Chapter 2.
Floria woke, the soft warmth around her and she thought for a moment she had died and gone to the Summerland. She pulled the blankets up to her chin, the bed under her back a luxury she had never experienced before. The hard, wooden pallet she slept on in the stables was all she had known before this and she was enjoying the lack of stiffness from the hard surface. She felt the soft sheets on her legs, and shifted to look at her aching arm. The clean shift and dressings on it was a suprise to her, and she was further shocked that the soft perfume of flowers was coming from her. Someone had cared for her, washed her and dressed her wounds, but she did not know who it was. And she sat up from the multitude of green and gold pillows under her head to look around the large room.
She stretched gingerly, her stomach rumbling and years of practice and being corrected with violence told her that she could not ask for any food. She tried not to show she was hungry, and instead waited for the cold scraps she and the rest were fed to come. She saw the man then and squeaked, his eyes on her as he stood from the table and walked toward the bed. She pushed against the headboard, and curled into a ball to protect herself. Fear and years of torment teaching her one thing, well to do men were to be feared and given all respect. She was also in the bed of this one, and that meant to her that he had bought her and that she was a slave to a new Master. She shook, her fingers gripping the sides of her head and she heard him stop. Tears stung her eyes, and she waited for the pain of disobedience or rape to start. Instead, she smelled something that made her mouth water and her stomach growl more.
She opened her eyes, peeking around her arms and saw a tray with food on it sitting on the bed. The eggs, cheese, and fruit tempting her and she slowly uncurled from her ball. Her eyes darted up to the handsome, black haired man, and he stood over her and lifted the blankets for her to move back under them. She slid her legs back down obediently and lay back on the pillows, her eyes on him and she flinching back as he set the plate in her lap.
"Not many have been kind to you, have they. You are safe here girl, and forgive me for calling you that, but please eat that and rest." He said and returned to his chair. She picked up the fork in her bandaged hand, dropping it and struggling to use the utensil. He walked over again, slowly and carefully so he would not startle her. He took the fork and picked up a piece of the eggs and offered it to her, she opened her mouth and accepted the morsel. Her taste buds howling in pleasure at the warm food, a far cry from the scraps she was given before. She opened her closed eyes and saw the man smiling in amusement at her, he picking up a slice of apple and feeding it to her.
"I assume that this is good and that you like it. Just eat slow, you will make yourself sick if you devour this food to quickly." He said and gave her the napkin to wipe her mouth. She went to scratch at her neck and found her collar gone, her hand feeling only her skin and he laughed a bit at her as he fed her more egg.
"You are free here, the laws forbid slavery." He said, as if reading her mind and she nearly cried in joy. "You are welcome to stay as long as you wish, and I do urge you to allow yourself to heal before you leave."
She swallowed the egg, opening her mouth again and he fed her a slice of strawberry. She chewed the fruit, still unsure of the man and she blinked at him. She wiped the juice off her lips, and nodded his approval as he helped her eat until she was full.
She lay back, and he covered her to keep her warm. She watched him toss a log onto the fire, and her full belly made her eyes droop. He looked back at her, pulling a chair over near the bed and he sat in it. She trembled in fear again, not knowing what was about to happen to her. What he would do to her.
She studied his profile, and the way this green tunic hung on his frame. He had long fingered hands, an artists hands, and a narrow waist but was much better fed than she. He wore a pair of fine brown, leather trousers, and a pair of low boots, his hair tied back neatly in a leather thong. His face was calm, and he leaned his head back and glanced at her and laughed.
"Do you have a name?" He asked her, and she watched him for a long time silently before answering him. She blinked back tears at his kindness, and slid her hands under the blankets to hide a bit more.
"You do not have to..."
"Floria." She said, her whisper soft voice cutting him off. She ducked, waiting to be struck for interrupting him but the blow never came. She opened her eyes to see him smiling, and he laughed a bit.
"Floria. That is a beautiful name." He said and she yawned into the sheet. "I am Loki, Prince of Asgard, and I thank you for trusting me with your name. Sleep now, I will wake you at lunch Floria."
She nodded, pulling the blankets to her chin and curling on her side. She let her eyes close, and she felt so warm for the first time in her life. She watched Loki pick up a book, and he turned to a page and began reading from it to himself. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she slept softly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Loki woke the girl as he promised at lunch time, he helped her eat and watched her reaction to the rich stew as he gave it to her. She eventually could hold the spoon on her own, and she started bolting her food and he stopped her patiently. His fingers on her bandaged hand hand gentle to not cause her pain, and she froze in terror. She set the utensil down, biting her lip and looking nervous. He put his hand on her shoulder, lifting her chin with the other and she looked scared for a moment. Her eyes filling with tears and he stepped back, holding his hands with the palms up to show that he meant no harm.
