loki held out his hand, "May I have the honor of escorting my heir to her betrothed?"

Freya laid her hand in his and nodded, as the doors to the throne room opened before them revealing a very startled looking Jane and Thor at the front of the hall.

Loki and Freya stepped forward and one by one the people began to bow as the King and Princess of Asgard made their way to the front of the room, where her parents, along with Fredrik and his parents.

"Brother. Jane." Loki said as they reached their side, "And this must be young Fredrik."

Fredrik gave a small bow, "Your Majesty."

"Please no formality, after all we are to become family, when you marry Freya here so just call me Loki." he replied taking his seat on his throne.

Fredrik nodded and turned his attention to Freya, " Freya."

"Hello Fredrik." Freya said with annoyances.

"Freya..." Thor said with a stern voice."

Freya groaned and then smiled at Fredrik before he offered his hand, "Would you like to dance?"

"With you?"

"Of course, who else?" Fredrik replied.

Freya's eyes looked up at Loki, and he nodded.

She gently laid her hand in Fredrik's outstretched hand, as he carefully lead them to the middle for the crowded dance floor, and took her into his arms.

"My i say you look beautiful in that dress tonight, the way the color's shine whenever a different light source touches it is really an exquisite thing." Fredrik said trying to make small talk.

"Fredrik just stop talking, you know I'm only dancing with you right now to make my mother and father happy." Freya whispered in a low voice so none of the people around them would hear their conversation.

"I don't know why you don't like me Freya, have i done something to offend you." He asked.

"Your existence is offending me. If your parents were not so insistent on merging our families i would be able to do with my life what i wish, find someone i love to marry. Not just marry because it is my duty to my kingdom."she replied.

Fredrik opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again.

They twirled around the dance floor for a few more minutes before the song ended and Fredrik released her. "Thank you for the dance."

Freya nodded and turned away.

The night went on, and Freya avoid Fredrik as much as possible. Talking to her friends who had been fortunate to be invited to the party, as well as talking to Loki about his most recent trip to his home realm of Jotunheim.

When it came time for dinner thought, Freya could not ignore Fredrik any longer, as she had been seated next to him at the table.

As the people finally finished finder their seats, Loki stood from his seat and cleared his throat.

"It has been a wonderful night, and i expect it to continue long after i am finished with this speech. As you all know the Festival of Starlight is are most precious tradition since the beginning of our existence. We pay tribute to the sky and all we have lost this past year. So for the next 30 moons we will release floating lanterns into the sky in their memory." He said. "But that is not all we have to celebrate this year, it is with my honor, that i announce that Prince Fredrik of Vanaheim has asked for Princess Freya's hand in marriage to unit our two realms. I have given my consent, and so on the last day of the Starlight Festival the two shall be wed."

Freya jumped to her feet.

Loki got only a quick glance at her face before she rushed out of the Throne room, a face that had been happy only moments before now hardened and withered with pain.

Jane went to stand to go after her daughter, but Loki shook his head, "Let me."

Loki found her without even trying. Since she had been a little girl he had always been able to sense her. So it was no surprise when he found her in the garden underneath the peach tree the grow under her bedroom's balcony.

"I don't wish to see you." She said as Loki stepped out of the shadows.

"You must really find a new hiding spot if you do not wish to be found hækkaði." Loki stated sitting down next to her.

"Don't call me that." Freya whispered turning her face way from him, so he would not see her cry.

Loki let out a sigh, "You know if there was another way to go about this i would have Freya."

"I'm not an animal you can pawn off just to make peace with another race, does my life mean so little to you?" Freya demanded.

"You know that is not true Freya. You've grown up on your parent's story of them fighting all odds to be together, but not all love stories are like that. In fact my parents did not love each other when they were first married." Loki replied, "The point is you could grow to love Fredrik if you just gave him a chance."

"I can't give him a chance." Freya said standing up and walking towards the fountain across the courtyard.

"Everyone deserves a chance Freya, what has his boy possibly done to you to make you hate him so much."

Freya remained silent.

"I wish an answer Freya, you wish to be treated like an adult, but you act like a child." Loki stated crossing his as he stood behind her.

"I can not answer you..." She whispered.

Loki sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Freya... I'm trying to understand why?"

She spun around, "Cause my heart already belongs to another. How am i suppose to love Fredrik when i already love someone else."

Loki stepped back like he had been hit with a strong wind.

"Are you happy, no go run off and tell my father, that the real reason i will not marry Fredrik is cause I'm already in love with someone." She spat back.

"Who?" Loki choked out. She would have told him if she had had eyes for any boy on Asgard, they spent almost all their spare time with one another.

"It does not matter, cause he can not love me back." Freya stated as she let her shoulders fall with defeat.

"Have you..."

"For the love of Odin no... He does not see me like that." She stated, "To him I'm a child in a women's body."

Loki caught her chin with his hand and raised her face to look into her eyes, "You listen to me Freya, you are anything but a child. And Fredrik is luck to get you as his betrothed. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Including you?"

He nodded, "Including me."

Freya smiled and turned her head away, "Just the same, i still can not marry Fredrik."

"Who is this boy, who as won your heart, and why have you never mentioned him before?"

"He is no boy." Freya whispered as she looked up at Loki, "I'm afraid that if i say his name out loud everything will come crumbling down around me."

"it can't be that bad. Wait he's not married right?" Loki joked.

"No."

"Well then tell me Freya..."

Freya turned away from him and fell to the ground on here knees as tears streamed down her face, "Its... ." She let out a deep breath trying to steady her breathing, "...you..."

WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT FINALLY PUT CHAPTER 2 UP. HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY.

hækkaði- Means flower in Icelantic