The Arrayed

Chapter 1

"Loki wait!" Frigga shouted as she briskly walked through the gold corridors of the palace, desperately trying to catch up with a very angered prince.

 A prince who will always remain just that... a prince. She could still see his eyes fall to the floor with a pained expression when Odin announced the successor between the two sons, and she knew well at that moment that his heart had fallen with it. She dreaded this day for many years as soon as it became clear that the two had formed a rivalry over the simplest things, and in most recent years- the throne. If it were Loki to be named King, she knew Thor would handle the news with much more grace and good nature than Loki. She knew as a mother and a Goddess that Loki's attitude would not take this decision well, and to her prediction, he hadn't. She felt him becoming distant lately, watching him-watch his father and brother's closeness with a hidden ire. Frigga knew, a mother always knows.

 Hearing Frigga's plea, Loki stopped his stride but didn't turn to face her. She could feel the aura of his anger that surrounded him even before Frigga had reached him. Her heart clenched in sorrow for her son. She loved both of them dearly but since Odin in ways had seemed to favour Thor, she always felt  the need to be especially attentive to Loki and his feelings. The two of them became quite close through the years, sharing likes in magic, books and the arts among other things. She loved Thor with all her heart, but Loki...dear Loki, who was not of her womb-but of her soul...she felt his tragedy in spades. 

Frigga reached out to her beloved son and placed her hand gently on his shoulder.  As soon as she touched the leather of his ceremonial armour Frigga felt him slightly slump over in defeat. Quickly she moved to face him but his posture changed immediatly as if covering up his brief lapse of unguarded control. "Loki..." was all she said wincing her eyes with an endearing tone. 

" Do nought worry Mother, I am fine." He said looking everywhere but directly at her. Frigga could see the redness that had previously stained the corners of his eyes fading. Instead of pink they became pale in colour, matching the rest of his skin."We both knew that Thor would always be King. Asgard as it seems will now be ruled by an oaf and war hungry ruler. Best that Asgard can keep up the appearance of being the most powerful realm, rather than having a King with enough wits and intelligence to keep allegiance within it. Father would know best as it seems, and what Odin wants, Odin will surely have"

After saying this, Loki looked up at Frigga while crossing his arm over his chest, placing his hand on his shoulder over hers. He gently squeezed it in reassurance and then brushed it off so that he could walk around her in the direction towards his room. Frigga's heart bled. So much so, that she could't find the words she needed to help comfort him. She just stood there, frozen- feeling his anguish, pain and betrayal. 

Watching his form disappear around the corner, she turned around and started to fume. The All father better know what he was doing in picking Thor. She walked down to the corridor in the direction she had originally come- hoping to meet Odin in their room. 

There was much that needed to be discussed.

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"Arraya my dear, how is my sweet elf today?" Freyr asked as he approached the princess in the garden. She was in the thicket of a bush trying to pick the most perfect purple garden bloom to add to a flower wreath for her hair. Arraya was so excited. She  had just received a new dress and had decided to pick the flowers that would match immediately . It was the first of the new 18 year old wardrobe that she would receive. It was customary for the adult elves to bare a lot of skin.  Finally she would be as pretty as the older elves, she thought. 

"Half elf, dear father- 50% Vanir as it seems" she retorted smartly as she picked the fattest garden bloom and put it to her nose, inhaling.

"And how lovely the half Vanir/half Alfheim is today, on this special day." Freyr said hugging his dear daughter in his arms. "What would the beloved princess like to do today on her birthday?" Freyr asked.

" Tell me father is Aunt Freya attending the celebration today?"  she asked ignoring his own question. Freyr cupped her hand in the air with both of his own and answered,

"Yes dear, she shall be here to wish you a happy birthday, she told me she could not wait to see you and she misses you very much." 

"And see me she shall...IN MY NEW DRESS! Oh father it is beautiful, Aunt Freya will love it! I can't wait to wear it!" Arraya proclaimed. Freyr winced at the news about his little girl wearing the traditional elven wardrobe. Forever will be gone, the little girl dresses that he admired so much. His little girl has now finally grown up. His heart also stuttered at that moment remembering his promise to Asgard. For tonight will be the night that Arraya will be meeting her betrothed, and Freya will be escorting the Royal Family of Asgard to Alfheim. Tomorrow his little girl will leave this realm for Asgard so that they can court. After their marriage,  the two will return back so that Arraya can continue her training to be Queen.

"Are you all right father, you look as though you have swallowed something sickly? Are you ill?" Arraya asked concerned with her father and no longer dwelling over her dress.

"No my little elf, I am fine...but there is something that I much need to discuss with you before the event tonight. I will come by your quarters later and have a talk."

" That is fine father... whatever it is, are you sure you can wait? You seem to be much distressed."

"No my love, it can wait. I will bid you leave now and see you soon." Freyr said while kissing her hand and departing. Arraya looked at her father's image disappearing from the garden and shrugged. She was almost finished gathering the flowers for her dress, soon she would have the perfect head dress for the perfect dress!

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The Royal family had just arrived on Alfheim. Thor clapped Loki on the shoulder and smiled.

"Brother, you are very lucky! I hear the princess Arraya is very beautiful and very young" Thor said while accenting the words very young. Loki looked at Thor and understood his meaning immediately. The princess just turned of age- more of a chance that her virtue was intact.  Loki rolled his eyes at Thor's  sexual innuendo. 

The night that Odin had informed him he could not become king of Asgard he was truly angered. He began to despise everyone and everything about Asgard. He began to plot...

The night after the proclamation of Thor's succession, the Allfather came to Loki himself to explain the arrangement between the two realms. Loki fumed at first, but then soon realized that this princess, like Thor, has been named heir to the throne. If Loki could not be King within his own Realm, he would surely be King in another. In this case, he would marry into it and that was completely fine by him. Once he built his army, and ruled this Realm after a while- he would attack Asgard and defeat the mighty Thor, and take what was rightfully his. Then he would be King of two realms.

"Thor" Frigga announced. " Leave Loki be, you know he is nervous!"

"Don't fret mother." Loki claimed. "I am fine, " 

If only they knew how fine you really are, the voice in Loki's mind announced.

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