DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or storyline associated with Thor/Marvel Studios. This story was made for personal enjoyment and not financial gain.

Weapon

Chapter 1 - The Peace Festival

Many millenia ago, in the Asgard of Old, life differed tremendously for its citizens. Under the rule of King Jalyss, the division between the royal and noble upper class and the lower, working class was painfully obvious. The laborers' wages were meager enough but the king imposed high taxes to pay for his lavish palace expansion plans. Many commoners went hungry and a revolution broke out; they refused to work until they had better pay. Eventually, Jalyss took action, using his warriors to stop the riots. It is said the waters surrounding the city turned red from the blood of the fallen. An old crone, skilled in sorcery, heard the cries of the people and set a curse on the wretched King. He died the next day, choking on his food, which served as a form of justice for his starving citizens. The new King, his son Calsyn, vowed to change the Asgard standard: from that time forward, all Asgardians would earn enough for their basic needs and taxes would not be increased for personal gain. Every century, there is a Year of Peace to celebrate King Calsyn's resolution.

She finished her side braid and secured it to the back of her head, as the rest of her black hair tumbled in loose waves down her right shoulder. After a quick touch up on her lip color, she popped out the door and headed to the nearby tavern; it was one of the only places she truly felt at home - she decided to have a bit of fun. As she opened the door, Cipriani poked her head past the entrance.

"Peace be with you all!" she exclaimed, touching the tips of her fingers to her lips and placing them on her chest, above her heart. This was the usual, courteous greeting during the Year of Peace, as a tribute to the Civilian Revolution.

The owner, a kind, older man, looked up at her from behind the bar. He gave her a warm smile. "And also with you, Cip," he said, repeating the gesture. "You off to the Peace Festival? Your first one! Come on then, let's see you, don't be a tease!"

The Peace Festival marked the beginning of every Year of Peace; it is a masquerade that all single Asgardians - from the royals to the commoners - are invited to attend. Wearing masks was meant to symbolize that there was no difference in class and all citizens are considered equal.

Cipriani, still mostly in hiding, grinned sheepishly. "You know I'm anything but, Cadin! Where's Petyl? I want you both to see it at the same time."

"I'm here, just washing cups for tonight. Peace be with you, dear" Petyl said as she walked into view.

"And also with you," Cipriani said, as her fingers went from her lips to her heart for the second time. "Good, now that you're both here, it's time for the big reveal."

She stepped out into the doorway, where her sun-drenched yellow, close-fitting, taffeta gown could be fully appreciated. The skirt had a triangle slit in the middle, which revealed a panel of violet satin.

"Give us a spin," Petyl insisted, her hands clasped together at her chest.

Cipriani smiled widely at her beaming onlookers, and turned to give them a full view. The purple accents sparkled in the dim candlelight as she rotated.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Cadin asked.

Cipriani glanced down for a moment to go over everything, then quickly looked back at them. "Of course, how could I forget the main piece," she said, pulling out a yellow mask with plum-colored feathers at the top corners, and put it on. The mask brought out the warmth of her caramel skin, and she seemed to glow in front of them.

"Beautiful, simply beautiful," Cadin said, drinking in her appearance, "You'll be the best looking girl in that place."

"Girl?" Petyl asked, nudging her husband with her elbow, "why, our Cip is a woman grown."

Cadin gave a proud smile, "My mistake. You want a tankard of ale before you go?"

"A tankard?" Cipriani asked with a chuckle, "Goodness, no! I need to keep my wits about me - I don't need any nobleman trying to get his way with me." She paused before adding, "I will drink a bit of your wine, Petyl. For courage."

The gates to the palace were wide open, inviting it's many guests into the Royal Grounds. It was Cipriani's first time here and every extravagant feature was mesmerizing. Entering the palace and walking through the halls was an experience in itself. Portraits of all the royal families lined the great hallway leading to the ballroom; Cipriani was sure she could have just stopped and stared at Kings and Queens of Old had the bustling crowd not pushed her forward.

The ballroom was even more breath-taking, filled with hundreds of chandeliers made of crystals and pearls and diamonds. Cipriani looked down and it was as if she was made of jewels herself - her skin shimmered so spectacularly.

She mindlessly walked to the far corner of the room, entranced not only with her surroundings, but with the people in it. Ladies with much more intricate gowns walked past her, with such dashing men at their sides. All upper class, she assumed, as she dreamily envisioned herself in every dress she admired, a handsome Lord latched at her arm.

