Chapter 3: If We Ever Meet Again
'Look." You're no better off than I am. So don't talk all high and mighty to me. You say you don't need my help? Well take a look in the mirror honey. You're not exactly in perfect shape." Loki stared at me in shock for a moment, before recovering. He opened his mouth to say something, but I wasn't finished. "And as I recall not but a few minutes ago you were begging for me to help you.' I finished, my breath heaving. I can't believe I just did that. I thought, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
He was silent after that. He didn't move, in deep thought about something. Is he plotting my death? I wondered fearfully. Even though he was chained there were rumors that he had spies among the servants who were still loyal to him. He could order one of them to get rid of me or put me through long painful torture. I wouldn't put it past him to order either.
When he still didn't move or speak for another minute, I got the courage to kneel down in front of him. Now we were eye level. I put my hands on his knees. "Loki." I said his name softly. No response. "Loki, please just let me help you." What they did to you is wrong and inhumane. I can't undo what has been done, but I can help with the pain. So please let me do this." I spoke slowly, the anger from my voice gone. I stared at him waiting for an answer.
"I don't need your pity." He whispered. His words no longer held any fight in them. "That may be true, but even an immortal can only take so much before they break." I whispered eyeing the snake bites and cuts infesting his body. He was silent once again. I grew desperate. Time was running out. My shift would start at sunrise. I grabbed his face in an attempt to get him to listen to me. "Look I don't have much time left. Sooner or later someone's going to come along and see me. If they catch me I don't know what else is going to happen to you. 'My stomach twisted at the thought. Loki looked at me silently, seeming to listen to my words. I continued. "I want to help you in the only way I know how." I picked up the bottle of healing ointment. "This is a concoction of enchanted herbs and oils I mixed up to heal those wounds." I explained to him.
"Why?' he asked, his voice low, his eyes searching. I swallowed a lump in my throat. I looked in his eyes and answered truthfully. "You remind me of someone. So please let me do what I was born to do. Heal others." I looked at him, pleading with my eyes.
We stared at each other for a long time some sense of trust and agreement passing between us. A few more minutes passed before he nodded slowly, giving me permission to begin.
I dropped my hands from his face as a slight smile curved on my lips. I squirted the salve in my hand and rubbed them together. I glanced at Loki again to make sure it was okay with him. He nodded again so I took that as a signal to get to work.
I applied the creamy mixture to his cuts and bites, taking extra care not to injure him any further. He winced occasionally, and I would stop before continuing again. I tried not to notice the way my hands tingled as I rubbed the cream across his chest. I was all too aware of Loki's intense gaze boring into my face as I worked. A slight blush tinted my cheeks. Hold yourself together woman. I chastised myself. I focused on the task at hand, finishing up his chest area and moved on to his hands. I carefully kneaded the ointment all around his fingers and in his palm. He shivered slightly when my finger unintentionally grazed his wrist. Finally, I put more salve in my hand and with Loki's consent; I rubbed it in his hair.
It was soft, like I had expected, but thinner than I had imagined. I slowly weaved my hands through his scalp, savoring the feel of his silky strands. I had heard that Loki's hair was the softest in Asgard, and definitely the darkest.
A sort of calm came over me, massaging his scalp. Loki relaxed, leaning his head back, a sigh escaping his lips. It felt right. Being there with him touched me in a way no other being had in a long time.
Before long I finished, wiping my hands on my dress. I stood up, the bottle in my hand and admired my handiwork, relieved to see the medicine had done its job. His chest, once a mass of cuts and bites was a pasty white, along with his hands and hair. He looked translucent, almost an angelic white if not for the strips of soiled cloth he wore. I frowned and made a mental note to bring him new pants the next time I visited him. If I visited him again. I was still nervous about being there uninvited from Odin, and was worried about being caught. Oh well. At least you would have made your parents proud. I smiled at the thought.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by a grunt from Loki. I looked at him wondering what the matter was. He cleared his throat and lowered his head to the floor. The movement was one of embarrassment, and I was taken aback by it. What has got him so embarrassed? I wondered, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. I realized the answer when he spoke.
'I must, apologize for my behavior earlier and I am-, "He swallowed as if the words were difficult for him to say. " I am-, "another pause. He took a deep breath, "grateful that you have come here, risking your life, to salvage mine.' He said the words in one breath, refusing to meet my eyes.
This man continued to surprise me. I could tell from his discomfort he didn't apologize a lot. "What?' I asked, not quite believing what I had heard. Loki looked up his green eyes filled with rage. "Were you not listening the first time? Or are you too incompetent to realize when someone is apologizing?' Looks like we're back to this Loki again. I grumbled to myself. "What more do you want from me? To repeat the words your tiny mind can't comprehend? Thank you." He growled the last words.
"You're welcome, "I whispered on instinct. Loki looked surprised and his expression softened. An awkward silence filled the air.
All of a sudden I felt vibration on my wrist. I glanced down at my watch, surprised I had forgotten about it. I t glowed slightly and hummed, signaling I was being called upon. "What time is it?' I wondered in exasperation, hating the fact my watch didn't tell time. It only alerted me when I had to serve the guests, royals, and warriors. I turned and headed for the door.
"Wait." Loki called out to me. I stopped and turned my head over my shoulder. "What is your name, might I ask,' he said gently. I hesitated before answering. "Althaia.'
I turned and left the cell, as quick as I could, only glancing back once to see his eyes follow me out. I shut the door behind me, trying to lower my pounding heartbeat. All the way to the kitchen my hands still tingled from the contact.
Finally! This chapter took forrevvverrr to write. I am so sorry for the long update. Two words. Writer's Block. Thanks to all who reviewed for chapter 2 (sorry it's late and I'm too tired to write all who reviewed) Anyway... Thank you for all the suggestions they really helped out with this chapter. So the mystery girl's name is finally revealed. What do you think? Her name has a meaning to it, but I won't tell you what it means just yet. Ha ha I'm so cruel. You know what to do. Pleeeassse read and review. Bumblewolf out!