And we're back for another chapter!
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Kyleeishere1: Thank you so much! I'm so happy you like Kára. She seems to be getting such a positive feedback!
This is a gift to all you who reviewed. As soon as I'd seen how many people took the time to write something, anything, because they liked it, I put myself into writing, to express my appreciation. I'm at a family reunion being a hermit, typing furiously!
So here we go!
Chapter 3 – Reach Out
"I don't think we should be doing this." Kára gasped in between fits of hushed laughter. She was still sitting in the Hall, watching everything that was happening around her with relish.
Loki turned to give her a nonchalant smile. "Oh, it's just a bit of fun. It won't hurt anyone."
"Someone will notice." She pointed out.
He shrugged. "You can be surprised at how simple-minded some people can be."
Kára bit her lip. There was something in the way he talked about other people, something that made her uneasy. There was no pure malice in his voice, but there was something there, buried. But looking into his eyes she saw a deep desire to please, to be recognized. As a healer, empathy was thrust upon naturally, growing with every passing year. If something happened, she could take the blame.
Truthfully, she was as enthusiastic as him. Magic, she concluded, was dazzling.
At first, she had requested simple tricks, without imagination. 'Change the color, switch the taste, make it bigger.' He wanted to show more. As the evening drew on, he grew bolder in his demonstrations. It started subtle at first. Nothing she could actually pinpoint to, but something was odd. The drop in temperature, the sudden hot breeze, the change in the fire's color, how he produced flames to dance around people's feet. She was in awe at everything she saw, every feeling she experienced.
"You could get in trouble."
His eyebrows shot up while a mischievous half smile grazed his lips. "Life's no fun without a bit of trouble."
She pushed his arm with a defeated laugh. "You're…" She couldn't find a word for him. He was like so many sensations yet nothing at all could describe him concretely. She struggled to find a word, looking helplessly into his eyes with a wondrous smile.
"What am I?" he asked with a challenging yet amused look.
Chuckling, she shook her head in defeat. "I don't know." She liked him too. Like Thor, his natural upbringing made him intimidating to her eyes. But she hadn't been hopeful that he'd be so charming. He knew his words well, the careful articulate of his sentences. He adapted to every person in the room, shifting minds and styles to suit each individual. She was no different and he adapted to her fragile ambience.
What she did not know was that she had something Loki very much wanted. The utmost admiration in her eyes, whether sincere or by just being bedazzled by a new experience, crawled in his being, imprinting itself in his mind's eye. Suddenly, he could see Asgard, all of Asgard acknowledging his power, crying out for him in reverence. His wounded ego needed soothing and she knew how to do it so well, without even being aware of it. It pleased him to see the approval in her eyes. Being so simple-minded, he couldn't count solely on her to get the respect he needed. He wanted more. But she was the start and he was not about to let it go. He needed to make a lasting impression, something unmatched. In the corners of his mind, these thoughts were less formidable than his ambitions, reflected by dreams of power and control. These thoughts, of capturing someone's look of idolization, were less frightening, but in the end…they had the same quality and this was a sweet reward.
He looked around critically. Everyone was feasting, eating like wild animals after years of starvation. There was no measure in the Hall of Odin tonight. Some people never showed any measure. It had started very subtle. A little change here and there. People were confused. Someone's dress had changed color. Someone else had lost a piece of jewelry later found dangling from a candlestick. A man in the farthest corner was shuffling his mouth awkwardly as his mustache seemed to have grown absurdely long in the last minute. But it was not enough. He concentrated harder, reaching out to feel every crevice, every corner of the room, every speck of energy needed to achieve his goal.
A muffled cry was heard, snapping her everyone's attention. Kára's mouth dropped. She would've been terribly worried, if it hadn't been so comical. Everyone in the room seemed to have expanded. Bellies were protruding, robes and gowns had tears where they had split open. It seemed as if everyone had grown a few inches on the waist, hips, thighs, neck. Some people were horrified, others were confused. Some, embarrassed, had taken to hiding, gushing out quick farewells. Excusing themselves, silent chaos ensued.
Kára looked at the prince responsible. She wasn't laughing now but staring in wonder. How powerful was he? His calm demeanor made it seem effortless and the look of silent glee in his eyes was a bit too innocent to be considered an ill natured prank. She wanted to feel offended at his jest, but he had glanced at her with such a proud gaze, such a childish smile, it was hard to do anything else. She leaned into him slightly, laughing only to his ears. She had tried to hide her smile but he was smiling at her too. Kára couldn't remember when she had made a man smile like that. It seemed genuine, not at all forced upon by courtesy or good manners. He was rewarding her. It seemed so petty, being proud to make someone smile, perhaps selfish that it was at the expense of others but she had liked it. It stirred something inside her body that she didn't understand or place. It was confusing and terrifying all at once, exciting even.
"Loki." Thor was before them now, a look of slight warning on his face. "Are your responsible for this?" The Warriors Three and Lady Sif, stood by his side, completely unchanged.
It seemed that everything was back to normal. Though a lot of people had left, many remained in the Hall, having taken the prank with nonchalant humor.
Loki smiled defiantly at them. Kára was at his side, still smiling kindly. It made him feel triumphant. "Why, yes."
"It was my fault, your grace." Kára had stood, bowing her head. "Forgive me. I begged prince Loki for a slight demonstration. We did not mean to cause trouble."
"Lady Kára is not to blame." Loki spoke with frustration. "I found the evening to be a bore."
