chapter 4
Draco was mingling with his guests when he finally felt the presence of Loki in the room. The winds in manor announcing the arrival of Loki to the Lord of the Manor. It was rather hard to be appear engaged in the conversation with Mr. Jones.
He was a boring old man but with lot of power in his hands. It is extremely important to be on his side. With a glass or two of whisky with a little drop of truth serum would always loose his tongue. He particularly has information about the HYDRA bases which he'd been dying to find out. His family played a crucial part in WW2 but after the death of red skull they wisely detached themselves from HYDRA and slowly started integrating themselves in American political environment. Finding out the most important hydra hideout was what lead to Draco's almost kidnapping and Loki and him fighting out their feelings for each other. He supposed he should be somewhat grateful to them. But he squashed that thought before it could even grow. Mr. Jones was stupid but he'd probably have the information in his house. If he could score an invitation. But he couldn't concentrate to anything he was saying his entire world narrowed down to Loki standing there with his mother.
No matter the winds will collect all the secrets and whisper them to him in coldness of the night. Nothing ever goes past the wards. Except Loki.
Seven, Freyja looked beautiful. Her off shoulder golden gown which slid behind her looked like gold flowing. Loki was introducing her to Harry. And obviously he had charmed her with his smile. One would think that the smile was fake with his flaky attitude but the crinkle near his eyes showed otherwise.
Loki stood there, as if he was proud of us, proud of himself, proud of his mother. Draco could literally feel the joy the radiating of off him. And then their eyes met. He relaxed his shoulders, left his mother in capable hands of the master of death and walked over to him. He had easy smile on his face, as if sharing an inner joke with himself. He took Draco's hand in his hands and kissed the back of it.
"Ready, darling?" he asked amusedly.
"you're making fun of me in your mind, aren't you?" Draco replied through his teeth.
Loki gasped. "I would never"
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"My love, she already loves you. She just needs to put a face to all my stories about you" Loki squeezed his hand assuredly.
Just as he was about to say something, Harry brought her over to them. She is just like the picture Loki would paint of her with his words. Now Draco can see where Loki got his smile and mischievous twinkling eyes from.
"Mother-" Loki started
"You must be the Dragon Rider, Draco, my son is so fond about" She interrupted him
Blood rushed to his cheeks at an alarming rate. He probably looks like a tomato right now. But he held himself back before he could embarrass himself.
"Yes, your majesty. It is an honour to meet you. May I say that this dress does not do justice to your beauty?" He replied as his took her hands in his hands and kissed the back of it.
"Such manners. You must simply tell me all about the stories behind your braids. I would love to hear them" she replied as he patted his cheeks lovingly. Behind her Loki gave him a thumbs up. My dork.
"Yes of course, your majesty"
"Please call me Freyja, darling. You are family" She replied including both me and Harry in the conversation. Draco was sure he was going to faint with all the blood rushing into his cheeks.
That's when he saw his mother and decided that he would take all of this attention off of himself and introduce his mother to Queen. They quickly hit it off obviously. Draco was bewildered when he saw his mother took Freyja all over the room to meet their friends and family. Freyja indulged her as they bonded over how taxing it is to handle us and our antics.
Draco and Loki danced for a bit but started their little competition of who would lead whom which had Narcissa and Freyja interfering and change our partners. Draco had always loved dancing with his Mum. She was so poised. Elegance emitted out of her. Draco was sure that she would make even simple jeans and shirt look elegant and expensive.
As the evening started to come to an end. Champagne glasses were left empty, food was enjoyed, people were talked into businesses, new opinions were formed, sides were chosen. His mother kept Freyja company all throughout the evening.
At the end of the day when Loki took his mother to the bedroom suite to get her settled. Draco was just getting ready to listen to all the secrets the winds stole from the people, Narcissa arrived at his office.
"aren't you tired, Dragon? You must be after all you didn't eat anything with all the anxiety nerves." she teased him.
Draco stood up and hugged his mother. He rested his head on her shoulder and her hands went to his hair. Just like always.
"What happened, dragon?" she asked. Concerned.
"Nothing, I j-just I love you mum, you know that right?" Draco said.
He'd only ever used the word 'mum' when he was feeling overwhelmed. He'd often use it in private when the dark lord was becoming a problem and Draco was concerned about her safety. His pureblood upbringing never let him slip but when he slipped it was always in private in front of her.
"of course, I know that. I love you too, my heart." she replied as she caressed his hair.
"I would do anything for you. I would do anything to keep you safe, mum." Draco said.
"Oh, Draco you did everything to keep us safe. I am proud of you" she said quietly.
