The next week passed in near silence for Niya. She saw Thor in passing, but decided it would be best for everyone if she spent some time by herself. Loki was even less present in her life, seeming to be avoiding her. Occasionally she thought she saw him from the corner of her eye in the library or slipping around the corner in the halls. When they ate dinners, they sat next to each other, exchanging only terse pleasantries. He'd abandoned their practices, leaving Niya to move through the steps he taught her on her own. The routine dulled without him, and she found her mind wandering. Her steps and turns lacked strength and intent, and soon she stopped practicing altogether. Instead she spent her days in the gardens, reading. She fell into the rhythm easily, and it soon felt as if she were back home.
One afternoon, she sat reading in the gardens, but couldn't focus on the story. A short distance away, she heard children laughing and screaming. She shut her book and stood to find out what was happening. The trail curved around a copse of trees and she stopped. In a clearing of grass she saw a group of two boys and three girls running after each other, kicking a ball between them. Loki shouted encouragement to them as he chased the ball with them. One of the girls kicked it to him and he stopped it with his toes before kicking it to another. Each one of them were laughing and panting. One of the boys got hold of the ball and kicked it towards one end of the clearing. Loki intercepted it, and all the children chased after him. He let them tackle him, declaring them all the winner.
Niya watched with a smile, clutching the book to herself, leaning against a tree. So he did laugh. It was refreshing for her to see that Loki wasn't dramatic all the time. If only she could bring out this happier side of him. Perhaps then he'd be easier to be around.
"Great game!" Loki said. "Unfortunately, I must say goodbye." The children chorused their displeasure. "Oh, you all will do just fine without me." Loki pulled himself to his feet. The children waived after him.
Niya's heart skipped when she saw he was walking towards her, and she hid behind the tree. She peeked around the corner just as he passed by. A twig snapped under her toe, and he glanced back. Niya practically held her breath, pressed against the tree trunk, until she heard his steps fade entirely.
"This is ridiculous," she whispered to herself as she stepped back onto the path. She felt so childish for hiding in the trees to avoid Loki, and she glanced around to be certain no one saw her stepping from her hiding spot. The entire situation made her feel childish. Avoiding each other wouldn't solve anything. They needed to have a genuine conversation where they both laid bare their insecurities and thoughts. And if he refused, at least she'd have done so.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she headed down the path in the same direction as Loki. It led her back to the castle. She stepped into the cool hall that she now knew led directly to the throne room. She walked past the archway, stopping when she heard Frigga call her name, and backtracked to join the conversation. Loki stood with his mother, and stiffened when he saw Niya.
"I'm glad to have spotted you," Frigga said with a smile. "You've been so scarce lately, I wondered if I might have the chance to tell you the news."
"News?"
"Yes, you father is coming for a visit."
Panic drained her of all color. "Why would my father come here?"
"While I'm sure he misses you, he and Odin have matters to discuss. He arrives this afternoon, and there'll be a ball in his honor. I've had a gown brought to your chambers for the evening."
Niya stood in shock. "How long will he be here?"
"Not more than a day or two. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few matters of my own I must attend to." She hurried away, leaving Niya alone with Loki.
"I'm sure you'll be glad to see your father," he said.
"This is terrible, Loki," she answered. "He's just checking on me to be certain I'm following through with his plan. He wants to see that you and I are well on our way to a quick wedding."
"He can't dictate your life, Niya."
"But he'll certainly try. And the sooner you and I marry, the sooner he'll gain access to Asgard's resources and riches. We're nothing but a means to an end for him."
Loki's brow furrowed. "Is he why you've been pushing me away?"
"What?"
"You're afraid your father will get what he wants?"
"No. My father has nothing to do with how I feel for you."
"My Lord," a servant called. "Your father requests your presence."
"I can't deal with this right now, Niya." He strode away.
…
Niya's father arrived with minimal fanfare, as it was short notice, but still the people of Asgard gathered on the docks. They cheered his arrival while Niya tried to stay out of his sight. He merely glanced at her as he passed, distracted by conversation with Odin. She was glad to see that she was sat out of polite conversation range from him at dinner, but still found it difficult to enjoy the feast spread before her. She moved the food around her plate, ignoring Loki at her side. Before long, the feasting ended, and people began partnering on the dance floor. Niya remained sat beside Loki and let her mind wander while staring vaguely in the direction of Thor and Lady Sif dancing. She started when her father sat down beside her.
"It's good to see you, Niya," he said.
"And you, Father." She took a sip of wine, inspecting the goblet, all too aware of his eyes studying her.
"I see Asgard hasn't left you unscathed." His gaze lingered over her pink scar over her eyebrow.
"It was just a scratch." She refused to look at her father.
"It doesn't suit you." He drank deeply from his own goblet. "What self-respecting prince is going to want to marry a damaged woman?"
Her stomach dropped and metallic rage flooded her mouth. She set her goblet back to the table a touch too forcefully. "Perhaps one that prefers a warrior." She set her iciest glare on her father.
He sighed. "I thought we were past that obsession, Niya. We'd agreed no more swords or weapons. You're a princess, now act like one."
"You have no authority to control me."
"As your father, and your king, I disagree." The rumble of his voice remained steady, almost disinterested.
"I beg your pardon," Loki cut in, "but you are not king of Asgard."
"Nor is she Asgardian," her father shot back.
Loki moved closer to Niya. "Not yet, but she does reside within Asgardian walls."
Niya looked up at Loki pleadingly. "Please, don't."
But Loki continued. "While she's here, she will be treated as Asgardian. And while she's here, you have no command over her. She is not your property, my lord, but rather your daughter."
