Chapter 10
The following few months were nothing but lessons, attending court and banquets. It was exhausting, and all the time you were trying to spend as much time as possible with Loki, but were also forced to spend more tined with Thor.
Since the day Thor apologised to you, he never brought up the topic of your brothers again. He did however begin to show some interest in talking to you on different matters other than simply about himself, though it was clear he was not used to it.
With Loki however, things had only improved more. You felt as though you knew most everything about one another. Since his admission, he had told you daily of his love for you. You had not waited very long to say it back, it only took until he stopped kissing you, just for him to start again as soon as the words left your lips. Every time he kissed you, you felt your heart flutter. It was as though he was trying to pour his soul into every kiss, you did what you could try and do the same.
Most of your day now seemed to be centred on being around Frigga and learning from her. The time she spent explaining to you the role of the king's wife upset and concerned you greatly. Clearly there was expectation for you to be Thor's wife and it was the cause of countless hours of lost sleep and distress.
One sunny morning Loki had told you he had an idea as to what to do the day, however you quickly shot down the idea as you had some sort of etiquette classes for the morning. So there being no court for him to attend had little meaning to your still busy day. He merely made a comment under his breathe along the lines of "we'll see" and grinned as he finished his food.
You were bored senseless as the old Aesir woman who was assigned to teach you Aesir etiquette was prattling on about forks. It was a feat of immense power and resilience to merely remain awake. The window behind you leading out to a small balcony overlooking another one of the palaces terraces was open as the day was gloriously warm and sunny. After a few minutes, you realised there was someone out there. As the instructor spoke with her back to you, you looked around, only to see Loki sitting on the balcony ledge, beckoning you out. You shook your head and pointed to the ancient woman, who had now begun to discuss the importance of spoons. Desperate for some for of mental stimulation however, you slowly and silently headed to the window.
"What are you doing here?" you whispered.
"I have come to free you." He smiled cheekily. "Gods what utter nonsense you are forced to endure my darling." He commented before kissing you chastely.
"For you I would endure it until Ragnarok." You smiled kissing him back.
"Well now, after a statement such as that, I have to save you." He stated. "Come on."
"Come on where?" You giggled.
"Over the balcony." He answered matter-of-factly.
"Loki, you cannot be serious." You dismissed. "I cannot leave; I will have to just see you at lunch. I have to return to my seat before she realises I ever left it."
"You do not need to worry such things." Loki grinned. "You're still right where you were."
Looking around, you gasped quietly. In your chair was an exact replica of you, fidgeting and 'mmhmming' to the old woman as she spoke. "What are you doing?" You scolded quietly. "This cannot possibly work."
"You'll never know if you never try." Loki grinned. He disappeared, looking over the balcony; you saw Loki was standing next to his horse. "Jump, I promise I will catch you."
It was a good fifteen feet down and you were more than slightly worried, but you knew Loki could use his seidr to aid you if he felt it was necessary. So you placed yourself sitting on the balcony, your legs over the ledge as Loki positioned himself below. "Ready?" you asked nervously, glancing back one last time to see if the tutor had noticed the real you were missing, she had not."
"I've got you, I promise." He smiled. With a nod and a deep breathe, you pushed off the ledge and fell right into Loki's arms. "Told you." He smiled proudly. "You are such a light little thing." He added.
"Oh shut up." You joked, lightly hitting his chest. "Not all realms inhabitants are as big and burly as you Aesir." You felt you feet gently reach the ground and you righted yourself. With a wave of his hand, Loki had magically put a riding cloak on you with the hood up. You looked to him in confusion.
"You are supposed to be getting tutored remember?" He insured the hood was covering your hair before taking you to his horse.
"Will it not look odd you riding around with no saddle on?" You queried as Loki untied the animals reins.
"People think better than to voice such questions regarding me." Loki winked. He jumped up on the horses back before reaching down for you. "Come on." He encouraged. With one more look around, you took his hand as he pulled and you jumped up, placing you behind him as you wrapped your arms around his waist. "I prefer it the other way around, with me holding you." Loki commented as he caressed your hand for a moment. "Until we leave the city, I have to make you invisible." He added. Before you could ever respond, you felt a sensation akin to someone cracking an egg on your head as a thick but warm sensation seeped down your body.
He pressed his heels into the horse's side and it tool off in a light trot through the palace grounds. Not far from the main gate, right at the edge of the gardens, Loki swore under his breathe, causing you to look around.
"Loki, you decided you go for a ride for your morning off?" Frigga smiled at her younger son.
"Yes, the weather is good and I have been stuck indoors too long as of late with court and other such matters. I felt it would be a waste to be in the library by day when I can enjoy it tonight when it is darker and when such jaunt is not possible." He explained with a smile.
