A/N: welcome readers to my first Loki story! hopefully the first of many. I'm still writing it, but it's several chapters ahead, so the updates will be quick at first, and hopefully i'll keep it up. This is set some time before the first Thor movie, a time when I like to think Loki would've been not so evil and mean, just mischievous. enjoy!
Chapter 1: Won't You Save Me?
Loki. Son of Odin. Brother of Thor. Second Prince of Asgard. God of Mischief, Lies and Deceit. He went strolling through the palace, heading toward the library, hoping it would be empty and he would be able to spend as much time as he wished there. There was a particular book of magic he had yet to look over and he wanted to have privacy to practice the spells. His room had become stifling. An hour or so in the library practicing his magic could do him good, he was sure. Or perhaps he could practice in his favorite part of the gardens? He would decide when he found the book.
When he stepped through the door, quietly, he was glad to find it empty, grinning when he eyed the bright, marble walls lined with books on their shelves. He loved it here. He loved being here even more than he loved being alone in his room. The library was the quietest place in the palace where he could be alone with his thoughts.
He strolled around the shelves, a graceful hand caressing the spines of the books until he found the book he was looking for and pulled it from the shelf. He opened it to look through it, still strolling until he reached his favorite seat. A window seat overlooking the part of the gardens filled with red roses. His favorite part of the gardens.
Loki sat with his back against the frame, his long legs outstretched across the seat, a knee bent up to prop the book up on his thigh. He studied the spells on the pages, memorizing for practice later. He sat for an hour in the same position, his eyes fixed on the book before movement through the window caught his eye. He glanced down at the garden but made a double take when he noticed a figure strolling through the garden, the gardener with her.
The young woman had blonde hair, wearing a dress of forest green, embroidered with gold, her shoulder length locks braided on either side and pulled back from her face, hanging loose behind her head. She looked like a noble lady but he'd never seen her before, he was sure of it. He suddenly sensed someone behind him, but didn't look up from the girl in the garden, knowing who it was. The only person it could possibly be that would find him here.
"Enjoying your book, Prince Loki?"
"I am, Master Librarian," he replied, still not looking away from the window. "I am also, admittedly, enjoying the scenery. Who is that woman with the gardener?"
Loki still didn't take his gaze from the window as the librarian – a tall man with gray eyes and dark brown hair – leaned forward to get a better look out the window.
"Ah," he hummed, leaning back again. "That is the new assistant for Edric. She came in with the group of servants we acquired this morning."
"Her name, Xenos," Loki explained what he wanted before finally looking to the librarian. "What is her name?"
"Forgive me, my prince, I know not," Xenos replied with a small nod of respect before Loki looked back to the window to stare down at the girl. "Would you like me to summon her here, your highness?"
"No," Loki hummed in thought before glancing back at Xenos for a split second and saying more definitely, "No. We'll not interrupt Edric's instruction. You're dismissed."
"As you will, your highness," Xenos nodded, unable to help smirking at the prince's obvious interest in her.
Loki could tell the librarian was smirking before he turned to leave, but he didn't pay him any mind. He considered Xenos a good friend out of the few he had since he knew Loki almost better than Thor did. He watched the girl lean toward one of the rose bushes and presumed she was inhaling the scent of them before standing tall again, Edric taking her hand to pat it. He recognized the gesture from seeing the elderly man with his granddaughter.
She must be making an impression, he thought, not taking his eyes from her.
He noticed them both stop and gave a very slight frown when she turned to look behind her. She slowly lifted her head to look up at the window from where he stared at her and his frown disappeared as he instantly met her water blue gaze. He wished he were closer to see her features more clearly, but he soon realized it wouldn't have made a difference. All he could see were her eyes.
A moment later, her eyes were gone, cast down as she turned to head farther through the garden with Edric. He made his decision then. He abandoned his seat and book in the library to head down the hall and toward the garden. His formalwear faded, leaving him in a loose forest green tunic, black trousers and his black boots. He made his way unseen through the palace. No questions and no distractions. He was going to see this girl once and for all.
He stepped down the stairs of the palace leading into the gardens and instantly began his search. He listened carefully, wondering if he could catch the sound of her voice and find her that way. Sure enough, he heard a girlish giggle that sounded close…very close. Closer than he thought he'd be as he peeked around the bush he'd been standing behind to see her sitting with the gardener, Edric, on a marble bench under a tree. He kept his presence unknown as he watched her.
"My wife came here many a time to visit," Edric smiled to her, his faded green eyes gazing around the garden from under a white head of hair. "She loved the gardens."
