Between Every Lie


Chapter II

A list of mundane, royal duties would be ready to greet Loki that morning when he stepped out of his chambers rested and dressed for a new day. The lesions on his back no longer stung, though his bandages were changed for sanitary reasons after his bath by another nurse, much to his disappointment.

Loki knew he could avert Odin's summons to dinner but the morning meal with his family was unavoidable. When they were young, he remembered Thor being punished for several mishaps around the palace, mostly for picking fights with the noblemen's boys. Their father only ever allowed one night away for Thor to cool his short fuse after being chastised but he was expected to show his face before the All-Father after that.

Loki expected no different for his case.

Breakfast wasn't particularly painful. Odin greeted him with a slight nod of his head when Loki murmured, "Good morning, Father." For him, that was a sign that animosity levels have already lessened significantly. Odin had looked passed his punishment after a night's rest and Loki knew he would eventually have to do the same.

Although, the bandages around his torso still held in dull pains that had nothing to do with the whips.

He and Thor were used be forgiving their father after all those times of being punished for misbehaving. But neither of them were ever publicly humiliated and that was something he was not ready to let go of just yet.

Loki gritted his teeth as he crossed the large hall toward his family's table.

Thor was already there, gobbling down his food as usual, and smiled at his arrival. Loki's lips were forced into a lopsided grin, slightly appalled by his brother's beastly eating habits.

Frigga came up to him, pressed her soft lips against his forehead and smoothed his hair before tugging his wrist towards the table, asking him about his wounds and apologizing for being away. He was quick to forgive her because she did come into his room to check on him when he was already in bed and half asleep.

Loki ate his food quietly until his father spoke directly to him.

"There are rumors in the halls of Lord Mika's daughter leaving your chambers late last evening. Would you care to explain this?"

"There is hardly anything that needs explaining," Loki answered calmly. "I had a guest for dinner, nothing more."

"Darling," Frigga said, setting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We just want you to be careful. You know how the nobles like to talk."

"I don't see why there is such fuss," Thor injected himself into the conversation with a mouth half full with bread. "He is a Prince of Asgard and a maiden will stay in his company so long as he commands."

"But as a respectable Prince," Odin said with emphasis in his tone. "One must be considerate of the girl's reputation. Should I remind you of what I've said about your fair share of female companions, Thor?"

Loki held in a laugh as he watched his brother's eyes glared then tore away from their father's, his eyebrows furrowing in a mixture of irritation and embarrassment. They were mostly young noble girls that he would spend the late hours with in his chambers or out in the shadows of the gardens. He never remembered their faces because Thor seemed to tire of them rather quickly. Their rendezvous only ever lasted a few days—perhaps a week at the most. After a while, Loki noticed that young women stopped appearing in Thor's company altogether. It never interested him as to why but the discussion they were having echoed very familiarly.

"She is the only daughter of my good council member," Odin said, turning back to Loki. "I will not burden him with worries of her involvements with you."

"We've done nothing that should warrant any concerns," Loki defended, understanding exactly where this talk was heading. Yes, he had already heard those rather similar words intended for Thor years ago. It felt strange that they were now addressed to him.

"I have no misgivings about you seeing her outside of your duty hours," Odin continued. "I only advise that you make wise decisions, Son, for her sake and perhaps yours as well."

"I assure you, Father, that you have nothing to worry about."

He saw Odin give him another nod but there was also a reluctant sigh that accompanied it.

Afterwards, Loki made sure to return his mother a kiss on the cheek before following Thor out of their dining hall. Everyone had their own matters to attend to and Loki only hoped that the day would end fast.

Unfortunately, the day dragged on with the council men ushering him and Thor from one hall to another. Their mundane duties kept them occupied but time still felt slowed.

Finally, their midday break consisted of Loki and Thor's usual sparring session on the training grounds followed by their favorite afternoon meals. While they ate on the steps at the edge of the grounds, a sudden question from Thor made him choke on his drink.

"Did you enjoy the night with your maiden?"

Loki coughed out the liquid that had washed down the wrong pipe before speaking. His face was slightly colored but whether it was from the choking or flushing, it was difficult to tell the difference.

"Could you not have phrased that a little better?" Loki grumbled.

"I heard many whispers this morning of you sleeping with her."

