The Love Of Mischief

Chapter 18

"I had no idea that it could be so complicated to organise a ball" I ran a hand over my hair. Over the last month, Lady Frigga has been allowing me to help out with the ball and festival arrangements (I had only learnt that there was a festival as well as the ball around 3 days ago). We still had a week to go and there was still so much to do.
"You should see what it is like organising a wedding. Sure arranging the reception is a piece of cake, even the dresses weren't difficult compared with trying to sort out the seating arrangements" Lady Frigga smiled as we stared at the seating plan laid on the table.
"This is a nightmare!" I groaned "It simply cannot be this difficult. Should we just let them sit wherever they like?"
"We could but Odin likes to have certain people sat next to each other and others away from those people" Lady Frigga sighed. It was one of Lord Odin's many stupid rules that should be thrown away.
"Well maybe he needs to get out of the dark ages" I mumbled "Maybe we could let them sit where they want. I mean during the day, There will families from all over the nine realms there with their children"
"That seems fair, I mean five hundred pins are children so that makes less work for us" Lady Frigga folded her arms. I looked at the set of pins. There were 3 colours. Red for semi-important people. Blue for the VIPS and Gold for the royal family.
"So, The top table is for you lot?" I placed the pins on the board. I was still getting my head around Royal protocol.
"Correct" Lady Frigga nodded. We both glanced at the board. It was rather sad that there were only 4 pins on the board.
"There really isn't a lot of you is there?"
"No, there isn't. Odin is estranged from his brothers and I was shut out from mine so it has been us for four thousand years" Lady Frigga looked away sadly.
"That seems sad"
"We are used to it. With Thor and Loki only being a thousand years themselves. We are all they know and that is fine" Lady Frigga patted my cast "Maybe next year, You can join the table"
"How many people is there again?" I said, Changing subjects.
"And there 3000 guests that need seating. There are only 500 blue pins and two thousand are red pins. Where to put them all?"
"If we are to go by Odin's Law, The fancy VIPs go near the front, Are any of those family or single people"
"From this list," Lady Frigga picked up a piece of paper "150 people are single and the rest are in groups"
"So for single people pins, We form 30 tables of 5. So that leaves 350 people, So I do some quick math" I counted on my fingers "That leaves 70 tables that can be divided for the families" We started putting the pins in the foam. Reading from the list, We only had to keep 3 families away from each other "Boom, that's five hundred down. Only two thousand to go"*Knock*Knock*"Come in" Lady Frigga called out. Thor stuck his head around the door. Holding a small pot "My child. What can we do for you?"
"Father sent me. He has more pins for you to seat" Thor looked at the floor. I turned back to the board.
"Who has he invited?"
"The Avengers" He mumbled. I pulled a side look. Thor's been trying to get them here as they found something out about me. Only Loki won't let me to Midgard without him and Thor won't let him go there. Though neither would tell me why Loki couldn't go to Midgard "Those Midgardians? Why would Odin invite them?" Lady quizzed.
"Because I asked him too. I thought it would be nice for him to see that we have allies in Midgard" Thor placed the pot on the table "I can un-invite them if it causes problems"
"It is no bother. How many is there?" Lady Frigga smiled as she picked up the pins.
"Oh, There's only 5 that are willing to come" Thor grinned.
"So that's an extra table then" I quizzed as I add an extra table in the back and placed the pins around it "Hey Thor, How many Avengers are on Midgard?"
"I lost count" Thor shrugged.
"So no more the 15 then?" I jest. Thor's mouth dropped open as I spotted Lady Frigga roll her eyes.
"I count more than 15, Tiny Asgardian"
"20 then" Thor took a step forward. I step back. Unsure of his attentions when Lady Frigga coughed. Thor straightened up and looked at his mother.
"Sorry mother" He bowed "Sorry Amelia"
"I too am sorry" I bobbed. I then turn to my second in command "Charlotte could you inform the caterers that there is to be 5 added extra meals" Charlotte bowed as she left the room.
"Oh Amelia, We're meeting Talia tomorrow to discuss the details of the band. She couldn't make it today" Lady Frigga added a sticky note to the 'To do' board. While Lady Frigga had her back to me, I look at Thor and nodded once.
"Lady Frigga, You need to meet the tailor for alterations for your dress" I handed another her post-it note.
"And on that note, I will leave you ladies to it" Thor dismissed himself.
"Bye Sparkles" I waved bye.
"So now to work on the two thousand. We are going to need more coffee" I grabbed the coffee pot and made a fresh batch.

After 3 more hours of figuring things out. Every guest had a seat and a meal. There was well in triple figures for tables. It was a complete nightmare to work out but we did. Lady Frigga gave me the rest of the day off so I decided that I would head into the market. I haven't been in a while (Either my time has been taken up between Loki or work. Or Thor because the oaf can't keep his room clean).

The markets were busy that morning, as they usually were. Things were a little crowded, but I didn't mind that. I had gotten a bit more used to crowds since working with Lady Frigga. Saying that I still hated when people were right on top of me when looking at the stalls.
"Get your fruit here! We got Apples fresh from the orchard!"
"Fish from the river!"
"We got chickens! Beef! And Pork!" Many traders shouted. I smiled as I walked around the stall. I remember having my own little lemonade stall here. I sighed as my arm swung by my side. Elena helped me out with it. Mainly because she kept stealing her neighbour's lemons. I smiled at the memory. It was one of the few many where I was happy where she was concerned. I sat down on a bench and sighed. I finally got to relax. It was so nice to be finally getting out and about. It had been too long since I had actually left the palace.

