"Can I come home?" A banished prince pleaded with his brother in a room of mirrors on Midgard. His blue eyes shined with tears, for he had just been informed that his father had died. His time on Midgard had began to change him, though not enough to give him the power to lift Mjolnir. The prince was in an interrogation room, full of self loathing and sadness, and now his brother was telling him that he had to stay on earth.
"This is goodbye, brother." His brother, now king, informed him with a solemn expression. Followed by a, "I'm so sorry."
"No," The banished prince murmured, truly broken, "I am sorry." He replied sincerely, "Thank you for coming here."
His brother nodded to him, "Farewell." He said as he began to take his leave.
The banished prince's face twisted into a saddened grimace, before his head shot up again. "Wait." He pleaded and the new king stopped, turning around to face him. "What of Andromeda? Is she…" The man paused, swallowing, "Is she alright?"
His brother blinked before nodding once. "She misses you." He uttered, and the banished man felt a small relief, only for it to be taken away, "We are to be married in a month."
Thor thought his heart had stopped beating but he gave his brother a small smile, nodding. "Congratulations, I know you two will be great rulers."
"Thank you, brother." The king nodded, before turning to leave for the final time.
"Goodbye." The banished prince whispered, his head falling into his hands.
The new king of Asgard set his jaw as he appeared in front of the prized mjolnir. Surely he would be able to lift it; he was king now after all. He clasped a hand around the handle and pulled with no avail. Placing both his hands around the handle, Loki pulled with all his might, but the hammer would not move.
Pity, he would have to leave it with such imbeciles on Midgard. The king returned to the bifrost with no problem, morphing into his royal robes as he walked through the observatory. Everything was going swimmingly, Thor was banished, Laufey was to attack, and he was king. The only obstacle he had to overcome was tiny, sunkissed and curved.
From his response, the king could tell that something had gone on with Thor and Andromeda. He just did not know what. He would find out soon enough and erase the memory of the oaf from the beauty's head, then she would be all his. A perfect queen for a perfect kingdom, all he had to do was pull a few loose strings in her head.
The sound of children's laughter rang out through the forest as Princess Andromeda sat on a tree stump telling one of her legendary stories about the Gods of her world. This particular one was about Persephone and Hades, the connection to herself and the King being much too obvious.
The babes hung on Andromeda's every word, for the princess was a great storyteller; she had learned from the best, the best being Ares when she was younger.
How she missed him and Cosima. He was always so strict with her but that was only because he cared. Even though he was only a decade older than her, he was still like a father. It was only fitting that he was wed to Cosima, her other mother. Ares was such a kind and brave soul. She only wished she could still speak to him as she did with her mother.
"Though Persephone was a child of Zeus, Hades wanted her badly." As Andromeda spoke this line the children gasped. The princess nodded with wide eyes, "He would watch her from below as she played in the fields." The children 'awed' wonderfully.
"Was she beautiful?" A little girl with golden hair questioned, hugging her knees.
"She was...breathtaking." Andromeda sighed dreamily, "Her hair was long and brown and her eyes shined of an ivy green. She would wear pink flowers in her hair and her dress was always beige, though sometimes it would be lined in gold. Branches would wind around her head in a crown and she had a special ability; she could speak to the plants!"
The children gasped again, looking on excitedly. Andromeda smiled, "She would spend hours and hours on end in the fields playing."
"Was she golden like you, princess?" A boy asked with wide eyes.
The beauty smiled and shook her head, "She was not blessed as I am with my sunkissed glow."
The kids groaned and the same little boy shouted, "So she wasn't pretty like you, Princess Andy!"
A series of 'yeahs!' followed the statement and Andromeda's face grew hot, waving off their comments.
"Settle down children! Settle down. She was still beautiful in her own way as all of you are. She was just… greek." Andromeda shrugged before continuing her story.
In the middle of the tale, when it was getting good, a horse rode up to the gathering of children. Andromeda looked up over her audience and furrowed her brow, for Lady Sif was walking towards her.
Sif stopped in front of Andromeda and got on one knee, her fist over her chest. "Pardon me, Princess Andromeda but I do request your audience on an urgent matter."
Andromeda blinked at the formality of the gesture before nodding, standing from her stoop. The kids groaned and Andromeda shushed them, "I will continue this story tomorrow when the sun is in the middle of the sky. Do not be late!"
At that the children dispersed, leaving Sif and Andromeda alone.
Andromeda crossed her arms, raising a petite brow. "We are suddenly friends again?"
Sif rolled her eyes, mimicking the princess' stance. "I, well, the Warriors Three and I need your help."
Andromeda furrowed her brows and uncrossed her arms, her expression now one of interest. "What help could I be?"
The warrior looked around the small clearing before taking a step closer to her old friend. "It is about Thor." She muttered, watching Andromeda's eyes grow wide, "We requested Loki return him to Asgard, though we did not get through to the new king. We were wondering if you could appeal to his… sensibilities and have him end Thor's banishment."
