The Betrothed

The Proposal

One thing to know about Katherine is she is very proper and a rule follower. After all she was a lady of the court. She knows when to keep her mouth shut and when to speak her mind. With that point aside, we continue our story as the four rode towards the Enchanted Falls.
      They arrive and as Thor and Sif are sword fighting and Loki is watching, Katherine takes it upon herself to set up lunch. With some help of her magic she glides the blanket and food delicately from the horses saddles and sets it up under a willow tree. Once everything has been set Katherine calls her friends to eat lunch.
     They ate and made pleasant conversation. When Thor asked Katherine to take a walk with him.
Of course she said yes.
     "Is there something you wish to talk to me about?" Katherine asked as they were far enough from the group.
    " Katherine, you are one of the most fair maidens in Asgard. You are kind, smart, polite, and everyone adores you," Thor smiles.
    "Thank you," she replies.
    "As you know I've been training to become King, and....my father says it's time to choose a bride to become Queen," Thor says.
    "So you need my advice to help choose your bride?" Katherine asks worryingly.
   "Katherine we've always been close friends, I've always wondered if we could be more," Thor wanders off.
    "Thor, what're you saying?"Katherine hesitates.
   "Katherine, as a lady of the court my father sees you as the right person to have by my side, I'm asking you to be Queen." Thor says.
    " If it is my duty as lady of the court so be it," Katherine says with tears in her eyes. Thor slid the sparkling ring on to her finger, quite flashy for her taste she thought. They walk back in silence.
    "Brother! Great news, I have found the new Queen," Thor says presenting me.
   With pain in his eyes, " That's wonderful brother," Loki says mounting his horses and riding toward the palace. Thor says his goodbyes and starts to head that way as well.
     "Katherine..." Sif says almost crying. Katherine looks to her friend tears streaming down her face.
    "I had no choice, it's my duty. It's what my father wanted for me," Katherine says.
    "Your father would've wanted you to be true to yourself and your heart. Not what your politically inclined to do," Sif says sternly. They both make the ride back to the stables in silence.
     When Katherine gets there she's greeted by a lady's maid.
      "Lady Katherine, as requested by the king and the prince you are to move into the palace to prepare for the wedding and coronation," she finishes with a curtsy.
    "Of course," Katherine says walking with her head held low toward the palace. What has her life come to?
     Her lady's maid walks her through the palace to a double door as they open it reveals a grand golden bedroom.
    "You will stay here until you and Thor are married," she says guiding me into the room.
    "Yes, and I didn't catch your name," Katherine asks.
    "M-my name," she says. Katherine nods, usually servants are known as just who they serve not as an individual.
   "It's Ella," she replies.
    "Well it's very nice to meet you Ella, I have one request please." Katherine asks.
    "Of course Milady, what is it?"
    "Can you bring me my midgardian record player and records from my home?" Katherine pleads.
     "Uh um of course," Ella says and she give a curtsy and walks out the door. Katherine goes to change after Ella leaves seeing her gigantic walk in closet.
      "Woah," Katherine says in aw.
        She changes into a simple dress again or the simplest one she can find, they don't understand her simplicity here apparently.

     One thing about Katherine she loves Midgardian music, especially Frank Sinatra there was something about it that relaxed her. Not but an hour later Ella returned to her room with her record player and a guard carrying a stack of various records to include her Frank Sinatra.
      "Please place it on the small table by the bookshelf," Katherine gestures.
    Ella carefully sets it down and the giant stack of records next to the table extending from the floor to the height of the record player on the table.
    "My lady, how does this misgardian contraption work? And what does it do?" Ella asks
     "It plays music, Ella, and please call me Katherine" Katherine smiles.
     "My L- I mean Katherine... that machine isn't an instrument you can't play it?" She says confused.
    "No, it's not, but it can still play a song," Katherine gets up from sitting on the couch by the fireplace in her room and walks over ten paces to the machine by the shelf. She takes the top record off the stack, Frank Sinatra of course. Carefully placing the record of the player, delicately taking the needle and putting on the record as the player starts to spin. Trumpets start blaring and the tune 'I've Got the World on a String' by Frank Sinatra plays from the device.
     "Grab my hand Ella," Katherine says kicking off her heels, holding our her hand.
    "What?" Ella asks.
    "Come on, dancing with me," Katherine smiles.
    The two laugh and start swaying and spinning around the room in an upbeat jazzy tempo. Not thirty seconds later Ella receives a tap on the shoulder from a prince.
     "May I dance with the future Queen of Asgard," Loki asks.
    "Of course my lord," Ella curtsy's and walks away.
    Loki wraps one hand around Katherine's waist and the other grabbing her other hand while Katherine's other hand rests on Loki's shoulder. As 'Strangers in the Night' by Frank Sinatra plays on the record player.
       The sway for about thirty seconds Katherine's head rests on Loki's shoulder.
     "Katherine?" Loki questions and she picks her head up and makes eye contact with him.
   "Yes?" She says.
   "Why did you agree to marry my brother? Do you love him?" He says.
    "No," she sighs, " I don't love him. But I have a duty to this kingdom and to the Allfather to obey his wishes," She says heartbroken.
    "But don't you want to marry for love?" Loki asks.
   "Of course I do. I want to. But life is about making tough choices and sticking to your duty," Katherine replies.
    "You fascinate me Katherine, one moment your independent and no one can sway you. Then the next you become so political and focused on what everyone else wants from you, and not what you want," Loki says almost disappointed.
   "I-I don't know what to say," Katherine says.
   "You know I'm right, but I understand I just wish we had more time," Loki sighs.
   "M-more time for what?" Katherine says looking to Loki's eyes.
   "For this..." Loki says bringing Katherine's lips to his, stopping the dance and fireworks flew. The kiss was passionate but gentle-like time had stop to create this perfect moment and it lasted for what seemed forever. Until it did stop and time resumed, and Sinatra faded away in the background and the song ended. And as if on cue the record player glitched and stopped playing.  
      "I'm sorry Katherine, I needed to do that once," Loki said his hands still cupped around her face ever so gently.
     "I-I don't know what to say..." she says speechless.
    "Don't say anything, it ''twas but a moment of weakness. You're marrying my brother and that's that," Loki says letting go and regretfully walking away.
      Katherine was left with her thoughts. With 6 months till she was getting married was she to do?