There were many feasts held in Asgard, however this was the first to be held in honor of Sora. It was a celebration of her valiant efforts in Jotunhiem. Golden tables near a half a mile long were spread with the most beautiful dishes made from the bounty of the summer harvest. Banners of gold and red were hung about the halls and twisted around pillars, large fires of celebration were lit, and the men and women were dressed in all their finery. It truly was a sight to behold, but Sora hardly thought she deserved it.
"I have failed in my mission and yet they celebrate as if I were the savior of the cosmos," she whispered to Merin as she slowly nursed a goblet of wine.
Merin shrugged, beginning to fill his empty plate with food from one of the banquet tables. "Sometimes we just need a hero, Sora… to have an example of the extraordinary among the mundane."
Sora laughed then, "I hardly think I can be considered extraordinary."
"It seems that they would all disagree… as would I." Picking up a cluster of grapes, he inspected it briefly before plopping it into his plate. "You have done a great service to Asgard, venturing where no one else would dare."
"But there was one other who did dare to make the journey with me Merin, I do not see us celebrating his bravery," she argued, looking over at Loki from across the room. The younger son of Asgard stood at the edge of the party, keeping to himself as his gaze loomed over the crowd in his ever-observant manner.
Merin followed her gaze, assessing the man for himself and seeing only what the others saw, a snake in the grass. "Loki is certainly extraordinary, in an infamous manner. He only volunteered to go with you because he knew it was against his father's wishes," he rebutted. "Surely someone so nefarious is undeserving of praise."
"Perhaps we just do not understand him," she suggested, trying to keep the tone of their conversation light, but finding it exceedingly hard not jump to Loki's defense. It hurt her to know what others thought of him.
"It is said that evil is innate in him, that he lives off of lies and mischief as you or I live off of food and drink. I'm not altogether convinced of this myself, my reservations on the subject hopefully being obvious to you, but the more I know of Loki, the more I tend to believe that he is not merely a product of his environment."
Sora did not try to refute his statement, knowing that she could not win with her mentor. Merin was very stuck in his ways and she saw no reason to fight, especially when it would draw her and Loki undue attention. Instead she sipped her wine and moved onto another subject.
Across the room, Thor grabbed up two cups of mead from one of the servers and headed over to his brother who he noticed was brooding in the corner like usual.
He would have thought nothing of it, yet the ponderous look on Loki's face made it obvious that something was preoccupying his thoughts. It made Thor want to entice him back into the throng of merriment. It was seldom that Loki enjoyed himself at these sorts of events- that was, if he was not making mischief. And Loki always seemed to be burying his mind in some problem or other. In Thor's opinion, it was time to put work aside and celebrate.
Thor followed his brother's gaze to see what was so interesting and found Sora on the other end of it. A wide, knowing, grin spread across his face then. Not many could read his brother, but Thor liked to think he had some insight. Loki and the consul were as thick as thieves ever since they worked together on the peace treaty with Jotunhiem. It wasn't too far of a stretch to believe that his brother may have desired more than friendship.
Thor walked up to his brother's side and handed him the cup of mead, which Loki took with an unreadable twist of his lips.
"Why do you not go to her?" Thor asked, playfully nudging his brother with his elbow.
"Go to whom, Thor?" Loki replied dully, crossing his arms over his chest to display his obvious disinterest in the feast.
"Your beloved, Consul Sora," he teased with a wide grin, more pleased than ever that he found out his brothers' secret affection.
"Because, she is not my beloved," he informed him, his lie falling so easily from his silver tongue.
"A potential conquest then!" Thor concluded, far louder than Loki would have liked.
Trying to shake of his brothers irritating words, he snorted in response. "Certainly not. What has inspired this absurd notion of yours?" he asked evenly, turning to look at him.
"The way you look at her," he replied simply. "You can hide your feelings from everyone else in the palace, including father, but you can never hide from me."
"And why is that?" Loki asked, curious as to Thor's reasoning. Surely it was nonsense but he wanted to hear what he would say regardless.
