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The Way Things Were	By : LuciferDragon Category: Marvel Verse Movies > Thor Views: 2155 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Thor nor do I make profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6
Dyre hadn't forgotten how big the palace actually was. With the entrance hall full of people, it looked a little smaller, but not by much. The vaulted ceilings gave the illusion of more room than there really was. She started to turn towards the sound of music, but Loki led her in a different direction. "I thought we were here to attend the festivities?"
"We are. I need to speak with my father first. He has a habit of being fashionably late to these events." He took her in the direction of the throne room, but stopped a few steps short of the guarded door. "Wait here and I shall inform him of the current situation."
"You don't want me to come?"
"It would be easier if you did not." He walked up to the doors and was immediately let in by the guards.
Dyre fidgeted in place, rubbing at the emerald fabric covering her skin. It had been the most formal thing in her wardrobe. She just hoped it was formal enough. She had already seen some noblewomen as they entered, their hair piled in intricate styles, and their gowns sweeping the floor in beautiful designs. She stared at her own silver threading, admiring the patterns they created.
As she stood, wondering if she had made herself acceptable, she didn't notice the strange looks she was gathering. The noblemen whispered amongst themselves of who she was, since they had never seen her before. The women began to gossip, as females tend to do. Each of them had been to see her at one point, but couldn't recognize her. All of them shut their mouths as the door to the throne room opened, and their younger prince emerged. Each returned to what they had been doing previous, their eyes glancing towards the others to watch what played out.
Dyre's heart leapt in her throat as her escort returned. "What did he say?"
Loki tried to answer, but noticed the nobles still in the halls, trying to seem like they weren't interested. Instead, he just tilted his head slightly. "Come with me."
She followed his line of sight before immediately matching his pace while leaving the hall. "I'm sorry. I didn't know they were there."
"They are always there. How do you think rumors are started?"
She cast her gaze to the smooth stone floors, much unlike the rough ones of her home. "I apologize if anything is started because of you meeting me in the hall."
He shook his head. "Don't be. They'd only be rumors after all."
She vaguely remembered the hall he was taking her down, remembering the days they'd run from the staff for their tricks and thievery. She stopped, distracted by a familiar door.
It didn't slip past his notice. "Dyre?"
"I was just remembering when we were children. We'd duck into your room and hide from the staff under your bed." She laughed softly. "I think they played along with us." She nodded to the door. "This is still your room, isn't it?"
"Yes. I'm surprised you remembered." A grin emerged on his face. "I'll show you how much it's changed later, if you like."
"If I will be hefting your drunk self up here, of course."
"I don't generally drink much." He continued down the hallway. "You're not much farther away."
She gave a last glance to the door, hearing phantom giggles of the past in her mind.
"Come on, Dyre! The dragon will get us if we don't hurry."
"Oh my brave prince, I knew you'd be there to protect me."
"Always and forever. A prince never backs down from a fight!"
Dyre stopped short as she realized he had waited in front of a door just down the hall, almost bumping into his figure. "Sorry… My mind was elsewhere."
"Understandable, given your night so far." He opened the door and allowed her to look inside. "It isn't much, but you should be comfortable for now."
Her jaw went slack as she cast her gaze upon the polished stone floors and golden-colored walls. It was easily bigger than her room— than two of her rooms. Another door to the right must have held a washroom, making her giddy at the idea of having a private bath and not have to worry about anyone walking in. "It isn't much? This is… beautiful, really." She pulled him into a hug without thinking much of it. "Really Loki, thank you so much. For everything so far."
He had stiffened slightly at the contact, but allowed it all the same. He returned the embrace, catching a scent unique to her. It was one of the local flowers he couldn't put a name to, but he could visualize the lovely petals all the same. "You're welcome." He allowed her to stay as she was for a moment longer before he cleared his throat. "We should probably go to the main hall before the rumors really take flight."
She arched a brow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she pulled back. "Who said they had to be rumors?"
He felt a small shock go through his body. "Would you mind clarifying your inquiry?"
"I mean, couldn't we play along? Laugh at their expense?"
Loki was surprised to feel a sort of disappointment by her words. "We could. Or we could make them happen."
She rolled her eyes, but continued to smile. "Didn't I tell you I'd need to make a certain connection with the man I sleep with?" She folded her arms behind her back. "Play your cards right and you just may be it."
"Be careful, I play dirty."
"As do I." She placed a hand on his shoulder, her grin fading. "Playing aside, I really appreciate what you're doing for me. You could have escorted any noblewoman of the realm."
