Servant of Jotunheim

Say No

I have spent the entire day alone, other than when another servant has been sent to bring my meals. Why would my father be visiting Asgard at all and why would the King have asked if I liked living here?

A horrid thought crosses my mind. Was the King planning on returning me to my father? Had I defied him enough when I rejected his advances that he could no longer tolerate being in the same realm as me?

I begin to cry at the thought of returning to the home where I had been so cruelly treated my entire life, but I would have no choice in the matter.

A knock at the door pulls me from my morbid thoughts as two guards have been instructed to bring me to the King.

I soon enter his chambers to find that he is currently seated at his desk reading.

Me: "My King, you wished to see me?"

Loki: "Yes. I need you to tell me of Helbindi".

Tears come to the eyes at the mere mention of that name as he was by far the cruelest of all the frost giants I had ever known.

We were of a similar age, but even long before his father's death he would have the other servants hold me down while he tortured me for his own amusement.

His father never knew of this and he made sure that I was always too afraid of him to have ever dared utter a word of it.

Loki: "Anya?" he asks worriedly once he notices my tears.

Me: "Is he here?" I cry.

Loki: "Not as yet. He is arriving here tomorrow when your father returns".

Me: "Do you truly hate me that much?"

Loki: "What? No, I do not hate you, Anya. What would make you believe such a thing?"

Me: "You have barely spoken to me since the other night and now my father and Helbindi are coming here. Are you sending me away?"

Loki: "Helbindi has come of breeding age and wishes to see if you would be a suitable mate. If that is not the case then he will simply leave".

Me: "Helbindi hates me. Why would he come here?"

Loki: "Remain calm, Anya. I am trying spare you from all this" he holds me tightly as my body continues to tremble with fear.

Me: "If he were to make his claim upon me then I will be entranced and desire to mate with him. I will be his until I die and I will never be free of him".

Loki: 'Not if you were to reject him. All you have to do is say no if he attempts to claim you".

Me: "I will have no choice in the matter. I am Jotun and I must follow tradition. Helbindi will be my King and if he claims me then I must leave this place".

Loki: "I am your King and I command you to reject Helbindi".

Me: "You cannot command that of me".

Loki: "You are my friend and I do not want to lose you, Valanya".

Me: "What would you have me do?"

Loki: "Please, reject him".

Me: "I may not have the willpower to do so. I am sorry, Loki".

Loki: "Be strong for yourself, Valanya. And for me" he sighs as his forehead rests against mine.

His hand gently clasps my chin as I find myself overcome with an emotion I had never felt. Before I am able to process what is happening, I feel the King's lips gently caressing my own.

The King had kissed me as I truly was and I had kissed him in return, yet I struggle to understand what all of this means.

Perhaps it was the thought of never seeing one another again after tomorrow that had caused this to occur, but it no longer mattered in that tender moment.