Adelaide rushed into the coronation ceremony, late. Luckily, it hadn't started yet. She smoothed the maroon skirts of her best dress and adjusted the corset accordingly. She had finished sparring with Fandral only an hour ago, rushing to her quarters afterward to prepare for Thor's coronation, and even helped Thor soothe some of the nerves he wouldn't admit he had, per Frigga's request. Adelaide pushed some of her pale blonde curls out of her face, her silvery blue eyes bright beneath the platinum band that stretched across her forehead, matching the platinum embroidery at the bottom of her silken burgundy dress.
"You look extravagant," Frigga whispered to Adelaide in a gentle tone, though the young Asgardian was still shuffling and adjusting before the ceremony truly started.
"He was waiting for you, you know," Sif informed with a slight grin, glancing toward Odin.
Adelaide rolled her eyes.
Odin wished for Thor to marry her or Sif, though she knew the All-Mother suspected both of their sons, Thor and Loki, were smitten with her. If truth be told, Adelaide would've chosen Loki over Thor. Though Thor was attractive, especially by Asgardian standards; beefy broad shoulders, bright blue eyes, and a strong jawline which was framed by blonde hair that touched his shoulders, he was far too arrogant, conceited, and stubborn for her taste. And there was something about Loki that interested her, as if he were hiding a secret even he didn't know. Not to mention Loki was sweet and kind, quiet but always regal, and she quite enjoyed his mischief.
As the ceremony started, Thor sent Sif and Adelaide both a quick grin, to which the sisters replied by rolling their eyes, Sif's a pale green, Adelaide's a silvery blue. Thor lifted Mjolnir into the air, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"Oh please," Sif scoffed at the sight.
Adelaide rolled her eyes.
Thor stopped up front, kneeling before his mother, whom Adelaide stood beside as a guard, and his father. Odin struck his spear, Gungnir, hard on the palace floor, silencing the crowd from its frenzy.
"Gungnir. Its aim is true, its power strong. With it I have defended Asgard and the innocent lives across the Nine Realms since the time of the Great Beginning. And though it is time for a new king to wield his own weapon—the duty remains the same." Odin preached, the crowd listening closely. "Thor Odinson," the All-Father announced to the crowd.
Adelaide glanced over to her oldest friend, Loki, who stood in the corner, away from others, though closest to Frigga and herself. He glanced at her with emerald eyes and smiled slightly, noticing the dark ruby necklace Adelaide had clasped on, the one he had given her for her birthday.
"My heir," Odin continued, "my first born. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer, Mjolnir. Forged in the heart of a dying star, from the sacred metal of Uru. Only one may lift it. Who wields the hammer commands the lightning and the storm. Its power has no equal—as a weapon to destroy, or as a tool, to build. It is a fit companion for a king."
Adelaide heard something. She tilted her head toward the noise with subtle grace. Only Loki noticed. She heard a noise again, this time more clearly. A scream. Adelaide gasped, once again too subtle for anyone but the ever-observant Like to notice.
"What is it?" He whispered gently, having moved closer to her and touching her hand gently to catch her attention.
"Something's happening in the weapons vault," Adelaide replied in the same quiet tone. "I can hear it."
Loki flinched, seeming worried at the thought. The ceremony continued on.
"Today I entrust you with the greatest honor in all of the Nine Realms: the sacred throne of Asgard. I have sacrificed much to achieve peace. So, too, must a new generation sacrifice to maintain that peace. Responsibility, duty, honor. These are not virtues to which we must aspire. They are essential to every soldier and to every king." Odin preached on.
Adelaide shivered, the hall becoming increasingly cold. Loki frowned, glancing around to see most of the crowd shivering as well.
Thor turned back to Odin, who looked upon his eldest son with a proud gaze. "Thor Odinson, do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"
"I swear," Thor replied firmly.
"Do you swear to preserve the peace?"
"I swear."
"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and pledge yourself only to the good of all the Realms?"
"I swear."
"Then on this day, I, Odin All-Father, proclaim you—" He paused, noticing something strange before him. Ice crept across the banners around the hall, popping and crackling eerily around the echoing hall. Adelaide, Thor, Loki, Sif and the Warriors Three saw it, along with the rest of the crowd.
"Frost Giants," Odin whispered.
Thor stood, turning and dashing from the hall. Adelaide, in all of her skirts and the corset of her dress, followed through a side door.
Loki appeared in front of her with a flash of magic, outside the door.
