The God of Mischief was content as he walked along the seafront that morning. Most of the Asgardians were sleeping, for they had not yet adjusted to the time difference, and he was glad to be able to explore without being disturbed. He was happy to be alone for once, for he had not had much solitude in the previous weeks, and it gave him chance to think clearly about all that had happened and was to come. He was already frustrated with the restrictions that had been forced on him, and he knew it was only a matter of time before his true nature overruled any agreements made. However, he did want to make sure that his people were truly settled and protected before he did anything else, and it would be good to rest in one place for a while without having to disguise himself. He had not stopped running for ten years, and though it felt a little odd to not be looking over his shoulder every minute, he was rather glad that he had the chance to come up for air without being confined to a prison cell. Though this was certainly not Asgard, it still had some similarities, and he smiled sadly at the thought of home.
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore had always soothed his soul, and he smiled as he watched a few birds swoop down in the hopes of catching breakfast. Truly, this was not unlike that he had witnessed on a daily basis on the Golden Realm, but here the water did not run off the edge of the world. The boats were nothing like those he had sailed in, and there was no Rainbow Bridge yet, nor did the town look anything like Asgard. However, given time, perhaps it could grow into something a little like his home world. Though Midgard was severely behind Asgard's technological advancements, he had no doubt that his people would adapt to life here. He already knew that the town had some connection with Odin, for the clifftop was where the Allfather had said his goodbyes, and the history of the place was full of ancestral remains of Asgardian visits. The old church was full of carvings of the Norse myths, and Freya had sent across numerous archaeological reports of the area just a few days ago. The place was so full of history that it had just made sense for them to choose this particular spot as their new home. Loki had no doubt that this would help them acclimatise and he wondered just how long it would take for them to pick everything up. Midgard was not the most advanced of the Nine Realms, but it was the most similar in other terms, and he truly hoped that it would not take too long to adapt to what was available here.
"Good morning sire." A voice greeted as he stood watching the boats by the harbour, and Loki inwardly groaned, for he was in no mood to talk, but one look at Hilda's eager face and he knew he could not ignore her.
"Good morning." He replied.
"Can I ask when Freya is arriving sire?" She asked after a moment, and Loki smiled, for he was glad that Freya had made a friend so quickly.
"This afternoon all being well." He assured her. "How are you finding your new home?"
"It just needs a few touches to make it mine, but it will do." Hilda smiled. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Have you heard much from her?"
"Not really." He admitted. "Undoubtedly she has been busy with her family, but I am certain you will be able to catch up with her later."
"I am looking forward to it." Hilda told him. "I will leave you to your walk sire. If you see her before I do, then can you let her know she is welcome to drop by whenever she likes." Loki grinned at this, for he was glad to see that one of the Asgardians was so eager to have a mortal in among them.
"I will do Hilda." He assured her, before she returned to her new home. Seeing that a number of the Asgardians were waking up, Loki abandoned his walk and escaped to his office, for he wanted to check the schedule for the next few days. However, as he logged in to his computer, he frowned as he looked at his emails. Where there should have only been two or three, there were several, all dated within the last half hour, and all of them were from Freya. He read the first one which confirmed that she was on her way, but then the next few were asking for help as there appeared to be some form of mix up at the airport. He knew that she had no wish to use the Bifrost, which was why she had sent her things in a van and she had booked flights, but she was now practically begging to be rescued. A glance at his new phone showed a couple of missed calls too, and he wondered what to do for the best. One way or another, he was determined to get her to New Asgard by tonight, for she would be needed in the following days.
Picking up the phone, he tried to call her, but grew concerned when it reached her voicemail. He tried again a moment later, but there was still no answer, and so he sent a message before going in search of his brother, hoping to find a resolution soon. Unfortunately, Thor was nowhere to be found, and Loki swore in frustration as he realised that the God of Thunder was already going to meet their visitors. His eyes fell on the plane that was coming to land on the promontory that sheltered their settlement from the North Sea, and he knew then that he would have to find some other way of helping their consultant.
