When Loki demanded a hug, Eirlys stared at him with confusion. Of all the things she had expected, that was certainly not one of them. She stood awkwardly beside his bed, wondering whether the man had finally lost his mind. Loki simply waited. His expression became almost unbearably patient.
Eirlys sighed. "Loki, you are a grown man."
"And currently an injured one."
She looked at him for several seconds before reluctantly stepping closer. The moment she leaned down to embrace him, Loki's mouth curved with the faintest hint of satisfaction. He had wanted to see her awkward and he had succeeded.
For a moment, Loki was perfectly content simply to have her there. Eirlys had approached him reluctantly, her expression making it painfully obvious that she was doing this because she had promised she would return, not because she had suddenly developed a desire to comfort him. Still, when she finally leaned down and wrapped her arms around him, something inside Loki went unexpectedly quiet.
She smelled faintly of the flowers woven into the embroidery of her robes, something distinctly Vanaheim, something he remembered from childhood without ever realizing he had noticed it.
His arms settled around her. Then, almost imperceptibly, they tightened. Eirlys felt the change. At first, she assumed he was simply trying to steady himself. Loki was injured, after all. But his hold became firmer, drawing her closer than the brief, polite embrace she had intended.
Loki felt the warmth of her against him and immediately understood why the sight of Thor holding her had irritated him so profoundly. This was different. Thor had always been allowed this kind of closeness. Thor could throw an arm around her, lift her from the ground, laugh with her, hold her as though she had always belonged within his reach.
Loki had never allowed himself to imagine doing the same. Until now. His hand rested against her back, and for one selfish moment he simply allowed himself to feel how close she was. She was no longer the little girl who had followed Thor through the palace. She was a woman. And she was going to be his wife.
The thought sent an uncomfortable thrill through him. If she truly became his, he would not have to stand at a distance and watch Thor receive all the affection Loki had spent years pretending he did not want. He tightened his arms another fraction. That was enough.
Eirlys immediately pulled back. "Loki."
She swatted his arm, more offended than frightened. "Behave."
Loki blinked at her. There was no fear in her face. Only unmistakable disapproval, the same expression she might once have given him after catching him trying to steal something from Thor's room.
"You were holding me too tightly."
"I am injured."
"You were injured before I hugged you."
"I seem to be suffering more now."
She gave him a look. "Loki."
There was a warning in it and he almost smiled. It was strangely satisfying to discover that beneath all her composure, she could still become flustered around him. He had spent so long believing Eirlys was one of the few people he could never unsettle that seeing the slight warmth in her cheeks felt like discovering a secret. But she had already turned away. She adjusted her robes with deliberate dignity and headed towards the door.
Loki watched her go. "You are leaving already?"
"You have had your hug."
"I thought I was promised that you would come back."
"I came back."
"And now?"
"Now I am leaving before you decide to behave even worse." She did not wait for his response.
The doors closed behind her. Loki remained against the pillows, staring at them. For once, his smile was not entirely mocking. She had pushed him away, scolded him. And somehow, instead of irritating him, it made him want to see that expression again. He knew he should behave. He also knew, with increasing certainty, that behaving around Eirlys was going to become considerably more difficult than he had anticipated.
Next morning, by the time Eirlys was summoned to the royal chambers again, she already knew something was wrong. The moment she entered, she found nearly everyone waiting for her. Odin and Frigga sat together near the great windows. Her father stood beside them, looking far too serious for Eirlys's liking. Her younger brother was there as well, along with several members of the Vanaheim household who had apparently decided that whatever was about to happen required an audience. Eirlys stopped at the doorway.
She looked from one face to another. "What is this?"
Nobody answered immediately. That silence told her enough.
Her eyes settled on her father. "Father."
King Freyadóttir cleared his throat. "Eirlys, come sit with us."
"No." The answer came so quickly that even her brother looked surprised. She folded her arms. "I have spent the last day being informed of decisions concerning my life after everyone else has already made them. I think I have earned the right to know what this meeting is about before I sit down."
Frigga exchanged a brief glance with Odin.
Her father sighed. "It is regarding the marriage."
Eirlys's expression hardened. "The marriage I was never asked about?"
"Eirlys…"
"No, Father." She stepped farther into the room.
"You came all the way to Asgard, spoke privately with them, agreed to something concerning me, and then left me to discover it from Loki himself."
Her father's face tightened with guilt. "I was trying to protect you."
"By keeping me ignorant?" Her voice remained controlled, but the anger beneath it was impossible to miss.
Her younger brother shifted uncomfortably. "Eirlys, perhaps you should hear them out."
She turned towards him. "You knew too?" He immediately looked away. That was answer enough. Her mouth fell open slightly. "Wonderful." She looked back at her father. "Did everyone know except me?"
Nobody corrected her. The betrayal stung more than she wanted to admit. She had trusted her father more than anyone. He had always told her that her future would be hers to choose, that being a princess did not mean surrendering every decision about her own life. And now she was apparently expected to smile while everyone else arranged it for her.
Odin finally spoke. "No one intends to force you."
Eirlys gave him a sharp look. "Then why does it feel as though I am the last person being consulted?"
There was no easy answer. Frigga rose and approached her slowly. "We should have told you sooner."
"Yes, you should have." The simple agreement seemed to catch Frigga off guard.
Eirlys took a breath. "And now?"
Her father stepped forward. "The engagement has been agreed upon between our families."
Eirlys stared at him. "Engagement?"
The word sounded absurd coming from her own father's mouth.
"Already?"
"It is only a formal engagement," he said quickly. "The wedding need not happen immediately."
"That is not the point."
Her eyes burned with frustration. "I haven't even decided whether I want to marry Loki."
Her father's expression softened. "We know."
"Do you now?" She looked at him, genuinely hurt now. "Because from where I am standing, everyone seems to have decided that my answer is irrelevant."
Her brother moved closer, but she shook her head. "No. Don't."
She was angry with him too, but her father was the one who had truly wounded her. He had brought her to Asgard believing she was coming to see Thor. He had allowed her to walk into a conversation about marriage completely unaware. And now he was standing before her telling her that an engagement had already been agreed upon.
Eirlys looked around the room once more. "I will hear what you have to say."
Her voice became colder. "But don't mistake that for acceptance."