It happened so fast, for it was like my life to change suddenly. I heard rumors about how Prince Loki could be mischievous and untrustworthy, and I scooped up some information that he was temporarily king, but I never cared too much. I wasn't truly part of Asgard. I never visited the bars, enjoy the festivals, attended the funerals. I wasn't in the social sphere of any neighborhoods in this majestic realm. I merely lived on the land. I scavenged, stole, and hid from the people imbedded in Asgard. Most people only saw me once, and the royals never knew I existed. I was a mere flea to their noble presence, yet here he lay before me a mere man. A mere man in a dirty costume. It was a costume I could take and sell for enough money to survive a year of great struggle.
I had been looking in the bushes for the ripest berries I could find. I hadn't pocketed enough money to buy some bread, and my knee was throbbing too much to attempt thievery. I had hurt my knee but a month ago while crossing a river. The stones were slick and it was dark even though the stars shined brightly through the thick clouds. I had misplaced my foot. When I fell my knee rammed a rock. I heard a loud crack like a branch off an old tree breaking. A scream bursted from my throat. Silence. No one came because everyone was out celebrating some pitiful event in their meaningless lives.
My ears tuned into the sound of screaming and loud cracking noises. It wasn't me and my knee breaking this time. My eye searched above my head. It was foggy, but my eyesight was strong enough to see clearly through the fog. Something different was happening on the bifröst. They weren't drunk or acting out their latest battle. Suddenly the bifröst started to collapse. Huge pieces fell and were about to pummel me to pieces. I put the berries in my hand into my stained sack and sprinted out of harms way. Whatever was occurring was history in the making, and it was a story I would never be given the chance to tell; however, I would hear it around town for weeks on end. I glanced back briefly as I ran, but when I caught what was happening I stopped dead in my tracks. Two men were dangling off the bridge. Part of me hoped they would fall so I could take their belongings, but part of me was too attentive to think that far ahead. A figure free fell and a scream shook my soul. I watched the man fall and tried to approximate where he would have landed. My feet moved before I even thought about running over to the body. I almost tripped on several pieces of bridge. I was too excited to pay attention and very eager to see if I could recognize whom it was.
I approached the body. It was wrapped up in green and sparkled with gold. Loki? I kneeled next to him and turned him over. He was scratched but not bleeding very much. His eyes were closed and his face relaxed. Was he dead? I leaned forward and put my ear up to his mouth to hear if he was breathing. I couldn't feel nor hear a breath. I touched the skin on his frail face gently. It was so soft and cold. Thoughts of helping him crossed my mind. Having a prince in my debt would be wonderful, but the fighting that occurred could mean he was now an enemy. What was the use in helping an abolished prince? His black hair made his skin seem even more pale. I looked down at his hand. It was scrawny. I sat my bag down in the dirt and picked up one of his hands with my own. I caressed it between mine. Despite how slim it was, I could feel the strength and power behind it. There was something else about it. I looked back to his face. I felt tension in his hand that was not written on his peaceful face. I dropped his hand and looked down at my bag. I reached out to it and stopped. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and thought about what this meant. I pulled back my hand in hesitation, but with a split second thought of madness I quickly reached in a took the vile and the pouch.
I was going to regret this, but something about him called to me. I uncapped the vile and put the cap on the ground. With one not so steady hand I held the vile, and with another less steady hand I poured the powder from the pewter pouch into the small opening of the vile. I put my thumb over the hole and shook it up so the powder was evenly distributed throughout the dark, red liquid. This was going against every belief of self-survival I had ever had. Keep your distance, don't look back, and move on. I had learned how this was the best way of life, yet here I am. I am helping a man that means nothing to me, and I am giving him my best potion. My most important potion was going to be wasted on someone who will most likely run off and never to be seen again. I took my thumb off and licked it. I was going to save it for later and bear through the pain of my knee, but I might as well get a little bit of use out of my hard work. I took a sip of the now black liquid, but I made sure to leave the appropriate amount for him. He needed nearly every drop, and I got nothing but half a thumb's nail size. I felt the swelling in my knee go down. I exhaled in relief. "Now I know it works, but too bad I may never be able to create it again. How many roses of the tundra does one encounter in a life time? None," I whispered to myself in frustration. I was going to open his mouth and pour it in, but I wasn't sure if that would truly work. His tongue would be in the way. I had to tackle this problem some other way. I put my right leg out and wiggled my foot under his neck. Eventually, I got his head on top of my shin to elevate it. I put the vile in my right hand and used my left hand to open his mouth by moving his jaw. "Please...work," I lifted the vile to my lips and trapped the potion in my mouth. When the last drop went in I put the glass vile on the ground. I bent forward and put my lips up to his. I forced the black liquid down his throat, but something made me stay there for a second or two more. The feeling of his lips were enchanting. They were soft, yet they were firm at the same time. I had never experienced that before.
