The moment that the Lord Thor summoned me to his chambers I knew many things. Most apparent was that the Lord Thor had returned. That must mean Midgard was safe once more. For that to be true, Lord Loki had fallen. Whether to Hel's realm or prison I was unsure but Lord Thor would no doubt know. My feet barely brushed the floor as I ran to the prince's chambers, skirts billowing out behind me as my heavy braid thumped rhythmically against my back. All thought of manners and proper behavior, especially before a royal, was lost as I burst into the god's rooms. Panting, I stood with my hands fisted in my soft, crimson skirts as I watched Lord Thor's red cape fall to the ground. He turned at the sound of my arrival, his expression heavy with thought as it had been since his return from exile.
"My lord?" I asked breathlessly. Lord Thor looked away, moving to untie his heavy armor. Wordlessly, I approached, my slimmer fingers easily slipping between the protective plates. As they fell to the ground Lord Thor retained his heavy appearance.
"My lord?" I asked again as he sat on his plush, scarlet bed.
"Alive." I closed my eyes in relief, sinking to my knees.
"I am in your debt, Lord Thor," I spoke softly, bowing my head.
"I am not so certain of that, Lady Sanna." A normal day would have had me smiling at his kind words. Today I found myself watching the god with wide eyes. "He is imprisoned but that is far from his worst punishment." Biting my lip, I lowered my gaze.
"How is he, my lord?"
"Alone," Lord Thor said honestly. Swallowing, I gave a firm nod, standing.
"Thank you again, Lord Thor."
"My mother and I fought for Loki," he continued, stilling my movements to leave. "He has been allowed a single caretaker." My breath caught in my throat and I reached forward to place my hand on his knee. "I warn you, Lady Sanna, he is not as he was before." Smiling softly, I patted his knee.
"He is still my lord, Lord Thor, and I shall be forever thankful for his return."
"You must wait at least until tomorrow to tend to him. He is in isolation at the moment."
"I could wait five lifetimes, Lord Thor." The Asgardian nodded, giving a weary sigh.
"He is lucky to have someone like you, Lady Sanna," Lord Thor stated before politely dismissing me. "I will see you tomorrow." Straightening, I bowed my head before turning and leaving, quietly shutting the door behind me.
Now, as I walked through the halls of the palace my chin was held confidently high and my steps had more spring. No longer did I move with hunched shoulders and downcast eyes. A small smile even played at the corner of my lips. Upon reaching my destination, the living quarters of Lord Thor's servants, I quickly made for the room I shared with two others and knelt by my chest. In the small room my area was by far the emptiest. It only made sense, seeing as I had served Lord Thor for the shortest amount of time. Opening my chest, I moved aside the crimson gowns that lay on top, marking me as loyal to Lord Thor, until I could reach those that lay beneath them. Gently, I pulled out an emerald gown, bringing it to lie on my lap while being careful none of it so much as touched the floor and dirtied the soft fabric. Running my hands over the dress I smiled, the thread familiar under my touch. After Lord Loki, my true lord, had left Asgard his brother had graciously taken me in as a servant, knowing full well that left abandoned only misfortune would come to me. Lord Loki was not an Asgardian many looked favorably upon since his brother's exile and the events that followed so once he was gone I, as his servant, was suddenly in his place for others to scorn. Lord Thor's colors protected me from those who would do harm onto the prince now declared a traitor. While he had been good to me and done more than I ever could have asked I was still not free from everything. Many disdainful glances were thrown my way as well as venomous words and alienation from anyone I had ever known, not that it had ever been many.
When I was very young I was brought to the palace, the sole survivor of a small Asgardian village that was wiped out by a disastrous storm. My earliest, clear memory was clinging to Lady Frigga's skirts as Odin, the All-father, smiled gently at me and tried to coax me out with sweets. I had been very small, not even reaching Lady Frigga's hip, and thin with knotted, blonde hair that had been tangled before the first stormy wind had even blown. The doors of the Great Hall had opened, startling me, to reveal two tall men, one clad in red and the other green. While they looked strikingly different their bond had been apparent even to one as young as I. They spoke lightly as they approached their parents on their thrones, both wearing smiles though one was wide and the other contained. When the bulkier of the two had swung his arm up with a large hammer in hand I had gasped, cowering behind the golden skirts at the sudden sight. Lady Frigga's gentle hand and voice had calmed me and the next time I looked out beyond her skirts and through my knotted hair I found two more pairs of eyes focused on me, one of the blue endless sky and the other of the green vibrant leaves. It was then that Lord Odin had explained my presence to his sons and it was decided that I would be taken in by Loki as his personal servant. He had towered above me, a full grown adult of which I just barely passed his knee and reached his mid-thigh.