"She sounds lovely," she smiled.
"She was," he nodded before asking, "And you, dear? Do you have someone special in your life?"
Loki lifted a brow of intrigue and strained his keen hearing to hear her answer.
"No, there isn't," she replied, solemnly. "I…wasn't looking."
"Perhaps you may find someone here?"
"Why, Edric! Are you making the suggestion I think you are?" Loki heard her smile and laugh. "I am some years your junior! Think of the scandal! Not to mention once you meet your wife in Valhala she would be more than cross with you!"
I believe that's my cue, Loki thought with a smirk.
"Well said, lady gardener."
They both jumped and looked ahead as Edric sighed, placing a hand over his racing heart, but the girl was frozen as she stared wide eyes at Loki when he strolled around the rose bush to stand before them.
"Oh, Prince Loki, must you still frighten an old man as you did when you were a tike?!" Edric laughed, standing from the bench and making the girl stand as well and bow her head in respect. "It's been some time since you've strolled this garden. Did the fine day finally coax you out of your studies?"
"Something fine did indeed 'coax' me, old Edric, but it was not the weather," Loki replied with a smirk, glancing to the blonde as she still kept her head bowed and nodded to her asking, "Who is your charge?"
"Ah! Forgive me, my lord, this is Zara," Edric replied, lifting a hand to present her as she held her hands in front of her, wringing her hands nervously. "She will be tending the gardens with me."
Finally…a name, Loki thought and nodded before slowly stepping closer, scoffing, "I think she is afraid of me, Edric. What devilish things have you told her of me?"
"Only of your fondness for mischief, my lord," Edric chuckled, looking to Zara and leaning slightly to catch her eye. "Come now, Zara, do not be afraid of the prince."
She didn't lift her head, even when he stopped within a foot of her so that his boots were under her gaze. He wanted to be sure that only she could hear him.
"I saw you staring at me from the library window," he murmured, smirking when he noticed her stiffen slightly. "I know you do not fear me as you pretend to in present company. Why won't you meet my gaze now?"
He reveled in the blush that crept over her cheeks and up to her ears before glancing to Edric, seeing the old man watch them, closely.
"Perhaps if we did not have an audience, you would feel free to speak your mind to me?" Loki guessed at her silence and looked to Edric, taking a step toward him and clapping a hand to his shoulder with a smile. "Edric, why don't you stroll round the gardens for a time? Find some things for her to do and by the time you come back, you may have her help you."
Edric stared at Loki in wide-eyed surprise. In all the years he'd known the prince, he'd never seen him favor any girl as he was Zara. It led him to believe the prince had 'other tastes.' However, he blinked away his shock and nodded mutely before turning and heading off down the trail, Loki's hand falling from his shoulder as he did.
He looked to the retreating back of Edric in satisfaction before turning back to Zara, his hands behind his back. He smirked as she still gazed at her enfolded hands and stepped toward her again, this time stopping next to her so that he could see her profile and take in her features as he'd wanted to before. Her skin was pale, with light freckles sprinkled over her nose and cheeks, her small nose only slightly upturned, her lips pink and full and dare he say…tempting him?
Then he realized she still wasn't looking at him.
"My dear girl, are you ever going to look at me?" he smirked but it fell when he saw her gather half of her lower lip between her teeth, still not looking at him. It made his heart flutter. He cleared his throat and turned to step toward the bench where she and Edric had been sitting and sat himself, entreating her, "Won't you sit?"
Zara didn't say a word as she turned and stepped toward the bench and sat, never once looking at him. She sat a foot away from him, and he swiftly closed the gap by sliding closer to her, watching her the entire time. He felt a wave of pride come over when she stole a quick glance at him, wringing her hands in her lap.
"I saw that," he smirked, and noticed her swallow as her gaze shifted away from him again. "Come now. I realize I am a prince and there are certain proprieties, but a prince can only take so much. At least speak to me if you'll not look at me."
Zara swallowed again before opening her mouth to speak, but no sound came out, making her clear her throat before she shifted to face him a little more before trying to speak again.
"F-Forgive me, my prince," she mumbled, making him lift a brow at her as he still stared at her, but she still kept her gaze in her lap, on her hands. "I was told to keep my gaze averted in the presence of the royal family."
"Wise advice," Loki nodded, impulsively leaning forward and covering her small hands with one of his larger ones, making her freeze as her heart skipped. "But you'll not be punished now. Especially, if I ask it of you."
