“Why?”
Solveig thought for a moment before she spoke. “If I am to have a partner, I need to be able to trust that he can hold his own. My life is one of war and power. I need someone who will fight beside me, not cower behind me.”
The Elven queen appraised her. “Wouldn’t you rather have someone who was born to lead? To rule? A farmer would not have been prepared for such a life.”
“Why would I need that?”
“To rule Asgard with you,” Queen Eir said, like the answer was obvious.
“I was never meant to rule Asgard, nor have I ever wanted to.” She hoped her quick refusal to acknowledge her status in Asgard wouldn’t raise any alarms.
“Didn’t Koa and Aelfsi send you here to find their next king?”
“They sent me for a husband to help join our two realms. With my Vanir heritage and the Elven of my choosing, we will create a Fae. The queens mean to make my offspring their heir, knowing I never wanted the throne.”
“And you believe Steffen is the right partner for you?”
The question was loaded, packed with skepticism. Solveig couldn’t answer. Her hands were tied. She didn’t want to lie, but the truth wouldn’t help either of them. Still, the queen would likely detect any deception on her tongue.
“To be quite blunt with you, Your Majesty—”
“Please, Solveig, we have known each other long enough, and you are about to become my daughter-in-law.” The queen’s words were so at odds with the intense way she was staring at Solveig, as if parsing out her feelings.
“Very well. I never thought I would marry, so the concept of finding a husband is foreign to me.” It was as honest as she could be, and the queen seemed to accept this answer.
A moment stretched between them, both females lost in their thoughts. It was not uncomfortable, but the stillness wouldn’t last. It never did.
It was the queen who broke the silence first.
“If I may impart some wisdom.” Eir paused to look at Solveig, who gave a slight nod for her to continue. “A marriage is what you make of it. I have seen many enter marriages of arrangement, of politics. In those situations, the couples have thrived because they had one goal in mind, and it was achieved the moment the ceremony was performed. Marriagesof love are difficult—there is more to gain, but there is also more to lose. I believe you are choosing wisely.”
“Thank you,” Solveig said, appreciating the support. Eir got to her feet but hesitated before leaving.
“One more thing,” she said, looking down on Solveig. The moonlight caught in the queen’s hair, casting a ghostly white glow across her face, accentuating her age, shrouding the other half in shadow. “If your heart already belongs to another, do not choose my son.”
Solveig took the threat in stride. “My heart belongs to Asgard, to Vanaheim, and to my people. This is what is best for them.”
The queen only nodded, not looking at all convinced. She walked away, her silver gown trailing behind her like a strip of stolen moonlight.
Solveig’s magic hissed and curled under her skin, angry at gods knew what—probably that she had used too much. She couldn’t be upset with herself though. It had been to save the prince. To save their budding alliance with Idavoll.
Like her thoughts conjured him, he requested access to her mind.
Feeling better?he asked.
My magic is almost fully replenished.
You sound sad.
Her body reacted strangely to his observation. She shoved it down.
Are you okay?she asked, changing the subject.
We escaped by the skin of our teeth. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.
He was being oddly formal. Stilted in his language.
You’re welcome.What else could she say?
