A/N: Hello all! So this chapter's been a bit tricky to write as it's one that's sort of caught between the action-y chapters but there plenty of Loki/Herja just the same!
As ever a HUGE thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter: Epoch95, Charismilena, K9Train, Adrigil, Kat7CA, The Yoshinator, DGfleetfox, Lexy Summers, doctor-takemewithyou, lostfeather1, morbidly-funny, xRDJ603, AngeloftheShining, Lornaa, Kaykara, SoraLearnedToFly, Fuchsia Grasshopper, Guest, MayFairy, Ginebra, Barubaru, ktmt1120, Tiryn, Guest, Autobot traitor and FallenStar92.
Thanks so much you guys!
Chapter Nine – Risks Taken and Chances Lost
A year later
Herja was beginning to loathe the stairs in the palace. She was forever going up and down them to go to her room, Thor's, Loki's. It was becoming very tiresome. When she finally reached the landing on the fifth floor, she took a deep breath, filling her lungs and wandered along to Thor's room, rapping on the door impatiently. When there was no answer, she called:
"Thor? THOR? Are you in there? I am presuming you must be as I have searched for you all over the palace and every person I have spoken to has directed me back to your chambers. THOR? Are you listening?"
"I am." Came a muffled voice inside. "Come in, Herja."
Herja burst into her best friend's chambers with a scowl on her face and saw Thor lead on his stomach in bed, his face buried in the pillows.
"What are you doing still in bed? You promised me that we would train today!"
He rolled over, groaning. "I am sorry, Herja. Truly...but father has had me sent me across most of the Nine Realms of late. And I am weary."
Herja sighed again, she wanted to be angry at Thor but she knew it wasn't really his fault. Odin had been hell bent on making peace with all of the Nine Realms and he was sure that Thor should be the one to do it.
"I understand, Thor. I know you have commitments. I...should not be angry with you. I apologise."
Thor shook his head and pulled her into a hug. "Do not apologise. I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. Just...perhaps not at this time."
She nodded. "Very well. Will you be at dinner later?"
"If I have recovered." He smiled and released her. She beamed back, glad to have her bad mood dispelled.
"Then I shall bother you no further." She hugged him again quickly before she left him alone to rest. As she made to go back down the dreaded stairs to her room, she decided to call upon Loki quickly. She knocked on the door and she heard him call for her to enter.
"Hello." She said, smiling at the youngest Odinson.
"Oh! Hello Herja. Apologises, I was not expecting you until this evening." Loki was sat at his desk which was littered with books and parchment. Herja wanted nothing more than to join him in searching through them for whatever he was looking for, then they could sit together and he would thank her for helping and then maybe they would become closer and – "Herja? Are you well?"
"I am thank you!" Herja said a little too quickly and a little too high pitched. "I am just here to tell you that I will be coming straight from Valhalla this evening so I may be a little late."
Loki gave her another smile. "That is fine."
"Well then...I shall see you tonight." With that Herja backed out of the room, closing the door with a snap behind her.
On her way down the stairs, Herja couldn't help but replay her conversation with Loki and cringe at her daydreaming. It did not do to fantasise about a man while you were talking to him! But it had been like this since their kiss nearly a year ago. After about a month of waiting for Loki to talk to her about it, Herja had realised that he was never going to and so, in turn, she felt like she could not either. In Herja's opinion, that kiss should have signified a dramatic change in their relationship but instead all it did was make things awkward. Thankfully, their lessons continued and Herja had finally perfected the Aura of Protection. So now, Loki was beginning to teach her about the other elements of her magic; the ability to move objects and the remote possibility that she could somehow read and control minds. And they were stuck in this pretence that they were just good friends and always acted cheerily to each other, even though she knew that was not the case at all.
After quickly changing, Herja exited the palace headed straight to work, her heart heavy.
After a usual dull and achingly busy shift, Herja rushed back into the palace, knowing she was already late for her lesson with Loki. Despite her earlier conversation with Loki, she had hoped to leave a little earlier than usual in order to change into something more practical but she knew she had to disregard that plan now.
Rushing up the stairs, Herja nearly collided with one of the house maids but she side stepped her just in time and began fiddling with her hair. Really what she wanted to do was to take it out of its heavy ponytail and let her hair flow free down her back but, knowing that it wasn't the done thing for women, she tied it up in a messy bun to keep it from getting in the way.