He snorted and offered his arm so they could return to the main hall. "Now why would I do that when I could escort a lovely young woman who can match my intellect, not scold me for my nature, and make me laugh?"
She nudged his hip with her own. "I hadn't realized noblewomen were so frightfully dull. I suppose they didn't have as much fun growing up as we did."
"It is their idea of proper, and my idea of dreary."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they returned to the main event. She cast a glance at him, taking in his features. He had dressed well for the occasion, though the clothing resembled the ones he'd wear when hunting with the others.
He caught her glance and smiled to himself. "By the way, I never complemented you on your appearance tonight."
She cast her gaze downwards with a small smile. "Thank you. You look rather dashing yourself."
He placed a hand on the solid wood doors. "Are you ready to make noblewomen jealous?"
She gave a lighthearted laugh. "Only if you're willing to make noblemen the same way."
"The night is still young. I'm sure we can dash a few hearts while we're here. " He gave a hard shove to the doors, letting her see the rest of the guests for the first time. All were dressed in their finest. Even the hunters and warriors had their best armor on. She could see Thor at the high table with Lady Sif and his three friends, laughing heartily and eating a meal fit for a king. As she thought about it, it was fitting Thor would have such a table, since as the eldest he would receive the throne. She had always wondered how Loki felt about it, but when asked as a child, he would shrug and merely state he only wanted to be Thor's equal. Her heartbeat began to quicken as her escort led her through the dancing couples and up to the high table where he pulled out a chair two down from Thor for her. "I couldn't—"
"You can and will," he said. "You are my guest, and as such, you sit with us."
Not willing to argue in front of the countless eyes upon her, she took his invitation and sat in the chair, instantly relaxing when Thor noticed her arrival.
"Dyre! How have you been my dear friend?"
She smiled at him as Loki sat between them. "I've had better days, but I can't complain. How is your wound?"
"Fully healed thanks to your wonderful medicine."
"As is his mind," Loki muttered, gaining a giggle from Dyre.
"Yes, I apologize for the large dose of pain medication in it. With you being you, I thought it would be appropriate to use my strongest batch. Have the stitches all dissolved as well?"
Thor nodded, raising his mug of ale. "Yes, everything is back to normal. I can't thank you enough for helping me."
Lady Sif smiled from his left. "Yes, thank you for helping with the oaf's boar wound."
Dyre inclined her head. "Of course."
A sudden roar of cheer from their far left made her jump and the larger member of the Warriors Three stood behind her, clapping her on the shoulder. "So it was you who put our boy Thor in such a state. I wanted to thank you for making him so damned hilarious to be around!"
She sifted through her memories for his name. "Volstagg, right?"
He gave another hearty laugh as the other two came to stand beside him. "Aye, I'm very honored you remember me."
"You are a hard man to forget. So what did Thor end up babbling about?"
"Anything a drunken man will say. Said some things that made even Lady Sif turn a shade darker."
Thor shook his head but his grin never left his face. "I suppose this will be my new form of torture from the three of you."
"But of course," the blonde said, one that Dyre remembered as Fandral. He held his hand out chivalrously to Dyre. "Would the lady care to dance?"
"Yes, I would, thank you." She took his hand and allowed him to lead her from the table, completely unaware of how her escort bristled slightly to the other man's advances. She followed Fandral's lead into a waltz, remembering the easy steps fairly quickly.
"It's been a very long time since we've seen you, Miss Dyre. What has been keeping your attention?"
"The medicinal arts are a very tedious thing to learn. I need to learn the difference between poisonous and helpful herbs, I need to know anatomy down to the last nerve ending, I need to remember what will cure what, and what will make an illness worse."
Fandral put a finger to her lips to silence her. "It is a lot. But, you are here amongst the public having what I hope is a joyous time."
She felt a little insulted at being interrupted. "Yes, only at the insistence of Loki. Otherwise I fear I would still be at home, alone with my books and paintings."
"I see. So you paint?"
"I try to. My inspiration has been lost for awhile now."
"I'd love to see some of the things you have done." He lifted his arm to spin her around and resumed their posture afterwards. "A woman who paints must have beautiful images to show."
She glanced at the high table, seeing her escort immersed in a mug of something. She couldn't tell what. She narrowed her eyes, remembering him say that he didn't tend to drink much.
Fandral took notice to her lack of attention on himself. "So why did you come with Loki of all people? He's not the most tolerable of people to be around."
