The next day, Ava woke up, a pounding in her head from her crying. Eira walked into the room, carrying a tray with bread, water, and a headache remedy. "Here you are." Eira said, setting the tray down next to her friend.

"Thank you, Eira." Ava replied, her tone neutral.

"Are you alright?" Eira asked.

Ava took the headache remedy and sipped at her water. "I am fine."

"Then why do you sound like that?" Eira asked.

"I am no longer going to care about anything." Ava answered. "I have only ever wanted my father to love me, but now I have no hope of that happening…and having that hope in the first place…caring so much…has only ever caused me pain. I will not allow myself to hope or care about anything or anyone ever again."

"Ava, you can't talk like that." Eira replied.

Ava looked up at her friend, their gazes meeting. "I can no longer do this. I have to quit feeling, hoping, and caring so much. It only hurts me in the end."

Eira looked into Ava's green eyes. They no longer sparkled with the light of hope and love as they once used to. Finding out that her father had sold her into marriage had broken Ava, heart and soul. Finding out there was no hope for her father's love had left Ava empty. She was shattered completely. "I see." Eira finally said. "I will come back later to help you ready for the feast tonight."

"Alright." Ava replied, numbly.

Eira exited her friend's chambers and wept as she went outside. She looked up at the heavens. "Please…please, if I cannot heal my friend's broken heart and shattered soul, please send someone to her who can?" She pleaded with the forces of the universe. "Please send someone to love her?"

A short while later, Eira returned to Ava's chambers and helped her get dressed and ready for the feast. They had chosen to dress Ava in a deep purple dress. It was long-sleeved and off the shoulder with a panel of gold down the front. Eira styled Ava's hair in an elegant up do of plaits and curls. She then applied some light makup to her friend's face. "You look beautiful." Eira said with a smile, trying to lift Ava's spirits.

"Thank you, Eira." Ava replied, her tone still dead as before.

"Ava!" Hagar called from down the stairs.

Ava walked down the stairs. "I am ready, Father."

"Good, then let's go." He said, grabbing her roughly by the wrist once again. Just as before once they reached the palace, he changed his grip so that Ava's hand rested in the crook of his arm and escorted her inside.

"Ah, there you are my friend and I see you have brought my beautiful bride-to-be." Lord Garth said, approaching them as soon as they had entered.

Hagar released his hold on his daughter's arm. "Of course, I knew you would want to see her again."

Garth took Ava's right hand in his and placed a kiss on the back of it. "I am indeed happy to see you, my dear."

"Thank you." Ava replied, no feeling in her voice.

"Would you join me on the dance floor?" Lord Garth asked.

"It would be my pleasure." Ava answered, still with no feeling.

Garth led her out onto the dance floor. He held her hand in his and placed his other at her waist. Ava rested her free hand on his shoulder. She refused to meet his gaze. "You look very beautiful, tonight." Garth said.

"Thank you." Ava replied.

"Is everything alright with you, my dear? You do not seem yourself."

"I am fine." Ava answered.

They danced a few more moments before Garth looked at Ava. "Why don't you go talk to the other ladies, while I see my friends?" He suggested.

"As you wish, my lord." Ava replied. She then started to walk towards a group of ladies, but had no intentions of talking with any of them. Once she was sure she would not be seen by her betrothed, she exited the room and made her way out to the garden. She began walking along the path, letting the moonlight wash over her. She breathed in the cool night air and allowed it to fill her lungs and relax her a bit.

"It seems I am always finding you out here." Came the familiar velvety voice from behind.

Ava turned to see Prince Loki standing behind her a smile on his face. She made herself give him a small smile in return. "It is peaceful out here."

"Peace is something you seek?" Loki inquired.

"I seek nothing any longer." Ava answered.

"What do you mean by that?" Loki inquired.

"There was, but one thing I sought after…and now I know it was all in vain. I seek nothing any longer." Ava explained.

The wind blew gently around them, causing a curl to blow into Ava's face. Loki stepped closer and without thought lifted his hand to move the stray curl. As he did this he noticed Ava flinch, as if she had been expecting a blow rather than the gentle touch he gave. "Is everything alright?" Loki asked.

"I am fine, your highness." Ava replied, forcing herself to smile once again.

Loki could see that the expression did not touch her eyes…no expression touched her eyes. Before she had been timid, but now she was completely different. It was as if she were retreating somewhere deep within herself to keep from being hurt. "I have told you once before you needn't be so formal. It is just the two of us out here." He replied gently.

"Yes…Loki." Ava replied.

The music from the party drifted out to the pair in the garden. Loki held out his hand to Ava. "Would you honor me with a dance?" He asked.

"I would…but I do not think my fiancé would appreciate me dancing with another man." Ava answered.

"Fiance?" Loki asked surprised.

"Yes…Lord Garth has made an offer to my father for my hand in marriage. I am to marry him in a week." Ava explained. "I…I am sorry." She then curtsied and went back to the party.

A short while later, Ava's father, thoroughly drunk, had decided it was time to leave. Garth and his servant came over to Ava and her father. "Ava, my man will help your father, while I escort you home, dear." He says offering Ava his arm.

Ava watches as Garth's servant helps her father to stumble out the door. Without a word, she places her hand in the crook of his arm and allows him to escort her from the palace and to her home. Garth's man had already helped Hagar into the house and they were walking to his chair, Eira not far behind them. Garth stopped with Ava on her front step.

"Thank you for escorting me home, my lord." Ava said.

"I only did so because I want a moment of your time to talk to you alone." Garth replied.

"Of course." Ava replied.

Garth put a hand beneath her chin and coaxed her face up so that he could look into her eyes. "I know that marrying an old man like me isn't ideal for a beautiful young woman such as you, but I promise to take care of you, Ava." Garth told her, his voice gentle. "I will be a good husband to you…or at least do my best to be so,"

"I know." Ava replied. "And I…I am grateful that you would be so kind to me."

"But you do not believe you can love me?" Garth asked. "You cannot feel anything towards me other than grateful for my kindness?"

"I…I am sorry." Ava replied.

Garth stared at Ava for a moment, gazing into her eyes. He furrowed his brow in determination and then he was pulling her closer and crushing his lips to hers. He held her to him as he kissed her, as if through the forcefulness of the kiss, he could make her love him. He broke the kiss after a few moments and looked into Ava's eyes. They still held no emotion. "You will come to love me in time." He said. He then kissed her once more before leaving with his servant.

Loki…

Loki returned to the party after a few moments. As he returned, he saw Ava leaving with her father and Lord Garth. "I wonder why Lord Garth is escorting Lady Ava out." Fandral mused.

"He is her fiancé." Loki answered.

"Her what?" Fandral asked, his eyes widening in shock.

"You heard me." Loki answered.

"How did you find this out, Brother?" Thor asked.

"I went out to the garden and found Lady Ava there." Loki answered. "We talked for a few moments…and then I asked her to dance and that is when she told me she was betrothed to Lord Garth,"

"That is such a waste of a beautiful young woman." Fandral said. "Marrying her off to some old geezer."

Loki had to agree, though he wouldn't state it outright. There was also something more. Something that troubled him deeply about the situation. He couldn't help but to wonder if this had to do with why the light had gone from the lady's eyes. He also couldn't help but hate the idea that it was some other man who was taking Ava for a bride rather than himself. I will find out more and end this somehow. Loki thought to himself.

"It is indeed a shame." Thor agreed.

"It would be like letting a delicious meal lie uneaten for days on end." Volstag commented.

"Is everything like food to you?" Fandral quipped.

"It is how I relate things." Volstag replied.

Loki paid his friends no attention. He was too busy formulating his plans.