Peace
Warnings: Mild violence, some mild suggestive sexual content.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Playlist: 'Sons Of Odin' from 'Thor', 'Henry Meets Anne Boleyn' from 'The Tudors Season 1', 'Archery' from 'The Young Victoria' and 'Vesper' from 'Casino Royale'.
A/N: Set pre-Thor, post SW: The Phantom Menace, through Attack of the Clones and an alternate ending for both characters. Basically forget about Anakin in this, he's background scenery at best.
The sunlight streamed in through the towering glass casements, puncturing the marble walls at regular intervals, ordered and neat, repaired after the turmoil of the Trade Federation's invasion, a year and five months before.
Padme waited, robed and swathed in the gowns and white makeup of the Queen of Naboo, surrounded by her council and handmaidens. Captain Panaka and his team of security volunteers stood behind her, alert and ready should there come any hint of an attack.
Nute Gunray might be in custody, but not even the sixteen year old Queen was naïve enough anymore to think he couldn't organise an assassination from prison, with his wealth and connections.
But even that dark day had been overshadowed by this…utterly incredible moment. Contact with a race from another galaxy.
It had long been known it was possible, however travel between galaxies had long thought to have been impossible due to the temporal mechanics. In short, it would simply take too long.
Or so they had thought.
The dignitaries coming to visit her planet for a week were of a world named Asgard, and their Prince was coming with his diplomats to foster peace between the people of Asgard, and the people of the Galactic Republic.
Little was known about the Asgardian Prince, other than his name, and those in his retinue. Loki. Prince Loki of Asgard.
He had been touring the worlds close to the Outer Rim that were a part of the Republic, and now it was the Chommell sector's turn. Padme had been told that he was travelling by star ship while in their galaxy, rather than by whatever means he had come there. It was accepted that hyperspace travel outside of the Galactic Rim was impossible, although there were stories, mere footnotes really, insubstantial myths that told of inter-galactic visitors millenia before, long before the birth of the Republic.
She was curious, eager to find out how he had travelled to her galaxy so quickly. With all the turmoil, and rumours of star systems planning to secede from the Republic growing ever more troublesome, it was a balm, a relatively simple task in an increasingly dangerous universe.
This was what she been born for. The practise of diplomacy.
As footsteps, swift and strong, echoed outside the halls, Padme drew herself up, straightening her shoulders and assuming the mask she had worn since she became the Princess of Theed, trying to ignore the usual discomfort as her headdress and heavy gown weighed on her.
Beneath the peak of his helmet, Loki's vivid green eyes roved over the elegant marble courtyard, trailing swathes of ivy creeping down the pillars and curling over ornate flowerbeds. Compared to some of the worlds he had visited on his mission for the All-Father, this was certainly one of the least odd worlds he had ever seen.
He took a deep breath of the air, inhaling its sweetness deep into his lungs, and felt an odd sense of peace wash over him. The murmur of the river not far away was a gentle, musical accompaniment to the sounds of birdsong and quiet murmurs of conversation, as the Governor of Theed and his entourage greeted him and his men, carefully selected warriors from the All-Father's personal guard.
It had not come as a surprise when Loki had been selected for this task. Thor was many things, but a diplomat was not one of them. He would be more likely to come back having started a war than fostered peaceful relations with this galaxy.
As for this Realm, Naboo, he could only imagine what his brother would have made of it. They had an elected monarchy, for Valhalla's sake! And a Queen who was only sixteen years old!
A sly smirk momentarily passed over his features beneath his helmet, before his diplomatic face regained control.
This should be interesting.
Padme straightened when she saw Governor Bibble and the phalanx of uniformed security guards appeared around the corner of the hallway, momentarily blocking the sight of the armoured, towering Asgardians beyond.
They were a race of warriors, it seemed. Some still idealistic, instinctive, part of her recoiled, even as she now knew only too well the necessity of war, at times, but she would not allow it to show.
Her gaze fell to the tall individual in their midst, draped in emerald green, and shining, interconnecting plates of golden armour crisscrossing the dark tunic beneath. He walked with a fluidity and a grace that his guard lacked, the arching, proud horns of his helmet towering over even the other horned helmets of his guard. Unlike his men, he did not openly carry weapons.
