Chapter 12 -
Loki strutted into the Great Hall just as the All-Father was beginning to step down from the dais. "Go on and sit on your throne," the young god taunted. "I can't think of a more perfect place for you to be during this conversation."
"Loki, I wasn't expecting you, son," Odin replied as he continued to step down until he was standing on the floor next to the young prince. "Thor had told me that you wished to see me tomorrow."
"It seems I've waited long enough," the trickster snapped as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Frigga said that you told her that I altered my skin myself. Is that true? Or did you use your powers to make me look like this?"
"I've never placed any magic on you, Loki," the All-Father revealed. "I'm glad you're home. I missed you very much, my son."
"I want to know everything you know about me," the young god insisted. "You said I was Laufey's son. Who is my mother? I don't recall reading anywhere that my talents are indigenous to the people of Jotunnheim. And yet what they do have I lack. Ice magic, seers, brute strength. I don't seem to have any of these. Why?"
"You have ice magic in you, Loki, you just don't use it," Odin divulged as he watched his son carefully. Loki could already feel the anxiety bubbling up in his mind. He wasn't sure this was something that he wanted to hear. "You're mother is Frigga. She has loved you since you were infant. But the Jotunn who gave birth to you is named Farbauti."
Natasha paced back and forth in the chambers. Every once in a while, her hand would go to the door and hover over the handle for several moments as she contemplated rushing to the throne room to be with Loki when he faced Odin.
She couldn't imagine how difficult this confrontation would be for him. Of course, he needed answers, but more importantly, he needed closure. Even if he already knew everything that the Allfather was going to say, the young god needed to hear it come from the man's mouth.
Natasha stared out the window and bit her bottom lip as she glanced at the clock. It had barely been ten minutes since Loki left…and her stomach was in knots.
"Farbauti? How do you know all this?" Loki mused as he narrowed his gaze at his father. "What did I have a little bracelet with my parents names on it? Where do you get your information from?"
"Mimir, the seer, my old adviser," Odin proclaimed. "He knew who you were. He was there in the temple when I found you."
"And what else did he tell you about me?" the young god demanded angrily.
"You have Vanir blood in you from you're… from Farbauti's side, very long ago in her bloodlines, very small part of your make up but obviously very strong. It is where your other magic comes from." The All-Father revealed. "It is why you were born so small."
"Vanir like my mother," Loki whispered softly as his thoughts fell to Frigga.
Natasha had enough of waiting. She ripped open the door and almost ran directly into Frigga, who had raised her hand to knock. She placed a hand against her chest and smiled in relief, "Oh. I was just coming to check on you. I've found a wonderful spot in my garden for—-my dear, are you alright? You look pale."
She sighed and brushed a curl off of her forehead, "Loki is talking to Odin…"
"Oh. Oh…I see", she said softly. "I hope he finds the answers he's looking for…it's best not to interrupt…"
"It was wrong for me to keep this from you for so long, my son," Odin entreated. "But I truly thought I was doing what was best for you at the time. I love you, Loki. You are my son in every way that matters."
"I… I… I need to go… I need to think," Loki exhaled as he turned on his heel and strutted quickly out of the chambers. His green cloak flowing behind him with each step he took. His first thought was to leave the palace all together. He wanted to be alone. His head felt weighted and crowded with thoughts. He was about to cast a spell to take him to the shoreline when remembered his promise. If he didn't go to her first. She would worry.
The young god moved through the halls back to his chambers as he opened the door swiftly. "Natalia?"
Natasha rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him, "Are you alright? I wish I could have been there with you, my love…did he tell you what you needed to hear?"
"What I needed to hear was that this was all a big misunderstanding and I'm not really Laufey's son," Loki murmured as he buried his head into her luscious curls, squeezing her tightly. "So… I guess the answer's no."
Natasha held him tight and furrowed her brows, "I'm so sorry, baby…I wish there was something…anything I could say or do to help you. I love you so much. I'm right here for you, alright?"
