Hostage to Love

At Last

"To our Queen - Ariadne Margaretta Oransdottir!"

"Queen Ariadne!"

The toast echoed round the hall, and a thousand voices wished her well.  There was the thunder of a thousand chairs scraping back into place and the incredible noise of a thousand people all talking at once.

At the top table, Ariadne and Loki sat on their gilded thrones, Odin and Thor, to left and right, Jane next to Thor.  The Lord Chamberlain sat next to Odin.  Since Ari had no other close family, some senior nobles and their wives took up the remaining places.

Quiet at first, Ari watched as the others ate and drank. Conversation flowed, and, as was appropriate, stories of the King and his life began to come out.  Naturally, that ended up including Ari.

"Did you know that she once climbed a tree and threw apples at the guards because she didnt want to come down?" A large bearded Earl at the end of the table, a distant cousin of her father's, laughed and raised his goblet in salute. Loki laughed and turned to Ari. She, too, could not now resist joining in.

"Oh Egbert! That is NOT fair. I was SIX, and they wanted me to go to my deportment tutor! Me? Can you imagine? Walking like a lady at six years old?" She grabbed Loki's arm, and he felt, for once, she was truly happy.

"Well, I turned into a snake once to trick Thor!" Loki sniggered at the memory, and Thor rolled his eyes.

"I remember all too well, brother. I was only eight!"

Ari took a sip of wine and smiled. "I should have liked to see you as a child." She said softly, picking at his sleeve.

"Believe me, my Queen," Odin interrupted, making her stare at his manner of addressing her, "you would not have wanted to see EITHER of these little Bilgesnipe's Behinds as children!"

There was a roar of laughter, and Ari nodded. "I bow to your wisdom, Allfather!" She raised her glass.

"Not Allfather." He said quietly in reply, making her pause. " From today it is Father." He looked at her, and in that one glance, he offered more than she could ever have imagined.

"Thank you...Father." she said quietly and stood.  Walking to where Odin sat, she extended her hand. He stood, and they embraced, resulting in a spontaneous round of applause. This spoke volumes about the new level of alliance between Asgard and Vanaheim. True family.

Loki and Thor exchanged a knowing smile.  When Thor looked round to Jane, however, she was downcast. Never would there be a moment like that for her.

Something in her expression saddened and worried him in equal measure.

It was several hours, and many more toasts and stories before Ari and Loki stood to leave. Tradition dictated that no-one should leave before the Queen, so the hall was still full. 

"My people. I thank you for your attendance today and your respect and love for my father. Please, remain as long as you wish, I and my husband shall retire. Eat, drink, and celebrate. My Father King Oran would want you to enjoy yourselves as do we.  Goodnight!" Ari stood at the table and raised her glass in a final toast.

There was a general cheer, and Ari turned away. Holding her hand out to Loki, he stood, and they left arm in arm.

The palace was quiet. The feast had taken most of the palace staff, and only the guards remained in their usual places. As Ari and Loki moved through the corridors, the guards snapped to attention. 

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this. It feels... odd." She said quietly, and Loki nodded.

"You'll find that happens a lot from now on, I'm afraid. As you yourself said, that which you were, you are no longer." He kissed her cheek. "But to me, you will always be the little girl throwing apples from a tree!"