The Proposal

The plan Odin had set in motion had not come to him easily. He needed to test the waters. He needed to be sure his instincts were correct.

It was only after Viggo cornered the King again, offering up his selection of choices for Odin's heir and Finna's husband that Odin realized he needed to put Viggo back in his place and soon. He retreated to his office and summoned Sigurd, another member of his council.

"Your Majesty. How may I be of assistance?" he bowed as he was led into the room by Odin's personal assistant.

"Come, sit." He motioned for him to take a seat across the desk from him. "I need to confirm some information I have been receiving. You will need to be completely honest with me."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Sigurd swallowed nervously. Odin chose to interrogate Sigurd for the information he sought because of his nervous nature. Sigurd was Odin's financial analyst, a slight man with thinning brown hair and spectacles. He had alerted the King to many a devious attempt to defraud the realm of gold, earning the King's trust.

He did not have to question him long before he told the King of Viggo's ambitions. How he planned to be the grandsire of the future king. How he was dangling his youngest daughter, who had recently come of age, like a carrot in front of the richest and most powerful men in the nine so they would offer him gifts and favors for their consideration for her hand. Viggo was leaving on an expensive hunting trip, all expenses paid by his host, an extremely wealthy businessman who has had his eye on Eisa since she was a young adolescent, knowing full well that he would never allow his baby girl to wed the old fool.

The King learned that Eisa was his pride and joy, his precious jewel. While he was using her maidenhood to benefit himself, he never considered anyone good enough to have her and kept her close to his side. Sigurd told him of Viggo's confidence that Finna would be Queen and that Eisa would be his key to whatever else he needed that Finna could not grant him access to. His oldest and his youngest daughter, the only two of the six unmarried and living with their father. Viggo said that the Norns were finally making it up to him for not giving him sons.

"Do you believe these girls agreed to be involved in Viggo's ambitious plans?"

"Oh no, Your Majesty. The girls remain ignorant of their father's dealings. Viggo does not even speak with me of such matters. I only know of these things myself because Viggo's office shares a wall with mine. His voice travels well. I have seen the marriage proposals arrive by the cartload when the youngest came of age. But I know he will not marry her off until the eldest sister is wed."

Odin dismissed Sigurd with his thanks and sat back in his chair. The plan had started to form in his mind then. He looked at the portrait of his Queen on his wall and sighed, "Oh Frigga, I could really use your advice right now, my love."

oOXOo

Eisa was sitting on the balcony sketching a nest in a stone corbel that a sparrow had made to prepare for the eggs she was soon to lay.

"A message just arrived for you, My Lady."

"Thank you, Berta. Just set it there, I will get to it in time."

"It is from the King himself, Miss."

The piece of charcoal she was sketching with made a thick dark line across her page as she jumped up from her seat.

"Dammit!" She wiped her hands on her skirt before accepting the parchment envelope from the maid. Breaking the King's seal with shaky hands, she fumbled for the note inside, transferring black fingerprints onto the clean white paper. She read the note quickly and looked back to the maid, panic-stricken, "He requests an audience with me right away."

"Norns, child! You are not presentable! Come, I will try and sort you out quickly."

The maid got her to her room and scrubbed the charcoal from her fingers as Eisa fumbled to unbutton her smock with her non-dominant hand. She looked in the mirror, horrified, "My hair!"

"This is a good lesson to always be mindful of your looks, My Lady."

"I have never once woken and thought to myself, 'Maybe I should put on my finery in case I am summoned by the King today', Berta!"

"Hush, child! You must not keep His Majesty waiting."

Berta got Eisa into a corset and gown quickly while Eisa shook out her hair. Berta made a tidy bun at the base of her skull after running a brush through it a few times.

She stood back and looked at her handiwork, "Well, that will have to do."

"Thanks," Eisa rolled her eyes as she slipped into her shoes.

"What is this commotion? Where do you think you are going?" Finna asked from the hallway as Eisa sailed past her, rubbing perfume behind her ears, and making her way to the front door.

"Nothing, Sister. Nowhere. I will return shortly." Eisa hastily closed the front door behind herself and rushed through the halls, "Hopefully."

oOXOo

Eisa's heart was hammering in her chest as she was escorted to Odin's inner office.

"You wished to speak with me, Your Majesty?" She curtsied, out of breath.

Odin laughed when he took in the sight of her, "You made good time. Did you run here?" He set his quill down in its holder and motioned for her to take a seat.

"I did not wish to keep you waiting, Your Majesty." She tried to perch daintily on the edge of the chair, but her foot caught in her skirt, and she fell heavily into her seat. "Apologies, My King."

"Think nothing of it," he chuckled. "Thank you for coming. I hope I have not pulled you away from something important?"

