Chapter 11
I didn’t know how long I slept, but when I woke, I wasn’t on the sofa anymore. I was in my own bedroom, still covered in the soft green blanket. When I looked up, I saw Yara moving into the room, lighting a small lamp next to the bed.
“I hope you slept well?” she asked kindly. “Prince Loki mentioned your Seiðr lessons left you a bit tired, so he asked me to wake you in time for dinner but let you sleep as long as possible.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Loki was being really kind, and I couldn’t help but think that if people knew this side of him, he might be even more popular than Thor.
I pulled the blanket off and sat up, stretching my legs. When I looked down at my dress, I knew I had to change—even Asgardian fabrics creased when slept in. Then I caught my reflection in the mirror and saw that the braids Yara had woven into my hair were gone, the comb resting neatly on the vanity table.
Luckily, Yara was a wonder. In no time, I had a new dress on and my hair braided exactly as it had been this morning, making it look like I’d only changed for dinner. Since it was still a bit early to head to the dining hall, I just sat back and chatted with Yara.
We both jumped at the sound of a small knock at the door. Yara went to answer, and I was surprised to see Frigga walking in.
“Good evening, dear,” she greeted warmly, drawing me into a gentle hug. “I was wondering if we could walk to the dining hall together. I thought it would give us some time to speak, so I might inquire about your day.”
I loved Frigga’s company, so I had no complaints. I also liked the familiar way she hooked her arm in mine as we started our walk through the halls.
“My dear, I heard something concerning today, and I hope you do not mind me asking about it.”
I glanced up at her, sensing the worry behind her words. “What did you hear that troubles you?”
“One of my handmaidens was at the training yard this morning. She witnessed what she described as a rather intense exchange between you and the Elven ambassador. She feared he might have injured you. I do not want you to think I have you watched, but my handmaidens report to me on all that they see within the court. They believed this was something I should know.”
I understood the need for information in a court like this, and I couldn’t fault the handmaiden for reporting to Frigga. But I’d really hoped my run-in with Prince Muriel had gone unnoticed.
I placed my hand over hers. “Please don’t worry, I don’t feel like I’m being watched. I get why you need information and why your handmaidens report what they see. Yes, something happened between me and Prince Muriel, but I don’t think he meant to hurt me. He grabbed my hand and said some pretty nasty things about Loki. I got mad and tried to pull away, but he was too strong, and I ended up bruising myself. In the end, he apologized and left. That’s all that happened.”
I felt a wave of sadness from Frigga.
“I know there is bad blood between Loki and the prince. I never learned why their friendship soured, but I would not have thought him capable of trying to scare people away from Loki.” She shook her head. “They seem to have agreed to ignore each other, but I find it unacceptable that you were harmed. He knows you are not fully Æsir, and that his grip might be too strong for you. I cannot imagine how he lost control like that.
"As queen, I am torn. He is an ambassador, so I must grant him some leniency, but he must also understand that his actions were unacceptable.”
I hadn’t thought about the political consequences. From what I’ve seen Prince Muriel always seemed so composed. He’d seem like the last person to let his emotions slip. For him to lose control like that, the rift between him and Loki had to be deeper than I realized.
“Frigga, is there a way not to take formal action against him?”
She gave me a questioning look, so I quickly added, “The only reason I got hurt was because I fought against his grip. And honestly, I think he thought he was helping me—warning me, in his own way. I don’t like how he did it, but I also don’t want to make things worse between him and Loki. Or between the elves and the Æsir. If he does need to be put in his place, is there a... less formal way to do it?”
I watched Frigga think it over, and to my amusement, I saw the same mischievous glint in her eyes that I’d seen in Loki’s so many times before.
“If that is what you wish, it can be done,” she said at last. “But know this—if anything like this happens again, I will have no choice but to take formal action.”
I nodded.
She took my hand, inspecting it, then looked at me when she didn’t find any marks.
I grinned. “That was the result of the first lesson Loki gave me. With his help, I healed the bruises.”
Frigga’s face brightened with a smile. “It seems not only are you quite skilled in magic, but to my surprise, my son is proving to be quite the teacher. I never imagined him patient enough to instruct another. But it seems this pairing of teacher and student suits you both.” Her voice softened. “I am glad you and Loki have become close friends.
"Ever since he found you in the forest, he has worried for you. For nearly two years, he personally checked on you in the healing quarters. He also spent a great deal of time researching healing magic, hoping he could help you regain consciousness. My son can be difficult at times and struggles to make friends, but I am very glad he found one in you. And even more so that you were willing to stand by him when others tried to persuade you away from him.”
I saw and felt how deeply she loved Loki, and my heart went out to her.
“The thing I don’t get,” I said, “is why Loki keeps people at a distance. I know he has to be more honest with me because I can sense him, but I can see the kind of man he really is. And honestly? If other people saw that side of him, he’d be a lot more popular.”
Frigga stopped walking and turned to me, her eyes glistening as she pulled me into a hug. Near my ear, she whispered, “I see we share the same view of my son. I am very glad you found your way into our lives.”
I hugged her back.
We reached the entrance of the dining hall, and the servants opened the doors for us. I expected Frigga to let go of my arm as we entered, but instead, she pulled me closer, signaling for me to follow.
Rather than heading to the main table, she led me down a few steps and across the hall. It took me a moment to realize where we were going—toward Prince Muriel’s table.
