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First Contest Garden, 2011 (Pronouns used for Loki: they/them)
The sun shone brightly over the royal gardens as Loki stood at the head of a group of suitors, all gathered in preparation for the first contest. Loki’s presence was regal, despite the cool detachment in their manner, as they addressed the group.
"Today’s task will test your creativity and skill," Loki began, their voice steady and commanding. "Each of you will be given a small piece of fabric and a variety of threads in different colors. Your task is to create a stitched pattern, something that displays your artistic talents. I will be rating your work on technique, originality, and overall design. You will have one hour to finish."
Loki glanced over at the maids who stood ready, handing out the fabric, needles, and threads to the suitors. The air buzzed with the energy of competition as each suitor immediately set to work. The garden around them seemed to be a backdrop for their artistry, flowers blooming as if in harmony with the unfolding challenge.
Loki observed with a discerning eye, walking slowly between the suitors, evaluating each of them quietly.
As time passed, Loki found themselves particularly drawn to Njal’s work. He was creating an intricate design inspired by the flowers in the garden—sunflowers, roses, and lavender, all sewn together with delicate green leaves. The pattern was elegant and full of life, an intricate reflection of the beauty that surrounded them.
Their gaze then shifted to Astrid, who appeared to be struggling. She was frowning as she worked, her needle moving slowly, clearly having trouble deciding on a design. Loki watched her for a moment before their attention shifted again, landing on Sylvie. The Jotun princess seemed calm as she stitched, her design unmistakably inspired by the ice tiara she had worn earlier—a design that drew from the cold beauty of her realm. It was a striking piece, delicate and intricate, full of frozen elegance.
As Loki continued to observe, they noticed something odd. Astrid, having glanced at Sylvie’s work, appeared to be copying the design. But rather than replicating the ice tiara in its entirety, Astrid had altered it—her design now resembled a crown of leaves instead. There was something unspoken in the way she worked, a certain haste in her movements. Loki’s sharp instincts detected the subtle shift in her intentions.
A thief of ideas, perhaps? Loki thought to themselves, raising an eyebrow. They had seen it often enough, people who sought to take credit for others’ work when their own creativity fell short.
The hour passed swiftly, and Loki called out, "Alright, the time is up. The best designs of the day are from Njal, Sylvie, and Nephuus." Their eyes flickered across the contestants, lingering for a moment on Astrid before they continued, "Thank you all for participating. Now, it is time for lunch. Afterward, we will proceed with the next contest."
The suitors began to pack away their materials, talking among themselves in a low murmur. The competition was already starting to stir the air, each contestant eager to prove themselves. But Loki’s mind was focused on something else. They stood still, watching as Astrid gathered her things, her face flushed a soft shade of red, clearly embarrassed by the attention Loki had given her work.
Loki approached her quietly, their steps deliberate and measured. "Hello, Lady Astrid," they said smoothly, their voice calm but with a sharp undertone. "I couldn’t help but notice that you seem to have… gotten ‘inspired’ by Lady Sylvie and Prince Njal." Loki’s tone was light, but their raised eyebrow conveyed the implication clearly.
Astrid’s face immediately reddened, her eyes widening in an almost panicked response. "N-no, that’s not true. It was my original idea," she stammered, looking anywhere but at Loki.
Loki’s expression softened into one of casual indifference, but internally they felt a flicker of irritation. A liar, huh? they mused to themselves. It was clear that Astrid was attempting to cover her tracks, but her discomfort was an obvious giveaway.
"Very well," Loki said, their voice losing none of its composed grace. "I’ll see you at lunch, Lady Astrid."
Without waiting for a response, Loki turned on their heel and walked away, their mind already moving on to the next task. They couldn’t let the small deception slide unnoticed, but there would be time to address it later. For now, there was the next contest to prepare for.