"Loki!" Adelaide complained. "Get out of my way."
"What's your hurry, Adelaide, just out of curiosity?" Loki asked, frowning.
"I am doing my job; protecting my Queen." Adelaide replied shortly. "Your mother."
"Then you should stay with her," Loki countered.
"or stop the problem before it ever reaches her." Adelaide shot back, colder than she meant it, as she pushed past Loki.
She made her way quickly to the weapons vault, walking in behind Thor, who had burst through the door angrily. Loki, Sif, and the Warriors Three weren't far behind her. Thor paused and stared at the sight in front of him.
Shattered ice was scattered around the vault, melting while it laid there. Adelaide's jaw tightened at the sight of the mangled, smoldering corpses of Frost Giants. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nose, making her cough quietly. Loki looked at her worriedly, but she waved him off with a reassuring glance. The Destroyer stood in the corner, clutching the Casket, a soft fiery light glowing from the metal creature.
"The Destroyer," Sif observed.
"I thought it was but a myth," Volstagg said in awe.
Odin entered the vault, and when he did, the Destroyer placed the Casket back down on its pedestal. The Destroyer shut itself off, the glow diminishing.
"I've never been inside the vault," Fandral said, "it's said that the Tesseract was once held here."
"The Tesseract?" Volstagg said in awed voice again. "I thought that was but a legend too!"
"Just because you haven't seen such things does not make them a legend." Adelaide said simply, brushing some platinum blonde curls from her silvery blue eyes.
"Shush!" Sif ordered the Warriors Three and Adelaide, her younger sister.
Odin surveyed the damage in the vault closely, his silence eerie.
"The Jotun's must pay for what they have done!" Thor growled viciously.
"They have paid with their lives," Odin said simply. "The Destroyer did its job. The Casket is safe. All is well."
"'All is well'?" Thor snapped angrily. "They broke into the weapons vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics—"
"But they didn't," Odin said simply.
"But I want to know why!" Thor retorted, still angry.
"The Casket of Ancient Winters belonged to the Jotuns." Odin explained shortly. "They believe it to be their birthright."
"And if you hadn't taken it from them they would have laid waste to the Nine Realms!" Thor retaliated.
Adelaide stood partly behind Loki, her hands wrapped gently around his forearm. Loki himself looked back and forth between Thor and Odin's argument.
"I have a truce with Laufey, the Jotun king," Odin said.
"He just broke your truce! We must act!"
Odin turned to Sif and the Warriors Three. "Leave us." They all bowed, including Adelaide, who turned to leave with her sister and their friends. "Not you, Adelaide," Odin said simply, halting the handmaiden. "I wish for your counsel on this matter."
Adelaide stopped, her silvery blue eyes wide as she turned to look at Odin. "Mine, All-Father?" She asked quietly, disbelievingly.
He nodded.
Adelaide moved to stand close to Loki again, who was still watching intently.
Odin turned back to Thor. "What action would you take?"
"March into Jotunheim as you once did, teach them a lesson, break their spirits so they'll never try to cross our borders again!" Thor roared.
"Your opinion, Adelaide?" The All-Father asked, turning to the young handmaiden in a princess's clothing.
Adelaide looked at Thor, her expression giving no indication of what she would say. "These are the actions and ideals of a warrior." She said softly, glancing at Odin warily.
His lips turned up slightly at the corners. He agreed.
"This was an act of war!" Thor protested loudly, angrily.
Loki grabbed Adelaide's arm protectively, as if to stand against Thor if he attacked.
"It was an act of but a few, doomed to fail." Odin corrected simply, his voice unnaturally calm.
"Look how far they got!" Thor exclaimed.
"We will find the breech in our defenses. It will be found, and it will be sealed."
"As King of Asgard, I would—" Thor started, but was cut off by Odin's calm demeanor fading away.
"But you're not king!" Odin roared. "Not yet."
Adelaide flinched at the tone from behind Loki, who still stood before her protectively, holding her arm gently.
Thor's jaw clenched, painfully tight with his anger, but he didn't press the issue. He turned on his heel, his red cape billowing behind him at his quick movements. He shoved the doors open and marched out, making Loki squeeze Adelaide's arm reassuringly before she pulled out of his grip.
"I should go tend to Frigga," Adelaide said quietly, slipping gently from Loki's grasp and out of the swinging doors.
Loki watched her go, his emerald green eyes soft and almost sorrowful as she left him.