"Not at all."

A maid poured them both a cup of tea, then excused herself.

"I am troubled, My Lady."

Eisa burned her mouth on her tea and quickly returned it to her saucer. "That is unfortunate news, Your Majesty. The realm mourns with you. The Queen was treasured by the people if that offers you some comfort."

"Thank you. Her absence is palpable." He took a deep breath, "But that is not what I brought you here to discuss."

"Oh, yes. Of course." Eisa nodded assuredly, despite having absolutely no clue why the King would want to talk to her.

"Prince Thor has been gone for over a century now, and the kingdom remains without an heir."

"That is troubling, My King," Eisa nodded.

"The council is pushing me to name an heir. Your father most of all."

"He is a very impatient man, Your Majesty. I pray he is giving you time to grieve in peace."

Odin nodded, "I have had a respite these past few days. He left you behind as he went traveling?"

"Yes, My King. A hunting expedition abroad. I could not think of anything I would want to do less. He will be gone a few weeks and left Finna and me in the care of his staff."

Odin sipped his tea, "Everyone needs time away from work here and there. You recently celebrated a very important birthday. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" She blushed, "Do you keep track of all your subjects' birthdays?"

"I can scarcely remember the date of my own birth," he chuckled.

She laughed with him.

"I hear you have received a record number of marriage proposals, yet your father has yet to come to me to approve your betrothal. Why do you suppose that is?"

She took a deep breath, "He tells me it is because he is trying to find the perfect match for me."

"But you believe otherwise?"

She looked at her hands in her lap. "It does not matter what I believe. I am just happy not to be getting married any time soon."

"You look down upon marriage?"

"Oh, no, Your Majesty! It is nothing like that. I see how happy my sisters are being married and having babies. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews. I have always wanted to be a wife and mother myself. But- but I was just hoping that I could one day marry someone... special to me. Do you think that is childish?"

"Not at all. I believe that is the hope of every young person."

"I am afraid my father is just enjoying the bidding war that my coming of age has started."

"So, your father has made you aware of his actions?"

"Not exactly. I hear things- whispers behind my back when I go out. I see the letters on my father's desk at home. I do not agree with what he is doing. But what can I do?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"You are a sweet girl. It is not proper." He sat back and looked at her carefully. "You know, your birth mother and my wife were best of friends. She was at her side after every single one of her babies was delivered, yourself included."

Eisa swallowed thickly, "I do not even remember my mother."

"She was beautiful inside and out. The kindest, gentlest soul. Warm and caring. I see a lot of her in you girls." He considered his last sentence, "Well, most of you girls."

Eisa giggled, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your father intends to have me wed your sister, Finna, to my heir, regardless of who I may choose."

She nodded in understanding.

"I am troubled because the candidate I have in mind would not be well suited to your sister. He would need someone... softer with her words and affection."

"I see." Warning bells started ringing in her head, "And you believe me to be softer?"

"I know it for a fact."

She swallowed thickly, "May I ask the name of the candidate you have in mind?"

Odin looked up at the family portrait on the wall, trying to organize his thoughts before he spoke again.

Eisa followed his gaze. Her heart started pounding in her chest as she caught sight of the piercing blue-green eyes she used to dream about at night.

"Prince Loki?!" Eisa shrieked despite trying to remain calm.

Odin looked back at her, trying to gauge her reaction.

"How? How would he wed? He is serving his time in prison. How- How?" She looked around bewildered as if she were unsure how she had come to be sitting in the King's private office.

Odin sat back and let her calm down. After several moments, he asked, "May I continue?"

"Please." Eisa motioned with her hand for him to go on before taking a shaky sip of her tea.

"I did not have all the facts before I sentenced him. I made an emotional and rash judgment. I believe the prince to now be healed of the effects of his torture. He has taken great strides to rehabilitate himself. I would like to give him another chance at a happy life. I feel your tenderness and kindness would go a long way with him. Not to mention the fact that you are both highly intelligent and attractive. I believe the resulting children would be quite exceptional."

"Children?" Eisa felt dizzy.

"Frigga always spoke of your fondness for Loki. Was she mistaken?"

"I- I- Y-you want me to m-marry Loki and have his babies?" She stood and started fanning herself with her hands as she paced in front of the King's desk, decorum be damned.

"Precisely."

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, you-"

"You question my judgment?"

"My King," she bowed her head to him as she came to stand in front of him, "You are grieving. You have suffered a terrible loss. The Queen's funeral was only days ago. Perhaps now is not the best time to make important decisions."

"Do you fear him?"

"What?"

"Loki? Are you afraid of him?"

