Chapter 14.
Loki sat in his fine tunic of emerald and his over coat of black leather with gold accents, his thoughts remained his own as the Alfar celebrated a new trade alliance with Asgard. He scanned the banquet, looking for one face in particular and not seeing it. Scolding himself for forgetting that there was a Masque prepared to entertain the guests, and she was in it. He rested his chin on his hand, leaning to the side in his seat and Frigga smiled at him. A sound in the front of them got their attention, and a man announced the entertainment.
"Honored Guests, it is this Noble House of Odin that wishes to entertain you tonight with a performance of an old Asgardian tale. It is now my honor to introduce you to our heroes of this fable." The man said and gestured to a curtain to the side. A shy girl dressed in blue and white, wearing a crown of silver snowflakes on her platinum head appeared. She curtsied, smiling to the audience, and dropped her skirts.
"Goddess Winter! The sweet lady who brings us the snows and cold Northern Winds." He announced and everyone applauded, Loki watching the girl take her place next to the man.
"I give you next, in all sweetness and color, Goddess Spring!" He said and a rosy cheeked girl in a pink gown came out. Her blonde hair adorned in garlands of flowers, and her gown shimmering with happiness.
"We cannot forget Goddess Summer! The most warm and gentle days!" He announced and a girl with firey red hair and wearing a gold crown of suns appeared, her yellow dress dazzling the guests and they applauded her.
"And now, our most quiet season, Goddess Autumn! Already upon us in this tale and in current reality." He said and Floria appeared, her soft steps carrying her forward. Her gown of russet and gold shimmered around her, and her crown of golden leaves and pumpkins made her shy demeanor come out and she blushed as she curtsied. Loki leaned forward to see her better, and his mouth fell open at how truly beautiful she looked. Frigga noticed his reaction, smiling to herself as she sipped her wine.
"Now our Villian!" The man said, and people booed and hissed at the arrogant Hunter. His tunic and leather breeches tight, flexing his muscles in gross vanity. "A Hunter, who wishes to rid the forest of all living things, and to claim the Goddesses for himself."
The audience applauded their players, and the girls took their places on the stage that had been built for this event. They played amongst themselves, Spring tossing flower petals in the air and giggling at them as they fell, and Summer tossing a golden ball to Winter. Autumn sat on a patch of grass and combed her hair, the Alfar laughing when the ball flew from Winter and landed near Floria. She picked up the ball and tossed it to Spring and the Ladies laughed in their play.
"The Ladies of all Seasons, laughed and celebrated the company of their sisters. All of them lazing as the progression of the year came to the transition of Summer to Autumn." The Narrator said, and she scene behind them turned from a beautiful green day, to one of high Autumn. The leaves taking on their new colors, and Floria smiling at the audience at the change.
"I have done my good work, now I must rest." She said and she lay on a tree branch and swung one bare foot gently as she toyed with the comb she had used on her hair. She sighed, pretending to doze and let her fingers caress a yellow leaf above her head.
"But the calm of Autumn's forest was interrupted that day by a Hunter. Who sought the greatest prize of all, the gentle heart of a true Goddess." The Narrator said, and the Hunter appeared with his bow. "He also wished to make all the animals of the forest his trophy."
Floria sat up on her perch, taking notice of the man and he saw her. She slipped down from her perch and walked around him, her eyes studying him. Her delicate toes left the floor slowly, and he bowed to her.
"Who are you?" She asked and he looked back at her as she walked behind him. "Why do you come to this forest?"
"I am a Hunter, and I seek a prize wothy of my skill. I ask now who you are Maiden." He demanded and Floria laughed, her crown shimmering with light.
"I am Goddess Autumn, and I do not know of any sport here for you." She said and he laughed at her, his bow lifting her hair and he chuckled.
"Perhaps you are the sport I seek, but I am here to hunt all the creatures of the forest. To make trophies of them all, and to make even the Gods notice my might." He said and Floria shook her head, she waved her hands and pushed his bow away from her.
"All the creatures sleep now, fattened on the bounty of Goddess Summer. That is no sport to take a life as it rests for the long winter." She said and tried to pull his bow from him. He laughed, tugging it back and she cried out when he grabbed her wrist.
"I am stronger than any woman, Goddess or not, now get thee out of my way. I have a bounty to seek!" He said and pushed past Floria and walked on. She ran, seeking out her sisters and found them. All the Goddesses playing by a pool and giggling, the three girls looking up to see her run over.
"And so, Autumn told her tale to her sisters and the fair Ladies of the seasons began to plan what to do to save their precious forest from the hunter." The narrator said, and the girls gathered together and began to speak. The four of them came to an agreement, and they ran into the woods again to seek the Hunter.
He appeared on the stage, and he took aim at a Deer, the gentle creature sleeping in the roots of a tree. He was about to let the arrow fly, when the four Ladies appeared and he looked in awe of them.
"I see the other Ladies of the year have joined us." The Hunter said and scoffed at them. "Leave me so I may become famous at the greatest Hunter to ever live."
