BACK IN MENVOLLR, ASTRID FOUND HERSELF RELAXED AGAINST THE PLUSH CUSHIONS OF HER BED. Zithara had finished helping her get ready for bed and had left to ready herself for the same thing. Astrid was not tired just yet, so she got out of bed and rummaged through her drawers, finding what she had her mind set on.
Plucking the items from the drawer, she plonked herself back in her bed, her sewing kit laid before her. She began sewing, losing track of time as she finally took a break to realise she had been at it for three hours and had sewn many embroidered sheets. Many are decorated with sewn birds, flowers, and people. She even spotted a handkerchief she adorned with green leaves and lavenders and yellow rattle plants, with green and gold patterns laced around the edges of the fabric. It reminded her of Loki, as she smiled, her finger tracing along the raised thread. As the two were discussing their favourite things, it came to her attention that Loki enjoyed yellow rattles, stating they were misunderstood plants, while Astrid's was lavender for the simple reason that it was her favourite smell. Her heart nearly stopped and she nearly stabbed herself with a needle as a voice spoke out of nowhere.
"Who are you thinking about?"
Astrid screamed in fright, clutching the handkerchief close to her chest. She stopped and claimed her racing heartbeat as she looked up and saw her best friend, Freyja. She was wearing a dark pink nightgown that stopped above her feet and her dark curly hair was tied behind her head in a loose, low ponytail.
"What are you doing here?!" Astrid breathed out, still in fright that her friends snuck up on her. Freyja sits at the edge of the bed, leaning close to Astrid's face, examining the features. Astrid's face is stuck in surprise at Freyja's actions. "Frey? What are you doing?"
"You. Are. In. Love!" Freyja screamed in joy, kicking her feet as she fell back on the bed. She was squealing in happiness but soon stopped. She jolted up, grabbing Astrid's shoulders and pinning her against the headboard, causing a blush to rise on Astrid's cheeks. "Why didn't you tell me, Eli?!" Freyja always called Astrid by her middle name, stating that she wanted to be different to everyone else that Astrid spoke to.
"What are you talking about?!" Astrid questioned back.
"Your face is flushed, your heart is racing, your stomach has been fluttering all day. I've felt it," Freyja listed. "Telltales of being in love. I would know."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "My face is flushed because you're pinning me to my bed and breathing heavily all over my face. My heart is racing because you scared me. And that stomach thing, I'm sure I've just been hungry all day, I haven't eaten much after all," Astrid countered, slightly pushing her friends off of her.
"Liar," Freyja squinted, scanning the room. "Where have you been all day?"
Astrid groaned, sliding further down the bed. "I've been in Asga-"
"Asgard?!" Freyja screeched. "You've been with Thor? Oh, Eli, sweetie, I didn't think he was your type but you do always surprise me," Freyja rambled.
Astrid groaned. "No, I wasn't with Thor. Did you not hear he was banished to Midgard?"
Freyja shrugged, not caring too much. "So who was it?" She mumbled to herself, thinking of the possible suitors that Astrid could find on Asgard. She gasped loudly, her hand slapping against her chest and clutching the collar. "Frigga? Really, I can't believe you'd break up a happy marriage-"
"Oh my gods, I was with Loki!" Astrid blurted.
"Loki? Why him? He's not much of a looker, plus isn't he kind of... recluse?" Freyja cringed slightly. "He was the last person I thought you would've liked."
"I never said I was in love with him!" Astrid rubbed her hands down her face. "I just said I was with him today, that doesn't mean anything."
Freyja smiled, sympathetic. "That's what they all say," she soothed, rubbing her hand up and down her arm. "Don't worry, darling, it's okay to admit it."
"But I don't think I am!" Astrid complained. She knew it was pointless arguing with Freyja, especially when it comes to love. But then again, she had been wrong about who Astrid might like before with all those blind dates, so she could be wrong again. "Even if I was, he and his family are going through a tough situation, it would be unwise to add more stress."
"Oh, darling, I highly doubt it would add stress," Freyja chuckled, she turned her gaze down towards the array of embroidered fabric on the bed. She picked up the handkerchief, examining it. "Were you aware that he was experiencing the same things as you? The fluttering stomach, heart racing, flushed face?" Freyja smirked, looking at Astrid's astounded expression. "Does it sound like he would be stressed, Eli?"
"Ughh," Astrid groaned. "Could we leave it now, Frey?"
Freyja shrugged, smugly. "Fine, so what did you and the God of Mischief do today?" She asked, picking her fingernails briefly before looking at her blonde friend.
Astrid sat up slightly. "We talked."
"About?" Freyja urged her to continue. Astrid shrugged, not knowing what to say.
"I'm not sure, just... talked. Like our favourite stuff and that," she mumbled, picking at some loose threads on one of her embroidery projects.
"Your favourite things? Like what?" Freyja nudged, wanting to know what exactly they spoke about.
"Like our favourite flowers, colours, food, hobbies... stuff like that," Astrid's face flushed red as she spoke.
"Well, what's his?" Freyja asked, intrigued.
"He likes yellow rattles. He said he likes the colour green. Reading too," Astrid grew quieter and quieter as she went on, growing more embarrassed.
Freyja grinned fondly at the red face that greeted her. Freyja looked down at the handkerchief in her hand, the green and gold interwoven threads and sewn yellow rattles paired with lavenders, grazing under her fingertips.
"That's nice, my love."
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