"We need to talk."
Isabella froze as soon as she heard her mother speak to her in a civil tone. She had just walked through the door when her mother had piped up. She was sat by the fire, her knees bent and her hands holding onto the knitting of the scarf which she had been doing. The wood slowly burnt down, the light in the room falling and causing Roselyn to strain her eyes.
The young blonde looked at her mother, her eyes scrunching together as she noted the red circles around her orbs and the paleness of her cheeks. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, holding it from her head and showing the stress of her face more prominently.
"What about?" Isabella asked, deciding to return the civil tone before she locked the door again and slowly walked towards the small sitting area, hesitantly dropping to her knees beside the chair, her elbow resting on the cushioned seat as her other hand held onto her bent arm.
Roselyn sighed for a moment, "About everything which has happened."
Isabella didn't say anything back to her, not truly knowing what to say. She had been shocked that her mother had even acknowledged her existence if she had to be honest. Roselyn dropped her knitting to the side, resting it on the stone ledge which ran around the fireplace.
"I no longer wish to argue with you."
A gasp escaped her daughter's lips as soon as the words had been uttered and Isabella messed with the skirts of her dress, pulling at them over her lap.
"You...mistakes have been made, Isabella. You have said things which I hope you regret and I have said things which have been mean, too. You are still so young and I know that I should not put these pressures upon your shoulders-"
"-No," Isabella interrupted, unable to hold her tongue any longer. Roselyn watched as her daughter leaned forwards, her hands pointing to her chest, resting against her skin as she looked at her mother with her wide doe eyes. "I am old enough to help, mother. I did not mean for all of this to happen. I never thought that I would feel the way I do about him...he is...I cannot explain it..."
Roselyn watched, sadness etched onto her face as Isabella's eyes darted to the ceiling and a smile escaped her lips as the mere thought of him. He had gotten to her. Loki had wormed his way into her heart and Roselyn didn't know what to do about it. She supposed there was nothing more that she could do. Her daughter had been warned time and time again but she had not listened.
"Do you love him?"
The question hung in Isabella's ears, her gaze unable to meet her mother's and she shook her head slowly. She didn't think that she loved him.
"No," Isabella said to her mother, her green eyes meeting the wise pair. "I do not love him but...love takes time, does it not?"
"Yes," Roselyn admitted much to her dismay. She laughed for a moment, wiping her eyes as she thought back to her and her husband. "Your father had to persuade me multiple times to court him. Love is not something which is seen suddenly but it is something which is built up. Trust, kindness...you will know love when it comes to you."
"I think it might be coming," Isabella admitted in a mumbled before Roselyn stood up, moving to the seat which her daughter sat beside. She dropped down onto the seat, Isabella turning on her knees to look up to her mother who leant forwards, her fingers running down Isabella's cheek, playing with the hair which rested there.
"There is nothing which you can do to stop it now," Roselyn whispered. "There is nothing that I can do for you will just defy me and he...as much as I dislike him...he appears besotted with you. If he is willing to sneak from the palace to come and see you then he obviously feels deeply about you."
"I do not expect you to agree with this," Isabella replied. "I just want you to understand that I cannot give him up."
"I see that," Roselyn said, smiling softly at her daughter, her fingers tracing her daughter's face as if she may disappear in any given moment. She handled her with delicate care, acting as though one sharp touch may break her. "I shall support you if he is what you want. I may not like it but I will help you...I cannot handle fighting with you and it is clear you shall not give him up."
"I don't think that I could give him up," Isabella admitted to her mother. "I am falling for him."
"I am aware," Roselyn replied. "Now...is that all? Is it all over?"
"I shall try to find work somewhere," Isabella concluded. "I was not lucky tonight but I shall find something, I promise."
"Isabella, just...try your best. It is all I can ask of you. It is all I have ever asked from you."
"But...what if we lose the house?"
"It will not come to that," Roselyn said before Isabella gained the chance to hyperventilate with worry. "I shall ask for more work in the palace and we shall find some money from somewhere. I...I was wrong to ask so much from you...you have just turned twenty..."
"No," Isabella said. She knew that she had yelled at her mother before, accusing her of never giving her any hope for her life. But, she didn't want the guilt on her mother. She couldn't handle listening to her mother blame herself for something which wasn't really her fault. She needed the money and a home to keep Isabella safe and happy. "It matters not anymore. Something will happen. It simply has to."
