Eleden stared at Loki as though he was crazy. "You...you want me to jump...across that?" She asked as she pointed to the river. The rocks made a path to the other side. He jumped onto the first one and held his hand out to her. "Are you mad?"
He smiled a half-smile. "No, I'm just adventurous" He smirked. She was still very hesitant. "Trust me, Eleden, it's quite fun. And the water isn't even that deep." She crinkled her nose and looked down.
"Yes but its wet" She complained. "I don't like anything wet...or cold for the matter. Is it cold?" He shook his head and she bit her lip. "I'm still not jumping across that. I'll trip on my dress or something."
"And I'll catch you before you fall in" She smiled and placed her hand in his. She jumped the small gap between the river bank and the first rock. She giggled and he kissed her cheek. He jumped across to the next one and she followed. This happened twice more before she refused to jump anymore. "Why not?"
"Because that gap is far too big. I will certainly fall" He stepped down into the shallow water and walked over to the rock she was standing upon. "What are you doing?" He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her up. He slowly placed her into the water and shivered slightly at its touch. She stared up at him and gazed deep into his eyes. It's quite possible that she was in love with this man. She was about to lean in for a kiss but then he splashed her with the water. "Loki!" She shrieked. She splashed him back. "You're so mean" He smiled maliciously. He lifted her up above his head and she kissed him with a burning passion. He lowered her onto the rock she had refused to jump to. He stepped back onto the rock and she stood up next to him. He jumped the rest and she followed behind. They reached the other side of the river and she fell into his arms. He laid down and pulled her down on top of him. He stroked her hair and she made an appreciative noise. She shut her eyes and fell asleep.
Eleden's eyes fluttered open and she closed them when the sun was burning into them. Loki was stroking her hair. His other arm was wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. "My dear" He greeted. "You fell asleep" He kissed behind her ear. She opened her eyes and turned over to face him. He brushed her hair behind her ear and she smiled. She leaned down and kissed him. Eleden thread her fingers through his raven-colored hair and he made a contended noise. It felt so good to be able to kiss Loki without any guilt. She pulled away and rested her forehead on his. They spent a minute just gazing into each other's eyes. "I love you" He whispered. Her smile faded and she pulled away. She sat up and stared out across the river. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I….I-I…" She couldn't manage any other words for she was in pure shock. "That….that is too m-much. I do not…. I do not know you enough to be in….love" He sat up. "That is too hard for me to accept, my lord"" He cupped her face in his hand and she moved her head to face him. He chanted an incantation under his breath and she forgot what he had just told her. Erasing memories was not something Loki ever enjoyed but he used it when deemed necessary. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "The view is beautiful, don't you think?"
"I think you're beautiful" She blushed and bit her lip. She stood up.
"Come, I want to play a game" Eleden held her hand out to him and he gladly placed his inside. She pulled him up to his feet and kept holding his hand as she dragged him away from the river.
"So this is how the game works" Eleden begun as she sat down on the tree roots. Loki sat opposite from her on the grass and listened intently. "Taking turns; we tell each other something the other doesn't know. So it could be a fear or insecurity or something of the sort. And we do that while having a thumb war" She put her hand up for him but he was confused with what to do.
"What is a thumb war exactly?"
"Well you put your hands like this" She took his hand and placed it in hers. "And using only your thumb, you are supposed to hold down the other persons thumb for at least five seconds. And that's how you win a thumb war. Ready?" He nodded. "I'll go first. My middle name is Jasmine"
"I have a deadly fear of the Frost Giants"
"Frost Giants?" Eleden asked Loki. "What are Frost Giants?"
"You're kidding me? Thor told you about Fire Giants but not the Jotuns" She nodded. "Well they come from a place called Jotunheim. They are gigantic, of course. Years ago, when I was just a baby, there was a war between them and the Asgardians. In the end, we won. Odin took the casket and brought it back here. It's in the armory now" He looked up at her and could tell she didn't know what the casket was. "The casket is the source of their power. They destroyed many places and people with it"
"Monsters" She muttered under her breath. "Um...ok. I've got one. I cannot stand the sound of crickets. It annoying and it keeps me up at night" Loki couldn't help smiling. "You find me strange?"
"No, I just really love this. I love knowing you" She blushed. He caught her thumb and she struggled to break free. "Haha, I win" He laughed at her pouting. "I think I deserve a prize" She leaned up for a kiss. "Now that is a very good prize"
"Round two?" She held a balled fist up to him. He twined his fingers into hers and they started the game over. "I have strange fear of snakes"
"That is not strange. Snakes are very commonly feared" She smiled and concentrated on the war between their thumbs. "I fear the Frost Giants"
"You already said that" She smirked. "Don't worry, if you cannot think of something I will go" She wondered for a minute and quickly freed her thumb from under his. "I have a fear of falling in love" He looked up at her in shock. He quickly clamped his mouth shut and pretended he didn't mind. She pulled her hand out of his. She could tell that his heart sank at her words. "I...um...I'm sorry if I have upset you, my lord" She stood up and grabbed her cloak.
"Eleden, where are you going?"
"Well you angry with me, are you not?" He stood and faced her.
"I could never be angry with you" He explained. "Now please sit down. I enjoy talking with you" Eleden stood there awkwardly. "And I do not mind if you fear falling in love, I will try everything I can to change your mind."