He didn't need to. Padme could feel a tangible, throbbing aura of power, draping him as effectively as the cloak on his broad shoulders. It reminded her of the power she sensed when in the presence of Jedi, but different. When she had travelled with Master Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for those few short days, their power had emanated from them like a warm, calming pool, that reassured and protected. The power she sensed in the Asgardian Prince was darker, wilder, akin to a thunder storm on the seas of Naboo. For the moment it, and he, was benevolent but she wondered uneasily how quickly it could turn to malevolent.
She wondered what the Jedi Council would make of him, when he went to Coruscant.
Deep emerald green eyes met hers, and a deep shiver washed through her. They shone with intelligence and power, yet there was an odd…desolation she could see in them, mingled with the confidence and power of one born to rule. Every instinct in Padme was whispering that this man was dangerous, to her, to Naboo, to every living being in her galaxy, but she was also drawn to him, almost against her own will, and the pain she sensed beneath the surface.
She had always had an instinct for the feelings of others, mild empathic abilities that had served her well as a politician and a monarch. She had never been tested as a Jedi, but sometimes mused if she was Force sensitive, at least somewhat. Either way, untrained and mostly dormant, she used what gifts she had for the greater good, so the lack of training was no great disappointment. She didn't need to be a Jedi to do good in the galaxy.
Called back from her thoughts by the approach of the Asgardians, she met the eyes of the Prince once more, meeting his gaze steadily, but not aggressively. They were to be allies, not enemies.
As the Naboo guards and Governor cleared from his vision, Loki caught his first glance of the young Queen of Naboo. She stood, surrounded by a phalanx of brightly robed women, their faces partially covered, looking like the petals of a flower, and the Queen its centre.
The Queen herself was small, slight, but her bearing; regal, proud, made up for her lack of height. White paint disguised her features, her top lip painted red, the lower split in two by a vertical stripe of scarlet. Serious brown eyes, deep and dark, watched him seriously, beneath the ornate headdress, her hair, a deep shade of mahogany, coiled intricately atop her head, and intertwined with the complex looking headdress.
Her robes, bright red edged with black fur, embroidered with gold, did little to enhance her figure, but he could tell she was slender. The thumbnail of each hand was painted white.
But it was the cool serenity and intelligence which all but sizzled in her eyes that caught his interest.
"Your Highness," the Queen inclined her head, her voice deep with authority, but he could hear the youth in it. How did a sixteen year old mortal rule such a Realm as this, let alone accomplish all he had been told she did during the first few months of her reign? "Welcome to Naboo, and the Chommell sector."
"Your Highness," he inclined his head. Padme felt that velvet voice wash over her like a warm breeze in the Lake Country. "I am honoured to have been invited. I look forward to closer acquaintance with this Realm and its people."
Padme met his eyes, and suspected there was more to his words than most would hear. She smiled blandly, and inclined her head as far as her headdress would allow.
That night, Loki stood at the balcony of his quarters in the palace, looking up at the gleaming discs of the three moons of Naboo, the stars beyond twinkling in the sky. Despite the sun having sunk hours before, it was still balmy, and evening birdsong played in harmony with the sound of the nearby river and waterfall. He looked down into the gardens, graceful lawns hedged in by trees and low marble walls, rows and rows of flowerbeds bursting with colour, dyed shades of black and blue by the night, the soft fall of water in fountains mimicking that of the waterfall outside the palace walls.
A sudden disturbance to that peaceful, night time scene caught Loki's sharp eye, and he bent forward on the balustrade, his eyes narrowing.
A figure, draped in dark cloth, wandered in the moonlight, and he recognised the robe of one of the Queen's handmaidens. But the bearing, the movement, reminded him of a far more powerful female, whose acquaintance he had made just that morning.
With a grin, Loki called upon his magic, disappearing from the balcony, and down to the gardens below.
Padme wandered, revelling in the freedom her disguise lent her. The night air soothed her thoughts, as she wandered the lawns, ducking under the trailing leaves of the trees, relishing the coolness of the shade even as she thrilled to the warmth of the summer air.
It had been a good day, if slightly unhelpful. While relations between the Asgardians and the Naboo seemed to be progressing well, she still knew so little about their enigmatic Prince, Loki.
And she had thought Jedi were bad!
Smiling softly to herself, she did not feel the presence of another, until she almost stepped into him, eyes widening as she recognised the strong body, freed from its armour, that she had almost stepped into.
