Dahlia had never been nervous about anything in her life. Of all the battles and trials that she encountered in her lifetime, she felt apprehensive. Not in the sort of way that she might get cold feet. She simply felt defenseless. Loki, of all individuals of all the realms in existence, was the one that broke down her walls. A Valkyrie goddess settling down with the God of Mischief? Who would have ever guessed?
As the day got closer, and more and more loose ends tied, Dahlia was restless. She needed a distraction, and on the day before the big day, she resorted to Mazikeen to join her for a brawl. With Loki unavailable, as he and Thor, his best man, were making last-minute preparations of their own.
Right at this moment, Dahlia's preparations consisted of getting her head on straight.
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Mazikeen asked, slight humor in her voice as she threw a heeled kick at her stomach. They were in the Dahlia, sporting casual attire that was more suited for this scenario, shot back from her lieutenant's kick.
"No, of course not!" she insisted, and that was the whole-hearted truth. While there were some people less than thrilled about the announcement of the wedding (even Sam urged warning that she didn't fully trust Loki, despite their victory over the Baron), they showed diplomacy and support.
"Good, because I worked really hard on that bouquet!" The next kick came close to eye level, and Dahlia ducked low, her braided hair swinging like a rope about her as she spun and tripped Mazikeen with her own foot.
"Hey, watch the face!"
Mazikeen, who hit the floor with a thud, grinned up at her queen. They went at it for a while, though the demon was a little more attentive as to where she aimed her hits. After all, it would do no good to damage the bride's good looks just before her wedding day.
"We could have a little fun, you know," Mazikeen giggled as they lifted each other up from the ground, thoroughly exhausted from the fight. "I know of a high-end, male stripper bar in California that could use a little Valkyrie presence."
Dahlia scoffed. She was quick to say no, but that wasn't necessary. "Don't laugh. Knowing your soon-to-be husband's hedonistic nature, you don't think he's doing the same thing?"
Truth be told, Dahlia had already thought of that as a possibility. Instead of allowing her vulnerability to show, she chose to hide any glimpse of jealousy by using humor.
"I don't think Thor would take him to see male strippers, no."
She almost had to force a laugh, but Mazikeen saw right through her. Taking her shoulders, Mazikeen gave her a serious look. "Don't forget that you are queen. You can do anything you want, and you wouldn't have to apologize for it."
But that wasn't the sort of attitude Dahlia had. She was nothing like the torture demon. She had sensibility. Maybe too much of it.
"I get that." Dahlia tried to take a step forward to pass Mazikeen, but she persistently pushed her back into the spot directly in front of her.
"Do you?" she inquired. Mazikeen always a spitfire - unafraid to speak up to her queen. She was much more tactful when Loki was around, only because she respected his authority. She always respected Dahlia's, as well, but was unafraid to be a friend to her when she needed it.
Dahlia still had trouble speaking directly with Mazikeen. She loved Loki. It might have sounded crazy to some, and maybe even foolish, but she trusted him with her heart, and even her life. They had been through so much that he earned the confidence she had in him.
"She has a lot more to apologize for than you'd think," came another woman's voice from behind Dahlia. She spun around. It was as though the air of the room turned to ice. The voice belonged to the only other known Valkyrie to survive the battle against Hela.
"Brunnhilde," Dahlia said slowly. She wished she had her staff right about now, but when she didn't need it, it was kept in the vault - out of all reach except her own. "It's been a long time."
Brunnhilde, perched on the balcony just on the other side of the massive windows, looked just the same as always, except her long, dark hair was styled in a number of tight braids. She donned black and silver armor, a dagger sheathed on her boot and a sword in hand.
Dahlia's smile was regal, but there was a flicker of unease in her eyes. She approached Brunnhilde cautiously, her shoulders tensed.
"Too long, Dahlia." Brunnhilde's lips curved into a bitter smile. "I see you've done well for yourself, becoming queen and marrying into all of this...chaos."
Dahlia didn't know how to respond. Brunnhilde wasn't here to give congratulations. She came here looking for a fight, and Dahlia understood this. She watched as the other Valkyrie stepped through the archway, readying her sword.
"You might want to rethink whatever it is you're thinking," Mazikeen broke in, helping herself to the space between Dahlia and Brunnhilde.
"Not until I've said my piece." Brunnhilde raised her voice, and now, it echoed through the grand hall. "You think everyone has forgotten what you did, Dahlia? You did nothing for Asgard. Why should you suddenly get to rule it?"
Mazikeen, who still stood firmly between the two of them, drew a pair of sai. "And why not? She's created a civilization and rebuilt it into something new."
"You abandoned us, sister, and you abandoned me."
"I had to survive..." Dahlia started. She realized quickly that it was a pathetic response.
"Survival at the cost of honor," Brunnhilde sneered back. "There is no place for you in Valhalla, you do realize?"
"I've seen better family reunions at a troll wedding. Can we just chill out?" Mazikeen butted in, her stance still shield-like between the two Valkyries.
Brunnhilde's gaze flickered from Dahlia to Mazikeen, her anger still smoldering. "Step aside, Mazikeen. This is between me and Dahlia."
