Chapter Six
Loki walked back to his chamber feeling more light hearted than he had in years. Even though he was being followed by his guards. He had spent the morning talking with Ellie, learning many things about each other. He talked about things from childhood that he had not thought about in years. Remembering those times made him question whether or not he should have followed the path he had. What would things have been like if he had chosen not to be jealous of Thor? There were so many things he could have done differently, but would they have really led to a different outcome.
….
Ellie lounged in the huge bathtub trying to make sense of her mixed up feelings. She had finally found out the identity of her rescuer. He was the one who had sent the Destroyer to her home in the attempt to kill Thor. He was also the one who brought the alien army to take over the earth. She should be afraid of him and what he could do. Yet after the time they just spent together she was less afraid of him. Except for the first time they met, he had treated her well. Every time they touched she would feel a connection that she could not explain. Her whole body would come alive. And then there was the dream. When his lips had touched hers she thought the trailer was burning around her. She could remember the smell of his skin and the whisper of his breath on her face. The harder she thought about that dream she began to wonder if it was a dream at all. It had felt so real.
"Are you alright in there?" Jane said from the other side of the door.
"Yes." Ellie yelled towards the door.
"It's so quiet in there. Do you need anything?"
"No. I'm fine. I'll be out in a few minutes." Ellie replied.
"Let me know if you need some help."
Ellie sighed. Except for the occasional dizziness, she was fine. Getting out of the tub was a little difficult due to the fact that she was still a little weak but she managed on her own and slipped into her robe. She brushed through her hair and walked out into the main chamber. There stood Loki and Jane was nowhere to be seen.
"She heard you were out of the, um, bath so she asked me to stay till she got back in case you needed anything." Loki said slyly.
"Oh." Ellie blushed.
"I came to ask if, now that you are feeling better, you would like to come down to dine with everyone. My mother is putting on a special feast in your honor if you are feeling up to it. Everyone is so anxious to meet you."
"It would be nice to get out of this room. Tell your mother that I would be delighted to join everyone for dinner."
"Excellent. I will let her know immediately." Loki said as he took Ellie's hand. The warmth of her hand moved up his arm and rested in his heart. He looked down at her tiny hand and bowed over it giving her delicate fingers a gentle kiss.
Ellie's fingers tingled and a pleasant heat started in her chest and rose into her face. To keep from doing anything embarrassing, she lowered her head so he could not see the blush in her cheeks. Loki lifted his hand to her chin and gently brought her face up to look into his eyes. He did not like when she hid her face from him.
"Until tonight then."
Then he turned and walked out of the room. Ellie stared at the door. Her mind was in turmoil. How she feared what he could do, but most of all she feared the lust in her heart.
Moments later Jane walked back into the room. She knew Loki had just left having purposefully found some reason to leave the room when he came to ask Ellie down for dinner. Jane still saw the flush in Ellie's cheeks. Ellie was such a good hearted person and she deserved some happiness after the upbringing she had with her father. Loki on the other hand could be very intense in the little time she knew him, yet he seemed to have tamed the monster inside. After each interaction he had with Ellie, he seemed a little more in control. This was good, very good.
…
When Loki left Ellie's room his guards were gone. He looked around but they were nowhere to be seen. He started to walk back to his chamber and half expected them to be waiting around a corner. But he made it all the way to his chamber door without a sign of them. Looking back down the hallway he wondered what this meant.
…
Ellie looked in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and she had no clothes of her own. She was about to meet Odin and his wife and she had nothing to wear. She had come to this place in nothing but her hospital gown. There was a brush on the vanity so she could at least do something with her hair. After looking through the drawers she found some pins and what looked like some little clips so she decided to put her hair up. Since she didn't have any hairspray it took her awhile to get it just right. While admiring her work in the mirror, there was a timid knock at her door.
"Come in."
A young girl walked in with a bundle in her arms. "Frigga thought you might need some clothing to wear to the feast this evening, my lady."
Ellie nodded and then was thankful when she couldn't make sense of the cloth the girl laid out on the bed. She looked at the girl confused.
