Chapter 30.

"Please don't let me fall." She said, trying in her skirts to climb up into the saddle. She tried with all her might, the skirts not permitting her to move her other leg over the horse and she groaned in frustration. She stepped back down, thinking and got an idea at seeing the two Stable Hands ride by on their mounts. She looked up at Loki, gesturing for him to wait and she ran into the stables. He looked up at the horse, shrugging and saw her return with a pair of leather pants on and a blue tunic she borrowed from one of the boys. He laughed, seeing her plant her hands on her hips and he shook his head.

"Do you wish to try again?" Loki asked her and she stepped up into the stirrup and swung her leg over Snowdrop with ease.

"It is much easier if I do it this way." She said and he walked his horse over and mounted his. He took her reins, laughing at her and she blushed.

"You are clever, I will give you that." He admitted and she giggled from her perch. He brought her on a slow walk around the corral, letting her get used to riding on her own and gave her the reins to let her control the animal under her. They made several circuits around the space, she learning quickly how to stop the horse and how to ride at a trot. By afternoon, he noticed that she was becoming sore and squirmed in her saddle. Her backside starting to jolt roughly against the surface and she cringing as her bottom hit against it again, he laughed under his breath and motioned to her to stop the horse.

"You are getting sore, you are gripping too hard with your thighs. Give yourself some leeway and it will not be so bad when you connect with the saddle." He said and she relaxed her muscles noticeably. "Isn't that better?"

"Yes." She said, but still felt tender in her legs and he let her ride around a bit before stopping her again for the day. He helped her down, seeing that she was a little unsteady and let her rest before they took their horses back to the stables. Inside Floria retreated to a supply closet to change back into her dress, emerging moments later with the borrowed clothes neatly folded and she left them on a stool.

"We could rest for the remainder if the day." Loki's said and she nodded, her cheeks warm and glowing with the exercise of the morning.

"Don't you have to sit in on the Council Meeting again?" She asked him and he sighed, not wanting to go.

"I may skip it, the idea of going bores me completely and I have come to dread it." Loki said and she gasped at him in shock.

"But do you not need it? It prepare yourself for your transition when it occurs?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Not really, I think it is just a formality right now. Thor will return to favor as he always does, and I will be pushed aside again. It is how it has always been with Odin, and honestly, I have grown weary of it." He replied and folded his hands behind his back. "I am capable of making my own decisions really, and do loathe being pulled in directions I find undesirable."

"And you find the direction of being King of Asgard undesirable?"

"Only if it prevents me from having the Queen that I desire." He said and she blushed at his statement. He lifted her chin gently, looking into her eyes and she smiled at him. "I would never let you go Nightengale, not for any crown or master. It is in my nature to defy all to gain that which I desire, and to hold close those who I love."

"I could never ask you to abandon your Birthright for me." She said and he shook his head.

"You Are my Birthright now, fate has drawn us together and made us what we are. Not the other way around." Loki said and kissed her. "What shall we do this evening, while I defy Odin to be with you?"

"Could we just watch the stars together?" She asked and he nodded, he took her hand and led her to a taller tower on the castle. The both of them sitting on a chaise and watching as the sun set over the horizon, his eyes fell on her eventually and he found he could not look away. She gazed up at the sky and marveled at the beauty of nature, her eyes shining as she blinked. He wished so much to lay her back on the lounge and unfold all of her secrets, but resisted and he told himself that there would be time for that later.

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"I will not marry her, I desire a different Maiden." Thor said, crossing his arms at Frigga and she paced softly.

"She is very nice, Sera is a sweet and likeable Princess with little risk." Frigga said and Thor glared back at his Mother. "At least put some thought into her, you may like her. She is coming next Spring to meet you, after Loki and Floria are married."

"I will not like her because she is not the one I desire!" Thor said, turning and leaving Frigga standing in her chambers. She shook her head, sighing to herself and praying he would warm up to the Alfar Princess.

Her mind doubting it all, and hoping he still did not desire Floria.

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Below them, Odin paced his chambers and thought long and hard about what he was going to do. He told himself that Loki would be a fair King, but his thoughts returned to his legitimate son. The stubborn man he had become was caused by a foolish mortal on Midgard, and she changing him for the better while her passing made him act all the worse. He worried about the divide he had created, and debated if removing Floria from court was a path he could follow.

He saw the joy she brought Loki, and knew that sacrificing the happiness of one son would ensure peace between both of them. But part of him still felt it so wrong, how would he have felt if someone had taken Frigga from him? Would he have been the King he was now if he was forced into an arranged match, would he have felt so good and worthy of his throne. All the while being a traitor to his own heart.

He sat heavily in a chair, all these worries becoming a part of his being as he pinched his eyes shut. He saw how Loki loved her, was so tender with her and he refused to pull asunder what the Norns crafted. He also refused to deviate from his decision to make Loki Heir to the throne, he would serve as well as anyone and do better for it.

His decision was simple, and it would have to stand. No matter the conquences. His eyes closed then, his chin meeting his chest and he fell deeply asleep. Exhaustion claiming him, and he knowing that it would last only a few days this time. As he fell deeper asleep, he found himself praying that Asgard would be in good hands.