Makutu ☆ Thor: Ragnarok [DISCONTINUED]

five

FIVE
A ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
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"How lovely to finally meet the daughter of Odin. Why, I haven't seen you since you were but a babe. You have flourished mightily." The man said. He reminded Rán of King Midas, the Greek; he wore everything gold; gold silk, gold armour, his hair was gold as though he had not aged a day, and even his brown eyes had flecks of gold in them. Rán could see why her parents had broke out the best place settings for their royal guests. They'd expect no less.

"Should we all convene for dinner? It is ready to be served," Frigga joined the group then, stood next to Freyr's daughter. She had golden hair, and even braided and half-up it still reached her lower back. Her ice-like eyes, that she shared with her brother, admired Thor from across the hall. Lady Sif, who was stood next to Frigga, glared at the Vanir Princess. Odin nodded and lead his daughter and the group to the table in the middle of the room, where all nine of them met.

Odin sat at the head, on a high-backed chair with plush seating, that shared simliarities with a throne. Rán and Thor sat either side of him, on more basic oak dining chairs; Hjalmar and then Frigga sat next to Rán and then Loki and Sif next to Thor. Freyr and Helka sat at the end, Helka on Thor's side and Freyr next to Frigga. Rán looked down at her golden place settings, where she had been chosen to be one of the four who ate off them. She certainly felt unworthy to be eating food off of the oldest, purest gold in the castle.

Food appeared on the table as if by magick, though Rán knew that was definitely the case, as he mother had apparently organised the soiree. Immediately, Hjalmar and Thor dove for the pig's head with a large carving knife each; their knives clashed and caught everyone's attention as they aimed for the meatiest part; Thor's nose flared as though he was prepared to have a knife battle with Hjalmar for the first cut of meat. Frigga chuckled, as though she was enraged yet was trying not to let it show, "Thor, where are your manners, boy? Let our guests have first cut." And reluctantly, Thor glared at his mother as he lowered his knife and let Hjalmar have the best cut of meat.

Rán was not feeling hungry at all. Servants hovered around the table, making sure the Kings' and Queen's plates were full, but allowed the princesses and princes (and Sif) to serve their own food. Rán picked at a few vegetables and fruits, but as the feast wore on she had eaten barely anything. The servants never let their goblets go unfull, so soon her stomach was full of wine rather than food. That didn't bode well. Rán's head felt heavy and her eyes felt tired, but there was no sleeping any time soon. Loki watched with a small grin as his sister became drunk, whilst he ate his pork pie. Rán sat down at the table after disappearing for the fourth time; she had been awfully quiet as the two families made small talk, and had only nodded in response when someone attempted to include her in conversation; until now.

"Are you alright, Rán?" Asked Hjalmar, "You have eaten barely anything all night. You know, when you are a mother you will be expected to have a bit more meat on your bones - otherwise you wouldn't be able to walk, or handle the energy that comes with raising a child." He sipped his wine.

Rán slammed her goblet onto the table.

"A mother?" She yelped, red wine droplets spilt over her lips and onto her chin. She wiped at them with her arm. "I am but a child myself! First, you are forcing me to wed this heathen and now you expect me to bear children? Mother, you can't condone this, surely!" She cried. The table went silent. Thor kept hacking at his meat, though there was nothing but bones left on his plate. Sif picked at the remaining fruits on her plate, as did Helka. Frigga looked outraged but Odin remained passive. Freyr looked amused but not quite as amused as Loki, who smirked behind his goblet of wine. Hjalmar looked taken aback.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, don't act so dumb." Rán slurred as she picked up her goblet and used it to point at Hjalmar.

"Rán, you're drunk. Come on, let's go and get you to bed." Loki said with a mischievious undertone as he pushed back from his chair. He quickly walked around the table and pulled her chair away from its position next to Odin. He gripped an arm around her waist and lifted her, and she leaned on him for support as she clutched onto her goblet. Frigga smiled at her son gratefully as she immediately burst into apology for her daughter's behaviour.

Loki lead his sister out of the throne room and lead her through the castle; they walked down dark, stone hallways lined with torches, the lights flickered against their faces, shadows carving out cheekbones and features that made Loki look much more daunting and scary. Rán stumbled down a few steps as Loki kept a loose grip on her whilst he took her to a familiar room.

Rán all but ripped down the tapestry as she fell into the small room that their mother used as a classroom when they were kids. Loki pushed her onto their mother's pillow and Rán flopped down like a ragdoll. She opened her mouth to say something but with a swipe of his hand, Loki rendered Rán speechless.

"Quiet, you fool," he hissed. "You have embarrassed yourself and our family out there. And I will be the one to blame for it." He stalked around the room, circling his sister like a vulture.

"I don't," she hiccuped, "I don't want to get married." Rán said pitifully. Loki nearly stopped his pacing.

"Yes, and I am willing to help you avoid that. But, you must comply." He crouched down next to his sister, "Give in." His voice dropped to a whisper. Rán's ears rang with white noise as the room fell silent.

"Give in to what?" She whispered, afraid that if she raised her voice, the walls might cave in.

Loki's chuckle sent shivers down her spine; it was deep, intoxicating, as though it made her even more drunk. She felt the lure, the darkness, as though it eminated from him. Her eyes fluttered close. "You know what, sister."

A ball of green fire danced in his palm, illuminating his face and his sharp features. In the low light, he looked like a goblin. His teeth looked sharp, his nose pointed. Rán felt terrified.

"And if I do?" She whispered.

"I will guide you. We can rule Asgard. We can rule the nine realms." He said, his voice low and dark. Her vision faded, black appeared in the corner of her eyes, fogging her vision. Loki smirked, smug, as her eyes turned black.

"Can you feel it? The darkness. It consumes you. From the deepest buried root of Yggdrasil, it has been here for centuries, waiting for those who are worthy. That is us, my sister. We are worthy of its magick. No other being has been capable. But it chose us." His voice echoed in her mind, rung in her ears. She felt the darkness inside her. It snaked around her nerves, around her stomach and her lungs and her heart, pulsated and thrummed inside her. It flourished in her, it grew like a tumor and it consumed her. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her head leaned backwards, facing the ceiling of the room, her mouth fell open as the darkness expelled from her mouth and climbed back in through her nose. Loki watched, mesmerised, as his sister accepted the darkness that lurked way beneath Asgard. He had never embraced it himself, but he was intrigued. He had encouraged his sister to do what he would never dare, just to see what would happen.

Loki was lowkey scared, but mostly excited. He grinned devilishly. Rán's eyes cleared and were blue once again, and she shook her head profusely as though a fly had just flown into her ear. She looked around the room, confused and dazed. She turned to her brother.

"Are you sober yet?" He asked politely, as though what had just happened never had. Rán smiled sheepishly.

"How bad was I?" She questioned. Loki laughed, which made Rán groan loudly and slap her forehead.

"I made a complete and utter arse out of myself, didn't I? Oh, god. I don't want to get married though! Oh, Loki, what ever am I supposed to do?" She looked to her brother for help; for guidance. Her brother who had always teased and bullied her, her brother that always made fun of her for not being better than him. For once, she looked utterly helpless, as though she really valued his opinion. Loki smiled sardonically.

"Use your magick, of course."