I must confess I feel like a monster.

Idunn never expected Loki to do something so cruel to Sif. She thought he had learned his lesson about messing with her after Thor had beaten him so severely, but it seemed his demeanor had only worsened with time. It seemed that with the Ragnarok Cycle, everyone had changed for the worse. Idunn was actually glade she had managed to avoid such a fate.

Idunn looked up at the new goddess who was leaning on the All-Mother as if they were best friends. "I… I will make sure Sif is not in trouble. She is a good woman," she told Zarda, a bit confused by what she was saying. Why would she want to get into trouble? Unlike Thor, Sif didn't seem the type to start fights just for the fun of it all. But then again, she also didn't seem the type to become a wolf, now did she? "It is rude to eavesdrop when you aren't invited to the conversation," Idunn told Zarda as Aldrif simply turned and left, her declaration over with.

The blonde goddess quietly moved back to the bed as the one-sided discussion about stag parties, marriage, and the marriage night poured from the Zarda woman's mouth. Finally she became quiet, but due to a bit of news that Idunn wished had been kept a secret. Yes, she was a virgin. Being the Ever-Young meant that it was a requirement, but not one that was truly out of choice. Idunn just simply never thought of sex. She wasn't a prude and neither was she ignorant of how it happened, but her mind just never fell into those lustful daydreams that occupied other women. She had kissed men before, and though enjoyable, the moments would eventually sour or grow stale. Up until now, Idunn didn't think anything was wrong with her mindset, but thanks to Zarda's exclamation of her cockblocking Sif, the little goddess felt terrible about it all.

"We can have it so you can have lovers, Sif. I will not deny you those pleasures. In fact, I insist. I will attend you as a wife should with maintaining your home, but please, ask this woman… Zarda, to help you find someone to bed you properly." It was at this moment that Idunn wished for the floor to swallow her up or for a band of Jotunns to kidnap her once more.

"You are like Heimdall then, able to hear everything the world has to offer." Idunn meant it as a compliment, trying to be on her good side, but something that was in Zarda's voice and how she looked at her made Idunn feel less no matter what she would say. Then that word came again: small. Normally, Idunn did not mind her height as it allowed her no inconvenience when she worked with her trees, but now, surrounded by women easily six foot or more, she felt that difference rather directly.

"Yes, like the stories from Midgard," she mumbled. Was that all she was now? A story told by people around the fire? With new versions of Asgard and its inhabitants, she wondered if anyone on Midgard still told those old stories. Would they even know her or would they simply think she was just another short and busty woman? Idunn looked up at Zarda briefly when she correctly guessed her alias. It had to have been that obvious, didn't it? She wondered if her presence would shame Amora and cause the woman to hate her for simply existing.

Idunn wanted to answer Zarda's question, but for the longest time her mouth opened and closed without a sound. "… I… Aldrif… the All-Mother said that the orchards are still here and that I can tend them if I choose to do so…" She hadn't mentioned that they no lingered needed Idunn's apples to maintain their youth. It was an unexpected bit of news. "What would I try, and why do you call Sif a beast when she is not?" Idunn didn't understand why, if Zarda could hear everything, why she was lowering Sif's esteem by calling her an animal when Idunn had insisted she was not. "And I am not a Gabrielle, just like Sif is not a beast. She is many things, but she is not that." Of course, Idunn had no idea who or what Gabrielle was, nor Xena, but if they were anything like animals or horrible people, she would deny that Sif or her were like them.

"Poseidon?" Idunn's eyes widened in surprise. "You are one of the new Olympians? You're the one who is to help Sif and I with a few things?" She wasn't quite certain what Zarda could help with, particularly since the marriage act seemed to help enough already. But she was the king of that Pantheon and so Idunn knew to be respectful. Besides, any water deity that could also produce fire, that was powerful indeed, Idunn thought as she gazed at the freshly made fire. "Your majesty," she offered with a curtsey.

Again, there were more words and terms being used that the young goddess was unfamiliar with, and of course there were many things one could do with apples, mainly cooking, which was something she was good at, but that was beside the point. Her main duty was rendered useless. "I will learn," she said quietly, her voice and expression obviously sad.

