Welcome! This is my first *actual* story, so by all means, criticize me. I need it.
Disclaimer: I only own my OC. I do not own Loki. I wish I did.
"What a bore…" the Thunder God groaned to his brother. The two of them were attending a gala for the faeries of Asgard. Though the event was impressive, the two Princes were simply distracted. Thor had a tournament that he needed to prepare for; Loki wanted to be back in the palace reading more about a new magic he was learning.
"Do be kind, brother; it's not as if we have a choice," Loki rebuttled.
"I often wonder if Allfather sends us to the happenings he simply wants to avoid. The corners of the dark-haired prince's mouth twitched. "Might as well make the most of it." Thor downed a goblet of ale and took the floor. As soon as his foot hit, you could feel the air change.
Girls began giggling, men defended their places with the partners they had, the musicians were livelier. Those who were sitting along the side followed Thor's lead and joined the group. Soon enough, the majority of the room was on their feet, dancing and laughing, some sober though most drunk.
Laughter and chatter filled the air as Loki watched. He remained in his seat, not interested in the festivities. Public events had always made him weary. They were unnecessary and time consuming. Why waste his time pretending to enjoy himself when he could be learning new magic? Magic like how to create a small fire in ones' hand, projecting an image to confuse the enemy, or even how to mist a room with fog; these things fascinated him. Tumbling through his thoughts, reality slipped his notice. That is, until someone approached him.
"Pardon, Prince Loki?" An alto voice brought him back. The owner was an average heighted girl, lean but not skinny as so many like to find attractive. She was clad in a deep red fitted dress with gold beading cluttered at the top of the dress and scattering down its floor length. It flared out at the hips, giving her an exquisite hourglass shape. How one could wear such a sultry outfit and yet seem so moderate was beyond him. The thing that made her stand out the most was that, unlike most of Asgard, she was dark-haired. Most Asgardians had fair blonde hair, but she had a red so deep, he had to look twice to notice it's presence beneath her chestnut locks. Piercing gray eyes with a spark of bright green around the iris finished her sensual look. Loki was so caught up in the foreign looks she had that he had forgotten she addressed him.
"Yes?" He was stoic in an attempt to hide the moment.
"Might there be anything I can get for you?" Of course, Loki thought to himself. She would be a servant.
"With due respect to the faeries, the only you could get me would be the chance of parting from here." The Prince needed top get away from the jovial festivities.
The girl was silent for a second before answering, "Well, I could sneak you into the garden. It's been abandoned in favor of the dancing here. It's a peaceful night, as well." Loki was honestly taken aback for a moment. Could he get away from the chaos of this gala?
"Lead the way, then." He stood from his chair, patting his clothes down and adjusting them as needed. The auburn beauty smiled lightly, taking hold of the Prince's hand. He flinched at the contact and went to withdraw, but she tightened her grip. Her eyes locked with him, challenging him to either try to take his hand away or break eye contact. Loki was not one to give up a battle of wits and wills.
After a moments pause, she spoke, "Good. Now stay quiet, and follow my lead." With that, she turned on her heel and tugged him around the back of the chairs. They stayed there momentarily before taking off to a hidden corridor, darkened and drowning with the sounds of the party. Their footsteps were lost in the sound, and with so little light that the only way for them to be spotted would be for someone to literally run into them. A turn here, a few steps there and they were out into the open air.
The stars were above them, the moon lighting the entire plaza. A great willow tree dominated the middle of the space, it's limbs inviting instead of haunting like most. Lilacs stalked the entire perimeter, intoxicating the air with their scent. Eglantine roses, Elderflower, white clovers and blue roses bundled beneath the tree, ringing it and adding splashes of color to the depressing plant. Honeysuckles peppered the luscious green grass, which looked far more inviting then the old stone benches.
Loki had been so caught up in admiring the garden he hadn't notice the servant lay down in the grass. The blades welcomed her presence like a long lost lover, clinging to her body. Her feet kicked up underneath her slightly, one hand at her side that clutched to the roots, while the other propped her head up. Dark hair fanned out around her face, contrasting her pale skin. The Prince stood awkwardly for a moment that went unseen by the stranger, for she had closed her eyes. He looked at the benches, towards the girl, and back to the benches before deciding to continue to follow her lead. He lied next to her, but made absolutely certain that there was an adamant amount to space between them.
"So," her voice cracked the silence. "How is it that one from the royal family isn't fond of gatherings?"
Loki scoffed, "How is it that a peasant can attend something as grand as this?" She opened her eyes and turned her head towards him.
"That was rather charming." The sarcasm dripped from her every word.
"I feel honored to have someone recognize my chivalry." A smirk played on his lips as he felt the beginning of a verbal sparring match. A melodic chime of laughter hit the air. The dark-haired royal turned his head to find his partner laughing with he head tipped back. "Do I humour you?"
"Well, of course." They locked eyes when she replied.
"And why exactly is that, might I inquire?"
"It occurs odd to me for anyone to not notice the heir to the throne of Asgard." He was intrigued by her thoughts.
"Wouldn't it so much simpler if that were the case?" Loki rolled himself back to look at the midnight sky.
"I didn't know that it wasn't like that. My apologies." She hushed and settled back onto the ground.
