A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying this story so far. I would love to hear what you're all thinking. Please read and review :)
The morning after the feast, Ava was woken up by her mother. "Wake up, my dear we have to get ready." Gail announced as she walked into her daughter's room and over to her wardrobe. She began filtering through Ava's dresses searching for the perfect one.
Ava sat up, still groggy. "What? Why?"
"We have a personal invite from Queen Frigga to join her for lunch at the palace today. One of the guards just dropped by with the invitation." Gail said.
"Lunch at the palace?" Ava asked, suddenly waking up. I wonder if I'll see Prince Loki again? She pondered to herself. She then climbed out of her bed and started looking through her dresses with her mother.
"What do you think of this dress?" Gail asked her daughter as she pulled out a deep purple dress. It had long sleeves made of lace and came off the shoulder and was trimmed in gold.
"It is beautiful…it is not too much for a lunch?" Ava inquired.
"No, it is perfect." Gail replied.
Ava took the dress from her mother and walked behind her changing screen. She slipped out of her simple white night dress and slid into the beautiful purple gown. She then walked out and her mother pulled her towards her vanity and helped her with her hair. She pulled it part of the way back into a braided bun and then left the rest hanging in soft waves.
Ava then went with her mother and helped her pick out a dress. She then did her mother's hair and they were ready to head to the palace. They soon arrived and were met at the entrance by a female servant. She bowed in respect to them. "Lady Gail, Lady Ava. Please follow me?" She then led them through the palace halls and to a beautiful garden.
Frigga was sitting at a table in the center of the garden. She stood up as they approached. She walked over to Gail and pulled her in for a hug. "Welcome my friend. It has been too long." Frigga greeted her.
Gail hugged her back. "Yes it has indeed." Gail replied.
The two women broke apart and then Frigga turned to Ava. "And you must be little Ava. The last time I saw you, you were just an adorable little baby and now you're a beautiful young woman. My how the time has flown!" Frigga gushed over Ava.
Ava felt her cheeks redden. "Thank you, my queen." She replied, bowing respectfully.
"Oh no need to be so formal." Frigga replied. "Come let us sit and talk for a bit and enjoy this meal."
They all sat down at the table and a delicious spread was set before them. As they ate, Frigga decided to get to know Ava a bit better. "So, Ava what do you like to do for fun?"
"Oh, I love reading." Ava answered. "And horseback riding."
"What do you like to read?" Frigga inquired.
"Anything and everything." Ava answered.
Frigga smiled. Oh she and Loki will have so much to talk about. She thought to herself.
They conversed more as they ate their meal. "Well, that was a delicious meal, your majesty." Ava told her queen. "Thank you so much for inviting us."
"Oh thank you for coming. Have you ever been on a tour of the palace?" Frigga replied.
"No, I haven't." Ava answered.
"Would you like to take a tour?" Frigga asked.
"I would love to, your majesty." Ava answered. "Thank you."
Frigga started with the tour of the palace grounds. She showed Ava and Gail around the garden, pointing out the different flora. They were soon making their way to the training fields. The clash and clang of metal could be heard, ringing throughout the training fields along with the banging of high energy weapons. Ava looked around as all of the warriors were practicing their battle techniques. She had to admire their dedication.
As they walked, Ava happened to notice Prince Thor and Prince Loki on the opposite side of the field far from the others. They were accompanied by Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. Loki was sparing with Fandrall. Ava watched the fluidity of Prince Loki's movements and couldn't help but to admire his technique. He easily dodged Fandrall's blows and dealt his own.
She almost didn't realize it that Frigga was taking them closer to the group. Ava watched as Fandrall made an advance on Loki, but Loki disappeared, causing Fandrall to fall flat and land face first into a bush. The bush was then turned into snakes that began to crawl all over the warrior. Fandrall jumped up and started doing an awkward little dance trying to get the creatures off of him.
