Betrothed - Thor Odinson x Reader

Chapter 2: Routine.

As soon as the guards left you and Hilde alone in your new chambers, you allowed yourself to sigh in relief and examine the new space. The door opened directly on the large lounge and two doors at the sides led to the bedroom and bathroom. You couldn't help but notice how the bedding and the curtains were tinted in a deep, rich red, their hems golden. You immediately wondered if those were to become your royal colors. While the chambers you had inhabited all your life were certainly smaller, you found yourself longing for their familiarity. The bookshelves in the lounge were empty, no paintings adorned the walls and the scent of your favorite perfume was replaced by the smell of confinement.

"I quite envy you, dear. I doubt the servants' quarters are as lavish." you heard Hilde sigh as she arranged your belongings just as they were back at home. You smiled, noting her kind dedication. "Thank you for accompanying me, Hilde. It must be as hard for you as it is for me." you murmured, crossing the room to embrace her. "Oh, darling, you are as much a daughter to me as you are to your father. I am merely following my family."

The moment was interrupted by a loud knock on the door, which swung open immediately to reveal a young maid. "I am sorry to interrupt," she hastily spoke, her eyes trained on the floor, "I was told to retrieve your maid to show her the servants' quarters, Your Highness."

Breaking your embrace, Hilde reassured the girl and started following her, but before she closed the door the younger maid quickly added: "I am also to inform you that you will be expected to join the royal family to supper, a guard shall guide you to the dining hall."

You nodded, thanking the girl and turning to your luggage to choose an evening gown. Knowing you would be representing your royal house, you selected a velvet blue dress with silver hems, mimicking your family crest. After slipping into the fabric, you appointed a brooch to your chest, wishing the small silver crow it represented would watch over you.

The guard escorted you to the hall some time later, announcing you to your hosts. Odin was at the head of the table, his wife on his left and his younger son beside her. Prince Thor, sitting on his right, quickly stood up to pull your chair out and gestured you to be seated. "Thank you, my prince." you smiled while complying.

"I must thank you for joining us to dinner. Your journey was long and you must be tired." Odin spoke. You bit back a comment about how you were not asked to join, but required, and nodded. "I wish to know my new family." you added. This seemed to please the king as he started eating the meal before me, allowing the rest of you to do the same.

"As do we, dear. Your father spoke highly of you every time I met him." Frigga said, smiling kindly. "I did not know you had met my father, my queen," you replied, "I certainly hope he did not exaggerate, as I do not wish to disappoint you."

"Your father and I have attended many gatherings together, and I know him as an honest man, do not fret. And call me Frigga, dear, no need for such formalities with your family." she answered quickly, and then added, "He mentioned you have a passion for literature, my son Loki could show you the library."

"You do, my lady?" Loki interjected, and continued once you nodded. "The palace has a wonderful library, I would love to share it with someone else for once." he grinned, looking directly at his brother.

"I am quite busy, brother. My royal duties prevent me from such trivial matters." Thor spoke for the first time since the meal began.
"Trivial matters?" both you and Loki asked, his tone irritated as opposed to your curious one.

"Children, behave. We have a guest." Odin sighed. You deduced the king was used to such bickering. After a mumbled apology from the brothers, dinner was eaten in silence, except for some light conversation between you and the queen.

Once the meal was finished, you excused yourself from the table, blaming your tiredness on your journey, and retreated to your bed.

The following morning you were awakened by Hilde, who helped you dress and braided your hair. You relished in the routine, feeling ready for the day. You found yourself wondering around the halls, only stopping once you saw Loki walking towards you.

"My lady, I was just coming to see you. Would you like me to show you the library?" he greeted you, smiling. You nodded, following him through the corridors and stepping into a majestic room. Its walls were covered in mahogany bookshelves, all of which carried tomes of every genre. You stared in disbelief as you mentally compared the library to the smaller one you had back home, finally finding a silver lining in this situation.

"I have read most of theses books, but you are welcome to choose one and join me while I study this new one." Loki said, clearly pleased with your surprise as you imagined reading every single one of the words that filled this room to the brim.

After choosing a book about seiðr, you noticed his curious stare. "Do you practice seiðr?" he asked. "I do. My mother did too, but she did while giving birth to me, so I taught myself by reading and practicing. Still, I'm not as experienced as I wish." you answered, earning a sympathetic smile from him. "If you wish to practice more, I am a quite skilled practitioner myself." he offered, and you nodded. The two of you sat on opposite armchairs and quietly read.

Over the next few weeks your routine consisted in getting dressed, reading with Loki and eating supper, then quickly excusing yourself to your chambers. Your father had been right, you did establish some sort of friendship with Loki. During your reading sessions you had short conversation and learned about each other. You discovered he was truly quick witted and spent most of his time studying. He was younger than Thor by six years but they were quite close, despite the rivalry they had displayed many times.

You, on the other hand, were as distant from him as the day you'd met. He would sometimes speak to you during meals and greet you in the hallways, but he had yet to initiate a conversation of any significance with you. The man you were supposed to marry was an enigma, and as time passed you became uncomfortable.

A month after your arrival, you decided to voice your concerns to his brother. Still, you could not find the right words to do it. You did not wish to appear rude or impatient. "I can hear you thinking, Y/n. Would you please just ask whatever question you wish to and stop fiddling with that poor page?" he sighed, looking up from his book. "I'm sorry, Loki," you began, placing your tome in your lap and stilling your hands, "I must admit I find myself wondering about Thor. I am aware he has many duties, but I feel he is avoiding me. I did not expect him to fall in love with me, but we could at least familiarize with each other as the two of us did."

Loki seemed to consider his words carefully, as he always did. "I am afraid my brother is wary of you, dear." he spoke. "Wary? Have I grown another head?" you scoffed, causing him to laugh quietly. "No, dear, but that would only make you twice as beautiful." he joked. You had grown used to Loki's charming compliments. You knew they were sincere but were not meant to charm you. "What then? I do not suppose I am much of a threat to him, considering he is twice my size and almost twice my age!"

"He should tell you himself, but since he does not seem inclined to I will trust you with his reasons." Loki looked at you pointedly and you nodded. "My brother has visited Midgard some months ago and met a woman." he started. "So he is in love with another?" you asked. "I would get to the point faster if you did not interrupt me, you little brat." he jested, causing you to hit his arm playfully. "Make haste, then!" you laughed.

"This woman, Jane is her name, and him were courting for some time, but he found her kissing a friend of hers some weeks before your arrival. Mother and father are not aware of their relationship nor of how it ended. I do not believe my brother's heart to still be hers, but I do believe it to be fragile. I am not one to make excuses for him, but you should give him some time to recover so that he can open up to you." he explained, taking your hand in his. You nodded, thanking him and returning to your book.