Zara swallowed and chewed on her lower lip again before she finally, slowly lifted her gaze to his, her soft, water blues meeting his piercing, sea-greens. It made his expression fall to a blank stare, his eyes wide as they stared at each other, unmoving. Loki took in a breath through his mouth before clearing his throat again and pulling his hand from hers to straighten with a smile, though he felt both his hands begin to sweat.
"There, you see?" he said, rolling his shoulders slightly to relax himself. "Is that not better? Now we can have a conversation, yes?"
"If you wish, my lord," Zara nodded, trying not to stare at him, and he tried not to gawk at her, though he felt drawn in by her gaze.
"I do wish it," he nodded, shifting even closer and making her look to him with wide eyes, but he only smiled, mischievously at her as he took one of her hands in both of his again, making her eyes widen even more at their enfolded hands. "I have time yet."
"My lord?" she murmured, lifting her gaze again to meet his and ask, "May I ask why you sought me out? I am…no one to you really. Only a servant."
A very good question, he thought. One I've been asking myself since I left the library. What will you reply, Silver Tongue?
"Well…" Loki chuckled in thought, moving one hand to rest it behind her on the marble bench and lean closer to her with a wide grin that made her heart skip as he murmured, "Can a prince not indulge his…intrigues?"
"Intrigues or flights of fancy, my lord?" Zara blurted and gasped as she placed her free hand over her mouth, staring wide eyes at Loki in disbelief at herself, but he only gave a half amused half surprised smirk.
"So, the shy one has a sharp wit," he smirked, lifting a hand to pull hers from her mouth as she still stared at him. "If it's reassurance you want, I freely admit…you intrigue me, Zara."
"I've been told you enjoy causing mischief, my lord," she replied. "You could very well be telling me what I wish to hear."
"Very keen, my dear," he commended with a smirk. "Very keen. Then you tell me what reason you think I've sought you out."
Zara opened her mouth to answer but she couldn't and he could tell, she had no reason. There was no reason, he was sure, in her mind, that he would seek her out. There was the obvious, and he was sure it crossed her mind, but either she was too shy to mention it or too humble.
"I…I have no answer, my lord," she finally admitted, looking to her lap to pick at the fabric of her dress with one hand, her other still being held in his.
"Yes, you do," he argued, making her shoot her wide, blue eyes at him and he scoffed at the shock in them. "I know, you think I only want to bed you, yes? Any servant girl in your position would think so. However, I am not so controlled by my base desires that I cannot see beyond your attractiveness to what lies beneath."
That was a lie. He'd seen her beauty and nothing else when he'd gone after her, with only the thought of bedding her. However, when she spoke without thought about his 'flights of fancy' as she called them, he was even more 'intrigued.' More than he'd ever been with any woman.
A woman with such gorgeous eyes will see through any more lies, he thought. I should go against my nature now. Keep her guessing.
"When I saw you from the window, you looked at me with those stunning eyes and blatantly stared," he smirked. "I'll admit, those eyes intrigued me first, but then your refusal to look at me, and your quick words, have intrigued me further."
Zara's cheeks became bright red as she stared at him then turned her gaze to her lap again, gently trying to tug her hand from his, but he kept a firm hold on it. He could tell she refused to believe that he thought her attractive. He was then determined to dissuade her of this thought.
"How do you like the gardens so far, little one?" Loki wondered, admittedly honestly interested.
She slowly turned a frown of wonder to him before asking, "My prince?"
"From what I saw from my window in the library you enjoy nature," he explained. "Do you like the gardens here?"
"Oh…yes," Zara nodded, her frown disappearing as she turned her gaze to the garden around them and he could see the small, sweet smile gracing her lips. He found he couldn't take his eyes off her as she continued, "They are more beautiful then I ever would have thought. Especially the roses. They are such a vibrant red."
"Yes," he nearly sighed, looking ahead to the roses surrounding them. "This garden is my favorite out of all of them."
"I can certainly see why, my prince," she nodded, still looking around.
Loki suddenly stood, making her frown at him, but she remained still, unsure if he wanted her to follow him or not. She watched him pull one of the roses from the nearest bush before turning to approach her again. She gave a small frown as she watched him sit but he only smirked to her as he lifted the rose and tucked it over her right ear, adjusting her hair over it to better hold it there.
"Lovely," he smiled, letting his long fingers trail over her cheek to her chin, setting it on his fingertips to keep her gaze locked with his. A slight frown appeared on his brow as he looked her over, making her frown in return, but he soon explained, "Though I do adore a red rose, for you I think a lighter color would compliment you better."
