The Dark World | Book 3

Twenty-Two: Young Kings

In the eyes of mere mortals, that of the life of a god was a fleeting sense. Years felt like days to them as they passed the time relishing in their own divinity and weaving grand stories worthy of song. Living life as if they were born to entertain the faith of the mortals. Experience came with the years of living and to the beings who lived a long life, they were still young to them. Just children at playing kings and queens.

So when it came time to finally sit at the long table in the council chamber surrounded by elder lords and ladies and nobles, Sigyn felt the smallest there. Her tittle and ranking outweighed them all by a thousand, but their wisdom is unmatched. She listened to them as they bickered and squandered over small and large debate regarding Asgardian affairs. Be it a change in law, a movement amongst the people or a demand in change with the changing times. Sometimes it consisted of the ethics on how to host a guest in Asgard's grand golden halls.

She would laugh at this.

That is something the late Queen Frigga would preside over. And in her passing, it was Sigyn's duty to host grand feasts and balls. An exciting subject, no less, she was sure to enjoy.

"Then let us have a festival for the people." suggested Sigyn.

The council chamber turned silent at her suggestion. Small glances of unsureness is passed around the room, when,

"A splendid idea." Odin, sitting regal at the head of the table, said.

"Of course, your grace!"

"Wonderful, could not have thought better myself."

Then a lord spoke up, snickering, "Why would we host a festival? What is the occasion?" he questioned Princess Sigyn. "There must be a reason to spend a large sum."

"Markets. We will invite trade from all Nine Realms. A perfect business opportunity."

Gasps and shocks erect around the golden walls, and then muttered chatter. "How would we ever invite the realms to Asgard to trade!?" one laughed at her. She watched them all spit out their objections with red cheeked faces and spoiled expressions. She watched them bicker among themselves again about the topic.

She listened to what they said. "What prosper would come about this? Two out of the Nine Realms don't exist anymore!"

Sigyn's eyes looked over to Odin in his seat. He looked amused by all this. They shared the same look together; the distain for politics, however it was necessary. Then Sigyn rose up from her seat. Her chair scrapped across the floors and the echoes of chatter fell off into nothing.

She smiled at them all. "Lords, and ladies of this chamber." she began. "I understand you distain towards my decisions these past months, however, I will have you all understand I work solely in the favour for the people of Asgard and the realm as one. Now that I am working closely with the All-Father, I have the opportunity to witness first-hand the Nine Realms. Our goal is to unite them as one in peace and prosperity as my marriage to Loki once did." she shrugged her hands at them. "I assume you all remember the terrors of war?"

Soft hums of agreement rippled through the council chamber.

"The days of bloodthirsty gods are behind us," Sigyn continued, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Though I can still sense the hunger among some of us." She chuckled, prompting a round of laughter from the gathered council members. "Opening our borders to trade will create new opportunities—not just for commerce, but for diplomacy. It will broaden Asgard's influence and show the realms that we are not a kingdom that isolates itself. We will still have our chance to remind them why we are the realm of the gods. But we must do more than wield power—we must build trust. A festival, a grand celebration, will bring the people closer together. It will restore their faith in us, in our leadership. How can we rule when the people turn their backs on us? We must continue to stand beside them, because in the end, we are all one."