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omgrachwrites · 5 years

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May Queen (Loki Laufeyson)

Pairing: OC x Loki

Summary: Astrid, the princess of Vanaheimr relocates to Asgard to seal a betrothal to the youngest prince. She soon finds happiness and a multitude of new friends. Unfortunately treachery and deceit lie in the court of Asgard in unlikely places, and she learns that true love never dies.

Warning: fluff, angst, slowburn

Words: 2524

A/N: Wow, this is such a long one! I hope you guys enjoy and please let me know what you think, I love you all! xxx

Part Four - The Wedding

Astrid wanted to be alone that morning, she needed to be alone to allow herself to be truly upset without Mara’s eyes glancing at her in sympathy, and she couldn’t stand those types of looks, especially from her handmaiden. She had supposed that she’d cry on the morn of her love’s wedding, though now she was standing in her underclothes in front of the mirror and the tears just would not come.

Astrid had plenty of reasons to cry though, the day before her mother had dropped a huge bombshell upon her shoulders. The Queen wanted Astrid and Loki to be intimate with one another before their wedding. Her reasoning behind it was that if Loki got her pregnant then Odin couldn’t get cold feet about the match before they were wed. It felt like it was a trap for them both and Astrid felt like her mother was selling her to the highest bidder.

To top it all off, Arna – Erik’s betrothed – was a lovely young woman and she’d be able to make Erik extremely happy. Astrid would have liked it better if Arna was awful, then Erik might have been more compelled to come back to her. She sighed at her reflection, a pasty colour invaded her normally rosy skin, making her look ill – she wondered if she could get ill from a broken heart – and her baby blue eyes were glassy with unshed tears.

Though, she supposed that she’d better make herself look beautiful, she had to put on her best face. She picked out a velvet burgundy dress that came off at the shoulders and ended in long sleeves embellished with golden threaded designs. Golden flowers were sewn into the hem of her dress. Upon her curls she rested her crown and pinched her cheeks to bring some life back into them. A knock at her door startled her slightly, she wasn’t expecting any company. She closed her eyes for a moment and there was another knock at her door in the meantime. Astrid willed her voice not to shake as she called out to whoever was knocking.

“Come in,” she worried at her bottom lip with her teeth as the door swung open to reveal Mara who had a sympathetic look on her face, just like Astrid knew she would have, “whatever is the matter?” she asked as Mara lingered in the doorway.

“Do you remember the wedding custom?” she started with wide eyes when Astrid raised an eyebrow, Mara continued with quick, nervous words tumbling out of her mouth, “as the reigning princess, it is customary for you to bless the bride, for a fortunate wedding and future,” she added, licking her lips nervously.

Astrid’s stomach dropped. How could she forget? She was such a fool.

“Yes of course, please send the blushing bride in,” she tried so very hard to keep the bitter tone out of her voice, “it merely slipped my mind with the happenings of this morning,” she smiled wanly and turned to the table beside her bed, it was part of the custom to give the bride a token.

What was she supposed to give the woman that was about to gain everything that she’d ever wanted? The princesses’ eyes landed on a red velvet box, sighing as she opened it and saw the golden circlet adorned with shimmering moonstones. She’d received it from a travelling merchant and it was said to bless the wearer with fertility. Astrid had been planning on wearing the beautiful item for her own wedding but that was before her idea of a fairy tale wedding was killed.

By the time that Astrid gad turned back around to face Mara, Arna had entered the room and Astrid’s breath was momentarily taken away. Arna’s wedding dress was a flowy white masterpiece and in the morning sunlight her auburn hair shone like copper. If there was one thing that was certain it was that Erik and Arna would have beautiful children with hair kissed by fire.

“My lady, you look more beautiful than anybody could have ever imagined,” Astrid smiled, tilting her head in Arna’s direction as she placed the circlet upon Arna’s head, “I hereby bless you on this day and all of your future days. I bless you, your children and your children’s children for all the days and nights to come.”

“My lady,” Arna bowed low and gracefully, “you are too kind, I thank you for your blessing and now I must finish preparing myself to meet my love at the altar, I beg your leave.”

