Sorry I have not updated in a week, but I have been ill, then my partner and kids got ill, so I have had little time to write. But here's the next chapter anyway.
After the banquet, the court had requested the royal family discuss the decision with them, as they had agreed with Odin only two days before that you would marry to Thor. Apparently there were those in court that felt it was a ploy you had set up as they were aware of your preference to Loki over Thor, and with your mixed heritage, it should not have been possible. Such comments only enraged Odin. You watched as they cowered in fear, as the Allfather accused them of calling him an old fool for not being capable of seeing through such a scheme should you have concocted one.
"The Princess is incapable of feigning Threyja, if anything, she is somewhat of a victim in this. She never once got to consider for herself which of my sons she should wed, as soon as she set eyes on Loki, she had no say in the matter." Frigga argued.
"She is half Midgardian; such does not occur unless the Light Elf is of pure blood." Tyr stated matter-of-factly.
"Would you like to answer these accusations of your Ljósálfar traits and abilities yourself Princess Sadhbh?" Odin queried. You took a moment to look at the king, realising what he wanted you to do.
Stepping forward, Tyr assessed you as you looked blankly back at him, causing your eyes to glaze over as you concentrated on the task at hand. The old lord looked up, his eyes filled with fear as he drew his sword, swinging it wildly as he shouted, before cowering as though he was about to endure immense pain. You caused to illusion to end and watched as he opened his eyes and looked around to see the whole room staring at him as though he had gone mad. "What in the Nine Realms was that thing?"
"A Midgardian beast from millions of years ago called a dinosaur." You smiled. "They died out long before humans ever even inhabited that realm." You informed him in a bored tone. "I can also alter your garments into that of a Lady should you need further proof of my abilities?" You offered. The Lord backed away silently, eyeing you cautiously, as were a few others.
"So as you can see, with her abilities being what we all assumed, her own parents included, strictly purebred Ljósálfar traits, it is safe to assume that with Threyja, Princess Sadhbh bucks that trend also." Odin stated. There were no more objections from the court. "So it shall remain that she marries Loki. Were we to force her to marry Thor, Asgard would be without an heir as she cannot bear the child of any other than the object of her Threyja."
"So unless you are willing to suggest to the people of the realm that there is an all out civil war in their not so distant future and see how they take it, we shall allow my brother and Sadhbh to be wed and prevent the ruin of our civilisation shall we? Because I can nigh on guarantee neither my brother nor his bride will take this sitting down." Thor shrugged nonchalantly. "I do not wish to wed Sadhbh. I now see her love for my brother and his love for her; I could never destroy my kin in such a manner. Were you to be foolish enough to attempt such a union, I would ensure, as I have no doubt Sadhbh would, that the marriage would never be consummated, and the moment I would be crowned king, I would permit its annulment and proceed to make each and every one of those responsible for such a situation suffer the consequences in the most horrific ways they could fear." Thor swore. Even Loki stared at his brother in terrified awe at his dark words.
"So, are we done here, only it has been a very long day for my betrothed and she needs her rest?" Loki grinned deviously. "She completed the organisations for this banquet singlehandedly last night and needs to recoup." The lords said nothing. "Wonderful, Sadhbh, darling, get some rest." Loki walked to you and guided you from the room. The delicious food and lack of sleep had caused you to become exhausted, so you did not argue his attempts to usher you.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, you lay in bed smiling idiotically, thinking of all that had occurred the day previous. It was official, you were to marry Loki, and Thor refused to contest it. He had stood by your side just as Loki had and defended you from Warin and Erlendr. In all honesty, you had to admit you loved him, adored him even, just not as you loved Loki. He was the brother you always wished for, the kind you had heard and read about.
As you rose to get up for the day, you walked to the closet to get dressed, upon opening it, you snorted a laugh. "Loki." You sniggered as you noticed that every last piece of clothing within it was the same colour green as Loki donned. Throwing your eyes up, you grabbed a dress that had been blue, and tried to change it back, all to no avail. Shaking your head from side to side, you placed it back inside and concentrated, using your seidr, you dressed in a similar styled dress. Opening your eyes you stared down in disbelief. "Loki!" you snarled, realising it was also green.