The table was not yet full, as it was still early. As we approached, I caught the confusion in Muriel’s gaze as he took in the sight of Frigga’s arm entwined with mine. For a brief moment, something flickered behind his eyes—recognition, maybe? He looked... startled.
He gracefully stood.
“My Queen. Princess,” he said smoothly, bowing deeply. “To what do I owe this honor?”
Frigga stood straight, not acknowledging his bow, and I decided to follow her lead.
After a few seconds, she replied, “Well, my Prince, Aurora and I were talking today, and she mentioned that, in time, she would like to see more of the Nine Realms. Seeing as I think of her as a daughter, I want nothing more than for her to have that opportunity. I know my sons will visit your realm in a few months, and I was wondering if you would relay my wish to your father—that Aurora be allowed to join them. I hope he will welcome her to his court as Odin and I have welcomed her to ours.”
I felt the wave of astonishment roll off Prince Muriel—and from the rest of the guests at his table. I was well aware of the weight of her words. Not only had she omitted his name, addressing him solely by title, but the way she referred to me—as daughter, by my first name, and even using Odin’s first name—emphasized how close I was to the royal family.
Despite his surprise, Muriel’s face remained as composed as ever when he answered. “I would be honored, my Queen, to deliver your message to my father. May I ask how you wish me to contact him? If you deem this information too personal or sensitive to be sent by raven, I would gladly deliver it in person.”
I marveled at how elegantly Prince Muriel spun his words, and I saw the subtle smile form on Frigga’s lips—she had understood his meaning as well. He was asking if he was allowed to stay after what had happened or if he was expected to leave the court. Clearly, he had been waiting for the consequences of his earlier actions.
“For now, I see no reason to avoid using a raven,” Frigga replied, that familiar mischievous glint returning to her eyes. “But I will hold you to your offer should I find myself needing to send him more sensitive information.”
A slight wince flickered across Muriel’s face as he absorbed her response. With a deep bow, he replied, “Anything for my Queen.”
Frigga gave him a small nod, and I followed suit before we turned and made our way toward the main table. By now, the only empty chairs were ours. As we walked, I glanced at Frigga and caught the satisfied smile on her face. She truly was an incredible and powerful woman.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for that. I’m honored you called me your daughter.”
She laughed softly. “My dear, it is easy to use such words when the sentiment is already there. I would not have called you that merely to further some plan. But I am glad you think of it as an honor.”
By then, we had reached her seat, and I reluctantly let go of her arm. As she settled in, I made my way to the opposite side of the table, where, just like the night before, the seat between Loki and Thor had been left open for me.
Dinner was delicious, and the company lively. Tonight, Volstagg took it upon himself to entertain the table with one of his grand tales.
The familiar tingle at the back of my neck warned me before Loki’s voice slipped into my thoughts.
“So why did you and my mother visit the ambassador’s table?”
A small grin crept onto my face, though I kept my attention on Volstagg’s story, not wanting to appear too obvious.
“One of your mother’s handmaidens saw what happened between me and the prince this morning. She was worried and wanted to take official action against him.”
I felt the spike in Loki’s emotions—he would have welcomed such action.
“She asked for my opinion, and I told her I’d rather not cause unnecessary problems. I asked if there was a way to reprimand him without making it official.”
Loki raised a brow, a silent question in his expression, though his eyes gleamed with familiar mischief. “Oh, this is very good. Knowing my mother’s sharp tongue, it must have been something to witness.”
I felt his amusement, and I had to fight back a laugh. Taking a moment, I joined in the table’s conversation briefly before continuing with Loki.
“It was as beautiful as it was masterful.” I admitted. “She never once used his first name—only his title. But when she spoke of herself, me, or even Odin, she used first names. She told him she thought of me as a daughter and that I wanted to travel. Then she mentioned that you and Thor were visiting his realm soon and asked him to inform his father that I’d like to join you.”
I saw amusement dance in Loki’s eyes, but the best part was still to come.
“He then asked how he should convey this to his father—if a raven would suffice or if he needed to deliver it himself. Your mother said a raven would do for now, but she’d hold him to his offer if she needed to send more sensitive information later.”
Loki bit his lip, barely holding back laughter. It took him a few seconds to reply.
“I can only imagine the look on Muriel’s face. I suspect he would have preferred an official reprimand over what my mother just put him through. But I am glad he now understands your standing in our family. Knowing this court, it will be the talk of the evening.”
It was strange to think of myself as the subject of court gossip, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Let them talk.
The rest of the evening was lighthearted. After dinner, I lounged with Thor and Loki for a while before finally retreating to my room.
Thor, I had decided, was easy to like. Loud and full of himself, yes, but he reminded me of a giant golden retriever—friendly to a fault and fiercely loyal to his friends.
When I entered my chambers, something caught my eye—a small bookshelf I hadn’t noticed before. Stepping closer, I instantly recognized the books, marked Library and Loki.
Scanning the shelves, I grinned. The collection was clearly handpicked by Loki. There were beginner’s books on magic, volumes on Asgardian history, and several intriguing reads on various subjects. As I traced my fingers over the spines, one book stood out—a small, colorful children’s book.
Curious, I pulled it from the shelf and flipped through the pages. It was a training book for young children learning Norse runes. The left page displayed text in Allspeak, while the right side showed the same text in runes, allowing the reader to learn through comparison.
I smiled to myself. This was a perfect way to start learning. Curling up on my bed, I opened the book and began reading.