Dotta paced outside of the ballroom. She squirmed in the custom female warrior dress, waring the outfit was such an honor, but she felt so revealed. She had stood infront of her full length mirror admiring what the black and teal did to her creamy skin. As an elf, she knew she looked abnormally beautiful and she had enough vanity in her to admit when she looked stunning in something. Now, that she was outside the Asgardian hall, she wasn't so sure anymore. Everything in her screamed she would look bland compared to the beautiful Aesir women. She felt her skin heat up as the thought of joining the gathering.
"What is this?" Dolyn's voice announced herself behind her. Dotta whirled around. Both her mother and father stood in celebratory armor. This armor was lighter and was just there to look good. Mother's armor was colored a dark purple; Father's was silver. They looked handsome together, arm in arm. She had heard tails of their couplings and how much they were said to have been infatuated. This was the first time she had ever seen it though. They looked like the different sides of the moon. Dark and Light, balancing each other. Always watching out for the other.
Dotta blushed at the obviousness of her nervousness.
"Let us go in as a family," Almirage suggested holding his right hand out to her.
Dolyn offered her left hand. Dotta smiled brightly and placed her palms in her parents. Her parents finger didn't closer over her hands; this was a showing of their daughter, not a guided walk. As they walked through the doors and were announced, the aesir stared at the three. Everyone quieted down as the three elves made their way to the throne.
Loki looked around for Dotta, wondering if she had made arrived yet. He spotted Thor with a tanker in his hand waving him over to the group he was surrounded by. It was the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. Loki rolled his eyes and joined them. Once he joined them Thor clapped his brothers smaller shoulder with a smirk saying, 'I know who you were looking for'. Loki rolled his eyes again for a similar look saying, 'do not be such a bore, brother'. Suddenly silence took over the room. Loki and Thor turned to face what the surrounding crowd was gawking at. When Loki caught eye of the vision of what everyone was looking at, his jaw, too, nearly dropped. The object of silence was Dotta, with her parents, but it was her that nearly every male was eye-ing and every women was glaring at.
She was radiant in an armored teal bodice, tight black leggins, and a long sheer black cape that glittered like diamonds when the light hit the right angle. The bodice left her shoulders and arms bare, and shaped her (apparently) ample...assets. Her hair was longer, just barely past her ears, but he liked the frame it gave her face (it made her face look like a heart) and her tildi was glinting in the many candles lights. Although, Loki could tell where she got her looks from, their royal majesties were the fairest of their kind and weren't to be put second place to any aesir. They also looked grand in their fine decorative armor. Odd, Loki thought, I would follow them into battle any day. That is how commanding their presence was felt in Loki. That is when he noticed how they were walking in...As if they were showing their daughter off and offering her to Odin's kingdom to accept. A gift such as Dotta would be foolish to turn away. He watched as they walked to the thrown of the All-Father and bowed before him. Odin greeted them in some regal way that he wasn't paying attention to. He was more concerned with the look on Thor's face. Thor's jaw was slacked as if he just got slapped in the face with a shark fin; and Lady Sif's response to this was total outraged jealousy. This meant there might be trouble that night for Dotta. Instantly, Loki's guard went up. Without meaning to he place several watching spells around the room.
"Thor, Loki, Balder!" Odin's voice boomed in the room, which broke Thor's trance and Loki's concentration. They joined their parents' side quickly, as the sons of Odin they knew they should never keep father waiting. "The rulers of Alfheim and Svartlheim have given us their only child; will you accept the offer in return for our assistance against the giants?"
All three boys echoed yes, but Balder's was a weak reply. Both elder brothers looked to Balder only to see his longing look at Dotta. Loki's instinct told him that this might cause a problem too.
"And will one of you, in the future after passing a trial, accept Dotta as your bride?"
Again all three brother answered in the positive; Balder's again being weak.
"And during her stay here will you my sons; Thor, Loki, and Balder, protect, befriend, and treat as your equal?"
Yes!
"Then I bid that you dance with her this night to welcome here into the family folds!"
"Yes, Odin All-Father!"
The fair- folk stood at Odin's command. Dotta's was sporting a brilliant smile as she stood before the three brothers. Thor called first dance being the eldest and all. Loki didn't fail to see the outrage from Lady Sif, at this act of affection. Thor took several dances after the first while Loki talked with Dolyn and Almirage, and Balder sulked. Pretty soon food was brought to tables; Volstage was the first at one of them.
Dotta waves Thor's offer of food and drink. She wasn't really interested in food at the moment. In fact she really just wanted to spend time with her parents. She found them discussing something with Loki, who she hadn't failed to notice, looked ravishing in his green dress coat and black leather pants. Also, the flare his hair had with the ribbons. He looked to be enjoying himself as he laughed at something Dolyn said. Almirage was the one to notice Dotta's approach.
"There's my stunning daughter," he greeted with open arms, "how was dancing?"
"Dizzying," she commented.
Loki gave a deep throaty chuckle. He couldn't help but notice the flush in her cheeks after all of the dancing. The color seeped into her shoulders and the tops of her breasts. He tried not to notice that fact, but it was hard not to. Dolyn nudged Almirage gently and motioned to the food. Almirage nodded and headed over to the food table; arm in arm. Dotta hesitantly glanced up at Loki who was grinning down at her. He offered his elbow, she took it not sure where they were going, until they were at the food table. Loki pulled out a chair for her and motioned for her to sit. Dotta felt the heat flare in her cheeks before she sat gently while smoothing out her train. Loki then proceeded to push the chair up to the table, using magic. She gasped as she felt it tilt, wobble and then settle down closer to the table. She giggled at the sensation. He sat next to her with a wicked grin, it was infectious because she couldn't help but smile back.
