FIC: What You Will (Thor) - Follow the Lady (6/8)

[ashinae]

What You Will - Chapter 6: Follow the Lady
by ashinae and linden_jay

Chapter 1: Unknown Bride | Chapter 2: A Girl and Her Horse | Chapter 3: For the First Time | Chapter 4: Torn to Tatters | Chapter 5: Love Loss Hope Repeat | Chapter 6: Follow the Lady | Chapter 7: Learn to Fly | Chapter 8: Life Less Ordinary



Odin and Frigga joined Thor and Loki in the healing rooms just as Loki's leg was being bandaged. Loki immediately held out her hand to Frigga; Odin stopped at Thor's side.

"Not unharmed, I see, but both well enough?" Odin asked.

"Well enough," Thor said, although he wouldn't go far away from Loki as her leg was tended. "You should have seen Loki, Father. I've never seen anything like it. Magic and fighting skill combined to create an unstoppable force."

"I did wonder," Odin said, casting a speculative look in Loki's direction. She ducked her head under his gaze, but he shook his head. "Do not be ashamed. You should be proud."

"I'm proud of you as well, my daughter," Frigga said, kissing the top of Loki's head.

"Are all your people skilled with magic as you are?" Thor asked. "I admit, I did not expect that. Fortunately, neither did they."

"Not all," Loki admitted. "We did not know how you would react, so I kept it secret." She paused a moment, then looked at Odin. "I was the target, wasn't I? We have trouble."

"It wasn't an assassination attempt?" Thor asked, frowning. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"It was... but not aimed at you," Frigga said, stroking Loki's hair very softly. "Loki was the target."

"We will find them," Odin said, firmly. "There are those among our people who are displeased with Loki's presence and feel that they have been betrayed, with a Jotunn prepared to dilute the bloodline of our family."

Loki lifted her head. "I am Asgardian," she declared. "And I will not be cowed and afraid. I may not have been born here, but I am no different than any of you. I may not have seen a horse or a butterfly or the disparate seasons before my arrival, but I am Asgardian and I will not let upstarts drive me from my home. I belong here."

Thor stood straight and reached for Loki's hand, gave it a squeeze, then looked at his father. "We must contact Laufey ourselves... tell him what has happened," he said. "He must know, from us, that we will not tolerate this, and that people who act in this way will be destroyed. That we will find these traitors out and make them wish that they'd never drawn breath."

"We will, Thor," Odin promised. "These traitors will pay the ultimate price for their crime."

"What if Father demands that I return to Jotunheim?" Loki asked in a small voice, all the fight and fire suddenly gone out of her to be, only now, replaced by fear. "Or reneges on the treaty? What if..." Her voice trailed off and she turned toward Frigga again.

"He will not," Frigga assured her, tucking Loki in a little bit more tightly against her. "You are Asgardian now. Your place is here, and Laufey knows that. To demand you back would be an act of war."

"I will go to him myself," Thor said boldly. "This should not come from a messenger. They must know that we take this seriously."

Loki looked up at him, her eyes shining. And then she got to her feet, and if her leg hurt, none would know. She wrapped her arms around Thor, kissed him soundly, and whispered, "You are brave, my love, and noble, and I could not ask for better."

"I will take care of this," Thor promised her. "And although I now know that none should underestimate you, you are injured, so please. Allow the Warriors Three and the Lady Sif to shadow you while I am gone. Please."

She nodded, her hand on his cheek. "And Heimdall had best keep his eyes on you," she whispered, "if I cannot do the same." She kissed him again. "Will you leave now?"

He nodded. "I would not keep him waiting. Promise me that you will be careful," he said, squeezing her hand, then looking at Odin. "Father--is there anything further you would have me tell Laufey?"

"Invite him to return for the executions," Odin said, "so that he may see firsthand that we will not allow anyone to bring harm to Loki."

Thor smiled, something hard in his eyes. "I will, All-Father."

"Be careful," Frigga cautioned.

"Always, Mother," he said, smiling at her, a much gentler look in his expression.

"Rarely, my son," she said dryly.