"Sire, I am sorry to disturb you, but we need your help." One of the Asgardians said as he stood in the entrance hall, and Loki sighed deeply. He'd had enough of helping people this week, and he had wanted nothing more than to rest today, for he had no wish to be dealing with any of the Avengers, and he knew that things were going to be busy over the following weeks. After all, Thor did not really want the throne but could not trust his brother to rule, and yet he had found a loophole which meant that Loki was doing the lion's share of the diplomacy and meetings expected of the King of Asgard. Of course, it had helped that Loki had been ruling Asgard under the guise of Odin for a few years, which meant he was well-practiced in the art of being a king, but it did not mean that he had wanted to continue doing so now. He had grown tired of all the duties associated with being a monarch, and had been almost relieved when Thor had appeared on Asgard, but now… Now it seemed he was to continue ruling in all but name, and it seemed that everyone else knew this too, and was turning this to their advantage.
"Lead the way." He said, after trying to reach Freya again. As he was greeted by yet another voicemail, he sighed, and hoped that Freya would reply to him soon.
That had been a few hours ago, and Loki frowned as he finally escaped the banqueting hall. He had ended up supervising the set up for the evening's entertainment, and had been unable to excuse himself, for each time he had tried to leave, someone else had grabbed him. Eventually he had seized the opportunity to slip away while they were distracted, and he checked his mobile device to see no response to any messages. Thor had not even read his apparently, while Freya had not replied. He dearly hoped that she was alright, for she was his friend, and he had no wish for her to suffer unnecessarily. He wondered briefly about talking to Thor, but he saw him with Stark, and Loki was in no mood to deal with the man right now. The only thing he could do was send another message and work out travel details, and so he headed towards his room, for he knew he would not be disturbed there.
To say that her day had been stressful was an understatement. Freya had been escorted through the airport by the security guards, but they had not answered any of her questions, nor had they offered to help her with her cases. She had been stared at by so many people, and she had been so worried that she was not going to be allowed out of the country, but no one had responded to any of her messages. She had silently pleaded for someone to answer the phone, until she was ordered to turn it off, and then she had been trying to work out how to get word to her family for help. It was only as she saw two other people be escorted along the same corridor that she had realised what was going on, and she had silently cursed as she knew that this was not going to be the nicest of journeys.
The private jet was a nice touch though, she did have to admit. The stewardess had taken her luggage and stowed it securely away, while Sif's carrier was strapped into a seat. Freya had sat beside her, and reached for her headphones, but her fellow travellers had other plans.
"Good morning, Wilkes. I hope you don't mind the change of plan." Tony Stark said as he poured himself a drink from the bar.
"What are you doing in London?" She asked, then realised how rude it sounded.
"We had some errands to run." Doctor Banner explained.
"I take it you had no trouble checking in?" Stark smiled as he sat down, but she just sighed.
"Was the escort really necessary?" She asked weakly as the plane started to taxi down the runway.
"We thought you might appreciate a shorter journey, especially as we are heading that way anyway."
"Then I suppose I should say thank you." She told them, bracing herself for take-off.
"You're not a fan of flying, are you?" Bruce guessed, and she nodded.
"Better this than the Bifrost though." She whispered through gritted teeth, just as the plane took off.
Two hours later had found them landing near New Asgard, and Freya was rather glad to be back on the ground. As it turned out, she had not had the chance to listen to any music or read her book, for both of the Avengers had been asking her questions, and she had rather enjoyed comparing her experience of Asgard with Banner's. Stark had asked a few things, but had mainly remained quiet, and Freya knew that he still did not trust her. She did not blame him, though she wished that things weren't quite so awkward, especially as he would be visiting frequently to help with the technology side of things. Even so, she thanked him for the lift as she disembarked, and then frowned as she realised that no one had come to meet her. Thor had instantly whisked his fellow heroes away, and she sighed deeply, for she had no idea where to go. There had been so many people who had waved her off when she had left, but no one had come to greet her. Knowing that there was no other option, she had rearranged her bags and then set off towards the seafront, all the while hoping that someone would be able to point her in the direction of her new lodgings.
