With a plan settled, both Frigga and Loki were quick to invite to stay, all under the pretence that it would be easier for Heimdal to inform about anything if I stayed in Asgard.
Frigga, in particular, was adamant that I had to stay. Loki supported her wholeheartedly as he wanted to show off just how great Asgard was, and therefore, how great he was as the regent.
"Very well, I can stay here for a few days, to better prepare a united front. It would do well for the unity of the Nine Realms if this were sothing that more than just Asgard took part in." I finally agreed, "But soone must take care of my steed."
Loki laughed happily and smacked Gungnir against the floor, summoning guards and aides. "Have soone see to Arthuria's steed, and prepare for a grand feast to welco this Midgardian Goddess; let us show her the feasts of Asgard!"
The guards and aides all cheered in response to his words. Clearly, Loki, under the watchful eye of his mother and the prestige of saving Odin and killing Laufey, had made him rather popular.
Then again, I suspected it didn't take much to please the people of Asgard, as long as their lives weren't made any worse, they were already happy enough as it was.
"Now," Frigga said as she moved to my side, very close indeed, as if trying to grab , but hesitating. "Why don't you put away that lance? It's enough that Loki carries around that spear all day; there really is no need for such things here in Asgard."
I smiled faintly at her words, and Rhongomyniad faded from view, returning to my soul. Instead, a brilliant sheath and sword appeared at my hip. "Forgive , but leaving my ho without a single guard ans I must at least carry a weapon. But indeed, the lance is a bit much."
Frigga's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Understandable. Old habits seldom fade, especially for those who have led armies." Her eyes lingered briefly on the sword at my hip, the faint hum of its aura catching her attention. "That blade... it feels alive."
I glanced down at Excalibur's sheath, its faint gold light pulsing gently, the very air around it shimring as if aware of being watched. "You have a sharp sense, Queen of Asgard. It's no re sword; both the blade and sheath are artifacts of old. I would gladly inform you of their legends."
"Maybe later, I have often heard my son talk of you, and I wish to learn more about you, so co, let show you around. Loki will be busy preparing everything and will no doubt join us later." Frigga said as she wrapped an arm around and glared at Loki, who clearly wanted to show around.
"But first, let's get you out of this armor," Frigga continued as she started dragging off. I looked at Loki, stared into his eyes, and he quickly looked away, unwilling to et my gaze. He clearly knew what was happening and decided that he wanted nothing to do with it.
Coward.
…
"That sure is convenient, being able to remove your armor with a thought, and even be fully dressed underneath like that." Frigga praised as I dissolved the magical armor after she dragged into her chambers.
And compared to my own personal chambers, these were countless tis grander. While mine was just a few connected rooms, this was a small mansion, with its own gardens, library, workshop, and much more.
"It does allow to be ready at any mont — and, well, it does an I don't have to worry about cleaning it." I cracked with a small smile. Indeed, cleaning full plate took ti and effort.
"Ah, yes, I still rember when I just married Odin, back then, he often went into battle. I was young and naive back then, and thought that as a good wife I had to care for his armor. The hours I spent making it shine again." Frigga shook her head. "I even went and invented a few spells to help ."
"My court magician was sadly of little help; he was my ntor, and I could hardly order him around, so I enjoyed little magical convenience back then." Indeed, rlin could have easily saved countless hours of toil and hardship, but he always claid it built character.
Frigga giggled as she pulled in front of so mirrors, looking over and having turn around.
I knew the look of her, understood what kind of woman she was at heart; she might have learned to act like a queen, to sche like one, but she was kind and loving at heart, a rare trait for one so powerful to keep. Power often corrupts.
"You have such an amazing figure! It's almost hard to believe you are a warrior Queen." She praised , "and your clothes are pretty good too."
I gave her a faint smile, amused by her enthusiasm. "Personally, I care little for fashion, but other people clearly want dressed in more than armor and common clothes."
Frigga laughed softly, the sound warm and lodic. "Spoken like soone who has spent far too many years surrounded by knights and old n in council chambers." She stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of my hair over my shoulder with a motherly ease. "Soone as beautiful as you deserves to be dressed in beautiful clothing."
I sighed softly, already suspecting where this was going. "You sound like my attendants back ho. They try this as well from ti to ti."
Frigga's smile only grew. "And do they succeed?"
"Rarely," I admitted. "I am their king after all."
"Well, good thing you aren't mine then." She clasped her hands together with an almost mischievous sparkle in her eyes that reminded painfully of rlin right before he did sothing troubleso. "You and I are gonna have so much fun!"
Before I could protest, she summoned a small host of attendants with a graceful wave. They appeared with armfuls of fabrics — silks, gold-threaded linens, and gowns that shimred like captured moonlight. I had faced armies, demons, and dragons, but I suddenly found myself questioning whether I had the strength to endure this.
