Chapter 3 .
Robb woke up early that day . The stars were still shining but sleep left him . He stood , putting his clothes and cloak , leaving in the woods . The Asgardians were coming today , late in the afternoon and it was angrying him and scared him too .
He looked at his plate , full of meat and started to eat , his stomach grunting . He noticed that his mother was smiling softly at him as his father was starring . Theon looked at him , giggling as always . He loved Theon as his brother but sometimes he was too childish . Jon was rolling his eyes at him . Robb smiled and went back to his dinner . After long silent minutes , his father cleared his throat and looked at him , joining his hands and resting his head on them .
"Do you think you are ready to become Lord of Winterfell Robb ?" asked calmly his father .
"What?"
"You heard me well son .."
"I don't think I could be better than you , father ."
"But you're old enough .."
"I think yes ." said Robb , lifting his head and looking at his father in the eyes .
"Then you're ready to get married ."
Robb let out his fork and looked at his father , opening and closing his mouth . Theon laughed heavily but under the severe look of Catelyn , he stopped , looking down at his plate .Only Jon looked equally surprised . Robb knew his parents were married because of an oath . He even knew that his mother was supposed to marry his dead uncle but ended marrying his father . But he always thought that he would have the chance to chose his own wife .
"Who is she ?"
"Thessana of Asgard . She's a fine match for you .." said Catelyn . " I talked to her and seen her several times . Never you could fine someone better ."
"I don't know her ."
"They're coming in two days . We invited them to spend some few days here and it'll be the occasion for you to meet her ."
"You want me to fall in love with a girl I never met in a few days ?"
"Robb . Love isn't a thing that strikes you or happens in a week . It takes time to build and that's what makes it strong ." stated his mother .
"What if I don't want to marry her ? Or if she doesn't want to marry me ?"
"Then we'll see what to do with the AllFather ."
"May I leave the table ?"
"Yes ."
Robb left quickly and left in the yard , to hit with his sword in one of those targets . But Theon and Jon joined him soon .
"So little Robb here is gonna marry an Asgardian . Lucky mate ! The Asgardians are the most beautiful girls in all the realms . "
"How can you be that joyful ? I feel like i've been sentenced to death ."
"It can't be that awful..." said Jon in a little voice .
"Are you gonna tell her that you never kissed a girl ?"
"Shut up ."
Theon laughed and couldn't stop for a few minutes . Robb left with Jon , the only one who seemed to understand him .
It's only by midday that his mother found him , still sat in the woods . She only grabbed his hand and stayed quiet . That's what he needed and it made him feel better . They both headed back to the castle , to get ready . Winterfell was boiling with excitement . Everybody was cleaning or taking care of the Royal chambers . Robb had to clean himself , to shave and tame his brown curls , which he hated . He looked like a young kid like that . Which Theon didn't miss to point out . Horns were heard and everybody hurried outside . He stood next to his father and looked at the Asgardian banners and riders coming . He recognized Thor and his hammer , behind him , Loki and next to him … Robb stopped breathing . He knew Asgardian' women were known for their beauty but he did not expect that . She was looking around her as her horse stopped , her long blond hair floating behind her because of the wind . He heard Theon laughing behind him as Jon whispered to him to shut it . He looked at his father , kneeling as the AllFather came in front of them and did the same .
"You look older than the last time ." said the AllFather in a rough voice .
Robb smiled , his head still bowed and he heard a giggle coming from the Asgardians , quickly stopped . Odin made a quick sign and they all stood , facing the royal family . He paid tributes to the Queen and the AllFather then to the princes . And she was in front of him . He cursed her silently as she looked at him with her wide emerald and blue eyes . He was supposed to hate her , be disgusted by her . Not be attracted to her . He kissed her hand , clenching his jaw and she slightly pouted , looking even more adorable . To keep his strong-will and hate towards her , he focused on the Warriors Three , ignoring her completely . He only let himself go as she left inside the castle , following his mother . He cursed again but louder this time as Theon burst in laugh .
"Told you Asgardians were gorgeous .." said Theon , tears in his eyes .
"She's not that beautiful ..." whispered Robb .
Even Jon laughed as he looked at Robb .
"You're the worst liar in the all realms , brother .."
"I have to prepare myself for the feast … See you there .."
And he left quickly , fleeing in his room . But only a few minutes after , someone knocked and came in .
"What do you want Jon ?"
"Talk … "
"About what ?"
"Oh you know about what .. I thought that Theon wasn't the best person right now for this kind of situation .."
"Indeed .. Sometimes it's like he doesn't understand what's going on … "
"He's reckless . I don't trust him . And you shouldn't ."
"This is not the subject today , Jon … What can I do to stop this wedding ?"
