"Brother! This game has long since grown tiresome; show yourself and release me from this maze!" Thor demanded with exasperation, running through the labyrinth of manicured shrubbery with a huff. The corridors of mountainous hedges loomed above his figure, the young boy coming to a crossroad that turned into a split street. Neither, once again, withheld an end in sight, so the youngling simply decided to pick the path to the right and bolt. Thor gasped as the borders began to shift before his eyes, causing his heels to dig into the earth to stop his drive, his blond locks whipping his face as he swiftly turned to see the movement behind him to be the plants weaving together to form a wall. For the fifth time, the game changed once again.

The demi-god growled; puzzles and riddles had always been mastery for Loki, whose wit and magic could quickly solve the brainteaser, but was one of the few places Thor's brute strength could never provide the upper hand, and it infuriated him. He should have known that he was walking into a trap that would only end with his embarrassment at his brother's hand the moment he suggested a battle of wit against his younger kin. He and Loki may have their differences, but when it came down to it, he was envious of his younger brother's intelligence, though he would never lead a soul to believe the thought. He always brushed off the notion before it could take root.

A quiet chuckle was dealt, ricocheting like a phantom through the green pathways as the ebony-haired boy turned from a corner, a smirk tugging at the edge of his thin lips. His mouth turned up into a mischievous grin as the look of anger flashed onto his elder brother's features, his emerald orbs glittering like a predator on the hunt. "Given up so easily, brother?" he mocked, his light steps disrupting the gravel beneath his feet as he sauntered, his hands clasped behind his back as he inspected Thor like a teacher would a student.

"Every time I come close, you change the play!" Thor snarled, his palms thrusting against his younger brother's chest, Loki's breath rushing from his lungs as he flew to the ground, the rocks scattering as his body made rough contact with the terrain. The boy winced as his sight was blinded by the sun, which set itself dangerously high in the sky. Oh, they were going to be so late…

He made out the outline of his elder kin as he lay windless upon the ground, Thor's build towering over him and blocking out the burning star's searing light. He saw a hand extend in apology to pull him up. "I meant not to harm you, brother." As soon as the black haired prince regained his wind he took the aid, but instead of pulling himself up, he heaved Thor down with all of his might, his brother landing beside him with a 'oof' and a rustle of scattering debris. The blond glared at Loki as the latter began to laugh at his brother's foolishness.

"What was that for, Loki?" he growled as he slowly regained the balance upon his feet, only to find his sibling not only upright, but leaning against the wall of foliage in a sly manner, manually picking the pebbles that lodged themselves into his palm. He threw the tiny projectiles carelessly at Thor, who only grew more agitated.

"Because you are an oaf, my brother. For where you excel in strength, you lack greatly in wit. For example, you engaged me in the battle of brains, though you lack them so severely, forgetting fully that we were to meet with father about the gala with the god and goddesses today." A look of realization and horror swept onto Thor's features, his eyes peering at the skies with shock. When his gaze went to rest upon his brother once more, the boy turned to misty green smoke, leaving Thor in the middle of the changing labyrinth with anxiety.

-X-

The young handmaiden walked through the maze with simplicity, her hand guiding her as she calmly stroked her soft digits across the rough shrubbery, mindful not to prick herself on the bush's sharp thorns and the leave's razor edges. Her head tilted to the nearby grunts of agitation, and chortled quietly to herself; did they not realize what puzzle they had wandered into? Anger and rushed movements would serve them ill here.

The fabric of her attire snagged upon one of the stray branches that extended only enough to catch her, the youngling turning stiff when she heard the gentle tear of cloth. She sighed, tugging at the textile lightly to free herself, spinning on her heel to continue without a second thought; at the rate of the feral words and rushed patter of steps upon the ground, the maze would not stay in this state for much longer. After turning a corner she heard a small intake of breath as her body came into view, suppressing the urge to smile as she knew that her quest had come to an end.

