Ariella sat in the bed staring at the small file of paperwork in front of her that the healers kept attached to her bed, unaware of what anything said on it other than her name. she had watched as the healers and their assistants had referenced and written on it time and again in her time there, often speaking to one another and pointing to one of the pages in front of them, nodding and debating something regarding it. She swallowed and bit her lips together at the shame of knowing that it referenced her, yet she did not have the faintest clue what any of it meant.

Since Breandán's visit informing her of the situation with her aunt and uncle, as well as what he had said to her, she did not know what to say or do, she felt as though she was in a perpetual state of shock.

Part of her wanted to speak with Loki; though she was angry at his manner earlier but he had not returned. She knew he usually came at what had felt like evening; and she had heard the head healer badger Loki more than once to eat his dinner, as we as having just witnessed Eir relieve the last of the healers and their assistants for theirs, confirming the approximate time to her. She lay awake that night, regardless of her exhaustion and waited, but Loki did not return.

"Eir?" The healer turned to see Frigga walking towards her. "You called on me?"

"My friend," Eir smiled sadly. "I must speak with you." She indicated for Frigga to follow here into a small side room. "It is regarding young Ariella."

"What of her?" Frigga asked, her voice showing her concern.

"There was a man that visited her last night if my assistant is to be believed."

"Yes, the magistrate…"

Eir's face became saddened. "The one that she is to be given to?"

"Yes," Frigga pursed her lips, "It has caused some serious contention."

"And more that I doubt you realise," Eir stated, Frigga looked at her. "Ariella has been highly distressed since, she has not slept, she simply stares around as though lost."

"Has Loki been able to extract from her what is ailing her?"

"Frigga, he has…perhaps that is the issue."

"What?"

"Loki never came to visit her last night," Eir informed her. "And every time the door opened, her attention was drawn to it, I thought it was in fear, but perhaps it was in anticipation."

"Has he ever failed to show up before?" Eir's raised brow was her response. "Odin informed me that she knew who he was when he spoke to her; she was able to tell him of what was discussed in her presence while she was unconscious. It is very possible that his presence or lack thereof last night was very much noted."

"I believe so too, now that I have thought of it." Eir agreed. "What caused his not coming, the man?" Frigga nodded. "I see."

"He is adamant that she should not go ahead with her plans, that she should not be wed," Frigga stated, her heartache for her son blatant.

Eir looked at her, "I have seen how Loki reacts with her, there is plenty reason for him wanting such." Frigga frowned. "He always touches her, he has been spotted on more than one occasion kissing her hand, speaking to her affectionately, his tone, his words. There is no denying his feeling for her."

"Loki?" Frigga stared in disbelief. "My son, Loki, affectionate? I am his mother and though I am liable to be gifted many items and indeed be give an occasional kiss on the cheek, there is no possibility of even I being given such a thing as affection."

"You forget Frigga, you were never courted as others have, it is very much the norm for young men to treat the objects of their affections in such a manner."

Frigga sighed. "I knew he cared for her, it was obvious he had some feelings for her, but this…this is far deeper than that, considering Loki's manner."

"He loves her Frigga, I truly believe he loves her greatly, and if I am honest, I fear she feels likewise for him, though neither seem able to realise it."

"Norns, it is like some tragic Midgardian play." Frigga groaned. "How do I aid my son through such great heartache at such a young age?"

"Heartache?"

"She is promised."

"Norns Frigga, as though that is what matters here," Eir scoffed. "There is little reason for her betrothal to go ahead, look at the entire situation."

Frigga said nothing in return.

When Frigga entered the healing rooms, she frowned slightly. "You look like you have had very little rest, child." Ariella turned to look at her in surprise. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, Allmother."

Frigga smiled politely back, giving her a small nod to indicate that she had been correct. "You have heard a lot o what has been happening while you were resting, how are you feeling now?"

"Better," Ariella's voice was small. "Thank you."

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Frigga asked, referencing her blatant exhaustion. Ariella shook her head shamefully. "Well, how is one supposed to recover fully if she does not sleep?" she chastised slightly.

"Has Prince Loki been sent away on business?" She asked meekly.

"No, he does, however, spend the earlier part of the day dealing with issues regarding his work and station, which I have since been informed is a result of your informing him of the issues of those in more…"

"Common Asgard?" Ariella suggested. Frigga stared at her for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "There is no need to sugar-coat it Allmother, it is what it is, common Asgard."

"It sounds so harsh."

"The truth usually tends to do so."

Frigga looked at the worn girl sitting in the bed in front of her, still so young, yet clearly, world-weary as a result of her difficult life to date. "Yes, it may be, at times."

Ariella bit her lips together and nodded for a moment. "Thank you." Frigga looked at her perplexed. "For the clinics, you allowed be held."

"You used them?"

"Everyone does."

Frigga thought for a moment before she spoke again, recalling how she heard of how Ariella had assisted Loki in improving matters. "If I wished to make them better for people, how could I do so?" she sat down in the chair that was placed next to Ariella's bed and looked at her curiously. "Can you think of anything?"

