Cooking up Loki

My name is Alexia, and that's it. Here, in the palace, I can only give my first name. Nothing else. I work here as a 17 year old cook, serving the Odinson family. I guess you could call it an "honor" but really, it's just a pain. Not only do I work in the kitchen, but I was selected to serve the family personally in their rooms. Walking up and down SO many stairs gets tiring after the hundredth time you've done it. But, there are the perks. Being able to stand in their room for a moment is great! No one else but me out of all the cooks get to go in their rooms, which are the size of my entire house! But then I have to go right back down to the kitchen, and continue to cook. Sometimes when they throw parties in the dining hall I can just cook and listen. Their booming voices carry down the stairs, and I smile when I hear them laugh, tell jokes, or even playfully fight. My dream is to become a female warrior, and be able to stay up in that dining hall for more than a second.
But I know that will never happen. Being down here, with all of these sweaty women, I know I needed a change. There is no where else to go from where I am now though. It's the best thing I've got going for myself. Beats living in those shacks miles away from the kingdom. I'm even lucky that I get to go home for the night.
Even though I work in the castle as a cook, I still have to go to school. Unlike on Midgard, or Earth, it's seven or six hours. Here, it's only 3, still painful though. After school, I go right to the palace, and do what I do best: Cook.
I remember this one day that I have thought about every night. I cringe inside and smack myself mentally for what I did. School that day was terrible for me. My friends ditched me, my crush told me that he didn't like me and never will, and the teacher threatened to tell my parents about my bad grades. I was furious when I walked into the castle. I just wanted to go home and cry. If I did that, I would get fired. So once I got in the kitchen, a bright red buzzer on the wall went off. I knew what that meant. Thor wanted me to bring him some food. I have always admired Thor, like ALL the other girls in my school and in the castle. He was perfect, but at that moment, I didn't care. I quickly put something together for him, and trudged up the steps. I opened his door, and found him in his bed. He looked like he was sleeping. My brain, being stupid, didn't tell my body to be quiet as I walked into his room. If I thought my day before was worse, well I had another thing coming. I walked over to his table by his bed, and slammed, I repeat SLAMMED the tray down. He quickly jumped up and turned around. His eyes were drowsy, but I could see they were full of anger. "What are you doing?!" He yelled.
"I brought you your food, didn't I? And besides, you looked like you were asleep." He got out from under his covers and grabbed my arm, tight.
"What makes you think you can talk to me like that?!" He yelled. I felt my stomach start to ball. I knew I was going to loose my job, it was that easy. Suddenly, the door opened, and in walked his younger brother, Loki.
"What is going on in here brother?" he asked before looking at me. Thor released his hand from my arm, and sat back down on his bed. I was grateful Loki had come in, or I would have been fired. Thor looked at me once last time before looking back at his brother.
"Nothing," he replied. "Get out," he said to me. I walked away from the side of his bed. I finally got to the door, where Loki moved out of the way. He was always the kindest. But before I made it entirely out, Loki grabbed my arm, and pulled me back.
"Please excuse my brother. He is rather in a grumpy mood today," he whispered in my ear. I had never been talked to personally by one of the Nobles. As I looked back at him, he smiled and shut the door of Thor's bedroom. For some odd reason, I actually felt better the rest of the afternoon.