"Anger and rushing tasks in which should not be rushed leads you no where here, or truly anywhere in life, so I suppose that is the lesson of this labyrinth." She spoke softly, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she heard the erratic thrumming of footfalls cease. "Now, may I ask, who is the unfortunate soul that has wandered into this abyss of confusion, hmm?" she asked politely, cocking her head as the patron's breath returned to normal. She bristled when she got her response, her coy grin wiping from her features.

"Thor Odinson." Came the booming response. She gasped, bowing her head and retreating in the slightest bit, her movement disrupting the earth beneath her heel. She knew that he should have been in the castle, preparing for the feast tonight with the gods and goddesses - not here in this web of confusion. In all truths she should have been at her post and she was sure she'd be punished for fleeing her task on such an important occasion, but she could not pull herself away from the agitated calls of distress emanating from the gardens.

"Please, milord, forgive me for my rude manner! I spoke too freely. I meant no disrespect!" She whispered, trembling, fearing that she had angered the future ruler of Asgard. She relaxed in the smallest amount when she heard his hearty laugh.

"Do not worry yourself; you did not earn my anger. Tis a question, though, as to why you do not know me, though I don't recall seeing you around the castle." The statement was simple and matter of fact, but it was still enough to bring a deep flush of embarrassment to her cheeks, her eyes never peeling from the ground.

"I-" her reply was cut short when he groaned.

"Another day you may answer; for now we must make haste from this prison." She shook her head gently, making the young lord grow all the more impatient. She quickly justified her action.

"You cannot move too swiftly, milord, or the paths will change once again. There is an enchantment upon the grounds; if one is too excited or brash in their actions, the borders will shift. If one is calm and collected and thinks through their movements, the exit will make itself clear." She explained, turning from the prince to retrace her earlier path. She could hear his footsteps as he followed her down the winding trail, Thor silently hating how she could maneuver this sorcery much simpler than him, battling hard to keep a level head.

"What be your name?" he asked in attempt to keep his mind from dwelling on how much of a blow his vanity was taking today. There was a small pause before she spoke.

"Alina, my lord. I tend to the stallions." She whispered, her head hanging low as if scanning the ground for answers. Thor gritted his teeth; not only was he out witted by his brother, but also mere servant girl – both within the same day.

"We speak not of this." The prince spoke swiftly, the girl not much younger than himself bowing her head in a silent confirmation. He cocked his head in her direction, examining the maiden with curiosity; her gaze had not ripped from the gravel they traveled upon since his first announcement and he was unaccustomed to the eyes of young lasses not peeking to him with blushes budding upon their cheeks. His stormy blue eyes narrowed, battling as he fought his feelings.

She was beautiful, for a servant anyways. Her russet locks fell into loose ringlets that cascaded to the middle of her back, bouncing gently from her smooth movements and the occasional breeze that was able to break through the green barriers. Her small, delicate hand swept over her emotionless expression to remove stray strands of hair from her faerie-like features, the appendage not yet rough and calloused from years of coarse work. He remembered seeing her eyes from a distance before they were cast down; her orbs were the color of the sky on the most glorious of mornings when the sun only began to peek over the horizon and the atmosphere emanated the most beautiful shade of light blue.

He was so engrossed in his examination that he almost missed her announcement that they had arrived at the entrance. Snapped back into reality he looked up, seeing that, indeed, they were to the beginning of the maze, turning back to his counterpart with a smile spreading wide across his lips.

"Thank you, Lady Alina." He said sincerely, walking cautiously from the mouth of the labyrinth, the handmaiden following soon after.

"You better make haste now, milord." But Thor was already running from the spot before her sentence could be completed, leaving the girl to go back to her tasks, dreading the penalty she would receive.

-X-

To say Loki was surprised to see his elder kin arrive beside him in the banquet hall was an understatement, though he refused to show the shock that clawed at the back of his mind. He flashed a quick, playful smile as his brother paraded through the room with a huff, the servants scrambling after him in a desperate attempt to assemble his ceremonial garments as he continued to move, not seeming to notice their need for him to halt. He rolled his eyes as Thor's winged helmet was placed upon his head; he loved his brother dearly, but he hated how careless he was to others in his fits of rage.

