A knock woke Sirith earlier then she expected. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and staring at the door. Ashley had not yet arrived, leaving Sirith to pull herself out of her bed herself. There was a deep purple robe lying on the edge of the lace edged bed and she pulled it over each arm so that it dangled off before approaching the door.
Loki stood behind it, dressed in a loose green shirt and dark pants. His hands were crossed in front of him and there was a slight smirk on his face as his eyes moved up and down her body. He seemed amused at the fact she was still dressed in her nightgown.
"I'm sorry for appearing at such an early time this morning. It is slightly indecent for me to see you dressed as such, though many in this company would not think it such." He nodded in apology.
She curtseyed. "I am sorry for not being prepared for you to arrive, my prince." Her hair fell over her face and she quickly pushed it back behind her ear.
"I hope you shall be prepared in a few hours for the beginning of how I have chosen to spend the day." He leaned down slightly, for she was much smaller than him. "You shall be the first lady I come to collect today; something I know is a strange occurrence of yours. Please be prepared."
Sirith began to blush. "Thank you my prince. If you do not mind, what have you chosen for today?"
Loki already began to turn away. "You shall discover it when I return." He paused and turned back slightly, so that he could see her. His eyes flickered up and down her again. "If you allow me to say this, you look stunning in those colors." He nodded goodbye and left. Sirith rested a hand on her collarbone as she watched him round the corner.
She stood there for a minute before Ashley approached from the opposite direction. The young girl clutched a gown in her arms. "Sirith, what are you doing awake?" She gestured back into Sirith's room. "It's not decent for you to walk around like that!"
"And how was it decent when Thor arrived yesterday?" Sirith asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. Ashley began to rush around the room as normal.
Ashley paused and thought about it for a moment. "It wasn't. But there was no other option for you that morning. Today, however, you didn't have to stay waiting outside your room. So I am allowed to scold you today." Her eyes sparkled in amusement as she returned to preparing the room.
It was only then that Sirith decided to go examine the dress Ashley had carried with her. The dress was a similar purple to the robe that Sirith wore, with what appeared to be white decorations. "Why did you choose this dress for today?"
Ashley came over beside Sirith. "I did not make this choice. Prince Loki delivered the dresses for the ladies today personally, instructing that they must wear them. He also brought robes for the ladies to wear this morning." Ashley fingered the fabric. "It is a beautiful color though."
Sirith shouldered off the robe, shrugging. "It's okay."
Ashley began to assist her in dressing. The gown was cold against her skin, floating around and never touching the surface for more than a few seconds at a time. There were white intricate designs decorating the skirt, looking almost invisible until you held it to the light. As Sirith examined it, Ashley tied a sash around her waist and lead Sirith to the mirror.
As Sirith stared at her figure while Ashley began to adjust her hair, she couldn't help but remember what Loki had told her. What Thor had mentioned and he didn't deny. She fingered the necklace that Ashley hung around her neck, pulling it so that it resting between her collarbones. Her hair hung freely down her back, with a small amount pulled over her left shoulder.
"You look stunning." Ashley said, adjusting the hair slightly. "Do you need anything else?"
"Could you get me something to eat, please? I don't want to be around the other ladies this morning." Sirith moved to sit on the bed, letting one of her hands trail along the fabric. She sighed. "I almost wish that neither prince chose me so that I could return home."
Ashley gasped. Her hands shot to cover her mouth in her surprise. "You can't mean that, truly."
Sirith smiled, hiding her true feelings. She had said the words without truly thinking of what they meant. But they were the truth. She no longer wanted to be forced to pander to the princes in attempt to have one want to wed her. But there was no way she could avoid it. "I don't. I'm sorry, it was a joke."
"It wasn't a funny one." Ashley commented as she left. The moment she was left alone Sirith fell back onto the bed. She didn't want to have to deal with Loki that day. He would make her heart pound and her face flush and then he would simply laugh about it to himself. At least Thor had a sense of friendship with his words. Loki felt like he was teasing constantly.
