Loki continued to stare at the door for several moments, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
"Loki, how do you know that low-born?" Thor asked warily.
"What?"
"You know that girl, how do you know her?"
"I…" Loki's eyes caught Thor's for a moment, "I do not know her." He stated sadly.
"What is afoot Loki?" Thor's voice was more threatening that time.
"Wait," Loki refused to look at Fandral because he knew that if he did, the blonde warrior's face would be one of some level of recognition. "You…" Loki inhaled, knowing he was found out. "You are the one who told her and that servant about me." Loki's brow furrowed and finally, he looked at Fandral. "That is how she and that servant knew about…" He silenced for a moment, "You went and told them."
"I told no boy anything of you."
"Liar!"
"Actually, you will find I am truthful on that front." Loki decided his course of action and walked towards the door that Ariella had exited. He was no fool, he knew Thor and the others would tell his father, he knew that they would realise soon all he had done, but he did not care, he had to speak with Ariella, if just for a moment, if just to tell her, "ARI!" the lone figure of the girl he thought he closest friend was on the far side of the dirt road, sitting behind a tree, her apron showing bright against the dark was what gave her away. "Ari, please." she rose to her feet as he came closer and began to walk off. He reached her and put his hand on her arm.
"You liar!" she turned, her eyes filled with tears, her anger and betrayal blatant.
"No, Ari…"
"You are him, Prince Loki, are you not? You are the second son of the Allfather, a prince?"
Loki sighed, "Yes, that I…"
"Then you are a liar."
"I had to, I was not supposed to leave the palace, had I been found out…" She looked at him with a stare that told him she was not overly interested. "I swear to you Ariella, I lied about my name, but of everything else, I was completely honest."
"You are renowned as the God of Lies."
Loki stepped forward, pleading his case as he did so. "I know, and I know it is well earned, but you Ari, you are my truest friend, I would not lie to you." She scoffed. "I told you before, I am the second son, nothing but a shadow of my brother." Ariella bit her lips together, "Who is ever more second than the weedy second son of the king, I am small and pathetic in Thor's shadow, remember our talks of you and Marek, how I understood?"
"I asked you if I checked, who would you be the son of and if you were of the royal circle?"
"Well, I did not lie there, did I?" Loki pointed out.
Ariella's brow rose, before she gave a small laugh, causing Loki to grin. She shook her head, "No, no I guess you did not." She looked at him sadly. "Why did you never tell me?"
"I regretted not telling you, I did. At first, it was because I could not risk you telling anyone."
"You could have trusted me," She stated sadly.
"I know, but when I realised that, it was too late, I knew if I told you the truth, you would be hurt, because I left it so long."
Ariella swallowed and looked at him, studying his true features, "You must be a very accomplished wielder to have altered your appearance so much," She commended, Loki gave a faint smile in response. "I should thank you." He frowned. "You've changed things so much for us low-borns, children are actually getting a chance to get ahead, rather than getting caught in the same trap."
"I only used what power I have to try and make it better."
"Well you did, they are so much better off even already."
"Good," he nodded, "what about you, your father…?"
"He died, yes."
"I'm sorry." Ariella's eyes began to fill with fresh tears, not even thinking, Loki walked over and pulled her to him. "Ari?"
"I came in from tending the vegetables, he had gone to sleep, I thought nothing of it, I dozed off. During the night, I woke and it was cold; I realised he had never stoked the fire, so I huddled the blanket more. When the sun rose, I woke again…I saw him in his corner, his eyes open and his face blue, I realised in the sunlight that he…" she cried again, Loki held her tight.
"I am so sorry Ari."
"I got sent to my aunts then, I was too far from the city, I never got to say goodbye to you."
"I waited, for a year, every market day." Ariella looked at him in shock. "I was so worried, I thought you had been ill the first day, but after that…I did not want to give up."
"You…"
"Of course, I told you already, you are my greatest friend, I even had that cake you asked for." He ensured he looked her in the eye as he spoke those words.
Ariella looked at his features, they were so different from the ones she was used to, but his voice and his eyes were the exact same, giving familiarity to him. "I really missed you Fan…your… what am I to call you now?"
"Loki, no titles, no lies, I am just Loki."
"It's odd," she laughed slightly, "I cannot believe I was unknowingly friends with the prince." she laughed again. "It is like some odd children's story."
"I think there is something similar to it, yes." Loki smiled.
Then Ariella's face turned serious. "What of the others?"
"You mean my brother and his idiot friends?" she nodded. "What of them?"
"I know you call them such things as idiots, but there is no way they are idiotic enough to not have noticed that."
