A whole week had passed and Loki had begun to feel like himself one more time. His shoulder moved freely and he was almost pain free. His mother had urged him to take it slow, pressuring him not to move until he was absolutely sure that there was no more pain. He had moved from his bed, changing himself into his simple garments, not bothering with the heavy armour which sat on top of it for he feared that it may be too heavy for him to handle.
His thoughts turned to the day ahead and he wondered what he should do. He knew that leaving the palace during the day was not going to be possible for his mother had insisted that he take things easy and aid her in choosing the decor for the grand hall for the ball in the coming week. Loki had scoffed, realising that he would much prefer to spend an entire day with his brute of a brother instead of looking at flowers. But, Frigga had been adamant.
And so his time passed, his mother actually thinking he had an opinion on what colour complemented the other to the best of its ability. He had scowled the entire time, his only fun coming when he noted Edda in the corner, holding onto a vase full of flowers. Suffice to say the vase did not stay intact for long and she was then being rushed down the corridor, the head maid scolding her.
"Are you even paying attention?" the curt voice which Loki heard was not of his mother, but of Ingrid, her closest advisor, maid and friend. Loki's smirk fell from his face and he turned to look at the small, plump woman as she dropped her hand to her hip and looked at him with disapproving.
"Forgive me if flowers are not exactly my greatest passion in life," Loki spoke; his voice a slight snarl and she rolled her eyes at him. Loki had grown up learning to respect Ingrid and all that she stood for. She was the epitome of old fashioned manners and respect. Yes, Loki knew that she was far below him, not even of royal blood, but he knew that mattered not. She was as good as.
"Your mother simply wants you to stay with her for the day. She knows that if you had your way then you would be out sparring with your brother until the sun sets," Ingrid said, turning her attention back to Frigga and the flowers which she was looking at.
Loki allowed a chuckle to come from his mouth, his lips turning upwards as he shook his head in disbelief. Is that what they truly thought of him? They believed that he enjoyed fighting? To an extent he did, but he was not fond of it. Tricks were more of his area of expertise. Loki knew where he would rather be if he had his way and he was sure that no one else had any idea.
"Loki," Frigga called her son, watching as his smile fell from his face and she wondered what he had been thinking about to make him beam to himself in such a manner. She could not help but think that only love could have that effect on him. But she did not know of any fair maiden which had won his heart.
"Yes?" Loki wondered and Frigga watched as he stood in front of her, his eyes roaming to the side and to the cutlery which was being laid out on the table. The Queen shook her head, waving her hand into the air, completely lost with what she was about to say to him.
"It does not matter. Why not go and get some fresh air? I can see how bored you have become from being here," Frigga said and Loki smiled at her, bowing his head and quickly rushing off before she could say anything to condemn him to stay in her presence.
"Have you noticed a change in Loki?" Frigga asked Ingrid as soon as he had left and the doors had been shut once again. The Queen continued her placing of cutlery, making sure it was the right sort whilst Ingrid moved around the table, checking that the goblets were pristine.
"He still seems the same snarky God of Mischief to me," Ingrid said and wondered if she should bring it up with the Queen. She had heard rumours, gossip to be precise, of the Prince befriending a maid of the palace. Ingrid had not thought it serious, knowing how many lies were spread throughout the ranks of the maids. Prince Thor had many controversial rumours spreading about him but Ingrid ignored them, knowing them to be untrue.
"I just cannot help but think that he seems happier," Frigga said, standing up straight and resting her hand on the back of one of the golden thrones which sat at the head of the table. Ingrid watched her Queen for a moment, not truly understanding how Loki had changed. "I know not, I think something has happened."
"You know that I do not bother you with the word of the maids," Ingrid sighed after a moment of hesitation. Frigga arched a brow, deeming it necessary to take a seat if gossip was to be involved in the conversation. Ingrid followed suit, the two women leaning into the table to avoid their voices being heard by prying ears.
"What has happened?" Frigga asked cautiously.
"It was a few weeks ago," Ingrid shrugged, "there had been talk of Loki befriending a new kitchen maid...I think her name was...I cannot remember...Isabel...Bella...something along those lines. Anyway, apparently the staff found out and they had her removed from the palace."
"Why would they do that?"
"I know not," Ingrid said, shaking her head. "You know what the maids can be like. They are petty. They do not like anyone who catches the eye of someone who is better than them. Anyway, she was acting out of place by speaking with Loki in such a casual manner and the head kitchen maid let her go."
Frigga took a moment to think, sitting back in her chair and scanning her brain before she clicked her fingers and nodded; a small smile on her face as she did so.
