(Nov. 16th 2020)
Chapter 12:
"You need to lighten up, brother..." a masked Thor clapped Loki, who was stoically peering out at the many covered faces bustling about, affectionately on his shoulder, " Tis' a party...not a burial." he reminded, flashing his darker kin a smile.
Indeed...
The Summer's Eve Festival was as lively as it always was. And why wouldn't it be? It was a time where peasants and nobility alike would gather together in the Palace's courtyard, wearing their best clothes for a night of feasting and seemingly endless merriment- handcrafted paper lanterns were aglow with candles, colorful banners and ribbons hung enticingly over everyone's heads all the while servants amongst the crowd dutifully carried silver trays filled with various bite-sized delicacies and goblets of the finest wines.
Yes, for most Asgardians, festivals like this were a source of great amusement and many enjoyed taking part in the seasonal celebration.
Loki however was not known for easily warming up to such grand, loud and public events. In fact, he quite openly shunned them. Tonight, however he chose to make a slight exception, only because he knew a certain red head would be in the midst of it all.
Turning his head slightly, with his face partially shrouded by the golden mask he wore, the Dark Prince gave his older brother a half-smirk in response, "At least I showed up." he returned.
"True..." Thor chuckled, "I shall try to not to push my luck with you then."
"Speaking of showing..." Frigga interrupted after overhearing the good-natured banter between her two sons, "...have either of you seen Lady Erica yet?" she inquired as she looked around at the growing numbers in the crowd.
"Well...it's not the easiest of tasks trying to find a particular face amongst an assembly of walking masks, mother." Thor pointed out, grinning as his blue eyes sparkled behind his visor of silver that was designed specifically to match his own body armor and winged-helmet. "How would we know which lady she is?" he asked.
Frigga smiled, "Oh, you'll know..." the Queen answered, casting her blue eyes down to the floor as though hiding a deep secret, "...of this, I am sure of."
As Loki watched Frigga's body language, an unseen dark brow rose to a peak. "It seems to me that you're up to something, mother." He remarked coolly.
The golden queen smiled modestly, raising her gaze back up to her sons before waving the comment off with a graceful flick of her hand. "Oh nonsense, my darlings." she answered, "Tis just a woman's intuition here."
The two brothers shared a brief glance out of the corners of their eyes, not fully believing their mother's words. It was then that Thor took the opportunity to nudge his younger brother lightly in his side with an elbow. "Well, what say you, brother? First one to find her, gets the first dance?"
"The first dance?" Loki repeated as his green eyes flashed with sudden interest, "So, you're challenging me now, are you?" the younger prince returned, clearly liking the idea.
The golden prince grinned, "For old times' sake." he added with a wink- forcing Loki to smile softly.
"Alright...I accept, brother." This could prove to be fun, after all.
"That's the spirit!" Thor bellowed gleefully as he wasted no time to flag down a passing servant who was carrying a tray of shiny bronze wine goblets. The Golden Prince collected two before passing one over to his younger brother who received it with a nod of his head.
Standing side by side, the two brothers silently began raking the crowd with their eyes in search of a sign that the young woman they were seeking was nearby.
Long minutes started passing...and it seemed that finding Erica amongst the bustling sea of colorful blondes and brunettes was more like trying to spot a needle in a haystack.
"Do you think she even decided to attend?" Thor broke their silence by leaning in to ask the question in a lowered voice.
Loki of course had no real answer...but he hoped that she had...
"Who can really say?" he returned, sounding masterfully unaffected by the question as he unworriedly raised his glass to his lips, "That girl has a mind of her own..." But before he got the chance to taste the richness of the beverage he held in his hand, the dark prince felt a subtle and familiar tingle touch his mind. Like a pull from a piece of string, it directed his raven head-hidden by his horned helmet-to quietly turn on its own and look up.
When that happened...that was when he saw her.
At first, Loki had to question his eyesight as he laid his full attention upon the vibrant copper head belonging to the small woman. In the time he had known her, even as children, Loki had always seen Erica's hair only ever either tied back or up off her neck in a refined lady-like style that was appropriate for her status.
But tonight... this version of the Vanir goddess was seemingly the exact opposite.
