Chapter 12.
"What right do you believe you had in striking Lilliana and then threatening her with my son in such a way Raithbourne?" Loki demanded, glaring at the man from the throne. The head of The Council laughed back, the response dripping with far too much sarcasm and hatred for his liking. Loki curled his hand into a fist, fighting back the urge to stand and strike the man himself.
"She is not Asgardian, it is even to debate if she is fully Midgardian as well. Lilliana cannot serve as Queen by the condition of her binding to you, you are aware of this yourself. The idea that you care for her still, after her recent behavior, is amusing as well. She should be cast off from you and begging in the streets, that worm of an infant declared a bastard." Raithbourne said, angering Loki further. The man was arrogant and foolish, the conversation he shared in private with Lilliana on his mind as well. The man in front of him could not be trusted, and he was also looking for any slight that could be considered Treason. Images of her in is mind, her cheek pressed against the block as the ax man did his terrible work. Loki mentally shuddered at the thought that haunted him, yet he was still sure that Raithbourne would make him watch her die.
"She is Queen, by all rights of such a marriage. Odin decreed it himself, and I intend to honor his wishes. You will pay her the respect that she is due, and will not take it upon yourself to correct her. Am I understood?" Loki said, his demeanor calm as he stood and descended the steps from the throne toward the man. Internally, he was thinking of ways to gut the horrible Councilman. Wanting to see him scream for his final minutes, just so he could have some semblance of revenge on him.
"My son will remain in her care as well, she is very fit as a mother to him and I am angered by this foolishness that she would be found in deficiency in that respect. I have said it, and it will be so." He ordered, finishing his statement to the now diminished man.
"I never thought a woman would leave you so meek Loki. You were raised to be a King, not a servant to a spoiled little girl that was once a stray on the streets of Midgard." Raithbourne replied, Loki glaring at him. His anger at the slight showing, but he still remained calm externally. He realized quickly what Raithbourne was attempting to do, and let out a silent breath.
"I am honored to serve such a woman who has given me a healthy son. Perhaps if you paid such attentions to your wives, two of them would not have died in childbirth and the last would not have shunned you so. I hear she still lives in that Country Estate alone, rather than have the company of you or you son or daughter." Loki shot back, smiling at the man. His gold armor shining as he walked forward, and his helm steady. Raithbourne did not miss the insult, but he openly showed no anger at it. Instead, the old man shifted on his feet and glared back at Loki. He walked past The Councilman, showing him no respect whatsoever.
"She is only a woman." Raithbourned replied and smiled, looking for anything to provoke his now King.
"A woman I heard you had grown weary of, a woman you also wished dead not more than a day ago." He said and Loki turned on him. He laughed at the man, knowing that he was digging for any insult against her that he could find. A Paige entered the Hall with a wooden chest, bowing and holding it out for him to inspect the contents of. Loki motioned for the boy to wait a moment and returned his attentions to Raithbourne, his entire countenance changing.
"She may just be a woman to you, but she is my world to me. Think of that before you insult her or mock her in my presence." Loki hissed and motioned the boy forward. He inspected the contents of the chest and smiled, the gift inside pleasing him greatly. It was perfect and would suit Lilliana, a small thing meant to delight the woman and to show that she was still his.
"Leave it, I shall deliver it myself." Loki said, returning to the throne. His cape billowing as he sat down, and he waved a hand to dismiss Raithbourne. The Councilman bowed and left without another word, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Flashes of a nightmare came back to him, Lilliana in chains and rags, her body being forced down to a block and an ax bluring to do its swift work. He blinked them away and stood quietly, walking over to the chest and lifting it in both hands. He walked out of the hall, regarding no one as he moved but passing many. Another Paige approaching him in a hurry and bowing, his face drawn but filled with some hope.
"Yes boy." Loki said quickly, pausing to hear what he had to say.
"My King. Lady Eloynne will live, but she is still weak. Thor is still fighting the poison however, and his state is perilous. He will require more rest to recover the effects, it is unknown when he will wake." The boy said, Loki looked at the messenger and thought briefly about Thor.