"We shall overcome this," Roselyn promised, tucking Isabella's hair behind her ear and pressing her lips on the top of her daughter's head. Isabella hesitantly moved, her head resting on her mother's lap and she closed her eyes, content for a few moments as Roselyn stroked her hair much like she used to when she was a child and everything seemed much simpler.
"It will get better. You will see."
...
"Mother, you almost scared me to death," Loki snapped out as soon as his mother coughed to make her presence known. He had been sat in the chair by the balcony, a book open in his hands and his eyes fixed intently on the words of the page.
Frigga smirked to herself before settling down on the side of Loki's bed, her fingers lacing together and she glanced out to the rising sun of the morning. She normally wasn't such an early riser but she found herself unable to sleep the previous night. She had been thinking of Loki and his mystery and it had consumed her. She supposed it was a mother's prerogative to know what her child was doing.
"I am shocked," Frigga admitted. "I have never been able to sneak up on you before. You are too much of a trickster for that to happen."
"I suppose I am too consumed by my book," Loki lied to her. "Worry not, it shall not happen again. Anyway, what brings you here so early?"
"I could not let sleep find me," Frigga sighed. "And your father snores terribly. It is most annoying when I am trying to drift off."
"I could only imagine," Loki smirked, folding the corner of the page and closing the book, depositing it on his lap before turning his full attention to his mother who had a smile still held on her face. He wondered what was so amusing but decided not to ask her. "Thor still snores like a brute."
"It definitely comes from your father's side," Frigga said to her son. "I suppose you are lucky to take after me."
"I should suppose so," Loki agreed with her. "Anyway, why did you come to me?"
"You are my son and I know you are often awake early. Besides, I wanted to speak with you."
"Oh?" Loki wondered, his brow arched and Frigga shifted in her seat, folding her legs, one over the other and still smiling at her son. "Is it important?"
Frigga contemplated for a moment, keeping her lips pursed in a tight line. "Possible."
Loki's brows furrowed closer together, confusion evident on his face.
"Then what is it that aggrieves you, mother?"
"T'is you, Loki," Frigga admitted, her voice clear and it hit Loki with worry. Did she know? Surely she couldn't know or she would look angrier than she did. But, no. She sat there, her lips tugging upwards and Loki wondered if it were possible.
Loki played innocent, allowing his stare to widen further and his mouth to part, his finger jabbing himself in the chest. "Me?"
"Yes," Frigga confirmed. "I know that we have never discussed this...well...we have...but when we did you cut me off and told me that you had no time to speak with the maidens for you did not wish for brain cells to die."
"Mother," Loki said, stopping her from rambling on too much. "You have lost me."
She hadn't. Loki knew exactly what she was speaking of but he did not want to admit it. He did not want for her to tell him that it was wrong and he must stop seeing her for it was not the way in which protocol was in the palace. But there was something about the look which she was giving him that told him that was not her thoughts.
"There had been talk, Loki," Frigga said. "Ingrid told me of the maids gossiping of you and a certain kitchen maid who has become close to you."
"And you believe maids gossip?"
"Not entirely," Frigga said, shaking her head, knowing that the maids had a tendency to lie."But I do know when my son changes in front of my eyes."
Frigga examined Loki for a moment. She knew he would never admit to being in love with a commoner. He was much too proud to display such an emotion to her. But, she knew him better than he knew himself and she would prove it. He pulled a hand up, covering his mouth as an awkward cough escaped his lips.
How had she managed to see him changing? Loki had been acting normally, he was sure of it. Never had he done anything out of the ordinary, nor had he acted like a lovesick fool. He had been himself.
"Change?" Loki asked, shaking his head and chuckling darkly. "Mother, honestly. I do not know what you speak of."
"You have become much more...distracted...it is like your mind is elsewhere-"
"-Perhaps you have Thor and his constant nagging at me to spar to thank for that?" Loki suggested and Frigga shook her head, unable to believe him. "There is nothing wrong with me, mother."
"I never said there was," Frigga replied. "I recognise the signs, Loki. I have seen many people fall in love. I simply ask for you to tell me about her."