"Frigga," I began cautiously, "this is not—"
"Oh, hush," she interrupted gently, her tone carrying the exact kind of authority only a queen and mother could command. "You've spent far too long carrying blades and burdens. Tonight, you are a guest of honor and friend of Asgard, and will be dressed like one!"
"I usually wear sothing more… practical," I said, trying not to sound as wary as I felt. "Sothing I can move in, should the need arise."
Frigga raised an elegant brow. "My dear, you've spent enough lifetis moving. Tonight, you'll let yourself be seen." She turned to the attendants with queenly authority. "Bring the silver set first, the one with the soft lining. Let's not terrify her just yet."
"I am not terrified," I muttered as one attendant draped the fabric across my shoulders and another began asuring the fall of the hem.
"Of course not," Frigga said sweetly. "You're simply… preparing for battle of a different kind."
I groaned softly under my breath. "You sound far too much like rlin."
"Oh? Well, they sound like an interesting person." she said, flashing a knowing grin before flicking her wrist. The fabric shimred, adjusting perfectly to my fra through magic alone. "Yes, this will do nicely. But perhaps sothing lighter in color — she's too used to armor; let's give her sothing that breathes."
Within monts, I was standing in the center of a whirlwind of activity — attendants moving like a coordinated unit, fabrics shifting from silver to white to deep blue as Frigga assessed each option with a critical eye. I had led armies with less precision.
"Frigga," I tried again, "this feels unnecessary. I won't need this much clothes for a feast." I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as she had her attendants refit clothes to fit and draw up designs for entire new outfits.
"Nonsense," she replied without even looking up. "it's a cri for soone like you not to have at least this much."
When the attendants finally stepped back, I turned toward the mirror — and hardly recognized the reflection staring back. The gown was Asgardian in style: flowing layers of silver and white threaded with faint runes that glimred softly when I moved. The neckline was modest but elegant, the skirt split just enough for ease of motion, and a golden belt fastened neatly at my waist. It was… regal, without being gaudy.
Frigga bead. "There. Now that's a Queen."
"I am a king," I couldn't help but remind her.
Frigga laughed softly, a sound like sunlight through crystal. "Soone's king may be soone else's queen."
Her words caused my head to snap towards her direction, my Fae Eyes bearing down at her. Those words… her tone… it reminded of rlin so much I couldn't help but suspect for a mont this was him in disguise.
Frigga didn't flinch under my gaze. If anything, she seed quietly amused, her expression far too serene for soone being stared down by a goddess.
"Oh, don't look at like that," she said with the calm patience of a mother scolding a child who should know better. "It was only a jest. Though," she added slyly, "I see I struck a nerve."
"You just reminded of soone else," I said, as I took a deep breath. Indeed, she wasn't rlin, even he wouldn't be able to hide from my current divine eyes, and how would he even get here?
I still didn't know how it got here… which could in fact an it was him… better not to think about it.
Frigga's lips curved, and she gave a low hum of laughter that sohow managed to sound both elegant and teasing. "I see, I see, well, I think silver would do you good, that fair skin and golden hair, yes, silver it shall be."
Frigga's hands clapped once, and the attendants moved like dancers in a ritual, layers of fabric and light swirling around in waves of silver-white. The process felt less like being dressed and more like being woven into sothing new.
When they finally stepped back, I turned toward the mirror — and for a heartbeat, I didn't recognize myself.
The gown was radiant, more sculpture than clothing — a flowing creation of white silk and silver thread that wrapped around my fra like liquid moonlight. Golden clasps fastened the draped fabric over my shoulders, their engraved runes faintly glowing with Asgardian enchantnt. A thin circlet of gold rested atop my head, its design simple yet regal, with a single laurel-shaped ornant curving behind my ear.
My arms were bare save for polished gold bracers that glead softly, and my feet were bound in elegant sandals of black leather that laced up my calves in neat symtry. A slit in the gown revealed the faint shimr of movent beneath, just enough to walk or fight — Frigga's idea of a "compromise," no doubt.
She had even created a small, enchanted oddnt to hang onto Excalibur, hiding it in an enchantnt and illusion to make it blend in better with the outside, as it hung at my side, white and gold rather than the usual blue and gold.
Frigga clasped her hands together, smiling with satisfaction. "Now that," she said proudly, "is how the King of Knights should look when dining among gods."
I exhaled softly, not quite sure whether to feel flattered or trapped. "It's… beautiful," I admitted, though I still didn't feel quite at ho in a dress, much less one such as this.
"Good," she said, stepping behind to adjust the fall of my braid. "because tonight, you will not be a warrior, you will be a Goddess and a guest, and you will stun every person at the feast."
"…You've done your work well," I said softly. "Though I still prefer armor."
Frigga smiled knowingly. "I know. But sotis, my dear, grace is armor."
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