Chapter 2.
Loki watched her pull against the ropes on her wrists, the girl not caring if they bit into her skin and she shrieked as if he was burning her with a brand. She cried out, twisting her body back and forth, and he stared at her in shock. He was appreciative of her spirit, and he let her kick and pull away as much as she could. He reached out to grab her before she hurt herself and she snapped her teeth at him, he pulling back before she could bite him and he glared at her. She screamed again, and he pulled the rope forward and she fell forward a bit but continued to fight him.
"ENOUGH!" He bellowed at her, and she jerked to attention at hs shout. She stared at him through her tangled hair, her chin trembling and her eyes puffy with her tears. He heard a sound then, staring at her and she saw the puddle forming at her feet. He sneered in disgust at her and she backed from him, her feet slipping and she cowered as she brought her bound hands up to cover her face. She cried, her eyes falling on the shameful thing she did out of terror, and he sighed.
He dropped the rope in exasperation, walking past her and opened the door as a Maid passed by. He motioned her forward, and she looked in shock at the girl and she saw the puddle. Lorien hid her face, not wanting anyone to see her and she backed toward a window.
"I understand My Prince, I will fetch a mop and some water." She said and he walked back toward the girl as the woman ran off to fetch the things she needed for cleaning. He stood over her, his hands closing on her shoulders and he moved her toward the Bathing Chamber. She walked, her eyes dying a bit and she whimpered as she waited to be punished again. He filled a basin from a sink, sitting her on a wooden stool and he added a cloth and some soap to the table near her. She took in the luxury of the room around her, the sunken bathtub large enough to be a pond, and the way the water came from the pipes warm. He brought forth a knife and she shot from the stool, backing into a corner and he grabbed her before she could run too far from him. He reached out for her wrists and cut the rope, turning her arms and looking at the bleeding wounds on them.
"Wait here, and don't move from the stool." He said, sitting her again and she remained silent. Her body throbbed in pain, and she could feel the blood welling around her wrists. He was going to hurt her, she knew it. He was part of the Royal Family of Asgard, and she was in the hands of the Dark Prince that so many feared. Her lips trembled as he returned with a jar and some bandages, his eyes on her and she stared at the ground. He pulled a stool across from her and began washing her wounds with the soap, his hands strangely gentle as he worked. She had heard so many rumors from people who had traveled to the city about his cruelty, and she knew she would be treated even worse now. Eyes followed his movements, he being slow and he carefully set the cloth aside and held her wrists over the basin to pour water on them to rinse the soap away. She hissed in pain, and he paused.
"You have done this to yourself, but I believe you probably spent the night restrained with that fire burning in you." He said and he dried them on another clean cloth, wrapping them as she saw the blood on the shift she wore. He opened the jar, using his fingertips to apply the salve inside around one wrist and then the other. He leaving them off her lap and taking a length of bandage to bind them, his long fingered hands being careful to not cause her any more trauma. He finished, emptying the basin and filling it again.
"Look at me." He commanded, and she lifted her chin. He moved her hair out of her face and he used a fresh, damp cloth to clean her face. His hand under her chin to turn it when he needed to and she trembled with fear. Was he bathing her before hurting her again? What was his motive?
"You have fascinating eyes. They remind me of the leaves of a tree, that is why I chose you." He said and dried her face before taking her ankle and washing the urine off the foot and then moving to the other. "What is you name?"
She tensed, shaking her head and she tried to pull her ankle away from him. He held it in his hand, not crushing it and she shook her head. This was a trap, she knew it. If she told him the name her Mother had given her, pain would follow. She couldn't find her voice, and the door opening in the other rooms grabbed their attention.
"Loki?" A soft, feminine voice asked and he looked toward the door. He dried the clean foot, and let her set it down and stood. He walked to the door, looking at the basin and her and he pointed at it.
"Clean the urine off yourself, I will not have you smelling of filth." He said and she took the cloth rubbed it against the soap, kneeling in front of the basin and washing between her legs. She dried herself afterwards, the woman from earlier entering and seeing her and she stood. She lowered her head, and the woman walked toward her and opened her hands.
"Don't be afraid dear. You are safe here, and Loki is already trying to be kind to you. I know you are afraid, and it all seems so bleak now but I hope that you will come to like it here." She said and she unfolded a dress from over her arm. She smiled at the piteous girl, turning it to show her the fine garment in blue and opened her other hand. She stepped forward, her eyes on the dress and she put her fingers on it as if it were an illusion or would vanish from sight and she looked at the woman.
