Frost & Fire
Chapter One: First Impressions Are Everything

“Where are they? What is taking so long?!”

The angrily shouted questions echoed throughout the almost empty throne room. The guards all shifted nervously, as did Bastien – the older man standing at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the throne. He had brought word that the awaited guests hadn’t yet arrived, which was already much later than they were anticipated, and now stood silently with his head bowed and his eyes cast down at his feet.

“I am unsure, Your Majesty,” he said some moments later. Bastien was afraid to speak but knew there would be consequences if he didn’t answer. An agitated growl could be heard from the King. The servant and messenger lifted his gaze, finding that the King was scowling and tightly gripping the spear, Gungnir, which he held in his right hand. It was obvious that their King was absolutely furious.

“I am sure they will arrive soon, Your Majesty. Perhaps they just encountered a small problem that has held them up,” he offered.

“What possible problem could make them so late, Bastien? Their task is a simple one and has never given them issue. Gathering the offerings is something that a mere child could accomplish. They best have an acceptable excuse for this or I’ll have them all seen to the dungeons! My patience is swiftly growing thin,” the King snarled out. Never one to hide his displeasure, he always made it clear he didn’t approve of or tolerate certain things. The tardiness of others and being made to wait were two of those things in particular.

A few moments later there came a sound on the other side of the double doors that opened to allow entrance into the throne room. It sounded as if there was some kind of skirmish going on. The scowl on the King’s face got worse. The doors opened to admit five men, the Gatherers, and five young women, the offerings. It was the last one that was practically dragged inside that caught his attention the most. Of course when someone was kicking, screaming, cursing, and fighting it was near impossible to ignore them. Vayne, the man that had her, was frustrated, obviously tired of her. Bastien stared before easing himself off to the side of the stairs so that he wasn’t in the way.

“Be silent, girl. And be still,” Vayne hissed as he pulled her in behind the rest of the Gatherers and offerings.

“Vayne! Control her! I cannot welcome our guests when one is howling like a banshee,” the King said, his voice commanding and his tone sharp.

Vayne snatched the screaming and combative girl close and attempted to silence her by putting a hand over her mouth. However, she bit him when he did. He cursed and was about to try again when a muzzle – not unlike the one that the King had been made to wear a couple of years ago when he had been a prisoner – materialized over her face. The only thing they heard from her then were muffled sounds.

“There… That’s much better,” the King said, a smug grin appearing on his face as he rose from his large golden throne to stand. “Present them,” he stated to the five men standing there.

Gamil took one step forward, bringing one of the young women with him with his hand on her elbow. He stood at 6’2”, had dark blond hair, hazel eyes, slightly tanned skin, and he had average muscle on his frame. “Your Highness,” the man said in greeting as he gave a half bow. “I present Samantha. She is 23, healthy, able to produce children, and is a virgin. She is shy but willing, sire,” he stated, and then turned to the young woman. “Bow to your King and greet him,” he told her. Samantha did as she was told and gave a bow and then lifted a shy gaze to the King. She had brown hair that reached her jaw, delicate features, pale skin, honey brown eyes, a slim figure, and stood at about 5’5”. She was clad in a floral print summer dress and simple ballet-style flats. “Hello, Your Highness,” she said in a timid voice, lowering her gaze again in a bashful manner.

The King gave a nod and turned his cool gaze to Tarl, who greeted him in the same way Gamil had done. He stood at 6’ even, had brown hair, green eyes, slightly tanned skin, and had average muscle on his frame. “I present Cassandra. She is 26, healthy, able to produce children, and she is not a virgin. She is overly enthusiastic and quite willing, sire,” he said. She took initiative and stepped forward, giving an over-exaggerated bow and then giving the King a bold and lustful look. Cassandra had shoulder length, fiery red hair, strong features, fair skin, spring green eyes, a voluptuous figure, and stood at 5’7”. She was wearing a pair of skintight jeans, a very revealing tank top, and strappy three-inch heels. “Hello, Your Majesty,” she said in a seductive purr.

The presentation got a raised eyebrow and an appreciate glance from the King before he nodded and moved on to Darris, who eased the next girl up. He greeted the King as was customary. He was 6’2”, had dark brown hair, light brown eyes, tanned skin, and had average muscle on his frame. “I present Bethany. She is 27, healthy, able to produce children, and is not a virgin. She is wary but willing, sire,” he said. Bethany didn’t need to be coaxed into greeting the King, though she wasn’t like Cassandra in being overeager to push herself into the King’s attention. “Hello, Your Highness,” she said calmly as she bowed and gave a small smile. She had short black hair, creamy mocha toned skin, dark brown eyes, strong features, a slim but curvy figure, and stood at 5’9”. She wore a simple matching skirt and top and a pair of sandals.

