*

Asmund yawned as he woke, then closed his eyes again, infinitely too comfortable to get out of bed just yet.

In the last month and a half, Asmund had felt better than he had in a long time. Without having to use illusions every hour of the day, he discovered a new amount of energy that he previously exhausted keeping secrets. This enabled him to live in a healthier and happier way.

Frey had left the palace the day before his wedding rather unceremoniously, claiming to need space to think things over. Asmund wasn't sorry to see him go. After the events of the last few months, he made Gale self-conscious and his brothers uncomfortable. As for Asmund... he had lost all respect for the man. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get those nights in the prisons out of his mind, those nights when they hurt him because of his father's orders.

"Morning, Your Majesty."

"I'm not a king yet," he mumbled without opening his eyes. "We're a few months off from that, future queen."

Gale smiled and played with his dirty blond curls, messy with bedhead. She kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

He rolled over into his back, smiling up at her. "And how are my two favorite people today?"

"Tired, but good," she replied, laughing under her breath. Oh, how he loved that laugh.

"Then go back to bed," he said with a sleepy smile. "The sun's not even up yet, yndislef stelpa."

Gale smiled at the pet name, one he started calling her early in their romance. The day they met, he wanted to get her attention but didn't know her actual name. Yndislef stelpa, translated to 'lovely girl' from Icelandic, one of his many languages, was the first thing that popped into his head, and it stuck.

"They need me in the healing wing," she insisted, trying to escape, but strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into the bed. "Asmund!"

"We have a few hours. The rest of the world can wait, so long as you stay right here with me."

She giggled and kissed him deeply. "Oh, all right."

"Your Highness!"

Asmund groaned and sat up, rubbing a tired hand over his face. So much for a few hours. The sun had barely begun to rise in the sky. Being in charge of an entire realm left him with little to no privacy. This didn't bother him as much as it would bother others purely because the first year of his marriage was a complete secret. While he didn't appreciate people barging in on his quiet moments, he preferred the interruptions to pretending that those quiet moments never happened.

He glanced over to Gale. "Should I let him in?"

"You might as well. He'll be banging on the door for an hour if not," she replied, smoothing out her hair in an attempt to look slightly more presentable.

Asmund nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead before slipping out of bed and letting his nightclothes shimmer into casual robes with magic. He didn't particularly feel like wearing court finery this early in the morning. Gale chose to stay in bed, knowing that their guest wasn't there to talk to her. "You can come in, Lord Narvi."

A man entered the room and stayed close to the door. Most would be properly embarrassed at the sight of their ruler in his bedroom in the early hours of morning, but as Asmund's main advisor outside of his brothers, he had learned to brush these feelings aside. He had known the future king for his whole life, after all, and some things needed to be done without delay.

In the weeks since he had been deemed as the Crown Prince of Vanaheim, Asmund struggled with the transition. While he handled most of his father's work before, it was completely different being on his own. He knew that the first few months of his reign would create a permanent impression on his subjects, so every choice was precise.

First, he dismissed the entirety of his father's council except Lord Narvi. He didn't trust them. Too many were loyal to Frey and despised the soon-to-be king for taking his place. Asmund replaced these men with Gale, Corey, Hemming, and Iver, believing that a smaller group of advisors would suit him much better.

Next, he allowed a second, major-scale wedding to take place. Neither Asmund nor Gale actually wanted this, believing the first time was enough, but he understood the need to prove to his people that love would be the only thing that made him stray from the law. The announcement of their child followed soon after, although they would have preferred to keep that a secret, too.

Unlike his father's tactics of intimidation, Asmund immediately reached out to strengthen all of the existing treaties through diplomacy. The young sovereign's humble nature impressed many dignitaries, and they were eager to ally themselves with him. It had been thousands of years since a sorcerer sat on the throne of Vanaheim. The future king and queen were both healers, and many thought it fitting that they were healing their realm once and for all.

All in all, the transition had gone well. His brothers supported him in all of his decisions, and he could kiss Gale without fear of being caught. The behavior of his father and his fallen council bothered him, but he chose to continue pushing forward.

"Good morning," Asmund greeted through a yawn as he sat down on the corner of his bed. "Or is it even morning yet?"

"Your Highness," Lord Narvi began hurriedly. He was a twitchy man, one whose pale blue eyes never settled in one place for long. "We've just received a message."

"At the crack of dawn?" Asmund asked. He couldn't understand why a simple message warranted such an early wake up call. "Can I put on shoes before we discuss said message?"

"No, I'm not sure if there's time for that."

"Not even for socks?" He winked and stifled another yawn behind his hand. "All right. Where is it from? Who sent it? Asgard? If Odin wants me to sign any more treaties-"

"It's from the Jotunheim, Your Highness."

