The day had finally arrived.

In only hours, all of Asgard would come to watch as Skadi takes her mother's place amoung the Horae. The platinum blond hadn't slept all night, her loud and consuming thoughts about what her mother would think of her keeping her awake. She was so scared of disappointing her mother, her father ─ all of Asgard, really, that at one point she had even left her chambers to take an evening stroll, hoping that maybe a walk would help clear her head.

It hadn't.

As soon as she returned to her chambers and fell back against her pillows, she still laid wide awake with a thousand thoughts on her mind. She tossed and turned, throwing a pillow over her head, but nothing worked. The poor woman was restless. At one point she even wished that she had Loki by her side, for he always seemed to be able to calm her nerves. Surely, he'd be able to hold her against his chest and lull her into a soothing sleep.

By the time the sun was out, she knew that she had to get ready. After all, her ceremony would be taking place just after breakfast which would then follow a celebratory lunch. As she readied herself within her bed chambers, time seemed to fly by quicker than she anticipated, and before she knew it, she had less than two hours to prepare.

After bathing, she stepped from the tub and reached for a towel, which she used to pat herself dry. As she reached for her silk robe, she heard a soft rapping on the other side of her chambers door. Sighing, she crossed her room to see who it was and found Queen Frigga on the other side. The woman looked as radiant as ever, clad in an elegant blue and gold gown stitched with patterns that appeared to be of roses, with a golden band in her long, wavy hair to hold it back from her face.

Skadi felt her eyes widen. This was the last person she was expecting to see right now. Especially when she wasn't even dressed yet.

"Good morning, dear," the queen greeted with a bright smile.

"My Queen," Skadi bowed her head slightly. She then held her robe tighter around her body. "Forgive my attire. If I had known that you were coming─"

Frigga interrupted her with light-hearted chuckles. "It is alright, dear. May I come in? I have something that I would like to give you before your ceremony."

"Of course," Skadi nodded. She opened up her door, allowing Frigga to step through.

"How are you feeling?" The golden-haired woman asked.

"I'm well," Skadi replied, "all things considered."

Queen Frigga took her hands gently. "Being nervous is to be expected, there is nothing to be ashamed of," she spoke knowingly, causing Skadi to smile slightly in response. She then dropped Skadi's hands and lifted up the blue gown which she had brought with her. "I think this may help you, though."

Skadi held out her arms, allowing Frigga to place the gown across them. It was stunning, the most stunning dress that Skadi has ever seen. The colour of the fabric was a soft and elegant blue, dotted with small, silver gems that glistened in the sun rays coursing through Skadi's open balcony. It had a long, silk blue cape that cascaded down to the floor and thin sleeves to match.

"It's beautiful," Skadi breathed as she allowed her fingers to stroke the material. "Wherever did you find it?"

"It was your mother's," Frigga revealed, causing Skadi's eyes to snap up and meet her own. The elder woman smiled and lifted a hand to brush strands of Skadi's platinum hair from her face. "She wore it on her coronation day, and her mother before her wore it as well. I can still remember the day your mother handed it over to me. She told me, 'Frigga, I want you to keep this safe for me and should the worst occur one day, I want you to be the one to give it to my daughter.' I never knew why she wanted me to be the one, but I was honoured nonetheless."

It was a lie. Frigga knew why Shiva had presented her with her coronation gown that day. She would remember it forever; she just couldn't tell Skadi because it was forbidden. You see, Frigga was was unable to bear anymore children after birthing Thor so Skadi had always been like the daughter to her.

Unexpectedly, Skadi leaped forward to wrap her queen in a hug, and Frigga found it to be just what she needed to help push back her tears.

Tears built up in Skadi's eyes as she squeezed the woman tightly. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you."

Frigga smoothed her hand up and down Skadi's back, a smile gracing her features. "Of course, sweetheart." After a few moments, she then parted ways with Skadi and bid the young woman a gentle farewell before slipping outside the door.

　
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Looking back on her long life, Skadi quickly came to realize that she has never been this nervous before. Her laced fingers trembled as they rested loosely out in front of her and against her abdomen; she was sweaty; her heart hammering within her chest like a wild horse galloping through an open field with no obstacles in its path; she felt as though she could spill out the contents of her stomach at any moment if the pounding in her head continued to go on.

