Ch. 14
Skye gave a start of surprise when she emerged from her room and saw Fandral leaning against a nearby column, obviously waiting for her. He beamed when he saw her.
"Your Highness, you look even more fetching than you did last night. I am quite overwhelmed by your beauty," he said as he approached and kissed her hand once again in greeting.
"How about you call me Skye and I call you Fandral?" she suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
"I would cherish such intimacy with you," he said suggestively, offering his arm. "Please, allow me the pleasure of escorting you to breakfast, my dear Skye."
Skye stiffened a bit before slipping her arm in his. She had misstepped by insisting that he call her by her first name, since obviously, on Asgard, it was a mark of affection. It wasn't that she wasn't attracted to him. It wasn't that she wasn't flattered by such obvious attention. It was that she wasn't intending on remaining on Asgard and she felt bad about leading him on.
On the other hand, Ward had drilled in her, more than once, the importance of cultivating assets when you work as an operative. She had the unprecedented opportunity to not only find out answers to her past, but to also gather intel on one of Earth's greatest enemies, her own father. If that meant using Fandral's infatuation for her to get information, then maybe it would be worth it.
"Fandral, perhaps you can help me?" she asked as they walked along the corridors together.
"Anything, my dear Skye," he replied, obviously enamored with the idea of being granted the privilege of using her first name.
"I thought that Loki was dead. That he died during the war with Malekith. But, here he is, on the throne."
He grimaced slightly. "It was believed, for a time, that Loki had perished, sacrificing himself. But, in the end, it was merely another one of his tricks. He's a great one for illusion. So, when Odin went into Odinsleep once again, Loki presented himself to the chief counsel of advisors as the only suitable ruler. Thor had abdicated the throne to remain on Midgard and the line of succession technically fell to Loki."
"Technically?" she asked.
"Well, Loki had been under a lifetime sentence of imprisonment. However, Odin had never officially disowned Loki, despite all his crimes."
"So that's it? All is forgiven for what he did on Earth?" Skye asked bitterly. She had seen the footage, read the S.H.I.E.L.D. files, heard all about the devastation left behind in his mad grab for power.
"Hardly. There are many on Asgard that still are not comfortable with Loki as our king. However, he has been very . . . adept in ruling these past few months. Asgard has had a difficult year. There has been much upheaval, so many lives have been lost. Our relationship with the other realms was precarious at best when Loki took the throne. Loki excels at diplomacy. I must admit; it is . . . what is that Midgardian expression? Oh yes, his strong suit. Sometimes, we must focus on the greater good and push away our personal feelings."
Skye was a bit surprised to hear anything good about her father.
"Ah, here we are," he said as they stopped in front of a set of immense doors. "I would escort you in, but I believe your father would take a dim view of us together. I hope I will have the pleasure of seeing you again very, very soon, my dear Skye," as he bowed low and kissed her hand.
"Yeah, see you soon, Fandral," she said, giving him a little wave and a brief smile as he turned and walked away. A servant opened the massive doors for her and Skye mentally prepared herself for brunch with her genocidal father. She hoped at least the food was good.
Author's Note- I usually wait until the end of the story to say this, but I just couldn't wait! Thank you so very much for every single follow, favorite and review! I can't tell you how much it spurs me on to write more and more for you To be honest, I had thought this was going to be a four or five chapter story, but all of your encouragement has really motivated me. Thank you, dear readers from the bottom of my heart.