Idunn looked at the poster that Zarda held. The contrast between the two women was like night and day. The dark haired one, Xena, was girded for war and had a just fierceness in her eyes. She did look a bit like Sif, though. Gabrielle on the other hand was shorter and in simpler, rough-spun, linen clothing and carried a staff. Her smile made her look perky as well as a bit dull witted. Idunn did not think she was like that at all. "Is that what I really am?" she asked Sif. "A simple village girl?" This conversation was not doing anything for her self esteem.

"Fenris was young when he…. bothered… me." Perhaps bothered wasn't the proper word for it, but she was not about to say that he attacked and frightened her, not when she had just told Sif her wolf was nothing to be afraid of. And, even at that young age, Fenris was as large as Sleipnir. "They chained him up out of fear of what he could do in the future. But I will not have Sif chained. She is not a monster like Fenris." Despite saying this, Idunn doubted that, like in the Beauty and the Beast story, she could just give Sif a kiss and she would be healed of this cursed depression and self-hatred. "Please do not make fun of her wolf, King Zarda. She is a good woman whether she is a wolf or a shieldmaiden. She is also my future wife. I doubt you enjoy it when someone makes fun of your wife."

"Very soon? When are we to be married?" Idunn asked, feeling at a loss for what she was being thrown into. Though thrown was probably not the right wording. After all, she had willingly volunteered to marry Sif. She had just thought there would be some time to breathe a little between then and now. It was just this morning that she was planning her escape from the Jotunns. Now she was here in a different time and place, with people who she did and didn't know, about to mar a woman who was and wasn't her best friend.

"The role of wife will be my second duty. As long as the orchards exist, I will tend them. They may not need the apples for youth, but they cure other ailments. The All-Mother said I could do as I pleased with them. I will mary Sif, that will make Aldrif happy, and I will tend the orchards, that will help me cope and be happy." At the moment, Idunn felt lost, sad, and scared. She did not want to give up the one thing she was familiar with. The trees were her reason for existing, so to have them disappear would mean a part of her would as well.

Looking over the pictures Zarda showed her, Idunn was fine with the changes at first, but upon seeing the final picture, the goddess quickly tore it up, tossing the pieces into the fireplace. "I do not want to be like that. I would be like Amora, from what I have seen and heard, and I do not want to be her. I may have cleavage and large breasts, but I am not a whore. Nor will I cut my hair." She didn't mean to offend Zarda, but she was simply being honest. As far as Idunn was concerned, her hair and clothing would not change, nor would she become so hard faced and warrior-like.

"She protects herself then. Even so, it still hurts you. Sif can become a wolf and, if she is like those I've seen, she can do many harmful things to enemies in that shape. The same goes for her as an Asgardian shieldmaiden." Saying this, Idunn stood and went over to the dark haired warrior. "But you do not want to fight the judgement given because you doubt yourself. It hurts me to see you like that, Sif." Realising that nothing would change if Sif went at it alone, Idunn brokered a deal. "If you promise to not give up on your worthiness, I will promise to try a secondary role and allow you to pick something that I must do as a show of faith. Agreed?"

"The end of the month? That is… that is not too bad," Idunn reasoned. "In fact it is probably for the best. After all, I do not have family here to invite and Sif… I do not know who she would like to invite, or if she would want anyone to see the wedding." Either way Idunn thought it would be a small event, which she didn't mind. It would be easier that way. "Yes, a few weeks is better than a few days." The little blonde goddess looked up, a bit perplexed as Zarda described the size of Sif's wolf. "A house?" She glanced at the dark haired shieldmaiden. "You can get that big?" A small smile played on her lips upon hearing that. "I will not use her as cheap labor, nor would I ride her without permission, but, I think I would like to see if you are bigger than Loki's wolf son."

"I know I will not become her because there is no Ragnarok, but…" She quieted for a moment while trying to think things through. But, anything Idunn was about to say was vocalized by Zarda. She was terrified at the moment. She was being forced into a marriage with someone who wanted to be alone for the rest of her life. Zarda's story helped a little, but Idunn feared that she would not receive equal luck. At most she would just be Idunn, the wife, but perhaps that would not be too terrible.

Sif's response was not quite what Idunn was expecting. Thankfully, they were momentarily distracted by the small, singing box that Zarda talked into. During the brief conversation, Idunn sat on the floor next to Sif. "Ignore what I said. I do not know what I was thinking. I do not need a second role or a show of faith. I…" Without another word, Idunn leaned over and hugged Sif tightly, needing some form of contact and a show of friendship. Besides, sometimes you just needed a hug. "I'm sorry…" she told her softly. She wouldn't say it out loud, but she wished it was just her and Sif together alone. It felt easier that way.

