'Can we leave yet?'

Maeve quietly laughed into her hand at her husband, who winked and continued to converse with a few of the nobles of Alfheim as if he hadn't just spoken telepathically to her. Throughout their tour of the kingdoms, Loki and Maeve had been perfecting the art of reading each others' minds, which proved to be difficult at first, but both were able to catch on in a relatively short period of time. While communicating telepathically did use a great deal of magic and exhausted them both, it definitely came in handy during boring dinners like these.

'No, your father would kill us if we ruined the alliance with Alfheim,' Maeve thought back. 'Get through dessert and we'll make up some excuse.'

'Are you faking an illness this time or am I?'

Maeve nearly snorted into her soup, causing the light elf at her right to look at the princess questioningly. She only smiled demurely and began to butter a soft roll. Years and years of sitting through endlessly boring lessons on court etiquette taught her how to keep her face straight. Even though her brothers could get away with laughing rambunctiously at the table, the fear of her father always drove Maeve to silence and ladylike manners.

'It's definitely your turn. I can't keep pulling the 'my dress is too tight and I can't breathe' card. Everyone will get suspicious! They'll think I'm sickly!'

Loki chuckled under his breath and returned to his dinner. It was true. Unless they came up with another excuse soon, his wife would be known across all of the nine realms as an extremely light-headed young goddess. Not that rumors bothered him. Frankly, they never had.

'At least we won't have to deal with this in Vanaheim. Your brothers will leave us alone.'

'Or swarm us worse than everyone else!"

Loki could hear the laughter in her voice and he loved it. In a way, their bond allowed them to always be together. She tucked a curl behind her ear, winking. Next to him, Lord Arvid began to discuss Alfheim's alliance with Asgard, forcing Loki to pay attention yet again. He leaned back on his seat with casual elegance, a smirk on his lips as he discussed politics, truly one of his favorite topics of conversation. Alfheim ruled with a group of lords, so he enjoyed learning the differences between their realm and his. Meanwhile, the ladies begged Maeve to describe the details of her favorite dresses, and while she would have preferred to engage in the conversation about peace treaties with the Jotunheim, she obliged them and recounted a few of her favorite gowns.

The marriage of Loki and Maeve raised the public's general opinion of the Aesir royal family substantially to each member's surprise. Every single visit to a new realm increased this positive outlook. Even Odin had to admit he was impressed and believed that the couple might one day be as beloved as he and Frigga.

Many saw the newlyweds as perfect for each other in every way and deeply in love with each other, something many monarchs never appeared to have. Her calm nature balanced his fiery temper. She was the light to his darkness. To them, mischief and joy were nothing more than opposite sides on the same coin. Their union itself stood for peace, ending a long war between the Vanir and the Aesir, a bond that would only be strengthened as time went on, especially if the couple was ever blessed with children.

Both acted as strong diplomats of Asgard, using their words to fight for the security and freedom of all peoples. They showed genuine interest in the culture of each place they visited, adapting to the norms of their locations out of respect. It had been so long since two sympathetic and thoughtful individuals traveled together on a diplomatic mission like this. However, what the citizens of the realms found most interesting of all was how the couple presented themselves as united in everything.

Unlike most sovereigns, Loki insisted on having Maeve at his side through everything, even the 'traditionally male' matters of ruling. She understood treaties and negotiations just as well as he did, and often offered insights that he found intriguing. In Svartalfheim, the first realm they visited on their journey, there was not even a seat offered for the princess in the council room. Instead of making a massive scene, Loki held out the chair for his wife and disappeared for the rest of the afternoon, letting her discuss Asgard's politics in his stead. Slowly, the realms became used to their ground-breaking behavior and no one dared to speak against it, lest they face the infamous wrath of Loki Odinson.

'He's looking at me again,' Maeve thought, feeling the eyes of Lord Garmath on her for the third time during their meal. 'It's gross.'

'Don't worry about him. He's known as a bit of a... well, he is very well known among the women of Alfheim.'

