It was one thing dreaming about being a princess and it definitely was another trying to be one. That was something Emma had been learning the hard way in the past two weeks. For someone who loved jeans and t-shirts and all the freedom of being a bit of a tomboy, wearing an elegant long dress and conducting herself gracefully everyday was a nightmare. It wasn't about picking the right cutlery for the right meal. Thankfully there weren't that many choices of forks in Asgardian tables and some even eat with hands, mostly men. It was about the annoying little things like dropping a curtsy whenever you publicly meet with your future father-in-law, minding your language, presenting yourself only favorably (like what the hell was that suppose to mean?) and keeping your hands off from you gorgeous future husband in public places.
The princess role-play had been fun for a few days, but after two weeks it was making Emma annoyed. And this was supposed to be her life, for the rest of her life?
The nights with Loki however made the days' struggles worth it. At some nights they were entangled to each other between sweaty sheets and doing things that belonged in marital bed. Other nights he just held her closer, letting her fall in sleep in his arms. And when she woke up, he was there by her side.
That morning Loki attended to a council meeting and mercifully left Emma lazing around alone in her chambers. Having finally some time for herself, Emma savored her breakfast slowly, gathered the dishes and made the bed by herself, granting some spare time for the kind servant. When having the chance to choose her dress for that day, she chose the most modest one; a long, beige gown with long sleeves.
After her morning routines, Emma chose a few books from the tall shelves and sat comfortably on a cushioned seat.
"Posture, dear," Frigga had used to remind Emma gently time and time again.
Emma thought she heard queen's voice in her ears even she was alone and automatically corrected her sitting position. Aw shit, she murmured and re-corrected herself then into something more comfortable. Then she flipped one book open, hoping to have a chance to culture herself and maybe surprise Loki with her new knowledge.
Grumpily she stared down at the pages, browsing through the book and picked up another.
"Runes?" she cried out. "You've got to be freaking kidding me! There is a whole library full of books written in runes?" She flipped through the pages and groaned. "Great! Next they are probably expecting me to learn to read and write this shit!"
It would have been a bit too much anyways if the books were written in plain English, she guessed, but there weren't even nice pictures in these books. She chewed the inside of her cheek and pondered that there's got to be a way to decipher the runes. She had to learn to read this language. Maybe she could have asked for Frigga's help. They were supposed to go for a walk today anyway.
As she was about to leave, looking for the queen, someone knocked on the doors and Emma went opening.
The one behind the doors wasn't Frigga. Emma was surprised to see that it was that beautiful red-head, Frigga's court lady. She smiled at Emma friendly, carrying a vase of lovely, pink cherry blossom branches.
"Greetings, lady Emma. I hope I do not disturb you. You might have seen me here in the palace, but we have not been properly introduced yet. I'm lady Thyra. I'm queen Frigga's court lady."
"Hi! Yeah, I've seen you around here a few times," Emma said, leaning her shoulder against the door. Her sharp scent was stunned by the lady's rich, flowery perfume that seemed to overpower everything. "Um, what can I do for you?"
"Oh, quite contrary! Queen thought that you may wish for some company today and sent me here," lady Thyra said blithely, offering her company and the vase of flowers. "These are for you. I gathered them myself this morning from the indoor gardens. Cherry blossoms. I have always enjoyed their delicate and fragile beauty. A little gift for your engagement."
Puzzled, Emma glanced at the offering but smiled and accepted it. "Thank you. These are very pretty."
"Since I am here would you like me to join you? Perhaps I can offer you my guidance for a flourishing courtly life."
Hesitating Emma stared down at the pink blossoms. Hers and Loki's betrothal was official now and there were only a week for the wedding. She should have been accepting all the help there was to offer. And if Frigga had sent the lady, so why not?
Emma gave the lady an awkward smile. "I don't suppose you could teach me to read?" she asked and noticed that unintentional smirk on lady Thyra's face. "I mean the runes. I can't make sense of the runes."
Lady Thyra lifted her chin. "Oh, you mean the writings in our native language? Of course, I would be happy to aid you."
"Great! I would love to surprise Loki by reading to him something from his own books one day," Emma said excited.
Lady Thyra smiled as she was allowed into Emma's chambers. "I am sure the prince will be most delighted."
… …
Loki crossed his arms over his chest and glanced up at the decorative ceiling of the throne room as though there would have been someone up there to help him out. The painted images of his family on the ceiling didn't seem to have anything to give for him, not even his own restrained portrait.
"I have explained you everything. What more do you need?" Loki asked sounding very much annoyed. He dropped his gaze back on Allfather who stood next to him in front of the throne, looking much older than in the painting.
After the official council meeting and tumult of crowd the throne room was pleasantly quiet again. Thor was sent to visit Alfheim again and Loki stayed to speak with Odin in private.
Odin watched his son thoughtfully. "We need real evidences and proofs to support those accusations, Loki. You know it. Thor went to Alfheim gathering them," Odin stated quietly. "We are talking about treason, traitors in our midst. We cannot apprehend our highly respected citizens by following a hunch."
"My hunch has always served me right. Valkor spoke of an incompetent spy. Who else could it have been? The trail is getting colder the longer we wait. It has been two weeks already. Valkor was informed of your rest. He was given the exact right time to launch the attack. Thor was summoned to visit Alfheim at the same time, leaving Asgard more defenseless. Valkor was shocked to see me there instead of Thor," Loki explained, his hands controllably gesturing the facts.
"And you believe councilor Reynir is the informer. On what grounds?" Odin asked.
"Councilor Reynir has connections to Alfheim. For someone despising the other races, he sees no problem for making his fortunes by importing commodities from the elf's realm. He tried to convince Thor to visit Alfheim, instead of me. His daughter serves as Frigga's court lady and probably spills all our rumors to her father. I swear he is the traitor we are looking for. Maybe they both are. Bring Reynir here to be questioned. I will break him."
"I admire you dedication, but I also know there are bad blood between you and Reynir. You don't approve his views. Neither do I," Odin agreed with an audible sigh. "Still I do not believe it is him. Reynir is a proud Asgardian who would not want to bring ruin to our realm."
"You call him proud? Well, Emma has a different word for his kind. He is a racist," Loki said bitterly, anger threaded in his voice. "He would have gladly wiped out whole Jotunheim, remember? And you heard just now how he was brazenly accusing me for orchestrating the whole fire demon attack. Usually those who are guilty are viciously sifting the blame on someone else, hoping to get away from it."
Odin looked at his son, guessing the boy spoke from own experience, and raised a finger. "I warn you, Loki. Do not go near him. And don't you dare to encourage Thor after him either. I want this investigation to be done properly. I want proofs."
What Loki heard between the lines was a challenge and he loved challenges. "Fine. If you want proofs, then I will find you proofs," Loki said, and before he left he grimaced and added; "Just please, tell Frigga to get rid of lady Thyra. Please. I know how much she despises mortals. I don't want that infuriating woman anywhere near my future wife."
Odin gave his boy a small smile. "And how has your future wife settled in?"
Loki stopped on his tracks and glanced at Odin, surprised that Allfather showed more genuine interest towards his personal affairs now days. "Emma is missing home but she has been settling in quite well. Thank you for asking."
"All is well with the baby? The pregnancy is progressing accordingly?"
"Yes, of course," Loki replied more softly. It was still so strange to him that Odin took so great concern of his unborn child. Perhaps the idea of a grandchild was truly softening Allfather and bringing out more benevolent side of him.
… …
As Loki walked to his quarters, his mind was already working a plan to corner counselor Reynir and get to the bottom of the truth about Valkor's orchestrated attack against Asgard. If it was up to him finding the proofs he was ready to get himself dirty to dig them out. He felt like he owed the truth to all the Asgardians who lost their lives in fire demons' assault.
Someone, evidently councilor Reynir, had betrayed them with disastrous results. The more Loki thought about it, the more convinced and annoyed he became. The mere council meeting earlier had been pain in the arse (as colorfully as Emma used to express it). The bastard Reynir had dared to roll the blame on Loki, demonizing him and insinuating that Loki had perhaps returned to his old malice habits. And above everything else Loki's efforts of trying to convince Odin about Reynir's role in the treason had fallen on deaf ears.
