The Adder was found, right were it was left. Lorien was clever enough to raise the alarm by screaming and holding the covers of her bed over herself, the Guards and Loki bursting into the room at the sound of her distress. The blue-green serpent dispatched with a single blow and many raising an eyebrow in suspicion, it was well known the creature was not native to Asgard and the overly jealous Princess Varka a prime suspect in the planting of it.
Of course, the Noblewoman denied any involvement and swore to take an investigation into her own hands. Her voice raising to nearly a shrill sheik in response to the accusation that left all present in the Great Hall cringing, and praying that she lost the challenges. Lorien kept her head low, her dress plain compared to the Princess and Loki watched her in silence as she curtsied to take her leave. He decided then, that she needed no further ornamentation as she was beautiful enough with no further luxuries than her youth.
"I do hope, that you did not have anything to do with this attempt in the walls of my home, Princess Varka." Odin said, narrowing his good eye. "If it is found that you did, this may end with you leaving Asgard in shame. And, further explaining your actions to your Father."
"I can assure you, this was not me. I am above such acts, and clear of reproach." She replied. "I fear that your very son may be looking to rid himself of a problematic Slave, however. Perhaps, you should look closer to your own house, Your Majesty."
"I beg your pardon?" Odin exclaimed, his fingers tightening on the arms of his throne and glaring at the girl. She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin in a proud way and flipped some of her crimson locks back.
"I believe I was clear, Sir." Varka replied, her distaste for Lorien showing as she turned and looked at the silent girl.
"I believe, that it is not my place to pass judgment on this at the moment, but I shall consult with Heimdall to see what he has observed in this matter. I do pray that you will separate yourself from the Lady, who is proving to be your better." Odin hissed back, the wind visibly leaving the haughty Princesse's sails immediately. She slumped a bit under the words of the Allfather, her eyes wide and her cheeks going pale under her caked on cosmetics. She gave a polite curtsy, her eyes lowering and her worry showing.
"I understand Allfather, I will take my leave to prepare for the next task." She replied, her hands shaking as she lifted the bright pink silks that covered her legs. She turned, her Maids following her and she left the Hall in silence. Her eyes fell on Loki, and she gave him a demure smile in flirtation as she passed. He ignored it, looking out a window and admiring a flowering tree. He would not pay this woman any heed, and she was given a clear message that her days were numbered in these halls. The only sound beyond the thick silence, was the doors closing as she left their presence.
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The day dawned early, and it found Lorien and Princess Varaka seated in the same Hall in front of two covered objects. Both women waited, and Lorien saw the Princess glare at her. Loki on the other hand, gave her a subtle smile. He waved his hand, sending out the spell he meant to and grinned to himself at the small advantage he gave the young girl. He noticed that she had put a jeweled comb into her hair that morning, and let out a breath at her attempt to try and fit in with the Princess next to her.
However, the comb did not do anything to detract from her nature, but only bring his eyes to her soft face. She folded her hands in her lap, waiting for the instructions to be given for this challenge. Odin stood, the gathered people looking up at their King and giving them their undivided attentions.
"The next challenge is one of detail and careful dexterity." Odin said, gesturing forward Maids to uncover the two wooden spinning wheels and the Princess went pale at the basket of cotton roving in front of her. The fibers had been cleaned and combed ahead of time, saving the gathered audience the boredom of watching both women prepare their own fibers for spinning.
"Each woman here shall be judged on the quality of her work, and the speed in which she manages to finish off her basket." The King continued, Lorien admiring the fine wheel in front of her. "When the clock strikes the hour, you may each begin. I wish you both luck in this task."
Odin took his seat again, Loki watching the blanched face of the Vanir Princess and he smiled to himself. His eyes fell on Lorien and he noticed a subtle movement under her blue skirts, he was about to say something when he realized that she had removed one of her shoes and pushed it under her chair with her toes neatly. He wondered why she had done such a thing, his eyes narrowing and she hid the stockinged foot under her dress. The audience shifted then, the bells of the tower announcing the hour and both women went to work.
