Chapter 6.
He woke, rolling onto his back and he saw the space next to him empty. He heard the soft click of flatware being laid on the table in the other room, and he lifted his head to see Lorien setting out his breakfast. She was wearing a lavender dress with silver embroidery up the sleeves and a headband of silver that was dotted with aemythists and a veil of sheer lavender fabric pinned under it over her hair, she had delicate, graceful hands and her face was calm and serene. He watched her as she put a cup at his spot, and then she set a plate in his space as she worked as quietly as she could to not disturb him.
"I did not expect to find you dressed already, and preparing my morning meal." He said, sitting up and she stopped and curtsied to him out of respect.
"I was asleep earlier than you, and thought you would be hungry when you woke Sir." She replied, her eyes lowering and he stood and stretched his arms above his head. He saw the Maid enter with the breakfast tray, the girl frowning at Lorien and not hiding her anger at having the Slave Girl dressed better than she was. Lorien looked away, knowing her place in this Castle was one of shame and she gave no indication that she was otherwise unhappy.
"You did well, I appreciate your assumption and thank you for your diligence to me. You are a good and obedient woman, I have little worry that you will cause me any further grief." Loki replied, and the Maid snorted her distaste toward the compliment as she curtsied and left the room, leaving the tray on the table and he shrugged his robe on as Lorien began putting his food out for him. He watched her, the way she blushed at the gratitude and he gestured for her to sit as she placed his food on the small table. She sank into the chair, and he placed a plate of food in front of her and he gestured for her to eat. She picked up the fork and ate a small bite of the food and he sat back as he sipped his tea.
"I gave you instructions to always answer my questions with honesty, do you understand this request?" He asked her and she nodded, swallowing the food in her mouth and she looked at him.
"I do Sir." She said, and he regarded Lorien a moment. She slowly ate more of the food and he grinned, wanting to get more information from her.
"You have a Sister, was she taken as well?" He asked and she looked at her lap, her eyes closing.
"I am not sure, I pray they did not do so though Sir. She ran with my brother toward the woods, and they vanished as they drugged me." She replied and he nodded, his fingers steepling under his nose.
"A Brother?"
"Yes Sir. His name is Pern, I do not know if her got away either."
"What of your Mother? Surely you miss her and she you." He said and he saw her blink back tears, she nodded silently and he waited for her to answer him.
"She was called to Valhalla last Summer, she died with the baby she brought into the world Sir. A fever claimed them both, amd I took on the task of raising Inge while Father provided for us." She replied and he pressed his lips together, his hands lowering and he frowned.
"I offer you my condolences Lorien, it must pain you terribly. I do however assume that you are the oldest." He said and she looked at him, her green eyes searching his face for any sign he was mocking her and she smiled slightly.
"Thank you Sir. That is most kind if you to say." She replied and he nodded to her. He ate a bit more, remembering the names of her brother and sister to inquire about them later and he waved a hand toward the Bathing Chamber.
"When I finish eating, I will bathe. I only say this so that you may use the Privy before I go in there, I doubt you wish to relieve yourself in front of a nude man." He said and she nodded. He watched her, seeing the sadness in her eyes and he knew that she had to be lonely while she was alone in his Chambers with no company.
"I am going to arrange for you to visit with Queen Frigga, perhaps you may perform some tasks for her while I am away from these Chambers." He said and she blinked at him in silence. Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of leaving these rooms and she felt a giddiness, but she remembered how she was looked down upon and she nodded silently. She folded her hands, not knowing how to react or act in front of the Queen and wanted only to put her best foot forward. She decided that she would use her best manners, and she smiled softly at her keeper.
"No gratitude?" He asked, an edge to his voice and she jerked to attention.
"Thank you Sir." She said and she stared at the plate in front of her. She picked up her fork to eat again, and he saw something in her eyes edging on a bit of trust. He stood, walking to his desk and picked up a lacquered box on it and brought it back over to the table.