Finally reaching the fifth floor, she knocked on Loki's door and he opened it immediately and she entered, flashing him a smile. She placed her small bag on the bed as usual and turned to him but before she could speak, he cut across her.
"Why are you wearing that?"
Loki's eyes had suddenly become very dark and his jaw had tightened considerably. She gave him a confused look.
"I told you I was coming directly from work, did I not?"
This seemed to make Loki even tenser. "This is what you wear to work?"
"Yes. Have you not noticed before? Or have you simply forgotten?"
"I would be able to recall if I had seen you in that before."
His tone was mixed; Herja thought he sounded like he was caught between anger and excitement but she couldn't be sure. "Oh." Was all she could think of to say. "Is...this a problem? Because if you really want me to, I can retire to my chambers and change into something else."
"No." Loki shook himself. "No...it is not a problem I am just..." He trailed off and couldn't stop himself eyeing her again. "Dumbfounded as to why my father thinks these uniforms are suitable."
"Oh." She said again. "Well I do not think it was him who so decreed that we would wear this. I believe valkyrie have been wearing this for centuries. Besides, this uniform is nothing compared to the outrageous behaviour of some of the men there what with all of their hollering and backside smacking..." She stopped then, realising it was fast becoming a rant. When she glanced up at him again, she didn't know whether she should be alarmed or amused by his concern. He still studied her and she immediately felt like she should say again, "I honestly can change into another, longer dress if you so wish."
"No." He said again, snapping out of it. "No need. Let us..." He cleared his throat loudly and Herja quickly conceal a smile, flattered that he found her so distracting. "Let us carry on with the lesson." He flicked through one of the books on the desk. "Would you like to continue practising moving objects?"
"Yes please. That would be wonderful." Herja responded, straight faced again. She stood and asked, "Where do you want me? The bed?"
There was a pause in which Loki whipped around, blushing wildly. "I'm sorry?"
"Where would you like me to stand? By the bed?" Herja repeated, a little more clearly this time.
"Oh! Ah...yes. I think so."
"Very well."
An hour later, Herja hadn't moved anything.
"This is not like you, Herja." Loki said from behind her. He was close. Very close. "You have normally moved something by now."
"Yes. I know." Herja replied through gritted teeth. She was tired of trying to move the book from one side of the desk to the other and it was taking so much effort her head was beginning to hurt. It didn't help that Loki insisted on standing so close to her and putting his hands on her hips every time she began to concentrate. He said it was to 'steady her'.
"Try again. Just concentrate. Imagine it moving. Once that image is clear, open your eyes."
She nodded and closed her eyes again. She pictured the book hovering in the air...and she realised that this could finally be it, she could actually do it this time...that was until Loki's hands found her hips again. And that was it. The image of the book was gone and all she could think about was those hands with those long, slim fingers and firm, masculine grip.
"Are you steady and focussed?" He asked.
Herja huffed and opened her eyes. She was never going to do this. "No, I am not. I am too...distracted."
Loki stood next to her and he placed a hand on her back, concerned. "What is it? Is it the noise outside? Is it the sunlight? Would you like me to close the shutters?"
"No, no. It is none of those things."
"Then what? What can I do to help?" He asked, his brow knitted with confusion.
"You..." She trailed off. You could kiss me again. "I do not think..." I do not think I can stand this. "If I did what I wanted..." If I did what I wanted, you would probably laugh at me.
"What is it? What is distracting you?" Loki asked again.
"You are!" She burst finally. "You are the thing distracting me. Always telling me to concentrate and putting your hands on my body and refusing to talk about that kiss and I just cannot take it anymore!"
Loki opened and closed his mouth several times but nothing came out. The realisation of what she had just said hit Herja like a tidal wave.
"Loki, I..." She trailed off again. He was gazing at her, speechless and shocked, his frame outlined by the early evening sun. Well, you've come this far, you may as well push it a little further, Herja's brain badly advised. So she seized the front of his shirt and pulled him into a lip-crushing kiss.
It was so sudden, Loki barely had time to realise what had happened before Herja pulled away quickly and stared straight ahead, shocked by her own actions before exiting the room hurriedly, muttering apologies as she left.
"And you did not wait for his response?" Polina whispered, outraged, when Herja confessed her deeds the next day in the Serving Hall of Valhalla.
"Of course I did not!" Herja exclaimed, momentarily forgetting that they were meant to be hiding from Colwen. "I was not enamoured with the idea of waiting there for him to reject me."
