Chapter Text
It was summer. You could hear a gentle sway of the leaves outside from the window in your bedroom within the palace. The room was hot, humid and sticky. You sat up on the bed and sunk backwards on to the pillow, resting your book of Asgardian Wildlife on your lap. Thinking to yourself, you missed big gatherings and parties that were held almost every weekend in the palace when Thor was around, you never met the man and certainly did not hear great things about him other than his battle victories, silky smooth hair and his rustic beard... and his toned, well defined body and bolder sized biceps. Other than that, ye have never spoken and he has never looked or acknowledged you. Loki on the other hand, he was never seen around the palace and was rarely at parties. Thats what you thougth anyway. You never exaclty looked for his presesnce so you were quite unsure to be honest. No one knows much about him despite he's Thors brother.
Thor, Loki and his warriors were away for the last 7 months in one of the Realms fighting, it was a regular occurance and you began to lose interest in what was going on. You always heard the battle news and gossip through one of the maids or Odin anyway.
There was a light knock on the door and a maid walked in holding fresh white bed sheets. You knew that meant to leap off the bed and wander about palace as the maid cleaned your room and set the new bed sheets down. You got down from the bed and greeted the maid with a smile "morning Clio", she returned the smile "You're up early today miss" she responded as she stripped the bed.
You tucked your book under your arm "Yes, it is quite strange being up this early. It was like a sauna in here last night" you laughed while heading out the door. Clio giggled in response before you closed the door behind you. The hall near your room was busy with people and their voices echoing.
Your stomach was howling like crazy and you were certain the group of people down the hall heard it rumble as they stopped chatting and looked your direction. Fuck. You turned around quickly to face the opposite direction, facing your back to them as you knew your face was turning blood red. You ignored the sniggers that echoed behind you and decided to head the longer route to the dining room.
This route was more scenic, there was tall windows that touched the floor and reached the high ceilings that surrounded you with rays of golden sunshine beaming down lighting up the hall. You lived here in the palace as long as you could remember, your father was one of the great warriors and fought alongside Odin but died in combat when you were 5 years old. It has been 18 years now and your 23rd birthday was nearing. Birthdays were something you and your mother never celebrated.
Your chest started to tighten and your heart started to pound. You haven't spoken to your mother in years, since your fathers death. You knew it was due to her depression and as a result shut you out. The older you got the more your roles swapped and you became her mother instead.
You were the one out looking for her after midnight, you were the one dragging her away from strange older men, you were the one sobering her up in the bathrooms and you are the one who ended up resenting her. On your 18th birthday, your mother verbally told you that she doesn't want you to be associated with her. That was the day when she disowned you. She disappeared from your life on your 18th and you went searching and asking around for her for 2 years.
You fought back the tears that started to form. Your search for her stopped due to a meeting you had with Odin. It was then when Odin informed you that it was more than likely that your mother was dead. The conversation with Odin was blunt, bitter and cold and was an event you could never wash away no matter how hard you tried and your tried hard. You attempted everything in the book but nothing worked.
* * *
You reached the dining room, thankfully the dark oak doors were closed which meant you had time to wipe away the streams on your face and straighten out your dress. You exhaled loudly and entered.
Smells of smokey rashers filled the area and it successfully changed your mood. Conversations filled the room and soft music was being played. You grabbed a plate and filled it with crispy rashers, fresh avocado and warm bread before taking a seat beside a small group of people around your age.
They greeted you with smiles which put you at ease. 2 men sat across you, the smell of earth and pine radiated off them. Scoffing your mouth with the meal, the taller man with dark brown hair lightly elbowed his friend at his side before reaching his hand across the table towards you. The sudden movement made a piece of crispy rasher get lodged in the back of your throat, fighting back the urge cough caused your forehead to become a waterfall of boiling sweat. You reached for his hand shook it quick and retorted to the gauntlet of water pouring it down your esophagus.
Both men chuckled and apologised for startling you. The dark brown haired gently smiled and introduced himself "Again, I do apologise for your almost death. I'm Xavier and this is Jove" he said laughing.
Xaviers voice was soothing and calm. Jove was too busy shoveling food into his mouth so gave you a wink instead. You rolled your eyes.
Jove noticed, swallowed and laughed "Don't take it the wron-". Jove was interrupted with loud bangs in the room and the music stopped. Automatically everyone turned and looked to the back of the room where Odin and Frigga sat, next 2 empty seats which belonged to Thor and Loki. Their tabled was on a high stage that looked down on everyone, metaphorically and physically.
