𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒 ✯ 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ✓

Christmas Day - Day Two

* Iris' POV *

The next morning some Avengers and New Avengers leave to get back home but luckily everyone from the chat stays to travel with us to Asgard.

After breakfast I and the others leave the Tower so that Heimdall can pick us up with the Bifröst. The cold air blows in my face but just like Loki I don't mind the cold, although most of the time it isn't cold in Asgard. The others must be glad when they find out that because I can see them shivering next to me.

I let Thor call upon Heimdall and within a few seconds we're surrounded by the colorful beam, and we're shooting through space. Then we're inside the Himinbjörg and Heimdall tells us there are enough horses outside now, waiting to bring us to the palace.

I mount my black mare and I hear Elizabeth complain she doesn't want to ride a white horse. I chuckle, she has told me many times she always falls off white horses, she doesn't mind other colors but white... Nope, not going to happen. I glance back over my shoulder and see everyone is on horses now.

"How about we first show you all the city?" I ask and they all answer in agreement. So instead of setting course to the palace, we ride towards the city. Over the bridge we're able to ride four by four but once we're inside the city, it's too crowded to do that. I let my horse slow down and Loki keeps riding next to me, and two by two we ride through the city. I know there's a market going on and when we come across a place we can lash up our horses, I dismount my horse and the others follow my example. In the market it really would be too crowded to maneuver with horses, so it would be better to let them here and return to them later.

Loki presents his arm during our walk to the market, and I happily take it letting out a small giggle. It's been a long time since we have visited the Asgardian market together. The others would soon notice it isn't anything like a Midgardian market.

"What is this?" I hear Skyler ask in awe and I turn around with a big smile on my face.

"It's a market," I answer but Skyler shakes her head in disbelief. "No way! It's more like a circus, amusement park and fair in one." And I let out a chuckle. She's right of course but we call it a market. Every once a month the center of the city is transformed to this.

Slowly we walk through the crowded place so that everyone can look around and after a few hours, we come across some kind of arena and Elizabeth asks if we can take a look inside. I cross eyes with Loki and we both nod, we both know what's inside and they would love it. I throw a look at the sign by the entrance and see the show is about to start. Quickly we walk inside and search for some spots. We're not all sitting together but that doesn't mind, it'll be great anyways. We can't see what's in the center of the arena because of the red curtains hanging around it but that could change any second.

"I knew this would be circus," I hear Skyler mutter, who is sitting one row behind Loki and me. "Just watch," I whisper, because this wouldn't be a circus. Precisely at that moment, the curtains start to move and reveal the center of the arena. I hear Skyler gasp behind me and I lay my head on Loki's shoulder. He places his arm around my shoulders and together we watch to the show in front of us.

Just like by a Midgardian circus, the center of the arena is covered with sand but inside it are a total of ten pairs of Asgardian men standing. In their hands they hold swords and when the gong echoes loudly through the arena, they all start fighting in pairs. But it's not a fight on life or death, it's a dance. They have practiced every move and they all move synchronously. Lights are flashing in different kind of colors and it's truly beautiful to look at. Dramatic music is played by the orchestra on a stage behind the sand circle.

Some pretend to be hit after a while and fall on the ground. One by one the dancers become less and less until there only two standing. They're both breathing heavily and one holds his sword to the throat of the other. The lights go black and I know the show is over. I applaud just like the others in the arena and the lights turn back on. Revealing the dancers who're all standing again, bowing at the public. I applaud even louder and rise up from the wooden bench, giving them a standing ovation. Loki follows my example and then the curtains are closing again. Loki grabs my hand and together we walk back outside. I have to squint my eyes a bit due to the brightness outside, in the arena it had been more dark than light. Loki is standing behind me and folds his arms around me, laying his chin on the top of my head. In that position we wait for the others to come outside.