Sapphire couldn't believe that in an instant life could change for the better. Sitting on her bed, she watched her tail sway from left to right and back again, having a mind of it's own. 'How could this be?' She asked herself. 'I'm in Asgard. I remember reading about it in books at the public library.' A smile spread across her pink, glossy lips and a blush crept up to her cheekbones, thinking about the royal family. 'Odin, Frigga, Thor and Loki. Wow!' She was to eat breakfast with them in a couple of hours. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she felt skittish about the invitation. A fresh morning breeze swept through her room, shifting the midnight blue strands of hair from her face. Her long, silky hair curled down and stopped just above her lower back. She welcomed the air, closing her eyes, propping her hands behind her on the bed.
"Mmmmm…" She embraced the feeling and lay down on the bed, letting peace close her eyelids and send her to sleep. Back on earth it would be time to sleep but Asgard had a different time. She figured she'd just take a nice nap then.
A few hours later.
A loud thud resounded on the guest room's door. Sapphire shot straight up, her heart pounding heavily in her chest as she gasped.
"W-Who is it?" She said.
"'Tis I, Thor!"
Hastily, she straightened her white dress. "Come in."
The door swung open and the asgardian prince stepped in, his boots making a powerful echo in the large room.
'Is he always so loud?' She stared at him, adjusting any loose strand of hair and placing it in its rightful place. 'Then again, he is the god of thunder.' She laughed softly.
Giving her a baffled look, he said, "Do tell what is so humorous."
She giggled. "Your title suits your behavior, God of Thunder." She emphasized on those last three words.
He blinked, contemplating on her words. After a couple of seconds, his eyes gleamed as he finally realized what she meant. "Ah! Did I startle you with my knock?"
"You woke me up." She smiled.
"My apologies." He raised a hand to his chest and gave her a small bow.
"It's okay." She finally rose from the bed and walked toward him. "Is it time to eat breakfast?"
"Yes!" He grinned widely. "Shall we?"
"Mmhmm!"
He offered his arm and she took it. Thor made her feel at home. She was growing fond of him in a brotherly way and she hoped to make a connection with Loki.
Her thoughts lingering on Loki, she looked up at Thor. "Do you think Loki is still mad at me?"
"Perhaps." He replied. "I can't remember the last time I witnessed Loki in a state of joyfulness. The time he used to call me brother is long gone." Dim memories of the past entered his mind and his face turned downcast, barely able to recall their days of youth. He came to a halt and lifted his gaze towards the sunrise, bathing the city with it's warm and welcoming light, beckoning the wake of songs of birds to announce that a new day has risen.
Sapphire placed a gentle hand on Thor's arm. "There's always second chances."
The asgardian prince smiled and placed his left hand over hers. "Thank you for your kind words, young Sapphire. I wish Loki could bid welcome to your innocence and find deliverance from his anger but, alas, Loki seems unredeemable."
"Anyone can be saved. You just have to give them a chance." She stated. "Maybe if I spoke with him-"
Thor shook his head in disagreement. "No, Sapphire, do not waste your time on my brother."
"What?"
He continued on his walk. "Don't get too close." He warned, "Save yourself the heartache and refrain from trusting him."
Sapphire froze for a moment, her face displayed a clear war in her mind. 'How can he have such little faith in his own brother? What could've possibly happened between them that Thor would think Loki unredeemable?'
Odin greeted the servants and all bowed in reverence to the All-Father. His presence changed the atmosphere of the feast hall. What once was a chattery hall now grew silent. He took his seat next to his queen, Frigga. She glowed, her skin basking in the daylight.
"My king." She leaned forward, raising a hand to cup his face and kissed his lips.
With his one eye, he stared at her, admiring the work of the handmaidens. "Surely, you are a work of art. As centuries pass, I grow older, yet my queen remains impeccable."
Frigga laughed softly. "Oh, you jest."
Odin gave her a warm smile.
Servants came and brought them wine, fruit, bread and meat.
"Where are Thor and Loki?" Odin stopped one of the servants who had just arrived.
"Thor is on his way with your guest. Loki, my lord, would not answer when I called to him." The servant bowed.
Odin nodded and heaved a sigh. "Guards." His voice echoed, traveling to the guards at the entrance.
One of them came to him and halted. He raised his right arm across his chest and folded it into a fist, awaiting Odin's orders.
"Go to prince Loki's chambers." He took a sip of the wine. "Tell him his presence is required at the banquet hall."