"Not at all, Your Majesty." Her heart broke at the thought of it. "I have loved him since I was a small child. I have seen him do good things when he thought no one was watching. But I was always watching." She blushed, embarrassed to admit her childhood crush on the prince. "I know he is a good man. I have always seen past his façade. I am not afraid of him, sir." She bobbed again respectfully. "But I had feared that I would never see him again. There have been many nights I lay awake worrying about his well-being, cold and alone in the dungeon. I cannot tell you how many times I dreamed I was his wife, and that he loved me as much as I loved him."

"I must admit, I am relieved to hear you say this."

"But how do you know he will accept me as his wife? I am not sure he would choose me if he had a choice."

"He is not in a position to refuse."

Eisa worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she stole another glance at Loki's portrait.

"You asked me how I could think of this so soon after losing my wife. I will tell you, it was Frigga's idea, not mine. She encouraged me to name Loki my heir contingent that he abdicates once he has a son of his own and name the child the heir apparent. I would be fulfilling one of her last wishes."

"Oh my... That is so tragically sweet." She placed both hands over her heart.

"She always spoke highly of you. Your accomplishments in school, your warm personality. Your modesty despite being the most sought-after maiden in Asgard."

"Your Majesty..."

"After losing the love of my life, I realized none of us know when the Norns will cut our thread. I started thinking about my own mortality and what would happen to the Realm should I pass on without an heir in place. There would be chaos, unrest, and possibly even a war for the throne. Moreover," the King looked away from Eisa with tears in his eyes and swallowed thickly, "I would like to hold the grandchild before I die. So that I may tell Frigga all about him or her when we are reunited in Valhalla."

Eisa wiped her tears from her cheeks as she whispered, "My father will not approve."

"I know and I do not care. Your father has become too ambitious for his own good."

She laughed despite herself, "My sister will try to slit my throat."

"Then we must keep this just between us while I iron out all the details. How good are you at keeping secrets?"

"The absolute worst." She laughed through her tears, "I have no skill for lying."

"Well then, I fear I will have to make you swear a vow of secrecy." He stood and retrieved his spear, Gungnir, before looking at her thoughtfully. "There is one more thing I must tell you. I want you to have all the facts before you agree to this union."

"Very well."

He held the spear in front of him, "Place your hand on Gungnir. Do you swear on your life not to reveal the information I am about to give you to anyone other than Loki himself?"

She took a deep breath, "I swear on my life."

"Then it is my command, Eisa Viggodottir, you cannot reveal any of the secrets we keep between us without my express permission or until I release you from your vow."

Eisa felt a surge of energy flow from her outstretched hand over her entire body.

"We have entered into a pact, My Lady. No matter if you choose to accept what I have proposed or not, you will be unable to reveal any details unless I say otherwise."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"You are a sweet girl with an open heart. I hope you can take what I am about to tell you with an understanding mind. Please sit."

She was anxious. What could he possibly tell her that she did not already know?

"The Queen had a very difficult pregnancy and birth with Thor. I almost lost her then. Despite her love of children and her expertise in mothering, she was reluctant to conceive again. So, when the opportunity arose for us to adopt an unwanted infant, we took it."

"Loki is adopted?! Oh my, that is unexpected, but does not make him any less of a prince in my eyes."

"Loki is a prince still. Loki's biological father and grandfather were kings."

Eisa stared at him blankly, "What kind of king would give his heir up for adoption?"

"A king that would sacrifice his own child. Loki was not given up for adoption. I found him as a baby, abandoned and left to die alone; his cord still attached to his belly."

"No," she shook her head, "that is heartbreaking." She sat and thought about that scenario. There are only so many who call themselves king in these Nine Realms. Loki could not have been mortal; he would have grown old and died ages ago. A chill ran down the length of her spine, and her eyes went wide as she realized.

"Jötun males sacrifice their children if they are deemed unfavorable in their eyes."

"I brought a baby boy home with me from Jötunheim, Frigga nursed him back to health, and we named him Loki Odinson."

Stunned, she tried to process the King's words.

"Loki's father was King of the Frost Giants? He does not look like a Frost Giant. Is he only half Jötun? Who was his mother?"

Odin looked at Eisa with a measured gaze, his words carefully chosen. "Loki's lineage is a tapestry woven with secrets. His heritage is a blend of realms, and his true nature is a mystery even to him. As for his mother," he paused, and a contemplative shadow flickered in his one remaining eye. His gaze lingered on a distant point, lost in the memories of ages past. "Well, some stories are best left untold, my dear."

"Oh," she blinked back her surprise.

Odin took a few moments to collect himself before running his hand over his beard and stating, "It took powerful transformative Seidr to alter his form. He only looks Jötun when he encounters anything of Jötun origin."

