Love Me?

Chapter One

 
"Why must they be here?" Thor asked.
 
"It's strictly business, son. Nothing more." Odin replied.
 
"What kind of business?" Elli asked.
 
"Just signing peace treaties and other documents about war. If they are under attack, we help and if we are under attack, they come to our aid. Nothing more." Odin answered.
 
"I just wish Laufey didn't have to bring that runt with him." Thor said.
 
"Hush now. They will be here soon." Frigga told him.
 
"Runt?" Elli asked.
 
"You know what Frost giants look like?" Frigga asked.
 
Elli nodded her head as Frigga wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
 
"The second son, Loki, was born abnormally small as a child and his mother died shortly after his birth. He is about our size but still possesses the powers that they have. He's still exactly like them, just smaller." Frigga explained.
 
"Either way, they're monsters and I can't wait for them to leave." Thor said.
 
"Just because they're different from us doesn't make them monsters." Elli told him.
 
Thor smiled as he wrapped his arms around Elli.
 
"But, what they say about them. Is it true?" Elli asked.
 
"What is?" Odin asked.
 
"That they once tried to take over our world?" Elli asked.
 
"It is, but, we stopped them and we now have peace. There are just more formalities to discuss now. Jotunheim is having some troubles with a few other realms. War may break out between them." Odin answered.
 
"What of us? Will war come here?" Elli asked.
 
"No. These realms have had lifelong feuds with Jotunheim. We are not a part of it do you won't have to worry, sister." Thor replied.
 
Elli smiled as Thor released his grip from her. All four of their attention was brought to the front doors of the palace when they heard horns being used to signify that the Frost giants were here.
 
"Stand up straight, Elli and smile." Frigga whispered.
 
Elli nodded quickly and focused her attention to the doors. Once they opened, Elli couldn't help but smile and wonder what the three looked like. Elli knew that their natural climate was cold, so, she assumed that they must be wearing barely any clothes since it was spring in Asgard. Elli's eyes widened as she saw the first two giants walk in. Their skin was blue, their eyes were crimson red and they had markings all along their skin. Elli took a deep breath as she saw just how tall they were. They wore gold armor on their arms, legs and shoulders and had gold plates covering their front and back. Elli found them mesmerizing and couldn't take her eyes off of them. The two giants stopped just a few feet away from the four of them and smiled. Laufey clapped his hands together and nodded his head.
 
"Loki, you're late." He said.
 
Loki rushed in through the palace doors and Helblindi scoffed at him as he shook his head. Loki was indeed smaller than them but still towered above Elli, Thor, Frigga and Odin, by a few inches. He wasn't wearing armor but was covered in the front and back just as the other two were. Elli smiled softly at Loki and furrowed her brow as Laufey patted his back a little too harshly.
 
"We're so glad you could make it today, Laufey." Odin told him.
 
"It is our pleasure, Odin. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Laufey said.
 
"You have met my wife, Frigga, but I do not believe you've had the pleasure of meeting my children." Odin smiled.
 
"I believe I haven't." Laufey said softly.
 
"This is my son, Thor." Odin said.
 
Thor took a step forward and bowed quickly.
 
"It is an honor to meet you, Laufey." Thor smiled.
 
"And this is my daughter, Elli." Odin beamed.
 
Elli took a step forward and curtsied as she bowed her head. Loki's eyes followed her movements and he tried to move closer to be able to see her face. Laufey and Helblindi were blocking his view and he sighed. Loki took one small step and that was all he needed. His eyes widened when he saw her and his lips parted softly. His heart raced as he saw her. Loki thought she was the most beautiful and divine woman he had ever seen. The only other women he'd seen were Frost giants. He had seen women, men and children like her due to wars but none like her. Her hair was a soft, light red color that came down a little below her shoulders. He thought her eyes looked as though the sky and the grass were battling one another and her lips were curved into the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. His mouth was dry as he looked at her and his heart pounded against his chest.
 
"It's an honor to finally be graced by your presence." Elli said meekly as she stood up.
 
Her voice was music to Loki's ears and he longed to hear her speak once more.
 
"Elli." Loki mouthed.
 
"The pleasure is all mine. This is my son, Helblindi and my younger one, Loki." Laufey announced.
 
Loki was about to speak when he saw Helblindi take Elli's hand and kiss it.
 
"I'm so glad we could finally meet the prince and princess of Asgard." Helblindi told them.
 
Loki turned to Helblindi and gave him a look as he realized that Helblindi stole his lines. He sighed and nodded his head in agreement.
 
"Elli, would you mind showing, Helblindi and Loki their sleeping chambers?" Frigga asked.
 
"Certainly." Elli replied.
 
Loki smile brightly when he heard her. She motioned for them to follow her and they walked behind her. Helblindi walked at a pace that he knew Loki could not keep up with it because of his size.
 
"Now, this room has been made for you Helblindi. In both rooms, you will find that we have tried our best to recreate the climate it is on Jotunheim so you won't be homesick." Elli explained.
 
"Thank you, your highness." Helblindi said.
 
"Please, call me Elli. I don't like formalities." Elli told him.
 
Helblindi smiled and ducked as he entered the room. Elli closed the door and turned to see Loki standing far away from her.
 
"Don't be shy. I don't bite." Elli told him.
 
"I'm sorry, your highness, I just couldn't keep up." Loki admitted.
 
"That's quite alright. And I said no formalities. Call me Elli." She told him.
 
"I thought you just meant him." Loki said.
 