I felt him take a breath and I quickly sat up. I didn't know what to do. When his arm twitched I pulled my leg out from under his head. His head hit the ground and he moaned. I scrambled for my bag then stood up. Through the chaos I was causing, I accidentally stepped on the glass. I was wearing foot attire, but the sound startled me. I scurried behind a tree. My knee felt perfectly fine for the first time in a month. I pressed my back up to the cold bark. My arms were wrapped around my sack. As my chest moved up and down I constricted the sack even more. I heard him move upon the rocks and dirt. It seemed as loud as an avalanche, and the pounding of my heart was thunder in my ears. What seemed like 10 minutes went by. Everything was quiet. It was too quiet. Why hadn't he left yet? Did I even want him to go? Didn't I want him to do me a favor? My curiosity and impatience got the better of me. I carefully leaned to my left and peaked around the tree truck.
"Ah, there she is! My savior at last has decided to show herself," he sat on the ground where I left him. He had known I was behind the tree the whole time? Was it my annoying heartbeat? I didn't know what to do. I carefully stepped away from the tree, but my feet nor throat knew what actions to take after that. I probably looked like a dumbstruck fool.
"It's ok, milady. You may join me over here, for weren't you here before anyways? You seemed to have been," his marvelous lips pulled up as he acknowledged the broken glass next to him, "You did save me, didn't you?" He questioned me as I stood speechless for another brief moment. I swallowed a breath and stood up straighter.
"This is true. I am your savior, and as your savior...you are in my debt eternally or until I see fit," I kept a strong expression on my face, but he laughed and stood up nonchalantly.
"I will admit, it isn't everyday anyone, let alone a filthy peasant, restores my life or saves it. Though, haven't you already been repaid?" He walked steadily over to me as he kept constant eye contact. His eyes were soul piercing and steel blue. It seemed like he was examining every corner of my mind, but I stayed unswayed by his intimidation and gazed back.
"I haven't a clue what you mean. You haven't done anything for me," he was only a few steps away now and crept even more slowly.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are forgetting something," he closed the gap and put his thumb under my chin. I now knew what he meant. I felt so embarrassed. I dropped my bag. His face came closer to mine, so I stepped back. This wasn't a game. My hand shook. I let go of my control and let my natural reaction take over. I slapped him, but my nails cut his skin. He seemed taken aback. His hand went up to his face and touched the scratches that were now starting to bleed, "Aren't you a feisty, little wench!" His grin grew and his eyes became filled with deviousness, "You might want to make sure to think before you slap next time," I looked down and saw the strain in his hands. He was holding something back.
"You might want to think before you invade my rightful personal space. I am a lady of honor," I raised an eyebrow at him and crossed my arms,"and I won't tolerate such barbaric behavior," he narrowed his eyes at me and stepped closer. He grabbed my face so I could look him in the eyes again.
"No one told you to save me or kiss me, and I see no honor in a beast that lives off the land and scavenges for its food," he let go of my face, gave me one last stern look, and stomped at the ground. I looked down to see the berries that had fallen out of the bag, crushed. When I looked up he had walked off a good 20 strides. His emerald cape blew with pride and loneliness.
"Where are you going to go? Back home. Aren't you not so welcomed there now?" I picked up my sack and dusted it off. A hand reached out and grabbed it. I took in a quick breath, "How did you get here so fast?" I looked at his face. It was panicked. His eyes darted around mine and he sighed.
"Must you always be so annoying?" He flicked my nose like I was an animal he was taming. I was about to say something when he covered my mouth with his hand and dragged me towards the tree I had been hiding behind previously. He pushed me against the bark, and I thought he was going to take advantage of me; however, he just closed his eyes and I felt this wave of energy and calmness wash over my body. That's when I heard the rumble of footsteps swiftly approach us.
