CHAPTER FOUR
[everyone could be happy]
"The most beautiful thing about love is the truth in our hearts that it will last forever."
- Atticus
Kelda raced to the wall behind the palace, her flowing dress clutched in her hands to refrain from tripping over the silken material. She could hear Balder's laughter behind her as he caught up to her.
Despite the fact that it was their wedding coming up, the two had had little time to themselves in the past week. It seemed that at every opportunity he was being pulled away to perform some other important duty. While she admired his dedication to being a good prince and future king, sometimes she wished it could be different, that they had fewer responsibilities.
The crown prince caught up as they reached the crack in the wall they had become familiar with over the years. It was their place, the same grove that Balder took her to when they were children. It was the same place she realized she had a crush on the golden prince as well as the place where the couple shared many other memories.
They squeezed through the crack in the wall and began the short walk to the hidden grove. Despite the fact that the grove had not changed, they had. No longer were they the small children who could slip through the crack in the wall with ease, but full-grown adults. The task was more difficult than it used to be. It was evident when Balder's foot caught on the edge of the opening, almost causing him to fall face-first into the lush grass.
The golden beauty helped him to stand upright. "It is a good thing you didn't train today," she started. "Or else your clumsiness may have gotten the better of you in the middle of a fight."
Balder let out a short laugh as they continued on their way, fingers weaved together. "I can't argue with you there."
When they reached the grove, the two quickly made themselves comfortable, laying in the tall grass. Kelda picked at the blades as she laid on her stomach, while Balder laid on his back simply admiring the beauty next to him as they caught up on each other's past week.
"Are you just going to stare at me the whole time we are here?" the blonde woman teased, her eyes meeting his.
He rolled to his side and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear with a smirk. "And so what if I did, Kel? Is it bothering you?"
"Perhaps. I would say yes, but then you would only continue to do so just to annoy me." Balder laughed lightly.
"Fine, I will stop. I apologize for missing you. I can't believe I haven't gotten to spend time with you since the announcement."
"Yeah..." she trailed off, turning to the blade of grass in her hands.
Balder noticed her change in mood. "Is everything all right?"
"Of course it is. Why?"
"You just seem really quiet today."
"Unlike any other day when I am talking your ear off, hmm?" she joked.
He smiled, "No. You just seemed to retreat into yourself for a moment there. When I brought up the engagement..."
Kelda pushed herself up into a sitting position, her legs folded up under her. She brushed the loose blades from her dress, noticing the verdant smudges of forming stains. Oh, the maids would have a field day with her. "It is nothing. I just feel a little overwhelmed."
He sat up and reached for her hands, gently grasping them in his own. "You can tell me. I don't ever want you to feel like you can't be honest with me."
"I know," the goddess said, her blonde waves bouncing as she nodded her head. "There is just so much I want to do still. A part of me feels like once we are married, I will lose some of the freedom I never got the chance to fully experience in the first place. I mean, everyone else has explored some parts of the Nine Realms. I want to explore them as well. Yet, every time the opportunity to do so comes up, something gets in the way. I have yet to even go to Midgard and Midgardians are rather tame in comparison to anywhere else." She grew silent again.
"You feel like you will be stuck here after we get married." It was not a question, but hearing him say it made Kelda cringe and immediately go to deny it.
"No, no, no... That sounds awful! I-I did not mean it like that... I..." she trailed off, not knowing how to correct what he said. The words failed her.
"I want to marry you. I cannot imagine my life with anyone else but you, Balder. We have been through so much together and—," she was cut off.
"Kel, I wasn't trying to make it a bad thing. I understand completely. I have even expressed concerns about the suddenness of this whole thing, but my father insists. I promise you that you will not be trapped here. You will be able to come and go as you please. You can travel. I am sure Karnilla would love to take you to the Nornheim province at some point. Trips to Vanaheim are no issue at all. Hogun goes there regularly to visit and your mother was from there as well. If you want to, we can even tour Midgard together." They shared a smile at the suggestion. "I have dreamed of having you by my side for some time now Kel. I love you more than anything, but I will not let you sacrifice your happiness if this marriage is not something you want."
Kelda stared into his gleaming gray-blue eyes. She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on his lips. When she pulled back, her forehead rested against his. "I do want this. I want it even more after everything that you just said. Thank you, my love."
"I will never limit you and I sure as Hel will not let anyone else limit you either. I promise that." He leaned in to close the gap again, their lips meeting in a soft embrace.
Karnilla was conflicted.
After learning of how Kelda felt today, Loki's plan could easily fall into place with a little effort. The seeds of doubt had already been planted, through no effort on her part nor on anyone else's. Kelda was already questioning what her life would become after she married Balder.
The dark beauty's stomach turned at the prospect. They were happy together. Asgard's Golden Couple. The Future of Asgard. They loved each other.