The guard submissively bowed. "Yes, my lord." The guard also bowed to Frigga and left to Loki's chambers.
The dark prince was on his bed, reclining against the wall, using his pillows as support behind him. He had his left leg lay straight before him and his right leg was bent knee upwards supporting his right arm as it rested on the knee. In his hands, he delicately held an aged book, running his index finger along its brittle edges. His face held an enraged fervor; his eyes retained unshed tears and his chest rose and fell rapidly. He delicately unfastened the lacing on the book and opened it. Loki straightened his posture and skimmed over the pages. He now sat cross-legged.
He read.
Thor didn't find it humorous when I lay a practice run for him on his way to dinner. It was supposed to be a delightful surprise but I believe he was drained from today's practice. I don't think he meant everything he said… I'll have to apologize later.
P.S.
My magic is gaining strength.
He let out a low growl, shaking his head. 'How pathetically blind I was believing that Odin would approve of my wielding magic over brute strength.' A flashback of him and Frigga spending hours and hours in her chambers conjuring anything that came to mind. He could picture his younger self laughing as he would magically appear a little funny looking dragon and Frigga would let out a wholesome laugh as it burned some fabrics that lay around or burn the hem of the dress of some unfortunate servant. He flipped through some pages and finally stopped on one.
It read.
Today, father told us the story of how he raided the army of Frost Giants and took their source of power, the Casket of Ancient Winters. He said Thor and I were both meant to be kings! As king, I want to rule Asgard such as father does!
Shutting the book, he set it down and closed his eyes, breathing profoundly. Loki didn't realize a few tears had been shed from his eyes. When a tear fell onto his hand, he hesitantly wiped them from his face. He needed to regain his composure but was failing horribly.
Anger began to rise within his heart.
"I hate them! Thor, Odin… Those ignorant fools have no idea as to what they have put me through! And now… And now this girl! Now she has marched in my life, adding to my ruin!" He looked at his hands. The muscles on his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth, feeling the anger run through his body.
There was a knock on his door. "Prince Loki? The All-Father, requests your presence at the Banquet Hall." The guard's voice shook frighteningly.
He sighed. "Very well." The sound of hurriedly shuffled steps was heard and then it disappeared. Loki had no choice but to do as the All-Father commanded. This was worse than being locked in the dungeons.
He looked at his armor as it hung just across the room. He stood, walked over to it and began to put it on. His helmet was set on the table near his armor, it's horns bent fiercely backwards, and shining as the sun was still rising. Loki grabbed it and stared at it thoughtfully.
"The throne will one day be mine." He put the helmet down and headed over to the banquet hall.
Thor and Sapphire stepped in, reminiscing about something. Sapphire was so caught up in the conversation, when they reached the royal table, she hardly noticed who was sitting in it and was still babbling.
Thor cleared his throat. "Father, mother." He inclined his head, in reverence.
Sapphire stiffened as her eyes fell on Odin and Frigga. "Good morning, your majesties." She quickly bowed and cursed at herself for the improper behavior.
"Please sit." said Odin.
They did.
"Father," Thor abruptly broke the silence, "I have seen the list of cases we need to-"
Odin raised his hand. "Son, we will enjoy each others company, spend time as a family and not speak of our duties. Peace has fallen over Midgard and we have won the humans as our ally. Let us celebrate."
Thor nodded, looked at his food and devoured it. He noticed Sapphire wasn't eating and he indicated to her food. "Young Sapphire, the food is delicious! Try the meat. You will not regret it!"
He noticed she was staring off to the far wall of the room. His eyes traveled to where she was staring and there his brother stood.
Loki, his eyes fixated on Sapphire, advanced their way. A sly smirk was plastered on his lips.
"Mother… Thor… Odin." He saluted and sat quietly in his seat next to Sapphire.
Sapphire froze, her ears slid down, feeling his eyes on her. At the corner of her eyes, she could see he was looking straight at her.
She cleared her throat, shuffling in her seat, feeling the heat of his stare.
"It's lovely to have the family together again." Frigga spoke up, saving Sapphire from any more harsh situations.
The statement drew Loki's attention from Sapphire and back to everyone else, "Did you miss me?"
Thor sighed, "Please, let us enjoy this moment."
"What moment?" Loki spat, facing his brother. He leaned forward in Thor's direction. "The moment you are seeking is long gone, brother." That last word venomously stung Thor.
Sapphire cringed down at the heated conversation.
"Enough." Odin's thundering voice interrupted the conversation. "I will have none of this at my table."