"You will have to wear a cuff, it bears my sigil on it and will mark you as my property. I will find you thanks to the spell I wove I to it, so do not think that you may run away. If any person attempts to touch you, show it to them and it should act as a deterrent." He said, and she placed her wrist in his hand obediently, he opened the box to show her a golden cuff with a emerald inset into it. It was three inches wide, and etched with a floral motif that was actually attractive. He picked it up and moved her sleeve back to open it and click it in place around her arm, it sealed shut with his magic and she knew she would never be able to remove it.
"It is pretty Sir." She said and he nodded, returning to his seat and she pulled her sleeve back down to her hand. He watched her eat, and he began to finish his meal in silence. His eyes falling back on her, and he wondering if she feared him because of her station as his property, or if she though she was going to be treated like the other girls were.
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Frigga watched the Ladies play in the garden, all of them laughing together and watching the eligible Noblemen walk past. Some stopped to present themselves to the girls, and Lorien watched them flirt with one another. Her heart sank as she walked behind the Queen, knowing that no one would ever flirt with her or wish to have her as a wife. And it felt heavier knowing that she could never accept such a thing, for Courtship meant revealing her deepest secrets. The older woman said something to her, and her eyes picked up off the grass and she looked at the regal woman.
"I am sorry, I did not hear you My Queen." She said and Frigga smiled warmly at the girl, she walked over and lifted her chin. The matronly way she treated the girls reminded her of her mother, how warm and inviting she was and never sharp or cruel.
"I asked if Loki was treating you well." She asked and Lorien nodded, her eyes going wide.
"He is very kind and gracious to me, Majesty. He gives me plenty to eat, and he never beats me." Lorien said, and felt heat rise to her cheeks. "He lets me draw on paper and praises my handwriting, and allows me books to read."
"I am very glad, he has been lonely for such a long time." She said and gestured to the girl to sit next to her on a bench as the other girls flirted with more Noblemen. "Is he... I know this is delicate, but I must ask Dear. Is he, gentle when you go to his bed?"
"He has not used me in that way Majesty." She said, her cheeks turning a darker shade of crimson and the Queen blinked at her.
"He... It seems that my younger Son is quite the gentleman then." Frigga laughed, patting her knee. "He said that he would not cause you any reason to feel pain or discomfort. He is true to his word, I am rather proud of him."
"He only allows me to sleep, and I do chores in his Chambers to tidy them Majesty." She said and Frigga smiled and shook her head.
"Dear, It is not a terrible thing. You are lucky in a way, Loki is different from the other Nobles. He... dislikes the way people in your station are treated, and seeks to change the way things are through his actions. I was told by him that he likes how quiet you are, and how you behave with such good manners." Frigga replied, and Lorien looked at the matronly woman in shock.
"He likes me?" She said, and closed her hand over the sleeve concealing the cuff. "As a friend?"
"Yes. I think, after a fashion, that he likes the company of a pretty woman as well. Like I said, he has always been a bit lonely."
"I understand, Majesty." She said and her thoughts began running circles in her head. The girls continued their laughter, and Frigga smiled at The Old King as he walked toward them. Lorien stood, dropping into a curtsy and kept her eyes low as he walked to see Frigga.
"You may stand young lady, there is no need for you to strain your legs." He said and Frigga waved her over to the flower beds, smiling at her.
"Why don't you pick some flowers to cheer Loki's Chambers, I am sure he will like that." She said and Lorien nodded, leaving the two of them to talk. She picked some of the roses, being careful to avoid the thorns and she selected several white and blushing pink ones. She moved on, selecting some sprigs of small white clovers to add to them and she sat in the grass to arrange them neatly. She hummed to herself, the soft melody turning to a sweet song as she worked and she did not hear the heavy footsteps approach her from behind.
"Lovely tune fair Lady." A voice said, and she jumped, dropping a stem and she looked up to see a blonde haired man with a moustache standing over her. She blinked, standing up from her work and she lowered her eyes as she curtsied.
