The following morning Sif is surprised to receive an invitation from the queen for afternoon. She writes down her acceptance and hands it to the messenger. The morning goes by quickly, with her and Steve strolling through the palace gardens. They are even more splendid in the daylight.
"What is Midgard like these days? I confess I have not been down to visit your world for past couple of centuries." Sif asks him.
"It is nothing like you remember it. Earth two hundred years ago had much in common with your culture here in Asgard minus the magic and technological advances. We have advanced technologically but I feel our culture has taken a large hit. We have become less honor-bound and more selfish. On the one hand women have more equality and opportunity than ever before, and yet they fall more easily as prey to sooth talking men who promise them everything and then flee when a baby appears. Having children out of wedlock used to be taboo even during my generation. I fell asleep in the ice and woke up to world where full of single unmarried mothers living in poverty. You would not approve."
"Indeed, bearing a child out of wedlock is very taboo here in Asgard. It is the reason Thor and Loki's wedding was arranged so quickly. Usually royal weddings are planned for several months, sometimes years before they happen. With only two months of planning everyone in the kingdom knows Loki is with child. However, the circumstances of the conception of the child fall well within acceptable custom since Loki is Jotunn. It was not just lustful rutting, it was a matter of life and death. Plus they were formally courting one another at the time so it is not so scandalous as it otherwise might have been."
"Do you want children?" Steve asks Sif. He needs to know. He doesn't want children right away but he does want them and he needs to know that Sif wants them too.
"Yes, but until now I only ever imagined giving birth to Thor's children. The other men here in Asgard have the expectation that, should I marry them and bare children I would hang up my sword permanently. I don't want to do that."
"Having children changes things. I don't think I'm ready quite yet either." Steve says.
XxXxXxXxXx
Sif has to admit, Frigga's selection of guests for afternoon tea today is rather eclectic. Loki is here of course, as the future queen of Asgard he will be expected to do things like this to keep apprised of the politics of the court. But Fandral is here too, which is peculiar. Idunn is here. She rarely ever leaves the orchard. And Bruce is here.
"Idunn dear, how is the harvest coming?" Frigga asks brightly.
"It is finally complete your Majesty. I am exhausted and I thank you for inviting me to this little gathering. The relaxation will do me good." The beautiful blonde goddess says as she sips her tea.
"Loki dear, how is that healer warrior training program coming?"
"Abysmally. Little has happened in my absence on Midgard. The bureucrats have all but killed the program. Finding people with both the raw talent to wield magic and the physical fitness and demeanor to make a decent warrior is a rare combination it turns out. Of all the students at the academy, only Amora has volunteered to take on warrior's training like the Lady Sif here." Loki nods to his new friend.
"And what of the men in the warrior's ranks?" Frigga asks Loki.
"None of them will volunteer. Though some of them have the potential to be great sorcerers none of them want to appear…womanly."
"It sounds like you need a female warrior to bridge the gap." Frigga says looking pointedly at Sif as she sips her Darjeeling. Sif's eyes go wide. This is the opposite of the topic she was wanting to broach with the queen. She wants to go to Midgard to be with Steve, not attend the healing academy to learn magic. This is a disaster.
"My queen….I cannot. I'm sorry My Prince. It is not that I do not wish to learn magic or turn down such a wonderful opportunity but….." Sif stutters as she can't believe the next words that are about to fall out of her mouth. "….I want….I want…"
"…to marry the Captain and have lots of sex and babies." Loki says with a mischievous grin. "You needn't look scandalized my lady it is obvious to everyone." Sif blushes a crimson sunset. "I have spoken with Amora on this topic. She is wary of learning combat in front of the men. She feels learning to wield the sword might feel less intimidating a task if she learned it from you. Since I will not be returning to Midgard, the Avengers will be in need of a healer. Amora will fill the role for a while until a more permanent alternative can be found." Loki says to Sif without smiling.
"She will teach me magic and I will teach her combat." Sif says with a big smile. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You are brilliant!" Sif says to both the Queen and Loki. She leans over and hugs Fandral. "I am so sorry my friend to have to leave you and the others behind."
"Make sure you eat your apple before you leave, and take a couple extra with you just in case. We ladies must do our best to keep the wrinkles at bay." Idunn says.
"One apple a year is more than enough. I am not so vain as my friend Fandral here." Sif jokes to her friend.
"What? I like Idunn's apples. They taste like eternal youth." He smiles, but in a flash that smile disappears as he thinks of Tony. Tony is already considered to be a seasoned individual.
"Fandral my dear, what troubles your heart?" Frigga asks him.
"It is nothing my queen." Fandral says avoiding the question. He doesn't know how to answer her really. He's never gotten this attached to a night's conquest before. Even if they decide to make a go of it, a relationship between them would be doomed from the start. Tony is mortal.
"Why don't I slide a few extra apples into your knap sack this year to cheer you up?" Idunn says.
"You know Fandral, I could still use more recruits for the warrior healer program." Loki says fishing for an opportunity.
"Yes, and I believe in Loki's idea so much I am considering offering a boon to men who volunteer for the program." The Queen says.
"Oh? What kind of boon?" Fandral asks curiously as he bites into a biscuit.
"Oh I don't know, maybe getting my husband to give you permission to share some of your apples with your new mortal friends?" Frigga says. Fandral chokes and has to hack out little vanilla flavored crumbs before gulping down some tea to sooth his throat.
"Yes and if you are feeling hesitant or embarrassed at all about the idea of learning magic you can do it in a remote setting, like Midgard. With Sif and Amora." Loki says smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Sif shoots Fandral a knowing look, which Bruce notices but doesn't understand. He's missing something here.
"What!" Bruce finally pipes up. "Aren't those apples magical? What effect do they have on humans?" Bruce asks.
"Oh they'll extend our friend's lives by about 5,000 years." Loki says. "Bruce….I was wondering if you would be interested in visiting Jotunnheim tomorrow. It is high time Midgard had an ambassador to the other realms and you have the unique ability to fit in among my people."
"You want me to visit your home planet with you? I am honored. Yes, I'd love to go." Bruce says.
"Excellent, however, I will not be joining you due to my current condition. Angreboda, my cousin will escort you around instead." Loki says calmly as he sips his tea again. Bruce looks around the group and narrows his eyes at Fandral. Okay there is some obvious pairing up going on here. Where does that guy factor into all of this? Bruce looks directly at the queen.
"You're really good at this." Bruce says, not mentioning what specifically the queen is good at.
"Thank you. I am the Goddess of Marriage after all." She winks at him.
"Marriage? Ah. Okay." Bruce says. Tea time concludes and everyone goes their separate ways for the most part. Loki turns to Frigga when they are alone to thank her for helping him coordinate so many happily-ever-afters for all of his friends.
"You're welcome dear. Consider it my wedding gift." Frigga says.