'Like Fandral?' Due to her father keeping her almost exclusively on Vanaheim for the majority of her life, she was still rather unfamiliar with many leaders of other realms.

'No. Fandral just flirts. As annoying as he is, he's all talk and flings. He wouldn't try anything without the consent of the lady in question. Garmath... not so much.'

'You're very reassuring,' she thought drily.

'You have no need to fret. If anything happens, he'll have to go through both of us. I feel worse for him.'

"Princess Maeve, I do not believe you have seen our palace gardens yet," Lord Eindride commented. "It is said that you have an astonishing gift with flora, my lady."

Maeve smiled and shook her head. "You flatter me, my lord. I have not had the privilege of seeing the gardens, although I certainly would enjoy it." Court etiquette, proper language. Ugh.

"Well, you absolutely must before you leave tomorrow!" The light elf cried, and many around him nodded in agreement. "I know we are not an agricultural realm like your home, but we take pride in our gardens nonetheless. We have many rare species."

"I am sure my wife would love that. She is very fond of flowers," Loki said with a smile. To the light elves, he was sincerely happy at the opportunity presented to her, but she saw through his mask and saw a self-satisfied smirk instead. He wanted to finish dinner, then sneak off to their suite while she was forced to charm and socialize with their hosts.

'Jerk.'

'Have fun, darling.'

Lord Eindride was already glancing up and down the table excitedly. "Let me see, who should take you... Garmath? You are familiar with the gardens, are you not?"

The handsome light elf rose from the table at his name, eyeing the princess with what was probably supposed to be a friendly smile, but to Maeve, it felt predatory. His skin emitted something that resembled a glow just like the rest of his kind, but there was no denying that he was one of the more attractive ones.

"Indeed I am," he replied, holding out a hand. "I would be glad to escort you, Princess."

Loki noticed the slight hesitation cross her face, although she hid it quickly to remain polite. Truth be told, after the lord stared at his wife nonstop during the ball a few nights before their wedding, he didn't particularly like the idea of her being alone with him, either, but he knew they both had to keep up appearances. It wouldn't do for Asgardian diplomats to show distrust.

"I'll see you tonight, love," Loki said, his voice like warm honey. With a lazy wave of his hand, a heavy emerald cloak appeared and fastened itself around her shoulders. "Don't be too long. It's a bit cold outside."

Garmath raised his eyebrows as Loki sipped his wine nonchalantly, the rim of the cup almost hiding the growing smirk on his face. The simple yet evident threat of the cloak's significance altered the atmosphere of the dining hall. Loki set down the golden goblet and tilted his head, just begging anyone to challenge him.

"See you tonight." Maeve only smiled and quickly moved to peck him on the cheek, but he turned his head and pulled her into a long, lingering kiss on the lips, letting his fingers trail down her cheek as he let her go. She got the feeling he was enjoying making a scene.

'Silly dominant prince.'

'I'm just reminding him of who I am.'

Maeve curtseyed in the general direction of the table, her head bowing in respect. "Dinner was lovely, my lords. I thank you and bid you good night."

Murmured of well-wishes spread through the banquet table as she rose and took Garmath's arm. They walked down the palace halls, darker than any in Asgard.

"Do you know what we call you here in Alfheim?" Garmath asked, and Maeve shook her head. "Litla Prinsessan. The Little Princess. It's a fitting title, I believe."

She didn't know how to interpret such a comment. "I am rather small," she said simply, deciding to act cooly towards him.

"Especially next to your prince. Everyone is talking, wondering even, how you have managed to tame the god of lies?"

She stiffened, anger rising at his words. You need to be calm. "There is no taming of a man," she said carefully. "Or of a woman, for that matter. A relationship cannot be built on false pretenses. There is only learning to listen, and with listening comes understanding. We understand each other."

"Wise beyond your years, aren't you, my dear princess? It must be why your husband values your opinion on politics so very much." He flashed her a flirtatious smirk, one she did her best to ignore. "The gardens are right up here."