"I had been told that a new maid was required. I did not speak personally with her but I told Syrn to give her my instructions. She was called Isabella, if I remember correctly."
"Possibly," Ingrid said back to her, toying with a serviette which sat on the table before her eyes looked back to the Queen. "Anyway, that is simply the gossip amongst the staff. I struggle to believe it."
"What part do you struggle to believe?" Frigga asked for clarification.
"The part where Loki and her become close. Have we ever known Loki to have any true friends? We both know that the Warriors Three and the Lady Sif simply tolerate him for he is Thor's brother."
"That may be true," Frigga said. "But Loki is not uncompassionate. He may seem so at times but there is more to him than spells and tricks. Perhaps I should speak to him about this."
"Do you think that wise?" Ingrid enquired. "Loki is a very private young man. I doubt he would tell you if he was besotted with a commoner."
"Oh, it matters not who she is," Frigga waved her hand in the air, rolling her eyes and standing back up. "If she is who Loki has feelings for then so be it. Many of times I have tried to set him up with the noble women of Asgard and all of those times have resulted in rejection."
"Yes," Ingrid nodded, still remaining sat in her seat. "Yet, you know as well as I do, a prince and a commoner is an unheard thing. It breaks tradition."
"Not necessarily," Frigga shook her head. "Besides, sometimes tradition needs to be broken...or modified. We cannot live in the past forever, can we? I do not see what the issue is. If he likes her then I shall not deny him. What kind of a mother would not want to see their child happy?"
Ingrid smiled at the Queen as she walked around the table, seeming content with herself as she adjusted things which didn't necessarily need adjusting but she felt the need to move them.
"Do you intend to ask Loki of this?"
"I do not know yet," Frigga shook her head. "I want to, but, like you said, he is a very private individual. Perhaps I shall wait for a while."
"And what of the King?"
"Oh, he need not know," Frigga waved her hand nonchalantly. "Odin does not need to get his nose into Loki's business when I have yet to discover what is truly happening. I am his mother; I believe I shall deal better with this situation...not that I have ever dealt with a situation like this before. Thor and Loki have never shown an interest in seriously having a relationship with a woman before."
Ingrid smiled at her friend, dusting off one of the goblets before speaking; "Well I suppose that is all there is to it."
...
He left the tavern, hiding under his cloak when he realised that she was not working there. He had been shocked of the news, but had found out from one of the serving maids that they had to let her go for being unreliable. Loki had stormed out, walking down the street and back to her home. He quickly walked to her window, keeping his head bowed and hidden under his hood before looking into her window.
Her room was empty but there was light in the kitchen. He didn't dare knock on the door for fear of her mother being there and he knew how she did not favour him. He took to looking through the window, seeing only Roselyn sat at the dining table, her spoon in her mouth as she ate soup slowly.
Loki wandered around, searching for any sight of her in the darkened night before he came across a familiar sight. The streets were slow of activity, hardly anyone on them for they were either inside drinking, eating or sleeping and she was easy to see. She was stood in her red dress, her blue cloak draped over her shoulders as she looked down an alleyway, her eyes seemingly fixed on the sight in front of her.
The God of Mischief remained stood where he was, watching her as she was diverted. He moved closer to her, his footsteps slow and he turned his head to the side, looking at what she was seeing and he instantly became horrified.
Isabella stopped her staring, realising that someone was in front of her and she moved her head to see him, her eyes widening and her mouth parting at the sight of him. Loki took in the sight of the women, all stood and speaking in an alley, a group of men the other side of them, watching and gaping at their low cut dresses and their heavily made up faces.
"What are you doing here?" Isabella asked him and Loki's blood boiled as he moved closer to her, his hand wrapping around her wrist and instantly drawing her to him, pulling her down the streets.
"I could ask you the same thing," he snapped back, a churning feeling moving around in his stomach. "Why were you looking down there, Isabella?"
The blonde remained silent, her free hand moving to pull at the hood on top of her head whilst Loki stood still, looking at her, waiting for an answer. She took a deep breath before speaking to him, snatching her arm from his fingers.
"You cannot control me," Isabella said. "I need to do something for money and there are no jobs."
"You think that selling yourself is the answer?"
"No!" Isabella snapped at him. "I was simply looking...I had...it had crossed my mind...but I could never do anything, could I? I do not want that."
"Why were looking?" Loki asked her.
"You wouldn't understand," Isabella hissed at him. "All of what has happened is down to you in some way. Being so close to you has caused me to lose so much already."
"How is any of this my fault?" Loki asked her, his voice not as harsh as he felt the overwhelming urge to draw her closer to him. "I did not cause you to lose your work."
