Chapter 36.
"I hear you were a wise and diligent King during my absence, that you did not allow your ego to lead you, but gave and recieved advice as it was needed. I also heard rumor that Thor offered his council to you, and that you took it on a dire matter. That shows true wisdom and bravery on the part of a King." Odin said, sitting on his throne again and Loki handed him back Gunginir. The old man took it, his eye falling on Floria and smiling at her.
"I did my best, and served the people as my concience dictated. And cared for them as a Father cares for his children." Loki said, and walked back down the steps. "I suppose you will have Thor as Heir Apparent again, it bothers me not."
"Why would I do that? When you did so well as King?" Odin said and Loki turned, his eyes wide. "Asgard needs a competent ruler, one who sees his equal in all beings, even a lone and generous woman. I would say you have proven yourself worthy of your title, Thor even agrees with me."
"Thor? How?" He said, his fists clenching and Odin laughed. He wondered then what the Oaf had done, and what his game was at this time.
"He told me that you were a just King, and that he would happily serve you as General you Asgard's Armies. I know this come shock, but I do have faith that you will be a great King one day." Odin replied, and Loki looked at Floria. "I did say once that one of you were born to rule, and I believe that I found out which one."
"I... I am... honored, but I cannot rule if I cannot have the woman I choose as my Queen." Loki said, and Odin looked over at Floria.
"Then you will have her. She is a good fit as the soft and gentle Queen that Frigga is. Did you not intend to wed this girl?" Odin asked and Loki nodded. The Guards smiled at her, the small girl standing quietly and blushing softly at her soon to be Husband. "In three weeks, you two will marry and all will be as it should. I imagine you have a banquet to attend tonight? A celebration you ordered as King?"
"Yes. To celebrate the victory Thor and his army brought us, and to honor them for their brave acts." Loki replied and Odin nodded. He waved his Adopted Son away, laughing as he did it.
"Then go and ready yourself, I will not keep you." Odin said and Loki bowed, holding out his hand for Floria and they left the Throne Room together. His head reeled from what had just happened, and he hid his true feelings toward the entire circumstance he found himself in. His nature, and years of experience urging him to not celebrate prematurely.
For what is given, can always be taken away.
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The evening passed, the toasts given and food eaten. Now, a few persons sat in a loose circle, enjoying their company and Loki looked over to see Volstagg straining to lift Thor's Hammer. He sighed to himself, rolling his eyes and sipped a bit of wine.
"Norns. This damned game. Every gathering or banquet, they play it and it is rather foolish if you ask me." Loki said and Floria looked at him in confusion.
"By what do you mean Sir?" She asked and Loki gestured toward the Hammer sitting on the table with his goblet hand. Thor put the leather purse in his pocket under his armor and laughed, crossing his arms.
"The hammer is enchanted, only a person deemed worthy can move it. He and his friends have had a wager going for years now, a bit of fun for them. They bet a gold coin and it gets placed into the purse, whoever moves Mjlonir wins the purse and all the money in it. No one has won it in sixty years." Loki said and sighed to himself. Floria giggled and pulled a gold coin out of her pocket, waving it in his face.
"I am going to win that purse." She said with a smile and Loki groaned.
"Floria, I doubt even a Maiden as innocent as you will win that fortune. But, in case you loose..." He said and gave her a coin from his own money. "Let me pay your wager."
"We will see." She said and they walked over to the table together. Fandral staggered as he stood, slapping his coin in front of Thor and weaving as he walked to try his luck.
"Hello Mjlonir, you look so attractive tonight. Move for me and I will give you a cushion of silk to rest on." Fandral slurred, gripping the handle and pulling.
"It is a weapon Fandral, not a pretty girl." Sif laughed and sipped her drink. Fandral struggled for a while, groaning and gritting his teeth. The hammer however, stayed put, immune to his charms. He pulled, falling backwards when his hand slipped and landing on his back.
"I suppose you are right Sif." He said, getting back up and Thor regarded Loki and Floria.
"What brings you here Loki?" Thor asked and Floria offered him the coin in her hand. Hogun looked over from his table, Velora standing as he did.
"Floria would like to try her luck." Loki said and Thor laughed. The hall fell silent, everyone looking at the shy girl and Thor laughed loudly. He took the coin from her, adding it to the purse and Odin stood to watch.
