Maid or Princess [English]

Chapter 9

"Drink this," Frigga said, handing her a cup. "It will help you recover faster." She sat down opposite her as Leila slowly took a sip.

"How do you know me, Your Majesty?" she finally asked, and the queen smiled gently.

"Why shouldn't I know you? You're going to be my daughter-in-law, after all." Leila choked on her words and her eyes widened in surprise.

"You knew who I was?"

She took another sip of the tea. "Of course I did, I've known since you arrived here. I was raised by witches, darling."

"Why didn't you tell me right away?" she asked, confused.

Frigga shrugged her shoulders. "Call it people skills." Leila finished her cup and placed it on the table before standing up.

"I thank you for everything, Your Majesty, but I must leave the palace."

"Why?" she asked, frowning in confusion.

She took a deep breath before answering. "Loki found out about my deception after we were attacked; he told me I had to leave."

The queen took a deep breath and stood up from her chair before stepping to her and taking her hands in hers. "My son can sometimes be too proud than to admit that the trickster has been deceived and can be angry, Leila. I've known him all his life, and I know he wouldn't want you to go."

"But the wedding-" she began, but Frigga interrupted her.

"Doesn't matter, and I think arranged marriages are out of date, don't you?" -She smiled at Leila- "So, will you stay?"

"All right," she finally relented, "So what are we going to do? Odin won't allow us to just cancel the wedding."

Frigga smiled slyly at her. "That won't be necessary; I have an idea that Odin has no choice but to accept."

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Wedding day

"Your Majesty." -Loki looked up at the Einherjer who had just entered the room- "The wedding ceremony will begin shortly." He nodded and dismissed the guard before taking a deep breath and looking out the window. It wasn't hard for him to locate Faye, since Leila seemed to have already informed her and she had come to Asgard voluntarily. Loki should be happy about this, but he couldn't; his thoughts kept wandering to Leila. Where was she? Was she all right? He pressed his lips tightly together. It was the right thing to send her away, wasn't it? No, it wasn't, whispered a small voice in his head, you love her and she should be by your side. Loki felt his Seidr begin to boil in his body before a blast of energy shot through the room, destroying everything around him. He ran his hands over his face, trying to calm himself. There was a knock on his door and Loki crossed the room and yanked it open.

"What?" he said angrily before seeing his mother standing at the door. "I'm sorry, mother. What is it?"

"I'm here because the ceremony is starting." -Frigga smiled gently- "You don't want to be late for your wedding, do you?"

"Of course not," he said quietly and began to walk silently beside his mother to the banquet hall. At the door they stopped and she took his hands in hers.

"I wish you to be happy and find love, my son," she declared, kissing him gently on his cheek before leaving. Loki walked into the hall and to the altar where Odin and Thor were already standing, the hall was filled with people he didn't know. Finally the main doors opened and Loki could see Faye standing there. She looked beautiful, but Loki did not care. He offered her a hand and helped her to the altar.

"People of Asgard!" shouted Odin, breaking everyone into silence. "We have gathered here today to witness the union between Prince Loki of Asgard and Princess Faye of Alfheim..." She looked at him and something in her eyes seemed familiar to Loki, but he didn't know what; it was as if he had been hypnotized and was no longer paying attention to Odin's words. "Loki?" -Loki looked to the All-Father- "Do you take Princess Faye to be your lawful wedded wife?"

He hesitated before answering after a few moments, "Yes, I do."

Odin turned to Faye. "And you, do you take Prince Loki to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

She smiled happily and Loki frowned slightly at how happy she was. "Then I pronounce you husband and wife." -The All-Father joined their hands together with a ribbon and it glowed golden as it confirmed the union between them- "Loki, you may now kiss the bride." He took a deep breath and resisted a little, it felt like he was betraying Leila, but everyone was waiting and he had to do it, after all she was his wife now. Loki leaned forward and cupped her cheek before kissing her gently and closing his eyes. The feel of her lips seemed familiar to him and she leaned more into the kiss. He heard the hall gasp and broke the kiss between them. Loki was no longer looking into Faye's eyes, but into Leila's.

"Leila?" he asked in surprise, and she smiled gently at him.

"It's me, husband," she said, and in a flash Loki pulled her into his arm and held her close to his body.

"She fooled us all. Guards! Arrest her," Odin ordered, and several guards stepped toward her; Loki shoved them protectively behind him.

"Odin!" -all looked to Frigga as she spoke- "They are married before the eyes of the people and the Norns; there is nothing you can do about this union."

"She is not a princess!" declared the Allfather.

"She is now," Loki said, looking over his shoulder at her, "and Leila is now my wife, so if anyone wants to get to her, they'll have to get past me." He smiled wickedly at Odin before turning to the people. "Shouldn't you be able to marry whomever you want for love, even if he is a prince?" The people cheered in agreement and he took Leila's hand in his. Odin looked at her one last time and knew he could not go against everyone. He walked angrily out of the room and Loki followed him with his eyes.

"He will calm down," the queen said with a smile to the newlyweds, "My congratulations to you." -She stepped up to them and kissed them both on their cheeks; Frigga looked to the people-"Cheers to Prince Loki and Princess Leila!"