Loki was already at the table the next morning. Astrid sat next to him after saying good morning. The rest of the seats were empty.

"Where is everyone?"

"Father and Mother usually share breakfast in their room. The warriors and Thor have not yet returned."

As if on cue, a loud laugh echoed through the halls, followed by the sound of several different voices. Loki rolled his eyes.

"My brother..."

When Thor came into the room his eyes fell straight to Astrid. He went to her as she stood to hug him, and he lifted her from the ground, twirling her before setting her back on her feet.

"When did you arrive? Thor asked.

"Yesterday. It was late, so I stayed the night."

"Always a pleasure to see your face. Don't you agree?" he said as he gripped Loki's shoulder.

"Very much," Loki said with a smile.

Astrid returned to her seat next to Loki as Thor went around to the other side of the table, along with his friends.

"We ran into your parents on the road in," Thor said.

"Did you? They're coming here?"

"They should be here soon, actually. You father is meeting with mine."

"Probably to discuss the trip," Astrid said.

"Oh, yes! Your first trip for palace business! How did it go?"

Astrid filled him in while they all ate. They stayed there long after they were done, talking and laughing. Astrid tensed when she felt long fingers brush over her knee, then the weight of Loki's hand resting there. He gave it a firm squeeze, and Astrid smiled.

A servant came in and announced that the King wished to see Thor, Loki, and Astrid.

"What could this be about?" Loki asked.

"I guess we will have to go find out." Astrid squeezed the hand on her knee before she stood and followed the servant. Loki and Thor weren't far behind.

When they entered the throne room, Odin called Thor and Astrid forward. Frigga motioned for Loki to join her beside Astrid's parents.

"What is this about?" Loki whispered.

"You will soon see," Frigga said.

Odin stood before his throne and addressed the group.

"It has been a long time coming, but Astrid has proven herself a worthy representative of the palace, and, by extension, the throne of Asgard."

Astrid bowed her head as a thank you.

"Astrid," Odin continued, "your parents and I have long sought a firmer union for our families. They have served Asgard well, and raised a daughter worthy of the title of Queen. Therefore, let it be known, that Astrid is henceforth intended to Thor, future King of Asgard."

The small smile that had graced Astrid's face fell away as her eyes darted first to Thor, then to her parents.

"What?"

"Quiet, child," her father said.

"But I'm not in love with Thor! I-"

Don't tell them. She heard Loki's voice in her head. It will only make it worse.

"Mother, please," Astrid said.

"This is your future, Astrid, and the future of Asgard. This is best."

"Father," she heard Thor's voice next to her, "may I speak with Astrid alone?"

"We will leave you. Just remember that a King needs a strong and caring Queen by his side. Unless we can announce your marriage, we will not announce your rule."

"I understand, Father."

Odin ordered everyone out of the room. Loki caught Astrid's eye as he walked past her, and she again heard his voice in her head.

I will wait for you in the forest, near our hidden place.

When they were alone, Thor took her hand.

"Did you know about this?" Astrid asked.

"That Father intended to arrange marriage for me, yes. I admit, I even had suspicions that he was leaning toward you."

She pulled her hand away. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have stopped this!"

"Is the idea of being my wife that repulsive?"

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Do you not love me?"

"As a friend, yes."

"And could that love not grow?"

Astrid thought of Loki. Her love for him had grown out of friendship.

"Thor, are you honestly willing to marry someone on the hope that you might one day grow to love her as a wife?"

"No, I'm not." He took her hand. "I've loved you for a long time, Astrid."

Astrid pulled away again. "I need to sit down."

She looked about the room. The only seat was the throne. She chose one of the steps that led to it instead. Thor sat beside her.

"I know this is the worst way to find out. I hate that our parents did it this way."

"I need time to think. I need to be alone."

"Astrid, I think we should talk about this."

"I can't. Not right now."

Thor sighed. "All right. I will leave you, for now. Will you meet me this evening? We can talk over dinner."

"Yes."

He put his fingers lightly to her cheek and turned her face toward him.

"Do me one favor while you think?"

"What is that?"

"Think of the love you do have for me. I cannot be King without a Queen, and I want no Queen but you."

Astrid slipped out of the throne room unseen and ran to the stables. She found that Loki had the stableboy prepare a horse for her, and she had to do no explaining.

She rode hard toward the forest. Her bottom rarely touched the saddle except for the two times she had to sit and slow the horse as sobs escaped her.

Her eyes searched the tree line as she approached the forest, but Loki wasn't there. She slowed and stopped her horse to wait.

Come into the trees, my love. I'm here.

Astrid found the path and entered into the woods. Several kilometers later she saw Loki on his horse, but he left the trail before she reached him. She followed him from a distance until they reached the open field. When she was out of the trees, Loki's horse broke into a run, and Astrid urged her horse to follow. Under their tree, they dismounted, and Astrid fell into Loki's arms.

"They want me to marry Thor," she said. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

"I know, darling."

"Why didn't you let me tell them about us?"

"It only would have made it worse. They would have made sure we were kept apart. At least, this way, we can see each other until we figure things out."

