"I hardly think I shall travel to Jotunheim," Ella informed her mother as she once again found herself sat in the library that afternoon, resting against a bookshelf as her mother handed her another book and shook her head at hearing her daughter. Frigga continued to gracefully move through the room, looking at the shelves as her daughter refused to stop her complaints.
"Father and the Frost Giants have never seen eye to eye and I doubt they ever will. Jotunheim is no place which I shall travel to so why should I know of it?" Ella moaned, walking around the library and opening the book in her hands, skimming through the small letters which formed words, unable to find the interest to comprehend any of them.
"It is history, Ella," Frigga simply responded. "It is history and we have a duty to learn of it. You and I both know this."
"When have the Frost Giants ever come up in conversation, mother?" Ella wondered. "When have we ever sat at the dining table and spoke of them?"
Frigga pursed her lips together at hearing her daughter mention the Frost Giants and she remained silent, thinking to her own son and his heritage. She briefly shook her head, pushing the thoughts from her mind. She did not want to think about Loki being related to one of them. She especially did not want her son to know. They had gone many years, keeping the secret between them and with no one else. Ella and Thor would not see him in a different light and Frigga was sure of that. The three of them were related and that was all there was to it. No one need know.
"If you are intending to remain persistent then do not read of them," Frigga suddenly spoke, her voice curt as Ella looked up to her mother, closing the book and remaining slightly confused as to what was happening. Her mother was simply telling her that she did not need to read but it was a monumental event in Ella's life.
"Is this a test?" Ella wondered, seeing her mother's posture change as she caught sight of one of the book's which Ella held. Frigga shook her head and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"No it is not," she said quickly. "Just go about your business for the day, Ella. We shall resume lessons tomorrow, yes?"
Ella didn't even receive the chance to agree to her mother's wishes for the Queen was moving from the library, the guards opening the door for her as she moved. Ella remained stood where she was, watching as her mother left and wondering why she had behaved in such an odd fashion.
When her mother had told her of the reading for the day she had not spoken with the usual enthusiasm which she normally held when discussing books. Placing the books away, Ella walked through the library and back out into the corridor, wandering down it with puzzlement still in her eyes. She barely recognised the fact that she had bumped into Loki as he sought her out after being informed she had been relieved of her lessons for the day.
"You are quite clearly distracted," Loki spoke and Ella looked up as his hands rested on her shoulders, stopping her from walking straight into him. He looked down at her and she shrugged, shaking her head and assuring him that nothing was wrong with her.
"I was simply thinking. You know how I am when I ponder," she spoke, her voice quiet and still slightly confused.
"And what is it you wonder about?" Loki asked and Ella looked down the hall at the guards who stood there, their eyes focusing on the wall straight ahead of them. She was sure that they never intended to listen to what she said, but she could not help but feel slightly paranoid at their presence.
"Perhaps another stroll in the gardens is necessary?" Ella suggested and Loki knew what she was hinting at. The pair of them walked quietly side by side until they came out to the open air and Loki looked at her with a cocked brow.
"Now what is troubling you?" he pushed her.
"Mother relieved me of lessons today," she told him and Loki smirked at hearing her.
"And here was me thinking that you had learned the trick to magic and escaped her watchful gaze," the sarcasm oozed from his voice and Ella rolled her eyes at him, walking around the rows of flowers once again, keeping her eyes fixed on their beauty as she spoke to him.
"You are funny, as per usual," Ella said, holding the same amount of sarcasm which her brother had. "No, it was odd, Loki. She was not herself. We were learning of the Frost Giants and I told her there was no reason to studying them for I doubt we will ever see them again."
"Do you really?" Loki asked, standing behind her and speaking in a low voice. Ella continued walking down the grass with Loki on her tail before he spoke loudly once again. "Perhaps mother felt unwell? Besides, I can only imagine Jotunheim holds no interest for her. It is where father fought and you must see how difficult it is for her to relive those days."
"Maybe," Ella said. She had never thought of it like that before. Loki rested his hand onto her back, guiding her through the garden as she looked up to him and he remained fixed on the sight in front of him. "Besides, why are you not with Thor? I thought that the two of you had intended to spar this afternoon?"
"I told Thor that I did not feel well enough," Loki spoke after a moment's hesitation. He continued to speak to her in a soft tone, hoping she did not challenge what he was about to tell her. "You know how I care little for sparing with Thor. Magic is the key to winning. Thor simply has brute strength."
"So what have you spent your time doing?" she asked him, turning around from his hold and walking backwards slowly, looking at Loki as he smiled gently, glancing up to the sky. He shrugged in a nonchalant fashion, gliding behind her.
"I took a stroll from the palace into the city. I assume you shall not tell mother and father. You know how they do not care for us to leave the safety of the walls," Loki lied to her and she nodded, turning to walk by his side once again.
"Well, you have kept my secrets quite often. I suppose I can keep this one for you. Why did you leave?"
"You know you sometimes just need time by yourself, Ella." Loki told her with an arched brow and she nodded to agree with him. "It is sometimes required to keep your mind sane."
"Loki!"
The God of Mischief inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring as he heard his name being called. Ella looked at him as he closed his eyes and bit down on his tongue before turning to see Thor make his way towards the pair of them.
"I thought you were feeling tired?" Thor said, standing before Loki with his arms folded. "And I come out here to find you spending time aimlessly moving through the flower beds of our palace with Ella."