Fiery red-gold curls fell in long, unchecked ringlets down her shoulders where they overflowed onto her back so that they could bounce freely about her waist and hips. Rather than holding fast to her usual show of modest poise, tonight the young woman looked wild.
"Uncontrollable..." Loki added as a thought as his emerald eyes heavily drank in Erica's details from afar. Though Loki wasn't sure exactly why...the Dark Prince felt certain that after setting his eyes on how Erica was now in this moment, he would come to understand just what magnetism was and in a way he never had before.
Given that he was expert in all things meant to test the mind and trick ones thoughts or feelings, this was remarkable. True, he had heard and most certainly had read about the materials and forces at work here, but he had never viscerally understood it-not until he found himself unable to pull his attention away from Erica.
And now that he has seen her, looking away was a physical impossibility. Indeed, he dared not even blink.
Erica had outwardly isolated herself on one of the low corner balconies that surrounded the courtyard. She was standing alone, as if she were lonely even amongst the festival's excitement and masses below. It was a feeling Loki knew all too well and one he did not expect to be sharing with her, of all people.
In these next moments, Loki stood there completely disengaged from his own crowd. As he continued peering up at her in silent observation, time seemingly stood still as he noted the untamed way her red curls fell about her person and decided right there, that this new look of hers was lovely and that she should wear her hair down more often.
The gown she had adorned for the evening was also unique in its design and quite apparently, was not of Asgard's distinguishable fashion.
The overdress was a high-waist, fitted gown of jade green matte satin. Peeking out from that was an underskirt constructed of ivory colored silk. The fine material shimmered faintly from a decorative embroidery of rose-gold vines. Additional ribbon of the same color then trimmed the under-bust of the gown before it split into two separate strands that fell down the gown's front. Finally, loose sleeves stitched with a scalloped lace of jade green hung off the woman's fair-skinned shoulders-a tasteful but bold look that suited her flawlessly.
Yes, it seemed the longer the Dark Prince watched Erica, the more he found himself just simply enjoying the woman's every movement. Whether it was the gentle tilt of her head as she gazed in no particular direction at the festivities below or the way she traced her fingers along the granite balustrade-movements of such simplicity and yet they carried with them a natural grace.
"Little Erica..." The Dark Prince thought surely to himself. There was no denying it-Erica of Vanaheimr was exactly his type...even if no one else could see that.
Gazing down from her spot on the balcony, Erica watched the surge and pull of the crowd and curiously, found herself eyeing the small group of paired-dancers spinning merrily in circles around the courtyard as the Palace's musicians expertly played their merry music for the people to hear and to enjoy.
Though the festival had just begun, it was already in full swing, making it perhaps the most lively event Erica has ever been to. Festive gatherings in Vanaheimr were nothing of this kind of extravagance, the young woman observed.
The ones she took part in growing up consisted of small community assemblies where everyone would meet mid-day in one of the open grass plains of Vanaheimr- the men would proudly ride out on their horses in a hunting party, while the women and children prepared the tables for the men to return to.
When the successful hunting party came back, the feast was happily prepared and cooked over an open fire, usually using multiple fires. Then once the food was ready, families of all shapes and sizes would settle down at the tables prepared around the crackling fire pits where friendly chattering would begin, followed by storytelling and folk music performed by the Vanir bards.
Truly, Asgard was nothing like Vanaheimr, Erica thought to herself sadly as she casted her eyes down onto her hands where she watched her fingers lightly dance across the cool, white granite beneath them. How she greatly missed her home at this second-there was no sense of family here...no comfort...no familiarity.
Everyone who was anyone here were complete strangers to her.
Well, with the exception being the royal family, she reminded herself as her eyes quietly swept upwards-but even then, it wasn't as though she was a natural fit in the midst of all their glory.
Inconspicuously, the young woman leaned outward against the balustrade as her eyes skimmed through the masses. Without intention, they soon fell upon the royal masked quartet who had a specially reserved section of their own amongst their people. Beneath a grand, four-poster tent of maroon silk- Odin's color- Erica first spotted the Queen, looking radiant as ever in her gown of glittering gold that matched her husband's attire as they stood side by side, greeting those who came forward to pay their respects.
