"I have my own life
And I am stronger
Than you know.
But I carry this feeling
That when you walked into my house
you wouldn't be walking out the door"
~ 'Leather and Lace'
Anja took in a deep breath as she made it back to the room where her father had been. The gray flagstones of the Great Library were cool, even through the soles of her brown leather boots that remained hidden under her skirt.
She had released her grip on Loki's hand, allowing her own to fall to her side as she walked beside him. She sneaked a peak at him from the corner of her eye. He was so at ease it was almost maddening. Here she was frantically trying to figure out the best way to introduce her father to him, and yet Loki was the epitome of grace as always.
"Anja, I can practically feel the static electricity crackling about you. Please, be calm. I only want to meet him."
She glanced over at him, then suppressed a grimace as she realized that her powers had been summoning some sort of atmospheric energy around her. It was the perfect mirror of her emotions and state of mind at the moment, but she had admittedly still a bit to work on when it came to separating her emotions from her magic.
"I am calm," she said quietly, but her voice squeaked.
His hand came out to take hers, stopping her at the entrance of the room her father was in. She could hear the older man placing books in every which way back on the shelves. "You were never any good at lying," he said quietly. His breath cascaded over her and she barely contained a shudder. How could his words alone make her want him so badly? But the present soon came back to her as she realized that Loki had taken her by the hand, ushering her further into the room.
Before anyone could see them, Anja had taken her hand from his grip, curling it around the crook of his arm so they would not appear too improper.
"Father," she called to the white head that was bobbing in and out of the shelves, so preoccupied that he did not notice his own daughter at the arm of a stranger. He paced in and out of the shelves, heavy books in hand while he seemed almost lost in his own daydreams. Loki fought a smile, realizing how much Anja had picked up her mannerisms from her father. He had hardly met the man and he knew already that he and she were very much alike.
"Father," Anja called again when he did not look up at the sound of her voice. She pursed her lips, glancing up at Loki apologetically as she unhooked her arm from his and walked over to her father, placing a hand on his shoulder gently.
He looked at her with a smile on his face, and from what Loki could tell, absolute adoration. It was quite clear that she was very well loved here and some small portion of Loki could understand why she had been so adamant about returning when he first met her in Asgard. He could only hope that he would hold that kind of power over her one day, that she would love him with as much heart as she did her father.
"Father, I would like to introduce you to someone," she said carefully as she turned to Loki.
Loki looked down at Anja's father, a small smile stretching across his lips as he bowed his head slightly.
Anja's father stared up at him, blinking once. He clearly did not know who Loki was. "Father, this is Prince Loki of Asgard," Anja said carefully. "He has often helped me with my craft. Prince Loki, this is my father, Bran."
Loki cut his eyes at her when she addressed him so formally, pressing his lips together in a knowing smile before turning his gaze back to Bran. "It is a pleasure, sir," Loki said formally.
Bran gave Loki a smile that so very much like Anja's. "The pleasure is all mine, My Prince," Bran said quietly. "How is your father doing?" The silver eyes of this man were his daughter's through and through as Loki kept eye contact with him.
Loki quirked an eyebrow up. "He is well, sir." He had forgotten that the Allfather had established this place a long time ago. No doubt Odin and Bran were very close.
"I am glad to hear it," Bran said after a moment's thought. The old man did not miss the way that his daughter had come to face Loki a tad more than himself. Anja smiled as her father's gaze met her own. "What, may I ask, brings you to Vanaheim?"
"Oh, research. My father wished me to learn of a certain type of battle strategy. In fact, I was just searching for a particular scroll when I came upon you lovely Anja here." Loki inwardly smiled when Anja stiffened at his words.
Bran looked at Loki for a whole two seconds before looking to Anja and a broad grin stretched across his features. "And how did you two meet?" The inquisition was evident in his voice.
"We met in Asgard, father, the first time I travelled there." Anja had spoken up at this point and Loki tried very hard not to roll his eyes. 'Met' was an understatement.
