Honestly writing this was like pulling teeth. Girly dialogue is kind of ridiculous. I would know. I'm a girl.

Nearly 500 years earlier

"Do you know how late it is?!"

"Hmm?" Svenja jerked awake. Itriel slowly rolled over, so used to having her mother wake her up for one reason or another that she eventually just began to tune it out.

"You knew we were supposed to have lunch with the Queen! Get up. We can't keep her waiting the first full day we're here. You are truly the most irresponsible girls I know." She slammed the door on her way out, probably in an attempt to wake Itriel.

Svenja arose out of bed slowly and shook her cousin. Both had always shared a bed with someone, whether it was a cousin or a friend or a maid or a man. "I need to eat first," Itriel murmured, still half-asleep.

"We're eating lunch."

"What? Oh."

Itriel found something blue to wear. She hadn't had time to unpack anything, so she just tried to match her gown with the blue jewelry she wore yesterday. Svenja came out wearing black. Itriel's mother immediately made her change. "What the hell are you doing? You don't wear black to have lunch with a Queen." "But why not? It goes with everything," Svenja replied honestly.Itriel supposed Svenja just didn't really know better; her father had divorced her mother when she was young and the only things Svenja really knew how to do were to ride horses and fight with knives. She didn't mind lacking a mother though. Hers, as she always said, had always been a "right cunt" to her and her sisters. If her father was drunk, one could get him to confess that he didn't know why he had ever slept with that woman. "Maybe because she was pretty," he'd say. "At least my daughters got that."

Two other cousins, Runa and Aile, burst through the door, looking far more collected than Itriel and Svenja. Runa, who was typically quiet and sullen, was practically shaking with excitement.

"You look ridiculous. It's not a big deal. You just sit there, eat and be quiet," said Svenja, still drowsy and perhaps a little hung-over.

"But what if the Queen asks me a question? What if she tries to talk to me?"

"She won't. You aren't important enough. If anyone, she'll probably talk to Itriel. She'll probably want to marry her to Thor."

"Svenja," shouted Aile, "You're horrible. I think the Queen is a wonderful person, from what I hear, and she'll probably talk to all of us!"

"You are so incredibly dumb," replied Svenja.

"I'm not marrying anyone," mumbled Itriel as an afterthought.

Aile didn't bother replying to Svenja, but instead, struck an entirely new conversation. "I wonder if the prince is going to be there."

"Who, Thor?" Runa said excitedly.

"No, Loki."

"Why would a man be at a lunch specifically for all the women?"

"Because I think he is a woman," replied Aile. Itriel threw her head back and started laughing, though she had no opinion on either prince. She thought about it, though. There was nothing wrong whatsoever with Loki. He was particularly tall and was slim but not skinny. He wasn't ugly, although not truly attractive. His face was pointy and his lips were thin. He may have looked androgynous next to his brother and father, though…

"You're always wrong with those kinds of things. Besides, I think he was looking at Itriel's chest last night," retorted Svenja, rolling her eyes.

"My dress was slipping," added Itriel, who was becoming disinterested in the discussion. She would have liked to abandon the conversation entirely.

"Every man thinks you're attractive! Next to you, I look like a potato!"

Itriel walked to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, changing her expression from that of anxiety to straight indifference. Whatever comes of this, I can make the best of it. I always have. I don't have to marry for love. Imagine what I could do as a Queen.

Present

Hardly a week had passed since Itriel had visited her husband in prison. She had returned home to Vanaheim almost immediately afterwards, retiring to what was nicknamed "The Sun City" rather than returning to her father's estate, cold as it was in the middle of winter.

She lay abed with Olek, the lord of the city and her father's longtime friend (though he was quite young compared to her father). It was mid-afternoon, the hottest part of the day, and the sun shone streaming in through the western windows. Itriel lay on her side, running her hand softly down Olek's chest. He rose out of the bed and slowly dressed himself. He's truly a beautiful man, Itriel thought to herself. Shame we're both married.

She sat up quickly, letting the sheets slip down her shoulders to reveal her naked torso. "I need to ask you a favor," she said slowly, biting her lip.

Olek smirked. "Yes? I am indebted to you." Itriel stood, allowing the white sheets slip to the floor and pool around her ankles. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I swear you are the most beautiful woman in the Nine…"

Itriel ignored him and pulled away, looking him in the eyes. "I need you to find someone for me. Amora. A sorceress. She may be working as a healer. Short, blonde, voluptuous."

Olek nodded. "I've heard of her. Where do you think I might find her?"

"Probably Asgard, possibly Vanaheim, but I highly doubt that. Wherever you find her, she'll be very comfortable. Quite rich I assume. And I think not very wary of someone watching her. But you still must be subtle. She has friends."

"Friends," he said, finally taking his eyes off of Itriel's breasts. "She's that powerful? I always assumed she became rich by sleeping with lords."

"She was discovered by sleeping with lords. By even more powerful people…" she paused for a moment. "I need you to find her. Don't contact her. Just track her. Keep me updated. Just be quiet about it. The fewer people involved in this, the better."

Olek gave a mischievous smile. "And what is it you want with her?"

"I don't truly know yet. I'm quiet flexible. I'm not certain of what will happen in the next few months…" Itriel looked away and her eyes looked glassy. She slid a corseted blouse over her head and pulled up a pair of leather pants. "Let me tell you a secret."

Olek cocked his head to the side and smirked. "And what is that?"

"She wronged me and I would really like to see her dead." With that she left the room.