Notes: The ball! Part one. There's more ball on next chapter. Enjoy! :D


The evening was going expledidly well, in Svad's opinion. He could sense all the eyes darting from time to time to the Royal Table where he had Loki seated at his left –the common place for the spouse– and Jane at his right. It was an inside joke and Loki had been so delighter he had almost cracked in public, but his face had kept a seren smile and coy glances here and there. They both knew the guests' thoughts on Loki being the Crown Prince's companion, and they both laughed at that. If only they knew. Loki had even made half a joke about it once and Svad had had to stop himself from spreading the rumours about Loki being the Prince of other kingdom. It would have been disastrous, though, people like to gossip and poke around.

That afternoon, after Loki took a bath he had been applying a salve on the skin of his left leg, masagging delicately the skin and being mindful of the scarred parts. Svad had been watching from the threshold. His black hair had been brushed aside and, still damp, was tracing Loki's throat in a most sensual way. The mer had chuckled, not looking up from his task.

"If you keep staring at me like that, my dear, you are going to make me combust," he had joked, glancing up briefly, a playful smile on his thin lips. Svad uncrossed his arms and walked towards him but Loki rose one hand and stopped him. "Ah-ah! I have just bathed and I would prefer to still smell of my oils than sweat when the ball proper starts," he said.

Svad rolled his eyes.

"As if your sweat is not sweet enough," he muttered.

"And that's exactly it. I have already cast minnor spells to conceal my unearthly charms but unless I transform myself into a monster, they won't be enough if I smell like sex. Need I remind you that humans had been natural prey for merfolks for millenia?"

Loki had a point. Even his nephew had something around him that made people lower their guard –or otherwise rise– and even Svad hadn't been immune to him at first. He had seen the lad as a sweet boy and had almost offered to get him under his wing, but then Loki had entered the picture and any thought of the young blonde had been whipped out of his mind. He had asked Loki about it and he had answered with an interesting information: merpeople were made to attract humans –they used to fed on their flesh– but some times humans could feel the danger and became aggressive against them.

"Did you do the same for your nephew?" he asked, leaning over the threshold again, watching Loki dress himself.

"I did. I gave him a draught –though he doesn't know that– and put a minnor enchant on his cufflings." He was brushing his hair anew, Svad was mesmerized. "They match with lady Jane's necklace."

"Ah, you are so proud that things ended well in the end, aren't you?"

"That, I am," he said while he tied his hair up on a simple way. He let some strands loose from it, framing just one side of his face. He added a slight touch shadding on his eyelids before finishing with his clothes.

"You and your cosmetics," Svad commented, chuckling.

Loki grinned at him and went back to fastening his clothes. His breeches were a dark blue, the legs were so wide that of he stood motionless they looked like a skirt falling right to the floor where they almost covered his feet. His shoes were a polished black, matching the sash that fitted the breeches and his undershirt –with the same dark blue– to his waist and had some golden accents on them. His waistcoat was embroided –dark green over a darker blue– with silk thread giving it a shining glow whenever the light reflected on the pattern. His jaket was dark blue too, but it was embroided with golden threat and had golden buttons. It wasn't as tight fittin as the waistcoat and its length was enough just to cover it and part of the sash. When he finished knotting the cravat –green as the details of the waistcoat– he took a dark red cord and looped it twice around his waist, knoting it on the side. The rest of the cord fell over his leg and danced whenever Loki moved.

"You look..." Svad felt speechless. Not that it wasn't the norm lately. Loki always had a way to rob him of his words, by way of his own, his actions or whenever he decided to doll up. Loki walked towards him. He wasn't doing anything special, just walking. He couldn't take his eyes from his hips.

"Would you help me with this?" he purred, offering him a golden chain with several coins hanging from it. "It's supposed to be around my head but..." Lowering his eyes, Loki bit his lip before looking at Svad through his eyelashes.

Svad swallowed.

"Loki... If you really want to arrive untouched to the ball I suggest you to stop trying to get into my pants," he said, voice croaking. His throat had gone dry.