He pushed open a set of glass doors and held them for her as she stepped outside, shivering a bit in the cool night air. Now, she was doubly grateful for Loki's cloak.

Maeve instantly moved to stand by a bush of white gardenias, glad to see a blossom that reminded her of home. Home, she realized, had somehow become Asgard. Had somehow become Loki. She plucked one from the leaves and instantly grew another in its place, tucking it in her hair with the intention of bringing it back to the suite for Loki.

"Are those your favorites?"

Ugh. She had almost forgotten his presence. Lord Garmath walked up beside her, showing an interest in the flowers she instantly distinguished as false.

"One of them," she answered, running her fingers down a creeping vine of dying roses. A blush pink colored their petals once again. "They hold a special meaning to me."

"I would have expected roses to be your chosen flower," Garmath commented. "I noticed the one on your necklace."

His eyes came to rest on her mother's rose necklace, although Maeve suspected his gaze traveled a bit further down, too far down for her comfort. She pulled the cloak tightly around herself and continued on, hoping by some chance that he would leave.

"That necklace was my mother's. It's enchanted."

"Fascinating," he murmured, his voice a whisper in her ear. The princess swallowed and scanned the gardens, taking careful notice of each plant. "Tell me, did you actually fall for your husband?"

"We did fall for each other," she snapped, red rising up her neck in anger. "I am very much in love with him."

"He seems far too harsh for a delicate thing like yourself, Litla Prinsessan. Like his very touch could break you into pieces. You need a more gentle man."

Garmath's hand snaked around her waist and he pulled her uncomfortably close to him so that their noses were nearly touching when he tilted his head down. Maeve's breath caught in her throat.

"Please let go of me, my lord," she said softly, but the command in her voice remained evident.

The light elf only chuckled and drew her closer. "No, I think you need someone who pays you some proper attention. I'm sure your princeling couldn't care less about you."

His hand carefully yet deliberately lifted her chin, a devilish grin on his face. The features that made him attractive now made him positively terrifying to behold. Maeve closed her eyes, which he took for a sign of humble submission, a major mistake on his part.

A thick vine coiled around Garmath's neck and yanked him off of the princess, who immediately backed up. Another vine wrapped around his legs, binding his ankles. He fell to the ground, wincing as he struggled, but another vine tied his hands together.

"You... little... wretch!" He spat, glaring as she leaned over him, wearing a condescending smirk very unlike her. "How dare you?"

"I believe that you are the one who should pay more attention. Trying to take advantage of one who can manipulate plant life in a garden full of flora she can use to her advantage? Poor planning, my lord."

When she entered the suite set aside for her and Loki during their stay, she found her husband on the sofa, an unopened book on his lap, and a concerned expression on his face.

"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly, looking her up and down as he removed the cloak from her shoulders.

"I am," she replied with a small smile. "I do hope Garmath will be comfortable tonight, considering I hung him by the ankles with vines. Someone will find him eventually, I suppose."

"Did he-?"

"He tried. He also failed."

Loki's emerald eyes flashed dangerously. "I thought I sensed his magic on you." He tried to walk around her toward the door, but she grabbed his arm, forcing him to drop the silver dagger that had appeared in his hand seconds before. It clattered to the floor.

"No stabbing him. Not tonight. We'd mess up the alliance for sure."

"He attempted to dishonor you! He put his hands on you! I will not stand for it!"

"And he learned a very valuable lesson today," she said, surprisingly calm about the whole affair. "He was an idiot and will be a lesson to others. Messing with me has consequences."

Loki sat down on the bottom of the bed and put his head in his hands. Maeve climbed up behind him, and, sitting on her knees, began to run her fingers through his raven locks. Her touch has a soothing effect on the prince, and he sighed deeply.

"I won't kill him," he finally grumbled. "But only because of the alliance. Where exactly did you leave the twisted soul?"

"Outside. It's getting a bit chilly, too. Oh, imagine if he gets frostbite!"

"That's my girl."

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