Polina sighed and shook her head. Herja was greatful to have her to confide in though; other than Thor and Loki, Polina was the only person she would trust with anything and Herja was not about to tell Thor all about how she had thrown herself at his younger brother. She could only imagine the jibes he would come up with.
"I cannot believe you kissed a prince!" Polina suddenly giggled. "I wish I owned your guts, Herja!"
Herja shook her head, groaning. "You do not. And I am not so sure they are guts...I think it may merely be stupidity."
Polina hit her arm playfully. "Do not be so silly. Besides, you do not know! He may feel the same!"
Herja gave her a withering look but before she could respond, Colwen burst through the door behind them.
"I suspected I would find you both here. Get back to work, Polina. Herja...someone wishes to speak with you. I have sent them to the private rooms."
Herja's stomach dropped as she began walking to the private rooms along a narrow corridor. It was probably a guard come to take her back to the palace where Odin could humiliate her in front of everyone and then cast her out back into the slums where she would die poor and alone –
"There you are. Come in." The door had opened and Herja was surprised to see that it was Brunnhilde.
In her recent panic, she had forgotten that her desire to become an Angel of War was a possibility. She stepped into the room behind Brunnhilde and immediately felt a buzz of excitement. Who cares if she threw herself at the youngest Prince of Asgard? Soon, she could be flying alongside the most powerful, strong women she had ever met and she wouldn't have to see any of them very often.
She stood as Brunnhilde circled her, examining the changes in her.
"You have gained a little muscle in your arms." She commented.
"Yes." Herja responded enthusiastically. "I have been training with Thor Odinson. I have improved my skills with a sword and I am much stronger – "
"It is not enough." Brunnhilde said shortly, crossing her arms.
"Pardon?" Herja suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.
"You have not improved enough. You are still too weak. I cannot take you like this." Brunnhilde stood up again, collecting her axe and she started walking towards the door. "I must fill the position with someone else. Perhaps...if another comes up...you may be ready then."
Then, with the snap of the door, she was gone along with Herja's chances.
Herja sat in the private rooms for nearly an hour after, just thinking about she had her priorities all wrong and where it had gotten her. It may have been different if things had worked with Loki, she could have coped with Brunnhilde's rejection knowing that she had a man who cared for her but now...now all she could see was this job.; endless flagons of mead being passed around, leering toothless men and a short dress.
Finally, she stood again, knowing that she needed to get back to her work or else Colwen would start to look for her. But when she entered the Serving Hall again, she saw that all of the valkyrie and the serving girls were all in there, peering out of the hatch that viewed the main Hall. Herja shot Polina a confused look and she rushed over to her side to explain all she knew.
"Colwen dashed off a few moments ago. Said someone had appeared at the main doors."
Herja was immediately alarmed. "How? The only way across here it to fly or to be granted access to the Servant's Pass. It is not possible for someone to simply walk through the double doors."
Polina shrugged. "Well they have. Colwen is having it out with them in the Entry Hall."
As soon as Polina had finished her sentence, the doors to the main Hall swung open and Colwen marched in, looking furious. She burst into the Serving Hall, muttering under her breath about 'royal privileges' and 'unwarranted interruptions'.
"What is happening, Colwen?" One of the other valkyrie girls asked bravely.
Colwen steeled herself. "It seems that we cannot be trusted to manage Valhalla by ourselves. Despite the fact that the All-Father has given us complete responsibility for the Halls, it is apparent that his son does not feel we deserve that same amount of trust."
This set the girls whispering excitedly about Thor, his hair and his muscles. Herja just rolled her eyes. What was Thor up to? Why did have a sudden interest in Valhalla?
"Girls, girls! Hush!" Colwen called, holding up a hand. "Prince Loki is here to speak to with us so we must remain calm and polite."
Loki? Herja felt like this day couldn't get any worse. Was he here to humiliate her in front of all of her colleagues instead? The door to the Serving Hall opened again and Loki appeared, smiling at Colwen who immediately looked embarrassed as she realised that he must have heard her whining.
"Fear not, Colwen. I am not here to chastise you." Just for a moment, his gaze slid from her to Herja and then quickly back. No one else noticed other that Polina who elbowed Herja in the ribs and winked, excited by the sudden appearance of the young prince. "I merely wish to speak with the warriors here. I only ask that you remain here while I speak with them."
Colwen immediately became overly friendly with Loki when she heard that she was not being chastised in any way. "Oh, of course, Prince Loki. We shall all remain here until you give us consent to leave."
