Stolen Relic ~ A Loki Fanfic

Chapter Ten

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Kenna woke at dawn the next day. She sat up and glanced around herself. She remembered coming back to her garden, but not falling asleep. She reached up and touched her cheek, frowning as her hands came back with tears on her fingertips. Try as she might, she could not remember why she had been crying. She remembered the trip to Alfheim, coming back and her decision to leave the library while the prince was still sleeping. But nothing after that. She rolled her shoulders and groaned. Her whole body ached but she could not remember why. She gritted her teeth and fought to remember. She grimaced and pulled at the collar around her neck but she suddenly felt claustrophobic and like she couldn't catch her breath. She climbed to her feet and moved with shaky hands towards the door.

Once she was out in the sunlight it was like she could breathe again. She frowned in confusion but couldn't remember why she had been so upset. She glanced down and saw the small bucket of bulbs she had planned on planting. She scooped them up and set out to work.

She felt drained and exhausted but it was good to be back in a place where things were familiar. Shortly after the noon day bells rang however she heard the whisper of footsteps coming up the path. She turned to see Queen Frigga appear. Kenna quickly stood and bowed to the queen. Holding the bow until the queen cleared her throat.

"Queen Frigga," Kenna greeted. "Is there something I may help you with?"

The queen strolled around the small clearing where Kenna had been working, admiring the plants. There was a calculated casualness to her movements that made Kenna uneasy. She shifted her weight and kept her eyes lowered.

"I was looking for you yesterday," Frigga said calmly. "I come down to my garden and lo and behold my gardener was nowhere to be found."

"Yes Queen Frigga I-"

"Was helping my son," Frigga filled in for her. Then she turned to face Kenna fully. Frigga's eyes were full of understanding and for a moment Kenna's tired brain let her believe she was in the clear.

"Yes Queen Frigga," Kenna said bowing her head.

"Thank you for helping him...with all his endeavors."

Kenna couldn't help but feel as though the Queen knew exactly what she and Loki had been up to. The Queen of Asgard was old and wise, not so old as Odin, but she was quick and she paid attention. Kenna took a deep breath to calm herself. Even if the Queen knew she didn't appear to be upset by the news, instead she was watching Kenna carefully.

When Kenna didn't react the queen continued. "It's so important to have a trusted few servants. My son has never had that before...I do," Frigga said.

Kenna couldn't help feeling as though the Queen was telling her that it was through her network of 'trusted' servants that she had discovered what Kenna and Loki had been up to.

"Though..." the Queen observed thoughtfully. "It is important that in such relationships the servant always remembers their place," Frigga's eyes were sharp then and hard with authority. Her eyes flicked to the collar.

And there it was.

Perhaps the Queen didn't know where she and Loki had been, but she certainly seemed to have come to her own conclusions. Kenna took a step back and lowered her chin to her chest. "I assure you Queen Frigga, I know my place."

Frigga sniffed and nodded. "Good," she replied stiffly. "I will leave you to your work then," she said turning to go. She faltered however when Loki appeared on the pathway. "Loki," she greeted lovingly. She walked up to her son, taking his hands in hers and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You look exhausted," she observed resting a hand on his cheek.