Chapter 5.
"You are learning faster than I expected Nightengale." Loki said and she blushed as they walked the open halls. A chill had taken the air, signaling the end of Summer and the coming Autumn and all were working to prepare for the coming cold. She walked in a dark blue, silk dress, her caplet made of a lighter shade of the same color and accented in gold embroidery that was Celtic in design. Frigga made sure that her chambers were ready weeks ago, and she had moved into them with joy of having her own place. Her eyes filled with wonder at the soft bed, and her fingers touched the rose colored coverlet with amazement that it was actually for her and she prayed silently that it was not all a dream.
Although she did not use his bed anymore, Loki found her waiting every day to be invited in his chambers to learn with him. They both spent hours pouring over lessons, and Frigga often joined in to see if they were having any troubles from Thor. He, was occupied elsewhere and Loki could not complain about his absence. Loki found himself rather happy to have her as company, and often praised her dilligence at the tasks he gave her in her studies.
Her foot and leg eventually healed, and her mobility was much improved. She still had weakness from the injury, but she hid her very slight limp well. Floria's healing meant a terrible truth however, and he hid the lump that swelled in his throat. He knew very well, that soon she would be trained and placed as a Handmaiden full time, and it made him slightly sad to carry that knowledge. He came to think of her as a close friend, and worried that she would drift away from his life and leave him alone again.
"Thank you Sir. I find that I like to read and know things, it is wonderful to discover the new." She said, a deeper blush on her cheeks as they walked on. She was still terribly shy, and given to flinching when someone moved too fast toward her, but she was improving every day.
"You will soon not need me to teach you a thing, and I will be able to follow my own prusuits." He said and watched the leaves dance across the walkway. The brown, withered memories of warm Spring and Summer falling from the tree.
"May I still ask you questions when I need to?" She asked him, her voice so very small and he nodded at her. She did not want to leave his company, finding herself drawn to him. Like a moth to a warm candle flame.
"Of course Floria, now we should get you some new books to practice with." He said and laughed. She smiled, but there was a hint of fear in it and the reason for it was Thor. He was walking toward them, Hogun and Fandral hurrying toward something with him.
"Brother! We are sparring today, does your fair friend wish to watch?" He shouted and she jumped. She stepped behind Loki, making a barrier out of him but Hogun seemed very interested in Floria in his mute way.
"No Sir, I want to go with you to the library." She said in a soft voice, and the trio stopped in front of him. She stayed behind Loki, and Hogun stepped to the side to very a better look at her.
"I am taking her to the Library, I am furthering her education with basic sums today Thor." Loki said, and he glared at his oafish brother. "A Lady with education is a great asset to herself."
"Always books Loki, there is more for her to learn. Dancing, singing, the finer points of romance." Fandral laughed, reaching behind him and taking Floria's hand.
"Sir." She gasped, and took her hand back, but it was too late. Thor laughed, grabbing the hand and pulling her toward the Arenas. She did not want to go, and she shook with fear at being handled roughly. Hogun's eyes widened and he pulled Floria away from Thor, his eyes on her and she stepped back from him.
"She needs to learn, it is more important." Hogun said and he bowed to Floria. "I am sorry for how they acted, may your lessons go well."
"Thank you Sir." She replied, stepping back to Loki and he put a protective arm between her and the rest.
"It seems your scolding by Frigga did not take, perhaps I need to inform her of your latest transgression?" Loki threatened, and Thor stepped forward. He put a finger in his face, warning the darker haired Prince.
"I only need one excuse to have you locked away again Brother. That is how little you are trusted, she is not your puppet and I will court her." Thor said and glared at him. Loki laughed then, unable to hold back his laughter at what Thor had said. Floria moved toward a pillar, putting her back to it and shaking.
"Norns!" Loki laughed, and looked at Fandral. "Does he believe in himself? I would sooner see a Palace Guard or a Farmer court her, she would be happier there than with you Thor."
It was then that it happened, Thor grabbed his collar in anger and brought his fist around. It connected with Loki's face in a meaty slap, and he saw stars form behind his eyelids. Floria screamed, and he fell to the stone ground backwards. She ran forward, and he smiled up at her, her trembling worse from the sudden violence.
"Take her to the dungeon, and him too. He insulted me, and I am twice offended." Thor growled and Loki sat up. He looked at Floria, and she shook as her hands fell on his arm. His nose bled a bit, but was not broken and he felt hands yank Floria away from him.
"She did nothing Thor!" Loki shouted and she cried out and went limp between the Guards. "Let her go, she only damaged your vanity by rejecting your advances. I insulted you by laughing at you."
"Let them both go!" A woman shouted, her heels clicking over the flagstones and they turned to see Frigga walking toward them. Her lips a thin, angry line as she looked at everyone. She put her hand out to Floria, and the girl was released to take it.
"He insulted me Mother!" Thor shouted and she shook her head.
"He defended this girl again from unwanted advances! I am so ashamed of you right now, who threw the first punch?" She demanded. Floria and Hogun both pointed at Thor, the girl keeping her head down.