Andromeda bit her lip and tucked a curl behind her ear. "I don't know…" She started and Sif snorted.
"Of course!" The warrior exclaimed accusingly, "Because you're in cahoots with him!"
The beauty sucked her teeth and pushed Sif, pressing a finger to her lips. "No, I simply meant that Loki is not too impressed with me right now…." she trailed before widening her eyes at Sif, "He might know."
"He might know?" Sif echoed, her brows furrowing, "About what?"
Huffing, Andromeda yanked her old friend's arm, "He. Might. Know."
In an instant, Sif's eyes widened and she gripped Andromeda's arms. "He knows?"
"He might!" Andromeda supplied, her eyes just as wide.
"Wait, does he know about that night?" Sif hinted, her eyebrows raised, "Or something I don't know?"
"I don't know!" Andromeda exclaimed, "I don't even know if he knows but the simple thought of him knowing is making me nauseous and I haven't had a friend to speak to this about!" The princess finally erupted, her chest heaving. She wrapped her arms around herself and frowned. "Sif I love him."
Sif rolled her eyes uncaringly, "I know." She sighed, before getting a pointed look from the princess. The warrior's eyes widened for the third time that day, "You love him?" Andromeda sadly nodded. "For how long?"
"I don't know." Andromeda whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, "But I do and now I have two hearts in my hands," She muttered, looking between her palms, "But what one might be lost forever."
Sif's gaze softened at Andromeda's tears. She might have been angry with her but she was still her friend; one of the best friends she has had. So the warrior wrapped her arms around her lithe friend and comforted her, rubbing her back soothingly.
"He's asked me to marry him twice now." Andromeda murmured into Sif's neck. "I have said no but I do not know how many more oppositions he will take. I have wished for this for so long but now… I just don't know."
"It will be alright, Andromeda." Sif assured her, pulling away from the embrace and wiping her tears. "Your secrets are always safe with me." The warrior promised, squeezing the royal's shoulders.
Andromeda sniffled, looking into Sif's eyes, "I am so sorry." She muttered sincerely, though the apology was for more than the situation at hand.
"It is alright." Sif managed to smile, "It was never me. At least I know now that you love him, too."
The princess nodded and patted her friend's shoulder, "I'll do all that I can to help. I promise." She pledged, placing a fist over her heart.
Sif nodded with a small smile and hugged the princess again, happy to be friends once again.
The two made their way back to the palace, Andromeda riding on the back of Sif's horse. The princess was quiet, a little too quiet, which let Sif know that she was up to something. They arrived at the palace and Andromeda thanked Sif absentmindedly before walking away, her dress trailing behind her.
To say she had a plan would be an overstatement, but Andromeda did have an idea of what she was going to do. Her beauty was a tool, her mother had taught her that much, and she planned to use it to her advantage. After all, her eyes were said to be able to stop a war.
The beauty reached the throne room and paused, stopping just before the doorway. She ran a hand through her short curls and pinched her lips to add color to them, all the while her heartbeat was more of a hum. She pulled her dress down just so, revealing the little cleavage she was blessed with and ran a hand along her curves, psyching herself up into manipulating a king.
With a deep inhale and her chin up, Andromeda floated into the room, her barefeet lightly tapping against the golden ground. She glanced up quickly to see Loki sitting on the throne, adorned with his golden helm. She quickly reached the stairs of throne and bowed deeply.
"Andromeda!" Loki chuckled her name and she glanced up at him through her lashes, "I have told you that you of all people did not need to bow to me."
Andromeda stood up straight and smiled charmingly, shrugging her shoulders in faux sincerity, "I was just being polite." She teased, lifting her dress and climbing up the steps. From his reaction, he seemed happy to see her; she was calmed just a bit.
The beauty sat on the armrest of the royal throne, crossing her legs at the ankle. "How does the King of Asgard fair on this beautiful day?"
"Much better now that you are here." Loki replied with a sly grin, grasping one of her hands in his. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles adoringly, his green eyes bright. "You look lovely on Asgard's throne, Andromeda."
The princess smiled bashfully, knowing her act down to the tea. "You seem… different." She muttered unsurely, looking away with a frown, "I thought you'd still be angry with me."
"Oh Andromeda," She heard his voice slither out in his mocking tone of comfort before two fingers touched her chin and tilted her face towards him, "I could never be angry at you. This whole situation is my fault but I promise that I will win your heart once more."
Andromeda sighed before getting up from her seat, crossing her arms and turning her back towards him. "I've just been so upset lately…" She trailed, her voice wavering with faux tears. "I've lost so much. Between you and my best friend… I just don't know what to do!" She blubbered, covering her face with her hands.
