Chapter 4: Untouched
She was shown to her wedding chamber, previously Loki's room, by Thor. She thanked him and when she stepped inside she found the room dark and empty of a husband. She couldn't say this surprised her considering he never returned from his disappearing act. No doubt he'd fallen asleep in the arms of whatever woman he had run off with. The friend of his that both he had mentioned and Frigga had confirmed to be real.
Cephera undressed herself convinced there was no reason to wait for him. She found the bathroom just to the left of the main doors and inside she found a pretty set up of a warm bath that had rose petals floating in it. She frowned then remembering this was meant to be one of the happiest nights of her life and it wasn't. Not even close. She bathed quickly and washed her hair with the fragrant soaps left for her before getting out. She dried her hair with the towel the best she could and decided to let the rest dry while she slept. She slipped into the nightgown provided for her and got into bed. The sheets had been washed and smelled fresh and silky under her hands. She curled up to a pillow and let herself fall asleep.
When morning broke she woke to the sun shining in on her face. She rolled to look over her shoulder, there was no sign that her husband had returned at any point that night. In a few seconds a female servant came in quietly and upon noticing Cephera awake she bowed. "Good morning m'lady." She said politely and looked around.
"My husband is not present." Cephera said finding the words odd as she really didn't feel like a wife at this point.
"My apologies. I was just curious." The girl said. She seemed young but it was hard to tell when people aged so very slowly when they were immortal. "I was sent by the queen to make sure your mornings would be pleasant in such a strange place. I am your new handmaiden." She introduced herself. Cephera looked the girl over. She was blond and had a rounded face with soft features.
"And what do I call you?" Cephera asked politely.
"My name is Ceres ma'am but you may call me whatever you wish." Cephera wasn't sure how they treated servants here but Cephera like this girl. She smiled sweetly at her.
"Well Ceres I'd love the help." She agreed. Ceres seemed relieved and went to the door to the right which was the very large closet. Her clothes on one side and Loki's on the other. A whole wardrobe had been left there for her as her earth clothes were not traditional in Asgard. She came back out with a silken gown of a gold and red. Cephera allowed her maid to help her dress, lacing up areas she couldn't reach and making sure it all fit her properly. Her hair was pulled over one shoulder and clipped to stay that way in soft waves.
When she was dressed Ceres went to the bed and removed the top sheet and frowned. "What's wrong?" Cephera asked her titling her head.
"Oh, nothing ma'am." She told her quickly. Cephera knew that was a lie.
"Don't ever be afraid to tell me what's on your mind. What's wrong?" Cephera said again keeping her voice soft.
"It's just...I was meant to bring the sheets out to hang and to celebrate the princes successful wedding night." Cephera swallowed. She meant the evidence that he had consummated the marriage.
"I'm afraid that there is no tale of last night to be told. I slept alone." She confirmed to Ceres who flushed.
"I'm sorry ma'am." She told her. Cephera shook her head.
"Do not be sorry for my husbands choices. When he is ready I'm sure he'll come to me." Cephera gave a weak smile and Ceres proceed to instead make up the bed to its prior perfection.
(Loki)
Loki woke that morning to a wonderful feeling of lips kissing his skin. She always managed to wake before him and never failed to wake him in the most delicious of way. Shay wasted no time seizing his harden cock and wrapping her mouth around him. Working him into a morning frenzy of pleasure before he came deep inside her mouth. She licked her lips looking pleased with herself.
"I could get used to that every morning." He said sighing deeply.
"Train your wife and you could." She replied and Loki immediately set a dark look on his face. He glared at Shay for having brought up his wife. Since the day he told her he was to be married she had been seeming to try and get him to change his outlook on the whole ordeal. He chalked it up to the friendship they shared as clearly she would miss him in bed should he devote himself to his wife. Her motives were for his well being as a friend and he respected it and hated it at the same time.
"Must you speak of such things when we are together like this." He growled at her getting up and dressing with magic.
"I was just pointing it out. You could mould her to your every need. She looks innocent enough to be able to train." She winked at him and Loki only shook his head and waved a hand over his shoulder at her.
"Why train her when I've trained you." He replied waving a hand at his armour and it disappeared. "It's tedious work you know. Training a woman to know how to properly handle me." He tried to make light of the conversation and found it to dry a topic. "I'm going to breakfast before Odin has a guard sent to fetch me." He took one last look at his beautiful friend and stepped outside her room doors only to be confronted by Thor who seemed to have been waiting.
"You go to far brother." He said immediately not even giving Loki time to roll his eyes. "Do you understand the humiliation that girl went through last night. To have dined alone and to have gone to bed alone. And then you couldn't even be proper enough to keep your absence a secret. Everyone talking about you and your whore." Thor was livid and Loki grabbed Thor instantly by the throat.
"She is NOT a whore." He said defending Shay immediately. Thor shoved Loki back.
"You should have took care with your actions and should seek to fix them in the future. How long will you make Cephera bare the burden of unworthy wife while you prance around with your mistress for everyone to hear about." Thor spat and Loki could see how badly Thor wanted to hit him.
"If you're so worried about her loneliness why don't you warm her bed." Loki replied and before Thor could have his next outburst a female voice brought their attentions to her.
"Enough! What Loki does in his own time is his prerogative. I will deal with the repercussions of his actions with dignity but I thank you Thor for attempting to talk him down from his selfish decisions. Shall we continue to breakfast?" Loki could only stare at his wife as she kept her calm poise and walked passed the two of them toward the stairs and no doubt the dining hall.
