*

"Prince Loki of Asgard and Princess Maeve of Asgard."

As usual, they were presented first. It was a bit difficult for Maeve to buy Odin's claim that both of his sons were equal in his eyes (or eye, actually) when this happened every. Single. Time. Either way, she had no negative emotions tonight. Smiling brightly, she let Loki lead her down the beautiful staircase amidst cheering and stomping. Even if the king didn't love the young couple, the people did.

Loki leaned down and whispered into her ear, "can we leave yet?"

"No, silly husband," she whispered back. "The party's only just starting."

"I know." They stood in their designated places in the hall as Thor and Sif were announced. "That was why I wanted to leave."

"Come on, Lo. Enjoy tonight. Let's celebrate! For once, we have something to celebrate!" Her enthusiastic smile and puppy dog eyes made him melt a little inside, although he kept up his cool expression for the benefit of those around him.

"Anything for you, darling," he said, snaking a hand around her waist. "Anything at all."

Thor and Sif joined them as the king and queen were announced to the hall. Sif wore a scarlet gown with halter straps that showcased her muscular arms. She had styled her hair in dark waves that fell loosely past her shoulders. Because he couldn't help staring, Thor missed a step while they walked down the stairs. His date had to haul him up in front of the foreign dignitaries, a sight Loki couldn't help snickering at.

Maeve leaned over to her best friend when she took a place standing near her. "Want to hear a secret?"

"Oh, more than anything," Sif replied, playfully rolling her eyes. "Just how secret is this secret of yours?"

"If you tell a soul," Maeve said mischievously, "then Loki will have to kill you with daggers."

"He could try, but he most certainly would fail in that endeavor," she laughed. Loki's eyebrows quirked up in amusement but he said nothing to confirm or deny this. "Yes, of course I'll keep your secret. What is it?"

Maeve grinned, then whispered something muffled in her ear. Sif pulled back, excitement lighting up her coal-colored eyes.

"Are you really?" She questioned. When Maeve nodded, Sif laughed out loud. "Very nice."

"Sif!" Maeve exclaimed, turning bright pink while Loki and Thor roared with laughter. "That's inappropriate!"

"So are the actions you and Loki engaged in to land yourselves in this situation."

"Sif, stop it! Loki, stop laughing!"

"I would, but this is the only time I've ever liked Sif and I want to remember it," Loki gasped, actually wiping tears from under his eyes because he laughed so hard. 

Thor raised his arm like he wanted to wrap it around Sif, then dropped it awkwardly. "I'm getting the look from Father. I believe we should be charming our guests."

"What, he's not charming enough on his own?" Loki asked dryly. "Maeve, would you care to dance with me, flower?"

"I absolutely would, but I don't know this one," Maeve replied, watching the dancers sway to the upbeat rhythm with apprehension. "It looks complicated."

"Trust me, it's not. I'll teach you." His green eyes were earnest as he took her hand. She loved seeing him so excited. It had been almost a month since they truly connected, and she had missed it. "What do you say?"

His enthusiasm won out. "All right."

Maeve let Loki drag her out into the midst of the dancers, laughing under her breath. The fiddle and mandolin joined together in a joyful melody that she hummed along to while attempting to copy his precise movements, but it was obvious to anyone watching that her husband definitely had more experience in this particular dance.

"Just follow my lead."

"Like this?" She asked, doing her very best to replicate his steps and failing.

Loki laughed and twirled her in time with the music. "Not... not exactly. It's more like this."

He showed her again as the song looped. This time, she caught on and moved her feet into the correct position.

"That's much better, my queen," he purred into her ear, grinning as he dipped her. "You're a fast learner."

"When did you learn all of these?"

The song transitioned into a slower melody, full of violins and chimes and piano. Smiling, Loki pulled her closer to him.

"We learned them as children, Thor and I," he explained, using a gentle tone reserved exclusively for his wife. "Father and Mother always said that princes and kings needed to know everything about their kingdom, from the people to the laws to the culture. Surely you had dances native to Vanaheim."

