Plans were being made for Byleister's joining ceremony. Farbauti was doing the absolute minimum she could get away with in protest. You and Nal Queen took over the details that the General neglected. You decided to befriend Audboda, she was to be your best friend's mate and you wanted her to feel welcome even if her soon to be mother in law was not being very friendly.

Audboda was a beautiful full sized Jotun woman with long straight reddish hair. Her skin was pale blue but very pretty. Her voice was smooth and musical even when she spoke. You fully approved of her for your dear friend.

You took time from your work to show her around the castle. You took her to the children's suite and introduced her to the young mages. Two more young girls had arrived that morning and Audboda was especially kind to them.

Jaxarna was delighted by her and insisted on calling her Princess, even though the title wouldn't truly be hers for another week.

Audboda sang for the children and they adored her. You started to think about whether there might be a place for her in the temple. Music was always a welcome thing and perhaps there were things she could help the younger ones memorize by making them into songs.

As you walked her back to her suite you asked her about doing some songs. You suggested that Byleister could help her with the content.

She seemed to like the idea more as she thought it through. She really couldn't continue singing in drinking establishments once she was a princess. She would not be giving up her career, it was just going to change into something more suitable to a princess and this sounded to her like something that could be enjoyable.

The two of you continued with other small talk as you walked down the halls.

"Sorceress!" An angry snarl echoed through the hallway. D

You stopped in your tracks, Audboda looked down at you startled and apprehensive. Farbauti was coming up behind you and you politely turned around to greet her.

"Yes General?"

"Stay away from Loki, you are distracting him from choosing a proper mate". She snarled bluntly, not stopping and ignoring Audboda as if she were a servant.

You said nothing, raising your eyebrows slightly and waiting for her to continue, if she would.

She finally stopped about twenty steps away so she could yell across the hall at you "You are incompatible! An inappropriate match. Two full mages will produce monsters instead of children!"

You let her talk, Audboda looked back and forth between you two fearfully.

"Loki must produce children for the royal line".

You took a breath, paused and said "Loki has many children in the temple, he contributes to Jotunheim's future in that way".

"You would deny him healthy offspring of his own?" She growled deeply.

"With care and planning we can produce healthy children, we are mages and DNA manipulation is possible, I don't know why it wasn't practiced in the past. Helblindi is king and his offspring will be the proper heirs to the throne. Byleister's new mate will also produce viable heirs."

Audboda stepped back, not wanting to be part of this confrontation.

Farbauti glared at you, her red eyes glowing like hot coals. Her face looking very severe with her hair pulled back in her signature high tight ponytail.

You let her stew for a moment. "Choose your own successor, General. You have many men and women whom you have trained and influenced to choose from, your choice will be better for your purpose than your son's choice of a mate, he is a mage, not a soldier".

The General stared down at you menacingly and a deep growl escaped her throat, you heard Audboda gasp behind you.

You allowed your seider to create a radiant maroon glow around your body, crackling like static electricity waiting to jump to the nearest ground. No one who valued their skin would dare touch you in that condition. Audboda wisely stepped even further back, adding to the distance between herself and the two of you.

Farbauti's growl ended with a sharp snarl and she turned crisply and marched purposely back the way she came, making it clear that nothing had changed.

You closed your eyes and shook your head. You just stood up to Farbauti General. Oh shit.

"That was terrifying," said Audboda.

"Welcome to the Royal Family, my friend" you quipped much more lightly than you really felt.

"Why does she hate you so much?"

You look up at the full sized Jotun woman and smirk "she's run out of sons".

You finish walking Audboda back to the suite they set her up in and then go back to your own. Just as you decided to knock on the door that joined Loki's suite to yours a servant walked into your sitting room and told you that the King had requested your presence.

Helblindi had called you to his study. It was an unusual request. You were the most junior member of his council, you wondered what he would need from you that he wouldn't be asking in a full council meeting.

"Sorceress, you have made an enemy of my mother." He said with a smirk.

You raised your eyebrow wondering why he found that so amusing, being on Farbauti's bad side was not a position anyone would want to find themselves in, and certainly nothing to be amused by.

"Your Majesty, Farbauti General has several fine officers from whom she can choose for her successor, she can make a better choice than any of her sons could."

