Servant of Jotunheim

Pain

Myself, Ruth and Sara are cleaning the royal bed chambers together today. We reach the King's room and enter, spending around an hour cleaning it from top to bottom and ensuring that it is spotless, exactly how he likes it.

Sara is young and playful, she resembles a ray of sunshine whereas Ruth is slightly older, experienced and more sensible when it comes to her duties in the palace.

After I have finish straightening out the King's bedding, Sara playfully jumps on it.

Ruth: "Come down from there, you silly girl!"

Sara: "You are both so boring" she sighs.

Sara clambers off and I begin to straighten out the sheets once more, but as she does this she somehow knocks over the crystal vase that was on top of a small chest of drawers next to the bed.

Ruth: "What have you done!?"

Sara: "I am sorry Ruth, I did not mean to!"

Me: "Calm down, it is merely a vase" I point out.

Ruth: "You do not understand, Anya. She will be punished severely for this".

Ruth holds Sara close as she cries, but I cannot understand what the problem is. This is Asgard, not Jotunheim and I have never known a servant to be punished here.

Me: "Why would she be punished when it was a simple accident?"

Ruth: "The last servant who damaged something that belonged to the King received five lashings".

Me: "That is absurd!"

We hear guards approaching who must have heard the vase fall to the floor, so Ruth deals with Sara and dries her tears away while telling her to compose herself.

The guards open the door and quickly notice the broken shards on the ground.

Guard: "Which one of you did this?"

Me: "It was me" I say without thinking twice about my answer.

All three of us are soon taken to the throne room where the King awaits us. Ruth and Sara are kept back and I am brought to my knees in front of the throne.

Loki: "One of you broke something which belongs to me. My guards informed me that it was you Anya, is this true?"

Me: "It is my King, but I can assure you it was an accident".

Loki: "You are not taking the blame for another servants mistake?"

Me: "No, it was me".

I can hear Sara's quiet whimpering behind me, while I am desperately hoping that she will not give away the fact that I am lying as I am certain that we will both be punished.

Loki: "Five lashings" the King instructs his guards as they lift me from the floor.

Sara: "No, stop!" she screams.

With those two words, the King's head snaps towards her and he marches over to where she and Ruth are standing.

Loki: "You have something to say?"

Ruth: "No my King, she does not" she interjects.

Loki: "Anya, I will only ask you this one last time, are you taking the blame for one of the other servants?" he asks as he turns back towards me.

Me: "No, my King it was me. The girl wanted to take the blame as she feared you would punish me harshly due to the fact I am new to the palace".

Loki: "Is that so? Well I would not wish to disappoint her, ten lashings" he smirks and heads back up towards his throne.

Guard: "Are you certain, my King?"

Loki: "Yes, and I want it done here in front of the other servants to remind them of what happens when they disrespect what is mine".

I am held in place by two guards as I await my punishment. Poor Sara looks distraught and racked with guilt as Ruth comforts her so I give her a reassuring nod to let her know I will be alright.

I would rather it be me than her. She is far too young for such an experience and frankly it is bad enough she will be forced to watch. Pain is something I am more than accustomed to.

My hands are soon shackled with chains that are attached to two large posts. Even if my legs were to buckle from the pain, these chains are too short to allow me to fall to my knees.

All of the servants are soon brought in behind me and I can hear the whispers of shock at this whole situation.

Loki: "Do you accept your punishment, Anya?"

Me: "Gladly, my King" I say without fear.

One of the guards tears open the back of my dress, revealing my blue skin to everyone. I can hear the gasps of the other servants, but what else were they expecting to see, I am half frost giant after all?

Another guard comes to my front, kindly placing a thick piece of dark leather in my mouth for me to bite down on.

Guard: "Remember to breath through the pain and it will be over with quickly" he whispers to me sympathetically.

The King nods to the guard behind me before I close my eyes.

The first lashing is unbearable after I feel the whip strike my skin. I try my hardest to breathe, but it is as though all of the air has been taken from my chest.

Trying to focus my mind on the taste of the leather in my mouth, the pain only continues and intensifies with every blow.

I can feel the skin tearing on my wrist as I struggle through the pain, pulling down on the shackles with all my weight as my legs begin to buckle.

Time seems to slow down. I think of my mother and how she was always defiant of my father. Never submitting or showing pain no matter what tortures he put her through every day.

I plant my feet steadily back on the ground and raise myself upright, standing tall as I open my eyes. I only have three lashes left and I will be damned if I show weakness in front of these people or the King.

I finally look directly into the eyes of my King for the first time and spit the piece of leather from my mouth.

He sits up from his formerly relaxed position, slightly leaning forward as a small but devilish grin appears on his face.

The next strike comes, but I barely flinch this time and I never allow my gaze to leave his. I may be wrong, but it almost appears as if he is enjoying my act of defiance.

The next blow comes and it hurts far more than the last, yet I remain still as I clench my teeth together while the King's grin turns into a full smile.

I hold my breath awaiting the inevitable final blow and it never comes as the Queen Mother unexpectedly enters the throne room.

Frigga: "Loki, what is going on here!?"

Loki: "Mother, you are just in time" he says gleefully, almost like a child.

Frigga: "In time for what exactly!?"

Loki: "Anya is being made an example of for breaking something in my chambers".

Frigga: "Guards, unchain that girl this instant!"

A great sense of relief washes over me when I am unshackled before a sudden wave of agony hits me as I fall to the ground.

Frigga: "Take her to the healing room immediately!"

As I am being carried away by one of the guards, I can hear the Queen Mother and King yelling at one another, but it is not long before I lose consciousness.