"I hope everything is to your tastes, Natalia," Loki said after watching the young woman take her first bite of meat.
Natalia nodded as she chewed. "Very good," she finally said after swallowing. Out of everything served to her, she fancied the meat the most. It tasted different than what she was used to back home in the best possible way. She could still feel the prince's lingering gaze, so she looked up and smiled for him. Loki grinned back before quickly looking down at his own plate. Natalia looked around the long dining table and noticed that there was a plate of food before an empty chair beside Loki. She wondered if Clinton ever ate with the royal family. The table was certainly big enough for many more guests.
The swinging of wooden doors answered Natalia's question regarding the empty chair. A set of heavy footsteps were heard, accompanied by a hearty chuckle. "Father, Mother, you never said we would have guests dining with us!"
Natalia wanted to turn around, but she wondered if that was a lady-like decision.
"You're late, Thor," Frigga warned her son. "And filthy-where were you?"
After hearing the eldest Odinson's name, Natalia was now even more curious to turn around.
"Don't bombard the poor boy with questions," Odin told his wife with a smile. "Thor, we have Loki's betrothed, Lady Natalia, and her servant, Sir Ivan."
Thor approached the table so he could see what his brother's soon-to-be wife looked like. The first thing he noticed was her red hair, then the look of surprise on her face. He smiled and bowed his head. "Nice to meet you, Milady."
Natalia nodded, "A pleasure to meet you." She was surprised by how different he looked from Loki. It wasn't just Thor's blond hair that fell below his shoulders, but he was also more muscular and appeared to be a bit taller than Loki. His face and clothing were covered in grime, but Natalia assumed that it was due to hunting outdoors. He seemed just as kind as the rest of the Odinsons, making Natalia grateful for her benevolent new family. She watched as Thor took a seat beside his brother and whispered something that made Loki proudly grin. The more Natalia looked at Loki, the more she realized that they could hopefully have a happy marriage. He seemed to be a genuinely nice man and she hoped to learn more about him before the wedding.
After finishing a dessert of fresh berry tarts, the table was excused. Odin, Frigga, and Ivan needed to discuss documents regarding the royal marriage. Loki jumped at this opportunity to show Natalia around his home. "Do you enjoy books, Natalia?" he wondered.
"Yes. I do," she answered.
"I know just where to start the tour, then." Loki took Natalia's hand in his and led her out of the dining hall.
Natalia noticed Thor walking off in the opposite direction of them. Seeing the blond reminded her to ask about the secretive whispering. "Loki?" Her prince stopped in his tracks to acknowledge her.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"During dinner, Thor whispered something to you. What was it?"
Loki chuckled to himself. "He said that you and I look fitting together."
Natalia wrinkled her nose. "Our being aesthetically pleasing isn't going to help when we take the throne," she reminded Loki. "Besides," she continued, "we know nothing about each other. Who knows, we could very well hate each others' guts," she smirked.
This made Loki laugh even more. "Then will you care to tell me more about yourself? Tell me, Natalia, are you against this marriage?" he wondered, truly curious.
The red-head shrugged as the couple walked along a candle-lit corridor. "I won't say I'm against it," she admitted. "If anything, my becoming your queen will help unify my homeland to yours and strengthen it." At the end of the day, Natalia's reasons to marry Loki were purely political and nothing more. "However a friendship between us would be nice," she added.
"'Friendship,'" Loki repeated. "Not love?" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Natalia watched his smile fall in the corner of her eye. "Maybe one day, a love will form between us. However, our key duty as King and Queen will be ensuring the well-being of our lands and working to bring an end to the witches," she finished with a huff.
Loki admired her willpower. Natalia was growing on him more and more. Yet her determination seemed to make her frustrated. Loki knew that witches were responsible for her parents' death, so was her attitude based on avenging her loved ones? "Alright," he finally agreed. "We have a deal." He stopped before a mahogany door and pushed against the brass handle to show her inside. "Here we are. My family's library."
