Quick AN's: This takes place after Avengers but is AU to the events in TDW. I worked on it for some time but took it down for personal reasons. A friend of mine convinced me to put it up again. Many chapters will likely be incoming.

Story: Loyalty

Chapter One: We Meet Again for the First Time

"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty though good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."

-Ann Landers

I can still recall very well that first night I finally met winter.

Tiny white flakes of snow shimmering in unison with the starlight as they leisurely drifted to the ground. Only to vanish where they touched. It was the very first fall of that winter and the dirt wasn't yet chilled enough for the precipitation to stick. I all but shook with excitement as I watched out my window.

I had grown up in a climate where there were no winters, Alfheim was almost purely Spring in the area where I'd lived. So the altering of the leaves, followed by these chill winds and bewitching weather were fascinating to me.

So intrigued, I used stealth to escape from my room. One of the dorms where the ladies studying to be suitable courtier's for the future princes or other nobility were housed. Normally I would abide to the rules, nearly to a fault – but I couldn't contain the curiosity once I'd noticed that the flurries were coming down. I hadn't even thought to stop for a coat – far too excited about this new experience to remember the warnings as to how cold the snow on Asgard could become in it's winter months. I ran right out into the gardens, my heart racing enough to ignore the chill in the air in favor of the magnificence that awaited. The allure and promise of majesty in something new...

I found a clearing, a higher area where I could run and catch the ice on my skin, even if it was chill, wet, I couldn't help but laugh. It was wonderful, and far too fun to let myself go after all the stuffy etiquette lessons to run back for a coat.

I was running, spinning, laughing, enjoying myself despite being old enough that such behavior would be frowned upon by most. It was when I came crashing, rather literally, into the boy that would come to define my fate.

I doubt I looked as graceful as I'd felt leading up to that moment. My jumps across the grass ended as I slammed into another youth – a boy about my age by his height and build. He cried out but it was too late, I was already in the air, and I didn't even get a glance at his face before we both went down in a tangle of limbs trying to catch myself with meaningless flailing before I felt arms wrap around me and I landed on something softer than the ground.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"I'm being given a trial?" Loki had to admit that this surprised him far more than anything else since his imprisonment began. Had Frigga managed to talk Odin into such a thing despite his prior indication of a life sentence in the prisons below? Either way the guards hadn't offered him any answers after they'd announced it – only shackled him in more chains to lead him to speak with his council.

Not that it seemed he should expect much.

The small office they'd dumped him in before standing outside was hardly impressive. His cell was twice as large. If anything, it seemed more like a slightly grander cubicle than some of the other workers that weren't given walls between their desks. It lacked the touch of personal details – none of pictures or decorations that many other workers possessed in the larger room where the bookkeeping of the offices took place. Where most of the workers remained – why had they brought him to the library for a one on one with his law councilor?

The sparse furniture consisted of two chairs on either side of a desk. One presumably for any guests this claustrophobic's nightmare would receive. Then another for the person that would be working – the later had considerable more age and obvious signs of use than the former. The pillow was nearly flat where his own at least offered some minor comfort – the arms were discolored where motion of arms had worn down the polish. Below the furniture sat a rug that had lost whatever imagery it might have once possessed to age. Stacks of boxes covered every inch of wall – so if there were ever hangings they were lost in the sea of unfinished paperwork. The desk was unlike the room, in that it held a clear organization. There was an in and out box – each in it's respective corner and filled with generous stacks of papers but neither of which overflowed onto the central area where work would take place. It lacked the layer of dust he might expect from such a place. A sign that while whoever worked here was clearly busy- they still moved fast enough to keep such a layer from building. That or the cleaning crews for this area of the palace were more impressive than he remembered.

"I will be fine alone." He heard the female voice reassuring the guard outside as he finished his short inspection. She had a vague accent hidden in a clipped enunciated speech that showed it was likely this wasn't her first language. Not surprising, across the nine realms there were many that learned multiple languages to communicate with the plethora of races that exist. Most Asgardian's were required to learn at least a half-dozen and he spoke a few dozen. Her confidence to be unconcerned of danger, even in the presence of a shackled god he took for ignorance. Until she walked in and past him to her desk. One of the guards shut the portal after her so they were left alone.

The first thing he noticed was that she was not fully Aesir, her ears were slightly pointed and there was a paleness to her skin that was rare even amongst bookkeeping Asgardians. Her skin was a healthy peach but still pale, smooth and unblemished. Made to look darker by the platinum hair that was pulled back from her face. There was a small weave and the rest of the ponytail cascaded like quicksilver to her lower back – not put up her hair probably easily would fall to her hips. Small points of ears poked from the mercury to give away her partial heritage as a light elf.