"From the Jotuns?" Gale questioned sharply, pulling the covers over herself more tightly when both of the men turned to look at her. She was a woman with quiet dignity, but she spoke her mind when it mattered. "Why?"

"We haven't communicated with anyone from the Jotunheim since the wars ended all those years ago. My father thought it unimportant to extend the hand of friendship, especially because Odin had already punished its inhabitants," Asmund explained. His brow furrowed. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

"King Laufey wishes an audience with those of Vanaheim and Asgard," Lord Narvi replied, clearly uneasy. "I would think this has something to do with the alliance. He requests peaceful delegations sent to his realm on the first of the week."

"Delegations..." Asmund murmured. "We have no peace treaties with the Jotuns. I've never even met Laufey face-to-face. My father was on rocky terms with him. He always spoke quite terribly of him, actually, but I don't think taking my father's word is exactly advisable anymore. Would you suggest meeting with him?"

Lord Narvi hesitated, concerned about giving the wrong answer, but then he nodded. "Yes. As a new sovereign, I believe that you should extend the hand of friendship to the Jotunheim while you can. Your father had terrible relations with the Frost Giants. They hated him, and attempted several attacks. It is the reason that they destroyed our harvest last season. You are much more diplomatic now than your father ever was or ever could be, so if anyone could make peace with King Laufey, it would be you."

"And who would you recommend sending as members of our delegation?" His mind flicked through several ideas and combinations of his family and his council, already intending to go himself. He just needed a partner.

"You're not going to like my answer very much, Your Highness."

Asmund kept his face even, but worry coursed through him. "Who?"

"The most... logical choice is yourself and your wife."

Gale's dark eyes widened. Subconsciously, she hugged her stomach, where a small bump had grown. Asmund gave her a reassuring nod before turning around again to face Lord Narvi.

"Pray explain your reasoning, my Lord." There was a slight edge to his voice.

"As new sovereigns, it is imperative to not appear afraid of the other realms. If you send some of your brothers, then it might look like you yourself are avoiding the Jotunheim. Besides, it would be incredibly wise for you to meet King Laufey, and Odin has exiled him from all of the realms besides his own. Going to him is the only way."

Lord Narvi had been correct: Asmund didn't like that answer, not one bit. He didn't mind going to the Jotunheim so much himself, but the idea of putting his wife and unborn child into a potentially dangerous situation repulsed him. They were his entire world, and unlike Frey or Odin, Asmund was no warrior. He was a healer, gentle in the heart and level in the head. This was precisely why his upcoming coronation became such a controversy. No one like him had ever occupied the throne.

"How would it look if Corey and I were to go?" He finally asked, staring down at his soul mark. The lavender and golden swirls calmed him for a moment, but only a moment.

"Better than sending two of your brothers alone, but still rather cowardly."

Slightly embarrassed, Gale asked, "Why?" To her immense relief, Lord Narvi addressed her directly, not through Asmund.

"Because the realms don't know you yet, Princess. You are an unknown. They know that your husband was willing to sacrifice everything for you and your child, but they don't know why. The more you are involved in the affairs of your kingdom, the more they will grow to know and love you."

"Wouldn't it look reckless if the kingdom knows that I'm pregnant and still going?"

"No. It shows confidence in your realm and in your husband. The fact that you are carrying the future king's heir and still walking into potential danger just to stay at his side, having absolute faith that no harm will come to yourself or your child as long as he's there, would not look reckless at all." He shook his head. "It would look brave."

"Then I'll go."

Asmund's head snapped up. "Gale-"

"He's right," she said, motioning to the lord. "We need to present a united front."

"But what if something happens to you?"

"What if something happens to you?" She shot back, the trace of a smirk playing on her lips. "We're both healers, Asmund. It's a simple meeting. We'll be fine."

Asmund sighed and walked over to the window. He watched the sun rise slowly in the sky, thinking. His heart hammered in his chest. Of all of the decisions he'd made so far, this one felt like it mattered most.

"This is meant to be a peaceful visit?" He asked quietly. "Just negotiations, nothing else? A quick trip, no more than a few more days?"

"So says Laufey."

"Do you believe he is lying?"

"The alliance solidified between Prince Loki and Princess Maeve is incredibly strong. There isn't much left that can strengthen it more. He would be foolish to lie to both Asgard and Vanaheim. We could crush the Jotunheim if we so wished."

"Well, I don't believe crushing realms is exactly my style, but I would appreciate it if you would inform Laufey that he will have guests next week." He walked across the room and wrapped an arm around Gale's shoulders. She smiled up at him adoringly. After a moment of being entranced with her eyes, he turned to Lord Narvi. "Who is Odin sending to represent Asgard? Do you know?"

i hope you guys liked the POV switch! i love gale and asmund, aaaaaaaa

what do you think is going to happen?