Helblindi smiled. "My mother is a master of military strategy, but for some reason she has her heart set on a daughter-in-law to be her successor since none of us desired or were suited for military life." He said standing up from his desk and walking to the window. "I disagree and have suggested that this is even a weakness on her part"

You held back a gasp. Only her son the king could ever dare make an accusation like that to the ferocious General and come out unscathed.

Helblindi chuckled at your response. "I reminded my mother that she is no longer Queen, she is only the head of the royal army and as such she reports to me. I may be her son, but I am also her King. She wasn't very happy about that".

"Why have you called me here, Your Highness?" You asked.

"I know you are the choice of my brother Loki. I approve of this. He has become a true son of Jotunheim under your Influence. You have my blessing as your King and my support if you are to become my sister. Do not let my mother concern you".

You stared at the King in surprise. You weren't sure his approval really mattered to Farbauti, but you did value it. "Thank you, your highness."

"I will gain two sisters in a very short time." He smiled. "We have seasons again, crops are growing and many children are being born. You have been essential in this transformation. My brother would have simply continued to sulk and snipe in the dungeon without your influence."

"I don't know, your highness, but thank you" you said with your head respectfully bowed.

"Now go to my brother and keep him out of trouble, sister". The King said as he smiled and motioned to the door.

You grinned and turned to go.

You tried not to skip down the hallway to your suite. You stopped in front of Loki's door and knocked.

He opened the door and pulled you in with a hug, pressing his lips to yours as he shut the tall door behind you. You ran your fingers through his silky black hair then pulled away. He smiled and gazed into your eyes.

"Mother is angry," he said softly.

"I know"

"I don't care," he said smiling.

"Apparently not" you said as you leaned in to kiss him again.

He was the first to pull away this time and he just looked deep into your eyes and softly laughed. You started laughing too. You both just looked at each other and just laughed happily at each other.

"Audboda likes the idea of creating songs to help the children learn" you reported to Loki.

"That will be good, she has a beautiful voice and the children love her" he said.

You talked about the children and your day with Audboda over dinner. You stayed with Loki in his suite that night.

The day of Byleister and Audboda's joining ceremony came. There were beautiful ice sculptures and actual flowers that had been grown in Jotunheim for the first time in hundreds of years. There were hundreds of people in attendance, including the Aesir and their Jotun partners.

Audboda was dressed in a beautiful blue gown to match the color of Byleister's magic. Her hair was put up in elaborate braids. Byleister was very handsome in his dark blue kilt and vest, his hair hung silky and loose past his shoulders. They both had ribbons tied to their horns that streamed after them as they walked together to stand before Helblindi King.

You stood to the king's side with Jaxarna and Loki. Nal Queen was on his other side with Farbauti and Thrym, the lieutenant who had led the army into Asgard.

Thrym looked apprehensive standing next to Farbauti General. She had been dragging him around with her for days. You assumed that he was Farbautis choice for a successor since it would not be any of her daughter in laws. You were actually happy for him, he deserved to be her successor and was at least as qualified as the female lieutenants, if not more. You hoped that was what was going on anyway.

Farbauti glared briefly at you and ignored Audboda as if Byleister alone was standing before the king.

The crowd was silent as Helblindi recited the words of joining in the ancient tongue. Audboda looked down adoringly at Byleister as he gazed up at her as if nothing else existed in the world but her beautiful face. Helblindi then took one of their hands in each of his. He put their hands together, let go and took a step back, leaving the couple joined together in front of the crowd.

The crowd shouted their joy and approval. You and Jaxarna joined in enthusiastically. Loki watched you with a smile and then joined in at the end.

There was a huge feast and casks of sea fruit wine flowed for everyone. People began to dance.

You watched and smiled when you saw Beli swinging the Asynja war maid around on the dance floor. She was so tiny in his arms but they were so graceful. You wondered if there was anything more to that.

The other Aesir and Jotun partners were also dancing, mostly with random jotnar women. Fandaral actually found a lovely Jotnar woman who was impressed with him, they danced and he looked happy, tiny in her arms but apparently loving it. Volstagg was busy with the feast, but he was happiest of all.

Farbauti was glaring a hole in you from across the room. You smirked and turned to Loki and asked him to dance with you. Farbauti stormed from the room, Thrym dutifully following her. No one else paid attention.