"Thank you for the news, see that Lady Eloynne and Thor are protected until they recover. I am on my own errand at the moment, I trust you to deliver my message appointing Volstagg to the task of their protection." Loki said and the Paige bowed.
"Yes My King. I will deliver it at once." The Paige said and left, allowing Loki to walk a familiar path alone. His thoughts his own as he moved, following the halls and arriving a a particular set of doors he was extremely fond of. However it was not the doors themselves that he held in esteem, but the two beings that dwelled behind him that brought him joy.
The two guards holding their post loyally to the woman and child beyond, saluted him as he approached. One of them holding up an hand and opening the door for him to pass, after checking the hall for anyone who would try to force their way in as he entered.
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I couldn't sleep so I paced my rooms, rearranging things on the shelves and trying to put my nervous energy to work. I picked up Aulder and cradled him to me for a while, humming and walking around as the unaware baby slept on. My thoughts were all a mess, and I was so confused about everything going on. I had never felt so alone or lost in my life until then, afraid that my whole world was still crumbling and falling away.
I eventually got tired of the pacing and I put on my shift to lay down on the bed, resting my son next to me as I cooed at him. A Guard announced himself, telling me that they were ordered for my safety. I nodded at him before he left to take his post, settling back again and returning all my attention to Aulder. I wanted to keep him close to me until everything was over, and I put a pillow between me and him so I would not roll on him as I slept. I lay on my back against the pillows and my eyes began to feel heavy when the door opened again, Loki walking in with a chest. I hid the locket under my shift and sat up, picking up the baby and cradling him. I was still afraid that someone would take him away, and even more afraid not that Loki and I were going to fight more.
"He grows larger every time I see him." Loki said and looked down at the baby I held close to me.
"He will be taller than me soon." I said, smiling at him and trying to be funny despite everything running through my head. Loki chuckled to himself, removing his horned helm and setting it on my desk. He held his hands out for the baby and I shook, giving him his son and he smiled down at him.
"He is wonderful." Loki replied and pointed at the chest he brought with him. "Brought you a gift, I hope you find it pleasing."
"What did I do to deserve a present?" I asked him and he looked at me. His hand cradled the small head of his son and he smiled again, I was surprised to see something of my Loki there.
"I am holding him in my arms now, may I lay him down for you?" Loki asked me and I nodded. He walked over to the cradle and lay Aulder back, rocking him slowly to make sure he stayed asleep. He then returned to me, picking up the chest and holding it toward me. He opened it and I smiled at the pale blue dress in it, looking up at him as my fingers traced the tiny gold flowers embroidered on the sleeves.
"It's beautiful, thank you." I said. He smiled at me and set the chest aside, gauging my reaction toward the gift briefly. I watched every move he made, trying to decipher his body language and failing. I wanted to know his intentions, and I was about ready to scream and stomp my feet to get answers.
"May I sit?" He asked me and I nodded, I could see he was testing the waters and I gave him every inch I could. He sat on the bed next to me and I waited, letting him arrange himself. His green cape was cumbersome looking, but he moved in a way to avoid sitting on it and giving himself freedom of movement. He looked over my head, and out the dark sky through the window above me his thoughts his own.
"Loki..." I started, but he stopped me.
"I spoke with Raithbourne about his actions, he has been warned against treating you poorly again and I gave him the decree that Aulder will remain with you. Eloynne is expected to live but she is weak, I cannot give you leave to see her right now. Like when you were ill, she needs her rest to recover fully." He said and I nodded. It was a relief to hear that she would be well, I was at least happy for that but there was something else I desperately wanted to know.
"What about Thor? Can I see him?" I asked Loki and he shook his head, I was worried that Loki was keeping me from him. Making sure that he kept the Throne for himself, and was going to do anything he could to keep it.
