Hellfire

Beyond the walls

The following days went down in peaceful quietness. Steve was always early to rise, starting his day with a twenty miles run, which, to much annoyance of the Asgardian staff, meant that he was merely running around in countless circles behind the palace walls.

Steve marked six days that have gone by, each one following the same exact routine. Go for a long run, take a bath, have lunch, explore the palace, dinner and finally, at the end of the day, trying to relax by doing some drawing. It had started to become dull very quickly, especially since he now had checked the entire palace twice, but it was the best he could do with the limited freedom he had.

There was a plus side however, for every dinner he would be joined by the trickster god.

Loki had started to open up little by little, sometimes even letting his voice be heard without Steve having to start the conversation first. He would always speak of small matters, like birds he had seen soaring through the sky or the flowers in his mother's garden he had thought would not make it through the night, but miraculously survived. The captain normally would not care all that much for such simple subjects, yet he could listen to the raven's rare words for hours on end.

Loki spoke like these insignificant matters were the world to him, which caused Steve's heart to grow heavy in his chest. He would just sit in front of the trickster, a feeling of content at listening to his voice, a feeling of warmth at watching him eat even the smallest of bites.

They would just sit and talk till late in the evening, at least, up until now.

'So, should I wait for the prince or...?' Steve asked hesitantly as a servant girl placed a big plate in front of him, revealing what the man could only interpret as the Asgardian version of pot roast.

'His Majesty asked us to inform you that he will not be joining you for dinner this evening,' the girl answered courtly, proving her statement by not setting a plate at the trickster's usual seat.

Steve frowned, then wondered why this concerned him as much as it did. Life inside these palace walls was monotonous, each and every day going by in peace and tranquility. Loki should be fine, it is not like the god had an obligation to eat with him, anyway.

Still though...

The captain looked at his plate and sighed, 'Can you tell me where he is?'

'I am afraid not,' the girl placed a silver engraved tankard next to the blond's plate, filled to the brim with ale. 'He told us to leave him in peace. He does not wish to be disturbed.'

'I see.' The unease in Steve's body only grew stronger, 'but, I really need to see him, right now.' He stated with as much authority as he could muster, gulping as the girl raised a questioning brow. 'I mean, the Allfather has ordered me to watch the Prince. I can't imagine the consequences if he hears that someone keeps me from doing so.'

He hated himself. Hated how he used the girl's fear against her. Yet, it did give him the information he was searching for.

'He is outside, tending to the Allmother's gardens,' she answered him quickly and left with a tense expression before Steve could thank her.

The captain made a mental note to apologize to the girl next time he would see her.

*

'It seems like I have failed you once again,' Loki muttered as he was sitting on his knees, a delicate ocher flower slowly withering in his hands. 'I am so sorry, mother...'

The trickster looked up as the petals of a slowly dying wisteria plant fluttered in the breeze, creating a gentle snowfall off blue and purple. He had tried so hard to keep this enchanted garden blooming and flourishing all year round, just like the Allmother- his mother had done all those centuries before him.