It was not long before music started to play and couples filled the center of the room to dance. The first song was a staple in Asgardian culture, and had a traditional dance to go along with it. Cipriani had heard the song countless of times, but never witnessed the dance; she studied their moves, paying special attention to the women's roles. She looked around and was pleased to see many people - men and women, most likely fellow commoners who were just as naive - analyzing the technique as well.

Quite a few more songs went by, and just when Cipriani thought she was getting the idea of it, the music stopped. A portly, older gentleman, dressed in white, broke the silence as he announced, "Their royal highnesses: Prince Thor and Prince Loki."

The crowd began to murmur as the doors opened and their princes entered. Cipriani strained to get a good look - she had never been this close to any of the royal family, let alone in the same room as them. Thor walked to the center of the room, with Loki close behind, and held up a hand which brought silence once again.

"Peace be with you." Thor began as he looked around the ballroom at the many silent, return greetings he received, "It is my pleasure to welcome you to our Palace. Many call this place the heart of the city, but truly our people are our heart. And at the start of this Year of Peace, we must remember what our ancestors learned and respect each other. So, Asgardians of all classes, my brother and I wish you a happy, peaceful year and invite you to be merry with us this night!" The room erupted in cheers as the music started up again with full gusto. Cipriani peered around the masses and got her first real look at the royal brothers.

Thor was just as she imagined, clad in his standard scarlet and silver. He looked the part of a prince: his blonde, shoulder-length hair that seemed silky to the touch, and the light armor he donned highlighted his burly physique. He was immediately surrounded by his warrior friends, who were then bombarded with a throng of admirers. Thor was gracious, however, giving a smile that could light up all of Asgard. He was a quintessential heartthrob, even with a silver mask covering half his face.

Loki wandered away from the ever-growing mob surrounding his brother. He stood in the shadow of a great, gold column and watched with a crooked grin as Thor tried to turn chaos into order. His own crowd of women followed him, a considerably smaller group than Thor's, but a fawning swarm of fans nonetheless. Cipriani observed this mysterious prince as best as she could from afar, as he produced a goblet of wine out of thin air. He seemed distant, ignoring the persistent dance requests, as he scanned the ballroom. Looking for a lover, perhaps? she wondered as his emerald eyes passed over her, he is sure to have many. To be honest, everything she had heard about Loki turned out to be true as well: he was much more introverted than his brother, possessed great magic, and always looked as if he was in on some joke that no one else knew of; what her fellow citizens failed to mention was just how striking he truly was.

As Loki leaned against the column, Cipriani decided then and there to better know this strange prince of hers, and it was her turn to have a wicked smile.

Loki glanced around the room with one thing on his mind: Who shall I bring to my chambers tonight? It was his favorite activity at these sort of functions, and the Peace Festival was filled to the brim with maidens dying for the honor of bedding a prince; he needed only to look at the ring of women that encircled him to figure that much. Too easy, Loki thought as he regarded their eager expressions and instead focused on the crowd.

The room was filled with familiar faces, many belonging to past, scorned lovers of his. There was Alisa, who got too attached and was convinced they would wed. Marin, jealous if he even so much as looked at another female. Liha, an amateur sorceress, attempted to cast a spell to make him fall in love with her. And Grytal... was just dull.

All gorgeous, all trouble, he thought with a shake of his head as he stared down at his half-finished drink. He swallowed the rest in one gulp and tossed the goblet behind him, only to have it vanish just before hitting the floor. Nothing like a fresh start.

Loki spied a lonely blonde dressed in green - his favorite color - across the room from him. He waved his gang of girls away and eased off the column, making his way through the dance floor. When he reached her and opened his mouth to speak, she abruptly faced the gentleman on her left. Loki, unsure of what could cause a dramatic change, quickly turned away.

Odd.

He shrugged it off and focused instead on a lady adjusting her sky blue mask. He cleared his throat when he reached her, and said, "Peace be w-" before she rotated and grabbed her neighbor's hand.

Loki could hear his brother's hearty chuckles from the other side of the room, sharing a laugh with the Warriors Three. Loki's eyes narrowed at the thought of this being some twisted form of entertainment for them. But they are too dense to come up with this trickery...are they not?

There were a few more snubs and silent rejections that followed as he made his way around the room, until Loki discovered a woman dressed in bright yellow, leaning against the same column he used earlier.

Feeling quite jilted, he marched behind her and hissed, "If you also pay me no mind, may Valhalla spare you and my brother from feeling my wrath."