You stormed out the bedroom door and into the main quarters, earning baffled looks off of Essi and the other maids as you continued out the door and toward the set of doors you had seen Frigga exit through the night you had so less than refinedly met Thor. You pounded on the door with your fist, seething. Loki's main servant answered, one look at you caused the man to step aside, you nodded your thanks.
"Sadhbh, might I say you look ravishing." Loki grinned, though it faltered slightly when he saw the absolute fury in your eyes.
"It is one thing to play a trick on my wardrobe, I found that highly amusing actually. It is also funny to make it so I cannot alter them back. But to dare to impede my seidr because yours is stronger…I would like to introduce you to my limits Loki!" you snapped.
Loki looked on in slight terror. "Sadhbh, I…"
"If you ever, and I mean EVER alter my seidr again without good reason, Threyja or not, I will end you Loki Odinson." You swore. Loki flicked his hand and you felt a warm sensation through you. "Thank you." You huffed, looking to the dress and concentrating before altering the colour. "Better." You smiled, looking to Loki and laughed at the fear on his face.
"I am beginning to regret helping build your confidence." Loki commented, causing you to laugh again.
"Never mess with the seidr. Could you imagine if I did it to you?" You asked, he shuddered. "Exactly."
"Forgive me darling?" he pleaded. "So long as I swear not to do it again." He held his hands up in defeat as he walked forward to you. You stuck your tongue out at him in jest.
The sound of a deep chuckle from the doorway caused you both to turn around. "Not that it is not fun to watch Loki squirm for once, you two really should come with me." Thor smiled, turning to head back out the doorway.
"Not that we are totally adverse to wild goose chases so early in the day Thor, but could you at least tell us as to what is going on before we blindly follow you?" Loki asked in a bored voice.
"Only father and King Gaufrid going at each others throats just down the hall." Thor shrugged with a smile, knowing that that would cause you both to pay full attention.
"What?" Loki started.
"Why?" you asked a moment after.
"Well, from what little I gathered, the good King Gaufrid feels that Threyja or not, the agreement had been made that you were to be wed to me and now feels that father, and indeed Asgard, is making a mockery of him." Thor explained. "They are now in father's rooms and the Einharjar are not letting anyone disturb them. Both the princes Warin and Erlendr are pacing outside attempting to eavesdrop and I have no doubt it did not escape their notice that I came straight in here and are no doubt attempting to listen in on us now." He continued.
You looked to Loki with fear in your eyes, but he shook his head. "There is no way they can hear us, I have my rooms better protected and soundproofed than even my parents can attempt to achieve." Loki assured you, wrapping his arm around your waist and pulling you against his chest.
"So." Thor grinned deviously. "Are we going to see what it is they are saying?"
"Take hold of my shoulder brother, you often curse my seidr, but now it will serve you well." Loki grinned wolfishly, keeping a firm grip on you as Thor did as he commanded.
A moment later you realised you were in a bed chambers, with loud voices close by, causing you to remain still and listen.
"But nothing Gaufrid, she is going to marry Loki and that is final. The court has agreed with the decision last night, meaning there is no objection in Asgard." Odin's voice boomed.
"The letters stated that the court was favouring Prince Thor." Gaufrid argued. "You stated you wanted a wife for your soon to be king, and for whatever reason you chose my daughter. You get her, trained as requested and you dismiss her. I understand she is nothing great, but you do not seem to know what you want for your son."
"Considering the utter contempt you hold your daughter in, I can only assume your anger stems from the selfish anger that she will not ally Asgard closest to Alfheim over all other realms through the marriage. In which case, with such views, it only adds to the reasons she is better suited to Loki."
