Chapter 45.
Floria stepped through the door with Frigga and Velora with her, the rest gathered turned to see her and she froze. Her stomach knotted and she trembled, the only face that could have offered her any comfort appearing as he stepped forward. She went to his arms, and Loki held her and frowned at his wife. The Councilmen, Odin, and Thor taking their seats to bear witness to their consumation.
"I... I don't feel well." Floria said, her voice a whisper and he looked at how pale she had become. Her stomach still hurt, and now it threatened to empty itself onto the floor at their feet. Loki felt her shiver, her hands curled around the edges of his robe and he looked down at the terrified girl.
"You are like a child Nightengale, are you sure marriage is what you desire?" He asked, Frigga and Velora looking shocked at his words. Floria looked at him, her eyes wide and she shook with the pains from her stomach easing away.
"Forgive me Sir. I am just overwrought from this day." She said and Loki looked at her hair, removing the hood and laying it along her back. He opened her robe, handing it to Frigga and she trembled as she covered her shift covered body with her arms. He led her to the bed, covering her and she got comfortable as Loki walked to his side and sighed, turning down the bed for himself. He then stood, facing her from his side and he felt pity for the girl as she lay there.
"Well. Go on then, it is time to create this foundation and make it strong." Odin said and Thor laughed behind his hand. The Councilmen stared on, Floria unable to take her eyes off them and she was nearing tears. She had forgotten the vial in her chambers, tucking it in a drawer and she cursed herself. Her Mother and Frigga stood by, Velora looking disgusted by this act.
"I believe I shall do what I am here for then." Loki said and removed his robe. He wore only a pair of linen sleep pants in black and he settled himself to go to the bed silently. Odin blinked at his son, trying to see what he was doing and his motives behind his actions. Loki lay down, covering himself and leaned over his new wife. He gave her a soft kiss on her lips and smiled down at her, winking and she blinked at him. He kissed her again, smiling and fingered the lace of her fine silk shift.
"Goodnight my beautiful Wife." He said and she blushed as he took her into his arms. He settled her against him, holding her close and closed his eyes. Odin coughed, and one Councilman rose to approach the bed. He tapped The Prince's shoulder and Loki opened his eyes in annoyance, his eyebrow raising as he regarded the man.
"My Prince... Forgive me, but you must put yourself inside her and... Well... Open her so to say, otherwise there will be no children and this union will bear no fruit." The man said and Loki groaned to himself.
"Yes. I am a bit tired at the moment, and wish to rest. I lack the desire to do anything more this evening, and I think Floria is suffering the same." Loki said and settled back to his sleep, closing his eyes. Floria felt sicker, her trembling easing however and the man gave him a shake again.
"What is it? I am trying to sleep." Loki sighed, caressing Floria's cheek and Velora gave Frigga a knowing smile. Both women laughed a bit, Frigga enjoying this protest and applauding Loki mentally.
"You have to... Otherwise, we cannot leave this evening... and will have to return the next to see that you are consumated." The man said, looking nervously at the girl who lay on his chest. She had the blankets up to her chin and her eyes followed the conversation, her stomach finally settling.
"As I said before, I am quite worn, and so is my dear Wife. Return tomorrow if you must, but I plan to ride out for a while tomorrow and may exhaust myself."
"Nine Hels Loki!" Odin barked and Floria looked over at the King. She sat up slightly, sighing and winked at Loki with a smile.
"My King! I am trying to sleep, is that not what married people do when they lay in a bed together?" She said and Odin opened his mouth at her. She lay back down, kissing Loki's cheek and smiled. "Goodnight Gentle Husband."
"I am going to take my leave then, I am sparring in the morning." Thor said, standing and leaving with a bow. Loki waved, wrapping his arms around his Wife and settled to sleep again. Odin stood, making his way to the door and gestured for his own Wife to follow him.
"Stay, and bring me the sheets in the morning. We will see if they can outlast us, and I am far more stubborn then they are." Odin said and Loki inwardly chuckled. Against him, Floria fell asleep and Velora kissed her cheek from the side.
"Goodnight My Prince, take care of her." She said and Loki smiled up at the woman.
"Rest well, and you have my word Lady Velora." Loki said and he settled down to sleep. He glared up at the Councilman, and he returned to his seat in silence. Floria and Loki slept, waking at dawn and she rising to dress for the day. Loki followed, reading his letters and regarding the exhausted men in silence as he watched Sari enter and take away the sheets. The men left, one by one, and Loki smiled to himself in satisfaction that they had lost the first round.
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"No My Queen, nothing happened." Floria confirmed, her head down and the older woman looking at her in worry. She stepped forward, taking the girls hands and looked sympathetically into her eyes. They sat on the balcony of her chambers, enjoying tea and small cakes as they spoke.