"It's as Mother said, the court is always looking for something to keep their mouths busy, even if they're just lies."

It was true. Every now and then there would be a popular story spreading like forest fire among the nobles throughout the palace. Loki never paid the slightly attention when his name was being passed around. He had been used to it by now and he's heard it all. Lies-smith, trickster, the swindle sorcerer. It was Elise that he was concerned for and he almost cursed himself for thinking Odin right. Words cannot physically hurt but they could well do damage.

"But did your enjoy yourself, Brother?" Thor insisted on asking.

Loki sighed but answered. "Our evening was satisfying. She's a healer who knows magic and I've scheduled to meet her later today to help her with some spells."

"It would appear that she interests you," Thor said, finishing his drink.

"Well," Loki replied as he got up to stretch. "I wager it will be much more interesting than trying to teach those oafs how conjure the simplest of spells."

"They are soldiers," Thor defended. "Father wants you to teach them basic magic as a precaution. You can't expect them to be at your caliber."

"Oh, I don't," Loki chuckled.

Thor rolled his eye and shook his head with a small grin. Loki only smirked and congratulated himself on steering Thor away from that topic because he was beginning to run out of excuses, even with his sharp tongue.

They were separated late afternoon passed. Thor was collected by Sif and the Warriors Three to train the newly admitted guards while Loki was accompanied by several elders to another part of the grounds to lecture a group of Asgardian soldiers on defensive enchantments. Watching the young fighters struggle with materializing the tiniest fragment of a protective barrier frustrated him to no end. Loki could never comprehend how his people had such potential to be great magic welders but chose instead to place their values in combat. Aside from him and Odin, there were only a handful of individuals who felt the need to study this archaic art.

He watched as another young man grew irritated while the dim ball of glowing blue light extinguished itself between his palms. Loki considered himself lucky the day he slipped away from his nursemaids into his father's studies unattended and found glorious books detailing ancient sorcery. He had expected Odin to reprimand him. He was, however, pleasantly surprised when the All-Father chuckled, patted him on the shoulder approvingly and sent him to Frigga with a couple of guards hauling stacks full of books and scrolls of his choice. Odin encouraged Loki to study but it was ultimately Frigga who taught him the foundations for learning magic.

Granted, Odin still had him train in combat alongside Thor, but it was the first time he could do something that his older brother could not. And while he always found approval from his mother, it was his father's praise that he desired. That was until Loki started experimenting with magic. From then on, almost everyone shared the opinion that his spells earned him the title of the Prankster Prince. Loki would beg to differ. No one in the royal palace seemed to understand what real fun was.

With his magic as his own, Thor could have the throne and all its tedious trimmings. Loki only ever wanted freedom. Being chained to an extensive list of duties to perform didn't exert one bit of temptation. But neither did his current tasks.


Feeling more than glad when his responsibilities were complete, Loki rushed back to his chambers alone. The exercises he had been trying to teach took up more time than expected. So he quickly bathed off the collection of sweat and grime from the day, dressed in his usual black garments, and made his way to the courtyard in the east wing of the castle.

There was a rapid pounding against his ribcage and it only amplified with every step he took towards his destination. The sun still lingered on the tip of the horizon and he could see some of the servants already lighting the torches for the night to come. He was breathing slightly heavily when he finally reached the spacious, grassy square. Scanning his viewing, Loki's eyes eventually settled on the maiden strolling unaccompanied along the marble pathway that swirled across the lawn. He noticed she was carrying a tattered old book in her hand.

"Lady Elise," he called as he walked up to her.

Upon seeing him, she curtsied, smiled and walked forward to meet him.

"Forgive me if I have made you wait a while," Loki said. He wondered if she had felt impatient as he did last night.

"There is nothing to forgive," she said. "I understand that your days must be very demanding."

"Some days are most exhausting than others," Loki sighed.

Elise gave a small laugh. "But I am glad that you're here."

Loki paused long enough at her words for the silence between them to grow awkward. Then he managed to fix his gaze onto the book in her hand.

"Would you care to share what that book is?"

"Oh, this is my mother's. I thought it might help if you knew the mechanics of her spells."

Loki's eyes widened and the corners of his lips curled upward, impressed at her enthusiasm.

"Let me see," he said and held out his palm for the book.