"Thor has been spying on us the entire time we have been speaking." Ariella's eyes widened and she looked around to see that it was true, only ten feet away, the tall, blonde, older prince was staring at the pair curiously. "He cannot hear anything we are saying." Loki assured her, "and he is terrible at lip-reading."
"Loki?" she winced as Thor came closer, he tone unsettling her. "What is this?"
Loki stood in front of Ariella, shielding her from his brother's gaze and allowing Thor to hear what he was saying. "I told you already, it is nothing of your concern."
"How do you know her?"
"That is nothing to do with you."
"What is afoot Loki?"
Ariella winced as though about to be struck at Thor's booming voice. Loki immediately turned and tried to soothe her. "What in the Norns are you doing shouting like that you moronic oaf?" He growled. "You are terrifying her."
Thor looked sheepishly at the small frail girl next to his brother, she truly looked as though one good gust of breeze would cause her to blow away. But that was what made what he was witnessing all the more incomprehensible. He could not phantom how Loki knew someone so clearly impoverished and clearly care for them as deeply as he was. "I apologise."
"What is the occasion?" Loki snarked in return.
"Not to you," Thor growled back. "To her. I am sorry I scared you, it was not my intention." His tone was softer as he spoke. Ariella stared at him in terror, not letting go of Loki. "Loki?"
"Go back inside," Loki ordered, "I will speak with you of it later, just let me speak with her now."
Thor thought to argue, but knowing that Loki would have to return to the inn to get his belongings, he nodded. He was patient when required.
The pair watched as he left. "He is terrifying."
"He is no more than a bully and a thug. He knew well you would be scared and that I would not fall for such things. He wanted to have you tell him everything since he knows I will only tell him what I chose."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"Only what we agree to tell him." Loki smiled kindly, his smile falling as he studied her more. "Ari, are you even eating, how are you even thinner now?" she swallowed and her eyes looked away. "Are they hurting you?"
"No, they are keeping me warm and clothed."
"But not fed?"
"No, they do."
"Just not as much as you need to be."
"It is not…"
"Norns do not lie to me Ari, I am the God of Lies and I have the sense of sight, you are like one that is suffering famine," he stated exasperatedly. "What happened your hair?"
"It is easier this way."
"You cannot even tie it back it is in your eyes."
"But it is cleaner."
Loki paused, his jaw clenched. "They are the ones that cut it?" She said nothing. "Ariella?"
"There were fleas in the stables a few weeks back."
"Why would stabl…you are sleeping in a stable?"
Ariella shrugged, "At least I have privacy for the first time ever."
"Yes, because a bunch of horses looking at you is just what every girl wants when she is changing," Loki replied sarcastically. "Right, this ends now."
"Loki?" He took her hand in his and walked towards the inn. "What, no, no you cannot, please, I will get in so much trouble, please." She begged, trying to pull her hand from his. Loki conceded and let go. "Please, I will be in so much trouble if you say anything."
"Ari, I am a prince, the less favoured one, admittedly, but I am still one, they cannot refuse an order from me."
"I know, but please, it is hard enough…" she begged.
Loki pursed his lips, it was true; she clearly had a very difficult life as it stood, he would leave in the morning and she would have to remain, his words could very easily make her life more difficult. "Okay, I will say nothing of it, but I am going to explain when we go in something, you just agree, alright?"
"What?"
"Why we are out here, I want none to blame you for it."
"Okay." She nodded.
Loki gave her a soothing smile. "I am here with you Ari, now I know where you are again, I am going to make sure you are alright." She gave a small attempt at a smile, Loki could see her scepticism at how that was possible in it. When they entered, most other patrons had left, but Thor and his friends, as well as the innkeeper, were all still there, all staring intently at the pair as they entered. Ariella kept her head bowed, not looking any in the face.
"Ella?" There was a hint of curiosity in her uncle's angered voice.
"Ariella was assisting me with something, I insisted she was to go outside for a moment, she did not wish to disobey her instructions, but considering…" Loki began.
Gregor waved his hand, "No, your highness, if it was under your order, she could not disobey. Thank you for explaining such." he turned to look at his niece. "You know what needs doing." Without even looking around, Ariella nodded and went about her work. "She was no issue, was she?"
"None what so ever."
"Good," with that, the innkeeper bowed slightly and left the warriors and princes to eat.
Loki said nothing and sat down, eating as soon as he did so. Smiling to himself at the taste of the broth he ate so often at the market with his friend. He had taken several mouthfuls of that and bread before he looked up again, glaring at the others for staring at him. "What is wrong with you lot?"
"How do you know her?" Fandral began.
"What are you doing befriending a low-born?" Volstagg asked, looking at him suspiciously.
"Why are you smiling?" Thor pointed out, on realising that, the others stared more concernedly at him.
