Chapter 15.
All of the Palace was buzzing with the scintillating gossip about the Slave Girl and the Prince, their eloping so that they could be forever bound leaving nothing to the imagination. The duo in question, laughing about such things. The rumors amusing some claiming that she was already carrying his child, and she was secretly a Vanir Noblewoman. She seduced him with Dark Magic, and he was bespelled. She promised him that he could have her any way he wanted, but he had to wed her first. She was talented in a few Bedchamber aspects, and the couple liked them all and found them amusing.
None were true of course, and it was a week before the Vanir Ambassador knocked at Odin's Chamber doors. He held a letter in his hand, presenting it to the King and the old man sighed as he opened it by breaking the wax seal. He read the contents, pinching the bridge of his nose and he shook his head as he set the letter aside.
"I will inform them both after the Celebration is up. At least give the poor girl time to ready herself before she faces these tasks?" Odin said, the Ambassador shifting silently. "She is innocent in all this, and I believe that Loki had a great deal more to do with it than he lets on."
"I understand, King Odin. My Master will send an envoy in four days with The Princess, she was greatly grieved by this and prays to win her Bethroved back. To have herself proven worthy of the title of his Bride." The Ambassador said, releasing the long breath he held. Odin nodded, staring out the window and folding his hands behind his back. He waved a Paige over, telling the boy to deliver the news to Loki and Lorien, and he looked sadly back out the window.
"Tell him... Tell Loki, that she must be removed from his bed until the Tests of Seven are over. We cannot show any sort of favor toward one girl or the other, it must all be seen as fair." Odin said, fearing the fallout of what was coming. Loki would fight for the girl, cheat even, all to make sure that she was protected from any harm. He knew that about his Son, and he feared the girl already carried his child. They had obviously consummated their marriage, the sheets being presented to him and he now fearing that two innocent lives were at stake.
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Lorien danced with Inge around the Maypole, Loki smiling mirthfully at the sisters as they traded ribbons and skipped as the music played. He admired the grace she moved with, and her patience with her younger sibling. Both girls were wearing golden yellow dresses, chosen by Frigga and their laughter filled the air as they clapped their hands and turned on their toes. Inge and she traded positions, their giggles louder than the other Ladies and the Paige approached him. He waved the boy over, he bowing and delivering his message.
"My Prince, The Vanir King demands that the Tests of Seven be enacted to restore his Daughter's honor. It is in the best interest of all parties that Lady Lorien be removed from your Chambers until the conclusion. By the expressed orders of King Odin." The Boy said, and Loki nearly snarled at the boy. He took a nervous step back, and Loki watched as the Guards moved to protect the child from him.
"I will tell her myself, she will share accommodations with her Sister, and she will be allowed Maids to tend to her needs." Loki hissed at the boy, his eyes falling on Lorien and Inge and he felt fear, icy cold and true shoot through him. She was not raised to take part in such contests, she was too fragile and she would fall. The Prince was allowed to pick the Tests, and if she failed at too many, her life was forfeit because of the ring she wore. The Vanir Princess would have to return to Vanenheim with a broken Bethroval, nothing more, if she lost. He thought long and hard about what her tests should be, and he saw the graceful way she moved and he heard her delicate singing voice carried on the breeze. The musicians smiled at her singing as she danced with Inge, and Loki grinned to himself at the idea he had then.
It was he who chose the tests, and two of them were easy for her to accomplish, she being used to being still and silent for a long period of time. And her sweet voice charming so many, he also heard from Inge that she was very talented at spinning threads, so a third task was immediately chosen. His grin widening as he had the first three planned out, one thanks to a Midgardian Fable.
The fourth would be a test to see if she could discern her way out of a situation, amd he knew exactly what to do. It would be another Midgardian adage that gave him his inspiration, and he grinned at the brilliance of it. It would take some brilliance on her part, amd she would definitely shine through from the wit she had shown before. Now, if only the last three tests would be carefully planned to her advantage, he would be able to save her. He smiled at the girls, their laughter filling the air and she turned a circle, her skirts and hair flaring out as she smiled.