"Indeed, well enjoy. Just remember to be back before four, we have to go over the particulars for the official ball and banquet for the harvest festival with the staff then." She called out as she made her way back to the palace.
Loki looked at her mystified. "Whatever are you talking about Mother?"
"I was speaking to Sadhbh. It is one thing to sneak out of etiquette classes, but it is another matter entirely to fail to show up for an afternoon with me." She smiled knowingly.
Loki laughed at his mother knowing the secret. "I will have her back by lunch."
"Well then, try not to live up to your name too greatly and do not get into too much mischief."
"What sort of rogue do you take me for?" Loki feigned shock and hurt. When his mother looked at him with an eyebrow raised he added. "We are merely going to the falls, nothing more."
"Enjoy." The Queen waved and continued on.
"I cannot believe she did not reprimand us." You whispered to Loki as he got the horse to continue on. "How did she know I was here, are you sure no one can see me?"
"Mother knows that were you not with me, I would at the very least have a saddle, not to mention I would never head out by myself, as regardless of the weather, I would indeed be in the library or my quarters."
"Well then, let us continue on our way to the falls then." You held on tightly.
"We are not going to the falls." He grinned mischievously.
"Then where are we going?"
"You shall see my love, hold on." Loki kicked the horse's sides and the beast took off heading away from the city.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Where is this?" You asked looking around. There was forest all around you, and the air was thick with the smell of trees and moss.
"Vanaheim, not too far from its main city." Loki explained. "This way." He walked off slowly, waiting for you to follow.
"So can I ask what it was that thing we went through was?"
"An inter-realm portal. There are many of them that I have found around Asgard." Loki explained.
"Why did you show me?"
"I thought you might like it. Was I wrong to assume such?" He asked concernedly.
"No, I am merely being curious. So where are you bringing me now?"
"You love asking questions." Loki chuckled. "I will never be allowed to surprise you any bit, will I?"
"Nope." You grinned back, popping the p as you did. "I love this you know, the time we spend together."
"You say that as though it is coming to an end." Loki looked back at you concerned.
"Ever day I am being trained; I feel more like it is." Loki walked back to your side. "It just feels as though I will have to wed Thor." Tears welled in your eyes. "I do not want to wed him. I love you."
"I know darling, I feel the same way." He played with some of your hair before placing it behind your ear.
"What if I am forced to marry him, what will I do? I…I just cannot bear to think about it. Him touching me like that, having to share a bed with him, having to carry his…No I can't." you turned to walk away, repulsed by the thoughts invading your mind.
"Sadhbh, please, calm yourself." Loki tried to get you to calm, but there was no denying the panic in his own features once you mentioned having Thor's children.
"Loki, please, they cannot possibly make me marry him." You could not see with the tears in your eyes. "I will run if they try to."
"And I will be right beside you." Hr came over and held you in to him. "We will go back and talk to Mother immediately and see what she says can be done, alright?"
Nodding, you tried to cease your sobbing as Loki brought you back to the portal site. Once back in Asgard, he put you on his horse and jumped up behind you, encasing you in his arms. "You were right." You smiled slightly. "This seems far more natural."
"Of course it does. This is us in our most natural state, me holding you close to me." He brushed his nose through your hair for a moment, smelling the bath scents as he did so.
"I was thinking more along the lines of me being in charge." You giggled as you held the reins and got the horse to move, earning a deep laugh from Loki.
The riding cloak was still around you as you cantered though the city, but the hood was down and you were not invisible. The citizens of Asgard watched as the second prince and the foreign princess rode by on the one horse, both their faces the picture of determination
At the palace, the horse had barely come to a halt before you jumped off, with Loki close at your heels. He had to hold you next to him to prevent you running off frantically. "Remember to remain calm; you being frenzied will not get us far."
"Are you saying that to yourself or to me?" You queried, the look in his eyes and his shallow breathing told you that he was just as anxious as you were.
"To be honest, I am not even sure." He admitted. "Come on, she will probably be in her rooms at this time.
Loki's strides were long and fast and you had to nearly race to keep up with him, you walked through the palace without noticing or saluting anyone. Going to the family quarters you passed your rooms and walked to one of the golden doors that were further down the hallway. Loki took a deep breathe before knocking on the door, his other hand tightly gripping yours as he waited the answer.
When the maid came out and opened the door to allow you in, Frigga was standing close by. One look at your slightly dishevelled and frenetic appearances seemed to register somewhat with her. "I think I can safely assume the reason for this visit, and if my suspicions are correct, I will have to speak with Sadhbh alone." You looked to Loki, who gave your hand a squeeze and a kiss before leaving again, though the look on his face signified he was an unsure about it as you were as you faced the Queen alone.