When Loki reached the corridor leading to his quarters he smiled thinking about Emma. She always helped him thinking more clearly. He needed her now and his steps carried him automatically towards her chambers where he had spent most of his free time lately. His own bed had been untouched after she returned to his life, he realized.
Shaking off his annoyance, Loki entered Emma's chambers as if his own. The first thing he registered was her delightful laughter greeting him, but there was someone else sharing her merriment and laughing with her.
Curiously Loki moved forward to discover that Emma was socializing with lady Thyra. They were sitting at the dining table a few piles of books in front of them and a vase full of pink flowery branches.
Cherry blossoms, Loki realized and his eyes narrowed. His already agitated nerves got a boost of seeing Thyra there with her obviously offensive gift.
"Loki!" Emma greeted him warmly with a bright smile and put a pen down. "How was your meeting?"
Lady Thyra stood up, dropping a curtsy. "My lord," she said with an archly smile, clearly enjoying of seeing him seething.
Loki took a deep breath, his dark brows furrowing. "Lady Thyra, you are not welcome in these quarters. I want you out. Now!" he enjoined in his deep, harsh voice.
Emma rose from her seat too, taken aback by Loki's rude order. "Loki, what's wrong with you? Frigga asked her here."
"I am sorry, your grace, if my presence offends you. I only wish to congratulate you on your betrothal," lady Thyra said humbly and glanced down at the flowers. "I am sure lady Emma will be a fair and obedient wife to you. I brought you cherry blossoms. Enjoy their beauty while it lasts."
As though her words had been poison, Loki snatched the vase from the table and threw it all away against the wall near the doors. It smashed in pieces and the pink pedals of flowers floated in the air like a cloud of tiny restless butterflies.
"I said get out!" Loki shouted, his eyes blazing with untamed rage.
Looking shocked, lady Thyra saw it wiser to leave and she left with haste, Loki's bleak gaze following her out.
Emma gaped at him wide-eyed, placing a hand on her belly to calm herself and the baby. "Loki?" she whispered, stunned. "W–what was that all about?"
After the doors were closed, Loki turned towards Emma. "I want you to stay away from her. Do you hear me? You will not speak with her again!" he said gloomily and his voice lacked his usual softness.
Emma stared at him as though she had been staring at a stranger or then at that dark, scary side of him she had already forgotten. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a quiet "Why?"
Loki pointed at the doors as if there had been the foulest thing. "Thyra is an untrustworthy, vain and conniving quim! She is a manipulator. Trust me, when I say; she doesn't want to be your friend. She just wants to take advantage of you. Or worse. You stay well clear of her! Do you understand?"
Emma flinched at the bitterness and the command of his voice. She watched the shattered mess of the vase and the branches on the floor.
Loki's sudden demonstration had scared her but she lifted her chin. "Point taken, but I don't understand what the hell just happened here. If she's a bitch then just tell me and I believe you," Emma said trying to sound calm and moistened her lips. "But don't ever again raise your voice at me for no reason or act like that in front of our child! Do you understand me?" she retorted firmly.
Loki closed his eyes to calm himself and opened again to look at her with a sorry expression. "Emma, I am sorry. I am having a tremendously bad day," he said more gently and moved closer to her, but she circled the table from the other side as though wanting to avoid him. He offered his hand to her over the table. "Please, don't fear me. You need never fear me."
Emma lifted her hands, shaking her head. "Loki, I just…" She sighed unhappily, not even knowing where to begin. "I just need a moment, okay?" she said with a trembling voice and went to the doors, glancing at the mess on the floor and considering for a moment if she should clean it. Her servant wasn't going to do it today. "This is not okay!"
Loki followed her a few steps. "Wait, my love! Where are you going?"
She turned at him when she reached the doors, grabbing the handle. "For my daily walk. With your mother. Isn't that what fair and obedient wives do around here?"
"Emma, I'm sorry. I overreacted. Please, let's talk this over," Loki suggested but Emma wasn't on the mood for talking after his unfair outburst.
Loki watched her go and slumped down on a seat next to the table, burying his face in his palms in remorse. "Damned!" he sighed sorrily and rubbed his forehead. That didn't go smoothly.
He couldn't believe how easily he had fallen in lady Thyra's trap and conjured his worst self for Emma to witness. Emma had not deserved his rage.
The cherry blossoms! How had Thyra dared to bring those to Emma?
The innocent flowers had a hidden meaning among Asgardians. They were beautiful and fragile and lasted only so short time. That's why Asgardians used to call them mortal's flowers. They were not to be gathered and given to someone unless you wanted to remind them how short they lives were. That's what lady Thyra had been insinuating; a mortal's life was short.
Loki felt sick of the overly flowery stench of Thyra's perfume that was still lingering in the chambers and he wanted to cleanse the place of it. This was Emma's space. It belonged only to her.
As Loki's gaze swept over the table he noticed the books and a paper where Emma had been making notes in Asgard's runes and her midgardian language and alphabetic compassions. The last line, hand-written in Asgardian runes, captured his attention;
"I love you, Loki, king of my heart"
Loki run his finger over the text and wanted to smile but the regret didn't let him. He realized Emma had been trying to gain knowledge of asgardian language. Why hadn't she asked his aid? He would have been happy to teach her everything. They had already shared so much. Everything had been so good together and the life they had been learning to share felt so natural. He didn't want to go spoiling it.
Loki sprung up from the seat, cleared up the mess with his magic and went looking for her. He needed to talk with her and explain properly why lady Thyra was bad company, perhaps even dangerous.
… …
A vain and conniving quim? Did Loki just call that woman a cunt?
Emma grimaced as she was walking briskly through a long, bright hallway that held a whole collection of detailed statues of ancient Asgardian heroes on both sides. This time she didn't pay attention to the marvelous gilded, stony sculptures. She was more concerned about hers and Loki's exchange of heated words and Loki who had been so pissed off to the lady. She wondered why. Maybe Loki had a history with Thyra, something that hadn't end well.
Emma slowed down her pace and stopped, thinking that she should go back talking with Loki. It had been his commanding tone that had gotten on her nerves and making her seeking some time to calm herself down. She was calmer now and she should have been behaving like a responsible adult, talking things over.
It was no wonder they were both being nervous. The wedding ceremony was to happen in a week and there had been so much preparations in so short time that it felt exhausting. The mere engagement celebration had taken four days. Yes, Asgardian loved to party. Emma had been doing her best to adapt into her new life in Asgard. And above all that there hung dark clouds of suspicions and uncertainty because of the fire demons attack. Loki was in the center of all of it, in good and bad, and he had been generously lending himself and his skills to aid in the investigations.
A few people moved through the hallway, most of them assumably servants or courtiers. Two guards went by with heavy steps. Emma watched them all, pondering how was she supposed to get use to live here when there were some many people around in the palace, not just her future in-law-family.
She stood a while next to the statue of a grim warrior who held a battleaxe and a chopped off head of his enemy. Placing a hand on her baby bump, she thought that those creepy sculptures were going to give nightmares to her kid one day. The statues resembled the ancient sculptures of Greek warriors and gods, all except these guys didn't go in battle buck naked.
Emma scented the flowery fragrance before she heard lady Thyra's voice behind her.
"Oh, my lady, I am so sorry. I wish he did not maltreat you, did he?" lady Thyra asked cautiously as she approached Emma.
Emma turned at her, bemused by that question. "No, of course not. Loki wouldn't do that," Emma reassured and glanced at the freaking statue that was giving her all sort of ideas. "Look, I'm sorry the way he talked to you. It wasn't fair. I thank you for your company but I need to go..."
"Usually I do not interfere into others affairs, but I must advice you not to be foolish with Prince Loki," lady Thyra told in a serious tone. "You would not be the only one who has gotten burned in his games."
"Thanks for the advice. I really should be going now," Emma insisted and took a step back.
"He told you to stay away from me, didn't he? What a good little submissive pet you are."
Emma let out an annoyed snort when the lady talked to her as if to a child. "I'm far from it. You have no idea."
"Everyone is curious that he chose a mortal as his plaything this time," Thyra continued and smiled as Emma frowned at her. "I guess he has already tried everything else. The rumor has it that he has even been with animals. Mortals don't go very far from that."
Emma glared now. "Okay!" she grunted, knowing that she shouldn't get provoked when the intention was clear. This was not the way Thyra spoke to her earlier. She had been overly friendly, flattering beyond reason, trying to get to know Emma. Maybe Loki was right about her. "I think we are done here, lady!"
