Work Text:
You were super ecstatic to be invited along Thor and Loki to Alfheim. The idea of representing Asgard on a planet you’ve never been to was daunting, but with the boys there you didn’t worry. As you stood antsy by the portal, Loki couldn’t help but snicker.
“You’re dancing back and worth like an excited puppy.” He remarked nudging you slightly.
“Well I am excited! I’ve never been to Alfheim, this is going to be awesome!” You answer unwilling to take the smile of your face.
“Have you even ever traveled through the Bifrost before?” He asked eyeing you up as your face fell at the notion.
“No…” you whispered, “Is it difficult?"
"It’s a rush! Like you’re flying! All you have to do is stay within the light and you’ll be fine.” Thor enthused.
“Should I be nervous?” You asked, now thinking about a million ways you could fall out to an uncertain demise.
“Don’t worry, stay close and it will be easy.” Loki reassured you and you felt at ease, like always.
“Ok! Let’s do this!” You cheered just as Odin, Frigga and Heimdall entered all dressed to impress, causing the boys to laugh at you.
Odin chuckled himself as he walked in noticing you throwing your arm up in the air as a triumphant gesture. “Are we all ready to go?” he asked with a large smile.
“Yes sir.” Thor said with confidence and you nodded.
The trip was almost indescribable. You’d never seen so many lights at one time. At one point you felt a flush of air so strong fly past you it almost frightened you, but at the same moment Loki grabbed your hand tightly as he smirked down at you. Once you squeezed back and focused on the beauty of everything instead of the speed of everything you felt the adrenaline rush Thor mentioned. It was incredible.
With a whirling sensation you suddenly felt ground under your feet again as the colors faded into a large white accented room. Upon further inspection you realized everything was wooden, and the room was even carved out of what looked like a large tree.
“No way!” you squealed, running out of the room to confirm. As you stepped outside and turned around you saw it. The largest tree you’ve ever seen was standing there with the inside hallowed out. “Wow.” You mumbled in awe.
Just then you heard someone clear their throat behind you. You whipped around to see three men standing in front a small collection of others on horses. They were all slim and tall. Each of them were wearing head bands that looked like they were made from braided strands of vine or curved wood. They all had hair even fairer than Thor’s, but each one glittered golden the light. You felt a hand on your shoulder as Frigga stepped up to stand next to you.
Odin walked up with his usual confidence and greeted the eldest looking elven man. They chatted for a while and you over heard a comment about the over eager teenager, which you could only assume was you. You caved into your own body to make yourself shrink away. After a few minutes of doing your best to look professional Odin called forth the boys to show them off to the elven leader. Odin did his usual display of Thor this-and-that while Loki stood tall and smiled for his limited part in the introductions.
Then one of the other three gentlemen next to the leader motioned in your direction and asked a surprising question. “Is she yours as well Odin, or are you going to marry her off to one of these strapping fellows? I know one of my sons would adore an excitable one like her, and we haven’t had a marriage allegiance in a quite a while.” You eyes went wide with shock and you glanced around to see if anyone else heard him correctly.
Odin simply laughed. “She’s practically mine at this point. Seems to be over playing with the boys all the time. ” He nodded at you with a smile, “However, I have to leave any marriage decisions to her. She’s growing into a fine young woman and I think she’s fully capable of making those decisions on her own.” He laughed again, “Now what about this dinner we talked about?"
The older elven man leaded you all towards another set of massive trees with hollowed rooms. On the walk, you slid up by Loki and whispered, "Did I make a fool of myself?"
"Not at all, you made an impression. You even got a proposal! Will you invite me to the wedding?” His teasing tone was prevalent and you rolled your eyes at him. “Y/n the elven princess. Such an honor to have know you when you were a simple asgardian girl."
"Whatever. But if I do anything to make a fool of myself let me know. Please.” You continued in hushed tone.
“Are you inviting me to to point out your natural foolishness?” Loki laughed quietly and you smacked his arm. You heard Frigga also laugh lightly behind you and Loki smirked, “Maybe it is foolish to hit a royal guest of our gracious hosts, no?” You grunted in a little pout then focused on walking with the crowd.
The hall where dinner was being held was all natural wooden features and flowers blossoming out of no where. After more introductions and pleasantries were finished you all sat down at a excellently carved table. A young man about your age came around to offer drinks to everyone. He was taller than you, and lanky, but he had a kind smile as he offered you a citrus infused water. You accepted and when you did he smiled so wide at you tilting his head a little in a odd sort of friendly nod. He continued around the table offering everyone water as well. You noticed he kept looking back to you every couple of minutes. In fact, he almost spilled Loki’s drink as he looked at you instead of Loki’s cup.
