The Horns that Fit

Chapter 7

"Is she going to be okay?" He asked, looking at me. I glanced over to the bowl of water. It was crystal blue. One of the nurses took a cloth, dipped it in water, then rubbed it against my face. "Stop that." I sneered weakly. "We need to clean you up." She said back. "Love, please. Be nice." "She's very weak. Her levels are dangerously low. If she were to wait another day, she would have certainly died." A second one said, looking down at some papers. The nurse who was washing my face returned the cloth back into the water. It turned black. She looked back at me. "What?" I asked. "But you can make her better, right?" Loki asked. "She'll need to be under constant supervision for the next two weeks. Or at least until she gets back her strength. At this point it's kind of hard to tell. She seems to be made of some kind of magic. One I've never seen before. I advise for her to stay here for the night, just to monitor over her." "I'm getting out of here!" I said. "I would like for her to stay with me this evening. It will be a lot easier for me as well." Loki said, taking my hand. I quickly snatched it away. Shocked at first, then his face broke into a soft smile. "Please. Save your energy. You're going to need it." He said to me. "There must be something you can do to help her." "I don't need your help! Why didn't you just let me die alone ?!" I yelled. Hot tears threatened my eyes. "Just let me die." "Uh...we could ask All Father on what to do." "Absolutely not. He won't understand. However, mother might know something. She needs to come to my chambers at once." Loki said, scooping me up. "Let me go!! Or I'll unleash the powers of hell upon this unGodly world!!" I shouted at him and instantly regretting it for it made me light-headed. "Hush, love. You wouldn't want me to get in trouble, would you?" He smirked. After a few quick turns, we reached the front of his chamber doors. Just as he was about to open the door...
"Loki?!" A deep voice vibrated the halls. "Thor, keep quiet." "Loki, what are you doing?" "Get in here and I'll tell you." Loki answered, bring me inside. The dark room eased my head. Loki put me on the bed as I tried to shove his hands away. "Get off of me!!" "Why is she still here?" Thor asked. "Father will not be happy." "Thor, she's dying. If I don't do something about it, she'll be dead by morning. I need you to stay quiet. I'm going to retrieve mother, could you watch her until I come back?" They both glanced at me. My eyes burned at the sight of them. "Make it quick." He said. "Thanks. I'll be right back." Loki said to me. I didn't reply as he left. Soon as the door closed, I started getting up. "Stay put. You have caused enough trouble already." Thor said. His voice vibrated. "Then let me leave! I don't want to be here." I said, fully standing up. I took a step forward. "I said stay." I hadn't realized he was holding a massive hammer. It was shiny and beautifully etched with great details. He placed the hammer on my cloak. There, it wouldn't budge. I tugged on my cloak, but failed miserably. After minutes of me pulling on the hammer, Loki came back. This time a slightly older woman followed him. "Thor, please. There's no need for you to treat a lady this way." Loki said, coming to my side. "You're playing a dangerous game, brother." He replied, removing his hammer. "Thank you, Thor. You can leave now." The woman said. Once the doors shut, she turned to me. "I apologize. My son can be a bit harsh." She said. She, too, came to my other side. "I'm Frigga and it's a pleasure to meet you...?" "Maleficent." I said softly. "See? I told you it is her." Loki beamed. "Maleficent, how are you feeling?" "I just want to go home." "I'm afraid you can't. You're not strong enough. We're doing everything we can. Have you eaten?" Frigga asked and I shook my head. "How about we get you clean and I will see what I can do to make you feel better." I nodded my head. "Good. I'll send a few nurses over to help you. Loki, I'll be right back." She said before leaving us alone again. "I'm really excited that you're up and about. We have so much to talk about." He told. "Why did you save me?" I asked softly. "That is a discussion I would like to have later, love. You see..." There was a knock on the door. "Ah, yes. Come in." "Your highness, Frigga told us you need us." "Right this way." He lead them to the bathroom, another large golden room. One had several large white towels while another carried a tray of different bottles. They placed them on the side of the tub and began to run the water.  Loki then came back for me. He carefully picked me up and carried over to the tub. "Uh...do you need help getting undressed?" He blushed. "I'm fine." I said back. He quickly nodded his head before leaving the room. My cloak slipped off with ease, leaving me exposed. "Did you want us stitch that up for you ?" One of the nurses asked then pointed to my side. Going down my right side, a large gash. It was slightly green in color, but dried blood covered most of it. I never felt it. "Can you fix it?" They nodded. "Yes, but we'll have to disinfect it first." I nodded as I proceed to enter the water. It burned my cold toes at first, then got comfortably warm. The water level reach past my breasts. "How is it?" Loki asked, poking his head in through the door way. I looked up at him. Most of his clothes were already taken off. What was left were his dark bottoms. His chest was pale, yet chiseled. His demeanor seemed to change. Softer this time. "Your highness, would like you to stay and watch or would you rather help?" A nurse asked. His cheeks turned crimson once more. "Ah...uh, no. Thank you." He replied. I watched him as he walked over to his desk, pick up a book, and then back to his bed. Before long, I had been washed up and dried. The bath water had turned black again. The nurses panicked, but Loki was trying not to laugh too much. They wouldn't let me wear my old cloak agian, so i was stuck with an oversized, green tunic. Amaid was sent off to retrieve item for some stitching repair as I'm laying on my side with my torso exposed. The blood washed off easily in the water. "We're ready, if you are." The nurse said once the other one returned. One of Loki's hands held my hand while his other was wrapped around me. "Just so you won't move, love." He whispered in my ear. His breath smelled of mint. I didn't say a word back. "Ready?" I nodded. An involuntary gasp passed my lips as I felt the cool, stinging sensation of the little prick slipped under my skin. Loki's grip tightened. That devil of a needle repeatedly sticking me as closed the gap on my side. "You're doing lovely."  After a few minutes of painful threading, it was finally over. I let the breath I was holding for what seemed like forever. "You did a marvelous job, love" Loki whispered, stroking my hair. Oddly enough, my side was just sore, not aching. "Will that be all, your highness?" A nurse asked, packing up. "No, thank you." He replied, trying to ease his way from under me. Once they left my mind felt at ease. My peace was broken from another knock on the door. "How is she?" "The poor thing is tired, mother." "She looks it. Well, we'll feed her then let her rest." Frigga said, putting a tray of food on the night stand in front of me. There was a bowl of soup with sliced bread along side a tall mug. "Hello, darling. How are you feeling?" She asked, again stroking my hair. She tried to avoid my horns. "Loki, help her up." Once more, his arm snaked around my waist, careful of trying not to touch my side. I leaned against his chest. He smelled heavenly. He took the bowl of soup and handed it to me. The lip of the bowl burned my lip, but it was good. The warm liquid flowed down my throat with ease. I handed them back the empty bowl. "Wow." "Is there anymore?" I asked. "Here, dear." Frigga handed me a piece of bread. The outer layer was hard,but inside was so soft. "Thank you." I whispered. "It is no problem, dear." She grabbed the side of my face. I was expecting them to be cold, but I was greeted with warmth. "It's bed time, dear. You've  had an extraordinarily tough day and you need your rest. Good night. Sweet dreams." She kissed my forehead and my heart skipped a beat. "Good-night, mother." Loki said, walking her out. I stared blankly. "How are you feeling?" He asked. "I'm fine." I replied as I laid back down and shut my eyes.