Servant of Jotunheim

Back to Work

After a few days of rest, I am permitted to return to my duties as normal. The whole kingdom is still awash with rumours after I accompanied the King through the streets in disguise, but I have said nothing as per his wishes.

I am ready to start my day after breakfast and I head straight to the King's chambers before knocking eagerly on his door.

Loki: "Enter".

Me: "Good morning, my King".

He appears to be bathed and dressed already when he surprises me by wrapping me in a warm embrace and holding me tightly for a few brief seconds.

Loki: "You had me worried there for a moment, Anya".

Me: "I can assure you that I am quite alright".

Loki: "I suppose you have heard the rumours around the palace by now?" he laughs.

Me: "The mystery princess you had smuggled into Asgard? Quite the scandal, my King" I smirk mischievously.

Loki: "Surely my own personal servant does not believe every piece of salacious gossip she hears?"

Me: "I would not dream of it. That being said, I have not been at your beck and call for days now. Who knows what mischief you may have gotten yourself in to?"

Loki: "I can assure you Anya, I have been a saint in your absence".

Me: "Then perhaps I am a bad influence on my King?"

Loki: "Far from it. Now, I need you to accompany me to the library today. I have some research to do".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We sit in the library reading and I soon notice that the King is reading a book about another realm called Svartalfheim.

Me: "If I may ask my King, why are you researching Svartalfheim?"

Loki: "Princess Dahlia of Svartalfheim is arriving here in two days".

Me: "An eligible princess for the King of Asgard perhaps?"

Loki: "It would appear so" he vaguely responds, busily reading his book.

Me: "It will be refreshing to hear the people of Asgard gossiping about something else".

Loki: "They undoubtedly will about her. Anyone from the original home of the dark elves very rarely travels out this far".

Me: "I am certain she will be quite beautiful".

Loki: "Beauty is surely no compensation for a lack of personality".

Me: "Would you prefer a less appealing princess with a more favourable personality?"

Loki: "Perhaps".

Me: "Or does the King prefer the company of his nightly visitors?"

Loki: "They are simply for pleasure, not for affection".

Me: "Not to be vulgar, but do you never worry about any of these women becoming with child?"

Loki: "There are ways around that".

Me: "How?"

Loki: "A simple, yet effective enchantment. As the King of this realm, I cannot produce an heir to the throne of Asgard unless the mother is of noble blood and also of my choosing".

Me: "So there is no risk of a marriage for political gain producing an heir?"

Loki: "Exactly. You can soon tell if a princess is here for that purpose. They always inform me of all the wonderful things their father's have told them about me".

Me: "You are very wise not to fall for such deceptions".

Loki: "Be glad you did not have to worry about the complications of courtship on Jotunheim".

Me: "And I have little reason to worry here either".

Loki: "You do not believe you will find the opportunity to be courted here?"

Me: "Gods no! I am not foolish and I have seen how the people of this realm look at me. I am happy in my duties and have no need for male attentions whatsoever".

Loki: "What if there were a way to change that? To strip you of your Jotun form permanently so that you may have the opportunity to find love?"

Me: "I would not accept such a gift, my King".

Loki: "Why not?"

Me: "How could any male, Jotun or otherwise truly want me if he does not desire me as I truly am, like this? If you love someone then you should love everything about them, including the what most would consider bad".

Loki: "For someone who has never experienced it, you truly have strong ideals on the subject of love".

Me: "But I have been loved before".

Loki: "Oh?"

Me: "By my mother. She told me she loved me every single day up until the day she died. She never once looked at me with anything but love in her eyes and somehow saw past my similarities to the cruel monster that is my father".