"Of course," he agreed, but didn't change the way he was looking at him. The little minx!

Svad took the chain from his hands and, following his instructions, adorned his head with it. Once it was done he grabbed one of his hands and put it over his crotch.

"See what you did?" Svad whispered to him, and Loki just laughed, grabbing him harder and making him shudder.

"You better do something about this, soon. The first guests will be arriving in about half an hour," was his only response, before leaving the chambers, cane in hand.

Svad looked at him until he closed the door and then flopped on the bed, groaning in frustration. This was the worst and the best part of Loki, always keeping him on edge.

He had managed to get presentable in time and receive the guests at the door, with Loki at his arm. He knew them all by name and title, but by protocol he only needed to greet them by their surnames. And since he knew there were people who were bound to try and top one another he added fuel to the fire. Using the title to greet one guest and then just the surname of their opposers at court, as if favoring one over the other, was the best way to confront them. More so if you also sitted them beside each other.

Oh, one would think Svad was oblivious to the enmity of the families at court, but he was oh-so-very conscious of them and liked the drama that unfold whenever he misstepped. Loki, who had been away for too long to have kept up with it, was catching up fast at his side. He even winked at a woman who had openly insulted him when he was gone. She blushed, indignant, and turned around.

The sun was setting and all the chandeliers were being lighted when Thor and Jane came from the door that led to the gardens. The lad wasn't as appealing as Svad remembered and he didn't have the urge to teach him how to become a pirate in his stead, but Svad still cloud appreciate that he was very handsome and that maybe he shouldn't think about him as a lad, but as a man. Their eyes locked for a brief moment. He nodded towards the blonde, but for all answer he received a hard look. Oh! Interesting.

He had heard the fight between the lovebirds and had laughed in his chambers until he couldn't breath. He certainly didn't have any plan on bedding Jane. Not that she wasn't a very comely woman, but she just lacked something very important that all of Svad's past lovers had. Not that Thor neede to know, it was interesting to see how the young man glared at him.

By the time the dinner started, though, Thor had become a little star. No one really knew him or where he came from but his regal demeanor and his good manners set him appart from common folk and nobles alike. The gossip was non-stop and when Svad sat on the royal table with Loki and Jane at both his sides, and Thor at Jane's other side, the rumour mill was unstoppable. Who was the blonde man? And the woman? Where had Loki been all this time?

Some of the courtiers had theories already: Jane was Svad's mistress, brought here to put Loki in his place. Jane was Loki's mistress, and the three of them shared the bed. Thor was Loki's boytoy and had come with his wife and the three of them shared the bed. The four of them shared the bed. And so on. Their imagination was so limited that Svad couldn't help but chuckle merrily.

Loki, at his side, smiled and blushed as he knew how to do, making people around them shift uncomfortably. Everyone knew that Loki was to not be crossed. Some still thought that Loki's main plan had been to get rid of Princess Melibea from the start, to prevent a possible future flame to get ignited between Melibea and Sigurd.

As the dinner drew on, different topics were discussed. Once the novelty of the royal guests had been exausted, their minds were back to their own little feuds.

"I must admit that I never though that Lord Richards would come, knowing how Von Doom was attending too," Loki commented while cutting into his fish. He was so refined while eating that all the ladies present were being put to shame, except maybe Jane, who, no doubt, had received some classes from the mer.

"Oh, they didn't know the other was coming," Svad answerer, taking a sip of his wine. He saw Loki's grin. "Please, stop. At least not today. Tomorrow, when they are to leave."

"I am going to do nothing," Loki said in the voice he used to say that others would do for him. "After all, I don't think Lord Richards would find it unsavoury that I speak with Von Doom. He is an intelligent individual."

Svad snorted.

"Yes. An individual that suspects you of being fae and wants you on a table so he can cut you open," Svad muttered.

"Oh, please. He wouldn't do anything like that here."

