A/N: It took me quite a while and please accept my apologies for that. However, I'm sorry to say it won't get any better, as both me and my beta Liz are quite busy with studies. I promise I'll do my best to update as soon as it is possible, but it might mean another few weeks.
Huge thanks to Liz for beta'ing this chapter!
JigokuShoujosRevenge: Yeah, I know, little annoying thingy, this Eir, huh? Seems like she lost her mind completely. But what can we do? Girl's in love, even if the man seems to be rather… Unstable. Fandral… Well, he's… Well, he is. XD
BrightFeatherNYSI: Honestly, I am not planning to move the action to Midgard, so there is no chance for Eir to meet Darcy : (
Enjoy!
xxx
Eir surveyed her trunk, trying to think of anything she'd forgotten. Deciding she'd packed everything, she closed the trunk with a quiet sigh. Loki seemed… strange the last few days. He came to her chambers every night asking her the most bizarre questions—most of them about Fandral.
As if anything is normal right now, she thought, sighing quietly as she sat on the window sill, watching the people below. They were all walking, talking, and laughing, as if all was right with the world.
But nothing was right. She wasn't supposed to be in this chamber; Loki was supposed to be in his cell, Thor should be on the throne, and All-Father, wherever he was, should be watching over his son as he ruled the kingdom.
Eir swallowed, trying to hold back her tears. She knew very well that it was her duty to inform Thor about everything, but… Loki was so… happy. She was forced to admit, for the first time in her life, that there truly were people who were destined to rule. Loki understood power. He knew, instinctively, how to be a king.
She bit her lower lip, listening to the laughter of little girls playing below. She'd only known Loki for two months or so, but she was addicted to him. She found herself waiting impatiently for his nightly interrogations, even if they were idiotic. After his questions were answered to his satisfaction, they were able to simply be together. She was truly amazed by how many faces one person could have. At times, she was afraid of him; at others she wanted to run away. But most of the time, he was her comfort, the one who knew her best, the dearest companion she'd ever had.
Eir massaged her temples before dabbing at moist eyes with the back of her hand, reigning in her emotions. It was time to go.
xxx
"All-Father," The servant woman curtsied, voice low as if she were afraid to interrupt. "All is ready for your journey."
He sent her away with a short nod and rose from his throne. He inspected the throne room with satisfaction, feeling that he was exactly where he should be for the first time in years- perhaps even centuries.
Loki strode towards the main entrance with two guards trailing behind him, a slow smile overtaking his face as he thought about the visit he'd paid Odin in his apartmentthe day before.
Loki looked down at the gaunt figure of the once mighty King Odin, who could not even stand whenLoki entered his cell.
"Well met, Father," he hissed, heels clicking againstthe stony floor. "Do you fancy your new suite?"
"Loki," the older man murmured, his eyes fixed on the floor. Loki only smiled, more a baringof too-white teeth than a gesture of goodwill. Disgusted at Odin's show of weakness, he kicked a plate of leftovers lying on the floor before crouching next to the weakened man.
"I asked if you are pleased with your new home." He spoke gently, his tone at odds with the expression marring his face.
"Why?" Odin lifted his head, watching the stranger he'd once called son.
"Because I am curious." Loki smiled coldly. Weak rays of light from a single tiny window were the only source of light in the room. Even so, Loki's green eyes shone dangerously as he looked down at Odin, defeated and weak.
"Why are you doing this?"
Loki clucked impatiently at Odin's whispered question.
"Because I am a better king than you ever were."
"Perhaps," Odin consideredhim with a hint of compassion, of mercy in his eyes though his tone grew mocking, "It may be so. The strongest rulers are often immoral tyrants."
Loki only laughed quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Do not tempt me to reduce your food, old fool," he hissed as he stood. "Even a man such as I shows more mercy than you ever have. It is more than you deserve."
"Then end it. End my life," Odin said through clenched teeth, "If you ever cared for me, you will grant me this."
Again, Loki tutted, shaking his head.
"Never. You could never understand how much pleasure I derive from your suffering, Father."
The royal horses were already saddled when he arrived. Eir was there as well, standing a few feet back, waiting by a small-boned but equally beautiful horse. Her red hair kept brushing against her face, blown about by the wind, but she patiently pushed the strands away, her uncommonly green eyes fixed on the ground, as if she didn't dare look at him without permission.
His little actress.
He allowed a groom to help him mount the horse and smiled his thanks, prompting the embarrassed boy to retreat with a bow. He surveyed his entourage, armed guards on horses behind him and Eir sitting sidesaddle on her chestnut mount.
