A/N: Again, it took long, for which I am sorry. January will be one of the busiest months for me, exams every couple of days, so I will not be able to post anything until the beginning of February, for which – again – I am sorry. Hopefully if I will manage to pass everything, I should have like 3 months of easy time at the university, so I will be able to focus on my both stories. So wish me luck with exams! ;)

JigokuShoujosRevenge: I had to read the last part of your comment three times before I got it :D Though, do not hope too much in Loki – didn't he prove good enough he isn't one of those good guys? On the other hand – he isn't that bad either, I like him!

At the very end of my note, I would like to greet warmly a few people who joined us favoriting (is that even a word? xD)/following Wayward Son. I am happy to see you, I write for yours and mine fun!

Enjoy!

xxx

Eir was looking through the window in her room, hugging her legs close to her chest. Her back ached from the unnatural position, but she didn't mind. She had hoped that physical pain might distract her from her turbulent emotions, but it didn't.

Loki was getting married; he didn't need her anymore. She smiled bitterly, slowly drawing patterns on the glass.

Foolish servant, he never needed you. Who could need such a worthless creature?

Besides, life had been better when she was on her own. She'd been happier, certainly. And she'd had a purpose, once.

You could find your purpose again; become a healer.

Eir shrugged miserably, unconsciously playing with a strand of her fiery hair. Maybe.

Maybe Loki was planning to tell you.

No, he wasn't. He values power too much. He would accept King Surtur's offer of marriage to Cecilia; he wouldn't let personal attachments put his kingdom in danger. He didn't hesitate to lock up his own father, so why would he care about some naïve maidservant?

She took a frantic breath, trying to fill the painful hollow in her chest. She'd been crying, she realized, for some time now; salty tears ran down her cheeks like rain on glass.

Such a foolish girl she was, thinking Loki cared about her. She was simply the most convenient, and now that he could have worthier women, she was unnecessary.

Perhaps there is an explanation.

Then why didn't he offer it to her? She cried silently, shoulders trembling as she pressed her forehead against the cold glass of the window.

Someone knocked on the door gently before pulling at the knob. Eir startled at the sound, but a small measure of satisfaction sweetened her bitterness when the door would not open. She turned back to the window, a slight smirk on her face, reveling in the small victory.

Unless you break the door from its hinges, dearest Loki, you cannot come inside. I don't want you here. Not this time—not any longer.

If this was love, she didn't want it.

"Eir?" It was not Loki after all, only a male servant calling from behind the door. "Dinner's ready. An' His Highness needs you when he gets back t' his chambers."

She hummed, rubbing her temples as she thought.

"Alright," she hardly heard herself answer, ears feeling as if they were stuffed with cotton or further from her mouth than they'd ever been before. "I'll be down as soon as I'm dressed."

The other servant said something agreeable and left. Eir took a deep breath and closed her eyes, wracking her mind to find another option. Was there any way to leave the castle without being noticed? She doubted it; guards were posted at every exit. Even if she managed to sneak out, she was certain that Loki wouldn't rest until she was found. She wasn't ready to face him yet. Maybe she wouldn't ever be ready.

She forced herself to get up and go to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and took another deep breath, watching her reflection in the water. No matter how much she hated the thought, no matter how much it killed her inside, she had to stay. And then…

She would think of something. She would find Thor. She would tell him everything, would share every detail she remembered.

She caught her reflection's eyes, too full of emotions she couldn't name, and she fought against the tears that threatened to spill over once more before giving up with a quiet sob. She knew better than to lie to herself.

Xxx

Loki watched Princess Cecilia with what he hoped was a warm smile. It was all he could force out and he feared it resembled a smirk or a grimace more than anything. The blonde princess tittered at his every word, her parents looking on with clear approval. It was driving him mad.

Reaching for a goblet of wine, he tried to think up an acceptable excuse to leave the table without offending his hosts. He didn't realize he'd drained the goblet until a servant appeared with more wine. Loki nodded his thanks absentmindedly, looking at the bright sun outside the window. Cecilia and her mother still babbled happily.

"All-Father." Surtur's strong voice jolted him from his thoughts and he turned his eyes to the old man, forcing another smile on his lips. "If you have nothing more pressing, I would ask you to join me on a hunt before the evening ball."

Loki cursed mentally, his eyes widening a fraction. He'd forgotten about the night's entertainment and had intended on spending more time with Eir. He scrambled for a diplomatic solution as he met the King's honest eyes.

"Yes," he heard himself answer. "It would be a pleasure."

Xxx

Eir straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and walked into the huge dining room. Keeping her eyes locked on the intricate floor, she bowed slightly when she reached the table. She felt the weight of several eyes on her and she fidgeted nervously. She forced the words off her tongue with quiet detachment. It sounded better than she'd expected. Her voice didn't shake, and, more importantly, she hadn't burst into tears.

"You required my presence, All-Father."

It wasn't necessary, but she bowed again to avoid his eye, silently counting the dark spots on the floor. She knew they were looking at her, but for the first time in her life, she didn't blush at the attention.

Mostly because she was too focused on stopping the tears building behind her eyes.

"I do require it, Eir. I wish you to prepare me a bath." He hesitated, but added "and my hunting suit."

She nodded and swallowed thickly, covering up her too long silence with another bow. Her hands were still wet, but they no longer shook. She fought to regain as much control as possible before speaking. Seeing Loki, even as Odin, was next to impossible. Already she was beginning to doubt the truth of the situation.

Did Loki truly care? Did he have some sort of secret plan?

