Speak Now (Loki's version)

Four

"You!" Lilith blurts when she sees Loki. He is wearing a rich, emerald green tunic paired with subtly embroidered black trousers and knee-high boots with a gold-trimmed cloak.

"I was waiting for you." He says as he rises to his feet. He's a few inches taller than her.

"Well I—you shouldn't—what!?" She stutters

"I said I've been waiting for you." He takes a few steps closer to her and looks her up and down.

"You didn't change your dress."

Lilith is shocked that he remembered what she wore the day before.

She steps away from him and crosses her arms.

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you again." He steps closer to her yet again.

"Why? You probably have hundreds of girls and boys to see."

"Yes I know. But they are all the same. You. You weren't scared of me. You knew I was the prince but that didn't stop you from opening up to me."

Lilith stands there dumbfounded about what Loki just said.

"You want to hang out....with me?"

"Yes."

She looks around, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Chase me." Loki says suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I said chase me."

"Uh why?"

"Because I am your prince and I command you to." He clears his throat and starts running the opposite direction of Lilith.

She hesitates before running after him.

"Hey slow down! You're too fast!" Lilith yells.

"You can't catch me!" Loki giggles but trips on a rock and falls. Then Lilith, who was starting to get close to him, trips over him and burst out laughing. Loki laughs with her and rolls over.

After a few minutes of laughing, they finally compose themselves and look at each other.

"That was so much fun!" Loki says as he sits up and leans against a tree.

"Yeah! I—" Lilith is cut off by a loud shout from, what sounds like, an older man.

"LOKI ODINSON GET OUT HERE NOW!"

Loki completely freezes and stands up hastily.

Lilith can tell by his scared expression that he's probably supposed to be in lessons and not out in the forest.

The man finally comes into view and Lilith immediately scrambles behind a large tree to hide.

"DAMN IT LOKI!" She hears the king of Asgard yell.

"I HIRE THE BEST TUTORS FOR YOU AND I ALWAYS GET MESSAGES ABOUT YOU NOT GOING TO YOUR LESSONS!"

"Father I've told you I don't want to go to those dumb lessons! All they do is scold me and tell me how bad everything I do is!" Loki snaps back at Odin.

"I should have a say in—" He is cut off by Odin smacking him across the face with the flat of his hand.

He falls to the ground clutching where his father struck him.

Lilith gasp, still behind the tree.

Odin doesn't hear her and lowers his voice to a threatening whisper.

"You will do what I say as I am your father and your king. You are forbidden to leave the palace without permission from me or Frigga." And with that, Odin turns the other way and walks back into the palace, not giving Loki a second glance.

Lilith comes out from behind the tree and kneels down next to Loki.

"My prince—Loki, are you ok?"

"Leave." He says, not raising his head.

"What?"

"You heard me leave! Leave me!" He yells, now looking at her. His eyes are glaze with tears and a black bruise is already forming.

She stands up quickly and stumbles as she runs back to her cottage.

"Wait!" Loki calls, realizing his mistake, but it's too late. "Wait..." he starts to cry. "Damnit!" He stands up and kicked the tree but cries out in pain.

"Why do I chase everyone that's kind to me away...?" He thinks as he curls up into a ball on the ground and cries.