Chapter 6
Puzzled by the young woman's words, the brothers shared a quick side glance that unmistakably read 'do we know her?' before fixing their eyes back upon the red-head that stood a few feet away.
"Forgive us..." Thor spoke first, his blues eyes tracing Erica's face, "... but you say we have met before, my Lady?" he returned.
Oh well wasn't that lovely, "They don't remember who I am..." Erica thought quietly to herself, though she wasn't completely surprised at the disclosure. She nodded her head, "It's been quite some time...but yes." Erica replied serenely, "Our paths have crossed...once."
"And where was this encounter?"
"Why don't you try and take a guess?"
"Hmmm..." The oldest prince took a second or so to ponder the witty question while he stroked his bearded chin with a hand. How was it that this woman clearly knew them...whereas they could not place her from memory? Bewildered, Thor proceeded by turning towards Loki, "...what say you, brother?"
Erica's eyes immediately swept over to the raven-haired prince and found him already staring back; though every other physical aspect of him had changed with time, his emerald eyes had remained exactly the way she remembered-sharp and exceedingly focused. It made her wonder what thoughts were running through his head at this exact moment as he held her with his gaze...
She was an alluring woman, to say the least, Loki thought to himself . But unlike the Asgardian women he was use to seeing whose beauty came from their perfect, heart-shaped complexions, elegant statures and fashionable styles, this female's looks were far more effortless and yet strangely exotic to him-her round face appeared as fair and as smooth as marble with a small comely nose that hovered above a set of pale pink, pouty lips.
Studying her details more closely, Loki noted the way her skin had been lightly kissed by the sun for it had faintly left speckled marks across her cheekbones and nose-a trait not commonly seen upon the typical Asgardian noblewoman. Was she lovely still? Yes. But in an average manner. Her beauty came from the simplicity of her face, and even then, that wasn't what had his attention. It was her large, almond-shaped eyes. Two vast pools of swirling teal speckled with a jade green right around the center of her irises. They reminded Loki of the sea-deep...mysterious...captivating.
"Such a color…" he thought to himself as he stared off into the two orbs from where he stood. "I think I do remember these eyes from somewhere…" he noted softly as he racked his brain for an answer. But where? This woman looked equally familiar and completely new to him at the same time.
"I am at a loss for words." Loki answered truthfully.
A corner of Erica's mouth turned upward into a subtle smile as her eyes dropped, hiding the astonishing but brief moment of pleasure she felt from hearing the raven-haired Prince's confession. At the same time though, Erica now desperately wished she could just sink beneath the floor and disappear. If it wasn't bad enough that she could feel eyes of all the other Asgardian nobles sizing her up as she stood before the almost-complete royal family, half of that said family had no clue who she was.
How was she ever expected to conform to this arrangement when she was obviously just a nobody to them? A complete stranger...foreign to their extravagant lives?
"Now boys..." the All-Father spoke up, his tone almost chastising as he subtly huddled the three of them together, "Do you mean to tell me that neither of you remember encountering this woman?" The old king fixed his two sons with a look of complete disbelief that had them both shifting slightly on their feet as if they were still young children who had been caught up in some kind of mischief.
"Well..." Thor spoke up as he raised a hand and scratched behind his head. When the golden prince couldn't come up with an argument, he looked to his younger and darker brother beside him.
Taking his cue, Loki lightly cleared his throat to speak in a hushed voice, "That all depends Father..." he answered, "...were we suppose to know who this woman is?"
"That was the ideal plan..."
"Oh, there was plan?" At the information, the raven-haired prince slyly leaned towards his golden brother beside him, "Well that explains it then...we must've missed the memorandum on our way to dinner."
"Mind that mouth of yours, Loki." Odin firmly reproached, "...this is serious."
Unable to help himself, Thor chuckled lightly before affectionately nudging his elbow into Loki's side, "Yes, silver tongue...watch it."
"All-Father..." Erica politely interrupted as she tried forcing another tiny smile onto her mouth, "...do not blame them for their lack of memory. " she carried while casting her eyes down to the floor as she spoke, amazingly enough, in the Princes' defenses, "...After all, it was many years ago and we were only small children then."
Naturally, that meant things were bound to be on the awkward side. But never could Erica have imagined that she would actually find herself trying to play such an embarrassing situation like this off.
"Be that as it may..." Odin was quickly cut short.
"Ah...she's here at last." a fourth voice suddenly entered the conversation. Moving around the trio of men, a fairly tall woman with rich strawberry blonde hair and a warm smile stepped out into view, surprisingly everyone-especially Erica, who found herself immediately locking eyes with the older woman when she looked up. She was clad in a regal gown of amethyst with purple stones that framed the modest neckline and hem. "When I heard you had finally arrived..." the woman approached Erica's cloaked form with a graceful stride and welcoming smile, "...I came as fast as I could."