Now back to present. Tonight they were going to throw another party. It was my job to go up and deliver the food along with the other cooks. I had a feeling tonight was going to be grand. Just walking up those steps makes me happy.
Tonight we were serving the normal: roasted pig with many sides, too much to count though. Honestly, I never liked seeing dead animals cooked up. I'm more of a vegetarian, and stick to cooking the sides which contain NO meat. Call me weird, but I don't care. My whole life has been weird actually.
It was finally time to bring up the good, and I could already hear the laughter and joy from the people upstairs. I quickly caught up with the cooks who were way ahead of me. I must have been daydreaming again. I finally caught up, and we were in the dining hall. All around I could see cheery faces, and laughing. But they all turned when they saw me and the other cooks enter the room. I noticed some of them lick their lips, and I just couldn't help but smile. We placed the food on the table and started heading back down to the kitchen. Then my heart stopped. I can't believe how stupid I am! I slowly turned around to find someone digging into the mash potatoes that I made and served. I just remember what I did while I was making them. The smell of pepper was making my nose itch, and before I knew it, I sneezed into the mashed potatoes! But before I could fix it, someone took it away from me. Then I was given it back while we were walking up the stairs.
My stomach dropped when I saw exactly WHO was right about to eat the mashed potatoes. He watched me put it down! He knows it's me who made them! I watched as his spoon dug into the fluffy potatoes, then plopped them on his plate. I can't let him eat that! I will get fired! It doesn't matter now, I have to stop him! Quickly I ran from my statue position and over to the king himself. A few people had their eyes on me while the others were happily eating. Those few people being Frigga and the two princes. I regretted what I was doing, but it had to be done. The fork lifted to his mouth, and it started to open. My hand reacted before I could process what happened. My hand forced the spoon easily out of the Kings hand and it flew through the air before hitting the floor. The room went dead silent as it hit. The pinging sound echoed in my ear. It took a second before Odin knew what happened. His head turned over to the fork, then up at me. I saw his anger flared in his one eye. He stood up and yelled, "What is the meaning of this!" It was directly at me. I couldn't get anything out. His anger made my mouth go dry. Frigga then stood up too. I turned to her, my mouth moving, but nothing coming out. Everyone's eyes were on me, I could feel the heat in my cheeks.
"I-I'm sorry," I whispered.
"What are you sorry about?" she asked in a kind voice. She looked at me, waiting for an answer.
"My queen," I started. "I couldn't let your husband eat those mashed potatoes," I said with my head down.
"And why not?!" I heard Odins booming voice say.
"Honey, let the girl talk," Frigga said to him. "Go on," she said to me.
"I didn't mean to make a scene my queen. The potatoes, they had something in them that would have made him sick. I take the total blame. Fire me if you will..." I jumped as she touched my shoulder. It was a good thing she cared about other people...
"I am not going to fire you...Alexia is it?" I nodded my head. "Tell me, Alexia, what were in the mashed potatoes that we're going to make him sick?" I stayed quiet for a moment. The embarrassment flushed red in my cheeks. "Well?" She asked, growing impatient. I had to answer fast.
"I sneezed in it," I said quickly. A smile pulled across her face.
"You what?" She said, almost laughing.
"I sneezed in it," I said again, but a bit louder so the whole room could hear it. Out of nowhere people started laughing uncontrollably. They must be drunk. Loki and Thor were even laughing, and I knew they weren't drunk..,
The only person who wasn't laughing was Odin. The smile escaped my face when I looked down at him. He didn't find it amusing like everyone else. "How did that dish even get brought up here if it was infected with your germs?" he suddenly asked. The whole room went quiet again, awaiting my answer.
"Um...Well...
"Enough Odin," Frigga said to him. "I think the poor girl has had enough embarrassment for the night, don't you think?" He looked at her.
"I suppose so..." Quickly I knew I had to apologize and get the hell out of there!
"I'm terribly sorry my king," I said quickly before taking the mashed potatoes and leaving. Once I got down the stairs, I could hear everyone laughing again. But out of all the laughs, I swear I heard Odins.

Notes

HELLO EVERYONE! I'm new to this site, and I'm so excited to be able to post a story! My dream is to one day become worlds best author! I already have a book completed, but I didn't figure out how to publish yet...
Alright, enough about my personal life. How did you like the first chapter? Whats going to happen to Alexia? Will she get fired? Were any of you surprised that Odin actually laughed? Tell me what you think in the comments! :) ;) I also promise I'll have more Loki in the second chapter!