ch 3: Secrets

Asgard:

There was once a son who was gullible, but gallant. He was known far and near for tales of his bravery, his name was Baldr.

When he heard the awaited news, he tossed his bow on the ground and left his arrows besides Odin's throne. Baldr rushed to locate his brothers with the news. He jumped over obstacles and slid between scholars. He ran through the castle's kitchen and under the garden's bridge, he even stopped to wonder where they'd gone without him.

Baldr's persistence finally bore him fruit. In the grandest of dining halls he'd found his brothers with their friends and admirers. Loki had been the first to greet him with the simplest of gestures, then Tyr with the loudest but Thor had been far too mesmerized with the woman seated besides him as he placed Asgard's finest flowers in her hair.

"Brothers! I come bearing wonderful news!" Baldr announced happily.

Tyr had been chewing on the core of a fruit, he spat the seed out into the fireplace and demanded;

"Tell us! What news do you bring us, brother?"

"The advisor from Midgard had sent word of the boxes!" Baldr replied.

Thor turned his head to Baldr while Loki lowered his goblet and Tyr sat on a hand-carved marble throne.

"Have our gifts been rejected so soon?" Try asked.

Baldr dashed to Tyr.

"On the contrary, of the two princesses presented with our treasures, both accepted! " Baldr ended with a smile.

Loki caught sight of the maidens mourning Baldr's soon departure from bachelorhood. They wept in an ugly manner, their lower lips trembled and their noses dripped. The scene inspired Loki to show the women how ridiculous they appeared.

"I take it yours has been picked, Oh pretty one. How will I ever live with myself knowing I've missed my chances with you." Loki spoke with a dramatic flair. He went down on one knee and held Baldr's right hand tenderly to his chest. He shot a glance at the women that he was mimicking from past memories. He'd witnessed them all react with this exact behavior to Baldr countless times. A substantial amount of the mocked women crossed their arms while the remainder of the room erupted into chuckles, giggles and a single snort.

Baldr bashfully laughed with the Asgardians present and Thor toasted to Loki's performance. Tyr rolled his eyes at the fool he was forced to call his youngest brother, for Tyr couldn't think less of Loki even if he had been forced to do so.

"Ah! Thor's personal jester has made a mockery of himself, again! Let us clap for him!" Tyr yelled at the gathered audience.

Tyr then returned to his stone throne with Sif. He pulled the gorgeous warrior onto his lap and kissed her neck while Loki raised his brow. Thor cleared his throat when he saw the trickster about to verbally spar with Sif's lover. Loki reluctantly withdrew from arguing with one of his greatest foes.

Sif peeked a glance at Thor, when he'd caught her gaze, they both looked away. The exchange went unnoticed by everyone except Loki.

"Who was also picked, Baldr?" Thor's fair haired mistress asked in a seductive tone.

"Um- - well. I hadn't asked." He confessed.

"I'd sent the best of the four treasures. Mine must be the second if not the first one picked!" Thor interrupted gleefully.

As if on queue Baldr and Loki shared a look. The trickster had his arms crossed and Baldr sympathetically shook his head.

"Poor Thor." Baldr said.

"Delusional as always." Loki added.

"Haha. I'm the smartest of the four of us. Wait and see! I kept a keen eye on the advisors. I played it smart." Thor poked the temple of his head.

"You are! You are my love!" The blonde woman said with a charming grin.

Tyr, Baldr and Loki looked visibly ill at the sound of the woman's voice. Tyr snarled at her, while Baldr calmed himself with a deep breath.

"If he's ever so dangerously smart, why did Thor swear celibacy the moment the boxes were sent out, yet has a harlot like her practically attached to his hip? Has my brother been bewitched? " Loki questioned the crowd, his hands hooked behind his back.

The room grew silent and the blonde beauty with almond shaped eyes stood.

"In my experience - - -" She started.

"No. No. No. Your experience has nothing to do with it."

"I am the person most qualified to answer you." She retorted.

Loki smirked and answered with: "If I wished to discuss incestuous relations of the royals within your kingdom then I'd have asked for your opinion, Queen."

"Loki! Enough! I'm sick of your lies! " Thor bellowed out in anger.

The woman left with her head held high. She excused herself from the trickster's "disgusting company."

She walked to a bedchamber with an opened balcony. A breeze caressed her hair as a presence was felt in the distance.

"Come to apologize, Loki?" She said in a neutral voice.

"I would, but I must insist, ladies first."

"Whatever for?" She sounded insulted.

"For a number of things." Loki responded while he approached her. "For distracting my brother from his duties these last few days." He paused and tapped his chin with his index finger. " Thor had refused many stunning beauties' company because he felt a need to be faithful to his future wife. He wished to do the noble thing and wait out these few months till her arrival. He even set Sif free. To spite him she's been resting in Tyr's arms, and - -" He paused.

"And?" She whispered.

"And you should apologize for trying to seduce me after being intimate with him." Loki gave her a vile stare.

She snorted at his fury. She twirled a finger in her long locks.

"You won't tell Thor, you can't handle bruising his ego. Though last night had been the third time I attempted to win your affections. Do answer me this, why won't you surrender to me?" She tilted her head to the side.