On the King and Queen's right stood Thor, looking his role of the dashing, Golden Prince of Asgard -and then further right from him, stood his darker brother, Loki.
And he already appeared to have spotted Erica long before she had him. The distinctive shiver that raced down her spine in that split second when her eyes locked onto his told her that.
The sensation stopped her heartbeat...leaving her very breath feeling trapped inside her throat. How long had he been staring at her like this? Even with the distance between them, his emerald eyes shone bright beneath his gold mask, pinning her on the spot with their intensity.
Until till now, Erica had no idea that one could feel another person's gaze from across such remoteness. She couldn't move, she could barely breathe...but she could feel-and from it, she felt a spark of intrigue, of uncertainty...of possibility as she remembered the words Loki had left her with the night before.
A thought which then swiftly reminded Erica, as she recalled that latest encounter with the God of Mischief, that she was suppose to be crossed with him. Out of acknowledgement, the young woman willed herself to give him a slight nod of her head but made sure she scowled along with the gesture.
To her surprise, Loki, with his ever-green eyes began to smile before he finished raising his wine goblet up to his mouth to take a drink. He did this without breaking eye contact, even for a second and instead, winked an eye at her in response.
Grateful for the silver mask she wore that was now hiding the almost immediate color that presently burned her cheeks, Erica shook her head slowly at him, as though reprimanding his boldness towards her.
He however, took that as an invitation.
The young woman felt herself shiver once more as she then watched Loki finish off his glass only to set it aside on a nearby table before he moving forward. For a brief minute, Erica found herself fascinated at how the crowd moved around him, as they hastily stepped aside as though submitting to his silent and dominating presence.
Like his father and older brother, he wore a noble suit of Asgardian armor over his evening clothes. But the similarities, Erica noted, seemed to end there. Where Odin and Thor proudly claimed two shades of red as their colors, Loki's color was a rich emerald green, like his eyes.
And instead of wings upon the battle helmet he wore that concealed his raven head from view, two great golden horns protruded from his both sides of his brow. Even his breastplate was entirely unique in its design making the Dark Prince's look completely and utterly matchless, and if Erica was honest with herself, that suited the God of Mischief in every possible way.
As the young woman continued watching him cross the courtyard, she realized with a nervous flip of her stomach that Loki was making his way towards the set of stairs that would lead up to the balcony where she stood. "Oh, damn..." she thought to herself, drawing her hands down to her sides where they firmly grasped her skirts. "Best not let him make the first move..." Thinking she'd humor him rather than take the risk of getting cornered by his company, Erica moved away from the balustrade, turning with a careful flourish and walking promptly to the stairs herself.
As she vigilantly made her way down, step by step, her heart began to quicken its pace in light of the growing anticipation for the confrontation that was bound to come. Erica was midway down the stone steps when Loki's golden masked and towering form stepped out into view as he waited patiently for her to reach the bottom.
The young woman held her breath as the two quietly met and held each other's unwavering gaze as she neared descending. Gathering her courage, Erica came to a stop on the second to last stair, giving a humorously false impression of height as she now stood at perfect eye level with the raven-haired prince.
Though she felt as though she had a thousand things to say to Loki in regards to what happened the other night, it was he who broke the silence between them first.
"Lady Erica." the Dark Prince formally spoke. His voice was everything a man's ought to be-low and strong-and it equally brought both heat and chills to her person.
"Prince Loki..." Erica returned coolly a moment later.
It was then that Loki took the liberty of reaching for her hand which the young woman automatically and gracefully extended for propriety's sake. His cool fingers closed around hers before he raised them to his mouth where he pressed a single kiss across the tops of her knuckles.
The gesture had been completely proper-and yet, because of last night's events where she had encountered the prince in a dream, clad only in her nightwear, it seemingly made even the slightest of things feel wicked between the two of them; a feeling that Erica had never shared with someone before. It was as though together now, they shared a great and intimate secret.
"This is positively dangerous..." she noted to herself in that instance and wasted no time taking her hand back. Why had no one warned her how...terrifyingly thrilling it could feel?