The servants tore off after assembling his armor, escaping back into the shadows to do their remaining work while the blond boy stood beside his ebony-haired sibling, situating the large helmet bestowed upon his skull to its correct position. Loki couldn't help but suppress a snicker as the flickering glow of the candles radiated beams of light from their helmets, more so upon the winged tips of Thor's headdress, leaving faint specks of light to dance upon the polished stone walls when they moved their craniums. Thor's head snapped to the side, glaring at his brother, who couldn't help but laugh as his brother's untailored hat moved from its correct position once more to have the object spin, leaving half of his face to be shrouded in the silver metal.

"I think they made a helmet to match your ego, not your body brother. You should have come earlier to have it fitted correctly. I was almost worried you wouldn't come." Loki teased, a growl emanating from beneath the ceremonial piece. Thor situated the helmet once more to its proper position to glare at his comrade. With a snap of his nimble fingers Loki shrunk the size of the headdress to fit perfectly to his elder brothers head. When Thor was about to retort, Loki held up a hand to silence him. "We couldn't have you looking like an oaf in front of the nobles, now can we?"

"Oh yes, because that helmet is doing wonders for you, brother." Thor mocked, Loki's hands instinctively moving to grasp a golden antler protectively in each fist.

"Well at least I do not look like a defenseless bird." Loki hissed, though the venom was missing in his tone. Thor placed his hands over the wings of his helmet, hiding the color creeping onto his cheeks.

"Well at least I do not look as though I belong on the feasting table, instead of parading around it." The elder shot back, a grin teasing at the edge of his lips. Loki couldn't help it; he cracked a smile and soon he and Thor were rolling in laughter at their foolish accusations, several domestics whizzing past the pair to light more candles that floated graciously around the chamber. Their fun was a raucous, echoing through the grand room to only make their mounting sounds louder, though neither of them truly cared.

Soon their laugher turned to breathy sighs as they rearranged their paraphernalia, making sure it was in the correct placements and everything was in order upon their body. Green eyes peered to their left as Thor removed his headpiece, staring at his reflection with a blank gaze. Loki's smile faltered at the sight, moving the two steps to his brother's side to place a gentle hand upon his broad shoulder. The blond didn't respond, causing the black haired boy to speak up.

"What troubles you, brother?" he asked gently, glaring at the prying eyes of a stocky woman who had peered over to see the commotion. At his steely gaze she flinched, her muddy orbs flickering back to the table to set out the golden platters that sat neatly beside the silverware. Emerald eyes stalked back to the sight of his brother's set jaw, his icy blue eyes never evading his own image.

"What if they don't like me, Loki? What if I make a fool of myself?" he asked seriously, the pressure he put upon the helmet within his grasp teetering on the verge of leaving dents. His thoughts were ripped apart when he heard the snort of his brother beside him, causing the demi-god to look at his comrade, whose slender brow was arched with an air of astonishment. The latter shook his head, the beams of light sparkling from his helmet as he laughed, though no humor was put into the action.

"Of course they'll like you brother. You are the future king of Asgard, are you not?" Green eyes fell to the floor, which Thor noticed immediately. "You will make a great king one day, Thor. I am sure of it." Loki whispered with sincerity, his elder unable to do anything but believe his kin's word.

"I know I will." Came the strong reply, and Loki rolled his eyes; give his brother a compliment and he just ran with it. Thor clasped his brother on the back, the slender boy nearly falling forward from the might, his air once again forcibly leaving his lungs. The blond laughed as his sibling straightened, silent daggers stabbing at him through those deep green eyes, the younger rearranging his helmet from its catawampus position. "And one day you, brother, will be one of the most powerful sorcerers the Nine Realms have ever seen. Though if you trap me in that mind bender again, you will be mounted upon the wall like the stag you are." Thor teased, Loki letting out a breathless sigh.