***

Thor had only just beaten Laufey's messengers to Jotunheim, managing to deliver the news of the attempted assassination before they could. Being able to tell Laufey personally of the attack made all the difference, Thor felt. It didn't stop Laufey from raging, didn't stop his fear for what could have happened or his demands for Thor to take greater precautions in future to make sure that it didn't happen again.

And he was proud. Proud of his daughter for defending herself so ably. And, it seemed, proud of Thor for coming straight to him.

***

Loki lounged on the couch in breeches, her pantleg rolled up as Hogun carefully applied a salve to her leg. "No--no, you are lying!" she exclaimed, laughing helplessly.

"I swear to you, my lady, every word is true," said Volstagg, solemnly--or as solemnly as he could, given he was laughing, too.

"Sadly, he's telling the entire truth," Sif said, supervising Hogun's work. "It's a clean cut, at least. It may not even scar," she said.

Loki peered down at her leg. "It felt like merely a graze, but that must have been shock--and the heat of battle." She leaned back against the pillows again. "Oh, how I wish I could have joined you all at least once on one of your adventures."

"Who says that you can't?" Fandral asked, lounging close to Loki and holding a bowl of fruit for her. "Especially now that it turns out that you're a warrior like our fair Sif."

Sif gave him a look, and he smiled adorably at her.

Loki reached into the bowl for a pitted cherry. "Hardly at all like Sif," she said. "Sif is a true warrior--I rely too much on tricks, magic, and cleverness."

"You could learn more, my lady," Hogun pointed out. He moved away to wash his hands in a basin. "It would not surprise me if Thor insists you do."

"I would suspect that he would suggest it rather strongly, yes," Fandral agreed.

"Loki, you fought off any number of attackers bent on killing you," Sif pointed out. "I would not dismiss your skills. They kept you alive."

Loki smiled, a little shyly, and looked at her hands. "I thought my skills would be mocked and dismissed. How you all prove me wrong yet again."

Volstagg reached into the fruit bowl. "My lady, you have proved to us that you are not to be dismissed."

There was a knock at the door, and a maid slipped into the room. "My lady? Prince Thor returns with your father."

Loki inclined her head, and carefully sat up and put both feet on the floor. "I cannot greet them dressed like this," she said, a bit sadly.

"Let me cover your wound," Hogun said, kneeling before her with bandages. "And then you may dress to greet them."

"Thank you," she said. "I would not have my father see me injured."

"Please inform them that Lady Loki is dressing and will join them very shortly," Sif informed the maid.

"I will pick something out for you to wear," Fandral said.

"You?" Sif said, raising an eyebrow.

"Unless you would rather--"

"Fandral will pick something for you to wear, my lady," Sif said.

***

It was a long day.

Loki joined the meeting with her father a little late, but no one batted an eyelash. She was escorted into the room by Sif, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg, who all bowed and then waited out in the corridor.

She thought that Laufey was pleased with the way that the Asgardians had handled the attempt on her life; was pleased that Loki had defended herself so readily; was pleased that the remaining attackers and further accomplices were to be properly punished. It would take a while to rout them all, but it would be done. The ones already in custody were to be examples.

She was not squeamish. She watched as her would-be assassins were strung up from trees and turned her back on them when the others did to return to the palace.

Her voice rang clearly through the dining hall as she spoke of justice and peace and unity. She noticed the women with their hair done the way she often wore it; noticed jewellery and hair ornaments modelled after her own; noticed the men who hung on her every word. She could not mistake the pride on Odin's face--and Laufey's--or the love in Frigga's eyes.

And still, Thor never truly met her gaze, but at least he did not turn away from her when she laid her hand on his shoulder and declared, publicly, her love for him.

She noticed the way that now, Laufey did not watch her so closely. And she knew, without a doubt, that he would not recall her to Jotunheim, but that he did keenly feel the loss of his heir.

***

Loki slumped against the door when she closed it behind them. She kicked off her shoes, thankful that her bandages would not allow her to wear tall boots at the moment. She dropped her head forward and began to unpin her hair.

"I could sleep for a month," she said, bone-weary.

Thor agreed, stopping Loki's hands. "Sit--you look as though you will fall over," he told her, offering his hand to her. He guided her to the bed, and sat down behind her. He had been terribly calm all day. And now--danger passed, day over--his hands began to shake; she could feel it as he pulled out only the first of the many pins.