He straightened in his saddle and gently squeezed his horse's sides with his calves. Their journey was begun.
These past days, he hadn't been able to stop himself from asking Eir if she'd seen Fandral. He'd taken precautions, naturally. He purposely stationed Fandral as far from the Palace as possible so the buffoon wouldn't have time to return and see Eir, but he preferred to know for certain. She was getting a bit fretful when he questioned her every evening, but Loki simply didn't care. She belonged to him; it was her duty to remain faithful to him. He would have it no other way.
Though, she was so pure and innocent it would probably never occur to her to cheat on him. He smiled to himself, remembering the way she blushed every time he kissed her. It was difficult to refrain from becoming yet more intimate with her. He loved how she murmured when he caressed her bare skin, loved how she glowered at him with silent resentment when he went no further. It required every ounce of self-control he possessed to keep himself from ripping off her dress. Unconsciously, he licked his lips at the memory of the taste of her milky white skin.
He would never, ever let her go. She belonged to him and he wouldn't allow that to change.
xxx
A low voice weighted with respect called for Loki's attention as they crossed into Muspelheim's borders. The travelers dismounted and he turned, eyeing their escort with curiosity. She had the figure of a young willow, tall and slim, graceful and not yet bowed by age or hardship. Her hair was the color of straw and her dress matched the color of her eyes, reminiscent of a clear sky. When his gaze fell upon her, she stepped forward boldly.
Pure perfection, he thought to himself, allowing his eyes to linger on the peaks and valleys of her figure.
"King Odin," she began again, a gentle smile that lit up her entire character gracing her features. "I greet you in the name of my father, the King of Muspelheim."
"I am honored," he replied, drawing closer to her. Smiling politely, he could feel Eir's power swell with unspoken anger; it tasted like a storm on his tongue.
The Princess curtsied graciously, holding her airy dress delicately.
"Allow me to bring you to our king, All-Father."
"Only if you will offer me your name, dear Lady." Loki bowed slightly in return, feeling Eir's anger twist into impotent rage.
"I am called Princess Cecilia, King Odin."
He repeated the name to himself silently, mind already spinning as the young woman guided him to the castle.
xxx
Eir shut the door of her room quietly, ignoring the urge to slam it. There was an enormous mirror in the corner of the room and Eir took full advantage of it, marching up to the glass to inspect her appearance. Her eyes, she noted, shone with unshed tears of anger and sadness. Her typically pale cheeks were a blotchy red, flooded with heat, and her lips were cracked from wetting them too often outside while Loki spoke with the princess. She swallowed slowly, closing her eyes. Unconsciously, she hugged herself, biting at her burning lips.
Abruptly, the door opened quietly. Eir spun around in surprise, breath evening again at the sight of a mid-aged woman in a modest but impeccable dress.
"You must be Eir," she said cheerfully, still hovering in the door with her hand on the knob. Eir nodded slowly, wishing her cheeks would stop their fierce burning.
"The All-Father will dine with the royal family tonight. I thought you would like to unpack his belongings now, while he is busy."
Eir nodded, unable to think of an intelligent reply. Instead, she simply followed the servant woman to a massive ornate door.
"Here you are," the woman said, and bustled away with a smile, leaving Eir to gawp at the door. Eventually, Eir sighed and entered the room; the chamber was easily three times as large as her own, but she wasn't truly surprised. After all, this was meant for the All-Father.
Loki's things had already been delivered to the luxurious rooms. She knelt next to his largest trunk and began unpacking his belongings without the slightest hint of urgency about her. She'd not made much progress when voices just beyond the great door prompted her to freeze in place. The door opened the next instant and Loki entered, followed by the irritatingly beautiful Princess. It occurred to Eir, quite suddenly as she knelt by the trunk, that while she knew that the All-Father was in fact the devilishly handsome Loki, the Princess spent her time chasing after an old man. The thought was so repellant that Eir immediately felt more at ease with the situation.
"Servant." The All-Father's quiet voice awoke her from her thoughts and she rose hastily, fixing her eyes on the marble floor. "Prepare a bowl of water; I want to freshen up before the meal."
She nodded and hurried towards a smaller door without a word. The bathroom, she thought, should be just on the other side. But in her haste, she stumbled and Princess Cecilia laughed.
"You're a clumsy one, aren't you," she exclaimed. Eir shrunk in on herself, but, determined not to provide the Princess with another reason to mock her, did not react further. Just as she fully regained her sense of balance and reached for the door knob, the Princess's voice rang out across the room, several degrees colder than mere moments ago.
"Stop, servant."
The redhead let her arm drop and turned hesitantly.
