Chapter Six

The next few days were nothing short of annoying. It would have been fine were it not my current company. Every morning I'd wake to the voice of Loki telling me to get out of bed. I'd roll over and stifle a scream at the green eyes that were directly in my line of sight. After a couple of times of waking to that the stifled screams began to turn into sighs of exasperation. Growing accustomed to Loki's face first thing in the morning was not exactly an experience I was happy about.

He'd whine and moan, mutter to himself about how I moved at the pace of a litchengird—whatever that might have been—and wait impatiently while I showered, brushed my teeth and dressed. Once finished we'd go to the library where he'd pull out books without even moving and summon them into the palm of his hands. We'd sit a little too close for comfort as he'd translate the text for me reading as though he were reading poetry.

After the library we'd eat a small lunch and walk around Asgard enjoying the sights and the music and the daily occurrences that took place. Upholding his end of the deal Loki would answer any question I asked, unless it involved him personally. He was rather tight-lipped about anything regarding his past or even his present. I'd learned to avoid the subject completely and stay away from personal topics. After all, I wasn't there to learn about the workings of Loki's mad mind. I was there to learn of Asgard and bring back what I could to S.H.I.E.L.D.

The day would come to an end and we'd join Thor and the others at the banquets. One thing I'd learned about Asgard was that they enjoyed to party and every night was a cause of some sort of celebration. Whether it be a magnificent hunt or just the fact that they were alive they would bring out the finest wines and ciders and ales and drink to their hearts content. Their plates were filled to the brim and their stomachs even fuller.

Then we would retire and I'd crawl into bed exhausted only to begin it all over once more. I found it odd though that not once had Loki mentioned my help in finding the stone. Even when I brought it up he would tighten his lips and turn the subject elsewhere. As my eyes closed I would stir up thoughts of what he wanted it for. World domination, to get his powers back, an ingredient to something even darker came to mind and as I was about to drift to sleep I'd realize that not once did I think that the stone was for something good.

One particular afternoon I ran into Fandral and Hogun on my way to the library. They both greeted me with polite bows and I smiled in return. Of course Fandral went one steps too many and reached out to grab my hand, kissing the top of it gently. Against my will, I blushed silently cursing my mother for giving me such a pale complexion.

"Where do you rush off to this wonderful day, Lady Hayden?" asked Fandral using his most charming of voices.

"The library," I answered looking to the open doors. Loki having heard my voice slid out into view and leaned against the doorway, watching.

"You spend too much time with the books. Would you care to join me for a ride?" I shuddered at the thought of going anywhere near another horse. "My apologies," he quickly said having remembered the hunting incident himself. "Perhaps a walk instead? I hear you've not been to the gardens yet. They're very beautiful especially at this time of day. I think you would appreciate it."

"Tempting," I said wondering what good a break away from Loki would do for me, "but I already have prior commitments."

"It should not take long at all, and they are only right down this—"

"She has already told you no, Fandral," came Loki's seething voice from behind. "Or do you need to have your ears checked?"

Fandral turned around and scowled as Loki stared at him awaiting an answer. Rather than respond to Loki's jibes he returned his attention back toward me and smiled, "If you prefer being holed up all day with the likes of him I would not hold that against you."

I contemplated it for a moment. "Sure," I replied avoiding Loki's gaze though I could feel it eating at me. "Lead the way."

"Of course," he said gleefully holding out his arm for me to take. I stared at his arm for a moment, wondering if I should actually take it or not. In no way did I want Fandral to get the wrong idea about my intentions. Then again it was quiet obvious what he intended.

I looped my arm around his and let him lead the way.

Sully's fat head laid in my lap as I sat in my room thumbing through one of the books Loki had let me take from the library a few days ago. It was a book meant for children partaking in the tales of heroic war stories of times long past. The text was Asgardian which was similar to northern German with various differences that made the translation rough and at times down right wrong since I—nor anyone else I knew—could speak Asgardian. But, the book depicted pictures which was why Loki had suggested I take it.

