Morning arrived far more peacefully than Eirlys had expected. She woke before Loki, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her as she quietly slipped from the bed. For a few moments, she simply stood beside it, looking down at her husband. There was something almost strange about seeing him asleep without the usual guarded expression he carried around everyone else. He looked younger somehow, peaceful in a way she rarely got to see.
Eirlys dressed quietly before moving toward the mirror. Her hair, still slightly damp from washing, had settled into soft curls around her shoulders. She picked up her brush and began working through them carefully, watching her reflection as the memories of the previous night returned. The wedding, the kiss, the bracelet, and especially Loki asking only to sleep beside her. She smiled faintly at the last thought.
Whatever complicated mess existed around them, she could not deny that waking up beside him had felt strangely comforting. Behind her, the mattress shifted. Eirlys glanced at the mirror and caught Loki looking up at her from the bed. His hair was disheveled, and his expression carried the unmistakable remnants of someone who had only just returned from sleep.
"The mead has worn off, I see," he murmured.
Eirlys looked at him through the mirror. "Completely."
"So the terrifying woman from last night has disappeared?"
She turned around with a raised eyebrow. "I was not terrifying."
"You threatened Thor."
"He deserved it."
Loki smiled and Eirlys tried to hide her own smile as she returned to brushing her curls. Eventually Loki rose and began getting ready. His ceremonial clothing from the previous day had been replaced with something more suitable for the morning, though he still managed to look irritatingly polished despite having just woken.
When he came toward her, Eirlys noticed that his collar was slightly crooked. "Stop."
Loki froze as she stepped closer and adjusted it herself, smoothing the fabric and fixing the fastening at his throat. Her fingers worked carefully while Loki simply watched her. "There," she said.
He glanced down. "Perfect?"
"Acceptable."
"I'll treasure the compliment."
She rolled her eyes and stepped away. Together, they finally left their chambers and walked toward the breakfast hall. The palace was already awake. Servants moved through the corridors carrying trays, guards exchanged greetings and the sound of voices travelled from the rooms beyond. It was a quieter morning than the previous day, but there was still an unmistakable sense that something was about to happen.
Loki noticed Eirlys's expression change. "What?"
"My cousins are arriving today."
He looked at her. "That sounded ominous."
"It is."
Loki laughed softly. Eirlys continued walking beside him, her expression becoming increasingly serious as she considered what awaited him. "They are going to want to meet you properly. And there will probably be questions."
"I can handle questions."
"Pranks too."
Loki stopped walking. "Pranks?"
Eirlys nodded. "You should be prepared."
He stared at her as though she had just informed him that her family intended to declare war. "What kind of pranks?"
"The sort that become funnier when you're the one suffering through them."
"That is not reassuring."
Eirlys laughed. "They have been doing this to everyone since we were children. You'll survive."
Loki resumed walking, though he looked considerably less confident than before. "I have survived assassination attempts, wars and imprisonment."
"Yes," Eirlys said sweetly. "But you've never met my cousins."
Loki looked at her. "That is possibly the most frightening thing anyone has said to me."
She smiled as they reached the breakfast hall feeling a little lighter. Whatever the day brought, at least it would not be boring. By the time they reached the breakfast hall, the table was already prepared. Eirlys took her place and, without thinking much about it, began arranging food onto a plate for Loki. She chose a little of everything she knew he would actually eat and placed the finished plate in front of him before sitting down beside him.
Loki looked at the plate, then at her. "Well," he said, a faintly amused smile appearing on his face, "someone has become rather wifely overnight."
Eirlys slowly turned her head towards him. "I can take it back." Her hand immediately moved towards the plate.
"No." Loki caught the edge of it before she could pull it away. "I didn't say I disliked it."
"You implied it."
"I merely observed it."
Eirlys gave him a suspicious look before settling back into her seat. "Then eat."
Loki smiled and looked down at the food. There was something unexpectedly pleasant about having someone simply put a plate in front of him without him having to ask. He was accustomed to serving himself, taking what was available or, more often, being too distracted to notice that he had not eaten at all. Having Eirlys quietly prepare something for him felt strangely domestic. He rather liked it.
The moment he reached for his fork, a hand suddenly swooped across the table and stole his bread, Loki looked offended. Thor calmly pulled the piece toward himself and took a bite. Loki stared at him. "Was that necessary?"
Thor chewed thoughtfully. "Yes."
Before Loki could respond, Eirlys poured herself some juice and then reached for Loki's glass, filling it before placing it carefully in front of him. Another hand appeared, Sif took the glass and before Eirlys could protest, Sif took a sip.
"That was mine," Loki said.
"I know." She continued drinking, Loki looked at Eirlys as she stared at Sif. Neither seemed particularly concerned, then came Volstagg. He reached across the table, grabbed Loki's entire plate with both hands and lifted it away.
Loki's expression became dangerously blank. "Put that down."
Volstagg looked at the plate. "Why?"
"Because it is my breakfast."
Volstagg considered this. "Ah." He looked as though that explanation had changed absolutely nothing, Loki's glare intensified.
Eirlys pressed her lips together, trying desperately not to laugh, Thor noticed. "You're enjoying this."
"No."
"You are."
Eirlys finally lost the battle and laughed, Loki turned toward her, utterly betrayed. "You failed to mention that breakfast itself was apparently unsafe."
Sif put the empty glass down and smiled innocently. "Consider it your first lesson."
Volstagg finally returned the plate, though the fruit pieces had mysteriously disappeared, there were three grapes left on it. Loki inspected the damage before looking at Eirlys. "Your family is unbearable."
"They're not my family."
"They are now."
That made her pause, then she smiled. "Yes," she said softly. "I suppose they are."
Loki finally reached for a piece of bread from the basket, Thor immediately stole it too, Loki closed his eyes. "I am beginning to reconsider this marriage."