The Boat in the Water: A Beauty and the Beast Story (An MCU and The Essex Serpent Crossover, Loki x Stella Ransome, Multi-Part) Chapter Two
Summary: Having lost her health and her husband's fidelity and love, Stella has nothing more to lose than her life.
Then...she is swept away to another realm, to an enchanted castle. A castle whose master is a god...a god with a striking resemblance to her husband.
Warnings: Mentions of death and sex, but no actual smut. I can't decide if I want to make this eventually smutty or not, if that will break the fairy tale tone or if it can work. Some fluff, but an angsty ending, as well as mentions of religion and cheating with the canon events of The Essex Serpent (Fuck you, Sarah Perry), and portraying the canon cheating as bad so if you don't like that, don't read. If I miss any, let me know.
“How are you this evening?” Loki asked.
He wore a large cape made of black silk on the inside and emerald green on the outside. He kept it on as he strutted down and sat in the chair.
Stella felt herself tremble. Everything was conflicting- that voice, that face she had known for years- it was all exactly like Will’s. But the tone, the ooze of charm, the looseness and playfulness of his voice, the looseness and freedom of how he held this body- all different from her more somber and sometimes strict husband. No, Loki was dangerous, powerful, and from the way he held himself, not human.
And yet…he had not done anything to threaten her. He could have made her a kept woman. And he did not. He could have made her a servant. He did not. He could have hurt her by now. He did not.
Every person, every soul, deserved to be treated with kindness and respect even when it was hard. That was what Stella believed in her heart. That was the philosophy she lived by her entire life. Even if Loki was intimidating and unpredictable, she would not treat him coldly or give him a harsh word.
“I am…well. Thank you for letting me stay here in this lovely place and enjoy this meal. May I ask, do you know who pulled me from the water?”
“Why, yes I do know him. Very well. Intimately, in fact. He’s in this very room!”
She turned around but saw no other person. Were they hiding? She even peeked under the table- where her children in the past were found hiding until she would peek beneath and smile. But there was nothing but the legs.
She turned her head back up. Loki gave a smirk, his posture relaxing and his legs propping wide open, displaying his powerful thighs in the chair.
It all made sense- of course, she should have realized that he was her rescuer! That was why his voice, his breaths, and everything sounded exactly like Will’s even as he was right in front of her! Why Will and Frankie seemed as terrified as they did- a copy of her lusty husband had appeared right before them and dragged her out of the water!
“And you….took me to those women- how come?” she asked.
“Why, yes. The healers of Asgard! Aren’t they delightful? They say you aren’t completely back to normal yet. But you’re well on your way,” he explained.
He propped his elbow on the table, taking a careful sip of wine. But he got closer to her, giving a smile. It remained on him as he took his first bites of food.
“Aren’t you afraid of catching it too?” she asked.
His head returned up, facing her. His voice was rich and deep as he spoke.
“I am a god, my little star. Gods do not catch mortal illnesses. Neither can the people who live here in Asgard,” he replied.
She brought her cream napkin to her mouth and wiped away her lips. She saw the small brown marks of food on the white cloth. She then draped it over her lap again.
“Well, I am in your debt. Thank you for saving me, and letting me stay here. Your palace is beautiful,” she said as she took another small bite of meat from her fork.
“My palace?” he repeated, the curves of his lips dipping down.
“You are called the master, that’s what I was told,” Stella reported.
With easy grace, he got out of his seat He walked forward to where she sat. She felt her hands brace the arms of the chair. Loki got an arm to lay on the back of the chair over her head, and then he leaned close. His voice was a whisper.
“There is only one master here…”
She felt herself blushing bright, her breath short and sharp. She could only mutter “Oh…” Her blonde head dipped down to see the napkin on her lap. Her hands went down to fold there as any lady should. But Loki remained, his voice back up to its average volume though he was still close by.
“Why, my dear…I hope you’ve adjusted…You’re comfortable and safe, you may stay.”
He reached down and touched her hand. Stella inhaled sharply and her eyes returned up to face him. Eerie in its size- a replica, a picture, a reflection -of the one who held hers for fourteen years. Twice as big as hers, but gentle and soft.
