Along the Border of Asgard..

Kaisa sat in a wobbly wood carriage, her hands gently folded over her lap and her back resting against the seat. Every now and then she'd reach over and take the small hand mirror and look at herself, gazing at the bored expression on her face. There was nothing else to do but admire the artwork that was her- a Princess in her prime. Lovely soft brown eyes and long chestnut hair framing her face; she was a spitting image of the Queen of Vanaheim. She sighed softly as she put the hand mirror back for the umpteenth time. It was a good thing she looked queenly, she supposed. She was about to be married to a Prince.

She stared out the window and watched as the lush landscape slowly chugged by them. They were almost to Asgard, judging by all the forests that was surrounding them. There were small ravines and rivulets of water that stood still, glistening from the suns above them. Kaisa sucked in her breath as she watched it all. Vanaheim didn't look very much like this. It was more industrious- perhaps more like Earth. Kaisa hadn't ever visited Misgard before, but she heard that it was full of wondrous contraptions and inventions.

"Asgard is going to be beautiful." she murmured, her fingers clasping tightly on the edge of the window. She looked at her sister Takumi, who was sitting on the floor in the corner, staring sullenly at the wood. "Do you not agree?"

Takumi gave a listless shrug. "Who cares?"

Kaisa sat back in her seat, all giddy feelings about Asgard now dissipated. Now she felt like a fool. "We should both care. This will be our home for a while, you know. We might as well appreciate the surroundings here. Be grateful for this, Takumi."

"I consider this a punishment." Takumi snorted, pushing her black hair behind her shoulders again. "I have better things to do in my time than meet some stupid Princes and try to act like I'm a Queen or whatever."

"The Princes are warriors." Kaisa snapped. She leaned forwards, feeling a twinge of irritation for her sister's ignorance. "You know, sister, ever since we have left Vanaheim, you have been nothing but bitter. Your permanent sour mood is getting tiring. You should be happy. We are finally getting wed, getting married to the strongest men in all the Nine realms."

"I heard that the youngest Prince tried to take over Earth and failed." Takumi quipped, staring at her sister with an equally fiery expression. "Loki- isn't it? Or is it Thor? I haven't bothered to remember."

Kaisa rolled her eyes, exasperated. "You haven't learned the names of the Asgardian royalty? For shame, Takumi! Father even gave you a parchment to study!"

"I highly doubt you know anything about them either, Kaisa, so shut up."

"I know about them!" Kaisa protested. "I know that Thor is the eldest, the God of Thunder. He wields the magic hammer Mjölnir, which his father, Odin the All-Father, gave to him. Loki is the youngest brother. He was adopted from the enemy realm of Jotunheim."

Takumi rolled her eyes and leaned back against the carriage wall. "So he's a bastard brother?"

"Takumi!" Kaisa wailed, her cheeks flooding red. "How dare you say that!?"

"Well he is! Tis not my fault if that is the way things are." Takumi crossed her arms tightly over her chest, looking more sullen than ever. "Why would Odin adopt an enemy child in the first place?"

"That is none of our concern." Kaisa muttered, turning her face to look out the window again. "Try to keep your blunt mouth shut when we get there, yeah?"

"No promises." Takumi said simply, picking at the wood with her fingernail.

The two girls rode in awkward silence, neither of them knowing what to say.

Kaisa wished that she could smack some sense into her sister. She knew that Takumi was against the marriage entirely, and that she was set on ruining the marriage any way she could. Kaisa winced as she recalled the fight that Takumi and their father had gotten into a couple days ago, when they were informed that they were leaving to Asgard to be wed. It was horrible, she remembered. She hadn't really reacted, but Takumi had went off; first she had laughed, thinking it was a joke. But then she realized that it wasn't, and she had flipped a feasting table and was screaming obscenities at the guards and their father. Takumi had even gone far enough to take her sword and smash it into the pillar of the throne room, breaking apart the fragile glass that decorated it. She was sentenced to her room after that, not allowed to come out until they were to leave for Asgard. For three days, Takumi remained in her chambers, snarling vile insults to anyone who entered.

