Chapter Text
Chapter 7:
When Eden and Peter arrived back from the high-school, there was a letter waiting for her. It was not from Val or Gerd or Frigga, it was from Odin; and Eden knew exactly what this could be about. Her father knew, and he was right next to the letter on the counter, her uncle knew, who was stood next to Loki as Eden and Peter walked in. She could sense from the atmosphere and her families solemn expressions, Peter, however, did not get the que.
"Eden, do you wanna go get ice-cre-"
"Leave, Parker" her father said, not in the mood for argument. Peter nodded and left the room quickly. Eden sat down at the kitchen island, staring at the beige scroll with wax seal with the kingdoms symbol imprinted on it. Along moment passed, no one said anything. Getting more annoyed by the second, Eden grabbed the scroll and tore it open and began reading it. Her grandfathers handwriting stared back at her with words informing her about how she should not have gone to Midgard as there are suitors waiting for her, how those same suitors are travelling to ask for her hand, how 'a good queen of Asgard needs a man to straighten her out'; a line she had heard many a time before. She rolls back up the scroll and hands it to her uncle, "I'm not going back, not yet at least"
"Little one, it has to be soon. They'll arrive and expect to see you, even if you don't want to"
Eden nods and looks over at her father, he's looking at her, recognising her expression of feeling pushed and he knows about her anxiety towards suitors. But, she knows she will have to place a brave face when meeting them, sooner than later. He despised seeing his daughter like this and she knew it. He liked her rebelliousness and humour but she had to tear that persona apart to replace it with the stereotypical princess one she had to place on in front of her grandfather and potential suitors. He also knew that she may have someone else in mind for suitors, but couldn't be for certain.
Slowly over the next two days, they began packing all their items together to head back for Asgard and prepare for the hoard of suitors heading Eden's way.
Eden was packing away some clothes and books when someone knocked on her open door. She turned to see Peter leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. After a second of staring at eachother before he spoke, "You've been off lately. Was it from that letter thing two days ago?"
Eden let out an exhausted sigh, "Yes, Peter, yes it is."
Peter stepped into the room and sat at her desk chair and taking a book from it and opening it, looking at its contents. That particular boom was a history on Asgardian marriages and arrangements with other kingdoms and Lords; and, of course, Odin had made her educate herself on that for when it was her time. She hated that book with a passion, but it seemed Peter was interested, "Asgard still do arranged marriages for companionship? I thought that died out ages ago"
"Yes, though most choose their own, and most have already chosen by my age. My grandfather wants any arrangement he can get from other kingdoms and Lords, and of course, it's from me."
"That sucks" Peter says, still flipping pages in the book, "Hey, this guy married a mortal a few centuries ago, you could do that if you wanted" he looked up at her when he said that. She tilts her head slightly in mild confusion, she doesn't say anything but kind of understands.
Peter closes the book and sets it in her bag for her before sitting opposite her on the bed, "I'm gonna miss you when you're gone, E, you're a good person... well, goddess"
Eden smiled, slight tears beginning to form in her eyes. She knew she would have t leave and go back eventually but she'd grown to love Earth. She had felt so connected to her surroundings and environment but, most importantly, more close to her mother; and, she had met Peter, a friend who wasn't a Lord's child or somehow related to her. Peter noticed and quickly moved to sit next to her and wraps an arm around her for comfort, he didn't even have t say anything, because he didn't really know how, just being there was enough for Eden. They stayed like that for a few minutes, in silence, enjoying eachothers company.
"You can come back, E, or I can come visit you, either works"
Eden nods, wiping her eyes. In her mind, she knew'd she would visit again after these suitors were gone, she also knew Peter would and could visit. She trusted him, and he with her...