The Fallen Prince - Loki fanfiction ✓

3. Afternoon tea

Loki found his patience wearing thin after an hour. Thor had joined them too and as always he dominated the conversation with his tall tales and dim witted jokes. Princess Loriana on the other hand seemed to enjoy his brother's company, she smiled easily and even laughed out loud a few times. If it were not for the princess and Lord Hergund, Loki would have told his brother to shut up a long time ago.

As alway, his mother saw through her son and steered the conversation to more suitable topics. Princess Loriana told them about her family: she was the youngest of four girls, her two oldest sisters already married and doing their part on adding a new generation to the royal family. The princess made it clear she adored her family and would miss them very much during her stay on Asgard. Another reason for Loki to resent having to marry her, in a large family like that his role would be marginal. It wouldn't even matter if they had kids, as the older sisters already produced heirs to the throne.

Lord Hergund talked about the already existing trade agreements between the two realms, from which both parties benefited greatly. The Alfheim lord and Lady Frigga summed up the goods that crossed the borders of their realms, which varied from food and beverages to luxury items.

When his mother finally called an end to his ordeal and the guests had returned to their chambers, Loki turned to his mother and brother. "Please explain to me what the importance is of me marrying princess Loriana," he said in a cold voice, his back rigid with anger.

"It strengthens the bond between our realms," Frigga explained calmly, aware of the emotional state her son was in.

"Oh, come on!" he exclaimed furiously. "That is ridiculous! Alfheim and Asgard have been at peace for ages, there is a long history of trade and king Vonhir's family is prospering."

"Loki," his mother pleaded. "It really would be for the greater benefit of all if our houses would be allied through marriage."

The dark haired prince scoffed, tossing her answer aside.

"I don't see the problem, brother," Thor said with a shrug. "Loriana is a beautiful woman."

"Then why don't you marry her?!" Loki threw back at him.

"I will be ascending the throne tomorrow, I am needed here," Thor answered simply.

Loki dug his fingers in his hair because of his brothers stupidity. "You are needed here. But I can simply be send off to another realm to never be seen again?!"

"Who is to say you and the princess can't live here?" Thor answered, seemingly oblivious to his brother's duress.

"She made it pretty clear she wants to stay on Alfheim," Loki said curtly, tired of the conversation. His mother probably understood his feelings, but she just followed the Allfather's lead. And Thor... well, Thor was just Thor, ignorant of the deeper feelings of life.

When Loki got back to his chambers, his mood was still dark. When he opened the door, he caught his new handmaiden standing by one of the bookcases, a book in her hand. She closed it quickly and put it back on the shelf.

"I beg your pardon, my Lord," she said, keeping her head down. "I was just..."

"Reading," Loki finished her sentence for her. Despite his sarcastic tone, she flashed her eyes up at him, the hint of a smile visible on her lips. She had spunk, this handmaiden.

But she quickly lowered her head again. "I am truly sorry, my Lord. I was just admiring your collection. It will not happen again."

Loki took up the book she had put back on the shelf. It was the first volume of a series about the history of Asgard. "You like history?" he asked the servant next to him.