Chapter 17.

Loki stood in the hall waiting for her, his golden mask in his hand of a wolf tapping his palm as he paced back and forth. He had arrived at Frigga's doors early, and he had no one but himself to blame for his presence now. He adjusted his black overcoat, and checked his boots again and tried not to curse himself for being nervous. His worry that she would not be allowed to attend tbe ball with him, and that Hogun had told her to stay away from him. The gray fur trim on his coat gave him an extra look of danger and he saw his reflection in a pool as he walked past, liking how he appeared in his suit. A mystery surrounding him, and a bit of allure following behind.

Thor arrived, collecting a red haired girl with a blue gown and a sun on her mask minutes ago and he grinned at his brother smugly as he walked past. The arrogant fool, probanly thinking that He would bed her and make her another conquest. He was about to knock then, when the door opened and he saw her and nearly fell over in shock.

She had her hair curled in soft waves about her face, and a garland of gold flowers and butterflies pinned around her head. Her gold mask was plain, but brought out so much in how it drew attention to her gown. Proving that less was more, and her gown was stunning. The fern green silk of her gown shimmered in an inverted lilly over her cream underskirt, and was embroidered with blushing roses and golden vines. The sleeves were loose and flowed over her arms like water, tiny gold accents dotting them and drawing the person's eye. Loki closed his mouth consciously, his heart pounding as she folded her hands over her stomach and blushed.

"You look very nice Sir." She said politely, and her voice as soft as the silk she wore. He cleared his throat, offering her a gloved hand and he chuckled.

"And you look very beautiful Nightengale, you are a vision I hope to never forget." He breathed and she blushed, her hand found his and they walked to the Great Hall together. People along the way stopped and looked at them both, and many paused as they entered the hall itself. She stopped, looking around at the decorations, and gasped at all the beautiful sprays of colors that adorned the pillars in soft wrappings. He looked back at her, and she giggled as a man walked past with a tray filled with glasses of wine.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked her and she shook her head and smiled.

"It is all so magical, like a dream Sir." She said and she laughed at his mask. He led her to the center of the room, preparing to dance with her and she smiled at him brightly.

"Then let us make this night the most magical we can." He said and they began dancing, her heart raced and she kept up with him well. All the lessons from the Dance Master coming back to her and guiding her, her spirit soaring and she laughed as he moved her around the room. Even though others watched them, they only had eyes for eachother and this was not lost on two persons in particular who observed them.

Hogun watched his daughter laugh and dance, all her sorrows vanishing as Loki turned her gently. He happy to see her smile after her shock two weeks ago, and happier it was not Thor escorting her. He stood next to Fandral, ignoring his friend flirting with two other ladies, and saw Loki bow to Floria when the music ended. She curtsied back, he bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it, but only after nodding that he could shily. He had watched them for the past week, and he saw so much between then that he wanted to keep them apart. He fearing that Loki would hurt her, but every action proving him wrong and he could not bring himself to break his daughter's heart.

She was so happy as he led her into another dance, and Thor helped the girl he escorted past and she limped along with one foot up. Hogun knew he was a terrible danger in his lack of skill at dancing, and he laughed at his friend as he helped the girl sit down. Part of him now greatful to see Floria dancing with Loki, she would not need medical attention later on.

The other person observing them, the Ambassador from Vanenheim. He stood, a poor girl from home close to him and he dragging her through the crowd. He saw the young girl dancing with Prince Loki, and there was something so familiar about her. Something in the way she folded her hands, and looked at him like a shy doe. He wanted to see her without her mask, and adjusted his own of a rooster to move closer to them as they danced to the next song. Something told Journ that this girl could mean trouble to him, and he had to keep her quiet.

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"You dance wonderfully My Prince." She said, her eyes shining with a thousand stars and he laughed. A compliment directed toward him was rare, and it seemed so genuine coming from her.

"As do you Nightengale, I wonder if your feet are even touching the ground right now." He said and she blushed.

"This is all so wonderful, I only hope I do not wake from this dream at all." She laughed and he turned her in his arms. She moved easily around him, and he laughed and lifted her into the air. Her hands fell onto his shoulders, and she pointed her toes toward the floor in her delight.

"Then let us dance on so that we do not wake from it." He laughed and set her back down on the floor, he dipped her back and she laughed harder as he smelled deeply The soft scent of her perfume. The music ended again and she smiled gently up at him, his hand on her waist and his other wanting to never let go of her hand. He let her step back however, and she laughed as a man in a rooster mask bumped into her, his partner in the mask of a mouse nearly falling over.

"Floria!" Loki said, catching her and Journ let his eyes go wide. She steadied herself in Loki's arms and caught her breath, the man taking her other hand. "Ambassador, I hope you were not injured."

"No. I seem to have startled the poor Lady with you though." He said and Loki put an arm around her waist. He held her close, and something about the Ambassador's voice made her shudder. Her fingers closed on Loki's hand, squeezing it and she shivered.

"There was no harm, I pray you are more careful in the future." He said and looked at Floria. "Would you like to take some air? You look pale."

"Yes Sir. That sounds lovely." She replied, and he walked her out a set of doubled doors and into the garden. Journ narrowed his eyes, watching them leave for the doors and looked at the woman, a growl on his voice.

"Fetch my Footman and Guard. That is my missing slave, and I do not need her talking to The Prince or anyone else about how she was treated. She also cost me too much, I was going to sell her to a Pleasure house." He hissed at the woman. "I will see her hanging from a tree in that gown before the sun rises."

"Yes Sir." The woman said and ran to get the two men. He then slipped out the doors, his thin frame and short stature making it easy to follow them and he watched the two from a distance as they walked and sat on the ledge surrounding the fountain. He helped her take off her mask, and he rubbed her cheek with his thumb to calm her.

"What is wrong Floria? What has you shaking so?" He asked her, genuine concern on his face and she shook her head gently.

"Just a ghost from my past Sir, his robes reminded me of my Master. Nothing more." She replied and he smiled at her.

"Well, there is no reason to fear anything now. I promise you, with all that I am, that nothing or no one will ever harm you again." He said and she smiled at him.

"I believe you Sir. For you are so kind to me, and so giving." She said and blushed at her own words.

"They are true Floria. Because I have become very fond of you, and I fear a universe that does not have you in it. I imagine it would be an awful place." He whispered and his hands cupped her face, smiling at her gently and she felt the warmth of them fill her. She looked into his eyes, the truth she saw there comforting her further and making her grow bold. She leaned close, and he moved to close the space between them. Her hand coming up suddenly and stopping him before their lips could meet, her eyes filling with fear.

"I... I can't. I... I... I should go." She gasped, pushing away from Loki and running into the hall. She burst through the revelers, the face that terrified her in front of her suddenly. His hand closed around her wrist, crushing fine bones and she gasped. His hot breath, and crooked nose a vision from all her nightmares.

"Master. Please." She whimpered, and he pulled her close. She struggled a moment, trying to pull away but his grip tightened making her nearly cry out in pain.

"Scream and I will break your neck, and then violate the body. You know well what the punishment for being a Runaway Slave is." He warned her and pulled her along. Her terror causing her to go mute, and she wanted to cry as she knew her wonderful dream had come to an end.