Chapter 2
Loki is overwhelmed by the beauty of the gardens. He has never seen anything like it.
Johtuheim doesn't have gardens so all this is new to him.
"This is beautiful" Loki says.
"I love the gardens" Asta tells him. "I try to spend time here when I can."
"If you would like, I can share with you all I know."
Loki is pleased by the kind gesture. "Thank you" he says, "I would like very much to learn more about it.
They sit down on the grass together beside a shrub that is full of bees.
"Do you think you will be happy here?" Asta asks Loki.
"I don't know, I don't have a choice" Loki tells her.
What he wants is to go home, to his own room, to be in his own world, where even though there is no love there, at least he knows what will happen next and because there, it is only him in his room and in his head, where he can at least pretend to be happy and have some sort of control over his life.
Here, he has no control.
The bees buzz lazily around them.
"What are they?" Loki asks.
"Bees" Asta tells him, surprised, "they make honey, you eat it."
"Oh" Loki says and picks nervously at the grass.
"I saw you when you arrived" Asta said "It really made me sad and I didn't like that you were chained and treated like you were."
"I want to go home" Loki said. "I miss my books and everything I own, but that is not allowed. My father had to give me away under King Odin's command, so it can't be undone, but he has never really loved me so he would not care."
Asta gives him a pitying look and asks him, "Do you think it will be better for you here?"
"I don't know" Loki says, "l have been placed as a slave, but Thor is not treating me as a slave, so I suppose that is good."
Loki's face flushed and he dropped his eyes knowing she would know what being a slave meant.
"That's good though." Asta said.
"Yes, I am grateful for his mercy and he said I can use the library, which I'm really looking forward to seeing."
"I'm allowed to use the library" Asta says, smiling, lifting the mood. "I love it in there."
"We could study together" she says excitingly.
"Why are you allowed to use the library if you are a servant? Loki asked.
"My father was a general in Odin's army. He died in battle. Odin saw to it that my mother and I would be taken care of as a reward for my father's service to the King.
We are servants, but we hold a privileged position.
"We have separate chambers from the other servants. The other servants that don't have this privilege have to share.
It also means we serve the Royal family."
"How old were you when he died?" Loki asks.
"I was eight when he died." Asta tells him.
"I'm sorry." Loki says.
"Thank you" Asta says "lt was a long time ago."
"What about your mother?" Asta asks.
"My mother died when I was born, so I never knew her and my father and brothers never spoke about her" Loki said.
"I'm sorry" Asta says.
Loki just shrugged his shoulders and said nothing but picked at the grass again.
Thor then calls them both over.
"I'm hungry, let's eat!" He exclaims!
"Oh Prince Thor, you are always hungry" Asta laughs.
Thor gives her a disapproving look, then laughs too, "You are correct, dear girll! I am always hungry! So let's eat!
Asta's mother had made a lovely picnic.
They all sit down on the rug to eat, three mismatched individuals thrown together.
After lunch Thor falls asleep.
Asta and Loki played hide and seek, which Asta had to explain to Loki first as he didn't know what it was.
They ran about the trees till they were exhausted and Loki and Asta couldn't stop laughing, Loki felt happy, for the first time in a long time.
They both collapsed down by the rug and started sniggering at Thor, who was snoring.
Thor woke up. "What are you two laughing at?"
"Nothing!" they both said together, then looked at each other and laughed.
Thor just smiled and shook his head, pleased they seemed to be getting along.
"Right", Thor said "let's clear up and get what's left back to the kitchens."
"Loki, you can meet my mother" Asta says excited.
Asta ran into the kitchens ahead of Loki and Thor, "Mama" she called, Prince Thor is here and Loki is here to meet you."
"Oh!" Asta's mother said, surprised and a bit flustered, as she bowed to Thor, "Your Majesty"
"We brought back what was left of the picnic so it can be saved" Thor said "And Asta wanted you to meet Loki."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Loki" she said and put out her hand to shake Loki's. He returned the gesture saying "It's a pleasure Ma'am to meet you, too."
They spend some time in the kitchens just chatting until Thor said it was time to go.
"So, the library tomorrow then?" Asta said to Loki.
"Yes," said Loki.
They all bid their farewells and Thor and Loki made their way back to Thor's chambers.
"Was it a good day for you?" Thor asked, putting his arm around Loki.
"Yes, thank you" he said.
Loki was exhausted, but happy, he changed immediately and got into bed.
He listened with his back to Thor while he was moving around the room.
Thor then climbed into bed. Loki then felt a hand round his waist and he yelped as Thor pulled him toward him close to his body.
"Goodnight Loki" Thor said as he held him in a hug.
Loki realised this was just a hug and turned to face Thor's chest.
"Goodnight and thank you"
He could feel Thor's breath on his head. It was comforting and with Thor's arms around him, felt safe.
He moved his head closer into Thor's chest and he fell asleep and never moved all night.