A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

PROLOGUE

"Loki?"

"Yes mother?" The young Prince had been so into his book he hadn't realised his mother calling for him.

"Has your brother spoken to you? He's going out for a ride with Fandral and Sif. He would like to know if you wish to join him. It's a lovely day after all." Frigga only smiled down at the young Prince hoping he would join. He never liked accompanying his brother and friends that often. He'd much rather stay home and read.

"No thank you mother, I think I'll just stay here a little longer."

"I understand. Oh and your father wishes for us to dine a little earlier tonight, we have company." Frigga kissed her sons head and walked off, Loki only hummed in agreement at that last part not taking much notice being so engrossed in his book.

~

It had been an hour and the young Prince was still reading, looking out onto the garden.

"And what is this book about may I ask?" He looked up startled not even noticing that a young girl around his age had snuck up on him.

"Oh it's uh... Hamlet... written by William Shakespeare, a poet on Midgard." He couldn't quite get his words out staring up at this beautiful young girl, he eventually shuffled along the bench to allow this strange girl to sit next to him.

"Midgard you say? How did you manage to get that?" He was hoping to avoid a conversation with the girl but it looked like that wasn't going to happen.

"My mother has plenty of books from Midgard in our library, I believe my father collected them on his travels some years ago." He lifted the book back up to continue.

"Dark hair, green eyes, bit of a bookworm... you must be Prince Loki, son of King Odin?" The girl rushed up from her seat to curtsy to his majesty sitting before her.

"And you are?" He gestured for her to sit back down since she showed him such a kind gesture.

"My name is Astrid." She held her hand out to him hoping he was accept her as a friend.

"So, what are you doing here? In the palace gardens?" He looked around wondering why she was here and where her parents are. She was dressed too nice to be a servants daughter. The guards daughter perhaps?

"Well actually I'm-"

"Brother!" Astrid was interrupted as Loki let out a frustrated sigh turning to see his overly excitable brother approach him.

"You should've joined us brother, we raced to the Bifrost and back and guess what? I was victorious once again!" Astrid couldn't help but chuckle at Thor.

"Ah Princess Astrid, I didn't see you there." Thor bowed down at the so-called princess who sat before him.

"Princess?" Loki turned to Astrid waiting for an explanation as to why she didn't tell him sooner.

"Yes as I was about to say, I am Princess Astrid Freydottir, daughter of King Frey of Vanaheim" and with that Loki shot out of his seat and bowed before the Princess remembering from his Mother to always show respect to other royalties.

"There's no need to be so formal your highness." She stood up before the two smiling at each one for their kindness.

"Anyway I must go get ready before I dine with you both tonight." The Princess walked away to her chambers, Loki couldn't help but stare until he felt his brother nudge him. He looked to find Thor snickering at him and wiggling his eyebrows.

"What?" Loki snarled.

"Oh come on brother, she is a beauty and you like her."

"I certainly do not!"

"Whatever you say." Thor ran off to his chambers to wash up with Loki following not long after.

~

Loki had finally finished reading Hamlet and there was still a little bit of time before dinner, he had decided to return to the library to find another book to read. On his way there he had bumped into the young Princess with their eyes locking for a few seconds before he greeted her with a bow.

"Princess Astrid! What are you doing walking around the palace on your own?" She giggled slightly at his formal introduction.

"Please my lord there is no need for such formality, you may call me by my name." He smiled at her slightly, he liked how chilled out she was for a Princess. Most other lady's were such snobs.

"I was bored in my chambers. My father and yours are discussing business and catching up with each other. I was on my own so thought I should go for a stroll." He nodded at her to wish her farewell and started to walk off before...

"Astrid?" The young Princess stopped in her tracks and turned to face him once again.

"Yes?"

"I'm just returning this Midgardian book I had just finished to the library, would you like to join me?" He thought it would be better than her being on her own, besides the palace is massive, she could easily get lost.

"I would love to my lord!" She exclaimed as the two walked side by side to the library.

"You may call me Loki."

"Okay, Loki." She smiled up at him before looking down at her feet feeling a slight warmth to her cheeks.

~

Both young royalties enjoyed each others company together in the library. Loki found out that Astrid enjoyed reading just as much as he did although she had never read any books from Midgard before, she didn't even know much about that realm so Loki educated her on what he knew from reading about it and the stories from Odin.

He had told her about his family and how his mother was teaching him sorcery. She was fascinated by it, she thought she could listen to him all night, she found it amazing how Loki was learning magic. She had wished to be able to do something like that, however she was just an ordinary girl. Her father never had much time for her and her mother was ill hence why she wasn't there with them this time. But considering her father was a god, you'd expect some sort of power from her... but there was nothing. She was always lonely back at home with no one to talk to, so being with Loki was like a breath of fresh air.

~

A few days had past and Astrid was due to leave. The two families rode down together to the Bifrost to say their goodbyes. Astrid had gone down to each member thanking them for her stay in Asgard, her father had done the same before he walked towards Heimdall. She had finally got to Loki and he had handed her a small present. She looked down at her hands and there sat a book with the title 'Romeo and Juliet' she gasped with joy when she saw it.

"It's a book from Midgard, mother and I have both read it and I seriously doubt that Thor would even touch a book..."

"...Hey!" Was all you could hear Thor say. Astrid softly chuckled at Thor's response before hugging Loki wishing him farewell.

"Come, Astrid!" Her father called for her.

"Goodbye." Astrid ran to her father ready to head back home as Loki's mother came up behind resting a hand on his shoulder. Loki hoped to see more of Astrid in the future, he had enjoyed her company over the past few days.

"Not to worry son..." Loki looked up at his father. "You will certainly see her again, her father and I have joined forces so their travels to Asgard will become more regular." Loki was beaming with excitement inside.

"See brother, it won't be the last time you see your girlfriend." At that remark, Loki went to attack Thor and chased him towards the horses to race him back to the palace.

Frigga and Odin couldn't help but laugh at their children's behaviour, not knowing what the future would hold.