The Asgardian Prince.
"I'm so sorry, Your Highness!" she babbled, instantly retreating into her familiar disguise, of Padme the handmaiden. "I did not see you."
Her tone held a faint tone of rebuke. Loki smiled to himself.
The Queen of Naboo was a good actress, but she couldn't fool him. While garbed as a handmaiden, in their flame-coloured robes, she still carried herself with a regal grace he recognised. It reminded him of his mother, Frigg.
She might move less rigidly, without the impediment of the symbolic makeup and robes, but Queen Amidala could not hide her true self from him.
"It is nothing," he inclined his head formally. "I was not watching where I was going. Pray, excuse me."
She inclined her head in turn, and made to walk away, but Loki's words stopped her. "What is your name, handmaiden? I do not recall seeing you at the Welcoming ceremony."
"Padme, Your Highness," she offered, quietly. No harm telling him her real name; since he didn't know of her disguise. "And I was attending to the Queen's wardrobe with some of the other handmaidens."
"I see," Loki murmured, a slight hint of a chuckle in his words as he stepped close. She was truly beautiful, he could see that now, in the moonlight. Her hair, long, curly, extended down her back, silvered by the light of the moons, her eyes relieved of the tint of formality, gleaming with an inner fire that had been missing from her that morning.
Interesting.
He bent his head to her ear, smirking slightly as she tensed. "Your disguise may fool others, Your Highness," he whispered. "But do not make the same mistake of thinking me equally blind."
Padme met his eyes coolly, yet inwardly she was rocked by his words. She opened her mouth to rebuff his accusation, but that palpable feeling of power rose up again, and she uneasily decided that honesty was her only option.
"It is still not common knowledge that I go about so," she breathed. "I would appreciate it if you did not speak of this, Your Highness."
His gaze softened, and with it, his power, as he stepped back, giving Padme the room to breathe again. "But why the disguise?" he asked, genuinely curious. She fell into step beside him, leading the way out of the copse of trees, and gestured elegantly with one hand.
"It is a security precaution. Monarchs have been assassinated before, my own predecessor one of them," she explained. "It was my head of security's idea, and-"
"It allows you some freedom, to come and go as you wish, without answering to anyone," Loki finished for her, and she started, shocked by the accuracy of his statement.
"Yes," she murmured. An understanding smirk lit his handsome face, and she found herself tracing it idly, taking in the severe but elegant lines of his cheekbones, and the gleaming viridian eyes, framed by dark hair, darker than the night.
"I know something of that wish," he confessed, gesturing with one hand, and Padme yelped as an exact duplicate of the man standing beside her appeared in a flare of golden light, disappearing again the next instant, making her wonder if she had imagined it.
"What was that?" she gasped, eyes wide. Loki chuckled.
"A little trick I have spent years perfecting. It comes in useful when I wish to escape, or come and go unnoticed," he explained. As she recovered from the shock, she smiled freely.
"Well, some of us are not quite so talented. My handmaidens are trained as bodyguards as well as decoys, and all of my handmaidens are trained to take my place if a situation becomes too dangerous. It was rather useful during the trouble a year or so ago." she replied wryly.
"Ah, yes. Your Governor Bibble told me of it," he inclined his head. "A bold move, if I may say so, the Gungans creating a diversion while your forces infiltrated the palace to capture Viceroy Gunray. I had gathered that your people are…pacifist by nature?"
"We are. We do not wish for unnecessary violence," she told him, eying him narrowly, expecting a retort, but he just chuckled, shaking his head. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking that my brother would find you most vexing," he murmured. "War, and battle, is Thor's greatest joy. But I tend to agree with you; war is not necessary until all other solutions have failed."
Padme stared at him, surprised anew, and he smiled wryly.
"Not what you were expecting, Your Highness?" he asked, turning to face her. She shook her head.
"No, I confess. I had thought…you were a warrior, like your men," she began awkwardly. Something flashed in Loki's eyes, and he looked away.
"And I am, but I do not take overt joy in war, as my kinsmen and comrades do," he replied softly. "I fight when necessary."
Like a Jedi. Padme felt an odd weight shift from her chest, and she smiled freely.
"Then, I think, we may have much in common," she breathed. "When we are…private, like this, call me Padme."
