Believe in Magic [a Loki fanfic]

Magic

"What is troubling you?" 

Her question was innocent and she meant well, so Ella was taken aback when Loki snapped at her. 

"Nothing you would understand." 

Ella swallowed, she hardly found him in a bad mood and more often he would share his thoughts with her. Loki silently cursed himself for letting his foul mood out on the girl, and he took a deep breath. 

"I had a disagreement with Eir", he said truthfully. When Ella felt into his magic, she sensed underlying pain and fear. Evidently Loki was deeply troubled by something and she wanted to lift his spirits, so she pulled a drawing out of her bag and held it out to him. It was one of her better ones of the God of Mischief reading under a tree, like on the day he had introduced her to magical books.

"I guess they are going to throw them all away once I am gone and I wanted you to have this one." 

Loki stopped and took the paper from her hand. He looked at it for a while. Then his eyes shifted to hers. Without a word, Loki rolled up the paper and as he ran his fingers over it, it vanished into thin air. Ella's jaw dropped open. A smug smile escaped the God. 

"I put it somewhere safe." The smile stayed on his face as they walked on. 

"Where are we going?" 

"We are going to practice magic."

They settled on the grass in a remote little garden, that Ella had not noticed before. It almost seemed that she had walked past it several times without being aware of its existence. This place was different to other gardens in the Palace. It was untamed. Wild. As if nobody had tended to it for a while, yet it held a beauty that was greater than the perfectly manicured gardens around. The sunlight seemed more golden here and the air was filled with peace and a sweet fragrance. Everything was - enchanting. 

Loki watched intently as the girl took in her surroundings. She could feel it, he was sure. She could feel the magic. 

"What is this place?" He smirked and she sensed his spirits lift. 

"It is a place of magic. Magic is stronger here. Everything in this garden is drenched with it. " 

"How?" 

"Because the essence of the universe is more concentrated here and flows through the very veins of these plants. That is why Magic is tangible here." 

"Thank you for bringing me here." It slipped out her mouth before she could catch it and Loki hissed.

"I am sorry, I cannot help it."  Ella chuckled and Loki rolled his eyes.

"You are insufferable. I shall forgive you this time – just stop making it a habbit." 

"Huh? What? Letting me off just like this for thanking you? What happened to the Loki I know?" 

The dark prince growled. 

"Do not push this." His eyes glinted dangerously, but the smile was still on his face. 

"So what do you want to show me then? How to use Magic?" 

"The question is - what is it you are going to show me?" 

"What?" 

"Close your eyes and focus. Describe what you feel." 

Loki sat and listened attentively as she told him. Then he asked her questions. He wanted to know all about the sensations she felt in her body, her emotions, images that came to her mind, even what she smelled and – tasted.