💚 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 💚 ᗩ ᒪOKI TᗩᒪE

An unexpected turn of events

The sun breached the open draperies in your bedroom, announcing the arrival of a new day. However, there you were, fully dressed and completely alert as you lay in bed, having been awake with anticipation and slight unease at the impending breakfast with Loki.

Queen Frigga promised that she would be at your door as soon as her son, Loki, arrived, and that you could count on an early call because he was a morning person.

You'd get the jitters every time you heard footfalls outside your door, convinced that it was either Loki returning to his chambers, which were conveniently located across the hall from your own, or Frigga approaching to summon you to the breakfast hall.

However, as each set of footsteps passed your door, no knock was heard. At one time you actually peered out to see who walked the hallways, only to observe the morning guards switching shifts with the night patrol.

The sun had fully risen, and your stomach was churning, not from nervous knots but from hunger this time. You still hadn't been called upon and that puzzled you. Did Loki not turn up? Perhaps he was too engrossed in his wife's company within her chambers to notice the time passing.

Given how much time they spent apart, it made reasonable sense that he would crave alone time with Magritte. Though the very notion of it made you queasy. You were aware her sheets were familiar with other men and not just her husband. Did Loki know?

You sit up on your bed and huff, deciding to get up and just head to the breakfast hall yourself, hoping to at least find some food still remaining from yesterday. You were hoping that a small bite to eat would keep your hunger at bay until brunch. You were always so irritable when hungry. And the last thing you want when encountering Loki for the first time is to be perceived as grumpy. You knew initial impressions are invariably lasting.

Obviously, you hoped he wouldn't take a disliking to you; if the entire Odinson family liked you except for Loki, you'd feel devastated. Your intentions were to return to Asgard in the future and if he shunned you as much as Magritte, it would surely discourage you from visiting.

As you stood up and reviewed your appearance a final time in the mirror, you noticed markings on your skin that you'd previously overlooked. You turned to the side to get a closer peek at your arms and exclaimed when you noticed the deep purple bruises that had formed.

You examined yourself with perplexity while trying  to recall how you could have gotten the ugly bruises in the first place. When you finally remembered, a frown formed between your brows, feeling a growing rage as you recalled how Caspian's hands had dug firmly into your skin at your last unfortunate encounter. Now, the mere sight of his hand prints on you only roused the feelings of shame and disgust.

"This dress is completely unacceptable." A sigh escapes your lips as you slip out of your thin-strapped summer dress and searched through your limited collection of other light garments.

You chose a soft pink, long-sleeved dress to conceal your visible injuries. You did not wish for anyone to inquire about how you acquired such evident finger marks.

After dressing, you grab the lone red apple from your fruit bowl. It looked delicious, and your stomach had been urging you to consume it all morning, but you refrained.

You walked out of your room, apple in hand, and follow the same path you've taken every day since arriving into the palace. When you reach a crossroads, you see Javier, the guard who's become your friend. He was standing watch, but you could tell that he was constantly scanning the area for signs of your approach.