Believe in Magic [a Loki fanfic]

Books

She spied out from behind a tree and watched him sitting on the grass, leaning against one of the tall trees with a book in his hands. A book. She sighed. How she longed to get her hands on a book again. She had not touched any books for months, or however long it had been that they had taken her. The thought of what lay behind her made her stomach twist with a sudden bout of nausea. Taking a deep breath to clear her mind, she focused on the man reading. The man who had made her feel safe just when she thought that God had completely abandoned her. Loki. As if she had called out his name, he raised his head and looked in her direction, which made her withdraw immediately to hide herself behind the tree. "I thought you were not afraid of me?" Loki muttered before he brought his attention back to the book in his hands, waiting patiently for the girl to come out of hiding. There was something about her that intrigued him to such an extent that he had not been able to get her out of his mind. The way her eyes had changed from fear to trust when she had recognised him, how she had approached him, placing her arms around him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She was like a child, sincere and innocent. And then, there was the fact that she was able to wield magic. Powerful magic. All these things had brought on a strange desire in the God – he longed to spend time with her. Initially, this idea had annoyed him, but after a whole day of finding his thoughts repeatedly occupied with the mortal girl, Loki had finally given in and made the decision to go and see her. The God of Mischief was certain that his interest in the mortal creature would wane as soon as he got to know her.

The girl emerged from behind the tree, approaching him cautiously. She stopped a safe distance away. Loki looked up. "What are you reading?" A shy smile played around her lips. "Vanir myths and legends." "Can I see?" Loki closed the book and held it out to her, so she nudged closer, but hesitated a little before she finally took it from his hand. The way she touched the book Loki could tell she held a special fondness for them. The girl's fingers gingerly traced  the cover before she carefully flipped it open. That was when the expression on her face changed to utter disappointment. 

It was written in a foreign language! She was unable to read it! Of course, because she was in a foreign world. Tears welled up in her eyes at the realisation of being so far away from all she knew. She bit her lip and kept the tears from falling. At least she was safe. The girl skimmed the pages, admiring the intricate decorations. There were delicate illustrations of trees, plants, flowers, animals and slender fairy-like beings that ... – her eyes grew large and her mouth dropped open - they were moving! The drawings in the book were alive! Enraptured by the magic of the pages she slowly sank down onto her knees, keeping the book in her lap never taking her eyes of it. Loki watched her as she slowly looked through it page by page. A smile appeared around the corners of his mouth seeing the girl so enchanted by the magical illustrations. 

"Do you like it?" he asked softly and the girl flinched at his words, as if she had forgotten he was there. "I do." She whispered without lifting her eyes from the pages. "You like books?" "Very much so," she mumbled still entranced, "but I have never seen anything like this." "There are more of this kind at the library," Loki said and to his bemusement he heard himself ask, "Would you like to see them?" Now she lifted her gaze and nodded. When her eyes met his, the dark prince felt a tinge of something unknown inside his chest. He shook his head, puzzled by his reaction and the fact that he had just offered to take her to the library. Was he simply bored to death that he actually sought out the company of a mortal? The look on the girl's face changed to disappointment and Loki realised that she would have mistaken the movement of his head for a "no".  So he said, "I can take you there. To the library, I mean." Yet the disappointment written all over her face did not fade. "But, I - I cannot read your language. It is a foreign alphabet." Loki offered her a small nod, understanding her plight. "There are Midgardian books at the library, you will be able to read those. And there are plenty with magical illustrations. The book you areholding is Vanir, most others are from this realm, Asgard." "Midgardian? Is that what you call my home? - Midgard?" Loki nodded then he asked, "How did you end up in Niflheim?" "Niflheim?" The girl looked at him, confused for a moment. Then the realisation of what he meant crept over her face and a shadow of fear crossed her eyes before she shut them tightly as if to keep the memories away. "I do not know." Or you do not want to remember, Loki thought and reached out with his magic to dip into her mind. Her eyes snapped open. "Please, don't do this." Loki instantly drew back, surprised that she was able to sense him. "I meant no harm, this is how we communicate here." "I do not like it. It can manipulate and cause pain." She handed the book back to him and rose to her feet. "I better go."

"I shall not do it again," Loki said quickly. He sensed her slipping away, yet had no intention to let her go. A mortal who could sense and use magic. Loki had suspected her ability to be unconscious, but now he knew that she had at least certain control over it. "I can show you where the library is, then it is for you to decide if you would like to spend time there." The girl stood in front of him, hesitantly searching his eyes, before she nodded in agreement.