But Loki was not so easily discouraged and boldly, the Dark Prince took a step up, shattering the illusion of Erica standing at equal levels with him.
Loki's emerald gaze drifted over the Vanir goddess' masked features, straying ever so gently until they briefly found themselves lingering on her mouth. She was even more exquisite up close. He then watched as Erica's lips, pink with color and round in their shape parted just enough so that she could draw in her lower lip in and worry it lightly with her teeth...a nervous habit, he presumed.
"May I ask why you're hiding yourself away from the festivities, my lady?" Loki asked politely as he pulled his gaze away from her mouth and brought his eyes back up to hers.
"I am not hiding." She answered quickly, sounding far more defensive than what she would've liked. Shifting on her feet, she gave a light toss of her vibrant red-gold curls, "I simply figured it would be best if I stayed out of the way."
"Oh, but if you did that, you'd be depriving everyone here tonight of your lovely presence." He pointed out with a twinkle alight in his emerald eyes, "...myself included." he added with a slow, tantalizing smile.
Refusing to be swayed by his charisma, Erica gave a quiet, derisive snort, "You know...you can be so charming when you want to be, Loki..." she stated as her eyes narrowed behind her silver mask with obvious skepticism, "...therefore, you must be after something..."
With that last notice, the young woman took a subtle step to the side before she smoothly brushed past his form, clearing the final steps as she continued moving forward as though she were planning to actually join the merry crowds of people.
Before the Vanir goddess could stray any farther from him though, Loki followed her movements and caught one of her wrists from behind, bringing her retreating steps to an instant halt. "So what if I am?" he returned as his lips curled even further with a devilish smirk.
Erica's spine tingled from his response as she quickly glanced back over her shoulder at him, "Then..." she started, frowning gently with her growing suspicions, "...I suppose I'd have to ask just what it is you're seeking..."
Loki approached her in a single stride, closing off the distance she had put between them. Staring down on her much smaller frame, the Dark Prince found himself mesmerized at just how intently Erica's sea-colored eyes watched him-a man really should be careful around these eyes, he thought to himself. Otherwise, he would surely drown in them.
"I'd settle for a dance." he spoke purposefully, allowing his tone to fall to a much richer and deeper level.
Loki's voice washed over Erica in velvet waves, forcing the small red head to swallow as her throat ran instantly dry. "I..." her voice trailed off, and Loki couldn't help but arch an amused brow at her from behind his mask.
"Well?"
Erica gently averted her eyes and gathered her words, "I don't really dance..." she confessed in a firmer voice this time.
"Hmm..." Loki answered as his horned head fell slightly to one side as he studied her. Something about his nonchalant reaction told Erica that he didn't quite believe her. "...then perhaps it's time that you start." he added before he drew Erica's hand into the crook of his arm.
The young woman's eyes flew back up to his, and in them he saw a momentary flash of panic. Without waiting for her to answer or give a formal protest, the raven-haired prince swept the red head out into the bustling courtyard, leading the way towards the designated dance floor.
Like before, the surrounding people parted ways for the two of them as they entered into the center of the festive square. Questioning eyes and hushed voices followed behind their steps as they passed by arm in arm. Even the band of musicians playing awkwardly brought their music to a stuttering halt as they eyed the Dark Prince and his fair lady companion making their way out onto the dance floor. Erica inwardly groaned at all the sudden attention, that from which she knew gossip would soon breed.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, Loki led Erica to a small opening in the crowd and slowed to a stop. Then he turned and faced her directly-expectantly. For a moment, Erica was at a loss of words... he looked so strong, almost demanding in his resolve here on the floor with her that the young woman felt as though she should just shrink away and run...
But then she felt his hand come around her waist, pulling her in close, and before she could stop herself, she found her own hand seeking a place on top of his broad shoulder to hold onto. "I really..." she quietly stressed, "...don't do this sort of thing, Loki."
The Dark Prince looked down into Erica's wide, blue-green eyes that were alight with her apprehension of the situation and he found himself starting to once again smile as he raised his free hand and signaled to the musicians to start playing their music once again. "Neither do I." He answered.