"Kára, please." She addressed him. "Since we have already found ourselves to be in trouble together, I do hope we can call each other a friend."
Loki couldn't understand it. How some people had it in their beings to be so…good. Compassion was a weakness, but she used it like a weapon instead, disarming him.
There was something in her smile. It was nothing in particularly radiant or extraordinary, but it was so gentle and honest it was difficult to reprimand. Thor was not an ignorant fool. He perceived more than most about his brother. He had always been more jaded in his life. It seemed odd that he would chose this girl to impress, he thought. Loki liked his women with glorious beauty. It made him feel advantageous. But he seemed sincerely taken with the frail woman beside him that Thor wouldn't have it in his heart to take that away from him. Though others may not understand why he stood up for him, he still did. Thor may have been a shadow to his brother, but no one could deny he loved him dearly.
"I thought it funny." The big prince declared. He winked at his brother. "Just don't let Father take notice of it."
Fandral was smirking too, but one look at Sif's stern gaze stilled him. Not everyone was impressed.
Loki was thankful for his brother's defense, but he did not need it. The triumph was sweeter in her eyes. His brother would forget about this by the next course and everyone would dismiss it as a good prank. She, however, looked at his abilities with curious wonder. It made him feel powerful.
Kára found awkward situations to be terribly uncomfortable. When that happened, she made her excuses quick. The situation, at this moment, called for a swift escape as well. "Forgive me, once more, your grace. I believe I will retire. I do not wish to be late for my duties tomorrow."
"Thor." The bulky man clarified with a grin. "We are all friends here, are we not?"
She was pleasantly surprised and conceded. "Of course!" With a small bow, she started to retreat. "Goodnight my friends." As she passed Sif, the female warrior gave her a slight nudge on the arm, communicating with female silence and a warm smile. At the edge of the Hall, she turned, waved and disappeared with the rest of the people in their leave.
Kára walked silently through the open hallways in direction of her room. Her room was located in a far side of the palace, near the healing grounds. The landscape had changed the further she went on. Open spaces with long arches and columns adorned the gardens that decorated both sides of the hallway. The candlelight guiding her steps was diming, so she hurried her step, but as she rounded a corner, a dawning horror came to her. She was lost. She had been so nervous about her first night on Asgard that she barely remembered the way back after Sif had guided her to the Hall.
Cursing herself, she turned back, only to come face to face with a dark haired prince.
"You don't happen to be lost, are you?" He was cheekily mocking her.
She sighed. "I am, indeed. I did not want to trouble anyone by asking to be guided. I thought I could find my way back." She laughed. "I will have some difficult times finding my way around."
"Come, I'll take you home." He was waiting, like a perfect nobleman.
Kára felt incredible gratitude towards Loki. Not only had he showed her friendship on her first night, but was already saving her from embarrassment and getting lost. She walked besides him, clasping her arms before her. She was ashamed of how frail she must seem like. Like a wounded animal taken from home to be placed in a different habitat, disoriented.
Loki had not come to find her out of the goodness of his heart. It seemed impossible to want more recognition than the one she had already given him. But his ambition bordered on obsession and he loved being adored, even if it came from such a simple creature.
They walked in silence for some time, feeling the breeze ruffle their clothes.
"You seem quiet now." He commented. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he saw her stifle a yawn.
She fixed him a bubbly smile. "I am tired. I did not expect to have such a wonderful time."
"Oh?" He raised a curious eyebrow. "And what was it you expected?"
Kára considered this for a moment. After all, she didn't want to insult him or his family. "I don't know." She answered truthfully. "I suppose I had felt apprehensive. I have never been away from home before. I did not expect you to be…" Once again, she was at a loss for words. "Asgardians, I mean, to be so hospitable."
Loki nodded. "You thought we would attack you."
With a nervous chuckled she clarified. "Not attack me, no." She gave him a pointed look. "Do I look to be menacing in any way?"
His low laugh was teasing. "Perhaps if you did not smile so much."
She couldn't help it. She smiled. His attentions were unfathomable to her. It did not matter, she would enjoy them. Through the course of the night she had discovered her feelings were indicating an attraction to Loki. It was not hard to imagine.
He was brilliant, powerful, sophisticated, eloquent, gifted at strategy, seduction, and diplomacy. Everything he did had a way. Being observant as she was, she picked up on his character immediately. There were many buried purposes about him, but the basics she had.
She wasn't about to turn to a foolish girl with hopeless dreams. He was just a friend, being kind enough to show her some agreeable moments in pity. She was grateful, of course. And that was it. Nothing beyond that would happen and that suited her just fine. It was pain she did not need.
"Have I lost you?" His deep voice whirled her out of her thoughts.
Blushing, she waved a hand to her face. "I am sorry. I seem to have become distracted."
"Your thoughts seem most interesting." He drawled. "I wonder what it is you thought so hard of that you failed to notice we just circled around that fountain twice."
If her cheeks had not been aflame before, she was sure they were now. With a breathy laugh, she excused herself. "Nothing of importance, I assure you. My mind often wanders off."
"Well, then. If I alone can't hold your attention…." He broke off.
Another deep voice resounded behind her and she whirled around in shock, glancing at the two Lokis circling her. "Perhaps two of me will."
Well, a bit of a cliffhanger.
Next chapter will be a bit more sensual, so be ready for it! Not to worry, their relationship will not develop ridiculously fast that it would be unbelievable and unrealistic.
But hang in there with me!
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