Years passed and the memories of that fateful night had faded as quickly as the sun had risen that next morning. Queen Frigga had followed her reputation and rescued the young girl, harboring her away from the palace and away from her husband. After assigning a single maid to the secluded household, the queen had visited as often as her royal duties would permit, typically meeting the girl and her companion amongst the crowd of the city's marketplace.
Today was no different; the citizens bumbled and buzzed, greeting each other, haggling over the prices of their goods, and commenting on the eldest prince's upcoming birthday celebration. With the distractions in place, anything could easily be done in the midst of the crowd… including a meeting between Asgard's queen and her secret "adopted daughter."
Frigga sauntered through the rows of carts and stands, eyes nonchalantly searching for a familiar grey cloak. Every single meeting between them began in this matter- the queen searching and Holly making her purchases for her day's meals. Today, she chose a bushel of apples to purchase with the last bit of allowance given to her by the queen. Feeling a gentle, familiar hand on her shoulder, the young woman turned around and was caught in an embrace by the woman who had supported her her entire life.
"Happy birthday, my Halla." Frigga whispered in her ear. "Twenty years and you've become the most stunning and intelligent young woman."
"Thank you, my queen." She replied quietly as she was held at arm's length with a fond smile.
"I have a picnic that has been prepared for us. Shall we sit?" the queen suggested, earning an excited nod.
There was a silent understanding between the two of them that had been stable since Holly had been old enough to understand the situation. The first predicament had been the name- Holly was the name given to her by the parents that had abandoned her. Frigga had easily changed the girl's identity and name to "Halla," meaning rock or boulder in the Norse language. And a rock the young woman had been, listening to the queen's woes and stories of her king husband and palace life. Holly had been the only person to listen as an unbiased, supportive party.
The second predicament had been the girl's upbringing and education in a stable environment. Holly's maid and caretaker had been an aid in the stable upbringing; making sure that the girl had been properly cared for and treated well every day. Frigga had handled the education, teaching the girl to read at a young age before supplying her with her very own book collection and bookshelf. Holly had shown great potential within the first few years of her life and proved that she could handle the rigorous reading that her lady queen had challenged her with.
Holly had been nothing but understanding and poised throughout the process… but there was only once secret that she didn't know. A secret that Frigga had kept between her and her husband.
"How have you been faring, my queen?" Holly asked quietly, taking a generous bite of apple after offering one to her savior. Frigga took one gratefully, shining it with her cloak.
"I have been very well, my dear. And yourself?"
"I've been well." She smiled. "How is your husband?"
"He is… well." The queen answered in a sigh. A worrisome look crossed Holly's features. Odin had been a kind, loving husband, but the king and queen had always disagreed on one topic- the history surrounding their youngest son. That happened to be the secret that Frigga hadn't shared with her adopted daughter. The House of Odin was full of secrets that acted as a ticking time bomb and it was only a matter of time before the truth erupted and injured prides were left in its wake.
"And the princes?" Holly asked innocently, locking apple juice from her lips.
"Let us walk." Frigga avoided the subject momentarily as she stood.
"I sense a story." The younger woman said quietly as she gathered her bushel of apples into her satchel and followed obediently.
"My boys are facing the judgment of their father as he chooses his successor." Frigga stated, shoulders slumping in defeat uncharacteristically. "I fear that Loki will take the choice as if her were never good enough to sit upon the throne." Holly kept quiet, allowing the queen to vent her frustrations. "Loki would make an exceptional king… in some ways, I believe he would make a better king that Thor."
"You can only wait and support him when the time comes." Holly rested her hand on her queen's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they walked through the multitude of stands scattered along the streets of the marketplace. Frigga stayed quiet, accepting Holly's usual silent companionship.
The pair approached a stand covered in holly and ivy, where the queen paused to carefully snip a sprig off and pay the stand's owner. "My Halla," she spoke gently, taking the young woman's hand. "You are a remarkable young woman with such exotic beauty and an unparalleled kindness." Finishing her statement, the queen tucked the sprig of holly behind Holly's ear.
Frigga had often brought vases of the plant to the secret cottage. The first time being when Holly was just seven years old. The queen then told her of legends that described holly as being a protector of households-almost in a magical fashion. From then on, the queen had brought her clipping from the royal gardens on a weekly basis.
"Thank you, my queen." Holly whispered, tears springing to her eyes. "It means most coming from you." With a tender smile, Frigga cupped the younger woman's jawline and ran a thumb over her soft, freckled cheek.
A pair of mischievous green eyes curiously watched the scene unfold from just across the street in amongst the sea of people. Furrowing his eyebrows, he did his best to locate just who she was.
I've never seen her… who could she be?
His gaze started at her striking red hair that peeked out from beneath from under her grey cloak then moved to her brown eyes and high cheekbones that were doused in a smattering of freckles. By no means was this young woman ugly… she was quite breathtaking and unlike any other woman- even to a man who had been surrounded by attractive women all his life. His eyes focused on her lips-they weren't thing, but they weren't too plump. They were… kissable.
The mysterious young woman suddenly started in his direction and he flicked his wrist, leaving the bustling marketplace and arriving in his much quieter study. He had some research to do.