"I will assist you if you permit me, my lady." The girl said.
"You can call me Ellie, and yes, I would really appreciate the help. What is your name?"
The girl was taken aback by the question but answered, "My name is Kara."
Kara gave Ellie a thin white slip to put on first. She was a little uncomfortable undressing in front of the girl but knew she couldn't do this on her own. Once the slip was on, Kara picked up the lavender fabric and started to wrap and then drape the cloth around her. Finally she took a gold colored chord and wrapped that around her chest so it crisscrossed in the front. When Kara was done, she turned Ellie to face the huge gilded mirror.
"Oh my god! It is beautiful." Ellie exclaimed.
Kara giggled.
"What's so funny?" Ellie asked.
"In Asgard, when people talk about god, they are referring to Odin." Kara replied with a smile.
"Oh! I guess I will have to watch what I say from now on." And Ellie began to giggle as well.
"I nearly forgot the most important part." Kara suddenly said and pulled a small bag out of a hidden pocket. "One cannot wear such a gown and not have the proper adornments."
Kara then slipped on a necklace. It was made of thin gold chains all woven together and hung down into her cleavage. When Ellie looked in the mirror she could not believe how she looked. Never in her life had she had such nice clothes and the way she did her hair happened to work perfectly with the dress.
"You look fit for a King." Kara giggled and turned to leave. Ellie smiled at her joke.
"Thank you for your help Kara. It was a pleasure to meet you. The dress and necklace are wonderful."
Kara turned and bowed to Ellie, "The pleasure is all mine Ellie."
Ellie looked at herself one more time in the mirror and could not believe how nice she looked. She then turned to walk out onto the balcony. Hopefully Jane would come to get her for dinner because she had no idea where the feast was being held. There was a cushioned lounge chair on the balcony so Ellie dragged it over to the side so she could sit and look out over Asgard. The city was absolutely beautiful but she missed earth. She had school and her internship to go back to.
Jane and Thor came a short time later to escort Ellie down to the feast.
"Ellie, you look very lovely," Thor said as he kissed her hand and Ellie blushed.
Jane gave her a little hug. "Are you ready?"
"I guess so," she replied warily.
Ellie looked at the splendor of the inside of the palace. Thor had brought her here weeks ago and this was the first time she was able to see more than her chambers. Everything was open with views to the city outside. Ellie was amazed by the grandeur of everything and before she knew it they stood outside large golden doors.
"Here we are." Thor said. "Are you ready?"
"I think so." Ellie replied a little unsure.
Thor offered her his left arm and Jane his right and then walked them into the dining hall. The first thing Ellie thought was how large everything was. The room was huge. The table looked like it would hold one hundred people and it probably did since it seemed there were at least one hundred people in attendance. Even the people were big. Ellie felt very short compared to everyone. She knew that Thor was tall and even Loki, but everyone was tall even the women.
Loki. Ellie wondered if he was somewhere amongst all the people. She glanced around the room looking for him but did not see him anywhere.
Loki stood in the corner of the room watching as Thor escorted Jane and Ellie into the room. He could not believe how beautiful she looked. She still looked a little thin from her ordeal but her eyes were bright with wonder as she looked around the hall. Was she searching for him? He did not dare to hope for so much from her, but hoped none the less.
He was unsure why he was even invited to the feast. The people in attendance were obviously uncomfortable with his presence since he was no longer guarded. Some would look at him with obvious disgust while others would avoid looking at him at all. Loki had contemplated not coming but his mother insisted that he attend and it gave him another reason to see Ellie again.
Thor led Jane and Ellie around introducing them to different people. Everyone was pleasant to Jane but seemed reserved when being introduced to Ellie. She didn't understand why but continued to be pleasant to everyone she met. They moved between the different groups of people and then Ellie stopped. There he was. Loki stood alone. He was wearing his usual green leather, but this time it was adorned with intricate metal plates across his chest, down his arms and on his legs. Ellie couldn't believe how handsome he looked. He stood tall and proud in a room full of people that obviously did not know how to treat him anymore.
