Four Treasures

The Solution:

The summoned advisors had been instructed on the ill intentioned worlds amongst the realms. Muspelheim and Svartalfheim, were the realms that needed to be sedated from their destructive tempers. Their threats of war provoked Midgard and Jotunheim, both of which resided on the same level as Svartalfheim.

Asgard dragged Nidavellir, a realm recognized for the prestigious weapons they crafted, into the talk of war due to the warriors' need for masterful weapons. Alfheim's ruler Frey announced that the Light Elves wished to enter the battle to stand besides Asgard, if war truly broke out. King Odin made it clear to the overworked advisors that such a tragic battle must be avoided.

The elder advisor from Midgard had been feuding with the advisor from Jotunheim when he had happened to notice something peculiar. The blue skinned beast from Jotunheim constantly glanced at a well-groomed young man. No, not any man a prince. This said prince of Asgard looked far from amused with the bickering of the advisors but on a closer inspection, the features of the dark haired youth appeared more vivid to the older man.

The human advisor admitted to himself that the youngest son of Odin was an attractive lad. He had exquisitely handsome features and hair as dark as midnight. He towered above his brothers; however, he was almost matched in height by the crown prince, Thor.

Hm, thought the advisor with an intense gaze, which moved from Loki to Thor. Thor was a beast of a man with his wide shoulders, sharp jaw, tousled hair, and sunkissed skin.

Suddenly Tyr knocked over a pint of ale when he grabbed the collar of an advisor from Alfheim. The violent act drew the attention of the Midgardian advisor from Thor to Tyr. Odin's first bastard had deep-set eyes and wore plenty of gold on his armor, which displayed the significant amount of wealth he had to his name, clearly bounties from war.

Thor was praiseworthy, while Tyr was considerably richer. Loki was a handsome man yet Baldr was a beautiful creature. Baldr, a master of archery was such a gorgeous man that had anyone taken up the challenge of drawing him they'd have failed. His beauty must have been inherited from his mother, for though his father King Odin was handsome in his own right, he didn't have the notable beauty that Baldr did.

Camelot's favorite advisor tapped his chin while he wondered how these princes might end the feuding between the realms. The advisor embarked on this random idea when Loki whispered to himself:

"These fools could never unite the realms." Loki said the remark as he straightened his shoulders and looked ahead.

Once the old man eavesdropped on Loki's mumbles he was struck by inspiration. All the advisors, himself included were searching for a solution that involved separating or withdrawing from the other realms, though the answer was to join them together. Marriage between kingdoms would force the other worlds to be peaceful till such unions end, which buys them years, if not generations of royals.

Princess Morgana's cooperation on the matter was key. A shiver ran down the advisor's spine as his mind began to compare princess Morgana with the dreadful Morgause. He prayed those two would never meet.

Camelot:

Within the darkest part of Camelot's forest Morgana creeped closer to an undeclared cottage belonging to the King of Orkney. King Lot of Orkney, had what Morgana liked to call red whiskers for facial hair and pitch black beads for eyes. The disgusting King's unapologetic glances at Morgana's clothed figure never failed at sickening her. She shook her head to push away the memory. She prayed he wouldn't be in today, but perhaps he was. Nevertheless, she'd slithered her way closer to the little cottage. She'd made up her mind to enter this dreaded cottage even on the rare chance that King Lot was having one of his special visits with his wife.

Why had Morgause married such a spineless man? He'd rather have the mother of his children tucked away here as he resided in the massive castle of his lands.

With subtle steps and slow movements Morgana entered the muddied cottage. The sight that greeted her made her smirk.

Morgana was observing her half-sister with amused admiration. The manner in which the blonde leaped from one side of the tiny cottage to the next to gather a few scrolls, abruptly she'd drop to her knees as she scanned the leaf covered ground for a certain dried root. Serious, focused and frankly odd. Morgause was a peculiar sort of woman, but then again she wasn't merely a woman, she was a renowned witch. A respected high-priestess or so Morgana had been led to believe.

"Whatever are you looking for you old hag?" Morgana's voice broke out with a hint of laughter.

Morgause was thrusted into the present by the cheerful sound of her younger sister.

"Old hag? Would an old hag have men kissing the soles' of her feet?" Morgause shot back with a wink.

