Eleden fluffed her hair one last time and double-checked that she didn't look sleep deprived. She silently tip-toed back into Loki's bedroom and snaked into the bed next to him. She laid her head down on his shoulder and made a small noise to wake him. She closed her eyes just as he opened his. He looked down at her and it made him smile. He gently kissed her forehead and she faked waking up.
"Morning love" He greeted her. She gave him a look as if to say 'please don't call me that'. He laid a kiss upon her cheek. His lips ghosted her neck as he laid feathered kisses upon it. She giggled at his teasing and bit her lip. She sat up and smiled down at him. "I was thinking," He began as she slid out of the bed. "Why don't you just move in here? I mean it's easier than sneaking into my brother's room to retrieve your clothes"
She slid on her slippers that were hidden beneath her dress and look back at him. "Do you know how long I was with your brother until I actually agreed to come to the palace? Three months and I only stayed a day before returning home." She sighed and started playing with her hair. "I'm not good with commitment Loki, you know that"
"Well how long did it take until you actually moved in with him?" He asked as he sat up. She turned back to him and almost started drooling at the sight of his bare chest.
"Four….four months" She wandered over to him and laid a kiss upon his cheek. "I'll be right back"
Eleden walked down the long hallway and slipped into Thor's room. She closed the door quietly behind her and made her way over to the closet. She wondered inside and grabbed the first dress of hers that she saw.
"Can I help you with something?" She heard a booming voice behind her and slowly turned around. Panicked she was when she saw Thor standing in the doorway. Eleden returned the dress to its regular place.
"I am so sorry, my lord. I did not mean to intrude." She bowed her head to him, not daring to raise it. "I was simply fetching something that was mine" She felt him lay a hand on her shoulder and she tensed.
"Look at me" He demanded. She looked up at the prince and his eyes burned into her own. She looked away only for him to demand her eyes on him once more. Before she knew it his lips where on hers. She quickly pulled away from his passionate kiss and stared at him, shock painted across her face. "Eleden, my love, I am so sorry about the other night. I was only angry. I thought I was losing you. That blow should have been for my brother, not you"
"If you thought you were losing me then why did you push me away?" She asked. He wrapped his hands around her arms. She expected it to be rough like always but it was soft and gently.
"Because I would rather push you away then receive your rejection" He kissed her again and let go of her arms. Thor tangled his fingers into her hair and she placed hers on his shoulders. He deepened the kiss. She was shocked at how passionate the kisses were. Usually they were sloppy but now….they were better than Loki's. Almost. He was the one to break the kiss this time. "I know you fear such talk but I must say what is in my heart. Eleden, I love you with a burning desire. I would do anything to make you happy. And I would do this without anything return. I just want to feel you," He caressed her cheek with one hand while the other tangled into her fingers, "and be with you. So, my dear, I tell you again. I love you"
"Oh Thor. I love you too" She took the place of being the one to start the third kiss. Eleden let him slip his tongue inside this time. He could have easily pushed her up against the wall but instead he delicately lifted her up above his head. She prayed he wouldn't drop her this time.
"Do not worry love," He paused to catch his breath. "I will never let you slip from my hands again" He leaned up for another kiss but she pulled away. He settled her down on the floor once more. "It's my brother, isn't it?" She nodded her head and started playing with her fingers. He turned away and rubbed his chin with his hand. "It's me or it's him" He turned back to her. "Who do you love more?" She remained silent. "Which one of us makes your heart leap, your legs tremble and your mind to go unclear?"
"Both" She muttered.
"What was that? I can't quite hear you, speak up love"
"Both of you!" She exclaimed. "I want…..both of you" She said as she calmed. "That is a choice to hard to give an answer to. Now if you'll excuse me" She glided past him and left the room. She returned to Loki's chambers but hesitated to open the door. She kept walking.
Eleden sat down in the shade of a tree where she could allow her mind to clear. Both of them? What was she thinking? Certainly both of them wasn't an option but who did she love more? Loki or Thor? "Why is life so hard?" She muttered to herself.
"What's hard my dear?" Came Loki's beautiful voice. She looked up to find him smiling down at her. He sat down beside her and she tensed. "You're nervous" He inquired. She looked at him, her eyes asking how he knew such a thing. "Your fingers" He answered for her. "You fiddle with them when anxious" He took hold of her right hand and started massaging it. "Now what troubles you?"
She sighed and looked at the sky. The encounter with Thor today had been too much for her. "I'm just…a little homesick, nothing to be worried about" She rolled over so that her face was pressed against his body. She closed her eyes and breathed him in.
"I want to spend an eternity with you, my sweet Eleden." She frowned and gazed into his eyes. She pushed herself up so she could sit against the tree trunk. He leaned down and kissed her. "I want to be with you, every minute of every day. You are my everything"
"Loki, you know I get very overwhelmed by this kind of talk"
"I don't care, you should know how I feel" She soon fell asleep to his heartbeat. He smiled and could almost see their future together. He would rule Asgard with Eleden by his side. They would have a big wedding. Everyone would know that she was his and no one else's. They would have a child or two. She would be Loki's queen. Actually, she already is. "I love you Eleden" He whispered. It was safe to say when she could not hear it.