"Some where else, he might. I am not risking you rousing his interest again," Svad said. He was starting to regret having invited Victor now. Loki liked the thrill of danger too much and being put too close to a man such as Von Doom made Svad feel restless.

"Too late," came Loki's voice.

Svad's face snapped at his left.

"What have you done?"

"Oh, nothing. He asked me for a dance and I promissed I would dance with him after the two first. Those I have reserved for you, darling," Loki said, happily.

At his right, Svad felt a little commotion. When he looked he saw that Thor was glaring on to the guests' tables. Following his line of sight he saw that there was a man who was glarin at the royal table. Following that other line of sight he looked back at Loki.

"Loki, what in the Sevent Seas have you done to Lord Strange?" Svad asked, not knowing if he wanted to know or if he prefered to be kept in the dark. Loki just smiled brightly at him as the dessert was served.

00000

After the dinner, they have been herded to another room, this one filled with chairs, armchairs, couches and tables. On the tables there were boxes with cigars and cards. On the walls there were paintings and bookcases and there were two fire places. On the marble floor, rugs and carpets of exquisite manufacture adorned and helped to prevent people from sliding. There were also cabinets filled with drinks. The floor-to-ceiling windows had been opened as to let the summer breeze in –and to help ventilate the reek if the cigars, thank goodness, Jane thought– and some servants were serving tea and other hot beverages.

The dinner had been splendid and Jane was sure she still fit in the dress because Loki had given her one that, even while hugging her form, didn't compress her. And she was so grateful for it, since she had eaten more than ever in just one meal. How did Svadilfari kept in good shape if he always had dinners with so many courses? And with desser! That would remain a mystery to be solved, because she refused to talk with him.

At her side, Thor had fidgetted, conscoius of being watched, until she had started small talk with him: complimenting his hair, his clothes and his manners. In turn, Thor had complimented her dress, her make-up and her fast addaptability.

"Oh, this?" she said, lifting her fork before eating a piece of fish. "Loki taught me. Didn't I tell you that he was going to give me classes of social gathering?"

"That you did. Though I must admit I didn't know there were so many silverware to be used."

"No? But you don't seem stranger to them," she pointed out. He smiled at her, sheepishly.

"I didn't want to disturb your classes with Loki, so I picked up a few books," he admited.

Jane could hear some sighs coming from the lower tables. With the corner of her eye, she located at least three young women besotted with Thor already. She stuck her tongue to the roof or her mouth in fear of barking out a laugh. They were so obviously smitten with Thor that it was endearing.

"And did you happen to read about dancing?"

At that, Thor shook his head.

"No, but one of the servant girls offered to help me with that. I think I can manage most of the dances without crushing your feet." Another bright smile. Another row of sighs. Jane was fighting so hard not to laugh now.

"Oh. And who says I will want to dance with you? Maybe I will just sit down and wait until Loki offers me his hand," she joked, finishing it by sticking her tongue out before going back to her meal. Thor chuckled and more sighs followed.

"Well, if that's what you wa- No. No, Jane! I mean. I want to dance with you, will you dance with me?"

He looked serious. She smiled at him, patting his hand.

"Of course. But don't step on my toes!" she said, winking. "Though, you are aware that you will be asked to dance by others, right? You can refuse, of course, but for the sake of socializing you shouldn't do it too much. Maybe every two or three?"

"Dances?"

"Partners," she corrected. Thor looked dismayed then. She giggled at that. Two dances with each partner, that was what the etiquette dictated.

"I don't know if I am ready for that," he said.

"Ready for what?" Loki asked, leaning over Svad to look at them. Jane almost jumped on her seat, startled.

"You have an acute sense of hearing, I gather," Jane said, looking at him. He winked at her and she grined.

"That, I do. So, ready for what?" he asked again.

"Thor is worried he won't be able to dance with all his partners without embarrassing himself," Svad answered before the other had an occasion to speak. At her side, Thor tensed.

"Aw, pup," Loki said, looking endeared. "You can dance with me, too, you know? It won't be a problem at all," he winked at his nephew and then went back to his meal.

