Worship of the Gods

When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.

– Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Chapter Twenty-Five: Naked Light

Nudity did not bother Ellie anymore. It had been taught to be sinful to look upon the naked figure of a man or woman whilst you yourself were bare. Before Asgard she had only indulged in the nude company of ex-lovers. Some were fleeting. Others not so much. Harry had been her longest relationship. He made Ellie feel sinful. She couldn't deny how much she enjoyed his bareness.

As she slipped into the cool plunge pool just as Lounn gathered his clothing. She watched his bare back muscles shift. Droplets of water slid off his skin, staining his linen trousers as he struggled to change in his semi-dry state. He waved her off and disappeared back up to camp.

Ellie sunk to her knees in the water, chewing the inside of her cheek as she shoved the thoughts away. Gods, she craved intimacy. Her fingers ached to feel the heat off another's skin. It definitely wasn't emerging from an attraction to Lounn; there wasn't one. Sex had been so much easier to attain on Earth; humans were constantly seeking physical relief.

Leaning her head back, she shivered as water crept between her curls. It weighed her down deliciously. Speckles of the waterfall hit her face as she rose, her chest rising out of the water. As she opened her eyes, her gaze sliding down the ocean-blue sky and into the trees, she was caught sight of the flittering birds' nest, the nursing pixie bush, and a jet-black snake slithering down a tree.

Her own skin was vacant of protection. She liked to think of her nudity as the same nudity seen in nature. Nothing wore scratchy tunics, socks or fraying undergarments. She imagined a tree adorning a pair of gloves and a wry grin spread up her face.

The snake smoothly slid over the tree roots, close to the edge of the natural pool. It hissed quietly, not meant to be provoking but to taste the ground beneath it for a scent. Snakes could taste the air around them. They were solitary creatures and did not mate for life. Ellie watched the creature and wished she was a snake; always moving, never stopping to think too much. The world was the way it was for a snake; an endless game of survival.

Ellie scoffed. It wasn't much different to real life. Except for her inability to deal with intimacy; or lack thereof.

The snake was jarring against the lush greenery of the Western Forest. She watched its unmoving eyes. They were planted in its head like too icy marbles.

A thought slithered into her head. One of the crowned princes: Loki Odinson. Having spent so much time together, it was hard to stop her thoughts drifting to him. He transformed into a snake so many times before, not quite like the one she was watching, but each of them had been dark and alluring. He was everywhere in Asgard: on shrines, tapestries, the mouths of its people.

What his mouth was like; saying her name. She imagined he spoke to everyone the same way. The haunting appeal of his voice must have got him everything he wanted. It felt like sacrilege to not the tonal construction of each syllable. Eu-rey-lee-ah.

Her rosary beads slipped down her wrist, disappearing beneath the surface. She ran a hand through her wet hair and sunk into the pool a little more. With her eyes closed, she drifted down and saw the prince in the shadows of her eyelids. He was lithe, and strong; with the ungodly strength of a hundred Midgardian men. And he said her name again. Eurelia.

She prayed no one would disturb her as she slipped a hand beneath the surface.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, considering most of the group were wounded, exhausted and craving a decent meal. They had travelled a decent fifteen miles since the last goblin and had not encountered another wild beast, mythical creature or storm.

Dusk was approaching instead. Streaks of orange flashed through the canopy, deepening the dark corners of the woods. By Ellie's standards, there was not much good in the dark and she was grateful they were coming to the opening of the forest.

Surprisingly, there was no night-time mist plaguing their view of the palace gates. The air was crisp and clear. Several guards nodded happily at the returning warriors, almost humoured by their state of disarray. The gates were beautifully shining with gold. Turrets were adorned with golden flags and there was a bustling happiness to the kingdom.

The final day of Lithasblot made the palace look like an overdressed dollhouse. With its rich soldiers, flourishing people and market stalls; Ellie was almost jealous there was nothing like it on Earth.

"Ah, you bastards!" shouted a jolly, intoxicated Tyr, storming towards them with purpose. "Knew you'd make it back. Good form, teamwork – real bunch of fighters you've become."

Ellie nearly laughed. "How would you know? Curled in the arms of a woman the whole day as well?"