"I am sorry Sir. I did not mean to disturb you." She said quickly and he laughed at her, he bowed to her and gave her a dazzling smile.
"It is I who disturbed you, forgive me for startling you. I am Fandral, Warrior of Asgard. May I have the privilege of knowing yours?" He said and he offered an open hand to her. She hesitated, another Maid walking over and giggling as she watched. She lowered her eyes and she slipped the sleeve up to show him the cuff on her wrist, his eyes falling on it and he frowned.
"Lorien, Slave to Prince Loki of Asgard Sir." She said, and he stood back up. He backed away, a nod to his head and he turned to leave. He paused, and she covered the shame she bore around her wrist and he turned back.
"You are still beautiful Maiden, and are free to call me friend if you wish." Fandral said and she smiled at him, her eyes still low.
"Thank you Sir. I like that very much." She replied, sitting back in the grass and arranging her flowers as he walked over and began flirting with the Ladies again. He kissed the hand of one, another smiling as he lifted her hair and made her blush. Lorien tried not to pay too close attention, but part of her wished for someone to show her the attention that they recieved. She picked off the thorns, and arranged the flowers as the girls parted and a darker bit of shadow walked through them, she looked up with the flowers in her arms and saw Loki standing over her. She stood up, his eyes narrowing at her and she curtsied to him and she followed after as he walked.
"Fandral." He said tersely, the anger at the lighter haired man showing as he passed with his hands folded behind his back. He leaned close to the Warrior, his eyes narrowing further and the man nodded as he took his eyes off of Lorien. A Lady giggled and leaned close to him, her voice filled with mirth.
"She is in for a beating now." She said and Lorien shook with fear, she swallowed hard and hurried to keep up with Loki and she nearly started weeping to herself, burying her nose in the perfume of the roses as she walked the path behind him.
They walked to another Garden, the hedge keeping them from view and he turned on her. He pinned her with a stare, and she dropped to her knees in the grass and shook under his scrutiny. She could see his anger, and she feared that the Maid was right, she was going to be beaten.
"Did he touch you?" He asked and she shook her head. She held the flowers, and he walked toward her and stopped.
"No Sir. I... I showed him the cuff and he... He told me we could still be as friends." She said and he took a step back, he motioned her to stand and he pressed his lips together.
"I believe you. Follow me." He said and she hurried after him. She kept pace with him, and he led her to a part of the Castle she had never seen before. She heard a girl weeping and crying out, and she ran forward as the flowers slipped from her fingers in recognition of the voice. They hit the floor, Loki watching them scatter and she opened the door to see a black haired girl surrounded by Healers and the girl cried out when she saw Lorien.
"Lorien!" The child cried, her arms open to her sister and Loki watched their exchange.
"Inge!" She shouted, running to the girl and taking both of her hands. Loki watched as she petted the filthy girl's hair and looked at her. "What happened? Where is Pern?"
"He was killed like Papa by the men who took you. They left me in the woods to starve, then that man came and found me on the road. He said he would bring me to you, so I went with him on his horse. It is so pretty, and runs fast." She said, tears cutting tracks in the dirt on her cheeks. Queen Frigga walked into the room, Odin after her and they both saw the sad girl. Lorien wrapped her arms around her sister, crying into her matted hair and she held the girl.
"Lorien, where are we?" The girl asked and Frigga walked to the child.
"You are in the Palace of Asgard sweet child." Frigga said and Loki glared at Odin, his eyes shooting daggers.
"Two good subjects dead, and an innocent girl left to starve to death, all to take one into a trade you allow to happen. How long do these good people have to suffer under your laws, how long does this slaughter have to happen?" Loki said, the Old King's eye fixed on the two girls and he sighed.
"Frigga may take the child in, keep her as a ward until she is old enough to care for herself." He said, glaring at Loki back. "These laws exist to keep peace, you seem to be benefitting from them."
Loki turned on his heel, Lorien extricating herself from the little girl and walking after him as he entered the hall. She ran, trying to keep up with his stride and he paused at hearing her call out for him. She stood, her shoulders rising and falling with her emotions and she swallowed hard. She fell to her knees, reaching up and taking his hand and pressed it to her forehead.
