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imagine-loki · 7 years

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Across the Divide

TITLE: Across The Divide CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter Twenty-Six AUTHOR: wolfpawn ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki sneaking out of the palace as a youth to see the city and countryside, while out one day, he accidentally gets in trouble for something, but a young girl deals with the situation, allowing him to be left alone and his true identity be kept secret. She is a poor girl who is only in the city to sell goods with her father, so she does not realise it is Loki, even though she sees his face. They form a friendship as she shows him around the city, and tells him the date she comes to the city every month for a particular market. RATING: Teen and Up

Odin walked into the front room of the quarters as a maid stood staring at him. ‘Inform Lady Ariella that I wish to speak with her immediately.’ He ordered. Bowing so quickly that he was sure that she would give herself vertigo, the maid rushed off to the other room. When she returned a moment later, she seemed nervous. ‘Allow me to speculate, she does not wish for company, yet she is aware I will go in regardless?’ The maid just nodded in return. Sighing, Odin walked forward. When he entered, a dishevelled Ariella was looking at him from the bed. ‘How do you find your quarters?’

‘I am not a Lady, I do not belong here.’ she stated sadly.

‘Every woman is a lady, from the those who work the taverns to my wife, every woman by the nature of their gender alone, is a lady. ‘ He stated, using his seidr and Gungnir to conjure a chair for himself beside her bed. ‘I owe you an apology.’ She gave him an uninterested look, ‘My dishonesty means as I as culpable as my son is.’

‘No, you are not innocent, but you were only trying to protect him and not hurt my feelings.’ SHe stated.

‘It did not work.’

‘No.’

‘Loki cares for you, you know.’

Ariella scoffed, ‘He shows it so well, what with ignoring me and everything.’

‘Loki is somewhat odd from time to time.’ Ariella gave him a sideways glance. ‘He suffers from a terrible infliction.’ She scoffed. ‘It is true, I suffer it myself on occasion, it is terrible.’

‘What is it?’

‘Well, it has some fancy medical name, but unofficially, it is called acute emotional constipation.’ Ariella snorted. ‘You may laugh, but it is a terrible ailment to have bestowed upon you, it has a plethora of side effects.’

‘I don’t know what that means.’ she admitted in embarrassment.

‘It means there are a lot of side effects,’ he explained kindly. ‘One of which is the terror that allowing ourselves to be happy, to show those we love that we love them, we end up making a mess of things.’

‘What did you do?’

‘Norns, what have I not done is more the question. How my beloved Frigga has not turned to ale and wine for solace I will never know. I have aged that woman terribly. Do you know what I said to her when she came to the altar on our wedding day?’

‘“Thank goodness you are not dressed like my mother”. You told me when I was sleeping.’

‘You remember?’

‘I was forced to lay still to get better, I had nothing else to do but listen.’ She smiled cheekily. Odin chuckled. ‘What did you mean to say to her?’

‘That I thought I had died and the Valkyries had come to bring me to Valhalla, that she was, without exception, the most divine and beautiful creature I had ever lay eyes on, because, back then, I was not a half-blind old fart.’ Ariella could not stop herself from smiling. ‘Loki adores you, Ariella, you do not see it because you are so concerned with hiding your own feelings, but he does, everything he does, his actions are to impress you, to please you.’

‘I would be more pleased were he to be honest and tell me he did not want me around.’

‘He wants you around, he just is terrified you will reject him if he admits to it.’ She looked at him sceptically. ‘Loki is not one to lay himself bare to anyone, not even his mother and I, he does not like showing vulnerability.’ Ariella remained silent at that comment. ‘You care for Loki do you not?’

‘He is my best friend.’

‘And other than that?’ Ariella stared at him blankly. ‘Do not think me a fool, young lady, I have been around long enough to know how to read such thoughts on a person’s face, one eye is enough to see it.’

‘It does not matter though, does it?’

‘Why is that?’