Their eyes met across the room. Loki looked at Ellie intently and then gave her a crooked smile. The familiar tingle went down Ellie's spine as her face flushed. Thor and Jane both saw the exchange between them and smiled at each other. They moved away leaving Ellie to stand alone. Loki stepped out of the corner and strode over to Ellie. Her heart beat faster with every step he took.
"You look very beautiful this evening." Loki said.
Before Ellie could answer they were interrupted.
"Will you introduce me to this young woman, my son?"
Ellie turned to face a very regal looking man dressed similar to Loki but the leather was gold in color along with an intricately patterned eye patch.
"Father, this is Ellie. Jane's friend. Ellie, this is my father, Odin."
"It is a pleasure to meet you my dear. I have heard many great things about you." Odin said placing a kiss upon her hand.
Ellie was about to respond when Frigga joined them. "Oh my dear it is so good to see you up and about. I am glad you could finally join us. It must be dreadfully boring up in your chambers."
"Thank you. It is very nice to be out and with other people. I'm sure everyone was tired of waiting on me." Ellie replied.
"Oh dear, it was our pleasure to help you. Everyone is so thrilled to see you well again." Frigga said as she put her hand on Loki's arm.
Loki looked at his mother. She smiled up at him and all he could do was nod back.
"Come. Dinner is ready to be served. Loki, please escort Ellie to her seat." Frigga said as she placed her arm in Odin's.
Loki held his arm out to Ellie and she tentatively grabbed his forearm. He reached over with his other hand and placed it over hers. Ellie looked up into Loki's eyes as he looked back down at her. The look on his face was intense. She started to feel dizzy. Was it from one of her spells or the depth of his eyes? When he turned her towards the table she nearly fell over her own feet. Loki grabbed her waist and helped her to right herself.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Was there a slight hint of concern in his voice?
Ellie put her hand up to her head and said, "Just a little dizzy."
"Would you like to go back to your chambers?"
"No. I'm alright." Ellie said with a smile. "Let's go eat."
Loki nodded and led her to the table. Ellie had a wonderful time talking with everyone. They were all curious about earth so Jane and Ellie tried their best to explain anything that the guests asked about. Sometimes Thor would have to compare things they might be familiar with to understand what they were talking about. Everyone laughed and enjoyed the stories that the women told. Loki however sat quietly in his seat. Never saying a word and not even managing a smile.
The wine flowed freely and everyone drank their fair share. Ellie however began to feel homesick as they talked about earth. She desperately wanted to go home, but then she glanced over at Loki and her heart started to race as they made eye contact. It was undeniable; Loki looked at her with possessiveness. Realizing this made Ellie flush and then the dizziness came again. She put her hand up to her head and drew her gaze away.
"Are you feeling unwell again?" Loki asked immediately.
The whole table fell silent. It was the first thing he had said since sitting down at the table. Everyone looked between Ellie and Loki.
Jane reached over and placed her hand on Ellie's shoulder. "What's the matter?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just a bit dizzy. Either from all the laughing or just the wine." Ellie replied not to mention the intense surge of want that she just experienced.
Everyone laughed around her.
Ellie smiled at everyone and said, "I should probably go lay down."
"I'll go with you." Jane said.
"No. You stay and have fun. I can find my way."
"Are you sure?" Jane asked sounding reluctant.
"Yes. Stay with everyone and enjoy yourself. I'm just gonna go back to my room and lay down." Ellie stood and said, "If you will excuse me everyone. I had a very pleasant evening."
As she walked along the table everyone wished her well and goodnight.
The moment Ellie stepped out through the hall doors, Loki stood and excused himself. Odin glanced over at Frigga and she smiled after her son.
…
Loki couldn't sit there once Ellie left the feast. She was the only reason he had come in the first place and he had to make sure she made it back to her chambers. Everyone's eyes were on him as he left the room and he did not care. Once he was out of the hall he made sure to stay far enough behind Ellie so she would not know he was following her. She moved slowly up the staircase and would stop occasionally to look at different artifacts that decorated the palace. Ellie also made sure to greet every guard she passed along the way. She was such a kind hearted person and always wanted to make sure everyone felt special just by acknowledging them.
