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Loki, Aralia, and the Omega Movement

Aralia the Matchmaker

Loki and Aralia return to their bedchambers after the evening feast. It has been an exciting and busy day. There are still unanswered questions lingering about this new ability Aralia has discovered about herself. Loki decides it is time to address the issue. “Darling, explain to me how you knew she was an omega before she went into heat. Was it a smell, an aura around her?” Aralia shakes her head. “I did think at first that I smelled something, but that was not it. I looked at her and instinctively knew what she was. I knew what I was years before the change happened to me.” Loki looks his omega up and down. Whatever it is she is doing, it is not magic, at least not like what he is able to wield. Thor is the God of Thunder because his moods can summon storms. Technically this is magic, but it is the innate natural kind that requires neither words nor ritual. Whatever this ability is that Aralia has, it is a natural gift. “Do you think you could do it again? If I took you out to the market tomorrow, do you think you could pinpoint another omega, say a child?” Aralia stills for a moment. “I do not know Loki; I have never been able to do this before. I do not know if I could replicate such a thing.” Loki looks at his wife and considers the implications. If Aralia can predict who will become an omega, that person could plan ahead; try to arrange things so that they could be with someone of their choosing. Dowries paid to the families of omegas can be very large. Parents that know that their child is an omega could prearrange a marriage before the heat happens. They could even make arrangements for the child to live with their betrothed, ensuring close proximity when the first heat takes place. The people of Asgard often complain that it is the nobles that get all the omegas, but this is not true. But if people were given advanced warning of their status, they would undoubtedly try to “marry up”, as it were. Over time this could breed hate and discontent with the general populace. It would also cut down on a considerable amount of rape, or forced claiming as people like to call it. A fair trade off as Loki saw it. If what Loki suspects about Aralia is correct, the implications could be vast, and the political and social consequences uncertain. For a moment Loki feels uneasy. He is not sure if pursuing this is wise.
In the morning Loki, Aralia, the babies, and both wet nurses make the trek to her family’s home in the southern part of the city. Aralia has not seen her family in weeks and is anxious to catch up on all the neighborhood gossip with her mother. The neighborhood is a little rough. Each time Loki comes down this way he is reminded why his omega made such a crazy mad dash for the arena all those days ago. The family tavern where she used to work, The Tilted Pony, has made some significant cosmetic improvements. This is due in no small part to the large royal dowry her family received. Aralia’s brother Sven is a large young man. Like all Asgardian males he spent time in his youth training as a warrior for the royal guard, but when he came of age he started helping his father with the family business, and put his sword away. He still keeps up his physical strength with training, and nightly bouts with drunken warriors that have overstayed their welcome. He is a hard but kind lad, and he is an alpha. The infrequent trips Prince Loki and Princess Aralia make to this part of town has helped to elevated it. There is a higher class of clientele in the tavern these days, a change in business that Mr. Svenson is very grateful to have.
Aralia and her mother catch up on gossip and baby talk while Loki chats with his father and brother in-law. Like Aralia, they are perceptive people, born to the wrong class in Loki’s opinion. Dedro had to hire more serving girls to replace Aralia and handle the increase in business. Since it is early in the day the tavern is mostly empty. The tavern staff members are busy cleaning and preparing for the evening when the crowd comes in. One of the new girls, Yala, is a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes. She is the stereotypical standard of Aesir beauty.
Aralia spots her. Something in her movements gives her away. Is it her hips? The way she walks, perhaps? Or her hands? Aralia cannot say why, but once again her instincts scream at her. Omega. Aralia watches her quietly. The entire time her brother Sven is talking to Loki, Yala is watching Sven. She even goes out of her way to bring the three men mead, without anyone asking. She smiles at Sven nervously and then walks away from the table and goes back to cleaning. “Mother? What do you know of that girl?” “Oh, well she’s a nice girl; we hired her after you left. She’s a good worker and deserved a break. Poor thing is an orphan. With no family to pay a dowry, she’s had few interested parties to seek her hand.” “And how does Sven feel about her?” “Ah, you noticed that too did you. Sven is always so closed off when it comes to girls. I think he likes her but he never talks about his feelings, you know.” “And how do you feel about her mother?” Aralia’s mother quirks up an eyebrow at this series of questions. “Daughter dear, why do you ask?” “Mother, I’m going to tell you something and you must keep it a secret.” Aralia proceeds to tell her mother the events of the previous day with Rosemarie. When she is done her mother sits with open shock on her face. “Do you think she will go into heat soon?” “Yes I do, probably within the next few hours.” “That’ll be during peak business hours. This tavern will be full of Alphas. They’ll tear the place apart! We must tell your father.”
Loki is having a rousing debate about the practical applications of magic during battle with Aralia’s father when the two women approach their table. “Dedro, your daughter and I need to have a word with you alone.” The three men look up at them with curiosity. Dedro rises from his seat and follows his wife and daughter to a side room for a private conversation. Loki suspects what this is about. He noticed Aralia watching the blonde girl. “Tell me Sven, what do you think of that lovely creature that served us our mead? I see the way she looks at you.” Loki says this jovially, but watches Sven’s response like a hawk. “She’s nice.” He says quietly. Loki eyes him carefully. Sven tries to keep an expression of indifference but he can’t hide that blush in his face. Like his sister, he is a terrible liar. “Just nice?” He presses. “Do you find her attractive?” Sven shifts uncomfortably in his seat and stares into his mead. Without looking up he says, “She walks in beauty like the night.” Ooh, this is too easy, thinks Loki.