‘He is a prince, is he not?’

‘He was born to my wife and myself, and we are indeed the King and Queen of Asgard, so yes, I can confirm he is a prince.’

‘Are princes not meant to marry princesses?’

‘Not strictly speaking.’ She frowned. ‘At present, there are Nine Realms…’

‘Are you planning on there being more?’

Odin laughed at that. ‘Not that I am aware of. On the Nine Realms, there are very limited supplies of princesses, princes, for some reason, seem to be outnumbering them almost two to one. But this is a good thing.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, all the royal families are related, as are the major houses.’

‘When animals are too closely related they cannot get pregnant or there are issues with the young.’

‘Exactly, we are the same. There is a royal family on Muspelheim that cannot have an heir, they refuse to marry out anymore and as a result, their king is married to his sister’s daughter.’

‘That is disgusting.’

‘Indeed, so that means, for the safety of the bloodlines, external influences are required.’

‘I do not fully understand what you just said, but I feel as though there is a general gist that I am a fresh bloodline to stop that happening here.’

‘It is one of a few bonus effects.’ Odin conceded. ‘That makes it a valid argument for the court.’

‘As well as what?’

‘Do you know what court fears more than anything?’

‘I think change.’

‘I was going to say lack of control, but yes, change terrifies them. You are not of an influential family, your father is not a man of power, nor can he be bullied.’

‘Aesir seldom can be when they are dead.’ She nodded.

‘Indeed.’ Odin’s tone was slightly apprehensive at that. ‘So you are not someone they can manipulate via a parent, you will scare them.’

‘So you are willing to permit your son take a commoner partner on the basis that it will annoy the court?’

‘It is a perk of it. The reason I am willing is because of the positive effect you had on my son, something any father should want, and because, having gotten to know you, I have to say, without exception, you are far nicer than any girl born to a Lord, Count or Duke in my court. They tend to be vapid, unintelligent and brown nosing, you care for Loki because you love him, be he the son of the Allfather or the son of a farmer.’

‘I used to wish he was just some boy that was just from the forests.’ Ariella admitted.

‘Well, life does not always go that way, but does not mean that this is not a good thing.’ She looked at him. ‘You, of course, have every right to allow him to stew on what he has done to you, but know it was not done maliciously.’ She cocked her head slightly. ‘It was not done to be horrible.’ He explained. ‘He did it because he did not know how to deal with his own feelings.’ Odin explained. Ariella seemed unconvinced. ‘When you have given him time to think over his actions, call on him and see what happens. You will see how remorseful he is.’ he patted her hand. She glanced up at him nervously. ‘What is it?’

‘May....?’

‘Ariella?’

‘Can we do some more reading?’ she asked like a nervous child.

Odin beamed. ‘Of course.’

‘Guard, where is my father?’ Thor asked, walking through the halls, not able to find any of his family.

‘In the royal quarters, Your Highness. Fourth room from the end.’

Thor frowned, pondering for a minute as to why his father would be in one of the rooms usually kept for foreign dignitaries. He went to where the guard told him to find the front rooms empty. He went to leave again when he noticed the fruit bowls filled and a fresh water jug on the table. He looked around more before hearing a low voice from the sleeping quarters. Silently, he made his way over before listening silently, his eyes widening when he recognised the voice.

‘The air was litt….er-ed...litter...littered, the air was littered, an ho-how-hour...or so. The air was littered, an hour or so.’ The final time the words were spoken, there was a definite upbeat to her voice. ‘With bits of...that cannot be a word.’

‘It is, it is called gingham.’

‘What is gingham?’

‘A fabric.’

‘It does not sound like a word.’

‘Well it is, so continue.’

‘With bits of gingham and of cal...i...co.’

‘Put it together.’

‘Calico.’

‘Very good.’ There was a pause for a moment before the door opened by itself, revealing the room to Thor. ‘Yes, Thor?’ His father asked from his seat beside the bed.