Odin stood up, holding his arms out and wide allowing his golden drooped sleeves to hang. "I come with news this morning" Odin bellows towards those dining.
"Morning news orientated on Thor, Again" Jove mumbled while massaging his temples slowly. Ye all chuckled amongst yourselves quietly.
"My sons Thor and Loki are safe and unharmed. Some of the warriors too I believe. They arrive next week and there will be a party to celebrate" he wailed and took his seat beside Frigga who was all smiles and gently pecked Odin's cheek.
"Will you be going to be party next week?" Xavier cooly asked you. His eyes were soft and full on innocence.
Jove raised a brow at Xavier "Well, Xavier, I will be attending thanks for asking" Jove splurted sarcastically.
You pressed your legs tightly together and could feel your cheeks tingle and blush "I haven't decided yet" you responded. This was true, you didn't want to show up to the party alone.
"You should definitely go" Jove said while giving you a warm smile.
"I agree with Jove, If you like you could come with uhm me.. US. I mean come along with us to the a.. Party" Xavier squeaked while rubbing the back of his neck avoiding eye contact with you his cheeks flushed pink.
"Smooth" Jove whispered to Xavier.
You couldn't help but laugh, an overwhelming feeling of happiness started to flood you. You haven't this happy in years. Something about Xavier made a little spark in you. He was tall, broad and sweet.
"I would love to!" you replied smiling.
"that's great" Xavier beamed.
Jove shuffled in towards the table "ok great, between now and then we would like to invite you out for drinks and walks just to get to know you, have some fun and losen up a bit before the big night" Jove suggested his eyes full of excitment.
You smiled and nodded in agreement with the boys.
* * *
The arrival party for Thor and Loki was tomorrow and you felt sick with nerves. You had no reason to be nervous as you spent nearly everyday this week with Xavier and Jove. They were both in training to become warriors to fight alongside Thor and Loki in the future. Although they did not like Thor they still respected him and always spoke about how it would an honour to fight with him. You thought back over the last few days and noticed how Xavier acted around you. He was curtious, mannerly and always starred at you. Even when you were looking away or talking to others. Your mind started to fantasise what we looked like underneath his clothing... You grew more curious about him.
You sat in the patio chairs outisde in the garden soaking in the suns heat, flicking through your book. Reading books and drinking were your only forms of espacism, but reading is where you found genuine pleasure in doing. Drinking was more like a job, to forget about the pain of your past of your mother and father. You never mourned your mothers 'death' which made eveything worse as you were still holding on to the idea of her being alive. You hated her. despised her. but, she was the only blood relative you had left. You drank to forget her but also to drink the pain away of missing her.
It was your dream to leave the palace walls and explore the world but it was not possible. You could only leave the palace with written permssion from Odin or, if you were Thor or Loki and wander in and out when they pleased. A sad sigh espaced your lips, knowing you are trapped within the palace walls. You focused back on your book to wipe the toxic thoughts out of your mind.
***Thud* *Thud* *Thud***
Loud thuds grabbed your attention, the sound was travelling from across the garden, you stood up to see what the noise was about. An electric tingle shot down your spine when you saw it was Thor, Loki and his army heading towards the palace door.s
. Your heart started to race. You had the choice of sitting in the patio and watch them walk by with a chance of them noticing you or race to the palace doors before them, which would be a slim chance of making as they were very near. Heat strangled your body and you shot up, adrenaline pumping in your veins.
Your feet racing beneath you, you spotteed Thor and Loki nearing the doors but you manged to cut in just before them. The smell of dirt, sweat and blood stung your nostrils.
Your face red raw and sweat patches were growing on your dress. FUCK. The book. You continued to speed walk away as Thor and Loki were now metres behind you. You took a sharp turn and hid in one of rooms down the hall. Heart pounding, you waited until all the men walked by until the only thuds you could hear was your own heart.
Birds started to sing and it traveled through the palace and there was no loud foot steps anymore. Thankfully. You knew it was safe to go back out side and soak in the last few hours of heat before the storm hits later on tonight. You wiped the sweat that trickled down your temple and turned the corner to find Loki leaning against the wall, flicking through your book still in full armour. Your heart stopped. What the hell. You turned around instantly and hid around the corner hoping he didn't notice you.
"I believe this belongs to you?" His voice was like silk causing your stomach to churn violently.