"We shall not, as you are violating this sacred space." Spring said, and Summer stepped forward.
"To kill all the creatures is a sin above all else, and for that we will punish you." Summer warned, her red hair shining and Floria nodded.
"I am a season of death, and you will not take any creature here. Even I know that it is wrong to claim defenseless life." Winter said and the Hunter laughed at the girls. He aimed his bow at Floria, ready to shoot.
"Perhaps I have found the greatest sport." The man replied, winking at the girls. "I have found a Goddess to hunt."
"You cannot kill us, we are eternal." Floria said and waved her hand. His bow flew to the side and she stepped forward. "How dare you threaten my sisters so."
The girls picked up apples and rocks from the forest floor, throwing them at the Hunter and he backed from them. He ran, racing from the forest and the Narrator stepped forward to end the tale.
"Now you know the tale of the Hunter, and let us all be warned. For should you tread into the forest, take no more bounty than you need, and be careful not to anger a Goddess in the midst of her season." He said and bowed. The girls walked forward and curtsied, Loki finding him applauding until his hands were sore. He saw Floria look over at him and blush, her cheeks reddening as his eyes fell over her gown. She gave him another curtsey, and Frigga saw the act play out.
He decided then, that he wished to give her a rose to applaud her efforts and he slipped from the table.
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She stood among the people, all of them applauding her and she searched the crowd for one particular face. She saw Thor, the boisterous Prince walking toward her with a wide grin. She then saw Loki in the fray, and she ducked behind a group of Alfar and walked toward him. He met her and she blushed at the smile he wore, bowing to her and offering her a single red rose.
"Lady Autumn, you were that shining star of the entire play." Loki said, and she took the flower from him. She giggled at him, waving for him to stand up.
"You may rise, My Gentle and Kind Prince." She said and two Alfar girls nearby giggled at her response. He stood in front of her, smiling and saw how her eyes shone so brightly.
"You were wonderful. I was most impressed by your perfomance." He said and Floria blushed a deeper crimson.
"You only flatter me because we are friends." She said and he laughed at her. He took her free hand, and invited her to walk with him in the garden. He had to be honest with her, even if it meant loosing her forever. But still, part of him wanted to run away from what he was about to do.
They walked in the cool night air, a mist ebbing through the darkened flower beds and sighed to himself. He thought he saw Thor, and pressed his lips together at how his anxiety was getting the better of him. His heart beat hard in his chest, and he had no further choice but to continue on with his plan.
"Floria, I... I wanted to show you something, and to reveal who I truly am to you." He said and she looked at him in confusion. She blinked, shaking her head and frowned.
"I don't understand Sir. By what do you mean?" She asked, and he sat on a low, stonework wall. He leaned forward in his seat, groaning to himself and wondering if what he was doing was right. His mind raced, knowing he hap opened a door to her and now there was no turning back. All of him knowing that he could not turn back now, and praying that she would not be afraid of him in the future.
"I... I am not full blooded Asgardian. I am... I am of two realms, and I do hope, with everything I am that I do not frighten you away." He said and shifted, his skin turning blue and his eyes becoming blood red. "I am Jotun as well."
"Sir?" She gasped and he heard a laugh behind him, Thor stood and began to walk toward him with a grin. He clapped his hands, walking forward and she shivered at his presence.
"Giving the girl nightmares Loki?" He laughed, walking toward his brother and he felt a hand wrap around his. He looked down to see Floria holding his hand and, he felt his heart pound in joy at the gesture.
"Sir, I do not fear you." She said and Thor stopped laughing. "You have been nothing but kind to me, and have only been my friend. You are so good, and I am honored to know all of you."
Thor stood mute, unable to comprehend that she was accepting what he was and Loki smiled at her, his skin shifting back to his normal coloring. He squeezed her hand, and she smiled at him in her gentle way. Her shaking hand touched a ridge on his chin, and she blushed a bit in apology. Her hands and eyes curious about him, more than afraid.
"You are my greatest and most trusted friend." He said and she hugged him suddenly, his arms wrapping around her and he laughed a bit. He lifted her off her feet, and she giggled and braced her hands on his shoulders.
"What are you doing Sir?" She asked him and he laughed at her suprise. Her small, delicate hands clung to his coat, trembling a bit at the suprise of being lifted off her feet.
"Making you taller." He grinned and in a smooth movement, he gave her a quick toss and turned so she landed on his back in a piggyback style carry. She laughed, throwing her head back and he saw Frigga standing on the balcony.
"And now I am your horse." He said and she laughed as he ran around the fountain once. He was careful to keep his hands behind her knees, so not to affect her modesty any and she squealed as he acted silly for the first time in ages. She begged hin to run again, and he did so. Frigga watching her more reserved son become the man he once was, a broad smile on her lips and tears in her eyes as he climped the stairs to the Hall and carried her back inside the castle to a warmer place. She inwardly cheered, going back in after them and leaving Thor to ponder what he had seen.