Odin watched as his two songs knelt before him; both of them surrounded by Asgardian soldiers and the Warriors Three. He watched them in silence as they quietly glanced at one another, no words being spoken. There was a twinge of anxiety as he cleared his throat. This was an important meeting, one that was about to change the future of Asgard forever. He cast a wary gaze at his Queen, Frigga, and she returned his gaze with a small nod. This had to be done.

"My sons," Odin boomed, his voice echoing loudly. Thor and Loki both looked up; Thor looking curious while Loki had a sullen, slightly bitter expression on his face. Odin spoke again, his voice level and clear.

"It has been a century since Loki's wrongdoings on Misgard. He has gone through trial, and finished his punishment through the prisons. Thor, you have never strayed far from your brother, continually fixing the messes he has left behind. The both of you have been changed by the experience, and I hope that you both are wiser from it. However; there is a time in a Prince's life where one last decision must be made by the parents, before they are set free as adults. As men." Odin paused, waiting for one of them to speak up.

"What do you mean?" Thor asked quietly, worry creasing his face. Loki remained silent, his face as unperturbed as ever.

Frigga rose from her seat and put a comforting hand on Odin's arm. "Bluntly put, the both of you have an arranged marriage with two Princesses from the opposite realm. We have talked to the king of Vanaheim, and he has agreed to let his daughter come to Asgard to be married."

Thor's mouth dropped open, not a sound coming from him.

Loki looked stunned, surprise taking over his features. He slowly got to his feet. "You are forcing us to be wed?" he said, almost under his breath. "Do you not think that we can make our own decisions?"

Odin's face tightened. "Loki, this is the way things are. I will not live forever."

"To hell with that." Loki snapped, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists. The crowd was silently gaping in disbelief. "I refused to be married to some spoilt harlot. And why am I forced into this anyway, 'Father' dearest? I am not king and never will be-"

"Quiet, brother." Thor muttered. "Now is not the time nor place."

Loki chuckled dryly. "I suppose now would be the right time to mention that mortal woman of yours..."

Thor's face dropped.

"Silence, Loki!" Odin said loudly, slamming down the hilt of his staff on the floor. "It will be done!"

Without another word, Loki knelt back down and cast his eyes on the floor; even though his face was twisted in a small bitter smile. He almost wished that he'd get sent back to the prisons, or even Jotunheim. He would much rather be suffering there then forcing himself to give up what little freedom he had gotten back. His eyes met with Thor's for a split second before he looked away.

"Do not be so bitter, Loki. You will not meet a better woman then one of Vanaheim. Perhaps she will show you what it truly means to be a king." Odin said icily, staring at Loki with his one good eye.

Loki didn't say anything, just snorted in response.

"My sons, I know this is much to take in. But the girls have traveled very far to get here." Frigga said calmly. "They are Princesses; they expect the best of behavior."

"Of course, mother." Thor said softly. "Do you know their names?"

Frigga smiled at him. "The one you will wed is the eldest Princess. Her name is Kaisa Vanir."

"And Loki's?" Thor asked, ignoring the angry hiss of disgust behind him.

"Takumi Vanir." Frigga answered. Then her voice grew softer, and she crossed her hands across her stomach in a Queenly fashion. "I am afraid I cannot tell you much else. The king of Vanaheim keeps his affairs very closed to the rest of the realms, including his daughters. Who they are and what Vanaheimians are capable of, I do not know."

"Perhaps Loki's queen will be just as psycho as he!" one guard shouted from the back of the room, causing the entire room to burst into a fit of laughter.

Loki slowly got to his feet again and stared angrily at the laughing crowd, scowling. Thor quickly jumped to his feet and clasped a hand over Loki's mouth, preventing him from saying anything else. The crowed quickly quieted; covering their mouths to muffle their giggles.

Odin cleared his throat again. "The two Vanaheimians will be here shortly. I suggest you make your chambers tidy for them."

Loki wrenched himself free of Thor's grip. "I WILL have a say in this! I refuse!" he snapped.

"Loki.." Frigga said softly.

"I will make her life hell." he snarled. Then he turned on his heel and stalked out of the throne room, slamming the doors hard behind him. There was an uneasy silence left behind, everyone in the room quietly holding their breath.

Thor shifted from foot to foot, looking anxious. "I am sorry. He is.. upset. This is much to take in."

"We know." Odin stepped down from his throne and put his hand on Thor's shoulder. "And we do not expect you to be jovial about this. And we do know that you are still in mourning for the mortal Jane's death on Misgard."

"All is well." Thor mumbled. "She was a mighty woman."

"And hopefully, so will the Vanirs." Odin gave him a hard shake on the shoulder before turning to walk away. "Talk to your brother, Thor. We do not need any more messes."

The crowd followed Odin out of the room, leaving Thor to stand in the middle by himself. After the last person had stumbled out and the doors had closed with a loud bang, Thor felt his heart hammer painfully against his chest. The same way he always felt when he thought about Jane, and her last moments on Earth.

Those wonderful, painfully short, and fatal moments that they had spent together.

Thor sighed and reached for his hammer, his fingers curling around the handle. He would have to talk to Loki, indeed. But if he knew anything about Loki, he knew that he wouldn't settle for this.

Not until he got his way.