Dinner
You were lying down in your chamber, staring at the ceiling silently. To say you were concerned about tonight’s dinner was an understatement. Odin despised you, and he was willing to make your life a living hell. How were you going to survive this evening? Thinking about what might happen, you began to shiver. Holding back your tears, you pulled on the golden blankets of your bed and bury yourself under the covers. You felt safe, hidden under the blankets, where nobody, not even Odin could hurt you. The blankets were your shield when you believed the whole world was against you. And today was one of those days where everything was going wrong.
You had to attend dinner tonight with the Royal family. You hoped sincerely the Allfather wouldn’t lock you down…
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Come in!”You shouted, trying to arrange your hair and the blankets properly.
“Ma’am?”Says the servant, holding a beautiful dress in her hands.”Are you alright?”
Your hair was probably messy, and your eyes reddened. You were a real mess.
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”You declared, forcing a smile at the servant.
Embarrassed, you stood up and made the bed quickly.
“I brought you your dress for this evening, and I’ll help you get ready.”The servant announced, looking straight at you with genuine goodness.
“Thank you. It’s really kind of you to think of my outfit.”
“It wasn’t me, ma’am. It’s a gift from Frigga. She knew you would like it, and she wanted you to look your best for the dinner.”The servant replied, tidying up your things quickly.
“You can call me Y/N.”
“We need to get you ready, ma’-Y/N…”She said, a small smile appearing on her lips.
You nodded. Odin were going to make this dinner a real nightmare, but at least you would be beautiful.
*****
You looked at the mirror in your chamber and grinned.
“You are magnificent, Y/N.”Your servant declared, proud of her work.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Loki appeared on the doorway and walked towards your bed.
“Y/N—”The God of Mischief tried to speak.
“Loki.”You smirked and straightened your dress uncomfortably.
“You’re ravishing, Y/N.”
“You’re dashing as well.”You answered, grinning.
Open-mouthed, Loki was staring at you, almost devouring you with his eyes.
The servant cleared her throat, and Loki looked up. Feeling uneasy, he scratched his neck nervously. Your servant smirked at you discreetly and left your room.
“Loki? Why are you here?”You questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“I knew you were going to get lost in the palace, so I am here to escort you to dinner.”He muttered, lending you his arm.
“My saviour.”
You took his arm gently and let Loki lead you to the dining room. During all the way to the dining room, you looked at the ceiling and its ornaments, and the God of Mischief needed to shake your arm to let you know you had arrived.
Loki saw you tense when you discovered in front of you Odin and his guests, all sitting around the huge table. Immediately, he put his hand on your waist and lead you to your place. You were sitting next to him, while he was sitting next to his father, Odin. Thor was in front of Loki, and next to his mother.
Sitting awkwardly, you glanced at Frigga, and when she caught you, you sent her a look of gratitude, and she nodded.
Servants were bringing the dishes to the table, and you risked a glance at the other guests. You saw Sif, Hogun and Fandral. They were looking at ease with all the Royal formalities, while you were struggling to hold your fork in place. You all ate in a oppressive silence. The sound of cutlery and plates crashing to rock the conversation. Someone needed to break the awkward silence, and unfortunately for you, Odin was the first to speak.
“Could someone explain why a mortal is in my palace now or is it too early to speak of such matters?”Odin questioned dryly, a serious look on his face and the lips tightened.
You froze, your fork still in your mouth.
No one dared to speak.
“Nobody? Maybe we need to lock that Midgardian in a cell to make you all speak?”
Your hairs stood on end and you felt anger, and fear running through your body.
Maybe you were a mortal, but you still had powers.
Thor cleared his throat, and everybody looked suddenly at him. Odin stared at his son and waited impatiently.
“Lady Y/N is our guest. Loki and I invited her to accompany us here, she has the right to stay.”Thor explained, struggling to stand still.
“And that’s your reason for bringing a mere mortal in Asgard? You wanted her to come? Is that reason enough to bring her among gods?”Odin shouted, tapping angrily the table with his fists.
“She’s our guest, Father! And she’s not anyone, Y/N is our friend and we can trust her!”Thor claimed, not daring to make a single move.
Feeling anger rising in your body, you watched them talking about you as if you were not here. Loki noticed and put his hand on your thigh gently to calm you. You shivered and instantly leaned on his touch.
“Her place isn’t in Asgard! She needs to leave! She’s only a mortal. Her life has no value compared to us, Gods!”
Hearing Odin yelled curses at you, Loki clenched his fists firmly.
“She’s not only a mortal! She has powers!”Loki cried, standing up and feeling adrenaline rush through his body.
“Powers? You call those powers? Are you joking?”
“She’s part of the Avengers!”Screamed Loki, red with anger.”She saved people. She’s not a nobody!”
Staring wildly at his son, Odin began laughing loudly.
“The Avengers?”The Allfather chuckled.”The ones you tried to kill back in New York? And now you’re defending them? How marvelous.”
Loki sighed, and glanced at his mother, hoping she would intervene.
“And now Loki, you’re defending a mortal whereas a few years ago you wanted to rule Midgard at all cost. She has you wrapped under her fingers, my sons.”
“Odin…”Frigga muttered, putting her hand on Odin’s shoulder.
He nodded bitterly.
“So everything’s settled, Y/N isn’t going to stay.”Odin declared, putting his hands again on the table.
You stood up quickly without really knowing what you were doing. You needed to stand up for yourself. Nobody could speak to you like that.
Bravery was a foolish thing.
“I am not a nobody, and I won’t let you speak so rudely of me, even if you’re a God, and especially the Allfather. You pretend to be powerful, yet you’re talking to everyone except me whereas I am the subject of these arguments! And that’s what you call being powerful?”You shouted, putting your hands brutally on the table.
All the guests were startled, and hypnotized by your moves. No Midgardian had ever stood up to the Allfather.
“How clever of you, mortal.”Said the Allfather.”Guards! Lock her down! I don’t want to see her again in my palace.”
The guards began to head towards you. You were going to spend the night in a cell.
Loki suddenly stood in front of you. He couldn’t let Odin put you in a cell because he believed you were a nuisance. The Allfather hurt Loki for life, but the God of Mischief wasn’t willing to let him hurt you. Hurting him was enough. He wanted to be sure you weren’t going to undergo the same treatment.
“You won’t touch a single one of her hair!”Loki demanded, shielding you with his arms.
“It’s okay, Loki. Let them lead me to my cell. You’ll figure something out.”
You put your hand on Loki’s arm gently, caressing the leather of his outfit. He looked straight in your eyes with sadness and remorse. The guards approached you, held your wrists and tightened their hold to take you away. You startled.
“Stop.”Shouted the God of Mischief, clenching his teeth tightly.”If you imprison her, lock me down with her. I won’t let her go alone.”
Waiting for an answer, the guards stared at the Allfather.
“He can go with her. Bring them where they belong.”
The guards began to lead you to your cell. You glanced at the God of Mischief with gratitude and passion.
Loki wasn’t the same person he was in New York years ago. The Loki you knew haven't let you down. He made you understand if you fell off a bridge, he’ll fall with you.
You gazed at him letting the guards lead him to your cell, probably the same cell he was imprisoned for his previous crimes. You knew how awful it must have been for him, though he was still here, with you.
Loki changed. The Avengers didn’t believe you, yet you knew. Loki was the most human person you had ever known.
Sometimes, the monsters are the most human people.