"Um, wow. Yeah. I can see why he would be mad," Emily sat on Frigga's bed while she explained the story of Loki's parenthood.
"But that is no excuse for him to have destroyed your home," Frigga said softly.
Emily grinned. "Oh, it's not my home. I live in Wales. It's a good way away from New York. The closest I ever got to the New York mess was the telly. Plenty of excitement for those Yankees, but us Brits got to hear about the disaster from the safety of our flats."
Frigga frowned at this haphazard explanation, but before she could inquire further, a knock came at the bedchamber door. Frigga opened it, as Emily craned for a glimpse of the visitor.
"Of course! Come in," Mika strode in, a golden garment draped over one arm. She looked at Emily skeptically, as if sizing her up.
"So, you are the one?"
"Uh, yes, I suppose that would be me. The one what?" Emily asked.
"You have the whole realm in an uproar. See, never before has there been a Midgardian in Asgard. You coming here on accident is somewhat surprising," Mika's voice was hard.
'Yeah, well, thanks, but all I want is to go home," Emily crossed her legs, smiling at Mika.
"Many of us share your sentiment," Mika frowned. "Unfortunately, right now, that is impossible. Loki has requested you dine with him tonight," she tossed the golden garment at Emily. "You should dress like a proper Asgardian if you are to dine with our king."
Emily held the garment up, staring at the Asgardian evening gown she held. "I'm grateful. But I'd rather not. Your 'king' doesn't give the best first impressions. He looked at me like I was a mouse and he the hawk. I don't care to 'dine' with a guy like that."
"It wasn't a question," Mika said harshly. "My queen, will you assist her? She may not know how to wear Asgardian clothes."
Frigaa led Emily behind the changing screen in the corner. Emily frowned at the leather corset and complicated crisscrossing metal plates. "I'm supposed to wear this?"
Frigga smiled gently. "It is simpler if you take it one step at a time. First, put this on," she pulled a simple golden slip from the mess.
Emily removed her Midgardian clothes an pulled on the slip. Next, Frigga handed her a golden dress that was as light as a feather. Emily pulled it on easily, but balked at the corset. "You're kidding."
"I do not jest, Emily," Frigga said gently. "Here, allow me to assist you," Emily stood awkwardly while Frigga laced the corset. Then she helped Emily strap the bracers on. Finally, she reached into a small wooden box and brought out a gold circlet. She placed it gently on Emily's head, smiling. "There. Now you look like a proper Asgardian."
Emily glanced at herself in the looking glass and gasped. "Is that me?"
"My dear, that is certainly you," Frigga kissed her hand. "You are beautiful."
Emily smiled and stepped from behind the screen, twirling. The dress fell to her knees in front, but brushed the middle of her thighs in the back. Mika scowled. "Hurry, you mustn't keep the king waiting."
"Barefoot?" Emily questioned.
Frigga considered a moment before nodding. "Yes. I think that would be best."
Emily threw her arms around Frigga. "Thank you so much!"
Frigga smiled gently. "You mustn't keep him waiting. I believe in you. If anyone can reach him, it is you."
Mika scowled harder. Who was this girl? "Follow me," Mika stepped out the door without checking to see if Emily was following. She was.
"You know, I never caught your name. I'm Emily," Emily had caught up with Mika and walked in stride with her.
"Mika," Mika said gruffly.
"Well, Mika, if I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't like me," Emily smiled.
Mika stopped in her tracks. "There's more at work here that you know, mortal. You think everything's fine, but it isn't. Your appearance only makes things worse."
"Worse? Mika, is that jealousy I hear? Just so you know, I never asked for any of this! I should be at home!" Mika turned away, but Emily could see she'd hit a nerve. She made a flash decision to press it. "Don't worry about me taking your precious Loki! I don't want anything to do with a stuck up king!"
"You don't get it!" Mika spun around, furious.