"I don't just have eyes in the back of my head," he nodded at them. "Get on with ye'. Go on. Celebrate the night before your final trials begin."

He beckoned the soldiers to walk past him and head up towards the inner city. For such a stout man, he expressed his personality well. Ellie figured she'd miss him quite a lot after training was over.

The barracks were deathly quiet when they reached it. Helga was gone; there was no smell of cooking meat, ale or servants in the stables. Ellie tucked her weapons away and followed Lounn out, thinking he would know of a pub they could indulge in.

"A pub?" he repeated. "It's the last day. There's only light tonight."

Yawning, Ellie glanced back up at the barracks. "Gods, I'm shattered. I might just-"

"No," he interrupted, scaring her. "You have to celebrate. This is the light of the harvest. You have to feel it in here," he placed a gentle hand to her chest, just above her heart. Then he slipped his hand into hers and pulled her abruptly down the uneven pathways.

"Where are we going?" she asked, struggling to keep her balance on the rough cobble.

Lounn laughed, "you will see little human!"

"Will it last long?" Her captor rounded a corner, skidding like a car would around a sharp bend. Ellie held her hand tighter. The two soldiers sped further down a steep path and landed out in the middle of a busy street. Commotion made Ellie's head spin. Everyone was rushing past; laughing and smiling. Lounn let go of her hand.

"Where is everyone going?" Ellie tried to shout.

"Quickly! The beginning is the best part!" The warrior's bright face vanished into the crowd and Ellie's face was plastered with worry. Pushing through, she looked around for her friend and spotted dark hair. It wasn't difficult to move. Everyone was going in the same direction.

"Lounn!" she cried.

Exhausted and overwhelmed by the excitement, Ellie tripped into a small alley and watched the bustling world slide by like a tsunami wave through a city. She exhaled shakily and closed her eyes, tilting her head towards the sky.

Would it be such a sin to slip away now? She had done it nearly every night using a tattered cloak, stolen from the barrack cupboards. She could say she wasn't feeling well or was going to pick up a barrel of ale. Yes, she would do that. Rubbing her eyes, she went to slid deeper in the crevices of Asgard when a voice appeared out of the darkness.

"A lost Midgardian?" the man questioned. Ellie gasped, her eyes shooting open. "You're even further from home now."

"Your Highness," she said. "Are you stalking me?" Loki scoffed and his mouth captured a smile of amusement. "Hardly. It was difficult to enjoy festivities when one out of a crowd of thousands slipped away to mope. Are you attending a celebration or a funeral?"

Asgardian's cheered nearby. "I've been in this part of Asgard before," she said. "I'm not completely lost, but I've got no clue where I'm meant to be going. Lounn's gone and if I'm honest… I'd rather go to sleep."

"Your sense of adventure is appalling."

"It is not!" she said. "I've been fighting all day. I've barely bathed."

"So, I can tell," he scrunched his face up disapprovingly.

"At least it's not the stench of human anymore, right?" She cast a look down at her attire. Not as grimy as she thought, but hardly up to par with the prince's velvet uniform. "Did you… venture into the woods this morning?" she asked, slightly awkwardly.

Loki tilted his head. "No. I did not."

"Stupid to ask." Shaking her head, she struggled to explain: "I saw a snake," she looked down at her feet, warmth heating her cheeks. "Whilst I was bathing."

"Bathing? Have I told said before it's sacrilege to accuse a prince of voyeurism?"

"Well, I… yes. But it wasn't because I wanted it to be you. I mean I wouldn't want you to watch me bathing. I mean, it's sinful. I was… fucking hell," she huffed, shaking her head. "Ignore me. Stupid Midgardian question." Loki watched her intensely and she felt nauseous.

He clicked his tongue. "Pray tell, was your friend showing you Asgardian customs tonight?"

She nodded. "He was trying to. At this rate, I'll end up throwing my own party in my chamber."

"How pitiful," he said. Ellie looked up at him expectedly. "Do not take this as a reassurance of your sensitivity, but an assurance of my superiority. Follow me and I will indulge your little Midgardian mind with a real party."

