A/N: Don't own don't sue

Lyrics at the beginning are from 'Slow Dance' by Kelly Clarkson

If I Knew

Chapter Seventeen

I was a city boy
Right into danger's where I'd always run, a boy who had his fun
But I wouldn't've done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you'd come

Eira avoided court as best she could in the following days. She needed time to sift through her thoughts, something that could not be done with his piercing eyes boring into her at every turn. She retreated to the Queen's abandoned chambers, finding bittersweet solace in the familiar surroundings. The King, or whoever was pretending to be him at the time, had ordered that the chambers be cleared of any debris but otherwise left alone and there were glimpses of Frigga everywhere she looked. A favourite robe slung over the back of a carved chair, her perfumes and lotions spread across her large marble dressing table. She ran her fingertips over the open pages of a book left abandoned on a side-table. She missed her friend, the closest thing to a confidant she had ever had, and possibly the only person who understood her difficult son.

She stepped out onto the balcony, letting the hot sun play over her face. As much as she hated to admit it, things were much simpler when her Prince was safely under lock and key and Frigga was pulling the strings. She had never for a moment imagined that she had any power over him, even when he was theoretically a prisoner and she was free, but she had at least had an inkling of what his endgame was when he was toying with her from his cell. Now he was loose and more dangerous than ever. Her belly fluttered with desire at the thought.

"Hiding, nightingale?" A low menacing chuckle drifted through the doorway behind her. "How disappointing."

Her skin prickled with awareness, a delicious flush spreading up the base of her spine despite the stifling heat of the day. Eira forced herself not to turn towards him, not to give ground to him. Besides, she was worried he'd be wearing his father's face and the image still unsettled her.

"You are missed at court."

She stared out over the stunning landscape spread beneath their feet, the faint brush of his bodyheat like a caress through her thin silken dress.

"I have a mind to take a turn on the river." Surprisingly cool fingertips danced along her spine, sliding up into her hair. "Your presence is expected."

His fingers tightened on her hair, his back brushing against hers and his torturous lips feather-light against the shell of her ear. He vanished as quickly as he appeared, his body-heat and hypnotizing voice withdrawn so suddenly that she swayed on the spot. When she'd caught her breath again, she ran her trembling hands through her hair and smoothed over her dress. Okay, Prince, I'll play your game.

Eira could feel his gaze drilling into the side of her face. She had dug out her trusty courtly-wiles and was making a brilliant show of completely ignoring him whilst politely deferring to him as her "King". She had changed into a clinging peach gown that set off her glorious fiery hair and highlighted the soft glow of her fair skin, it draped prettily over her curves and was just sheer enough to fire the imagination. She had braided her hair with glimmering strands of gold and glittering gems that sparkled in the burning sun. She looked utterly enticing, exactly as she planned.

She sat among the plush cushions on the royal barge, chattering animatedly with Frigga's ladies and exchanging sultry looks with handsome courtiers aboard the various other ships that flanked them on the wide river. She was toying with him, provoking him in public when he could do nothing about it. From the fire blazing on his face, she would suffer for it later.

The ships docked and an indulgent lunch was unpacked for the court, tables and chairs spread out across the lawn with huge silken umbrellas providing shade from the punishing midday heat. Eira made sure to sit as far away from him as possible, but still within his line of sight. If he insisted on prancing around the court wearing that face, she was going to make it as difficult as she possibly could for him.

"Lady Eira."

A shadow fell across the fruit on her platter and she glanced up, shielding her eyes from the sunlight. For a split second, she thought he had shed his disguise and was standing before her and her stomach dropped, but then the dazzle cleared and she saw Lord Darr standing tall before her.

"My Lord."

He flashed her a set of dazzling white teeth and extended an arm towards her. Eira took his elbow, letting him lift her from her seat and guide her away from the bustling tables. What was he up to? Lord Darr was a notorious womanizer who slipped in and out of noble beds more often than the sheets were changed. He had graced her bed more than once, but that was before. Eira resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder to see if he was watching them.

"You are as beautiful as ever, My Lady."

Eira muttered a courtly platitude, sliding him a sidelong glance. He was very handsome in a preening sort of way, his dark hair slicked back precisely over his ears and his dark eyes very knowing beneath his long lashes. Glances from those eyes used to make her burn with desire, now she was merely suspicious at what he was after.