Once she reached the hallway with her chambers, Ellie started to turn the wrong way. Loki debated on whether or not to stop her but he was unsure if he should make her aware of his presence. But he did not debate for long, because she stopped and turned the other way towards her room. Ellie entered her chamber and shut the door. Loki walked over and stood outside her door. He warred with himself whether or not he should go in to see if she was alright. Before Ellie started to feel ill he saw the look on her face as they talked and laughed about earth. He knew that look very well, she was homesick.
….
Ellie walked into her chambers and closed the door. She leaned against it for a few moments unsure of what to do. The bed beckoned to her but she was not really tired. So she walked past it and out onto the balcony. She needed fresh air to cool down her overheated body. The lounge chair was still in the same place she left it near the rail of the balcony so she sat down and leaned onto the railing so she could look out over Asgard. This place was so beautiful but she knew she did not belong here. The people were nice to her but she felt they held back. As if they were unsure about her. They seemed to accept Jane. What made her so different?
Then there was Loki. Her emotions were so confused about him. Ellie could not deny that she was attracted to him. Every time she saw him she got the same tingling feeling. Every time they made eye contact she could not help the blush that would rise to her face. Every time they touched her heart would race and she would secretly long for more. Yet she knew the things that he had done, inadvertently to her, but still done on purpose. Ellie's mind raced. Loki had done so many horrible things, yet since she had met him and since she has been here, he was nothing but kind to her. Gentle.
…..
Loki had to make sure Ellie was alright. He knocked on her chamber door. There was no answer. So he knocked again. Still no answer. He knew she could not have fallen asleep that fast so he worried she had fallen from her dizzy spells. Loki slowly opened the door and peered inside. There was no light in the room but he could see well enough with the light from outside. Ellie was not in the bed so he stepped into the room. The door to the washroom was open so she was not in there. Then he looked to the balcony. There she sat leaning on the rail looking out over the city.
Loki walked over to the doorway. Ellie looked so beautiful sitting there peacefully. When she turned and laid her head on her arms he could see the sadness on her face and the glistening in her eyes that had not yet turned into tears. He remained quiet. He did not want to disturb her but he wondered if she realized he was there. Ellie was only human and had no powers, but did she sense him behind her. Loki wanted to go to her. He felt this pull towards her that was getting harder to fight. She would not want him. After everything that he had done, Ellie could not possibly want a man like him.
As Loki was about to turned and leave, Ellie looked over her shoulder at him with such sadness in her eyes. She seemed to hesitate.
"You can stay if you like." Ellie whispered to hide the sadness in her voice.
Loki walked over to the railing but put some space between them. "You found your way back to your chambers."
All Ellie could do was nodded.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Ellie smiled slightly and nodded. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she would start to cry.
"Did you enjoy the meal this evening?" Loki asked trying to find a way to engage her in conversation, but he could see she was resisting.
So Loki just looked out over Asgard and remained silent for a while. When he finally looked back at Ellie she had a single tear that escaped down her cheek. She tried to look away but Loki crossed the small distance and grabbed her chin. With his thumb he slowly wiped the tear away.
Ellie looked up into Loki's eyes and could see tenderness in them. The first tear she had shed was for the confusion in her heart but the tears that now streamed down her face were for the love she felt for him. Ellie did not want Loki to see her cry so she stood to walk inside but he grabbed her by the arm to prevent her from walking away.
"Do not walk away." He said letting go of her arm.
"I can't….I…" was all she could get out.
Loki grabbed Ellie by the back of her neck and pulled her into him. He gazed into her eyes for a moment and could no longer resist the undeniable urge. He brought his lips down to hers. Ellie immediately melted into his arms so he deepened the kiss. Ellie slid her hands up his chest to entwine in his hair and pull herself closer to him. Loki then dropped his arms down around her waist so he could cradle her closer to his own body.
