Part 6

Loki paced his rooms utterly bewildered at what had occurred not an hour before. One moment he was commending your tremendous success at relearning how to both stand and walk in such a short period of time, the next; you were irate and snarling at him, throwing some sort of a fit.

He went through the whole interaction again and again in his mind, trying to assess what it was that had triggered the outburst. Part of him wanted to dismiss it as merely being nothing more than you being an irrational female, but he knew that was simply being flippant and uncaring, not to mention, having had no sisters to actually compare such behaviour to, he could not even confirm the validity of such an argument, he was simply going on the comments made by Fandral and Volstagg on the matter.

Eir had warned him that over time, there would be occasional outbursts of emotion you would not fully understand or control as you developed naturally, though such occurred in all youths, regardless of gender. But even as he recalled himself and Thor at such times, Loki never remembered either of them having an outburst for no reason in the middle of a calm and normal conversation with either Frigga or Odin for no reason. Loki then thought that perhaps what Æthelnoð had sensed as a hidden power was actually berserker energy, but he dismissed that quickly. Thor had such a streak in him when he was in battle, and when it occurred, there was little doubt to what it was. His eyes almost seemed out of focus, and there was no sense to any of the roars he emitted. But the genuine fear in your clearly highly focused eyes and the snarl from your gut clearly was your way of telling him to leave.

He cursed your lack of speech, not being able to understand what the issue was made it all the more difficult. It had been the bane of his time with you for the previous years. The one way conversations and learning to decipher wolf body language left a lot to be desired, and now in Æsir form, it was even more difficult as you could not speak, and you used facial expressions he had not learned for you, meaning he did not have a clue what you were thinking, and it frustrated him immensely.

He noticed how swiftly time was going by, and how it would soon be evening. The harvest banquet was a popular and well loved evening of music and dance for the realms people. Frowning, he could not figure out what had caused your aggression. The years before this, it was clear you were somewhat excited about the festivities, but it was obvious that this year would be the exception, even though for once, you were in your true form.

A knock on the door took him out of his mind again and the internal struggle to figure out your problems. "Enter."

Eir bowed as she cross the threshold of the chambers. "Your Majesty, I hate to disturb you with the evening's festivities so close, but the princess…"

"I am aware Eir, thank you. She had some sort of episode earlier and went somewhat peculiar for some unexplained reason that I cannot comprehend or fathom." Loki explained.

"I see." The healer nodded. "Odd, as she seemed to be adjusting quite well, however it would have been utter naivety not to expect some set backs."

"Yes, well as soon as I figure out what it was that prompted her actions, I will be sure to rectify it." Loki sighed. "Until then, I have little doubt she will have the floors of her quarters paced to scuffing in agitation."

"Her quarters?" Eir asked in concern. "My King, the princess is not in her rooms." She informed him.

Loki turned to face the healer. "What!"

"Her rooms are empty your Majesty, that is what I came to inform you, but I assumed you knew by your words. When I went to her rooms to check on her, she was not there. Some of the Einherjar placed in the private halls stated that she fled them, though no one is able to establish where she has gone." She stated as he rushed passed her out the door, nearly frantic with worry.

He ran to a few places he knew you frequented often before the transformation, but none of them showed any signs of anyone being present in some time. Loki began to panic as he searched more and more of the private quarters of the palace, instructing the staff and Einharjar to inform him immediately if you were found. In his frenzy, Loki failed to remember that most of the palace had yet to see your true form, but it would be east enough to assume who you were by your dark hair and green eyes.

"Your Majesty." Bowed Arnviðr, the head Einharjar.

"Has she been found?" Loki all but demanded.

The guard looked back at him with his head slightly down. "No Sire, we have not been able to establish the princess's whereabouts as of yet."

"Then what are you doing just standing there like a court jester, keep looking!" Loki barked.

Arnviðr decided to simply nod. "We are doing so Sire, I was merely here to inform you that all the private quarters have been scoured and she is not here, so we are extending the search. The doors have been shut and none are permitted to enter or leave the palace until she is found."

"Thank you Arnviðr." Loki sighed. "I apologise, I just…"

"There is no need to explain yourself Your Majesty."

Thinking of where you could be had Loki's mind working a mile a second, so in order to be able to think straight, he thought it best to take a few moments to step back. To do such would require him to go to a place that aided his thinking, so as he was already passing the library, he thought it best to go in there.

The room was in darkness and the silence inside seemed to almost echo against the walls. The curtains were drawn for the evening, and only small candles lit the dim room sporadically. Loki went to his favourite reading spot, finding the book he had left there open as it had been when he was there the night previous.

Out of the corner of his eye, Loki noticed that one of the curtains was slightly pulled back and the darkening dusk sky was seeping into the otherwise shadowy room. Walking towards it, he summoned one of his favour daggers. Drawing back the curtain, he gasped a sigh of relief. "Oh thank the Norns."

You barely registered his appearance as you stared out the window at the streets of Asgard below.

"The whole palace is looking for you." He informed you. You just continued to stare out the window. "I have been near sick with worry." His voice became more exasperated, but still you did not even acknowledge his presence. "Are you not listening?" He shouted in frustration.

You finally looked at him again and his face turned from angry and annoyed to concern as he watched as tears fell constantly from your eyes.

"I…It's just." Loki found all his anger and frustration evaporated as you tried not to show your heartache. "I was worried, I'm sorry." He looked to his hands. "I really wish I knew how to make it that you could actually tell me what is wrong so that it could be sorted, but I cannot read your expressions in this form, which is highly frustrating to say the least." He explained. Looking down, he realised you were holding a book in your lap. Frowning slightly, he was wondering as to why you were holding it, as you had only learnt how to read when Odin had condemned you to your lupine existence. But then he noticed the title and became wide eyed.

Noticing that his attention was now on the book, you opened it to a particular page and held it out to him, a faint hint of a smile on your lips.

"You remember." He exclaimed. You simply nodded in reply. "I was plagued by both of you every night to read this. You adored it no end." Again you nodded, remembering such.

A noise outside caught your attention, causing you to turn and look as the Bifrost signalled the arrival of others to the realm. You sighed sadly as you watched citizens from different realms make their way to the locked palace gates.

"I had better tell the guards to reopen them." Loki stated. You looked to him for an explanation. "I may have put the palace on lock down when I could not find you." He admitted. On hearing that, you stared at him in disbelief. "What? I was concerned that you may have been taken or something." You rolled your eyes and looked out the window again. "It's the banquet." Loki stated in realisation. You looked to him as though he had taken leave of his senses. "That is the reason for your behaviour." He expanded. He looked to your face which only confirmed his suspicions. "But why?" you looked down at yourself. "What is wrong with how you appear?" you groaned in frustration at your lack of ability to communicate. "You are very much like me in your appearance, how can I not take it as an offense when you are implying that such is a negative." He responded indignantly.

His response was nothing like what you had anticipated, and as such, took you by surprise, causing you to snort out a small laugh.

"I am glad you find me amusing." He stated flatly, his face the picture of bemusement, which only caused you to laugh more.