She turned, this time to face him. Upon realization of who he was, she lowered her body in a curtsy and kept her eyes at her feet before saying, "I beg your pardon, my Prince, the music was so loud I heard not what you said."

Loki's expression softened as he reached under her chin, lifting her face to his level. "It matters not, sweet maiden... Peace be with you."

"And also with you, Prince Loki." He watched as her fingers moved from her berry stained lips to the yellow fabric covering her heart. The first thing he noticed were her eyes: dark as her ebony hair at first glance, but actually a shade of violet when the light hit it right.

"Your eyes are captivating, my lady, I do not believe I have seen any quite like them."

Her cheeks flushed with color, what little he could see under her mask anyway. "Your Grace is kind to say so. Many say they are my best feature."

"You appear to have many fine features, my dear girl," he said as his mischievous eyes roamed the rest of her body in her form-fitting gown. Oh yes, she will do.

She revolved her body to face the dance floor, and he took his place next to her, noting how much rosier her cheeks appeared. "You must tire of repeating the same greeting during the Peace Festival, my Prince."

He half-smiled. "Not as tired of it as you might think," he said, quickly glaring at his brother and company as they downed another tankard of ale. "How are you enjoying it so far?"

"It has been the most memorable night of my life, of that I have no doubt."

"Already? But the night has only just begun." You have yet to experience the best part, he wanted to add. Loki smirked at improper thoughts of the two of them rolling around in his bed sheets, but quickly put it out of his mind before his body revealed his intentions.

"I must be easily impressed then, my Prince. This is my first festival - I have nothing to compare it to."

"Ah, well then..." Loki stepped out in front of her and extended his hand as he slightly bowed towards her. "Would you do me the honor of letting me be your first dance at your first Peace Festival?"

She held her left hand close to her chest for a moment, then tentatively placed it in his pale one as her smile grew. Loki led her out to an open space, and turned to bow again. She did a small curtsy, and cautiously placed one hand on his shoulder while the other tightened around the prince's hand.

"You will have to forgive me, but we have talked this entire time and I never asked you your name," Loki said after a moment of silence.

"Cipriani, your Grace." She tried her hardest to look everywhere else but him as she twirled in accordance with the music.

Timid little creature, isn't she? "Cipriani," he repeated, "a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." Her cheeks reddened as she gave him a side profile view of her face. "Your gown is just as lovely," he added, his thumb circling the soft material at her back. It would look even better on my floor.

He heard Cipriani gulp before she answered, "You flatter me, my Prince, thank you for your kind words. My dress is modeled after the brita bird."

Loki gave her another full body glance, observing the peculiar yellow-purple combination. "I thought it familiar - my mother keeps a brita bird in her bed chambers." Brita birds were popular with upper class women for their bold colors and ability to sing on command. I will have this bird singing by tonight's end, Loki assured himself, doing his best to keep his grin from widening.

"Your palace is even grander than I expected, your Grace," Cipriani said as she admired the chandeliers. Loki admired the way the light glittered off her skin - she looked to be a gemstone herself.

"And what of your other expectations?"

"Pardon, Prince Loki?"

He made sure she was looking right at him when he asked, "What did you expect of me, my lady?"

Her eyes widened and she quickly avoided his gaze, but gave a poor attempt at hiding her smirk as she bit her lip. Loki could feel himself harden watching her teeth clutch her bottom lip. Don't do that to me, you wicked girl.

He brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Tell me."

"I-I...never expected you to be as handsome as you are, my Prince." The hand on his shoulder slowly slid to his neck and Cipriani's forefinger softly twirled a strand of his black hair. Valhalla, she's good.

The tempo changed to a slow melody and the couple began to sway along. Loki used the hand on her waist to pull her in closer, which startled the lady, but he got no resistance. His face hovered above Cipriani's right shoulder and his nose brushed against her hair, inhaling her scent; she smelled of sandalwood. She seemed to tense but as Loki's lips grazed the top of her ear, he could feel her body shudder against him. Her left hand remained at his neck, toying with the collar of his dark green tunic.

Loki inhaled lungfuls of the intoxicating sandalwood, exhaling slowly out of his mouth as it rested on her ear. I cannot bear it any longer, he decided. His nose glided across her hair as he brought his face in front of her. The dark purple orbs immediately found his green ones. "Would you like a personal tour of my grand palace, my lady?"

