Chapter 42.
Floria wandered the halls the next day, Loki being trapped in another Council meeting and she still worrying about their Wedding Night. She paid little attention to where she was going, finding herself in areas of the Castle she had never expolred. Crystal, the little white cat followed her about, playing with the hem of her skirts and she had nearly tripped over the cat a few times in her wanderings. She was so lost in watching the cat, that she missed the loose tile on the floor and she nearly fell to the ground. Someone stopped her though, catching her by the shoulders and holding her fast. She gasped in suprise and looked into the kind, blue eyes of a Palace Guard.
"Are you hurt Miss?" He asked her and she shook her head softly. His face was young, unmarked by worry and he had a genuine concern in his voice. His face was framed by golden curls under his helmet, and he helped her stand.
"No... I... I am well. Thank you very much for catching me." Floria replied and he bowed to her, crossing his arm over his chest in a salute.
"It is my sworn duty to pervent harm to any person in this Castle." He said and she gave him a curtsy in return. "I am Vorn, My Lady Floria. I am most honored to meet you."
"Please, just call me Floria. I have no title or commission to be given such respect." She said politely and blushed. He smiled down at her cat, bending in his armor and offering his hand for the cat to smell.
"You are a Lady of your own right. Many speak of your sweet nature, and your virtue as an honest and good woman." He replied and petted her cat. She smiled as he played with Crystal for a moment and she marveled at his armor, his hands were calloused from training but she found them gentle.
"My friend Crystal seems to like you." Floria laughed, Vorn regarding the cat a moment and laughing when she found a loose tie, her white paws batting at them.
"Surely not your only friend, I am sure you are surrounded by many more friends here Lady." He replied and Floria shook her head. She frowned a monent, wiping her hands over her skirts and stared at him.
"No Sir. It seems my only friends are the cat at your feet, The Queen, and Prince Loki." She said and he looked genuinely sad for her. He put out his hand and she took it in a shake, his fingers so warm in hers despite his armor.
"You have another, Sergeant at Arms Vorn. And I am happy to call you friend in return." He said and she smiled at the thought of having another friend, especially one so very nice to her. She shook the hand back, laughing freely and she blushed at him.
"And I am happy to have you as a friend as well. But your title is rather long, may I call you Vorn?" She asked and he smiled at her, his eyes sparkling at the thought.
"Of course, but only if I may call you Floria." He answered, his eyes falling on Hogun as he walked by. Floria curtsied to the grim warrior, lowering her head and she blinked back tears. He did not acknowledge her at all, merely walking past as if she were a ghost.
"Lord Hogun! Congratulations on you victory against the Dark Elves." Vorn called out and Hogun nodded in thanks to him, walking on without further word. "Aren't you his daughter?"
"I was, It seems I am disowned." She said and wiped her eyes. Vorn looked at her, offering her a cloth and took her hand gently, his eyes saddened for her.
"I am so sorry. That is terrible, you do not deserve that sort of treatment at all." He said and she nodded, patting her eyes.
"Thank you, you are so very kind." She said and she looked up at him. He let go of her hand, bending over and picking up her cat and offered her his elbow.
"Perhaps I can offer a distraction then, I was going to go spar this afternoon and would be honored if you could find some joy in watching." He said and Floria thought about it for a moment. Loki would be in Council until evening, and Queen Frigga had no chores for her to perform. She would be alone, with nothing to keep her occupied or anyone to talk to.
"Yes. I would like that." She said and smiled. "Only if it does not upset Crystal."
"If it does, you may leave at any time. I will not have my two friends fretting over anything." He said and offered her his elbow again. They walked together, he telling her jokes and making her laugh. His humor cheering her as they walked, and he smiling at her the whole time.
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"It is so heavy." Floria laughed, the sword in her hands wavering as Vorn stood behind her. He put both his hands over hers, and guided them through a simple thrust and slice.
"It can be, until you get used to it." He said and laughed with her, gesturing toward a practice dummy. "There is your opponent, go get him."
She stepped toward the stuffed man, performing the moves she had been shown perfectly and earning his applause. Vorn took the sword from her, offering Floria a cup of water and he smiled.
"That was exhilarating! I cannot believe how powerful it felt to fight that thing over there." She said and drank, noticing that the sun was getting low. She looked panicked for a moment, her eyes looking around her.
You have learned quickly, but I fear that your Bethrothed is waiting to dine with you, from the look on your face." He said and walked across the dusty arena toward her. She did not see the two Noblewomen who watched and he offered her his hand, she took it and gave it a shake.
"I do have to go. I pray that I look presentable, and not as if I have just been unladylike." She said and handed him the cup. He laughed, giving her a wink and she smiled.
"Only like you have battled five Bilgesnipe, but no worse." He joked and she laughed at him. She picked up Crystal, walking toward the door. She moved to open It, but paused, and she turned back toward him.
"May I seek your company tomorrow Vorn?" She asked him and he gave her a bow.
"Of course, we are as friends, and I will look forward to you company as I hold post in the hall you found me in." He said and she smiled, opening the door and running through it. She passed the Ladies, but of them shocked at her familiarity with a Palace Guard and they whispered to one another. She did not hear their gossip as she passed them, and hurried on down the halls toward the Castle.
She stopped at her doors, opening them and putting the cat inside to eat her supper and straightened her dress before walking to Loki and knocking on the door. It opened and she smiled to see him, folding her hands and her expression fell when she say Lady Yolanda sitting at the table and eating. The woman glared, and Floria stepped back but Loki waved her forward.
"I was waiting for you, Lady Yolanda came by and I thought we could share our meal with her." Loki said and Floria nodded silently. She walked into the chambers, sitting at the table and she took a plate of food. The woman across from her was impecabbly dressed, and she felt insecurities seep in at the state her own clothes may be in.
"I am sorry I was late arriving Sir, I have made a new friend... and we were talking for a long time." She said and Loki smiled, Yolanda wrinkling her nose at Floria.
"Is that why you smell like a barn?" She asked and Sipped her wine. Loki frowned at the woman, returning his attention to Floria and smiled.
"I am happy you made a new friend Floria, you need others to talk to and keep you company while I am trapped with the drudgery of Council." He said and Floria smiled. She nodded, taking a small bite of the stew and Yolanda sighed.
"I would never have any friend higher than my husband, for he would be the one I gave all my secrets and fears too." Yolanda said, smiling sweetly. "Wouldn't it be a betrayal to give such attentions to others?"
"I don't believe so, and having other companions is a right given to all." Loki said, leaning back in his chair. He regarded Floria with a frown, smelling sweat on her and breathed through his mouth. "What did you and your new friend do today Nightengale?"
"We talked about Crystal, and other things. We went to the arenas and watched the Soldiers spar, that was most fun." She said, deciding that she would keep the identity of her new friend confidential. His standing not being proper for him to visit openly with her, and it could risk his station in the castle.
"At least we now know why you stink." Yolanda snapped, Loki raising an eyebrow at her and Floria set her fork down softly. She stood, looking at her future husband and gave him a curtsy.
"I will take my leave then, so I may go bathe and make myself more pleasing to everyone's olfactory senses." She said, her voice laced with tears as she walked toward the Bathing Chamber doors. No one protested her leaving, and she stood alone in that room for a long time and cursed herself for not being as graceful and attractive as the beautiful Lady Yolanda.