Kaisa didn't really understand why Takumi detested the image of getting married so much. In fact, Kaisa was the opposite. She was kind of excited to be married to a Prince of Asgard. She would be able to follow in her mother's footsteps of becoming a great Queen; a Queen that her people would be able to turn to if they needed help. She would be the role model for her people, leading by her husband's side.

Oh, it was every Princess's dream. Except for Takumi's that is.

"Kaisa," she heard Takumi whisper. "We could run, you know."

Kaisa quickly drew herself out of her thoughts and stared at Takumi in disbelief. "Are you insane?"

"Of course not." Takumi scoffed, pushing her hair back behind her shoulders again. Her large eyes sparkled with mischevious glint, the same glint that she always got when she had an idea. "Once we reach the rainbow bridge to Asgard, we can sneak out the back of the carriage! They won't even know where we are 'til they reach the palace, and by then, we'll be able to cross into a different realm. We could cross into Niflheim and stay there. Or we could even go to Misgard."

Kaisa was stunned. "N-no! Are you crazy, Takumi? What in the gods is wrong with you!?"

"C'mon, I know you don't want to get married to these crazy bastards." Takumi tugged on her sleeve. "You're just putting up a front for Father. Well you don't need to do that anymore! Father can't control us anymore."

"I am not doing this! You are insane." Kaisa hissed.

"Why the hell not?" Takumi scowled. "I've got my magic and I snuck your dagger into my belt. We can fight off whatever Beasts and such we meet. Are you afraid of a little adventure, Kaisa?"

"I am not afraid of adventure! There has been a lot of work between the two realms for this to be arranged. We just cannot break this deal that we made with Father. I will not cross him." Kaisa crossed her arms blatantly, glaring at her sister.

Takumi went quiet as she leaned against the wall, and then she let out a little half-choked laughter. She looked half amused, but there was an angry fire churning in her eyes as she fiddled with the hilt of the dagger that she had taken out from her belt. "I always knew you were a pussy. You would never cross Father, even if that meant saving your own damn life."

"Hold your tongue, Takumi." Kaisa said sharply, feeling her cheeks flush red.

"Father always liked you more. It's probably because you'd never do anything that would make him angry, heaven forbid that Kaisa Vanir EVER do anything bad!" Takumi shot her hands up in the air and waved them around like a madman. "Oh, holy All-Father, I am desperately sorry for being such a bad daughter! I am sorry that I don't want to marry your asshole son!"

"Takumi!" Kaisa shot forwards and slammed a hand over her sister's mouth, mortified that Takumi was even speaking in such a tone. Takumi didn't struggle, she simply kept yelling out muffled curses as she stared up at the ceiling, as though she was talking to the All-Father herself. It was all so embarrassing; they were supposed to be Princesses. Kaisa squeezed her hand more tightly over Takumi's mouth, digging her fingernails into her face. "I swear to the Nine, Takumi, be quiet or I will slap you!"

Takumi rolled her eyes, but she stopped talking. She just sat there, staring at Kaisa angrily and tugging at the arm that was around her face. Kaisa finally let go, not because she wanted to, but because she felt the carriage slowly starting to stop.

The two sisters looked at one another in confusion. Kaisa scrambled upwards and into the bench she was sitting at, and peered out the window. Her stomach dropped as she saw a huge waterfall descending downwards, the water rushing impossibly loud. There was a colorful material underneath them, a glassy like surface that she could almost see her face in. It was the rainbow bridge.

They were in Asgard.

She looked at Takumi, who was still sitting on the floor with a stunned look on her face. "What Kaisa?" she asked, her voice small.

"We're here." Kaisa said, her own voice surprisingly soft.

As I promised to 'The Arrangement' followers, this story is remarkably similar. But with some plot changes ;)

For new followers, please enjoy. Review. :)