It took Erica only a moment to realize who this woman was. Her imperial appearance said it all. "Your Majesty..." she dipped deeply into a curtsey. This woman must be Odin's wife and Queen. When Erica straightened back up, she found the older woman watching her with motherly eyes.
"Lady Erica of Vanaheimr...welcome." The Queen of Asgard spoke, her blue eyes were alight with a delicate merriment, "...I have heard much about you."
Erica offered the older woman a refined smile though she wasn't quite sure how to take such a statement just yet, "Thank you."
"Frigga..." Odin reached a hand out and placed it upon his wife's shoulder from behind, "...you interrupted me..."
Turning around towards her husband, the woman spared the old king a teasing look, "And it's a good thing I did, darling." she replied coolly, "...there's no need to be putting anyone here on the spot...especially our new guest."
"I was simply reacquainting our sons with..."
Extending a hand towards her husband, Frigga gently placed a finger against Odin's mouth, hushing his defense, "There will be plenty of time for that later." She swiftly answered.
"...you're ruining the introductions, woman..."
Pulling her hand away once more with a quiet laugh, the Queen of Asgard waved the comment off with a light, flick of her wrist, "Never you mind that..."she spoke with resolution as she turned her attention back onto the young Vanir woman, "Erica, let me show you to your chambers. I'm sure after your travels, you must be weary."
Oh praise the high heavens, she was actually being rescued here.
It took all the control she could manage to suppress the eagerness that threatened to show in both her face, as well as voice, "That sounds lovely, thank you, your majesty."
"Erica...of...Vanaheimr?" Thor repeated the name once before something finally clicked. "Wait a minute..." Now it was the oldest Prince's turn to lean in towards his brother for a quick exchange of words, "Isn't she the daughter of that Vanir who's been in close counsel with Father for years?"
At the notion, Loki turned his full attention upon the young woman and saw the ghost apparition of her childhood self standing alongside in an ink-stained dress of coral pink before it faded entirely from view."Well what do you know? ...I think you're right, brother. She is that exact one."
Overhearing the brothers' words, the red head was momentarily taken aback, "So their memory hasn't completely diminished after all, I see." she calmly thought to herself. Though it certainly took it long enough...
With a triumphant bellow, Thor quickly stepped forward and laid claim on both of Erica's hands by grasping them sincerely within his own, "Great Asgard...you are her. " His blue eyes ran from the top of her head, down to her feet appraisingly, "...last time we met, you were just a tiny, scrawny scrap."
A tiny scrawny scrap, she repeated to herself. How quaint, "Yes, that...that was me." Erica established courteously as she artfully eyed the way the golden prince was holding her hands.
Like his father, Odin, Erica sensed Thor having a presence that emitted a friendly kind of warmth. It came off in continuous waves, and provided Erica with a lasting sense of easefulness even as she courteously took back her hands a moment later.
Thor disbelieving shook his blonde head, "How you have grown, my lady..." he spoke as if amazed. "Loki, can you believe this is the same little girl we played Hide and Seek with all those years ago?"
At the question, Erica redirected her gaze over to where the darker brother, who appeared to be watching her with a look of utmost consideration, stood. "It's processing." Loki answered smoothly, choosing his words carefully, "I must admit though, I don't think my brother and I were expecting to be seeing you again, here in Asgard, Lady Erica."
"Indeed..." she confessed as she boldly locked eyes with Loki for a long, assessing moment, "...Funny how some things play out." she finished with a cool smile.
A corner of the raven-haired Prince's mouth slowly turned up into a smirk, "Very..."
For a couple seconds, the Erica and Loki seemingly held each other's stare-it was as if neither of them wanted to be the first to look away. But while under the scrutiny of his emerald gaze, a sudden unexplainable chill ran down the length of Erica's spine and it was in that moment she grew aware of a most unusual aura that was surrounding Loki like a cloak. It was heavy...thick with an unrelenting tension...and it carried with it an unspoken warning.
Though she had always known the two Asgardian Princes were different in almost every way, Erica had never guessed it would be like this-compared to Thor, Loki felt...
...dangerous to her.
"That's enough excitement for now..."
Erica was instantly shaken from her thoughts when her left arm became linked with the Queen's who now taking the initiative in leading her away. Had it not been for the physical contact, the young woman was sure she would still be locked in a stare down with the dark haired Prince. The feel of his eyes upon her held her in chains.
"Come along, Erica. My boys have detained you long enough. Let's get you settled in for the night."
The young woman now impassively eyed the Queen at her side. "Of course..." she answered meekly before allowing her gaze to quickly sweep over Thor and Loki's faces. "If you'll excuse me, dear Princes.." Erica flickered her eyes over to where Odin stood off to the side, silently observing, "All-Father...I shall retire for the evening." The old king offered her a tiny smile of approval before he turned and moved away.
