CHAPTER TWO:
"How do I look?" Loki asked, he instantly cursed himself for letting it slip from his mouth.
"You look dashing brother, this woman will be very pleased," Thor grinned. Loki eyed himself in the mirror that hung on the wall by the washroom door. He couldn't help but be nervous now, he wanted to see what this woman looked like, but he also really wanted to return to the library.
"Why must we proceed with this?" Loki sighed "I hate these formal occasions," Thor clapped his back.
"You can leave the instant it is over, I promise you brother," He said "We must go now, it looks like they have just arrived," Thor said, looking out his brother's chamber window. Loki groaned and followed his brother out of his chambers and down the hall to the throne room.
Sirena was instantly taken with the Bifrost Bridge. She loved the way it lit up under her feet. She made a mental note to come back here when she got the chance. The Asgardian sky was much the same as the sky on Vanaheim; you could see stars and planets during the daylight.
"Come on Sirena, we will be late," Her father called. Two horses had been brought to take them the rest of the way along the extensive bridge. Sirena mounted her steed and trotted behind her father, there were four guards posted on either side of the two of them.
Sirena and her father followed the guards through the large gates at the beginning of the Bridge and then through the palace grounds. Asgard was magnificent, Sirena was at least grateful that she would spend the rest of her life in a beautiful city.
Sirena was helped off her large horse by one of the guards who had escorted them across the Bridge.
"Thank you," Sirena smiled at the guard who helped her. The guard just smiled back and nodded grateful for her praise.
"You needn't thank them, it is their duty," Her father whispered in her ear.
"I know, but it is polite, best to start making a good impression right?" Sirena asked, keeping her head high as they walked through the palace to the throne room. Sirena would much rather look excitedly around the palace at all the paintings and architecture, but she was taught to keep her posture calm and collected with her head held high and back straight, she was a princess after all. She didn't like being a princess.
"Presenting King Stefan of Vanaheim and his daughter Princess Sirena," A guard called out across the throne room to all the people in the court.
"Head high and back straight my dear," Sirena's father whispered when she began to slouch before the large double doors opened. Sirena instantly took in her surroundings and all the people who were staring at her and her father. Things were still tense between Asgard and Vanaheim, but hopefully this marriage will help settle things down.
Sirena and her father walked the lengthy path to the throne where King Odin sat next to his wife. Sirena noticed a blonde man standing one step down from the throne, she guessed that he was Prince Thor, he looked exactly the way her father had described him; muscular. Standing next to Thor and looking quizzically at her was a man with raven black hair and green and black clothing, she didn't know who he was. She looked to the other side of the throne and saw three men and a woman standing and also looking at her and her father. The first man was blonde, like Thor, perhaps he was Prince Loki? The second, a step down from the other blonde man was a jolly looking man who reminded Sirena of her brother Soren, with the red hair. The third man was a grim looking man with dark hair; the woman also had raven black hair like the man standing next to Prince Thor.
"King Stefan, how good it is to see you again," King Odin said, smiling at Sirena's father.
"And you King Odin," Her father nodded tensely.
"Princess Sirena, I would like to introduce you to my sons, Thor and Loki," Odin said, gesturing to the two men on the right side of the Throne. So the raven haired man was Prince Loki?
Sirena curtsied and bowed her head slightly at the men. Thor smiled merrily and bowed his head at her; Loki just bowed and looked to the floor. Great, he already doesn't like me Sirena thought, mentally throwing her hands up in frustration. After a few words between Odin and Sirena's father, Odin announced that everyone was to go to the grand dining hall to feast.
Sirena was about to follow behind her father when she felt a large hand on her shoulder. She turned around to find Prince Thor smiling away at her.
"Princess Sirena, what a pleasure it is to have you here in Asgard!" He boomed. Sirena smiled back.
"It is a pleasure to be here, this is a very beautiful realm," She said.
"Loki, come greet the Princess," Thor rolled his eyes and motioned for Loki to come closer. Loki stood next to Thor and weakly smiled at Sirena.
"It's a nice to finally meet you," Loki said, and took Sirena's hand in his and kissed it quickly and then let go.
"And you, Prince Loki," Sirena smiled and bowed her head slightly. She felt really awkward now.
"Let us all go and feast and make merry," Thor grinned and ushered the two royals to the dining hall across the hallway.
Loki sat next to Thor and across from The Vanir princess. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but Loki really wanted to be reading a good book, he had no appetite. Sirena's father and his father were conversing seriously about the truce between their two realms, but after a while they were laughing and drinking merrily together. Sirena was sat next to Queen Frigga, they were happily talking and occasionally Sirena would listen in on one of Volstagg or Fandral's stories of battle.
"You beheaded the beast in one blow?" Sirena asked, amazed with the warriors story.
"Indeed, milady, it was fairly easy," Fandral smirked.
"That is a lie; it took at least three blows to get that beasts head off!" Volstagg chuckled loudly.
"Well, if I remember clearly, there was no beast to behead," Sif smirked and looked to Sirena "These two here often exaggerate their stories to make them more interesting," She said. Sirena grinned and nodded.
"What do you think of her brother?" Thor asked quietly when Sirena was conversing with Lady Sif.
"She is beautiful, there is no doubt about that, but I would really like to be in the library right now," Loki sighed. Thor chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"I will not let you set another foot in that library if you do not at least talk to her some more, why don't you show her our glorious city? Everyone seems content with food in their bellies and chatter," Thor suggested.
"I wouldn't know what to say to her," Loki sighed and sipped his wine "I think it would be best if I didn't," He said.
"Nonsense!" Thor frowned. He turned to look at Sirena "Princess Sirena, my brother would like to show you our wonderful city, we have an amazing view from the balconies," Thor grinned. Sirena nodded and smiled politely. Loki groaned quietly, he wanted to wipe that grin off his brother's face but he knew that wouldn't be a good idea, perhaps he would get him back for this later with a trick or two.
Sirena looked to Loki who took another sip of wine from his goblet and then stood up.
"Shall we Princess?" He asked. Sirena nodded and stood up to follow him to the balcony. With the noise of the dining hall dimmed with the doors of the balcony, Sirena could finally feel relaxed and take in the view of the city. It was beautiful. The sky was lit up with stars and the streets were bustling with people, in the distance Sirena could see a mountain range that had snow forming on it. Asgard was wonderful.
Sirena slouched and leant against the banister, until she heard Loki clear his throat next to her. Oh right, he's here Sirena thought and instantly stood straight again. Loki chuckled lightly.
"No need for royal posture, no one is watching," He said, taking up her recent position of resting his forearms against the banister.
"Yes, I guess so," Sirena said and resumed leaning against the banister, looking out over the city "This city is beautiful, Vanaheim is more beautiful in the day than the night; we only live by candle light," She said.
"When you have lived here for millennia it isn't anything too fantastic," Loki smirked. Sirena smiled.
"I guess not, but the Bridge that leads to the Bifrost if amazing," Sirena said, remembering how it lit up under her feet.
"Indeed it is," Loki said.
"Are you allowed to go on it whenever you want? Because if you are, I will certainly be going there again," Sirena laughed.
"Yes, I sometimes go down there to clear my head if Thor is being bothersome," Loki smirked. They stood there in silence for a while, not knowing what more to say to each other. The silence began to grow awkward.
"Perhaps we should go back inside," Sirena sighed. Loki nodded and together they walked back into the dining hall, resuming their seats at the table.