Chapter 13
"Alright let's see it." Loki stopped beside the cell that had been assigned to us both and set a hand against the wards. "All the magic's in working order, no trickery so far." He winced and pulled his hand back. "Go on then." He still couldn't look directly at me instead staring just over my shoulder.
My eyebrow raised, I couldn't help it. "Why the sarcasm? You've seen me do it before." Licking my lips I stepped up to the wall and closed my eyes. The feeling of warmth that swelled in my breast and then spread through my limbs was becoming easier to control and it only took a few minutes for me to open my eyes. "Would you like me just to hold when I put an arm through so you can examine me?" I flicked my gazed over to him and caught him staring, a tiny smile finding its way onto my lips.
"If you think you can." It took a moment for me to realize he was playing with me and I chuckled thrusting my arm up to my elbow through the glass. The golden symbols flowed around my flesh as though they were made of water and I went to returned his smirk. "Ah, damn!" Loki covered his eyes and stumbled backwards, palms pressed against his lids.
"Brother what's wrong?" Thor was by his side in a flash and I wasn't far behind. Thor grabbed his shoulder and back to help keep him upright, awkwardly I folded my arms tightly across my chest and grabbed my elbows.
"Loki are you alright?" I didn't move towards him, I could still feel the power buzzing in my head and if he reacted this strongly to just seeing it I didn't want to risk what would happen if I touched him.
"I'm fine." He straightened and blinkingly pushed Thor away. "I'm fine Thor let me go. I just didn't expect it to be that bright."
"Bright?" I pulled a hand back and looked at it. It looked no different than usual and certainly not bright.
"Try again, I'm ready this time." I could see his shoulders set as though getting ready to be punched and nervously stepped back up to the glass. With a sigh I set my hand against it and slowly eased my fingertips through, working my way across the back of my hand and up my wrist before stopping at my elbow again. "What are you doing?" Loki's voice made my head turn and I could see his shoulders slightly lower as though it didn't hurt as much as he'd expected.
"You said it was bright, but it wasn't bright. The only thing I can think that happened was that I moved too quickly… So I slowed it down this time." I wriggled my fingers on the other side of the ward and eased up to my shoulder. "Is it still blinding?"
He frowned and stepped up running a cold finger across the skin of my shoulder that remained outside the barrier, his hand stopping when it came in contact with it. "No, it's not." For a moment he closed his eyes and I looked to Thor who shook his head and motioned for me to be quiet. It took a few seconds to feel it but there was something I can only describe as a dissonance between the energies around me. It started simply enough, just a buzzing but the feel of it worked its way into my bones until it was almost painful and I swatted his hand away.
"Stop that! It hurts." His eyes shot open in surprise and both he and Thor stared at me.
"Tell me exactly what it felt like." Loki's green eyes bored into mine and I found myself stumbling over the explanation of the feeling it had given me. Saying nothing his expression turned thoughtful and he stepped away back down the stairs. "Go ahead and drop your arm. I've got enough to start with and I'll need to do some research before we try anything else. This is a type of magic I'm not familiar with and I don't want to burn you out. Besides-" He turned to look at me with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "If I solve this too quickly you'll leave."
I could feel the blush heat up my cheeks and I pulled my arms back around my chest, hoisting the green shawl tighter around me. "You're a mean one Laufeyson." I stepped down ignoring the jeers of the men across from us and walked around in front of Loki.
"But I could be so much worse." He purred at me as I moved past making me trip over my own feet. Shooting him a withering glance I turned away again, trying hard to push down just how much I wanted to touch him. For brief second the scene at the lake filled my mind and my breath disappeared as I remembered how he had looked soaking wet and naked, then the image vanished again and I pressed a hand against the flames on my cheeks.
"I'm… I'm sure you could." I said finally, praying that it hadn't been too long since he had said those words. "But we have a party to get to." I set a smirk on my lips and I winked at him before sweeping up the stairs on the other end of the chamber.
"Brother what have you gotten yourself into this time?" I could hear Thor's voice even as I neared the top of the steps and paused for a moment.
"Something entertaining." Loki's tone sent shivers up my spine and I hurried ahead, halfway down the hall before they'd even started walking up the stairs. The few moments I had to myself I held precious and I used them to get my fluttering heart back under control. That man was entirely unfair, his mere existence meant that I'd have to guard myself every moment I wasn't sleeping and quite possibly some of the time I was. "There you are." My eyes opened and I found myself drowning in green.
I opened my mouth to say something and closed it when he laid a finger against my lips. "Thor's still a bit behind. So while I have you to myself answer me this. Why do you wear those colors?" I frowned.
"Is that why you haven't been looking at me? You don't like my choice of color?" I brought the wrap up and glanced at it.
"He's coming. Please-" The note of pain in that word made my sarcastic response die on my lips and I looked at him again. "Tell me."
"The gold of grain for the harvest and the green of summer trees, those have always been my favorite colors." I met his eyes, my chest squeezing painfully. "And they look lovely on you too." I hadn't meant to make him uncomfortable but his eyes narrowed and stepped back.
"There is no need for you make a jest at my expense…"
The soft growl on my lips was cut off as I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him close, pressing my lips against his in a desperate attempt to stop his thoughts.
"You're infuriating Laufeyson." I whispered against the kiss and lightly pushed him away as I heard Thor's boot-falls approach.
"There you two are. You should not run so far ahead. Father will think you're plotting." Thor put his arm around each of our shoulders and steered us towards the great hall all while laughing.
