Chapter 15.

She laughed at her friend, sitting across from him on the floor near the fire in his chambers. She was taking down more notes, earning his approval again as he finished his lecture. His hands folded then, and she scratched on with the pen over the page. After showing her his Jotun half in the garden, Floria always showed him in small ways that she did not mind at all what he was.

She sought out his company still, her eyes bright and alive and allowed him to touch her hand. She would sometimes embrace him, growing affectionate when he least expected it to happen. And would always smile when he entered Frigga's Chambers, blushing when he collected her for more lessons in magic. She did her best to try everything as instructed, not wanting to make him feel as if she were a lost cause. And she found herself proud of each new lesson she learned, and leaving he standing as her happy instructor. That day was no exception, but for her, the questions were to become more inportant.

"Sir?" She asked, and he regarded her. The goldenrod day dress she wore, making her hair stand out all the more.

"Yes Floria?" He asked her and she thought how best to word her question. She bit her lip, and lost herself in thought as ahe always did but never kept him waiting for a response.

"Where does the gift of doing such magics come from? I... I wonder because, well, I sometimes feel so very happy with knowing such gifts." She said and he smiled at her. She blushed, looking at her journal and he laughed a bit.

"It comes from your heart Nightengale, all magic stems in the self. And if you truly want it to, a happy heart can drive you to do great things magically." He said and she tilted her head slightly, another question on her mind.

"Like what things Sir?"

"Well, you could heal a sick person as one example, or even bring rains to quench a drought strikes field." He said and she smiled, her eyes shining with the thought. "Or you could choose to keep such things to yourself, and use them as a delight for you alone."

"I.. I think I should like to help others Sir. Does that make me a fool?" She asked him, and he smiled back at her. He shook his head, a grin on his lips and he wanted so badly to tell her all he was truly thinking but not wanting to scare her away.

"No, not at all." He replied, and she listened to him. "I believe it makes you a very special girl indeed. To have been treated so cruelly in the past, but still have such an affinity for compassion in you. It is such a rare thing Floria, nurture that and it will never fail you. I made that mistake once, and regret it now."

"Yes Sir, but all I have known now though is kindness and grace, from Queen Frigga and you." She replied and he nodded back at her. She tucked a bit of hair behind her ear, and looked as if she said too much suddenly. As if she were afraid of the conquences of speaking freely.

"I am glad you feel so, I would be saddened if you were made to feel another way." He replied and he glanced at the clock. "Time seems to have gotten away from us, I am sad to say that you have to return to your duties."

"Yes Sir, I suppose I do need to get back to Her Majesty." She said and closed the journal. She rested her hand on the cover, and looked as if she did not wish to go. A sad, lost look filling her eyes and he knew the feeling so well.

"I do need to see to a few items myself." He said and stood. "I may have to pay a visit to Frigga soon, I have something very important to ask her."

He helped her stand, and she gave him a curtsey, her manners showing and she smiled. She left the journal and pen on the table, knowing she would return the next day and walked to the door.

"I wish you success in what you are going to ask Her Majesty, Sir. And perhaps I shall see you again later." She said and left. He leaned against the mantle, smiling whimsically to himself and felt something he thought he lost a ling time ago. He rubbed his aching jaw, wishing that Thor had recieved a harsher punishment but did not really expect more to come from his outburst. He counted himself lucky, that he was not in the Dungeon again and that he could still see Floria. The very thought of her hands tending to his wounds, making his heart skip.

He picked up the journal, turning it over in his hands and wondered what she wrote of in the book. He had never thought to look at her thoughts before, and wondered how awful it would be to see them now. He lifted the cover, exposing the first page and snapped the book shut again. He was partially afraid of what he would see, and partially wanting her to keep the words within it private. He set the blue, leather covered volume back down and let his hand trail over it. His thoughts became clouded, stormy almost that she would not feel how he felt about her.

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Floria stood among the Maids, two new Ladies of high birth being introduced to them. The girls giggled, one so very graceful when she walked that her shoes hardly made a sound, the other a blonde haired beauty with a gentle face that made her feel plain by standing in the same room as her. She cast her eyes low, and Frigga made sure that they were introduced to each girl.

"And this is Floria, this poor dear is a bit shy so we must be a bit kinder to her." Frigga said and the girls both looked at her.

"Is this the Slave Girl you took pity on My Queen?" The blonde one asked and Frigga frowned at the observation. Floria felt tears prickle at her eyes, her heart feeling crushed when the door opened and Loki entered on his errand. He stopped suddenly, his eyes falling on the two ladies and he stared at the blonde girl. She blushed, covering her mouth and giggling as she was prone to do and they all gave him a curtsey.

"Oh, Loki. I did not expect you, may I introduce my two new Ladies?" She said and walked them over to meet him. Floria saw him smile at the two, his hand out to greet them and they both smiling as they talked to him. He spoke animatedly with them both, and Floria took it as a chance to hide behind a nearby chair. She slipped to the floor, hearing him laugh and cursed herself as a fool for letting her heart trouble her so.