"Ahh, so that is your name?" Loki purred. She nodded, trying to ignore the way his voice made her spine melt. She hadn't felt this way since Palo…or Ian. "And Amidala is merely a formal name?"
"Yes," she nodded. "I took it when I was elected Queen."
At that Loki frowned slightly, and she eyed him amusedly. "You do not approve of our system, Prince Loki?" she asked, genuinely curious.
He shook his head, laughing. "Not that, but I confess, I find it somewhat difficult to fathom. I know there are Realms in my own galaxy that practice similar systems of government, but on Asgard, the Aesir have always been ruled by a hereditary monarchy."
"Aesir?" Padme frowned questioningly.
"The name my people are called by. Asgard is the name of our Realm," he explained. "Has there always been an elected monarchy on Naboo?"
"Not always. Our ancestors were not so peaceful as we, and the last of the hereditary monarchs died without issue. After that, we simply elected our monarchs instead," she explained in turn.
"A somewhat long-winded system, Padme," he murmured, teasingly. "How do you get anything done?"
Padme laughed, finding herself swiping him on the shoulder teasingly. They had almost reached the palace again, when Padme turned to face him, lingering by the entrance to her rooms.
"Goodnight, my Prince," she inclined her head.
"Goodnight, my lady Padme," he bowed in turn, extravagantly, making Padme laugh at his silliness, even as the action made her heart skip a beat. "This will be our little secret."
"Might I invite you to dinner, tomorrow night? I would enjoy continuing our discussions," Padme offered, inwardly wondering why her heart was suddenly beat so fast with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. She pushed them away determinedly, meeting Loki's gaze squarely.
"I would be delighted," he inclined his head, sincere pleasure lighting up his eyes. He was genuinely intrigued by this young mortal Queen, and wanted to know more. "I will see you tomorrow, my lady."
And with that he ensnared her hand, pressing a kiss to it, before disappearing with a devilish wink. Padme blinked, caught off-guard, then turned away, firmly putting the incident from her mind, at least until Sabé helped her dress for bed.
Then, when the lights had been extinguished, she could not forget the feel of his soft, thin lips against her hand.
The next day was filled with official duties, but Padme looked forward to the evening with unfeigned anticipation.
Since it was an informal dinner, there was no need for the elaborate robes and makeup expected of the Queen of Naboo. Instead she had Sabé bring her a dress of soft lavender, that clung to her every curve, her body still maturing even if her mind had finished. The rigid bodice was embroidered with silver thread, with her crest. Apart from a silver chain around her neck, a gift from her mother the day she was elected Princess of Theed, she wore no other decoration.
"You look lovely, Padme," Sabé murmured warmly. "I'm sure the Prince will be very flattered you dressed so well for him."
Padme blushed, in that moment reduced to the young girl she truly was, as her confidant and handmaiden laughed knowingly.
Loki was unprepared for the shock of seeing the Queen when she entered the private dining chamber just off her quarters. The gown she wore floated along every lithe line of her body, her long hair restrained and swept up, showcasing the line of her neck and shoulders. She was young, very young, but already Loki glimpsed a beauty there that would only increase with time.
He bowed, as was customary to royalty, even elected royalty, but she laughed and gestured for him to rise. "Don't be so formal," she begged softly. "Here, we're just Padme and Loki. Yes?"
"If you wish," he smiled devilishly, snaring her hand and raising it to his lips. Her breath hitched, and he led her to a seat at the long dining table. He frowned up its length, before he glanced to her mischievously and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the place setting and chair that awaited him at the opposite end disappeared and reappeared to the left of Padme, so they might sit and converse freely while they ate.
Padme watched with wide eyes, as he sat and poured water for them both. "How do you do that?" she asked. "Are you a Force Sensitive?"
Loki's brow furrowed as he took a sip of the cool, clean spring water, and placed the intricately crafted glass flute down. "Ever since I entered this galaxy, I have heard references to such a phenomenon. What is this 'Force'?" he asked.
"Well, the Jedi believe that there is an energy field all around us, that penetrates us, binds us and the entire galaxy together. Force Sensitives can feel it and use it. Have you met any Jedi yet?"
Loki shook his head. "I have heard them spoken of as great warriors and negotiators for your Republic."