Loki reached up for Thor's hands and turned on the bed to look at him. She smiled and brought his hands to her mouth, kissing them both. "You have proven yourself worthy of so much today."

"You were hurt," Thor said. "I don't believe I proved much of anything at all," he admitted.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you supposed to be so omniscient that you can predict when someone fires a crossbow at me?"

"I could have secured the area," Thor said, listing off on his fingers. "I could have posted guards. I could have requested intelligence on factions that were unhappy with your presence here in Asgard. I could have assigned you your own personal bodyguard who would watch for these things when I couldn't. I could have done many, many things, without having to be omniscient, and I did not. It was luck that the first shot didn't kill you. It was your skill and mine combined that kept us both alive."

She took his hands in hers again. "You didn't do these things, and neither did the All-Father. Did either of you know that there were factions here who wanted to kill me?"

"Kill you, no. Unhappy with our marriage..." He sighed. "I should have thought of it more. I was too focused on myself."

"My lord... please, you must not blame yourself. The people to blame have paid the ultimate price for their treason. I'm safe--we are both of us safe. I will not live in fear."

Thor nodded. "I will try. If you sit and rest for a minute. I could call someone to take those out of your hair, or I could try and do it myself," he offered.

"There aren't many, my lord, and I would prefer your company to anyone else's right now."

"Be still then... I don't want to hurt you," Thor said, starting to hunt for the remaining pins and removing them carefully. "Are you all right?"

"I'm very tired," she replied. "It's been a long day."

"Your father was extremely worried about you," Thor said. "For a few moments, I thought he might try to take my head off using his bare hands."

She closed her eyes. "Now that is something I could not bear," she said, very quietly.

"This wasn't exactly the day I had planned," Thor admitted. "I'm sorry things didn't go as I'd hoped."

"The gesture is what matters. I got to see beauty today, and I spent time with you, and I love the gift you gave me." She rose to her feet and took the hairpins from his hands. "Thank you." She kissed him, then took a step back. "I will retire now, my love. Please sleep well." She turned away to head to her own suite.

"My lady?" Thor's voice was quiet.

She turned back to him. "Yes, my lord husband?"

He took a deep breath. "This is your room too. Your bed. Would you... do you want to sleep here?" he asked, almost shy.

Even with his fear, frustration, and worry, he still did not want to be alone tonight. He wasn't sure that Loki did either.

"If you'd rather... if you want to sleep in your own room, that would be fine, of course," he added, much more quickly.

She smiled. "I would need to borrow one of your shirts again," she said.

Thor managed a smile too. "I think that I could arrange that."

***

"I spoil you. I hope you understand that. No, don't look at me like that with those big brown eyes--I know your game. You just want an apple. Well, you are going to have to behave yourself. We're not here to play right now--have you seen the state you're in? You need to be groomed and that is all there is to it. No, stop that, I do not have an apple up my sleeve for you."

In fact, Loki had no sleeves at all. It was a gorgeously sunny day, and he wore a sleeveless tunic as he attempted to run the brush through Rowan's mane, though she seemed to be in a very playful mood.

From behind, Loki could hear footsteps approaching and then laughter: Thor. He smiled, but didn't turn, even when Thor was close enough to speak. "Sounds like someone is proving difficult today," Thor teased.

Loki sighed tragically. "She seems to have decided that I am only here to play with her."

"Aren't you?" Thor asked. "I thought that was your job description--here to play with her and spoil her rotten."

Loki gasped. He turned back to Rowan. "Is this true?" She regarded him solemnly, then began to nuzzle his face. "Apparently it's true. Someone could have informed me, though."

"I believe that the lady Rowan just did," Thor said, looking highly amused. He watched them both, but Loki thought that Thor's gaze lingered on him. Perhaps it was the new sleeveless tunic.

Loki shook his head ruefully. "And for me to think that I contributed something truly worthwhile and world-changing to this place. It turns out I'm just her toy!"

"A very wise man once told me that the women in our lives are often right, and we are to do what they say. I believe once we accept that, friend Cesario, our lives become easier," Thor said solemnly.

Loki gave a short, wry laugh. "Right now, Rowan is the only woman in my life." He paused, then, eyes wide. "But--but not in... not in any... oh, I said that out loud." He covered his face with one hand.