The next sight Sirith saw was Ashley's frantic face as she was shook awake. She blinked as she sat up.
"Are you alright Sirith? It took so long for me to wake you; I felt for certain you were dead." The girl truly looked frightened. Her eyes were wide and she hadn't let go of Sirith's arm.
Sirith attempted to smile. She could tell she was shaking, but she couldn't stop. "I'm fine."
Ashley sighed. "You've ruined your hair. I'll have to do it again." She pulled Ashley using the arm she still held over to the mirrors. "Would you like the same thing or something different?"
"Same would be fine." Sirith watched as Ashley nodded in the mirror and began to pull a brush through. "How soon until Loki comes this morning?"
"An hour or so. I met the Lady Sol on my way back with the food." Sirith glanced at the bed and saw a silver tray decorated with an assortment of food. "She wondered where you were."
"What did you tell her?" Sirith began to finger the necklace once again. It was cold, but it felt nice against her fingers.
"That you weren't feeling well this morning." Ashley squinted at the mirror. "Are you flushed?" She gestured for Sirith to turn around. "Let me feel your head."
"I'm fine." Ashley rested her hand against Sirith's head anyways.
Her mouth opened slightly in surprise. "You are ill. It wouldn't do good to meet with Loki today."
"I have to. I feel they would turn me away if I didn't." Sirith stepped away and hurried back to the bed, taking a small bit of food. "Perhaps if I eat something, I'll feel better."
"Would you like me to get a healer?"
"No." Sirith chewed carefully. "I'll be fine."
Ashley nodded, but she watched Sirith carefully as she began to clean the room. They stayed in silence for the rest of the hour until the knock sounded at the door. Sirith moved to answer it, but Ashley waved her down.
Loki stood in the doorway, dressed in the same clothing he had been when he arrived earlier that morning to meet with Sirith. He seemed confused for a moment where Sirith was, but then he saw her. "Lady Sirith. Is everything alright?" He glanced at Ashley before taking a step into the room. "Are you alright?"
For the first time, his voice had an aspect of care. Even his eyes seemed to flicker with something she didn't normally see. "I have a fever, my prince. But I'll be fine. I would get ill many days when I was a child, but I've always healed later in the day." Loki walked closer until he stood next to her. Sirith was forced to look up high in order to see him. He kneeled down. "Please, my prince. Do not worry."
"You are a guest in my home, and I have begun to care for you." Sirith started. "I do not want to see you ill." Without another word he rested both hands on either side of her head. Something cold rushed over her and her vision blurred. It did not prevent her, however, from seeing his eyes. They never left hers. The cold was replaced with normal warmth, but Loki did not withdraw his hands immediately. They were startlingly cold on her face.
"Thank you, my prince." Her words seemed to shock him and he pulled his hands away. "I feel much better."
"You are welcome, Lady Sirith." He stood and held a hand out for her. "I shall assist you in standing, if you wish." Sirith accepted. He was strong. Loki moved his hand to her elbow in order to support her to the door. Though she didn't need it, there was something nice about him caring enough to heal her and bring her to the door.
Loki continued to support her until they reached the next women's room. There was a small sun carved into the wood, burning a deep red. It was only then that it occurred to Sirith that a there was a swan on her own in white. "This is Lady Sol's room. Are you able to stand on your own now?"
Sirith nodded. There was judgment in his eyes now, as well as the care she had seen back in her room. However, the judgment was quickly over riding the care. He was returning to his normal self. "I am feeling much better, my prince. Thank you for your help."
"It was the least I could do." Loki let his hand drop. Sirith fell slightly but quickly straightened her back. Loki stepped forward and knocked on Sol's door. It opened quickly.
Sol stood in the doorway, seeming to radiate light. Her hair was braided over her shoulder and there seemed to be golden flecks decorating it. The sun necklace hung down to her waist. The dress didn't seem to fit her. It was a deep red, similar to Lika's, with golden decorations swarming across. It was clearly different from Sirith's. While Sirith's white decorations were similar to plants weaving their way through violet, the golden ones seemed to be jumping like fire.