However, the selfish, nagging voice in the back of her mind kept going. "You could be happy too. Balder could be just as happy with you as he is with Kelda, if not more so. And it's not as if Kelda would be tossed aside," it said. "She would have Loki who could be an even better fit for her. A win for everyone involved."
The sorceress clutched her wild ebony curls in agony at the pesky voice. The temptation had been laid in front of her. Loki offered her a perfect life on a platter. All she had to do was agree to help him.
Screw being conflicted, Karnilla was at war with herself. She had not even said yes to Loki's proposition and she was already feeling guilty for even considering it.
Her struggle was enough to exhaust her, mentally drain her. Despite the guilt causing her stomach to ache, she managed to close her eyes and drift into a restless sleep.
She was in her solar, studying some ancient texts that were brought back from Nornheim when arms wrapped around her waist. The sorceress jumped and recoiled away from the touch, not knowing who it was.
"Someone is jumpy today," Balder said, smiling down at her as she turned in his embrace.
"Balder?" Karnilla questioned, confused about why the golden prince was gazing at her so... lovingly. "W-What are you doing?"
He smiled that brilliant smile that she just adored. "Is it a crime to visit my wife now?"
Her heart stopped. His wife? What the Hel was going on? "But, I am not your wife..." she tried.
Balder shrugged with a laugh, "Well, yes, you are correct. Technically, you are not my wife... yet. But, it is only a couple more weeks until that changes. Now, if you would follow me, Mother has been hounding me about some matters for the feast afterward and I would love to have your opinion as well."
In a daze, she nodded her agreement and followed her betrothed to Frigga's solar, where vendors of every kind were coming and going. "Mother, I brought Karnilla with me," Balder announced as he entered the room.
Frigga smiled at the couple, radiating elegance and grace. "Lovely! Maybe then some decisions will finally be made since someone is too indecisive," she said, directing the latter comment at her son. "Come, dear. Have a seat," she gestured to the dark beauty.
They spent the next hour going over everything from the flowers to the design of the cake, even the color of the tablecloths. For half of the topics, Karnilla honestly did not care what they selected and she could tell Balder felt the same way. The two of them spent the majority of the time making faces at each other to express how they felt about the options presented.
The whole thing felt very familiar. The two did the same thing at council meetings all the time, but now there was something distinctly non-platonic about the practice.
Their planning was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Frigga called out, signaling for whoever it was to come in. When the door opened, Karnilla's breath hitched, as if she had just been caught in an illicit affair.
Kelda stood at the door, her skin glowing, appearing more sun-kissed than usual. Her golden locks pulled back into a braid and adorned with gold and gemstones. The beautiful dresses she was typically found in were traded out in favor of traveling clothes and the finest cloak a lady could ask for.
"Kelda!" Frigga greeted, wrapping her arms around the golden goddess. "I have missed you! When did you get back from your travels?"
Karnilla was sweating as she was confronted with her best friend, the same woman who was supposed to be marrying the crown prince but somehow... was not. Again, what the Hel was going on?
"Loki and I arrived back from Vanaheim not long ago. I went to find Karnilla upon my return, only to discover she had been dragged into planning, much to her despair I am sure," the blonde said with a laugh.
"I am hurt that you did not come looking for me first," Balder joked, causing the Goddess of Winter Storms to roll her eyes.
"And why would I do that? You get enough attention as it is. This is as much her day as it is yours, Balder."
The blonde prince let out a laugh, "You are not wrong. Where is my brother then? Did you need to get away from him so quickly after being stuck with him for so long?"
"No. He is taking some of our new treasures back to our chambers."
Our chambers? Karnilla questioned. Did that mean...?
Loki and Kelda were married. They were together. And she was happy.
"Oh, would you look at the time," Frigga started. "It is time for your dress fitting, Karnilla."
"I will take her there," Kelda volunteered. "It will give us time to catch up." The two women bid their goodbyes and made their way back to Karnilla's chambers where the seamstress was waiting with her wedding gown.
Karnilla was completely overwhelmed by the information she was being presented. Not only were she and Balder engaged, but Kelda was happily married to Loki as well, just as he wished. Looks could be deceiving though. The sorceress needed to know for sure if Kelda was truly happy with her life. It was the only way to quell the guilt she was feeling.
They arrived at the fitting and the seamstress and her assistants quickly got to work. As they poked and prodded at the dress, making the necessary adjustments, Kelda detailed the entirety of her trip to Vanaheim with the silver-tongued prince.
"'Nilla, you must come with me the next time I visit. The magic there just feels different. I cannot quite explain it. Maybe it is just me though. I mean my mother was from there so maybe it is just in my blood. Like the feeling in the air after a lightning strike." She paused, the joy and excitement evident in her wistful smile. She shook herself from her slight daze, "Do not tell Thor I said that though. It will go straight to his already too-big head."
