Down below

Chapter 4.

   Loki had a hard time focusing on the book in front of him. He kept glancing at the wall clock. Although they did not agree when to meet, it was 10:37AM. Normally he was a night owl, but his eyes flung open at dawn. He tried to sleep back, but Elianah kept haunting his thoughts: who was she, what was her mission on Midgard, is she hiding from someone and why would his father and mother protect her and more importantly was she flirting with him yesterday? He took a bath that was supposed to be relaxing, but he became more impatient to find answers. He went to his mother's library early to pass the time, but the minutes seemed to drag forward slower than a snail. Finally he heard her voice as she greeted the guards and came in. He looked up at her as if he was lost in his book. She was wearing a simple light blue silk dress with high waistline and long sleeves. She walked over to his desk. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes.

'Good morning, Your Royal Highness.'

'Good morning, Lady Elianah.'

They were staring at each other for a bit and just when Loki wanted to announce today's spell, she spoke.

'What on Earth is in that mead?'

Loki smiled a relieved grin and shrugged.

'Our mead is quite famous in the Nine Realms. It is rather potent. Our father told us there is a secret ingredient to it, but I'm sure he was just joking and it has something to do with the way they ferment the malt.'

Elianah pulled an armchair closer to his desk and sank into it.

'Somehow I can't see your father cracking jokes.'

Loki smiled at the mental image.

'Jokes are not his main trait, but when he does land one, it can be quite funny.'

'Huh.' she said and pinched the bridge of her nose.

'So, I read your wish list.'

Elianah let out a giggle and he raised his eyebrows, glaring at her for the rude interruption.

'You said wish list.'

'And why is that funny?'

'I honestly don't know. Please accept my apologies for the interruption, Prince Loki.'

'Just call me Loki. Clearly you have trouble using my title and it's getting annoying.'

Elianah beamed a bright smile at him and he had to look down at the paper to keep his cool expression.

'Thank you, Loki. You can call me Elianah.'

'I don't need your permission to...' he snapped at her and then realized she was pulling his leg. 'OK. You got me there.'

There was that wink again and he had to focus really hard to reign his smile in.

'You said OK.' she noted, still smiling.

'I know. Can we move onto today's spell now?'

'Absolutely. Can't wait.'

They were so immersed in their studies that they missed lunch, so Loki asked the servants to bring them food. Elianah was progressing slowly and she was a bit frustrated by it.

'You need to be more patient.' Loki told her, hearing her vexed sighs from across the library.

'But it is so annoying!'

'I told you to start with something else. Conjuring objects out of thin air is not an easy feat. You need to take it slow and practice...'

'Practice each stage. Yes, you told me already.' she finished his sentence.