"I think I do. You're jealous-"
"Just shut up!" Mika screamed. She turned and led Emily through the palace to the dining hall, neither breaking the silence. Mika brooded, considering whether it would be possible to kill the girl then and there. She could lie and say the girl had attacked her, that it had been in self-defence. But Mika doubted Loki would believe her. He saw through deception easier than most.
"Enjoy your meal," Mika said as Emily entered the dining hall. It could be your last.
Emily wondered at the dining hall. It was huge. A large, gold dome rose overhead. A rich fire crackled in a hearth to the right, and the back wall was missing entirely, opening out onto a terrace. Candles burned all around the room, the only source of light beside the fire. She had been expecting a table the size of a bus, but was surprised to find a small table in the center of the room. A table perfect for two people. Was it to be only them? Emily was suddenly terrified. She had never dined with royalty before.
That was when she saw him. He had lost the strange horned helm he'd been wearing when she arrived, and it seemed he looked younger. In her opinion, her looked more like a king now than he had before.
She dropped to one knee.
She could hear footsteps as he approached, but she didn't look up. She was ashamed. He was royalty, and what was she? She was nothing. A peasant. She was unworthy.
A hand appeared in her vision. It was a beautiful hand. A king's hand. Cautiously, she looked up to see him smiling at her. "Come."
She took his hand, and he lifted her to her feet. He made no comment on her dress, but led her to the table. He pulled the chair out for her, and she sat, still feeling very uncomfortable. He took his seat, and held her gaze until she was forced to look away. His green eyes were piercing, as if they could see into her very soul.
A pair of servants entered then, carrying steaming bowls of soup. These were placed before them, and then the servants retreated. Loki seemed to expect her to begin eating first, so she dropped her eyes and tasted the soup, all too aware of his piercing gaze.
The soup was incredible. It was unlike anything she'd ever had on Earth. It was full of flavor, and yet somehow light, as if she weren't really eating at all. Her surprise must have shown on her face, because Loki chuckled.
"Not what you were expecting, Midgardian princess?"
"I- uh, I- no!" Emily spluttered. "Not what I was expecting. No."
Loki nodded. "Midgard's food is much too heavy. You have nothing that compares to our fare."
Emily nodded, then set her spoon down. "Look, I appreciate all this, but why? Why didn't you just throw me in your dungeons like you were going to?"
"You intrigue me, Emily. The minute you stop intriguing me, I will kill you. So speak carefully."
Emily swallowed hard, suddenly losing her appetite. The rest of the meal passed in a blur. Emily ate little and talked much, but carefully, carefully. She was speaking to save her life. Inside, she was still reeling. She was in a strange land, where a stranger threatened to kill her if she no longer entertained him. She wanted nothing more than to go home.
When the meal was over, Loki stood and again offered her his hand. She no longer saw it as beautiful. She wondered how many others there had been. How much blood was on those hands? She took his hand to please him, but inside she was tembling. What had she gotten herself into?
He led her out of the dining hall, back toward his mother's quarters. "Thank you for being my guest, Emily," he said when they got to Frigga's door. "I shall expect you to join me again tomorrow."
Emily nodded, but no longer had the heart to speak. She entered the bedchambers without another word.
She shut the door and pressed against it, pulling the gold circlet from her head. A few tugs sent the bracers tumbling to the floor, and she slumped, all her energy suddenly gone. She stared at her warped reflection in the circlet, and the day came crashing down around her. She began to cry.
Softly at first, and then giant, heaving sobs that wracked her body. She wanted to go home. To be safe in her flat in Wales, where there was no insane king threatening to kill her, no strange names. Nothing unfamiliar. She longed to return, to feel the warmth of her boyfriend Tom's arms around her. He would know what to do. He always did. He would hold her and tell her that Loki couldn't touch her. That she was safe. But Tom wasn't here. Who knew if she would even see him again? At this point, she doubted if she would ever see her home again. She was doomed to die among strangers, in a strange land.
So Emily wept. She wept because it was the only familiar thing in this place. She wept because she had lost everything else.