The princess managed to squeeze out some real tears as she sobbed, holding in a smirk when she was pulled into the king's arms. "Andromeda." Her name was muttered above her as a hand caressed her back. The beauty looked up with watery eyes and a pout on her lips. "Andromeda," Loki repeated, his face solemn. "I was going to wait to tell you tonight but I received grave news this morning from Midgard."
Andromeda froze and her act was forgotten. Her stomach dropped to her feet and she swallowed thickly. "Well," She spoke after a moment of silence, "Tell me."
Loki sighed, his green eyes gazing into hers deeply. "Thor is dead."
All of the air left Andromeda and her eyes widened, real tears lining her vision. She licked her lips and looked up at Loki, her eyes narrowed. "Is this a joke?" The brunette whispered breathlessly. "Are you mocking me?"
"I am afraid not." The King replied evenly, pulling her into his chest once again. "I did not want to tell you just yet but I would not want you to hear it from anyone else."
"How?" The princess muttered, slightly leaning away from him. "How?"
Loki looked away from her eyes, uttering back, "The humans are barbaric."
"Oh my gods." Andromeda cried, putting a hand to her chest. Her crinkled into a grimace and she sniffed as the tears fell from her eyes.
"He suffered." Loki added quietly, watching as the princess bring her hand to her mouth. He stepped towards her and tried to embrace her once more, but she put a hand on his chest.
"I need to be alone." Andromeda whispered, hurrying out of the throne room. She wiped the tears from her face before balling her dress up in her hands and beginning to run. The beauty pushed open the door to the garden was blinded by white.
Andromeda dropped to her knees and looked around the garden Thor had curated for her a century ago. She picked a flower up from the trail and held it in her hands, her fingers brushing over the petals.
"What is wrong with me?" The princess muttered, staring up at the sky. "Every man I love dies." Her voice cracked and she began to cry again, hugging her knees to her body.
"Am I cursed?" Andromeda questioned the heavens, "A joke of the gods, I realize I love a man and he dies." She muttered, crushing the flower in her hand.
"So you do love him." A voice sounded behind her and the princess did not even have to look to know who it was.
Andromeda sighed, grabbing another flower and still staring at the sky. "He was my best friend."
"But you felt more." The king urged, his voice getting closer to her. "Odin knows, how the oaf felt about you."
"Don't." The beauty warned, her tone low, "How could you speak of the dead that way?"
"I should have seen it." Loki continued, ignoring her. "The way he looked at you, the way he spoke of you. I might have known he would try something but for you to reciprocate his feelings…"
"Be quiet." Andromeda pleaded, her eyes closing. "You don't know what you are talking about."
"You slept with him." The king accused his tone scathing. "My own brother! A Midgardian harlot, the people were right about you."
The beauty stood up then, whipping around and point an accusing finger at the king. "Don't." She hissed, her eyes narrowed, "How dare you call me a harlot when you, crowned Prince of Asgard, was bedding every fair maiden that looked your way!" Her voice raised with every single word.
The king had the decency to look ashamed for a moment before his eyes returned her glare, "Did his title attract you? Did you want to be a queen so badly?"
"If. I. Did," Andromeda spat each word out before tilting her head, "Don't you think I would have married you?"
Loki grimaced and shook his head, "You are not going to turn this around on me. You slept with my brother, if he is the only one you have bedded in these many years."
"Well I am happy to inform you that he is." The beauty replied evenly, crossing her arms.
"Well I am happy to inform you that he is dead." Loki retorted, watching the princess' smug face fall.
"That's disgusting." Andromeda spat, her eyes glistening. "He is your brother and you are rejoicing in his death."
"I am rejoicing in your pain, my love." The king corrected with a smirk, "And he is not my brother, only competition for the throne."
"Oh my gods." The princess breathed, shaking her head, "You have become so cruel." She muttered, though instead of a glare accompanying her words it was a look of pity. The king was a little disarmed by her sad eyes and his own narrowed. "I want to be angry but I am just sad. Your thirst for the throne has killed your brother and you…" She trailed, her eyes searching, "Are trying to kill me." The beauty smiled sadly at the king before picking her dress up and walking around him, she got to the double doors before pausing looking over her shoulder, "I won't tell anyone about Thor's death until you make your announcement."
With that, Andromeda walked away; from more than just the wannabe king.
Loki watched her leave with narrowed eyes, his expression falling when the door closed. He looked around the white garden with a scowl, angry at himself for letting her get to him. "Little minx." He muttered, rolling his eyes.
The princess did not know what she was talking about, he tried to tell himself. She had never ruled. Some things just need to be done, a kind ruler never gets anything accomplished. You have to plan.
Admittedly, he was a bit ashamed of himself for getting so angry at her. He shouldn't have called her a harlot, that would be hard to bounce back from. But it was no matter, everything else was going wonderfully, the little spitfire couldn't rain on his parade.
He would have her soon enough.