Padme nodded, as the attendants stepped forward to place crystal plates of fruit and nuts in front of them. "They are," she murmured, a slight sadness marring her pretty features as she remembered the sacrifice of Qui-Gon Jinn. "They seek only to defend and serve, to protect the peoples of the Republic. When you go to Coruscant, you shall meet their High Council."
"I look forward to it," he replied softly, watching that sadness lift slightly, and feeling his heart lurch. "In answer to your question, no I am not a Force Sensitive in the terms you think of. I wield magic, the power of the elements and the forces that govern the universe. I would enjoy meeting your Jedi and discussing this with them."
"Will you tell me about Asgard?" she asked, cutting into a pear and daintily lifting the sweet fruit to her lips. "Your galaxy? Do your family rule all of it, or only a part of it?"
Loki tore himself away from the sight of her lips gently swollen by the juice of the pear, forcing back his instinctive reaction. "My family rule over what is known as the Nine Realms, although that is more an honorary rule now. Vanaheim, Nornheim and Alfheim acknowledge our sway, but it is more a symbolic thing than a tangible difference in power. On Midgard, we are forgotten entirely, except in the myths and legends of the native peoples, where we were worshipped as Gods. Helheim, Niffleheim and Jotunheim are naught but barren wastes, empty and cold. The Frost Giants of old still rule Jotunheim, but the All-Father broke their power long ago. But Asgard…Asgard is by far the superior of all these worlds. She stands, tall, golden, everlasting, a gleaming beacon of hope and light across the stars. She truly has no equal."
Padme had stopped eating, totally entranced by his words, the elegant gestures of his hands as he moved them.
"Asgard itself is like one shining world, of golden towers and sapphire seas, emerald forests and icy mountains. The sky above is a tapestry of burning stars and nebulae, so it looks like it is covered with swathes of vibrant, filmy fabrics, outshone only by the Asbru Bridge itself, that glows and ripples with the light of a thousand stars," he continued, pausing when he noticed her smile. "Do I amuse you?"
"Amuse? Not exactly. More entranced; you speak very eloquently. I could see it in my mind's eye," she admitted, looking down at her plate with a blush. He smiled wickedly, and they ate in silence for awhile, both just enjoying the other's company.
"Tell me," he began, some time later. "Why did you choose to become Queen?"
Ignoring his slightly inaccurate choice of words, she smiled a little reminiscently. "I grew up a village in the mountains. We were quite removed, isolated, but my parents taught my sister and I about the importance of duty and self-sacrifice. When I was still young, we moved to Theed. The Government runs a mandatory Legislative Youth programme, for those between the ages of ten and eighteen. I became Princess at twelve, and Queen at fourteen."
Loki nodded. "You are very young to hold such a burden," he murmured softly, and far from feeling patronised by his words, Padme felt them like a balm. She shrugged.
"On Naboo, adulthood is measured in intellectual maturity, not in physical age. I'm not the youngest Queen ever elected," she replied, fiddling with her fork. "I love my home and my people. How could I not give everything to them that I can?"
Loki smiled at her simple dedication. It both drew and refreshed him; he understood about duty.
"And you, my Prince?" she asked, turning those dark, doe eyes on him, brushing a stray curl from her face. "Do you feel the same?"
"I do," he agreed. "I may not inherit the throne but it will always be my duty to protect the people of Asgard and the Nine Realms."
Padme smiled, glancing down at her meal. "You mentioned a brother? How many siblings do you have?"
To her surprise, Loki's face darkened as he sat back in his chair. "Thor is my only sibling, and he is enough, believe me," he sighed. "And you?"
"Just my sister, Sola. She is going to have her first child soon," she replied, sensing his desire to avoid the topic of his brother.
"So you are to be an aunt?" he asked with a smile, his good humour seemingly returning as they moved onto safer topics. "Will you have much time to see them, when the child is born?"
"I hope so," Padme smiled, a little ruefully. "If not, well I'm facing re-election in two years. Who knows if I will be Queen after that?"
Loki took a sip of water, and smiled to himself. "Oh, I have a funny feeling you will."
"Are you a Seer now as well?" she asked teasingly. He raised an eyebrow, and she couldn't hold back the laughter.
He joined her, for a while, before catching her hand and holding it to his lips. Padme stilled, her laughter dying and her breath hitched as she met his burning emerald eyes.
