Vera, a princess, a goddess, eyes as bright as the suns. She is the definition of beauty. One day this very same beauty is sent to Asgard, promised to the young Prince Thor. But her heart is promised to another, the dark and mysterious prince, Loki...
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"Who knew all it took is a statement dress to get France in the palm of your hand?" — Queen Catherine de Medici
。.✦ ☾
Vera stood alone as the gods partied, celebrating their new princess. She had her arms wrapped around herself, staring out towards the gardens. She hated parties, she felt out of place. Her voice wasn't loud, her laugh wasn't boisterous. She didn't dance like a lunatic and all she craved to do was be outside in the garden, take a dip in the rivers, or read in a dark corner.
The princess didn't belong in a world full of gods.
Loki walks up from behind her, gently taking off his helmet, and clearing his throat. Startled, Vera whirls around, meeting Loki's apologetic gaze. "I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you....I-it's just been a while since I last saw you. We were kids." Loki says
Vera smiles, remembering. "I remember, you grew, finally." Vera teases
Loki chuckles. "And you stopped." Loki teases back
Vera chuckles, her hand moving to push back her hair, only to stop mid-way when she remembers she has it pinned up. She awkwardly folds her hands in front of her. "This isn't exactly how I hoped to come here. I was hoping to see Asgard for the land, the people, and the literature. Not....marriage." Vera states
Loki hums, nodding. "Well with your siblings already married off, it's your turn. I'm sorry you've got dealt the short end of the stick." Loki says
Vera smiles ruefully. "I could say the same about you. I remember the days we would play kings and queens. You would always best Thor and be our king, it was your dream." Vera says "Well sometimes, dreams don't come true, despite what our mothers might tell us." Loki says
"Yeah well, my mother always told me, to do what's expected, to not be too ambitious or outspoken, that a king needs a silent queen." Vera scoffs
Loki chuckles. "You were always an outspoken girl, it's what I always liked about you," Loki admits
Vera smiles. "And you were always so quiet, still are. I never liked it, you would always make your voice so small compared to your brothers." Vera says
Loki looks down, embarrassed at the brutal truth. Loki assumed everyone hadn't cared if he spoke or not, they would laugh his words off, they would scoff at his opinions, and they treated him as if he didn't matter. But Vera saw him, she respected him. He mattered to her.
"Well, Thor is loud." Loki says, trying to brush it off. Vera shakes her head, fully turning to him. "It's no excuse Loki, he and Odin treat you poorly. If only you stood up for yourself." Vera says
"I could say the same Vera, you could always say no to your mother." Loki says "I can't Loki, you don't know her like I do." Vera states, briefly closing her eyes, "Does she scare you so much?" Loki asks, hesitantly approaching the goddess.
"Why do you think all of my siblings are gone and married, it's because of her. They may not be her kids, but they are her property, I am her property. Goddess is nothing but a title. Hera will not let me go until I'm Queen." Vera says
Loki stares into her tired eyes, he turns his head slightly, grabbing two glasses of wine as the waiter passes by, he turns back to Vera, offering her the chute. Vera hesitantly reaches over and wraps her fingers against the glass, the tips of her fingers grazing Loki's retreating ones.
Loki ignores the jump of his heart as he stares into her eyes intently, raising his glass.
"Well all hail to the future Queen of Asgard, you'll love it here Vera. I'll be with you every step of the way." Loki offers
Vera smiled, stepping closer to Loki, making the young god's breath halt, her presence was intoxicating, and the raw scent of her was invading his senses, making his heart speed up. "Thank you, Loki," Vera whispers.
Loki hums softly, reaching over and gently unpinning Vera's hair, watching as the dark tresses cascade down her back, framing her sculpted face. "Keep it down, it suits you," Loki whispers
Vera flushes.
....
Vera takes a deep as she steps outside of the castle, her arms wrapped around herself. Suddenly she feels something on her head and she turns around, only to see her father. Vera reaches up and she touches the scarf he placed over her head.
"You'll get cold," Zeus says, stepping beside her. Vera hums, turning back towards the garden. "It's truly beautiful, even better than the books." Vera says
Zeus smiles. "I hope you love it here. I don't want you miserable. I understand that this alliance is affecting you the most, but it's either this or war." Zeus says, gently placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. Vera sharply turns around and away from her father's hand, eyes filled with tears. "Why does it have to be either, why can't we make peace with them, sign a peace treaty, something!" Vera exclaims, tears slipping down her cheeks. She couldn't help but let her emotions run wild. At heart, she was still a child.
Zeus takes a deep breath. "It's not how this works, you were promised to him even before you were born, in your mother's womb. Asgard needs a strong Queen, and as you are the only legitimate daughter of me and Hera, you will inherit Olympia." Zeus says
Vera shakes her head. "What about Hebe, Eilethyia, or Ares! I mean father, Ares is better qualified." Vera says "his fate was predestined by the fates themselves, so was your sisters and yours. They wanted you Queen from the start. Hebe doesn't have your power, and Eilethyia doesn't have your intelligence. And Ares doesn't have your kind heart. It must be you, and Odin knows this. He wants you to be Thors." Zeus says
"It's not fair." Vera chokes softly, looking down at the pebble ground, her fingers anxiously running themselves through her hair.
Zeus stares at her, wanting to reach out and hold her close, to comfort her, but it's not in his nature. "Life isn't fair, we must accept that," Zeus states, tugging firmly at his toga, and straightening his back.
Vera doesn't lift her head but she stops moving her fingers through her dark locks, eyes hardening in anger and pain. She knows that they are gods and they are expected to be amazing, but she just wishes that her father would be different, he's the god of gods.