"If you eat too fast, you will be sick. That is all Floria." He said and sat at his own meal, she took the time to look at the room around her and marveled at all the fine furnishings and lush carpets that adorned his chambers. Loki sat in an ornate, high backed chair in dark wood, and padded in deep, emerald velvet. The table in front of him matching and the high marble ceilings above him painted to look like the sky. The fireplace to his back, was large enough to burn most of a tree in and she thought he could burn her alive in it. The thought, making her shiver.
The bed she lay on had high posts carved in the same colored wood as the table and chair, and the pillows and coverings were plush green and gold embroidered fabrics she had never seen before. The door to her left, leading to bathing chambers with a privy. She wondered what they looked like, but did not dare ask to see them. Mostly out of fear she would make him angry, she ate her fill of the sweet buttery bread and stew, laying back and looking out the large windows silently.
She had never seen such a place before, and was never allowed in the house of her former Master. She was only allowed in the barn, and she hid there after her chores of cleaning the animals and their pens. She lay back and looked at the lace cuff if the shift, her fingers playing with a small thread. Loki walking over, and taking the tray away.
"A maid and a very kind woman will come soon and help you to bathe. I asked her to bring you some dresses to choose from, and eventually some shoes when your leg and foot is healed. I will give you privacy during that time, so you may not have your modesty questioned." He said and she blinked at him, her amber eyes studying him for a moment.
"Thank you Master." She said softly and Loki shook his head.
"Just Loki, you have no Master or Mistress in this castle. Just a friend." He replied and she looked confused at him. Her eyes studied him for a long time, and the spell was broken by a soft knock at his door. He walked through to the sitting room, and she could hear a woman talking to him. She craned her neck to see who it was, and he returned with a beautiful blonde woman and two pretty blonde girls with her. She smiled at Floria, holding up a cotton day dress in a rose color and showed it to her. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, and could not hide her excitement at seeing this gift to her.
"Hello Floria, I am Queen Frigga. My Ladies are here with me to help you bathe and dress." She said, her warm and gentle smile calming the girl on the bed. She walked over, taking the girl's hand in hers and laying the dress over her lap. Floria looked at It, her bandaged hand touching the collar of embroidered gold flowers and leaves. Her eyes filled with tears, and she sniffed.
"Have you never had a dress before?" One of the Maids asked and Floria shook her head, the girl looking shocked at the revelation. Frigga took a handkerchief and wiped her eyes gently, being careful around the bruised one.
"Well, we will have to remedy this, and other wrongs. Did I not tell you she was pretty Ladies?" Frigga said and motioned the girls over to help her into the bath. Floria looked up, seeing Loki close the Bedroom doors, leaving her in with the three women.
She allowed herself to be taken in to the chamber, watching the tap fill the large copper tub and Frigga supported her weight while the other Maid helped her out of her shift. They all gasped at her bruises and scrapes, the Maid at the tub adding scented oils to the water and shaking her head. Frigga tested the temperature and the three women lifted her and into the warm embrace it the water, Floria sighing at the comfort it offered.
"You poor dear. How did you come to be in Asgard?" Frigga asked her as one Maid helped her use soap to wash her body and the other began washing her hair.
"I ran away from my Master, he sold Mother to pay his debts to a cruel man and I was next." She said and cried. The woman washing her hair put a hand on her shoulder, offering comfort and she let the girl continue.
"Were you born a slave?" Frigga asked and Floria nodded.
"Mother was kidnapped when father was away at war. She said he died and I was in her belly, she had me in the barn and I grew up there." She said and looked at Frigga. "I ran away, but was brought back and I was starved and beaten. Master said I would be killed if I did it again. I still ran away, because he sold me to a Pleasure House. The Slave Tracker found me, and broke my foot and ankle with a rock before leaving me in the field for the animals to eat."
The Maid wiped a tear from her eye, finishing her hair and drying it with a soft towel. Frigga pressed her lips together, her eyes sad and she watched the other Maid buff and shape her broken nails.
"You are safe here Floria, and I am sure you will find that no one will hurt you ever again." Frigga said and the girl sat back in the tub to rest. Her eyes still darted about, the frightened doe look in them and the Maid wiped her eyes and went to combing her hair.
"Master will find me." Floria said and Frigga shook her head.
"No, when you are healed you may come and work as a Handmaid for me. I will keep you safe from that monster." The Queen promised the girl and she saw Floria smile a tiny bit.