"Because you are my brother," he replied, a soft smile tugging at his lips. It was another simple answer from the thunder god, but one without such a simple meaning behind it. "It is fine if you wish to keep your secret, I will not tell. But I insist you speak with her, tell her of your feelings. You will never know if they may be returned if you don't."
Loki laughed then, whether it was at what his brother knew or what he did not, he wasn't sure. But one thing was for certain; receiving crackpot dating advice from Thor was just too precious.
"Even if what you say we're to be true Thor, neither you or I could pursue her. She is a politician, it would be breaking the law."
Thor let out a thunderous laugh then, "Forgive me, but when has that ever stopped you, Loki?"
"When indeed," he muttered under his breath, looking over at his lover. She had just finished a dance with an extremely eager Fandral, looking as if she were relieved to get away from him.
"Go on then," Thor demanded, cutting into Loki's musings. "She is a beautiful woman, why should my brother not pursue her?"
"You better stop saying such questionable things, people will begin to think I'm beginning to rub off on you," Loki told him, sipping the last dregs of his cup and disappearing into the crowd.
Sora excused herself from Fandral's company, unable to take another moment of his irritating advances. The man had an ego the size of the World's Tree and an intellect about the size of the seed that it sprang from.
She now pretended to be extremely interested in the decorations on the banquet tables, her back facing anyone who might want to drag her away for an awkward dance or a tedious conversation. It was simply ridiculous how much of a stranger she felt at her own celebration.
"It would seem Fandral has his eye on you," a familiar voice murmured in her ear.
The warmth from Loki's breath on her neck made her shiver from his dangerous proximity. How he had snuck up on her so easily, she did not know but she could barely resist the urge to lean against him.
Her watchful eyes scanned the room to see if anyone noticed them together but no one was looking in their direction. Just as she began to relax, she felt his chilled fingers curling into the crook of her elbow, as he pressed his chest against her back.
"Loki…" she hissed, jumping away in fear of his brazen actions. Spinning around to reprimand him, she was greeted with nothing, no Loki, no one at all. The people close to her regarded her with strange looks before discreetly stepping away.
"Sorry," she apologized, smoothing down her gown in embarrassment. Loki was going to pay for this, she thought as made her excuses and turned back to the table to grab up a glass of spirits. Looking down at the selection, something caught her eye. Tucked under the base of a champagne flute was a little slip of paper.
Quickly grabbing it up, she took a sip from the glass and unfolded the note. It read, "Golden Hall" which Sora deduced meant to go there directly. He had obviously had something planned for tonight and although Sora was somewhat irked by his trick she wanted to find out what it was.
From across the room, Fandril leaned over to Thor, anxiously playing with an empty goblet in his hands. His first attempt at wooing the young consul did not go as smoothly as he had expected and was now preparing for his second attempt.
"Thor, do you know where Sora went? I think I should like to ask her for another dance," he said, smoothing out his hair with new confidence.
"Wanting another shot at her?" Thor laughed, knowing his friend had no chance with the consul. Though undeniably handsome, Fandril was not on the same intellectual level as Sora (even though it pained Thor to admit she was intelligent). She would have no interest in him or be won over by his shallow compliments. Sora was never a fool for flattery. Besides, Thor assumed her sights have been set on another for a while now.
Just as this thought surfaced, he caught sight of her sneaking out of the dining hall. He couldn't help grin widely at this, knowing that it most likely had something to do with his brother. "I'm sorry, but I think she may have retired for the night, my friend," he told Fandril, giving him a sympathetic pat on the back.
"Oh, well I'll get her next time then," he said, confidently smoothing back his already perfectly quaffed hair once more.
"No doubt," Thor reassured him, trying to hold in his amusement. If he knew his friend, he would be devastated by this loss for about five minutes and then have another woman on his arm within the hour.
Thor glanced over at the golden door Sora had just slipped out of with a knowing smile. In that moment, he was quite proud of his brother.
"What are you so pleased about?" asked Sif, who had come up beside him during his musing.
"Why nothing, My Lady, shall we dance?" He said jovially, motioning towards the floor.
Sif sighed and took up his hand. "I will get it out of you sooner or later. You know that, yes?"