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying that it is probably in Alfheim's best interests that Sadhbh did not marry Thor. If she had not formed the Threyja with Loki, she would be standing by Thor's side as he ruled, and with what has been noticed by my house with regards to your son's treatment of Sadhbh, remember she would have been Queen and Allmother. Would you really have wished such a fate on Prince Warin?" Odin stated menacingly.
Silence met Odin's words for several moments. "And if Alfheim was to go back on the deals?"
"I dare you to." Odin snarled.
"She is my daughter to do what I please with." Gaufrid stated matter-of-factly.
"You will send your realm into war with Asgard, you are aware of that?" Odin asked incredulously.
"None would fight for the brat."
"Asgard has embraced her as one of our own, she is well loved by our people and because she means so much to Loki, Thor will defend her, if he and Loki will defend her, the Warrior's Three and the Lady Sif will as well, that is six of the most decorated warriors in the realm, meaning the army will gladly follow them. And I may add, I will have no problem with giving my consent to our armies being called forth should you be stupid enough to attempt to follow through that threat. I also have no doubt your daughter would not go willingly were you to try." Odin's voice was level, calm and terrifyingly threatening.
"Why do you care about her?" Your father asked sceptically.
"What does it matter to you, you see no worth in her."
"She is my daughter."
"She is a living being, not your property. You would do well to cease treating her as such. You got what you wanted for her, she is no longer your concern. She is happy on Asgard, and we are happy to have her, so why don't you take your boys and leave. Just come back for the wedding, and after that leave her to her life here. I will deal with getting this realm its future queen, you do the same with yours. As for alliances, they shall remain, but threaten my realm or my family again Gaufrid, and my sons and I will annihilate your line, and I mean obliterate it." Odin swore. "And before you make mention, Sadhbh is of this house and this line now. Her children will be of my son's lineage and will carry his name, not your family's."
"You are welcome to her. I said it before and I will say it again Allfather, you know not the curse of having sired a daughter."
"Odd, I would have seen it as having been a blessing to have. I know my dear wife would have loved for one, and my sons have doted on her, as would I." Odin shrugged. "Take your leave now Gaufrid, and we will inform you as to when the date is decided. Feel free to arrive on the morn of it if you see fit. Let it be known you are under no obligation to come any time before that."
There was a huff and very soon after, the door slammed shut. A loud sigh came from the king as you heard him pacing. With a sudden jolt forward, Loki grabbed you as the door opened, and the three of you were faced with the tired looking Odin, who was somewhat bemused to see you all there. "After over a half a millennium of you doing this Loki, you'd think I'd be used to it."
"It was Thor's idea." Loki pointed to his older brother.
"Hey, it was me who said what was going on and to see what we could hear, I never suggested teleporting into father's bed chambers to eavesdrop, that was your doing." Thor countered.
Odin looked from one son to another before throwing his eye up and shaking his head. "I am getting to old for this." He stated in exasperation to you as you sniggered at Loki and Thor's renewed bickering. "Just so you do not think I am forcing you to stay Sadhbh, you have the option to leave with your father should you want it." Odin informed you.
Immediately the brothers silenced. "Thank you Allfather, for all you have said and done for me. If it is all the same to you though, I would much rather stay here." You pleaded.
"Well then, I am going to get some peace and quiet, because I have little doubt that for the next month or so, this palace is going to be a hive of activity for a wedding." Odin walked to his main doors and opened them. "All three of you, go eavesdrop somewhere else for a while and give an old man some time alone with his thoughts."
Thor exited first, followed closely by Loki, who held your hand in his. As you passed Odin, you stopped for a moment and allowed Loki's hand to slip out of yours. Looking up at the incredibly tall king, you leant up on your tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you." You smiled, tears in your eyes. The king looked down at you in complete shock at the gesture.
"I do not think you would have done well with a daughter father, she would have had you utterly at her whim." Loki chuckled, taking you into another embrace.
"I fear you may be right." Odin acknowledged as he closed the door, leaving you all in the hallway.