Servant of Jotunheim

A Gift

I arrive at his chambers, fearing what awaits me on the other side of the door. What could he possibly hope to gain from keeping by his side at all times?

As the Allfather to the nine realms as well as being the King of Asgard, he must have better things to occupy his time rather than punishing me.

I knock on the door, but there is no answer so I wait patiently outside for his companion to leave or for him to wake up.

Knocking once more shortly afterwards and yet again being met with no reply, I decide to enter. He is still soundly asleep and completely alone, which is entirely out of character for him.

Me: "My King" I say in an effort to wake him.

Loki: "Hmm?"

Me: "It is time for you to wake".

Loki: "You are early?"

Me: "You have a meeting shortly after breakfast and I thought you may need time to prepare?"

He seems unimpressed with me as he rises from his bed, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

Me: "Would you like me to draw you a bath?"

Loki: "Yes".

Me: "While I wait, shall I order your breakfast and prepare your outfit for the day?"

Loki: "So be it".

After my duties are completed, he is successful ready for the day ahead. He sits eating his breakfast in silence while I stand aside awaiting further instruction.

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He later attends his meeting in the council room as scheduled and I have to wait outside, but when he comes out of the room he shocks me with his next statement.

Loki: "We will be going out into the kingdom today".

Me: "Then I shall arrange another servant to accompany you".

Loki: "You are my personal servant now, Anya. So you, and only you are permitted to accompany me".

Me: "Please, my King, I beg of you to reconsider. Do not make me go out there" I cry without even realising it.

Loki: "Come with me".

He grabs me by the hand and marches me across the palace to a small winding staircase. We enter a small room full of jars, with various odd things inside of them and even more books on the shelves.

Loki: "It truly means that much to you not to frighten the people of this kingdom?"

Me: "Yes, my King".

Loki: "Fine, have it your way" he snaps.

He begins quickly flicking through the pages of a book and taking down jars full of mysterious looking fluids and herbs, crushing them together to make a strange green fluid of some sort.

He pours it into a glass and pushes it towards me.

Loki: "Drink".

Me: "You wish to poison me?"

Loki: "No, it is simply a gift and nothing more".

Me: "A gift that I must drink?"

Loki: "You wish to please your King?"

Me: "Yes".

Loki: "Then drink it".

I raise the glass to my lips as it's vile odour enters my nose, making me instinctively gag. It's scent is similar to that of rotten eggs. I can only hope it tastes better than it smells, but I soon realise that was wishful thinking.

I try to drink it as quickly as my body will allow, but the flavour is something truly awful. It were almost as though I were drinking rotten fruit.

I finish it entirely and soon fall down to my knees, with the sudden and overwhelming urge to vomit as my body begins to ache all over.

Loki: "Breathe, Anya".

I gasp for air as a strange euphoric, warm tingling sensation washes over my body. The King surprisingly kneels before me, holding both of my hands as my breathing steadies and I cease feeling unusual.

Loki: "Are you alright?"

Me: "What was that?"

Loki: "Let me show you".

He quickly leads me down the staircase and back in the direction of his chambers, but now seems adverse to being seen at all.

We enter his chambers upon reaching them, and guides me over to the tall mirror in which he normally admires his own reflection after he is dressed in the morning.

Loki: "Do not be afraid, Anya".

Me: "Afraid of what?"

He turns me to face the mirror and I am greeted by an unfamiliar figure staring back at me. I approach slowly and observe more closely when I realise who it is before me. It is me.

The King has somehow rid me of my Jotun appearance and made me look more, dare I say, normal. My skin is porcelain, smooth and warm without any of my usual markings.

My hair is no longer black in colour as I let it down to cascade over my shoulders. It is thicker, shiny, soft and strawberry blonde just as I recall my mother's was.

My eyes are the same blue colour they have always been and I realise that I am almost the mirror image of my mother before me. I cannot help but begin to cry.

Me: "I look..."

Loki: "Beautiful?"

Me: "...like my mother".

Loki: "Are you upset?"

Me: "No, I am simply shocked. Why did you do this to me?"

Loki: "So that you could venture outside the palace just as everyone else does".

Me: "Is it permanent?"

Loki: "No, it will only last until nightfall".

Me: "It is so strange, seeing myself like this".

Loki: "All I did was temporarily strip you of your Jotun traits so you may blend in among the people".

Me: "Thank you, my King".