The next morning, Ava woke up and looked at the flower sitting next to her bed. She smiled as she thought about Loki performing the spell and forming the flower for her. It was a spell Ava had attempted, but could never perform. He knew that she thought the picture was beautiful.

Her mind then wandered to how excited she had been to see him. How wonderful it had felt to dance with him. To have his arms around her, holding her close and gazing into each other's eyes. She could feel the blush rising to her cheeks as she thought about Loki.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she forced herself to get out of bed. She picked out a dress for the day and changed into it before walking over to her vanity mirror. She began to brush out her hair. She heard a knock on her door just then. She used her magic to unlock the door. "Come in." She called.

The door opened and Thor stepped in her room. He had a teasing smile on his face. "Well, it appears someone had a good night on her birthday." He teased.

"It was a fun party." Ava replied as she began to braid her long red locks.

"That's not what I was thinking of." Thor replied. "You disappeared for a while, after making Fandrall speechless, wonderful job on that by the way."

"What? I needed to get away for a bit." Ava told her brother. "I mean I was getting annoyed at having to dance with all of those men. I mean, I just wanted to be alone for a moment."

Thor grinned at his sister. "When you came back to the party, you had a huge smile on your face and color in your cheeks. You went and met someone, didn't you?"

Ava schooled her features. "I did no such thing. I was all alone."

"And Fandrall is suddenly being nice to you because he truly feels sorry for everything he has done." Thor quipped.

"He does feel sorry." Ava replied. "But only because he thinks me attractive now."

Thor just shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll keep him away from you."

Ava just laughed as she finished her braid. She then turned away from her mirror and faced her brother. "So, did you come here just to tease me, or did you have another reason?" She asked.

"Father wants you at breakfast." Thor answered. "He said he has something important to tell you."

"Well, then I guess we should get going." She said, standing up.

Thor offered his sister his arm and she accepted it. They left her chambers and headed to the smaller dining hall, where their family was waiting. Ava was surprised to see one of the noble families from Alfheim were still there.

Odin smiled at his daughter as she entered and took her seat next to her mother. "There's my beautiful daughter." He said.

Ava smiled at her father. "Good morning, Father." She then turned to the noble family across from her. "Good morning to you as well." She greeted them, trying to be polite.

There were three of them. Lord Kiren, his wife Lady Eiren, and their son Vinius. They were light elves and all looked ethereally beautiful. They had skin that reminded Ava of marble, platinum blonde hair, and ocean blue eyes. "Good morning, Princess." Kiren greeted, smiling at her.

Ava was getting ready to ask her father what he had wanted to speak with her about, when the meal was served. The group dug in and enjoyed a light conversation. After they finished the meal, they sat there for a while longer. Ava looked at her father, when there was a break in the conversation. "Thor said there was something you wished to speak with me about?" Ava asked.

"Yes." Odin answered. "As you know, Alfheim is one of our greatest allies in the nine realms…and both sides would like to strengthen that allegiance."

Ava furrowed her brow in confusion. "Okay, but what does this have to do with me?" She asked.

"The best way to do that is to unite our worlds…through marriage…your marriage to young Vinius here, three days after your twenty-first birthday." Odin told her.

Ava felt her heart drop into her stomach. She sat there for a moment, unable to say anything, just staring at her father. She just couldn't believe what her father had just told her.

"Ava, sweetheart?" Frigga asked, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

Ava turned to her mother, the tears stinging her eyes. She then turned back to her father. "You can't be serious."

"I am very serious, my dear." Odin replied. "Vinius will be staying with us over these next few years to court you. We may be arranging this marriage, but we do wish to give you two the time to get to know each other."

"And fall in love." Lord Kiren added.

"Precisely." Odin agreed.

Ava closed her eyes and shook her head. "No."

"Ava Odindottir." Odin said, trying to get her to pull herself together.

Ava opened her eyes and looked at her father. "No." She repeated. She then rose from her seat and ran out of the room, heading for her chambers. She flung herself on her bed and buried her face in her pillow and allowed her tears to flow.

There was a soft knock on her door. "Ava, sweetheart, may I come in?" She heard her mother's voice.

Ava couldn't bring herself to say anything. She let out a weird strangled sound that she hoped her mother would take as a yes. She heard the door opening and then she felt her mother sitting down on the bed beside her and stroking her hair. "Come here, darling." Frigga said to Ava.

