Chapter 4.
The private royal dining room was quiet the next morning as the servants served Odin and Frigga their breakfast while the King and Queen waited patiently for Loki
and Jane to arrive. It was rare that they had a mortal as a quest but with all that had transpired they were anxious to see how Loki would respond to her.
"Odin I fear Jane Foster will not join us this morning as she is still recovering from her wound and Loki well he was never one for dining with others" said Frigga as
she sipped her herbal tea.
Odin was about to say something when the doors opened and Loki entered dressed in the royal clothes he had once worn before he fell from the Bifrost. He looked far
better than he had been the day before but his eyes still held that look of fear.
Sitting beside Odin he said "forgive me Mother and Father I overslept".
Odin nodded his head and taking a sip from his tea he said "that's alright Loki, now we wait for Lady Jane to arrive".
Shaking his head Loki said "I don't think she will be joining us as she's probably off exploring Asgard, she is no doubt quite curious about different realms after
meeting Thor".
"Then she is like you, curious of places you haven't been to and magic you never knew existed" said Frigga as she smiled at her son.
Seeing Loki's cheeks redden slightly Odin chuckled and said "don't embarrass our son Frigga". Hearing the door open Odin, Frigga and Loki looked to see Jane enter
dressed in a pale blue dress. Odin waited until Jane was seated before he said "thank you for joining us Lady Jane, my son believed you had gone off exploring".
Jane looked at Odin and placing her hands on her lap she said "thank you for inviting me your majesty. As for exploring I wouldn't know where to begin".
Frigga sipped her tea and smiling at Jane she offered "I'm sure Loki would show you the gardens after breakfast or he could show you the libraries".
"Um I'd like that thank you" said Jane quietly as she began to eat her breakfast. To be truthful she was nervous having to spend the morning with the God who
attacked Earth but he did save her life so in a way she owed him. Loki watched her before picking at his own breakfast and eating it inwardly wondering what his
parents were up to.
…..
The royal gardens were quiet as Jane and Loki strolled along the path. They hadn't spoken a word to each other and the silence was deafening. Looking at the beauty
the gardens held which were the many different types of flowers Jane approached some purple flowers that looked like butterflies on a stem and asked "what kind of
flower is this?".
Smiling Loki approached her and picking one of the flowers he removed the flower from its stem and replied "it's the native flower of Alfheim which is the home of the
Light Elves. They are minor gods but they are beautiful. They are the gods of nature and fertility. This flower represents new life and also it represents beauty".
Placing the top of the flower in Jane's hand Loki whispered a spell and the flower changed into a real butterfly. Looking down in amazement Jane smiled at the
butterfly before letting it fly away.
The two began walking again and Loki began showing Jane all different flowers and telling her where they came from, what they were called and the ones that were
used by the Healers". Coming to a pond where a bench stood Jane smiled and sat down to rest not noticing Loki had walked away towards a private garden. Rubbing
the ache from her feet Jane looked up and seeing Loki had walked on she slipped back on her shoe and followed after him soon finding him standing in an overgrown
garden in badly need of a gardener. Seeing some white flowers hiding among the high grass Jane approached Loki and asked "what flowers are they?".
Loki snapped out of the memories he'd had in this garden and turning to Jane he replied "they are the flowers of Jotunheim which is a realm filled with ice and its
buildings are nothing but crumbling structures and its inhabitants are the monster's children fear".
Nodding her head Jane said "but there must be some beauty in that realm or it wouldn't have produced such a beautiful flower".
Picking one of the flowers and handing it to Jane he said "maybe there is Jane but unfortunately I have never seen it. I'll look harder the next time I visit Jotunheim".
Smiling Jane looked at the flower which looked like a tulip and had snowflake patterns on the petals she was about to thank Loki when a sudden clap of thunder
stopped her. Looking at the sky she asked "does thunder mean that Thor has returned?".
Loki nodded his head and replied "yes it does. Come Jane let's get you inside as I'm sure Thor will want to see you".
Jane furrowed her brows and asked "will you be able to show me the Observatory and the library later on?".
"Of course Jane" said Loki as he led Jane inside the palace to her bedroom. Letting go of her hand he said "I shall see you later Jane". Jane watched Loki walk down
the hall before closing the door and smiling back down at the flower he had plucked for her.
…..
Odin sat on his throne and waited for his eldest son to approach him. He had been surprised when the Bifrost had opened bringing not only his son home but an
angry thunderstorm. Hearing the doors open and seeing Thor enter Odin asked "has the uprising rebellion been settled on Alfheim or did you decide to abandon it?".
Stopping at the foot of the dais Thor dropped his hammer and bowing he said "it has been settled Father. How does Lady Jane fair since I have been gone?".
Odin smiled and standing up he said "Lady Jane is very well. She was out with Loki in the gardens today". Seeing anger flare in Thor's eyes Odin added "you might
want to control your anger before speaking with her or your Mother".
"Father" Thor began, "it is not wise to allow Loki to converse with Jane. He's a criminal and should be executed for his crimes against the Nine Realms".Thor still
angry pushed Jane away and said "Father told me that you spent some time with Loki this morning and I have to say I am not happy with it Jane. He's a criminal and
I fear he is only using you to get at me".
Jane crossed her arms and walking back into the room she said "I know what he did and I'm not saying I forgive him but he did save my life and I owe him".
Seeing the flower of Jotunheim in a vase on her bedside table Thor walked over to it and taking the flower in his hand he crushed it's fragile petals before saying
"Jane do not except any gifts like these from that monster. I will not let him use you".
Shocked at what Thor had said and done Jane said "you are not my boss Thor and you can't tell me who to speak to and who not to speak to and crushing that flower
doesn't make you any better". Turning to leave the room Jane felt Thor grab her arm tightly causing tears to form in her eyes. Turning around Jane slapped Thor hard
across the face and fled from the room confused as to what happened to the gentle man she had met on Earth.
