AN/ I've really enjoyed this chapter! (:
Please review and give me some feedback/suggestions lovelies!
Thor approached Geira in the palace gardens, he attempted to creep up on her quietly, but stepped on a small plant pot, breaking it instantly.
'Hello, Thor.' Geira said, a small smile appearing on face.
'I will never have that skill, will I?' Thor chuckled and closed the gap between the two of them, standing beside the small girl. 'I have news of Loki..' he said carefully as not to hit a nerve with Geira, it had not worked..
'Oh, have you. And how does he? Enjoying his own fantastic company?' Geira replied dryly.
'Quite the opposite I assure you. I am worried for him, Geira.. He is unwell in his mind.' Thor said, his voice breaking slightly as he felt pain for his brother. 'He has requested you..'
'Well, that's an awful pitty, for I do not wish to see him.' Geira responded a little more warmly this time, however she was making her feelings very clear to Thor. He frowned slightly and placed his hand on her small shoulder.
'Please, Geira, consider paying him a small visit.. To settle my mind if anything at all.' Geira hated when Thor used their friendship and mutual respect for eachother to get what he wanted, however this time, it seemed much more genuine. He pain worried Geira, she nodded slightly and sighed.
'I will visit him in the morning, Thor. But I shall not stay long.' The huge prince smiled, showing his perfect teeth. Geira smiled back and placed her hand on his. 'Now please, I do need to continue my work..' She said politely.
'Yes, Yes of course. Thank you my friend. I shall not forget your compassion.' With that, Thor took his leave, striding into the Palace.
Geira's home was small, modest and adequately decorated for a young woman of her standing. She lived alone in a small apartment above one of the many book shops in the Asgard market, just a stones throw away from the Palace. It had been one week since she last saw Loki, she needed the time to calm down, to re-evaluate her situation, to remember why she was doing this.. to bring back Loki, the real Loki. She had slept poorly that whole week, last night was no exception, when she finally arose from her sleep, she could tell she was late for her visit with Loki. She groaned and slowly sat up, her long pale hair shone in a ray of sunlight breaking through a gap in her curtains. She stretched and slowly got out of bed, walking to the mirror, she could see a difference in her face. It had been happening slowly, she had been starting to look sunken and unhappy. She shrugged it off and went to dress herself. She had gotten used to tightening her own corset, tying the intricate lacing at the back was no difficult task for her now. She brushed out her waist length hair, and instead of tying it in a neat braid like usual, piled onto the head in a neat bun, she left it loose. She smirked slightly at herself in the mirror, pinning her fringe to the side as a finishing touch. She hurried outside and made her way to the palace.
Loki too, had slept poorly, if he even let himself drift into sleep at all. He had risen at the break of dawn, and to his shock, he was disheartened yet again, Geira was not there when he awakened. Loki had become accustomed to falling into his own mind, wasting his days and not paying any attention to the outside of his cell. He tried to shrug the familiar feeling of disappointment away. He paced his cell all morning, stopping to stare at the entrance to the dungeon every time he heard the smallest noise. His senses where heightened because of his anxiety. He was still replaying memories in his mind, but this time, he thought fondly of them. He had a lot to say to Geira, all carefully planned out. He heard the vast doors to the dungeon open, he jumped and quickly tried to regain his composure. He stood proud and with perfect posture as Geira descended the steps with perfect grace. She looked angelic. Loki watched as she turned to thank a guard, her long hair flowing freely just past her waist. She looked radiant, positively glowing, even in the dim lights of the dungeon. Loki felt a twitch of emotion flow through him, he could feel his magic stirring. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before Geira could pick up on his unsettled emotions.
The guard opened the barrier, Geira stepped in and stopped abruptly, gazing at Loki, who was looking awful. He was pale, even for him. His eyes dull and his face looked tired and somehow older, She realised, Thor was indeed genuinely worried for Loki.
'Good morning, Loki.' she said, in a questioning tone. She saw Loki's eyes react to the way she spoke. 'are you ok, sir?', she enquired with genuine concern.
'Geira.. Yes, I am ok. Thank you.' Loki bowed his head in acknowledgement. Geira watched, eyes wide with confusion. He had never been polite towards her, but today he showed all the mannerisms of a perfect gentleman. She approached his small bed that had been moved from it's previous location, She could see it had been broken. She set down two books she had picked up from the small shop below her home.
'I brought you these.. I know your current books are in far from mint condition.' She took notice of how much worse they were, skattered all over the floor, pages flung far from their own book. Geira offered a polite smile but was met with Loki's intense gaze, closer to her than she had expected. She looked at him carefully, his green eyes were suddenly alive again, burning with emotion. He seemed so unsettled, not the ice cold man she had come to know.
'Geira, my lady, I must offer you my sincerest apologies.' Loki blurted out the words, which made Geira realise this conversation was very much scripted in Loki's mind. A trick, she thought to herself.