"This is truth, Raithbourne and The Council have ordered that we are both to stay away from Thor for his personal safety. Raithbourne is turning the suspicion on us for this act, and is looking for any reason at all to charge us both. He may have spies in this castle, but I do as well. Volstagg is keeping watch over Eloynne and Thor, I also plan to have Sif protect you and Aulder tonight. Hogun and Fandral would be best to gather evidence on The Councilmen who are accused. You must be careful though, and extremely patient with this process. If you are seen as becoming a problem, you stand to find yourself in mortal danger." He said and I let out a breath. I was relieved that he was not risking everything for this crown, and even happier that he was being reasonable about it. I sat back on the bed and looked at him, thinking myself how to help, and I was determined to do something. His eyes saw the chain of the locket and I thought fast, drawing his attention away from it.
"What about me? I can help, and I am no shrinking violet myself. I have some brains that I can lend in you know." I said and he nodded, smiling to himself.
"You can assist, but I need you to play your role perfectly. All of this is on the blade of a knife, do not provoke Raithbourne or add suspicion to yourself. Play the part of an attentive wife and mother, but also show how you care for the well being of Thor. I can keep you safe, but you have to work with me as you say. When Eloynne is well, I will assign her to be your maid. You can keep her safe and under watch that way." Loki said, sitting back and waiting for my response. It was a good plan and I was impressed with it, he had thought everything out carefully. I sighed looking down at my hands in shame, knowing that there was another thing that had to come out or none of this would work at all.
"Eloynne told me that her father wanted her to drive a wedge between us. He hoped that if I left you, or something else happened, that you would go back to your old hobbies. He wanted to get you found guilty of treason, and he used me. On top of that, I fell for it all like an idiot." I said and stared down at my hands. I was ashamed that I was so stupid, and I wanted to hide after that admission.
"You are forgiven, right now however we must keep Aulder safe and in your care. I am partially to blame for all of this myself, I should have told you of his place in the Line from the beginning. It was wrong to keep that from you, and almost cost you him. I do not expect your affections for me to return, but I only wish to keep him with you. Keep your wits about you, they will not fail you now clever one." He said and I nodded, thinking about his words and feeling even worse. I laughed to myself sardonically and stood on the bed, I shifted a bit to level out my weight so I would not fall. He watched me and I gracefully bowed to him, Loki sitting on the bed and laughing at me in open amusement.
"Yes My King, I am your most faithful servant." I said, mentally freaking out when the locket fell out of my shift. It dangled at the end of the chain under my chin for what seemed an eternity, swinging back and forth in front of him. He put his hand around it, and stared at the jeweled piece in his palm. The cat officially out of the bag.
He opened it and looked at the miniature portrait of himself, the curl of black hair across from it. Regarding me silently as I sank to my butt, he closed the case and held it in his hand. I wanted to blow it off, but the logical part of me said not to. It screamed for me to say something, I just did not know what I should say.
"It is a very bad likeness of me." he said and let it go. I wrapped my hand around it and shook my head, he was not taking this jewelry from me and I was willing to fight for it.
"You just are not smiling in it." I said, feeling stupid and cursing myself for saying that.
"Little Mouse..." He started and I stopped him, my heart hammering in my chest as I put my fingers over his lips. I shook my head and my hand drifted back down, resting in my lap.
"Don't say it if it is a lie, I can't do this again." I whispered and he lifted my chin gently.
"It never was a lie, from the moment I saw you in this room, alone and afraid that first night you were here, I saw your beauty. You were so lost and afraid, and been through so much in your life but none of it showed on you. You were different from every woman I had crossed paths with, brave and strong willed, but still so very fragile at the same time. I wanted to reach out and love you, never to stop loving you. I am a fool Little Mouse, not a King." He said and his thumb brushed my cheek. I could not think what to say, my brain shutting down and turning to mush at his words.
"I took me a bit longer, but in my defense, you were kind of a jerk to me." I said and he laughed at me. I turned my face into his hand and felt how warm it was on my skin, his fingers burning as I leaned forward and kissed him softly. Loki returned the kiss, my hand moving to his face and resting on his jaw. My thumb brushed his chin and his arms circled me, pulling me close to him.