Lorien picked up the orifice hook, threading it through the opening and dragging her leader thread through it. And set everything aside. Varaka on the other hand, struggled to perform to start, catching the hook several times after trying to imitate the other woman's actions. Floria then picked up a cloth, laying it in her lap and taking some of the fibers from her basket in her hands and began to give them sharp tugs to pre draft them to make drawing the single ply of thread easier. Her hands worked, her eyes kept on the task until she had three neat bundles of the cotton ready to spin. She checked the fiber length, and tangled a bit of them in the leader thread by turning the wheel with her hand and tugging back as the leader wound onto the wooden spool.
The Princess cursed under her breath, angry and becoming frustrated as she managed to cover her skirts in the fibers and she let out a groan of exasperation.
"How did she do that? This is Pesant's work, not when task of nobility!" The girl complained under her breath and rolled her eyes. Watching Lorien place her foot on the treadle, and she began pumping the wheel as she guided it with her hand to turn. She started slowly, drafting a bit at a time until she could speed up, using an even rhythm with her foot and she blinked as she saw gold threads appear between her fingers and not the white cotton she expected. She blushed subtly, knowing why this was happening and she continued with the work. The Princess however, could not control the wheel using the treadle and it continued to move back and forth and she nearly threw her work down in frustration.
Lorien had finished with her first batch of fibers, before the Princess had found a way to actually make the wheel work for her. The audience snickered, whispering to eachother about how red faced the woman was becoming and Lorien chanced a glance at the competition when a loud shout filled the hall and several Maids hurried to the Princess to help her free her red tresses from the fibers. She had leaned so close to her work in effort, that her hair got wrapped around the thread and pulled it to wind around the spool. Loki laughed to himself, realizing why Lorien was wearing the comb to hold her hair back and hide his a grin at the plight of the irritating Princess Varaka.
The Maids managed to free her hair, Lorien working on and beginning a new spool as the Princess whimpered and struggled again to find her place again. She continued to draft the fine thread, her foot moving as she watched the spin of the single ply in her hand. She pulled forward another bit of the fibers, pinching quickly to prevent the twist from entering her drafting and she stretched her neck a moment. The audience watched them both work, the hours passing and Lorien took two spools and began twisting them together to make a two ply thread on an empty spool.
Loki nodded in his seat, blinking at the sheer boredom he created and he decided on the next task. It would be more dramatic than the last, and it would make for better watching than the current display in front of him. His mind filled with the images of Varka ruining one of her precious gowns, and he imagined her covered in filth at the next challenge when he felt his legs going to sleep. He shifted, watching Lorien make skeins of her golden threads and carefully tie them off before twisting them and placing the bundles in her basket. He let his eyes follow each curve, amd smiled as nimble fingers worked. She folded the cloth in her lap neatly, placing it aside and she slipped her shoe back onto her foot.
He wondered why Odin did not call for the test to end, and he heard a soft snore come from the throne next to him. Lorien folded her hands neatly in her lap, and the Princess groaned in frustration at the mess her work had become. Loki slid his boot over, subtly tapping Odin's foot and the old man jerked awake and blinked a moment. He looked at both women, seeing that Lorien had finished and licked his lips before striking his staff on the ground.
"One of the ladies has finished her task." Odin announced, Varka throwing her hands up in irritation and shooting the dark haired girl a deadly look. She looked worse for wear, her hair a mess, and her dress covered in a fine layer of cotton fibers. She ground her teeth and two women came forward to present their work to Odin for final judgment. He looked at the small bundles of threads and smiled at them, his weathered fingers lifting each one and examining them. He nodded his approval, lifting the spool from the other basket and seeing the knotted mess on it. He placed it back into the basket and he stood.
"Lady Lorien is the victor of this round." He announced, blinking his good eye and he began to walk toward the Dining Room. "I am starved, let us enjoy a nice lunch in peace now. And tomorrow, there will be no competition to allow both of the Ladies to rest."
Frigga applauded the girl as she stood and curtsied to her King as he passed her. He gave the place girl a slight nod of approval, and she lowered her eyes in respect of her better. The Princess began barking orders to the Maids attempting to dust off her skirts, another trying to fix her hair and she boldly walked to Loki and smiled at him.
"I did make good effort on the task, perhaps I might enjoy dining with you My Prince?" Varka asked, her smile wide and Loki let out a subtle sigh. He knew that if he declined the invitation, that the whelp would make more troubles for he and Lorien. He pressed his lips together, about to accept the invitation when Frigga stepped in and rested her hand on top of his.
