Loki grips your hand so tightly that you can feel his pulse in your palm. A thin sheen of sweat coats his fingers. A rare occurrence. It does nothing to help settle your own nerves.
You wait in silence beside him in Odin's chambers as the Allfather, Frigga, and Thor stand on the balcony, their backs to you. They speak quietly and you can't hear what they are saying, but it can't be good. After all, you hadn't been invited to join in on the conversation.
Glancing around the room, you see that Odin's quarters are no less imposing or exorbitant as the King himself. Full suits of armor that gleam in the morning light line the far wall. Banners of all colors hang above them, framed by all manners of swords, axes and shields.
In the corner rests a massive four-post bed made of elm and lined with golden silk bedding. Beneath it, a rug of white skins. From what kind of animal they came, you aren't sure. But whatever it had been, it had been massive.
You roll your eyes at the display.
You begin to fidget, rocking back and forth on your toes. The three members of the royal family had been out on the balcony for quite some time. Clearly, they all entered the conversation in disagreement. But Thor's defensive, cross-armed posture had fallen, and Frigga's exasperated expression had cooled. Whatever Odin was saying, he was slowly convincing the other two of it.
"Why are we here?" you whisper to Loki, keeping your voice down.
"I don't know, love," Loki answers. You can see his mind turning.
"Okay...well, why did Odin basically introduce me as one of his kids?" you ask.
"I don't know," Loki says, his jaw tightening.
"Why didn't he tell the Kings I'm Midgardian?"
"I...I don't know," says Loki, pinching the bridge of his nose between the thumb and pointer finger of his free hand.
"But why wouldn't he let us walk by each other?"
"I don't know!" Loki hisses, just loudly enough for Frigga to glance back and arch one brow.
Your cheeks burn and you drop your gaze to the floor as Loki squeezes your hand gently.
"I apologize, kærasta," Loki says, whispering once more. "I do not yet know the answers to these questions. I have tried to figure them out, believe me. Unfortunately, my normal methods of...prying are ineffectual at the moment. My mother's shielding is quite strong."
You both fall silent as stirring from the balcony indicates that whatever conversation the three of them are having is coming to an end.
As you anticipated, Odin steps back through the doorway first, followed by Frigga and Thor. The three line up before you and Loki and Odin paces for a moment - slowly, regally.
YOU ARE READING
Undaunted (Loki x Reader)
Fanfiction'The end may justify the means, my Valkyrie - but only if there is something out there that justifies the end itself.' With the nine realms now facing a threat far greater than you could have imagined, you and Loki are sought by those once considere...
