Love Me?

Chapter Four

Loki watched as Laufey was arguing with Helblindi quietly in the corner of the room. Helblindi was trying all night to talk with Elli, but, Loki could tell Elli was not interested in what he had to say. They spoke for a few seconds and Elli quickly excused herself to go talk to some relatives. Loki held his drink in his hands, which he never touched. He did not drink alcohol and was appalled but how much Helblindi could drink before getting drunk. As he stood close to the dance floor, he felt out of place. He didn't belong in Asgard and felt that he would never belong anywhere.
 
"This ball has gotten rather dull." Elli spoke.
 
Loki jumped softly as Elli blushed.
 
"I didn't mean to scare you." Elli said.
 
"You didn't scare me. You just...startled me." Loki told her.
 
The two chuckled softly and Elli looked at his cup.
 
"You haven't drank your wine." Elli pointed out.
 
"I don't like wine, or alcohol for that matter." Loki told her.
 
"Neither do I. I can get you another drink if you'd like." Elli smiled.
 
"No, that's not necessary." Loki told her.
 
"Are you sure? It's not much of a problem for me." Elli said.
 
"Please, it's alright. Besides, having the drink in my hands makes them assume that I drink what they drink. It makes me feel almost like everyone here." Loki explained.
 
"Almost?" Elli asked.
 
"I don't fit in here. My father and brother do not care because they think very highly of themselves given that they are a king and a prince." Loki replied.
 
"But, you're a prince too. What difference does it make?" Elli asked.
 
Loki turned to look down at Elli and blinked a few times before looking down at his cup.
 
"I'm a runt. No one cares about me." Loki replied.
 
"I-I do." Elli said.
 
"That's sweet of you to say." Loki scoffed.

"No, Loki. I truly mean it." Elli told him.
 
Loki furrowed his brow and turned to look back at Elli. She began to blush and stutter to form a sentence.
 
"I do care for you. As, um, a friend. I truly do." Elli explained as the blush crept across her cheeks and bosom.
 
Her blush made Loki realize that she did feel something towards him.
 
"Would you care to dance?" Elli asked.
 
"I'd have to...you remember, uh, hold your hand." Loki replied.
 
"Oh, yes! I'm terribly sorry for forgetting. My mistake. I hope you'll watch then." Elli told him.
 
"I will. Have a nice night, Elli." Loki said.
 
"You too, Loki." Elli grinned.
 
Loki watched as Elli reluctantly turned her head forward and walked towards the dance floor. The music began to play and Loki smiled as he watched Elli dance among the others on the floor.
 
"You have to get her attention somehow." Laufey said.
 
"How can I when she's always around her family...or Loki?" Helblindi asked.
 
"She associates herself with Loki?" Laufey asked.
 
"She has almost this entire night. Whenever I try to speak with her, she comes up with an excuse. She doesn't like me father. Just hand her over to Loki. She's not that special." Helblindi replied.
 
"You marrying Elli will unite Jotunheim and Asgard for millenniums. If you fail to woo her, Jotunheim will be crushed. I do not care if you don't like her. You will marry her." Laufey told him.
 
"How?" Helblindi asked.
 
"Because, no matter what, I have arranged with Odin that her engagement to you will be announced at the end of this week." Laufey replied.
 
"What? You did that?" Helblindi asked.
 
"See, so no matter what happens, you are to marry her." Laufey replied.
 
Helblindi nodded his head as Laufey walked away. Loki laughed whenever Elli would giggle and look his way. She was full of life and wonder and Loki wanted her to be his. He wanted to be with her forever and live his life away from Jotunheim. Loki didn't want to be with his family anymore. He considered Elli to be his family. Elli giggled once more and waved at Loki before dancing once more. She let out a soft gasp when she saw Helblindi dancing next to her.
 
"How are you this evening, Elli?" Helblindi asked.
 
"I am well. And you?" Elli asked.
 
"Quite alright." Helblindi replied with a smile.
 
"I must talk with my mother about some arrangements for-"
 
"Enough with the excuses," Helblindi spat at her. "I know that you do not like me and frankly, I don't like you either. But, couples usually do not like one another when they are in an arranged marriage."
 