"You are aware I have the ability to actually know others outside of you four useless sacks of cow manure," Loki stated, eating more of the food.
The others looked to Thor who shook his head slightly, telling them to not ask any further questions. All the time they ate, they said no more, and as soon as he was finished, he rose and went up the stairs again.
Loki sat on the bed he was going to sleep on that night and thought to himself. He could see the stables from where he was and knew that that was where Ariella would sleep. There were large shutterless windows, meaning she would be cold, he bit his hips together, come winter, especially with her almost emaciated condition, she would perish before the weather even got cold. He rose to his feet once more, unable to settle with her so close in such a state. He swore that first day he would do everything to help her, and by the Norns, he was not going to stop now. He went for the door only for it to open as he reached for the handle. He sighed and knew exactly who was on the other side. "What do you want, Thor?"
Thor walked in and closed the door behind him. "Tell me everything, now Loki."
"Give me one reason why I should tell you anything?"
"I will tell Father."
"You are going to tell him regardless, that is an irrelevant threat."
"I will not if you tell me."
"You really should not attempt to lie, Thor, you are horrendous at it."
"Loki…"
"Why do you care?"
"She is low-born, orphaned, in a condition I was not aware those outside of famine were capable of being in, how could you possibly know her?"
"Why does it matter?"
"Is she…?"
"No Thor, I have done nothing with her, she is barely of age."
"That has not stopped others before…wait, is she how you know everything about low-borns?"
"Stop saying that word, have you any idea how condescending it sounds?"
"What?"
"Low-borns, calling her, any of them, that. It is incredibly condescending. There are millions of them and only a few hundred of those of high birth, literally they outnumber us, thousands to one and you go insulting them all the time."
"Is she how you have been able to see what is happening around Asgard, the things we are not told?"
Loki sighed. "Her brother was in the mine collapse, she told me what happened." Thor nodded. "She never learned to read or write, her family lived in a one-roomed hut, the size of that garderobe." He pointed to his bathroom.
Thor inhaled deeply at that. "Let me guess, the time you stopped reading, doing your magic, smiling, she left."
"Her father died, I never knew what happened her and I never got to say goodbye."
"You care about her." Thor was shocked to realise.
"She is my greatest friend."
"How do you know she was not using you?"
"She never knew it was me."
"Loki, be reasonable, of course she knew it was you."
"No, she couldn't have." Thor scoffed. "As you do not have any idea of what was afoot, you cannot comment," Loki growled.
"Even if she did not know who you are," Thor laughed at the idea of such a thought, "She knew you were of higher birth."
"She never asked or expected anything of me."
"What did you give her?"
"Food, clothes, insisted she went to the healers."
Thor frowned, "Where did you meet her?"
"The country market."
"How?"
"It takes place in the city, Thor, it is literally a half mile walk to it, I walked out the door of the palace and into it."
"You could never have gotten passed the guards, they would have told…she did not recognise you at first." Thor realised. "You know how to disguise yourself, don't you?" Loki said nothing. "You were the boy that got above his station with Fandral."
"Technically, it is not possible for me to get above my station with him, I am above him."
"You...But you are not supposed to be able to…mother said…"
Loki scoffed, looked at his brother and concentrated. A moment later, Thor was looking at himself, a complete doppelganger standing in front of him. Though when he spoke, he had Loki's voice. "People underestimate me, brother."
"Loki…" with a basic hand movement, Loki changed himself back to himself. "You never said you could…"
"I tell you nothing I do not have to."
"What is her name?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Loki?"
"Thor."
"I can just ask her uncle."
Loki's lip twitched. "You can only be doing this to hurt her Thor."
"How so?" The older scoffed.
"She is the one who will suffer, her uncle will not be pleased with her getting too much attention. What will happen me? I will not be reprimanded for it, after all, what are they going to do, force me to leave my rooms?"
Thor shook his head for a moment, conceding it was true. "Then spare her the stress."
"You are a sick twisted cruel bully. There is nothing to be gained from this than to hurt her and me." Loki stood toe-to-toe with his brother. "I will make you suffer for this."
"You should not have messed with my friend, now it is time for me to mess with yours."
Loki's eyes widened. "That is what this is to you, a game?"
"Messing with us is a game to you."
Loki's nostrils flared, anger and anguish coursing through him. "I will get you for this." He swore.
Thor shrugged. "Everyone has a weakness Loki, I knew you would show one sooner or later." was all he said before he turned and left the room.
