Chapter Text
Laughter echoed throughout the dank old home around me other servants were cleaning, we’ve been cleaning for two weeks, and we’re still not done. I was scrubbing the floors for the hundredth time today. Siva as usual likes to make my life as difficult as she can possible make it, this time she split wine on the floor. She claimed it was an accident but it’s hard to believe that when the girl has a smirk on her face. I scrubbed the floors angrily as Siva and her sister Grid were laughing and talking about the ball that was approaching soon, that has been the only thing that’s left their mouths, the only other thing they’ve talked about, is the royal family and how they are coming to visit and stay here for a few days.
Lord Birgir Siva’s and Grid’s father came in tracking mud on the floors I just cleaned. I sighed in annoyance “girl” he sneered, “Yes sire” I replied kindly hopefully he didn’t hear my sigh, if he did I’m sure I’d catch a beating. “Clean this up! You know we’re expecting company” he said harshly. ‘How could I forget?’ I thought but I’m honestly excited to see the Royal family, I’ve only worked here for a year, and I always hear about the Royal family’s visits. I still felt Birgir’s eyes on me as I walked over to the trail of mud and began the cleaning process all over again. He left several moments later.
After I was sure the floor was perfect I went to Lady Alivia Lord Birgir’s wife. She approved of my work and dismissed me to the kitchen to help Sami prepare dinner for the guests. “There you are Sigyn! Where have you been?” Sami exclaimed moving some of her gray hair out of her face. “I’m sorry ma'am” I said getting my apron on and going to her side “I was cleaning the floors” I said picking up a chicken, around us the Kitchen-hands were cleaning dishes while the cooks prepared other dishes, outside the kitchen the others were cleaning the house to make it presentable for the royal family and preparing the chambers. Sami nodded her head and went back to work plucking the feathers off the chicken. By the way Birgir Bjork is one of the wealthiest men in my village and he’s friends with the Allfather Odin. Birgir is sort of like a duke he has some power and he’s in charge of my village which is on the outskirts of the kingdom.
According to Sami the royal family visits them every once in a while but it’s only for Odin and Birgir to discuss business. “Which one was it this time?” Sami asked tearing the feathers off a bird, “Siva” I said “that one” she muttered rolling her eyes a few people made a noise of agreement. I laughed and went back to work, “are you going to the ball?” Sami asked shortly after. “What?!” I exclaimed it was a ridiculous thought after all the balls are for the princes so that they can chose a suitable wife and it wouldn’t have to be an arrange marriage. “Why not?” she questioned “I’m not a noble lady” I said looking up. “I went when I was your age” she said in an amused tone “of course that was when Odin was a younger” she muttered to herself. “We have to prepare dinner” I said plucking the last feathers off as excited as I was to see the Royal family I didn’t belong at a fancy ball, “we have to prepare dinner” she mused mocking me. I glared at her before I went back to work.
Hours passed by and we were finally finished the house was clean top to bottom which too about two weeks and working night and day to accomplish. Soon most of the food was prepared and it wasn’t long before the royal family showed up with their companions the Warriors three and Lady Sif. The cooks, kitchen-hands, Sami, and I were to stay in our quarters but curiosity got the better of me and I snuck away to see the Royal family. I watched as King Odin and Lord Birgir went into Birgir’s study, they were most likely talking about the new soldiers Birgir was training. While they were talking in the study Queen Frigga and Lady Alivia were in the library talking and enjoying tea. Also in the library was Siva who was talking to Prince Thor admiring his strength, between you and me, I think she would rather be his concubine than to be respectively married to him. Grid’s cackle turned everyone’s attention to her and Fandral yet the two were completely unaware of the attention they have gotten.
I was still in the door way leading to the kitchen as Lady Sif, Hogun, and Volstagg were talking about something related to one of their battles. “My lady didn’t your mother tell you it was rude to eavesdrop?” a voice questioned in my ear he didn’t sound angry only amused. I turned to my left and was about to say something back but I saw that it was Prince Loki. I felt my whole body freeze as I just realized I almost yelled at a prince. I quickly curtsied but didn’t say anything “well?” he questioned he was standing up straight before I had the chance to say anything I felt a sharp pain in my arm. , Ahlberg the head of the servants had pinched my arm “get back in the kitchen” he said angrily. He looked back at Prince Loki “I’m sorry about her” he said “she’s incompetent” he said shoving me roughly down the hall. I turned to give them one last look and I could have sworn I saw a flash of anger in Loki’s eyes. I hurried into safety convincing myself what I saw was my imagination.