"A Lady as innocent and kind as you should be more than worthy to lift Mjlonir." Thor said and gestured to the table. "All you have to do however is move it, it matters not how."
"I can move it in any way then? Not just lift it?" She asked him and Thor nodded.
"An inch, a meter, across the Hall, it matters not." Thor said and Floria stood in front of the Hammer. She studied it for a moment, walking around the table and thought of a plan.
"Could you please move your feet?" She asked Thor and he took his boots off the table where they rested, setting his feet on the floor. She looked at Loki and he crossed his arms with a smirk, Hogun walking over and watching her. The crowd grew, all of them wondering if she was going to win the famous game and end it finally.
She stood at the end of the table, gripping the tablecloth in her hands and pulled, moving Mjlonir and everyone howled and cheered at the sight. Loki choked on the sip of wine he was taking, coughing as he laughed and cheered as well. Floria smiled in triumph then, and she giggled and blushed as the Hammer slid across the table with ease.
"Now that is my daughter." Hogun said with pride and Thor frowned. He crossed his arms, looking at the thin woman and shook his head.
"Does not count." Thor said and laughed. "Clever though, I will give you that, but it does not count."
"Thor!" Sif shouted and snatched the purse from him. "You did not say how it had to be moved, just that it had to be done. She moved it, so the purse is hers."
Sif gave Floria the purse and the room cheered, Floria blushed and Loki laughed harder than he had in years. His amusment that a woman had nested Thor showing, saving his pride in the girl for later. She held the heavy pouch in her hands, Volstagg and Odin applauding her and she curtseyed politely.
"She is a clever one, and perfect for you Loki." Thor said, laughing at Floria and she laughed along with everyone. People congratulated her, and she accepted their words with humility. He toasted the girl, raising his tankard of mead to her and drank.
"She is very clever, that us why I adore her." Loki said and grinned over the goblet of wine.
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He sat in his chambers that night, reading a book and musing to himself about how Floria outfoxed Thor at his own game. He felt pride at the woman he was bethrothed to, and laughed to himself at how clever she had become. He was readying to set the book aside to go to bed when he heard the door to her Chambers open and close, followed by the distinct sound of her walking down the halls.
Wondering where she was going so late, he concealed himself under a spell. Running to the doors and opening them to see her walking toward the Servant's Passage, glancing about to see the hall empty and opening the door. He frowned, running after her and slipped through it before it closed so not to let her know she was being followed.
He walked quickly, her shoes tapping down the stone steps and entered the kitchens, pushing her hood back and finding the man who had stolen bread days earlier. He looked up at her, setting aside the large kettle he was scrubbing and bowing to her.
"Lady Floria, may I help you?" He asked and could not meet her eyes.
I have come to help you, do your children require clothes and shoes? Perhaps something to amuse themselves with while you work?" She asked him and he regarded her with a bit of distrust.
"They do, I have had a hard time finding work and have only started earning wages here." He said and she handed him the purse of gold she had won from Thor.
"Use this, and buy them all that they need. I have plenty here, and I know what it is to have to go without." She said and he moved to give it back to her. Loki stood in silence, stunned by her charity and he swallowed the lump in his throat as she pushed it back into his hands. "I have been given many kindnesses here, and wish to repay them in tenfold. Let your children have shoes, and enjoy some of this for yourself."
"You are so kind, and as sweet as the other Maids and Cooks say you are. I cannot thank you enough for this... But... but I can put you on your guard." He said to her and he pulled a stool out for her. She sat on it, resting her hands in her lap and Loki wanted to kill the man she had been so kind to.
"On my Guard? What do you mean?" She asked him and he looked down. He fidgeted with his rag, and met her face and thought how to speak.
"It is about Prince Loki, and why he was locked away. It was an awful affair, and nearly left Thor and his friends dead. I had a Maid leave you a letter, but she must not have delivered it out of fear." He said and she gasped, shaking her head.
"What? He is so kind though, why did you say my Wedding Night would become my Funeral?"
"He was not always so kind, and it could still be an act in a cunning plan that you are a pawn in. He played out an awful series of events that nearly destroyed the Allfather, and Queen Frigga. He killed Mortals as well Lady, and he may have no qualms in killing you as well to meet his ends." The man said and Floria blinked in shock. From the shadows, Loki clenched his fist, debating cutting the man's throat or ripping his tounge out of his mouth. The only thing stopping him, the fragile woman sitting in front of the man speaking.