Jane squeezed Thor's hand under the table.

"What's wrong?"

"He called me pup... Again." Thor looked sour.

"Well, he slipped," she defended Loki and Thor looked at her, surprised. "C'mon, he has been calling you pup since the first time you two met, right?" He nodded. "There you have it!" she said, triunfally. "Also, you kind of looked like a sad puppy," she added, and Thor shoved her playfully –in a very discret manner– and she giggled again. "So, there you have it. You can dance with me, with him, and refuse others saying that you are "otherwise engaged" and be free."

"Sounds like a plan," he smiled and went back to eating, now with renewed vigour.

After that, the whole dinner had been a slow and fast affair and suddenly Jane found herself on the playing room where people socialized before the ball proper started and they went dancing. Of course, if there were people who would rather stay, they could. Both rooms were linked by a double door that was currently closed while the servants prepared the floor and served the tables that Jane knew were set at the walls, as well as providing chairs for when one didn't have a partner or prefered to rest their feet.

It was almost midnight when the doors opened and the people were invited to go in the ballroom. Jane and Thor had kept themselves near the bodyguards that Svad had selected for them as to not be accosted by the other guests. They would be introduced to them in due time, but it was clear that most of the guests were curious about them.

"Well, it seems it's our moment to stop being anonymous," she commented to Thor, feeling suddenly so nervous her stomach contracted. Thor took her hand.

"Do not worry. We are all here for you," he said, kindly. They looked at each other and took a deep breath.

"We can do this," she said and they giggled.

"Though it's not my first ball, I find this human tradition quite enjoyable and different to the times I spent back at home. I wasn't this nervous since my coming of age ceremony," he said while they followed Svad and Loki into the ballroom. "I knew a lot of the courtiers already and had played games with some of them –that year all my friends were coming of age, but I was one of the first–. I almost slapped some foreign dignitary in his face with my fin. That was how nervous I felt," he chuckled and Jane tried to imagine Thor with a fish tail.

"Can you shift?" she asked him.

"I don't know. I haven't asked and..." he looked down at the black ring still on his finger. "I was told that if I didn't take this off I wouldn't need to worry about shifting while near water. I haven't taken it off yet."

"Mm... Maybe you could ask Loki later," she suggested.

"I will."

"Ladies and gentlements," Svad said, everybody quieted down and focused on the prince. "First of all, I want to thank you for answering my invitation to this lovely evening. As most of you might have discovered already, this is no simple ball. I invited you here today so you could meet someone," he announced, then, turned to Jane and offered her his hand. She took it. It had been rehershed so many times she was even comfortable with touching him. "This is Lady Jane Foster. Some years ago, she was blessed by the God of the Seas and came unscattered from a shipwreck in the outer seas, in the middle of a storm." His voice was steady and his hand gentle. Jane was grateful that she wasn't shaking. Instantly, a murmur rose through the people gathered there. "Jane and his companion, Thor Odinson," Svad continued and the people went quiet once again as Svad released Jane's hand and Thor advanced and took it, "decided to grace us with their presence. Thor is also blessed by the faery, as he was blind before, but now he can see as well as any of us." Another excited murmur followed his words. Svad rose one hand, cutting it short. "They are my guests tonight. I expect you to treat them well," with this, Svad motioned to the musicians who started playing.

The people scattered to their partners and looking for a place in the room. Thor put a hand on Jane's waist and led her through the sea of people. They were aware of the eyes that followed them but Jane refused to feel cowered.

They took their places and when the music changed they all started moving as if they were part of a well oiled cog.

Through the corner of her eye, Jane surveiled the people that surrounded them while keeping small talk with Thor. It seemed that Thor was doing exactly the same, though instead of focusing on the people his eyes seemed to follow his uncle.

Loki was a sight to behold. His clothes alone set him appart from the rest, but the fluidity with which he danced in Svad's arms made heads turn. Every single accesory he wore made it quite difficult not to stare at him, trying to drink it all. Jane focused back to Thor and then she understood. She couldn't help the pain in her chest, nor the rueful smile. But it made sense, right? Jane was just a human and Thor should have never come into the land.

