"Loki?"
Frigga's voice was pitched just a bit higher, worry increasing her tone, replacing the dulcet syllables and lithe pauses with an almost shrill. "Loki, where are you?"
It had been a rather average day, that was until one of Odin's servants had caught Loki using magic in the garden again. The servant reported this to Odin, causing an uproar to say the least. Odin had banned Loki from the gardens for the day, scolding and cursing at him in a repugnant matter. "He's only 18!" Frigga had argued, her voice filled with grimace at her husband's actions.
Loki had hidden, running away from the hoarse shouts as quickly as his thin limbs would let him. He'd run to Thor, coalesce into his welcoming arms without a word. Thor would know. He never asked when Loki did this previously, he knew already it had been something involving Odin.
Loki and Odin never quite had a proper relationship, not as Thor had with the king of Asgard. The fighting became more frequent, shouts and screams rumbling throughout the kingdom and echoing through the halls. All that heard choosing to ignore it, they knew.
"Loki! Please, don't hide!"
~ ~ ~
I ran until my legs were burning and my stomach was filled with ache. Strands of hair stuck to my forehead and neck. I leaned against the ivory wall, falling onto the stoned path in a maladroit fashion. I was in the entrance of the royal cemetery, leaves and vines growing thick on the stone wall behind me. The cemetery itself didn't look very royal, filled with drooping trees and moss.
It seemed empty of anyone living safe for the guard down on the other end. Closing my eyes, I pressed my fingertips to them. Calm down, steady your breath. It's not as though this hasn't happened before.
I wondered now where Thor was, but going to his chambers would mean going to the main center of the castle. The center was far from the cemetery and much more populated. I would go to the gardens if I weren't banned. It was harmless magic! I only was practicing my doppelganger spell, it needed improving.
I raised my head, peering into the cemetery to the guard. His back wasn't facing me, and he was stock still against the gate. I figured here would be a good place to continue my practice, standing up slowly on weak legs. Damned cramps. I took a deep breath, gathering my posture and tucking a few stray hands of hair behind my ear.
I directed my focus to the spell, cryptic words filling my thoughts and relaxing my muscles. I turned my hand over, watching the veins on my wrist as they darkened to a deep blue. I felt a sudden pinch in my stomach, letting out a yelp that was more of a cacophony.
Doubling over, I clutched a hand to my stomach, pressing the other to my mouth to stop from being heard. Slowly, I straightened my back and raised my head. I sprang backwards, falling back against the stone wall in an obstreperous clamour. Striking green eyes stared back at me, stripped of any emotion. I approached it slowly, its eyes following my motions.
"Can you...Talk?" I questioned in a whisper, being cautious as to not startle it. It watched me but said nothing. "Can you hear?"
At that it nodded, mirroring my look of shock and suppressed fear. It arched slowly, following my actions and taking a few steps foreword. I furrowed my brows, it doing the same. I peered back over my shoulder, making sure the guard wasn't looking before I turned back to the doppelganger. Circling it slowly, I watched as it mimicked every strain of muscle and twitch of nerves.
"I suppose we should practice more." It only watched me as I took its hand cautiously, directing it to follow me.
~ ~ ~
Bringing the doppelganger to my chambers was surprisingly with ease. I took a route with little to no people wondering the halls, matching our footsteps as one and hiding when anyone passed by.
I shut the door behind us with a deep sigh, leaning against it and staring at the doppelganger. How do I get rid of it? Is it a will of mind? Do I have to harm it? Can it even feel pain?
I paced the floor, my mirror image staring back at me. I motioned for it to sit on my bed, it nodded just barely before doing so. I stood in front of it, rubbing my eyes and sighing deeply. It did the same, a deep sigh escaping its lips. I took a step back, "Stand." I commanded.
It stood. I furrowed my brows and curled my lips into a deep frown. It followed this action. I then went through multiple facial structures, the doppelganger following in complete sync as though it were a mirror.
~ ~ ~
Frigga had stopped searching for Loki but still worried for him. She figured maybe he had left the castle to catch some air or go to the library to read a few books and get the situation and off his mind. It was now almost time for the annual feast that was held for the hunters before they parted for another hunting trip.
"Thor, darling, please go inform your brother that it is almost time for the feast." she lilted, whisking away to help a servant carry in a tray of food. He nodded, heading out of the great hall and down towards the library.
"Loki?" he called, receiving no reply. He wondered in, peering over a few shelves and making sure to check in Loki's secret reading nook that only they knew about. I suppose he's in his chambers.
Thor took the main hall towards the champers and turned down and out of the East Wing. He then entered the less populated part of the castle where Loki's chamber is located.
~ ~ ~
The door creaked open unexpectedly, "Loki, the feast-"
Thor stood stock still, his mouth fell open and eyes widened. I swirled around to face him, the doppelganger doing the same and mirroring my shocked expression. "You...-There's two of you!" he nearly shouted. I clumsily ran towards him, shutting the door closed as I placed a hand over his mouth to silence him.
"Allow me to explain," I started, the doppelganger gesturing for Thor to sit down. He did so, staring wide-eyed at it, mouth still agape. "I was practicing my doppelganger spell and..." I gestured to it, "apparently I got it right."
Thor didn't speak for a few moments, taking in all this information and finally closing his mouth before speaking. "So there's two of you...for how long?" he asked, voice cautious as though if he said something wrong the mirror image of myself would attack. "That's the problem, I don't know how to rid of it. I'd have to go down to the library but I certainly can't let anyone else see him."
"The feast is almost time." Thor added, watching the doppelganger as it seated itself next to him. I turned to it, "If I leave you here until after the feast, will you be okay?" Thor shook his head before the double had a chance to react, "What if it leaves?" he quaked.
I stood for a moment, mind pondering. "Maybe it can write." I rejoined, gathering a piece of parchment paper and a quail feather from my desk. It took the paper into its hands in lithe movements, but it didn't write. It only stared down at the paper and pen in hand blankly. I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Maybe you can just tie him up and put him in your wardrobe?" Thor optioned.
"He's a doppelganger, not a hostage!"