"You think you're being courageous, but you're nothing but talk. It's both luck and a curse that it's your name on her wrist. You'll never amount to more than this agreement with your father."
Niya growled. "Will you two stop fighting? I can handle this on my own, Loki." She turned to her father. "I don't care what you say or do, you will never benefit from my actions."
"But of course I will. You're marriage to this cur secures an alliance between the kingdoms. And you wouldn't be here if I hadn't sent you." He shot her a smug grin over his goblet.
"I would have come here to get away from you!" She was trembling with rage. "You are nothing to me!"
"I gave you life." He curled his fingers around the goblet, wringing the stem. "Without me, you wouldn't exist."
"I would have been better off if you hadn't." Niya's voice dropped low. "If you think that gives you the right to control me, you're wrong."
He cocked an eyebrow. "You say that, but have I ever hurt you?" His eyes went again to the scar on her eyebrow. "You've been here mere months and already you're marred."
"You kept me locked away in a box to keep me pristine! You're a vain, old fool. I'm not marred because of my scars. They exist because I've been allowed to live."
"They exist because he," he glared at Loki, "allowed you to get hurt."
"No, I'm alive because he saved me." Niya rose to her feet, Loki following at her side. "Don't ever talk to me again." She strode towards the towering doors.
Loki caught her arm, stopping her. "Please let me go," she said.
"We can leave, but it seems like a terrible waste of a party," he answered.
"I'm not in the mood."
Loki huffed. "I've known my share of disagreements with my father. Odin and I don't exactly get along, if you hadn't noticed."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "At least he doesn't loathe you."
He licked his lips, keeping silent for a moment. In the background, the music changed to a slow tune led by violins. "I feel like we should dance at least once this evening. Try to enjoy ourselves." She glanced to the dance floor. "If after one dance you're not enjoying yourself, we can leave."
She bit at the corner of her lower lip. "Fine. One dance."
He led her to the dance floor, hand in hand, people stepping aside to make room, and she hooked her arms around his neck. They stood, uncertain, while everyone moved around them. "Do you know the steps?" she asked.
"I've got to be honest, dancing was never my forte." He grinned sheepishly. "Luckily, I'm really good at making things up."
Niya shook her head and stepped out of Loki's arms. "I'm sorry. This just feels so ridiculous. What's the point?"
"The point," he grabbed her hands in his, "is to drown out all the terrible things your father said."
She frowned. "I wish I could." She pulled her hands free. "I know I promised you a dance, but I'm sorry." She turned shoved her way between the dancing crowd, and headed out to the balcony. Luckily it was empty. The night air caressed her bare arms like silk. She leaned on the rail, watching the city lights sparkle below, glittering off the lake.
Loki leaned on the rail at her side, their arms brushing. "I get it."
"Get what?"
"Wanting to escape all this. Hating your father. Wanting his acceptance regardless of everything."
Niya turned to face him. The silver moonlight caught in his hair. A swirl of confessions danced on her tongue, but none of them felt right to say. In the moonlight, he looked just as broken as she felt, and she knew this wasn't just about her. "Thank you for being there. For defending me against my father. For saving me."
Loki turned to face her as well. "I hardly did a thing. You won the battle against your father. You saved yourself in Vanaheim."
Niya shook her head. "That's not what I mean." She took a deep breath, unsure of herself. "I mean on our first adventure, with that sea monster…whatever it was."
"Niya, I—"
"Thor told me. I would have drowned without you, and all I've done is push you away." She frowned, looking at her hands instead of Loki. "I'm not good at letting people in, or even just talking. It's easier to blame you, to yell at you. I don't know who I'm supposed to be, or how to act around you, or Thor, or your mother, or even Lady Sif."
"Thor and my mother adore you," Loki said. "In their eyes, you can do no wrong. As for Lady Sif," he shrugged, "she really only gets on with Thor. She's used to being the only woman around, and you threaten that balance she's known all her life."
She nodded, still not looking up at Loki. He cupped her chin in his palm so she'd look at him.
"As for me, you never have to hide or pretend. All I ask is that you let me in."
She cupped her hand over Loki's. "I can only promise to try."
During their conversation, they'd moved close together, leaving only space for a breath between them. She could no longer tell if it was her heart racing or his against her chest. Her eyes fell to his lips, and she imagined what they'd taste like. All she had to do was perch on her tiptoes to find out. She glanced up again to see Loki watching her, and her breath caught. He bent towards her.
"There you are!" Thor called.
Niya's head snapped in his direction, and Loki rested his forehead against her temple. "Thor," she said, breathy.
"You're missing a fantastic party," he said, grinning. His gaze moved between her and his brother, and he gasped. "Oh, no. I'm interrupting! I'm terribly sorry. I'll just be on my way."
"No, it's alright. We were, um…just talking," Niya said.
Loki stepped away from her. "I thought you were dancing with Lady Sif?"
"Well, I was," Thor answered. "But then I thought I'd steal Niya for a dance or two."
"I'd like that," she said. She glanced at Loki before moving towards Thor.
Loki's jaw clenched as he fought to swallow his irritation. "Perhaps I'll find Sif and see if she'll have a dance with me."
Thor laughed. "Not likely, but it'd be hilarious to see you try. Someone called her 'dainty' on the dance floor, and now she's in a mood."
Loki arched an eyebrow. "Was it you?"
Thor blanched. "I was just trying to describe her dancing. It was meant as a compliment."
Niya laughed. "Well you can call me 'dainty' all you like, and I won't be mad at you for it. I do have to warn you, though, I'm a terrible dancer."