"Thank you." Floria said and the Maids giggled at the girl as they worked. Frigga looked at the poor girl, seeing past the bruised and battered body and finding her potential. She smiled, laying a towel in her lap and began working on the nails of her other hand. The girl leaned back, and her eyes still studying everything around her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"She has to be from Vanenheim, it is the only realm apart from Jotunheim that allows Slave trade. However, Jotunheim forbids the mistreatment of theirs." Loki said and paced, looking at Frigga. The Queen folded her hands, looking down and nodding.
"Her story is so sad, but she is very strong. I have Marly showing her how to use the crutch we brought for support, she will be able to walk then." Frigga said and looked at Loki. "She will remain shy around men for some time, but it may be good for her to get fresh air and exercise."
"Where do you suggest I take her? She is a runaway Slave, and her owner wanted her dead. I do not think the City would be a good start for her, she would go catatonic." Loki groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Take her out into the Gardens, they are peceful and in full bloom. She can rest in the cool grass and get some sun on her skin." She replied, Loki considering it when the doors opened and he saw the Maids guiding Floria into the sitting room on her crutch. The dress looked stunning with her hair and he smiled at seeing her limp along, her bandaged foot raised to keep her full weight off it. Frigga walked over, and sat her on the plush couch, lifting her foot and slipping an ottoman under it.
"You look much improved." Loki said and she nodded at him. Her eyes taking in the rich tapestries and velvet drapes, her hand touched the brocade on the couch. Her fingers tracing the raised, woven medallion on it. She looked like a visiting Lady, recovering from an accident and not a broken Slave.
"You must be feeling so much better." Frigga said and gave her a delicate cup of tea for her to sip. Floria raised it to her lips, smiling a tiny bit at the brew and setting the cup back on the saucer.
"I do Queen Frigga." She said in a soft voice and returned to her silence. Loki noticed she was looking at the small shortbread cookies, and he reached out and placed one on the saucer next to the cup. She jerked, shocked by his sudden movement and she looked at him with slightly feral eyes.
"Take whatever you fancy, we have more than enough here." Loki said to her, Frigga nodding and smiling at the girl. She picked up the cookie, taking a small bite of it and sipping her tea again.
"They are too sweet for my liking, but I do not fault who likes them." Frigga said with a laugh, patting the girl's knee. "I should have Loki show you the gardens, they are very beautiful and the fresh air will do you some good."
"Thank you Lady." Floria said, her voice automatic as she spoke. The door opened to the sitting room, and the sudden appearance of Thor startled the girl. She jumped, curling on the sofa and the cup slipped from the saucer to the ground. It shattered on the marble floor, Flora squealing in fear and she bolted from the couch. Her foot and leg was unable to support her without pain, so she fell and crawled to a corner and shivered. She feared the broken cup would get her beaten, and she covered her head wirh her arms.
"Oh dear." Frigga said and waved her hands over the broken pieces, they fused together again and the spilled tea vanished. She walked to the trembling girl, and helped her to stand.
"What is this? And who is she?" Thor said, his voice loud as he spoke. She backed from Frigga, her shaking getting worse and the Queen calmed the girl.
"I'm... I'm so sorry Mistress." She said and Frigga smoothed her hair. Making shushing sounds, she held the girl close to her.
"It is only a cup, and it is fixed. Poor dear, let me help you lie down." She said and sighed at Thor. "This is Floria, Loki found her badly beaten in the woods and we are helping her to get well. She is easily startled, use a softer voice Thor."
"I apologise." Thor said and put our his hand to the girl, he smiled at her and she gave him hers. "You are very lovely Lady Floria, it is my pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you Sir." She said, and her lip trembled as she stood next to the Queen. Frigga helped her through the door, and she glanced back at Loki. Both men watching as she was helped to lay on the bed, Thor chuckled and looked at Loki.
"A Slave Girl Loki?" He said and laughed a bit harder. "You must be lonely."
"Owning her is against the laws of your father Thor, shut up." He snapped back and set his cup and saucer down. "I will advise you to knock from now on before entering my Chambers, you are hardly welcome in them as it is now."
"Mind yourself Loki." Thor warned and picked up a cookie, he smiled at the girl and waved at her. "Pretty, and uncourted, I should like to take her for walks sometimes."
"Why are you here?" Loki hissed, Thor looking back at him and grinning.
"I came to see if the rumors of you having a girl in your Chambers were true. And find that they are." Thor replied, eating a cucumber sandwich as he left. He stopped, waving to Frigga and gave Loki a sly look. Loki sighing to himself and trying not to get angry at the fact that Thor was going to flirt with the girl. Frigga returned to the sitting room and closing the door behind her, she looked at Loki and saw his annoyance.
"I will tell Thor to leave her alone, she needs quiet and to feel safe so that she may heal." Frigga said and Loki nodded silently. The Maids took the tray, piling the cups on it, and they left. Loki opened his fist, noticing that his fingernails had cut half moons into his palm.