"Yes, this is for you to wear. I thought it would look lovely with your hair." She said and she took a step toward the woman, her hands reaching for the dress and she looked around her. She shivered, falling to the ground and she curled into a ball on the floor. She held her knees, rocking back and forth and she heard Loki enter again.
"She is completely simple minded, look at her. She does not speak, nor does she seem to have any sense to her." He said and the woman sighed. She walked over to him, taking more garments from him and she turned him toward the door.
"She is terrified. Who knows where they got her from, or how they treated her before bringing her to market. You cannot bark at her and expect her to speak or smile at you, she needs some sort of comfort and time to adjust." The woman replied and shoved him out of the room, closing the door after him. She regained her composure, holding g up the undergarments and smiled sweetly. "Would you like to be dressed in something more than that shift?"
Lorien stood quietly, keeping her eyes on the stone floor under her feet and the woman set the clothes aside. She walked toward her, helping her to remove the blood covered shift and gasped at her body. She saw herself in the mirror, seeing the loss of her body hair and taking in the bruises and scrapes she was covered in. Her heart sank at the way she was presented, her body altered for the pleasure of another person and she felt a tear fall from her eye.
"Now, now. All those injuries will heal and vanish with time. Let us get you dressed, and something for you to eat. You will feel much better afterwards, and you may wish to actually speak to Loki and see that he is not awful at all." The woman said and helped her put a clean cotton petticoat over her head, smoothing it over her shoulders and wrapping a corset around her torso and lacing it up. She hummed as she worked, testing the fit with her hands and smiling at her work. She then wrapped an under skirt around her waist, trying it and she turned the girl and looked at the cream colored silk she wore.
"You are so pretty, I can see why Loki chose you. Your hair and eyes are so fascinating, and you have perfect skin." She said and put the over skirt over her head and helped her arms find the sleeves and she smoothed the skirts over her back. "I am Queen Frigga dear girl, do you have a name?"
She shook her head in response, and stared at the ground as the Queen of Asgard laced her dress up the back. She let the woman sit her on the stool and she put stockings on her feet and legs, making sure that she had them around her thighs before putting the shoes on her feet. She stood back, taking the girl's hands and smiled at her and pushed her hair over her shoulders. Lifting her chin and smiling at her, the look on her face making Lorien wonder if this woman saw her as a doll.
"You must have a name, but you may tell us it in your own time. Go on and look at yourself in the mirror, you look like a new person." She said and Lorien took tentative steps toward the glass and she blinked at herself. She was wearing a long sleeved, dark blue, high collared gown of silk with pearl beads dotting the edge, the gold embroidery was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen and she blinked as Queen Frigga brought forward a small chained hair decoration and placed it along her head. There was a small, teardrop shaped sapphire that sat on her forehead and she stared in mute shock at herself, the beautiful dress and soft shoes making her feel a bit at ease. The woman took her hand and guided her to the door, opening it and stepping through to see Loki standing in the other room with his back to them. He turned, looking at her and he stared openly with wide eyes. She shrank back, and he watched her mannerisms for a moment and he took in the gown she wore.
"She looks less wild now. But still be careful, she tried to bite me before." He said and Frigga guided her to a chair at a table with food, motioning for her to sit and she smiled at the girl.
"She was terrified Loki, she still is." She scolded him, and she looked at the woman as she moved to leave. "I will have a Maid come by this evening to help her change into something for bed. I trust you will not torment her much more?"
"I will resist the urge, this was your idea. You know I am against owning such creatures, and want this barbaric practice ended." He said and she sat, staring at the large bed covered in blankets of emerald silk and furs. Is was imposing to her, and her stomach churned at the thought of what was going to happen to her on it and she whimpered. She shook, her heart pounding and she heard a plate being set next to her. Frigga opened the door and she ran from her chair, not wanting to be left alone with Loki and she caught the women's hand in both of hers. She pulled her back, her eyes pleading with her and she put a gentle hand on the girl's cheek.
"All will be fine, don't fret." She said and she extricated her hand from the girl. She stood and watched the Queen leave, her hands falling to her sides and she stood and stared at the door. Loki coughed behind her, she jumping at the sound and she felt his hands on her arms. He pulled her back into the Bed Chamber, she struggled and he put an arm around her waist. She did not want to go in there, her silent struggles going unnoticed as she pulled her through the door and she wriggled out of his grasp. She ran to the far wall, standing against it and he sighed.