Loki nodded his thanks and left again. In one huge surge, all of the women charged towards the hatch, desperate to see what events would unfold. Miraculously, Herja found herself at the front with Polina, who was beside herself with intrigue. They all watched silently as Loki strode to the front of Valhalla Hall and called for silence.
It was hardly necessary; the experienced warriors knew royalty when then saw it.
"My honourable dead," He began, standing on one of the tables, ensuring he was seen as well as heard. "I know that you are warriors so experienced and so treasured by our great realm that my father, our All-Father, has ensured that instead of passing on, you are held here in this great Hall, to be waited up and treated with upmost respect and, in return, when we call upon you, you will be ready and willing to fight for our cause. Is that not right?"
"It is!" They all called back, enjoying this pleasant break in their usual routines.
"Then why is it that I have been receiving reports that you, our honourable dead, have been behaving less than honourably?" At this, a murmur of confusion broke out amongst the men and serving women alike. "My brothers..." Loki shouted over their mutterings, capturing their attention again. "My brothers, we are all friends here, are we not? I have no wish for us to be anything else however, I feel have to confront you about these rumours I am hearing. The valkyrie serving you are precious to all of us and they do not want to be harassed, hounded and, most importantly of all, they do not want to be touched. So please, my dear friends, let me not hear anymore of this. I am sure that it is not even true..." There was a pause in which Herja realised he knew it was. "...but please give me no reason to change my mind on the matter. You are treated with respect, please treat those who care for you with that same respect." He looked around at them all and was pleased that none of them were protesting. "Thank you."
He stepped down off the table and headed back towards the Serving Hall, leaving the men to mutter amongst themselves, and the women all rushed away from the hatch, trying to look innocent as he entered the room again.
"I am finished." He spoke to Colwen again. "Thank you so much for your time. My deepest apologies if I have inconvenienced you in any way."
"No, no, no!" Colwen cooed. "Not all, my lord. Girls, would one of you please see Prince Loki out?"
"Oh, that is not necessary, I assure you – "
"Herja will do it." Polina piped up suddenly from beside Herja.
Herja glared, her cheeks turning a pinkish hue. Colwen however, saw nothing wrong with this. "Yes, Herja. You have not done much work today. Come, come."
Herja reluctantly moved her heavy legs towards Loki who held the door open for her. She slid past him, trying to ignore the fact that her chest brushed against him, and began leading him through the Hall which was still full of confused men.
When they finally reached the blissful quiet of the Entry Hall, Herja felt like she should say something. "You did not have to say that to them." She thought for a second. "Unless, of course, your father instructed you to do so, in which case, thank him for me."
Loki seemed to sober at these words. "Father does not know I am here. And I have a feeling that he will be very angry when he finds out. But that is no matter. It needed to be said."
Herja wanted to take his hand and squeeze it but she didn't dare after the events of yesterday. "Thank you. On behalf of all of us."
"Well...it is not right that you have to deal with them talking to you in such a disgusting manner or taking for granted all the things you do or smacking your backside just to get your attention."
Herja laughed a little. "You sound more bothered by it than me."
Loki smiled and brushed his knuckles along the side of her face so gently Herja felt like she was about to fall over. "That is because I do not want anyone else to touch you."
Herja definitely felt light-headed now, especially as Loki was bending down to kiss her. She closed her eyes and felt his arms encircling her waist as his lips met hers and she couldn't stop her hands playing with the dark strands of his hair. They parted slowly and Herja found herself staring into Loki's once green eyes that had turned almost black with (she hoped) lust.
"I...I should probably go back to the palace before father hears I have been here from someone else." He pulled his arms away and Herja immediately missed the warmth.
She nodded. "Of course. Thank you...again."
He nodded too and began walking down the steps to the servants' pass. "Will you require another lesson soon?" He enquired.
"Yes, please." She blushed when she remembered yesterday. "I feel like I did not live up to my true potential in the last one."
"Oh, I don't know," Loki began, his tone mischievous. "I thought your efforts were very enjoyable. I shall try not to distract you next time." With that, he winked and disappeared out of sight, leaving Herja blushing and grinning alone in the Entry Hall.
Perhaps her day had not been as bad as she had thought.
I hope you all enjoyed that chapter...apologies if there's not much action but it's a bit of a filler. There's much more action coming up in the next couple!
Please leave me a review...I love hearing what you all think! :)
