Chapter 4
Loki sat looking sad on Thor's chair at his desk fiddling with a book he was supposed to be reading, but really Thor was getting endless questions.
"Why do you have to go?"
"Can't someone else go?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"What will l do?"
Thor sighed and sat on the bed.
"Yes, I have to go on behalf of the All Father. There are problems in one of the nine realms and I need to sort it out."
"You will be just fine here on your own and you will have your studies with Asta to do."
"Can I stay with Asta?" Loki asked.
"No, you can eat with her and her mother, but it is not becoming for royalty to stay in the servants quarters."
Loki thought about this for a moment then nodded his head and smiled slightly, especially at the reference to royalty, then said, "Yes, I will be fine." Although really, he was feeling very apprehensive, but there was nothing he could do about it.
"Good." said Thor and carried on getting organised to leave.
Loki went with Thor to the Bifrost. Thor put his hand on Loki's shoulder to reassure him and said "I will see you soon."
They said goodbye and Thor was gone in a turn of the sword and a flash of light.
Loki stayed with Heimdall for a while looking out over the nine realms.
Then he bid farewell and as Asta would still be doing her chores, went to find her in the kitchens.
He found her there and was glad he did as really needed his friend right now.
He offered to help, but she told him no thanks and to just sit and wait till she had finished.
She could see he was sad because Thor was away and suggested the gardens today instead of studying.
"The fresh air will do us good" she said.
They had a lovely walk around the gardens and then just lay on the grass watching the clouds.
Later, when it was time to eat, Loki joined Asta and her mother for a meal.
He was really glad of the company.
Then it was time to go back to Thor's chambers. He was sad to leave them, but he had to.
Walking back through the quiet corridors was a bit scary.
He stopped because he thought he heard whispering and laughing in the shadows, but put it down to his imagination.
He was relieved though when he got to the chambers and shut the door.
But, suddenly Thor's chambers seemed so big and scary. He changed into his nightshirt, poked at the fire to get some heat out of it and pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around himself and curled up on the rug in front of the fire.
He watched the glow from the fire, the flames dancing around.
He could hear all sorts of noises that he was sure he had never heard before.
Thankfully, though, he eventually fell asleep.
He woke up when it was still dark.
He was shivering as the blanket had slipped off and the fire had died. He pulled the blanket around himself and climbed onto the bed.
He soon warmed up and went back to sleep. Still feeling a little scared.