"It's weird to me to think that I'm casting something on myself right now and I don't even know it," Loki contemplated as he let go of her and moved towards the full length mirror. "I guess its just so ingrained in me to do it. I mean.. I've been doing it my whole life apparently."
Natasha moved behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Do you want to see yourself without this veneer?"
"I don't think so… I don't know… when I saw my arm turning it freaked me out," Loki turned around and looked down into her dark blue eyes. "You've seen what they look like… would you want to look on me like that?"
Natasha put a hand on his cheek and stared up into his eyes, "I love you no matter what you look like…I don't care. I'll stare into your eyes like this just the same."
"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Loki asked with a half-smile. "I went riding with Thor this morning and it was wonderful. I've always loved to ride and it had been so long. Would you like to ride with me?"
Natasha nodded, "I sure do and I would love to.
She smiled as he led her down to the royal stables. She gasped as she approached a white mare and began rubbing the creatures nose, "Hello lovely…can I take her?"
"You like 'Winter'… eh heh heh heh," Loki mused as he came to stand next to her. "She's a pretty horse. Unfortunately, she's just visiting, pet. It's kind of amusing actually that you would take note of her."
"Are you going riding, Loki? I was just going to go for a run myself. Father decided to stay on a few more days." Sigyn divulged as she came toward them. "Lady Natalia, was it? I see my horse has taken a liking to you."
Natasha tensed as she moved back away from the horse and smiled politely, "She's quite beautiful."
She looped her arm in Loki's and pressed a kiss to his lips, "So, where's my horse?"
"You have your choice, pet," Loki grinned down at her. "That chestnut mare is a sweet horse. Its named Arabella. The palimino is Frigga's, his name is Spitfire but don't let the name scare you off. I'll even let you ride my stallion if you want, little spider. He is the black one over there, Shadow."
"Are you sure, Loki, you remember how ornery he can be with a new rider," Sigyn offered in her lilting timber as she brushed her long blonde hair back off her shoulder.
Natasha rolled her eyes without looking at the woman behind her and kissed him again. She felt the need to mark her territory in front of the woman.
"Choose for me, my love. I trust you implicitly."
"Eh heh heh heh then Spitfire it is," Loki chuckled. He loved seeing her so possessive. "Saddle up Spitfire and Shadow," the young god commanded to the stable hand before adding with a devilish glint in his eyes. "And Winter, too, I believe."
"Yes, thank you, Loki," Sigyn remarked sweetly. "They always move so much faster when commanded by you. I asked them ten minutes ago and yet here she sits."
"That is the luxury of being from the house of Odin," Loki quipped with the barest of smiles.
"I think it has much more to do with you, Loki, you have a commanding presence… you always have regardless of what house you're from." Sigyn revealed as she smiled up at him.
Natasha raised a brow and cleared her throat, "Loki, would you mind if I could speak to you…in private?"
"Certainly, pet," Loki replied as his dark green eyes gazed down at the fiery red-head at his side."If you'll excuse us for a moment, Sigyn." He bowed slightly as he began to walk towards the farther edge of the stable yard. "What is it, darling?"
Natasha crossed her arms and playfully glared up at him, "I know what you're doing, mister…you're trying to make me jealous."
She pivoted her body so that her back was facing Sigyn and the stable boy. She placed her hand on his crotch and gave a gentle squeeze as she leaned up to nip a his ear, "It's working…"
"Valhalla," Loki groaned as he closed his eyes at the sensation of her hand against his loins. "It that what I'm doing? Eh heh heh heh, little spider, if you don't stop that I'm going to have to take you to one of those stables and have my way with you." His emerald eyes filled with devilment as his grin widened. "And then I'll be banned from the stable yard for the rest of my days and it will be all your fault, pet."