She wore a simple flowing dress of expensive fabric – the current fashion of Asgard as they were still in the height of summer. A pale lavender color, folded slightly in the back as if there was something beneath the layer of clothing that disturbed the silks from laying smooth. In the lobes of her ears were teardrop shaped hematite earrings. Her eyes were a darker violet that complimented the pale color of her dress. She turned the unique gaze on him after she'd gracefully seated herself at the desk.

This half-elf wasn't born a common bookkeeper – no, the way she carried herself was too smooth. Some might dismiss that on her clear heritage but Loki had met enough of the light elves in his time to know they weren't all born with such grace. She was familiar, and yet he was certain had he met a half-light elf before now that he would remember her quite clearly. While he'd met his fair share of elves, half-breeds were far from common.

He was half tempted to ask if he knew her, but that would play far from where he wanted his hand. Instead he stared back at her, malachite gaze meeting amethyst, at first he considered waiting for her to speak first but she seemed hesitant. Her face was clear – elves were damnably good at poker when they wanted to be – but he noticed a flicker of sadness that was so brief he wasn't certain if he'd mistaken it.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of my relocation to this musty cave?" He drawled, leaning back in the chair he was given, legs splayed open slightly in the manner he was most comfortable. He might as well make the most of his temporary reprieve from his cell – even if this currently seemed a downgrade.

"I am here to represent you my lord. The all-father has been convinced that you deserve a trial before a sentence as permanent as the one he placed." The elf replied, her tone held a clipped politeness – the sort of thing he might expect on earth from a human selling something in a shop.

"Frigga I presume, how kind of her to speak on my behalf." Loki sighed, he already knew there was a lack of things interesting to distract himself with on the walls so he continued to watch her. "I take it you owe my mother something to take up so loathsome a position as to be my defender."

"No." Her head canted slightly with the simple statement. The second sign of real emotion he'd seen from the rather unusual half-elf. Light elves were normally cheerful, happy-go-lucky, and honest to a fault – though they loved games and could be frightening at any field they chose to pursue. They enjoyed their long lives in a way Loki always assumed Asgardian's never would. But he'd found they made wonderful party goers in his visits to Alfheim. This woman wasn't going to give him anything. The only time he'd ever seen light elves so serious was in battle – or at the card table.

So what was her game? No one cared for Loki, why would anyone speak on his behalf? Unless she was assigned by Odin – in which case he could only end up worse than he was before this trial started. Perhaps that was the all-father's plan, he would have to tread carefully.

"Why would a light elf care to defend me? What's in it for you? Do you work for Odin?" Loki asked, the world worked in currency and that need not be money. No one would stand up for him if they weren't compensated or didn't expect to be paid in full later.

"I work for the all-father in the sense that I am one of his lore keepers, but I volunteered for this position. Odin's allowance of your trial was on the grounds that someone must choose to represent you themselves." She answered, it sounded honest but he knew just how good elves were at gambling.

"You're dressed higher than an average bookkeeper, the threads used in your clothing are more expensive than what they could afford on the salaries allotted. You move as if you were trained to be dexterous, I can assume you were trained at some point as a courtier. So you expect something in return should I get free of my cell or my title returned?"

Loki wasn't insulted, in anything it impressed him that someone would take such a risk. Being owed the favor of a sorcerer of his ability was nothing to sneeze at after all. All he got in return was another flicker of sadness. No irritation, no hate, no lust for power, so why on earth would she help him? Was she some fool that pitied him? Her answer didn't make him any more comfortable about this new predicament.

"I wish to see justice done. It is my duty to see that all the history of Asgard is honored in not only it's lore of the past, but in it's current age. If you are treated unfairly then it is natural that I step in to help fix the problem." The elf explained in her light tone of voice, calm and controlled. "I have done some study of these subjects in the past, and while there is much I will still need to read I will also need to do much in taking your testimony and asking you questions. Will you accept me as your representative?"

"Are you even studied in law?" Loki answered the query with one of his own. The girl was young. He didn't recall her as a courtier so she was much younger than he if he was right. Skeptical that some idealist had decided to make him her personal pet project. The idea of an escape from his cell was tempting, but he needed to weight the options first. Was it worth the risk at this time?

"I took several extra classes as it was a path I considered when I was still attending the college but I am not experienced in it's practice." She answered honestly, seemingly unconcerned with admitting her own faults. "However, I feel no one else will approach this topic with the neutrality that is required to be a fair judge of history and your personal case. If I take up this position I do not do so lightly."

Loki stared at her contemplatively, uncertain what to think of the day's change of events – he'd been in the prisons for months with only a few clandestine visits from his mother for company and now this change. What had brought it on? Then there was the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he'd met this half-elf before. What was it about her that tickled his memory?

"Why should I trust you to approach this any differently than the rest of the Aesir?" Loki spoke the obvious question.

"I am not like them." Another simple answer. "I feel there was injustice done to you and I wish to see it remedied."

