The next morning I groggily woke to the realisation that I had slept in my clothes. I slowly changed while I yawned. I slipped on a clean tunic and I put on my dark green dress with slits down the side of the legs. I plaited my hair and slipped on my boots. Knowing we would be training today, I added my belt with both of my daggers and the hidden sheaths on my limbs. I splashed my face to wake me further and walked to breakfast. I ate only a little before excusing myself. I wanted to try the projection trick again before Loki came.
Yet when I got there, he was sitting on the bench. I suspected he had not slept at all last night. He didn't look up when I entered.
"Last night you said you thought I would make a good king. But I'm not who you think I am." He put his head in his hands dejectedly. "I did not lie to you on purpose. I only found out myself yesterday." There was a long pause. Loki stood and strode to the window. "This is who I truly am." He turned around and I saw a frost giant standing before me. His skin was blue and his eyes were a burning red. Even as I stared, the Loki I knew returned, his skin fading back to the pale colour I knew. "You don't like it. I would understand if you wanted to go back home."
"Oh Loki," I sighed. "It is only the outside that changes. You are still the same person I have gotten to know." In four long strides I crossed the distance between us and crushed him in a warm embrace. "This changes nothing."
"Truly?" He looked deep into my eyes and I held his gaze. "You really mean it?"
"Yes Loki," I replied. "I would not care if you were a Jotun, a dwarf, or a mere human like myself. It is simply a label for the person I know." He hugged me tighter.
"Lorainne? Will you marry me?"
"No, you deserve better than me." I hurried on before he could protest. "It makes no difference whether you are a Jotun or one of the Aesir, you will outlive me by thousands of years. You would still look young while I wither and die. You need someone who can stay with you until the end of time. Someone who can care for you long after I am gone." I paused and then held him at arm's length. "Besides," I smirked, "you're the teacher and I am your student."
"I suppose that could be considered improper." He smiled a little. "Do you have a special man back on Earth?"
"No," I shook my head. "No one wants to marry a sorceress." He looked surprised. "It is seen as a curse."
"Your family," he started.
"Don't see it as such. We have had the gift passed down for many generations. Most of my friends don't know I have the gift though. Only Aerilia knows. She has a few with the gift in her family too."
"I didn't know."
"That's all right. What exciting new trick are you going to teach me today?" I asked, breaking our embrace.
"Today, I thought I'd teach you how to blend in with your surroundings."