Oh Hey, I'm Kinda Cool
Visiting the library was quickly becoming one of my favorite things so far. Most of the books are in – I’m assuming – Asgardian, but I manage to find a few in English and start there when I arrive the day after running into that poor man. I don’t know if he can be poor if he’s that good-looking. I shake my head to clear away the thought and attempt to go back to my book. After a few more times trying to focus – to no avail – I decide it’s time to go train to clear my head. After a quick stop by my quarters to change, I make my way to the training grounds, only taking a couple of wrong turns along the way. To my slight dismay, I’m not the only one here today, though once I see Thor’s familiar face, I feel a tinge of excitement. I can ask him to show me how an Asgardian trains! Gods I’m a nerd. Thor sees me and beams.
“Lady Iris! Come to train?” he waves me over.
“Yes! Actually, I was wondering if you’d teach me how you train here on Asgard? I’m quite keen to know.”
“Of course! Go grab a weapon from the armory and we’ll get started!” How he can be constantly in the happiest state, I’m unsure, but nonetheless, I go grab the same daggers I used yesterday and make my way back to Thor. My steps falter for a second when I see the man I ran into talking to Thor, then walking away. My gaze lingers far too long on his raven black hair as he walks away.
“Alright! Let us begin!” Thor says, snapping me out of my trance.
We spar a bit; I get my ass handed to me the first two times. That gave me enough time to study him though and the next time he won’t have such an easy time.
Thor helps me up, and suddenly I feel like I’m being watched again. I quickly glance around and there are a couple soldiers that were previously training, now watching, and even though it doesn’t feel like it’s them I tell myself it is because I mean, the royal prince is sparring the Midgardian, who doesn’t want to see them get beat miserably again?
We take our positions and nod to each other, signaling we’re ready. Thor’s nostrils flare, and he steps forward with a slash of his sword – which he was using instead of Mjolnir for me – which I dive and roll under, quickly turned around to face him, before he’s even turned around halfway. I flip one of my daggers and catch it by the tip, throwing it right by his side, successfully catching him off guard for me to sprint at him and launching myself up into the air, legs grappling onto his neck as he drops his sword in an attempt to catch me and I use my momentum to swing around and take him to the ground, swiftly putting a dagger to his neck whilst kneeling on his chest. He smiles and starts laughing after a moment of stunned silence.
“Well done Lady Iris!” He boasts as I get up and give him a hand up and bow with a smile.
“It really wasn’t all that impressive.” I mutter as I feel my cheeks heat up a little bit.
“Nonsense! Only my brother has ever bested me in combat before; perhaps next time you shall face him instead!” My gods how the hell could I forget about his brother?! Thor claps me on the shoulder and walks me back to my room and gives me some more details about the ball – which I had somehow completely forgotten about – that is set to be tomorrow, which is helpful. After wishing him a good night and shutting the door, I go and have another wonderful bath, and promptly flop onto my bed and pass out.
The following morning, I’m woken up by a knock on my door. I put on my overly elegant robe and trudge over to the door and crack it open and upon seeing its Nora, I swing it open wide, and she rushes in excitedly and shuts the door.
“The ball is today!” She shrieks with all too much energy for me having just woken up. “Her majesty has requested you to get ready with her, so I’m here to fetch you so we can get you ready!” That certainly wakes me up a bit.
Nora takes me to Frigga’s – absolutely massive – quarters, where Frigga is reading on a plush yellow couch.
“Ah, there you are Iris! Just woken up, haven’t we?” She smiles as she closes her book and stands, walking towards me, then addressing Nora, “I’ve got her from here, thank you,” then turns back to me, “let’s get you ready for a ball!” She says as she gently takes my hand and leads me to a large dressing room, with a privacy screen, a gorgeous full-length mirror, framed in ornate gold, and finally, two vanities with plush velvet stools.
She sits me down at the vanity nearer the door and as she’s taking her seat at the other, a handful of hand maids come in and get to work on the both of us, fixing our hair and makeup; meanwhile, Frigga is telling me the basics of etiquette.
“Really, you needn’t worry yourself with most of it, as long as you’re polite – which you very much are – you’ll be just fine. And you can always come and find me if you don’t know who to talk to.” She looks over at me giving me a reassuring smile.
“Thank you. Truly. I’m sure I would be completely lost without you right now. Pretty much the only person I’ve talked to is Thor, and as lovely as he is, I don’t think he could teach me much about etiquette.” I laugh as Frigga agrees.
“Have you met Loki yet?” she questions.
“No, I don’t believe so, although I did run into a poor sap in my wanderings trying to find the library.” I shake my head a little as I recount the embarrassing event.
“Then I believe you have met Loki, my dear, he quite likes the library.”
“To be fair, how could someone not like the library here?” I say and the realization hits me.
“Oh my. My first encounter with the other prince and I run into him.” I put my face in my hands as Frigga laughs.
After a little while longer, my hair and makeup are done and gorgeous. The intricacy of my hair is something I couldn’t recreate if I tried, with delicate curls and braids scattered through it. I’m ordered to shut my eyes and a couple of the hand maids guide me behind the privacy screen and change me into my ball gown, which I haven’t seen yet. They slip heels on my feet and lead me to – I assume – in front of the mirror.
“Open your eyes dear.” I hear Frigga’s gentle voice. Holy shit. I am like drop dead gorgeous.
“What do you think?” Frigga asks, making eye contact with me in the mirror.
“Honestly?” I pause, not quite sure what to say next, “Honestly, I didn’t know I could look like this.” I am simply awestruck at myself. The way the dress shimmers with each subtle movement, the way it hugs my figure in all the right places, is simply stunning. I didn’t even notice that Frigga had disappeared and was now beside me in her own gown.
“You look beautiful.” She assured me.
“Thank you. As do you.” I quietly responded, still unable to take my eyes off myself. She gently took my arm, tugged me away from the mirror and we headed towards the great hall.