"Ah," Bran said as he picked a book up from the cart in front of him before looking back to Loki. "Well it is a high honor to meet a son of Odin. I knew your father in the dark times. He is an honorable warrior." Bran placed the book he had been holding back on the shelf.
Loki bowed his head once more. "You flatter me, sir."
Bran gave him a gruff bow as well. Anja had never seen her father bow before and it seemed to be an act as unnatural to Bran as it had been to her during her first few months in Asgard. "And, My Prince." Loki, whose gaze had turned back to Anja's after her father had turned back to his books, looked back to Bran. "I invite you to dine with us should you so desire. We've many rooms available if you worry about travelling on a full stomach as well."
"Father," Anja interjected before Loki could accept. "I believe Prince Loki needs to get back. He had urgent matters in Asgard did you not?" she squeaked. It was not that she didn't want him here, but the thought of her younger sisters pestering him over a flagon of ale made her nervous.
"Thank you, Sir," Loki said as he gave Anja a sidelong glance. "I think I can afford one night in Vanaheim, My Lady," he said as he turned to her. "Your hospitality is most welcome. I would be delighted to join you for supper." His gaze did not leave Anja's as he looked down at her, a small smirk playing about his lips. Bran studied the two for a full moment longer before turning back to his books, disappearing down the rows of leather bound treasures.
*o*O*o*
"Now, was that so terrible?" Loki said quietly as he and Anja walked through the rows upon rows of novels that the Library boasted.
Anja shrugged, glancing up at the top shelf. "You've not met my sisters yet."
"Anja," Loki said quietly, seriousness now evident in his tone. "I do not think he dislikes me. Do you?"
Anja faced Loki, stopping as she took his hand. "I think he was as impressed as he can be, Loki. He is very introverted, in case you did not see that." Loki let out a small laugh at her as she kissed his knuckles.
"I do not think he would object to us being together," he said suddenly, his smile melting and a serious expression back on his face in an instant. "Do you?"
Why Loki ached for Anja's father's approval, he did not know. He had taken several lovers before he had met Anja, ranging from common palace maids to ladies of the court, but never once had he felt the need to meet their families. What was this woman doing to him?!
She pursed her lips, deep in thought. "No, Loki, I do not think he would object. He knows I am level headed and he values my decisions as well." He was smiling fully now. "But, Loki. I want you to understand that should we decide to marry… I want it to be my choice, our choice. I do not wish for an arranged marriage."
The emerald of Loki's eyes sparked as she spoke, obviously in wonder that she had even considered marriage to him. "I shall honor your desires, My Lady." Gently, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "In every way," he whispered silkily before withdrawing.
*o*O*o*
Anja looked down at her plate of food, a silver fork in one hand and her other resting in her lap as she took in the circus that was unfolding around her. Loki was sitting next to her in avid conversation with Bran about the scrolls he had found on the battle strategies Odin had wanted.
Alanna and Robyn sat across from her, the two younger girls glancing over at Loki and giggling occasionally. Alanna was twelve years old and already knew more about the applications of face paint and kohl than Anja could ever hope to know. Robyn was fifteen, slightly older but by no means more mature. Anja's knee was bouncing up and down at ninety miles an hour as her nerves escalated. She was just waiting on her younger sisters to say something that might embarrass her.
And, as she expected, the younger girls did not disappoint.
"Prince Loki," Alanna's voice reached across the table and Loki looked up at her, eyebrows raised as he waited on her to speak. "Is it true you can do what our sister is learning to do? That you can do magic?" Alanna's large, violet eyes were expectant as she took him in.
Loki let out a small chuckle as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. Under the table, Anja's leg was still moving up and down at a fast pace and she nearly jumped as his hand came down to stop it in its tracks. The left corner of his lips tilted up in a small smirk, one she would not have noticed if she did not know him so well.
"Aye, That I am," he replied evenly to Alanna. Alanna's eyes lit up at that.
"Have you taught Anja anything? She never shows us her magic… "
Anja looked down in her lap, repositioning her napkin as she listened to the conversation that was going on around her. "I have," he said as he glanced over at his lover. He was certain she was blushing under that beautiful olive complexion.