“As you will my lady,” Astrid nodded as Arna swept from her chambers, on the way to the future that should have been Astrid’s, the princess sighed as she smoothed down her hair, “come on Mara, let’s get to the grove before we’re late,” she left the room without waiting for Mara’s answer.

In the warmer months and when the weather was good, the wedding processions were held in an enchanted – or that’s what the common people called it – grove and when it got cold they’d have it in the Great Hall.

“Are you quite alright my lady?” Mara asked nervously as they made it outside into the blinding sunlight.

“I’m fine Mara, let’s not talk about it further,” she sternly dismissed Mara’s tentative words as her eyes landed on Loki who was standing on the front lawn of the castle, Astrid vaguely wondered for a second if he’d been waiting for her.

“Your Grace,” he grinned, taking her hand in his and kissing the top of it lightly, he looked very handsome, “you look so beautiful, as always,” Astrid blushed at his compliment, up until about two days ago it seemed like he didn’t want to know her and now he was giving her compliments and he was being very charming, she wondered what had changed. Though, she wasn’t complaining, she kind of liked his attention.

“As do you, my prince,” she answered with a smile, feeling slightly more cheerful. Loki smiled, the corners of his eyes creasing as he did so. He even greeted Mara politely, that was one of the things that Astrid liked about Loki, he was gracious and kind to everyone, even to the servants.

Loki held out his hand for Astrid to take, she hesitated for a split second as she glanced at his face before she took his hand and they walked towards the grove together, greeted people as they passed. The Queen smiled proudly at her daughter as she walked to the ceremony with Odin and Frigga while Thor was taking one of the ladies from court, she was laughing obnoxiously and unnecessarily loud.

Astrid’s breath was taken away as they arrived at the grove; it had been the place of an old chapel that had been destroyed in a battle, though the stone arches still remained. No one knew why, some said it was the will of the gods and other people said that they had been protected by fairy magic. White and pink spring flowers hung down from the arches and the forest floor was scattered with pale pink petals.

It certainly was a magnificent spectacle and Erik looked stunning in his wedding robes, she longed to go and talk to him but she couldn’t. It was almost as if Erik could feel Astrid’s eyes upon him because he refused to look in her direction as she walked to the front with Loki. The incessant ache in Astrid’s heart didn’t go away and too soon it was time for the wedding to begin as the bards started up the wedding tune.

Astrid fought to conceal the gasp that threatened to escape her lips, Arna looked very beautiful in her white dress and with the sun behind her she looked like an angel. Astrid glanced at Erik to see that he was beaming with joy. At that very moment Loki placed his hand on her lower back and Astrid leaned into his touch, thankful for it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mara and Loki exchange a glance. The ceremony soon started and Erik and Arna promised to love and respect each other till the end of time a four cords were draped over their hands and tied as they shared their kiss.

The wedding feast was a joyous occasion for everyone – well almost everyone – Erik smiled gracefully at his new wife as they ate their way through some amazing courses, passing on some of them. When the hours started to pass by Loki did the honours by asking the bride to grace him with a dance, leaving Erik and Arna in each other’s company. After a couple of moments Erik wordlessly held out his hand to the princess, just as quietly she took his hand after a second of hesitation and she let him lead her.

“You look lovely this evening Your Grace,” Erik started as he pulled her close to dance with her.

“Congratulations Sir, your new bride is simply lovely,” she said in a monotone voice, ignoring the compliment as she watched Arna dance with Loki.

“Astrid, look at me,” he asked and she shook her head as hot tears blurred her vision. The man she loved was right beside her but she couldn’t have him, she couldn’t reach him, “please Astrid,” she sighed and looked at him, his eyes were the colour of emeralds and his lips were a cherry red from his biting them.

A crease was forming in the middle of his forehead and she reached up with soft fingers almost as if she could smooth it out with just her touch, “you look so beautiful,” she whispered and he had the grace to blush. Astrid had to try and ignore how right she felt in his arms.

“Before you were promised to Prince Loki I tried to delay the wedding,” Erik confessed and Astrid’s grip tightened slightly on his strong shoulder.