At her words, Thor nodded his blonde head with understanding, "Then my brother and I bid you a good night, Lady Erica. Rest well."
Erica managed a sincere smile, "I shall..." Her eyes then drifted over to Loki for but a second before looking away so that she wouldn't find herself trying to read whatever smug look or expression he had etched within his face.
Sweeping by Thor while bypassing Loki completely, Erica allowed Frigga to swiftly lead her away from the dining hall, and away from all the other prying stares.
Eyes followed their movements up until they had rounded a corner and disappeared from view.
When that moment finally came, Erica found herself releasing a heavy sigh that lightly shook her frame, "Oh, thank goodness that's finally over..." Her words earned her a brief laugh in return.
"I apologize for my husband..." Frigga stated, "...I know sometimes he can get caught up in a moment." the older woman glanced over at Erica and smiled, "...And we all have been anxiously awaiting for you to come."
Is that what they called it? Erica silently looked back at the Queen as the two of them strolled down a long corridor, making a turn here and there before they hit a small flight of black marble stairs, "Begging your pardon, dear Queen..." Erica finally spoke as they ascended at an easy pace, "...but it doesn't appear that your sons had any idea of my coming whatsoever..."
"Well...that is true." the older woman confessed, "...this was...suppose to be an unexpected surprise-a way to spark their awareness, if you will."
"Which may I say, failed miserably..."
Frigga laughed warmly again before shaking her head, "Oh I wouldn't say that..."
Erica arched a smooth brow, "My Queen?"
"Take my word for it, " she teased good-naturedly, "...you held both my sons' attention rather well. They couldn't stop staring at you."
Erica gave a dry, curt laugh, "With all due respect, your majesty, that was because they couldn't recall who I was...not because of genuine interest."
Frigga gave Erica's arm an encouraging squeeze, "Never mind that...they remember who you are...and they know your here now. That's all that is really important presently."
And then what?
Erica fell into silence as her head began swimming with thoughts. Would she discover which brother she will be intended to?
Though she still hadn't warmed up to the whole idea of marriage just yet, she imagined it would make things a whole lot easier if that revelation happened sooner... rather than later.
Loki's face flashed across her mind, causing Erica to faintly shudder.
"Oh...here we are."
The Queen stopped them in front of a large wooden door which she proceeded to open with her free hand while eagerly leading herself and Erica underneath its frame.
"I spent the last fortnight making sure everything in this room was properly stocked and furnished...I do hope this chamber will be to your liking."
Unlinking her arm from the Queen's, wide-eyed Erica found herself slowly stepping out into the room's center as her eyes took in her new surroundings.
The chamber was utterly flawless-not to mention massive.
It contained a vanity table on one side of the room, a substantial cherry-wood wardrobe on the other, a grand stone fireplace and a large gold-framed white chaise bed complete with a cascading canopy of rich pink damask that was pushed up against the north wall.
The same pink damask that hung above her bed was also draped around the white marble walls of her chamber, proving the room with pleasant color.
"This is my room?" Erica hadn't even realized she had uttered the question out loud until she felt the gentle press of Frigga's hand upon her shoulder from behind.
"Do you like it?"
Looking back over her shoulder, the young red head met the Queen's expectant blue gaze, "I...it's wonderful." Erica confessed with a nod. It was the finest bedroom she had ever seen. "...but...you shouldn't have gone through such trouble..."
Frigga waved the comment off, "Oh nonsense...it was no trouble at all. This is your home now after all."
Home...
Hearing the word, little by little Erica's face fell as the full weight of her current situation fell upon her, "Yes, of course..." The young woman sighed with resignation.
"Is something amiss, my dear?"
Erica slowly shook her head, "No, it's...not like that..." she answered rather straightforwardly, "...Your majesty...I'm not going to pretend to not know why I have come here...nor will be untruthful about how I feel...but you should know...I only found out about this...arrangement just days ago. And...well needless to say, there's a lot that's still having to sink in."
Frigga was silent for but a moment. Then, to her surprise, Erica quickly found herself being spun about and pulled into a tight, sympathetic embrace.
"I know this must be a vast change for you...it can prove to be quite terrifying too- leaving your home to come live in a new one and be expected to enter a marriage with someone you barely know..." Frigga pulled back and continued holding Erica by her shoulders, "...But I wholeheartedly believe good will come from this...by having you here."
"You think awfully high of me, dear Queen..."
Frigga smiled affectionately as she released Erica and stepped away, "It's not just me...Odin thinks so too." Turning away, the Queen began making her way back towards the chamber's door, "Now...I best get back to the dining hall to speak with my husband on a few matters. I'll let you be so you can start settling down for the night. If you find yourself needing anything Erica , please don't hesitate to ask."
"You're a gracious Queen, Frigga...thank you."
With a knowing smile and nod of her head, Frigga left the room as easily as coming in, leaving Erica, for the time since her arrival, completely and utterly alone.