Loki had given her the condensed tour, and they had not-so-surprisingly ended up in his bed chamber; she had expected it - the dance was just effortless but effective foreplay. The prince's room was as big as her house and infinitely more luxurious. It was dark - the few lighted candles and roaring fireplace did little to overcome the black, green, and gold decor. Loki stood with his back at the door as she walked around the room, observing every extravagant detail.

Her hand grazed the cool, forest green satin sheets on his bed as she passed. Cipriani could hear the sharp intake of air behind her as she slid her hand off and quickly turned to hide her small grin. She felt the prince's eyes on her, following her every move as she made her way to the opposite side of the room. There were a pair of large, golden doors in the middle of the wall. Cipriani held the handles, but stopped and looked back at her prince for permission. He smirked and gave her a single nod.

The doors revealed a large balcony, jutting out from the side of the palace. Cipriani held her breath as she walked forward and looked upon her glorious city. The light from the many moons surrounding the planetoid reflected off the metallic buildings below, and all of Asgard could have been mistaken for a pile of precious treasure. She had not heard Loki follow her to the balcony, and the sudden hand at the small of her back caused her to gasp.

"Sorry to startle you, my dear lady," Loki said, though the satisfied look on his face begged to differ.

Cipriani gazed out at her Asgard once again. "Your view is quite marvelous to behold, Your Grace. I have never seen Asgard in all of its glory before."

"The view is very marvelous, indeed." She noticed that he still faced her, paying no attention to what was beyond the balcony, and she could feel the blood rush to her cheeks. Loki stepped towards her and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you mind if I take off your mask, and get a proper look at you?"

As she tried to remind herself to breathe, Cipriani managed to squeak, "You may, my Prince." It was at that moment that her mask seemed to evaporate off her, though Loki's hands were nowhere near her face. Oh right, she figured, magic.

"Finally, a complete face to the name. Cipriani..." His right hand cupped her cheek, and Cipriani closed her eyes absentmindedly at his touch. He emanated such warmth that her face seemed to lean into his palm.

The moment she was able to fully realize what was happening, Cipriani's eyes opened widely while the rest of her body remained frozen in place. She saw Loki staring intently at her with the smallest of smiles, as if he found her antics amusing. She rotated so the balcony railing was against her back, while Loki stood in front of her - close enough that she could feel him exhaling on her forehead.

Cipriani gathered as much courage as she could, though it sounded like a whisper when she finally spoke, "M-May I take your mask off, Prince Loki?" A corner of his lips twitched upward and he silently nodded, as he wrapped his hands on the railing around her. Her hands cautiously went up to his face before adding, "Forgive me that I must do this the old-fashioned way, but…"

Her voice trailed off as she loosened the string around his head. She slipped off his black mask with gold trim, being careful with the golden horns that adorned the top. Loki took it from her hands and tossed it to the side, though she never heard it hit the ground. One of Cipriani's hands held the side of his face, while the other gently ran through his soft, black hair. He, too, had his eyes closed as his head moved slightly with her caresses.

Loki's eyes then fluttered open, and purple clashed with green. He hoarsely whispered, "Enough." Cipriani, unsure if she went too far, lowered her hands. He caught them and held them at his chest. "Do not be offended, dear maiden, you did no wrong. I only meant that I have had enough of this... " He released her hands from his grasp and held her face in front of him. "When I desire this."

He guided his lips to fall perfectly on hers, but the kiss was so strong that it took Cipriani's breath away. Though she could feel her face in Loki's firm hold, it was as if she had toppled off the balcony and descended into free fall. What started off as a pit in her stomach grew into a boulder as the kiss intensified, their tongues lashing out at each other. Her prince's body was pressed fully on hers, and she could feel his excitement growing against her waist. Cipriani pried her hands from the railing behind her and ran it up and down the smooth fabric of his tunic.

It was then that Loki pulled away from her, his eyes smoldering and his breath ragged. Cipriani fanned herself, sure that her entire face had turned a shade of bright red. His Grace grinned devilishly as he brought the back of her hand to his mouth and kissed it, much softer than the one they just shared.

"Come, my brita bird - let us make sweet music together." He gave her a quick wink and led her back into his chambers. Valhalla, help me, was the repeated phrase running through Cipriani's mind. Loki made her stop at the foot of his bed, as he stood behind her. He shifted her hair to the front of her shoulders and he slowly unlaced the back of her dress.

"What, no magic trick this time?" Cipriani asked, biting softly down on her tongue.

