Servant of Jotunheim

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I have not seen the King in days, although I am slightly glad of that fact. The last time I saw him was the day I had unintentionally declared my unrequited affections towards him in a moment of madness.

Surely if he had wanted to discuss the matter any further, he would have been to visit me long before now?

Only Ruth and Sara have come to see me as well as the Queen Mother, who had kindly brought me a small supply of potion in the event that I should need to leave my chambers for any reason.

One morning when Ruth and Sara arrive at my chambers, they can sense my sadness and naturally assume it is due to the fact I am still filled with worry over Helbindi.

Ruth: "Still no word of the frost giants?"

Me: "Not as yet, but it is only a matter of time until he returns".

Sara: "Will he harm you?"

Me: "It is most likely".

Ruth: "The King seems determined in his efforts to keep you safe".

Sara: "You would hardly believe the vast amount of guards he has stationed around the Bifrosts".

Ruth: "I suppose he will no longer be able to receive visits from his mystery princess for some time".

I cannot help but laugh out loud after Ruth speaks those words.

Ruth: "What has you so amused?"

Me: "Nothing at all" I bite my lip to hide my smile.

Sara: "Did you hear about Princess Dahlia's hives? The King was clearly on top form that evening?"

Ruth: "When a noble woman throws herself at him and will not take no for an answer, what choice did he have?"

Me: "She called me a runt" I confide in them.

Sara: "That horrid woman!"

Ruth: "You know, the servants have noticed something odd about the King's behaviour for some time now".

Me: "What might that be?"

Ruth: "Ever since the mystery princess first appeared on Asgard, he has not taken a single maiden into his bed at night".

Sara: "How could anyone possibly know such a thing?"

Ruth: "Kiara informed me herself and she is the servant who changes his bed linens, remember? There has been no trace of a nightly visitor since the first day the princess was seen here".

Sara: "He must be truly in love with her?"

Me: "I doubt that fact very much".

Ruth: "Well what else would you call it, Anya?"

Me: "Certainly not love. She is nothing more than a servant girl".

I have not the faintest idea why I felt the need to admit it to them, but I know they do not spread vicious gossip as many of the servants do. They mainly talk between themselves or with me.

Sara: "Truly? The King is courting a servant?"

Me: "They are merely friends and he values his privacy on the matter".

Ruth: "You could have told us that long before now. We would never break your trust after everything you did for Sara".

Me: "Truly?"

Sara: "Of course. I would have been lashed if it were not for you".

Me: "So I can openly confess anything and you would never breathe a word to another living soul?"

Ruth: "Never".

Sara: "Never ever".

I walk over to my dresser, select one of the vials of potion I had been given and drink it. They look on in astonishment when my appearance changes before them.

They swiftly approach to admire my new form.

Ruth: "Does this mean what I think it means?"

Sara: "You are the princess that everyone believes is courting the King?"

Me: "It was not the impression he intended to give when he gave me the potion. He knew I did not yet feel comfortable outside in the kingdom and hoped it would help me".

Ruth: "This is incredible" she says while she runs her fingers along my jawline to inspect me further.

Sara: "You are so beautiful. I would never have suspected you were not a real princess".

Me: "I look like my mother this way" I laugh.

Ruth: "Was your mother a noble woman?"

Me: "I doubt that very much. She was much younger than I am now when she found herself stranded on Jotunheim".

Sara: "How did she come to be there?"

Me: "I do not recall that she ever told me".

A knock at the door frightens all three of us as nobody other than myself, the King and the Queen Mother know that I take the potion.

If either of them were to discover that I had revealed this secret to Sara and Ruth, it may risk causing trouble for the both of them.

Me: "I must hide" I whisper.

I quickly hide under the bed before Ruth and Sara answer the door and I hear the King's voice. Peering out from under the bed, I also recognise his boots when he enters the room.

Loki: "Is Anya here?"

Sara: "No, my King. We have come to collect her clothes and bed linens" she lies nervously.

Loki: "So where is she?"

Ruth: "She was not here when we arrived. I am certain she has stepped out for some air. She cannot have wandered far, my King".

The second he leaves, Ruth closes the door behind him and crawl out from under the bed.

Me: "You two are terrible liars" I jest.

Sara: "That was too close".

Ruth: "He did seem rather suspicious".

Me: "I am certain all will be well, but I must not risk being seen this way in front of you again".

Sara: "How long does the potion last?"

Me: "Depending on when I drink it, either sunrise or sunset".

Sara: "This all sounds like something I would often hear in fairytales as a child" she smiles with a childlike innocence.