Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 12 - A bit more than mischief

The hours had passed and the little orchestra had begun the joyous evening music. The little lights were now of true purpose, and last desserts were being handed out. Vanaheim and Asgard combined created the actual perfect picture. A mix of nature and gold, booze and food, and calmness and chatter.

The Feast of Honour was hosted by Prince Fjölnir himself, out in the gardens, as close to nature as possible. Era was truly impressed with the turnout. She dwelled amazingly away in the vibes it all gave off.

To see Asgardians enjoy the Vanir food, to see the Vanir enjoy Asgardian ale... It made this whole exchange a little bit more clear. Their ancestors organised this annual exchange with the sole purpose of making friends. Allies. But no one here was willing to blindly trust. And no one had been ready to take the first step either. After more than 1000 years, no one had done more than make little conversation with each other.

Call that two separate realms stamped with toxic pride...

She may had gotten the sudden need to speak of it with her brother. He sat next to her, after all. But Harald didn't look like he was interested in listening at all. His mind was elsewhere. Busy with the sight his eyes were focused on. A woman.

Sitting close, though slightly hidden, to the royal Asgardian tables, with a face Era swore she had seen before, sat a beautiful Lady. She wore a kind smile, pins to secure her dark blonde hair in a bun, and a formal dress, just colourful enough to see it suitable for a feast. Era recognised her. But she couldn't exactly place from where or when.

"She is beautiful." She hinted, though Harald seemed only to be aware of his actions as soon as his sister spoke.

"Who?"

"Seriously?" She tilted her head there, a mocking look on her face. "Who is she?"

If there had been a small chance for him to lie about it, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. That ship had sailed for it never to return. Because those special genes might've come from their mother. But Era's stubbornness came from their father.

"Lady Bodil." Harald sighed, looking down at the ale in both his hands. "One of Queen Frigga's Lady's."

Hearing him mention Frigga had her quickly swallow, the thoughts of the previous night suddenly clouding her mind. She hadn't asked Era as to why she was up there, Frigga just let her leave last night. It had her nervous until this very hour, but she mentally slapped herself out of that state. Instead she focused on Harald, and the hesitation she found in her brother's eyes. "You should go talk to her."

"Don't be silly."

"I am really not trying."

His face then turned serious, looking his sister with thousands of running thoughts into her eyes. "She's Aesir. Not to mention The Queen's maid."

"So?"

"So..." For Era, it was obvious. None of it would've mattered to her. But Harald's rules just laid a tad elsewhere. He couldn't be blamed for it, he had more eyes upon him Era had. But still... "Lady Bodil is loyal to her queen, thus loyal to her realm. She wouldn't want to be seen with me."

"Aren't you loyal to yours?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"What makes her standards different than our own?" She cut him off. "The problem here is that no one dares to ask each other what they truly think. Just talk to her. It isn't illegal."

Harald seemed to go completely blank for a good hot second. But as soon as it came, it disappeared. And to Era's surprise he actually pulled back his chair in order for him to stand. But not to talk to this Bodil, apparently. Because before Era knew it, he had pulled her from her chair as well, dragging her to the little dance area set up in the middle of the gardens.