Ariella barely remained silent for a moment to think of the matter before speaking again. "A lot of women come from the forests to get checked while carrying. A doctor is hard to come by and those that are there are said to be very costly, perhaps, if there was a way for them to not have to come so far?" Frigga stared at her open-mouthed. "I apologise, that was stupid, please do not listen to me," Ariella chastised herself.

Frigga extended her hand and gently touched hers, causing Ariella to look at her. "Darling, that is by no means stupid, it is very brilliant and intelligent. I cannot commend you enough for such a wonderful idea." The Queen smiled, her tone soft and kind. "You are very smart, I can see why Loki befriended you, you are one of the only ones I have ever met so young to have a mind equal to his own."

The small smile Ariella had on her face due to Frigga's compliments and kindness fell again on her mentioning Loki. "I fear I am no longer his friend though."

Frigga cocked her head slightly, "And why is that?"

"Because of the argument we had yesterday, he has not come back since."

Ariella's voice was so small, she sounded more like a child than a young woman on the cusp of adulthood. "Was it regarding your life after you return from the palace, this disagreement?" Ariella did not look at her, but she nodded nonetheless. "Loki is not one to show his emotions easily." Frigga could not help but laugh at the comical 'you're telling me' look on Ariella's face. "He will calm and return soon."

"If he does not, if he decides to stay away, will you tell him, tell him that I am sorry that he does not understand?"

Frigga nodded solemnly, wishing for nothing more than to tell the girl she was being dramatic, but she knew from her dealing with Loki over the years, that on occasion, it was better to just agree and give a person time to time. "I will darling." Seemingly relieved to have someone to relay her message, Ariella began to get comfortable in her bed. "Rest now, you cannot heal if you do not rest." Frigga encouraged; nodding, Ariella did as she was instructed.

Frigga watched, as swiftly, the young girl began to doze before falling asleep. When she was sure that Ariella would not wake again, she rose to her feet to walk away.

When Ariella woke a time later, she was surprised to see someone sitting on the seat by her bed. "Allfather?"

"Did I wake you?" He asked worriedly, Ariella shook her head. His smile was kind and in his hand was the sculpture that she had made for Loki, the stag, that he had placed on the locker beside the bed. "My wife informed me earlier that you had not slept, do you feel a bit better?"

"Yes, sir."

"I have told you already, enough of the formalities," he warned. When he toyed with the stag, her attention fell on it, something he noted immediately. "This is Loki's, is it not?" She nodded. "Do you know where he got this?"

"I made it for him."

Odin had anticipated Ariella to have some part in the answer to his question, but not in that manner. "You made this?" she nodded again. He looked at the stag again, inspecting it in greater detail. "It is impeccably done. I must confess, when I saw it in his rooms near a century ago, I inspected it and I accidentally broke it."

"Broke it?" Ariella looked at the stag, inspecting it for cracks in the wood. "How?"

"The antler."

When Odin pointed to the broken prong, she smiled fondly. "It was always like that, the stag I based it on has a broken prong there."

Odin stared at her for a moment. "A large one, the same colour as a hazelnut, lives close to the edge of the forests?" Ariella nodded, curious as to how he knew that. "That old fart is still going?" The statement startled Ariella, as she had not expected such from him as the king and Allfather. "When I was young and very naïve I might add, I tried to hunt him, but Norns, when I caught up to him, he turned and charged me, he broke the antler on my armour but that was the only injury he maintained," he explained. "He is a very aggressive animal."

"Maybe he was to you, but he was always so calm when he saw us. But we never tried to hunt him, so perhaps he knew we meant him no harm."

"Or maybe he mellowed with old age, like myself." Odin chuckled, causing Ariella to smile. "Where did you learn to do this?" he asked, referring to the sculpture.

"I made it with an old nail, a rock and some wood," Ariella explained.

"But who taught you?"

"No one, I just did it myself."

"You did not learn it in school?"

"I never went to school." Admitted sheepishly, her shame blatant.

Odin sighed. "I failed you."

"How, you did not know I even existed until not too long ago?"

"As the Allfather, as your king, I failed you before I met you, I never ensured you and all like you were taken care of fully, I merely assumed you were all being educated without caring too greatly to check if it were so."

"But you are the Allfather, it is not like you have time to check on every small issue and non-issue that may arise in the realms, is that not why you created positions like the one you gave Loki, so that someone would ensure that any shortcomings in any region were brought to your attention and dealt with as required?"

Odin eyed her. "You know some large words for one with no education." He commended.

"My closest friend is Loki," She stated as though obvious. "He could never adopt the commoner manner of speaking."

"I would imagine using anything other than his usual dialect would irk him greatly." Odin concurred. "So you cannot read and write?" Ariella bit her lips together and shook her head, unable to look him in the eye. "When you are better, you are to receive lessons," he stated firmly.

"Thank you, but there is little need for that," Ariella stated. "I am to wed as soon as I leave here and then there will be no need for such things."

Odin notices how her demeanour regarding the matter of her future had altered so greatly since he had spoken to her of it previously. "Every being should know how to read and write." He argued. "And what is this of an immediate marriage?"

"Breandán came here, he told me that my aunt and uncle have decided that because I am of age, it is time to fulfil the contract as soon as I am deemed fit to continue my care elsewhere."

Odin had not been made aware of such by Breandán during their talk. "I see." Ariella just shrugged in return.