'Oh, you are too kind, Loki. I accept your apologies.' Geira said, her voice dull and unimpressed. Geira continued her normal routine, picking up any stray pages from Loki's books, fixing his bed so it was at least half presentable. She passed Loki without glancing at him once more, she sat in one of two new chairs provided by Frigga that morning. Eventually after several minutes, Geira, against her better judgement, cast her eyes upon Loki's tall frame, still standing where she had left him. Loki looked down into her ice blue eyes, Geira became rather captivated in Loki's. For a reason she did not quite understand, her hand lifted and gently brushed Loki's cheek. His cheek was smooth and cold, like marble, she gently pressed her fingertips against his jaw, and for the first time, she seen a faint colour come to Loki's pale cheeks, he closed his eyes and took a staggered breath. Geira couldn't help the slight smile that played on the corner of her lips. Loki took another breath, this time slower and more deliberate. He moved smoothly and quickly to sit in the seat to the side of Geira.
Geira watched every move he made, until he was sitting facing her, his face inches from hers.
'My lady.. my old friend..' Loki spoke so quietly it was barely a whisper. 'I know you..' Loki had saddness in his eyes as he spoke. Geira felt a wave of sorrow flow through her. He looked so much like his old self when he spoke honestly. His childlike innocence returned, his eyes danced and spoke all of the words he could not say. Finally she was able to release her thoughts enough to form a sentence.
'I know you, also, Loki..' Geira whispered. She carefully placed her snow white hand on his cheek, which still had a beautiful flush upon it, making Loki looked more alive than he ever had while in this cell. She looked deep into Loki's eyes, 'You are not this monster you make yourself appear to be.. You are a good man, and once, you were a little girl's only friend..' Geira gently let her fingers trace Loki's cheekbones.
The Prince closed his eyes and his brows knit together slightly, Geira felt the pulse of energy slowly move over Loki's skin. She watched carefully as Loki's biggest illusion fell away, his Jotun form slowly taking the place of his Asgardian image. She inhaled sharply and Loki jumped, his illusion sweeping back over him, hiding the beauty of his true appearance.
'Loki..' Geira spoke quietly, reassuring the sad prince, 'Please, my friend, do not hide from me..' Loki slowly opened his eyes to reveal his Jotun eyes, burning red, looking straight at Geira.
'I.. I am a monster.' Loki sighed and blinked slowly, replacing his illusion. Geira was shocked, he had not explained why he was being this way towards her, she was confused and Loki could tell from her expression. He seemed to snap back to reality slightly and sat up straight, leaving the intimate little bubble they had slowly created. He spoke louder this time, Geira could tell he was back on his script. He cleared his throat and clasped his hands together, rubbing at the back of his left hand nervously.
'Geira, you were once my only confidant.. My only friend. I had lost myself for so long, my vision has been blurred of my past. Those memories have now started to return, haunting my dreams. Visions of you, of myself, in our secret places.' Loki spoke quickly, he seemed to be jumping back and fourth between planned lines and random thoughts, Geira kept her eyes fixed on him while he spoke.
'I am truly sorry for the disgusting way in which I have treated you. I beg your forgiveness, and I request that you considering staying under the Palace employment, not as my company, or as a garden attendant, but as my friend..' his voice trailed off, he was staring down at his hands. Geira couldn't help but smile softly at the innocence he portayed.
'Loki.. I will stay of course, but only if you promise not to hide from me any longer..' she said softly.
Loki nodded slightly and lifted his head, his eyes met Geira's and he returned a loving smile. Geira leaned towards him and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Loki's whole body relaxed and Geira could feel the waves of tension rolling away from him.
After their intense morning, Loki and Geira spent their day relaxing and freely talking, discussing adventures they'd had as children, laughing about jokes Thor never understood. For the first time in a long while, there was no hatred in Loki's eyes when he spoke of his brother, no nasty undertone in his velvet smooth voice. Geira could not hide the smile and adorned her face. Once they had laughed and talked themselves tired, Geira yawned and stretched, she looked at Loki and his expression made her heart break. He knew it was time for her to leave.
'A moment longer, my dear..' Loki's voice was begging, his eyes were gleaming.. Geira was crumbling.
'A little moment longer, but that is all, my prince.' Loki took instant notice of her choice of name. He smiled and walked towards Geira, he picked up a pillow off his small bed, and sat it on the ground in front of one of the wooden seats.
'Please Geira, please sit.' He smiled at her, offering his hand to her, like a true gentleman, His gestured was odd, but she obliged him, just this once. Geira took his hand and gently eased herself on the pillow infront of the little chair, Loki sat behind her and started to hum quietly. Geira was utterly confused, until she felt his long elegant fingers comb through her hair slowly. Loki leaned down and placed a delicate kiss on the crown of her head. Geira grew tired and lay her head against Loki's knee.
Loki had won and he knew it, a playful smile crossed his face. He gently picked Geira up, carried her across his cell and lay her down in his little bed. He pulled the blankets around her and gave her a good night kiss on her temple. Geira made a little sigh of contentment and Loki went back to his chair. He sat there watching her from dusk until dawn. Protecting her.. falling for her, and he knew exactly why.
No one had ever stood up to him before, at least, not a woman. He had never been challenged in a emotional way. He never had to persuade women to spend time with him, or that he was better than them. Geira had a strong mind, and a lot of heart. He was drawn to her, to that familiar warmth that would always surround her. He was being drawn in, just like he was as a little boy. Loki sighed and shook his head slightly.
'You old fool..' he muttered quietly to himself, all the while, smiling and watching over his little lady.