Eventually, she was able to muster up enough courage to peer up over the shrubs that she was hiding behind. There were so many people, nearly all of Asgard, here to watch her coronation. Some were talking, some were just standing there and admiring the scenery, but so many were approaching her father congratulate him on his daughter's high honour. The more people she allowed her eyes to follow, the more nervous she seemed to become. Skadi staggered backwards as she suddenly pictured thousands upon thousands of eyes piercing into her skin like pins and needles. Shakey breaths began to fall from her lips as she paced the ground, muttering the same words over and over to herself.

"Breathe, Skadi," she told herself with a shaking voice. "Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe."

"There you are." The new voice startled her, causing her to nearly jump from her skin and hurl herself into one of the shrubs. Her tense muscles relaxed as she found that it was only Loki. She breathed out a sigh of relief and rushed forward to hold him.

"Skadi," Loki began, sounding concerned. "Are you alright?"

As she parted from him, Skadi shook her head. She didn't have to bother lying to him like she did with everyone else today. "No. No, I'm not. I can't do this, Loki. I really can't do this. I-If I go up there─" Her breaths grew louder with each word, sounding more and more panicked.

Loki grasped her face in his hands, bringing her close and pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. His lips caused an unexpected warmth to spread throughout her body and caused her muscles to relax almost instantly. She allowed her eyes to close as she breathed in his wonderful scent.

Loki pressed his forehead against hers, watching her with a fondness in his eyes. "I believe in you, Skadi," he spoke with a deep sincerity. "You can do this. I know it to be true in my heart."

When Skadi's eyes peeled open slowly, her long eyelashes and the way they flutter so elegantly at times made his heart race. Her breath seemed to get trapped in her throat under the intensity on his eyes. Maybe it was how close they were to each other in the moment, or maybe it was her father's words from the other day echoing within her ears, but suddenly, Skadi found herself slowly moving her face towards his ─ and Loki didn't move away. Skadi had no idea what she was doing, her mind consumed by the euphoria of the moment to even hold care of her actions.

Their noses touched first, softly and delicately brushing against one another and sending tingles across their skin as if the wings of a butterfly had fluttered down to kiss their faces. Then, almost by accident it seemed at first, their lips tentatively brushed against each others, but again neither of them moved away.

They kissed gently, and as more time passed by Skadi began to realize that she was actually kissing her best friend right now. And that wasn't even the most shocking thing of all ─ she actually liked kissing him. Like his embrace that she loved so much, his lips were warm and soft and nurturing, offering her everything that she never knew she needed. It seemed in this moment that her father was right ─ perhaps Loki does love her. Her heart was racing at the possibility.

Eventually, they parted ways, pulling back to stare deep into each others eyes. Neither of them said a word, a comfortable silence falling upon them as their breath simply mixed in the middle.

"Skadi," the voice of her father cut through the air. Skadi felt her cheeks heat up as she stepped away from Loki, who appeared to be just as breathless as herself at what just occurred between them.

Skadi brushed back her strands of platinum blond and glanced forward just as her father approached them. "Yes, Father?" She asked in a voice that didn't even sound like her own. Luckily for her, her father didn't question her on it.

"It is time," he informed, causing her to nod. Ullr then stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "You'll do wonderfully, Skadi, have no fear. Your mother would be so proud."

Skadi managed to force a small smile toward her father before watching him leave to find his place in the front row of the large crowd. Loki wordlessly began to follow after him to do the same thing, pausing for only a moment to look back at her. His lips parted as if to say something, which caused her heart to race in anticipation, but instead he merely smiled and left.

When Skadi heard the music start to play, she walked out from behind the shrubs with her hands delicately folded out in front of her. Time seemed to move by in slow motion as she walked down the aisle, her long cape billowing beautifully out behind her and brushing along the blue carpet that had been laid out. Strands of her platinum hair began to escape the elegant updo that it had been styled in by a maiden hand assigned by Queen Frigga as a gentle wind blew through the area.

