Just a short AN to say hi and thank you so much to NESSAANCALIME6913 for reviewing the first chapter. I'm so excited that you are excited! This story has been sitting in a folder on my laptop for a long time but after seeing Captain America Civil War I decided to try and finally finish it and share it with everybody who would like to read it. Thank you again.
Mayday x
"I'm sure Artemis has grown into a fine young woman but I do not wish to marry her" Thor said to Odin as they rode on horses to the Bi-Frost.
"Thor I am not going to quarrel with you, this is my wish and you would do well to follow it" Odin said as he pulled his horse to a stop. As Odin spoke to Heimdall Frigga rode next to Loki, Loki had become very solemn over the past few of days leading up to their visit to Olympus.
"Loki, what troubles you my love?" Frigga asked.
"Nothing Mother" he replied and gave her a small smile.
Frigga knew her son better than that; she knew that Thor's marriage troubled Loki. She remembered back to the days when the Olympian twins would stay in Asgard. Thor and Apollo could be heard training and battling from the palace which was miles from the training fields. Loki and Artemis would disappear for hours on end and when they would return they would be happy and content in each other's company. She could not help but feel that her husband and Zeus were making the wrong choice.
"Come" Odin said holding his hand out to his wife. She trotted her horse forward and took his hand. "It is time"
Loki felt the familiar pull of the Bi-Frost as it transported him, his family, Sif and the warriors three to the city of Olympus. Loki was nervous; he hadn't been to Olympus in years. Worse he hadn't seen who used to be his best friend for years. He'd imagined the day of meeting Artemis again but in his mind it hadn't been on the eve of her marriage to Thor. Loki looked across at Thor's blurred figure, why did he always get all the attention? Why was he always the important one?
They arrived at Olympus with a push from the Bi-Frost. The beauty of the land had always struck Loki but for not having seen it in years it struck him even further. The surrounding area was amazing, it was sunset and there was a purple and gold tinge to the sky. As Loki turned to look ahead he saw a gathering of people standing at the end of the Bi-Frost Bridge. His eyes were immediately drawn to a tall figure that was standing on the outskirts of the group. It was a young woman who was wearing a beautiful blue dress that hugged her physic perfectly. Her hair was golden but covering half her face was a lace veil, as Loki got closer he could see that the veil was going to prohibit anyone from seeing the wearer properly. As he studied the girl's eyes his mother placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't Loki, I don't want to see you get hurt" she whispered.
"Mother, you have no need to worry" Loki replied softly.
Artemis watched as the royal family of Asgard approached. Next to her she could hear her half-sister Hebe and distant relative Selene laughing.
"What is so amusing?" Artemis asked leaning over.
"Have you not seen what prince Loki is wearing upon his head?" Hebe giggled.
"He looks like a cow" Selene also giggled.
Artemis frowned, they sounded like a pair of old hags the way they chuckled under their breath. She stood back up straight to try and get a better view. Apollo noticed his sister's annoyance and patted her shoulder.
"They are just jealous sister" he said "What they have not told you is that they have also been resting their eyes on Thor and enjoyed the sight. They are just envious of your marriage"
"They need not be Apollo" Artemis said "I have no intention of marrying the God of Thunder"
Before Apollo could reply Zeus held up his hand to silence them. He smiled warmly as Odin dismounted his horse and came over.
"Odin" Zeus said as the two men hugged.
"Zeus how have you been my friend?" Odin asked.
"Fine, I have been fine. Frigga!" Zeus exclaimed seeing Odin's wife. "My dear you are still as beautiful as the day I last saw you"
"Hello Zeus" Frigga said, she then turned to Leto who was standing beside him. "Leto, you are looking very well"
"I am well, thank you Frigga" Leto smiled with a slight bow of the head.
Artemis rolled her eyes and looked at her brother. "Small talk really does annoy me" she said and he laughed.
"Do I not annoy you more?" he asked slinging his arm around her shoulders.
"Yes brother" she replied with a smile "Nothing could annoy me more than you"
Apollo and Artemis looked back at the new arrivals; Thor and Loki were now greeting their parents. Eventually Zeus held his hand across to Artemis and Apollo.
"I'm sure you recognise my children, Apollo and Artemis" he said beckoning them forward.