"You are mistaken," Loki lied; standing up and grabbing hold of his book, placing it on the table beside his bed whilst Frigga watched him. "There is no kitchen maid who holds my affections."
"They say she is called Isabella," Frigga said, watching for his reaction. He didn't flinch once in her eyes. Loki remained slight frightened that he had winced at the sound of her name but Frigga didn't pick up on the notion. "I enquired about her and she was let go of due to speaking with you, Loki. I consider it wrong and I informed Ingrid to pass on my feelings."
Loki didn't say anything. He didn't particularly want to lie to his mother; it was never something which he had considered doing. But he did not want to tell her the entire truth. He didn't want her to know about him and Isabella.
But why not?
That was the question which Loki found himself asking. The other night he had asked her to come back to the palace with him. He supposed that had been rash judgement. He was not thinking clearly.
"Is it true, Loki?" Frigga pushed him and the Prince stood up straight, his hands behind his back as he watched his mother scrutinise him. "You can tell me. I shall think nothing of it."
Did he say it? Did he want to say it to her? He knew not. He simply knew that she wouldn't give up her persistence if he did not quash her interest.
"T'is not something which I want broadcast," Loki chose to say to her and Frigga stood up, taking hold of her son's hand and holding onto it tightly inside of hers. She smiled at him, her other hand pushing his hair further behind his ears as if it were possible.
"So it is true?"
"Mother," Loki said; his voice one of complaint. "Must you make an issue out of this?"
"I am your mother and I must," she concluded to him. "You must tell me of her, Loki."
The God of Mischief grumbled, cursing himself for not wanting to lie to his mother. He never wanted to keep anything from her. He considered his mother the only one who listened to him. He didn't believe that she favoured Thor above him. She had never shown any signs of bias and Loki supposed he loved her deeply for that. He loved his brother and father yet he could not help but resent them. They were sometimes too alike for him to comprehend, even if Odin did frown upon Thor and his ways sometimes.
Frigga grabbed onto his other hand, pulling him to sit beside her on the edge of his grand bed, turning her upper body to face him.
"She is a commoner, mother," Loki reminded her. "Tradition states that nothing shall ever happen so it matters not."
"No," Frigga challenged him. "Loki, if she is the one who you care for then tradition matters not."
"And does father think in such a way?" Loki asked and Frigga bit down on her tongue, shaking her head once and then rolling her eyes.
"It matters not what your father thinks. I shall speak with Odin-"
"-I do not wish for you to speak with the King," Loki interrupted her. "I do not know how I feel about Isabella. It would be brash to jump into anything, especially when we are both involved. I do not know what she wants and I do not know how she truly feels."
"Have you not told her that you love her?"
Loki scoffed and rolled his eyes at her, his cheeks turning a slight tinge of red at the word coming from his mother's lips. He was acting in an immature manner like when a child's teased about fancying some girl. It was immature, but he did not love Isabella. He was fond of her and he longed to spend time with her. He was certainly attracted to her, he could not deny it.
But would he die for her? Would he place himself in harms way for her like he had done for Thor that day?
The fact that he had done it for Thor had scared him. He considered his act selfless instead of the normal way of selfishness. It aggrieved him and worried him.
"I do not love her," Loki said adamantly. "I know that."
"How?" Frigga wondered from him. "I would consider it, Loki. She is the first young woman who has held your attention before."
"That does not mean that I love her," Loki intercepted, shaking his head back and forth to his mother. "Besides, she is much younger than I. Her age is merely twenty."
"Age is simply a number," Frigga waved off. "Loki, do you not know how significant this could be?"
"Please stop," Loki pleaded, taking his hands from his mothers and burying his face into them. He didn't think that he could listen to her anymore about the matter.
"Fine," Frigga agreed hastily, sensing her son did not want to speak of that particular emotion. "Can you at least tell me who she is? I never had the chance to speak with her personally."
"She is fair," Loki said nonchalantly. "She is slim, too slim, if I must be honest. Her hair is that of dirty blonde and she has green eyes. She lives in the village outside the palace with her mother who works in the palace as a maid. Her father died whilst her mother was pregnant as he fought against the Frost Giants with father. It is true that she used to work in the kitchen yet the maids were vindictive against her and so she is looking for work outside...actually..."