Only he could twist a kind gesture into a cruel jab. Regardless, a wry grin grew on Ellie's face. It blossomed, lighting up her eyes and showering Loki. She looked back at the bustling street; echoing laughter and singing. Her answer was already knowing at her insides, and Loki knew it. Looking back with her bottom lip between her teeth, Loki's hand was held out already.

She met his crystal blue eyes and slid her palm into his.

Off they went down the stone steps, taking them two at a time. Ellie struggled to keep up, her only support was Loki's grip. She clutched her tunic with one hand and felt the warm night air caress her legs. They sprinted through the pub gardens. Loki knew his way through the lower town; leading Ellie around each corner without hesitation.

"Why are we running?" Ellie asked, breathless.

Loki pointed up at the sky where half a dozen lanterns floated aimlessly. They were only hand a few moments to reach their destination it seemed. She watched them in a daze which the prince spoilt with a violent yank.

Bursting through the archway, they carried on through the town where others were leaping and laughing joyously. They headed in the same direction as Loki and Ellie; all with grins taking up their faces and their hearts beater faster than ever.

Cooking meat, burning oils and the smell of sunlight burned Ellie's nose. The atmosphere began to shift; a warm, intoxicating cloud. They reached the lower town Square, overtaking many others on their way. The crowd was enormous, all of them dancing already.

A band was playing a symphony of fast drumming and flutes. It was bewitching to the ear, with the thumping entering Ellie's bloodstream.

Loki shot her a glance and grinned widely. He pulled her into the crowd. The heat of numerous bodies and ale coated her. She laughed loudly as a man was doing an Asgardian-form of the Irish jig. It was bizarrely mesmerising. Her own heartbeat sped up at the sight.

Squeezing through the last of the crowd, Loki and Ellie came to a stop at one of the tables laid around the Square. Lady Sif was sat with the Warrior's Three, playing a coin game. Thor stood with several famous warriors, laughing loudly.

"My good brother!" he boomed, shoving a horned goblet in Loki's hand. "Drink! Divulge!" Loki let go of Ellie's hand and used his attention to drink every drop of ale. She scoffed, watching his neck as he swallowed it all.

"Never seen someone drink so much, Midgardian?" Hogun guffawed. Ellie felt the eyes of the table on her. She raised an eyebrow, already intoxicated on the merriment and leaned over, taking the goblet from his hand.

"I didn't just learn about God at university," she said snidely and pushed the goblet against her lips. The ale was sharp, unlike anything on Earth. She knocked the drink back, gulping it down until the only remnants were on drips on her lips. Wiping her face unattractively, she shoved the horn back. "What is you Asgardians say? Oh, yes. Another!"

Loki watched her with brute fascination.

"Nearly as fast as you Sif," Volstagg said. The Lady Sif grinned back and tilted her drink towards Ellie. Volstagg handed another goblet to both of them. "Perhaps you can drink faster, but you can never drink as much as I."

"What of I?" Thor questioned, raising his own drink. Loki did the same, sharing a grin with his brother.

"When do we stop?" Ellie asked. "Surely we can't drink forever?"

"You'll know," Loki said. "Can you handle a little unanswered anticipation?" They began their contest. As the table was already lined with untouched drinks, it was easy to grab another and continue the alcoholic escapade.

"All of you are weak," Lady Sif boasted. "Seven goblets and now the Gods will celebrate me in delicious praise." She gave Volstagg a shove. Ellie was on her third as a loud gong sounded.

The entire Square's music went quiet, and the cheer and clapping of the Asgardians was diminished. Ellie lowered her drink and looked around. Her nervousness was diminished by the excitement growing on everyones' faces.

A deafening roar took control of the city. In every strip of land, every cobblestone street, and square a group of larpers posed to fight. Ellie stepped back, enthralled by their costumes and weapons. They were actors, not real warriors, but the message that represented was a powerful one.

"Odin!" they screamed and their battle began.

It wasn't a real fight. Their movements were slower, more rehearsed as they moved towards one another. Their screwed up faces were tight with anger and hatred, but as they swung their weapons down on each other, their blades burst. The armour popped. Thousands of balls of light exploded into the air, painting the onlookers in gold.