Ignoring Emma's mild warning tone of voice, lady Thyra let out a laugh. "Surely you realize that you cannot ever satisfy Loki completely. You simply are not enough. Being frank, his taste is deviant. You must have already known that. He likes women as much as he likes men. He enjoys all sorts of beasts. And you, darling with your whimsical traits, settle somewhere in between. You are just another jest to him. If you marry him you will doomed to look away when he is taking his pleasure with whomever he wants. That is the part of being a wife to a royal. Do you think you have it in you?" A gleeful smirk spread on her face when her insinuations hit the target. "If you do not believe me, ask anyone here. Oh, ask the elf king Valkor what they did together with Loki two weeks ago. They have been lovers before you were even born."
Emma clenched her jaw, not liking what she was hearing. However she knew she didn't have to stay listening anymore of this bullshit. She gave the woman a grim smirk and turned to walk away.
"Ignoring a friendly advice, are you? You can walk away but know this; that thing you carry in your womb is an abomination!" lady Thyra said loud enough for most of the people in the hallway to hear. Her voice was full of loathing. "I am appalled at Allfather's decision to let it be born. The royal Asgardian bloodline should not been tainted with mortals' muddy blood. I fear that soon they allow even frost giants to set foot on here."
Emma stopped, trying to curb her rising anger. People could have said whatever they thought about her but she didn't tolerate nasty words about her baby. Her hands closed into fists and she was praying she wouldn't slash off the woman's head with her claws, ending up for an inspiration of another statue here. Just walk away, she told to herself. She knew this conniving quim wasn't worth of her attention. If she'd been Loki, she would have thrown that flower vase in the lady's face instead of the wall.
"You think you have the queen's blessing to bring that unnatural, loathsome creature into this world? Your offspring will become a laughing stock of Asgard and even Frigga is ashamed of it. You would do it the greatest favor if you would just end it and leave," Thyra said bluntly.
That's it! The bitch's head was about to roll!
Emma swiveled back at her with a murderous glare.
"That is enough!" Frigga told firmly as she approached the ladies with soundless steps, surprising them both.
"My queen," lady Thyra sighed uneasily and curtsied.
Frigga's expression was scarily calm and authoritative, having the power to silence even her sons. "Lady Thyra! I thank you for filling your duty all these years. However now I am releasing you from your vow of service. You are no longer my lady-in-waiting, nor a member of the royal household."
Lady Thyra looked shocked. "My gracious queen, please forgive me. I have served you faithfully…"
"You have two days to gather your belongings and leave the palace," Frigga informed, not showing any sign of regret. She was a tiger mother fiercely protecting her unborn grandchild.
"My– my father will be awfully disappointed," lady Thyra whispered and glared at Emma as if she was the one to blame.
"And for a good reason," Frigga said. "I am disappointed in you, lady Thyra. My court ladies are representing me with their actions and words. Yours defiled the values I hold dear."
A disbelieving grimace twisted lady Thyra's beautiful face. "And… what of your sons' actions?" She gasped. "Your hypocrisy…"
"You have time until this evening to gather your belongings and return home!" Frigga told her sharply, silencing her prickly complaining. "After that you will not set your foot inside the palace."
Realizing her bitter defeat, lady Thyra curtsied and left without another word.
Emma took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, touching her belly. She swore that no one would ever talk like that to her child again and walk away with it. Loki had been right about that woman. She was a bitch.
"I'm sorry," Emma said to Frigga who moved closer to her.
"You have done nothing wrong," Frigga said with compassion. "Come and walk with me!"
They went having a little walk in the garden without Frigga's lady companions. The weather was pleasant for a stroll as it always was in Asgard.
"There has been enough concealment in my family. That's why I want us to be honest to each other, Emma," Frigga began as they walked along a quiet garden path. "I see that lady Thyra's foul words upset you. Do you wish to talk about it?"
"Honestly, I wanted to hurt her for the things she said about my baby," Emma divulged and glanced at the queen with a sorry frown.
"This is a precious life you are carrying within you. No one has the right to tell you otherwise."
"I know," Emma said and explained to Frigga what happened earlier with Thyra and Loki in her chambers.
Frigga stopped walking after hearing about the vase smashing incident. The cherry blossoms had clearly agitated her son. Mortal flowers. Just another proof that lady Thyra had been seeking to cause trouble.
"I see." Frigga paused, mulling it over. "Loki has a temper when it comes to people interfering with his personal life."
"Yeah! I've noticed. And I know he's been stressed lately because of the investigations of the fire demon attack, but that's not an excuse." Emma took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling how it was calming her down. The beautiful garden was working its magic on her. Nature had a calming effect. "It is really not my business but I have to ask; does Loki have a history with lady Thyra?"
"You mean something intimate? Not that I am aware of," Frigga replied and smiled. "Loki has always been very reserved in his relationships and I have never seen him bonding with anyone as deeply as he has with you."
Emma looked at Frigga and they shared a tiny smile. "Mother knows," Frigga averred and Emma dropped her gaze with a broader and a bit awkward smile.
Emma glanced around her to see that they were alone and returned her gaze back at the queen. There was something that troubled her about her talks with lady Thyra. And like Frigga said; mother knows.
"I don't know how to ask this, so I'm just going ask it straight," Emma said and scratched the side of her neck. A nice choice of words! "Is Loki by any chance bisexual? Because that's what Thyra suggested, saying that Loki is into both genders. She said all kind of things about him and I don't know…"
Hearing her nervousness, Frigga placed a hand on Emma's shoulder. "That is perfectly acceptable and not at all uncommon in our society," Frigga said calmly.
While taking in Frigga's confirmation, Emma glanced at the queen's soothing hand on her personal space. Frigga noticed her questioning look and drew her hand away before the little moment turned awkward, realized that the girl was too quick of making her own conclusions.
"You must speak with Loki about this matter. This is entirely between you two," Frigga advised in a caring manner.
Emma stared at the queen. "So, he is bi," she gasped and whispered ruefully, "That explains a few things."
It was impossible to tell why this surprising fact seemed to have stronger impact on her than Loki's earlier outburst. Emma had thought she knew the man she was about to marry. She accepted him as a Jotun, she accepted his capricious nature and she accepted his tricks, even his snakes, but this… She couldn't understand why this simple revelation made her feel like being betrayed. It wasn't a big deal! Or was it? She couldn't help but ponder had Loki shared with his old buddy Valkor more than an official visit like Thyra had hinted.
Emma felt how tears formed in her eyes and she couldn't blink them away even she tried. She heaved a shivering sigh, taking a few unsteady steps forwards.
"Do not let a malicious hearsay cloud your judgment," Frigga said and moved with her. "This doesn't make Loki any different than before."
Emma knew that, but tears spilled down on her cheeks. "I don't know why I'm feeling this way…" she whispered.
She got a glimpse of black and green on the other end of the garden path and then noticed Loki striding towards them. He smiled while spotting her and was looking visibly relieved of finding them.
Emma quivered, staring him as he approached with hasty steps. "I'm not ready to speak with him yet," she sighed, troubled. She turned away and wandered off deeper into the garden as if avoiding him could have solved her problem.
"Emma, wait!" Loki called after her when Frigga stepped on his way.
"Please, give her a moment," Frigga advised, lifting a hand on his chest.
Loki looked at his mother, confused. "Why? I have given her a long moment. What troubles her? Is it because I chafed at about lady Thyra?" he asked in a sorry tone and gulped. His beautiful features were drawn into an unsettled worry. "Yes, I admit I acted poorly. There is no excuse… but you should really get rid of that despicable court lady…"
"I have. Lady Thyra no longer servers me and she never will," Frigga told and Loki looked surprised. "I overheard when she spoke abusively to Emma. I am sorry I didn't believe you when you confined in me about Thyra months ago. I have been blind to her true nature but my eyes are open now."
Loki's dark brows furrowed in resentment. "What did she say to Emma?"
"Your future wife is irrepressible when someone tries to cross her," Frigga acknowledged and patted him gently on his chest over his heart. "However she seems to be the most troubled because lady Thyra told her that you hold no restrictions for gender when you choose a partner for an intimate relationship."
Loki let out a confused sigh, glancing at Emma's direction. "That is a problem to her?" he asked under his breath.