He was twittering on about her beauty and her grace and her mind started to wander. Frigga had warned her away from Lord Darr in her own subtle way, pointing out that a night or two of night-play was not a valid basis to throw one's opportunities to the wind. After sulking for a day or two, Eira had seen her erstwhile suitor slide a hand under a dress that was certainly not hers and had decided to take her Queen's advice. Her interactions with Lord Darr had gone no further than a dance and a meaningless flirt at banquets ever since.

"I beg your pardon?"

Eira snapped out of her reminiscing, ice trickling down her spine as her brain caught up with his words. Lord Darr flashed her a condescending smile, his warm hand patting hers, still held hostage in the crook of his elbow, lightly.

"I realise this may come as a shock, my dear." He said with a sickly sweet smile. "But I rather think a marriage would suit us both."

Eira stopped dead, causing him to jerk to an undignified stop beside her and he gave her a reproving look.

"A marriage?" She repeated in amazement, staring at him as if he had sprouted another head.

Lord Darr lifted his dark eyebrows, a flash of bemusement crossing his face. He had clearly not expected the level of disgust in her voice as she contemplated the idea.

"It is not entirely an outlandish idea, My Lady."

Eira goggled at him. Lord Moncliere had been one thing, a kind gentle suitor who she would have been able to wrap around her finger easily enough. Lord Darr. Absolutely not.

"My Lord, I was not aware you were suited to the role of a husband." She said sharply, disengaging her hand from his elbow.

"It is a role I would take on gladly." He snapped back, clearly affronted at the implication.

Eira glanced back at the court still spread behind them and apparently taking no notice of them whatsoever. She turned back to him.

"Leif." She dropped the polite courtier manner and stared him down suspiciously. "Where has this come from?"

He blinked at the use of his given name.

"I find myself in a position where it would be beneficial for me to marry."

She stared at him, her mind working to make the connections. He had disappeared from court a few months ago, rumours being that he was summoned home by his father. She had presumed he had returned to pay his respects to the late Queen, but that had been thinking too kindly of him.

"Your father has ordered you to marry." She announced, her eyes narrowing at the slight flush that rose up his neck, confirming her suspicions.

"That's not entirely-"

She held up a hand to stop him. How had she ever found this fool charming?

"Why me? There is a whole court of women, most of whom you're already intimately acquainted with. Why would you assume I would marry you?"

He gaped at her, apparently baffled that she had not thrown herself into his arms and begged to be his bride.

"We get along well, don't we? In many ways." He reached out to take her hand and she stepped away from him.

"The truth, Leif."

He sighed, looking down at his boots.

"You have no real place here at court without the Queen, and you were looking to marry not long ago. I assumed you'd like to stay at court…"

Eira bristled immediately, glaring at him as he continued to avoid her gaze.

"You assumed I'd be so desperately grateful to be rescued from being sent home that I'd throw myself on your mercy, and preferably your bed, the moment you asked."

Lord Darr pouted mutinously, clearly displeased that this conversation was not heading in his preferred direction.

"I had hoped you would be more agreeable to the option." He admitted sulkily. "However I intend to speak to the King this afternoon during the feast."

Eira scowled at him.

"With or without my permission, you mean."

Lord Darr matched her scowl with one of his own, his cheeks flushed.

"Why not ask one of those simpering idiots you've wooed into your bed? Surely any of them would be more susceptible to your so-called charms than myself."

A dark look flashed in his eyes, his mouth twisting into something ugly for a brief moment.

"Because I want you, Lady Eira." He took her hand from her side so quickly that she had no time to react. "I have missed you."

She tried to retrieve her hand but he held on tightly.

"You haven't missed me, Lord Darr. You're just not used to hearing the word 'no'." She said bluntly, her mind flashing back to the expression on his face when she had told him not to seek her out anymore.

"Go ahead." She challenged, wrenching her hand from his grasp. "Ask the King. Even if he gives his permission, there will be no marriage between us."

Lord Darr scowled at her angrily and she smiled sweetly back at him.

"And, Leif." She stepped closer, peering up at him from under her lashes. "If by some miracle a wedding does take place…" She brushed a fingertip along the back of his hand teasingly. "I will make every remaining moment of your life… excruciating."