Elise handed it over and he flipped through the pages. They were filled with various scribbles of healing enchantments and incantations. The defected spells were crossed out, showing signs of experimentation. Loki also noticed numerous sketches of healing plants, herbs, and roots. After a full flip through of the old journal, Loki nodded and led her over to the iron benches near the center of the square.

"Show me that spell from yesterday again," Loki commanded and settled the book down.

"I will if you do not hurt yourself this time," Elise said.

"No need to fret," Loki laughed, amused at her steadfastness. "I've thought of something different."

He opened his palm between their laps and conjured up a good size cream-colored root. With his other hand, Loki materialized another crystal dagger and sliced the top of the plant a little deeper than when he had cut into his own hand.

"This has a consistency similar to Asgardian flesh. Healing it should be no different. Go on."

Loki studied closely as Elise wasted no time reaching out her hands over the root. Her lips were moving faintly again in concentration then the same golden light expanded until the crevice between the root's skin sealed itself. She had control, he noted, but it was the speed and efficiency that she needed to improve on. When her spell was complete, Elise withdrew her hands with a small exhale.

The prince then lifted the root to his eye level to examine it. With a grin, he held it out for Elise to see.

"Your spell closed the cut," Loki explained. "But be aware that this is its limit. The tissues underneath are still wounded."

Elise nodded in understanding. "This is why I usually only use it on children who have scrap their hands or knees. Or handmaids and soldiers who nipped their hands on blades."

"It is possible to take this spell further," Loki continued. He watched with delight when her expression showed eagerness. "But first, let us concentrate on your execution."

"My execution?" Elise asked.

"Yes. I noticed that the spell takes affect rather slowly after you've invoked the needed energy. Also, have you not tried silent summoning?"

"No," Elise replied. She neither sounded offended nor sad about his criticism. This earned her points against the soldiers who were quick to become frustrated when their spells go astray.

"Well, now we know where to began," Loki said.

As he instructed her, Loki was please to find that his guidance was met by Elise's keen willingness to learn, a polar opposite response to the soldiers he had the displeasure of lecturing earlier who greeted him with silent groans and sleepy yawns. She practiced under his supervision and was eventually able to silent summon on her own. She was sitting cross-legged and relaxed on the grass for more comfort, conjuring up small spheres of light before she abruptly hunched over in exhaustion.

"You need to build up stamina, too," Loki said, looming over her faltered form from where he knelt on the ground beside her. "But here." He placed his hands on her shoulders and gripped them firmly. Warmth took over his body and Loki directed the power into Elise.

He heard her release a satisfied sigh and felt her began to straighten up. A sweet and woody fragrance lingered in the air he breathed which he concluded to be her natural scent mixed with some sort of light perfume. Loki saw tiny beads of sweat lining her forehead and began to run his palms shallowly up and down her bare arms in some sort of attempt to ease her weariness. Elise curls her upper body back a little to face him while he instinctively pulled himself forward over her shoulder. Loki felt warmth again but this time, he doubted it was from his spell that had long faded in completion.

The hours had surely escaped their attention as he looked at the reflection of dancing flames in her eyes from the torches that gave light to the courtyard in the night's darkness. Elise gave him another one of her gentle smiles that he was beginning to take as her trademark. In return, he felt a silly, lopsided grin forming at the corner of his mouth.

It may have been inappropriate, a prince and a lady huddled together on the grass in an empty square. But Loki disregarded everything, and instead, brought his hand up to her face, brushed a few fallen locks away and tucked them behind her ear. He had seen Thor do that on a couple of occasions and it always made the girls around the castle blush madly and giggle at his action. Loki was satisfied with himself when he saw coloring on Elise's cheeks and nose. Although, was he startled when she placed a soft hand over his, which had still lingered at her ear.

"Thank you," she said.

Loki's mouth felt dry and he opted for a simple nod instead of speaking, fearing that his voice would come out embarrassingly strange. Though, eventually he knew he would have to say something but the moment he opened his mouth, a newcomer's voice took his chance. He was almost annoyed until he realized who it was.

"My Prince, I don't mean to interrupt," the man's low voice came.

Loki stood up and turned to face who he speculated to be Lord Mika from his father's court.

"Father," Elise said as she got up as well.

