Chapter 4: The Library

Loki walked down the hall, wandering around aimlessly. He did not feel like retiring to his room quite yet. Many thoughts raced through his head about the days that were to come. Aija had continuously peaked his interest throughout the day and he anticipated having an eventful stay. Though he loved watching people kneel for him, with a look of sheer admiration in their eyes, he was especially amused by people who disliked Odin. While on Asgard, Loki would sometimes disguise himself and visit taverns that he knew would contain such people. The conversations Loki had with these citizens filled him with pure joy. Being able to criticize Odin with fellow conspirers was one of the few highlights of his week. As he left the taverns on such nights, one could see a shimmer in his eyes that was missing whenever he had to deal with Asgard's dull nobles. It was baffling to Loki why everyone loved Odin so exhaustively. Even at the thought, bile began to creep its way back up his throat.

Loki turned a corner in one of the many halls of the palace and noticed a faint glow from behind one of the doors further down the hallway. He was curious who else has not retired by this time of the night. Usually he had the corridors to himself, except for the soldiers standing guard. He walked towards the room to investigate who his fellow night stalker was. Once he reached the room, he slowly cracked the door open. He noticed the expansive rows of books and realized that he had reached the library. He glanced around from the slit in the doorway to see who was there, but he could not see them from the angle he was looking at. Loki slowly crept into the room to find who also shared his love of books. Once he entered the room fully, he found what he was searching for and let out a brash laugh. Aija had been standing on a chair, starting to climb the shelves to reach a book that was far out of her reach. The mere sight of it almost made Loki burst out in uncontrollable laughter. He managed to contain his amusement before he lost his composure.

"What in the world are you doing? You could fall and bring the whole thing tumbling down after you. You could have merely asked an adult to grab the book for you." Loki looked at her with a faint smile forming on his lips.

Aija was already glaring at him, even before he begun to speak. Her cheeks growing a deeper shade of pink as he spoke. As soon as he finished, she blurted out, "I was doing just fine by myself, thank you very much." Aija climbed down from her position and faced Loki, arms crossed against her chest. She looked at the All-Father from head to toe. A smile forming on her face, she replied more calmly, "Not to be rude All-Father, but you do not seem to be able to reach the top shelve without assistance either. I was going to ask for your help, since you are an adult, but I don't want you falling and getting hurt. I could never allow such a thing as long as you are a guest in this house."

Loki walked towards her, stopping as soon as he was barely an inch away. Leaning down so that his face was in hers, he replied, "You have yet to regain your manners." Aija's pupils widened in fear and stepped backwards, almost tripping over the chair. Looking annoyed, Loki nudged her aside and climbed onto the chair. He was extremely frustrated that he had to resort to such a thing. If he was in his original form, he could have easily reached the book, but as Odin, his hand only just touch the top shelf. He swore to himself internally, his fingertips had just brushed the bottom of the book, unable to grasp it unless he used the chair as a boost. Glaring back down at Aija, Loki asked, "Now which book were you so desperate to retrieve?"

Aija, cautious not to get too close to him, pointed to one of the many worn covers. "I want the one with the leather bounding and golden letters engraved into it. Yes the one you are pointing at." She stepped back so Loki could have room to step down from the chair.

As he regained his footing on solid ground, he opened the book and began reading its contents. Looking towards Aija, he raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want a book on Nidavellir? What interest do you have in the dwarves?"

Holding her hand out, she responded, "I enjoy reading about the cultures of other worlds, it is a pleasant way to escape my reality." She reached over and snatched the book out of Loki's hands. She looked up at him, head slightly tilted down, "Thank you for your help. And I apologize for my earlier remarks, I am sensitive about my height."

Aija walked over to one of the few chairs in the room and sat down. This was one of the few places she enjoyed being. Very few people bothered her while she was in the library, very few people visited the library actually. Aija and only a few other habitants of the palace enjoyed gaining the knowledge these books offered. She has read every book at least once and read others until the bindings required repairing.

Opening the book, she tried to ignore Loki's presence and began reading. This did not last long, however, because he walked over to the chair across from hers and also took a seat. She glanced up towards him to see his eyes staring at her. Quickly, she pretended to be captured by the book and not notice his lingering presence. Aija still felt his eyes peering at her, getting increasingly anxious by Loki's presence.

Loki noticed that as time passed, Aija became more and more fidgety. Her foot seemed to be tapping to a rhythm and she continuously bit her lip; he wondered if that was something she did when she was nervous. A thought quickly entered his head, he pictured biting her lower lip as she moaned. He quickly dismissed the thought, repulsed that he had imagined being intimate with such an audacious being. He was determined to get her to speak first, he could sit there for the rest of his stay if he so wished. Her discomfort with his company only made him enjoy their time together even more. What annoyed him, however, was that he could still not read her mind. This would have been the ideal time to do so. It was clear that she was not reading, she only turned the page every ten minutes. He knew there were many thoughts flying through Aija's head at the moment, and he wanted to know what they were. His frustration with this situation grew as he sat there trying to find a way into her head. If he was not for his illusion, he would have gotten up and thrown the book she held in her hands across the room. He would force her to tell him what was pushing him out of her brain, better yet who.