They stayed there. Hugging each other. Draco needed the assurance that he did everything but he knows there are secrets buried and if someone else dug them out they would have a big problem, it is imperative that he dug out the secrets and burn them. Narcissa doesn't know the shit the original generation of death eaters had done. And if it got in the wrong hands, their statue of secrecy would be for naught.
She caressed his hair as if he was still a child. A child without the burden of past misdeeds done by the family.
"Well, I think I should retire. You should get some sleep Dragon, tomorrow there's a family dinner and sole focus is going to be on you and Loki" she giggled.
Draco sighed. She's right, tomorrow is the burning yule log ceremony and the Queen is going to be there. They need to be at their best. He would've to ease Ignis into meeting new person.
"Goodnight, mum" Draco said getting out of her embrace. She kissed his forehead and went to her rooms.
"Okay, Dear house now spill the tea" Draco said enthusiastically and the winds tittered in response circling around him and spilling everything they gathered.
It was nearly three in the morning when Loki was shaken awake with the strong gust of wind. The windows rattled in their place, as if to make noise. He sat up on his bed and looked out to the balcony,
'Hmm, there's no storm' he thought.
Another strong wave of wind and he realized it was the Manor trying to wake him up. They were impatient, urging him to go to Draco's office. Immediately.
"What? Did something happened to him?" he asked panicked.
The house snickered at his panic tone. Telling him that he was being silly. As if they would let anything happen to their master in his own home. Yes, he knew how much exactly they were protective of their master. From what Draco tells him, the house was never that protective of Lucius Malfoy, his Father. But oh well, Draco was special.
Loki knows that Draco thinks that Manor is that protective because they think he can't protect himself. But he's wrong. The protection from the manor is the two-way street, Draco is equally that protective and respectful towards his home. Draco treats them as if they are his family. In a way they were. He had work hard to earn their respect and friendship. Loki is always a little less worried about him as he carries the one of small ward-stone with him anywhere he goes. Except the last incident with his almost kidnapping. Turns out he wanted to get kidnapped. But he can't complain as his almost kidnapping led to interesting turn of events. The Winds gave him another nudge. He woke up and started moving towards Draco's office.
'Yes, yes I'm going' he muttered. They followed him. Obviously.
It was an unspoken rule that after the party Draco was to be left alone in his office. Loki knows that the house tells him everything they learned. So they would never talk after the party. Today was no less unusual. He had left immediately for his study after guests started leaving. Why would they want Loki to go look form him?
His question was answered when he saw Draco, asleep on his chair, with a weird tilt to his head. There would be crick in his neck if he slept throughout the night with that angle.
"You want me to move him to his rooms?" Loki asked rhetorically.
But the affirmative wave was followed. Loki walked towards him and saw that there was ink on his fingers. They would stain for some days and Draco would not like them. He also so the marks on his wrists where the ropes were used to tie his hands when he was nearly kidnapped. Rage flooded his body like cold lava, turning his blood into ice. He does not like wounds on his Draco, on his beautiful skin.
He wants to torture those mortals again for daring to touch him. He wants to kill them again and again until his rage subsides. But he'd already killed them, burned them alive in that HYDRA base. Draco had told Loki that he'd wanted to get kidnapped, to gain information. Loki felt the wind calming him down, as if understanding his ire and that he can't do anything but let this go. Loki took a deep breath and warmth flooded him when he touched Draco's cheek.
He was so peaceful when he was sleeping. When he was awake there was always a line of worry on his face. His worries for his family and friends. But Loki hopes in his dreams Draco's flying with full happiness. Loki magicked away the ink on his hands with a flick of his fingers and placed his one hand on his shoulder and other below his knees and started carrying him towards his chambers. He would not dare to take him to his room while his mother is in the Manor.
Draco mumbled something about Ignis and 'the Queen' and if he were to guess he was planning to inform Ignis about the arrival of a new person. Even in his sleep he is worried about his mother. Loki sighed. Draco needs a vacation. Loki stepped into Draco's room and settled him down on his bed. Carefully not to wake him, he called Pipsy. Pipsy was gentle in comparison to overenthusiastic Dobby.
"Master Loki called?" she said quietly. Knowing that her master was sleeping.
"Yes, would you please magic him into his night clothes, so that he could sleep more comfortably?" Loki asked.
“Pipsy does what makes master Draco happy" she snapped her fingers and his shirt and pants were changed into his silk pyjamas. Draco sighed in his sleep and got more comfortable under the blankets.
"thank you Pipsy" Loki said and with a inaudible pop she was gone. Loki looked down at Draco, and saw the way his chest rises and falls, the way his hands were splayed on the blankets, his long lashes falling on his rosy cheeks, the way his pink lips were parted and snoring soundlessly. Even in his sleep he looks beautiful. Loki kissed his forehead and headed to sleep. Tomorrow is the new day to tell Draco how much he loves him again.