Frigga watched as Loki's smile seemed to widen and she wondered what he had thought of to put him in a sudden good mood. Loki turned his gaze back to his mother, looking at her with pleading.
"They are currently in financial trouble," Loki informed Frigga who remained mute. "Isabella is too proud to ask for help. She is much too stubborn...yet...she fears she may lose her home if she does not find work soon."
Frigga arched a brow at her son, wondering what he was hinting towards. "What is the meaning to this speech?"
"Surely you could give her mother more money?" Loki said and Frigga remained silent. "She has been working at the palace for years on end apparently."
"Who is her mother?"
"I believe her to be called Roselyn," Loki said and Frigga nodded in agreement. The name did ring a bell. "She would not question the loot coming from you, mother. It would help them."
"If the maids were to get wind of this then everyone would expect more pay, Loki."
"Then do not tell them. I am sure Roselyn would not say anything."
"If it pleases you then I shall do it. I would not want to see anyone suffer because of the actions of others," Frigga assured her son, taking his hand back into hers. "She must mean a lot to you, Loki."
"I admit that I care for her," he tautly said. "I do not wish to see her suffer."
"Would it be probable for me to meet her?" Frigga asked. "I long to see the woman who has managed to hold a conversation with you."
"Perhaps one day," Loki agreed lamely, the smile moving from his face and he shrugged airily. "I do not know what is happening between us for the moment. Can you promise me that Thor will not know of this? I do not think I could manage his constant taunts."
"You do not like it when the boot is on the other foot, do you?" Frigga smiled and stood up, straightening her gown out and pulling her hair over her shoulder, allowing it to dangle there freely. "I shall not mention anything to your father, Loki, nor shall I speak to Thor until you see it fit to speak to them yourself."
"Thank you," Loki said, managing to sound genuine as Frigga kissed him on the cheek hastily.
"Now, I shall see you at breakfast. Enjoy your book."
...
"You would never guess what has happened!" Isabella shrieked in glee as Loki stood at her window after knocking a couple of times once he had seen there was a light in the window. He had an idea what had happened for he had been the one to initiate the plan. He smiled back, his brow arched as he watched her grab onto his upper arms.
"Do tell me," Loki drawled.
He had waited for a few moments until Roselyn had left the house before making himself known to Isabella. He had heard of how she had an evening shift at the palace for the ball preparations and he had snuck out, determined to see Isabella one more time.
"Mother has been given a pay rise," Isabella spoke. "The Queen brought her to one side and rewarded her for her dedication to the palace for all of her years work."
"Really?" Loki asked and realisation crossed Isabella's face as she stepped back from him, dropping her hand to her hip and Loki struck quickly, hoisting himself onto the windowsill and angling his body into her room, his green orbs glancing around at the decor.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"We may need to talk," Loki admitted to her, walking past her and looking at the wooden furniture which stood in the room. The dresser held a simple mirror along with a simple locket which dangled on the side of it. A brush and comb rested on the surface and a piece of parchment remained scrunched up on the edge.
"What has happened?" Isabella asked, fully aware that he had entered her territory and he was walking around, prowling and she couldn't help but think he was judging her. She fixed her hands shutting the window, stopping the howling wind from entering her ears as she leant against the wall to watch him.
"My mother knows of you and I."
"The Queen?" Isabella shrieked, unable to contain herself. It mattered not for the house was empty for the evening. "What did she say? Is she-"
"-Calm yourself," Loki said, turning his head over his shoulder to through her a small grin. "She has assured me that it matters not that you are a commoner. She simply wishes to see me happy. Mother has agreed not to tell Thor or the Allfather of this."
Isabella watched as he picked up the stuffed bear which sat atop of her pillow and his grin turned into one of taunting as he held it up in her direction.
"Everyone has a weakness," Isabella simply snapped, rushing forwards and grabbing her stuffed toy from his hold, soothing its fur before placing it back on her pillow. "And could you not hold him by his ears."
"He is not real."
"Irrelevant," Isabella retorted. "Now, is that all your mother said? Nothing more?"
"Nothing more," Loki assured her. "I was surprised she was at ease with it but relieved at the same time. She wishes to meet you one day."
"And my mother wishes to meet you."
Loki took in her words and looked at her for a second before she shrugged, moving to the other side of her single bed and busying herself, sorting out the white sheets which sat on top of the mattress.