"There must be someone keeping me out because I have tried everything I could think of to gain access. I hate having to forever have this illusion on. I want to show her my true form and have her grovel at my feet, begging me not to kill her. I am quite tired of the irritation I feel whenever this pathetic woman is around."

Aija was frustrated at her lack of concentration. She put the book down hastily and returned Loki's glare. She was taken aback by the amount of hatred she saw within his eyes. Maybe she had angered Odin by trying to ignore his presence. It baffled Aija why he continued to sit across from her silently if it angered him so.

"WHAT?!" Aija blurted out accidently. Covering her mouth with her hands, she winced at the look Loki gave her. She knew that she had made a huge mistake. "I am sorry Odin, I did not mean to have such an outburst. I was just wondering why you were staring at me with such anger in your eyes. Was my reading in your presence bothering you? If so, I apologize for my impudence. I promise I will not make such a mistake again." She hoped that her apology would ease his rage, even though she only meant half of what she said.

Loki had been shocked out of his thoughts by her sudden outburst. He was amused by her reaction, however, and realized that he must have given her a menacing glare. He was going to stop her and inform her that he was not angry at her silence, but the entertainment of watching her fumble with an apology was too great.

"It seems as though she is learning how to address me correctly. She should be on her knees as she apologizes, but she will learn in due time."

"Calm yourself woman, there is no need to be making such a fuss. I was just in deep thought tis all. You can stop looking like I am about to strike you any moment now." Loki only replied so calmly because he knew that is how Odin would have responded. He would rather have had her continue in her groveling.

"If you do not mind me asking, but what were you thinking about? It just seemed to be such an unpleasant thought by the expression on your face." Aija had her head tilted to the side with an inquisitive look upon her face.

"HA! Like it is any concern of yours, child." Loki rolled his eyes.

Crossing her arms, Aija no longer felt frightened by Loki, her fear was replaced with anger. "I am sorry for caring, next time I will be wise enough to just continue ignoring you. I do not know why you agreed to my father's proposal, I am at least trying to be nice." Aija had returned Loki's eye roll.

At that, Loki got up from his seat. He put his hands on both of the arm rests attached to the chair Aija was sitting on. His face so close to hers that she could smell the hint of mint tea lingering on his breath. "I am the ALL-FATHER! I do not need to care about your petty life. My reasons are none of your concern! I will NOT have you speak to me in such ways. I could kill you right here, right now, and none will protest it. Remember who you are speaking to child, I will not stand your insolence." Taking her chin in his hands, he leaned in closer. "Do you understand?!"

Aija tried to nod her head. Tears were threatening to pour out of her eyes. Her heart was almost beating out of her chest, hands shaking from sheer fright. The rage burning in his eyes made her question whether or not she was going to be able to survive the rest of his stay.

"I will ask one more time! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Loki was not going to release his grip until he was certain she understood her place.

"Yes!" Aija was barely able to get the word out. Loki's fingers on her jaw were so tight, she thought he was going to break it. As soon as she said those words, however, he released his grip.

Loki stepped back and looked at Aija. She was a sorry sight to look at, her whole body shaking. It was clear that she was trying not to cry. Internally Loki smiled, pleased with his work.

"There. I don't think she will ever speak to me like that ever again. I am quite bored with her for the night. I think I will retire to my room."

Loki turned his back to Aija and strode towards the door. Once he reached the exit, he turned to Aija, "Remember, I can easily have your head served to me on a platter." He closed the door silently, but to Aija, it seemed to make a thundering sound.

The room was silent once Loki left. A silence that caused Aija's hair to raise on its end. Once the door had closed, the tears that she had been holding back came streaming down her face. She was not sure she could make it back to her room because her body was shaking so severely.

After what seemed like an eternity, Aija stood. She tried to stand as straight as possible, trying to regain her composure. She walked towards her room, everything passing by excruciatingly slow. When she finally found her way back, she collapsed on her bed. She curled herself into a ball and held herself tightly.

She stayed in that position well into the next day's evening. Her maid Freyna, tried to rouse her for breakfast, but she would not move. When it came close to dinner time, Freyna went in search of either Ludvik or Laus. They were Aija's only hope to recovering from her comatose state.

Sorry it has been so long for this chapter!

Finals are finally over and I have more time to focus on my writing.

Hope you all enjoy