"This is one of the times I prefer the...traditional way of doing things." His hands worked swiftly, pulling at the ribbons that criss-crossed down the middle of her back. Loki spun her around when he finished and held her there for a moment. "There's just something about watching a dress slowly fall off a woman..." he said, gently pushing the fabric down her arms until the entire gown fell in a pool at her feet. "...that is incredibly arousing."

Cipriani, standing in a white, satin slip, watched his eyes mentally devour her. The look he gave her was somewhat carnal, as if she were a defenseless creature this dark beast was to slaughter. And he went in for the kill - latching onto her lips with such ferocity, he made her back into the bed and fall on top of it. Loki clambered over her, stopping only when his face was directly above hers.

"Take this off," Loki breathed, tugging at the straps of her slip. "I need to see you - all of you."

Cipriani propped herself up, pushing her elbows into the bed. "And what of you, Your Grace? You're fully clothed and my imagination grows weary." She ran a hand down the side of his green tunic and it lingered at the bottom, finding a patch of pale skin above his trousers.

Loki half-smiled at her. "Someone's an eager one. But just how eager are you?" His hand raced down her slip and found her opening. He playfully circled it, teasing her just a bit more before he plunged a finger inside her. Cipriani let out a gasp as she fell back on the bed, and he let out a wicked laugh. "Very, I see. Very well, what Prince of Asgard would I be if I denied my citizen's request?"

He backed off her and Cipriani sat up with him. She watched as the buttons of Prince Loki's shirt undid themselves one by one until the garment flung itself off of his body. Not fair, she thought, eyes glazing as she stared at the definitions of his bare chest, what if I wanted to enjoy the slow removal of his clothing?

As if he read her mind, Loki then asked, "You mind taking off the rest? I usually have groomsmen to dress and undress me." He leaned back on the bed, watching as she crawled on her hands and knees until she hovered over his waist. Cipriani slowly unbuttoned the band, locking eyes with her prince as she edged the trousers down his legs. Her eyes immediately focused on his throbbing manhood - looks like I'm not the only eager one. "Now that your imagination has been satisfied, I demand you do the same."

Cipriani bit her lip, sitting on her legs. A million questions ran through her mind as she grabbed the end of her slip and pulled it over her head. But any concerns she might have had about her exposed body instantly dissolved when she caught a glimpse of his ravenous eyes - a glare so full of fire, Cipriani felt like she was burning under his gaze.

Loki did not hesitate, pouncing on her quicker than Thor's lightning. His head lingered above her, locking eyes for a second, before his lips engulfed her own. Cipriani grabbed onto his scalp, bringing him in closer as the kiss deepened. His tongue was so powerful, but he tasted so sweet that she thrashed her tongue into his, pleading for more.

He let out a grunt as he pulled away from her, fervently kissing her jawline and continuing down her neck. A particular spot near her shoulder made her tremble under his weight, and Cipriani could feel him smirk against her brown skin before gently biting the same place. She gasped, running her hands through his raven hair as he ventured further.

Loki stopped at her breasts, cupping them in his soft hands. His fingers playfully circled her peaks before he took each one in his mouth. His suckling started slowly but soon intensified into a frenzied craze. A shot of pleasure coursed through Cipriani's veins and she let out a shaky moan.

He regarded her smugly, undoubtedly pleased he could get such a reaction from her, and took one of her hands from his hair. Loki guided her down his body, stopping when they reached his shaft. He gently curled her fingers around him before releasing her. Cipriani took his cue and tenderly ran her hands up and down his length. She could feel the blood pulsing through him as she changed the pressure and speed of her clutch. Loki anchored his balled fists around her head, his eyes fiery when they finally met hers.

His breathing had grown rapid and irregular when he suddenly grabbed her wrists and restrained them above her head. Loki's grin was almost menacing as his eyes stayed on her - his fingers, however, were trailing down her torso, circling her navel, and eventually traveled between her legs. Cipriani whimpered when his fingers brushed against her most sensitive spot.

"Ah, my lady likes that," he whispered, his fingers rubbing her harder, faster. Cipriani's head rolled around her neck as an unbearable heat built up inside her. "And what of this?" A finger found its way inside her, while the other continued to circulate around her bud. Her throaty moan must have been answer enough because he continued, "Who makes you feel this way?"

"You," she breathed shakily.

Loki inserted another finger, while his thumb kept its spiral. "Louder, who do you want inside you?"

Cipriani's back arched, her body aching for more of him. "You!"

"Say my name." A third finger joined the others, sliding in and out of her wetness. "Say which prince you most desire."