"What would you like to eat?" He gestured to the plates full of food. There were custards, cheeses, salted pork, ham legs, fresh steamed vegetables, cakes, bread, and a hole lot of mead. Dotta shrugged.
"The ham looks good," she whispered.
Loki looked at her wide eyed, "I thought elves were vegetarians," he whispered back.
Dotta smiled, "That applies to light elves, I am only half light elf. I like my meat."
They laughed together as Loki looked for the closest ham plate, to find that it was at Volstag's side. Loki tilted his head sideways to her and pointed. She frowned knowing she probably wouldn't get any ham then. Now, he wouldn't allow that.
"Watch this." With a wave of his hand, a green cloud formed under the plate, the plate levitated off the table an zipped away from Volstag's grabbing hands. It landed gently in front of Dotta who brightened instantly.
"Thank you, your highness." She took a leg and took a heady bite out of the leg. The juice was savory; so many spices and salts flavored the meat just right.
"I have never tasted anything this amazing," she exclaimed after she swallowed.
"Busla's special recipe. Makes it specially for Volstag."
Dotta nodded. She must tell Busla that it was amazing, even though he had probably be told that already. She continued to eat the meat happily as she watched Loki eat some cheese, olives, and jammed bread. He had poured mead into a goblet for her. It was very good mead, but she did not want to drink to much so she sipped between several bites of meat. She also got some bread and cheese to soak up any left over mead. They mainly ate in silence, but continued to share smiling glances between bites. Pretty soon Dotta was full, she settled for whipping her hands and mouth on a napkin before excusing herself before going to her parents to see how they were doing; only to see them having joined the dancers. The sight of them together stunned her. Never had she even seen them touch in all of her years. But now they were holding each others hands, smiling at each other, and dancing closely.
Ever since she was a kid she wanted them to be together. To not have to travel back and forth between lands every month. She sighed sadly as she watched them. Not even noticing that Loki had joined her.
He looked down on the sad face. It didn't suite her. Only smiles belonged on her face.
"Would you like to dance, my lady?" He offered his pale hand. Without hesitation she placed her small hand in his. With such grace Loki twirled her onto the dance floor. The music was slower than what it was when she was dancing with Thor. So, Loki, pulled her close. Dotta nearly gasped but kept in. She was not used to being this close to a man. Specially not someone so lean and tall. No one as handsome. She couldn't help but stare at the towering Loki. She had never really paid attention to how much taller he was compared to her until now. He was a good 2 feet taller than her. With semi-broad shoulders. She also had not noticed just how cool his body felt. It was nice against her warmed flesh while dancing. And his eyes were a very different color green. They danced between green and blue, almost like one eye was a different color, but would change. She couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was just an illusion of the candles in the hall. But no matter what, no one could deny the fact that Loki was an absolutely beautiful man. Dotta felt honored to dance with him, she wanted to place her head on his chest but deemed it inappropriate since she was not his wife. After several hypnotic dances, Loki let her go reluctantly. He motioned for Balder to join them.
It was Balder turns to dance with Dotta. Since they were about the same height it was easier for the two friends to be partners. Dotta smiled at Balder, not really noticing how upset he was. They danced in silence. Dotta tried to strike up a conversation, but Balder just refused to talk. It wasn't until the song started coming to a close before Balder spoke.
"Why was I not your choice?"
Dotta frowned, "What do you mean, your Highness?"
"You know what I mean, why do you not want to marry me?"
"Balder, you know why," she said gently trying to calm the youthful prince that was carrying such a hurt look, "I want it to be fair. You will have your turn to try for my hand, just like your brothers."
"Liar!" Balder yelled just as the song came to a stop. Everyone in the, now quiet, room was staring at the pair. "You don't even like Thor! And Loki is an insane sadistic freak!"
Dotta covered her mouth, as the rest of the room gasped at the foul language coming from the younger prince.
"Balder, you should not speak of your brothers so!" Frigga scolded from the golden throne.
"Well, it is true," he hollered even louder, "she should want to marry me! I am closer to her age! I will become the most loved person in all of Asgard, yet she doesn't choose me? Why? I would make her the best husband! Dotta why don't you love me?" Tears were rolling down Balder's face.
Odin suddenly stood up, "You will not embarrass your name as Odinson as such!"
Dotta held up a hand to Odin, with a face that pleaded with him to let her speak, of course he granted her the privilege. "It is all right, All-Father, he is just a young boy in love for the first time, he does not know what to do with this."
Frigga and Odin looked at each other in awe of her wisdom, for such a young age, let alone the ease of which she understood and forgave him. Gently Dotta drew near to the weeping prince and placed her forehead to his, their crowns made a "ting" sound as they touched.
"Listen, my darling friend, this will give us more time to grow into ourselves. To become closer and to know each other better; and maybe you will come to find that I am not who I appear to be, and would be no good for you." With these kind, emotion conflicted, yet confusing, sentences; she fled from the ballroom, silent tears streaming down her face.
Before anyone could move or notice him, Loki took a step into the shadows of the room, and followed Dotta out.
