Hostage to Love

Truce

The dress was dark green silk, embroidered in gold with ancient symbols of both Vanaheim and Adgard. It was long sleeved and fitted around the bust. Below, the gown split, to reveal a contrasting undershift of paler green silk and gold lace. Jewels sparkled along the bustline and down the sleeves.  Her shoes were of the same green silk as her dress. 

Her hair, half up, was studded with gold clips.  Tendrils framed her face, and the rest hung like burnished ebony down over her shoulders.

Her lips and cheeks were touched with blush, and her eyes lined with kohl. Emeralds loaned to her by Odin, in honour of her husband - to - be sparkled at her ears and throat.

It had taken the seamstresses less than a couple of hours to make the dress fit. It had taken Ari less than five minutes to fall in love with it. She was looking at her new appearance in the mirror when Thor reappeared a few hours later.  He knocked gently and came into the chamber.  

"Are you.... oh!" Thor stood, stunned at the change. "You look stunning, Princess!" he smiled and bowed, not taking his eyes off her.  She was still no Jane, but she was very pretty, and he knew his brother better than even Loki thought he did.  Ariadne was EXACTLY Loki's type.

Ari blushed and turned away from the glass.  "You are too kind, Prince Thor.  I hardly think someone as so "rustic" as I would ever be considered stunning, but I thank you for your efforts." she curtseyed a little, and they laughed. 

"Shall we dispense with the titles? I don't know about you, but I can't bear to be reminded of my so-called rank every five minutes?" Thor winked at her, and she smiled, nodding. 

"Oh yes, please.  But what of Loki? Won't he be offended if I don't give him his title?" she was a little reticent to enrage him deliberately.

"Oh, I do hope so!" Thor laughed loudly and offered his arm.  "Time to go rattle his cage." 

They walked through the palace, and at every turn, courtiers and servants alike stopped to look at the new Princess of Asgard. Ari felt her face burn. Thor squeezed her arm gently and smiled. "They agree with me." He said softly.  He could feel her shaking, and again, his sympathy went out to her.

Approaching the audience chamber that was now to be used as a banqueting hall for this celebratory feast, Fandral and Volstagg met them at the door.

"Princess. Stunning. Absolutely stunning!." Volstagg bowed low, and Fandral let out a very uncouth whistle.  He winked at her, and she giggled. 

"Just wait till Loki sees this!" He said with no small glee.

"Till Loki sees what exactly?" The voice came from behind them, and Ari froze.  Suddenly, what she looked like mattered much more than at any point in her entire life. She felt Thor release her arm and propel her forward.

"Your Highness." She sank into a deep curtsey, looking down at his feet. As she looked up, for a moment, there was silence as he gaped.

She was truly beautiful. Her eyes, still full of fight, glittered. The jewels at her throat emphasised the pale delicacy of her skin. The blush to her lips made them look like velvet. For a second, he wondered if they felt the same.

Then, realising he was being watched by all and sundry - especially his infuriatingly smug brother - his defences kicked in.  He could not allow himself to appear weak.

"Nice. Im glad you seem to know how to make the best of what little you have. At least I will not be ashamed to escort you to dinner in front of our subjects."

Ari felt the stinging rebuke in his words far more than she would have wanted. Her eyes prickled with tears, but she drew herself up to her full, if diminutive, height.