"I will take that as a compliment."

-X-

Though the armor weighed at least thirty pounds, he was told to act as if it weren't there, breathe easily though the breastplates pressed heavily against his lungs, and pretend that the weight of the helmet did not make his skull and neck throb with torture. No; he was to sit erect, smile, speak when spoken to with utmost respect, and eat when the food was served. No matter the amount of mess the other gods created, he wasn't to laugh; it was rude and improper.

Loki sat idly beside his brother, staring at the mountain of food that adorned his plate blankly, knowing that in all of Valhalla he would not be able to consume the feast that rested in front of him in this one sitting. His eyes crawled to his sibling, who tore into the mutton as if he hadn't eaten in a century, filling his cheeks to the highest capacity and somehow still able to smile when their mother commented on his appetite. He knew for certain in that moment that the wings that shimmered proudly on either side of Thor's head should have been those of the ears of a swine. Loki suppressed the urge to bust out into a fit of giggles at the thought of his brother as a pig, choosing instead to keep his face neutral and passive.

He sighed, the action restricted by the armor, making him wince in response.

"Why are you not eating brother? You need to put meat upon your bones; sorry to say that you are looking quite meager in my presence." Thor whispered with a sly grin, Loki looking onto the blond with hidden disgust.

True it was that he paled in comparison to his older brother, by Asgardian terms anyway. He lacked the muscles that Thor was already beginning to produce upon his frame, missing also the thirst for action that Asgard smiled upon in a young prince. His appetite was not as ferocious as those around him, and although he was the son of Odin, he felt as though most of the time he was in the way, more being put up with than actually accepted amongst his peers.

"Perhaps I may look meager, but at least I do not act like a gluttonous pig." He muttered beneath his breath, his elder rolling his sea-blue orbs. Thor's attention was swiftly pulled back to the food on his plate and the young goddess who had spoken to him.

The droning buzz of conversation and laughter filled the hall completely, the sound causing the marble floor to vibrate in the smallest amount. Loki could feel the gentle tingle through his foot, watching the dazzling smile of a stunning goddess as she laughed at something her red-haired companion had said. Her sound was muted by the noise in the room and his gaze shifted to the high ceiling, watching as countless candles floated majestically above their heads.

Did none notice the beauty that danced gracefully above them, the flickering flames showing the glistening flakes that etched themselves into the stone above them with brilliance? A quick glance at the feasting gods answered his question; none were aware of the beautiful glory that flew overhead, all too captivated with their food or another to notice its loveliness.

His green eyes peered to his father, who smiled at a god by his side, and then to his mother, who was speaking to a being so beautiful he had to look away to keep a blush from rushing to his cheek. Thor was engaged in a talk of great battle with a god who had had his fair share of glorious combats, his brother listening intently as the being spoke with fervor. None spoke to him, and in so he did not speak, though he secretly longed for another to even acknowledge his existence beside his family. Everything seemed to be happening around him, yet he was not engaged in any of it at all, feeling alone though the room was ready to bust at the seams.

He realized then that he felt this way more often than not, always cast aside when Thor came into the scene. He loved his brother dearly, but he wished at times that he would not show off his strengths, knowing full well that Loki could not compete with his brute power. He sometimes desired he was an only child so he need not be shrouded in the shadow of his brother's impending 'greatness'. He longed to have companions who liked him for him, not because they were Thor's friends and only called him as such because he was there.

He simply wished to be himself, to talk of what he wished to talk about without the thought of persecution and dissecting eyes. He wanted the patrons around him to notice the flurry of light that dazzled above their heads, for them too to notice the beauty in which they were blind to. He wanted someone to talk to him with a pure smile and enjoy his presence, not having to feel obligated to speak with him! He wanted to scream, to throw the garb from his body and breathe with ease!