That someone turned out to be Hilda. Freya had just reached the end of the town when the blonde Asgardian woman had appeared from one of the buildings, and she had instantly come to her aid. Freya had willingly let her take a case and one of the bags, and she smiled as the Asgardian chatted to her. It seemed that she had been missed by at least one person, and Hilda was very apologetic that she had not come to meet her.
"We weren't expecting you for a few hours. Loki said that you weren't due until this afternoon." Hilda explained.
"There was a change of plan at the last minute." Freya explained, although that had explained everything. "Where is your new place?"
"My house is this one." Hilda said as she pointed to one of the houses facing the sea. It had a small garden at the front of it, and Freya smiled as it looked like a good place to live. The town was an old fishing settlement, and she was already in love with the place before the Asgardians had even put a stamp on it. She had always wished to live near the coast, and the fact that she would be living in among the people she had spent most of her life studying was just an added bonus.
"Do you happen to know where I will be?"
"You are in that one there." Hilda replied as she pointed to the largest building in the town. It was set a little uphill, behind the pub on the harbourside, and it appeared to have a good view of the sea.
"That surely can't be all mine?" Freya asked, already having an idea as to its purpose.
"No. That is the palace, and where most of the council will live."
"I'm honoured then." Freya smiled, already feeling much brighter. "So what have you been up to while I've been away?" She asked, and Hilda was more than happy to oblige as they walked together.
Freya was rather glad to reach her room in the end. Hilda had helped her get there, before leaving her to settle in, and the first thing she had done was release Sif from her carrier. The cat had mewed in protest at being stuck in a confined space for so long, before hopping onto the sofa and curling up in a ball. Freya had just scratched behind the cat's ears and apologised, before taking a proper look at her new lodgings. It was just a little smaller than the apartment she had just left, and she knew that this must have been a suite of some sort. Everything was of a good quality, with the oak furniture covered in intricate carvings, and she could not help but smile as it was perfect. A large four poster bed sat at one end of the room, along with a wardrobe and other basic furnishings of a bedroom, while at the other end was a lounge area, complete with sofa, armchair, coffee table and a decent sized TV. In the corner was a small kitchenette area, complete with a small fridge and a sink, and she grinned as she realised that this was all hers. Curiosity got her then as she saw the curtains, and she opened them to find a large window and door which led out to a balcony. The view was magnificent, for she could see the harbour and the sea beyond, and she knew exactly who had chosen this room for her. It was truly beautiful, and she turned to open the other door, to find an ensuite complete with a large deep bath. This would definitely suffice as a replacement home, and she knew she would have to thank the Prince when she saw him. However, that would have to wait for a few minutes, for she had no idea where to find him, and she wanted to at least make the bed before doing anything else.
She routed through the pile of boxes until she found the one labelled 'bedding', and within ten minutes she had made the bed and was in the process of unpacking the next urgent box. However, as she looked at the pile stacked in the corner of the room, she realised that there were a number of boxes missing, and her heart sank as she realised that her books weren't there. She was certain that they had been loaded onto the van, and she was rather attached to quite a few of them, so for them to not be here…. That was when the knock on the door came, and she was rather flustered as she opened it. The God of Mischief looked as handsome as ever, in a forest green tunic with accents of gold, and he smiled at her.
"Hello Freya." Loki greeted warmly, before frowning as he saw her anguish. Freya took one look at him and then sighed as she let him in.
"Hi." She said softly.
"Do you like your room?" He asked as he saw the first few homely touches she had made to it.
"I love it." She told him, though her voice was tinged with sadness, and he was rather concerned at that. It was bad enough that he had not answered her first calls, or been there to greet her when she had arrived, but he was determined to make amends.
