The Witch He Loved

Chapter 49

I stand at the mirror smoothing down my dress. I didn't go to training today so Loki and I had spent the morning in our rooms together, him going over paperwork while I read books about Asgard. 

It had been nearly two weeks since we came back to Asgard. I had learned a great deal from Frigga and I knew my way around the palace now. The council meetings I had attended hadn't proved too difficult, only minor issues had been brought up but there was still no word of the lead culprit behind the attacks. 

Huginn and Muninn hadn't been able to give much information on Ragnar or Ivar either, although I was beginning to doubt my original thoughts that it had been Ragnar. From what I understood, when he wasn't performing his duties he was with his daughter, the week he hadn't been around he had been visiting family. 

A kiss on my neck brings me back to reality with a smile. 

"What are you thinking?" 

I turn around and he puts his arms around me while I rest my hands on his chest. 

"I'm thinking, I can't believe you're going to be my husband tomorrow." 

His face lights up as he smiles back at me, I could see how much this meant to both of us, we would always have a home with each other, always have somewhere we are accepted and loved. 

"I can't believe the woman who pinned me against a wall with a dagger aimed at my throat is going to be my wife. I must be a mad man." 

"I could do it again if you'd like?" I tease him and he laughs quietly. 

"As enjoyable as I'm sure that would be, don't you have meetings with my mother this afternoon?" 

"I do." I lean up and kiss him quickly before stepping out of his embrace. "What are your plans today?" 

"I have some tasks to do for father and then I'll be meeting with Thor. Don't forget we are having dinner in the hall tonight." 

"I wont." I smile at him as we both leave our rooms, we kiss once more before going in opposite directions. 

I walk through the palace, quickly getting into the library where Frigga is sat at our usual table waiting for me. 

"Good afternoon Kathy." She smiles at me, standing. 

"Good afternoon, what is our lesson today?" I ask as I look at the empty table, normally it held a stack of books and paper. 

She walks around the table and loops our arms. "I thought we could go for a walk instead." 

"Of course." 

She takes us out to the gardens at a leisurely pace. It was lovely out here, the greenest grass contrasted by the multicolours of dozens of flowers.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" She asks. 

"I think so, I just need to get my dress back. Hopefully the alterations look alright." 

"I'm sure it will, I'll have it brought to you in the morning. Has anyone mentioned that you will be separated this evening until the ceremony?" 

"No but its typically a Midgardian tradition too so I'm not surprised." 

She leads us over to a bench and we look over the city. 

"There are other traditions that we have. You will be tended to by only females from this evening, as will Loki by only men. Others are part of the ceremony." 

"Actually I wanted to ask- " She puts a hand up to silence me, as Ivar and a young woman come down the pathway towards us. 

"My Queen, Lady Katherine." He bows his head at us.