Back at work the next day there was a pair of eyes following her every move over breakfast. It was disconcerting to say the least but certainly not the first time one of the warriors had enjoyed looking – though to a lesser intensity. It continued through lunch, dinner and for several days until finally she had no choice but to pour the man a drink one night. He hadn't said a word, only stared at her longingly in a shy manner, his cheeks a heated colour no doubt from the alcohol. She brushed past his arm, his pupils dilated dangerously like a lovesick puppy and she knew she had to get away from this man very quickly indeed.
Walking back towards the kitchens she heard her sort of name being called from somewhere behind and paused looking over her shoulder. A frown soon creased her brow as the asgardian swayed towards her, having built up enough liquid courage no doubt.
"Fandralkin? That is you, yes?"
"Hmmm?" She was wary, trying to catch Prue's eye as the other woman passed them in the corridor.
"Egill, I am Egill." He was rocking on his feet, cheeks dangerously purple but his eyes trained and focused with precision. "We have met before. You were wet."
"Right." She bit her lip then stared at him disbelieving. "Oh, you're that guy that walked into the armor!"
"Yes!" He laughed, clearly relieved that she recalled him. "My gaze was so enraptured by your garment I am afraid I made a fool of myself."
"Hmmm." She nodded through a rapidly draining chuckle. "Is there… something I can do for you, Egill? More ale?"
"No! No. I," he was flustered again, was he really a warrior? "only wished to speak with you, Fandralkin."
"Kari. My name is Kari."
"Kari." He practically sighed in the name as if savoring it for later. She'd only given it because she hated being called after her grandfather but Egill had some how taken it another way.
"I… should be going." She gave a worry filled laugh hoping he'd catch the gist and go away. "Work to do."
"Yes, of course, Kari." Oh god, now he was going to be saying her name around as if waving a trophy.
Scampering away she inwardly cringed at her inner prey mentality picking up the static shock of eyes continuing to watch her. She made sure to take her time in the kitchen, filling up her jug of ale before returning with another server to the dining hall. Egill was sitting back in his seat, a pleased look on his face as he merrily ate taking occasion to look up over his meal for a loving stare. Right, this was all she needed, an asgardian warrior crushing on her whilst she crushed on a workaholic mute.
As the days wore on, turning into weeks and even a couple of months, she was really starting to get tired of all the courting. Gifts kept appearing outside her room, strange, asgardian gifts. At first she had returned them to Egill but he only seem to take this as a sign she did not like what he had sent and would leave instead something bigger and better the following day. Next she tried accepting the gifts which then spurred him into thinking she was interested. At another point she tried asking Heimdall his opinion, hoping her crush would suddenly man up and go protect her from the big bad stalker but he had instead politely suggested she tell the warrior her lack of interest in him. Kari reluctantly agreed with his idea, though the pang of hurt at the guardian's dismissiveness had caused her to begin questioning what was or could ever be between them.
She staked out her own room, waiting for the point Egill arrived with a bouquet of ridiculously nice looking flowers. He looked so happy; it broke her heart to do what she did next. Jumping out on him, he was momentarily surprised then grinning like a teenager as he presented the aromatic selection to her. She accepted them, reluctantly, if only to be polite.
"Egill… we need to talk." She began in her best, it's not you, it's me, voice.
"Kari." He whispered her name, caressing her ears with his intense affections.
"Look, you seem like a nice guy but… I'm not interested."
"There is another?"
"Nooooo…" She shrugged, trying to be as truthful as possible. "Not really anyone, I'm just not interested in this."
"The gifts?"
"The gifts and any of it." She was chewing her lip; break ups were always the worse things in the world, especially when the one getting dumped looked so damn depressed about it. "I'm sure there's someone else who would gladly love to have your attentions."
"No, I…" He trailed off, apparently thinking harder about her words. "I believe I understand. No more gifts."
"No more gifts." She smiled; relieved he was finally getting it.
"You are a hard maid to win, but Egill likes a challenge." His face broke out into a chipper grin. He hadn't got it.
What was she supposed to do with an asgardian that couldn't take no for an answer? Run seemed like the best option, as fighting him wasn't really a choice. Currently her worst fear wasn't going into work and having him make goo-goo eyes at her or attempt to fight any of the other warriors that showed an interest but that at some point he'd no doubt wear her down. It had happened before back on earth, a customer at the restaurant that came every other day for weeks, sitting at the same table, tipping her like crazy and asking her out until she had finally said yes. That had not ended well; the moment he got what he wanted he became instantly disinterested and no longer returned her calls. She'd been heartbroken – how could he? Was Egill the same level of cruel?
Having just returned from the bifrost, a satchel filled with her latest Heimdall pictures now in colour, she hadn't been expecting her unwanted suitor to discover her so soon. She was tired, too tired for this and so immediately began running through the palace corridors the moment he'd shouted out her name. Oh how he loved to use her name at every given chance. She could hear his footfalls behind her, catching up slowly but surely but at least all the running away had began to increase her cardiovascular abilities – she could keep up a faster pace for longer periods now. She had to find somewhere to hide and upon rounding a corner a somewhat unexpected place of sorts made itself apparent.
"Fandralkin!" Thor exclaimed as she ran towards him and then stopped suddenly with a desperate disheveled appearance.
"Hide me!" She begged, ducking under his long red cloak and trying desperately to remain very still.
The prince was about to question, his face a curious assortment of intrigued amusement but the answer made himself apparent before another word could be uttered.
"Kari, my love!" Egill appeared, eyes longingly searching out his missing quest item. "Odinson! Thor! Tell me, have you seen a fair maiden pass this way?" He was desperate, pleading; it was almost pitiful if Thor didn't find the entire situation hilarious.
"That I have friend." The god of thunder scratched his beard, worrying Kari into thoughts of treachery. "A particularly fine looking maid turned and passed down that way," his finger pointed down an adjacent corridor, "towards the gardens not a moment ago."
"Thank you friend." Egill clapped his fellow warrior stoutly on the shoulder then took off at another run calling for his love.
The moment she could no longer here his shouts, Kari appeared from under the smug looking bimbo's cloak with a deeply relieved sigh. She could tell she'd end up owing him something, like a spar or back rub.
"A friend of yours?" His tone reeked of cheekiness.
"What do you think?" Kari muttered. "He won't leave me alone. I've tried dissuading him every way I can possibly think but he just won't let up… or stop groping my butt." She subconsciously rubbed her behind at the memory.
"Ah, but what man would not wish to feel such a pleasant looking posterior in his grip." He laughed at her mortified expression then clapped her over the shoulder reeling her in with a friendly tug. "Come now, be not so grey faced. Tell me how your courting of Heimdall goes?"
"What? How did you… Sif?" She was wide-eyed, her mortified expression now petrified.
"Do not blame the lady, it was not she who told your secret." Thor's face was more wolfish grin than features. "It was not difficult to notice your many visits to the guardian. I also here tell of a great wall of paintings in his honor."
"Oh god…" She palmed her face, trying to hide from the truth, the collage information was probably Prue's doing – nothing ever stayed quiet for long with her. "Everybody knows?"
"Of course."
"Does Heimdall know?"
"He would have to be blind and Heimdall can see to the end of time and back." Thor chuckled as her face reddened; she was definitely not going to see the guardian for a few days now she knew he knew.