"She is from a different world, assumably lived with different customs. Give her time. She will come to acceptance with it," Frigga said. When Loki was about to go after Emma, Frigga added, "Remember, Loki; love is resilient in the face of difficulties."
When Loki found Emma, she was standing in a shade under an old ash tree. Facing the tree, her fingers fiddled on the diamond shaped furrows of the thick bark on its side. Her nervous movements stopped when she sensed him behind her. She wasn't ready for this talk yet. Subtly she dried her eyes before facing him.
Loki could tell she had been crying and it pained him to think he was the reason for her tears. He stood there, watching her tenderly. When she finally looked him in the eye, he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Emma looked lost and gave him a faint smile, the kind one gives to a strange on a street. "I'm not sure."
Loki would have rather had her slapping him in the face than keeping her physical and emotional distance from him. Warily he ventured on her personal space. "Then let me begin with saying I am sorry for raising my voice to you. I acted foolishly like a bilgesnipe. You didn't deserve any of it."
"This is not about it," Emma said and crossed her arms, her gaze wandering on the surrounding trees. "If you don't mind, I need a little time to process things."
"Things? As matters concerning me?" Loki asked and Emma nodded lightly. He clasped his hands together when he would have wanted to hold her instead, but he knew when to give her space. "And these matters are bothering you?"
"Well… yeah, kind of," Emma whispered, hugging herself tighter.
"There is no need to make things more complicated," Loki said softly, pleading, and gave her a puppy dog look so unlike him. "Please, tell me what troubles you."
Emma stared at him with a frustrated look, not wanting to say something she would regret. She didn't want to hurt him. She was the one who felt hurt. "Loki, this matter is too fresh for me to deal with. I don't even know where to start…"
"You have heartened me to speak my mind. Ask me anything and I will be honest with you." Loki took a step closer, wanting to touch her. He wanted to vanquish whatever it was that troubled her. "You were told that I have been in intimate liaisons with both genders. Yes. I have no reason to deny it. Honestly, it never occurred to me that it could be a source of problems to you."
He said it so casually and smoothly that Emma gaped at his frankness and frowned. "Wow!" Unsure were there new tears flooding, she wiped her cheeks. "It would have been nicer to hear it from you from the very beginning and not from some nasty bitch just before we are getting married."
"Would it have made any difference between us?"
"I don't know!" Emma leaned her back against the tree, staring up at him, feeling the scarred bark roughly scratching her back. "It's just that– every time I think I have you figured out, something comes up." There were no holding back tears as she continued. "I love you, but I can't…" Her voice faded and she swallowed hard.
Loki looked at her, worried. "What?"
"I don't know what I was expecting with you. Maybe something a bit more normal."
Loki felt momentarily dismayed and his body tensed. "You would have me as a Jotun. You don't mind about all the vicious things I have done in my past. But this one trait, which I have absolutely no control over, is the one that you cannot accept in me? Is that it?" he asked, hurt resonating in his voice.
"No, Loki! There isn't just the half of the world I'm competing with about you. There is the whole damn world. You could choose anyone. In a relationship, I need it to be monogamous!" Emma demanded. Her voice was shivering and tears running and she would have needed a time-out. So would have Loki.
"Emma, please…"
She took a breath and continued, motioning at him with both hands, "I can't share you with anyone, not even if you do it in secret, because it would break my heart. I'm old-fashioned that way. And I know now that I can't give you everything you want and need. I'm not enough for you and yet I can't let you seek satisfaction with others. I just can't. It hurts too much!" She was already crying but desperately tried to get it all said. "I don't want to hurt you… but if you want to have sex with others then I can't marry you."
Her torrent of emotional dread struck Loki like a flaming dagger in the heart. The rawness of her misguided frustration wounded him even deeper. He moved so near her that he could close her between his arms and held her firmly but gently, unwilling to let her slip away from his life now. Love is resilient in the face of difficulties.
"Who said that you are not enough for me?" Loki asked and his soft voice made her questioning herself. "Emma dear, my libido doesn't work like that. I don't need others because I cannot get enough of you," he swore breathlessly. "If you need time to process your feelings for me, then I will give you all the time you need. Nothing and no one comes between us."
Emma wanted to believe him. She wanted to touch him but couldn't place her hands on his shoulders. "What about Valkor? He is more than just a friend to you. You've slept with him? Thyra said that when you visited Alfheim you and him…"
"Thyra said that? I told you she is a manipulator. Believe me, it takes one to know one," he admitted sadly and she was holding her breath.
Loki took her hand and placed it on his chest, over his heart, his gaze as sincere as it could be as he looked her in the eye. "I prize your love more than I can possibly tell you and I would not risk of losing it by seeking hollow satisfaction elsewhere. What happened between me and Valkor– I assure you that was decades ago. Please, believe me."
Emma closed her eyes and took a breath. She spread her fingers like a fan on his chest, feeling his heart beating under her palm. "Loki, I'm sorry..."
… …
Lady Thyra folded her favorite long dress with the care its silky, coral shaded fabric deserved and placed it in a travel trunk among her other fineries. Soon the remains of her courtier's life in splendor were packed inside two large traveling chests. When she went getting her jewelry box from the dressing table, she glanced herself from the mirror, making sure she looked perfect even her smile had turned bitter.
Gently she picked up the small, pearl white jewelry box that held her treasures, jewelry of gold and precious stones, most of them given to her by her lovers. She opened the box and chose a golden necklace with diamonds and purple gems and placed it around her neck. If she was going to walk out from the palace today, she was going to do it with style.
Among the jewels there was a sparkling crystal in the box that looked like it didn't belong with the rest of treasures. Lady Thyra picked it up and stared at it sulkily. Even it was beautiful to look at and had been given to her with a promise for better times, it had caused her nothing but trouble.
She flinched in annoyance when she heard someone knocking on the door. She had been granted time until evening to get ready to move. It was still afternoon.
Lady Thyra closed the jewelry box and while walking at the door she laid the box carefully in her traveling chest.
Expecting the one behind the door being an Einherjar guard who had came to escort her out, Thyra opened the door sulkily.
"Do not bother me! I have not yet finished packing!" she said with an annoyed tone of voice before realized that she was looking at the younger prince.
Enjoying of seeing that small glint of shock visiting lady Thyra's eyes when she saw him standing on her threshold, Loki gave her a small smile. "Please, do not be bothered by me, lady Thyra. In fact, let me give you a hand!" he said smugly and pushed the door open, welcoming himself inside.
Feeling unsettled, lady Thyra watching him entering her chambers. On that moment she wished it would have been a guard instead of Loki who had come knocking on her door. If queen Frigga had cast her out for her stupid mistake of malign Loki and insulting his mortal, Thyra didn't even dare to imagine what prince Loki would do to her. He would surely kill her.
A sense of self-preservation told her to leave the door open and keep her eyes on him. "My lord, should you not be with your would-be wife instead of coming here?"
Loki walked a small circle in the room, checking around him like a landlord making a quick inspection. "Oh, yes!" he said impatiently and glared at her then. "However she went to entreat Allfather to break off our engagement, accusing me of being dishonest with her from the very beginning!"
That stupid mortal was so gullible, Lady Thyra thought but didn't dare to smile. She hardly dared to move. "I am awfully sorry to hear that, my lord."
"Are you?" Loki asked bleakly, his eyes burning with anger. "It is all because your little talks with her. She regards me with contempt. That derisive jest about animals does never grow old, does it? And, what right did you have to go telling her about my attractions?" he asked in a heated manner and took a step closer, pointing an angry finger at her. "You have no idea how hard it was to find someone like Emma and have her here. She is sweet, innocent, forgiving, and desirable and everything you lack. And now she is gone from my life!"
Lady Thyra noticed how the door closed by itself behind her and the chamber around her felt suddenly chillier as though a frost giant would have been breathing on her neck. "Please, forgive me, my lord… but I must continue gathering my belongings. Queen ousted me from the palace and the guards are very soon coming to escort me out," she said with great worry and went around him from a safe distant towards her dressing table.
She felt as his piercing eyes followed her and she turned at him again. "It is a pity you do not find me desirable enough. I would have not mind of your deviant attractions. In any other circumstances I would have gladly welcomed you in my private chambers. Unfortunately it seems I will never have that pleasure."