“Sven!” Shouts Dedro. His father gestures for his son to join the family conversation in the side room. Loki already knows what is being discussed. Now the question is, should the girl be informed? The family files out of the side room and Loki rises to meet them. Loki whispers to Aralia, “The blonde girl is an omega isn’t she?” Aralia nods, her eyes darting around the room to see who might be listening. “Is the heat going to come soon?” Again Aralia nods. “I think you had better tell her then.” He says.
Aralia walks over to the girl. She is busy washing down tables and chairs. “Yala, is it? May I have a word with you in private?” Yala looks up at Aralia nervously, not understanding what the Princess could possibly have to say to her that would require privacy. Yala follows Aralia to the side room. After a few minutes they both emerge. Yala looks flushed, frightened even. When Dedro sees the look on Yala’s face he puts his hand in his son’s back and pushes him forward. Sven stumbles forward a couple of steps and looks back at his father. Dedro gives him a look. “Go on son.”
Sven stands before Yala and clears his throat nervously. “Yala, if what my sister says is correct, it will not be long before all the Alphas nearby come and try to fight for you. I would fight for you too, but I am not a warrior. I fear I would lose in a fair competition. Would you-do you want to hide and wait-with me?” Yala stares at him for a minute looking pensive. One minute she is washing chairs and the next she is being asked to make a major decision that will affect the rest of her life. She looks at Sven. She likes Sven. She has liked him for a while now, but was never sure if he returned her affections. Realizing the alternative if she says no, the decision is made easy for her. “Yes” She says.
“Good! It’s settled then.” Aralia’s mother says. “Sven, take Yala home and wait there with her. Lock all the doors and do not under any circumstances leave her alone. We don’t know exactly when the heat will overcome her, but when it does you need to be there with her.”
Sven and Yala take their leave, and so do Loki and Aralia. Aralia asks her parents to send her word as soon as anything of importance takes place. Though Aralia feels pretty certain about her instincts, having them proved will be a relief to her. Otherwise she will have frightened that poor girl for nothing.
A couple more days go by. Rosemarie and Gundirth emerge from their hiding place. The members of the court still griping about Fandral not getting the omega quickly quiet themselves when they see the couple. She is glowing, smiling. He is still stone faced as ever, but his demeanor is dotting. He walks by her side taking her arm in his. His whole body seems calmer somehow. Associating the word “cute” and Gundirth in the same sentence is a hard thing to do. However, cute is all that can be said when looking at the happy couple. Her affection for him is obvious. Her bright beaming smile is so wide it can be seen from outer space. The king blesses the couple and puts out orders to the servants to prepare for the formal ceremony. As the Captain of the Guard he will be afforded the luxury of having his ceremony here at the palace as an honored guest. Gundirth looks at Loki, “My Prince.” “Captain.” They nod courteously to one another. Though they both live and work within the palace, Loki cannot recall having ever exchanged words with the man. Without meaning to, Loki has made a friend.
A letter comes to the palace for Aralia. It is from her mother. Yala went into heat not 4 hours after they left. She and Sven are now mated and bonded. The formal ceremony will be in 3 days as is customary. Since Yala is an orphan there is no dowry to be paid, so the family has decided to spend extra money on the ceremony to spoil the girl. Aralia’s mother wants to know if Loki will officiate the ceremony. Being a prince of the realm and a member of the family, her parents think it would be ideal. Two bonding ceremonies in two days. Aralia’s social calendar is filling up fast.
The ceremonies come and go. Aralia feels a great warmth in her heart for having had such a direct hand in two very happy endings. The weeks pass and the time comes when Aralia feels the need to pay her family another visit. This time she goes alone, leaving the babies with the wet nurses. Loki is busy with palace matters. She just wants to make this a quick trip. Anytime she takes the babies and wet nurses with her it feels like a caravan. She makes her way to the family tavern where she is greeted by her mother. The tavern is unusually busy for this time of the morning. She sits at a table to talk with her mother. The longer she sits there the more she notices the eyes of the people upon her. It’s not just the ‘oh look it’s the princess’ kind of stares. This feels different. There are a lot of young people in the tavern today. Judging by the look of them most are not old enough to have made the change. A feeling of horror overcomes Aralia as she looks at her mother.
“MOTHER! You didn’t! Please tell me you didn’t tell everyone what I did!” Aralia’s mother puts on a sheepish grin. “How could I not? These young people have a right to know what their fates will be. Their parents want to know too. What mother wants to stand back as a mob of lustful buffoons fight for the right to rape her daughter and turn her into a sex slave?” Aralia looks out onto the room. Everyone is looking at her now, many with pleading eyes. They just want to know who and what they are. Being surrounded by so many needy people, Aralia cannot find it in her heart to say no. “Alright, I’ll help them. One at a time, I will meet them in a side room and try to get a read on what they are. I cannot promise anything though. So far I have only been right with two people, and it was right before they went into heat.” Aralia’s mother smiles at her and gives her a hug. One by one Aralia meets with the young people gathered in the tavern. It is slow going at first, but trusting her instincts, she comes to recognize the signs in each person, and the process get easier the more she does it. Most of the young people had nothing to worry about as it turns out. There were several alphas, a few gammas, and a couple of betas.
However, there is one omega. His name is Henrid. A handsome young man, quiet in demeanor. Male omegas are the rarest of all. As hard and ardently as male alphas fight for omega females, a crowd of alpha females fighting for an omega male is a true sight to behold. Plainly put, women fight dirty. The seed of an omega male is highly prized. Something in it renders an alpha (or gamma or beta) female more fertile, more able to become pregnant. This young man has only hours to prepare. Aralia gives him the news and the young man takes his leave. She doesn’t know what he plans to do, but at least having the knowledge will give him some power over his destiny.

Notes

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