"I'm so sorry." I gasped, my voice shaking as he kissed me again and pulled me tighter to him.
"As am I." Loki said and he lay me back against the bed, his hand caressing my calf and pushing my shift up. His fingers dancing over the bare skin of my leg, gliding up to my knee and sliding up my thigh. He smiled against my lips and I froze suddenly, remembering that I was still recovering from having a baby, pushing against him and stopping his hand.
"I can't." I said and he sat back, I freaked out and hoped he did not think that I was rejecting him.
"I'm still bleeding from having Aulder." I said and he kissed me. It was soft and tender, his hand on my cheek as he lifted me up to a sitting position.
"It is for the best then. You do need your rest as well, we need you refreshed in the morning." He said and moved to stand up. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back, I didn't want him to leave. He stopped, looking down at me and seeing I was scared.
"Stay." I said, knowing that he couldn't. "Please, just until I fall asleep."
"If it pleases you." he said and pulled the covers over me, I settled into the pillows and looked at him. He seemed to me like he did not want to act as King of Asgard, that he was happier just being with me. Add in everything happening, and I was honestly afraid that he was going to crack under the pressure. He really did need me, just as much as I needed him back. I worried what I did to him, if that fight just made everything harder on him in the long run.
"What are we going to do?" I asked him and he held both of my hands in his.
"We are going to survive, just as we always do, If I were to find a way to get you to Thor, could you heal him if we did?" Loki asked and I nodded. I sat up and blinked at him, realizing what he was asking. If I healed Thor, then the responsibility of rule would go back to him. Loki wanted to be freed from this, just as much as I wanted him to be.
" I could but it would go against Raithbourne and The Council, we would have to be very careful how we did it. They are going to be watching both you and me like hawks, what if they see me as a threat to Thor?" I asked him, letting my fears show. I knew it would help us in the long run to have the big guy back, but I was not willing to risk both of us being free or alive for it.
"Thrust me Little Mouse, I always have a plan. Rest now, you will need it in the following days." He said and I nodded up at him. Whatever plan he had, I knew it was to keep Aulder and me safe and alive. I lay back again and he took my hands again, I grinned at him suddenly.
"What are you thinking?" he asked me. I giggled and wove my fingers into his and squeezed them.
"Remember the Frost Opal hairband you gave me." I asked him and he laughed in response to what I was suggesting. Frost Opals came from the Jotunheim, and Loki gave me several pieces of jewelry with them in it. The statement that I wore them in support of his rule would be loud and clear, the people would see and they would know where I stood.
"They are lovely in your hair, and I believe I know what you are going to suggest. They do fear us together against hem, perhaps they need reminding of what we are." He said and I smiled at him, holding up a finger.
"I was thinking that exact thing, and I would be worried for my friend and Brother in Law. A very good woman and Queen would fret over it, to the point of being demanding any news on his recovery. But don't get me wrong, I am actually worried about him. But the biggest problem that we have is that I don't know how to act, remember where I am from? I am a fish out of water here, this is not what I was born or groomed to be." I said and he calmed me, his hand caressing my cheek as he sat over me.
"I will be there with you. When I send for you in the morning, come, but do not hurry. Smile and nod to everyone you pass, greet children and act as a woman reconciled with her husband does. You are the Wife of the Acting King, and my word now stands as law. But I can be superseded by The Council if they need to, so tread lightly as you act the part." He said and kissed my hand. I nodded, knowing that he was right. I yawned behind my other hand and he smiled, tapping his finger on my forehead.
"Sleep now, I need you more than ever on this." He said, letting me drift in silence as my eyes closed.
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Raithbourne walked toward the Infirmary, his pace steady and fast. His mind was a flurry of thoughts, more concern for himself than for his ailing daughter. He had to know what she told the Midgardian Wretch, what he would have to pass as lies and rumor from a girl obsessed with another woman's husband. If she did tell the little whore anything, he would also have to kill the both of them. Eloynne especially, so that she could not be allowed to stand as a witness in his attempts to rid Asgard of the decadence that recently began plague it. She could not be used against him, he had come too far to allow himself to fail now.