"Aren't you a ray of sunshine?" Loki smirked. No one was that idealistic, not even Thor. "How do you feel I was given injustice? I certainly am very familiar with my own thoughts on the matter but many, if not all of Asgard, would disagree."

"Equal treatment." The two words hit Loki closer to home than he thought they would, he felt his eyes tighten at the remark. "Your brother did much the same thing you went on to do. In his punishment he was offered redemption – where you have not been given an option for the same. I would like to see a standard kept."

"But not to see me freed." Loki's voice soured, his eyes narrowing a little. "This is what you come here and waste my time with? Thor was turned into a mortal, I hardly want that sort of treatment."

"I wish to see you have the option of redeeming yourself, as your brother was given. If you take it or waste it is not up to me." The elf replied, matter of fact. It was a little grating how she remained entirely business as opposed to showing anything. This felt as if she would approach it the same way if she were buying bread at the market. "If you do not accept me, then you will return to the dungeons and I cannot say if any will speak for you in the future."

"Then I appear to have little option, elf." Loki retorted, a little annoyed that he was backed into a corner. She was right of course, he'd already considered it – if there were other better options for his defense then Frigga would have already found them. This might be the only way he ever escaped the solitary existence promised to him below.

"I am Dere." She stated, drawing his eyes up from where he'd focused on his hands. There the emotion was, a bit of irritation at his remark. Perhaps this wouldn't be completely dull after all, she did have a soul in there. "Are you accepting me as your council?"

He had little left to loose, he nodded at that then perked a dark brow sharply when she pulled a golden collar from her desk and set it in front of him on the desk.

"I didn't realize we were going to get so intimate – I much prefer to be the one holding the leaches as opposed to the one wearing them." Loki quipped without missing a beat.

A small bit of color rose in her cheeks at the remark, but she kept her professionalism in place far better than he expected.

"The device is something that will keep you within the palace's upper floors and the library. Attempt to keep yourself out of trouble and in this time you will be returned to your former quarter's. Able to spend your days as you will – with the exception of my needing some of your time to gather your testimony." Dere pushed forward with the topic at hand.

"It seems awfully generous of Odin to allow me so much of a larger cage, is there a further catch?" Loki asked, lifting the finely crafted golden necklace to consider it. He felt powerful magic running with the veins of the ore used to make it.

"Your magic will be limited, though not impossible, while you wear it – and you will be unable to use any form of gateways should you have a hidden path somewhere within the palace grounds. Any attempts to bring harm to Asgard, or abuse these freedoms and they will swiftly vanish. The all-father's words, not mine." The elf continued to explain. "Your willingness to these terms is non-negotiable, the all-father could not be dissuaded."

Loki pursed his lips in displeasure, he hardly wished to cage himself- but if he went along with this farce he might be given the chance to get free again? That was a difficult fruit to pass up. He reached up and clipped the necklace into place, grimacing at the pain of muted senses – his magic reserve was almost immediately tapped into – draining to the point that it would be difficult to do more than parlor tricks with his illusions.

"Limited?" He hissed, frustrated at the elf's choice of words.

The small smile she offered didn't make him feel any better, not bothering to cover her amusement. "I used the words I felt would best get you to agree. I have much to do here, I would grow accustomed to your old rooms again my lord. I will meet with you tomorrow to speak."

Loki was half-tempted to kill the guards and her both but that wouldn't get him any closer to taking over Asgard. So he relaxed his temper. For now he would bide his time, this elf would be a springboard to his other desires. He had a smile on his face as he left the room, gesturing to the guards.

"Please, do escort me back to my rooms, let's take a stroll through the gardens on the way." He remarked, happy to play the part of a demanding prince with the guards that had been so content to send him snide remarks these last few months. They should fear that he would get his title replaced, they would be some of the first to disappear.

Behind him the violet eyed elf lifted a few papers from her in-box but sighed as she stared after the prideful prince. She glanced to her work, it was always piling higher it seemed – but this wasn't as bad as other weeks had been. She set the papers back in her in box and sighed – wondering if she was making a mistake...

End Chapter

I hope I didn't leave things too mysterious. They are supposed to be mysterious to a point of course, we haven't even learned our elf councilor's name yet! But there is more to come, I haven't done an OC with Loki before this but I really liked my idea. Mercury is quicksilver – and therefor colored silver – my beta pointed out I should toss in that information.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Well it's chapter one so I don't have anything specific to say yet. However, I appreciate any and all feedback – even if it's not always positive. Though please don't flame as that doesn't help anyone. Creative criticism is fine though!

Notes from Twi: Fiddle with extending out some of the observations of how the OC looks throughout the chapter as opposed to just throwing it all in at one time. Look at last 'sighing' or repetitive words – though I tend to try and avoid that anyway.