𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒━︎━︎T. Odinson【︎ 𝐨.𝐡.】︎

𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞

CHAPTER FIVE:
BOW TO NO ONE

THE GROUP OF FIVE WERE quick to make their way towards Odin's throne room. They had all collectively agreed that they needed to speak with Odin about Thor and where he was. Sif and Phoenix were the ones to lead the way toward the throne room. Phoenix's thoughts were running at a thousand miles per hour. Odin had allowed her here as a guest and here she was getting ready to confront him about his decision on banishing Thor from Asgard.

Sif was the one to speak first as they entered. "Allfather, we must speak with you urgently." They came to a stop, their hands placed over their chest out of respect only for the group to freeze when they saw Loki sitting on the throne instead of Odin. Their hands slowly dropped from their chests as they all looked at Loki in confusion. Phoenix couldn't help the shiver that seemed to run down her spine when she saw him, that dangerous look glinting in his eyes. She didn't like this one bit, and she wanted to know where Odin was and why Loki was there.

"My friends." Loki greeted, solemn in his voice.

"Where's Odin?" Fandral asked with a frown as they all made their way down the steps and closer to the throne.

"Father has fallen into the Odinsleep." Loki answered. He shook his head, and for a moment Phoenix thought that he was going to cry. She narrowed her eyes at him for a few moments, noticing the slight guilt that seemed to line his features perfectly. Phoenix couldn't help but feel like there was something off, something that wasn't being told. "Mother fears he may never wake again."

"We would speak with her." Phoenix suggested softly.

     He shook his head again. "She has refused to leave my father's bedside. You can bring your urgent matter to me." He stood up, the spear he held in his hands hitting the floor with a thud. "Your King." Phoenix swallowed thickly, watching as his eyes seemed to bore into her own. She forced herself to look away and down to the floor, causing Sif to glance towards the dark haired woman before she immediately clenched her jaw and narrowed her gaze on Loki. With reluctance, the group of five kneeled before him.

     Sif placed a sarcastic smile on her face. "My King, we would ask that you end Thor's banishment."

     Loki chuckled at what Phoenix noticed was disbelief. "My first command cannot be to undo the Allfather's last." He slowly made his way down towards the steps. "We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim. Our people need a sense of continuity, in order to feel safe in these difficult times. All of us must stand together for the good of Asgard." Sif was quick to shoot up and both Fandral and Volstagg grabbed onto her before she could move towards him.

     "Yes, of course." Phoenix agreed, looking up from the ground to meet Loki's eyes. She watched as his eyes moved over towards her, a small smile seeming to crawl on his face at the fact that she was agreeing with him.

     "Good. Then you will wait for my word."

     "If I may," Volstagg started, "beg the indulgence of Your Majesty to perhaps reconsider. . ."

     "We're done." Loki cut him off. They all stood up before one by one turning to leave. Just as Phoenix was to do so, he called for her. "Phoenix. If I may have a word with you." The dark haired woman glanced between Sif and Fandral, simply nodding her head in reassurance. She knew that they would wait out in the hall for her anyways, but Sif was already pissed with Thor's brother, Phoenix knew that if she were to stay she would go at him and then be hanged for attempting to kill the King.

Phoenix watched as the group of four reluctantly left her behind before the goddess slowly turned around to face Loki. She allowed the tension to leave her body, standing up straight and going to bow for him once again, but he was quick to stop her. He shook his head, making his way down the rest of the steps and towards her until he came to a stop right in front of her. He placed a hand under her chin, carefully lifting her chin up so that she would look at him.

     "Lady Phoenix, you shouldn't bow to no one." His voice was gentle as he spoke, and as Phoenix looked at him she realized that her friends had been right. Loki did like her, in fact, it almost seemed as if love was sprinkled in his eyes the longer that he stared at her. He carefully reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and she had force herself not to move away from him.

     "Loki, you're a King, it's only respectful to bow."

     "And you're a queen." He offered. "Or, you could be."

     Phoenix cocked her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Loki, are you proposing to me?"

     "If I were?"

     Phoenix closed her eyes in regret, reaching up and gently grabbing onto his wrist as she pulled his hand away from her cheek. She opened her eyes to meet Loki's, shaking her head. "Loki. . . you already know the answer to that question."

     He sighed. "It was worth a try, was it not?"

     "Loki, you're my friend. You always will be. But I cannot be with you. I am not from your world, you cannot have an Olympian ruling the throne with an Asgardian. That's not how the world works."

     He chuckled in amusement. "Is that your excuse?" He shook his head. "It's because of Thor, isn't it?" She couldn't answer him, and even though he already knew the answer, that little hope that had lingered there for a little while just seemed to vanish. So, he simply nodded his head. "Very well then. You may leave."

     "I'm sorry," she whispered before she turned on her heel and quickly made her exit.