"Why don't you learn to know her ? I mean you already like her , physically speaking . If Lady Stark agreed to that , you can be sure she's the one for you . And I heard that the Queen was very protecting towards her . So if she agreed too , man , you're deep into it ."
"Is that supposed to cheer me up ?"
"No but imagine for a moment that you actually like her . Would it be that terrible ?"
"I don't know .."
"Try . Talk to her . Make her laugh . Spend as much time as possible . Stop being angry at her . It's not like she wanted to marry you . I bet she's as lost as you are ."
"Wise words from a foolish man ."
"You're the fool one . If I had a woman as her I'll be already married ."
Robb laughed and looked at his brother , who cheered him up beyond what he could imagine . Maester Luwin came to seek him for dinner and he followed him . He was looking as clean as earlier , trying to make a good impression . He was amazed once more , as she came , by her looks . If he didn't marry her , he definitely got to go to Asgard . She sat in front of him and looked beyond him , probably at one of the princes . He cleared his throat but any sound came . He became mute as she waited for him to speak .
Thessana looked at him , waiting . She forgot Loki and the others , focused on the Stark boy . But after opening and closing his mouth several times , he looked down at his plate and blushed . It made her smile .
"I don't think we met properly ..." she said in a soft voice .
"Indeed ..." he looked at her , smiling a little . "I am Robb Stark . Heir of Winterfell . "
"I am Thessana of Asgard . Not heir of anything ." He laughed at the remark and she smiled back , the slight wrinkles at his cheeks and eyes making him even more cute .
"I guess the weather is really different . I never went to Asgard but my parents told me it was a real shock ."
"Totally . But I like it here . I never saw the snow before ..."
"No joke ?"
"I swear . We only have sun and heat back in Asgard . "
"I wouldn't like it .."
"Well you should try it first .."
"I'll try .. Sorry for my attitude earlier . It wasn't the thing to do in front of a lady . Lady what by the way ? You haven't told me your last name ..."
"What makes you think I am a lady? It's not because I live with them that I am high born ."
"Liar . If you weren't a lady , we wouldn't be sat at the same table or even about to get married ."
"Once again . What makes you think I want to marry you ? I am not somebody's property . I do not belong to anyone . "
Robb looked at her , clenching his jaw and she saw rage in his eyes . She knew it wasn't the words he wanted to hear , specially when he had made the first step , or at least tried . Before she could say anything else , he left the table , quickly , without eating anything . She looked at Frigga who was looking at her , sadness in her eyes . Not bearing that she left the table either , leaving outside . In the yard , she heard a sword being struck against rock . She went where the sound was made and saw the other son of Ned Stark , Jon . He stopped when he saw her and bowed .
"Don't do that I am not royalty . Why aren't you at the dinner ?"
"Lady Stark thought it was disrespectful to have a bastard alongside noble people ."
"Bastard ?"
"Yes . Lord Stark is my father but I don't know my mother .."
"Sorry ..."
"It's nothing , do not worry Lady.."
"Thessana . Just Thessana ." she stopped him and smiled .
"Thessana then ..."
"It's stupid . You're a stark even if Lady Stark didn't carry you . Moreover you look more like your father than Robb ."
"I know .. He got the Tully's features . Why aren't you at the dinner ? It's in your honor after all .."
"No it's a mark of kindness towards the AllFather . That's all .."
"It's also to make good impression about your future husband's family . Except we leave the bastard out of sight ."
"You've been the friendlier . Such a shame you're not allowed to be with us … Will you come tomorrow at the hunt ?"
"For that yes . I am a good hunter so my father let me come with you ."
"Great .. It'll be much more fun . I did not see myself enjoying Robb's company . Or the other one who laughs all the time ."
"Theon ? Theon Greyjoy . Yeah he's a prick . Sorry .."
"Don't be . If he's a prick then he's a prick . Works for me ."
"You're not like all of them .."
"Because I am not one of them . Simple as that . Sif , my sister , is so in love with Thor that she's a part of this show .."
"You're not of noble birth ?"
"Me ? Gods , no … Odin found me and my sister as we were kids . The Jotuns killed our parents and with my magic I , apparently , made a shield so we survived . I don't have any memories of them , as Sif . And Odin didn't know them so we don't really know our origins .. I don't even have a last name . "
"Why not Odinson ?"
"Because I am not his child . And frankly I don't want to . When I see how much people expect of Thor it makes me sick . Since my early years , I had to do as Odin said . Study magic , act as a lady , being friendly and nice to our guests because they could have a son . The only thing I ever wanted was to be mine , to do as I want . And know he even chose my husband . I don't hate Robb . Not at all , he looks like a nice person . But I can't bear the situation . The worst in this is that I know , deep in my heart , that I could love Robb even if I don't know him . I know I could be happy with him . But because I am forced to marry him it just ruins everything . I am sorry for this . I shoudn't speak that much anyway . I should go , Queen Frigga must be looking after me ."
