Chapter Text
Lenora (Lea to her friends, or those struggling to pronounce her name) blinked groggily as the sun peaked through her curtains, bathing her simple but tidy quarters in the light of another cold autumn morning. As she shivered into her layers of blankets, she wondered if her body would ever adjust itself to the biting cold of this land. She sat up in bed, (unwilling to relinquish her duvet just yet) to brush and pull her long dark hair into a practical braid down her back. Finally, sighing at the inevitable chill, she got up, washed, and dressed herself quickly. She tugged the final layer (a rough gray bar apron) swiftly around her hips, and stuffed a few books into the deep pockets. Hearing movement downstairs at the tavern she pattered down the steps to start her shift.
“Good morning, Lea my Love!” called Madame Beatrice from where she was still setting out the chairs and restocking the ale behind the counter.
“Morning, Miss Beatrice!” she said with a smile, sliding deftly behind the bar to help with the barrels as Bea struggled, wincing slightly.
“Is it your back again?”
“Yes child, I'm not as limber as I used to be.”
“Ah come on! You talk as if you're ancient. ”
“Darling...hard work ages a woman.” she sighed.
Lea nodded knowingly. This place couldn't be easy to keep up. Beatrice's Boarding House was the one stop for hospitality in a snowy village on the outskirts of the kingdom. Bea had to anticipate every need of the weary traveler, providing food, drink, lodging, and entertainment. Most importantly to Bea herself, she was responsible to pay, protect, and care for the many ladies here as they worked the oldest profession. Beatrice was a madame, yes, but she treated all of her employed women with dignity, and the ladies were grateful for this unusually beneficial arrangement. Lea respected this about Beatrice and felt silent gratitude for her yet again as she gazed at her calloused hands.
Still groggy, Lea settled in behind the bar, fishing out the books from her apron to make a small pile in the back corner, away from the guests. Mornings were slow except for some sad regulars and their liquid breakfasts, or the odd traveler in need of lodging and a morning meal, so Lea took the opportunity to indulge her curiosity and addiction to books.
Lost in the pages, she jumped as sharp series of knocks hit the polished wooden counter. Her big dark eyes flicked up, round cheeks blushing in embarrassment at her distraction from her work. Before her was a tall, regal looking man, with large expressive eyes the pale aquamarine of sea glass and a head full of thick blond curls. She fumbled a little sliding her book face-down on the bar to save her place and quickly asked, “Y..Yes sir, my apologies. How might I help you?”, small plump lips lifting into a kind, if awkward, smile.
His angular face looked startlingly serious for a beat, but then he broke into the widest, brightest smile she had ever seen. It made her exhale with relief.
His deep voice spoke crisply in a High Asgardian accent. She thought to herself that he must be some kind of nobility. Then what was he doing in a humble place like this? On the edge of the world?
“Good day, Miss...” he extended a hand and a quizzical look toward her as he paused to learn her name.
“Lenora...ah...Lea if you like,” she stammered, reaching her hand out in what she assumed would be a handshake of greeting (something Bea assured her is the usual greeting in Asgardian culture). She was surprised however when the stranger, took her hand gently by the fingertips and kissed her knuckles with a tiny bow of his head.
“Pleasure to meet you, Lenora,” he said with another blinding smile. “I would like... What book is that you're reading?”
“Ah my apologies, sir. I shouldn't be leaving them on the bar.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That doesn't answer my question.”
“Right...it's called Hamlet...a Midgardian play...it's about a...”
“Yes I'm quite familiar with it, however, not many are. So tell me...” He paused to lean down on the bar and make eye contact with her. “What is a barmaid, at a tavern in the middle of nowhere, doing with a book like that...and those?” he added, eyes traveling to the little tower of books on the far counter behind her, in several languages on a variety of topics.
“ Well,” she said looking down a bit shyly, “I'm afraid that's a rather long story Mr....I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?”
He chuckled with genuine amusement. “I didn't,” he said with a single wink.
Just as she was about to melt into the floor from embarrassment, Madame Bea came to the rescue in perfect time. She had a smile and a look of recognition in her eyes as she turned to greet the stranger. He gave Beatrice the same greeting, kissing her hand and nodding.
“Well, hello again,” she said to him wearing her most courteous but oddly conciliatory expression. She turned to Lea and said “Lea, be a dear and let us chat will you? There are some gentlemen up front who seem a bit thirsty so let's see to them, eh?”.
Lea gave her a tiny, curious twitch, before remembering that Beatrice was a woman of many dealings and secrets and this was probably yet another. “Yes ma'am, of course. And pleased to meet you, sir” she said with a little polite nod and a scurry of escape.
Bea and the stranger both leaned against the bar looking out across the tavern as Lea's small form glided between tables. Bea turned her head with a knowing smirk and a sigh towards the stranger. “What is it now, Loki?”