Her wrists attempted to break free, but Loki had too strong of a hold on her. In a moment of sweet agony, she cried out, "LOKI!" Just when she thought she reached the edge, moments away from the precious release, his fingers vanished. What cruel magic is this, oh God of Mischief?

Cipriani practically glared at him, which resulted in a merciless chuckle. Loki let her wrists out of his grip, using his hand to wipe drops of sweat off her brow. He leant over and murmured in her ear, "Sing for me, my brita bird."

At that precise moment, he thrusted himself into her opening. Cipriani squealed, her violet eyes wide with surprise at his sudden entrance. Loki started cautious, but the pushes turned into something carnal. Cipriani could feel his whole length, throbbing against the walls of her body, sending satisfying shockwaves through her spine. He began to pant with the increased activity, with low moans escaping his lips.

Loki stopped momentarily, grabbed her legs, and placed on each of his shoulders. He fondled her breasts as he resumed his thrusts, taking in a sharp breath of air with every insertion. Cipriani could feel this orb growing inside her - an energy that started from the middle of her body and was making its way to her head and toes. Her fingers latched onto his back, scraping his ivory skin as her body leaned closer to her prince.

"Please," she begged.

He grabbed the knees hooked on his shoulders and squeezed. Though he still pushed himself inside her, she could tell Loki was on the verge of letting go. He used his fingers to circle her core - in between labored breaths, he groaned, "Come with me."

He gave another plunge, putting himself deep within her. "Loki," she moaned. The pressure inside Cipriani had reached its breaking point, and she could feel waves of relief cascading through her body. Through her haze of ecstasy, she could see the whites of Loki's eyes as he finally released himself in her. He cried out her name before falling limp on top of her.

Loki had been staring at the ceiling of his chambers for several minutes now, his chest starting to move at a more relaxed pace. He turned to the maiden lying on the pillow next to him, whose own heavy breathing seemed to have subsided. Her attention was focused away from him, on the open balcony doors, and the gleaming city past it.

"How did you like your first Peace Festival?" He covertly chewed the inside of his cheek to keep himself from smiling too widely.

Cipriani faced him, propping her head up with her hand. "If that's what the Peace Festival entails, we should have one every year, not just every century." She must have caught his smirk, because she quickly added, "For historical purposes, I mean. Lest we forget the Civilian Revolution, of course…"

Loki used the back of his forefinger to wipe a stray eyelash that rested on her cheek. "Of course," he repeated softly. He glanced at the rest of her body - the green satin sheets draped over her, clinging to every curve. It was enough to make him excited all over again. He gently rolled on top of her, his hair falling like a curtain around her face. Rather than push it aside, her fingers ran through it, wrapping themselves in his dark locks. "What do you say we go at it again, my pretty bird?"

She let out a quiet giggle, using a finger to draw invisible lines on his face. Cipriani moved her head up to kiss him, not passionate like the ones from before - this was light, feather-like against his lips. When she lowered her head again, she held his cheeks in her hands. "I was right, this has been the most memorable night of my life, and for that I am most grateful to you, Your Grace." She heaved a sigh, biting her lip. Even with the limited light, her eyes shined of soft violet. Then, she whispered, "Farewell, my dark prince."

Within a fraction of a second, Loki found himself face flat on the pillow Cipriani had just occupied. His eyes widened as his outstretched arms spread themselves along the sheets, looking for any sign of her. He scrambled to the foot of his bed, but found no gown, no slip, no trace. A black robe materialized on him instantly and he ran out to the balcony. If she's not in my bed, she must be out there… somehow… fully dressed.

The ludicrous thoughts proved to be folly, as the balcony was as empty as the dressing room and bath turned out to be. He returned to his chamber, searching the floor for anything he missed. What in the name of Valhalla just happened?

He had all but given up, deciding it was just some bizarre dream, when he noticed a yellow mask with purple feathers, hanging on the handle of his chamber doors.

Author's Note: Hello readers! This is my first fanfiction for the Thor universe, so I hope I did it justice and got the details as accurate as possible. I did lots of research (read: watched Thor and utilized Google) to try and get a grasp of the story. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that future chapters will probably not be as long as this one; I was really trying to just write as much as I could to reel you in to what will hopefully be a good story. I'm also probably just going to have a handful of "raunchy" scenes, so if that's what you're here for you might be disappointed :| I hope you stick with me as I continue writing this story, I promise it will be an interesting ride ;)