Loki wiped the tears from her face.

"What will we do?" she asked.

"I'll talk to Thor," Loki said. "Once he realizes that we are in love, I'm sure he will step back. He will talk to Father."

Astrid shook her head. "No. Thor told me he loves me, and he believes that I will grow to love him one day. He wants to marry me, Loki. What's worse is that if I don't agree, Thor could lose his crown until he finds another wife. How can I do that to him?"

"Darling, how could they make that your burden? It's an awful thing to do."

"That's what it is, awful or not. I thought about us running away together, until Thor told me that. I just don't know what to do."

She pressed herself into Loki, holding him tightly. Loki kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.

"Tell me you love me," he said.

"I love you."

"Do you trust me?"

"More than anyone."

Loki forced the words from his mouth. "Agree to marry him."

"What?" Astrid tried to pull away, but Loki kept a firm grip on her waist.

"Agree. They will likely move you into the palace."

"To spend more time with Thor!"

"Yes, but is he not your friend?"

"Loki-"

"Thor won't push you. That much I know. Spend time with him while I come up with a plan. And since you will be living in the palace, no one will think anything of all the time we will spend together."

"Especially since we are together so much already."

"Exactly," he said with a smile. "Do this. Be with Thor in public, and come to me in secret."

"People will know."

"Darling, I've shielded an entire field from prying eyes for centuries. I think I can cloak you as you come to my chamber."

"How long will I have to pretend?"

"Just until I can put something in place to free you without trouble, so that we can be together openly."

"That's not really an answer, is it?"

"Darling, whatever we decide to do must be well thought out. We can't rush or do anything in haste."

"I can't pretend to love Thor the way I love you."

"I don't want you to. Just pretend as if you're giving it a chance."

"Thor is expecting me for dinner tonight."

"Will you come to me after?"

"I will."

Loki kissed her in a way that claimed full possession of her. Her hands sank into his hair, while his hands roamed over her back and hips. Astrid moaned when his fingers brushed the side of her breast, and Loki pulled away.

"We should go back."

Astrid shook her head.

"Darling, we have to."

This time, she nodded.

"I love you, Loki."

"I love you, too."

After a long talk with her parents, in which they did all of the talking, Astrid met Thor for dinner. He pulled out her chair, and sat across from her at the table.

"I'm glad you at least agreed to dinner," he said.

"Thor-"

He held up his hand. "I know that this is not an easy decision. I know that inside you long to say no. You don't have to give me an answer tonight. I talked to my Father, and he agreed that we should give you time to adjust to the idea before demanding an answer.

"It's an unfair decision; Your crown or my happiness."

"I would never have asked if I did not truly love you, Astrid. I promise I would do all in my power to make you happy."

She looked at her friend for a long moment. "I don't doubt that you would."

Thor smiled. "That's a start."

After a while, Astrid was able to push the thought of marriage out of her mind, and talk to Thor as she always had. As a friend. He seemed pleased.

When the time came for them to part, Thor kissed the back of her hand. It was a gesture he had performed in the past, but it was different this time. He parted his lips slightly, and let them linger firmly on her skin.

"Shall I see you at breakfast?" he asked.

Astrid just nodded.

She made her way back to her room, wondering how she could get to Loki's unnoticed. Once inside her room, she leaned against the closed door and sighed.

"Tired, my love?"

Astrid stood straight at the sound of Loki's voice, and she ran into his arms when she saw him emerge from the shadows in the corner of the room.

"Just hold me," she whispered.

"All night, if you so wish."

"That wouldn't really be appropriate."

"Neither is sneaking off with my brother's intended."

She buried her face in his chest. "Then hold me."

"Should I step out while you change?"

She pulled away. "If you promise to behave, you can stay while I change behind the partition."

"I promise."

Astrid grabbed her night dress and brought it around the folding divider. Loki sat in a chair across the room and stared at the gap between the bottom of the partition and the floor. Astrid slipped off her shoes, and her dress pooled around her feet before she stepped out of it. A moment later she stepped out, dressed for bed.

"I think that may have been the start of an unhealthy obsession with your bare ankles," Loki said.

She looked down. "My ankles?"

"It was all I could see... but I'll take what I can get."

"You're incorrigible," she said with a grin.

"But you love me anyway."

"I do."

They pulled down her bed covers and he allowed her to get comfortable on her side before he climbed in behind her.

"What if someone looks for you in your room?" Astrid asked.

"It's not odd for me to be wandering about late at night. I often go to the library or walk the grounds."

"What if someone comes here?"

"Then I shall hide."

"I don't think I'll sleep tonight. This feels too dangerous."

"You think I'm dangerous?" he said with a grin.

"Not you, but what we're doing."

"Hmph. I kind of liked the idea of you thinking I'm dangerous."

He pulled himself closer against her and slipped his hand beneath the covers. He slowly pulled the fabric of her night dress up until she pushed his hand away with a giggle.

"I stand corrected. You are dangerous."

"Don't forget it."

He kissed her cheek and draped an arm over her waist, above the covers. They were soon asleep.