Loki's Apprentice: A Tale Retold

Chapter 7: The King of Trickery

"Pardon me, noble sir. I am truly grateful for your hospitality, which was so magnificent I could not imagine you would be offended by my taking such a little thing as a rose." -Madame de Villeneuve

Loki had been watching the man ever since he took a step into the castle's warm protection. He wasn't the slightest bit worried, for he knew that those with a grudge against him wouldn't even be able to get past the barrier.

Also, the man looked like a peaceful man, and he was not in any way able to physically fight. He seemed chilled to the bone and the lack of sleep could be seen in his eyes, which were fighting to stay open.

He had watched him leave his horse and approach the door to knock. With a swift motion of his hand, Loki opened the door with his magic and enjoyed the look of wonder in the man's eyes. Loki then led the horse to the stables and made sure there was food and water for him before returning to his castle, and following the man. 

Loki found him sleeping in a chair by the fire and he eyed him curiously. From the looks of it, he was very poor, for his clothes were not that extravagent. He also looked like he was attacked on the way, probably from thevies. His clothes were torn in places and dried blood could be seen on his head from an injury. 

Loki did the best he could to the man's injuries with his magic, and didn't stop until a sleepy smile appeared on the man's face. Loki sat and watched the man as he waited for him to awake.

He had the time.

For two years, Loki had nothing but time. When he was first banished inside the castle he first initially  thought that it wouldn't be too bad. He had a large field of many fruit trees and bushes of flowers to admire when he became bored of the many books and treasures inside. But not long after his first day, he soon came to realize that this imprisionment was much worse than the Asgardian prison.

There was no one to talk to, observe, or mess with. He became to realize that he enjoyed the sarcastic comments of the gaurds and their annoyance when he would play tricks on them. He surprisingly missed some of the prisoners, there coversations at times being so ridiculous that it made him laugh at their pettiness.

All he had were the birds and their endless chatter. Theirs songs were beautiful to the ear when he had the temperment, but other days they reminded him of the mentality of the Midguardians and his mood would quickly be spoiled. 

But he missed his mother the most. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew it was true at the end of the day. He didn't want to be weak, but he couldn't stop himself from thinking of her.

He remembered how when he young and she could see he was upset, she would take him out to the gardens and they would talk and admire the beauty of the flowers.  She liked the roses the best, they were not as exotic as the other flowers in the kingdom, but she loved the simple elegance and grace that the red rose carried. 

He knew he couldn't leave his prison until he was able to control his jotun form once again, so he figure that dwelling on happier thought would help. So with his magic he grew great hedges of roses; predominately red ones. Their beauty and smell reminded him of his many conversations with his mother, and her encouraging words. If someone had asked however, he would have denied it and said that there was simply something missing in the scenery and he fixed it.

Loki sat like this in his thoughts for a long while until the man began to stir. Loki hid himself and made a table of food apear before the man. He did this twice, but the second time the man awoke he got up and explored. Loki figured he was probably looking for his host, but he did not intend on showing his face to the stranger.