The courtyard outside the Palace of the Horae had been decorated wonderfully. Since this was the coronation of a winter goddess, everything was blue. From the flowers strung up, to the carpet she walked on, to the dresses her soon-to-be Horae sisters wore ─ everything was blue as a way to symbolize and celebrate Skadi herself.

When she reached the end of the aisle, the music had come to a stop. Skadi knelt down before King Odin and the Horae, viewing up at them with a nervous expression painted on her features. Each of the seasonal goddesses offered her a smile before Odin slammed his scepter gently into the ground and began the ceremony.

"Today I, Odin Allfather, King of Asgard, entrust you, Skadi Ullrdottir, with one of the greatest honours in all the Nine Realms. The duty of a Winter Goddess. To be a Horae and have power over a season means you must rule wisely. You must have care with the power that I will bestow upon you on this day. Responsibility, duty, honour. They are essential to every soldier, to every King, to every Horae."

There was a pause befor Odin spoke again. "Skadi Ullrdottir, do you swear to serve valiantly amoung the Horae and bring peaceful winters across the Nine Realms?"

Skadi swallowed down her fear and responded with a nod, vowing, "I swear."

"Do you swear to only use your power for good and to cast out all selfish ambitions?"

"I swear."

Odin smiled down upon her, nodding his head in satisfaction that she had not declined her destiny like he originally thought she would. "Then on this day, I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you, Skadi Ullrdottir, the Goddess of Winter." With a sudden thrust of his scepter, Gungnir, a flashing white light flew forth from the tip and collided with Skadi. The woman gasped as she felt an immediate harsh and cold feeling consume her entire body all at once. She fell forward, biting down hard on her lip to keep a whimper from escaping her lips as the sudden pain began to tangle itself around her bones and pierce her heart and soul directly. Meanwhile, the crowd behind her erupted into a great applause, for a new winter goddess had been born.

When the power was delivered safely into Skadi, Odin drew back his scepter and looked down upon her. "Rise up, Skadi, Goddess of Winter."

Shakily, Skadi pushed herself onto her feet at her king's command, her breaths coming out in short rasps. The power within her was far too strong, stronger than she was anticipating. She didn't know how to control it, and it showed in stages.

First came the harsh winds of winter that began to violently blow in around them from out of nowhere. Hair and clothing was being whipped in every direction, the area becoming bare of all decorations, for even those had blown away. Then came the dark grey clouds that began to heave a blizzard of chaotic snow down upon them. People screamed and began to look upon Skadi in terror while holding onto their loves ones. Skadi pivoted around in every direction, her heart aching with each scream that found her ears.

They were scared of her. Truly scared of her. Her home to be frightened of her was the last thing she ever wanted to come from this day. Tears quickly found their way to her eyes as their screams continued to howl through the bitter cold winds that which she had somehow manifested. This is exactly what she was afraid of: Disappointing her mother.

She could hear her name being called by multiple voices, but the blizzard forbade her from identifying any of them.

What came next startled everyone.

The temperature become dangerously cold and caused everyone to violently shiver in their places. Then, ice began to slither across the ground and began to consume everything in it's sight, in exception for the people. They remained, at least to her knowledge, unharmed, for she could still hear their screams. God those screams. She would never be able to forget them.

Skadi swiveled around in fear, looking at what she had done with wide and guilty blue eyes. Slowly, the glorious realm that she had once known turned a soft blue colour, covered with a thick layer of ice from the bottom of the waterfall, to the Bifrost bridge and all the way to the highest castle. Everything was frozen because of her.

In that moment as she glanced around her and took it all in, Skadi decided to flee. It seemed to be her only choice. So she turned and ran down the aisle and away from the screams, hoping that maybe if she left everything would go back to the way it was before.

Skadi would soon find out that her absence wouldn't fix a thing. In fact, it only made things worse. But of course, she hadn't known that at the time.

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a/n: I am so happy that I could finally share this chapter with you guys! And I know the kiss seems kind of sudden, but it really isn't if you think about it. They've known each other for a REALLY long time, so it makes complete sense for her to kiss him if the feelings have been there for quite some time. Especially when her emotions are all over the place right now.