His Dove (Loki Laufeyson)

Part 41 (Betrothed)

"I'm glad I could help, really."

As they walked away I went back towards the wall, picking my book back up off the floor to begin reading once again, but a throat clearing in the corridor forced my attention.

Frigga's smile was large, her happiness filling the hallway as Loki stood behind her, his own smirk full of pride.

"Come, dear." Frigga motioned for me to follow the two of them, which I happily did.

The palace's healing wing was large, but it was uncommon for many people to be there. Warriors were the most common visitors, for obvious reasons, but large battles were few and far between in the realm anymore from what I had heard. So that left training accidents and the occasional incident with looters in the village.

"This was your mother's study." Frigga stated, leading me into a room in the wing that full of bookcases and plants. A desk sat in the middle, a couch not far from it with a window overlooking part of the gardens. The room was filled with white and gold decor, the occasional bit of burgundy and maroons added. "She chose to keep hers on the healing wing, since it's where she was most."

"It's gorgeous." I mumbled as I looked around.

"You can feel free to do your studying here. Little has been changed since your mother left."

I smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Frigga."

"In exchange for such things.. I would love some help in the healing wing from time to time. It would be good practice for you."

"I would love that!" I perked, grinning now.

Frigga spent the rest of the day showing me around the wing, where I could find any and everything I'd need, and explained how things are usually run. It was similar to a hospital, other than the obvious use of magic.

Frigga let me go get changed for dinner, a rather large feast in celebration of some peace treaty within the realm. It was pretty select, even then, with the warriors and the court being the only people invited. Somehow I was included in that list, though I assumed Thor or Frigga had a hand in that.

Ingrid once again came to 'prepare me', which was annoying, but I did enjoy her company. She liked to ask me questions about Earth and what it was like to grow up there, taking interest in even the most mundane things like cars. I did the same to her with Asgard, asking questions I wasn't particularly fond of asking the boys just for them to make fun of.

"All done." Ingrid said with a smile, admiring her work on my hair.

"Thank you, beautiful." I huffed as I stood, flattening my dress in the front.

Frigga had insisted I wear the gold ensemble and 'simple makeup', which consisted of a simple nude colored eye, some mascara, and some lipstick. The entire look felt a bit too dressy considering I wasn't actually a member of the court or royal family, but as 'a daughter of Eir' I was supposed to uphold some weird standard.

It was a bit annoying to me, having to put on some facade for people I don't even know or care about, but I did it with a smile. That's what Frigga wanted, and what I was sure Thor and Loki wanted as well.

Ingrid and I walked out of my room together and both princes were in the hallway, discussing something serious I'd assume because the conversation was dropped mid-sentence when my door opened.

"Your highnesses." Ingrid curtsied, before hurriedly going off to other tasks.

"Alright, let's get this over with, yeah?" I asked with a huff. Both boys seemed tense, making me raise my eyebrows. "Everything alright?"