Thor threw back his head and laughed until tears came, leaning against Rowan's stall. "Oh... oh, I believe that I needed that," he admitted, smiling at Loki.

Cheeks turning quite pink, Loki shook his head. "Yes, I imagine you did. The princess has recovered from her wound by now?"

Thor's expression sobered somewhat. "She has. I believe that even the scar will fade, in time."

"Have you found all the traitors yet? I do worry for your safety--and that of the princess, of course."

"I do not know," Thor admitted. "We may not find them all, at this time. What I do know is that we will have safety measures put in place to make it significantly less likely that they will be able to even try again, let alone succeed."

"I certainly hope you do, my prince." Loki turned his attentions to Rowan again. "It would be a tragedy if we lost you," he said, very softly. "Either of you, of course."

"Thank you, Cesario," Thor said. "Will you permit me to ask you a favour?"

"Certainly, my prince. I live to serve."

Thor stepped closer and placed a hand on Cesario’s arm, leaning in and lowering his voice so that no else could hear them speaking. "You are in a position to hear things, and go unnoticed," Thor said. "If you hear anything, any whisperings about threats to the princess, I ask that you tell me immediately. You will be granted access to the palace to do so--simply tell them that you care for Rowan, and you will be admitted. I will make sure of it."

Loki looked a little surprised at Thor's words, but then he bowed low. "Of course, my prince. I thank you for your trust, and should I hear anything at all, I will report it to you immediately."

"Thank you," Thor said, letting his hand fall to his side. "I would not have anything happen to her."

Loki looked at Thor again. "She is a very lucky woman."

"I'm trying," Thor said softly. "I fail more than I succeed, but I'm trying."

"I think you are doing admirably well." Loki put his hand on Thor's arm. "Believe me."

Thor looked down at Loki's hand, but seemed neither offended nor uncomfortable with the familiarity. "I have a duty. To her, myself, to our people. And I want this to work."

"You are making it work. And speaking of that... I really ought to get back to mine. Rowan can't brush herself."

"If she could, I would be both impressed and afraid," Thor said. "But you are right--I have kept you from your duties long enough."

Loki turned back to Rowan, and said, softly, "Though I can hardly complain for having your company, my prince. It is a gift."

"I am certain that you have not seen the last of me," Thor said. "Farewell--for now," he said, touching Loki's shoulder before he turned to go back to the palace.

***

Loki tied her hair back. "Are you certain you want to do this?" She gave Thor an arch look. "I would not want to harm you."

Thor smiled so widely that it crinkled the corners of his eyes. "I invite you to try, my lady. And if you succeed, I will congratulate you on your success. Now--attack me, if you can."

"'My lady', he says." She grinned, and picked up a wooden training sword. "Be careful, my lord husband. I may not be so gentle with you."

"Do your worst, Loki," Thor shot back, taking a defensive posture, a shield in his free arm.

She had never actually used a sword--she vastly preferred knives and magic--yet her confidence never wavered, even as he knocked it from her hand again and again. He helped her with her grip and her stance, and after some time, though she never struck him, it was at least harder for him to disarm her. Her strength perhaps did not match his own, but did, as a matter of fact, rival that of many of the fiercest warriors of Asgard.

Which was why it was such a surprise when they paused for a break, and Thor had turned away from her for a drink of water, that she threw herself at his back in an attempt to knock him to the ground. All she accomplished was to bounce off of him and tumble onto her backside on the floor. It probably should have come as no surprise at all when he offered her his hand and she grabbed it in both of hers, tugged hard, got her legs around him, and managed to pull him to the floor with her.

She beamed at him and said, "Ha!"

Thor laughed, beamed back at her, and then moved without warning, pinned her to the ground, body and hands both, and held her there. "Very, very well done," he praised. "But do not pause to gloat, as tempting as it is. Too many times, I have fallen prey to that instinct," he admitted.

He was strong and solid and heavy. Her breathing quickened. She looked up at his face and gave a little nod. "Yes, my lord," she murmured. She wanted him so badly. He was right there--so close, and yet so far away. She had to force herself to stay very still, despite the instinctual urge to writhe beneath him.