The first thing I did upon receiving the book was turn to the tales that involved Loki. There weren't many. Most of the stories revolved around Odin and his brothers, or Thor and his Warriors Three alongside Lady Sif. The few that did contain mention of Loki were less than honorable.

"I guess he really does deserve the title God of Mischief," I muttered to Sully rubbing the back of his head. The dog moved his brown eyes to the painting of Loki hiding in the background along some bushes while a woman screamed. At her foot was a spilled goblet with mice running out of it. Sully snorted and closed his eyes clearly not interested as was usual.

"You did not go to banquet." I looked up from the book to see Loki standing in the doorway.

Slightly embarrassed I quickly closed the book shut and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Uh, yeah I wasn't feeling very hungry," I lied. Truth was I just wanted to be alone. Especially after some things that Fandral had said that gave me a lot of things I needed to reconsider. "Is that no allowed in Asgard?"

Loki ignored my jab. "How is the book fairing you?"

I looked down at its cover. The one eye of Odin stared up from the cover with ice giants depicted behind him fighting in a gruesome battle. Shifting my hands over it I returned my gaze back to him. "It's interesting. And, I'm having some trouble deciphering the text but—" I titled my head deciding against asking him why he was barely mentioned in it, "how was the banquet?"

"Tedious as per usual," he replied with a sweeping gesture of his hand. "These men and women call themselves Gods but they are nothing but lowly beings that indulge themselves with petty things and fall into drunken stupors every night." I blinked taken aback by the sudden change of rage toward his fellow Asgardians. He smirked and cleared his throat, "but never you mind that."

I raised both brows and pursed my lips together. "Okaaaay then," I breathed and slipped my legs off of the bed and onto the floor. "Why are you here exactly?"

"Do you not care for my company?"

"Not really," I admitted not ashamed at all. He knew I didn't like him. Why pretend?

Loki laughed. "Oh, Midgardians are simple things that is for certain." I tried my hardest not to roll my eyes. "I was merely concerned of your well being seeing as you were not at the fest tonight."

"How noble of you," I sarcastically responded standing up and moving toward my suitcases to find something more comfortable than the jeans that I was currently wearing. "So, why are you really here?"

"You see through me, impressive."

"Yeah, it wasn't that hard."

He ignored me. "You did not join me in the library this afternoon. I curiously ask why not?"

"I didn't feel like reading," I lied. You could lock me up in the middle of a library and I would be happier than a dog chasing its tail.

Loki didn't believe me either. "Is that why you are reading in your chambers then?"

"Some fresh air does a person good," I snapped cursing silently to myself for letting him once again get under my skin. "Try it sometime, Loki. You know, without trying to take over an entire world that is."

He chuckled but didn't say anything. I huffed. Talk about your head cases and rollercoaster mood swings. The guy was all over the place. One minute he was perfectly fine, the next he was jealous and upset and within seconds he was simply bored. There was no keeping up with him.

The afternoon that I spent with Fandral and Hogun was a nice relief. It definitely kept me sane from being trapped around Loki and his insufferable musings. But, after only hour listening to Fandral drone on about whatever it was that he was talking about made me suddenly wish I was back in the library with Loki. At least Loki didn't try to turn everything into a battle of wits or a charming sentence.

There was one thing Fandral was right about it and it was how beautiful the gardens were. Flowers that I didn't even know could exist bloomed high, some much taller than I was, while other were average size in height but larger in width. Their petals could easily wrap me up. And, they smelled wonderful. The aroma was light and airy leaving me feeling at ease and calm. I decided as I brushed my fingers along the silk skin of the petals that this is where I would go when I needed to clear my head.

"Lady Frigg grows them herself," said Fandral as Hogun walked ahead of us clearly not amused that he was being dragged along. I turned to Fandral with a brow raised in question. "Lady Frigg is Thor and Loki's stepmother, the wife of the late Odin—may he rest in Valhalla—but ever since the King's death she has taken to nothing but tending her garden," he said sadly reaching up to touch one of the petals of the flowers.

