Hostage to Love

Shamed

"Father!"

"Odin?"

"AllFather?"

Odin remained cold and impassive. The rest of the party now clamoured for attention from the Allfather. No one more so than Loki.

"Father. I strongly object to this... this charade. I have no desire to wed, let alone to a Princess from that backwater realm.  I'd rather wed my horse! At least it's of use!" He sneered at her, and she scowled at him, not wanting him to see how much his scathing rejection hurt.

"Sire, the understanding was that the Princess would marry Thor!" Oran was outraged. A second son and an adopted one at that. This was NOT what he'd signed away his daughter for.

Thor even joined in, although to be honest, he was rather relieved to find his father was seemingly keeping his word regarding Jane. "Father, I think it might be prudent for us to retire and discuss this? I hardly think Princess Ariadne should be made to witness the bartering for her husband to be, in such a fashion?"

"And me, Brother? Do I not count in all this? You may be soft enough to wish a wife, but I am NOT! Especially an uncultured one such as this!" Loki waved his hand at Ari with a scathing glance.

"Loki enough!" Thor barked at him."Remember your place. You are a Prince of Asgard. Conduct yourself as one. This is not Princess Ariadne's doing." He smiled at her, trying to convey his regret at the shock.  Sometimes, he thought his father was an old man and a fool where people's emotions were concerned.

"I will speak with King Oran and my sons. Leave us Loki, take the Princess to the garden room. Make her  comfortable, then return. Without delay." There was a finality to his voice that brooked no challenge.  Loki scowled and grudgingly offered his arm. She scowled at him and he retracted it with a non-committal shrug.

For a moment, Ari paused, "Sire if I might be allowed..." she got no further before Odin bellowed.

"SILENCE GIRL! I AM ODIN OF ASGARD, AND YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND."

Even Loki winced at this display of temper. Poor girl had no idea what was happening, any more than he.

Ari stared, shocked and terrified. She sank into a deep curtsey and murmured her apology. Her father pulled her to her feet and thrust her at Loki. "Go with the Prince Ariadne, we will send for you presently. Do not cry,  it does not become a member of my family to be so weak."

He hated himself for being so hard, but he had no choice. He needed to be cool and calm so that he could try to undo this wrong.  Marry her to the Jotun? The monster? Did he have a choice. He hoped so.

Ari sniffed and wiped her eyes on a corner of her robe.  She nodded silently and walked away with Loki.  He made no attempt to speak to her, and she had no wish to speak to him.  If she had thought she would get away with it, she would have run.

"There's nowhere you could go they wouldn't find you." Loki turned and stared at her. She stopped dead. 

"I didn't speak." She bit out at him.

"Not aloud, no." He smirked, and his eyes glittered, making her distinctly uncomfortable.  He was disarmingly handsome, but he was a Jotun. He was a trickster and seemingly a mind reader. He was NOT husband material.

"Whatever." She muttered, more to cover her growing shame than anything.  "I have absolutely NO intention of marrying you. Don't be in any doubt, Laufeyson... yes, I know who and what you are... I am nobody's trophy bride. No matter what my father might want you to think."

Loki sneered at her but continued to stare at her. She was feisty. More than he'd expected. When she'd walked in on her father's arm, he'd expected her  to be the usual simpering numbskull that he'd come to expect of Princesses.  All gowns and tiaras and pet poodles.

As he watched her reaction to the announcement, he'd been amused at her fire. Furious at the statement, typical of his father, but amused nonetheless.

They walked in silence to the garden room, and as he opened the door, he bowed slightly. Annoying she may be, pretty she certainly was. There was probably no reason to be any more rude. She would be going back to Vanaheim, and they would simply crush the rebellion and these annoying peasants with it.  Collateral damage.

"Please wait in here. You will find a selection of food and drink. I will return and fetch you at the appropriate time." He indicated a table laden with sweetmeats and wine.  She looked at him as if he had suggested she eat her own hand.

"Thank you." She walked past him, and he got a whiff of her perfume. It was dark and exotic and not what he'd expected. As she crossed the room, he watched her. The swing of her dark hair, the tilt of her hips, the way the green velvet of her dress hugged her curves. "You may go."

The disdain in her voice irritated the Hel out of him. Any admiration he'd begun to have now erased. He scowled and slammed the door.

Stalking back to the audience chamber, he was just in time to hear Odin laying down the law to King Oran and, by implication, him.

"She WILL stay, she WILL marry Loki, and you WILL be content. We are not savages. She will be well treated despite what you may believe." Odin turned, "ah Loki. We have come to an understanding. You will take Ariadne as your wife, and our thrones will be united. It seems you will be a king, after all."

Loki stalked up and growled at Odin."You cannot force me - her? I care not. Let her marry my oaf of a brother. She would suit him well. He needs a strong woman, not that mewling quim Jane Foster." His eyes flashed fire and Thor growled at him.

"Brother, have a care. Jane may not be to your liking, but she is my chosen love. Do not presume your position here protects you from my anger."

Loki sneered and walked out, leaving the three of them standing. If only his mother was here. She would have made Odin see sense. But she wasn't, was she. She never would be again.

Her death had been a bitter blow to them all, but him especially. She had taught him magic. She had loved him without question, without judgement.  Now she was gone, who would love him?

As he stood in the hallway brooding, Odin called to him.  "Bring the Princess to us Loki. NOW."

With a snarl he turned away. What use had he for a wife? If he must marry her, she could spend her days as she pleased. He wanted nothing to do with her.  Bloody woman.