The crowd cheered, jumping to touch the lights. Ellie lifted a hand, her fingers skimming a small pocket of dust. It was like touching an open flame. She attempted to grab it and it burst into a dozen smaller lights which fluttered into her hair.

With each attack, more lights polluted the atmosphere until the sky wasn't full of night, but Lithasblot stars. They hung against the dark like paint splodges.

Defeated, the larpers gave their last cry and collapsed. Flowers grew over their armour through some form of incomprehensible magic. The beautiful aroma of fresh petals swept into Ellie's nose. And with that, the display was over.

Guests flooded the square, sweeping up the unconscious fighters as fluidly as a brush to dust. Ellie couldn't even see them being carried away, they simply disappeared into the hectic crowd. Golden dust rained down. It created a shift in the atmosphere; something close to angelic. For the first time, Ellie felt that this was what Valhalla looked like. She chewed the inside of her cheek.

"Tempted?" a voice lured beside her. She looked up at Loki in alarm as he took a step in-front of her, nearly slipping into the crowd if not for his otherworldly appearance.

"Oh, I can't," she dejected, shaking her head fiercely. Loki's eyes flared bright blue, as if smoke was pouring out of them. "Don't put some spell on me," she hissed, shoving his arm.

He laughed and blinked again so the magic was gone. "You believe that I would do that to you? Come, Eurelia."

Ellie exhaled and nodded. "Fine. I don't know the dance. What do I do?"

"I don't either," he replied, his voice full and exciting. Ellie took his hand and was absorbed by the crowd. She looked up and saw the golden stardust floating overhead like a curtain. It trickled down and landed on her body. She felt its warmth sinking into her skin.

Ellie held Loki's hand tightly and in an instant, he was holding the other. Their bodies were pressed against each other.

"My apologies, little Midgardian," he grinned, looking down at her. The ethereal atmosphere painted his eyes a shimmering gold.

"What for?" she began to ask. After the words were gone, she felt Loki pulling her round. They were quickly turning, in time with everyone else. Her feet struggled to keep up with Loki's erratic dancing. Springing around and around, Ellie let out a yelp of delight.

"Loki!" she begged aloud. "I can't go any faster!"

A fresh laugh came from him. The rushing air made it near impossible to hear much; except for the thundering noise of the drum and flutes. Ellie's heart raced faster and she swore she could feel Loki's.

In the blur around them, Ellie caught sight of Thor spinning with Lady Sif. Onlookers made way for him and they must've been doing the same for Loki. It appeared relatively normal that the princes were in this part of town.

Ellie and Loki came to a slowing stop, making room. Several Asgardians took the space, beginning a thundering foot-dance. With wide eyes, Ellie watched them kick the ground.

"Our turn," Loki said into her ear.

"What?" she blurted. "Loki, no. I really can't."

"You really can!" he said back with an overpowering joy. As the words left his mouth, there was a tidal wave of warmth. The stardust ran around the crowd like a river of glittering gold, swerving between the bodies. Its divine power flourished in the minds of the crowd. Ellie's loose curls fluttered around her face and she felt consumed by giddiness.

Eyes sparkling with gold, she clutched Loki's hand and grinned wildly. "Teach me!"

"As always," he replied, a wide grin blossoming on his face. He pulled her forwards and the pair began to dance madly. In circles, they span and turned. Onlookers stamped their feet to the beat of the drums. Clapping and laughter ensued until the music was louder, and faster, and roaring in Ellie's ears. She laughed loudly, only able to see raven hair.

References

- The dancing scene from Titanic.

Comments / Replies

Oh Ellie, you saucy thing!

darkangelynn5

Thank you for reading. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and I hope you like this chapter as there's so many interactions between Loki and Ellie! Happy reading! X

Vivienneflwr

Billie's lyrics are perfect for the chapter. Ellie is either living a dream and a nightmare; she's still unsure which one it is yet. Perhaps a bite does mean that or something more… alluringly naughty! Happy reading x

Gothika

She's progressed so much since she first entered Asgard. It's a real punch as it shows how long she's truly been gone. A while! Happy reading x