The Lady of Midgard [Book 1]

Chapter 9

Months passed since you'd heard someone in your room. You had gotten out of the bath that day only to find no one there and a bundle of cloth on your bed, picking up the items you found a few pairs of leggings and tunics in your size. When you had asked Stiorra about it later that night she said it wasn't her, only giving you a sly look. You did often wonder who had been in your room; maybe you should learn how to lock your door.

At least your new clothes had made training easier as you didn't have to spend the whole time pulling the top of your pants back up or moving the sleeves off your hands. They must have fitted well as you caught Loki staring at you a few times. A pair of boots had appeared randomly in your room one afternoon, like the clothes, and you had no idea who had left them but the note that was with them made you smile.

To the most beautiful woman in Asgard, may these guide your steps to be victorious in battle.

You were thankful that Áedán didn't have his lessons every afternoon as it meant you still were able to spend time with just him. You were grateful for the education he was receiving and knew he'd be starting school soon if you were back home so it shouldn't have upset you, maybe it was the suddenness of everything that had made you miss the days when it was just you and him that much more.

One morning Áedán decided he wanted to try and climb the trees in the garden so after training you both headed there to do so with a blanket and the book from your room and grabbing some lunch on the way. Sitting in the shade of one of the giant oaks, you laid out the blanket and placed the food on top, telling Áedán he had to eat something before going to play.

A couple of hours passed while Áedán played and you reread Hamlet before Áedán called out to you to join him, abandoning your book you happily joined him glad you had forgotten to change from your leggings as you don't know how climbing trees in a dress would go. Áedán decided to get down after a while to get some more food while you stayed in the tree enjoying the view it gave you.

"Áedán!" Loki called out when he saw him kicking his ball at the far end of the garden. "What are you doing out here alone?"

Áedán stopped playing and looked up at him confused. "I'm not alone."

"Does your mother know you're out here?"

"Yep." Giving Loki a beaming smile.

"Where is she?"

"Mummy's being a monkey." Áedán pointed towards the trees.

"And why," Loki asked, trying to contain his amusement, "is your mother being a monkey?"

"Cause she likes trees." Áedán shrugged and went back to playing.

Loki gave your son a smile before he walked over to find you.

"You look like a squirrel." A voice filled with playfulness called out from below, shocking you out of your daydream. "Climbing trees is for children."

Looking down you saw Loki with a smile on his face looking up at you. "Then don't look, Your Highness," you quipped back with your own smile as you sat on the branch before swinging upside down, your legs the only thing stopping you from falling. "Maybe I like being childish?" You shrugged.

From this angle you noticed how when Helena wasn't around he seemed to carry himself in a more relaxed manner. Columns of sunlight that broke through the branches highlighted the sharp planes of his face while others hid within the shadow, his eyes seemed to capture the light and almost sparkle with mischief, the wind lightly blew his hair away from face. You wondered if it was as soft as it looked.

"Maybe I want to look?" He raised one eyebrow meeting your gaze, you noticed mischief and...and something else you couldn't place within his eyes making you feel flustered.