The Love Of Mischief

Chapter 4

I braced myself for the hit, I knew that I should have blocked but no, I thought it best to scrunch my eyes up and turn my head away. I would rather have a bruised cheek than a broken nose. But the punch never came. I opened one eye and stood in shook. Stood to the side of me, Blocking the punch with his hand, Was Lord Loki. I could feel his knuckles brush against my nose.
"Looks like I arrived in time then?" Lord Loki quizzed "Amelia, Are you okay?" Lord Loki whispered loud enough for me to hear as he looked over his shoulder at me. I nodded as I placed my hand on my chest. My heart was beating a mile a minute "Mother, Why is there no guards in here?"
"We didn't think she would kick off this badly" Lady Frigga smiled at Lord Loki. Who just nodded in reply. Elena was still trying to get past the oak tree known as Lord Loki.
"With respect, Lord Loki. Get out of my way" Elena yelled. Lord Loki laughed at her "Why are you laughing?"
"Punching this one will not get you her job" Lord Loki rolled his eyes as he pushed Elena back. Elena snatched her hand away and tried to lunge at me again. Only Lord Loki caught her by the waist "Oh I don't think so"
"Let me at her" Elena hissed.
"Yeah. No. Not happening. Won't do you any good" Lord Loki shoved Elena to the other side of the room.
"Will make me feel better" Elena grumbled as she tried to push past. Lord Loki held his ground.
"Yes, Well. Normally I choose violence over peace but my mother is in the room and I do not want to be in trouble with her" Lord Loki pushed Elena away. I looked at Lady Frigga. She was smiling at her son. I walked to the side of Lord Loki and stared at my former friend.
"Elena, Firstly. I want to say that I am sorry that I never told you that I got the job" I started. Elena folded her arms and scoffed "Secondly, You're fired"
"You can not be serious" Elena's arms dropped to her side.
"Afraid so. You've been slacking in your work, Laziness. That was strike 1 and when questioned, You claimed to be Head maid, Fraud. So, Strike 2 and then you go to attack me. That is assault. Strike 3" I held 3 fingers up.
"I wasn't actually going to hit you" Elena insisted "Just scare you enough"
"Your hand was pretty close to Amelia's face" Lord Loki added.
"Lord Loki, If you hadn't put your hand in the way, I still wouldn't have touched her. I wanted to scare her" Elena hugged herself "And it's not as if I could make her face anymore ugly now is it"
"Am sure that was going to happen" Lord Loki rolled his eyes. He went and stood next to his mother "And do not disrespect Amelia. You Mewling Quim" 
"What exactly was the plan here?" Elena pouted. Staring at me "Too scared to fight your own battles"
"Oh no. I just know when to pick my battles" I spoke "I mean what I said, Elena. You are fired"
"Amelia, Please reconsider" Elena begged.
"No. Sorry, You are too much of a liability. Also, make sure your crew knows that they are fired too" I held my head up.
"What did they do?" Elena frowned.
"They are like you. I can't allow that in my team. We have only just caught up with our work. I need workers that are committed and don't take breaks when they feel like it"
"She's strict" Lord Loki mumbled into his mother's ear. Lady Frigga nodded.
"But in a good way" Lady Frigga replied.
"You and your little crew have done nothing but cause problems for the maids. For the first 3 days, We were backed up with orders because you sat there filing your nails. 7 times I walked past you and watched you. When I questioned you, You said that you were on break. Maids are only given breaks every 4 hours. An hour for lunch"
"Amelia, You can't fire me. I need this job"
"You need this job like you need a hole in your head" I crossed my arms in front of me. Elena threw herself on the ground.
"Amelia, Please. I am on my knees. I beg you, Don't fire me" Elena pleaded. I tried to ignore her but I had flashbacks of all the good times in our friendship. I then shook my head. Memories of how she made my life hell replace now the good ones. And how she has treated me the last few weeks.
"No. Please leave the palace" I pointed to the door. Elena stood up. I saw that her fists were clenched again. I clenched up. Lord Loki was once again in front of me.
"Allow me to escort you out" Lord Loki glared at Elena.
"Amelia, You will regret this" She snarled as she tried to get past Lord Loki.
"You keep saying that but never follow through" I scratched my nose "Your words just roll off your tongue, They have lost all meaning" Elena tried to reply but Lord Loki shoved her through the door.