But instead the young prince sat in stony silence, pretending the breastplates his not crush his air supply. He sat erect and began to eat the food in which he was served, acting as though the helmet didn't make it hard to crane his neck to look around the room. He did not laugh while his brother ate like an animal, nor did he pay attention to the gods who chortled and joked.

And most importantly he did not speak until he was spoken to, plastering a fallacious grin upon his features while he sat alone in a room filled with people.

-X-

At the first sign of escape he made his flight, telling his mother he felt ill and that he'd take his leave to his chambers. The Allfather wasn't the happiest in the turn of events, causing a suspicious eye to peer him over until he finally allowed the boy to leave. Loki felt guilt mull within him under his father's scrutinizing gaze, but he would rather be alone than in a room filled to the brim of people who paid him no mind. With a small bow of his head he made his leave, Thor exclaiming a sendoff before he was whisked to the ball room by a couple of blond young maidens.

Music echoed through the vacant corridors as the prince walked soundlessly, concentrating fully on banishing the ceremonial garb from his frame. He had taught himself the trick from an old scroll that was bound in a thick layer of dust that he had almost passed over in the archive a few days back, the ancient paper crinkling beneath his grasp when he had first discovered the yellowing literature. The parchment was filled with simple, yet useful spells one could use daily, and he thanked the gods for letting him find it. With a few more tries he would be able to master the technique to the point where it would take but a thought to transform into a new wardrobe.

When the last of his helmet dissipated from existence he sighed in relief, thankful to be rid of the nuisance, patting away the wrinkles of his black tunic. He smiled at his handiwork, praising himself in silence as his lungs expanded to their full potential once more, the magic still fizzing at his fingertips. Of course no one was there to revel in what Loki considered a triumph with him, but it didn't really matter to him; no one would get the same thrill from the action as he himself.

He debated on weather or not to go into the study or back to his room as he said he would; he was not yet ready for bed and his mind was still racing from the power that flowed through his veins. He wanted not to be troubled by anyone, and the book keeper never left his post - even on occasions such as this. He growled inwardly, knowing that an invisibility enchantment would do him no good for he had not yet mastered it, only being able to keep up the façade for but a few minutes.

The dark prince ghosted through the halls, not yet knowing of a destination until he passed a look out, his feet bolted to the floor as he admired the scenery of Asgard beneath the white hue of the two full moons. Once again the patrons at the gala were missing a work of beauty; the moons were ever only both full once every hundred years. He did so like to go for a ride in the dead of night, though all the times he had done it his mother had been unaware, and decided with a smile that he could not pass up the opportunity on such a lovely evening.

He lurked in the shadows as he made his way through the castle, making sure not to draw any unwanted attention toward himself. He raced down the magnificent flight of golden steps, nearly losing his footing in his haste before reaching level ground. Though he knew it wasn't necessary, he cloaked himself invisible as he passed soundlessly through a pair of guards, more out of practice than use. He let the fallacy fall as he was out of sight and hearing distance, mutely opening the ingress which led to the stables.

He had always been fond of horses, thinking them majestic and free willed, each having a different outlook and personality. Some were calm and easy going while others simply liked to rile up the other mares. Seeing as though the servants were out, tending to the needs of the gods and goddesses, Loki relished in the opportunity, walking without a need to cloak his footing.

Enok, a large black stallion, had been his choosing since he was but a colt. The horse was rebellious to most, save for a few handmaidens who cared for him and Loki, who the mare knew almost instantly as his companion. Whenever he had moved close to the stall the steed would walk instantly to the portal, greeting him with a small whinny at his approach. He smiled, turning the corner to-

"Who's there?"

He froze, his right leg suspended mid-air to keep from making any further noise, his eyes darting frantically to find the origin of the voice. It was a female, the pitch high yet smooth, though no matter where he looked a young lass could not be found. For a moment he thought he had imagined it, brought on by nerves until it spoke out again, the prince deciding to hide beneath the invisibility enchantment for as long as he could.