Natasha dragged her tongue up the side of his neck as she whispered huskily against his ear, her hand firmly massaging his hardening cock, "Ooooh…I think I'd like that. Take me into a stable, bend me over and fuck me like you're a wild stallion…let that bitch hear me scream your name while you spank me like the naughty girl I am…"
"The horses are ready, Your Royal Highness," the stableboy called from doorway of the barn. He handed off one rein to Sigyn while he continued to hold the other two in his hand awaiting the prince's response.
"Tie them to the post, I'll be there in a moment," Loki snapped at the intrusion. His body arching into her hand as she continued to rub against him. "You have a way with words, my darling," the young god smirked. He fisted his hand in her lush red curls as he pulled her head back slowly so that his dark emerald eyes were staring into her own. "I may just have to take you up on that, my pet… in fact, I think I insist."
"Good evening, my son," Odin stated coolly from his place a few feet away.
Natasha's eyes widened as she slowly moved her hand away from him and slowly turned around, hoping to shield the evidence of Loki's arousal by remaining in front of him for a few moments.
She cleared her throat and bowed slightly, "Hello your highness…"
"This is the last place I would expect to see you," Loki remarked as he shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes, I don't ride as often as I did when you were younger," Odin replied as he moved toward them. "But I do still like to ride. If it bothers you for me to be here when you are then I can go."
"It matters not to me either way," the young god remarked coolly. "Come, Natalia, the horses are ready."
"It seems like he really wants to talk to you, honey", she whispered as she moved toward her horse. "Give him a chance…if we move back to Midgard, this could be the last time you get the opportunity to make peace with him. I can tell he loves you. No, he's not a perfect parent, but then again, no one is. You deserve to feel anger and frustration and sadness toward him…but to close him off completely…you can't do that…please."
Loki sighed audibly while he patted his horse's mane as he watched Natasha mount her steed. "You are a difficult woman to refuse," he murmured as he gazed up at her before turning back toward the All-Father. "I was just going to take her for a quick ride through the plains of Ida. You are welcome to join us if you wish… Father."
"I would like that," Odin replied as the stable boy brought out his horse.
"You are going to love it, Lady Natalia. There is nothing more beautiful than the Asgardian countryside," Sigyn chimed in as she moved her horse towards them.
"Eh heh heh heh," Loki laughed outright as he swung up on top of his black stallion, pulling the animal close to Natasha's. "Isn't this just going to be a lovely ride for both of us, my little spider, eh heh heh heh."
Natasha smiled and glanced over at Sigyn before narrowing her eyes at Loki playfully, "I'm sure it'll be fun…"
She kicked her horse into a gallop as she left the stables, glancing back at him as her gowns flowed in the wind behind her. Natasha was trained in equestrian and had even won a few ribbons in her day, so getting back on a horse felt like coming back home for her.
Loki was impressed with how well she could ride as they galloped along the terrain, slowing down to a trot on their return trek to give the animals a little rest. Odin brought his stallion up along the young prince's right side and he noticed that Natasha slowed her palomino even further so she dropped back behind him.
"You and Thor are very different in many things but you are very much the same in your abiding loyalty and the depth of your hearts. Which you both got from your mother." the All-Father divulged. "If there is one thing that I wish for you to know, Loki, it is that I love you both the same. I loved you from the moment I held you in my arms and I couldn't love you more even if Frigga had given birth to you herself. I may not have always shown it in the best way. Sometimes I get so caught up being a King that I forget how to be a man."
"I'm not sure what you want me to say," Loki entreated as he tried to maintain a hold on his emotions as he listened to his fathers words.
"Nothing, my son, I just wanted you to hear it and hopefully one day you will know its true," Odin stated simply. Loki glanced to his right and he could see Natasha and Sigyn who seemed to be talking. He wondered about what.
Sigyn began asking Natasha about herself, but the red head remained tight lipped, expertly dodging certain questions as she kept her eyes trained on Loki and Odin.
"Lady Natalia…I heard you refer to Loki as 'my love'…are you two…" Natasha raised a brow at Sigyn, which immediately caused the Aesir woman to back track a bit, "Oh…oh, I didn't mean to pry. I just…I'm surprised that Odin would allow such a courtship since you're not…noble."
