Life & Beauty || LOKI ✔️

quīndecim

It had been a marvelous time since Dahlia's arrival in Asgard. She had spent the past two weeks learning of their culture and their ways, partaking in festivities and riding horses. She truly loved being here.

But the time had come for Thor's celebration and despite the past few days rehearsing, Dahlia was quite nervous.

Asta stood in front of the Princess, flattening the dress out over her shoulders. The Princess had never seen a dress quite this beautiful; and was shocked when it was gifted to her by Frigga.

The gown was a beautiful teal color, with jewels decorating them ever so beautifully. It showed more skin then the Princess ever dared to, but the gown was Asgardian. She did not want to seem out of place with her other dresses.

"Are you sure it is not...?" Dahlia doubted herself only once. She had never been insecure, there was no reason to be as a Light Elf.

"You look beautiful. You will outshine every single woman her." Asta reassured the Princess.

A thought came to Dahlia's mind, innocent at first, but grew to stir inside her. "Do you..." She paused to choose her words carefully. "Will Loki think I am of Asgardian beauty?"

The handmaiden looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want him to?"

Then Dahlia blushed. "I do not know. He is escorting me to the celebration. I do not want to shame him for it." That was her truth; she did not want to look unworthy of the Prince. "I would like him to think I am beautiful."

Asta tucked Dahlia's hair behind her ears. "I promise you, Loki will find you most beautiful tonight. As will ever other man in there."

Dahlia scrunched her nose. "I do not want any other man to find me beautiful. Only Loki, because he is my friend."

A clip was placed in the golden brown hair of Dahlia, to put it into place. "A friend, only? No more than that?"

"I do not know what you mean?"

"You do not like him as more than just a friend? Perhaps as a lover."

That stopped Dahlia from speaking. She had never truly considered Loki as a lover;  but she had never considered anyone as a lover. On Alfheim, it was not of their culture. She never considered that she would have anyone as a lover. She didn't even know what that title truly meant.

"What do lovers do?" She asked. Dahlia had read little about them, though romance always bored her. She never cared for the Prince who would sweep the maiden off her feet.

"Well, they love each other. They spend time together, they do things for another that will be liked. They are honest with each other. They respect each other, and they want what is best for each other."

Dahlia looked at her friend. "That sounds like friendship."

Asta laughed then. "They do other things as well."

"Like what?"

"They hug each other and kiss each other, in a more intimate way. They hold hands and..." She thought for a moment, not wanting to offend the Princess. "They bed each other, more often before marriage but sometimes after."

Dahlia felt confusion sweep over her. Loki and her did a lot of those things; but that did not make them lovers.

She shook her head and then stood up. "Perhaps I will not go to the celebration. I am simply too nervous."

"I do not believe that would be wise. King Odin is more than expecting you there."

Dahlia let out a sigh and fell back into the bed, her head on one of the pillows. "But I simply do not want to. Perhaps that will get the All-Father off my back." She giggled to herself.

Asta too smiled. "If only. Now sit up, Dahlia. You have ruined your clip."

Dahlia did as she was told but let out another sigh. "Are you sure that Loki will find me beautiful tonight?"

Asta set an open palm on Dahlia's cheek. "You must not worry. You look very beautiful."

Then there was a knock at the door and Dahlia immediately stood up, her nerves on edge. She felt her palms were clammy and her mouth dry. She looked at Asta, who only smiled and laughed. "You will be fine."

Then the handmaiden walked to the door and pulled it open, revealing the God of Mischief himself. He was dressed in full Asgardian wear; with a horned helmet on top of his head.

"Prince Loki," Asta curtsied. "How do you do?"

"Very well, thank you." He politely responded. Then he noticed Dahlia approaching and the air in his lungs left his body.

Dahlia stood looking more radiant than ever; the beautiful gown highlighting every part of her body he tried most to turn from. His heart beat faster and his mouth ran dry. He was at a loss for words; he couldn't even form a sentence in his head.

"Doesn't Dahlia look beautiful?" Asta looked between them. She could feel the tension between them, even if the friends weren't able to.

Then Loki blinked and he was able to speak. "Yes. Very much."

Dahlia smiled and took his outstretched hand. She turned to Asta, "Will you be attending the celebration?"

"No, Dahlia." She shook her head. "But I will be waiting for your return."

"Oh, won't you come?" Dahlia asked.

Asta only smiled and then looked to Loki. "I hope you two have a very joyous night."

Loki nodded at the handmaiden and led Dahlia out of the room. Her hand was wrapped tightly around his bicep, and his hand was on top hers. He felt nervous; like he didn't know what to say. And he felt silly at that fact. This was the same Elf he had spent the last two weeks with.

Finally he spoke. "Are you excited for the celebration?"

Dahlia thought back to what Asta had told her about lovers. She would be honest with Loki. "I am very nervous. I do not wish to sing."

Loki felt for her. He wished that he would be able to keep her from doing just that. The only way would be to take her and run away for the night. But that would not be in either of their favors.

"I am sorry, Princess Dahlia. I wish that you weren't to do this."

"You will be at the front?" She asked. Music was now filling her senses. She could hear the music from downstairs.

"Of course. I promised, did I?"

"And friends keep their promises?" She paused and looked at his. His kind eyes met hers and she thought of Loki as a lover. Perhaps he was. Everything that Asta told her was truthful, except that they did not intimately embrace each other.

"They do." Loki told her. He knew that he would keep any promise he made to her. He would do anything for her; both good or bad.

Dahlia nodded. "Good. Then we shall go. And tomorrow, will you promise to show me the book of Light Elves?"

"Why do I fear that you will take advantage of my promises?"

Dahlia smiled. "Do you trust me?"

"With everything I have."

His response confirmed yet another one of her thoughts. "And I, you."

And then, he led her into the celebration.