"Sit down and eat. Please." He said and she turned slowly, looking at him and she saw him sit at the table. He gestured toward the other seat and she edged around his chair, going to the other one and she looked at the food in front of her. He picked up his fork, cutting some of the roasted meat and put it into his mouth. He looked at her, her hands not moving to take any of the food and he sighed as he looked at her.
"It does you no good to starve, so do eat. I am beginning to think you are far too defiant and a danger to yourself." He said and she did not move, her eyes were fixed on the plate and her stomach churned as she sat and waited for him to pull her to the bed and rape her. He waited, and stood to stand next to her. He picked up her fork as she cringed, cutting some meat and holding it toward her. She kept her mouth shut, her eyes fixed ahead and he pinched her nose to make her open her mouth. She parted her lips to breathe and he slipped the food into her mouth, leaving the meat sitting on her tounge and she chewed it silently. He sat back down, staring at her and picked up some roasted vegetables and ate the food.
"Eat. Do not force me to have the Guards come in and feed you." He said and she picked up the fork and knife, her hands shaking as she cut another small piece of the meat and ate it. He sat back, looking at her and waved a hand at her.
"I do not know what is going on in your mind, but you are going to have certain expectations on you. I bought you and intend to possibly keep you here, and to eventually teach you a few manners in the process." He said, raising a finger to her and she watched him. "I expect you to answer every question I ask you, and I also expect you to behave yourself. You will keep yourself clean, and feed yourself at all meals. You are useless to me while unwell, and I will have certain tasks for you to perform while you are here. Now, do you know how to read and write?"
"Yes Sir." She said and he grinned at her, leaning back in his chair and he folded his hands. She picked up another bit of the food and ate it, hiding her fear and she glanced at him.
"You do have a voice and understand. Good, now tell me your name." He said and she trembled at him, her mouth forming the response that was forced upon her by the Handlers.
"A Slave has no name other than what her Master gives her." She said and he shook his head at her. His eyes narrowing and he stared at her, his annoyance showing.
"No. Your Mother gave you a name when you were born, what is it?" He asked her and she stared at him, her chin trembling and she licked her lips.
"My name is to be decided by you." She said, fearing the shock stick and he stood up, turning her chair toward him. She whimpered, pushing back into the chair and he stared into her eyes while lifting her chin. She shook with fear, and he lifted her chin and she felt his breat on her face.
"What is you name?" He asked her and she whimpered, his eyes fixing in hers.
"L... Lo... Lorien... Sir." She stammered out, shrinking back and he turned her chair back toward the table and she stared at the plate again. He picked up his goblet and sipped the wine and gestured for her to eat, she not wanting him to be any more angry with her, she picked up the fork and began eating again before he had to correct her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He had left her some time ago, and she sat on the lounge in front of the fire. The breeze moving her hair the only motion on her and she stared into the flames, her eyes filled with unshed tears and her heart with hollow grief. He had told her that he would return, and her eyes felt so heavy as she sat alone. She did not know of she could move from the spot she was in, and she folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes drifted closed, and she felt her body lay back and she jerked awake. She looked at the cushion, and she wondered if she would be punished for resting her head on it. Her need for sleep overcoming her and she lay herself down against the raised end and put the cushion under her head, her feet curled on the end of it and she let her eyes drift shut. She soon let darkness take her, a prayer on her mind for her soul and a deeper one that she never wake.
The door to the rooms opened and shut, Loki walking in and finding her asleep in front of the fire. He lifted a fur from the bed and covered her, not waking her and opened a book to read as he sat by and waited for her to wake. She looked so soft and sweet as she lay with her eyes closed, her heart shaped face at peace in contrast to what had happened to her before. The world was an awful place, and she would soon learn her role in it now. His eyes fixing on her and he closed his own eyes for a moment to rest them, he did not want this girl but accepted her to silence Frigga from bothering him more. Her role was unfair in his mind, and he loathed it with all his being.
The other role he had thrust upon him disgusting him more, the role in the shape of a crass Vanir Princess.
He sat, waiting for her to rise again but the light dimmed in the rooms and the moon soon rose. He sighed, changing into his linen sleep pants and climbed into his bed. He looked at the sleeping form on the chaise, her legs curling and he felt himself grow weary as he drifted to sleep.