Servant of Jotunheim

Strawberries

While I assist the King preparing for bed, there is an unexpected knock on his chamber door which confuses us both. Who would possibly call upon him at this hour?

Me: "One of your nightly visitors, my King?"

Loki: "I was not expecting anyone?"

I answer the door for him while he goes to the bathroom and I am shocked by who I greet upon opening it.

Princess Dahlia is standing before me, wearing a red, silken, floor length robe, appearing overly done up for this time of the evening with her beautiful, long brown locks now flowing freely.

Dahlia: "I must speak with the King at once" she says coldly while barging past me to enter the room.

Me: "May I get you something while you wait?"

Dahlia: "I do not want anything from you, runt" she replies, looking me up and down with disgust.

The King comes back from the bathroom and is as surprised as I was by the princesses unexpected presence in his chambers.

Loki: "Princess, is there something amiss?"

Dahlia: "I wish to speak to you in private, Allfather".

Loki: "Anything you wish to say to me, you may say in front of my servant. She is sworn to secrecy".

She walks towards him in a sultry fashion and begins seductively trailing her finger down his slightly exposed chest.

Dahlia: "I would much prefer it if we were to speak alone" she whispers, yet ensures that she has said it loudly enough for me to here.

Loki: "Perhaps I could sent Anya to the kitchen to request something delicious to be brought for us?"

Dahlia: "What a delightful idea".

Dahlia brazenly sits upon his bed as the King then proceeds to lead me to the door.

Loki: "Could you ask the cook for strawberries and cream to be brought to my chambers before you retire for the evening?"

I know that he can clearly see the look of judgement and disappointment written all over my expression.

Me: "Yes, my King".

As I head towards the kitchens, I suppose it is my Jotun rage inside that is making me feel this way. How could he possibly allow himself to be so easily swayed by the princess?

The entire day that temptress had revealed herself to be nothing but a self centred, vane and arrogant woman.

She was everything he claimed that he did not want and now she was in his chambers at this very moment making a brazen attempt to seduce him.

The fact that she had called me a runt only proved to me that she is just as unpleasant as her servants are.

I finally reach the kitchen and the cook greets me kindly.

Jonah: "Good evening, Anya. Does the King require something?"

Anya: "The King has requested that strawberries and cream be brought to his chambers for him and his guest".

Jonah: "Oh, I see. Did he happen to say which kind?"

Anya: "There is more than one?"

Jonah: "Well, there are normal strawberries. Then there are the King's 'special' strawberries which he reserves for his, let us say, rather unwanted guests" he sniggers.

To be honest, he had not specified to me which strawberries he wanted. Although I am certain that if he had wanted those 'special' strawberries then he would have made it clear in his instruction.

I do not quite understand it myself, but I cannot tolerate the idea of the King being taken advantage of the by the temptress that currently resides in his chambers with him.

If he is truly my friend then surely I must do all in my power to protect him from her advances?

Me: "He wanted the 'special' strawberries" I lie so quickly that I almost convince myself it is the truth.

When I retire for the evening, I am convinced that I have done the right thing in order to protect him, but then a sudden thought comes into my mind.

The King had not asked for the 'special' strawberries so what if he were to eat one unknowingly?

Would he possibly become sick and have me punished severely for my actions to please the princess? Causing harm to the King is also just cause to have me beheaded.

I lie there in my bed, unable to sleep with these thoughts in my mind when there is a knock on my door that I dread to answer before I open it.

Guard: "The King has requested your immediate presence".