I decided that I needed to have something to eat and I could smell the most delicious food from across the road. So thinking with my stomach, I made my way. And as per usual, I wasn't watching where I was going. Just then, a large horse-drawn cart pulled out in front of me, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, pulling me out of its way as it raced past.
"Good lord," I gasped in surprise as I looked up "Lord Volstagg. I must thank you"
"Hey, it's no biggie. You should be more careful. It really is busy today" I breathed slowly, trying to calm my nerves "Just watch where you're going. I'd hate for my favourite maid... and Loki's girlfriend, to get run over by some crazy loon on a cart"
"Loki's girlfriend? What are you on about?" I tilted my head. Lord Volstagg lead me away from the crowds where we continued to walk through the market.
"That night we went drinking, Loki warned us not to let any harm come to you" Lord Volstagg folded his arms behind his back.
"And that makes you think we are dating?"
"No, but he threatened Fandral when he suggested that maybe he should make a move on you"
"Fandral was going to make a move on me?" I scrunched my nose up.
"We all laughed at him. Well apart from Loki. No one said anything afterwards"
"But I never saw Loki that night"
"It was before we joined you after receiving word from Sif" Lord Volstagg smiled "I could see in his eyes that he has feelings for you. I'm wondering if you feel the same?" I bit my lip. I wasn't sure if I should say anything.
"And what would it matter if I did. He is a God and I am just me" I sighed as my shoulders dropped.
"Why would that stop Loki? You make him better" Lord Volstagg grinned. His face then drops.
"What's wrong?" I panicked. Thinking the worst.
"You know what happened with him, don't you?"
"No" I shook my head. Lord Volstagg looked around as he pulled me over to the riverside barriers.

"What is the big secret?" I whispered once we were away from the crowds.
"Okay, Has Thor or Loki ever told you why Loki won't go to Midgard?" I shook my head "Okay After Loki found out he was adopted. He acted out"
"That bit I know" I nodded "He fell off the Bifrost bridge willingly"
"So he told you he was a Frost Giant?" Lord Volstagg tilted his head at me.
"I found out by myself. It was after my carers had died. I ran down to the river. Like you do and through the trees, I saw a Frost Giant standing on the bank, Staring into the water. I was about to yell and scream when he turned into Loki"
"You never said anything to anyone"
"Only to my ex-friend but she didn't believe me" I shrugged "So back to your story, What happened after Loki fell?"
"Well after that he was found by The Mad Titan. Loki was beaten, Tortured and god knows what else. The Mad Titan used one of the infinity stones to force Loki on his side"
"Infinity Stones?" I frowned.
"The Infinity Stones were six immensely powerful gem-like objects tied to different aspects of the universe, created by the Big Bang. Only beings of immense power can directly wield the Stones"
"Okay, so The Mad Titan used one of them on Loki?" We sat on a bench.
"Correct, The Mind Stone. Under its influence, Loki became his slave. He sent Loki to Midgard to try and rule the place. Only Thor and his friends, Those weird heroes. What are their names?" Lord Volstagg clicked his fingers.
"The Avengers"
"Yeah, Those guys. They were able to stop him. I don't know the whole story after Loki was defeated but he was brought back to Asgard and bollocked something chronic"
"Sounds about right" I looked towards the river.
"You seem oddly calm about this" Lord Volstagg wiped his nose.
"It is in the past. And while I would like to burn The Mad Titan," I held my hand up, which now summoned a fireball. Everyone now knew that I had the power of fire. There was no point in hiding it. I clenched my fist and it disappeared "I can't. Thor already told me that Thanos is dead. He took his head"
"So you know some of the stories"
"Just not Loki's side. So why can't he go back to Midgard?" I lent back on the bench. My head shot up as some birds flew over.
"Under the stone's influence, Loki killed 80 people in 2 days. And when the Avengers stood up against him, He ordered the Chitauri to go all out on the civilians"
"But that wasn't the Loki we know. That man was controlled by the purple ballbag man. He wasn't himself" I exclaimed. Lord Volstagg was grinning at me "What?"
"Nothing it's just... You are the first person other than his mother, to defend him straight off the bat"
"Then excuse me for saying this but you all horrible people" I stood up, and started pacing "You all judged him for what he did even though you guys had known him most of your life. Sure he was the mischievous one and pain in everyone's ass but you all encouraged it. Did any of you ever stop and ask him what happened to him? He was a 17-year old that was hurting and all he had was his demons to comfort him. It's no wonder that he fell prey to the mind stone. Can you blame him for any it?" Lord Volstagg's mouth hung open as I ranted at him. I didn't care. Someone had to say something.

After a little more ranting, I ordered Lord Volstagg to go away. He didn't argue. Actually, He never said anything. I mean how could he? I had told him some home truths. I don't know how long I was sitting here for but it had started raining. Everyone in the market had packed up now and was heading home.
"Why did I go off on him like that?" I mumbled. I looked at the sky and closed my eyes as the rain hit my face. It was oddly settling.

After racing home, I made my way to a window that overlooked the river. I found it soothing to watch the ripples in the water as raindrops hit the water. I wiped the rainwater from my face and put my hands in my pockets. And naturally, There was a rose waiting for me. Also a note.
"I hear you ranted at Volstagg. Good girl. It's why I love you. Never be afraid to stand up for those you care about. How do I know this? He pulled me to one side and told me everything. Something about how my girlfriend ranted at him. Guess that's one last person we need to tell about us. I'll see you soon. I love you xxx" I read the note in a loud whisper. I ran my fingers on each letter. I loved his handwriting.
"*Cough*" I heard behind me as I spun around. A royal guard was stood there.
"I hope you weren't there long" I put my hand on my chest. I stuffed the note in my pocket.
"Not at all, miss. Lord Odin and Lady Frigga wish to speak to you"