Now and Forever Yours

Chapter 3

When I woke the next morning, it was slowly.  I hadn't slept that well in quite some time, and it was a restful sleep - after Loki and I had finally gotten to that point. 

After blinking my eyes a couple of times, I stretched and suddenly wondered if Loki had slipped a sleeping spell on me.  Sneak, I thought, as I turned to reach for him beside me, but was startled to find that the bed was empty.  I felt my heart jump, and I sat up, looking about the room.   Sunlight was streaming warmly through the windows, and I saw that Loki's armor was still hanging in the walk-in armoire, so my panic calmed a little.  I also spied a covered food tray sitting on Loki's large wood desk.  Feeling my stomach growl, I swung my legs out of bed to pad over to the desk, a thick blanket wrapped around me, sinking down in his large chair.  There was a piece of parchment lying next to the tray, and I recognized my husband's lovely script scrawling my name across the front.  I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear as I took a pastry off the tray, and opened the parchment to read. 

You looked so lovely sleeping, Charlotte and I couldn't bear to wake you. 

We enjoyed our breakfast and have gone to the stables with Thor.

Join us when you are rested and ready.

We love you.

Loki

I smiled as I read his note a second time, and finished the pastry, a piece of apple and drink from the tray.  I quickly dressed in a light blue dress from our armoire, and threw my hair in a loose braid.  Stepping back to look at myself in the mirror, I sighed, knowing I would be seen as acceptably dressed in the court of Asgard.  Satisfied, I gathered the breakfast tray and its remaining contents before heading for the kitchens.

The hallways were bustling with servants, busily cleaning and hurrying in and out of rooms with their daily work.  I smiled at them as I walked past, the majority of them nodding back, though I was bothered to see that some simply . . . stared. 

"He's just so handsome, though," I slowed as I came to the door of the kitchens, watching and listening to the obvious gossip as I got closer.  "I wish I had your duties while he is here, Maya."

"He is not staying alone, during this trip," Whoever Maya must be responded quickly.  "That woman is with him again.  The woman he brought here before, from Midguard."

"Oh, but the younger prince has had many women who stay with him over the years." An older maid noted, and two other kitchen servants nodded.  "You know this, Maya, you've served him for several years."

"Yes, but this one is different, though.  The Prince himself is . . . is different," Maya commented, and she looked sheepish as the others turned to look at her.  "He writes to this woman, he has consulted with the Allmother about this woman.  For a number of years."  Another young maid stepped into the kitchen from outside.

"There is tell around the city that the prince is married to that woman." She quipped, pouring water into a large tub.  All of the other servants swung their attention to her immediately – even I perked up at her words.  She turned, shocked to see that she had rendered so much attention.  "I've only heard whispers, of course."

"That can't be possible." One of the first servants said, shaking her head.  "There was no ceremony here at the palace – and surely the Allfather has more plans for him than that."  The others considered.  "Prince Loki is the second son - a marriage to him would surely be used as a political tool."  Everyone nodded, and looked up when Maya spoke up again.

"He does wear a ring on his left hand," She said quietly.  "That is not his signet ring."

"What could that possibly mean?" The other young maid said sarcastically, throwing up her hands.  "Is that a symbol of some sort?"