"Yes, my King." She finally squeezed the words out, staring at her shoes now instead of the floor. "I will have the water and your suit ready before meal's end." She hardly spoke above a whisper, but her voice sounded clear in the quiet room. She didn't dare to look up, but she could feel the intensity of Loki-Odin's eye, his magic moving to surround her as he tried to contact her without the others' knowledge. She felt hope spring up, but she dammed the tide, waiting impatiently to be dismissed.

The matter was closed. Loki was promised to another, like it or not.

"And be sure to prepare an evening suit," Princess Cecilia said in her bell-like voice. "There is a ball tonight."

Eir's hands fisted tightly into the material of her dress as she maintained her bow. Forcing her overwrought mind to focus, she barely parted her lips to answer. "Yes, Lady."

Surtur laughed cheerfully, unaware of the tension between Odin and his servant. Eir shut her eyes, still bent into a bow.

"You employ such dedicated servants, All-Father" he remarked, the words equal in jest and admiration. "Let the girl stand before she gets stuck that way!"

"Eir, get up," Loki commanded slowly. "You know I don't require you to act so."

She straightened, opening her eyes, but keeping her chin tucked close to her chest, knowing that if she looked at him, even in Odin's form, all would be lost.

"Yes, King," she mumbled, hearing Cecilia snicker quietly. Another wave of silence fell on them, only Cecilia kept giggling, showing her amusement. Eir kept staring dully at the floor, not sure how she'd managed to keep her tears from falling for such a long time, but achingly thankful she had.

"By your leave, All-Father. I must prepare your bath." Her voice shook slightly as she tried to force herself to look at Loki one last time. But she couldn't even do that much.

"Go," he responded, something strange in his voice as he watched her carefully.

Eir bowed once more and hurried to the door, opening and closing it swiftly and silently. Just before she managed to shut it completely, she heard Cecilia babbling cheerfully.

"Are all of your servants so obedient, King Odin? Where did you get them? It is almost impossible to find decent staff these days."

Breathing quickly, Eir strode towards Loki's chambers. When she passed the kitchens, the baker she'd spoken to earlier called out to her.

"There y'are, girl! I told that lout to have you come eat before goin' t' the All-Father."

"I know, I know," she said with a weak smile. "But the King can be very impatient, so I decided to take care of my duties first."

I couldn't face Loki alone.

The older servant laughed merrily.

"That means you're a hard worker. Good for a servant t' the King!"

Eir shrugged, faking another smile. She hugged herself, standing uneasily in the kitchen door.

"I should go do as the King asked," she mumbled, but the baker called her back.

"Why, you're already here, girl. Eat something first! You di'n't come for breakfast and it's already passed lunch!"

"It will only take a moment," she promised dumbly. "I'll be back to eat and help prepare the evening feast soon."

She nearly ran to Loki's chambers, red hair flying behind her as she hoped with all her might that he wouldn't be back from dining yet. To her great relief, he wasn't.

She filled the bathtub with cold water hastily, casting a spell Loki had taught her to warm it up. Leaving the water to heat, she dashed to the bedroom, opening the wooden closet and tossing the requested suits on his bed.

She flew back to the bathroom to find the water already boiling. She undid the spell, grabbed some herbs from a small bag hanging next to the bathtub, and threw them into the water.

She brushed loose hair from her face impatiently, placing a towel near the bathtub and leaving the steamy bathroom, closing the door behind her. With another quick spell, she smoothed the wrinkles from Loki's robes and hung them on the closet door, glancing around the room before deciding, to her relief, that everything was ready.

Eir sped away from his chambers, eyes locked on the floor again. She was grateful to get away without seeing Loki. Somehow, she'd almost managed to stop thinking about him and the entire twisted situation.

Almost.

Now a safer distance from his rooms, Eir slowed to a lazier pace. She hoped working in the kitchens as she'd promised would help her to clear her mind. But her heart sank at the sound of a familiar giggle. She tried to run like the coward she was, but Loki and his new fiancée turned the corner and it was too late to hide. Eir swallowed roughly, quickening her pace and bowing as she passed them. As she moved to leave, Loki said the words she'd feared would come.

"Eir, I wish you to return to my chambers with me. I require your assistance."

She inhaled and turned slowly, head lowered.

"I am to help in the kitchens, my King," she protested stiffly, trying not to notice how close Cecilia stood to him.

"I require your assistance." Loki repeated quietly, the hint of a threat tangled in his words. Even Cecilia stood quiet, not daring to attract the King's unexpected ire.

Eir nodded slightly, still avoiding his piercing gaze. She waited numbly as Odin bid Cecilia farewell. She didn't hear the words they exchanged, deafened by the sound of her heart, working so furiously that she was sure it would leap from her chest at any moment. He motioned for her to come and she did, unseeing eyes finding the floor as they so often had.

They arrived at Loki's chambers too soon for her liking. He closed the door behind them silently and stood next to her without a word, watching as she shrunk into herself, trying to disappear. He reached under her chin with slender fingers and tilted her head up, forcing her to meet his eyes.

He wasn't prepared for the depth of emotion he saw in her. Dark lashes dampened by threatening tears highlighted bright green eyes, pure in their innocence and filled with pain and grief and betrayal and other things he could not name. And he realized that she knew.

He circled his hands around her waist in chaste hug, and she dissolved into tears again, nuzzling at him as if her life depended on it.

xxx

A/N2: I know it's not my longest, but all I could've done for now. Honestly, I spared every single free moment I could to deliver it. And I need to thank my beta Liz again, as she did amazing and fast work checking it for me : )

Any thoughts, complaints, ideas, curses? Will be happy to read them!

Alarice