“Why?” she asked, wondering what on earth could have made him ever think of doing that.

“Isn’t it obvious? Because I love you, the gods are indeed cruel to keep us apart from each other,” he said, lowering his voice.

“Don’t, don’t say that,” Astrid pleaded, “you’re married now, you must stay true to your wife.”

Erik nodded, his pretty eyes were sad, “I always imagined that we’d run away together.”

“A sweet dream, but a dream nonetheless,” Astrid nodded as the music came to a stop, “well, farewell.”

“Farewell, Your Grace,” he bowed his head, bringing her head up to his lips, kissing it gently, rubbing his thumb across the skin of her wrist. Gently, Astrid took her hand from his grasp and took her leave.

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Astrid had been missing for a while now and Loki had to admit to himself that he was actually worried about her; she looked upset when she had finished dancing with Erik, the groom. She had told him that she wasn’t feeling too well and that she needed some time alone from the ceremony. At first, Loki didn’t care that she wasn’t there because he got to spend some time with Mara and that meant the most to him.

However, after a while, the young prince found himself looking over at the entrance to the grove, wondering when she would reappear. She was still missing when the bride and groom released thousands of gorgeous blue butterflies, causing the ladies of the court to gasp in delight and awe. The princess was still missing when it was time for the fire eaters to perform. He was going to find her, he said as much to Mara but he didn’t like it when Mara tried to convince him to stay. He smiled graciously at everybody as he passed and made the necessary excuses as he walked into the thicket of trees in search for the princess.

Loki hadn’t been looking for long until he walked close to the river and she was sitting there, the pale moonlight on the water. He heard her sniffle and he just knew that she’d be crying and he felt a pang in his chest, even if they didn’t talk much he still didn’t like it when someone was upset. And, he didn’t know how he was going to help Mara dispose of her mistress; he certainly did crazy things for love. But, for now he wanted to make the princess smile, she was especially lovely when she did that, it was like the sunshine itself.

He whispered the incantation and the golden butterflies appeared in the air – he wasn’t able to make real life butterflies appear yet so golden butterflies made out of shimmering fairy dust had to do. Astrid made a noise of delight as the butterflies swarmed around her head, giggling as one landed on her nose. When she turned to see where the butterflies were coming from she smiled when she saw Loki, her smile was laced with surprise. As Loki cautiously made his way over to her he noticed that her eyes were red and glassy.

“You missed the butterfly releasing,” Loki started, somewhat awkwardly, “and as crazy as it sounds I wanted to cheer you up.”

“Thanks Loki,” she whispered and patted the grass next to her, “were the butterflies they released as pretty as yours?” she smiled as the butterflies formed a crown in her hair.

“They were blue,” Loki offered as he sat down on the grass, “are you alright?” he asked.

Astrid shrugged with a sad smile as her fingers played with her long hair, he didn’t exactly know why she was upset but he could make a good guess, “I don’t really know how to feel right now, thank you for coming to see if I was alright,” she smiled, nudging her shoulder against his.

“You’re welcome,” he smiled and an idea popped into his head and he knew it would make her smile, “when I was a child my mother used to tell me a story about a princess. She was the princess of love and beauty, kind to everybody, even those that were below her. She was loved back – maybe always not in the way she wanted – and her kingdom had peace for evermore and she was remembered as the May Queen for the flowers that grew at her feet,” he nodded at the hem of her dress where flowers had been sewn, “and the butterflies in her hair.”

Astrid chewed her lip and looked at the grass, biting her lip and Loki just knew that she was trying to conceal a grin. After a beat, she looked up at him, pure joy reflected in her eyes and Loki felt proud, “your mother told you that story did she?”

“She absolutely did,” Loki nodded with a cheeky grin.

“I believe you,” she joked in a tone that implied that she didn’t and she rested her head against Loki’s shoulder – it was a surprise to everyone – she was so close that he could smell the perfume in her hair, “thank you Loki. The May Queen has a nice tone to it.”

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@theonelittleone @void-imaginations

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