"I apologise Princess, Loki has already made arrangements to dine with me. I wanted to discuss a book we had both read, would you mind dining with him another time?" She said, the question coming out more as a polite command. The Princess nodded, her eyes filling with tears and she looked down.
"Yes, Queen Frigga." Varka replied, curtsying as Loki felt relief wash over him. He glanced over the top of the brat's fire red head and scanned the audience for Lorien, noticing her ghosting from the hall through the doors. The Princess cleared her throat, and he glared back at her.
"Perhaps dinner then?" She asked and Loki waved his hand to indicate he had other plans. He shook his head, and he watched her face fall at his dismissal. His eyes falling on Frigga as she secreted three bundles of the golden threads I to her pocket for use on her embroidery later. The Princess let out a long breath, her eyes still on him and she planted her hands on her hips.
"You cannot show favoritism toward one of us, and then deny the other your presence." The girl accused, stamping her foot and waving a finger. "If my Father were to hear of this, he would find you in violation of this entire competition! Dine with me, or I shall write him immediately!"
"What proof do you have that I have shown Lady Lorien any favor over you? Speak it now, and do not lie." Loki groaned, showing his contempt for the spoiled girl in front of him.
"You know what I speak of, you were both seen walking away from the Gardens yesterday! She was blushing and laughing with you!" She snapped, gritting her teeth again and crossing her arms. "You spoke with her to show she was your favored one to win!"
Loki stood, taking measures steps toward her, his eyes narrowing and he leaned close to her. The cloying scent of her perfume making him want to gag, but her remained steady as he took in a deep breath.
"The walls of this Castle are burdened with many ears, it would be a shame if anyone told how they overheard your conversation with your Maids. You remember? The one where you implicated yourself for the Adder left in a certain Lady's bed?" He whispered. He saw fear enter her eyes, and she trembled subtly at the threat.
"You have no proof, it could merely be gossip among the staff." She hissed back, glaring at him in rage. He patted her cheek, grinning at her and let out a derisive snort.
"Keep telling yourself that, it may help you keep that pretty little head of yours attached to your shoulders." He replied, turning on his heel and walking away from her to leave the Hall. He knew he got her, and he grinned to himself in satisfaction at his subtle threat.
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Lorien sat by the fire in the room, moving the small, dowel like bobbins around on the pillow and placing pins as she wove lace. She placed a pin, continuing to braid and twist the threads as she worked on. She planned to use the lace she was weaving to sew a dress for Inge, and she hummed to herself as a Guard entered the room. He bowed, Inge skipping past him amd she smiled at seeing her sister.
"Bye Bye!" She chirped to the man, waving a hand. "Thank you for helping me not be lost anymore."
"My pleasure, young miss." He replied, bowing and leaving the sisters alone as she skipped over to Lorien. Inge took a moment to look around, making sure they were perfectly alone and handed her a sealed letter.
"What is this?" Lorien asked Inge and the girl giggled.
"It is a love letter from my brother." She giggled, flopping down on the couch and she kicked her shoes off. She giggled again, Lorien breaking the seal on the back and unfolding the vellum to read the words on it.
My Dear Gentle Frost,
I am proud of your work today, and desire nothing more than for all this to be done with. That way time will be ours alone, and we may spend hours in each other's embrace.
I miss your soft caress, and need you to soothe the fire that burns my soul. Meet me tonight at midnight, by the statue of two lovers in an embrace. I will wait until the stars burn out if I have to.
Yours Forever,
Loki
"What does it say?" Inge asked, watching her sister press the letter against her chest and blush. She smiled to herself, looking back at her sister and laughed.
"Nothing that a girl your age should read. It is private." She replied, holding the letter out of reach. The little girl pouted, crossing her arms and stomped her foot.
"I want to see it!" She shouted, Lorien folding it back up and putting it in her pocket.
"No Inge, and that is terrible behaviour for you. You would make both Mother and Father ashamed to see you act like that." She scolded, the little girl looking forlorn at it.
"I just want to make sure that he still wants to be my brother." She whimpered, Lorien gathering the girl up in her arms and smiling.
"He does, he even asked me in the letter to hug you for him." She replied, the little girl hugging her sister back. Lorien planning how to sneak from the castle, and into the garden in question.