“Stay as long as you like and…if you’re ever…lonely….if your bed is a little…cold…”
He leaned in close to her, his voice a whisper again.
“Well-if your husband was free to take whoever he wanted…then…..surely…the same could be said for you. My dear, all you need do is ask…and I’ll come to you
He touched her hand and pulled it up to kiss it and she felt herself again turn bright red.
She felt confused. Confused and scared. Scared of him. Scared of how she enjoyed it.
How long had it been? Her heart racing hard, her head almost muddy and a part of her body was aching that hadn’t ached for several months. Breathing fast, she felt it. The warm trickle of temptation in her stomach. But she pulled herself together. One word ringing in her head, though she spoke more than one.
“No thank you. We will dine. And dance. But that is all, no more. I am still married. Please, sir.” she made herself refuse.
He released his hold. Her hand fell back on her napkin in the picture of demureness. Loki stepped back, his cape making a sound against the stone, but only barely.
“Oh…very well…” he sighed.
He walked over to return to his chair. He took his spoon, picked up some things of potatoes, tasted it, and then slowly pulled it from his mouth. Her heart still racing and her cheeks still flushed, Stella continued to cut food into smaller bites and eat them. Thinking a little desperately, she decided to change the subject matter as quickly and naturally as possible.
“So…you are a god of mischief? Like in the…stories?” Stella asked. Calling them “mythologies” would have been a bit rude considering he was standing right in front of her.
“Oh yes, I am. Trickster god of the nine realms.”
“Do you..overlook mischief across the world?”
“No- the job of a trickster job is to cause trouble with my magic,” he explained.
“Troubles with your magic? How?” she asked curiously. She took another bite of roast potatoes.
“Why- I can change forms. To animals, or other people. Like this.”
To her astonishment, he turned into her husband. When he wore the white robes and the blue slash for Sundays.
Stella gasped, dropping her fork to the floor table, hands over her mouth. Loki spoke in Will’s voice with a mocking tone and wagged his sleeved arms theatrically.
“O Lord, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts and minds and my ever-twitching lusty cock-Cora I can’t think straight around you and I lose my bearing and oh by the way, stay away from the marshes Jo! There’s a snake out there! Blah blah blah blah amen!”
He finished by making the sign of the cross but down up right left instead.
She should have been offended. She was offended. Yet she didn’t say a thing. Her lips twitched up to stifle a laugh out of impulse. It was two different feelings inside her, shock and amusement, scandal and delight.
Loki changed to himself. “And there’s more.”
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw another Loki in the same clothes right behind her. Looking back, he was still in his seat. She felt her jaw lower.
“ I can also make duplicates! Hello there!” the twin announced.
Soon enough, there were flashes of gold light that buzzed like giant fireflies by the table’s sides. And four other Lokis surrounded the table.
“Is this meal enough for all of us?” their voices echoed through the hall.
“Why, I am sure there is,” she replied.
Then they faded in light and all returned.
“Or, I can make illusions. And summon items. Make things pop out.” he offered.
With a snap of his fingers, golden light appeared in his hands and it showed a bouquet of blue asters.
“I discovered I can even do this,” he added.
From his chair grew a long, tall shadow of himself. It went over the staircase and walked through the wall. It plucked the aster bouquet from his hands and then moved towards her. The shadow loomed high enough she raised her chin to meet it on the wall next to her. Then it bowed gallantly and brought forth the Aster bouquet. The cool mist of the shadow touched over her palms as it pressed the sweet-smelling bouquet into her hands.
“Thank you, how thoughtful of you,” Stella replied with a smile.
The shadow shrunk until it was on the floor and returned to Loki.
“Oh, then That one I like most of all!” Stella commented. A little vase appeared and she set the flowers inside it beside her plate.
She sampled the cheeses, ate roast goods and bits of lobster, and sipped wine in the tiniest drinks as the dinner continued. Her stomach was full and finding she was satiated, she set her utensils down. The meal vanished at once. Then from a distance, she heard a sound- a violin playing.
“Ah, then- it is time. The second part of our little bargain,” he announced.