"Indeed you do," Loki spoke in a dull tone. "I thought that fresh air may help to wake me up and I so happened to find Ella here."
"And have you told our sister the news?" Thor asked from him, the smile never leaving his face as he watched Loki shake his head and then glance back at their younger sibling.
"And what news would this be?" Ella enquired.
"I am to be crowned King within the week," Thor said quickly, the excitement held in his voice recognisable. "It shall be a day of finery and glory, sister!"
"Oh, I can only imagine," Ella said in a monotone voice which only Loki appeared to pick up on. "Does that mean I shall require a new gown for the occasion?"
"I should suppose so," Thor confirmed, clasping his hands onto her upper arms and shaking her gently. "It is a reason to celebrate, Ella! Besides, I thought that a new gown was something which females enjoyed?"
"You try standing for hours with pins pressing into your skin and being informed it is your own fault for not standing still and being too lanky with no bone structure." Ella complained in exasperation whilst the two brothers looked at each other with vague amusement at hearing their sister's rant.
"Will it not be worth it to see your elder brother claim the throne?" Thor wondered from her. Ella shrugged softly, smirking up at Thor.
"I suppose it will be," she drawled in a bored tone and Thor moved his hand to ruffle her hair. She instantly backed away from him, her hands moving to her head as she felt the band she wore move too far above.
"Thor!" she complained and he chuckled loudly at hearing her whilst Loki shook his head, obviously unimpressed with their antics. "Do you have any idea how long I spend in front of my mirror trying to fix my atrocious hair?"
"I can only imagine," Thor responded. "Come now, sister. You look lovely-"
"-What have I told you about flattery?" Ella wondered from him and Thor looked at Loki, his hand moving onto his brother's shoulder as he looked at him.
"Women," Thor complained to Loki who offered him no response in return. "Come brother, the Warriors Three and Lady Sif wish for us to practice our sword work. We were on the way to the training field now before I saw you here."
"I am fine, brother," Loki promised him. "Someone needs to entertain our sister for the afternoon. You know what she is like when left to her own imagination."
"Oh, I am sure I will cope," Ella taunted Loki further and he quickly shot her a menacing look as her eyes held laughter. "Besides, I have plenty to read."
"There you go!" Thor boomed. "Now, come along, brother."
"Perhaps our sister can come and watch?" Loki suggested and Ella looked back up to him, her eyes narrowed as he took his turn to smirk.
"I am fine," Ella said and she coughed into her hand. "Besides, I do not feel up to watching such enjoyable combat and as I said, I have much work to do."
Thor shrugged, not caring whether his sister were to accompany them or not as Loki shook his head and Thor wrapped his hand around his upper arm, pulling him away from the gardens as Ella smiled to herself and waved at Loki as he turned back for one final glare.
...
Loki was aware of the working of his sister's mind. The coronation was upon them and his plan had been set into motion. It was only to be a bit of fun and nothing more. It may make the day slightly more interesting. He knew that they would not succeed in taking the casket back, he was well aware of the fact. Whilst they would be out in the grand hall, cheering and celebrating, there would be intruders underneath the city they considered safe.
Loki knew nothing would transpire from his actions. It would simply delay the coronation. But, he did not want Ella anywhere near them. Once they were inside Asgard then he knew she would demand to go with Loki and Thor, refusing to leave their sides. He simply had to find a way to make sure she was not hurt during the process.
"You cannot begin to understand the pain which I have been through," Ella complained as she settled by Loki's side in the library. He continued to look down at his book, his long finger trailing along the line of words which he was reading so he did not lose his train of thought. After a moment he pulled his gaze upwards and back onto her as she dropped her chin into her palm, curling her fingers around her cheek.
"Mother hasn't been working you too hard, has she?" he wondered, his tone full of boredom as he thought of the coronation, his mind still occupied as he thought of the multiple doorways to the other realms which no one knew of but him. His magic was something which he kept quiet. Yes, people knew his talent but it did not mean they knew the extent of it.
"She ordered the dressmaker to come to me once I returned to my chambers and you left with Thor. I think I may have holes in my skin," she complained to him and Loki chuckled, glancing back to his book before closing it, making a mental note as to what part he was on.
"And I think you may over exaggerate," he replied. "I suppose it is your penance for abandoning me with Thor."
"How was the training?" Ella wondered, grabbing the book from Loki and flicking through it whilst Loki rolled his eyes and made a mumbling noise. "As bad as that?"
"I spent the majority of my time hiding behind a tree in the hope that I could avoid Thor and his pompous behaviour," Loki complained. "He did not understand how he could have almost lost to the Lady Sif. I must admit that it was rather entertaining until the tables turned."
"Hiding behind a tree?" Ella checked, resting Loki's book back on the small desk. Out of everything which he had told her that was all she had taken away. Clearly she was distracted.
"Yes. I hid behind a tree," he confirmed. "It was hardly exciting."
"Do you honestly think there will be any excitement in life?" Ella muttered and Loki's lips formed a thin smirk once he heard her and he nodded once. Oh, how she would soon see.
...
A/N: So, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone is reading and if anyone is then thank you for taking the time to do so and please let me know what you think! I intend to pick the pace up slightly and I am finding a way to make this story different and original so do bear with me, if you will.