There were days when the mortal Princess knew she would not see much of her husband. Today was one of those days. Walking through her garden Loki had given her she headed straight to the rose bush that needed pruning. She smiled as through the leaves she saw her friend making her way towards her.
"I see that a peaceful week suited you well." Michelle said to Jane as she came into earshot. The trip Thor had taken Jane on did wonders for her. Jane was farther along in her pregnancy than Michelle was, and Jane had been wearing down. Michelle mentioned to her brother-in-law that his wife needed a vacation to just relax. He had taken her advice, and once again, she was right.
Jane smiled with her hands cradling her baby; she couldn't help but glow, "You sound like Loki, gosh!" She giggled and walked around the bush to hug her friend.
"Hazard of being married to the man… God… person!" She stammered out her reply.
"So how are you and Loki?" She asked as she looked at her friend's stomach.
Giggling Michelle rolled her eyes, "You know he's fine, he can't wait for this little guy to get here. Seriously, Loki can't wait to start teaching him magic. Is that insane or what?"
Jane snorted as she said, "You married the God of Lies! Of course that's insane! You're insane!"
Michelle and Jane started to just catch up when some women passed by. Their noses in the air and disdain plastered on their faces; three women to be exact. The middle one glanced at Michelle as she raised her voice enough for the mortal princess to overhear:
"I can't believe he chose her. I mean, she isn't even Vanir! I thought at least he'd choose an immortal!" She smirked with triumph when she saw Michelle's taken aback face.
The one on the left dug her knife in next, "You know he couldn't get an immortal woman. He had to go for some stupid mortal! Only a mortal would take him after what he did! I mean, he almost…."
Frigga came around the corner at that point and gave an icy smile to the three women, "Ladies, I do believe that you were just leaving."
The women's color drained from their faces and with a quick bow they hurried off. The Queen of Asgard stood in place, impossibly still, for a moment and then exhaled. "I know you two heard that. Specifically you Michelle."
Michelle's eyes stung with unshed tears, "My Queen, please, what were they speaking of? What did Loki do?" She took notice of Jane's gaze falling to a tiny rose bud, Frigga's own gaze saddened slightly.
Crossing the little space left and taking the mortal princess in her arms in a motherly embrace, "My dear… that is for your husband to tell you. Not I."
The three royal women stood there in silence. Afraid to speak for fear of the levee breaking and tears being set free. The birds did not chirp, the roses seemed to lose their sweet smell, and the sun did not bring warmth to their pale skin. No, suddenly, the air was grim, the roses lost their blush, the sun seemed to cease all shining… the only small sign of hope for any of them was after the eternal silence and deprivation of all senses, Michelle's child kicked, causing her to jump and the other two women to laugh.
And all at once, for however brief the time, the grim feeling lifted… yet it couldn't last long.