A laugh bubbled up and escaped Ava's lips before she even had the chance to stop it. Her laugh quickly caught everyone's attention, including the mischievous prince who had come out of his hiding spot from behind a tree.
Loki instantly looked up as Ava laughed, it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. The smile he wore on his face from having tricked Fandrall grew even larger as Ava laughed at his trick. Fandrall had finally shaken the last of the snakes off of him and looked at Loki. "Look at that, you've made me a laughing stock." He told Loki.
Loki smiled at Fandrall. "I believe you do that all on your own." He then turned to the women who had finally reached them. "Mother, who are our lovely guests?"
Frigga smiled at her youngest son. "This is my dear friend Lady Gail and her daughter Lady Ava." Frigga introduced. "Ladies, I believe you know of my sons Thor and Loki and their friends Lady Sif, Volstagg, Fandrall, and Hogun."
Ava and her mother bowed respectfully to the group. Loki found his confidence he had been lacking the night before and approached Lady Ava. He took her right hand in his and bent and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ava." He greeted her.
Ava smiled bashfully and her cheeks reddened in a manner Loki found very becoming. "The pleasure is mine, your highness."
"Oh, I just remembered something that I needed to attend to." Frigga said. "I will need some help, Lady Gail would you mind joining me?"
"Not at all." Gail replied.
"What about me?" Ava inquired.
"Loki, dear would you mind finishing giving Ava the tour of the palace?" Frigga asked.
"As long as Lady Ava doesn't mind?" Loki replied. Can you be any more obvious, Mother? Loki asked in his mind.
You could just say thank you. Frigga replied.
"Of course." Ava answered, her face getting redder by the moment.
Gail and Frigga wandered off and Loki offered Ava his arm. She looped her arm through his and allowed him to escort her off of the training fields and into the palace.
"Could your mother have been more obvious?" Fandrall asked Thor.
"Probably." Thor replied.
Loki and Ava…
Loki led Ava into the palace. "I…I'm sorry about my mother there." Loki said.
Ava smiled at him. "I'm not."
Loki felt his own cheeks reddening now. "Where would you like to start the tour?"
"I've heard about the library in the palace being the largest collection in all the nine realms. I would love to see it." Ava answered.
Loki grinned. "That's my favorite place in the palace." He then led her through the halls until they reached the library.
Ava's eyes widened as she looked around the large room. Books were piled high from the floor to ceiling on all the shelves. The tomes were arranged by the world they were written in and what year. Ava pulled her arm from Loki's and began to look around the books, finding so many she had only heard about.
Loki couldn't help but to smile as he watched Ava looked over the books. He had never seen anyone get as excited about the books as she was…only himself perhaps, but never anyone else. He walked over to a shelf on a hunch and picked up a book. "This is one of my favorites." He then handed it to her,
Ava looked at the book, her smile widening and her green eyes lighting up. It was a collection of great poetry by the best bards in all the nine realms. "I've always wanted to read this."
They continued to explore the library for the next couple of hours before Loki continued the tour of the rest of the palace. They ended the tour in the stables, where Loki introduced Ava to his horse. Ava stroked the black stallion's nose. "Awe, he's a beautiful horse." Ava said.
The large creature seemed to take a liking to her and nuzzled her. Loki grinned. "He's not the only beautiful creature in this room."
Ava smiled and her cheeks reddened once again. She petted the horse a few moments longer before she and Loki returned to the garden. "I've had a wonderful time, Prince Loki. Thank you." She replied.
"It was my pleasure." Loki replied. "And please just call me Loki, Lady Ava."
Ava smiled. "Alright…Loki. And call me Ava."
Loki smiled. "Would it be too bold of me to ask to come call on you…Ava?" He asked.
"It is too bold." Ava answered.
"Oh…" Loki replied his face falling slightly.
"But I like boldness." She replied, her green eyes sparkling.
Loki couldn't help but grin. "May I call on you tomorrow then?"
"Yes."