"I thought so. Loki, I will take her to the Library. Go and get your nose and eye tended to." She said and glared back at Thor. "I will have your Father speak to you later."
She turned, walking the shaking girl toward the Library, and Loki saw her glance back at him in for his injury. Loki then glanced at Thor, watching him and the rest leave him. He noticed Hogun looking at Floria again, his eyes sad and curious at the same time. As if some hope was there, but the odds of his suspicions being true were too far gone.
Loki moved on, his nose bleeding a bit worse, and walked toward the infirmary. Thinking about how she had run toward him, and how she looked so worried for him. It was the act of someone who cared for their friend, and it meant so much to him.
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He sat that evening in his Chambers, his nose still throbbing and his eye slightly swollen. He pressed the poultice against it again, and groaned at the pain when he heard a small knock at the door.
"Come in." He said and kept the bundle of herbs against his skin. The door cracked and Floria walked in like a ghost, her cat following her and keening mournfully at him. He looked at Crystal, leaning over and scratched her ears fondly. Floria looked pained at what she saw, her eyebrows knitted in worry.
"It looks worse than it is, don't worry." He said and gestured for Floria to sit. She looked at the eye and hissed in sympathy, her eyes downcast for a moment as she sat.
"It looks like it hurts Sir." She said and he smiled at her.
"Only when I breathe." He replied as a joke. She did not smile, but folded her hands. He looked as if there was so much on her mind, and she did not know how to broach the subject.
"Is it my fault he hit you?" She asked him and he set the bundle on the table next to him. He thought how to word what he wanted to say, and he saw the toes of her shoes peeking under her skirts.
"No Floria, it is not your fault at all. Some men, when faced with a pretty girl, turn beast like when they fancy her." He said and she looked at him. She shook her head, folding her hands in her lap and fidgeting slightly.
"You don't do that My Prince." She said and he laughed, waving a hand at her.
"I do, but I control it better." He said and stood, hunching his shoulders and making his hands into claws. "No. I believe that I am becoming rather like a beast."
He barked, making her jump and she giggled behind a hand. She stood at his growl, backing away from him and squealing as he took a step toward her, dropping to his knees and growling at her skirts. She shouted and laughed, backing away from him as he sniffed the air like a wolf. He crawled forward, and she hurried away and laughed as he pursued her.
"Oh no!" She shrieked as he moved on all fours about her skirts, growling at her and reaching go grab the fabric. She ran to the side and she laughed, he giving the fabric a gentle tug and barking at her again. She squealed, jumping up onto the couch, and lifting her feet into the cushions and he smiled at her as he sat back on the floor. The cat, disturbed by their play regarded them with disinterest.
"All men Nightingale, they all have a beastly side. I suppose how we control those urges that speak of monsters and men." He said and as he sat back against the couch. She nodded while laughing, the game being over. He stood up, and she put her feet back on the floor.
"I am still sorry he did that to you. His one friend was nice however Sir." She said and nodded, he remembered how Hogun looked at her and how he pointed at Thor as being the instigator. He let out a long breath, fearing the loss of his friend to a warrior who could die in battle one day. He frowned, and thought of better matches for her instead of Hogun in case she had her eye in him.
"He was. Hogun has a great deal of honor, and lives by a code he keeps to himself." He said and stood up, straightening his tunic. "I suppose I should thank him."
"Why were you locked away before?" She asked him and he turned with a finger raised. His face darkened and he shook his head, hers filling with fear at what she had asked. He regarded her, and looked down at the hand as his mind remembered the awful things he had done. The chaos he has caused, and he swallowed hard.
"They are dark things Floria, and I do not wish to discuss them." He said, and regarded her. The cat returned to grooming her fur, licking with a pink tounge as the silence became a roar between them. Floria shifted, folding her hands again and waiting. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, struggling with her own newly blooming feelings. Her heart pounding in her chest and she wanted to say something, but dared not. Feelings got her punished, and she had to hide them away.
"Come back tomorrow, we will start on sums, and some subtraction." He said and looked at her. "I am not angry, I merely do not want you to think less of me for what I once did."
"Yes Sir." She said and he smiled at her. He returned to his chair, straightening out his brown vest over his black tunic and picked up the poultice again.
"What books did you find with Frigga?" He asked and she blushed, fidgeting with her hands.
"A book of sonnets, and a romantic story about a King and his Queen." She said and he nodded.
"All things a young lady should like. It is a chance to dream for you, my teaching you how to read so that you may read these things. I am glad I could help you find that gift." He said and she blinked at him, she was turning shy again and he let her find her own way to what she wanted to say.
"I like... I like to read. For all the reasons you said Sir." She said, hiding her face behind her hand.
"Then it makes me even happier to have taught you." He said and his thoughts turned to the day she would not visit him anymore, his heart feeling heavy yet somewhat proud. For when that day came, she would choose her own path and be free.
"Does your eye bother you Sir?" She asked and he shook his head.
"No Floria, I ache for something I can never hold." He said and she nodded sadly. Her smile tiny, and she wanting to reach for his hand and comfort him. Her being a Commoner, and former Slave preventing her from doing it.