Goddess of Light

Chapter 5 ~ The Prince of Vanaheim

I'm sorry did I hear that correctly?

Future bride?

Is this some sort of joke?

Part of me was waiting for Loki to pop out and tell me it was a trick, but then I looked at my father's stony face and knew this was no joke. This must be the way that father is trying to secure peace with Vanaheim, by marrying me off.

I could feel my cheeks heating up as my embarrassment, anger and despair all combined in a cocktail of emotions. I dare not say anything as I was already in so much trouble. I just couldn't believe that father thought nothing more of me than a peace treaty. Is it worth more than your own daughter?

"I hope that in this binding in our two realms will secure your ally in the future." Odin remarked as I felt all eyes burning into me. I caught the eye of the prince. He wasn't bad looking, in fact he was rather attractive, not my type though. He was darker, he had deep honey brown eyes and black curls laced around his crown. His face was chiselled and refined, making him look rather intimidating. Not the sort of man you would instantly want to marry upon meeting.

The prince locked eyes with me, barring into my soul, before he smirked giving the impression that he knew my deepest darkest secrets. "I assure you Odin, that our intentions are pure." He walked towards my horse. "Beautiful horse... Beautiful rider. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Theia, my name is Prince Stefan of Vanaheim." he said as he stroked Signe's neck, the light dancing in his honey eyes.

"I'm afraid I seemed to have missed something." I finally spoke, with a frown on my face, trying to pretend I didn't know my father was using me for his benefit.

"Princess, it is a tragedy that we meet under these circumstances, but your father has made a deal with my kingdom, we are to be married in one week, in promise of a forged allegiance." He explained as he smiled softly at me.

That was it. The dreaded confirmation I needed. I was nothing but a pawn. My breath quickened as I began to lose hope. This was my punishment, Thor was banished and stripped of his powers, and I am being disregarded and stripped of my dignity.

"I uh... I have to go." I muttered as I turned my horse around and galloped into the forest.

I didn't have the faintest idea where I was going, but I knew I needed to leave where I was. No one followed me, perhaps they knew now was not the time to confront me. I felt my chest collapsing. I could barely breathe. Boiling tears were stinging down my cheeks as Signe lead me through the dense forest ahead of us.

Had Mother agreed to this as well? Surely she hadn't, she couldn't do that to me, she knew I have absolutely no intentions in playing an active role in any royal family, let alone one I'm not familiar with!

The light provided by the gaps in the trees began to disappear as I rode into a darker area of the forest. My dress snagged on a nearby tree as Signe began to slow down. Her ears pricked up, on high alert as we listened for a rustle that came from behind the trees ahead.

A wild animal with the body of a male lion and the head of a wolf creeped from around the tree its yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. Its growls rumbled the ground as Signe began to spook. I froze, panicked. Signe reared up at the appearance of the beast, making me slide off her back onto the floor. She bolted through the trees, leaving me alone.

As this was aimed to be a peaceful encounter on Vanaheim, I was forbidden from bringing armour and my weapon, in hope it would leave a good impression. Therefore, I was severely overpowered.

The beast slowly approached me, its giant paws pounding on the ground as it stalked its prey: me.

Suddenly, the sound of a horse whinnying interrupted the beast's growls, Prince Stefan rode in on his black horse with his sword brandished, threatening the beast. Knowing it was outnumbered, the beast retreated into the depths of the forest. Stefan jumped off his horse grabbing me by the arms looking me up and down, looking for a sign of injury.