"We are not your only children Father" Artemis said harshly as she stepped forward, she caught the eyes of Hephaestus. "You would do well to remember"
"Artemis, this year is about you and your brother. The other's time will come" Zeus said with a fake smile. "Now come and greet the Odinsons', it has been years"
Apollo gave his sister a push and she stepped forward. Zeus placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her into the full view of Thor and Loki. She first looked at Thor, Hep was right, he was handsome. His blonde hair had grown long and was framed by a helmet that resembled feathers on the side.
"Artemis" Thor said gaining her attention. He reached forward for her hand which she gave. He kissed it gently and Artemis smiled as his beard ticked her skin, the smile must have reached her eyes as Thor also started to smile too.
"What is it that is so funny?" he asked.
"Are those feathers?" she asked reaching up and touching the side of his helmet.
"See brother, I told you that you look ridiculous" Loki said stepping forward, with glowing eyes he took Artemis's hand from Thor and kissed it. Artemis's eyes never left his face as she watched him.
"It's good to see you again" Loki whispered so only she could hear.
Artemis didn't reply which made for an awkward silence.
"Thor, Loki!" Apollo exclaimed stepping forward and pulling the two brothers into a hug.
"Apollo!" Thor also exclaimed "You have gotten taller" he said slapping a hand on Apollo's shoulder. Had it been anyone else they would have crumpled to the floor but Apollo could stand up to Thor's strength. "But not at tall as me"
"Yes but I wager I have more brains and skill" Apollo said smiling.
Artemis looked from her brother and Thor back to Loki, at first he was watching the other two but then his eyes shifted back to her. They were the same metallic green she remembered from childhood. His smile was so contagious that she found her veil rising slightly as she also smiled.
"Come children lets go and start the feast" Zeus said.
Leto came over and took Artemis's hand. "Come child, walk with me" she said pulling Artemis away from Loki.
There were many tables set up in the great hall. Most were for the citizens of Olympus but the long top table was for the royals. In the middle were Zeus and Odin, next to them their wives. Next to Leto sat Thor, Artemis, Hephaestus, Athena and Ares. On the other side next to Frigga sat Loki, Apollo, Persephone, Hebe and Selene.
"I wonder why they have sat us together?" Artemis asked Thor as they took their seats.
"I do not mind, I supposed we'd better get to know each other better" Thor said immediately going for his goblet.
As everyone started eating Artemis looked down at her plate, she then looked at Hep who was watching her with a smile.
"How am I supposed to eat with this stupid thing on?" she asked and he laughed quietly.
"You have to try and, I don't know, go under?" Hep said imitating how he thought she should eat. She laughed and Thor seeing what Hep was doing also laughed. "What madness are you doing?" he asked the young man.
"I was merely showing Arte how she should eat accommodating her veil" Hep said.
"Why do you wear the veil?" Thor asked "Are you hiding some wart that you don't want me to see?"
"No I am not Thor" Artemis said crossly "Besides if I did have a wart would that be a reason for you not to marry me?"
"Well, that would depend on the size of the wart" Thor said as he lifted his goblet again. Artemis looked from him down to her plate. He was still as arrogant as ever.
"Isn't that right Artemis" she suddenly heard Zeus say, he looked across to her. Behind him Odin, Frigga, Loki and the others were all waiting for her answer.
"What was that Father?" she asked.
"I said you know it's your duty to unite our two kingdoms" Zeus said.
She looked at Thor. "Yes, but as much as I like Thor I do not wish to marry him" she said and Zeus's face dropped. "We will not have this conversation here" he said going back to his food.
"You do not wish to marry me?" Thor asked, he didn't seem hurt, only shocked with what seemed to be a bit of relief.
"No I do not, it is my Father and my Mother's wish" she said and suddenly making everyone jump out their seats Zeus slammed his fist down onto the table. The lights in the room flickered and there was a deep rumble from the clouds above them.
"I said we will NOT have this conversation here Artemis!" Zeus bellowed. Mostly everyone in the hall stopped eating and looked up at the table. Artemis stared at her Father. "If we do not discuss this then how am I to express my feelings?" she hissed crossly to him.
"Your feelings?" he laughed "Feelings play no part in this; it is an arrangement Asgard and Olympus have had for centuries. Marrying the oldest son of Odin was always your destiny Artemis; it is what you were born to do and nothing else" Zeus exclaimed and the whole table went silent.
"Excuse me" Artemis said placing her cutlery down and leaving the table. Her shoes made tapping sounds on the marble floor as she left, causing all the citizens to watch her leave.
"I should go" Apollo said making to get up.
"You will stay seated" Zeus ordered and Apollo slowly sat back down again.
