Chapter 61.
Loki entered their chambers late that evening, weary from sitting in on more council meetings. He walked, seeing their new bed and smiled at the vision before him. She had replaced the heavy, forest green velvet drapes around the bed with white, sheer silk. Each panel embroidered with gold roses on vines of light emerald silk threads. The bedding had not changed much beyond that, but the woman who rested against the pillows had. Floria wore a pure white, silk shift with lace accents that left her shoulders bare and her hair was brushed and curled to lay across the pillows perfectly. He walked around the bed, his fingers ghosting over the closed drapes and keeping his eyes on her. His smile soft, and her amber eyes on him in return.
"I do like this change, it suits the room and brings you as a part of it and my world." He said and she blushed. He swept some of the fabric aside, standing next to her and sat with her.
"I am glad you like it. I was worried you preferred the room darker, and hoped you would not want it changed back." She said and looked at the empty space next to her. He thought for a moment if he should join her, but it appeared that she made that decision for him. His side was turned down, and waiting for him.
"I need to bathe, I am worn tonight from all the speeches and arguments of the day. I am growing tired of the constant bickering over simple things, especially since there are so many greater matters to discuss." He said, rubbing his tired eyes, she took his hand and held it and smiled softly.
"Then tell me some of your worries. I will be your ear for such things, and try to help you through them." Floria said and he laughed. He gave her hand a squeeze, and laughed at her softly.
"My greatest worry is you right now. I don't want you to fear me, nor do I want you to fear laying in this bed. I only want you to know comfort, not what you have these past days." He said and she frowned at him. She sat up, closing her book and lay it on the table next to her. Her lips met his, and she took his hand and set it on her shoulder.
"My fear will fade, but I never felt any toward you. It is directed elsewhere, and that person in particular does not hold any dominion over me. For I am not his, nor shall I ever be." She said and he smiled at her. He caressed her cheek, kissing her lips again and he smiled at her.
"I know, but I don't want to push you too fast. Doing so may cause you to form a different opinion of me, and thus run away." He said and she nodded, accepting his gentle rejection. She sighed, not wanting to push the matter but still feeling like she had to prove to herself that she was not the whore Thor called her. She wanted to prove to herself that her trust was stronger than her fear, that she was not at all afraid of her own shadow as she was before.
"Will you sleep next to me? Just hold me to you, and make me feel safe?" She asked and he kissed her cheek.
"I will, I fear that my exhaustion and the impending hunt tomorrow has left me too worn for anything more." He said and lifted her chin softly. "Never doubt that I love you, and always shall. You are also not my property, but my equal in all things and I shall always treat you as such."
"I do not doubt that at all, for you are my sky, and I the moon that rests among it in comfort and sanctity." She said and he kissed her, laying her back and covering her before leaving to bathe. He smiled, wanting to do more, but fearing hurting her worse than she had already had happen.
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They lay on the plush pillows together under the canopy over them, she feeding him a grape and giggling as he nipped the tip of her finger playfully. Thor and Sari watched over them, the latter trying not to roll her eyes at the display and groaning. He kissed her then, her head in the crook of his arm and his free hand on the stomach of the emerald gown she wore as they laughed together. Her eyes shone, and Frigga and Odin looked over from their own lunch to see what was causing so much commotion from their resting spot.
"They remind me of us when we were young." Frigga said and smiled, feeding Odin a bit of meat.
"Yes. Alas, it takes six guards to get me off the ground if we tried it now." He replied and Frigga laughed at his response. She looked back over, seeing Loki lean over her to feed her a bit of bread. Floria took the food in her mouth, leaning back on the pillows behind her and she blushed at her husband.
"Did you do well on the hunt?" Floria asked and he laughed, tapping her nose playfully. He gave him a grape and he caught the end of her finger in his teeth again, making her laugh as he let her go.
"I did. Two stags of considerable size and enough rabbits to make you a wrap to keep your shoulders warm in the winter." Loki replied, leaning back himself and glared at Thor from the corner of his eye. "Why don't you Ladies go and amuse yourselves? I would like to speak to my dear wife alone, and take her gentle council."
"Yes my Prince." Sari said with a curtsey, leading Thor away and they rested in the shade of a tree together. Sera joined them, the three women talking amongst themselves.
"What did you wish to speak to me about?" Floria asked, her eyes nervous and he smiled at her to reassure her that it was nothing awful.
"I only wanted to be alone for a time, the constant crowd of people surrounding us becomes wearying at times." He said and she laughed at him. She sat up and ate a bite of a strawberry, Loki catching her hand and biting off the rest as she giggled at his flirtations.
"You worried me a moment, I was nervous that you would say that you were growing bored of us." She poked, his eyebrows raising nearly to his hairline in shock and he shook his head.
"I could never be bored of you, remember that always." He said and she smiled at him as he lay back. He kissed her, his hand on her waist and she blushed ar his attentions when a clearing of the throat startled them out of their affections. Loki turned, seeing Hogun standing at the edge of the cushions and watching his daughter closely. She blushed, standing up and giving him a curtsey and nearly falling over on the soft platform.
"Hello Papa, I did not see you Sir." She said and he embraced his daughter. He bowed politely to Loki, and the Prince nodded to his Father in Law.
"I came to see how you were recovering from your fright, and I am pleased to see that you are doing well." Hogun said and Floria nodded.
"I find it best to not think about it, but I am still adored by my Husband. Who, in his courage, saved me from a shame I could not bear." She replied and Hogun bowed to Loki again.
"I thank you for keeping her so safe." Hogun said and he looked down. "Thor and I are no longer friends, and I am in need of a person to serve when Odin steps down..."
"Dont be afraid for your livelihood, I will see you elevated as a matter of fact." Loki said and he stood next to Floria, putting an arm around her. "I cannot have my friends starving, or the Father of my Wife without stability. I actually intend to make you a Council Member. The man who occupies the seat overseeing the Security of Asgard is retiring soon, and wishes to enjoy his elder years in peace. I may have suggested a fine man, and warrior, to Odin for the position."
"Loki... You have honored my Father." Floria gasped, her eyes wide.
"He has, and I thank him greatly." Hogun said, bowing with a salute. Floria smiled at the men, blinking in the warm sun and Loki shook the man's hand.
"Then I am proud to honor you so, and still adore your sweet Daughter. If you will excuse me, I have to spoil her so much more." Loki replied and Hogun nodded. He turned back to Floria, taking her hands and she smiled up at him.
"Thank You, for all you have done for my family. You are such a good and generous man, and I owe you so much." She said and blushed as he kissed her cheek, over her shoulder he saw Thor and Sera talking as they walked together and grinned a bit. Thinking at how Odin's punishment had opened Thor to the possibility of her Wife, it was his hope now that they would love each other and he saw Sera kiss her new companion on the cheek.
"I only ask you to pay the debt with your heart, and love me as you do now." Loki said and she laughed at him, she stepped up on her toes and kissed his cheek with a smile.
"Then I shall, for you have given me no reason to not love you." She said and he laughed, pointing to a flower on the tree near them.
"I think that bloom is hiding something for you." He said and she looked at him, walking over and smiling at him as she pulled the branch down to inspect the blue flower. She carefully moved the petals to open them, and she squealed in joy at the necklace of diamonds hidden in the center. Odin and Frigga turned toward them, and wondered at the sound. Floria cradling the delicate chain of gold in her hands, admiring it and she turned circles in the soft grass.
"I feel always so happy and magical, I pray it never ends!" She laughed, spreading her arms out and turning. Loki watched her, her skirts blooming and he laughed at the woman he loved so dearly.