Loki gestured up, begging her to come forward. She followed him, finding a large, empty ballroom with columns towards the back and tall windows overlooking the night sky. In the back were hundreds of candles, wax dripping low off of them. She heard the music, but could not tell where it was hiding.
She found her hands bunching up her skirt like it was her first dance and she was a scrawny, pock-marked girl of fifteen again. She silently begged her God, the God she knew, that it wouldn’t be a waltz. He would get close and all handsy- and the thought of him close by…what if this was all a spell in itself? Would he use magic on her? He could enchant her to bed him and then what?! Or at most, her heart would race and she would have to steel herself to fight the temptation again, as hard as he would press her to.
But the god before her took her hand and led her to another room that was a wide ballroom. He stood back a chaste distance.
The music was in counts of three but in spirited counts of two. Vibrant and fast instead of sensual and slow.
She realized it was a simple polka. She took out a breath of relief. That one had been a while. The most they did was circle and clasp hands from the back. Loki did at one point take her in his arms, per the requirement, but he did not press her tight. She avoided his eyes, focusing only on her feet. As odd as it was with one couple instead of three or four per square, she continued.
Then the violin ended. She could feel herself panting, glad it was short for she would have to gain the strength to dance again.
“Well then…that concludes our first night…would you like to stay or do you need to leave?” Loki replied.
She paused. She would have quite the story to tell home, no matter if even her children would believe her or not.
“You said…the healers told me I’m not… completely healed yet. Can they…restore me to normal?” she questioned.
“Yes. They need to have you rest and see to their treatments for a little longer,” he answered.
She would stay here. Stay until she is stable again. If this place was magic and consumption could be healed- then it could be healed! She would see Easter and Christmas again. She would see her children grow into men and women. See white on her husband’s hair and see his ministry flourish! That enough was a reason why she should stay here.
“If…if I can heal here…maybe I can stay one more day. Let me write letters to them. I have to tell my family where I am and what is happening, so they don’t worry.”
Loki smiled. He gave another bow.
“Wonderful then, see you tomorrow, my star,” he replied.
He vanished in golden mist and she was alone. Only the candles flickering in the back could reach her ears. It was as if she danced with a ghost.
Exhaustion washed over her. Picking up the long skirt, she trod up the stairs. In her room there was a big bathtub. Steaming with hot water and smelling of vanilla. After she undressed every layer, she carefully poked her toe in the water. At first, she wondered if it would be too hot. If she would be boiled alive like the chickens she used to make for dinner. But it was the perfect amount of warmth. She dipped down. After letting the hot water soak her aching legs, she found soap and scrubbed herself clean. Turning around, towels appeared just outside. Getting out with a splash, she dried herself. Another silk nightgown was waiting for her on that bed. Tired from the surrealness of this day, she fell asleep deeply.
Perhaps this was a dream. She would wake up. She would be on her blue cushions in a blue room with tiny white crosses all over it and see a chest on the edge of the bed and a brown terrier curled up on her feet.
No, she awoke in that grand bedroom again. It was real and she would have to cope with it.
But today, there was a new sight. She found two chests in her room. Getting out, she opened the first one. Full of perfume, pearls, sapphire and emerald jewelry, silver hairbrushes and pins, shoes, blushes, creams, silk dresses, and powder. More than she could ever want or ask for and ten times more costly than the little goods store in Aldwinter could afford.
Then, the next chest, she read three elegantly carved names on it made her gasp.
Immediately, she ran down, tracing the names gently.
She opened it and saw it was filled to the brim with books perfect for an almost grown girl. Small pants, waistcoats, skirts, and boots. Entire boxes of chocolates in gold wrapping and little toys waiting to be loved and games waiting to be played. The very things her beloved darlings, her treasures from heaven would all adore.
She looked up at the house.
“How can I send this to them? ”
“Please wait a few minutes!” she requested.
Sitting down on the desk, she explained all that happened. She wrote it for all of her family to know. There was a gentleman named Loki who rescued her and who had the means to heal her, so she was going to stay with him for a while.
“Please do not worry, my dears. I give you all a hug and a kiss on your heads. Give the dog a nice rub on his belly for me. Once I am good again, I promise I shall return.”
Her thoughts drifted back to Loki. His power, his forward nature last night, the hand touch, and his whispering voice. His grand cape and powers could destroy something if crossed. Or someone.