"Maybe not directly," Isabella said back to him. "But I do not know how longer I can keep doing this. If I stay with you then do I have anything? Do I have to keep this constant bickering with my mother going and lose our home?"
Loki looked slightly taken back at what he was hearing from her and quickly made his decision, not wanting to keep on arguing with her.
"Come to the palace with me," Loki said and Isabella's eyes widened at what she was hearing from him. She shook her head back at him, unable to commit to anything, especially when she knew he was just saying this. He wasn't thinking about his offer.
"No," Isabella replied. "Do not say such things which you do not mean."
"How do you know that I do not mean it?" Loki wondered from her, dropping his hands to her waist, pulling her closer to him and she didn't resist, knowing that deep down she didn't want to. "If you need money then I will help you-"
"-Do not!" Isabella snapped, shaking her head quickly. "Do not offer me money, Loki. You do not understand...I do not want pity from you...I do not need saving..."
"What if I want to save you?" Loki wondered, his voice soft and he moved his hand to her chin, his finger curling underneath to make her look back at him. "I want to help you, Isabella. I do not want to see you suffering."
"I do not need help," Isabella protested again. "I shall find something to do."
"Isabella, you resorted to wondering whether or not selling yourself was necessary," Loki said, his tone clipped and curt with her and she bit down on her bottom lip, her head still shaking back and forth whilst Loki's brows furrowed together and he continued to look at her with confusion. Why wouldn't she simply let him do this for her? Was she really too proud?
"No, I did not," she replied. "I was simply looking. You have no idea what I was thinking so do not even try to guess, Loki."
He could sense something like resentment which was moving from her and he had no idea why. What had he done to her to make her feel like this? Had he really offended her so? He didn't know but he did worry.
"Isabella...please...do not be like this with me..." Loki said slowly. "I have spent a week without you. It was one of the longest weeks which I have suffered. I do not wish to see you suffer now that I am back."
"I am not suffering," Isabella said to him. "I will find work and money somewhere. Something has to come up. I know it."
"Come with me," Loki said, his fingers entwining into hers before she could say another word to him. "I cannot be seen here."
"And that is all that matters, isn't it?" Isabella sniped back, unable to hold her tongue in front of him. She was tiring of listening to him. She knew she was being irrational and...well...simply mean to him. But he had told her that he could help her and she knew that he never would take her back to the palace. She did not want to go with him and he did not truly want her there, he was simply trying to appease her.
"You are the one who was scared to be seen with me before," Loki reminded her and she pulled her fingers from him, stopping her pace and staring at him, her arms flapping at her sides as she looked upwards. "I am simply trying not to let people talk."
"Let them," Isabella replied quickly. "It is not as if anything could get any worse, is it?" she snapped at him, her attitude turning to one of anger at the mere sight of him.
It is not his fault, Isabella, you silly girl. You went to him. You went to see him. You are simply upset that nothing is going to plan. Do not blame him.
She kept on chanting to herself but it didn't work. She was irrational and overemotional, she was sure of it and Loki was the one to bear the brunt of her anger.
"Ever since I have met you everything has turned to ash. I manage to lose two jobs and now my own mother cannot stand the sight of me. She cannot bear to look at me and we could lose the house before the end of the week and then what? Maybe I will have to go back there, Loki," Isabella snapped at him, trying to keep her voice under control so not as to wake anyone. "Maybe I shall have to stoop to the levels of them just to keep feeding myself. I cannot imagine they want to be there but sometimes we are forced to do things which we do not want to do."
"No!" Loki said, his voice an octave higher than normal as he stepped closer to her, his finger pointing in her direction, threateningly close to jabbing her on the shoulder as she glared at him, unable to think of something to say back to him. "I shall not permit you to do that, Isabella and that is an order."
She blinked profusely upon his words; "An order?" she questioned him back and Loki stammered for a second, a new look entering her eyes. "You cannot order me around!"
"I am your Prince. I have the right to do so."
Isabella's lips quirked upwards, a sarcastic smile of disbelief on her face as her head moved back and forth slowly.
"And is that it?" Isabella asked him. "Is that all you are to me? A Prince?"
"No," Loki replied, instantly regretting his words. What was she doing to him? Loki never regretted anything. He rarely had the chance to. "You know that not to be true."
"But you said it."
"I was annoyed with you," Loki instantly spoke. "I still am annoyed with you. Believe me; I never wanted any of this misfortune to fall upon you. If you would accept me then I would help you."
"My mother would never allow it," Isabella said. "She would ask me where the money came from and she would find out. I do not want to lie to her anymore."
"If she is so desperate then she will surely accept," Loki urged her and she shook her head again.
