Chapter 60.
Loki woke, his back aching from sleeping in a sitting position on the floor. He turned to look back at Floria, finding the couch empty and standing up in a panic. He looked around, the bedroom doors closed and he walked through them to see her sitting at her vanity and brushing her hair. She jumped, standing and trembled at the burst of noise, but did not run from him. She sat again, sinking onto the stool slowly and he admired her yellow gown. Her hair was braided back and she pinned it into place, creating a bun as he watched.
"I am sorry for startling you, how do you feel?" He asked her and she looled at herself in the mirror silently, her eyes blinking back tears as she put the last pearl topped pin in place.
"I feel unclean still. As if I am something terribly dirty, and cannot be washed clean." She said softly and his heart broke at the words, instead of pressing he opened his wardrobe and frowned.
"I will hope that it will pass, and will support you to ensure you know that I see no tarnish or stain on you." He replied and selected a brown leather vest, black leather pants, and a black tunic with emerald embroidery. He admired it, smiling at Floria and held up the garment. "This is truly a beautiful shirt, but still not a beautiful as the woman who stitched it for me."
"I am gladdened by the fact that you like it, and will make you another." She said and stood, he wanted to hold her to him and kiss away her pain but knew better. He could not upset her now, or make her feel afraid of him. She stood silently, her eyes on the floor and he could not bear the silence from her any more.
"You truly are beautiful Floria, believe me when I say that. And put more faith into my words when I tell you that there is nothing about you that I see as tainted, I only see the pure and kind woman that was wrongfully attacked by a vicious bastard." He said and opened his hand to take hers. She stepped forward, her fingers shaking and placed hers in the open palm. He brought it to his lips, looking at her for permission and she nodded. She tensed slightly at the affection, and he ran a thumb over the smooth skin.
"I will let you dress." She said and he bowed to her, watching her leave the room and he cursed Thor as she walked away from him.
"I will never raise a hand against you in anger or malice. I promise you Floria." He said and she stopped, turning and walking back to him. She held his cheek, stepping up on her toes and kissed him softly. Her eyes on him and she stepped back, folding her hands and she looked at the floor.
"I do love you dearly, I fear certain things now however. I trust in you, and pray that you will be patient with me and no more." She said, and he nodded at her.
"I will. I promise you that beyond everything else." He replied, watching her walk to the door and leaving him in their Chambers alone.
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"Thor, you are accused of attempting to take certain liberties with a woman married to your brother, you then beat said woman, leaving her terrified and injured. You have brought shame upon your station, your Wife, and have acted outside the laws of Asgard." Odin said, Floria standing with Sari, Sera, and Frigga. Loki watched her, her eyes focusing on anything but Thor and Sera held both of Floria's hands as Odin brought charges on his son.
"I was drunk, enraged by you forcing me to wed a girl I do not like at all." Thor said, looking at Floria and glaring. "I went to speak to Loki, and I saw her displayed licentiously and it tempted me to see her in that way."
"Poor excuse! You never lay hands on a woman, nor do you attempt to force yourself upon me!" Floria shouted, angry at the blonde Prince and everyone looked at her. "I was asleep, safe in how I was laying... Or so I thought, but you came and shattered my peace and security. Placing your hands on me in such a way that a man would touch his Wife! You have no right to place any blame upon me for this, blame yourself for that. You tainted me to the position of being unable... to see any man as a beast."
"Fair words Princess Floria." Odin said and Hogun drew his sword as Thor took two steps toward his daughter. The warrior glared at his friend, daring him to lay a finger on her. The standing in front of the ladies and returning his sword to its sheath and resting a hand on the hilt.
"We are no longer friends." Hogun said, Thor backing away and Sif shaking her head at Thor in disghust for his actions. Odin demanded order, striking the staff on the ground and all those gathered settled.
"My judgment was going to be one of exile, but I see now that you will never learn the error of your ways. I have decided then, that you, Thor will spend the next ten years as a woman. You will be stripped of title, and two of your lands in the North will be awarded to Princess Floria in compensation." Odin said and waved his hand, creating the spell that would change Thor. A light filled the room and Loki blinked, everyone gasping in shock as a frail, blonde woman stood where Thor was. She gasped, holding her pants and tunic over her. Her long hair and feminine attributes gaining unwanted attention, Floria looked shocked at the punishment and she hid a laugh.
"A... Woman? This is not right! Turn me back Father, I demand it now!" She said and nearly tripped over her boots, the clothes not fitting anymore. Two Guards appraised the new Princess, and she hid under the tunic more.
"It is very fair, now go and change your clothes before you compromise your Maidenhood." Odin said and Thor stared at him in shock.
"I'm a Maiden as well? How can this be?" She demanded, kicking the boots off and tightening the belt around her waist.
