Astria stared at the ornate door in front of her, unlike a lot of the other doors in the palace this one was made of light colored wood. Flowers and vines slowly crawling up as they embedded themselves into the wood. It was mesmerizing as she looked at it, if she wasn't so nervous from her precious encounter with Loki and the face she was currently on her way to see the Queen, she might consider staring at it for a few hours. Finally a soft and gentle voice came from inside the room.
"Come in!" The voice soothed. The sound of it alone made Astria's heart stutter with familiarity. The sound of this woman's voice was the one she had heard many a time when she was young. The many times she had fallen onto the concrete and scraped her little knees on the abrasive rock. Astria took a deep and final breath and tentatively pushed the door open.
"You.. Um wished to see me, my Queen?" Astria said quietly.
It was somewhat amusing, to say the least, when the Queen's head popped out from behind a wall, much like a prairie dog would when hearing an offending predator.
"Ah! You came quicker than I expected Astria! I thought Eleanor would keep you longer." She said quietly before walking out from behind the wall she was standing behind. The regal women regarded Astria for a few moments. Finally she motioned her hand to the roaring fireplace. A lush couch and a plush chair sat across from each other, being darkened by the dim lighting and the quiet light of the fire. Between them stood a light wood table that only came up to Astria's knees, and carvings much like the Queen door decorated the gentle wood.
Astria opted for the plush seat, not wishing to make the Queen feel cramped in her own room. When she sat down into the cushions, she couldn't help but let out a content sigh because the plush velvet against her exposed skin felt so good.
"Tea?" Asked Frigga as she poured the almost black liquid into a white china teacup.
"No, no, I'm alright, thank you." Astria said as she shimmed herself up a bit on the chair, opting to sit up straighter and folded her hands neatly in her lap. There was a long moment of silence between the two women as Frigga sipped her tea, gazing into the fire.
"Queen Frigga I-"
"Astria, I've known you since you were a babe. Please, we are alone. Call me Frigga." The Queen smiled sweetly at the girl in front of her, once again taking a small cautious sip from her cup.
"Frigga.." Astria said very slowly, the sound of the Queen's name alone on her tongue made her feel awkward but oddly proud. "Have I done something wrong? I know Mrs. Rackel hasn't been the most pleased with my performance thus far, but I am truly trying.." Astria said, her throat tightening with anxiety and fear as she let her gaze fall down to her hands, which were tightly woven together. But after a few moments the Queen let out a simple quiet laugh.
"Oh my dear..." She said as she set the cup down onto the silver tray that it was originally sitting upon. "I am dearly sorry that I have caused you to be so worried about coming to my study. I simply wished to ask you how your training was going and how you were feeling about your position." The Queen took a deep breath as she then glanced to the fire place, watching the flames dance in their place for a few moments before her gentle gaze went back to Astria. "I know that you probably never really wanted to take the position to begin with" Astria went to open her mouth to protest but the Queen quickly put her hand up, quietly letting her know she did not need to speak presently.
"I know you're going to say your honored to take my invitation or something of that matter. But my dear, I know how you have been since you were a very small child, and following around a royal women wasn't something I ever saw that you would ever want." Frigga regarded Astria, her shocked expression making the older women let out a small snort of amusement. "Did you not think that I would pick up on how you were with all those years you were around me child?" Frigga shook her head, her sweet and motherly smile returning to her face. "Nonetheless, I am grateful that you took the invitation, and I am sure that you will live up to your mothers expectations."