"What's the matter?"
"My books are missing." Freya explained, but the Trickster smiled ever so slightly.
"We thought you'd prefer to have them in your office."
"I have an office?" She asked, confused, while he chuckled.
"Well, you need somewhere to work from." He pointed out.
"But…" She sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. "Why did today have to be so stressful?"
"Because moving always is." Loki said. "Shall we?" He gestured to the corridor, and Freya was a little torn as she knew that she should unpack, and yet she had not seen the Asgardian Prince in a while. Knowing that the walk might do her some good, she grabbed her phone and followed him down the corridor.
"I'm sorry Loki. I haven't even asked how you are."
"I'm alright." He told her. "I am sorry there was no one to greet you, and that we did not respond to your messages. As far as I was aware, you were not due for another few hours."
"I was intercepted at the airport." She explained. "How is everyone finding it here?"
"It is early days, and not everyone is pleased at the choice of location, but I am certain that given time…"
"I am sure they will warm to it." She told him, and Loki realised just how much he had missed Freya's optimism. As they walked he pointed out the various rooms, and Freya grinned as she saw the runes on each door marking out what lay behind them. Though she was not an expert in reading them, she had made it her mission to learn the language as soon as possible, and the signs would only help her practice. Loki explained that the living quarters were in the top floors of the hotel, and the first-floor corridor housed the great hall and a library, while the ground floor housed a gym, kitchens, and a few other rooms, in among other things. She was also excited when Loki mentioned a pool, and she was looking forward to exploring the town over the next week or so.
"Why are we going outside?" She asked as they headed out of one of the side doors. Loki just gave her a mischievous smile, for he was determined to see her reaction when she realised just where her office was.
"You'll see." He told her, and Freya just followed him as they walked through the gardens at the back of the palace. Though they were small and not yet to his liking, there were still plenty of flowers blooming, and the birds were singing in the trees and hedges. A fountain was in the middle, surrounded by benches, and here there were four paths to take them in different directions. Taking the one on the right, he led Freya to one particularly secluded spot, and she frowned as she saw the dead end.
"Have you purposely gotten me lost?" She asked, unimpressed.
"I've just taken the scenic route." He grinned while she looked around. Her eyes widened as she spotted a number of her favourite blooms in the flowerbeds, and then she perched on the bench opposite. "I thought you might like this bit."
"I thought you were showing me my office?" She asked, feeling very confused. Today had already been rather trying, and she was in no mood to be dealing with Loki's tricks.
"I am." He pointed out.
"I cannot work outdoors if it is raining or snowing or…"
"You don't have to." He told her, wondering just when she would realise.
"Then where do I…" She paused as he stepped aside, and then she saw the door with a few steps leading up to it. She hurried up to it, then frowned as she found it to be locked. Loki just held out his hand and dangled the keys from his finger, while she shook her head. "My office?" He nodded. She took the keys and unlocked the door, while Loki watched her. She braced herself, before stepping inside, and then she let out a laugh of disbelief.
"This is mine?" She asked him, and he nodded as he followed her inside. The walls were full of shelves and bookcases, while a beautiful oak and leather desk sat near the window. Her boxes of books were stacked in the middle, waiting to be unpacked, while the window looked out to the gardens behind the building. Truly it was everything she had ever wanted in a workspace, and she wondered just how he had known.
"Will it suit?" Loki asked as he stood next to her. Freya did not respond, and he was a little concerned as she wiped away a tear.
"It's perfect." She sobbed, before hugging him. He instantly bristled, for he was unused to such things, and yet she did not seem to notice.
"I thought we had talked about…" He frowned, while she instantly let go.
"I… I'm sorry." She apologised. "I was so excited, and it's been such a stressful day, and this is…"
"I'll forgive you just this once." He told her, while she bowed her head.
"Thank you, Loki." Freya said after a moment. "Thank you for everything."
