As one. Always. (A Loki fan fiction)

Chapter 9

The feasting hall was incredibly noisy. People were streaming in, chattering about their day or whatnot. The hall was huge, with rows of long tables and benches with food already in the middles for people to help themselves to. The room was open on one side leading out to balconies, with white pillars holding the ceiling up. The center of the room was completely cleared out for dancing and there was a corner of the room with instruments ready to be played. At the head of the hall, a slightly raised stage was set with a table and two ornately carved chairs. For Odin and Frigga, I assumed.

I was walking with the crowd until I got to the large double doors being held open. I stopped and stepped off to the side to peer in. I couldn’t see Loki or Thor. Which made me nervous.

I had never been known to be shy. But right now, I was. There were so many people here, who probably all knew each other. I mean, didn’t nobles associate with nobles? This was like a movie, where I was the new chick and needed to make friends.

Come on Noelle. Put on your big girl panties and get in there. I took a deep breath and walked into the room quickly, before I lost my courage. Which was what happened. I just stared around, looking for the only two people I knew, probably looking like a tourist. Luckily, nobody was paying any attention to me. They were all busy talking among themselves or eating.

Just when I was giving up hope and thinking of going back to my room, someone grabbed my arm. I looked over to see a young man with blonde hair like mine and a tuft of hair on his chin and a blonde mustache. He was giving me this weird smile.

“My dear lady, you seem lost.” He said. Oh, now I know that look. He was flirting with me.

“I am.” I admitted. Hey, I’d rather talk to this stranger than look like a desperately lost tourist. “I was searching for someone.”

“Who is it that you search? I would be happy to escort you to them, and should you not find them, I would be honoured to keep you company.”

I laughed. Even though flirting was not what I wanted to do with this guy, he was still funny. “I am searching for Loki. Or Thor. They are the only ones I am familiar with here.”

His eyes lit up. “You are the Lady Halfling?” I nodded slowly. “Both brothers speak highly of you! I am Fandral, one of Thor’s companions.”

I guessed he either wasn’t fond of Loki or just didn’t hang out with him. “I am Noelle, the Halfling.”

“Come with me, I know exactly where Thor and Loki are.” He offered his arm to me and I took it, not wanting to offend him. We walked through the hall to one of the tables sparsely occupied. I could see Loki and Thor, who had their backs to me, and a man with long red hair and a red beard toasting, with a mug in his hand. There was also a man with black hair, who, by earth’s standards, would be considered Asian. I didn’t know what realm he would be from here. The last person with them at the table was a woman with dark hair pulled back into a tight pony tail, wearing burgundy and gold armour.

It was the woman who noticed Fandral and I approaching first. “Fandral, you have another woman on your arm I see. What did you do with the other one?” She teased him. Thor, Loki, and the two other men were engaged in conversation. I felt nervous again. I felt a little pathetic too. What if Thor was just kidding when he said he would introduce me? I was being insecure and I was mad at myself for acting like I was fifteen.

“This, Sif, is not ordinary woman. This-” He gestured to me, taking his arm and putting it around me. “Is the Lady Halfling.” Thor and Loki stopped talking and turned around. I gave them a weak smile. Thor stood up.

“My friends, this is Noelle, the Lady Halfling.” Apparently I had a new nickname. “My lady, this is Volstag.” He gestured to the man with the red hair and beard. “Hogun.” He gestured to the man with the dark hair. “And this is the Lady Sif.” He gestured to Sif. “And I am sure you are familiar with Fandral.” He chuckled.