"Loki doesn't know he is adopted?"

"He found out in a most unpleasant way, taking him completely by surprise, and fueling his hatred of me."

"Was that the reason he unleashed the full power of the Bifrost upon them, the people of Jötunheim?"

Odin sat back and studied her face. Her eyes were wet, and her face was etched with concern. Her choice of words caught him by surprise. He rarely ever heard of the Jötuns referred to as people. So many Asgardians despised and feared them, thinking of them only as soulless monsters.

"Only Loki can answer that question."

She nodded as she hugged her arms to her chest. "Thank you for telling me the truth."

"Think about what I am asking of you. Be sure you understand the undertaking before you accept."

"I understand and I accept. The way I feel about Loki has not changed. I feel compelled to bring him comfort, pleasure, and companionship. I would like the opportunity to try to make him happy."

"Do you have any qualms with doing this behind your father's back?"

"I am a grown woman. I am making this decision of my own free will. Father will be upset, but if he loves me as he claims, he will forgive me."

"Loki will need time to adjust to life outside of prison again, but we need to wed you as soon as we can. Will you be patient with him?"

"Of course."

Odin hesitated before he asked his next question, but he couldn't take any chances, "I would require Loki to produce an heir as soon as possible. You are aware of how that happens?"

Eisa blushed and looked away from her king, "In the marriage bed, Your Majesty."

"You would be a willing participant? Give over the use of your body to your husband?"

"Yes, My King," she said, not meeting his eyes.

"I had to ask. It is important."

"I understand."

"The marriage ceremony will be a small and private event. Is there someone you would want to stand by your side? One of your sisters, perhaps?"

She was having trouble choosing only one, but if it could only be one, "Groa."

Eisa stood as the King stood.

"If you change your mind at any point before the ceremony, you must inform me immediately. I do not want you to feel that I am forcing you into this."

She curtsied to him, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will await your summons."

oOXOo

Eisa walked slowly back to her father's chambers. She could not stop the smile that played on her lips or the butterflies in her stomach.

Eisa, wife of Loki, Princess of Asgard.

She covered her grin with her fingers. How many times had she repeated that phrase to herself in her mirror? She did an excited little skip as she walked.

Eisa, Queen Mother.

She stopped in her tracks. The weight of what she had agreed to finally pressed down on her.

Oh, Norns...

She started doubting herself.

What if I am a terrible mother? Will I raise a tyrant King? Will our baby be blue?

She tilted her head to the side, trying to picture it. She shrugged her shoulders, deciding that any baby of Loki's would be precious, no matter what color its skin was. Her heart became lighter again as she reminded herself that the King had chosen her. Of all the eligible women in Asgard, he chose her. He saw something in her that Loki needed.

Loki needs me.

Her smile returned and she was lost in her daydream as she returned through the front doors.

"Where have you been?" Finna was at her side in an instant.

Eisa opened her mouth to reply, but nothing would come out. She scolded herself for not coming up with something believable while she walked home.

"Well? What were you up to?"

"Walk," she managed to spit out. "Yes, I needed to think so I took a walk."

"Dressed like that?"

"Yes." She tried to step around her, but Finna blocked her way.

She narrowed her eyes at her. "Listen, you little brat, I will not be the one to bear the brunt of Father's wrath if something were to happen to his golden goose while he is away."

"Nothing happened." Eisa gave her sister a gentle smile. "Nothing is going to happen. I just felt like getting out for a little bit. Clear my head." She placed a hand on Finna's arm.

"Very well," Finna softened, "just do not go running off without letting me know where you are going. As much as you grate my nerves, you are the only one I have left. I do not want to lose you too."

Guilt suddenly twisted her guts, "Oh, Finna." Eisa swallowed thickly and tears pricked her eyes.

Finna rolled her eyes, "Ugh if you start crying, I swear to the Norns I will never speak to you again."

Eisa covered her mouth as she laughed, "Fine. I had better go before the tears start falling." She made her way around Finna and got halfway out of the room before she stopped her.

"Oh, Eisa? One more thing."

She turned to look at her big sister, expecting her to call her back for a hug.

"Your shoes do not match." Finna started laughing heartily as she made her way to her room.

Eisa looked down, and sure enough, she had had the most important conversation of her life, with the most powerful being in the Nine Realms, while wearing one blue slipper and one orange.

She nodded to herself. Yes, this seems about right. I am to be the mother of the future king, and I cannot even dress myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note: I know that was a lot of dialogue, but I felt it important to let you know how Eisa feels about Odin's plan.

In the next chapter, Loki gets his first taste of freedom, and a little treat from Odin. 😜