Hostage to Love

Kings and Queens

The night sky was like velvet. Dark blue, almost pulsating with stars. Ari looked up and, for once, felt almost like Heimdal. That she could see to the other side of the cosmos.

Unlike her father's funeral, tonight was warm. They stood dressed not in black furs but in light robes, as was the custom. Ari was glad, she'd seen enough black after the rebellion to last a lifetime.

Torches burned here and there, lending a warm golden glow to an otherwise silver light.

Standing between Loki and Thor, Jane, on his right, she held a globe. Small, white, and glowing, it was one of several thousand.

Then, as a choir softly incanted a prayer, poignant and beautifully haunting, a longship floated along the river that split the mourners. On it, surrounded by flowers, lay Odin.

Dressed in his finest gold armour, clutching his broadsword, he lay waiting to join his beloved Frigga.

As it passed, there were muffled tears, and a few people bobbed a curtsey out of ingrained respect. Odin was the only ruler they'd ever known.

As it passed the Princes - one of whom would be crowned King in a few short months - Ari and Jane sank into deep curtseys, and the brothers bowed their heads.

Despite all their history, despite the falling out and in, now they were united in a grief for the father they had shared. Ari looked sidelong at Loki and saw a suspicious glitter on his cheek. She said nothing but reached for his hand.

The longship continued on, towards the waterfall edge of their world. As it gained distance, a single flaming arrow was loosed and hit its mark. The longship burst into flames as it slowly approached the edge of the world.

As one, the mourners released their globes into the night sky. A cloud of white, a glittering goodbye to a King, to an Allfather, to a Father. Thor stood, proudly holding Gungnir, watching as the longship reached the edge.

He brought the staff down with a thunderous bang and the longship - and Odin - disintegrated into a million golden sparks. They rose into the sky and faded to become part of the constellations. Odin and Frigga, reunited in Valhalla.

Ari and Jane stood, hugging their husbands. Thor looked down at them all, "He is happy now. He is with Mother."

Loki nodded, and the four of them led the mourners back to the palace for a feast to celebrate Odins life. He squeezed Ari's hand, and they exchanged looks. Now would be a good time. Since Ari would no longer be taking wine or ale, it seemed a necessary admition and a small glimmer of hope in a dark time.

"Brother, before we go back inside, there is something you and Jane should know....."

The coronation ceremony was, it had to be said, typically Asgardian. Where Ari and Loki had been the focus of their day, this time, the might of Asgard was every bit as important as the man about to lead it.

The great hall shone with the armour of a thousand soldiers. They ranged around the perimeter of the hall and formed a guard of honour corridor along the centre.

Loki, Ari and Jane waited beside the throne. Ari for once, wearing her crown and Loki his circlet of Vanaheim. They wore voluminous green and gold robes and Loki thought Ari had never looked more regal. Already heavyily pregnant, she tired easy these days but had insisted on playing her part.

As neither Jane nor Loki were ruling monarchs, it was up to her to swear Thor in as King. She smiled across at the two of them, and nodded.

Loki raised his hand, there was a fanfare and the doors at the far end of the hall opened.

Thor was every bit the King now. He strode forward, his winged helmet shining, his red cape flowing. He raised Mjolnir in one hand in acknowledgement as the assembled corwd cheered loudly. As he passed, the nobles and courtiers bowed, a sea of people rippling as he parted them.

Finally, he reached the throne. Removing his helmet, he set it on the floor to one side and Mjolnir beside it. The hammer made a satisfying clang as it hit the marble. Thor looked up at Loki and smiled, then at Jane and winked. She grinned back and Ari rolled her eyes in silent amusement.

"Thor, son of Odin, you are here today......." Ari's voice carried over the hall with ease.

An hour later, the new King of Asgard stood with his queen at the front of the palace, acknowledging the cheers of his people. Jane, by his side, they made a fine couple. Loki and Ari hung back, letting them have their moment.

Ari sat on a couch, sipping some peach juice, something she'd come to guard jealously over the last few weeks.

"Do you think they would mind if I retired for a while? I'm exhausted" she sat back and rubbed her swollen belly absentmindedly. It had been an easy preganancy. The baby had grown, and she had very few symptoms that made her feel anything less than just incredibly heavy.

"Darling, I don't care if they mind. You rest, it can't be easy carrying a Jotun baby. Even a half Jotun!" He came and sat beside her, holding her hand where it lay on their child. "Do you want me to teleport you to our apartments?"

She nodded and smiled, dark circles under her eyes. "Yes, please love. I'm so tired and seem to have gotten so big these last few weeks."

Loki kissed her softly and in a flick of his wrist, she was gone. He paused for a minute, looking at where she'd sat. He never wanted to be without her ever again. She - and their child - were his life.

Shaking the maudlin feeling off, he stood and walked out onto the balcony, putting his hand on Thor's shoulder and waving to the crowd. This was the dawning of a new age.

It was a few days later, Ari and Loki went back to Vanaheim. It was nearing time when Ari would start to hand over some responsibility to Loki for day to day matters. So that she could step back and concentrate on getting ready for the arrival of their child.

They sat in the council chamber, Ari on her usual throne, Loki by her side, discussing the lands of the Far Reaches. Still without an overlord after the execution of Olaf by Ari herself, they needed to appoint a replacement.

A few candidates had been proposed by the Privvy Council and they had narrowed it down to two. Both of whom were equally suitable, she decided to leave it to Loki to make the final choice.

"My husband will consider our options and we will give you our answer in a few days. Whatever Crown Prince Loki decides, you will I know, treat it as MY decision also. In the coming week it will be HIM that rules as Regent. I assume you will give him the same support you have given me?"

To a man, and woman - Ari had insisted on a mixed council - they stood and pledged their allegiance to not only Queen Ariadne but also Crown Prince Loki.

Ari sat quietly, listening. She was feeling increasingly hot and uncomfortable. For a Frost Giant, this baby generated a hell of a lot of heat.

"I think the Queen is tired. We shall retire for today and we will summon you when..." Loki looked at Ari as she suddenly stood up, pale and sweaty looking.

"Lok, forgive me I must...I... I feel uncomfortable, I need to..." Ari never finished the sentence.