"I was addressing you both. You are here after all." Elli smiled.
 
"I am, your high-...Elli." Loki said softly.
 
Elli smiled brightly and walked over to him. She put her hand out to him and Loki shook his head.
 
"Have I done something wrong?" Elli asked.
 
"No, no, no, you haven't done anything. It-It's me. I-I don't like to touch others who aren't of my kind." Loki explained.
 
"That's fine. I'll keep that in mind. Now, come. You don't want to sleep on the floor do you?" Elli asked with a laugh.
 
Loki shook his head as he walked alongside Elli.
 
"Here it is. I assume someone will be bringing your luggage as well as Helblindi's?" Elli asked.
 
"I think so." Loki replied.
 
"If you'd like, I could retrieve it for you." Elli said.
 
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that. I wouldn't want you to." Loki told her.
 
Elli smiled and opened his door.
 
"I hope it's to your liking." Elli said.
 
Loki walked in and observed the room. He quickly paced over to the bookshelf and smiled.
 
"I see you like reading. I enjoy it myself." Elli commented.
 
"I'll be sure to read as many of these as I can." Loki told her.
 
"You know, it was my suggestion to place the bookshelves in both your rooms. I thought it gave them a nice touch." Elli explained.
 
"They do and thank you for it." Loki smiled as he turned to face Elli.
 
"If you need anything, my chambers are just around the corner." Elli said.
 
"I'll be sure to knock if I need to." Loki smiled.
 
"Now, you just get settled in. Lunch should be served soon. I'll come to escort you to the dining hall." Elli told him.
 
"See you then...Elli." Loki beamed.
 
Elli nodded her head and left the doorway. Loki quickly paced towards the doorframe and watched as Elli turned the corner. He sighed as he closed the door. Hours later, Elli came and knocked on Loki's door. Loki stumbled out of bed to open the door and smiled when he saw Elli.
 
"I've come to take you and your brother to lunch, just as I have said." Elli told him.
 
Elli looked around the room to see that all the books from the bookshelf were scattered round the room in large piles.
 
"I see you did some organizing." Elli chuckled.
 
Loki turned to see the books and chuckled as well.
 
"Well, the books were not in any order of genre or even alphabetical. So, right now, they are put into genres and next I'll put each of the books into alphabetical order and then put them into a new order starting with adventure and ending with science fiction." Loki explained.
 
"That's exactly the way I have my books in my chambers." Elli told him.
 
"Really?" Loki asked.
 
Elli nodded and Loki laughed softly.
 
"That's how I have it back home. One time, Helblindi thought it would be funny to tear my bookshelf apart and rearrange all the books. I wasn't out of my room for weeks fixing that mess." Loki told her.
 
"Weeks?" Elli asked.
 
"I have a lot of bookshelves." Loki replied.
 
"You know, I've been working in our library to fix the books. While you're here, do you think you could help?" Elli asked.
 
Loki didn't know what to say. She waited patiently for his answer as he stared into her eyes. They were pleading for him to answer and he grinned.
 
"I would be glad to be of your service." Loki replied.
 
"Oh, thank you. You know, it's really just me doing all the work. Thor says he doesn't have time for silly things such as books and mother and father are always busy." Elli explained.
 
"Well, when do we start?" Loki asked.
 
"As soon as possible. I've working on that library for months. How about after lunch?" Elli asked.
 
"I would have to ask my father. I am supposed to help with the signings while we're here." Loki asked.
 
"Alright," Elli said softly, "Let's go to lunch then."
 
Elli was about to reach for his arm when she remembered what he said. But, Loki knew the truth behind it all. He did not want to hurt Elli. He knew nothing would happen but his powers were beginning to come about and he didn't know what he might do to her. In the dining hall, everyone took their seats and Loki was embarrassed to see that there was no chair left for him.
 
"There must have been an error in the seating chart we gave to our cooks." Odin told Laufey.
 
"Oh, he can find a way to sit with us, I'm sure." Laufey said.
 
Loki sighed and exhaled slowly when he saw Helblindi wink at him. Everyone watched as Elli stood up from her seat and left the room. Minutes later, she appeared holding a chair. She waddled over to her side and planted the chair right inbetween her and Frigga.
 
"I hope this is alright for you." Elli said.
 
"You didn't have to do that-"
 
"Yeah, he could have eaten outside or in the kitchens. You don't have to trouble yourself to help him." Helblindi told her.
 
"Helping is what I do best." Elli said in response to Helblindi's harsh comment.
 
Loki smiled faintly and sat himself next to Elli and Frigga. The two smiled at him and their food was served. As Loki was given his plate, he furrowed his brow and Elli turned to face him.
 
"Is something wrong?" Elli asked in a whisper.
 
"I've never had food such as this." Loki replied faintly.
 
Elli showed him the fork and knife in her hands and he did the exact same. He then followed what she did as she cut her duck. Elli nodded her head and went back to eating her food and socializing with the rest of the party. Every so often Loki would look back to Elli, to make sure what he was doing was right. He then saw Laufey and Helblindi were struggling to use their utensils as well and was surprised to see them watching him and following what he did. Loki smirked to himself and listened to Elli every time she spoke. He was so lost in what she was saying he didn't even noticed he finished all of his food before anyone else. He put his fork and knife down and watched everyone else as they spoke and laughed together. Everyone seemed to ignore him until Elli put some food onto his plate while no one was watching.
 
"I don't like beets." Elli whispered.
 
Loki chuckled softly as Elli blushed.