The evening dragged on with servants coming in out with full and empty plates, the cooks, kitchen-hands, Sami, and I were at the table in our quarters; the men were playing some type of game and the women were gossiping while Sami was helping me with my reading and writing. The night was almost over and soon the guest would retire to their temporary chambers but then there was a loud crash and Siva screamed my name. I groaned; “you better go” Sami said, I made my way to the stairs one of the worst things about being a scullery maid is that have the lowest status out of all the servants and everyone can tell you what to do and there’s nothing you can do about.
I grabbed an empty bucket and made my way to the dining hall I curtsied out of respect avoiding looking at Loki. “Yes m’lady” I said looking directly at Siva; she was sitting in-between Loki and Thor “clean up this mess” she said pointing at the shattered glass and scattered silverware. “Yes m’lady” I said as I walked over to Olive I glance quickly at the queen and I thought I saw disappointment in her eyes but decided it was my imagination. If I had any pride left this would be embarrassing like it was for Olive she refused to look anyone in the eye, she was bright red, and she was shaking. “Go I’ve got this” I whispered to her, she smiled and went back to whatever it was before the accident. Siva’s laughter rang out louder than everyone’s as Thor told some joke, I scuffled in disgust it’s not that I don’t like Thor, I don’t know him well enough to have an option about him.
After I finished picking up the broken shards of glass and the scattered silverware. I started to wash the wine off the floor. I’d just finished and was about to get up when I saw a hand holding out a spoon, “you missed one my lady” the voice said who I recognized to be Prince Loki’s. I felt my cheeks heat up ‘why was I blushing?’ I took it carefully “thank you sire” I said quietly enough to where only he could hear it. I looked up at him and saw he had a mischievous smile on his face. I got up making any eye contact with no one and hurrying as fast as I could to the safety of the kitchen.
“Sigyn my dear!” Sami exclaimed she was holding my face now “what’s wrong now?” she questioned; I looked up at her she was tall compared to me well a lot of people were, I was only five foot two. “It’s nothing” I said setting the dishes aside I wasn’t going to tell her I blushed because a prince was nice to me, “it doesn’t look like nothing” she stated with her hands on her hips. I looked over at her “I’m fine” moving my blonde hair out of my face “hmm” she said. “Can we please get back to reading?” I asked sitting back at the table. “Alright” Sami said in defeat walking to the table but I could she wasn’t going to drop it just yet.
In fact it wasn’t even a second before she asked me what happened “Sigyn” she said in a stern tone. “Yes?” I questioned “what-” she began but a light knocking interrupted her. Everyone turned the direction of the knocking and saw Prince Loki, immediately everyone bowed or curtsied. Yet Loki didn’t even acknowledge any of them his eyes were fixed on me. I kept a blank expression, hopefully I didn’t seem rude. The last thing I want is to be imprisoned because I gave the prince a nasty look.
“My lady I believe you lost this” he said calmly holding up my mother’s necklace with his fingers. I looked at it for a moment and felt around my neck. “Yes sire” I said my voice was shaking but his eyes held amusement as he walked over to me, “may I?” he asked ‘may he what?’ my body froze and my mind was trying to figure out what he meant. He held my necklace out toward me “yes” I said realizing what he meant. Loki gestured for me to turn around and I felt my heart beat hard against my chest as he took his time to put my necklace back on me.
Once my necklace was back on me he walked around me and grabbed my hand placing a light kiss on my knuckles. “Goodnight my lady” he said smiling again. He then walked confidently back out of the room, “I think I know what’s wrong now” Sami said joyfully. My checks were still warm; some of the cooks were chuckling at me as they went back to the table. I looked back at Sami she still had a grin on her face. I had a feeling that this wasn’t the last time I was going to meet Prince Loki.