As frightening as he was, she would stay here. Brave dining with him and dancing with him. Push back his advances. She had made many small sacrifices before- scrubbed floors until her knuckles bled, gagged a little while pleasuring her husband, cried with the pain of labor and life pushing out of her, not eating a bite of cake because everyone else wanted a slice. This was just one more. She’d always do it- duty was in her blood.
She set her letter in the chest. She then knelt and kissed it.
“Please take this to the Ambroses” she ordered.
She opened a windowpane and looked outside. The cool morning air drifted in giving a natural freshness to that grand bedroom. It was a cold, overcast morning that made her shiver. She missed her shawls. How dark it was! Like evening! Full of mist and with the low clouds hanging down until sky and ground seemed only one. Mysterious and yet beautiful in its dark way.
Breakfast was delivered on a tray with a wheeling cart. Scrambled eggs and pancakes and strawberries and cherries and cut apples. In a porcelain cup painted with bluebells was Coffee so strong she felt jolted awake from one sip. Then in the closet awaited a lovely day dress of a blue jacket with puffed sleeves, a blouse, and a long skirt.
She walked out to enjoy moving again. To feel strength in her legs. After all, she felt she saw so little of the garden before she was called to dinner. She went down the spiral steps and out the door again.
It was still cool and misty, like the bridge from October to November. Past the bushes she saw, tall statues that had moss over them emerging from the ground. There were armored women with winged helmets and spears and one fellow with long hair and a hammer. The largest was one with longer hair and a helmet with tall, curved horns, his hands out in grandeur. No doubt who that could be.
She looked down and saw that the lake was full of drifting lilypads, many of whom had lilies in bloom.
As she walked along, she saw the flowers becoming rosebushes. Their bright red blooms beamed amongst the tiny thorns, tiny as a kitten’s claw. She noticed the grass grew taller, brushing past her skirt like a ghost's fingers. She heard more birds and croaking frogs and saw little dragonflies flitting about.
She saw there were eventually walls. They went to a drawbridge over a crystal river and beyond that was a forest. Peeking over the gate was a path and she could see a city. It didn’t look like London with its bronze cone-shaped buildings- so far off she had to squint!
Turning around, she saw that there was the castle’s entrance- two large, wooden doors that easily opened for her. She saw the stone staircase that greeted her right away and heard her footsteps on the marble floors. Though vines of roses spilled out over the wall and down the railway.
How large was this place? She only knew the outside, but as for the castle itself- her whole village could live here!
She went up the stairs and turned left, opening the first hall she saw. One hall had mirrors that showed her reflection as she passed. A thousand Stella’s. A thousand blue eyes and pairs of thick, pink lips divided into infinity. She walked down it. From the distance, she heard a bell announcing the hour. She wondered where it lay, but bells pealing out great announcements was a sound she knew too well.
Then the next long hall had tall portraits, armor displayed like statues and busts. She could have sworn that their heads turned a little as she walked down, but she dared not turn back to confirm her suspicion.
It led to a room filled with Tall draperies hung in hallways, free from the ceiling like stage curtains. Then the next room only had locked doors and the other side had windows. More curtains, like draperies, blowing in the breeze. She walked down the hall, brushing every one past.
Though she was relieved to be back in the old hallway again. Other rooms seemed more familiar- a tall library filled with books, and a greenhouse where more little plants and flowers grew. A parlor with tea, sandwiches, and plenty of knitting and needlework in woven baskets. Down the steps, there was even a kitchen filled with bubbling and boiling pots over the fire!
Stella explored so much that she was surprised when the clocks rang the late hour. She rested her feet as she gathered and began a new project of embroidery to practice. With her illness, she had grown used to being alone for long periods. As she sewed, she then felt a cough rattle her. But looking at her hand, she spotted no blood. Then she picked the needle up and continued.
She saw the sun dip into the sky. Returning to the whole closet, she dressed again in a ballgown, but in a lighter blue this time, with smaller sleeves and she wore simpler jewelry. She let her hair be braided and fall behind her. She wanted to be a little more comfortable tonight. The thought of Loki sending butterflies into her stomach.