Thor made her swing, never stepped on her and over all was a more than good partner. The only lacking would be that he wasn't extremely good at speaking while dancing and that his mind was preocupied with something else. When their second dance ended she excused herself and went outside to clear her mind and to conceal in the darkness the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

00000

He had been dancing for what felt like hours, but according to the watch near one of the giant mirrors, Thor saw that it had been less than one. He had danced with Jane, then she had disappeared and a dark haired woman had asked him, through a fit of giggles, if he would dance with her. He had nodded and danced, but he was feeling distracted by two sources: Jane's strange behavior before she disappeared between the crowd and Loki. He stepped on his new partner and even though he tried to excuse himself, she seemed to not mind it, until the song finalised, when she said that she needed to rest.

Thor felt bad, she was limping slightly. With no partner with the next dance, Thor walked towards one of the tables and took a flute of champagne.

"If I were you I wouldn't drink yet," a playful voice said at his side. Loki was leaning on the table, looking towards the ballroom. Thor, on his part, kept giving it his back. His mood had been sour all evening and he still didn't quite understand why.

"Why not? This is supposed to be a beverage for celebrations," he asked, looking at the glass.

"Well, we are going to be here quite a long time. If you get drunk too soon you are going to miss the fireworks," Loki said, chuckling. Then, as if noticing something amiss his face became serious. "Have you had another fight with your fiancé?" he asked, nonchalantly.

Thor almost chocked on his drink.

"My what!?"

Loki looked at him, confused.

"Jane. Weren't you going to marry her and have little human bastards roaming around with their biped bodies?" he asked, eyebrows rising.

"Ah... Well.. I..." Thor flushered. Of course Loki would think that. He had not talked about it with him, only with Jane. "We might no... I mean... We are going to see how things goes today and tomorrow we will talk and..."

"Oh, I see..." Loki was frowning now, his face a mask of fury. "So you wasted it. In the end this served no purpose but to-" he cut himself before continuing. Thor saw his nostrils flaring as he took deep breaths. "Look, Thor, I will admit that at first I didn't care if you succeeded or not, but after all this time there's nothing else that I want," he said, looking at the dancing people. Thor couldn't take his eyes off Loki. His green eyes locked on Thor's blue ones. "For you to succeed. But if it's not Jane, then there's nothing I can do," he mumbled softly, but loud enough for Thor to hear. He had his arms crossed over his chest now. "If you don't remember how to revert into a merman and want to go back home, just tell me. Any time is fine, alright?"

Then, just as he had appeared he left, but Thor was faster and grabbed him by the biceps.

"Why are you being so considerate with me?" Thor was confused. At first, even though Loki had explained everythin about the curse to Thor, he had done so in an obscure way with difficult terms and a short temper, but now he seemed to have more patience with him and whenever he looked at Thor his eyes were soft.

"Let's say that you have grown on me," he answered with a smile. "I thought I would hate any pups produced by Odin, but it seems that the amount of Frigga in you counters his, my prince," he added, leaning in as if confiding some scandalous secret. "I am just glad you inherited her golden hair. Can you picture yourself with the family's black hair?" he chuckled and Thor felt butterflies in his stomach. Slowly, he released Loki's arm.

"When can we dance?" he asked, feeling slightly dizzy.

"Oh! We can dance right now. Come, I will tell you how I like to be handled. It's so much fun to have another's hands upon yourself!" he commented, excitely. "You should try it some time. It's thrilling."

Loki guided him and when they were on their place he moved Thor's hands to rest on his hips.

"Do you know this one?" Thor nodded, heart hammering in his throat. "Good. Remember be firm while lifting me. I wouldn't like to have another accident regarding legs," Loki laughed and Thor fought to swallow.

The music started.


More Notes: Mm... The last part (Thor and Loki talking and about to dance) almost didn't happen. :P