She smiled at him and left back in the castle . Robb stepped out the darkness and looked at Jon .
"If you don't marry her , I will ." whispered Jon .
"I have to talk to her ..."
Robb looked at the door when she just left . He was mad at the situation and against himself . He wanted to make her pay for this but he couldn't . Simply couldn't . She was victim of their parents' decision , just as him . But the worst in it was that he knew deep down he could live happily with her . He could see himself in the next centuries , ruling over Winterfell with Thessana by his side , craddling their babies , laying each night by her side .
"The castle is not in this way !" shouted Jon .
"I need to think !" he replied , walking towards the Godswood .
He sat on the rock next to the biggest tree and looked at the sky , thinking .
Thessana left for the library and found Loki there , as he told her earlier . She sat in a comfy chair and looked at him while he was reading .
"Grab a book . There are books I don't even know existed .."
"Wow . Something actually impressed you ."
"Indeed . I am reading something about the Tesseract . Did you know that only people with magic could use it fully ? And with it you can control all the realms . Make them all bend the knee in front of ..
"Stop . Stop speaking like that . This is scary . You're not going to rule over a realm jut to prove you're powerful . That's stupid and you know it . Never do that or I kill you ."
"Trust me I would never rule over a planet just by using violence and my strength or my magic . I thought you knew me better than that ."
"We're never sure ..."
"If I ever do this . Abuse defenseless persons it will be because something broke inside me . "
"Then i'll outlive you just to fix you , in case ."
"Such a wonderful idea … So , according to your little scene earlier , things did not went well with the Stark boy ?"
"Can I blame him ? We're both in a delicate situation so .."
"You know I can convince my father to forget that idea .."
"I'll see later .."
"Why ? Why not now ?"
"Because I don't think he's a bad person . I want to know him before rejecting him . If I say that I don't want to marry him , he'll shut himself down and I don't want that . "
"You're too good for your own sake … "
"What do you think about Jon ?"
"The bastard ?"
"Don't call him like that ."
"Why ? He's a bastard . End of the story ."
"He is nice . And I like him so stop calling him like that ."
"Oh you want to marry him maybe ? The poor bastard brother instead of the rightful heir .."
"Go to hell Loki .."
She stood , grabbed a book randomly and left for her room . Loki hit the table , in rage . He was losing her and he couldn't let that happen . She was his not Robb's or the bastard's one . Since the day they kissed , he knew it was her .
Loki looked at the window , hearing shoutings and laughs . He immediately noticed Thessana , who was with Fandral , in the garden , playing with wooden swords . Jealousy filled him and his magic filled the whole room , breaking several furnitures . Since several days , Thessana and the blond warrior were getting closer and closer , spending more time together . And she seemed to enjoy him . Loki grinned as a plan came in his mind . Fandral was telling to Thessana that he was coming back and to wait for him . She sat on a rock and waited . Loki ran to meet Fandral and told him that Thor was looking after him , all around the palace . Fandral smiled at Loki and left , looking for Thor . Loki grinned and took his features . He went to see Thessana who welcomed him with a smile .
"So Fandral what did you want to do again ?"
"Follow me . "
She smiled as he winked and followed him in the personnal gardens and the fountains were they played as kids .
"I used to come here with Loki , all the time ..."
"Let's play . Catch me !"
He started to run and she ran after him , laughing heavily . Playing a trick to her , he decided to disappear and reappear in front of her . She ran in him and knocked him over , laying on top of him . Loki's breath caught in his throat and he looked at her parted lips . And before she could stop him , he kissed her . She kissed him back , running her hands in his hair , moaning softly . Loki almost let his trick fade away to show her , that it was him and not Fandral but he heard someone shouting at them . Thessana jumped and pushed herself far away from him . Sif was looking angrily at them . Fire was almost coming out of her nose .
"Thessana . Go to your room . Now ."
"But .."
"No . I said now ."
Thessana , defeated , left quickly , looking at her feet . Loki , still under his Fandral' appearance looked at Sif , cocking an eyebrow . Sif faced him , pointing a finger at him .
"Touch my sister one more time and I will kill you . You saw me on a battlefield . I will kill you before you could reach your sword ."
And she left . Loki let his disguise go and sat against the fountain , still in shock . He did not care about Sif or her childish threats . He had kissed Thessana . Their lips touched and he felt alive . More than ever . She made his blood pulsing in him , his heart beat faster , his stomach flutter . And she liked it too . He did not care that she thought she kissed Fandral . Because he knew the truth and nothing could destroy this memory .