(A/N: Give me some stellar comments! Thank you guys that already have.)
Andromeda was silent as she was escorted to the Great Hall by Prince Loki. Her arms were wrapped around his, and she was not sure what to say. As beautiful as she looked, the prince made her feel like that little eight year old girl again.
"Nervous?" His silky voice brought her out of her thoughts, but Andromeda just shook her head, looking at him out the corner of her eye. He was dressed differently than his usual garbs, more formally. He was wearing black formal pants, and green cloth under his golden armor. An emerald cape flowed from his shoulders as fluttered as he walked. His head was adorned with a golden helm, horns coming from the golden helmet.
As they stopped in front of the double door, Thor was waiting for them with a huge grin. "You look radiant, Princess Andromeda."
Andromeda smiled prettily up at the prince, her eyes sweeping over him. The eldest prince was wearing the red, silver, and blue version of Loki's outfit, though his helm was adorned with two wings on the side. "You look very handsome yourself, Prince Thor. I am happy your earlier fall did not scar your face." The princess teased as she looped her arm with his.
Thor chuckled, his blue eyes gleaming at her. "It would take more than a small fall to stop a mighty Son of Odin."
"On the contrary brother." Loki smirked at his brother.
"Loki, do not-" Thor warned but was interrupted by his younger brother. "Have forgotten that you would not leave your room for a day and a half because you had tripped in battle?"
Andromeda looked to Thor, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "You tripped…?"
"Over a rock." Loki noted, basking in the glare his brother was sending his way.
"It was a boulder!" Thor insisted, staring hardly at his brother. He softened his voice when he looked to Andromeda, "It was a boulder."
A giggle escaped Andromeda's lips but she straightened her face. "I believe you," She nodded, eyes wide. "It was probably a very traumatic experience."
"It was." Thor grumbled as Andromeda and Loki chuckled together.
The doors to the hall began to open slowly, and the cheers from the crowd reached the trio. Andromeda looked up at Thor who was colored a pretty pink and frowning. "Oh golden-haired Prince of Asgard," The little princess patted his arm with her hand, "Smile, everyone came to see the two of you."
Thor looked down at the princess' fondly, a look not missed by his brother, before putting on a huge grin. Loki narrowed his eyes at his brother's gaze but placed a smile on his face. The bronze beauty at the center of the two princes beamed brightly as the trio walked into the Grand Hall with loud applause.
Andromeda's face seemed to glow as they made their way to the throne and she seemed to glide rather than walk. The faces of the Asgardian court were alit with excitement and admiration, though Andromeda would guess that the admiration was for their royals and not her. Still, she smiled at each and every face she saw, making a point to look into the subject's eyes.
The golden walls and floors of the Grand Hall shimmered and shined as they made their way down the middle aisle. With Andromeda's white gown, curled chignon, and golden crown, the ordeal reminded her of a wedding, like she was being given away to a husband. An occasion, she hoped, would be held back a little longer.
As she looked forward to the throne, King Odin was stiffed-faced watching the three of them, and Queen Frigga beamed proudly. The trio stopped at the stairs of the throne, the princes bowing to Andromeda as they took their places on the throne.
The bronze beauty stood tall, her shoulders down and her neck long with a gentle smile on her face. The subjects and the court had quieted down, and it was silent in the Hall as Andromeda dipped her head in respect, her hands folded in front of her. "Your highness." Her voice chimed through the room like bells, contrary to what the dark prince had said earlier.
"You may rise, child." Odin's voice boomed, filling the Hall. Andromeda obeyed the King and rose, though her eyes did not meet his out of respect. "Today we gather here to welcome Princess Andromeda of the Midgardian kingdom of Aethiopia to our home of Asgard." At the mention of the kingdom, the audience erupted with cheer, only to silence themselves when the Allfather raised his hand up. "In honor of Princess Andromeda's time here at the palace, we will eat, drink, and be merry! Go and revel in the feast that has been prepared!" With the permission of the King, everyone scurried over to the feasting table to fix themselves a plate and drink ale as music started to be played by a band. Again, the whole ordeal reminded Andromeda of a wedding.