Terrified, Loki looked out of his room to the stables across the way, his eyes widened as he saw the innkeeper entering them. He listened intently. He could hear the mumbling voice of the man before the voice of a girl he knew to be Ariella speaking for a moment before the man left again, his breath rising in the air, telling the prince how cold it was getting. As soon as Gregor went inside, he used his magic to get from his room to just outside the stables, ensuring to end up outside so not to startle the horses within. Walking in, he looked around and hampered a guess than Ariella was in the loft, climbing the ladder, he was disheartened to see he was right, though startled to see what was in front of him.
Loki was aware that common courtesy was to inform another being of his presence, but there was something that stopped him. He had never seen a girl naked before, which in itself as something, but it being Ariella stirred him in a manner he could not explain to himself. "Ari?"
Startled to hear any and in her current state of undress, she grabbed her blanket. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to check on you." Loki felt his heart break as he studied the blanket, which was nothing short of a light scrap. "I cannot leave you like this Ari."
What?"
Your quarters, they are not acceptable." He stated, he waved his hand and the small torn blanket became a warm feather duvet.
Ariella stared in disbelief, "How?"
With another wave of his hand, she was in a warm nightdress. Looking around, he gave another wave, the draughts that were blowing into the loft ceased. "That is a bit better." Ariella simply stared from one area of the loft to another, shocked beyond words at Loki's ability. "Did you eat today?"
Ariella indicated to a plate, the reason her uncle had come out, Loki assumed. It had some bread heels and clearly the dregs of the broth pot. "I love this food, it reminds of…"
"As soon as I smelt the food tonight, I could not stop thinking about it," Loki admitted, earning a large smile from Ariella. Looking to the food again, he shook his head and altered it to be fresh soft bread, not just the heel, adding butter to it and the bowl of broth filled to the top. He walked over to the plate and brought it to the 'bed' which was really a box with straw. Shaking his head, he waved his hand again, immediately, it was replaced by a soft bed, similar to the one he had in the palace, though smaller. "Get in, and eat as much as you want."
Ariella walked over and meekly put her hand out as though scared to touch the furnishing in front of her. "I…"
"Get in, I promise, it is more comfortable than it looks."
Doing as he instructed, Ariella lifted the heavy blankets and got into the bed. "It is so high up." When she lay down she sighed. "I am never leaving this." Loki chuckled. She sat up again, her hunger was more prevalent than anything else. "Is this even real?" Loki's eyes were filled with sadness. "Have I become ill and imagined this? Imagined finally seeing you again?"
"I hope not because then I fear we have both gone mad," Loki put her food on her lap. "Eat." Ariella did not need to be told twice, Loki had ensured the food was to a good temperature and that combined with her hunger, caused her to eat like a ravenous animal. He simply sat on the bed near her, watching her for a time before she turned and looked at him strangely. "What?"
"It is odd, I know you are the same person, but it is odd seeing a different face to the one I have been thinking about for so long."
"I can make me look like that again if you want?"
"No! Please, no!" Ariella half yelped back. "I want to see the real you, so I can remember you properly." Loki frowned, not sure what she was implying by those words. "Loki?" He looked at her expectantly. "Could you tell me about life in the palace?" having finished her food and eaten as much as her stomach could take, Ariella lay down and looked pleadingly at her friend. Loki lay down above the blankets, his head on the other pillow and began to tell her about the gardens, the great halls, the paintings, the statues, the balls, the food and the going-ons of the court as they lay there. After less than ten minutes, he watched as Ariella's eyes started to droop, she tried to force them to remain open, but she was failing miserably, warmth and a full stomach were sedatives she could not fight. "I am so glad I found you again Ari," Loki admitted as he watched her eyes begin to close.
"I missed you so much." she murmured back.
Loki's chest puffed with pride and excitement at her words. "Sleep well, Ari."
"Do not leave, not yet." She pleaded weakly, her hand coming to his sleeve, gripping it tightly.
Loki knew she could never hold him, he was trained to be strong, he had muscle where she had barely anything but skin and bone, but that grip was far stronger in many ways, it was her pleading manner that caused him to not be able to argue her, so he lay there, promising to himself he would leave as soon as she was in REM, but the contentment of being close to the one person who always trusted him, his true friend gave him the first night in years where he did not go to bed feeling lost and alone, and he too fell asleep quickly.
In the stable below, Thor sat on a straw bale, having heard the exchange between the pair perfectly. When there had not been a sound for fifteen minutes, he climbed the ladder and stared in disbelief at what he saw. Loki had his arms around the much smaller girl, while she seemed to be curling into his chest, what startled him more what the look of true happiness on Loki's face. He had planned to make Loki suffer for his endless comments, quips, tricks and sarcasm, but having realised just how deep the friendship and hardship the girl had suffered and thinking of everything Loki had done to help her and those like her, he was conflicted.