Natasha stopped her horse, "The heart wants what the heart wants Lady Sigyn…and Loki's heart wants me."
"Loki has always been a wild one. It's part of his charm," Sigyn revealed in her saccharinely sweet tone. "There have been many women who have caught his eye over the years. But when it comes to marriage a prince has certain responsibilities even Loki understands that."
Loki turned his horse and trotted back towards the two women as his Father followed behind. He wasn't sure what was being said but he had a feeling that the two of them had been alone long enough.
Natasha tensed and tightened her grip on her reigns before she kicked her horse and began galloping back toward the stables. She handed the reins to the stable boy and crossed her arms as she walked toward the entry to the palace to wait for Loki.
She didn't want to admit it, but what that bitch had said really bothered her. It was true…he was a prince and he had certain responsibilities to his kingdom. Now that Loki and Odin's relationship was in such a precarious position, she didn't want to be the cause for anymore strife in their delicate relationship.
Loki had barely road a foot before Natasha flew past him on her horse. His dark green eyes narrowed as he gazed back at Sigyn who was simply trotting along at a leisurely pace. The young god huffed as he turned his horse back in the direction of the stables and galloped off after her.
The young prince caught up with her just as she reached the entrance way to the palace. "Natalia, wait up."
Natasha waited at the entrance for him with arms crossed as she turned her head downwards and kicked her foot across a rock, "She's a bitch, but she's right…"
Loki's emerald eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed and his lips were pursed in irritation. "What did Sigyn say to you? What has you so upset."
Natasha shook her head, "You're…you're a prince, Loki. Regardless of the family drama you have going on, you are a prince of this…amazing place, and you have a responsibility to the people and your family to choose a wife who is more than a skanky Midgardian killer with a dubious past…"
"What? Tell me she did not call you that? Did she call you that?" Loki seethed angrily as his hands balled into fists at his side. "My life is my own. I do what I want."
"She didn't call me that…she just mentioned that it's likely I'm just another one of your flings and there's no way in hell you could ever be serious about me because you're a prince and you have standards and responsibilities…"
Natasha sighed, "I don't want to cause any more problems between you and your father…but I know that if you want us to stay here, we're going to have to figure out a way for him to approve of us."
"I don't need his approval for anything," Loki insisted as he captured a loose curl around his fingers. "And you're not a fling, my darling, you know that."
"I know that, of course…but what am I, exactly? Do you have girlfriends in Asgard?" she asked despondently as she pulled on her fingers.
"What do you mean? Darling, you're the woman that I love that's who you are," Loki replied soothingly as he took her hands in his. "Sigyn was just trying to get under your skin. Ignore her. She doesn't matter to me."
"I know…I know you love me. I just…what is this. What is my title to you? Am I your girlfriend? Your intended? Do you want to marry me one day?"
"I intend on spending the rest of my days with you, Natalia," Loki answered softly. "I thought I made that pretty clear when I told you that I couldn't live without you. When I promised I would never leave you and I would never let you leave me, little spider."
Natasha smiled and gently kissed him as she looked up into his eyes, "Well…I'm not immortal…but I'll stick around as long as I can."
On their way into the palace they were caught by Frigga who requested their presence on the evenings banquet. Loki had no desire to be a part any gatherings at all, least of all a royal banquet. His mother looked on with a pleading look in her eyes which gave him pause but it was the sweet blue eyes of the red-head at his side that told him that he had no other choice but to say yes. She wanted him to make amends with his family.
Loki stood in front of the full length mirror in nothing but his slacks while Natasha was in the bath chamber getting ready. He looked at his image intently. How was he doing it? He needed to know. If it was in his power than he needed to understand it. To not be afraid of it. He concentrated on his reflection when suddenly he felt the slight chill in his hands. The young god gazed at the mirror as the color began to rise up his skin, along his arms, his bare abdomen. He stood there frozen as the dark crimson eyes gazed back at him through the glass.