"Then we will invite your brother. This wedding can be as small or as large as you like it to be since you know more people in this time period than I." Idunn was certain that Zarda would attend just by the simple fact that she and Sif seemed close. Most likely her wife would come as well, as would Aldrif. Aside from those, the goddess didn't know anyone else, though she was curious to see if Amora would come, either as a guest or an enforcer of the marriage.

"…I would perhaps want to ride on your back, just to experience it. But I would not have a saddle crafted as it would be demeaning. And regarding the cheap labor? I have nothing heavy to be carried around." Of course that could all change depending on the state of the orchards. If there were many dead trees, it might be helpful to have a giant wolf to dig them out swiftly and easily. "Thank you for your offer though. I may consider it."

A trip for the two of them before the actual wedding? Idunn had never heard of a pre-wedding honeymoon, but courting the bride was a proper thing to do, so, in a way what Zarda said made sense. The young goddess nodded as soon as Sif asked the question. "I think I would like that, just you and myself. But please, I am certain you know the current Midgard better than I. The small villages that I knew of are likely gone or have become vast kingdoms, so I would be fine with you picking the destination. I just have one request. Can we go to someplace sunny and warm?" As for Zarda dealing with the almost certain wrath of Aldrif? That did worry Idunn a little. "Please don't get hurt over this. I would not forgive myself if something happened to you because of a simple act of kindness."

Standing, Idunn gave Zarda a gentle hug. "I have not known you for long and people have said that I am sometimes not a good judge of character, but I want to thank you Zarda. You have put up with a weeping woman in a strange world very well and have offered much kindness." That said, she kissed her cheek before turning back to Sif. "I will help you pack since I have nothing of my own to take."

Idunn simply shrugged at the idea of having more friends than Sif. That could be a possibility, but then again, it might not be. "We would know the same number of people Sif, but whether I intend to have them as friends is not always an easily made decision. Either way, with you being my wife, we will get to know many people and we can decide who we want to befriend. I will not leave you out of this."

The goddess looked up at Sif and then judged for herself how big her wolf could be, using the size she remembered Fenris to be. Then, after a moment of consideration, she turned to Zarda. "That can be one of your weddings presents to us, meaning you must bring something else as well. And make it a good ladder, worthy of being used to ascend up onto Sif's back." She figured that, due to a better diet and a bit of exercise, Sif's wolf was just a bit larger than the lanky, feral son of Loki.

"Comparing her to a mother-in-law or not, make sure Aldrif knows I went willingly and happily. Do not let her think Sif kidnapped me. I'm doing this because I want to spend time with her and see her smile." As she said this, Idunn gently took Sif's hand, interlacing their fingers. She then chuckled at the news of the pregnant women. "Did you play nursemaid for all of them? Was your wife among the number?" This idea of a super sex wave made Idunn curious. Normally she would never be affected by such magical influences and never had any inclinations for going further than a kiss, but she did wonder if she would have been affected had she been here.

Idunn let the two talk and discuss over the destination spot. The name of the province was not a familiar one, though names have a tendency to change, so the lack of recognition was not entirely unusual. Soon enough, within the blink of an eye, they were at their pre-wedding honeymoon. Xabia was, to Idunn's eyes, a large city in Midgard, though in truth it was a simple resort town. White houses and buildings were dotted among the greenery and along the coastline which curved around ocean so blue, Idunn was at a loss for words. The seas that she was used to seeing on Midgard were cold, deep and forbidding; a blue that was dark and intimidating and often quite rough when storms struck. But this water looked so inviting and calm, she did not think such a place could exist on Midgard.

By the time she turned back to the two, Zarda had already disappeared. "Where should we go first? Should we visit the sea, find an inn to stay at, eat?" The look in Idunn's eyes was an eager and happy one and she wanted to share her mood with Sif. Slipping her arms around the woman, she hugged her once more and planted a soft kiss upon her jawline by her chin. Kissing the lips seemed improper at this moment and just giving her a hug made it seem liking something was lacking. "Thank you, Sif," she told her softly. "Thank you so much."