Just as a warning, there is foul language used in this chapter. Not a lot. You have been warned.
'I hate you! You're the devil! All you ever do is cause us problems! You're a cold-hearted shallow witch! Mother may act like she likes you on the outside but on the inside Salme and I know she fucking hates you! Get the fuck out of here and never come back!' Those words kept playing in Rai's mind over and over. She held Loki's hand tightly afraid to let go. He looked at her with worry. She silently let tears run down her face.
"Loki…"she whispered. He continued to walk but took a glance at her and replied, "Hm?" "Loki…with time you will grow to hate me as well…"she could feel that knot in her throat come back. "Why do you say that?" he lightly squeezed her hand. She repeated Jaridi's words that were on her mind. He stayed silent for a second. Contemplating on what to say. "They are gone now Rai…anything they said is nothing but a terrible memory..."
"But I cannot forget Loki…" she stopped walking and pulled her hair back, away from her face. She showed him a big bump she had from when Jaridis had beaten her this morning. Loki ran a finger over the bump lightly. His naturally cool skin gave Rai a shiver but it felt good. It somehow eased the pain if only for a moment. He sighed. "I do not blame you if you feel nothing…haven't you ever defended yourself against them?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Sometimes I have fought back but…since I was the eldest I always got in trouble and mother beat me for it...I had to learn to endure…" Loki gave her an empathetic look. He did not know what to say. He gently took hold of her little hand once more and started to make his way to the palace. The rest of the walk was a quiet one. Neither of them said a word but Rai would hold back a cry here and there. She would sometimes sniffle and squeeze Loki's hand for reassurance. He smiled at her. Letting her know everything would be alright.
When they finally arrived at the palace, Thor was right outside waiting for Loki. When he saw him with Rai he ran up to them and asked, "Loki is this the girl you said you had to meet?" Loki nodded and Rai hid behind Loki. Thor smiled. "Fear not miss! I am Thor Prince of Asgard! 'Tis a pleasure to meet my little brothers' new friend!" He extended his hand out to her and she hesitated for a second before taking it. When she finally took his hand, he shook it rather firmly but Rai didn't mind. "Thor where is father?" Loki asked and Rai gave him a nervous glance.
"I believe I saw him in the throne room with mother. Why do you ask?" Thor replied as he tried to get a good look at Rai, though she kept trying to hide from him behind Loki. "I will convince father to let Rien live with us." Thor looked at his brother in shock. He took hold of Loki's hand and pulled him aside. Rai waited for Loki nervously as she saw them whispering to each other.
"Brother you sure of this? What of her parents?" Thor gave Loki a concerned look. "Her parents are dead. She has no family Thor." "Brother, though you try to do a noble deed by helping this girl, I do not think it is the right thing to do…"Thor took a quick glance at Rai. She met his gaze only for a second before staring at the floor in embarrassment. "The noble Thor refusing to help a damsel in distress?" Thor glared at Loki and Loki just smirked. "Now brother you know that is not what I mean. You know I never leave a damsel in distress but I am not sure how father will react to this…" Loki's smile faded. "You leave father to me." Loki started to make his way to the throne room when Thor said, "Going to put that silver tongue to good use eh brother?" he turned around and said, "Keep her safe for me Thor. I will not be long. And Rai, do not fear Thor. Though he looks and acts like a beast he will protect you while I'm gone." Thor glared at Loki and he only smirked. Rai giggled and Thor smiled at her.
While Loki was in the throne room speaking to his mother and father, Thor decided this was a good opportunity to get to know Rai. "So your name is Rai?" He sat down on one of the steps leading into the palace. She sat next to him and started to play with her hands nervously. "No, my name is Rien but you can call me Rai." Thor stared at her his sky blue eyes danced with amusement. She glanced at him for a second and blushed. "What?..." she asked confused as to why he kept staring at her.
"You have the cutest voice I've ever heard." His smile grew larger when he saw her blush intensified ten-fold. It was short-lived for Rai's blush faded as thoughts of her half-sisters came back. She let out a soft sigh. Thor patted her on the back and she let out a small groan. "I'm sorry! Sometimes I don't know my own strength!" He laughed. Even though Thor was only a year or two older than Rai, he already possessed such impressive strength. "Oh no don't worry about it. It wasn't you I was just lost in thought…I'm sorry…" Her big honey brown eyes seemed to bore a whole into the floor. Thor stood in front of Rai and bent down to meet her gaze. She looked at him slightly confused. He smiled. She noted he had a beautiful smile too, but not nearly as memorizing as Loki's.
"Tell me." Thor gave her a soft loving smile. "Tell you what?" she replied softly. "I know my brother very well. He will get father to agree to have you live with us. So tell me what has taken away your pretty smile?" "I…I don't know I mean well…it's hard to explain and it's a long story and-" Thor cut her off when he took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. "I have all the time in the world for my new friend." Again he smiled. 'Does his face not hurt from so much smiling?' Rai thought. But then again, his smile held so much warmth, so much kindness; she couldn't help but smile herself. She was not used to people being so kind to her. Having Loki show so much concern, when he only knew her for about 2 days. And now keeping such a dark secret for her. Having Thor be such a little gentlemen. Him kissing her hand, she only thought that came from fairy tales.
"If I tell you will you promise to not tell anyone?" she searched his eyes for any sign of malice or lies but she found none. He nodded and sat down next to her again. She let out another soft sigh as she looked up to the clouds. She started to tell Thor of her step-sisters, her father, her step-father, her mother, the beatings and the suffering she had to endure. She told him of how poor she was though she figured he knew that from just seeing her current clothing. Thor listened intently and quietly. His eyes never left her. There was no way in all the nine realms that Rai would tell Thor of the fire. She didn't think he would be so understanding as Loki was. When she finally finished Thor looked away for a second and let out a small sigh. He then proceeded to hug Rai tightly.
"I-I can't breathe Thor!" She managed to gasp. Thor let go of her and grabbed her hand once again. He placed a soft kiss on her knuckles like he did before only this time he also placed a kiss on her forehead. Rai was blushing furiously. She didn't know what to say. Thor had just kissed her more times than anyone in her life. In fact Rai couldn't remember anyone kissing her at all. Thor suddenly spoke up, "Rai, I shall take you to the training grounds with me! I shall teach you to be a strong warrior just like me! You'll see! No one will ever think about hurting you!" he chuckled to himself. "I will just have to get Loki to use his silver tongue to convince father of it! Perhaps you will even become a Valkyrie! How does that sound?!"
Rai giggled. Thor commented on how adorable her giggle was. How it was cuter then her voice and way of speaking. She was simply in awe. In just two days she had become friends with the two princes of Asgard. They had both promised her something and now she would live in the palace? This had to be too good to be true she told herself. Unknown to her, Loki had just arrived from speaking with his father and mother. He saw when Thor kissed Rai's hand and forehead. He also heard the promise he made her. Loki felt jealousy bubble within him. Rai was HIS friend. Rai was HIS to protect, HIS to teach how to fight and defend. Thor always got everything he wanted. Well he wouldn't have her. Loki had laid claim to Rai and he would be damned if Thor took her from him.
Loki's possessiveness towards Rien will start to show. In the next chapter there will be a time skip to where they are all grown up now about age 17-18 And we will see more of Loki's jealousy as Rien spends some time with Thor in the training grounds. Along with some Sif jealousy.