Here she was, open and inviting and he did nothing.

Loki licked her lip as her heart beat faster, and she looked away. "Thank you for the lesson," she added, a little belatedly.

"You did well--even better than I expected, and that is after seeing you in combat," Thor said, standing up and offering his hand, beaming at her. "We should do this regularly."

"I couldn't agree more," she murmured.

***

The librarians never paid much attention to the books that Loki borrowed. They didn't even seem to keep track of them. Even still, there were a few books she tended to sneak out and sneak back in along with everything else she borrowed.

Loki read too much. Those nights that she spent apart from Thor--though they weren't many now--she would spend time curled up in her bed with the particularly erotic books. The more she read, the more she understood, and the more she ached and wanted. She touched herself, one hand between her legs and the other turning the pages as she savoured each word and each image that sprang to mind. She tended to replace the hero's name with Thor's and the heroine's with her own, and soon she could close her eyes and imagine them both entwined.

She looked at herself in the mirror when she dropped her robe; her hair piled atop her head, deep colour still high on her cheeks, and her breasts still rising and falling with her rapid breaths--any man should want her.

Why didn't her own husband?

At least he still did not appear to be horrified by her presence, since they often shared a bed, even if they didn't share a bed.

She turned away from the mirror and sank down into the deep, warm water of her tub. She let her head fall back and sighed happily as she relaxed. One hand hung over the side of the tub; the other she let rest on her belly. She closed her eyes.

Thor. She could still feel him above her. How easy it was to imagine that she had not worn a stitch of clothing. How easy it would have been to spread her legs wide for him; how easy it would have been for him to take her! Oh yes, with her naked body writhing below his and perhaps he had merely opened his breeches to thrust inside her, into the heat of her body.

She wasn't even entirely aware of it when her hand slipped lower, but now she felt the sweet pleasure of her own fingers between her legs, working and rubbing over that spot that brought her such bliss. A whimper escaped her lips and she imagined Thor, working in her again and again, his mouth on hers; or on her neck or her breasts as he held her up against his body. As he rose to his knees and brought her with him, letting her move now, move herself on him, letting her move, letting her take, letting her feel--

She imagined Thor finding his completion as she did; she imagined that he spent himself deep inside her body. Her teeth dragged over her lower lip as she sank up to her chin in the water.

One day. Surely. One day, Thor would take her--and once he did, he would never want to stop.

***

By the time Cesario caught up to Thor in the clearing, Thor had already dismounted and allowed his horse to wander to the stream. Cesario, however, had laughter in his eyes as he chided, "That was hardly a fair contest, my prince. Halvard is a mighty warrior, whereas Rowan is a stately lady. She could not possibly hope to win."

"You have a point, but you were the one who challenged us," Thor said, laughing merrily. "And I make it a habit to never pretend to lose. The lady Rowan would not welcome that any more than my lady wife would."

Cesario patted Rowan's neck and produced a treat for her. "Perhaps you are right, my prince." He removed her saddle. "There you are, dear lady. You go have some water now." He wiped his arm over his brow; once again, he wore his sleeveless tunic.

Once again, Thor noticed the strength in Cesario's arms and hands. The work he did in the stables was hard, and it showed. It suited him. "You look overly warm, my friend," Thor teased. "Perhaps she is not the only one who could use some water."

Cesario's eyes were drawn to the water. "Perhaps I could," he said, thoughtfully, and then he pulled his tunic over his head and dropped it atop Rowan's saddle.

Thor looked surprised, then smiled. "More than just a drink, I see," he said. "I may join you," he said. "Unless you object."

"Not at all, my prince." Cesario glanced at him and smiled, then removed his boots, his breeches, and his undergarments. And then he ran right past Thor and dove into the lake.

Thor got as far as his pants. When Cesario stripped out of all of his clothes, Thor paused and watched him dive into the lake. His hands stilled, and he stared after him, swallowing hard.

He stripped as quickly as he could, wanting to get into the water before Cesario looked at him again.

Something wasn't right.

Cesario treaded water for a moment, watching Thor as he remained on dry land. "Hurry!" he called. "The water is perfect."

Thor stumbled as he got himself out of his pants, then dove into the water after Cesario, going as deep as he could, to where the water was colder.