Loki's expression turned slowly from grim to darkly sly. "Who says you have never had the pleasure of having me here?" he asked harshly and saw the confusion in lady Thyra's face. "You remember Brimir the brave? That fool lover of yours who cut the lock from your hair after you fell asleep," he refreshed her memory and lifted his hand, conjuring a long, ginger red lock of hair between his fingers.
Reflexively lady Thyra swept her hair, finding nothing amiss. That had not been the case decades ago when she woke up one morning to find out that she was missing a long lock of her beautiful hair and the man she had slept with.
She gaped at the trickster too stunned to get upset. "But Brimir was… That was you who cut my hair?" She covered her gaping mouth, recalling that distant event. "I bridled on Brimir because I thought he was a barbaric idiot. My father had Brimir manhandled by his guards." Lady Thyra's breathe quivered. "I loved him. I left him because of you played a cheap trick on me?"
Loki smirked, letting the lock of hair drop on the floor. "Then I say we are even on that."
Lady Thyra turned at the dressing table, gathering her expensive perfumes and her anxious thoughts. She paused for a moment, looking herself from the mirror and feeling some sort of perverse pleasure in his confession. "That night…" she said facing Loki, her cheeks crimsoning by the memory. "Your performance was ungainly. Surely you can do better."
"I have improved," Loki declared and sauntered towards her. But instead of showing her how much he'd indeed improved, he conjured a gleaming dagger. "But I bet you still moan as though someone is trying to kill you," he said in a darker voice.
Thyra stared at the dagger in fright and her precious bottles of scents slipped from her hands. A few of them broke on the floor, releasing suffocatingly strong aromas in the air. His ominous words confirmed her fear. Her charms weren't working on him. He was going to kill her. Taking her chance, she dashed for the door, passing him as far away as possible near the windows.
"Oh, I am feeling a bit mischievous today," another Loki informed with a wicked grin, standing in front of the door and stopping her desperate attempt to escape. He had emerged out of nowhere like a ghost.
"It has been a while," the Loki with the dagger noted behind her casually and flipped his weapon with one hand like a juggler. "I have atoned for my sins and ready to make some more."
Lady Thyra felt helplessly surrounded, not knowing which one of them was the real Loki. "Please, my lord… I am so sorry. I had no right to meddle with your affairs…"
"But you did, and I will show you just how deviant my taste is," the one at the door said and his skin changed at first into light blue tone. Then he transformed completely into a frost giant, growing in monstrous size. His clothes ripped from his body as he took the form of a random, full sized Jotun male, wearing only a loincloth.
She gasped at the terrifying sight of him as he towered over her, his ruby red eyes leering at her.
"Now, give us that kiss!" he growled in a low, rough voice like a monster, reaching his huge, calloused hands towards her.
Thyra felt how he was exuding the freezing coldness and she screamed in horror. She moved backwards but there was another Loki waiting with his weapon, staring at her in a malice psychopathic way.
"No, please…"
Third Loki emerged right next to her and took a hold from her wrists and she screamed again. "It is all right, lady Thyra!" he reassured her calmly, keeping her in his firm grip. "Please, forgive me. It is just that I have difficulties to keep myself together when Emma is gone."
After he said it, the other Lokis vanished but he remained, holding her. The space around them began sparkling in green and gold as though they had been inside of a giant soap bubble.
Restlessly Thyra glanced around her at the strange glowing sphere that had swallowed them and vanquished the two monstrous Lokis. "What are you doing? What do you want from me?" she cried out, alarmed, trying to free her hands unsuccessfully.
"I want the truth, lady Thyra, unless you want me to have you send to Jotunheim," Loki demanded and eased his grip a bit. He too glanced around him at the glowing sphere. "You never know when Heimdall is watching. It is easiest to conceal yourself from his eyes," he explained and let go of her.
She stared around her bewildered, pondering was this the way Loki always succeeded to do his tricks in secret. His monster of Jotunheim had scared her dreadfully. She wanted no more of his hideous tricks and her amber eyes focused on him. "T–truth?" she faltered. "I lied to your mortal about you. I wanted her out from Asgard because I was envious…"
Loki crossed his arms and his gaze silenced her. "How did you know about me and Valkor? We had our little moment but that was eons ago."
Lady Thyra gave him an indifferent shrug, glancing nervously around her. "I have visited Alfheim. Met their royals. I used to travel with my father's merchant ships," she explained with a nervous voice. "When I first made acquaintance with prince Valkor, he seemed very peculiar and uneasy to approach, but after a while he was eagerly spilling secrets."
Loki looked at her. "When was the last time you met him?"
"I cannot remember."
Loki licked his lips. "Let me refresh your memory. I checked the records of all your father's shipments from Alfheim. Your last travel there was dated soon after I was assumed to be dead in the destruction of Bifrost. You told Valkor the news about my demise then, didn't you?"
"Maybe…" Lady Thyra saw from his eyes that this was not the time to hold back anything. "Yes. And he seemed very much devastated to hear about it."
Loki nodded. He had faced the consequences of those mislead news. Whole Asgard had. "Valkor gave you something that day? Did he not?"
Lady Thyra let out a nervous laugh. "He gave me plenty of things."
Loki conjured a sparkling crystal in his palm and showed it to her.
She stared at it, shocked, glancing at her jeweler box. "How did you get that?"
"Oh, this is mine, but I assume he gave you a similar one. A heart crystal. These usually come in pairs, crafted from one stone. Elves gives the one to someone they care about and keeps the other. When you are worlds apart, you place it in fire and its counterpart glows telling your beloved that you are thinking about him. Simple and childish," Loki looked at his crystal and smiled sadly. "Mine have remained cold in decades," he said and conjured it to disappear.
Thyra looked greatly troubled and Loki didn't even have to ask as she confessed, "Valkor told me to put it in fire when Allfather falls in rest."
"Did you?"
She nodded. "I did. I had no idea..."
"When you placed the crystal in fire, the one Valkor had glowed, telling him that Asgard was left without Allfather's protection. He summoned Thor for an urgent visit, hoping to get him out of Asgard and leaving us for even weaker state once the portals were opened," Loki told the facts.
Thyra fingered her necklace nervously. "The crystal…Valkor said it would bring me good fortune. He said I could decide the next king of Asgard and take my place beside him. Please, believe me, I could have never imagined what his true purpose was."
"I remember when you came to me and said that you could help me becoming king. I didn't believe you then, but I believe you now," Loki said with strange compassion and she nodded as though begging his mercy. "And your father? Does he have something to do with this misfortune?"
Her forehead furrowed. "My father…" she sighed sounding unhappy. "No, he knows nothing about this. He lacks ambition but he was sure to teach me have ambition. When my father brought me to court he told me to aim high so that maybe one day I could become a queen. I did. I always presented myself flawlessly as a perfect choice of consort for Thor but the fool kept ignoring me. Perhaps Thor is blind. He is obviously blind to see how desperately even lady Sif is trying to allure him."
Loki listened carefully as she continued pouring her heart out. "I wasted my whole life, serving your mother who cast me out, because of a mortal. And you, my dark prince, you spoiled your only opportunity to seize the throne. I gave you the right set of circumstances and you turned you back on them."
Loki narrowed his eyes. "You would have wished me to take the throne? Me, the black sheep of the house of Odin?" he asked cautiously.
"Surely you know Allfather's time is over soon and your brother is not potent enough to grasp the reins of Nine Realms. If you had chosen differently, we would have been celebrating your coronation. If you had chosen me by your side, I would have let you keep your pathetic love pets. We both know that in the end, love is overvalued."
"I am sorry if you see it in such way, but love is more than that. It is simple and yet complicated. Priceless. It is something you crave for and it seems to evade you but once you find it, it has the power to change you. And after that you are afraid of losing it," Loki said softly speaking from experience.
He dropped his gaze as though thinking for a moment and looked around him then, conjuring the illusion away that had been surrounding them in the form of the greenish, glimmering bubble.
Speechlessly Lady Thyra stared around her when the greenish glow of magic and her room suddenly faded and she saw people surrounding them. Instead of her chambers, they were in the throne room on the foot of the steps to Odin's throne. The whole court was there. Odin sat on his throne, looking down at her. Frigga stood in her placid way next to her older son. Prince Thor frowned, unsure how to react to these revelations. Lady Thyra's father gaped at her bemused, walking towards her, mouthing her name.