It had been an unbearable day. Court functions were always draining; the constant smiling and flattering and dancing. Loki had insisted on dancing with her and, as to all intents and purposes he was currently the King, she could not refuse. Lord Darr would insist on popping up at random and trying to convince her to change her mind about being his bride. It appeared he had not broached the subject with the King, despite his threats at lunch.

She had finally managed to slip away from the hot overcrowded banquet hall and retreated to her cool quiet chambers. She had bathed and rinsed her sweaty hair with rose water and snatched an hour to herself on her tiny balcony. The heat was so complete that her hair was dry, albeit wild, by the time she withdrew into her bedroom.

She froze beside her bed as she became aware of something in the room with her. Feeling vulnerable in her lace nightgown with her hair wild and unbound down her back, she felt her heart starting to hammer painfully in her chest. There was a slight movement and the spicy sharp scent she knew so well drifted over her.

"Prince?" She asked warily.

A familiar long-fingered hand traced the length of her bare arm and she cursed.

"Do not hide in the shadows. I am most certainly not in the mood for your games."

She felt the faint prickle behind her as Loki dropped the illusion. She turned immediately, pleased to find that he was not masquerading as his father. She folded her arms.

"What are you doing in my chambers, Prince?" She asked icily, trying not to notice how handsome he looked in the faint moonlight filtering into her room.

"I should hope that was obvious, nightingale." Loki cocked his head. "My song?"

Eira's mind was spinning from his proximity and the knowledge that her bed was directly behind them. She opened and closed her mouth several times but couldn't find a word to say. This seemed to amuse Loki as his grin only widened.

"Come, Scheherazade." He murmured teasingly. "Don't you have a song for your King?"

He moved closer to her and she jumped back, her thighs colliding with the heavy wooden frame and sending her sprawling back into the soft mattress. Loki's smile became positively dangerous as he knelt over her, one hand on each side of her pinning her in place. He looked almost demonic looming over her, his inky black locks fluttering into his midnight eyes shining brilliantly in the darkness. Eira had no idea what came over her but before she could think of what she was doing, her hands had sunk into his hair and pulled him down against her. Taken by surprise, Loki lost his footing and tumbled against her, causing a chaotic tangle of limbs against the silken sheets.

"Do you deserve a song, Prince?" She asked eventually, peering up at him in the darkness.

Loki dipped his head to brush his lips against her throat.

"I deserve everything, nightingale."

She rolled her eyes, giving him a shove until he slid away from her on the bed. She pulled herself into a sitting position, delicately arranging her nightgown so she was less exposed to his wandering gaze. Loki pouted but arranged himself at the end of her bed, leaning back against the thick wooden post as stretching out his long lean limbs.

"You're tall, dark and handsome
You're charming and then some
Know how to romance 'em
But I see through it all
You do everything too fast
You move like a whiplash
You're missin' the romance
And I see through it all
How did you go from being a mama's boy to a ladies' man?
I'm not goin' home with you tonight
But you can hold my hand and
We can take it slow and
I can show you how to slow dance
You're so unassuming
You know what you're doin'
You're lookin' right through me
And you don't realize
I just see a scared boy
Who's lookin' for new toys
Just tryin' to fill a void and you don't realize."

Her sultry voice was intoxicating as she sang, her long slender legs pulled up under her and her eyes a glimmer of promise in the dark. Loki barely heard the words to the song, his focus taken entirely by the barely-there nightgown that flowed over her body.

"Prince?"

Loki blinked. He had been so distracted by the seductive swell of her voice coupled with the glimpses of smooth pearly flesh through the lace that he hadn't even heard her question.

"I asked you why you're wearing that mask." Eira leaned forwards and it took every ounce of self control he had not to let his eyes drift down at the expanse of skin exposed. "You could be anyone in the universe."

Loki pondered the question curiously. In theory he could go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. He had just never considered doing any of those things. He could have made his escape, disappeared and done anything he liked. Yet he had returned. Had he taken her into consideration when he had decided to come home? Perhaps.

After a moment of thought, he fed her something about power and the throne belonging to him. She watched him silently in the darkness of her room. And he knew she didn't believe him.