Chapter Text
You finished packing the last of your bags and turned around with a huff. This was completely unfair. Your father, your sweet, usually considerate father, had just sold you to Odin. You were steaming with anger as you flung yourself onto your bed. Staring at the ceiling you recalled the conversation.
The Kingdom is barely surviving. It's the only way. I'm sorry.
The many excuses your father had made did not make up for the fact that you were basically being sold like a cow or a goat into a marriage with a man you had heard horror stories about. Prince Loki. Ugh. He's the kind of person that inspired nightmares and monster stories. You heard that he had a servant killed for bringing him the wrong kind of fruit once. It not only made you extremely angry, it also scared you. This was the man your father was selling you to. It didn't matter that you were a princess, in fact, that seemed to only spur the deal on. Loki would marry a princess from a small kingdom and your father would get said kingdom out of debt.
Your heart was so heavy. You had only packed clothes and things you absolutely needed. You avoided packing anything of sentimental value. Although you would most likely be allowed to visit once in a while - Asgard wasn't far - you knew that life as you knew it would essentially be over. There would be expectations and limitations on where you could go and who you could see.
You were mad at your father, for sure. But when you looked out of your windows and saw the poverty that plagued the streets, you felt tears in your eyes. If you could help them by doing this.. maybe it would be worth it. If kids didn't starve or could afford a doctor, maybe this life would be bearable. Maybe.
You turned to your bedside table and saw it. The necklace. Your fingers traced over the hand-carved wooden figurine. It was a swan. Brandt had made it for you. You had grown up with him. He was a friend of the family's. You had always imagined that you would one day, somehow, marry him. You loved him. Although you had never explored that beyond friendship, the idea had always been buried deep inside you that one day... maybe... well it didn't matter anymore. You stopped the tears from flowing, but didn't stop yourself from packing the necklace.
You heard a knock on the door. Your father, presumably. You walked over and answered it. You were wrong. It was one of the male servants of your castle. Not your castle anymore, you reminded yourself.
He informed you that he was here to help you with your bags. It was time to go.
You sighed and allowed him into the room. You grabbed a bag, insisting on helping him.
The royal family of Asgard had invited you to stay with them in the months prior to the wedding. You almost wanted to just get it over with. The anticipation was surely more horrid than actually marrying Loki... right? In any case, you certainly couldn't refuse them and so had packed your bags.
Standing outside, you looked around for your father. Surely he would see you off? You stopped a servant that was walking across the front of the castle.
"Have you seen my father?" you asked. "I'm leaving now."
"He's in town, m'lady. Said he wouldn't be back until dark." The servant gave you a sympathetic look and headed back to work.
He knew you were leaving now. And he was avoiding you? You were enraged. He sold you like some kind of animal and you had almost forgiven him but now he was running away like a coward from you? You were so heated you didn't hear when the coachman asked you if you were ready. When he repeated his question you responded.
"Yes, I... Let's go," you managed. Fists clenching, you entered the car. The roads were bumpy until you got out of your kingdom. The roads of Asgard were smooth and beautiful. The lush green countryside gave way to a gleaming city of life and lights. You couldn't help but admire it. Maybe living here wouldn't be so terrible.
You arrived at the gates and were taken up to the palace. Queen Frigga, Thor, and the formidable Loki stood standing at the palace entrance. Frigga and Thor smiled amicably enough, but Loki stared daggers at you. As you stepped out of the carriage he looked at you as if you were a small, annoying insect.
"Princess," Frigga greeted you with warmth. She took your hands and kissed your cheeks.
"Thank you for having me," you greeted.
"It's our pleasure. It's not every day our Loki gets married," she said. You glanced at Loki who was seething. His fists clenched and he looked almost ill.
"Princess," Thor spoke in his low voice. He bowed and kissed the back of your hand. You curtsied.
"Prince Thor, a pleasure to meet you," you tried to sound friendly. He seemed nice enough. Your stomach was still churning from the realization that you were to live here now, having left your previous life almost for good. You tried to focus on the present.
Next in line was Loki. You felt nervous to approach him. He seemed like a snake, coiled and ready to strike at any moment. He still eyed you carefully.
You expected him to speak like the others but he merely bowed. You curtsied again.
"A man of few words," Thor tried to jest and hit his brother just a little too hard on the shoulder. Loki's glare turned to his brother who did not notice its venom.
"It's nice to meet you," the words almost got caught in your throat. Loki nodded at you and you moved back towards Frigga, with whom you felt most comfortable.
"Where is the king?" you asked, noting the absence.
"He is unfortunately away on business, but he sends his welcome," Frigga responded.
"Oh, well, I look forward to meeting him," you said, unsure if this was true.
Frigga took your arm and led you into the foyer of the palace. Nearly everything was gold or accented with gold. It was stunning.
"Would you like to see your room?" she asked.
Thor and Loki bowed out, Loki more eager to escape than Thor. They both apparently had Prince-related business to attend to.
"You can just point me in the direction of the room and I'll figure it out," you offered. Surely the Queen would have more pressing matters to attend to than you.
"Nonsense, I cleared my day for you, my dear," she said, squeezing your arm.
"Thank you, my queen," you said. And you truly were grateful. You were not sure you wanted to be alone right now and Frigga was very nice.
"Frigga, please," she corrected you. "You'll soon be family."
Your stomach churned at the thought and your mind raced. You tried to clear your head and focus on the hallways that she was leading you down. Left, right, left, left again. It was hard to keep track. The palace was much bigger than yours. It would take some getting used to.
When you finally reached a room with large, dark wooded doors, she stopped. This was your room. Frigga opened the door to a lovely room. It was spacious and well-furnished. There was a large window to your left with a couch beneath it. There were shelves filled with books as well, a fireplace straight across from the door, and a canopy bed to the right. The bathroom door was to the right of the bed and in it you could see a large marble tub.
"I hope it is to your liking," Frigga said.
"It's absolutely gorgeous," you responded in awe. It was at least twice the size of your room at home. It occurred to you that this might be a shared room... since you would shortly be marrying the Prince. "Is this... my room... alone?" you asked tentatively.
The Queen laughed lightly.
"Yes, for now. Until the wedding presumably," she said. Presumably? You doubted you could stand to be in the same room as Loki after the wedding let alone before. But you simply nodded and walked into the room. Frigga stayed by the door.
"Hello, miss," you heard a small voice come from the door. You turned, knowing it was not Frigga who had spoken. She did, however, have her arm around a young girl. "I am Lilla, your new servant." She couldn't have been more than fifteen. She looked tired and a little scared. She wore dingy looking clothes but smiled brightly at you despite all this.
You crossed the room and shook her hand. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."
She looked uncomfortable. Maybe that was too forward?
"Can I get you anything miss?" she ask, recovering.
A new life? A sabotaged wedding? You could think of a lot that you wanted but that no one could give you.
"I am fine for now, thank you," you said.
"Run along for now," Frigga offered the girl. Patting her head as she left. You smiled at her kindness. "Would you like some time to yourself?" Frigga asked, noticing your wandering eyes.
You blushed, feeling badly that she had put everything aside for you.
"Maybe an hour or two? I'm a little overwhelmed," you admitted. Right now a hot bath sounded amazing. It was all you'd thought about since seeing the tub.
"Very well. I shall fetch you for dinner then," she said. You nodded and thanked her before she left.
Alone in the room, the space felt twice as big and twice as empty.
You took off your clothes and drew a bath. The warm water relaxed you and when you closed your eyes you could imagine that you weren't in Asgard. You could imagine that you weren't meant to marry a terrible Prince, or that your life as you knew it was over. You could imagine... but it didn't make it true.