"You needn't apologize. You are the one who sought me out in the crowd to ask if I wanted anything. That's the most concern anyone has had for me in a spell." Why am I telling this to the likes of a servant? Loki wondered to himself. The girls eyebrow furrowed slightly.
"But that's barely anything. A common courtesy, really; a mere trinket of manners. Surely at least your family have shown compassion?" Again, Loki scoffed.
"My family is the core of this. They wish to accept me, and yet the deny me the true feeling of family whilst doing this. Thor never gets told that he's "an honest part of this family", or "deserves love as much as anyone else". He is simply given those niceties." He sighed and rolled onto to his side away from the girl. She was quiet for some time, mulling over his confession.
"You know, I can sympathize with you." Oh great, here comes the pity party. Loki thought darkly to himself.
"Of course you can." She didn't like how he simply brushed her away.
"I'm quite serious. I was abandoned as a child and taken in by an elderly couple whom could bare no children. They love me dearly, and I owe them my life, but never have I felt as though I belong. Everyone with the golden complexion to match their golden hair, topped off with the crystal eyes. Not only do I feel an outsider because of my background, but because of my appearance as well. Surely you must see that I do honestly understand your frustrated?" She had sat up, her torso turned towards his back. Loki felt something inside of him quake with her words. It was true; she did honestly understand his feelings. He sat up to look at her. It was an extremely rare occasion when the God of Lies was tongue-tied, but now was one of those times. Every time he would open his mouth to say something, his throat would close up, leaving him gaping like a fish. The red-head smiled lightly in response.
"Come now, let's get you back." She stood and brushed the leaves off of her dress, offering him a hand. He took it, a warm, firm grip meeting his hand. They snuck back into the ball rather surreptitiously. No one had noticed them in the hidden corridor, nor had they noticed them emerge from the wall. But just as Loki was about to resume his seat, he heard him approach.
"Brother!" Thor's voice boomed in greeting. You could smell the alcohol clinging to every fiber of him. "And who might this be, huh? A possible dance partner?"
"Dance? Oh no-" Loki spluttered, another first for the night. Before he could properly defend himself, he was hoisted to up by his cape.
"Come now! You must dance! For Allfather!" And that was the seal.
Loki sighed, and looked towards his temporary savior. Her eyes were shifting between the two males. This small detail caught his attention, as most girls would be fixing their hair, or dress. She, however , remained calm and confident.
"Off you go!" Thor shoved a rough hand onto both of their shoulders, sending them tumbling onto the dance floor.
People automatically moved, as is habit with royalty. An awkward pause followed between the two, but the peasant wasn't one stall. She took hold of Loki's arm, putting it on her waist, and took his hand in hers. The sudden, foreign move made the prince jump slightly.
"Relax," she stated simply. She waited patiently for him to release the tension in his shoulders and take the lead. They started stepping with the group, learning each others' movements.
"I'm sorry to put you in this position." That was the most positive thing he has said to her all night.
"Apologies aren't needed; it's an honor to dance with the Prince of Asgard." Flattery didn't suit her very well.
"You were thrown into this simply because my brother doesn't know anything besides drinking himself into a stupor.," Loki made excuses for everything, being the God of Mischief and Lies.
"Tis a pleasure to dance with you, though." She smiled brightly at him as they twisting to the music. The red of her dress twirled to rival his cape's emerald cascade. It was a shock to Loki that somebody wasn't sour in his company. The touch of a woman was absolutely alien to him.
The dance was neither fast, nor slow; quick enough to keep conversation low, but slow enough to not tire them. The two were fluid on the floor, their feet never tripping. For every strong step Loki made, the servant countered with an equal step. Elegance wafted off of the two as they waltzed, both making sure to never lose eye contact.
"You dance extremely well for a villager," the Prince said tactfully, careful not to step on any toes. In the back of his mind he wondered why he was being cautious.
She smiled sadly, 'There's more than appearances, you know." The song spawned a dip between the duo. As he suspended her, her hair fell into a mahogany waterfall, revealing her bare shoulders. Mostly bare, rather. On her left shoulder there was a bright pink, shiny crescent. Loki kept his composure, but his mind raced to theories towards it's origin.
They were upright again, the music ending an explosion of sound. The room had stepped to the side to watch the Prince and his peddler dance, leaving only them on the floor. Both parties were breathing heavily, holding their last position. Eyes stayed locked and anyone in the room that night would have sworn they were talking through their eyes.
Applause washed over them, bouncing off of the walls with voices calling out in approval. The girl's face colored, lowering her hands and turning out to bow. Loki followed suit and bowed, his face stoic but his emerald eyes ablaze. A fire had been ignited inside of him because of this girl, and the quicker he could get past the publicity, the sooner he could get back to her.
When he turned back around to converse with the girl, his red-headed partner was heading out of the door.
"Wait!" Loki panicked. He wanted, he needed, to know more about this siren to capture his interest. "Where are you going?"
"I told you, I don't belong here." Her eyes were sad, but frantic. "I must take my leave.
"Might I at least inquire your name? He was desperate for an inkling of detail to cling to.
She looked him dead in the eye before answering.
"Kiarr... Kiarr Lindivdotter." And with that, she was gone.