Luckily, our rooms were only on the second floor, close to the staircase. I was not fond of sleeping on the top floor, far away from the stairs when in the house of my enemy. The rooms were warm and brightly lit, revealing large beds and enormous fireplaces. Thor thumped me on the back, "we are lucky, brother, to be so readily welcomed into the midst of our enemy."
"Yes, but he seems a bit too eager to please us."
"He is only relieved to have the war over. He lost a lot of good men, and his fields are half the size they once were. He is eager for peace, brother, not treachery."
"I hope you are right, brother... but I did notice you lusting after that little redheaded minx."
"She told me her name..."
"Oh? And?"
"Trish."
"Are you going to bed her?"
"It depends."
"On what?"
"If she's a virgin."
"Oh... would you marry her?"
"When I've only just met her?! Loki, you know I hate that kind of commitment just as much as you do."
"I'm starting to see the benefits of it... and besides, you have one week to woo her."
"One week? What's in one week?"
"My wedding to Princess Elly."
"You're actually going to marry her?!"
"And you wouldn't?"
"She's tiny, and young, and I'd be afraid of hurting her."
"Oh, something tells me she won't be so easily hurt... no, she's going to be so entertaining."
"You speak of her as you would a plaything."
"Well, that's exactly what she's going to be."
"You are a monster."
"...," I was shocked. "Since when do you care how I treat women?! Look at yourself! You wine and dine them, use them and then toss them away! And you speak of me being a monster!" I turned away in fury, tossing what wine I still had in my goblet into the fire.
Thor bristled and then walked to the door. He looked over his shoulder, "I hope you realize that if you do not respect her, you will lose her."
I threw my goblet at the back of his head, missing him by a hair's breadth, as he left. "You know nothing of respect, either, dear brother!" I fumed as the door slammed shut; who was he to tell me I needed to learn respect. I knew respect. I had respect for those that earned it, and those that showed me respect.
My thoughts turned back to the princess as I stalked to the desk in the corner, stripping off my armor. She was gorgeous, of that there was no doubt, but she seemed a bit too eager for my attention. I decided to avoid her for a couple of days before seeing her again, hoping she would gain some patience... I like a bit of a chase.
I sighed, running my hands over my face when a small knock came at my door. Confused, I waited, and heard it again. Three soft knocks came from the oak door. I stood, taking a small dagger from my boot and hiding it in my sleeve as I approached the door. I slowly pulled the door open, only to see, to my surprise, the princess herself standing in the hall.
Elly's hair was now braided, and she was dressed more modestly in a nightgown and robe, though her feet were bare. She looked so tiny, there in the candlelight, staring up at me with eyes as round as saucers. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, blushing. She opened again, taking a deep breath, "I-I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour, I'll just-" She turned away, as if to leave, but I caught her wrist.
"Princess, you came an awful long way just to tell me goodbye as soon as I open the door." I smiled at her, "whatever it is must be important."
She turned to face me, a blush high on her defined cheekbones, "I- it's nothing really... I just- could you let go of me please?"
I grinned and dropped her wrist, "forgive me."
"Thank you," she pointed into the room behind me. "Might I come in?"
"Are you sure you want to be alone with a man you barely know?"
"We are to be married, I see no problem."
"I quite agree."
She blushed at what I was insinuating. Elly was by far the most intriguing girl I had ever met. I smiled at her again, "how is it you know what happens between a man and a woman? Surely your mother told you."
"She did tell me the basics..." Elly blushed again. "But it was Homer, Sophocles, and Euripides that taught me the rest." She turned away to face the fireplace, the light dancing upon her face. "They taught me how a man could love a woman, but it was still others that taught me how things really happen between a husband and wife... and between unmarried men and women..."
Elly suddenly grew frantic and blushed furiously, still not looking me in the eye. Suddenly she said, "I know you cannot promise me, but I would be very glad if you didn't take a mistress whilst married to me."
I was shocked. She'd come to have the "when we're married" talk. I chuckled, "There is no way I can promise that..." I decided there was only one way to get her to trust me: to lie. I smiled gently at her, taking her hand in mine, "I can only promise that I will do my best to stay away from temptation."
Elly smiled at me before growing shy again. She fiddled with her gown, standing suddenly. She looked between myself and the door a few times, inhaling as if she was about to say something before thinking better of it. I grinned at her nervousness, "if there is something you'd like to say, I hope you do it soon, for I'd very much like to retire."
Elly flushed again, a small sigh escaping her perfect lips. "Oh..." She looked down at her hands, her brow furrowed before she stood and took a tentative step towards me. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them, a determined look now etched in the planes of her face. I felt myself grow still as she approached, but I didn't move from my place.
Princess Elly reached up a tiny hand but paused when she saw me stiffen, though she resumed when I made no move to leave. Her fingers brushed my cheek, her touch as light as a butterfly's wings as they traced my jawline. I breathed in her scent as she stood in front of me, and my senses muddled at the smell of peppermint and honey.
Elly then stood on tiptoe, looking up into my face as if to gauge my reaction to her closeness, before touching my lips lightly with her own.
Lust filled my body, but I willed myself to remain still. Her lips were every bit as soft as they looked, and they tasted of a heady wine. I scolded myself for wanting nothing more than to fling her onto the bed, and mentally smacked myself when I felt the urge to deepen the kiss. She was supposed to be the one seduced, not the other way around!
Suddenly, she broke away, a blush still coloring her cheeks and a small smile gracing her lips, but then a shadow flitted across her face and tears filled her eyes as she ran from the room. I made no move to stop her, for I was still in shock at what she had done and how I had reacted. I did not sleep a wink that night.