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"I must go?" Lorien asked, the Maids removing her things from his Chambers and she stood helpless against them. She folded her hands, biting at her lip and Loki walked toward her. He cradled her cheeks in his hands, running his thumb over her lip and he kissed her. He did not like this at all, and he would be stacking the odds in her favor every step of the way.
"Just until you take victory over Princess Varka, and take your place as my true Wife. Which is what you are now, but you will be unchallenged in all matters." He said, reassuring her as the four Maids waited to escort her to her Sister's rooms for the duration of the Tests. She blinked back tears, her eyes saddened and she shook her head as she pulled away.
"I was not bred for this, these tests, I am not a graceful or beautiful Noble Daughter. I am a Commoner, born of a farmer and made to serve people like you. I should never have given myself so freely, I should never have done any of this." She wept into her hands and she did her best to hide her fears. "By its end, I will be executed, amd you will have the Wife intended for you."
"No!" He shouted, taking her shoulders and she squirmed as his grip held her tightly. "YOU are my Wife, not that red haired harpy. She has the worst manners, and is never as you are. You are what I wanted in a Bride, your quiet nature, your gentle voice, even your soft touch. You are everything she is not, and so very much more. By the end of this, I will have you back in my arms and will never let you go Lorien, never."
"Please... you are hurting me." She whimpered and he let go of her arms, the shock of his actions on his face as she stepped back and flinched away from him. He stared in disbelief at what he had done, looking at the floor and he shook his head.
"I... I am sorry." He muttered out, and she gave him a gentle curtsy as the Maids signaled it was time for her to leave. She turned, leaving him and he saw her glance back for a moment before she was ushered away and he stood in his Chambers alone for the first time in several months. He walked to the made bed, resting a hand on the pillow she slept on and he brought it to his nose. His heart ached as he clutched it to his chest, and he wished for her return to him desperately. The emptiness of the rooms were complete, and everything seemed hollow in those walls. The lingering perfume, a ghostly reminder of the woman who graced those rooms for so short a time.
And now she was gone.
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"Lorien!" Inge gasped, seeing her sister enter the Chambers and she giggled. "You should be with your husband, not here. Did you both quarrel?"
"No, Inge... There are to be certain challenges to my being married to the Prince, and I fear I may have made a bit of a mess of both out lives by being rash." Lorien said, her eyes filling with tears. "I have taken a man into my embrace that was promised to another, and I do not know how it will all play out."
She sank to the floor, her hands covering her face and Inge ran to her. The child held her, trying to comfort her Sister and she looked around her for help. Queen Frigga entered, seeing the scene and she sat on the floor next to the stricken girl and held her close to her.
"Oh Dear, don't worry yourself over these trials. I know the traditions well, and I can say that the tests are swayed in your favor." Frigga said, and Lorien looked at the Queen. She took an offered handkerchief, and she blinked as she dabbed her nose.
"How? I do not understand, My Queen." She replied and Frigga smiled softly at her.
"Loki chooses the tests, all of them designed to allow him to select a Wife that suits his desires." She said softly, her fingers producing a paper from a sleeve and she slipped it to Lorien. She held a finger to her lips, and Lorien tucked the page up her own sleeve and she nodded.
"He said he desires a quiet, mannerly woman." She said softly and Frigga nodded, caressing her cheek. She smiled, taking Inge into her arms and she cradled the child as she motioned Lorien to turn down Inge's blankets.
"Yes, and he wants a mother for his children with a soft voice to sing to them. Perhaps you might sing your sister to sleep, and you might want to read a book about other traditions toward these tests. You will shine, trust me on this." Frigga said, Lorien smiling softly and she sat next to Inge on the bed and sang to the child. The little girl falling to sleep on the melody carried, and the sweet sound of her voice echoing through the halls as she leaned over and kissed her sister softly.