The Love Of Mischief

Chapter 5

Things seem to run a lot smoother once Elena and her friends were removed from the palace. Though hardly any of them believed that I was given the head job. They were convinced that I was lying. They said that they would go to Lord Odin himself and have me cast out of Asgard.
That was till Lady Frigga put them in their place. She told them all that if they did not leave the palace at once, Then their families would be informed. Many left that day. Some refused to leave till Elena was reinstated as a head maid. I had to get the guards involved with those ones. I respect their loyalty. I truly do but once they found out from Elena herself that she was never the head girl. She just claimed to be. They all left her.

I see Lord Loki around the palace more often now. I keep finding the odd rose here and there now. It always has the same words, Keep smiling. His notes never fail to bring a smile to my face.

As I was in the kitchen when I found one in my apron.
"I see that someone has a secret admirer?" The Lady Frigga spoke as she came into my view. I blushed.
"It is nothing. Just someone who wants me to smile more" I put the rose in my pocket once more.
"I see" Lady Frigga smiled at me "You should put that flower in water" I nodded as I went to find a small cup. It will do till the end of the day. I smiled softly as I ran a hand over the petals "By the way Amelia, Love suits you"
"I love roses but that doesn't mean I am in love" I adjusted myself. I hate lying to Lady Frigga but I couldn't risk her finding out who the rose is from. It would cause a lot of trouble.
"Child, I was raised with witches. I see more than you know" Lady Frigga smiled at me "I know a girl in love when I see one"
"I ain't in love. Just got more of a reason to smile these days" I grabbed an empty laundry basket and some cleaning supplies "Now if you will excuse me, My Lady. I need to go clean Lord Thor's room"
"Remember to take a nose peg" Lady Frigga called after me. I held one up. I soon heard her laugh.

I knock as I arrive at Lord Thor's room. A laundry basket and cleaning supplies were placed on my hip.
"Who is it?" I hear his voice boom.
"Room service" I spoke.
"You may enter" I hear him reply. I took a deep breath as I open the door. I had the peg in my pocket. It was sort of a running joke now. When I first cleaned Lord Thor's room. It was like breathing in the sewer.

"Ahh. Amelia. Good to see you again" Lord Thor beamed. I put the basket down as he wrapped his arms around me. Lifting me off the floor. I had become good friends with most of the Lords and Ladies in the palace.
"Good to see you too sparkles. You do know that you don't need to hug me every time you see me" I insisted.
"I know but I'm still going to do it" Lord Thor grinned after he put me back on the ground "I still see that you have the peg"
"Well, It was just in case you didn't maintain your room" I waved the peg at him.
"And risk your tiny self getting angry at me? I couldn't risk you bursting a blood vessel" Lord Thor sat on the window sill and I went around picking the clothes up.
"Thanks, sparkles. Nice to know you care" I walked into the bathroom. Tidying the towels.
"Always did" Lord Thor pointed at me. He looked out of his window "I swear he never leaves that place"
"Who are you talking about?" I put the washing basket at the foot of the bed.
"My Brother. He's in the courtyard again. Sat by a rose bush. Reading a book" Lord Thor folded his arms. I had to keep my gaze away from Lord Thor. He may be the brawns of the place but even he ain't that dumb to see what effect his brother has on me.
"Is that all he does? Read?" I raised an eyebrow. I took a cloth and wiped the sides down.
"Other then transform into snakes and try and stab me? No, Not really" Lord Thor reached over to the small side table and grabbed an apple.
"Have you ever thought about learning magic? You could transform into a book and when he picks you up, You could stab him"
"I should have thought about that when I was younger" Lord Thor scratched his head "Would have saved a lot of hassle when we were children"
"Yes, it would have" I nodded once. Since Loki liked to shapeshift and play with knives and Thor would pick up random snakes, A lot of respect needs to go to Lady Frigga for getting Lord Thor and Lord Loki to adulthood.
"Still, Stabbing me ain't the worse thing he ever did," He said with his mouth full of apple.
"Manners please and what's the worst thing he ever did?" I knew what it was. I had been told.
"I can't tell you that" Lord Thor declined.
"You can totally tell me" I grinned.
"No, I can't"
"I might already know. Your mother and friends told me a lot of stories"
"What do you know?"
"One story that Lord Loki is proud of" I stood by the window "He cut of Lady Sif's hair"
"She was so proud of her hair" Lord Thor narrowed his eyes at me "And how do you know about that?"
"3 reasons. Lady Sif told me. I had asked her why she wanted to kick Lord Loki's balls in. 2, Lord Fandral also told me. Bragging that he was some hero of that tale and 3, Lord Loki told me" I wiggled 3 fingers. Lord Thor narrowed his eyes at me again.
"I think that prank is why my brother earned the title of trickster God. I ain't sure. He did try to make amends by having the dwarf smithy make a wig of pure gold" Lord Thor looked back out the window "Speaking of whom, Still hasn't moved"
"At least if he is there, He ain't up here stabbing you" I shrugged as I removed the basket from the bed. I quickly made it. I look at Lord Thor "You better not think of jumping on it"
"How dare you! You tiny Asgardian! I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing" He bellowed. I looked over my glasses at him, Tapping my foot "I was going to wait till you left"
"Why am I surprised" I rolled my eyes. I grabbed the laundry basket and cleaning supplies placing it back on my hip "I got to go. Have fun, Sparkles"
"See you around Amelia" Lord Thor waved me off.