"What?" Elli asked timidly.
 
"Your parents haven't told you? At the end of this week, our engagement will be announced and we will be married to unite our realms together." Helblindi replied.
 
"Oh." Elli said softly.
 
Helblindi grabbed her wrist harshly and Elli gasped at his touch. He leaned close to her face and smirked.
 
"When we are wed, I hope you aren't as shy like this. When we are married, you will be brought to Jotunheim and you will obey every word I tell you. You're going to be my little plaything when we're married. I know you hate me, Elli and I've seen how you act towards my brother. My brother is nothing more than runt and is nothing special. He's an idiot and a monster. I am a true sovereign  prince and you are a princess. Once you accept this, we shall be on good terms." Helblindi whispered coldly in her ear.
 
He threw her arm back and walked away. Elli's bottom lip quivered and she broke down crying before running out of the ballroom. Loki saw her and ran after her along with Frigga who quickly noticed something was off. Elli sat down on a bench nearby and cried into her hands as Frigga hugged her tightly. Loki stood in front of them and Frigga gave him a sympathetic look and a smile.
 
"My little pea, what has happened?" Frigga asked.
 
"It's nothing." Elli managed to say through her sobs.
 
"Elli, something happened on that dance floor. I want you to tell me exactly what happened." Frigga demanded.
 
"Helblindi told me that in a week. father will be announcing our engagement." Elli told them.
 
"What? He told me that he and my father agreed that for this week Helblindi would try to woo you and if it worked then you would marry!" Loki exclaimed.
 
"He did?" Elli asked.
 
"Yes, but, I told him it would never work. Helblindi isn't one for marriage and a woman like you would never love him or ever deserve him." Loki replied.
 
Elli smiled softly and so as Frigga.
 
"I will go have a word with your father. Loki, do you mind staying here with Elli until I return?" Frigga asked.
 
"No, not at all." Loki replied, a little too quickly.
 
Frigga chuckled when she saw Elli smiling up at Loki through her tears. Frigga walked back into the ballroom and Loki sat next to Elli, but left some space for her.
 
"I'm sorry, Elli." Loki started to say.
 
"Why are you apologizing? You had nothing to do with this." Elli asked.
 
"He is my brother." Loki replied.
 
Elli giggled softly and looked up at Loki with a smile on her face.
 
"You're a good man, Loki. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Elli told him.
 
"If I could do something about this, I would." Loki said.
 
"And what is it that you would do?" Elli asked.
 
"I'd fight with my father to try and convince him that this marriage should not be gone through with. I'd fight until my last breath to ensure your happiness." Loki replied.
 
Elli smiled brightly as she wiped her cheeks of her tears.
 
"You'd do that for me?" Elli asked.
 
"Without a doubt in my mind." Loki replied.
 
"But, you don't know me all that well." Elli said.
 
"I know you well enough to know that you deserve someone better." Loki told her.
 
Elli blushed as she softly bit her lip.
 
"And I am a firm believer in the belief that a person should choose who they love to marry." Loki added.
 
"I am too." Elli smiled weakly.
 
Loki took a deep breath as Elli moved herself closer to him. The two turned their heads when they saw Frigga walking towards them.
 
"It's true. He made the arrangement without me or anyone in the room. It was just him and Laufey. They are staying for this week and then your marriage will be held a few days after the engagement is announced. After the ceremony, you are to go to Jotunheim as their queen." Frigga told the two trying to hold back her tears.
 
"I don't want to marry him. From what I know of him, he's aggressive, controlling and horrible." Elli told them.
 
"I can agree with Elli on that." Loki added.
 
"Dear, I know that this is not what you want, but, this is what princesses go through every day. They are forced to marry for political reasons. Your father believes this marriage will unite our realms together and expand our army." Frigga told Elli.
 
"I don't care about Asgard's stupid politics. I don't want to marry him." Elli cried.
 
She stood up from the bench and ran down the hall to her chambers. Loki looked at her and then towards Frigga.
 
"You're a great man, Loki Laufeyson." Frigga smiled.
 
"I'm not great, my queen. I'm just a man." Loki told her.
 
