Jane and Loki had been summoned to meet with Thor, Odin, and Frigga. Immediately she thought they were in trouble. For what, she didn't know. Kissing a whole lot? Thus far they'd been pretty careful about anyone seeing them, but it wasn't as though they were taking great pains to hide either.
"My guess is they are ready to present you to all of Asgard," Loki told her during their sparring session that afternoon. He swung his sword.
She blocked his swing with She-Ra. "That's not scary in the least."
"Don't be afraid," Loki said and raised his sword. "You've done your lessons well. You know what to do." He brought his sword down.
Jane raised She-Ra and blocked his strike. She knocked it to the side. "Did you just compliment me on a job well done? You, who almost failed me because I put a 'u' instead of an 'o' in someone's name?"
"You left the 'o' out of the ruler of Vanaheim's name." He jabbed. She blocked it. "They frown upon those things."
"It's not like I'll have occasion to spell his name out for him," she muttered and raised She-Ra to his neck.
Loki grinned. "He is actually a she."
Jane pulled She-Ra to her side. "I give up."
He grinned and wrapped an arm about her waist. He yanked her to him and kissed her. "I'm teasing."
"So, it's a man?"
"Yes, Njord of Vanaheim is a man."
"You kind of suck, you know that?"
He smiled. "So you are fond of telling me."
"I'm nervous," she said softly and rested her head on his chest.
"Because of Odin?"
She nodded. "If it was just your mother and Thor it wouldn't be so bad, but your father…"
"I understand, but I believe this meeting will be painless."
"Thank God."
"Just don't make any mistakes when you are presented to all of Asgard."
"Aaannnnd you're back to sucking."
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"Jane, Loki," Frigga greeted them with a warm smile. Jane smiled back at the Goddess and bowed to her.
"Hello, Mother," Loki said smoothly.
It was the only warm smile they received. Thor looked grim and Odin looked…well, like Odin. He didn't have much in the way of facial expressions unless he was displeased. He didn't look displeased, Jane thought. He looked rather…resigned.
Sitting at a round table in the meeting room, Jane likened it to the Knights of the Round Table. She kept that tidbit to herself though. She wasn't going to speak at all unless she had to. Odin seemed to prefer it that way.
Loki pulled a chair out for her and she smiled at him as she sat down. He sat down beside her and, thoughtful man, he positioned himself so he was a buffer between her and Odin. Odin of course sat at the head of the table with Frigga beside him. Thor sat across from Loki and Jane.
Jane placed She-Ra beside her on the floor and sat back in the chair, keeping her posture straight. She placed her hands demurely in her lap and resisted the urge to fidget. Loki leaned toward her, his arm resting on the armrest of her chair. Thor's gaze flickered to the gesture and then looked away, jaw tightening.
"It is time to present you to all of Asgard, Jane Foster," Odin said. Jane nodded. It was just as Loki had thought. "We will also be inviting the rulers of Alfheim and Vanaheim."
"Jane can spell Njord's name well," Loki said.
Jane just shook her head and tried not to smile or laugh. Everyone else just looked at him. Loki grinned because…Loki.
Odin looked over at Frigga then and the Goddess nodded. She leaned forward slightly towards Jane and Loki. Loki stiffened slightly and he sat up even straighter causing Jane to do the same. Something was up.
"Jane, though you have been gifted with great power from the Norns, you were first human," Frigga said. "To some on Asgard and to others in the Realms, that will be a problem."
No kidding, really? Jane thought and darted a glance at Thor who shifted in his seat and looked down. Odin just continued to stare at her, his expression blank.
"Though we have accepted you," Frigga said to which Jane fought back a snort, "This may cause…unrest in the other Realms."
Jane wasn't sure what the big deal was, but in a way she got it. If they were anything like Thor and Odin she would immediately be unworthy of such a gift based on her heritage. God forbid a mortal – a human from Earth – be worthy of anything.
Now Frigga looked at Loki. "Son, you have been on the path to redemption since you helped your brother with the Dark Elves."
Loki nodded, but he looked wary.
Frigga opened her mouth to speak once more, but was cut off by Odin. "In order to establish your position as no longer an enemy and threat to me and Asgard," he said to Loki and then looked to Jane, "as well as to establish you as part of Asgard and of this court, you and Loki will be wed."
Jane blinked. "What?"
Thor pounded his fist on the table and then got up and stormed out of the room, his cape streaming behind him in his rush.