This had Dyre's attention. "What do you mean?"
"Always causing trouble for a laugh. Damn good hunter, I'll give him that, since he knows his way around a staff and knives, but other than that…" He fished for words for the rest of his observation. "He's arrogant, and not happy unless he can embarrass someone. He doesn't look out for anyone but himself."
She shook her head. "That isn't true. I've known him all my life, he isn't like that."
"That could be because you are an attractive woman. He has a tendency to lie to get them to sleep with him."
Her blood ran cold at the thought of him only being nice to get her to sleep with him. "You're lying."
"Why would I? Can you deny that he's a trickster? A liar?"
"I can't but…" She shook her head, pushing away from her dancing partner. "Don't insult my only friend like that." She narrowed her eyes. "Remember I've studied every possible way to keep someone alive. It doesn't take much alteration to cause pain." She tried to walk away, but was stopped by Fandral. "Let me go."
"Not until you hear me out." He looked to the orchestra as they started another song. "Please, one more dance."
"So you can do what?"
"Formally apologize. I didn't mean to upset you." He glanced around. "Please, people are staring."
She followed his gaze, seeing there were indeed many eyes upon them. "Fine. One more." She flinched as he put a hand on her hip, but otherwise said nothing.
"I'm only trying to look out for you as a young woman, but I see you know how to protect yourself."
"I did also grow up with Thor. I know my way around weapons."
"You would have been better off coming with him."
She shook her head. "He was already acting as a consort for Lady Sif. They're… courting, so far as I know."
Fandral nodded, glancing at his friend who was still drinking himself blind with Asgard's strongest ale. "His father is insisting he court her. She'd be the best match for him, so says Odin."
"But you seem to disagree."
Fandral frowned in thought. "I do. Lady Sif is a fighter. She is not really wife material."
Everything he was saying made her more and more angry. First he had insulted her escort, then he insulted her gender. She made one more attempt to see what he really thought. "So why would I have been better off with Thor?"
"He'd be more willing to protect you. He isn't selfish or arrogant." At this Dyre arched a brow. "Well, not Loki arrogant anyway. Thor at least cares for his people."
"And Loki does not?"
"He is more interested in seeing them suffer under tricks and lies. As long as I have known him, this is what he's been like."
"Don't worry, Dyre. I'll always be there for you."
She shook her head. "That shows how much you know." She stepped away and curtsied. "Thank you for the dance, Sir Fandral. I do not hope you have a pleasant evening." Without seeing his reaction, she returned to the high table, watching Loki pour another mug of something for sure not ale. It smelled stronger. "I thought you didn't drink."
"First time for everything I suppose." He raised the mug to her and knocked back the contents. "Was Fandral's dancing not to your liking?"
"His attitude wasn't." She took the pitcher of what he was drinking and poured a mug for herself.
He grinned. "You might not want that. It's stronger than you think."
"And what will it do? Reach over and bite me?"
"It won't. I might."
Her breath hitched for a moment until she could shake it off. "Is it true you lie to women to get them to bed?"
He paused with the mug next to his mouth. He set it down as she knocked back the alcohol bravely, coughing at the burning sensation as it went down her throat. When she calmed down, he finally answered. "I did, until they became a monotonous blur. Since then, I've been alone in my bed for quite some time."
"Fandral said you were lying to me."
A flash of anger simmered in his gut along with the slowly working alcohol. "Is that right?"
"I think he should pay dearly for that, don't you?"
He stared for only a second before he laughed. "This is why you are here." He leaned in closer so only she could hear him. "What do you think I should do?"
She looked out over the crowd, spotting Fandral talking to a few noblewomen, obviously trying to win them over. She contemplated his punishment for awhile, now wisely sipping at her liquor. "Can you enchant him to say something to embarrass himself?"
"I can."
She smirked. "He's obviously trying to woo at least one of them. So if his goal is a romp for the night, make him say 'I have a small, unsatisfying penis'."
He laughed at her remark. "It's very childish, I'll have you know."
"I do know. That's why it's perfect."
Loki gave a discrete flick of his wrist towards Fandral, and they watched as his mouth continued to move as his eyes grew wide in embarrassment, and the noblewomen began screeching with laughter. They walked away, fanning themselves with their elaborately designed paper fans, giggling behind the material. Fandral looked angrily in the direction of the high table, and the two merely smiled and waved innocently.
- 5
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- 7
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The Way Things Were