The Orchard
Thor was pacing back and forth in The Orchard, waiting for Loki. He was wearing the same thing as he was crowned in, beautiful golden robes with a golden metal belt, with a satchel among his shoulder. He had stunning golden leaflet clips in his blond hair, on each side of his head.
Thor picks an apple from the tree above him to give to Loki as a gift. Little does Loki know, Thor has not one but two presents to give him in return for his beautiful vase of flowers to return the favor.
Thor turns around and sees Loki walking up the path leading to The Orchard, Loki looking behind him every couple of seconds, the paranoia setting in that someone would see them.
“Ah, Loki,” Thor musters as quietly as possible, his voice hushed, “I was beginning to think you would not show,” says Thor.
“I greatly apologize,” starts Loki, also in a hushed tone, “It was to my surprise that Lady Sif spoke to me at all, let alone knowing that you wish to meet with me,” said Loki.
“Well, technically, it is not allowed, but Sif has a way of setting things up that surprises even me. Besides, how am I to know I’d wish to marry you by only speaking to you once? I mean, you are striking, in every sense of the word, Loki. But only one meeting is not nearly enough,” says Thor, “I wish my father saw to it that way, as well,” Thor says with a sigh.
Loki is once again shocked. He just stares back at Thor blankly, trying to process what was just said. His thoughts whirr in his head like it does speeding through the filing cabinets of his brain trying to identify different species of plants. Thor must have noticed this, and waves one finger in front of Loki’s face back and forth.
“Loki?” asks Thor.
Loki clears his throat and looks behind his shoulder again, checking to see if anyone is watching them. He musters up the courage to speak.
“Well, thank you for the compliment. I was shocked to hear of it that you wished to meet with me again, let alone consider me for marriage,” says Loki, out of breath.
Thor smiles at Loki and places the apple in Loki’s hand, Thor letting his fingers linger over Loki’s, him now gripping the apple in anxiousness.
“For you,” says Thor.
“Thank you,” replies Loki softly.
Thor reaches into his satchel and retrieves a pot of ink, a glass pen, and three sheets of paper. He hands the items to Loki as well.
“I have one week's time to decide on any suitor or swain. I see to it that you will write to me three times between now and then. We will exchange letters. I will have a soldier deliver mine first, and you will hand him your letter to me. Understand?” asks Thor.
Who was Loki to say no? He was still in shock, and regardless of his anxieties, who could refuse to the newly crowned King’s orders?
“Understood, my King,” says Loki.
“Very well then,” Thor says, raising his hand and caresses Loki’s jawline, running his fingertips along the line of it all the way to the roundedness of his chin. “I’m looking forward to it,” says Thor.
Loki gazes up to meet Thor’s friendly eyes, feeling the uneasiness melt away by Thor’s touch.
“I shall write to you soon,” says Thor, leaning in and giving Loki a kiss on the cheek, right on his cheekbone. And with that, Thor was walking back to The Palace.
-
Loki was practically tripping over his feet walking home from The Orchard. All of this information was far too much for him to process.
Thor, the King of Asgard, wants to write to him three times within the next week. He simply couldn’t believe it! Who was he, a simple botanist, living his simple life in Asgard, out of all the suitors and swains Thor could pick, he chose to get to know Loki better? Hela, even in secret? Against Odin’s best wishes?
Loki turns the doorknob to the front of his home, unlocking the door. An overgrown plant swings and hits him in the face as he closes the door behind him. Loki sighs, and melts into the floor. He should be absolutely giddy, he should be so happy, elated, even! But he’s scared, he’s anxious, and it’s riddling to him why Thor would even choose him in the first place.
It doesn’t help that his thoughts are swirling of everything that could possibly go wrong. Loki is Jotun by blood, Hela, he’s Laufey’s son. Loki is the Prince of Jotunheim. The planet Asgard is adversaries with.
He’s left that life behind, and no longer speaks with his father, but this simply feels wrong. It feels wrong to keep this secret from Thor, it feels wrong to string Thor along without telling him the truth. Thor will know when he writes his letters to him, won’t he? Perhaps he’ll leave out his last name. Or, make one up! That’s a good idea.
But he still feels terrible about it, even if he did do that, his gut is wrenching just thinking about it.
Nevertheless, Loki has his chores to do. He’s plenty thankful that he has busywork to hopefully declutter his mind of riddles.
Loki stands up and walks into the dining area to grab his favorite watering can and begins to water his flowers and plants inside the home, as he has already tended to his gardening outside earlier this morning.
After watering his plants and flowers, Loki begins to derobe. He takes off his blue tunic, trousers, belt and boots off and sets the dirty robes in the wash pail and his boots near the door. He walks to his bedroom and picks up his book he’s been reading for a few days, and lets the words lull him to sleep once again.