"Heed, make way for the Prince of Clarion! Make passage! Make way!"
The gathered people began to part, as a grand figure mounted of a white steed road in. They squished themselves back against the windows of shops, and flooded any crevice available to them. Though pressed for space, the crowd gazed with upturned faces filled with an eager sort of wonderment at the approaching person. Then, from above the heads of the crowd, a young man, no older than Loki and Lilath both, came into view. He wore faded silver armor emblazoned with a red-lined dragon on the breastplate and a winged helmet upon his brow. Shoulder length, golden hair turned dark from the wetness framed his face and hung limp with the weight of the rain. The droplets cascaded down his muscled arms and face, catching in the slight amount of stubble growing on his chin. This man, regal and intimidating, was Thor, Prince of Clarion. As soon as a large enough space had opened, the Prince halted his mount and began to speak.
"Good people," His face was grim as he spoke and his eyes held disgust for the commoners he stood amongst. After all, those of royalty did not mingle with peoples of a lower class. "I have come to you today to bring disparaging news. I've news that a country from the east has declared war against us. I am calling all able-bodied men with money enough to purchase a weapon to join together and fight for our land."
Though he heard the Prince's words, they hardly registered in Loki's mind. All he could think about was the sudden flutter in his chest that occurred when Prince Thor first came into his sight. At first, he thought it could have just come from the excitement of seeing the Prince. After all, he was a rather attractive man. However, as the initial thrill wore off, it ebbed away into a pleasant kind of warmth that filled his entire being. Loki had never considered himself one to be romantically interested in men, and as a matter of fact, hadn't been much attracted by anyone up until this point. Yet, no matter what he did in those moments, he could not shake his odd, newfound feelings for the Prince of his kingdom. So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that he failed to register the tug of his sister's hand on his sleeve.
"Loki, let's go get a closer look at the Prince!" Lilath was grinning from ear to ear and nearly bouncing up and down with excitement. Loki barely had time to come up from his thoughts before he was being dragged foreword and into the crowd. A distressed cry rose up from a lady Loki had bumped into which caused many to turn their heads, and even Thor paused his speech to see what trouble amongst the peasants had so rudely forced him to do so. A few more people had also things to voice as the peasant girl dragging a boy behind her like a dead fish came charging up through the crowd. When they reached the front, Lilath stopped in her tracks, as if she had suddenly, through all her exuberance, realized what she had just done. Loki however, was still too dazed to immediately recognize his sister's abrupt stop. Lilath let go of his hand as she stopped, and Loki's momentum carried him foreword so far as to make him trip and fall. Fall right in front of a massive crowd of people, and alas straight into the clearing where the Prince himself sat.
Slowly, Loki picked himself up from the ground, spitting mud and debris from his lips as he went. He felt the stones beneath him cutting into his knees and shins. A bit of blood also mixed with the dirt upon his face. Once he was sitting fully up right, he turned his head slightly to face the crowd behind him. With burning cheeks and a look of absolute terror he saw Lilath, open mouthed, staring guiltily back at him. Everything in the pavilion was silent. Even the rain had decided to quiet in this moment.
Loki was completely lost for as what to do here. He continued to stare at Lilath until he saw her gaze snap up to look in horror at something behind him. Suddenly, Loki sensed a presence behind him.
"Young Lad." A deep and heavily accented voice sounded from behind him and rang in Loki's ears. Breathing becoming erratic, Loki turned to face the person behind him. He was hardly allowed a look at the man's face before a massive hand wrapped around his bicep and hauled him roughly to his feet. Swaying as he stood, a pair of strong hands momentarily appeared upon his shoulders to steady him, and at the same time the watery emerald of Loki's eyes met the piercing cerulean of none other than the Prince.
Loki was beyond captivated with the sight provided to him. However, instead of the kindness and understanding he wished to find within Prince Thor's eyes, he saw only anger and hatred. Their gazes broke from each other as Thor's eyes flicked over to a nearby guard whom he motioned over with a lazy flick of the wrist.
"Aldwin, escort this peasant and his lady friend out of my sights. I'd rather not be interrupted by lowly serfs such as these." As the Prince spoke these words, Loki felt his heart drop low in his chest. He was not allowed to think much upon this however, as a new pair of hands clasped around his arms. He and Lilath were hauled out of the city by the guard, and then were quite literally dumped upon the ground.
"As one of the Prince's personal friends, if I ever see the two of you within his sights again, I'll throttle you both." This was the promise left with Loki and Lilath as the guard turned and walked back the way they'd just come.
When he was sure the guard had left, Loki swiftly got to his feet and barreled down the road towards their farm. He heard Lilath's pitiful calls for him to wait for her, but he did not slow. Small tears began to drip from his downcast face as he ran and realized that no matter what he did, a peasant such as him would never be anything in the Prince's eyes.