King of My Heart

Chapter 3

"Hello, Mother," Loki said as he turned around. Astrild immediately pulled her hand away from Loki's grip.

"What are you up to now? And who is this lovely lady?" she asked.

"Y-your majesty," Astrild said as she curtsied.

"There is no reason to be afraid, darling."

"Mother," Loki said. "This is Astrild."

"M-my father is here on business and I usually just roam the gardens."

"But then I started talking to her so it's my fault that she's here really."

"Do you think that I'm mad that she's here?" Neither of them answered. "Of course not! I'm just glad to see that you've made a friend." She gave Loki a strange glance. "Has he been treating you well?"

"Oh, yes ma'am." She fiddled with her fingers as she spoke.

"Do not be so nervous, dear. Odin may be my husband, but I am not nearly as serious or tough as he." Astrild smiled nervously. Queen Frigga walked over to Loki and spoke softly to him, but Astrild could still hear her. "Have you invited her to the ball yet?" Loki turned red but he nodded. "And?" Then he shook his head.

"She, um, she does't want to go."

"No?" Frigga asked, leaning away from him. "I've never met a young woman who has turned down a ball before."

"I couldn't, your majesty," Astrild said. "I would just... I couldn't."

"Are you worried about something?"

"N-no." Yes.

"I think you'd look lovely in a ball gown, dear."

"I just couldn't. I don't have a have a gown anyways."

"We could give you one."

"I couldn't ask you to do that." She looked around nervously. "I, uh, I'd really better get going. My father will be looking for me." Astrild took off down the hall, holding up her skirt so she could move quicker.

"Go on, Loki," she heard Frigga say. Astrild heard footsteps following behind her, easily catching up.

"Please don't go." Loki ran ahead of her and stopped. "Don't leave again."

"I have to."

"No, you really don't. You said you had more time."

"Loki, you've been really kind to me. I really appreciate that, but I don't belong here. I'm out of place. I-I think perhaps it would be better for both of us if I just stayed home next time. My father doesn't need me here and neither does anyone else."

"You're wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Because I need you here." He leaned forward and captured her lips with his own. She hesitated a moment before giving in to him. Their lips performed a most wondrous dance as they stood there together. They finally pulled away from each other. No one said anything; they just stared at each other.

His green eyes stared holes in her hazel ones. Gods above he had beautiful eyes.

"L-Loki," she said, breaking the silence.

"I... Did that bother you?" She should have said yes, but she shook her head instead.

"Did it bother you?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Do you regret it?"

"I would never."