"You make a mockery of a woman who clearly had finer ethics than yourself." Thor said before following her. Loki stood slightly dumbfounded. In one smooth sentence his wife defended him and scolded him while staying completely polite and confident. Loki wasn't sure he liked it.
Begrudgingly he followed. He stayed far enough behind them that they were seated before he arrived. The chair next to his wife was empty waiting for him. Loki sat but didn't look at her. Most meals were had with the family in their private meal room and Loki found the conversation at the table to be dull and was well aware of the tone Odin had when addressing him directly. Odin wanted to say something to him, Loki was sure of it but unlike Thor, Odin held his tongue.
"I was hoping to see this beach sometime today." His wife said casually. "Would you take me?" Loki could see her turn her head to look at him from the corner of his eyes.
"There is nothing to see there." He replied coldly not looking her way. He would not be forced into spending time with the woman. It would only serve to get her hopes up.
"There is a great many things to see at a beach or any body of water if you know how to look at it." She replied. "I could teach you how to see the beauty to be had there." She offered still casual.
"A fine idea." It was Frigga who spoke up. "Surely a short trip to the beach won't kill you my son. You need to get of the castle and get some fresh air." Loki looked directly at his mother and the only thing holding his tongue was his never wavering respect for her.
"A short visit then." He said trying not to grit his teeth. His mother knew he was trying to avoid Cephera but it was ether face her wraith or Odin's and Loki didn't want either at this time. He would take her to her foolish place of choice but he wouldn't indulge her.
XxX
To reach the beach Loki decided to go by horse. They could have walked but that would mean spending a whole lot more time then he wanted to. She followed him to the stables and he watched her frown. "I've never ridden a horse before." She admitted and Loki cursed mentally.
"Is there anything you have done before?" He asked a little snidely.
"Sing, dance, bake. I'm a fast learner. Maybe you could teach me to ride." She said smiling at him.
"I'm ill suited for such tasks. Ask one of the stable boys. I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you." Loki replied coldly. He hoped if he continued to be cold to her she would lose interest in seeking him out for anything.
"Well I guess we will ride together then." Loki weighed the idea in his head. To place her on the horse with him where he would be forced to hold his arms around her as she would be sat between his legs or walk with her and therefore spend at least an extra hour with her giving her time to chatter on more. Loki choose the horse. He had one of the stable boys help her up and then climbed up afterward.
He choose a path that was quick but also went through very few public areas. He tried hard to ignore her as she sat in front of him. Her hair smells nice and the thought was distracting and completely against what Loki was trying to achieve toward her. He didn't need to find things about her he liked.
The moment they reached the beached he got off the horse and she jumped down on her own and ran to the shoreline edge and he watched her face light up in speechless wonder. She reminded him of a child seeing something amazing for the first time. "Water has always been my escape from life. Whoever I'm feeling sad or lonely I would seek out the ocean." She told him.
"Then I suggest learning to get here on your own as you have plenty of that to look forward too." Loki was being cruel he knew but he felt he was doing her a favour by laying it out truthfully for what it was then allowing her to gain hope.
"Always so negative husband." She said as if she knew him and the tone irritated him. Her tone was one of someone just brushing off his words and not taking him seriously. "Is the water safe to swim in?!" She said skipping past anything he might say.
Loki knew there were creatures in that water that could harm her if she swam out to far and he debated a moment on not telling her and perhaps they would solve his wife problems but Loki was not such a monster. "I have never indulged in swimming in it. There are things in the water and could very well harm you. I warn you to watch yourself as both the creatures and the current could very well be your death and I will not take responsibility for that should you be so foolish." Loki began to walk down the soft dark sands. Scattered water rocks sat in the smooth sand as did abandoned shells. Loki didn't see this beauty she spoke of.
Loki snapped his head down when a hand tugged his sleeve near his arm. She was not brazen enough to take hold of his hand but she got his attention all the same. "Close your eyes." She told him. Loki stared at her a moment before his curiosity won out. He closed his eyes wondering what it was she would do. "Listen." She said. Loki did. He could hear the birds above and the wind across the trees behind him. He could hear the water moving up and over the shore. "When I have nowhere to go I listen to the ocean. It never sounds the same way twice and if you listen close enough it almost sounds like a song." Loki couldn't hear what she spoke of but perhaps that was because he thought the whim a foolish one.
He opened his eyes and detached her hand and kept walking. She spoke about the waters with love and Loki could hear that love and even though he didn't understand it. Her love for the water reminded him of the way he felt about magic when he was a young boy. He no longer saw magic that way as he rarely found anything new he didn't already know and it had all turned old to him. He almost wished he had something in his life he held that much passion for but he didn't share that thought with her.
Once again thanks to all who reviewed! Every time my email lights up I get all warm and fuzzy and excited for what it might be!
Please continue to Review! I really appreciate it :)
- Loki's dreamer: it does feel weird doesn't it. And yeah Loki has no problem telling Thor how he feels regarding this situation.
- Katarina Lillis: oh my that would be awkward.
- Moonlight Junkie: update faster. Lol. You're new to my stuff I take it. I actually update once a day. And when I can't I always make sure my readers know. As for grovelling...not sure that's Loki's style. Lol
-Kurai Tenshi 015: I always wanted Cephera to be a gentle woman who used words instead of fighting when she could. She tries to see the good in everyone.
- Poodle warriors: it was a bad wedding...shame in Loki! As for Cephera she'll keep her head held high for as long as possible.
- Hello (Guest): I love the word amazing. It makes me feel so good!
- Xerra Solemn: yay! More enjoyment. I feel all giddy and excited for the next posting already!
- Reneemm: Cephera was embarrassed but really there was not much she could do. Loki is acting like a spoiled brat all the same.
