This chapter is quite graphic blood wise so just be aware of that before continuing.

- A x

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I looked at my reflection in the pool of water. Blue. Disgusting. A lie. That is all I saw. Although I had become king essentially overnight, I made a foul discovery. I was terrifying. My eyes were piercing red and ice danced around my fingertips. The pool of water slowly began to freeze over and my fists clenched.

I felt tears forming in my eyes and I angrily hit the tall goblet holding the water. The ice spread all over the floor I was standing on. There was a small knock on the door. Shit, (y/n) will still be doing her maid duties. I started to panic, not knowing how to turn myself back to my normal self.

Fuck.

Loki wasn't answering the door. I heard commotion so I didn't want to barge in. I sat outside and waited for him to answer. Finally, the doors swung open. I walked in and looked around.

"Loki?" I called out. His chambers were massive, my voice bouncing off the walls. He could be anywhere. I decided to just do what I have been assigned to. Soon, I heard his voice. He was quiet.

"(y/n). I need you to stay calm." He spoke softly, trying to sound calm but I could hear a resonating panic in his tone. That made me the opposite of calm.

"What's going on?" I asked. He walked out of the shadows. My gut twisted, I almost threw up right then and there. That wasn't Loki. He was... he was a frost giant? I gasped, taking a step away from it. "What the fuck-"

"Please, (y/n) stay calm. My father didn't just pass into the Odinsleep last night." His skin began to turn pale and white once more, the closer he got. It seemed like the ice melted away from him the closer he got to me. "I discovered my lineage. My actual father is Laufey, King of the Frost Giants. I was abandoned because I wasn't strong enough for him. Odin took me under his wing and kept the secret from me." He was right in front of me now. He looked normal again, bar his glowing red eyes. He took my hands. His were freezing. I was shaking really badly.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I just got a fright is all. It's okay." I looked up at him. Our faces were closer than usual. I felt myself gravitating towards him. I could feel my heart beating faster. The door flew open.

"See? I told you she was getting special treatment." I heard a maid spit. I jumped back and gasped, looking over at the door. It was Sif and two maids who were smirking at me. I could tell Sif was holding back a smile.

"Your highness, the guards request you downstairs." She spoke. Loki nodded and left the room. Sif and the maids left as well. It was just me, alone again. I was never going to hear the end of the abuse now.

---

I sat in my quarters that night. I didn't want to sit and listen to the abuse anymore. I took my hair down and combed it properly, letting it flow over my shoulders. I changed out of my servants wear, and into a long white nightgown. I climbed into bed when the two maids from earlier came in.

"So how's your new boyfriend?" one of them smirked. I rolled my eyes.

"It isn't like that. You came in at a bad time." I defended.

"Really? I don't think so. Isn't that breaking servant protocol?" the other one giggled. I clenched my fists.

"You wouldn't fucking dare." I snapped.

"But we would." They laughed. I gritted my teeth and grabbed the one closer to me's hair and pulled her head down. She started to scream.

"(Y/N)! Please stop it you're hurting me!" She cried.

"Leave me the fuck alone then you stupid fucki-" I was interrupted by the head maid walking in.

"(y/n). Come with me please." I gulped.

---

"Listen miss, I'm really sorry. I have been constantly tormented for only doing my job and-"

"(y/n). I do not care about the reason behind it, you must be punished. 30 lashes." My heart stopped. Lashes? I had never been lashed before.

"Please..."

"Guards, take her to the maids courtyard please."

They put my hands behind my back and tied them together tightly. I was pushed out to the courtyard and tied to the post where thieves were punished. One of them took out a sword and ripped open the back of my nightgown. My skin was scratched slightly, making me wince.

"Please don't do this." I begged them. I heard them laugh. I heard them bring out the whip and started to cry. "Please."

There was a strong stinging pain. I swear to god I saw white lights dancing around my field of vision. I could only let out deep sobs, I couldn't even speak. It felt like it went on forever. I started to go all fuzzy and they were on count 12. I was breathing heavily, my body once again shaking violently. All I heard was a deep, booming voice and then everything went dark.

"Guards. Step away."

---

I woke up to the feeling of soft, silky sheets. My eyes opened slowly. I didn't know where I was. There was a large chair in the corner of the room, and a tall and dark figure was sitting in it. They saw me stirring and spoke.

"Eir. She is awake." Another figure walked into my field of vision. Everything was blurry. I managed to make out a beautiful, blonde woman sitting in front of me. She took my hands and pulled me up gently. As my vision sharpened so did the pain in my bag.

"Fuck!" I flinched. Eir smiled.

"I guess that answers my question. You're still sore."

"M-my back... the lashes? What happened?" I stuttered.

"The head maid caught you hurting one of the other maids. Said the maid was taunting you, but you had to be punished regardless. She gave you 30 lashes and the guards didn't stop after 30 and just pretended to be on the 12th lash over and over again. The king stepped in and pulled you away and took you up here. Usually that is not royal protocol but..." She turned around to look at Loki on the seat. He was staring out onto the balcony. "...but I think you are more than his maid to him."

Eir sat and tended to my wounds, redressing them and making sure they wouldn't get infected. I stayed silent, thinking about what Eir said to me. Loki didn't look over.

I sat throughout the whole night watching (y/n). To make sure she was comfortable. I hated seeing her in pain. I hated seeing her anything but happy.

I think I might like the girl. And not just in a friendly way. I hate to admit it, but everything about her is just amazing. Reminds me of the maid I saw when I was a young boy, and I locked eyes with her and fell in love.

Eir left and told me to rest and not to sleep on my back. I looked over at Loki.

"Thank you." I said, and lay back down. I didn't expect him to answer.

"You're welcome, (y/n)." He replied. I looked over at him again. He was looking at me now. We locked eyes, and something in his gleamed. They widened slightly and he took a deep breath. We stayed silent for a while. "I've known you for a long time."

"You have?"

"I saw you when I was a child. You were cleaning the floors near the Kurse prison. We met eyes and I swear to the gods, I fell in love with you. I knew you looked familiar." My jaw dropped. He... he loved me? Loves me?

"I didn't realise you used to feel that way." I smiled weakly. Loki stood up and strode over to me, sitting on the bed next to me. I sat up slightly, wincing as I did. Loki's cold hands snaked in between my warm ones.

"I still do." He whispered. My heart started to beat even faster, somehow. The butterflies in my stomach went wild. He leaned forward, kissing my forehead gently. "Get some sleep."

"Wait-" I pulled him back before he could sit up, locking lips with him. I could feel him tense up and immediately regretted it, but he relaxed and lifted a hand up to my cheek. It was a deep kiss. We broke away and bumped foreheads, catching our breath. He smiled softly.

God, that smile.