After spending hours, Trying to work out how we were to get through the bank holiday weekend with only a handful of maids, I sat in the courtyard and took a deep breath in and then out. Calming myself. The courtyard was stunning this time of year. Summer really did bring out the best in the plants. I knelt in front of a rose bush and sniffed. Roses are my favourite.
"You must really like plants" A voice spoke behind me. I shot up, Spun round and I saw Lord Loki leaning against the tree "Sorry, Didn't mean to scare you"
"It is quite alright. Maybe a little warning next time" I smiled as I placed my hands in front of me and looked down "I was only taking a short break"
"Why do you do... this?" Lord Loki waved his hand up and down at me "The head bowing thing"
"Sign of respect, My Lord" I spoke as Lord Loki walked closer to me "All servants are taught to do this when in the presence of someone higher than themselves"
"Oh, Odin's Law 52. I hate that rule" Lord Loki groaned "Then again, I hate most of his rules"
"So does your mother" I did a half-smile.
"Is that why you kept your head up when dealing with Elena?" Lord Loki was less than a foot away from me "You think yourself higher than her?"
"I don't think myself higher than her. Plus your mother yells at the girls who keep their heads down"
"Then while with me, Please, Lift your head" Lord Loki stopped moving now. I gulped as I lifted my head. His eyes narrowed at me "I see that you have stopped wearing your contacts?"
"Yes, Was easier for work. They kept falling out" I sort of lied. I just had more confidence.
"Well, I am glad. Eyes as pretty as yours should not be hidden" Lord Loki smiled softly at me. Naturally, I blushed. No one has ever said that my eyes are pretty "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you"
"You didn't" I replied quickly "So... urm... How comes you are here?"
"I was walking through the halls. My brother wished to speak to me. For some reason" Lord Loki shrugged "And then I saw you. Wanted to make sure you are okay"
"I am. thank you. Thank you for stopping Elena's fist"
"She does a decent right hook on her. That I will give" Lord Loki sighed "But that is the only decent thing about her"
"I wish I noticed the red flags with her sooner. Then I wouldn't feel so bad for firing her" I hugged myself. I hated feeling guilty.
"Look, She needs to be brought down a peg or two. Maybe this will teach her humility" Lord Loki patted my arm. Still, I looked away.
"It is, what it is" I replied. Lord Loki frowned at me.
"Who broke you?" Lord Loki quizzed.
"What do you mean?"
"That's the line that broken people use. So who broke you?"
"Life. I have no family. Mum and Dad left me on the doorstep of the orphanage and carers died when I was 12" I shrugged. I couldn't really answer this. I've always been this way for as long as I can remember "Sure things get to me. Words still hurt but when you say you are going to leave. There's a good chance that I will be holding the door for you"
"You wear it like a shield. Built your walls up so no one can break them down" Lord Loki smiled. I nodded as I smiled softly at him "You should smile more. It suits you"
"When I find a reason too" I stated. Lord Loki clicked his tongue before he did a finger wiggle and placed his hands behind his back "It's better this way. No one can hurt me" I shrugged. Lord Loki took two steps towards me.
"I would never hurt you" He whispered. I could feel his breath on my forehead. We stay close for a few minutes before Lord Loki pulled away "I should get going"
"Yes, You don't want to be late meeting your brother" I took a step back. Loki rolled his eyes before smirking.
"See you around, Amelia" Lord Loki nodded and smiled and walked off. His cape flapping behind him.

I got back to my little house around 11 at night. I had taken on a few extra roles till Lady Frigga found more maids to cover the ones we had lost. I hung my coat up and I took my apron off. I saw something in my pocket. I frowned in confusion as I pulled out a single rose.
"How did you get in there?" I spoke as I quickly went to the kitchen. I placed the rose in a glass of water. I decided to put it on the window sill. I still didn't understand how it got in my apron. So when I looked in the pocket again. I saw a piece of paper.
"Is this reason to smile? :D" I read the paper. I looked at the rose. This must of happened when he did his finger wiggle.
"So you are from Lord Loki?" I could feel my cheek burn a little. The edges of my lips were turned up a little "Yes, I guess this flower is a reason to smile"