The barefooted blonde with a dried arrangement of flowers in her braided hair took hold of Morgana and pulled her into a loving embrace. The sisters wore matching smiles and their laughter echoed past the cottage walls. Morgause moved a step back to study her sister's attire. Morgana's dark brown hair was done up with golden strands of thread. Her gown consisted of two parts, the first a navy long dress underneath and the second a soft shade of blue that dropped down her shoulders with golden patterns etched by artistic hands.

"My..How pretty you've become. You might have a chance to challenge my beauty dressed like that." Morgause spoke in a teasing tone whilst she touched the golden threads.

"I'd never try such a foolish thing. You'd win with a simple bat of your lashes in the direction of whomever is to judge us! A quicker defeat had never been. " Morgana held her sister's hand and guided her to the small corner where they usually sat.

"Sweet sister, what is the reason I find you within my little hideout dripping in such luxuries? King Uther is far too tight-fisted to ever willingly part with so much as a speck of dust, let alone gold in such abundance." The blonde eagerly asked then took to leaning closer.

"The Four Treasures are to blame." Morgana replied.

"Four treasures?" Morgause echoed back the same words.

"Yes, Father's loyal advisor had returned to us last night after his months long journey and with him came boxes filled with gold. The four boxes were to be presented to princess of different realms, each princess has to pick one of the four elaborate boxes and whichever box she chooses she gains it's treasures." Morgana ends with a playful grin.

"Do tell! What treasures does each box hold and how did such good fortune come to be planted at your feet?"

"Patience, darling sister. I'll answer the latter question first." Morgana said then edged closer to continue. "The tale was explained to me that four princes of Asgard were desperate for uniting the realms when Victor.."

"Victor?" Morgause wrinkled her brow at the new name.

"Yes, Victor or rather Camelot's advisor. An older gentleman with white hair growing from his ears which makes him hard of hearing." Morgana spoke honestly yet Morgause chuckled as if she had heard a joke.

The brunette paused her explanation and stared back at her sister.

"Carry on." The blonde went on to demand between soft giggles.

"Well, his solution for them was political marriages. According to his retelling they'd all thought him wise and clever to come up with such an answer to their predicament of war." Morgana murmured.

Morgause boldly snorted and Morgana couldn't help but join in for a laugh with her sister.

"No! Finish! Explain about the gold! "

"I will! Alright, the decided agreement was that four ladies of royalty from different realms would accept the hand of one of King Odin's sons. It was all but set in stone when the youngest son went on to raise many questions to King Odin about such a union. If you ask Victor, he despises the youngest prince but I personally think him to be clever." Morgana declared.

"What kind of questions?" The blonde asked.

"Such as who gets to choose? What hand do these brides have in picking their groom? Is it all left for the Kings to decide or the princes? When no answer was brought forth, he made a suggestion. The youngest prince asked that since Asgardian men are required by tradition to offer anything of gold to their bride-to-be then he and his brothers should each send gold to the princess. He wished it that each princess picks one of the four boxes. Whatever appeals to her from the items presented to her will result in matching the bride with the groom. "

"Now you must have pity on me and say what treasures did each box hold?! "

"The well crafted wooden boxes were placed on the table before me. I was bewildered by them. The first pick went to me since it had been Camelot's advisor who devised the idea to begin with. The boxes ranged in size and weight. Some had lids that shut completely while others barely managed to have the lid cover the gold object inside. I grabbed hold the box of middle proportions it was heavy and wide open. Inside a golden beast of sorts was resting, it had tusks, detailed lines to represent its fur and wide eyes. The mere sight of it displeased me. I withdrew from it and carried on to a longer box, within it I found a wonderful embroidered golden fabric. Rolling out the beautiful item I noticed it had such patterns and images on it that it would take me months to truly grasp its meaning. Being ushered by my father I moved on to the third item it was a pendent of gold with gaps that lend itself to make up a design. The little foils of gold made the bird on the pendent appear to be almost realistic, as if alive." Morgana swallowed then continued with a somber expression on her features. "The last box was wider and taller than any of the other boxes and it contained an almost unending fountain of golden coins."

Morgause stood, shut her eyes tightly and asked.

"Which box had you picked Morgana?"

Please Review :)