For too long, he had sat idle while Odin and his policies allowed Asgard to fall into the hands of chaos. His soft handed approach to Loki after his crimes was evidence enough of that, he should have been executed in the Square. That was the old ways, and he allowed them to slip because of Frigga. How he longed to see the girl banished as well, forced back to Midgard with that child and it declared a bastard. He would smile in triumph when that happened, her tears and lamenting would be sweet after she watched Loki die on the block. He would have the body thrown into the Void, no way to make a martyr of a memory that would soon be forgotten.
He approached the large Infirmary doors, two Guards and Volstagg stopping his approach. The red bearded warrior putting up a hand to stop him in his tracks.
"Sincerest apologies to ye my Lord, by Royal Order, I canne let ye pass. King Loki himself ordered tha fer the protection of Thor and tha Lady Eloynne." Volstagg said, continuing to block his path.
"I am the head of The King's Council, there is exception made for me. I have rights above you Warrior." He spat, his irritation with the man in front of him evident. This man had no right to tell him he was not allowed to enter any place he wished to go, and he would enter the Infirmary.
"Nae, according to King Loki there canne be any exception made. He said tha Thor's safety is most important, I am even to turn away tha Queen Lilliana if she seeks entry." Volstagg replied, still refusing to give an inch. This had become completely ridiculous, he would see Eloynne one way or the other.
"It was by order of The Council that Lady Lilliana be kept from Thor, we decided that her mind has been poisoned by Loki long ago. She is no longer trustworthy, and The Council does not recognize her as Queen." He hissed at the man in front of him. He could see the anger of the stubborn man rising as he spoke, and he could sense that he had hit a raw nerve with the Warrior.
"Ye will nae be insultin my friend. Loki may be a snake, but tha sweet Lady is a kind yet strong creature. Ye will treat her with tha respect an prestige she deserves. Or, I could tell tha Lady Sif what ye said about her friend?" Volstagg said, crossing his arms over his chest. The defiance evident toward him and both men stood their ground, Raithbourne was ready to turn away when he saw Loki approach. He was obviously coming from the girl's chambers, and he seemed at peace with himself. The thought of what they most likely did behind those doors making him cringe to himself.
"Loki!" Raithbourne said sharply. "Tell this man that I have rights to pass and check the health of Thor."
"That is My King, Raithbourne. Do not make me correct you again. I see that Volstagg is doing well enforcing my orders, commendable." Loki said, nodding at Volstagg. The Warrior puffed up his chest, grinning at him and saluting.
"Ye said tha no one is to pass, only Eir and her assistants. How is Queen Lilliana, and ye child?" Volstagg replied, smiling as he spoke. Loki was up to something, and the idiot keeping him from Eloynne was eating out of his hand.
"She is well, resting comfortably after tonight's excitement but still very worried about Thor. I promised her that I would inform her of any change in Thor's condition, it was the only way to get her to rest. I trust that you will send word if there is change?" Loki said to him, showing Raithbourne very clearly that there was a game in play.
"Aye, I shall." Volstagg replied and Loki began to walk away, he ignored Raithbourne for a moment and stopped. He turned back, holding a hand up and smiled, his smug attitude coming through in that moment.
"Yes, Raithbourne. I did order that no one is allowed access to the both of them unless there is an emergency. I extended those orders to include myself, it is after all, for Thor's protection. I do have faith that Eir will have him healed soon, she is quite brilliant when it comes to her duties." Loki said, continuing to walk away. Raithbourne stood, aghast at what just happened in front of him.
"My Lord?" Volstagg said and he ignored the man, walking back toward his own chambers. He hid his shock and fear, knowing that he could not let anything show at all. He was in awe that he had been bested, and in fear that his crimes would be exposed.
Eloynne told them everything she knew, it was that clear to him. Loki and Lilliana would now have to die for this, and the child as well.