He heard the wooden portal to Enok's cage creek open as a girl withdrew from the passage, her small frame dwarfed beside the mountainous midnight stallion. The horse rested its heavy head upon her shoulder, nudging affectionately into her heck as she absently drew her slender fingers across his muscular jaw, her head tilting in various directions. Enok huffed, his nostrils flaring when she withdrew her gentle caress to tuck a stray auburn lock behind her left ear.

"I know you are here. There is no need to be in alarm. I have no weapon, unless you find a grooming brush dangerous." Her giggle resonated like bells in his ears, sweet and pure and completely intoxicating.

'Well… It's only a girl. I'm sure I can persuade her to keep quiet.' He pondered absently to himself, placing his foot upon the straw-coveted ground. Her head whipped to the sound of the disturbed foliage and Enok threw his head back in annoyance of her action, only to move his position to her other shoulder.

"Shouldn't you be filling the glasses of the gods and goddesses?" Loki questioned as his enchantment failed at his lack of complete concentration, leaving him exposed. A sparkle fell into the mare's eye as it gazed upon the ebony haired prince, lifting its head to trot slowly to his side. Unlike the others, this handmaiden did not bow a greeting, instead choosing to lift a hand across the horse's side as it waltzed past her, her fingers tracing delicately over its dark, glossy coat.

"I would create nothing but chaos, I'm afraid. And I was told I would be left alone this evening. So why have you fled your post?" she asked quizzically, baffling the son of Odin. Did she not know who he was? And if she did, how dare she have the audacity to speak to him in such a manner!

"Excuse me?" he hissed, Enok slowly pacing backwards as the prince stalked his way toward the girl who stood her ground with an air of defiance. Anger seethed within his glare as he tried to lock her eyes with his to no avail, her cloudy blue gaze looking right through him as if she didn't see him standing but two feet in front of her.

'Wait…'

"You bicker at me about not being at my post, though I am, while you are the one slacking in their responsibilities!" she growled, petting the ribcage of Enok as he slowly took his place beside her once more, his tail flickering at the tender touch.

"You're blind…" Loki whispered, watching the look of shock and pain register upon her features before she flinched as if she had been struck, turning into the horse to evade the gaze she couldn't see. Her shoulders trembled and guilt flooded over him as she batted at the empty air before she caught Enok's reigns, leading his stallion back into the spacious pin.

"And what if I am?" she muttered bluntly, putting down the latch to secure the door to the stall, turning away from the prince.

'She doesn't know who I am…' A smile replaced the sneer upon his face.

She didn't know who he was. She would speak to him as if he were just another servant - an equal. Though the frustration of being an equal to a domestic infuriated him, the potential of this experiment was unlimited! There would be no barriers to her thoughts, no fear of punishment between them, no need for formal words and presentations.

He could be himself in front of her.

"I meant not to upset you." He whispered, walking to her side, watching as her body tensed at his proximity. Loki placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder, the maiden loosening at the touch, the smile creeping further upon his lips. "It's just that I haven't seen you before, so-"

"They couldn't find a fit placement for me." She whispered sullenly, shrugging his hand from her shoulder, turning slowly to face him. He was thankful she couldn't see the blush that rose to his cheeks; though he was a prince, he was still shy in contact with one of the opposite gender, nobility or not. His eyes fled to the ground as she continued. "I cannot do many of the tasks that are expected of me here. The stables are confined enough to where I can maneuver with ease and the animals – thank the gods – have taken a liking to me. If not for this, I probably couldn't keep my stay at the palace. I'm more of a burden than a help most days."

'That is something we have in common.' He thought to his chagrin, returning his gaze to the maiden before him.

"What is your name?" He had to remember to keep the sharp edge of his regal voice from seeping into his tone, to keep it a simple question and not a usual command. Her head cocked at the small hesitation in his voice, those glassy orbs looking through him as if she were searching for something.

"Alina." She said finally, fidgeting, unaccustomed to speaking with someone for such a long period of time. Loki smiled.

"My name is Erik."

How was that?

Please review on the bottom and have an awesome day!

~ILJA~