Lord Loki had been very polite, leading me to his quarters to show me where I would now be living and was especially kind to my shy self that tended to cling to curtains and furniture. At first I was very skittish, even towards my new caretaker who never so much as looked at me with anything less than gentleness. He had admitted that I was much too young to be a servant quite yet but that I would still stay with him until I arrived at such an age. I followed him closer than a shadow, soon hiding behind his legs instead of inanimate objects. My education was always something Lord Loki took great care in, versing me thoroughly in history as well as the potions he spent most of his time hovering over. As I was young, though, he had mostly spoke of folktales and little concoctions that had simple outcomes like making my hair grow fast or making a plant bloom faster. Once he had drank a particular draught that turned his skin blue and told me all about frost giants though instead of scaring me he made me giggle at his senseless tales and odd color. That day he had chased me to dinner as a frost giant, filling the halls of the palace with my childish squeals until I reached Lord Odin and he valiantly slayed the frost giant whose skin was slowly fading back to normal.
Eventually, I began to grow and my studies became more intact than stories and playful experiments as well as started running small errands for Lord Loki. I was often with his family, eating private meals with them and learning etiquette with Lady Frigga as well as diplomacy from the All-father. Lord Thor always treated me like a lady rather than a servant as well as a sister. By the time I reached Lord Loki's waist I was proficient in a basic, as well as a few advanced, healing potions and well aware of Asgrad's history and could perform etiquette better than some ladies of the court. It was at this age that Lord Thor insisted I stopped sitting at the side when the brothers practiced their weaponry and convinced Lord Loki to allow me to learn to protect myself. He was very reluctant at first and began teaching me privately before letting his brother anywhere near me. I was swift on my feet, having been especially fond of dancing since my youth, and the skilled pair taught me to use it to my advantage as it was unlikely I would ever have the upper hand in height and strength.
When I stopped growing taller at Lord Loki's shoulder, or at least close to it, I finally outgrew my skinny form to develop a few curves that visually made me a woman, something my body had internally decided years prior. My swells were nothing compared to those of other servants or the ladies of the court but I took pride in my femininity and welcomed the gentle sway my hips had naturally come to possess. I remained lithe and slim but there was no mistaking I was a child to someone who spared a glance at me. Even then I was the only servant of Lord Loki and performed many tasks for him, everything from being an assistant to a messenger and even a squire of sorts when he sparred with his brother and other warriors of the court. He was still kind to me but in a private manner, always remaining serious and stoic in the presence of others except for his family. I accepted this, always being his ever faithful servant as I was loyal to him and owed him many debts that I could never repay, not that I really ever wished too. Lord Loki was generous to me and always my defender when I met any trouble.
Since my early days with Lord Loki I had known he was mischievous, having come to like him when he involved me in his many plots to prank his brother. His lies were no secret to me either as I was often the only one that knew the difference of weight that words of the truth and falsehoods carried on his silver tongue. When Lord Thor's coronation day arrived, along with the events that followed, I knew my lord was involved in some way though he would not tell me. During the few days of his reign as king he kept me away from him and busy doing easy, time-consuming tasks. Upon Lord Thor's return and the disappearance of Lord Loki, I knew he had kept me away in an attempt to protect me from the enemies he was sure to make. That day had been the last time I had worn his colors.
Now, holding them again in my hands, I was ecstatic. Standing, I brought the dress to lay flush along my body and turned to face the single mirror in the shared room. The emerald color looked familiar against my skin and hair but even holding it up I knew it hung oddly. Pursing my lips together to keep from frowning, I dropped my hands to look at the crimson dress and how it barely held onto my form as it was. Before, the green dress had lay against the skin of my torso, caressing my gentle curves but now the red fabric held my shoulders and barely anything else despite being made up of smaller measurements than the former gown. I had lost weight since my lord's disappearance, partly because of my turmoil over being left behind as well as often having a hard time getting food with the other servants. Lord Thor's colors did not protect me from everything and I would never bother him with such trivial matters such as food. During his absence, however, I had noticeably lost weight.
Shaking my head and ridding myself of such thoughts, I gathered up the rest of my green gowns and set off towards the seamstress, one of the only servants who remained kind to me though she was old and knew little of current events. All of my gowns would have to be taken in to fit properly and green was one of her favorite colors, one she rarely worked with, so I had no doubt she would be able to make the adjustments. I may not have a proper gown to wear for a few days but soon enough I would wear the colors of my true lord once again and that simple thought brought a small smile to my lips.
Hello! Thank you for reading True Ties. The title and summary were a little difficult to come up with but the story is solid, simply hard to describe in such little words. I am always open to suggestions for my story and interested in what you all have to say. Please review to let me know what you think, what you like, or just how you feel. Hope to hear from you and I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of True Ties!