"Heh..I suppose the reason is that you are purely out of luck. I'm not terribly fond of taking my brother's toys. I've never been very good at sharing." Loki confessed.

She laughed then backed away. "You'll regret refusing me, Liesmith."

"Wait, explain your actions from these past nights. I know you'd only bed me to upset Thor. Since he isn't here to witness it then, there must be more to it."

"What a clever man you are, Loki."

She began to look at a grand mirror mounted on the wall. The golden frame of the mirror served to grab her wonder. In the mirror's reflection she saw herself beautiful, while in the distance Loki stood tall. The mirror made it appear to her that the trickster was right behind her though she knew better.

"Have you met my sister?" She sounded defeated.

"Sister? I hadn't known you had one, Morgause." Loki's shocked expression reflected in the mirror. The image brought a devious grin to the witch's lips.

Camelot:

The sun was out with a passionate force on the first day of her journey. The blood red banner with a white ferocious dragon danced in the breeze. Morgana Pendragon was taking her leave from her home, from Camelot. A rally of grandmothers, mothers and their daughters wished Princess Morgana a safe voyage, while men stood tall and gave their respects to her brother, The Crown Prince Arthur who accompanied his half-sister.

With her horse's leather reins sheltered in her gloved fists, Morgana moved under a rainbow of thrown flower petals. The women of Camelot were seeing off their only Princess to meet her future husband. The elderly weeped with joy and the youthful looked on with envy. Morgana graciously returned their kind praises with a wide grin and golden coins. The crowds gathered to grab at the treasures as the princess' attendant tossed it at their feet.

A sweet giggle escaped her when she witnessed a round, red cheeked woman proclaim her love of Arthur. He gave an awkward smile then nodded his head at the villager. His stead rushed to Morgana's side, his servant Merlin followed suit.

"I've never seen such a massive crowd in Camelot." Morgana remarked to her brother.

"They're out to say their farewells to their loving Princess." Arthur replied.

A brightness reached Morgana's eyes and a gentle smile appeared.

"Do you truly believe they think of me so fondly? That I'm worth such an exaggerated goodbye?"

"Of course they do! Since you've taken your place near Father and I on the throne, many lives have been spared from a beheading. Many undeclared witches' lives, that is." Arthur answered honestly.

Morgana looked tortured by Arthur's words. Her features grew cold and her face paled. Even her hands shook, while her horse sensed her discomfort, Arthur had not.

"Princess?" Merlin peeked at Morgana's face.

She looked away then dabbed a handkerchief under her eyes.

"Dust. Dust. It is only dust." She said in a cheerful voice.

"My mistake, Princess. I thought you were crying." Merlin whispered softly.

"Crying? Why would she - -? Oh!" Arthur paused. His trusty mare, Llamrei stopped her strides.

"What is it, Arthur?" Morgana asked.

"Merlin! " Arthur shouted to the man in red.

"Yes, your majesty? I'm right here. You mustn't shout." Merlin said half-hearty.

"I need to discuss matters with Morgana. Ride a-head informing the knights to take the rest of our traveling guests under their full care. I want to be left alone with my sister." Arthur ordered, Merlin complied.

When the knights were far ahead of Morgana and Camelot was far behind her, Arthur turned to ask;

"Which box had you picked, Morgana?"

She found herself surprised to hear him ask that. He had reached out to her now, but why? When Uther presented the boxes to her weeks ago Arthur fled her company.

She displayed a toothy grin and laughed.

"Why? Do you care?" She asked with a playful smile.

He halted her horse, his own followed once more.

"Of course I care! You're my sister." He declared.

"Then why have you been avoiding me since the boxes reached Camelot?" She questioned him.

He sighed then shook his head.

"I feared this." He sounded grief stricken.

"Whatever are you going on about?"

"Which box had you picked Morgana?" He repeated.

She didn't answer. Her pale eyes that danced between the shades of silver and blue gazed back at him.

"Damn it! I knew it! Father hadn't let you pick had he? He chose for you, him and his greedy fingers advisor. The golden coins, that's why you had enough to share with the crowds in Camelot. This is outrageous. I shall - - "

"Do what, Arthur? What shall you do? Go against the King? Our father?" A pained laugh escaped her lips, she glanced down.

"I can go to another King! " He stated.

"Will you? Are you brave enough to seek King Odin's audience? Will you betray our father?"

"What?"

"Anyone that goes against what King Odin demanded will be viewed as a traitor. Father didn't allow me to pick, thus he would be executed as such." She said .

"Morgana, I'm so - -"

"Don't! I have no need for your pity. I will make my way to Asgard meet this Chosen prince. If he pleases me then I will keep him close, if not - -"

"What will you do?" Arthur asked anxiously.

Morgana wickedly smirked.

"I'll take what I truly want."

She dangled between her fingers the golden treasure she truly wanted. She'd stolen it, leaving the advisor with an empty box and another with a golden beast.

The golden necklace of an enchanting bird swayed back and forth while Arthur shook his head with disapproval at his sister's actions. She merely laughed with great satisfaction.

Please Review ^_^