"Hmm." Loki grabbed his wine and drank.
Frigga saw Sapphire hadn't touched her food. "Sapphire, please eat."
At that instant, Sapphire felt a tug in her heart. She was reminded of her grandmother who she left behind. She remembered the promise she made her to find her family and return for her one day. She nodded and began to eat piece by piece and swallowing not just the food but the knot that grew deep in her throat. Her eyes were somber.
"Loki, you and Sapphire will retreat to the royal library, find where her people come from." Odin spoke.
"Remind me as to why I'm the one helping her?" He gestured to her.
"Would you rather spend the rest of your days down in the dungeons?"
"You take me for a fool, Odin?" Loki spat. "You're buying time so you can come up with a perfect punishment." He paused, channeling his anger into words. "Taking away my magic isn't enough punishment for you, is it? Is it!"
"Mind your tongue." Odin said calmly.
Now standing, Loki leaned over, slamming his hands on the table. "You won't be satisfied until you see me dead."
Turning on his heel, he headed towards the doors. "I'm done with our little talks."
"Loki!" Thor stood, facing his brother.
"Leave him be, Thor." Said Odin.
"Father, 'tis not a good idea. Sapphire is a perfect target for Loki." Thor said.
"I am the protector of the nine realms and it is my duty, not only to keep peace but to oversee that all races are accounted for. I am unfamiliar with their race and I am most interested to find out more. If we achieve to befriend her people, the better it will be for Asgard." He stood, facing Sapphire. "Now go. Frigga will take you to the library. Feel free to roam all of Asgard as if it was your home."
Sapphire stood and bowed. "Thank you, your highness."
"Let me tell you a thing or two about my son, Loki." Frigga said as they strolled past rooms and halls. "Loki may put on a mask but I know him better than Thor and even Odin himself."
"Has he always been like this?" said Sapphire.
"No. He was always mischievous, causing servants to run and scream when he'd make illusions of little critters and make them appear in the chambers as the servants cleaned," She laughed, remembering those times, "but when he found out…. the truth about his parentage…" Frigga sighed. "Well, it only gave truth to the doubts he had about Odin's preference of Thor over Loki."
Sapphire looked at Frigga, her deep blue eyes intense as she listened.
Frigga turned to her. "Sapphire, you have a pure heart and you hold no remorse. I'd like you to do a favor for me. If there's any chance for Loki to be redeemed it is through someone who can understands him and is willing to give him a second chance."
Sapphire's mouth dropped. "My queen, I'm sorry but I don't think I can do any difference in Loki." She looked down. "He hates me."
Frigga smiled warmly. "I want you to bring out the best in Loki. I know you can help him the way none of us could."
"My queen, I can't-"
"That's an order." Frigga stopped in front of a door. "Go on." She motioned Sapphire to open the door.
She sighed and obeyed, slowly opening the door, entering the grand room.
Loki sat in a chair with a book in hand at the far end of the room. He looked up as Sapphire was walking in and motioned her with his index finger to come to him.
She blushed and slowly walked over to him.
"Neko." He said, flatly.
She tilted her head, puzzled from his comment.
"Take a seat." He signaled to the chair in front of him.
"What's a neko?" She asked, taking her seat in the indicated chair.
"I'll be asking the questions." He interrupted, coldly. "You will not speak unless I require an answer from you."
Sapphire raised her eyebrows at him and remained silent.
He was scanning through the pages of a book he held in his hands. The cover had a dialect she had never seen.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" He rubbed his eyes.
Sapphire tilted her head to the side, questioning the exhaustion in his eyes. 'Was he crying?' She thought.
After what felt like an eternity, Loki finally stood, pacing back and forth in front of her. He shut the book tightly. "It's no use. There's nothing in these wasted books."
Sapphire raised her hand.
Loki sighed, "What."
"My grandmother said that when she found me, a being with large wings of fire had left me on the road.."
Loki contemplated this for a bit, then finally headed towards the library door.
"Uh!" Sapphire jolted up from her seat and followed. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes." He replied simply.
"B-But-!"
"There's no point in being here. I will find another way." He left.
"Hmm…" She looked down.
"What am I supposed to do?" She told herself.
"Heimdall would know about that creature with wings… I should ask him about it." She nodded, "Okay."
So with that, Sapphire headed out towards the observatory, hoping to find an answer with the giant guardian. Time passed differently on Asgard than on Earth and she needed to keep that in mind if she ever wanted to see her grandmother again… Who knows how much time she had left.