"She is too proud...as am I...I do not want to be a charity to you," she said and Loki rolled his eyes, shaking his head as a trembling hand parted his black locks.
"You are much more to me than you think," he whispered, not daring to speak the words boldly. "If you wish to see me no longer then say it."
"You know that I do not wish that," Isabella quickly spoke back to him. "I...I just cannot help but think that this will not go anywhere...I...I wonder if you will ruin me and I cannot cope, Loki."
"You are unpredictable," Loki admitted, slightly at a loss for words. "One moment you are by my bedside, telling me how you will miss me yet when I come back you want nothing to do with me."
"And one moment I had a job and the next I am on the streets aimlessly wandering around looking for something to do," Isabella concluded to him. "I want to be with you...I just wonder if I can be."
"T'is that all?" Loki wondered from her and she shrugged, her arms wrapping around herself as the air turned into a sudden chill and she wondered if it was. "You have no more to say to me?"
"I need time, Loki...I just...I cannot do this right now," she said, quickly turning on her heel and moving forwards, rushing down the street as Loki stared after her.
His mind was split two ways as he watched her leave him. Did he go after her? Did he go and tell her that was not it. He wanted more and he knew that she did. He didn't realise he had caused her so much agony. But it was not him. He would never wish anything like this on her. He made a brash decision, moving after her, his feet hitting the floor at a running pace before he caught up with her, his fingers gripping her wrist and turning her around.
Isabella barely had a chance to realise what he was doing before she felt his mouth on top of hers, his hands on her waist, pushing her back until she hit the wall, a slight pain moving through her at the motion but she ignored it as she felt her lips part and he somehow managed to force himself closer to her.
She knew it was wrong. She knew this wasn't walking away from him.
Loki drew back for a moment, his lips pressing on her cheek as they heard whistles from behind them and his lips drew upwards as he contemplated use of magic to shut them up. Isabella rolled her eyes, her head remaining bowed as Loki refused to turn around.
"What now?" Isabella whispered and Loki realised that she was simply scared. Her soft voice and innocent eyes told him enough. Her anger was bravado. It was a show to stop her from appearing so weak.
"We shall figure it out," Loki promised her. "Just come with me."
...
He sat up, his back against a tree as she lay down, her head on his lap and his hand pushing through her hair, softly parting the dirty blonde locks as she stared down at the lake, speaking to him in a soft voice of everything which she feared.
"She has not looked at me for the past day. I went into the kitchen this morning and stood in my doorway, watching as she made breakfast and purposefully ignored my existence. I felt like a small girl again...waiting for her to talk to me and forgive me for something trivial...like yelling back at her...but she didn't...she stormed out and left me. I know I've disappointed her."
"I am sure you have not," Loki whispered to her.
"She depends on me like I depend on her," Isabella said. "In a way I cannot blame her yet I do nothing to set it right...I mean...I am here with you now."
"And I am thankful for that," he mumbled, closing his eyes and listening to the soothing noise of the water. "Perhaps we can strike a deal?"
Isabella shifted on his lap, her head turning to look at him, her brow quirked and he opened his eyes, sensing her questioning glance.
"What deal?"
"If you do not find a source of income by the end of the week then you will allow me to help."
"No, Loki-"
"-If not then you will lose everything. You told me," he reminded her. "You do not want that and I do not want to see that for you."
"And how will you get the gold?" Isabella asked and Loki chuckled, shaking his head at her.
"Do not worry about such a trivial thing," he urged her. "I can manage. Besides, if you see me as the cause of your misfortune then consider it compensation."
"Wait until the end of the week," Isabella said. "And I do not blame you...I was angry...I know it is not your fault. I am simply stressed."
"And I can understand that," Loki promised her.
"I read a little more of the book last night," Isabella suddenly said, changing the topic. "I suppose I was annoyed with my mother and I needed to do something...reading seemed logical."
"How is it coming along?"
"I am on the twenty second page," she tried to shrug against his lap. "I suppose it is not too bad."
Loki remained silent, the pair of them lapsing into it. It was nowhere near a comfortable silence, it was just silence. Loki wanted to help her but she was too stubborn to take his offer. He knew that they weren't back to how they were, Isabella was still worried and he could tell that she was annoyed with him even though she was denying it.
He would make it better. He would see to it even if it meant he had to intervene to help her.
...
A/N: Still some tension between the pair of them, rather complex. Anyway, I know that updates haven't been too frequent mainly because of University being ridiculously hectic! But I would like to thank Why so Sirius1236, LadyFides, darkxangelxreaderx and K9Train for reviewing!
Let me know what you think!