Thor laughed, taking her into his arms and leading her across the floor. "Certainly, Sif. Just not tonight."
"We shall see about that," she quipped cheekily.
Thor flashed a dazzling grin, unable to hide his delight at her challenge. Loki's secret would be safe, as long as Sif didn't fight too hard to get it out of him.
Sora looked down the darkened hall for any sign of Loki. Gold satin banners waved back and forth in the soft breeze, making the giant hall look as if it were breathing. She took a few steps down the middle of the row of colossal pillars scanning the area- really not wanting to have to look for him.
"Do not worry, you're not going mad," she heard him whisper in her ear. She could just picture the mischievous smile he now wore. She wasn't half as amused as he was. "I assume you found my note then?" He asked, slinking around to face her. This time he actually was there.
"Indeed I did," she said, holding out the flute of champagne, the crumpled slip of paper floating in it.
Loki laughed, picking up the glass and taking a sip. He let it settle on his tongue before replying, "A little bitter don't you think?"
"Very funny, do you care to tell me what all this was for?" she asked.
Loki's mischievous smile widened as he gently took hold of her hips. "I think you'll be very happy to hear that after much research, I've found out how to fix our problem with Hiemdal."
Sora could not hide an equally happy smile upon hearing the good news. "That's fantastic, Loki! It did not take you very long," she noted.
"I am a quick study," he said, his arrogance creeping into his tone. In this instance, Sora found it oddly endearing. "I can become invisible to sight or simply the mind's eye- I can even pass my cloaking charm on to you if you're touching me."
Not wasting a moment, Sora passionately kissed him. Loki linked hands with hers and once their flesh made contact, they both disappeared from sight. Even though Sora could still see both him and herself, she could feel the magic that concealed them. It flowed through Loki's hands into her body like an electric current. She felt perfectly safe in his arms, veiled from the eyes of Hiemdal and those who would keep them apart.
"Brilliant," she whispered, running her hand down his smooth cheek. Though she sung his praises, she knew they were playing a dangerous game. Her heart was racing with the thought of capture and, more so, the thought of all they could do now that Loki had found a way they could be together.
"What now?" She asked, nervous with excitement, her hands beginning to shake.
"Now that we have our freedom? You decide," Loki told her, nuzzling the side of her face.
Tightening her grip on his hand, Sora took off, deftly weaving her way through the halls of the palace, pulling Loki along side of her. She was burning with the need to touch him and both their apartments were too far away for her liking.
"I cannot wait another moment," she breathed, grabbing up the collar of his outer robe and pulling him into a passionate kiss.
Loki eagerly took hold of her hips and pinned her against the nearest wall, their bodies obscured by golden pillars on either side of them. Grinning mischievously, he pressed his body flush against hers. He slowly pulled the hem of her long dress up her thigh revealing the skin beneath.
"You are the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen," He tells her before slipping his hand under the fabric and feeling her silken thigh. She felt so luxuriously smooth beneath his cold, steady hands. He could not help but show his pleasure as he relished this moment in which he could finally touch her in the way he always desired.
Loki then paused for a moment before taking up her hands and drawing her out from between the pillars. He knew this moment had to be savored, not rushed in a dark hallway. This evening, they were victorious, and therefore they should make it a night to remember.
"Follow me," he breathed, taking her to a small garden located just off the hall. Tucked away in the corner was a stone gazebo, covered by richly embroidered banners. Loki led her inside. Above them lay a universe of stars but while in the presence of one another, neither noticed.
Sora sat down on a one of the many cushions that were strewn beneath the marble dome and pulled Loki down next to her to continue their passion-filled kiss. As she leaned back onto the spun silk beneath her, Loki brushed the panels of her long skirt aside as he slid his knee between her legs. Sora shivered beneath him and held onto him tighter.
Loki had taken lovers before but none he ever truly cared for. Sora was different. What he felt for her was more than mere fondness, more than base desire, or wistful passion… they were forever linked. Whether by fate or coincidence, when they first crossed paths, their lives became intertwined. He felt it, and he knew in his bones that they would never be separated. It could lead to their ruination or their salvation. It did not matter, in the end, they'd still be together.