Surely--surely--this was not happening.

When Thor surfaced, Cesario was attempting to float in the water on his back. "Do you know," he said, conversationally, "that I have only just recently learned how to swim?"

Thor, treading water, avoided looking... there. "I did not," he said. "Here, it is something that we learn very young."

He was grateful for the deep water.

"Oh, yes, everyone else I knew could swim. I just never bothered, really," Cesario said, airily. "I had better things to do, I suppose. Books to read."

"Your words sound familiar," Thor said. "Your upbringing sounds very like the lady Loki's."

Cesario sank down into the water a little and flailed his arms. "Oh?" He spat out some water.

"A life of scholarship... surrounded by books," Thor said, swimming a little closer without thinking about it. "How did you come to be a groom?"

"I like horses," Cesario replied smoothly. He turned in the water to face Thor, and reached out to push a strand of wet hair off Thor's forehead.

Thor leaned very slightly into the touch, not really realising he was doing it. "The work suits you," Thor said quietly.

Cesario's fingertips lingered; moved down Thor's cheek. And then he moved away. "It is work I enjoy."

Thor cleared his throat, moving away as well, into the shallower water. Why was he reacting like this to Cesario? He never had before. Why now? "Well... there is Rowan," he said.

"Yes, indeed. She seems to like me very much. And if I had not chosen this life, I may never have met you."

"I would be sorry if that were the case," Thor said, smiling.

He couldn't stop looking at Cesario. The strong lines of the muscles in his arms and shoulders, the planes of his face. He was beautiful.

Thor wasn't used to seeing the beauty in other people. He certainly wasn't used to feeling his body react to it. But he was feeling more now, here in the water with Cesario, than he ever had while touching and kissing his wife.

It didn't make sense... but it did make him feel horribly confused, and horribly guilty.

"So would I, my lord... my prince." Cesario smiled back, sweet and cheeky all at once. Without warning he splashed Thor and quickly, though a little awkwardly, swam away.

Thor cracked a smile despite the turmoil of his thoughts, and splashed at Cesario too, getting him far wetter than Cesario had gotten him.

Cesario actually yelped and sank under the surface again. He came back up, spluttering, spitting water, and let out a mock-fierce war cry (he sounded more like an offended kitten than a mighty warrior) and dove toward Thor.

Thor laughed, diving out of the way, then turning around and launching his own attack at Cesario. "For Asgard!" he called, laughing more.

Cesario yelped again and tried to get away. But he was not nearly the swimmer that Thor was, and he was quickly caught. Laughing helplessly, he squirmed and struggled against Thor--and suddenly went still. Cesario’s green eyes were wide and surprised when he looked up into Thor's face. "My lord..."

Thor froze too, realising that not only had Cesario just felt Thor's hard length against Cesario’s body... but that Thor had actually rocked up against him to savour the friction. "I... forgive me, please," he said, backing instantly away, stumbling in the water and almost going under.

But Cesario chased him, lunged at him, and wrapped his arms around Thor's neck. He kissed him, hard. "I never dared to hope," he whispered.

Thor froze, so shocked that he could not react at first. "Cesario!" he gasped, staring at him. And yes. Oh, yes. His body was reacting to Cesario's, a groan slipping over his lips as Cesario moved against him... as he instinctively rocked back, seeking more contact.

"My prince--my lord--please, you don't know how much I desire you. You could never truly... please. No one has to know." Cesario clutched at Thor, desperation shining in his eyes.

Nobody had to know. Somehow, Thor knew that Cesario would keep their secret. And he wanted, so badly. He ached for this... for the touch of another man, for Cesario's touch. It would be so, so easy.

Too easy.

Thor closed his eyes and turned away from Cesario's face. "I cannot," he said, voice rough and hoarse. "I am sorry, but I cannot do this," he said, tugging Cesario's hands away and stepping backward, a step or two first, then more quickly. "I am sorry," he said, voice breaking as he pushed out of the water, stumbling as he pushed up on shore and ran for his clothes. A sharp whistle from Thor called his horse to him, and wearing nothing but the breeches he’d managed to drag on, he galloped away, a wild and desperate look on his face.

***

| Chapter 7: Learn to Fly |