Horrible Terrible Things

Chapter Four

Thor never mentioned what was expected of me as a Princess, how I should act or what I should say. Though I had enough common knowledge and I was a grown woman, I hadn't expected to be awoken at sunrise with a swift knock on the door and a maid sweeping in with a tray of breakfast.

I sat up hastily in the bed as the tray was placed across my legs. It looked appetising and the plate was overfilled with meats, cheese, some type of smoked fish and slices of thick-cut bread. There was a glass of water and a mug of black coffee in an oversized glass.

I thanked the woman who only nodded and left the room. I ate quickly, it was clear enough that I was meant to rise early and greet the day ahead though I would have rather laid back down in the thick covers and slept until midday.

I had half-expected an ancient bathroom but was thankful to see modern-day facilities in the bathroom and a quick inspection of the cupboards showed all the cosmetics and hair accessories I would have needed to present myself as a princess.

The sun had moved higher in the sky by the time I finished, my bedroom cast in a warm golden glow and someone had opened the glass doors leading onto the balcony, my bed was made along with my clothes back in the wardrobe. My fingers ran over the gowns displayed, though there were only a few, I could have sworn the ones I had admired yesterday had been switched out for new ones. Most of the dresses were monochrome in deep colours of red and blue and yellow. I picked the simplest of them, a sleeveless golden yellow gown, fitted at the bust with buttons trailing down the centre where the skirt split open.

Not surprisingly it fit me well, though I was surprised that it was simple to move in. I finished dressing and left the room to find a guard snap to attention and lead me without a word down the hall and down a set of spiral stairs to a lower level.

Much like the main hall, there was no furniture and the space was entirely grey from its ceiling to the floor. To either side of the space, men and women sparred in traditional Asgardian armour, some of them had weapons and some fought with their bare hands. There was no far wall but instead, an open terrace facing the ocean, stairs leading down to another sparring area where Thor was instructing a young woman, his fists held out before him as she copied him.

The first few steps I took into the room had everyone stopping what they were doing. I stopped walking as the eyes of the warriors fell on me their heads bowed in respect and my cheeks flushed, I was suddenly too aware of my dress and how I was walking and what to do with my hands.

I continued regardless, the guard following closely behind me, only his and my footsteps echoed in the space. It was not until I reached Thor and his group of warriors that I felt myself breathe properly again. He welcomed me with open arms,

'Eva, welcome!' He bounded up the stairs and embraced me roughly, grasping my shoulders and grinning down at me warmly.

'This is really cool,' I said lamely and my eyes meandered around the terrace where warriors watched Thor and I interact. Several of them in small huddled groups had begun to whisper amongst themselves, I pulled back slightly from Thor who must have realised my uncomfortableness and gestured to the stairs we stood on,

'Sit, watch. You'll pick it up soon enough,'

I nodded and as he turned to skip back down the stairs and continue his lesson I caught his arm,

'Wait, what do you mean? I'm not fighting.'

Thor chuckled, 'Not today. Eventually. Odin taught me most things I know, as I'll teach you.'

'Okay,' I uttered, hoping to avoid that at all costs and sweeping my skirt aside to perch upon the steps. Not only was I not fit, but imagining myself sparring in front of these people, out of breath, my body too heavy, too awkward - it would be humiliating. I had no grace about myself and I had never expected Thor to want to have me fight. What the fuck would I be fighting?