After the actual feasting had ended, the festivities really begun as everyone started to socialize with one another, drink and dance. Princess Andromeda stood next to a tall pillar in the room as she was approached by many partygoers welcoming her to Asgard. Some were less than friendly, but Andromeda just chalked that up to her being mortal. Some were overly friendly, trying to chat her up and dance with her but the princess would decline with a smile and they would move on. The 'Hello, nice to meet you's and 'How do you do's were starting to wear on the princess, but she did not stop, after all, this is what Cosima had trained her to do at such a young age.
"Tired, Princess?" The woman from earlier, Sif, had walked up to the princess with a knowing smile. The warrior had switched her armor for a formal gown and she was holding a cup of ale in her hand.
"Extremely, and you can call me Andromeda, Lady Sif." The princess smiled politely as yet another man had kissed her knuckles in greeting.
"Well you can drop the 'Lady' as well, Andromeda." Sif smiled, before wrapping her arm around Andromeda's. "I'm going to steal her away for a moment, boys." The warrior winked, walking off with the princess.
"Oh thank gods you saved me, Sif." Andromeda grinned, before rolling her eyes. "I think my knuckles were starting to bruise from the kisses."
Sif laughed at the young royal and led her to another group of men whose laughter could be heard across the room. There were four men in the group, two of whom Andromeda knew. The other two men she did not recognize.
"Oh Lady Sif, you brought the sun!" The bearded, red-headed man from earlier exclaimed with a laugh, much to Thor's chagrin.
Andromeda laughed, placing her hand over her mouth. "It is nice to see you again as well, Sir Volstagg."
"Princess," Sif started, motioning to the other two men she had yet to meet, "These are the other two men that make up the Warriors Three, Hogun and Fandral."
"Nice to meet you." The dark-haired warrior, Hogun, nodded to the Princess.
The golden-haired warrior was much more direct, however. He took Andromeda's hand in his and bowed deeply, almost theatrically, and kissed it. "Princess Andromeda," He smirked standing tall, "I did not know Midgard had such beauty."
Sif rolled her eyes as the bronze princess raised a slender brow. "How kind of you to look past my realm to compliment my beauty." Andromeda replied in an even voice, yanking her hand from his. "I'm sure all of 'Midgard' is happy to know that Sir Fandral recognizes it's beauty at long last."
Fandral chuckled uneasily at the Princess' unnerving stare. "I was just try to compli-"
Andromeda held up her hand. "I know what you were trying to do." She placed a hand to her throat, "I am a bit parched, you will get me some ale won't you Sir Fandral?" She stared pointedly at him and the warrior nodded anxiously, his face red.
"Right away, Princess." He replied scurrying off.
Thor chuckled, watching his friend run off. "So you frighten everyone with your wit and not just me, eh Princess?"
Andromeda bubbled out a giggle and shook her head. "I just wanted to see him uneasy, I needed a laugh."
"Well you sure did give me one!" Sif said between her snickers, "Someone finally put him in his place!"
Andromed opened her mouth to rebuttal but Fandral came back with a chalice full of ale. "Hope I did not make you wait too long, your highness!" The blonde warrior exclaimed making Andromeda snicker.
"Thank you Sir Fandral, but I seem to not feel like drinking anymore. Prince Thor?" The princess looked to her blonde friend, "Would you care to dance with me?"
Thor grinned widely and nodded, offering his arm to the princess. "Of course!" The prince led her to the middle of the hall and they began to sway together. One of Andromeda's hands were in his and the other was on his shoulder, while one of his hands were on her waist.
"You are most unkind, Princess Andromeda!" He muttered to her, his blue eyes teasing.
The princess smiled gleefully. "I was just playfully antagonizing Sir Fandral. He is a brave warrior I am sure he can take it."
The prince smirked playfully, "Aye but not everyone is as strong as me, they cannot handle you, Princess."
"And you can?" Andromeda raised a brow.
"Of course!" Thor boasted, a smug grin on his lips.
The princess chuckled to herself, her brown eyes gleaming. "Are you positive, Son of Odin? I hear I am pretty difficult to get along with."
The song seemed to change speed, slowing to an eventual stop, making the couple stop moving. Andromeda stared up at Thor with her doe eyes, simultaneously charming and mocking the prince.
"I could handle you, Princess," The prince paused, a light shining in his blue eyes and a smug smirk on his lips. "Very well."
Andromeda hummed, "We'll see." With that she turned and walked away, only leaving the scent of roses after her.
Prince Thor stroked his beard a grin, his eyes watching her hips sway away in the white fabric. "Maybe three…"