Hostage to Love

Introductions

"You look beautiful my child." Oran gazed at his daughter with more love than he had felt in his entire life.  She was her own woman in every way, but she was also his little girl.  The child running home with grubby knees and hands and a lizard in a bucket.  The girl with the pink cheeks riding her horse at seemingly breakneck speed through the orchard, daring her companions to overtake.  The elegant young lady, presented to court on her attainment of age.  Regal in one moment, giggling and girlish in the next.  Velvet gown with wooden clogs.  Then, latterly, the young woman in mourning for a mother he could never replace.  She had conducted herself with grace and decorum, leading their people in the grief that pervaded his soul to this day.

"I don't care.  Just get this over with my King." she was cold, so very cold and it hurt him to the core.  He really had no choice.  Surely she could see that?

"Ari..."

"Don't.  Don't call me that.  Ari no longer exists.  I am Ariadne of Vanaheim, Princess and heir to the throne. Ari was the girl you thought you knew.  This woman before you now is not her.  I am the property of Asgard and the unification of our kingdoms  Nothing more, nothing less.  I will do your bidding my Liege.  No more, no less."

His heart sank and his eyes filled with tears,  "Ari... please forgive me." 

She turned and looked at him, seeing him for the first time for who he truly was.  An old and tired - and lonely - man.  Her heart lurched then her head took charge again.

"There is nothing to forgive Sire.  This is business.  The business of rule.  Shall we?" she turned and smiled at Peggi who was now crying openly. "Peggi, dear Peggi, I will be back.  I am being betrothed, not exiled.  I am sure I will be allowed to come home to prepare for the wedding. After all, I need you to help me choose my gown.  No one else here has ANY taste!" she smiled, holding back her own emotions.  Then she broke.  One look from the beautiful blue eyes of Aesir and she broke.

Crouching awkwardly in her velvet and furs, she reached out to the hound.  Aesir came and licked her face, tasting the salt of her tears.  "Oh Aesir, I will see you soon girl, I promise." She stood up and as the Bifrost opened carrying her and her father away, the last sound she heard was the pained howl of her wolf.  It echoed her soul.

If she was truly honest, the Bifrost was an experience she would be glad to repeat and repeat.  The swirling colours, the feeling of flying at a hundred miles an hour, the freedom?  What better way to travel.  After a moment or two, they found themselves propelled into a large gilded circular chamber.  On a dias in the middle stood a giant of a man, with gilded armour and the biggest sword she had ever seen.  He turned at their appearance and twisted the sword in the mechanism that held it.  The Bifrost shut down and the chamber fell quiet.

"Welcome to Asgard, you are most welcome." She was so busy staring at the man, she failed to notice the welcoming committee standing off to one side.  She recognised them from their reputations if nothing else.  Tall, broad and obviously a connoisseur of the finer things in life Volstagg was the first to greet them.  Fandral and Hogen were next, the former bowing low and smiling devilishly at her.  Despite her nerves and determined demeanour, she found herself charmed by his apparent appreciation of her. Hogen was quiet and reserved but equally welcoming.  Lady Sif brought up the rear of the party.  Tall, armoured and impressive she made Ariadne feel suddenly very gauche and countrified.  Sif however, smiled and nodded to her.

"Take no notice of all this testosterone, they always get like this when a new lady is welcomed.  They're all talk and no action!" she winked and Ari immediately liked her.  Sif was, she could see, no fool.  They would get on well.

Her father thanked them and they walked towards the other side of the chamber, Volstagg and he in close conversation.  The armed man on the dias nodded and smiled as she passed.  From the reaction of Sif, that didn't seem to happen very often.

"Hmmm if Heimdal thinks you're worthy of a smile...." she trailed off and wiggled her eyebrows. Ari looked down demurely, the last thing she wanted was to be thought to be flirting before she'd even laid eyes on her betrothed.

"We have horses for you - I assumed you would ride My Lady?" Fandral offered a hand to help her mount a beautiful black mare.  Ariadne nodded and took her place.  Her father climbed onto a bay stallion and together the six of them galloped across the bridge towards the golden palace.

As they rode, Ari couldn't help but be impressed and scared in equal measure.  This was more than she ever anticipated.  Asgard was legendary. So was the temper of Odin, something that she hoped Thor had not inherited.  They arrived at the palace and servants stepped forward to relieve them of their mounts.

Suddenly overcome with nerves, she grasped her father's arm, feeling faint and weak. "Father..." she whispered as she looked up at him. "I... don't want..." she was suddenly five again facing her first ride on a fullsize mare.

Despite their differences, Oran was still her Dad. "It will be ok.  I promise my child.  He will treat you with kindness.  He may be many things, a beast is not one of them."

"But Thor is so... so Thor!" she said as they walked into the main audience chamber.  He stood beside his father on the Throne Dias at the far end of the hall.  Red cloak, armour and hammer at the ready.  His helmet sat at his feet, his blonde hair streaming down to his shoulders.  

"Thor?  Why should what Thor looks like bother you child? His manner is what is important." her father looked down at her as they approached, their feet echoing on the polished marble. "Thor will have little to do with you I would imagine." They arrived at the dias.  She curtseyed deeply in front of the All father and Thor.  Looking up, she was suddenly aware of another figure.  As tall as Thor but not as broad. This figure was slim, clad in green leather and cloak with gold accents.  He wore a gilded horned helmet that served not only to cover his long raven locks which streamed down his back over his broad shoulders, but also highlight his alabaster skin and piercing green eyes. He smiled coldly and looked across at his father.  He was not going to be the ally she'd hoped for.

"Princess Ariadne, King Oran, welcome to Asgard." Odin's voice boomed out. "We look forward to the dawning of a new age of understanding between our two kingdoms." he moved and stood between the two men she now understood to be Thor and Loki.

"Princess, may I present your betrothed." Ari looked up at the three of them, her eyes flitting to Thor who smiled at her gently. "May I present my son and your future husband...Loki."

You could have heard the collective gasp in Vanaheim.