❀ Beauty and the Beast ↠

❀5❀

The whole table was all much the same once Loki had left. the prince's sudden departure was not an uncommon occurrence for meals which only made me wonder why. I was still in shock for I never took the god of mischief for a fan of the literary arts. It baffled me. Surly Odin's son would be more occupied with battle much like his older brother. I was trying my best to be polite to him seeing as he was a pleasant enough man but I could not shake my hate towards the fact that he never came to our aid. "Lady Freya," Frigga spoke again beside Odin who was indulging himself in a well sized cow leg. I chuckled at his table manors in my own mind. "Won't you attend the celebration tomorrow evening?" She asked. "We are celebrating your victory!" Frigga announced and the table cheered as I blushed and sipped at my wine, assuring her that I would be there. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the prince. He seemed fine until the queen spoke about the library. Perhaps he was rather possessive over his books seeing as he seemed to be the only one to read them? Once the meal was over, I stood and bid my goodbyes to the family, thanking them for their company and the feast. "Don't thank, Freya. You must dine with us more often!" The queen beamed and everyone nodded. Fandral quickly rising and asking me if I would like him to walk me back to my chamber but I politely declined. I liked my alone time, if I was honest. I reached my room eventually and Ragna pulled me in excitedly."Well? How did it go?" She gushed with a big smile on her face. Bless her heart. I smiled back and began to remove all the pins from my hair, telling her that I was to dine with them more often, about the celebration and how the prince was going to show me the library. Ragna stiffened. "Which prince?" She asked darkly. I carried on undoing the braid and looked at her in the reflection of the mirror."Loki," I told her to which she held her breath. "What is it with the prince that you find so concerning?" I asked her. I was so confused. Had I missed some major event whilst fighting the war. Had the quiet, literate prince murdered half of Asgard or something? The woman did not answer. I just rolled my eyes and moved over to the bed to undress. "Go and get some sleep," I told her. She nodded sadly and walked out, closing the door behind her. I sighed and stripped off the dress, removing my makeup and shimmying into a nightdress. I wasn't tired at all. The endless battles had left my sleep distorted and broken. I pushed open the glass doors and walked out onto the balcony and stared up at the night sky. The night sky was how I came to wish to fly. I wished nothing more as a child. It was the most beautiful art, alive with in raw energy, a song for the eyes. At times I felt as if I could feel it vibrating somehow, whispering in a way the ears cannot hear. I guess it felt friendly when the world of people felt so devoid of peace. I wanted to see it right, in three dimensions, see the sculpture of divine hands. There was another balcony to the left of my own that was attached to the wall that prevented me from looking that way. The balcony was lit from the room behind it. It was considerably bigger than my own and it only took me a moment to realise why. It was the princes room! I knew that I shouldn't have looked but I was too interested. Loki lay on his bed - still fully clothed - with his hand over his chest and his other holding a small, tattered book. I couldn't tell what it was from here but perhaps he would tell me some time. The prince looked much the way I had expected, he was calm, quiet and collected which was more than I could say for Thor and the warriors. It wouldn't be too hard to believe that Loki was, in fact, the older brother. I didn't realise just how long I had been staring until I saw his eyes flutter up from the pages of his book. My body squirmed just a little as my muscles tensed. There was something about that gaze of his that I had never seen in another man. His eyes were not lustful or admiring, they were smart and calculating. It was at that moment that I realised that I was in a nightgown. I crossed my arms and looked away a little but he didn't flinch. Without even moving a muscle, he closed the curtains in front of his balcony doors. Brilliant. Odin's son didn't like me. I growled and went back into my room. Normally, I wouldn't really care who liked me and who didn't but if I was going to live in Asgard, it would be nice for the royal family, at least, to like me. I sighed and threw myself onto the bed in a huff. It was amazing to be lying on a proper bed as I had spent most knights on hay beds or animal hides. I slowly rubbed my fingers along the silken mattress and pressed my cheek to the cool, velvet pillows. The comforter was thick and irresistibly soft, like a billowing cloud. I toppled into it, relieved to rest my weary head. Warmth and darkness enveloped me and I soon succumbed to the call of sleep.