She would keep telling him no if he kept pushing. Dining and dancing, that was all. And if he used magic against her in some way…oh, what would she do then!
She was so wrapped in her fretting, that she felt late as she went down to the dining table.
The next dinner was just as grand. More tall candles lit up on the table. There was roast turkey, mashed potatoes, soup, pies, and more delectables waiting for her along with a goblet of wine.
Taking in a breath, Loki returned in his black and golden leathers, though this time his cape was emerald green. His hair slicked back and his eternal smirk painted on.
“Good evening, Loki,” she greeted.
“Good evening, little star,” he replied.
He swished his cape as he sat again, legs wide to take up space. His blue eyes glowed at her.
“May I ask, how do you spend your time?” she asked.
“But were you alone, or did you see someone? Don’t you have family? Or friends? Surely your mother would worry about you,” she asked.
“I do have a family…” he replied. He picked up a fork, twirling it around on the table. “Parents. A brother. Even a sister too if the rumors are true. But…I am not close with them. I don’t want to go home.”
“You must see them- I cannot imagine being away from my children, or not seeing or hearing anything from them…” Stella suggested. “Surely, your mother at least must miss you.”
He held the fork in his hand, then lowered it. His eyes went up.
“I don’t want to speak of my mother. Or of any of them…” he said.
“My dearest apologies,” she said.
She put a little butter on her bread for taste. Then she lifted it and took a bite- freshly toasted and melted to where it rivaled any cake.
Loki began to drink some wine, not touching his food.
“I know you must be..rather excited to be healed. Consumption is not quite the death sentence here as it is in Midgard.”
“That’s what we call your world, my dear.”
“I was about to die…” she mused. Her utensils lowering, and her eyes down. But her appetite was weakened by her churning stomach. “I had everything arranged…it was to where I…I wanted to die…” she reflected.
Loki leaned forward to her.
“Death is so terribly final, isn’t it? Life is far more interesting. A bit of blackness then Vallhalla or a big blot of nothing- at least in life things happen to you, and you experience them instead of an eternity of…well, nothing. Death destroys so very much…but life…it gives and provides, doesn’t it?” he asked, his eyebrows going up and a playful tone in his voice.
She met his face. She felt herself relax.
Loki used his magic to whisk forward a plate. He picked up a slice of bread to use to gesticulate.
“Your whole character for a while was the dying angel, the perfect saint about to be thrown to the pyre for martyrdom…but now that it’s done…everything will go back to normal,” he said.
“Oh, it shall! I will be able to be about and help with the children’s ministry oh and- Will and I shall go to walk by the ocean and…”
“Oh, yes. To him.” Loki commented, a frown on his face. He took an angry bite off of the bread, chewing and swallowing fast. Stella was oblivious to it as she listed on.
“ Oh, and the children! How frightened they must be now! But Charles and Katherine are such dears to keep them in a safe place! What good hearts they have!” she continued to chatter on.
“Hm, is your husband staying there?”
“...no, he doesn’t stay there.” She got her drink to try the wine again, savoring the rich flavor.
Loki cocked up an eyebrow.
“Oh, and your dear little William doesn’t have to even be a father! He can roll in the grass with Cora all day without fretting over three little mouths to feed!” he said sardonically.
She colored and then set down her goblet firmly.
“William is a man of God!” she replied.
“Er, of your god, not of me.” he reminded her.
Stella found her voice raising, blood rushed to her face and a smile grew on her, she leaned forward.
“You were not the one married to him for fourteen years, Loki! He deserves to be happy and I’m glad he found someone who makes him happy! He has worked hard and his faith in God is honest and he cares for his position! He is serious about his walk with God and he is a generous, good man!”
“Then why didn’t he wait until after you were dead?” Loki replied.
She paused. Turning pale, held her napkin, retreating back to her chair. Wanting to shrink away.
“Men are just…just…that way…”
“Your God commanded against Adultery. If Will takes his priesthood so seriously as you said…why didn’t he consider that?” Loki asked.
She kept her head down. She began to rattle on, speaking as quickly as her mind was racing.