"We had a reconciliation yesterday evening," Isabella told the Prince. "We...well...we spoke and she told me that she was sorry for everything which had happened and I told her the same. She knows that I have no intention of giving you up and she accepts it. She is not entirely enthralled with it but she accepted it and that is all that I have ever asked from her."
"Your mother will never like me," Loki declared, picking her bear up to examine it once again. "Many people in the palace do not like me. Toleration is the best which I can hope for and I shall take it."
"She may change over time," Isabella tried to reassure him before walking to his side, trying to grab hold of her bear yet Loki extended his arm, holding it from her grasp.
"I am simply looking," he said as she moved around his body and he smirked, placing the bear behind his back.
"No," Isabella counteracted. "You are mocking me, Loki. Now give me it back."
"Would I ever mock you?" Loki wondered, trying not to laugh as she wrapped her arms around his waist, searching for her stuffed animal whilst her face pressed against his chest and she broke into a laugh as he dropped the bear to the floor, hastily moving his arms to wrap around her before she could move from his hold.
"Loki," Isabella complained as he pushed her towards the wall. "Did you just drop my bear?"
"He cannot feel anything."
"Once again, irrelevant," Isabella reminded him, worming her way from his hold and grabbing her bear, dropping it back to her bed before she felt Loki behind her, his arms once again around her waist as he dropped his head, slowly pressing his lips to her throat. She couldn't help but think how this was new for them. It didn't feel as awkward as normal.
"You never answered my question," Isabella reminded her, allowing his palms to flatten out over her stomach, his fingertips rubbing against the material of the blue gown she wore before he pulled his lips from her flesh, dropping his chin to rest on her shoulder before quickly pecking her between her shoulder and neck. "Was it you who made the money possible?"
"I knew you would never accept it from me," Loki informed her. "This way your mother does not know it was I and you manage to get by for the time being. You are not angry, are you?"
"I think if you keep on kissing me like you are doing then you will stop me from being angry with you," Isabella admitted and he chuckled, the noise echoing through Isabella as her hairs stood on edge and he turned his attention back to her neck, his lips parting as he kissed her. She gasped once, wondering what he was doing before her eyes moved back into her head. Never had she witnessed anything like this before.
"I shall maybe have to continue then," Loki said, his lips moving to her ear and pressing just behind it as she almost felt herself become weak at the knees. She couldn't help but think of how cliché it all sounded. Melting at some male's touch. It was stories which she had heard and had scoffed at, never thinking it possible to actually melt at a mere touch. Little did she know how wrong she was.
"Perhaps we should not," Isabella said.
"Why?"
"Because...well...is this proper? I mean...does this happen..."
"All the time," Loki said, pulling her hair to hand over one of her shoulders whilst her hands moved on top of his, pulling them from her stomach as Loki finally gave into her and she turned to look at him.
"I mean it, Loki," she replied. "I am...well..."
Loki watched her cautiously for a moment as she blushed again and his eyes moved back to the teddy. Oh, how innocent she was. He chuckled once, moving closer to her and grabbing onto her hand, holding it in his grasp tightly.
"Does this make you uncomfortable?" he whispered and she looked to the ground, clearly embarrassed as she shrugged ruefully.
"I do not know," she admitted. "I...well...it does and at the same time it does not...I suppose I am simply nervous."
"What about?" he wondered. "Isabella, it is not as though we need to be intimate with each other. Is that what you are worried about?"
She didn't answer him back and so Loki took it as a yes. He sighed. He didn't want their relationship to move to that stage just yet. Clearly he had shown her the wrong signs. His finger moved under her chin, drawing her gaze back to him and he smiled softly down to her.
"Do not worry yourself," Loki urged her. "I want nothing more from you, Isabella. All I long for is you to be content with me."
"I do not think you need to worry about that request," Isabella smiled back to him, appeased with his previous sentence.
"Good to know," Loki said before resuming his holding of her.
...
A/N: And everything seems to be going so swimmingly. This story seems to be my only escape from Uni work at the moment so I am having a lot of fun writing it and I would like to thank anyone who is taking the time to read it and I do hope you are enjoying it.
Anyway, thanks to kalimecat, K9Train, ladyFides and CuteSango07 for reviewing the previous chapter/