I knew who she was from my many readings but didn't even think to question if she was still alive or not. She wasn't at any of the banquets and I hadn't seen her once since my arrival. But, she was a grieving widow. Of course it made sense that she step down and mend her pain. It was what my aunt did when my uncle died but rather than turn to flowers she turned to much stronger remedies.

Shaking away memories of my past I sat down on one of the benches and watched the small woodland creatures run along the branches of the trees that sprouted high above the garden. Their lovely bright red leaves fell around us and I reached up to catch one just as it descended upon the wind. It was light in my hand, almost as though it wasn't actually there and as it rested upon my palm it felt as though heat was radiating off of it.

"Beautiful, is it not?" asked Fandral watching as the wind picked up the leaf and blew it away. I nodded, reaching to pull a strand of hair that was also picked up by the wind. Fandral stretched his fingers forward and brushed them along the side of my face as he gently placed the hair behind my ears. "So very beautiful indeed."

He was charming, and knew his way with words. But, I wasn't in Asgard to flit around with someone such as Fandral. He was handsome, oh yes, but I wasn't a fool. I knew what his intentions were from the moment he first spoke to me.

"Perhaps we should head indoors," whispered Hogun's voice startling me that he was suddenly so close. I twisted in my seat and looked up at him. His brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight and his lips twitched as though he were trying not to smile. "It is rather windy outside is it not?"

I nodded quickly. "Oh yes, very much so," I said standing to my feet. "Thank you Fandral for showing me to the gardens," I rushed before turning to Hogun and mouthing silently to him, "thank you." He brought his down slightly and I was on my way.

I blinked a couple of times realizing that I had just been staring at Loki while I thought back on the day's events. Feeling a blush start I turned away from him and returned to searching through my suitcase. Loki watched me as I rummaged through the clothing and I started to feel rather uncomfortable. Just as I was about to say something he vanished. I jolted my head back in surprise and slowly looked around to see him standing in front of me holding a pair of lacey black underwear with one finger.

He lifted it up and smiled, "perhaps something like this would be appropriate attire for you."

"For what?" I snapped ripping the underwear out of his grasp and shoving it into the deepest parts of my suitcase. My face flushed as I tried to remember even packing something like that.

"Why else do women wear such attire?"

I rolled my eyes and looked up at him, exhaling loudly. "Sometimes we wear it just because we want to. It has nothing to do with dressing to please a man."

"All women do is try to please men. What else are they good for?"

I stopped my rummaging and stood up placing my hands firmly on my hips. "Excuse me? Did you really just that?" I tossed my hands into the air. "You are ridiculously unbelievable."

"So I have heard many times before," he said in a rather seductive tone.

I crinkled my nose and scoffed. "Uh-uh don't even try to think that I would ever be interested in the likes of you."

Loki shrugged. "You do not need to have interest to feel desire."

"That doesn't even make sense," I argued.

"Perhaps your tastes run more toward prancing fool than anything else," he said and I couldn't help but think that was a jab at Fandral.

"Even if it did that is none of your concern, Loki. I am here to learn. Not to feel desire or to taste anything," I said matter-of-factly. "Now," my hand flung toward the door and I pointed, "do you mind? I'd like to get dressed."

"I do not mind at all," he cooed with a bow before vanishing only to appear lying on top of my bed with his legs crossed. "Proceed."

I groaned. "God, your father takes away your powers but leaves one of the most annoying of all," I whispered aloud. Loki hissed and stood quickly to his feet. He fumed for a moment before turning sharply on his heels and walking out the door. Sully looked to me and whined quietly. "Don't worry, he's gone," I assured him earning a couple of thumps of his tail.

Though, I knew that wasn't the last of Loki's advances. Not even a little.