"You will respond when I speak to you. I will not be ignored by a servant." The threat in her sneering voice was too clear to miss, but Eir forced herself to bear it, clenching her teeth in frustration.
"My apologies, Princess," she mumbled. Cecilia stepped closer, seeming to swell in her indignation.
"Louder! I didn't hear you properly, servant."
"That's enough, Princess," Loki said mildly. "This is my servant and I do not wish her mistreated."
Cecilia turned to him immediately, simpering as she dipped into a slight curtsy.
"Of course, All-Father."
"Go; do as I asked, girl." His tone was firm but gentle and Eir rushed into the bathroom with her head lowered before anything else could be said. She snatched the small washing basin with shaking hands and filled it with water, splashing the floor as she worked though she didn't bother mopping the mess up.
Princess Cecilia was right. She was only a clumsy servant; she wasn't beautiful or smart or even the slightest bit interesting. Her strange green eyes paled in comparison to blue doe eyes, surrounded by long, dark lashes. Her red, curly mass of hair was often loose, unruly, and wholly unattractive as she lacked the time to pin it up. A truly ugly alternative to the Princess's wavy blonde hair, short, soft, and certainly carefully brushed through every day. And her lips, chapped red due to her foolish, childish habit of wetting them when she was nervous must feel like sandpaper when compared to such full lips, lips that reminded her of sun-ripened raspberries.
Swiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her dress, Eir lifted the bowl and returned to the main chamber as slowly as she dared.
xxx
Loki watched Eir as she carefully delivered the washing water he'd requested, Cecilia babbling next to him. He frowned when he noticed the dampness of her eyes and the way her jaw jutted, no doubt as a result of gritted teeth. Her usually merry green eyes were glued to the floor, absent their usual spark of joy. She'd drawn into herself in truth, even her silhouette was shrunken in its appearance as she set the basin down on a cabinet made too tall for height. Water splashed from the basin and Cecilia giggled, but knew better than to comment. Instead, she stood and looked at him, cruel amusement shining in her eyes.
"I will wait for you outside, King Odin."
Not waiting for his response, she left the room, closing the door behind her. Eir, avoiding his eyes, also rushed towards the door, but he caught her by the arm before she escaped. Reluctantly lifting her head, she met Loki's emerald gaze. She could feel the twitch of his magic as he locked the door stealthily.
"Love," he whispered, touching her reddened cheeks with cold fingers. The innocent hurt in her eyes made him lick his lips unknowingly. "Love, what is it?"
"I don't know what you mean," she mumbled, crossing her arms against her chest. He frowned.
"Something is wrong." He hugged her, tucking her head beneath his chin and smirking as she relaxed into him, her arms falling to her sides as she snuggled deeper into his chest.
"It's nothing," she mumbled into his chest, tears in her eyes. She took a deep breath, inhaling his intoxicating scent as his arms curled around her tighter, something she accepted gratefully. After a few seconds he sighed quietly, nudging her away.
"Eir, I must go now, but I will come to your chamber tonight and you will tell me what's going on."
She shrugged, her eyes falling to the floor again.
xxx
He sat with King Surtur, drinking alcohol he couldn't name. It had grown uncomfortably warm in the hall, or perhaps he was simply drunk. Surtur smiled politely as they spoke of things that didn't matter, enjoying the evening after the Queen and Princess had retired for the night. Their armchairs were set close to the fire and Loki stretched his legs comfortably, letting his eyes drift shut, goblet in his hands still brimming with amber liquid.
"All-Father," Surtur began, smiling good-naturedly. "I have a proposition for you. We have heard that your beloved wife passed away…" He stopped, bowing his head in a gesture of respect for the dead, and continued after what he deemed an appropriate pause. This time he was watched carefully by anxious blue eyes.
"I wanted you to know, All-Father, that we have always respected your decisions, and you rule your kingdom wisely. So I don't feel remiss in making you this offer: to help govern your kingdom during your time of loss, I would be honored to give you my only daughter, Cecilia, to wed."
The only sound to be heard was the crackling of the fire as they met each other's eye. If Loki had ever been the slightest bit inebriated, the King's speech had driven the feeling away. Trying to relax tensed muscles, he sighed quietly, and placed his hands on his stomach. His mind spun and thoughts began and ended faster than light itself could move.
xxx
A/N2: Yeah, well, cruel me. No, but seriously – I know it sounds like I cut it here on purpose, but if I didn't, I'd have to write another few pages and it'd take me probably another 1-2 weeks. I simply didn't want to keep you waiting! :D (Well, okay, that's the main reason, second one is that I am mean, redheaded monkey xD)
Any thoughts?
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