There was no more accurate representation of Loki's life at the moment than the smile on his face. His stride was a bit peppier than usual, his chin lifted proudly into the air. The prince had never felt so sure of himself… until he stepped into the throne room.
"And where have you been off to?" So much as to miss a meal with your family?" Odin asked from his designated seat, tone quite cold and unforgiving. His son's heart immediately dropped from his chest and his stance closed as he came back from his place in the clouds. The situation was already so uncomfortable and he wished more than anything that his darling woman was wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and placing kisses on his back.
"I had business to attend to in the countryside." Loki answered, clasping his hands in front of him. "A healing, to be precise."
"And was this healing performed on a female patient? Named Halla, perhaps?" Odin asked, rising with his staff and standing above his youngest son, whose veins suddenly flooded with pent-up rage.
"How do you know of her?" Loki asked, voice shaking.
"Stop this!" Frigga cried, entering the throne room with the eldest son as her escort.
"How long did you believe you could keep this girl from me?" Odin asked, descending his way towards them, taking each step slowly. Frigga held her hand up to silence her husband.
"She is innocent… I found her in the gardens-"
"And you never gave notice to the king?" Odin barked, eyeing his wife and their youngest son. Thor's eyebrows furrowed as he made eye contact with his brother. Heartbreak clouded Loki's vision. What would this mean for Holly? "She is not allowed to interact in Asgardian society." Odin elaborated, coming to stand in front of the three at the bottom of the stairs.
"Please. Do not-" Frigga was cut off again as her husband, who silenced her with the point of his finger.
"The product of an Asgardian-Midgardian coupling will never be welcomed into Asgardian society. 'Halla' as you call her… is the daughter of criminals… Criminials that stole from this family." Odin paused, turning angry eyes on his raven-haired son. "If you cannot hold loyalty to your family over the lust for this creature then you are no son of mine."
Frigga gasped, tears coming to her eyes. Before thinking through her actions, her hand collided with her husband's cheek and she stormed off, Loki following closely behind her. His comforting hand rested on her upper back as he guided her out to the stables. There was only one thought running through his mind over and over again and that was Holly's protection.
"You must go to her." Frigga whispered after ordering a stable hand to saddle Loki's horse. "Once you are in her home, you must place an invisibility spell on the cottage." Being the mother that she was, she hurriedly helped him don his cloak. "Keep her safe." Frigga breathed, kissing both of his cheeks.
Loki didn't care about anything else as the horse charged through the countryside, hooves bruising and beating the ground. He had never ridden this fast in his entire life and he could feel the wind burn on his cheeks. His body was jarred as the horse broke into a dead run up the final hill and towards the cottage.
As he approached, he could hear Blár's frantic barks. His blood ran cold. Once over the hill, Loki found a sight that made him absolutely livid; Holly was being dragged out of her home by her beautiful red hair with two guards on either side of her. She was sobbing, crying out in pain and fear.
The prince moved into action, leaping from his steed and next to the palace soldiers. They were no match for Loki, who elbowed one man in the cheek and sent him to the ground and punching the other man in the gut.
Holly had fallen to her knees, clutching Blár to her. Her prince made quick time of sweeping her into his arms. Her fingers tightened around his cloak as she buried her face into his neck. Loki hurried into the house following Blár, kicking the door shut behind them.
"My love, I need your help momentarily." He said gently. She nodded shakily as he set her on her feet. "Blow out the candles and shut the windows." He directed, placing a kiss on top of her head. Holly obeyed quickly until the cottage was completely dark.
"Loki?" she called out hesitantly, her voice small and quiet.
"I'm here." He answered, wooden floors creaking beneath him as he moved towards her. As soon as they reached each other, Holly rested her forehead against his chest and choked out a sob.
"Thank gods… th-thank-" she trailed off.
"My Halla," he shushed her, arms winding around her and pulling her close. "I am going to place an invisibility spell on the cottage."
"Why-"
"I will explain with my mother when the morning comes. I am here to keep you safe." He whispered, igniting a blue fire in the palm of his hand. Holly watched with a gasp, both hands resting on his chest. After completing his spell, Loki led her to her bedroom and tucked her back into bed. Blár jumped up onto the bed beside her and claimed her spot and her owner's feet. Loki sat on top of the covers, his hand running up and down her back. "Shall I let you sleep?" he whispered, free hand's knuckles running over her cheek.
"Please, do not leave me." Holly whispered, pushing herself up onto her knees. Their faces merely inches apart, she leaned in to kiss him gently. Loki groaned into her mouth with a smile, hand reaching up to grasp the back of her neck. Her hand gently un-tucked his tunic from his trousers, but hesitated to go further. Loki pulled his tunic over his head and tossed it to the side. His hand enveloped hers and gently guided it to his bare chest. As her palm flattened, she could feel his heartbeat racing and his breathing quicken.
The sound of Blár jumping off the bed with a sneeze and trotting into the next room, tail tucked between her legs dejectedly broke them apart, chests heaving with the lack of air.
With a laugh, Loki layed on his nack, pulling her into his side and wiggling beneath the covers with her. "You are safe." He whispered, fingers toying with her nightgown. "I'll always keep you safe."