Servant of Jotunheim

Gardens

Once we arrive at the gardens, I am taken aback at the strong aroma of the flowers. All of my senses are completely overwhelmed as I skip giddily towards a small pond, with tiny swimming creatures beneath the water.

I have never seen anything like this.

The King catches up to me and I hear him chuckle when I dip my finger in to caress one of the creatures, but I jump in surprise and amusement as it delicately nibbles at my fingertip.

Loki: "You have a childlike innocence about you" he laughs.

Me: "Sorry, my King, I forget my place".

Loki: "Do not apologise for being yourself. I find your innocence and wonderment over the smallest of things others would take for granted rather refreshing".

Me: "I suppose I am accustomed to apologising for being myself after living on Jotunheim my entire life".

Loki: "You are of Asgard now, so there is no reason for you to be ashamed. A palace servant is a highly sought after position here".

Me: "Yet I did not earn my position in the palace. I was given to you by my father".

Loki: "You have more than proven yourself worthy of it in spite of that fact. As proof of this, I wish to offer you a fair wage like the other servants".

Me: "I want for nothing, my King, therefore I have no need for a wage".

Loki: "You do not desire to have nice things?"

Me: "I cannot want what I never had. When I first arrived here I did not even possess shoes".

I take a moment to smell the red flowers nearby, thinking about how these beautiful, delicate things could never have survived in the cold and unforgiving wasteland I was raised in.

Loki: "Do you know what these are called?"

I shake my head as I genuinely have no idea.

Loki: "These flowers are called Azaleas. As a matter of fact they are my mother's favourite flowers".

Me: "That is quite ironic".

Loki: "How so?"

Me: "My apologies, I did not mean to cause any confusion. I was thinking about how these flowers could not possibly survive on Jotunheim".

Loki: "Where is the irony in that?"

Me: "My mother's name was Azalea".

Loki: "How old were you when she died?"

Me: "I cannot remember exactly. My father took me to King Laufey soon after she died. He took pity on me and kept me as his servant".

Loki: "You preferred life as a servent?"

Me: "It was that or be left in the hands of my father. I for one would gladly choose a lifetime of servitude".

We venture around the gardens almost the entire morning until midday, when the King is served his lunch and he requests to eat it in the garden today.

When I excuse myself to eat my own meal in private the King stops me.

Loki: "Please Anya, would you join me?"

Me: "I am not sure that eating in front of the King is appropriate".

Loki: "Nonsense, as the Allfather I insist. You do like to please your King, do you not?"

Me: "Yes".

We eat our meals in silence, but I occasionally catch him watching me out of the corner of my eye. He truly is a peculiar man that I find difficult to understand.

Loki: "Would you care to visit the library with me next?"

Me: "Yes, that would be quite pleasant".

I do not know why he is showing me such kindness since he had me punished, but the Queen Mother's previous words come to mind. Be grateful for small mercies.