"Lady Sol." Sirith was shocked to notice his voice was harsher than when he said her name. "How are you this morning?"
Sol smiled. "I am wonderful, my prince. Thank you for the dress." Sol fingered a bit of the fabric. "It is very beautiful."
Loki seemed proud to hear her say it. "You're welcome." He gestured for Sol to join him. "Please, hold conversation with Lady Sirith as we make our way towards Lady Attia's room."
"How was it being the first?" Sol whispered the moment she was by Sirith's side. Her brown eyes sparkled with amusement. She squeezed Sirith's arm. "Did you share any secret kisses in the hallways?"
Sirith swatted Sol's arm. "Nothing of the sort. He simply came and picked me up before going towards your room. Not even any conversation." It didn't feel right to mention Sirith's illness and Loki's healing of it. Many knew that Loki possessed magic, but most assumed it meant the trickster sort. Apparently, it was also that of healing.
Sol smiled, but she clearly didn't believe her. They walked in silence to Attia's room. But it was a comfortable silence. It felt better than the one between Loki and Sirith had been.
When they reached Attia's room, Loki knocked and the ladies watched as Attia opened the door herself. Her hair was swept up in a net of white and her dress was a dark green. Sirith had never seen Attia in the color. It didn't fit her, just like Sol's didn't fit her. Attia seemed to be one who fit lighter colors. She had white decorations as well, but they appeared more treelike then Sirith's. Her necklace rested between her collarbones.
Attia's arrival stopped any conversation Sol and Sirith could have had. Loki glanced back at the ladies in surprise when he heard nothing from them, but he said nothing as well.
They met Claudia at her own room. The girl was in pale yellow with pale blue decorations covering it. Her hair was long, similar to Sirith's. Attia and Claudia walked together, separating from Sirith and Sol. All four seemed glad to have someone they had begun to form friendships with. And none of them wanted Lika to join them.
Lika looked the strangest in her dress out of all of them. She was dressed in a pale rose colored dress with pale gray decorations. Her hair was pulled high onto her head with roses dotting through her white blond hair. Even so, she looked beautiful. Something about her eyes, how they still shined blood red occasionally, made her seem beautiful in any color.
Sirith felt herself blushing. How could Loki find her interesting when there was someone like Lika only a few steps away? While Loki didn't seem to notice, Sirith had the sense that Lika did. A glimmer of amusement decorated her face.
There was a chilling silence that washed over the ladies as they followed Loki through the halls. He looked back at them occasionally, letting his eyes fall on each one individually. Sirith and Lika seemed to be the only ones uncomfortable in their color, and they were the only ones that looked relatively attractive in the ones he chose.
Loki had told Sirith she looked good in the color when he saw her that morning simply to see her reaction. But the more he saw of her in the deep purple that clung to her skin and shimmered black as she moved, the more he saw it for himself. She looked beautiful in her dress. It seemed to match her perfectly.
They left the halls of the Asgardian palace into the gardens that surrounded it. But Loki made no movement to stop. He simply looked back to see their reactions before trudging on. All of the ladies were surprised but they said nothing. It would be out of place.
Quickly, they approached a wall of green hedge that towered over Claudia, the shortest. There was a small opening, and from what Sirith could tell there were five separate pathways from the one that lead from the entrance. Loki turned to face them completely, holding his hands behind him with a slight smile on his face.
"If you don't mind me asking, my prince, what are we doing here?" Sol was the one who asked.
"This is what I have chosen to do for today." He gestured to the maze. "You are to solve the maze. I may come to walk with you to assist you if you require it or just to walk in silence." He stepped aside. "Begin."
A/N: Thank you to 'legolover' for the idea of a maze. I was originally going to have them walk around the lake to talk, but this idea seemed so much better. Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed, or reviewed this story so far. I will try and write a few more chapters so that I have a small supply of them.
Thank you again.