The trip to Alfheim, though great for the strengthening of the two realms alliances, all but destroyed Thor and Kari's marriage. Them being in close quarters with one another meant that Thor's attempts to make amends only caused Kari to become more angered. By the end of the trip, she would not even look at him.

On arrival back to Asgard, she became more outgoing again, as she was able to draw and read in as much peace as she wished Loki always respected when she just wanted to be alone, and she him and she was no longer forced to be close to Thor.

Frigga set about finding Loki a spouse, but there were not many well suited to the younger prince. He required a spouse who would respect his need for solitude, his quieter nature, his love of seidr and be well read. The dowager sighed; she knew she was looking for another Kari. But that is why she had chosen Kari for Loki; she was so unique, yet similar to her son. There had been a few women brought to the palace, to gauge their interactions with Loki, but none seemed to gel naturally with him, they were either desperate to join the wealthy royal family, or uninterested in him as a being.

"What does it matter, just get him wed." Thor growled one morning at breakfast.

"Indeed, compatibility is only part of it all." Odin agreed.

"Yes, because choosing people who are not the least bit suited has worked out so well before hasn't it?" Kari snarled sarcastically at her husband and father-in-law. "Then again, there is the saying, misery loves company." She added as she left the table.

"Where are you going?" Thor asked.

"Away from this, the last thing I ever want to hear is of someone being forced to endure what I have to." She did not look behind as she walked out of the room.

Angered, Thor rose also and stormed after her. It was close to the throne room when he finally caught up to her. "What is wrong with you?" He demanded, turning her to face him. "Why do you care who he is wed to?"

"I care about both him and some poor woman being forced to stare at one another in pure hatred day in and out, although, they would be permitted a divorce, but you have become so spiteful, you would deny them it just so he would be forced into the same position as you."

"I was happy in this marriage Kari, you know that. Then he arrived back."

"And you turned into a carbon copy of your father, pushing me away so much that I cannot be near you."

"I am not him, can you not see that of late I am doing nothing but arguing with him also, and mostly for the wrongs he has committed against you."

"Just cease Thor, I am not going to forgive you, so cease trying to kiss up to me."

"You're my wife, we should be close, have one another's backs, want a life together, want a child together."

"Well I no longer do. I wish you would do as I stated and take a mistress, just leave me in peace."

"No."

"Well then suffer along too, but you were given the option." Kari shrugged.

"And what of you, will you take a…"

"A lover, no, I have no intentions of going in search of one. I am more content with my life at present than I have been in some time." She smiled, knowing that the truth in her words was not as straight forward as it would appear.

"It is wrong for it to be like this Kari."

"Just concern yourself with running the kingdom." She dismissed, walking off, knowing that sooner or later, he would finally stop trying.

X

Fifty years passed, and Loki took a wife, but only because he was forced to, but after less than a year of marriage, it was annulled. He refused to lay with her, stating that it would not be fair to take her virtue if it was not his intention to cherish it. Thor was forced to grant the annulment, as it was Lena that went in search of it, and stated Loki's lack of cardinal interest.

All the time, Kari and Loki remained as they had before. Their rendezvous' were more difficult with a second spouse to concern themselves with, but it caused them to become innovative, and in turn made their time together more passionate.

Odin's health began to decline rapidly; his Odinsleep's becoming more frequent and more taxing on his ailing body. Frigga fretted for her husband, though she did not approve of his acts against Kari and Loki, and often fought with him regards them, she did love him. The more his health declined, the more she began to find herself aging badly also.

Kari took it upon herself to keep Frigga company, ensuring she was talking to others and going on walks to the gardens. She even gifted her a few pictures of flowers, which caused the Dowager such delight, she cried with happiness. "I would be lost without you Kari." She smiled as she looked at a sketch Kari had done of her in the gardens tending to her roses.

"And I you." Kari smiled in return.

"You should really take ladies-in-waiting you know. You need some company of your own age."

"I rather not, I am not a very big people person. I write often with Anya now. She is with child for a second time she tells me."

"Good, no doubt Princess Leila will be happy with a sibling when she is older."

"There is pressure on Thor and I to have a child, it could mean…"

"A royal match." Frigga finished. "Would that be so bad?"

"If there were not compatible, yes. I would not want my child to be unhappy."

"Are you truly as unhappy as you state Kari?" The dowager asked.

"Not as I once was. Thor and I no longer even attempt to try and see eye to eye, and he is far happier for it too."

"Do you really think that?"

"Yes, I do." Kari smiled sadly. "He loved me, but I was too broken from what happened with Loki, I could not give him the love he deserves, I think he realises that now."

"Dowager, have you seen…Ah Your Majesty." The women turned to see Lady Sif walking up the path towards them. "I was sent in search of you my Queen." Sif smiled.

"What for?" Kari cocked her head slightly.

"It would appear that Thor is looking for you."