I quickly got back to the laundry room. Instructing the ladies there that Lord Thor's washing was to be done as soon as possible. I went over to the whiteboard and crossed Lord Thor's room of the list. There was only one room left to do.
"Right, Time to do Lord Loki's room" I grabbed another basket and supplies and went up the left stairs.

I knock as I arrive at Lord Loki's room. A laundry basket and cleaning supplies were placed on my hip. I don't know why I knocked. He was down in the courtyard. But it was protocol to knock. So I did once again. There was no answer so I let myself into the room.

Out of all the rooms I tidy, Lord Loki's was the nicest one. It never smelled and there was never really anything to do. He leaves his washing in a pile at the end of the bed. All I had to do was clean down the surfaces. As I knelt to pick the washing up. The bathroom door open. And Lord Loki walks out in just a towel. He smiled softly when he spotted me.
"Apologies, My Lord" I look down at the washing. Lord Loki laughed "I did knock but there was no answer"
"Good day Amelia. How has your morning been?" Lord Loki walked past me. using a spare towel to dry his hair. I stood up, putting the basket on the ottoman at the end of the bed.
"It's been steady" I stuttered. I was doing my best not to look at Lord Loki "Do you want me to come back and finish cleaning later when you are dressed?"
"No, It's fine. I can go in the bathroom and change" Lord Loki smiled as he grabbed some clothes. As he turned his back, I couldn't help but stare. He went into the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.
"Did you have a nice time in the courtyard?" I spoke as I put the washing in the basket.
"How do you know I was in the courtyard? Stalking me?" He raised his voice.
"Lord Thor told me" I shrugged as I got to cleaning. Lord Loki came out in his trousers. His top dripping wet "What happened?" I pointed to the top.
"I may have dropped it on the floor" I took the top off Lord Loki and added it to the laundry. Trying my hardest to avoid his gaze.
"I'll have it washed again for you Sir" I bowed my head.
"Thank you Amelia" Lord Loki crossed his arms. I blushed as I grabbed the cloth to wipe with "So how is my airhead of a brother doing?"
"He seems okay. Probably jumping on his bed as we speak" I smiled. Lord Loki chuckled lightly.
"Please tell me he waited to that after you had already left"
"Yes. But I could tell that he wanted to while I was there" I grinned.
"That sounds like Thor" Lord Loki nodded "How are you holding up?"
"I've been fine. Getting on with work" I shrugged "Smiling when there is a rose in the pocket" Lord Loki smiled as he looked away "Thank you for them"
"Well, I am glad that it was I that made you smile" Lord Loki looked at me with soft eyes "Smiling suits you" I blushed as I looked down. I felt a small bit of pressure on my chin, causing me to look up. Lord Loki was stood rather close. His pointer finger under my chin and his thumb holding me in place.
"Lord Loki," I tried to control my breathing but my heart was going a mile a minute. His thumb ran gently over my skin.
"Two things. 1, Please, drop the lord part. I never did care for my title. Despite what people say" He let go of my chin. I licked my lips as my mouth felt rather dry.
"And the second?"
"Don't hide your face from me" He bopped me on the nose and went to his wardrobe. I bit my lip as I watched him walk away.
"I should get going" I picked the laundry basket and cleaning supplies "Have a good day" I went to walk away but I felt a hand on mine.
"Amelia, Will you meet me in the courtyard tonight?" Lord Loki asked. His eyes soft and inviting.
"My shift finishes at 10" I nodded. Lord Loki let me go and I left.

After dropping the washing off. I went to the toilets. It was the only place I could go that I could get some peace. Why did I agree to meet Lord Loki tonight? And why was my heart racing so? Was Lady Frigga right? Was I in love?