The music began to play...a slow and enticing melody. Loki took only a moment's pause to collect Erica's free hand in his before he started leading them into the steps of the dance. He could now feel her trembling in his grasp, a fact she had to be aware of as well for she appeared to be avoiding his gaze- rather than looking at him, she seemed deeply fascinated with watching their feet as they commenced.
"1,2...er..." The young woman meekly talked to herself as they moved along. "No, 1,2,3.." Her worded whisper carried off again after a blatant miscount which led to her already treading on top of Loki's leading foot. Her eyes apologetically flashed up to Loki who appeared at ease, if not immensely amused. "Sorry..." she murmured softly as her eyes dropped back down to the floor. The action earned her hand an immediate firm squeeze.
"No." Loki's commanding voice addressed her, compelling her to once again look up at him. "You are over-thinking things, little Erica."
Her eyes flashed before the copper-haired goddess gave a swift, panicky shrug of her shoulders. "Well, I don't know the steps, Loki." she returned, her voice hinting of obvious frustration.
The raven-haired prince slowed his movements and lowered his head down towards Erica's. "That's why I'm here..." His words came out in a low whisper that tickled the woman's ear. Her form stiffened in his arms. "...to lead you." he added before he drew away to once more look down at her face.
Not even her mask was able to hide from him the growing flush that came to her skin in that moment. Indeed, the added color was a delightful contrast against the tiny white pearls which ran along her dress' scooping neckline.
"Relax your frame..." He further instructed, taking extra time to deliberately map out each step of their dance so that Erica could make sense of their shared movements, "...think of the music like a river, you move with its flow...not against it."
Not having anything to say, Erica closed her eyes and willed herself to loosen up, exhaling heavily as she did so.
"Good..." The Dark Prince remarked as he watched most of the tension leave the young woman's form, allowing him to guide her into their first turn. "Now can you feel the rhythm in your feet?"
Erica's blue-green orbs swept back open, a tiny frown pulling down on her mouth. "I can barely even feel my feet in these shoes..." she answered, staring up at him.
At that, Loki couldn't help but chuckle at her retort. "Ah..." he replied, a look of understanding befalling his features before he stepped in closer, allowing the hand that held her waist to fall to the small of her back. Erica's lips parted with a gasp. "...then just feel me."
Swallowing softly, the young goddess locked her eyes with Loki's and gave a small nod of compliance. Being only inches apart from the God of Mischief now, Erica should have felt intimidated by his touch. But instead...she suddenly felt reassured. As the music played on for them, Erica took Loki's words to heart, turning her whole focus onto him.
With this new closeness, the Dark Prince was able to easily cue her into the dance-his leading hand would guide her into the push-and-pull of the steps while the hand that held her close would steer her into the turns. So lost in how natural this situation had become, Erica was shaken from her trance-like state when Loki suddenly stepped back and gave a bow over her hand, signaling that their dance had come to an end with the music.
"Now that wasn't so bad, was it little Erica?" Loki inquired, lifting his green eyes to her masked face once more. He certainly enjoyed having her in his arms.
The young woman couldn't help but blink her astonishment away, casting a quick glance around only to see the change of couples on the dance floor while the musicians readied themselves for another song. "I..." her voice drifted out for a brief second as she gathered her thoughts and turned back towards Loki. "No...I suppose not." she warily agreed. "But this still isn't my cup of tea...and when did the music stop?" Had she really been so focused on following Loki's lead that she just blocked everything else out?
To him, that remark was rather adorable, seeing the red head before him so caught off guard- Loki couldn't help but smile at her answer as he straightened back up. Indeed, he felt without a single doubt that he would be enjoying this Festival immensely tonight...
Keeping her hand in his, he then began leading her off the dance floor and back into the crowd of people. "Come." He directed. Once more, being that he didn't leave her with much of a choice, Erica seemingly complied though he could now feel hesitation in her steps as she moved alongside him.
"And where are we going?" She questioned, looking up at him with wide and bewildered eyes. There was tone to her voice that Loki couldn't quite make out...it was some kind of mix between curiosity and nervousness.
"The night is young, little Erica..." he answered, turning his head down on her as his green eyes shown alight with an untold purpose. "...you should rest your feet."