“No, once…once I get better. All will be well, we will all be happy. I just need my children, I’m fine- he cares for me and that is all I need, And I am here healing because I love him, I love him more than life itself, and he….”
Her voice became soft. Her thoughts spun further. Her eyes were big as the epiphany struck her so much she said it aloud slowly, quietly.
“Will is never going to end things with her. And I can’t ask him to…”
The rich food became overwhelming in her stomach, and she felt drained, and dizzy, her heart beating hard and fast. Memories flew by her, from the flowers he’d give her, how they held hands seeing two small graves and cried together over two angels returned to heaven, the times he gave her his coat when it was cold, the evenings after lovemaking where they held each other and she rested her chin on his neck like there was no one else in the world…
Only this time there was a third person in their world. A third in their bed.
Like the song her children would sing as they sat in a circle on the floor and clapped. It appeared chanting in Stella’s head.
Three in the bed and The little one said, “roll over! Roll over!”
She wiped her mouth with her napkin and got out. Her legs shook and she collapsed, falling on the floor. It felt hard like her palms were slapped- and it was cold as a stone left outside. Left outside to rust- forgotten and unwanted.
She heard Loki’s chair fly back, but she made herself stand.
“No! No, Loki I can-can stand!” she insisted.
She got back up, still dizzy and breathing fast
“May I be excused? I am sorry, but I do not feel like dancing…”
In her state, she picked up her skirts and fled. Fled back to her room, closing the door.
“There’s a chest back home,…at the end of our- no, my bed…could you get it for me, please?” she asked.
The long tan chest from her house appeared before her. She sunk down and opened it.
Stella kept everything. But one was one item she never sold, never offered, because though she had no practical use for it, it was the one thing most precious to her.
She pulled out beautiful little white shoes, a long white veil, and a white silk gown.
The dress was faded with time. Where once was full of laces and bustles. She never forgot the day she wore it. Beneath ringing bells and flowers and joy and a hundred kisses and smiles. His beard was trimmed that day. His tuxedo was new and shining and his lips were reciting the Lord’s Prayer until he turned and saw her and gave her a smile so beautiful she thought she was in Eden again.
A time when Will stood before his altar. And made a covenant, an oath before his own deity he dedicated his life to that he was hers-
In sickness and in health.
Until death did them part.
Now instead of bells, all she heard was a piano. And there was another woman in a grey dress instead of a white one. Stella would have no special gown. And no dance. But he wore the same tuxedo-
The hard, cold, horrible truth then came upon her. A Revelation as any upon the saints. The Epiphany of Saint Stella.
Will might have loved her, may have cared enough to fetch her from the waters. There was care, and yes, she bore and bled out five children for him, was deemed the one wife perfect for him, and worked for his ministry for him.
But he wasn’t in love with her anymore.
She grabbed it, feeling it, smelling it, how it sat safe. It was kept through every night of passion, painful childbirth, and chaotic morning.
She was always strong, calm, and accepting of her fate.
Now, she didn’t, couldn’t be any of those things anymore.
Clutching her wedding gown, Stella lowered to bury her face in it like a blanket. And for the first time since Cora stepped into town, the first time since she fell sick. She gave herself an indulgence, something she dared not when she looked out her window at the marshes, since she laid and coughed out bloody handkerchief after bloody handkerchief since she turned and saw Will and Cora waltz with desire in their eyes.
Loki followed, seeing her closed door. He stood frozen.
This was his fault. She was a pretty thing, a plaything who had no depth, no thoughts except to please her husband. He wanted to open her eyes, and more than that- he wanted to be right.
He felt guilty- if he hadn’t spoken so freely, she wouldn’t be this way. He ruined it- just like his own presence ruined everything.
He chose to walk by, to give her some privacy.
He then stopped. He should let her cry, let her wring it out at last. They were gaping, big, ugly sobs that perhaps she would hate for someone to watch. But the sound of her crying, of her repeating “Will…Will…I love you, Will,” made a small tear fall down his own face. The pain of her long-suppressed grief, her heaping sobs like a knife to his chest.
Somehow, some way…he would think of something to say.
She had faced this alone for so long.
She shouldn’t have to anymore- not with him. He would fix what he had done and not run away.
He then turned back and knocked on her door.