Loki watched this boy eye you with a grimace. Did he really have to sit here and watch this boy blush every time he looked at you? First some old man wanted to marry you off and now this kid thought he had a chance too? He was suddenly not a fan of these elven people. You couldn’t marry anyone outside of Asgard, if you did, he’s be utterly bored half the time and stuck with no one but Thor and his fan club the rest of the time. It was a horrid thought.
Dinner went well. You ate your fill and was glad conversation stayed mostly centered around Odin and the elven leader’s political business. You only had to sit, look nice, and nod occasionally when Odin made comments about everyday life in Asgard. After everyone had finished eating, the same boy from before brought around wine.
When he reached you this time, he leaned in to you as he poured, “Hello miss, My name is Arvid.” You smiled and tell him your name. His whole face lit up when you told him and he practically danced around the table as he continued to offer wine.
Shortly after wine, the elder elf offered you and the boys to follow Arvid out into town, so he could finish this conversation with Odin. As soon as you are up from the table, Loki is by your side and he was visibly upset. His fowl mood carried over into the streets woven between lush trees. You wanted to ask him about it, but you were quickly distracted by all of the greenery around you.
“Are all these species native to Alfheim?” You asked Arvid upon walking by a especially gorgeous flower that was blooming under a willow type tree. You stopped walking with out trying and reached to delicately touch the bud.
“Of course!” Arvid practically sang as he stepped up next to you, replacing Loki. “We have the richest ecosystem in all the Nine Realms. Millions of floral species alone. This one is one of my favorites, they only only bloom in the evening. Just as the sun sets. You’re witnessing them start to open up right now."
"Perfect timing then!” You said excitedly. Arvid plucks one of the more exposed flowers and handed it to you with a blush across his face. You accept and instantly tuck the flower’s stem behind your ear. “Thanks.”
“I’m supposed to show you the market place and the library, but if you’d like I could show you the conservatory field.” He asked, completely ignoring the royalty behind him he was tasked with impressing in particular.
“Conservatory?” You asked.
“Some of the noblemen started a field in which to grow a few of as many different plants as possible. They wanted to study them all and keep more rare species alive and well. It’s stunning, romantic even, I’m sure you’ll love it."
You hear a small grunt of disapproval behind you and realize the boys were standing there too. "That sounds lovely, but Loki and I are quite the library dual, and Thor has a surprising appreciation for languages. I bet the library would be an excellent place to take us."
Arvid looked startled for a moment as he remembered your company. "Uh..Right, This way please.”
As you all made your way to the library, Loki turned to Thor, “I don’t like that boy.”
“You don’t like most people.” Thor countered amused.
“I like you and I like Y/n, isn’t that plenty of people?” Loki said with great disdain as he watched Arvid grab your hand to point with you up to another large flower growing on the side of another large tree. He felt a strong desire to hurt that boy very much. Just then you laughed with such glee that Loki changed his mind. Well, the desire to see the boy in pain didn’t fade, but he no longer contemplated following through on the desire. Anyone who could make you laugh like that couldn’t be that bad. He just wished you were laughing with him. You usually only laughed like that around him.
The library was another wooden masterpiece and any other time Loki would have enjoyed the place, but tonight he spent his time bitterly holding his tongue. He didn’t like to see someone give puppy-dog-eyes to his best friend all evening, but he endured. After the tour you all met his parents outside the library and learned the meeting went so wonderfully it took no time at all. Odin did the obligatory farewells and you all bowed to your hosts before returning to the Bifrost portal.
Once there Loki endured Arvid make one more attempt to woo you before you kindly gave him what Loki would consider a half-hug at best and joined the rest of his family at the portal. He was expecting you to be all flustered at the boy’s attentions, but you didn’t seem to care in the slightest as he walked away. You walked up to Loki with a small smile.
“That was awesome! Can I come with you to other places sometime?” You asked innocently.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” He answered a little thrown off by your attention on him again.
You looked down, shy for a second, then looking back up at Loki, “Could I…Could I hold your hand again? I know it’s silly, but it really helped me feel safe during the trip…"
"Definitely.” He said holding out his hand as you placed yours so easily into his. He squeezed it gently giving you a genuine smile, before he looked over his shoulder. He made eye contact with Arvid and smiled a nasty little smirk in the other boy’s direction for a moment before stepping through the portal with you.
—————-❤