Chapter Sixteen

The hunt was a pleasant affair. Your father spent much of it talking of everything that happened of note in the lands over the years since he had been given them by the Allfather for his services on Jötunheim. Loki listened intently, making comment when required.

"You never told me half of this." You scowled indignantly.

"You never asked Cubby." Your father retorted with a smile.

"You really should have asked." Loki scolded playfully, enjoying the situation.

"I am not sure why you are so happy, you are indulging him so much he is never going to let you leave."

Both men laughed at the statement. "It is so idyllic here; I am not so sure that I would want to. I have to agree with your previous sentiments El." Loki acknowledged, studying your face for a reaction.

"But as you stated before too, staying here is not an option for you. You are required in the palace. Speaking of which, why are you not there now? Is it wise to leave your brother there alone? He is sure to insult someone or do something to cause some form of conflict. You could return and realise we are now at war with Midgard."

Loki could not help laughing. "Midgard would not challenge us in the slightest; they fight so often among themselves that they could never work together in a fight. And I have had a month of aiding him without rest, my mother insisted I take a day or two to myself lest I end up in bad health. She is helping him in my absence."

"She is truly a wise woman." You stated before looking behind him. "By the way, there is a stag about three hundred feet to your right." You informed him.

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"You dislike hunting, yet you are so natural at it." Loki laughed as you dismounted in the yard after the day, four dead stags, three boars and a couple of water foul in tow.

"It's simply practise I suppose." You dismissed, undoing the saddle girth on your horse.

"Do you always untack your own horse?" Loki asked curiously, noting that your father had simply handed the reins to the closest stable hand and went to the house.

"Not all of us were brought up to think everything should be handed to us on a gold platter." You retorted with a playful smile to indicate you meant no malice.

"This is hardly a meagre living you were raised in my dear."

"I never claimed it to be, but it is no palace."

"No, I guess not." Loki gave his horse's reins to a stablehand and watched as the boy took the animal away before following you to an empty stall with yours, watching you untack it and settle it in for the evening. "Your way with the hounds is as good as it is with the horses." He commented, as he watched you care for the dogs that had joined you all on your day's excursions.

"Animals are easy, more honest, people are difficult." You commented.

"Really, I would never have guessed you held such sentiment from your time at the camp." He added sarcastically. "You always seemed so enthusiastic at being forced into close proximity to others and were always in the centre of things."

"In my defence, the vast majority of those men were ignorant pigs and I was trying to hide my identity."

"Still, you were less than forthcoming."

"Why do you think I avoided going to court with my mother so much?"

"You are very much your father's daughter, he explained that that is his reasoning also." Loki smiled.

"And you are your mother's son. Her cunning in the palace and her letters are so much in likeness with you, I often wonder if it is her I am speaking to or you." You admitted.

"She really would like it if you came for a few days for a visit you know." Loki probed.

Sighing, you shrugged. "I am not so sure that that is wise. I fear that the city will only make me think more of what happened; as well as cement people's ideas that I am nothing short of your whore."

Loki's jaw clenched at your words, he watched silently as you made your way out of the stables and back toward the house once more. "Please do not think me rude, but I might stay out here a little longer by myself." He stated as you looked back to see why he was not following you. With a nod, you turned and continued to the house alone.

Darkness had began to descend and there was no sign of Loki returning to the house, so you went back to the stables, only to find that he was not there. Wondering where he could possibly have gone to, you began to walk around the grounds almost aimlessly. After near an hour, it was pitch black and you thought he must have left without even saying goodbye. Hurt, you headed back to the house holding your elbows in your hands and tears in your eyes.

"There you are, I…El, are you alright?" Loki seemed to have come out of thin air, startling you.

"I thought you had left." You sniffed.

"To my shame, I went for a walk to think about things and I may have lost my way a little when it got too dark." He admitted sheepishly. Then his face changed. "Did the idea of me suddenly departing upset you?" he asked with a sly smile.

"Do not flatter yourself, I am merely tired." You dismissed.

"I see." He did not sound convinced. "I have to return to the palace tomorrow you know." Your bit your lip as more tears came to your eyes. "Please come with me." He pleaded.

"I can't, I cannot handle so many people thinking me repulsive." You sighed sadly.

"I do not think you repulsive and I thought you said you are proud of it."

"I am, but I am also sick of people thinking it is alright to stare at me and speak as though I cannot hear them. Now you want me to go to the most critical and backstabbing place in all of Asgard. Not to mention, the entire court will just start the rumours again."

"What of them? People will always talk El; it is the way they are, because it means that people are not talking about them. Please, please come with me. Mother and Thor would love to see you too." You could see he did not want to have to use his brother and mother to try and tempt you.

"If I am reluctant to go for you and your mother, why would I ever consider going for Thor?" you dismissed, Loki's mood lightened again immediately. "There is nothing in the city to interest me."

"Not even me?" Loki asked, feigning hurt, though it was not as feigned as he let on.

"You are too busy now to play host, or has your time away caused you to forget?"

"I would strive to keep you occupied while I am busy dealing with the after effects of my bother's idiocy, though I dare say you would be the best person to help me with that. And when I am not dealing with that, I would cherish your company."

"Such as what, what could you possibly use to occupy me?" you asked sceptically.

"If it meant you being there, I would do most anything."

"Why?"

"I enjoy your company, I would want you to be happy there."

"Why would my being happy be of such importance to you?"

"Are you really so blind El?"

"You are never going to cease calling me that are you?"

"It is either that or Cubby." He threatened.

"El it is then." You conceded.

"A wise choice." Loki smiled smugly.

"Why do I let you away with this?"

"Because you adore me."

You laughed, thinking about the day you had had this conversation before. "What gave it away?" you joked.

"You now permit me to call you El, the smile you have when I am present seems different to the one you use when you do not think me looking, you being upset when you though I had left to name a few instances." He listed.

Realising that he was not joking as with the previous time you had the conversation, you looked away. His hand went under your chin and gently coaxed you to face him again. His fingers rubbed over some of the mark on your neck. "Does it go down far?" he asked curiously, tracing over it where was visible.

"To my collarbone and across my shoulder. It's a good thing I wear dresses that cover my shoulders." You answered, unable to look him in the eye.

"El please." He pleaded. You glanced up for a moment before looking away again, but your gaze returned quickly to his eyes. "I apologise if I am making you feel uncomfortable."

"It's fine." You tried to dismiss.

"There is that word again." He smiled. "El, I came here because I had to see you. I adore your company; I cannot be without you now. Your father queried me last night as to why I came, he could see my intentions. Do you know what I responded?" You shrugged, unable to look away from him. "I told him my sole purpose for coming was to steal his only daughter and convince you to return with me to the palace for the rest of your days, I want you to return with me."

"I am sure you have enough friends to keep you company."

He studied you for a moment to see if you were serious. "For one so astute, you are so blind. I already have enough friends, or at least people posing as them anyway."

"Then why?"

"I want you to return with me Eleonora, as my betrothed."