"What is this?" lady Thyra asked, not believing her eyes. "Another trick?"
Loki gave her a sorry smile, not smug only pitying. "I learned a new trick from the elves. Teleportation," he said, motioning his hands at the throne room where his magic had secretly brought them for everyone to witness. The great throne room had fallen in silence for this unusual interrogation. They had seen and heard everything as if the whole bubble had been a wicked one-way mirror. "Everyone heard your confession."
Not as triumphantly as Loki had thought he would be on the moment, he turned at Allfather. "There are your proofs," he stated to Odin and glanced at lady Thyra and her father who came to her. "I admit I was barking up the wrong tree. The informer was not her father it was she. Evidently lady Thyra did not understand what she was doing. Please, be merciful to her," Loki said solemnly to Allfather.
Odin heaved a long sigh as though it had been just another of Loki's charades, but this time it was real. The boy used his skills for something good now days and he had gotten frighteningly good at it. Loki had told Odin to summon the court because he was going to bring the proofs and apparently that's what he did.
"With the clear evidence brought to us, I believe we do not need a trial to settle this matter," Odin began formally. "Court is dismissed. Council shall stay to decide lady Thyra's fate."
With the king's order people started to move, all those who weren't council members or part of the royal family were leaving.
Lady Thyra's dismayed expression turned into a resentful one as she glared at Loki, realizing what had just happened. "You tricked me, you foul snake!" she cried out at him.
"What did you expect after insulting my beloved?" Loki retorted. "I don't say that I liked outwitting you. No. I loved it."
Lady Thyra ignored her father who was trying to calm her and gave Loki a disdain smirk. "You lost your stupid mortal! If she had truly loved you, she would have never left you."
A wistful smile spread on Loki's face and he took a small step backwards, turning his face on the other side, looking at the people who were departing the throne room.
Walking among the court members, Emma cleared her throat loudly enough for capturing lady Thyra's attention and she waved her fingers at the lady just to tell that she was still here. Emma smiled innocently at the lady's bitter frown. Payback was a bitch!
Loki watched Emma leave, his expression soft and loving, and Emma held his gaze with an approving smile. Emma would have loved to see how Loki played his good Loki, bad Loki interrogation with lady Thyra to get her confess so easily. His was good of being frightening and Emma knew he had taken pleasure in settling some scores with the lady. Emma had gladly allowed him to do so.
… …
When Emma got out from the throne room she didn't stay gossiping with the rest of the gobsmacked court. She didn't care what would happen to lady Thyra. She craved some time of her own to think things over. She headed for a clearer, lesser crowded space and soon found herself wandering alone the corridors and halls of the palace. Every time she spotted the majestic observatory of Himinbjorg guarding the far horizon, she thought about home and her mom and Logan. She would have needed her mother's guidance now and pondered if Heimdall would allow her a quick visit back home.
The fact was that she loved Loki more than anyone and she couldn't bear herself to think for leaving him. They had talked for a long time and she wanted to believe him when he said she was his one and only, now and always. He had wined her trust back. She just needed time to adjust to these new revelations about him.
At some point during her leisurely stroll Emma got a strange feeling that she was being followed. She noticed that sour lady warrior stopping on the other end of the hallway when she stopped to glance behind her. There were a few people moving along the width corridor, but lady Sif seemed to be the only one who stared straight at Emma, not even trying to hide it that she was watching her. Further away behind the lady, the broad figure of Volstagg guarded the hallway's entrance.
Emma frowned, confused, unsure what was going on. Lady Sif was Thor's friend. What did she want with her?
With one glance ahead revealed that Thor' buddies, Fandral and Hogun emerged on the other end of the hallway, their gazes fixed on her too. It looked like they were clearing the long passage way, not allowing other people enter, only letting people out. Not at all creepy! Soon Emma found herself standing alone in the middle of the empty corridor only with these Thor's friends blocking her way.
Emma fingered nervously the lavish skirt of her dress. What the hell was going on? Were they lady Thyra's friends, wanting to take a revenge on her? Or maybe they still held a grudge against Loki. Was she the target now? Where were all the damn guards when she would have needed one?
"Okay, guys! What's going on?" Emma demanded with a voice that hid her sense of insecurity.
Lady Sif approached Emma like a woman with a mission. A small hesitation visited her dark eyes before she forced it away. "I must speak with you," she said firmly and it sounded more of a command.
Emma stared at the tall warrior woman, feeling herself small next to her, but she decided that her attitude was as big as the lady's. "About?"
"There are matters of great importance you should be aware concerning Loki," lady Sif said in a serious tone and there was something in her eyes telling the she didn't like this topic.
After hearing his name mentioned, Emma took a step back and lifted her hand up in surrender. "No! Uh-uh!" she shook her head, annoyed. Now there was another lady who came to tell her about all the nasty little things about her future husband. "Lady Thyra already told me pretty much everything. So, thank you but no more revelations about him. I've had enough!"
"Please, listen!" lady Sif insisted while moving closer.
"No! You can't come after me like some damn street gang planning to mug me just to force your opinions down my throat!" Emma said heatedly and turned to walk away. She would muscle her way out through Fandral and Hogun if she had to.
Lady Sif rolled her eyes irritated and shouted after her, "You must marry him!"
Her voice echoed on the hallway and Emma stopped, turning slowly back at her. She hadn't expected that.
Lady Sif glanced at her friends, asking for some backup. She sighed as though duty-bound, looking at Emma. "Loki's past deeds are nothing but unpleasant, but we all have seen that he has changed," Sif explained to Emma, walking closer, "And it is because of you. So, if you can tolerate his infuriating tricks then you absolutely should marry him. He is different than most of Asgardians but you have no need to be concerned. Obviously," Sif said, glancing down on Emma's belly. Sif certainly wasn't going to tell the mortal that the father of her child was truly a Jotun.
Emma cradled her belly in her hands. "Why are you telling this to me?"
Fandral moved closer too and he answered to that, "Because we have not seen Loki the way he is with you. The trickster has never talked about love openly such way he did today. He needs you by his side. Please, have no qualms about wedding him. He is all yours."
"Oh?" Emma watched the warriors, baffled. She had never expected the messengers of Cupid coming in such forms.
"Whatever Thyra told you, I could surely share more obnoxious matters about Loki with you," lady Sif began but held her tongue when Emma lifted a brow. "But there is no reason to do so…" she hurried to take her words back.
Fandral carried on merrily. "What our darling Sif meant was that, Loki has always been a bit mischievous and complicated."
Emma shifted weight on another foot. "Yeah, tell me something I don't know. Or, actually please, don't tell me!"
"As charming as Loki can be, he has failed to preserve his former relationships, since he had not regarded them important enough. If you can even consider them as relationships. That is not the case with you. I can see he is desperate to keep you," Fandral told.
Lady Sif failed in her attempt to smile with compassion and looked like she was more of grimacing. "Surely you are aware that Loki can change his shape and sex and transform himself into almost any other living being?" Sif asked matter-of-factly and Emma nodded in unease. "Well, that is more uncommon in Asgard than exploring a bit of both sexes."
Fandral accompanied her fact with his own opinion, "Yes. That is not unusual or forbidden in our world. Do not let it gravel you."
"Uh, okay…?" Emma sighed, not liking where this was heading. Exploring a bit of both sexes? Yeah, she knew now that Loki was bi. Where the hell this was heading? "Did– did Loki ask you to talk with me?"
Lady Sif and Fandral exchanged glances. "He doesn't know we are having this talk."
Emma gulped, alarmed. "Then why…?"
"We understood that lady Thyra told you matters about Loki you find upsetting. You should not let any of it affect on your feelings and views for him," lady Sif said and the way she said it sounded like she had a hard time to speak kindly about the man in question. "Thyra is a nuisance and a ruthless opportunist. Her despise towards other races knows no limits. I am sorry if you had your share of it."
"Yeah, she gave me a whole load of it," Emma revealed, annoyed. "She said that my baby will become a laughing stock of Asgard for being a muddy-blooded half mortal."
Lady Sif looked furious for a moment and then pulled her most serious face as she placed her hand on Emma shoulder like a comrade in arms. "I swear to you, no one will ever mock or hurt your child. You will have Thor as your baby's guardian and us to protecting the child. Always."