"Well, I must say this is unexpected," Loki said. He looked at Frigga. "I should have known, Mother, with your attempts to play matchmaker."
Jane looked at Loki. "What?"
"Is there nothing else you can say, Jane Foster besides 'what'?" Odin snapped.
Jane clamped her mouth shut. She was reeling. She and Loki were to be married? Had she heard that right?
"Jane," Frigga said gently. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm…stunned," Jane replied. "I'm not sure what to think. Is this – I mean, is this really necessary?"
Loki looked at her sharply. Jane sometimes didn't understand him. He hadn't sound exactly thrilled with the idea of having to marry her, but apparently he didn't like the idea of her not wanting to marry him. No, actually, now that she thought about it, that was Loki all over. She knew he probably took her hesitation as a personal affront against him, which it was not. Yesterday she received powers that were clearly not accepted and today she was going to marry Loki?
"This alliance, fully supported by myself and Odin, will unite the court and show Asgard and the Realms that we are a united front. It will show that we back you and Loki," Frigga told her. "Yes. It is necessary."
This is how monarchies work, she thought. Monarchies of old, but still. Arguing was futile. She would just be shut down by Odin and infuriate the All-Father even more than he already was with her. Is this what life was going to be like now? An edict was passed down and she had no choice but to accept it? And why the hell did Thor get to charge out of the meeting and he didn't get stopped or reprimanded for it?
Oh, right. He was the favorite. Jane fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"When you are presented at court, Jane," Frigga continued, "Your engagement will be announced."
"You are dismissed," Odin said.
Jane had never wanted to hit someone as much as she wanted to hit Odin. So that was it then. No questions could be asked. No concerns could be raised. It didn't seem fair that she had been given all this power and yet could do nothing. She was, essentially, powerless in the face of Asgardian politics. In the face of Odin.
Loki was the first to get up and when he did he looked down at Jane expectantly. He wasn't happy. She knew that set of his jaw and those cold eyes. He was pissed. Whether or not it was at her was unclear. She got up, grabbed She-Ra, and took his hand when he offered it.
He practically dragged her from the room and when they were outside and the door was shut behind them he looked at her and said briskly, "I'll come to you later." And then he strode away from her and Jane, who felt defeated and beaten down yet again, said nothing to stop him.
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Loki stood out in the highest tower overlooking Asgard. His hands were curled into fists. He wanted to scream until he was hoarse. Leave it to Odin to declare he and Jane be wed. He understood the political maneuvering, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
It wasn't that he was opposed to wedding Jane. He was opposed to marriage in general, but it was the way in which they were asked. No, not asked. Told. Loki didn't like the lack of power he now had. Didn't like that he had to jump through hoops to please the All-Father who was not even his father. That his mother stood beside him (and he ignored the fact that Frigga was not really his mother either), infuriated him even more.
It was the lack of choice.
He cared for Jane. More than he wanted to admit. And should the day come that he felt induced to marry her he wanted to be able to make the choice, not be forced into it. It was bad enough that all his plans had gone to hell because of her…
Sometimes he wanted to snap her neck for making him feel things he didn't want to feel. Those moments were usually during those time he had her in his arms. She fit so perfectly there…
Damn it all to Hel.
"I thought I might find you here."
Loki sighed and dug his fingers into the cement railing. "Mother, I am not in the mood."
"No, I don't suppose you are," Frigga said behind him.
"Was this your decision? Or his?"
"You and Jane are well-suited—"
"So yours."
She came to stand beside him and placed her hand over his. "You care for Jane, do you not?"
He sighed. "I do. But it's the lack of choice—"
"I know, son, I know. But in this way your position as the Prince will be secure. This will benefit both of you. No longer will you be seen as a traitor to the throne."
Loki shook his head. "Mother, not even this will cement that. And pairing me with Jane whom everyone is already wary of…"
"Trust me."
Loki sighed again and looked at her. "She does not wish to marry me."
Frigga smiled. "There is time enough before Jane is presented at court and your engagement is announced. Perhaps you may use that time to romance your lady? You may think you've hidden from everyone how you two share kisses and carry on together, but you haven't hidden it from me."
Loki smirked. "Does anything ever really get by you? I daresay you see more than he does."
Frigga sighed. "It's true that your father—"
"Not my father."
"—sees what he wants to at time. It's my job to pick up on what he does not." She patted his hand. "I will leave you alone to think."
She left and Loki stared out onto Asgard and thought about how his life was again going to be changed.