Frigga gave him a slow nod before running after Elli. Loki took a deep breath before standing up and walking towards his chambers. He quickly sat at his writing desk and began to write a note to Elli. Later that night, when they party had ended and everyone was asleep, Loki made his way to Elli's chamber and slid the note under her door. The following morning, Elli awoke and as she sat up in bed, she saw the folded piece of paper by her door. She picked it up off the floor and read it aloud softly.
 
"Mine dearest Elli, it hath become evident that I wilt say what I hast been meaning to say f'r some time anon. But, I cannot bewray mine identity f'r if I doth, thou will nev'r look at me the same way. I hast admir'd thou f'r some time anon. Ye are beauty in its finest form. Nay other woman compares to thou. Thy hair is the rising travelling lamp, thy eyes art the ocean and thy lips art of the purest red I hast ev'r seen and thy skin appears soft and untouch'd. the angels speak through thou, making thy voice angelic and charming. Thy smile couldst endue dead matter back to life and thy hands come heal those who art sickly. Everything about thou is heavenly and I long f'r the day I shall bewray myself to thou. I love you most dearly and I hope thou will feel the same way towards me. Sincerely thy secret admirer."
 
Elli blushed wildly as she smiled and held the note to her chest.
 
"Who was at that party to have sent me this?" Elli asked herself.
 
She then hid the note under her pillow when she saw her door opening.
 
"Good morning, little pea. Did you sleep well?" Frigga asked.
 
"Yes, I slept very well, mother." Elli replied.
 
"Now, get changed and come to the dining hall for breakfast." Frigga told her.
 
The two hugged and Frigga kissed Elli's cheek before leaving. She then rushed over to her bed and pulled out the note and read it over once more before blushing again. Many people were looking at her at the party but she couldn't put a finger on who could have sent it.
 
"Could it be Helblindi?" Elli asked.
 
Elli quickly laughed loudly and looked at the note.
 
"No, he could never have sent this." Elli chuckled.
 
She quickly read the note once more and sighed in defeat. She could not decide who had sent the note. Elli then put the note on her writing desk and changed into her dress. She walked towards the dining hall where she sat herself next to Loki and ate her breakfast. Loki saw the way that Helblindi was eyeing Elli and he hated every second of it. After breakfast, Loki and Elli went to her library to just chat.
 
"So, did you sleep well?" Loki asked.
 
"I did, thank you for asking." Elli replied.
 
"How are you feeling today?" Loki asked.
 
"Much better." Elli replied.
 
Loki noticed that she began to blush and knew she read his love letter. He didn't want to reveal himself just yet. He didn't even know if he could bring the courage to do so. All he knew was that he had a week to make up his mind.
 
"Loki, is something wrong?" Elli asked.
 
Loki snapped out of his daze and shook his head as he smiled.
 
"No, nothing's wrong. Just a little deep in thought is all." Loki replied.
 
"What are you thinking about?" Elli asked.
 
"Nothing important." Loki told her with a chuckle.
 
Elli was about to speak and the two turned to the doors of the library when they burst open.
 
"Good morning, Elli...Loki." Helblindi spoke.
 
Loki glared at Helblindi and he chuckled. Helblindi rustled Loki's hair as he laughed.
 
"Interrupting something am I?" Helblindi asked as he sat next to Loki across from Elli.
 
"Yes, you are. We were in the middle of a nice conversation until you walked in." Elli told him.
 
Helblindi huffed softly before standing up and walking over to Elli. He gripped her arm tightly and forced her to stand up. Loki paced towards him with a look of concern on his face.
 
"No woman will talk to me like that. Especially when you are my soon to be wife." Helblindi whispered harshly.
 
Elli cowered away from him and gasped softly as Loki pushed Helblindi away from her with all his might.
 
"Don't lay your filthy hands on her!" Loki exclaimed.
 
"My filthy hands? Out of everyone in the nine realms you have the filthiest hands. They're covered in the blood of our mother!" Helblindi shouted.
 
Loki let out a yell as he tried to tackle Helblindi to the ground. Because of his towering height, Helblindi pushed Loki away and caused him to crash into the small table.
 
"Loki!" Elli cried running to his side.
 
"Let that be a warning to you, Elli." Helblindi said as he walked out of the room.