Emma glanced at the woman's strong hand on her shoulder. "Thanks," she sighed with a weak smile. These people really liked touching. And they seemed to get fully committed to the idea of Thor becoming a godfather, inviting themselves to that part too. "I appreciate that. Really," Emma said, not knowing what else to say.
Lady Sif nodded with more genuine smile, dropping her hand down.
"Well, speaking of mocking," Fandral said in a sorry tone of voice. "If you would allow me, I would like to cut the wings of some unfriendly rumors that have been spread about Loki. I… ah…" He grimaced and swept his mustache. "I heard that especially one jest I made a thousand years ago had became quite popular among mortals. I would like to correct my distasteful mistake."
Emma crossed her arms, reluctantly getting ready to listen. "Okay, let's hear it."
Fandral's charming smile wasn't enough to save him from the punishment that soon followed, which he found unjust, when Emma kicked him in the front shin unmercifully.
"Oh, for Odin's sake! It was merely a jest!" he groaned, grabbing his aching leg. His little jest about Loki liking a horse a bit too much wasn't humoring her as much as it had her ancient fellow mortals.
Emma cast him a furious look with distain and would have rather kneed him in the groin. "Birthing an eight legged horse? You call that a joke? Humans are still laughing about it. You ruined Loki's reputation for a millennium!" she cried out and popped her right hand's claws out as a warning, ignoring the wicked pain.
Fandral stared at her claws, worried. "Hang on a minute! Where is your sense of humor?"
"Oh, I have sharp sense of humor. Why don't you make a jest about me shoving my claws up your ass, you perverted pig!" she shouted after him as the man saw it wiser to run. "If I'd be Loki I'd have had you castrated for that!"
Lady Sif grinned as someone was able to shut Fandral's mouth. She was slightly impressed that the mortal was armed with such unusual blades. Volstagg's children hadn't lied about them. "I have to admit, I like you, Emma Morgan."
Emma pulled her claws back in and stared at the warrior lady. "You… do?"
Lady Sif stared back at her a few seconds. "Not in the amorous nature," she clarified.
Emma nodded in mutual understanding. "Sure. You like Thor."
At first there was an expression of surprise and denial on Sif's face but then she dropped her gaze. Lady Thyra had already blurted it out on everyone to hear. "Yes. But Thor does not feel the same towards me," she admitted, appearing sad to say it aloud.
Emma gave her a sympathetic smile. "You two are stuck on the friend zone, huh?" she guessed. "If you want to talk about it, I'm a good listener."
"I would rather not speak about my private matters."
"Me neither. But if I'm marrying Loki, I guess I'll need at least one sane friend here."
Lady Sif smiled a bit. "So, you will marry Loki then?"
Emma looked at the lady, confused. "That was the plan. Why is that so important to you?"
Lady Sif let out a breath. "Queen expressed her concern that you might be considering to withdraw your consent to the marriage. She asked me to speak with you."
Emma felt even more puzzled. "Frigga sent you after me?"
"Queen Frigga cares for you and your baby. And she will see that no one mistreats you. Not even Loki," lady Sif reassured. "You will be in good hands."
Okay?
… …
In the official questioning it became clearer that lady Thyra had known in some degree of Valkor's plans. With those confessions and her personal wishes for choosing the new king, she was sentenced to the dungeon. Her father councilor Reynir was released from his duties from king's council. It was considered a just act for a person whose close relative was punished for misprision of treason. It turned out to be a favorable end for the case for both Loki and Odin; getting rid of the people they felt uncomfortable to keep near.
Later in the evening when things were settled, Emma sat on a width cushioned seat in front of a fireplace in her bed chamber. The soft bench with a tall backrest was an elegant asgardian equivalent for a couch. It was comfortable to sit and relax, watching the flames dancing in the hearth.
Emma stroked Loki's hair as he was lying on his back on the same seat, his head resting on her lap and his long legs hanging over the armrest. They were both in their nightwear and barefoot, getting comfy together by the fire. Being as close to the baby as Loki could, he was reading aloud an old story book about giants and the beginning of worlds. His voice was soft and vibrant and Emma loved to listen to him as much as their baby did. To her the text looked only strange runes but Loki had promised to teach her to read his language.
Loki smiled to the memory when Frigga used to read the same book to him. He remembered every word, especially the last line he had now reached. "And that is how Nine Realms were born and still exists," he ended the story and closed the book. He placed it over his chest and lifted his gaze up at Emma's eyes.
She smiled at him, letting her fingers play with his hair that was soft and curly after bath. "I liked the story," she whispered.
"It was one of my favorites when I was a child," Loki said and noticed the tiny marks of tiredness on her face. "It is late and you should get some rest. Do you… wish me to retire to my own chambers for tonight?"
"No," Emma said reassuringly and placed her hand over his and interlocked their fingers over the book. She had no hurry to ask him to move his head from her lap. "I want you to stay if it's okay with you. I'd like you to hold me close just like you did last night."
Loki beamed up at her. "Nothing would please me more," he whispered, feeling the baby moving against his ear. He loved to feel it moving and he enjoyed being this close to it, bonding. "Emma, I am glad we can resolve our difficulties. You must always tell me if I am asking you to adapt to my world in unfair measures. I want you to feel like home with me. That is how I feel with you."
"I'm working on to get that feeling back. Please, be patient with me."
"You see me differently now?" Loki asked quietly, uncertain vulnerability flickering in his eyes.
"Yeah, but not in a bad way," Emma confessed, caressing his forehead tenderly, straightening his concerned furrows. "This all is new to me because there hasn't been anyone this close to me before. I don't know how this is supposed to go. I mean, you are my first true love, Loki. And I thought I knew you, but it feels like I'm still learning to know you." She squeezed his fingers gently. "It was kind of a big deal to hear that you also like boys."
Loki let out a soft breath. "I still cannot understand why. There is nothing unordinary about it. You know it doesn't waver my fidelity to you."
Emma smiled. "I understand it now. And I still feel bad about the way I reacted to the news. It wasn't fair to you. If you overreacted today, so did I. I let my own insecurities get the best of me. I'm so sorry."
"Please, stop apologizing, my love. I failed to let you know this side of me." Loki shared a smile with her and his thumb stroked hers. Her understanding towards him never ceased to amaze him. "You would be surprised, how few lovers there have been in my life from either gender. Considering it has been over a thousand years. And even fewer of them truly mattered to me."
"I'm actually sorry to hear that." Emma curled a strand of his black hair around her finger, pondering the things Fandral and Sif told her about Loki's former, failed relationships. "Did you love Valkor?"
It was a straightforward question and Loki's eyes locked with hers. "I thought I did," he replied thoughtfully. "But never the way I love you. I don't think I knew how deep love could be before I met you. What Valkor and I had was a friendship that led for a short infuation and back to the friendship again. At least from my part. There was a bit of exploring…"
"Okay! Please, spare me from the details," Emma said with a small awkward grin.
Loki took her hand, kissed her knuckles and slowly rose to sitting next to her, taking her under his arm. "My intimate past was thrown bluntly in your face today. So, how about you? Would you like to share with me something personal and private? Maybe there hasn't been anyone special in your life before me, but there must have been someone," Loki suggested and tried to read her face. "I know there has been someone. I could tell it from our first kiss that you were not inexperienced in kissing. You were burning in my embrace when you returned my kiss, slowly and with such passion. You don't learn that from books. I like details."
Emma munched her lips, watching that curious glint in his eyes. It couldn't have been anymore better day for such confessions. "Um, I have kissed… with a few boys… and girls," she revealed and smiled awkwardly to Loki's growing curiosity as his dark brows rose. "We played Spin the bottle when I was a teenager. It's a party game. Everyone was doing it."
Loki smirked. "Drinking and kissing? With your tolerance of alcohol I can only imagine…"
"No! It was nothing like that. You have an empty bottle and a bunch of friends; girls and boys. You all sit in a circle and place the bottle on its side on the middle. When it's your turn you spin the bottle and to whomever it points at after it stops spinning you have to kiss him or her. And from there it carries on," Emma explained the basics and saw how the young mortals' entertainment got an intrigued expression from Loki. She wanted to cover her soon blushing face. "Don't look me like that! I was younger. It's stupid but it was just for fun."