Loki quickly crouched back down and caught her elbows with both hands to help steady her onto her feet, worried that she was still unstable even after he had restored some energy into her. She quietly gave him her thanks before turning to her father.

"I'm afraid I have been monopolizing your daughter's time," Loki said, almost forgetting that his hands were still on her. He withdrew them awkwardly when he observed the older man's gaze.

"Oh no," he replied with a light laugh. "Elise has already told me beforehand of your meeting. I pray she was not too much of a burden on you, Loki."

"Not in the slightest," the prince said. "I rather enjoy her company."

"Do you?"

"Y-yes, it's rare that I find someone with talents in magic," he nearly stumbled on his words under Mika's strangely intense stare.

He now understood where Elise had gotten her clear eyes from even though hers were inviting while Mika's were more scrutinizing, Loki thought. He accredited the look to the fact that Mika was being a father and nothing more. Odin did not have any daughters but he had seen a comparable look on Sif's father when he and Thor visited her family's private quarters for the first time when they were teens.

"Was the session helpful, Elise?" Mika said, snapping Loki away from his thoughts.

"Very," she answered. "Although, I still have much to learn from him."

"Good," Mika nodded with pride. "You will have plenty of time to continue your lessons. But now, Loki, I must collect my daughter back. It's rather late and I do believe that you must return to rest as well. I won't have Odin worrying about his youngest son."

"Yes, of course," Loki said, watching as Elise stepped to her father's side.

"Thank you, again, for your hard work today," Elise said happily with a curtsy.

"You were the one putting in the most effort," Loki replied.

They bid their farewells and as Elise turned to follow her father, she gave him another glance and waved a hand lightly. Loki could only sigh in discontent while he returned her gesture. He recollected and imagined various, more satisfying scenarios that could have played out if it were not for Mika's timely interruption.

He could have held her longer; the softness of her bare shoulders felt nice against his callused hands. He could have leaned in further to take in more of her pleasing aroma. Or they could have just sat there all night after their session and converse about trivial things since he was beginning to develop an attraction to her voice.

Eventually, he left the courtyard and found his way back to his family's private wing. Strangely enough, he felt relatively eager to discover what sort of rumors had reached everyone's ears after their less than private time together.


"You're doing a marvelous job, my dear," Mika said, taking another sip of wine from his gold goblet. "He's already quite taken by you and your talents."

Elise watched her father relax in his long chair from where she sat across from him and her mother. She shifted her gaze uncomfortably from him and locked her eyes on the dancing flames in the pit at the center of the room.

"I just… I still think that it is dangerous," Elise said, shaking her head slightly as she looked back up at him.

"What do you fear, child?" Mika gave a scoff. "Loki may be a master of magic but he is clueless when it comes to women." The councilman gave a low laugh. "As long as you do everything I tell you, he will, without a doubt, take you to the Weapon's Vault if you request it."

She winced with doubt and took in a breath.

"I still do not understand," Elise said.

"You do not? I mean to shield Asgard from future distress and bring permanent peace to our beloved Realm. For that to happen, I require great energy that can only be harvest from the Casket and that is locked away in the Weapon's Vault where neither I nor the rest of the council have jurisdiction. We are for the good of Asgard, Elise. What is there to understand?"

"Is it absolutely necessary? Why not just ask the All-Father himself?" Elise paused then added in a mumble, "This is treason, Father."

Mika chuckled lowly, unfazed by her words which only caused the uneasiness in her stomach to grow.

"No, if everything goes well, Odin will be thanking me for all that I'll do for this Realm. And you, my dear daughter, will be sitting in the throne room as Loki's wife and a princess."

Anxiously, she looked down at her ridged fingers at his response. She no longer wanted to address the fact that he had dodged two of her questions.

"You would have to accept Prince of Mischief as your son-in-law."

"I will not have to," Mika insisted. He settled down his goblet on the side table. "I knew it was only a matter of time until the All-Father came to me, wearied with concern over that troublemaker. If I had not pressed for his punishment after the devastation of Lord Volund's feast and for you to go to him, we would not have enjoyed these past few days of tranquility."

Elise shifted her focus to her mother who had kept her silence the entire time. The woman showed no outward resistance to her husband's objectives. But Elise still saw traces of doubt in her expression from the way her eyebrows furrowed slightly and how her lips were pressed together thinly. Her mother must have caught her pleading eyes, and spoke up for the first time.