‘I…’ Startled by the suddenness of his own reveal, Thor stood, uncertain. ‘The magistrate meeting is to be brought ahead to tomorrow.’

‘Under whose authority?’

‘Their own, it would appear.’ Thor stated still processing what he was seeing.

Odin swore under his breath, rising from his chair. ‘Ariella, Sweetheart, I am going to have to deal with this.’

‘It is fine, thank you for your company, and for assisting me.’ She smiled.

‘Remember what I said to you regarding that son of mine. He means no malice.’ Her lips pursed, but she said nothing else, instead, she went back to looking at the book. ‘Thor, you remember that poem, why not stay for a moment and help her finish it.’ Odin suggested as he left the room.

After he left, Thor looked blankly at Ariella, who laughed slightly. ‘It is fine, I have had enough reading for today, that is the third one.’ She stated, putting down the book and yawning.

‘Book reading can be tiring.’ Was all Thor could think to say. ‘I...I apologise for intruding.’ Ariella simply gave a face to imply she was not bothered. ‘Does my father often visit you?’

‘Daily.’ she nodded.

Shocked by that revelation, Thor was forced to try and compute it. ‘And my mother?’

‘Most days, yes.’

Thor processed that. ‘Why am I the only one that does not partake in this particular ritual?’

Ariella simply shrugged. ‘Why did you lie for Loki?’

‘Because for as much as my brother and I bicker, his care for you exceeds a level I knew him to be capable of, whatever the reason, I assumed it was not to hurt you.’ She gave him a slight glare. ‘In fairness, I owe my brother more loyalty than I do you.’

‘I will not delay you.’ Ariella curled up under the blankets, turning her back to him.

‘How did you two even meet?’

‘I am sure he told you.’

‘Loki is not known for his honesty.’

‘Whatever he said should suffice, since it is no one’s concern but our own.’

‘You do realise I am a prince?’

‘Yes, you are Prince Thor, son of the Allfather and Allmother, the King and Queen of Asgard, and are heir to the throne.’ She stated plainly. ‘And?’

‘The manner in which you speak to me suggests you do not know such things.’

‘I speak to people as they speak to me. Loki taught me when it came to high borns with ideas of grandeur, they usually do so because they are less than happy in themselves.’

‘You both are well matched.’ Thor growled as he left.

‘I can see why Loki has no time for him.’ She commented sadly to herself as she began to rest again, loving the warm and comfortable blanket on her, still not used to the different path her life had taken and very grateful for every moment she was allowed enjoy of it.

Loki sat staring blankly at the books in front of him, in his current state, they held little interest for him, when Thor’s shadow came into view, he sighed to himself, not overly happy to even see the other God. ‘I am surprised you knew where the library was.’

‘You know, all things considered with me lying to your...whatever her name is, you would be less scathing, however, since even she has grown weary of you and your lies, I suppose it is to be expected.’

‘We had a disagreement.’

‘You mean she caught you on a lie and screamed for you to leave, you forget little brother, I was there, I heard her. I have spoken to her since and she is not overly interested in your apologies.’

‘Cease your lying, Thor. You are not overly proficient at it.’

‘That is true, but then again, I am not lying at present, am I?’

‘Of course you are.’

‘Use your ability Loki and tell me I am lying.’ Thor sneered. ‘I am honest.’

Loki looked at his brother. ‘How long ago did you meet her?’

‘Not an hour, she is sitting in bed in her new quarters, resting.’

Loki slammed Thor into a nearby bookshelf, ‘What were you doing in her quarters?’

‘That is none of your concern.’ Thor growled. ‘You messed up, brother. Though I am starting to see the appeal of her, now that she does not look like a victim of war. Her weight gain suits her.’

Loki’s nostrils flared as his anger rose. ‘Do not even consider it.’

‘I wonder would she be willing. If she thought you ample, I think would she very much find me better.’

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