"Of course we did." Maeve recalled all of the banquets and balls she spent dancing with her brothers until dawn. When her father wasn't present, these were some of her most precious childhood memories. "Asgardian balls are different, though. In Vanaheim, our celebrations aren't as refined or fancy. We're... well, we're a bit rowdier."

"Oh, I am most certainly aware of that," Loki said, winking. "As someone who dislikes socialization as a whole, I found the parties of your homeland to be surprisingly enjoyable."

"Good to know."

Loki slowly twirled Maeve, letting her golden dress fan out around her before pulling her back in. "These are my favorites to dance to," he admitted.

"Really?"

"Yes." Closing her eyes, Maeve laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat as they swayed back and forth. "I always liked the slower dances best. They are more intimate. I think they mean more."

"I'm certainly better at them. There's less to mess up," Maeve mumbled, giggling. "Although I'd like to properly learn more of the Aesir dances."

"I can teach you," he whispered into her hair.

Maeve found herself looking around Loki's shoulder, hoping to spot Thor and Sif. After a minute or two of searching, she saw them surrounded by the Warriors Three, flutes of mead in hand. Everyone was laughing loudly.

"How is Thor's date going, flower?" Loki asked, raising his eyebrows knowingly at Maeve. He knew she was spying.

She giggled again. Tonight, she felt too drunk on happiness not to do so. "Loudly, but good. They seem to be enjoying themselves... Thor just accidentally spilled his drink on her."

Shaking his head at his brother, Loki couldn't help snickering. While Thor tended to outshine him, Loki always knew his way around women much better than the elder Odinson could dream of. There was a reason Thor was never the topic of palace scandal. Nothing scandalous ever happened.

"This is the reason Father has made us diplomats for Asgard, you know. We're better at it than Thor could ever be. He lacks the charisma necessary to get what he wants. He thinks he can just punch his way out of anything."

"Lo, you think you can stab you way out of anything," Maeve pointed out, making both of them laugh. "But I do understand what you mean. We're a good pair, you and me."

Loki's smile faded ever so slightly. "If only he saw that."

Maeve's thoughts dwelled on that idea. Nothing they'd said was false. The two worked extremely well together, and they tended to balance each other out. Loki spent years studying the laws and customs of Asgard. Maeve learned diplomacy from a variety of different individuals, but most prominently Asmund, the now-king of Vanaehim. Furthermore, they had already been united through the bonds of marriage and secured the next generation of the Aesir royal family.

What more could Odin possible want?

The more she thought about it, the more Maeve realized that it was more about what Odin didn't want. He didn't like that Maeve braved standing up to him. He didn't understand why Loki insisted on treating his wife as an equal in everything. He didn't want someone unlike him to ascend the throne.

Oh, and Odin also just wanted Thor to be king. End of story, at least in Maeve's book.

Being a popular couple had its ups and downs, especially as a quiet pair, but it made both Maeve and Loki desirable partners at social events. Everyone wanted to speak with them, everyone wanted to dance with them, everyone wanted to see if the princess indeed had softened the heartless prince. In the following hours, Maeve danced with every single lord of Alfheim except one.

Garmath chose to stay as far away from the princess as possible, undoubtedly recalling the night she left him outside in the gardens trapped in vines. At one point, she and Loki both gave him snarky little waves. The Light Elf retreated farther away at this, which sent the couple into peals of laughter.

After she had danced with the final lord, Maeve found herself standing in front of Thor, who smiled warmly and bowed, as per custom.

"May I have this dance, sister?"

She curtseyed and threw in a wink. "Yes, you may."

Maeve always felt small, but she felt especially small next to Thor. However, she never felt intimidated by her brother-in-law. In fact, she felt safer around him than perhaps anyone else, except Loki or Asmund. She knew he cared about her and would never hurt her. During the fight with Loki, he had been nothing but supportive, taking her side in the argument over his own brother's.

