Servant of Jotunheim

Illusion

Later that evening after everyone has long since retired to their chambers for the night, I am aimlessly wandering the corridors of the palace. Sleep had evaded me.

It is not long before I see Princess Milea, seemingly doing the same so she greets me with a kind smile and tired eyes.

Milea: "How are you?"

Me: "As well as can be expected. You?"

Milea: "I did not know the Queen Mother as well as you did, but she was a kind, gracious woman".

Me: "She certainly was. How fares the King?"

Milea: "As you may imagine, but he conceals his emotions well. You should go to him. I doubt he will be sleeping either".

Me: "A man such as the King may prefer to grieve in peace".

Milea: "Go to him, Valanya" she smiles before she walks away.

It is not much further until I reach the King's chambers, but I dare not knock at first. What if he did not want me there?

I pace back on forth indecisively for a while before I gain the courage to finally do it.

Loki: "Enter".

He is sitting at the end of his bed when I walk inside and he appears understandably sullen.

Loki: "Why are you here?" he asks coldly.

Me: "I wished to see you, but I will leave if you want me to".

Loki: "The one thing in which you remain unparalleled. Leaving".

He is grieving and I mustn't take his words to heart. I approach him hesitantly at first and sit down beside him. Now I am closer, I notice something rather peculiar about him.

Me: "Where are you?"

Loki: "I do not know what you mean" he replies sternly.

Me: "You cannot fool me, Loki. I know this is an illusion".

Loki: "The gardens" he sighs.

He puts his head down in defeat as his image quickly fades away and I notice his room is now in a state of complete disarray, with broken furniture everywhere.

I find him shortly after, sitting alone in the moonlit gardens on a bench, appearing downhearted but also confused.

Loki: "How did you know?"

Me: "It is difficult to explain. Since the day I shed my Jotun form I have been able to sense certain things. Sometimes I can feel sadness, kindness, even a wickedness about someone. I could not feel you there with me".

Loki: "And what do you feel now?"

Me: "Sorrow" I answer honestly.

Loki: "You have magic. Perhaps inherited from your mother?"

Me: "If she did then I never knew of it. Come now, I will help tidy your chambers".

Loki: "You do not have to do that".

Me: "I know, but I want to help you. Let me help you".

Whilst helping him clean, the King uses his magic to repair his many items of broken furniture. His chambers are soon back to their usual state of grandeur and I lastly go about remaking his bed.

Neither of us take notice of the late hour until we have completed the task at hand.

Me: "I will go now, you need your rest".

Loki: "Thank you for all your help, but I doubt I will be able to sleep".

Me: "I am certain that not many souls in the kingdom will rest this night".

Loki: "Will you stay with me, Valanya? I do not wish to be alone".

Me: "Alright".

He kindly allows me to borrow one of his black nightshirts and I lie on the bed next to him, facing in the opposite direction.

I soon hear him attempting to stifle his tears so I turn to face to him, wiping his tears away before wrapping my arm around his body and pulling him closer to my own.

Loki: "I missed this".

Me: "Missed what exactly?"

Loki: "Being here with you".

Me: "As did I".

Loki: "Do you have to leave Asgard so soon?"

Me: "I promised my friends that I would return".

Loki: "It is a shame. The princess has really taken quite the liking to you" he laughs.

Me: "I rather like her too. She is a good kisser".

Loki: "She kissed you!?"

Me: "Indeed she did" I smile.

Loki: "Did she tell her reason for being here?"

Me: "She did and I sympathise with her situation. I was not brought to Asgard of my own free will either".

Loki: "I will keep her here for as long as possible, but eventually she will be expected to return home".

Me: "Not if you were to marry her?" I suggest.

Loki: "You would have me do that?"

Me: "If you do not then she will undoubtedly continue to be sent from realm to realm. She will be alone, unhappy and never allowed to be her true self".

Loki: "You are always thinking of other peoples happiness, even now".

Me: "These words from the man who once referred to me as selfish?" I jest.

Loki: "I swear I did not mean any of those hurtful words I said".

Me: "I know" I say while affectionately tucking his hair behind his ear.

His eyes soon become heavy and slowly close. Being here with him like this has only confirmed my fear that leaving tomorrow would be more difficult than I had imagined.