"I cannot thank you enough Sir. You brought her back, and she is safe." She said, tears rolling over her cheeks and she took in a deep breath. "She would have died, and no one would have cared for her remains. Her soul would never have found Valhalla, and been cursed to walk this land forever."
"Stand up, your gratitude is enough." He said and she wiped the tears from her eyes. She gasped for breath, and she blinked back the rest that threatened to fall.
"I swear, I will be nothing but obedient in gratitude Sir. I will never run, and... and you may... as a man needs..." Lorien said, and she folded her hands in front of her and she trembled as she stood silently.
"I only want you to stop looking so forlorn." He replied and he walked toward her. "I gave three men some gold to ensure that your Brother and Father were properly given the Rites of the Dead this evening. Their souls will pass to Valhalla."
"Thank you Sir." She said, her eyes shedding the tears she fought back. She was torn then, following him or running back to her sister. He smiled at her, lifting her chin and he brushed a tear away.
"Go back to your Sister, she is afraid and in a strange place." He said and she nodded at him. He watched her back away with a curtsy, turning then and running back to the Infirmary. He grinned to himself, turning and walking on to his Chambers.
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He looked up from his book, hearing laughter fill the hall outside and the sound of two sets of feet running toward his Chambers. The distinct sound of one girl being shushed and he went back to read his book, the door opening and Lorien entering with a curtsy and keeping her eyes low. Behind her, the child in the yellow dress grabbed her waist and began tickling her older sister, the girl squealing and giggling as she tried not to loose her composure. She squirmed away, trying to stop the child and Loki smiled at their michief.
"Inge! Stop that, he is reading and wished to not be disturbed." Lorien scolded the girl and he grinned at them both. He raised an eyebrow, looking at the girl and he saw the distinct look of Frigga's handiwork on the child. She was bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and obviously well fed.
"Sorry Sir. I wanted to make Lorien laugh." The child said and he stood, folding his hands behind his back and he walked around them both.
"I can hear that, and I believe you Child." He said, lifting her chin the way that he did with her older sister and inspected her. "Is this the same child I found wandering the North woods this morning?"
"Yes Sir. It is me Inge!" She said and she turned around to watch him as he circled both of them. He grinned, and she hid her face in Lorien's skirts. Her small hands clutched the fabrics, and she peeked through the gossamer folds at him.
"I see that, it was rather hard to believe that a little girl was under so much dirt." He said and she giggled. He crouched low, making claws with his hands and growled low in his chest. The child narrowed her eyes back, making the same gesture back at him and he laughed as he stood back up and ruffled her hair.
"We did not mean to disturb you Sir. She does not want to leave my side." Lorien said, folding her hands and he nodded.
"Understandable. She has been through much, she may sleep with you tonight and return to Frigga in the morning." He said, returning to his seat and her mouth fell open at his statement. He waved to the lounge, looking at the girls. "Put a pillow and blanket over there for me."
"But Sir, that is not your place..." Lorien started and he stopped her protest with a look. He stood close to her, leaning over and she nodded as he spoke into her ear.
"I gave you a request." He said, she trembling as his breath ghosted over her neck. She looked at him, the little girl staring at him, her eyes wide and she clutched Lorien's hand in both of hers.
"Yes... Sir. I will get them at once." She said and she went to work. The girl helped her, carrying the pillow over and putting it where he would be resting his head. He sat back in his chair, and the girls readied themselves for bed. Lorien bathed, returning with her shift and robe on and she helped her sister into the large bed. The child gave it a few hops, landing on her bottom and giggling as she settled.
"It is like sleeping on a bag of wool!" She giggled, and Lorien slipped under the sheets and the little girl curled close to her. Loki stretched from his spot, watching the little girl look at her sister and they both shared a moment between them.
"I missed you Inge." She said after a while, her sister holding her hands.