The King looked her over and smiled, then nodded and looked to Rhotin next. Rhotin gave the same greeting as the others had. He stood at 6’4”, had dark brown hair, hazel eyes, slightly tanned skin, and had a little extra muscle in comparison to the others. “I present Rita. She is 25, healthy, able to produce children, and is not a virgin. She is quiet and willing, sire,” he said. Rita bowed and gave the King a reserved smile. “Hello, Your Majesty,” she said quietly. She had shoulder length blond hair, hazel eyes, fine features, lightly tanned skin, an average figure, and stood at 5’5”. She was wearing a short-sleeved V-neck shirt, a pair of capris jeans, and a pair of running shoes.

Her presentation got an appreciative glance before the King nodded and turned his attention to the last pair. “My, my… Bring me a feisty one this go, hm, Vayne?” The King watched the girl struggle in Vayne’s iron grasp; it was futile and she would only wear herself out. He grinned. Vayne went on to greet the King as the others had done. He stood at 6’5”, had black hair, pale blue eyes, tanned skin, and had the most muscle on his frame out of the four other men. He looked like the type of man one didn’t want to trifle with. With an irritated look on his face, he held the young woman still in front of him to face the King. It was clear that she had no intention of bowing and couldn’t speak with the muzzle covering her mouth. “I present Aerys. She is 21, healthy, able to produce children, and she is a virgin. She is… Well, as you can see, Your Majesty, she is not willing. She is like an angry viper and has been trouble from the start. She is why we were so late,” Vayne says, giving a small explanation. The King nodded and regarded the feisty Aerys with a steady gaze, even while she glared daggers.

Aerys had jet black hair that reached mid-back, fine but strong features, a slim but curvy figure, tan skin, and stood at 5’2”. She wore a pair of loose and baggy black pants, a short-sleeved t-shirt showcasing some band, and a pair of Converses. Her eyes are what piqued his interest, aside from her fighting spirit. There was something different about her eyes. With the hand not curled about his spear, he motioned for Vayne to bring her up the steps so he could get a closer look. Vayne picked the girl up, ignoring her squirming and kicking, and carried her up to the King.

When they reached the last step the King reached out and took hold of her jaw to still her head and lift her face for inspection. However, she stubbornly squeezed her eyes shut and tried to pull her jaw from his grip. He didn’t relent; he only tightened his grip. “Open your eyes, Aerys,” he hissed. She winced and it seemed that she wasn’t going to listen. But as he opened his mouth to give her a warning she eased her eyes open, though she kept them downcast. “Be a good girl and look up at me. Naughty girls are punished. So let’s be a good pet,” he coaxed in a sickly sweet tone that dripped with a veiled warning. It took a few moments before she complied. When she did she fixed her odd gaze on his face, defiance clear in her mismatched eyes and the way she glared at him.

The King was rendered momentarily speechless when her gaze, though obviously insolent, met his. Her left eye was a vibrant emerald green and the right was a pale, arctic blue. “What an interesting pair of eyes you have. Just as unique as your name, my dear Aerys. I may just keep you as a pretty-eyed pet, regardless of what this next month brings…” he says with a grin. The look on his face and in his eyes sent an uncomfortable feeling through her. “You can take her back down again, Vayne. I still need to introduce myself and give my little speech before they are to be taken to their chambers and prepped.”

Vayne gives a nod and silently carries Aerys back down to where they had been standing before. Aerys glanced at the other girls who all looked confused, surprised, or in Cassandra’s case pissed off. If she weren’t muzzled she would have told Cassandra that she could have him, because Aerys certainly didn’t.

“As King and ruler of Asgard I would like to welcome you all. I am Loki. However, I will be known to all of you by other titles instead of my given name. Once you are taken to your separate chambers you will be ceremoniously bathed, prepped, and dressed. After that all of you will be escorted to the common room that the five of you will share. You will be informed on what you are here for – even if you are already aware – and instructed on what is expected of you during your time here, rules and the consequences for breaking said rules, what you are allowed to address me as, and other important things you need to know. Once that is over your guards, the men currently with you, will escort you back here. I shall make sure that everything is in order. You are dismissed,” he said with a small wave of his free hand.

The men guided the girls out of the throne room, all of them quiet except for Aerys. She had resumed her struggling and her words were still muffled by the muzzle. It would vanish from her face as soon as Vayne had her secured in her chambers. Loki smirked as he watched Vayne practically tote her off; he could already tell that she was going to be a handful. But that just meant it was going to be more fun to break her. Trying, but rewarding…