"You should not tease, my lady," he breathed. "I have a feeling because I know you, a little at least. And I am certain that you have many years left on the throne."
"Only six, at the most," she interjected softly. "One of my first pieces of legislation was to limit the reigns of future monarchs to two four year terms."
"Why did you do that?" he asked, frowning slightly, as she looked away. He still hadn't let go of her hand.
"My predecessor, King Veruna, reigned for many years, and he was extremely unpopular by the end. I think it is a bad thing for one to rule for so many years without challenge. It makes people arrogant," she explained softly.
"Remind me to introduce you to the All-Father one day. I would be interested to see what you think of Asgard," he smirked. His fingers shifted against hers, and she suppressed a shiver.
"I would like that, one day," she forced back her weakness, and gently extricated her hand on the pretence of picking up her water glass. "Maybe, you shall take me."
"Oh, I would make it a solemn vow right now, my lady," he smiled, and it was a sweet, soft smile, almost boyish. Padme felt her heart race. "You shall go to Asgard one day, when you are no longer a Queen. Have you thought of what you might do once you are no longer Queen?"
"I had thought to marry, settle down," she replied. "Perhaps become a teacher."
"You would make an excellent mother," he sighed, and she glanced at him, surprised. "You care, with all your heart. I see it in the way you smile at your servants, in the way you care for your people. You are a mother born, Padme."
"Thank you," she replied, gently. His eyes held hers, almost tenderly, and she blushed, looking down at her plate.
She could not do this. She was the Queen of Naboo, and he a foreign dignitary. She could not fall in love with him.
But as Padme glanced back up, meeting his soft, liquid gaze; she began to wonder if she truly had any choice in the matter.
She did not see much of him after their dinner together. She had official duties, and he was seeing to his own, as he visited and spoke with various leaders of Naboo, from business, to culture and the arts. From what she heard, all and sundry were impressed with him. He was charming, eloquent and cultured in his own way, different to the Naboo, but hardly inferior. He had won her people's hearts easily.
She thought about him, though, in her few private moments. Remembered the velvety touch of his lips against her hand, those strong fingers around hers. Scolded herself when she caught herself doing it.
He would be leaving soon, to continue his tour of the Republic. There was no use wishing for something that could never be possible.
Loki thought of the young Queen often. The art of diplomacy was second nature to him, he didn't need to focus especially hard to be charming for these people, so he had plenty of time to contemplate the young woman who ruled the Naboo.
She was an intriguing little thing. She was rather young, and idealistic, but Loki had only to look at her to glimpse a tiny, momentary flash of what she might become. She was already beautiful, but time and experience would mould that beauty until it became intoxicating. Added to her fierce intelligence and loyalty, both to her morals and to her people, the whole sum made it easy to understand how a fourteen year old girl led her people to freedom and victory. Her people would die for her.
Acknowledging the slight ache in his chest when he thought of her, he frowned where he sat in his living quarters. The next day was the Ceremony of Farewell, and then he would be gone, to continue the next leg of his length journey through the Republic.
A small smile broke through his contemplation, and he reached for his magic. Soon, galaxies would separate them, but he would find a way to stay with her.
He wandered in the gardens, when he returned to Theed, but she did not come.
The next time he saw her, it was at the Ceremony of Farewell, attended by all of Theed, and a delegation of Gungans. He stood with his men, cloaked and armoured, as the Governor of Theed spoke.
Padme stood on his other side, draped in diaphanous white silk, her hair elaborately coiffed and strung with jewels. The white of her face paint seemed all the more stark against the mahogany of her hair.
She met his eyes, and smiled coolly. He returned it, but couldn't resist a little mischief.
"And may our two worlds go forward together, in peace and harmony…"
As Bibble went on, he met Padme's eyes, and smirked. She eyed him, a little bit of colour suffusing those marble cheeks, and from the glint in her eyes, he surmised she would be sticking her tongue out at him if she could.
Her eyes narrowed warningly, and he schooled his features into a suitably bland expression, as she stepped forward, the sides of her cloak drawing away to reveal her bare arms, smooth and graceful in the afternoon light. She took a carved enamel box from an attendant, as he stepped forward.
"A gift from the Naboo, in friendship, to the Aesir," she intoned formally. "In hopes that our future relations might continue to grow and prosper."