"How's it going with Sif?" She asked excitedly. "Did you ask her?"

"Yes. We're officially courting now."

"Even after the mead incident?"

"Even after the mead incident," Thor confirmed.

The princess' blue eyes lit up and she threw her arms around her brother-in-law, who spun her around in time with the music before setting her back down on the ground again.

"That's great! I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you. And I am happy for you, my dear little sister." Even though his words could mean anything to an eavesdropper, he still lowered his voice. "You and Loki deserve this happiness. Truly. I don't think my brother or I could have imagined the light you would bring to our home when Father arranged your marriage."

A warm feeling spread all throughout Maeve at his kindness. Thor Odinson was a warrior, yet his heart was made of pure gold. "I never would have imagined it turning out like this either, she admitted. "Things are finally looking up."

"Indeed they are." Thor's eyes narrowed in on something past Maeve's shoulder, then he laughed loudly. "Your husband is staring daggers at me. He does know that you are his wife and I would never question that, correct?"

"He's just protective," Maeve said, smiling brightly.

"He's just jealous, you mean," replied Thor. "He always has been, though he has plenty to be proud of without envying my accomplishments. I don't understand it."

"It's complicated. I think your father made it difficult for him to be confident in his own skin."

"I suppose." The song ended, and they separated. "I'm going to find Sif. I will see you later on."

Maeve waved at Thor before weaving her way through the crowded room, politely greeting the guests as she went. If Odin heard that she hadn't been a proper host, then she would most certainly hear about it the next day. Luckily, though, these distractions barely took up any time, and she reached Loki soon enough.

"You really don't need to be jealous of your own brother, trickster," she said softly, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "He's not going to steal me away. I am completely and utterly yours."

"That's very good to hear," Loki said, smiling serenely as he sipped his drink. "I'd offer you a drink, but..." He shrugged apologetically.

"I appreciate the thought." Maeve leaned into Loki and watched the colorful dresses swirl in time with the music. It really was a lovely sight, but her feet hurt, which took away from the beauty. Yawning, she whispered, "Can we go to bed?"

"Yes. It's getting quite late and we've definitely socialized enough for tonight. You should have seen one of those ladies from Alfheim. She could barely keep her hands off of me during our waltz. I had half a mind to cut them off."

"Loki, not here," she mumbled, laughing quietly. "Let's just slip out a side door. With luck, no one will notice our absence until we're gone."

"Good plan."

They escaped out an archway that led to the gardens. Maeve shivered as a cold wind swept over them, but Loki wrapped his arms around her for the few seconds they remained outside.

Back in their room, Maeve slipped on a warm, comfortable nightgown and crawled into bed next to Loki. He had been reading peacefully. When she got under the covers, he pulled her close to him and shut the book, placing it carefully on the nightstand and blowing out the candle.

"What were you reading?"

"Julius Caesar."

"Is it any good?"

"It's fantastic," he replied. She could hear his eagerness, even though she couldn't see him. "You most definitely should read it some time."

"I'll add it to the list. I'm only on book four of Harry Potter, though."

"I suppose Shakespeare will have to wait, then." This time, she heard the sarcasm, and it made her grin.

"Yes, he will."

Smiling, Loki wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting protectively over her stomach. He nuzzled his face into her hair and breathed in that faint flowery scent that always lingered around his wife. Maeve sighed and moved closer to him, pressing her back against his chest. Both of them had despised being so far apart for a month. Now, it felt like they couldn't get close enough.

"I'm tired," she mumbled, yawning again.

He kissed her cheek gently. "Then close your eyes, love. It's been a long day for all of us, after all. Don't worry about the nightmares. I'm here. I'll protect you."

"I love you so much."

She had almost drifted off when she heard him murmur, "I'll protect all of you."

new chapter, i hope you enjoyed it! tell me what you thought? what do you think's going to happen?