"Oh, I like this. A new side of you. So, rousing," Loki said with a curious smile, his voice laced with excitement. "Did you enjoy it?"
"It was more of the thrill. With some of them it was nice, but we were more like friends," Emma said, feeling her cheeks turning red. "I would never do that again. I don't like girls like that and I won't go kissing other guys anymore."
She would certainly not, Loki thought and let his eyes linger on her luscious lips that belonged to him. He knew he had promised her time to settle her feelings for him but he already missed their deeper intimacy. Maybe she only needed a gentle reminder of what they had and that nothing had changed between them.
"Would you spin the bottle with me?" Loki asked then and conjured an old, empty Asgardian wine bottle in his grasp.
Emma grinned for his eagerness. "Just you and me? I'm not inviting your friends."
"There must be something for the thrill," Loki said and there emerged four identical Lokis standing in front of their seat, forming a circle with them.
Emma let out a puzzled laugh, staring at his lifelike illusional copies. "Oh, this is too much. Like I have a choice now."
Loki let go of the bottle and it remained floating in the air like it would have lain on an invisible table in the middle of their circle. "You are invited to the game and I dare you to spin."
Emma grinned. "I would kiss you without the bottle," she said but realized then she hadn't kissed him after their morning together. The new revelations about him had bothered her in some measure but she loved him all the same.
"Please, humor me," Loki encouraged her softly. "I love games."
Hesitatingly she took a hold of the hovering bottle with her fingers. "This is so childish," she murmured and glanced at him.
"Just give it a go!"
Emma put the bottle spinning and it spun wildly in the air. The conjured Lokis watched it whirling intensely. One of them stood his arms crossed, stroking his lips with a thumb as though immersed to stare at it. Another one wiggled his brows at Emma with a flirting grin and Emma had to drop her gaze away from them.
Oh, God! What was she supposed to do if it ends up pointing at one of the illusions?
The bottle's whirling slowed down and it stopped presumingly pointing at the real Loki who did his best to act surprised.
"Oh, what were the odds of that? Must be my lucky day," Loki said triumphantly.
The flirting Loki pointed his hand at the real one. "Oh, come on! The man cheated for sure!"
The other one put his hands on his hips, staring daggers at Loki. "Damn trickster, you could have at least played fair! We are out of here."
The flirty one gave Emma a call me hand sign and winked an eye, before the illusions vanished and so did the bottle. Emma was holding her grin as she turned at Loki by her side, pondering was this the way he used to entertain himself. Even his illusions didn't trust him?
"Well then. It is your move," Loki sighed in anticipation, his eyes daring her to carry out her part of the game.
Emma crawled on his lap and sat sideways, anchoring her arms around his neck, and he locked her in his embrace. The closeness with him felt the same to her as always. She didn't allow herself to start questioning her feelings for him only because he was playing both sides just as long as he stayed away from the playfield.
She leaned on to him, her face close to his, seeking sincerity from the green of his eyes. "Promise me there will be only you and me. No one else. Please, I need to hear it from you, one more time."
Loki pulled her more tightly against him. "My Valkyrie, there will be no one else in these arms than you," he promised being convinced that this promise worked both ways. "My lips belong to you and my body worships solely yours as your body will solely worship mine. No one comes between us, I swear."
If there had been any little doubts left in her mind, his words had the power to melt them. Loki was and would always be only hers just like she had promised to be only his. Emma pressed her mouth on his waiting lips and kissed him, not being obliged by the game but because she needed to know that nothing had changed. Loki let her soft lips linger and play on his and with slowly growing passion he returned her kiss, giving free reins to her to do what she pleased.
Emma let go of control and gave into the sweet kiss, exploring it, savoring it and taking it further she had intended to. Feeling the animal attraction between them growing, she tasted him deeper, letting her tongue venture into his mouth and he welcomed her willingly. He tightened his hold on her as her sensual play was getting him warming up. She felt his arousal and it was only making her to kiss him like she had never kissed anyone before. Dominating, teasing, lingering kisses. She could tell he liked it and he felt so good, divine and safe; the same than before. He caressed her gently and his hold on her was easing.
With a soft purr in her throat she withdrew from his lips and let her forehead rest against his, moving her hands on his hair. There was no resisting this man.
"Hm, Emma. I wonder if you know what you are doing to me," Loki murmured, nearly holding his breath, his nose rubbing against hers. "I am taking you to bed now if I am to survive this night by your side without going any further," he said and wrapped his arms under her, ready to carry her to the bed.
Emma looked into his eyes and slid her hand on his face, recalling his promise to give her as much time as she needed to adapt to his divulged amorous orientations. None of it mattered if he was hers. "Loki," she whispered, studying his beautiful features. He had wanted her to feel like home with him. She did.
"Yes?" Loki whispered back at her, his breath warm on her skin, his arms secured around her back and under her knees.
She stroked his cheek with her fingers, her thumb gently touching his lips. "When you hold me, I'm home," she sighed and saw a warm glint of smile visiting his eyes. "Take me to bed and show me what I am doing to you."
Loki tasted his lips, her teasingly innocent words lighting a wildfire inside of him. He would have loved to do that. Without breaking the enticing eye contact, he rose from the seat holding her. "My sweet love, you don't have to prove me anything," he said as he carried her towards the bed. "I understand you need time to adjust. It is all right. You are not obligated to bed with me."
"I know," Emma said softly when he placed her on the bed.
As he joined her there, she found it impossible to ignore how his loose-fitting, black sleeping pants failed to conceal his erection.
Loki noticed her noticing his elated state as he tucked them both under a quilt. "Ah… It will wear off," he whispered as he inched closer and wrapped his arm around her. "Eventually."
Maybe she didn't want it to wear off. Pleasurable shivers went through Emma's body and she laid her head on the same pillow with his. He was being so sweet, patient and respectful, putting her before his own needs. On the moment like these, being so close and intimate, it filled her with awe how much she loved him. Nothing could change that. She would never let anyone tell her who he was. She was going to find it out by herself.
Emma gave him an enticing smile and caressed his cheek. "How cruel would I be to turn my back on your full glory," she whispered, wishing her choice of words would stir up some pleasant memories.
It seemed it did. She saw how Loki swallowed and his gentle hand, that had been fondling her, came to a halt on her side. He smiled, only briefly, when there was burning desire frozen on his face. "You are not making this any easier for me," he sighed.
"Wrong. I want to make this very easy for you, konung min," Emma said in a hushed voice, using her newly learned word for 'my king' in asgardian language.
A curious, fervent smile curved his perfect lips. "What did you have in mind?"
Emma kissed him again, moving so close she could subtly guide him to turn on his back and resting her upper body on his chest. She inhaled his scent that was a mixture of fine asgardian shower oil and his own indefinite, alluring musk. The strongest aphrodisiac she had ever encountered. Maybe her sharp senses were overturned to response to his alien hormones. Maybe they were both driven into an alluring loop where one fed the other until they become one with the deepest intimacy.
"You smell so good," she murmured and locked her gaze with his. "Let me make amends for doubting you. I want to satisfy you, Loki," she dropped the honey-dripping words on his parted lips.
"Emma…?" Her name escaped his mouth with a wild sigh when she slowly dove under their shared quilt. She was taking this apologizing very seriously. "I would have perfectly settled for cuddling. You are tired. You should rest."
Yielding, Loki lied on his back and let his body relax as she was fondling her way down towards his full glory. He watched as her golden curls disappeared under the quilt as she reached her destination.
"Please, know I want to respect your wishes. You should not feel compelled to… ah…"
His hands hovered above her and he felt how she did away with his sleeping pants and her hot breath caressed his private parts.
"Oh, Emma…" Loki sighed again, louder, when she started licking him with tantalizing patience. "Oh, my sweet goddess of tease, you have such a wicked tongue."
His breathing shivered and he groaned in pleasure as her hot mouth finally engulfed him. Lifting his hands above his head in total surrender, he took a firm hold of the bed's headboard, letting her do to him what she saw necessary to do. He was only hers.
… …
A/N: Disney/Marvel brought Loki out of the closet with a gentle hint that he was being bi. We all already knew that, right? I have always tried to be as true to the characters than I can. So, here we'll have a gentle approach to that side of Loki. What do you think?
I'm a bit late with the update but this was a long one. The schedule for the next chapter is blurry.