Maid or Princess [English]

Chapter 8

The first thing Leila noticed when she woke up were the soft sheets under her body and the bright light that forced her to squeeze her eyes shut. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked around the chamber; she realized that she was in an unfamiliar room; the bed sheets were dark green. Why was she here? Where was she? What had happened? Leila suddenly noticed the blond hair on her shoulder and was startled. She reached for her amulet and looked at it; it was no longer purple and had lost its luster. How long had it been like this? She had to get out of here somehow, hoping that no one had noticed yet that she no longer looked like the princess. She sat up and was about to push the blanket away when she was stopped by a voice.

"Stop" Loki, it was his voice. She looked to the door as he entered the room; he didn't seem shocked by her appearance and she saw in his eyes that he knew.

"Loki, I-" she began, but he raised his hand.

"You will address me as your highness or my prince," he said emotionlessly, making her wince.

"Please, I can explain-"

"Can you?" -he laughed hollowly- "You pretended to be the princess!" he shouted angrily. "Not only that, you played with me." -Leila deadpanned- "Tell me: did you enjoy it?"

"I wasn't playing with you," she said softly, "I wasn't planning on falling in love with you."

"You're in love with me?" -His jaw tightened and for a moment his gaze softened and he looked to the ground before Loki looked back at her and his gaze went cold again- "Where is the real princess?"

"I don't know exactly"-she shrugged-"I should take her place so she could find a way out of the marriage." He nodded and fell silent; the silence crushed her.

"You will leave Asgard, and I will seek the real princess," Loki declared, and Leila looked to him in shock.

"Loki, please-" he interrupted her again.

"You have no right to call me by my name anymore, maid. It is that or you will face Odin for treason and be punished," he finished firmly and her vision became cloudy with tears. She got up from the bed before he could stop her, but she was still too weak on her feet and Loki caught her before she could fall. He set her down on the bed and stepped away from her as if burned by her touch. "Go while I still allow you" He walked out of the room without another word. She gasped at the sudden sharp pain in her chest. Finally she got up from the bed and grabbed the bedpost to keep from falling over. After she was able to stand to some extent again, she slowly walked to the door. Fortunately for her, there were no guards in front of it and she was able to get out of his chambers without any problems. She remained frozen in the corridors. Where would she go now? She could not travel with the Bifrost and go back to Alfheim. Leila leaned against a wall as a sudden dizziness overcame her. She couldn't stay here any longer and she pushed herself off the wall as she continued walking. Leila heard voices, but couldn't see anyone and who would care that she was walking around here. Loki hadn't told anyone who she really was, after all. She took a deep breath as she felt dizzy again and closed her eyes briefly.

"Are you okay, Leila?" a feminine voice asked gently, touching her shoulder. "Come with me, you should rest."