"Did he not find you desirable? Was there something about you that caused him to... turn away?" She asked and Floria shook her head softly.
"He did not find the situation desirable. I also experienced a lack of desire because of it." She said, being honest with the woman before her. She saw Frigga sigh through her nose, her eyes looking saddened at the statement.
"I would have hoped that something would have happened today at least, but Loki made good on his promise to go riding." Frigga said and Floria nodded. She walked forward and smiled at her Mother in Law, her eyes shining.
"It is not all bad. This morning he kissed me and wished me a good day, and he promised to kiss me again this evening and wish me a good night." She said and the Maids giggled. "I enjoy all the affections I receive and want for nothing more."
"Floria, you are a Wife now. There are certain expectations on you." Frigga said and Floria smiled at her.
"If the Norns wish me to go to my grave they way I came from my Mother, then so be it. I am only happy to see that my Husband is pleased with me as I am." She said and blushed. "It may be easier... for both of us if there was no audience. And should it happen... I would show you the evidence myself."
"I will see of I can convince Odin of your wishes, but I cannot guarantee anything. Maybe if you met him in the middle of the day, a happy moment between you both would occur."
"We cannot hope for such things My Queen, he is very busy with his duties and I with mine." Floria said, looking to the doors at they opened and Lady Yolanda entered. Her smile was bright, and her demeanor full of cheer.
"Lady Yolanda! What brings you here?" Frigga asked and the woman smiled even wider.
"I had to tell someone other than my husband of my happiness." She said and caressed her stomach through the layers of her gown. "I am with child."
"That is wonderful Lady Yolanda, I am so very happy for you." Frigga said and she took both of the woman's hands.
"Congratulations." Floria said and Yolanda smiled sweetly at the young Princess. He embraced Floria, her hands on her back and she grinned. Yolanda had heard of the girl's failure to consummate the marriage, and felt triumph that everything was going to plan.
"Thank you My Princess, I hope that you feel the same joy that I do soon." She said, fighting back laughter in knowledge that she would not. Her sister was powerful, and the lack of Loki being present was evidence enough to her that there honestly was trouble brewing between them.
"I hope the same. I have a bolt of mulberry silk, may I give it to you as a gift? It would be a happy present to symbolize your child." Floria said and Yolanda smiled at her, the sincerity in Floria's eyes causing her to falter for a moment. Her resolve rebuilding at the thought of the insult she was dealt, and she kissed the girl's cheek.
"Oh! Thank you, you are so very sweet to give me such a thing. I could not accept it, for it is yours."
"I have plenty, and you will need a comfortable dress as you grow. I will have it sent this afternoon." Floria insisted, her hands on her and Yolanda curtsied to the girl. Her eyes falling on her hands, those sweet little hands that covered a belly that would never grow round with child.
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Loki watched Floria curtsey and leave for her Chambers, he had dismissed her with a kiss and a tender goodnight as he promised. She vanished through the doors and Odin sighed, rising to leave and he regarded his stubborn son.
"If you truly wish me happy, then leave us in peace and we will come together on our own time." Loki said, laying back on his bed and crossing his ankles. He thought about reading a book to see how long the visibly exhausted Council could hold out, but felt his own weariness creep in from his day of riding. Floria remained on his mind, and the thoughts he held of her in his bed and clinging to him in passion stirred his body. He sighed though, knowing that patience would help him win this battle in the end.
"I will consider foregoing the tradition, but you will have to make concessions to me in return." Odin said, and Loki waved his hand to see what they would be.
"You will bring me the sheets to show me that it has been done." Odin said and Loki laughed.
"Of course, now that would have been much easier to request than all this if you asked it in the beginning. The last thing I wanted, was for this perversion, her body is sacred and not for the eyes of any man who wishes to strip her bare and look upon her. It is for the eyes of the person who she chooses to allow to see, and no one else." He replied and The Councilmen all looked relieved. They stood to leave, Odin nodding and he sighed in irritation.
"Next time, say what you want and don't be dramatic." Odin barked, Loki laughing. The men all left, Loki looking at the empty space on his bed and deliberating if he shoukd invite her back. He stood, walking through the Bathing Chamber and felt an odd sensation on the air. An electrical current of sorts and he opened the door slowly, being careful not to startle his Wife and he saw her.
She was laying on her back and asleep, her hand curled on the pillows next to her and her breathing steady. The cat she so adored was curled next to her hip, the yellow eyes opening and regarding him before closing again. He, not wanting to disturb her, closed the door again and sighed. His heart remembering the scene, but feeling so alone.
He walked back to his chambers, laying down and never realizing the curse that held her or the fact that she had been faking her rest to avoid the intimacy after hearing Odin's declaration and leaving.