With a wave of his hand over the blossom, it changed color from vibrant red to radiant yellow and he gave a smile and nod of satisfaction.
"Much better," he nodded. "Now, you wear all my colors from head to toe."
"Your colors, my prince?" she frowned in wonder.
"Loki. Call me Loki," he permitted. "And yes…my colors. Your dress is green and gold, and now the rose in your hair, though not truly gold, is close enough to match it. I will expect to see you wearing that rose tonight at the banquet."
"The…banquet?" she breathed in disbelief, not knowing if this was an invitation to join him or not.
"You will be attending as my escort," he nodded, making her eyes widen at him.
"But…But I am—!"
"My escape from my brother's incessant talk of battle and war," he finished for her, making her blink a few times before her expression softened. "I find his and our friend's dinner conversation tedious beyond measure. Won't you save me from it, Zara?"
"I fear I may not be allowed at the banquet table of Odin," she assumed. "I am only a servant here."
"When seen with me tonight, you will be more than a servant," he assured her, making her frown slightly in wonder and he prompted, only slight impatience lacing his tone, "Well? Will you save me?"
She swallowed as she stared into his eyes. How could she refuse? This was why she was here. Bought and paid for by the House of Odin. The princes could do what they wanted with her. But something was telling her that she did have a choice and on the other hand, something in his tone and eyes was saying this was an order, not a request. Her mind was screaming caution, but her heart had already thrown it to the wind.
"Y-Yes, Loki. I will…save you."
"Excellent," he grinned, widely before lifting one of her hands and pressing a lingering, soft kiss to her knuckles, never taking his gaze from her wide-eyed one as he did. "Enter with the dancers and take a seat on my knee for the rest of the night. You will not be stopped, I promise you."
"On…on your knee?" she whispered, her eyes still wide now in disbelief again, making him give a mischievous smirk as he still held her hand.
"Oh, would the princess have a seat elsewhere?" he teased. "Is my knee not suitable enough for you?"
"You mock me Loki," she nearly pouted, sincerely miffed. "You know full well I am no princess."
"Perhaps you should be? You are beautiful enough," he smirked.
"And now you speak nonsense," she muttered, making him chuckle.
"Oh, I do like that side of you that would speak your mind no matter who is present," he admitted as she looked to her lap to hide her only slight smile. "Say more."
"Such as?" she asked, honestly as she looked up at him again.
"Whatever is on your mind," he smirked. "Or shall I tease you again to get some cheek out of you?"
"You will tease me even if I obey you," she shot back, making him grin widely and laugh slightly through his grin.
"That I will. You know me well already."
"Only by your reputation and what Edric has told me," she admitted, then tried, "I should begin my work. I am sure he has something for me to do by now."
"He'll not," Loki replied, casually as she stood, his hand falling from hers as he leaned back with both hands on the bench. She turned to him with a frown and he explained, "He knows what I meant when I told him to have a stroll. He'll not be returning for a time. Sit down, Zara."
"But…I must begin my duties," she murmured, unmoving.
"And you are dismissed from them for now," he nodded. "You are speaking with a Prince of Asgard. Would you desert a prince to cake dirt beneath your nails and cover your dress with grass stains?"
"If I am ordered to," she nodded, without hesitation and Loki's playfulness dialed down as he stared at her in awe, moving forward to lean his elbows on his knees and stare at her.
"You follow orders so readily?" he wondered, his mind reeling at what her answer might be and the ideas that sprang to his mind if she answered affirmatively.
"From the royal family and the palace staff? Yes," she nodded, again without hesitation.
Loki slowly stood, making her eyes widen at him, and he could tell she was wondering what she had done and if she would be punished. He stood a head taller than she, and was able to gaze straight down into her eyes as he took one of her hands again, pulling her closer before lifting their hands between them to kiss it again then leaned toward her to whisper.
"Then I order you…" he breathed into her ear, smirking when he heard her breath hitch before he continued, "…you will sit on my knee when you enter the banquet with the dancers. And you will wear a dress of green…my color. Is that understood?"
"Y-Yes, my prince," she shuddered as he leaned back again, standing tall and smirking down at her.
"Then I shall see you tonight, sweet Zara," he nodded, lowering her hand. "You are dismissed to your duties."
"Thank you, my prince," she replied, barely above a whisper before she lowered her gaze and hurried around him to head off in the direction she'd seen Edric disappear.
Loki watched her retreat with a smirk of satisfaction. He'd had a feeling, but now he knew for certain…he was going to have fun with her.
A/N: I always thought Loki needed someone shy and submissive, with just a bit of bite back. reviews?
