Crimson Clover || A Loki Laufeyson Story

01 | The Maid

Loki has never felt such humiliation before in his 1050 years of lifetime, not even when he was kept in a cage made out of tempered float glass on Midgard, which was not long ago. The cage was for something dangerous, something out of control, something that is taken seriously. This... this is a sick, tedious joke.

It's been weeks since he has been kept in this suffocating cell, along with other prisoners and guards as his only companion. Outlandish, disgusting savages from all across the Nine Realms, the amount of them growing increasingly as days went by. He looked at them with disinterest, internally snarling because this couldn't be happening. He, Loki, prince of Asgard, kept in a cell secured by a stupid energy force barrier, with nothing but some hideous-looking furniture sent by Frigga as if seeing the cell look more like a "home" would make herself feel any better. Loki sometimes fears that Odin must have lost his humour, if he had any at all, because keeping him in a cell where criminals are kept is not funny in the slightest. Though, deep down, he must admit, considering what he did on Midgard, it is by preference reasonable for him to put him in such a situation. He just couldn't help the waves of turmoil and hatred, and betrayal coursing in his body, crushing him like they're threatening to drown him in it. He had thought that by now he would have gotten rather used to it, that's what spending your whole life sulking away the fact that Odin Allfather, much prefers a witless clown who has nothing but muscles and a hammer to sit on the throne to rule the Nine Worlds, does to you. Well, he'd be damned, because apparently, Odin himself is just as shortsighted as Thor. Like father like son. Ta-da.

As to the Allmother. Well, he wouldn't admit it, but he was deeply hurt to find that she was involved in his beloved father's- oh, he has got to stop calling him that- abominable crafty club. Odin was one thing, but Frigga... he would never forgive her.

The screeching sound of the dungeon door opening drew his attention. He peaked up from behind the book laying lazily in his hand in the hope that it was someone coming to inform him that the duration of his stay in prison was officially over, and what he did on Midgard was nothing but "childish behaviour"... Though the chance of that is pathetically low.

Much to his dismay, a girl in a long dress that specifically belongs to Asgardian maids stepped into his vision instead, looking at him with big brown eyes, and long honey-coloured curls tied back in a half-up, half-down, brushing over her shoulder. She looked about a hundred years or so younger than him. Loki recognized her as one of his mother's close maids.

"Well?" Loki glanced at her cooly for a mere two seconds then turned his gaze back on the pages, not even bothered to move a muscle, his eyes devoided of emotion. "If there's anything you wish to tell, do make it quick. I'm just getting to the spellbinding part of the story here."

"The queen has sent me to check on you, Prince Loki." the maid said in a soft voice. Loki continued to stare at the pages, yet no longer able to maintain his concentration, just staring blankly at the ink floating around in his vision. Eventually, he placed the book down on his lap and leaned forward to squint his eyes at the girl gazing back at him.

"Did she now?" Loki arched his eyebrows slightly.

"She is concerned about you." the maid replied simply, keeping herself from the bar at a safe distance.

Loki's eyes widened slightly in mockery and stretched his arms to gesture around the cell, "Oh, right! The queen is so worried about her son in the dungeon who she put there herself, that she decided to send a bunch of books and furniture-" he glanced at her in distaste, "-and her favourite maid to come to visit me instead of herself. Just how considerate of her." he sneered.

The girl was quiet for a minute or two, gathering her words. "You must not blame her for putting you in here. You have done that to yourself."

Loki scoffed incredulously. "And to what do you know about any of it? As far as I know, this is none of your concern."