Ava sat up and threw herself into her mother's arms. She buried her face in her shoulder and let the tears flow. She felt her mother's lips on top of her head and her hands stroking her hair once again.

"Sweetheart, I know that this hard for you…but an arranged marriage isn't the end of the world." Frigga said. "My marriage to your father was arranged to help make the alliance between Asgard and Vanaheim stronger."

Ava pulled back and looked at her mother. "You knew about this?" Ava asked.

"I had no idea you would take it so hard." Frigga replied.

"You agreed to this?" Ava inquired.

"Sweetheart…I had no choice…"

"You're the queen…and my mother. You could have convinced him not to do it." Ava protested. "Or to at least ask me about it first."

"Sweetheart…why are you taking this so hard?" Frigga asked.

"Just leave me alone." Ava replied, ignoring her mother's question.

Frigga sighed. "I am sorry, my love." She said kissing her daughter's forehead and then leaving.

Ava pulled her knees to her chest. She wasn't entirely sure why she was taking the news so hard. She had known for a long time that it was likely that her marriage would be arranged for some political purpose. She then looked at the flower beside her bed and she then she realized she knew exactly why this had hit her so hard. Ava sat, staring at the flower for a few more moments, before getting up and heading to her wardrobe. She changed into a warmer dress and grabbed out her green cloak. She then snuck out of the palace and headed for the mountains.

Loki…

Loki sat in the temple reading over one of the books Ava had brought for him. She had given it to him as a gift a few years ago. He smiled as he thought about her. He was glad that he had gone to her party the previous night. She had looked so beautiful in her lilac colored gown. He loved the way her eyes had lit up when she had caught sight of him and the smile that graced her beautiful lips. His mind continued to wander to the joy that had filled her face when she had seen the flower her had created for her.

"I am glad that I could make her smile so." He spoke to himself. He then let his thoughts travel to when they had danced. How she had fit so perfectly in his arms and how she had gazed into his eyes. He wanted to do that again. He wanted to hold her close, feel her warmth. He wanted to kiss her.

"Loki." He heard her voice coming from behind him.

Loki turned away from the fire to see Ava. Her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were still stained with tears. "What's wrong?" Loki asked, concern coloring his tone.

Ava didn't say a word, she just ran to him and buried her face in his chest and cried.

Loki wrapped his arms around her. He began to stroke her hair. "Ava, please tell me what has you so upset?"

Ava did her best to calm herself. She knew she needed to tell Loki, but she was having a hard time. "My…my parents have betrayed me." She answered, her head still resting on his chest.

"What did they do?" Loki asked.

"My father told me…that he has arranged to unite Asgard with Alfheim through marriage…my marriage to be performed three days after my twenty-first birthday." Ava answered. "And my mother hasn't tried to stop it."

Loki felt his heart break. He tightened his embrace around Ava. "No."

"That's what I said…but they won't hear it." Ava replied, still holding herself close to Loki, drawing what comfort she could from him.

"We have five years to stop this wedding." Loki said, a determination filling him.

Ava looked up at him. "How?"

"We'll find a way…I don't want to lose you." He said, looking into her eyes. He lifted a hand and used his thumb to wipe away her tears.

"Loki…" She breathed, hoping that he was meaning what she thought.

He cupped the side of her face with his hand and slowly lowered his lips to hers. Ava closed her eyes and allowed herself to be lost in the kiss, the feel of Loki's cool lips on hers. After a few moments, Loki broke the kiss and then he rested his forehead against Ava's. "I will not lose you to another." He said, his red Jotun eyes gazing into her beautiful green ones.

"I was hoping you would feel this way." Ava replied, a small smile playing across her lips.

Loki gave her a smile in return. "How could I not? You've accepted me for who I am…even though our people hate each other…you've brought a warmth and light to my life that I am not ready to give up."

Ava felt her smile widen. "You're the one who showed me kindness and saved my life when I was lost and far from my home." She reminded him. "You've been my best friend...and I've only grown fonder of you over the years...I don't want to be with anyone else."

Loki stroked Ava's cheek with his fingertips. "I don't want that to happen either."

"You promise you'll help me keep it from happening?"

"I promise." Loki answered as he pulled Ava in for another kiss, as if sealing his promise.