"You have never laid with a man, therefore you are now an innocent of body." Odin laughed, waving Sera over and she curtsied in respect.
"My Lady, please take your... Wife and see that she is properly dressed before she causes a stir." Odin said, Sera taking Thor's hand and leading her away. She shook her head, unable to believe what was happening to her and stomped her foot.
"I am a man! I... cannot be dressed in fine silk dresses and... whatever else a woman does." She said, gasping in shock and she looked at Odin. "Father... will I... as a woman does?"
"You mean have a cycle?" Odin asked and Loki turned red with repressed laughter.
"Yes?" Thor asked and turned pale.
"You will, now go before I put you back on the Dungeons. It is hardly a place for a woman, and a terrible display for any Maiden." Odin said and Thor let Sera lead him out of the Hall. Floria held her steeped fingers over her mouth, Loki looking at her wide eyes and grinning.
"That week every month is going to be awful." Frigga said, taking Floria by the hand. "Walk with me Dear, you look pale. I do not doubt that she will be troublesome to Sera while she is dressed."
"Yes My Queen." Floria said and looked at Loki. "May he walk with us?"
Frigga stopped, smiling at her son and nodded but frowned at his red face. She saw how hard he was fighting not to laugh, and began to fail as his carefully structured demeanor failed him. She gestured for him to follow, and he bowed politely to the Ladies where they stood.
"Come along then, and don't smirk so Loki. Being glib is not becoming." Frigga said, and Loki snorted in amusment.
"Well, you..." He said and cleared his throat. "You always did want a daughter."
Frigga's mouth fell open, her shock evident and Floria laughed. Her hands flew to her mouth, covering it to fight back the sound but it was the sweetest sound to him through all this. Frigga looked at Floria, smiling and laughing herself, all of them walking out of the Hall to walk in the Gardens.
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Floria sat near the fire in front of her new Maid, Thor. She looked miserable, her hair pulled back and out of her face and her dress hanging limply from her frame. It was found in a collection of cast off dresses, and it was not yet fitted to her frame. The tight corset was a new torture, the way it wrapped around her waist and pinched her breasts. She was only a woman for half the day, but hated it already.
"Lady Thor, fetch our Mistress some tea." Sari said, preparing the table for her to dine. She stopped her friend, and she looked down at her patiently.
"Will Loki be joining me today? I would like to not eat my lunch alone." She said and the two workers took the old mattress from the bed away. She had been embroidering a shirt since she arrived back in the Chambers, and her silence unnerved Thor to a deep extent.
"I would be most pleased to Nightengale." Loki said, entering and she stood. She smiled and set the embroidery down, walking to him and he wrapped his arms around her. Thor watched them, he kissing the top of her head and she smiling at him.
"I am so glad. I had hoped that... certain events did not..." She started, but stopped her with a finger on her lips. He smiled, tapping her forehead and reassured her with his words.
"I still want you at my side. You are my Wife, and that act will never change how much I adore you." He said and she kissed his lips. Thor took the tray from the Kitchen Maid, she not hiding her amusment at his new form and he saw her mouth that he deserved this punishment to Sari.
"I know, I still just feel... tainted and unbathed." She said and Loki smoothed her hair. He lifted her hand, turning it as he studied the appendage and Thor found it strange.
"I still see no stain. Not here nor on your shoulders, let me see your cheeks." He said and leaned close to them, she turning a bit pink. "There is a small bit of innocent pink, but no stain. You are still pure and fresh."
"Why do you do this?" She asked and he chuckled to himself. He gestured to her seat, helping her sit and moved her chair into the table.
"Because it comforts you, and it is my duty as your Husband to give you such succor." He said and took his seat. He lifted the cover on his tray and Sari lifted hers, the room filling with the scent of their noon meal. Thor poured her wine, then Loki's and rolled his eyes at the display as some spilled onto the cloth over the table. They way he chased after a woman, he was a man and women were of no accord to them.
"They are bringing the new mattress, and I find it comforting to know that one is leaving." She said and the workmen knocked to signal that the offending piece of furnature was gone, Sari whispered to her that she and Thor would be making the bed and she nodded. Her smile bright, and she took a piece of meat into her mouth.
"That smile says you are up to Michief Wife." He said and she giggled, a small nod to her head confirming it.
'I made some changes to pur Marriage bed as well. I hope you do not mind." She said and he laughed, wondering what it was.
"I look forward to seeing this change, later of course. Today has been trying in Council, I am begging Odin to not raise taxes to fund another silly pursuit and it seems to be working. However I think he has a mind to launch a campaign against the Dark Elves." He said and she smiled and they dined.
"I dont like the idea of war, it has such an unsure outcome." She replied and he nodded, enjoying the company of one another as they spoke and ate.