"Ladies, you are dismissed for now. Remember to wear something warm tomorrow, we will be going to the city to hand Alms out to the poor." Frigga announced, and Floria started to hurry from the room. She could not face him then, and she was nearly there when a hand caught her arm and she saw Loki smiling at her. His face showed concern, and he frowned.

"Were they cruel to you?" He asked and he glared at Frigga. "Did they say something to hurt her? Why does she look on the verge of tears?"

"They pointed out her birth, I had hoped they would do better but they did not." Frigga replied and opened her arms to her. Floria stepped to Frigga, letting her hold her and she felt the Queen stroke her hair.

"You would think they could show more compassion, but what do you expect from ladies such as them. They have never raised a finger in actual work their entire lives, I pity them more over Nightengale." He said and looked shocked that his name for her has slipped. Frigga stopped, looking at Floria and the girl stepped back slowly. She folded her hands over her mouth at Frigga's expression and she shook.

"Nightengale?" Frigga said and began to pace. "Have you? I mean are you two?"

"No. We are friends, no more and it is a name I gave her as a friend." He replied quickly. His eyes darting to Floria, an apology carried in them. She felt a giddiness in herself though, but hid her feelings under her quiet nature. Years of practice at hiding her emotions showing, and not failing then. Frigga looked at Loki, and nodded and smiled.

"Of course, I should put more trust in you. Floria is safe with you, and I believe that you would never allow her to be in a position that would ruin her prospects for a good future." Frigga said and smiled.

"I should be offended, but I did wish to speak to you about my friend. It seems that your Ladies push their chores off on her, and treat her unfairly. She should be treated as equal to them under your care, but is not." He said and raised a hand, stopping Frigga before she could protest. "I do hope you will remedy this, I feel it is stunting her learning from me."

"Well, that is very good if you to worry about your student and friend. I will see that she is treated better Loki, and I am sorry she has been treated so." Frigga said and turned to Floria, taking her hands. "I am truly sorry Dear, they can be rather cruel and I will do my best to ensure it does not continue."

"Thank you My. Queen. May I go now?" Floria asked and Frigga smiled at her. She let her hands go and waved her off, she smiling back at Loki as she left. He could see a happier spring in her step, and he took joy in knowing that he had put it there. She closed the door after her, Loki looking back at Frigga who grinned up at him.

"I know that was not all you were here to speak to me about. And the answer is yes, if you wish to court my Ward, you may. But..." she said, raising a finger, warning him with her eyes. "Only if you get her consent to such a thing. She is unused to the attentions of men, and I do not want her feeling afraid."

"I could not do that to her. And how did you know what I was going to ask?" Loki said and gave her an incredulous look.

"A mother knows all the workings of her children, especially the ones she knows as well as the son she raised and taught." She said and smiled. Her arms hugged him, and he laughed a bit into her hair.

"I suppose I truly hold no secrets from you then." He said and she laughed, her lips pressing together in her joy.

"No. I am only suprised that you waited so long to ask me such, and now I hope that you enjoy many golden days with her." She said and waved her finger at him. "Only..."

"If she agrees that I may court her." Loki replied and laughed a little. He thought of how to ask her, and turned to see Thor and Hogun walk in the room. Thor grinned at Loki, something very amiss in their demeanor and Frigga smiled to her other son.

"Thor, what brings you here?" Frigga asked and he laughed. His voice overly loud as usual, and Loki wanted to growl at him.

"Well mother, it seems that Hogun has told me quite a story. One that may involve your Lady Floria, and that he may be someone of importance to the girl." Thor said, and Loki felt his stomach churn at what they were going to say.

"Yes Hogun? What is it?" She asked, a frown of worry crossing her face. The grim warrior let out a breath, and took another in and spoke clearly.

"I believe, if she had a mother named Velora, that Floria is my daughter." Hogun said, and Loki felt his heart drop through the floor at what was said to Frigga. Her mouth fell open, and Thor grinned sheepishly at everyone in the room.

"Your daughter." Frigga gasped, looking at Loki and he closing his eyes and wanting to scream. For hundreds of years, he wished to have a young woman come into his life and now she was going to leave it as suddenly as she wandered in.

"You speak to her often Loki, has she ever mentioned her Mother's name? That perhaps she is still alive?" Thor asked with a chuckle and a look saying that he had won the right to court Floria. Loki shook his head, his fists balling again and he cleared his throat.

"No, only that her Mother was taken from a village and that she was carrying Floria within her at the time." Loki said and Hogun nodded stoically.

"We should speak to her immediately." Frigga said, I am sure she will be thrilled to know her father."

"Yes. I am sure as well." Loki said and glared at Thor. "I will fetch her for you if you wish, she seems to fear Thor."

"Yes, please do." Frigga said, nodding to him and folded her hands. Hogun glanced at his friend, Thor shrugging at him back and Loki turned to go after Floria. Hiding his dissatisfaction at what was happening, because she was no longer his to court.