"Darling," her voice was soft in contrast to Mika's. "Is it absolutely necessary that Elise should wed the prince? Is gaining access to the vault not enough?"

"No it is not, Hefina," Mika replied promptly. "I only ever desire the best for our children, for them to have a life of high status and a title. I am for the good of Asgard but," he focused on Elise again. "I want you to become a princess. Why can't either of you see the many benefits this simple plan ensues?"

The tone of his voice made certain that was all he would say on the subject.

She watched him get up from his seat, held out his hand for his wife and aiding her off the couch. They both made their way toward Elise and she stood up to bid them a good night. Her mother was the first to kiss her one the forehead and leave the room. Alone with her father, Elise felt him cup her cheek gently.

"Make me proud, Elise," Mika said lowly, almost a whisper. "Captivate Loki. Make him yours in every way possible and you will have a promising future ahead of you."

Elise held her breath, nodded shallowly at him and allowed him press his lips gently on the crown of her head. Alone, she settled herself down onto the overly soft long couch again. Several minutes passed until she called for a servant to enter the empty room and fetch a chalice of her favorite wine.

While the drink burned its way down her throat, she remembered her time spent with Loki. An uncomfortable knot formed in the pit of her insides and she could hardly enjoy the sweet and bitter taste of the drink. The reminiscence of his voice, his smile, his patience with her eventually carried her into a light slumber. Her unconscious mind decided to bombard her with visions of Loki being assaulted by various weapons and her father being exiled for his acts against Odin's son.

Thankfully that only lasted until the front doors swung open and woke her with jolt that almost spilled the cup in her hand. A young man a couple years her senior entered and crossed the room to where she sat.

"You should go to your room, Sister," he said. "You'll get cold sleeping out here."

He was tall and muscular, clean shaven with the same dark hair and eyes as Elise. A couple of servants came to help take pieces of his armor away as he was stripping off the metal plates.

Elise blinked away some of the drowsiness to smile at him.

"How were your endeavors today with the Warriors Three, Jarl?" she asked.

He gave her an exasperated sigh and handed the servants the last of his protective gear.

"I hardly understand why Father insists that I become a part of their little crowd. The Warriors Four just doesn't have the same appeal to one's ears."

"You are already sergeant of Thor's army," Elise said and gave the rest of her drink to him.

Jarl drained the liquid and set the emptied cup aside, wiping the back of his hand across his lips. "I suppose he wants me to become a general." He snorted and shook his head. "What of you? I assume you've done your tasks well compared to me, considering how I've been hearing rumors of Loki using that silver tongue of his to captivate Lord Mika's daughter."

Elise giggled at her older brother. "Remember what father said. I am the one who is to enchant him."

He grinned back at her and shrugged. "If father's plans are followed, I would think you'd be happier if both were true."

She could no longer find the right words after that and decided, instead, to say goodnight and retire to her sleeping chambers. When she was lost underneath the soft blankets, she mentally cursed her brother for always being too sweet.


Loki sneezed.

"You're not growing ill, are you?" Thor asked from his seat on the longue across from his brother.

"No," Loki replied, bored. He sat with his elbows resting on his knees and hands folded together.

"Well, good," Thor said while he got up to stretch. "I want you healthy for my coronation feast to come."

Loki rolled his eyes from hearing, again, about the event that was scheduled more than a month away. "How can I forget your big day, Brother?"

"I know you will not," Thor laughed. "But you must have Lady Elise come as your companion."

Loki blinked at him and answered, "I will see."

He listened as Thor left the room, probably to sleep. His brother's constant mention of the feast was beginning to exasperate him. Loki leaned back in his seat and slid his index finger across the slit of his lips in thought. He ran through different combinations of spells that could possibly ruin Thor's long anticipated day. Each one brought a larger smirk to his face until he settled on one that would make Odin reconsider handing the throne to his arrogant, idiot oaf of a brother.

Also, he thought, this could be his chance to show Elise that magic can be used for more glorious, exciting matters than just healing trivial cuts and bruises.


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Let's just assume that Heimdall is not allowed to use his all-seeing and all-hearing powers in family living areas. I'd imagine that would be a terrible invasion of privacy... Also, I promise Jarl isn't intended to be an insignificant character XD