Her mouth fell open upon seeing the walls lined from floor to ceiling with books. Natalia had never seen so many tomes in all her life. She stepped into the room and began wandering around, in awe.
The young prince watched her, admiring the look of wonder in her eyes. "Do you love reading that much?"
"I've never seen this many books before." She spun around, the bottom of her dress dancing along with her. "I like it here already," she smiled.
"I'm glad you are making yourself at home."
Natalia went over to a shelf and ran her fingers against a row of books. The Odinsons were truly wealthy to be able to afford so many volumes of lore. Her attention went elsewhere as she noticed a window overlooking the castle grounds. The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky with shades of pinks and oranges. Looking down, she noticed a small wooden hut not too far off. "Who lives there?" she wondered.
Loki sauntered over to her side. He didn't need to look down to know what she was asking about. "Clinton Barton's quarters."
"Oh," she breathed. Natalia kept staring out, hoping to catch another glimpse of the young man. He was another person she wished to get to know better. "Is he alone? That seems dangerous to be so close the forest like that…"
"You're forgetting that he hunts witches for a living," Loki reminded her, crossing his arms. "Clinton is very skilled at his profession." He noticed Natalia still gazing out the window. Hoping to distract her from Clint, he grabbed her hand and led her to a bench near the fireplace. "How about you tell me more about yourself? About your home?" Loki prodded.
Natalia let the back of her fingers brush the animal fur that covered the bench. "Why don't you tell me more about Asgard?" she asked, looking him in the eyes. "This is my home now. I'd like to learn more about it…"
"Allow me to show you around in the morning, then," Loki decided. "Bring along Sir Ivan to escort us." Ivan, not Clint-that was Loki's intention.
She pursed her lips. "Isn't it dangerous for us to go out? Last I checked, the Blood Moon is close…" Natalia had always been cautioned about going out around the time of a Blood Moon. It was the one night every month when a witch's powers were at their peak. Even being out during daylight was said to be dangerous since some witches would steal innocent people away, feed on their blood, and have remarkable strength during the night. Witches and humans weren't meant to get along. They saw humans as a food source to strengthen their magic. Those born with royal blood were said to greatly increase a witch's magic, or so the stories claimed.
Loki gave her a reassuring grin. "My Father has only the best hunters stationed about the town. Asgard hasn't had a witch-related death in several years." He placed his warm hand over hers. "You are safe here, Natalia." His Father once told him that not every country was as lucky as Asgard in regards to witch attacks. Loki had always felt safe in his home, unlike Natalia who lost everything but her namesake and her servant. "You will always be safe here."
Natalia found herself lost in his eyes. There was an honesty in his words that made her believe him. She needed to believe him. After all, he would soon be her husband. "Thank you," she said softly.
He hopped up from the bench and went over to a bookshelf.
The princess turned to watch him, curious.
Loki soon returned and presented her with a book bound in worn green fabric. "It is a collection of old tales from my country," he explained as Natalia accepted the tome from his hands. "Perhaps you might enjoy this. My Mother used to read Thor and I this before bed many a times," he added with a chuckle.
A new book would be a welcoming distraction for Natalia whilst living in a foreign land with a new home and new people. Reading had always made her feel more comfortable. "I'll read this right away," she promised. Natalia averted her eyes towards the window. The sun was now hidden behind scattered tree branches and Natalia knew that she should excuse herself. "In the morning," she added.
"Of course." Loki nodded and escorted her to her room.
Ivan's room was just across the hall from Natalia's. He was just about to turn in for the night when he saw Loki and Natalia making their way down the hall. "I trust you have taken good care of her?" Ivan asked.
"My queen deserves only the best," Loki nodded. He turned to give his future wife one last smile. "Until tomorrow, my Lady." He kissed her hand before leaving her side.
Natalia watched him walk off, then turn a corner and disappear from her view. She hugged the book close to her chest and yawned.
"It has been a long day for you, my Lady," Ivan said. "Rest well."
"Same to you," Natalia replied. "Goodnight, Ivan." She entered her private chamber, eager to finally sleep.