Mazikeen raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh, honey, I wouldn't dream of letting you ruin her perfectly fabulous day. Dahlia's changed, and whether you like it or not, I'm not about to let you crash the party."
As tension continued to crackle in the grand hall of Invidia, Brunnhilde's anger boiled over. With a furious cry, she lunged toward Mazikeen, her blade flashing in the dim, morning light. The clash of metal filled the air as the battle between the Valkyrie and the demoness erupted. Mazikeen, known for her agility and sharp reflexes, expertly parried Brunnhilde's strikes with a sassy grin.
"Now, there's a face I can cut."
The sai and blade clashed, and sparks flew as the battle raged on. Brunnhilde fought with the weight of years of resentment, while Mazikeen countered with her quick wit and finesse. It was a clash of styles and personalities, as much as it was a physical duel.
Despite Brunnhilde's raw strength, Mazikeen's agility and determination proved to be a formidable match. With a swift, unexpected move, she disarmed Brunnhilde, sending her sword clattering to the floor. Both her sai were crossed over the front of Brunnhilde's neck as she incapacitated her from behind.
"Thank you, Mazikeen." Dahlia was partially relieved she didn't have to get her hands dirty, but at the same time, having Mazikeen fight her battles for her was not exactly how she was going to remedy her cowardly actions of the past. More than anything, she wanted peace between her and Brunnhilde, but the fire in the other Valkyrie's eyes was enough to tell her it was still too soon for that.
"If you could, Mazikeen, please escort Brunnhilde to the holding chambers. She shall remain there until after the wedding, as a precaution."
Mazikeen nodded, looking content as she dragged Brunnhilde to her feet. Dahlia deliberately turned away, not wanting to look her former sister in battle in the eyes as she struggled against Mazikeen's hold.
"What you and Loki are doing is insane, Dahlia!" she hollered angrily through frustrated grunts. "You can't control all of them forever!"
Dahlia's steps didn't falter, but her expression darkened. She knew the path she had chosen was fraught with challenges, and Brunnhilde's words were a stark reminder of the obstacles ahead. The grand hall was filled with tension, not only from the conflict that had just unfolded but from the uncertain future that lay ahead for Invidia and its appointed queen.
The weight of her late actions weighed heavily on her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to confront the doubts that had crept into her mind. In the quiet solitude of her chamber, with the grandeur of the impending wedding day approaching, Dahlia debated whether to share Brunnhilde's visit with Loki. Her heart raced as she considered the consequences of such a revelation. She knew that telling him might jeopardize their plans, but the unease in her soul couldn't be ignored.
She paced the room, torn between her loyalty to Loki and the nagging doubts that had taken root. Finally, with a deep breath, she made a choice. She couldn't keep this to herself any longer.
Summoning the courage to face her impending future, Dahlia decided to confide in Loki, for better or worse. She knew that honesty and open communication were vital in any partnership, especially one as complex as the one they were forging. The wedding day loomed just hours away, and she couldn't allow her doubts to remain unspoken.
Dahlia overlooked the quiet kingdom from the bedroom balcony when the doors behind her creaked open. Loki, his presence commanding attention as it always did, held an expression of anticipation.
"Dahlia, love," he said with a charming smile, eyes glinting with mischief. "The preparations are nearly complete. In just a few hours, Invidia will witness a union unlike any other."
Dahlia turned to face him, her heart heavy with the burden of the truth she needed to share. She met Loki's gaze, and for a moment, her resolve wavered. But she knew she couldn't keep Brunnhilde's warning to herself any longer.
"Loki," she began, her voice quivering slightly, "there's something I need to tell you. It's important."
Loki's expression shifted from excitement to concern as he moved closer to Dahlia. "What is it, my dear?" Dahlia took a deep breath, and her nerves only settled once he took her hands into his. "You can tell me anything."
As she began to recount Brunnhilde's coming unannounced, and her last words as Mazikeen dragged her away, she watched his reactions carefully, uncertain of how he would receive this unexpected revelation on the eve of their wedding.
His response, to her relief and her utmost surprise, started with a laugh. "Is that all?" He took her into his arms, and as they stood on the balcony, he kissed the top of her head. "My dear, you have a knack for attracting dramatics, it seems. Brunnhilde has always been known for her fiery spirit and strong opinions."
His nonchalant reaction left her speechless, and as she tried to recollect her thoughts, she took the opportunity to just appreciate his supportive embrace.
"She seemed convinced what we're doing is crazy," she said, nestling against his chest, "that we're trying to control everything."
Loki's grin widened as he stepped closer to Dahlia, taking her hands in his. "Dahlia, my love, it's precisely our ability to embrace chaos and adapt that makes us such a formidable pair. We're not trying to control everything; we're shaping our destiny together, in our own way."
Dahlia found herself simultaneously relieved and charmed by Loki's response. It was a reminder of the unpredictable nature of their partnership, and that perhaps, together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Loki leaned in and kissed her lips gently. "Now, let's not have Brunnhilde's words cast a shadow over our special day. We have a wedding to attend, and a kingdom to reshape, my queen."