"I'll bet you are very skilled," Robyn piped up. Loki smiled at her softly, his hand trailing up Anja's thigh and taking her hand under the table to calm her down. The table cloth hid his motions, but he was certain her father could see the slightest movement. Bran either ignored it or chose to not notice it, however, because his silver gaze went back to his plate.
"I have been told that I am, Little One," he replied as he took a sip of wine. "And your Anja is by far one of the most talented I have seen in quite some time." At that, Anja's head had shot up, meeting Loki's gaze with wide silver eyes. He nodded at her.
"Tell me, Prince Loki. How long have you known my daughter?" Bran said after a moment, breaking the gaze that Loki had caught Anja in.
"Oh, for quite some time, Sir. I was her tutor, if you will, until the Academy learned of her talents."
Bran nodded solemnly. "And your wife did not mind this, My Liege? Meeting with a young girl in such a fashion?" One look in Bran's eyes and Loki knew the old man knew exactly what was going on between Anja and himself.
"Oh, I am not married, Sir," Loki said by way of reply.
Bran nodded once more, taking a sip of water before popping a piece of bread in his mouth. The older man turned to Anja then, speaking with her about Library matters.
*o*O*o*
The evening passed, and Loki found himself rising from the table as the three sisters did. He was going to leave the room to go to his own quarters when Bran's voice stopped him.
"Prince Loki, if you would do me the honor of remaining here for the briefest of moments I would very much appreciate it." Loki stopped in his tracks, waving slightly at Anja before he turned around to face the table.
"Please, have a seat," Bran said quietly. Loki paused for a moment, but decided to come back to the chair he had been sitting in next to Anja's father. The old man was finishing up his tea still. "You say my daughter is talented," Bran said after a brief pause.
Loki looked at him, nodding after a moment. Where was this man going with this?
"How long have you known her in such an intimate fashion?" Bran said quickly.
Loki was slightly dumbfounded. He'd not expected this…
"I know not what you mean, Sir-"
"My Prince, please do not insult me. I saw the way she looked at you. She has never acted that way in front of a man, and trust me, there have always been a few that come in and out of this place that would love to wed one such as her. But, My Prince, after seeing you two this evening, I feel I must let you know how much I care for her."
The old man's gaze was clouded a bit from the wine, but his words were as sharp as ever. Loki nodded. "I understand."
"May I ask you to watch out for her whenever you can? I truly worry for her while she is at the Academy. I would never tell her but…"
"You have my word, Bran," Loki said after a moment. "I care for her perhaps just as much as you do." Loki knew that he cared for Anja on a completely different scale that what her father did. He loved her, body and soul. There was no one else that he could even fathom being with now that he knew her. Loki had never been one for sentiment, but that revelation was the simple fact of life. He loved Anja and she loved him.
Bran smiled at that, the grin touching his eyes for the first time since Loki had met him. "I can see that as well, My Prince."
*o*O*o*
Loki strode gracefully down the darkened hallways of the library. It had gotten late very quickly on him after he had taken the appropriate notes from the scrolls his father had wanted and the chilly night air of Vanaheim was pressing in on him. His powers felt more in tune with the cold, a phenomenon that had been a part of him since he had first learned to use his magic. Even as a young boy he had preferred the cold to the warm weather of Asgard.
He knew he should go on to his own quarters, but he had not seen Anja since supper. She had all but disappeared, probably to her own quarters if he was not mistaken.
He was outside by now, a courtyard stretching before him as the cold winds of the night tore at his collar-length raven hair… and in the tower that was in his direct line of sight, a dark head stood out against the candle lit backdrop of a bedroom, Anja moving around within it.
Suddenly, Loki knew he was not going to his own quarters that night.
Oh, Loki, you're so naughty! ;) Can I say I am having a blast writing this? Really, I am. XD
Hopefully it's just as much fun to read as it is to write and I will have an update up sooner or later.
~Sirius