Karnilla laughed, for the first time since she found herself in this alternate reality. The conversation flowed so easily, like any other occasion that the two spent time together. It felt real. Was it real?
The dark beauty barely noticed when the seamstress and her helpers backed away. Kelda gasped, taking in her friend, "Oh, Karnilla, you are mesmerizing."
The woman turned, her mass of ebony curls swaying around her like a dark halo. Her breath caught as she took the first glimpse of her appearance. The gown was gorgeous. It was not bright ivory. Instead, the white had a hint of a gold tint to it, contrasting wonderfully with Karnilla's darker skin tone. The bodice constructed of golden plates and gemstones. The long sleeves made of gossamer silk. It cinched perfectly at her waist and draped down her frame to pool at her feet. Kelda was right; she was mesmerizing.
"Oh, we almost forgot," Kelda exclaimed, turning to pick something out of a velvet box. She returned to the platform that Karnilla was on and stepped up to stand beside her. Karnilla turned toward the blonde beauty who reached up and delicately placed the headpiece in her ebony curls. "There," Kelda rested her hands on Karnilla's shoulder and turned her to the mirror once again. "Now you look the part."
A soft smile stretched across Karnilla's lips as she took in her appearance once more. This is all she ever wanted, and for once, it was within reach. Her smile faltered for a minute as her eyes met Kelda's through the mirror.
She had to ask. "Kelda," the sorceress started.
"Yes?"
"Are you happy? I mean, are you happy with your life? Are you happy with Loki?" the dark beauty asked.
Kelda gave her a bright smile. "Absolutely. I don't think I have ever been happier." Karnilla returned the smile. "Are you happy?" the blonde asked, returning the question.
Karnilla nodded, her dark curls falling over her shoulders and tears of joy welling in the corners of her eyes. "I am. More than I ever thought possible."
The room faded, darkness encompassing the light as Kelda disappeared from her vision.
Suddenly, she was back in her room, laying on her bed. A dream, it was all just a dream. The most wonderful dream she ever had, but a dream nonetheless.
"But it could be real," the annoying voice told her. "Everyone could be happy."
Loki entered his chambers and cast his cloak to the side. Before he could remove any other articles though, he sensed a presence with him. "Rather wicked of you, sulking in the corner of my bedchamber, watching me undress," he said cheekily, not turning to acknowledge her.
The sorceress let her magic fade, revealing herself in the room. "Please," Karnilla started. "I would have stopped you before any permanent damage was done to my eyes or my mind."
"Have you given my proposition any thought?" the prince asked coyly.
Karnilla sighed. "Don't pretend like you don't know it's been eating away at me since we last spoke."
Loki chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, Karnilla. You know that what I said was true. If you agree to help me, everyone could be happy." He ignored the way she cringed at his words, the same words that had been repeating in her own mind. "If all goes well, soon, it could be you exchanging vows with my brother in the near future. It could be you who will one day be the Queen of Asgard."
"I never wanted that," Karnilla seethed. "Let me be clear that I never wanted the crown or the throne. It means little to me."
"No, no. You only wanted him. Your dear prince. Balder the Brave."
Despite her hostile attitude towards him, he could see how the decision weighed on her. The dark beauty had dulled, circles of distress forming under her eyes and her hair more unkempt than usual. She still felt the guilt of her decision, but his tricks had worked.
He could only do so much on his own. He hated to admit it, but he needed Karnilla for this plan and he was not one to leave such things to chance and the guilty conscience of one woman. So, he did what was needed. He cast a spell to lull her to sleep and planted a dream in her mind that would fulfill her greatest desires.
She felt that she would betray Kelda—her sister—if she were to try to sway Balder against the idea of their marriage. However, if she too saw the future that Loki envisioned for all of them, she would agree to help him.
"I assume you have come to give me your answer then," the sly prince said, getting to the point. Karnilla huffed, but stayed silent, confirming that he was correct. "Well... What have you decided?"
"I cannot believe that I am actually saying this," she whispered to herself. "I must be going mad." Loki gave her an expectant look. "I will help you."
"Excellent," the God of Mischief said, a wide grin forming on his lips. His plan was falling into place perfectly.
Karnilla retreated to her room again, hoping that she was not making the biggest mistake of her life. Everyone could be happy, right?
Two chapters back to back! Woo!
Like I said on my profile, I'm trying to crank out these chapters so I can get further along in the MCU. I have so many plans. Another short-ish chapter, but I want to stretch it out without overloading on too much excess information. Kelda deserves a proper storyline and exposition, but I still want to get to Cap and Bucky.
Our Asgardian goddess may seem a little naïve and willing to go with the flow, and that's because she is like that. But much will happen over the course of this story, and people do not always remain the same.
Sorry if this sucks but I hope you enjoy! Comment and vote please and thank you!