Loki took the box, not quite letting her hands go as his covered them. "I thank you, Your Royal Highness, for you and your people's kindness and hospitality to me and mine. You shall not be forgotten," he replied, equally as formally, but as her eyes met his, he winked. Her eyes widened, and then her lips twisted in a kind of grimace, and her chest trembled.
He'd almost made her laugh.
He had almost made her laugh, in the middle of the Ceremony. Padme sat at her dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror, makeup removed, hair loosened, jewellery gone, the only marks of her office left the diaphanous cloak and gown beneath.
That moment, when she had felt his hands, strong and elegant, close over hers on the box, her entire being had shuddered. Added to that, Loki's teasing glances and warm smiles had been impossible to resist.
No one, however, had been able to make her lose her focus during such an important moment. She should have been angry with him, but she found recalling the incident only made her smile more.
Her handmaidens had left her alone for the evening, and her work done, the evening meal awaited her on a tray, but she found it unappetising.
He was leaving tomorrow.
Sighing, looking down at her pale hands, splayed on the wooden surface of the table, she couldn't find it in herself to be too self-mocking or indignant. It simply wasn't worth the effort.
Perhaps, she would go down to the gardens tonight, in hope she would find him again.
Suddenly, a cool, heavy weight settled around her neck, and Padme started. Her head shot up, and she was already reaching for the secret distress button on the bottom of her dressing table, when she met familiar agate eyes in the glass.
Loki.
He had placed a light, golden chain around her neck, from which hung a pendant, an intricately crafted piece that looked like some kind of letter.
"My name, in the alphabet of my people," he whispered in explanation. "A final gift, from me to you, Padme."
"It is beautiful," she smiled, graciously, ignoring the fact that for him to be in her rooms, alone, with her was highly improper. She didn't refuse the gift; to do so was the height of rudeness, and the diplomat in Padme refused to do it. "What does it mean?"
"Protection and affection," he replied, his fingers tracing the intricate runes. "Intertwined with the rune which signifies my name, in the ancient language of Asgard."
"Thank you," she murmured, covering his hand on her neck with her own. The movement of his fingers was doing strange things to her skin. She smiled self-deprecatingly, and looked away. "But to what do I owe such a gift?"
She could almost hear his frown in his answer. "I think you know, my lady," he whispered.
She nodded. "I suppose I am not the only one to see the lunacy in this. You are leaving tomorrow."
"Yes," he sighed, and she met his gaze in the mirror. "But I shall return. This necklace is more than just runes, my lady."
"What do you mean?" she asked, touching the golden sigils again, wonderingly. They felt warm now, against her skin, and Padme was almost sure she could feel a pulse of power rushing through the yellow metal.
"They are enchanted. If ever you are in need of me, the runes will alert me, and I will come to you," he explained, as she turned to him and stood. "Nothing will keep me away."
"Loki…" she breathed, but he cut her off with a finger against her lips.
"Hush, ástin mín," he whispered. "I regret our time together is short, but know this. Distance cannot and will not make my affection fade, nor will Time. Not for me. Should you need me, I will come."
The feeling that rushed over Padme like a tidal wave should have frightened her, and it did, at a visceral level. It was fierce and heated, overwhelmingly so. Her heart pounded, at the burning gaze he held her captive in, and she wanted…something.
Something more than just a necklace and words, no matter how magical or earnest they were. Both could be false, as any politician would know.
He seemed to sense it, as he exhaled, almost tremulously. Silently, he reached out and slid his hand around her waist, beneath the cloak, and pulled her to him. He pressed his lips to her smooth, flawless forehead, and then to the bridge of her nose.
"What are you doing?" she asked, in a whisper.
"Kissing you," he murmured, trailing his lips down her nose, hovering over her lips. She met his eyes, smouldering with both passion and another emotion, one she didn't recognise. Wordlessly, she stretched up, offering her mouth, and he kissed her gently, tenderly.
His lips moved against hers, ever so sweetly, and she moaned against his mouth. He pressed in, once, twice before retreating, leaving her wanting more, her inexperienced body crying out in disappointment.
"Until our next meeting, ástin mín," he breathed against her lips, and then the weight of his hand at her waist disappeared, and she opened her eyes without even realising she'd closed them, to realise he was gone.
She would not see him again for eight long years.
To be continued...