✨The Price of Loyalty ✨

Chapter 2

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Stupid Thor.

Stupid Thor for not relishing in the fact that he could be Thor, God of Frogs. Throg, if you will. 

Loki sighed as he grabbed the next pair of boots in the seemingly never-ending stack. His father had given him the duty of cleaning soldier's boots for the day, instructing him that when the pile was finished, he would be free to go about his day. But the Prince knew better. He knew that should he not clean the boots to Odin's approval, he would be reprimanded and would have to do them all over again. 

"It goes faster if you make circular motions instead of just scrubbing super hard." 

The young Prince's green eyes locked onto familiar black shoes as he slowly glanced up a blue dress only to stare at equally blue eyes. She had her arms crossed and a look of annoyance splashed across her face; she was waiting for Loki to answer. 

"Well, I'm sorry I didn't know. It's not like it's something everyone knows." 

"No," the girl put her hand out, asking for the boot he was working on, "but all the palace workers do. You must be new here, I haven't seen you around before. I'm Sigyn Ivardottir, daughter of Ivar and Jorunn. What's your name?" 

"I'm Lo-"
The silver tongue froze in place. 

This girl, Sigyn, was... nice. She wasn't like the other children on the palace grounds that were the children of dignitaries. What if she teased him when she learned his name? For now, it would be his secret. 

"I'm Lorkile."

The girl's face twisted a little at the very poorly, on the spot, name he had fabricated for himself. He braced himself. 

"Pleasure to meet you Lorkile. Would you like some help with those?" She gestured towards the boots. He nodded quietly as he watched the girl take a seat on the ground next to him.
He wordlessly passed her a boot and watched her as she began to show him how to properly clean the soldier's boots. 

"Do you ever wonder what it's like?" 

Loki looked up at Sigyn, following her gaze to the top of the palace. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean silly, what it's like to just... play all day. No chores, a room with thousands of books. A bed that swallows you up like a bilgesnipe. Not having to worry if Mother had the chance to travel to the market before it closed to fetch dinner... I don't know, I think it's fun to imagine what it's like to be royalty."

Passing her another shoe, he began to pick at his hand absentmindedly - something he often did when he was nervous.
"I don't know," he began, "It's probably okay, but they also have those rules they have to follow." 

And then he heard the most wonderful thing he had ever heard in his life - her laugh. The bell-like laugh that carried from her was like that of a song; it was a beautiful song he never wished to grow tired of. 

"Rules? Lorkile, you're funny. Where did you say you're from?" 

"Um, well I'm-" 

"Oh, did you come from Vanaheim too? I know a lot of people were brought over when the All-Father conquered the Nine Realms. Some Dwarves and a few Light Elves but mostly Vanir. My parents were brought over before I was born, so I guess I'm technically Asgardian? What makes an Asgardian, an Asgardian?" 

Loki squirmed a little as he quickly finished another boot and reached for another from the shrinking pile. He had been taught of the sieges of the Nine Realms, but it had been portrayed vastly different in his studies; he, once again, felt embarrassed.
"How does this look?" He was eager to change the subject.