CHAPTER 7
The threat loomed nearer and nearer. Odin frequently called Lina, Loki, and Thor to the throne room to discuss any updates. Which each update, Lina grew more and more nervous. She was being trained well both physically and mentally and her control of whatever power she had in her mind grew stronger.
Before her training with Thor today, Lina paid a visit to Frigga.
"My lady?" she called.
Frigga turned away from her mirror and greeted Lina with a smile. "Come in, dear."
Lina strode over to Frigga and sat in a chair that she gestured to. Frigga always enjoyed braiding Lina's hair and talking to her about anything and everything.
"So anything new going on for you, dear?" Frigga asked, brushing Lina's hair.
"Thor is going to teach me archery today," she gushed. She was excited. For many years she begged her brother to teach her how to use a bow and arrow but he denied her the opportunity.
"Is that so? I'll make sure your hair doesn't get in your way then. Wouldn't want a stray strand to bother your concentration." She pulled Lina's hair a little tighter before starting the braids.
"Thank you, my lady." Aside from that, Lina was excited because Odin was going to come and watch her practice. He had heard earfuls from Thor about her skills and wanted to see them first hand. She felt that he wanted to be sure she would be fit to fight should the moment need it.
"My husband has expressed great interest in today's events as well," Frigga stated. Lina was always in awe at how this woman never missed a beat. She knew everything, sensed everything. "I've also noticed that both of my sons have been a lot happier as of late."
"They've been great company to me." Loki had continued to visit Lina nightly to listen to her stories, Thor popping in every once in a while to enjoy a tale. She enjoyed her nights with Loki alone most. He always asked her random questions mid-story. He asked about her favorite things, her family, her likes and dislikes. She always returned the questions back to him, never letting him know something more about her than she did of him.
"And what do you think of Loki?" the queen quizzed. She noticed the way her son cast looks towards the young princess as well as the shades of pink that her face turned when she noticed him looking at her.
"I…um…" Lina faltered. She bit her lip a moment to collect her thoughts and chose her words carefully. "He is very intelligent. His mind is sharp and he's observant. It's difficult to hide things from him because he notices everything. Something I think he learned from his mother."
Frigga smiled. "Indeed he did. He means no real harm to you, Lina. Even if he means to hurt you emotionally with some things he says, deep down he cares. I think that's what a lot of people don't give him a chance to show."
"Pardon me for saying, my lady, but I don't think it's something that he wants to show most people." Lina looked up at Frigga's understanding eyes.
"I suppose you're right, dear. Well, all finished."
Lina looked in the mirror to see her hair neatly braided into one long braid, each hair tucked perfectly. "Thank you, my lady. Will I be seeing you at the field?"
"Most likely."
Lina nodded and made her way out of the room towards the training field.
"So eager today, my storyteller?" Loki turned the corner so fast to cut Lina off that she crashed into him and fell backwards onto the floor.
"Yes, I have somewhere to be and you're making me late," she grimaced, rubbing the back of her head as she stood up.
"Let me assist you, then." Loki took each of her hands in his, a gasp escaping from her mouth. Not even a few seconds later they were at the field. Magic.
"Thank you, Loki." Lina jogged over to Thor while Loki joined his parents in the stands.
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"So just pull back, control your breathing, and release when you feel is right."
Thor stood behind Lina helping to adjust her body to the bow and arrow she held. She made several failed attempts previously, her arrow not even going past a few yards.
~Nervous?
*Get out of my head, Loki
She turned to look at him, his smirk blazing on his face.
"Don't worry about him," Thor scolded. "Focus on the task at hand."
Lina took a deep breath and pulled the arrow back. She felt the bow tense under the pressure she was putting it through. She locked her eyes on her target: a lone apple sitting on a hay bale.
*Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Release
The arrow went flying, shooting straight through the apple and knocking it off of the bale.
Lina threw up her hands in celebration, Thor clapping behind her.
"Very good, little one!"
She jumped up and hugged him. "Thank you so much," she thanked as he set her down. She looked up towards the stands to smile at Loki, but his face had a large scowl across it. He stood up and walked away from the field, dampening Lina's celebration.
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That night, Lina was still excited over her small step towards being an archer. The way the release felt in her finger tips energized her and left her wanting more. She was excited to train the next day, but looked more forward to seeing Loki that night for their usual bed time stories.
Except he never came.
She waited up for at least two hours.
*Where could he be?
She grabbed a coat from her closet to cover her night gown, grabbed the book, and decided to pay a visit to Loki's room. A change in scenery wouldn't be too bad.
Strolling down the corridors, she wondered if she would ever find his room. She was following the directions of a maid who refused to show her the way. Lina wasn't sure if it was because he was busy or if it was that the maid didn't like being in his presence (as he had expressed to her in previous discussions: not much of the servants enjoyed being around him).
She found what she thought was his room and knocked lightly on the door.
No answer.
Maybe he was out. Or maybe this just wasn't his door.
She tried knocking again.
"Oh, Loki…" she heard from inside. It was a woman's voice. She found it too lusty to decide that he was just having company over for a chat. The noises grew louder, the woman's voice getting weaker with pleasure.
She didn't know what to do. Hurriedly, she ran around the corner of the corridor and waited. It wasn't long before she saw a woman exit the room with Loki beside her.
"I can't wait until next time, my prince," she teased. She wore clothes that Lina only saw fit for a whore to be wearing. She couldn't believe that Loki would stoop so low to gain pleasure from someone. But he was a prince, and he could do what he wanted.
It angered Lina. She was blown off for this harlot. She started to leave her hiding place when her heart dropped. Loki was looking straight at her. She couldn't move. It was as if he had frozen her feet to the floor.
The woman looked from Lina to Loki, shrugged, and left.
Their eyes still locked. He moved swiftly towards her and grabbed her wrist.
She whimpered in pain. His grip was so tight that she knew it would leave marks the next day.
He pulled her into his room and closed the door shut. "Why did you come?"
"Y-you didn't show up tonight like you usually do."
"Am I supposed to be there every night?" Loki demanded, backing Lina up against the wall.
"N-no," she stuttered. She was scared. She had never seen this side of Loki before and never wanted to again. She held onto the book tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"You never came after me before when I didn't show up. Why did you come tonight?" he barked. "Answer me."
She looked down. She didn't know why she had come. She just wanted to be with him as usual.
"Why did you do it?" she asked him, turning the tables.
"Do what?" he asked, anger still outlining every word.
"Just…you know…"
"The girl?"
She nodded. "How can you do that with someone you don't love? With someone you don't trust?"
He laughed. It was a cold laugh, unlike the ones she had shared with him in evenings past.
"Men have needs, m'lady. I don't have time for petty things like love. Is that why you came here tonight?"
She turned red. She was cornered and he could read her emotions all over her face like an open book. Lina dropped the book on the floor and ran out of his room.