Chapter Ten:
Silva had fallen into a deep sleep, with no troubles or bad dreams. She only dreamt of emerald eyes floating into an abyss of darkness. She could still feel his arms around her, his closeness, how his fingers brushed her lips. She shivered in her sleep. Why hadn't he kissed her?...Did she want him to kiss her?...Ofcourse she did! She wanted to know why he keeps rejecting her as such. His mood swings were another matter, turning Silva mad with thinking; one minute he was sweet, passionate and…understanding, the next he was cold, curt as if Silva meant nothing to him.
You are nothing to him, a voice whispered in her head, He's King, you're just a spy.
She groggily opened her eyes, to find herself staring at a golden face.
The Queen.
Silva bolted upright, her eyes widening with surprise, 'My queen!'
'Hello, Silva' Queen Freyja's voice was calm and serene…She was beautiful.
Her golden hair was pulled in a knotted braid around her head, a pair of luminous brown eyes, brimmed with kohl stared back at her, she looked Silva over with wide eyes.
'My…you're beautiful' Freyja murmured.
Silva reddened and instinctively ran a shaky hand through her snowy hair. 'Not as beautiful as you, my lady'
The queen smiled levelly at her. Silva could find no similarities with Loki and the Queen….Her mind drifted to him again.
'My son tells me much about you, he says you're a fast learner' Freyja remarked as she headed to the wide couch.
Loki talked about her? Did he tell the queen of how much Silva disgusted him that he rejected her at every turn, how she was spying for him?
'Learner?' She asked with a slur.
'He is instructing you on becoming a sorceress?' Freyja quirked an eyebrow.
'Yes, my queen'
The queen stared at her momentarily, 'I need to speak to you, child'
Silva nodded and trotted to the seat the queen was patting with her hands.
'My son has been troubled with grave news that has been affecting his spirits' Freyja's eyes softened.
She really loves her son, Silva thought.
'The Frost Giants' attack?' Silva asked.
The queen frowned, 'No, child. That's the least of his problems'
'Then what troubles the King?' Silva asked with concern, feeling herself rise with panic.
Freyja paused for a moment, letting out a tired sigh. 'What I am about to tell you is confidential, you should not by any means speak about it with anyone. Am I clear?'
'Crystal clear, my lady' Since when had Silva started keeping promises to the house of Odin?
And after that Queen Freyja told Silva the whole truth.
*o*O*o*
'It all started after the war against Johtenheim. I had just given birth to Thor while Odin was in the cold realm; it was a horrible war, much had been lost but the All-Father emerged victorious. He had paraded in the streets of Johtenheim after the slaughter had ended and had arrived at the royal temple, where he-'
'Stole the infamous Johten Casket and the snow relics' Silva finished.
'That wasn't the only thing he had stolen that day' Freyja's voice started to waver.
Silva waited politely until Freyja gathered herself and continued.
'There was a frost baby, blue complexion and blood-red eyes, at the altar left to fend for itself. Odin was a fierce warrior, but he was also a man with a kind heart…He picked up the boy, realizing that the baby could be the union between Asgard and Johtenheim. He took him under his wing and brought him home..'
Freyja stopped, eyeing Silva meaningfully. Silva knew what was coming next, she couldn't believe it; she needed to hear it with her own ears.
'I saw the baby, at first I was outraged, scared even but then I held the little boy, He started transforming into the most beautiful boy in the world; pale white skin, sleek black hair and-'
'Emerald eyes' both of them muttered at the same time.
This. Was. Not. Happening.
*o*O*o*
'Where's the frozen body?' Loki asked one of his guards as he strode through the royal quarters.
He hadn't slept all night, thinking about nothing but snow and plump, red lips. Silva's words were glued to his mind, her breath still fresh on his face.
'I'm only spying for you…'
Why couldn't he be a normal person? Why couldn't he be like Thor or Fandral, someone who isn't a monster, someone who could give her something other than monstrosity.
'She's quiet taken with you…'
His mother had to be wrong…must be wrong. He would not allow Silva to fall in love with him…like he had with her.
The realization hit him; He was in love with Silva.
She was everything he had been looking for, she understood what he was going through, they both shared the same resentment from their families and most importantly…He was drawn to her.
He would not give her what she wanted; she wouldn't want a monster. He'll do the only thing he could; that's to bring back her sister.
