FROST- Jotun Chronicles #1

The alarm

I chose something a little nicer than normal for dinner. Maybe because I was supposed to be meeting with Surtr and his tactician later that night, or maybe because it felt like Loki had only seen me in sweaty horse clothes lately. Whatever the reason, I picked a loose fitting red dress that rippled like water around my legs. My hair I left down, unsure of what else to do with it. When I emerged from the bedroom the hallways were empty, and I could hear music and chatter far away down the other end of the castle. Everyone must be at dinner already. The dress rustled softly as I hurried down the hallway, taking the stairs as quickly and carefully as I could. The last thing I wanted to do was trip and fall on my face, showing up to Surtr’s planning meeting with a black eye would be really embarrassing.  

The noise grew louder as I neared the great hall. There was only one guard at the door tonight, and he drew the heavy wooden door open for me, still staring straight ahead, eyes flickering up and down the corridor. I’d noticed that all the guards seemed more tense the last two days. Clearly they were hyped for battle, or expecting an attack earlier. Maybe they thought the Queen and her men would pop up in the castle out of nowhere. I swept past the grim faced guard and into the great hall. A chaotic jumble of noise enveloped me immediately. The musicians by the fire were playing the fiddle ,harp and flute, but the music was just in the background. If I’d learned one thing about fire giants so far, it was that they were a louder group of people than anyone I’d ever met. They laughed and yelled at one another, clanking their wine goblets noisily on the table to make a point, or thumping their fists on the table. Nothing was subtle about these people, and I liked them better for it.

I wove my own pathway through the tables, noticing with growing unease that many of the fire jotun trailed off mid-shout, or stopped banging their fists to stare. In fact, a lot of them were staring at me as I walked by. What was going on? Did I look stupid in the dress? Blood rushed to my cheeks, making me feel like my skin was on fire. I felt a little sick, and quickened my pace, desperate to get to the table where my friends were sitting. At first I couldn’t find them. It was hard to pick them out of all the other tall blonde rebels and dark fire jotun, but I finally spotted the back of Loki’s dark curls, and the familiar slope of his broad shoulders. I made a beeline for him, and mid-dash he turned in his seat. Loki’s brown eyes widened, and my stomach sank. Not him too. What on earth were they all staring at?

By the time I reached them they were all turned to look at me. I skidded to a halt, and finally spat out, “What?”

Loki’s look of shock slowly turned into a smile, his eyes glinted, “you’re sparkling.”

Horror jolted through me, “What? I got them all off!”

 I brushed at my arms frantically, but Loki was shaking his head. He reached up and placed one hand on my shoulder, eyes full of wonder. His fingers were hot on my skin, and instantly I could feel the little beads of ice that I’d missed melt under his hand, “that’s amazing.”

                “Cool!” Charlotte piped up, “you’re like a human disco ball!”

                I gave her a narrow look, “thanks.”

I reached up and pawed at my other shoulder, but Loki stood up and caught my hand, holding it tightly, “no, it looks beautiful. You look beautiful.”

                I was very aware of the heat of his grip, and how is eyes were fixed on me like he was completely riveted. I ducked my head in embarrassment and tugged my hand out of his grip, “come on, let’s sit down.”

                I darted a look over my shoulder. Most of the jotun had gone back to their noisy discussions and knocking of ale mugs, thank god. Turning back, I caught Erik staring at me from across the table, eyes wide. I pointed at my shoulder and mouthed the words, “I need to talk to you.”