"My oath was not to leave his home without you, not to stay within sight range." I replied jokingly and gave him a light push. "Speaking of which, I've got to run and take care of some girl business. I'll meet you at the feast alright?" I stepped out of the blonds grasp and without waiting for an answer ran back in the direction of my room, catching the faintest hint of a blush against Loki's cheeks as I went.
. . .
I slammed the door of my room shut and fell against them, sliding to the floor as my knees gave way. "Oh gods I can't believe I did that." I ran my fingers through my hair forgetting until too late that it was done up in a plait. With a grumble I undid the tie and pulled it all loose. "What the hell was I thinking?" With a growl I scrambled off my feet and into the bathroom, splashing my face with water until the roses that bloomed on my cheeks faded. "I'm such an idiot." Raising my fist I went to bring it down against the mirror, managing to stop just before it hit the glass. "Damn it…he really is unfair." With a sigh I dried my face and loosely redid the plait before leaving the room.
. . .
"There you are!" Thor's voice boomed across the entire room and the quiet entrance I had hoped for quickly vanished. Every eye in the room turned to look at me, row upon row of men in armor stared as if waiting for me to make a move.
"Damn." The word was a ghost on my lips but there was nothing to be done now but own my introduction. Straightening my shoulders I lifted my chin and strode out into the room. "Sorry I'm late, personal matters to attend to." Each head turned as I walked by until I came up behind Thor's shoulder and swept my dress under my legs. "And you have a terrible sense of discretion." I hissed into the large mans ear as I sat.
He at least had the decency to duck his head and blush as though ashamed and I found myself laughing. "I suppose I could not avoid it forever. There would have been wagging tongues aplenty if a strange maide…woman sat amongst you without you acknowledging her." I winked and his faked sympathy faded away into laughter.
The seat to my right was empty and I had thought it to remain so but it seemed as though the fates were not done with toying with me this evening. While my attention was fully on the introduction of the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three by Thor I felt the heat of another body sit down next to me. I could see the others except for the prince stiffen and I closed my eyes and exhaled.
"Am I to guess that there is a man of raven hair and a voice that could charm the moon down from the sky sitting behind me?" My eyes opened again and I turned to look, catching the happy grin that Thor was failing to conceal as I did.
"What lovely words you say." Loki grasped my hand and locked eyes with me, the benches making it all too simple for him to press his knee against mine under the table. "But I wonder how quickly that wit could flee you."
I ran my tongue along my teeth and smirked at him. "What a honeyed tongue you have, it leaves me to wonder how sweet you could be." I took my hand back away from him and moved my leg away, reaching across the table to grab some of the food before me. The others sat in silence for a moment. I could see the confusion and some small level of disgust flicker across their faces.
"Tell me Sif. You're the only woman I see sitting at these tables besides myself. How'd you find yourself in such company?" I leveled an even smile at the black haired beauty across from me. I could see the moment her look of confusion melted and she launched into the story of how she forced her way into the ranks of the warriors. I felt myself smile as I listened to her, turning every detail over in my mind so that I would remember it. I nearly forgot to eat until I felt an elbow from my right gently push me. Turning my head enough to see him I watched him nod towards the food.
"Leave the poor girl alone Loki." Sif's voice was harsh and I looked back at her holding up my hand.
"The man is just reminding me that eating before the food grows cold is probably a good idea." I said and laughed setting the others at ease as I did. Breaking a hunk of bread apart with my fingers I turned my eyes to the blond with shorter hair. "Fandral wasn't it?" He nodded and stood, leaning across the table to kiss the fingers of the hand I had offered for a shake.
"Indeed my lady. I-"
"I happened to see quite the lovely looking weapon at your hip. When did you first start learning swordplay?" I smiled suggestively and began eating the small pieces of bread I had torn. I could feel Loki stiffen next to me and without moving my attention from the man of whom I had asked my question I shifted my leg to press against his. After some coughing and sputtering on his ale Fandral began the story of how he had started to learn the art as a young child.
It didn't take me more than a few questions to draw stories out about each of their lives, with each passing word the stress that seemed to have settled on them when Loki sat evaporated until the five of us were laughing. Even Loki let out the occasional soft chuckle as though he were afraid anything louder would remind them of his presence.
"Have you even tried the drink here?" Volstagg asked and slid a stein over to me without waiting for the answer. "Go on then, it'll be good for you."
"I- I'm not going to be able to get out of this will I?" I laughed and grabbed the handle, praying that it wasn't too much stronger than beer back on earth. Volstagg shook his head and gave a great roaring laugh as I put the stein to my lips and drew mouthful after mouthful of the bitter liquid down my throat until the mug was empty. "Tada! Now I've tried it." I said and set the container back down, grinning despite myself.
"And?"
"And… I think I could probably stand to drink more." I met his gaze with a level one of my own.
"HA! A maiden after my own heart." The giant of a man laughed and gave a wave to a man who brought over a platter full of drinks.
"Not a maiden for many a year." I said quietly, taking the offered glass and tilting it towards him before beginning to drink again. Behind them a man came up to say something and I set down the mug and quickly looked to Loki. "If my tongue starts getting too loose get me out of here."
"So I should make you leave now?" He eyed me with a gleaming smile.
My eyes narrowed and I turned away from him and set a hand on Thor's shoulder instead. "If I start acting like a fool will you bring me back to my room?"
"Of course." The answer was simple with him and I flashed a devious grin towards Loki.
"Wonderful. Now it's time to really get started." I brought the stein to my lips and finished off. Grinning as another two were pushed towards me by both Volstagg and Sif.