Kari pursed her lips together, wondering what he could want from her. A small glint of light caught her attention and she looked to Sif's wrist. "My goodness, that is a beautiful bracelet." She smiled.

Sif raised her hand, showing off the trinket with a fond smile. "Thank you, it was a gift."

"Ooh, it would appear the good lady warrior is smitten I would think, do you not agree Frigga." Kari nudged the Dowager slightly, grinning widely as she teased the warrior.

"I think you may be right." Frigga agreed. "You deserve such happiness Sif."

Sif blushed slightly, clearly thinking of the one who gave her the gift. "I thank you both."

"When do we get to meet him? Are you to bring him to the palace?"

"I…He has been before, though not in my company." Sif explained.

"Oh please do not tell me it is Fandral." Kari grimaced dramatically. The look of aversion on Sif's face told her it was not. "Thank the Norns, I was getting scared for a moment. Do not think me cruel, Fandral is a good man, but you deserve a man of greater standing than that scoundrel."

"How can he be both and good man and a scoundrel?" Frigga asked confused.

"Well he has good honour on the battlefield and with his friends, but when it comes to women, he has bedded more than the vast majority of the army combined." Kari stated. Her mother-in-law looked at her. "I may look as though I could not care less, but I have actually had to listen to nearly a century and a half of his stories at the tables. Sif, would you not agree?"

"I would have said the whole army, and he does not spare the details."

"Oh Valhalla be blessed, Tyr and Baldr never spoke like that with Odin in my presence." The two women laughed at her. "You best go to Thor so Kari." Frigga smiled.

"Frigga, did you do this, it is out of this realm." Sif was looking at the drawing that Kari had given to Frigga.

"No, Kari did it of me, is it not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen on paper?"

Sif looked at Kari in shock, the young Queen shifting nervously at the warrior looking at her drawing. "Thor made mention that you were into art, but I never thought…It is beyond words."

"Thank you. It came to me as I was relaxing under the willow over there and I saw Frigga tended to her Rhododendron's the other day, but I thought roses the better plant to put with it."

"I agree, it is beautiful."

"Are you heading back inside Sif?" The warrior nodded. "Wonderful, let us walk together shall we?" Sif looked at her for a moment as though assessing her offer before nodding and walking along side her. "So by chance do you know what it is that my husband wished to discuss with me?"

"I do, but I think he would rather explain it." Sif answered abruptly, not wishing to be drawn into anything, long knowing of the situation of Thor's marriage.

"Is it bad?"

"No your Majesty." She answered.

"Then there should be no issue in you telling me then." She took a few fast steps and stopped in front of Sif, causing her to halt. "What reason has he for summoning me?"

"He has been called to Vanaheim; there has been a small uprising there by those who oppose King Roan's new laws against slave ownership." Sif explained.

"I see, so he is to go. I assume, you, the Warrior's Three and a few regiments shall join him?" Sif nodded. "Then I have little doubt but that you will all be home so soon, I may skip one breakfast and never even notice you were gone." She smiled.

Sif gave a small laugh in return. "I think you may be right." She began fiddling with the bracelet.

"It can be difficult to ignore such a thing at first can it not?" Kari smiled knowingly looking down at it.

"Aye, it feels heavier on my arm that my armour."

"That is because you are used to the armour." Kari stated factually. "Just be careful of the lock, it can open easily if snagged." She warned. Sif frowned at her. "I have something similar, though it is over a century old now, so a little tarnished with age. But I lost it once from not being cautious, I had to have three servants searching a whole afternoon so that it was found before Thor realised I lost it. It was he who gave it to me."

"Thank you for the warning. I have not seen you with anything like this."

"I have it somewhere, for one with so much jewellery; I tend to wear only the same few pieces most often. Mine is of sapphires though, rubies suit the gold better."

With that she bid farewell to Sif and walked into the throne room towards her husband. "You had her tell you?"

"I am the Queen and Allmother; she could not keep it from me when I asked her outright."

"It will take about a month I think." Thor rose from the throne and began to walk down the hall towards her.

"I would think it would take less time, but no doubt King Roan will wish to thank Asgard for its help in quashing the old fashioned brutes."

"Well regardless, I am sure you will do fine in my stead." Thor stopped and gave a small smile.

"I am not to come?" Kari raised a brow.

"I do not think it wise, Asgard requires someone here to care for it, you can do that."

"What, and not poor father dear?"

Thor clenched his jaw slightly. "No, his health is ailing, and I would have thought him acting as King Regent would anger you?"

"Oh I would not trust him as far as I could throw him, but I thought we were due to go to Vanaheim in the near future anyway."

"When the fighting is quelled, you may join us if you wish." Thor stated plainly. "If you require assistance, mother will be here to assist you."

"Very well. When do you leave?"

"Immediately."

"I see, safe trip then." Kari walked out of the hall, giving her husband a small nod, which he acknowledged before he went his own way.