*o*O*o*
'Loki's a Frost Giant' Silva whispered.
She waited for the overwhelming feelings of disgust and anger fill her like always but instead she only felt understanding.
No wonder he was lonely; She understood his resentment, she understood his feelings of loneliness, abandonment, his hidden anguish. She felt herself soften at the thought of a small boy with bright emerald eyes that was always treated differently.
She suddenly understood why he had rejected her.
He hates himself, she thought to herself, He thinks I'll hate him too.
'I hope this doesn't change your feelings towards Loki' Freyja whispered uncertainly.
'Feelings?' Silva turned a scarlet red.
'I've seen the way you look at my son, it's obvious, dear'
Silva knew that she had un-explainable feelings towards Loki, but she couldn't put her finger on it but it was so much feeling.
'I assure you, my queen. This changes nothing' She replied quietly, making Freyja's face lighten with happiness.
'I was so happy when I saw my son taking a liking to you. The boy deserved a girl as beautiful and wonderful as you'
This was all too much for Silva to handle; Freyja's excitement about Silva's feelings, Loki's identity, and how she felt about the lost prince of Johtenheim.
*o*O*o*
Loki stood before the frozen block of ice. He stared down at the body, she could see faint blue eyes, just like Silva's eyes.
Focus and stop thinking about her, he scolded himself.
He placed his hands ontop of the ice and called for all the heat of his body. He could feel the fire channeling through his veins, travelling all the way to his finger tips to sink into the ice, melting it down. He kept on channeling much energy until he grew weary and tired. He was almost there; he could see Laena's fingers twitch slightly.
Suddenly he had a bright idea. He called one of the guards to fetch Silva. He'll give her the satisfaction of bringing back her sister.
*o*O*o*
A few minutes passed until Silva finally walked through the doors, looking exceptionally beautiful this morning. Her snowy hair was secured tightly into a bun, her fighting attire crisp and she smelled wonderful, her lower lip slightly pouting. She smiled at him shyly as soon as their eyes met. He had a hard time breathing; he quickly chugged down the cup of nectar and bowed deeply.
'Good morning, Silva'
She curtsied and glanced sideways at the twitching corpse, 'She's alive?'
He nodded and took her hand, guiding her to Laena. 'I've been working on her all morning but its quiet hard to channel so much energy all at once'
She pressed her side to him, the electricity pulling him harder to her. 'Thank you' she whispered.
'Don't thank me yet. You'll bring her back yourself' He chimed.
She glanced up at him, 'I cant-'
'Yes, you can. Just do as I tell you' he took both of he hands and placed them over the small layer of ice. He stood behind her, pressing his palms over hers.
'Now try to call all the heat in your body and channel it to your sister' he leaned down and whispered in her ears tauntingly.
She shivered and managed a drowsy nod. He smiled at how affected she was by him.
Stop being so smug, you idiot.
He shook his head as he slowly felt the heat in her body boil in her. He started to do the same, both their energies met at their palms. Loki could feel their hands cradling the heat in each other's hands.
'Now, push the heat downwards. There's going to be a barrier, try to push against it' he instructed her as she nodded.
He could see the determined expression on her face, reflected on the ice. He really loved her.
'It's working!' Silva's musical voice filled the room with excitement, 'I can see her breathing, the ice is melting!'
Loki smiled at her and pushed more heat into Laena until the brown haired girl gasped for air, flailing her arms around her.
'Laena!' Silva shrieked holding her sister with gleeful excitement.
Loki felt a swell of pride at how he made Silva smile so happily. He took a few step backwards and watched the two sisters unite. He frowned when Silva threw her arms around Laena and Laena stared at her sister in horror.
'Get off me!' she shouted fearfully.
Silva's face cracked for a moment, making Loki want to smack Laena's haughty face.
'You're alive, Laena. You should thank your sister for that' Loki advised coldly.
Laena stared at him with wide eyes then stared at Silva. 'Thank you, sister' She hugged Silva back, but Loki could see the hurt in Silva's face.
The same hurt he felt when Odin favored Thor in one of his missions. He wanted to hold her, to tell her that she meant something to him, that he never wanted to lose her.
'I'll leave you both to catch up on what has happened' He bowed down to Silva, 'Lady Silva'
She nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes twinkling with something he had never seen before. He deliberately ignored Laena and headed to the double-doors.