"I missed you too. Is Pern and Papa with Mama?" She asked and Lorien made a small sound.
"Yes, they are all beyond the Golden Gates, watching us." She replied and the little girl snuggled close to the older one. She hugged the girl, her arms holding her and she sniffed a bit.
"Why are the sheets so soft here Lorien?" The child asked, Loki hiding a chuckle over the mundane question and he listened on.
"Because this is the bed of a Prince, they are more accustomed to fine things." She replied and the girl wiggled a bit.
"Why did the Prince buy you?" She asked and Lorien let out a sharp breath.
"I don't know, I... I think he wanted someone to clean and organize his books." She said quickly. "Go to sleep now Inge."
"Sing to me. The song Mama used to sing to us?" The girl whispered, Loki blinked and stared at the fire. A soft melody filled his ears, making his eyes heavy and he found himself getting lost in the Old Norse lullaby. He remembered the same one, Frigha having sung it to him as a child and he found Lorien to have a softer, warmer voice. As his eyes closed, he thought about how he found the child, her eyes feral and she shaking as she begged him for a drink of water. She had the same eyes and hair of Lorien, and he asked her her name.
"I am Inge. May I please have some of your water?" She asked, her filthy hands and clothes reaching for the skin and he gave it to her.
"I know where your Sister is, her name is Lorien." He said and the girl stared at him with wide eyes. She looked at his coal black horse, her hands clutching the water and she blinked at him.
"Are you going to take me to her? Where is she?" The child asked and he held his hand out to her. She looked nervously at it and stepped back toward the woods, looking as if she were going to run.
"She is in the Castle, I have saved her from a terrible fate and I do promise to take you to her." He said and she stared at his hand for a moment. She took a small step forward, her eyes filled with tears and he decided to use more information to his advantage. "Where is your Brother? I believe she told me his name was Pern?"
"They killed him. They stabbed him and told me to run away like a rabbit, they said they would kill me unless I ran and was never seen again." She said, her eyes filling with tears. She screwed her fists into them, her sobs wracking her frame and he pulled his riding cloak off of his shoulders. He gave it to the child to wrap herself in, and she held onto it as she clung to it in fear and cried into it. She took his other hand, her eyes red and he frowned at her.
"Where was your home?" He asked and she pointed to the East. She let him walk her to the horse, he lifting her and wrapping the cloak around her. She sat in the saddle, his arm around her thin frame and he cursed the men who stole her security. He gave the horse a nudge with his boots, easing him down the road and he followed it to the abandoned homestead.
He left the child with his horse, walking through the field and he saw five men gathering up the remains. They carefully placed the head of an older man with his body, his black beard and hair giving him the reason to suspect that this was her Father and Loki startled another man carrying a boy a bit younger than Lorien. They all froze, seeing the Prince and one man put his hands up in supplication.
"We did not do this, we are from across the field. This was done by another man My Prince." He said, looking at the child on his horse. His eyes showed relief, and he covered the body of the man with a thin shroud.
"I am taking the child to the Castle, she will be made a ward of Queen Frigga." Loki said, handing the man a pouch of gold. "Use this to get them their Funerary Rights, I assume that would found no other bodies?"
"No My Prince, he had another daughter however, she was of age and had the eye of my eldest son. I fear she has been sold into slavery, she was a beauty. I fear that she suffers at the hands of another man, and pray that she finds peace in death." The man said and Loki pressed his lips together. He stood back, watching the boys cover the younger man with another shroud and felt sick at what he saw.
"See that all Rites are observed, this family deserved better treatment than this." Loki said, turning and walking back to the horse and climbing onto it before spurring it toward the Castle. The child clung to his arm, her fingers tight as he raced the Stallion along the road and she held onto him out of fear.
"I'm scared! This is too fast!" Inge said, and he slowed the horse, her fingers relaxing and he looked down at her. "Are you really Prince Loki?"
"I am child, and you are safe now. You have my promise." He said, the horse trotting along and carrying them toward his home and her sister.