When the Moon Reaches for You

The dome of the sky stretched in a vast expanse overhead. There were many tiny pixels of light, each representing a sun, each containing an almost infinite amount of energy to burn on an on for countless years.

Jane was leaning out of her window, admiring the scene from her room. She was still so young, but she knew, without doubt, what Yggdrasil called her to do.

Study the stars.

Now, on Asgard, studying stars was not something that most did, for it was thought that most knew the secrets of the Tree. Nothing more could be discovered.

She didn't care. She would be leaving in two days to study on Alfheim. There she would travel amongst the many shades of light and learn what her mind longed to understand.

She wasn't scared, though perhaps, a touch sad.

"Jane! It is long past your bedtime, child!"

"Not a child," she muttered. "Yes I know, father!" she called back. Jane went to bed, curled with a smile, and thought about the Prince she would be leaving behind, even though she was quite certain that he never gave her a thought.

After all, her home was practically the All-Father's stable.

But Jane harbored quite a crush on the Prince, and her father knew it. Though Jane wasn't aware, part of his insistence on her leaving was fueled by this crush. He believed that if she had some time away from the Prince, she would learn to forget him and move on.

He underestimated the depth of her regard.

Asgard was in its hay day, thriving with the All-Father sitting on the throne and two promising Princes in his wake.

It was natural, then, when his eldest, Thor, came of age, to seek a suitable bride.

Thor loved the ladies, and he made no secret about it. He loved them for the many (many) pleasures they afforded him. Thor was a favorite, mostly because he was blithe, but also for his strength that the Aesir so admired. When it was announced that a search would commence for a wife for the Prince, many young ladies swooned and wondered if the royal family would consider an Aesir.

He spent many days in the courtyard, sparring with the Warriors Three, in jubilant violence.

"Come Fandral, what say you?" Thor wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

"I have no opinion on the matter, m'lord," and he bowed with a smirk.

"You will not accompany me to her house? 'Tis but a mile or two," and he set his sword down and wiped his hands free of sweat. "And she has that lovely sister…" he winked.

"I think not. You enjoy yourself, Thor. I need to be getting back," Fandral bowed and left.

It mattered but little to the God of Thunder. He would go and visit the maiden…

Thor went to the stables to retrieve Sleipnir, Odin's mount, with a smile.

And above him, perched in a tree, sat Jane, watching him. She wanted to take the opportunity to say goodbye to him.

Jane launched herself out of the tree, landing in front of Thor.

"Jane!" he exclaimed, jumping back. "It is something when I'm taken unawares!" he laughed. "But you cannot fool me, young Jane…I thought I heard someone!" and he turned and went into the stables.

Her chance lost, her shoulders fell. "No. It was no one."

Much later that evening, Thor came riding back to the Palace with a lovely maid behind him on the mount. They were laughing raucously, and with display. Jane had been keeping an eye out for them, and having packed for her journey the next day, she was mucking about the place waiting.

She watched as the two dismounted. Watched as Thor guided her to the garden…

…and Jane covertly trailed behind, peeking over shrubs and such to gain audience.

"You are the loveliest, Sunna," he brushed her long golden hair from her face, and kissed her cheek tenderly.

"Oh, Thor!" Sunna giggled. "You're only just saying that to win favor!" but she wrapped her arms around him.

"Of course I am," he quipped, and pressed her against a tree…

Jane's eyebrows rose as she saw the Prince lifting the maid's skirt around her waist. She decided it was time for her to leave.

Head hanging, she walked back to her and her father's house behind the stables of the great palace. She didn't want to go to Alfheim, nor did she wish to stay on Asgard. She was miserable, and that was it.

She fancied she was in love with the Prince, and feeling hopeless, decided she should probably just leave.

"Jane?"

Damn. "Yes father?" and she went to the kitchen where her father sat.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Mm," she replied, playing with her sleeve.

"It is a great opportunity, child. Not every girl gets to study Yggdrasil the way you will. It is only offered to the Aesir, and only to the best students."

"I know father."

"I love you, Jane."

She smiled. "And I you."

He got up and went over to her, kissed her forehead. "I will see you in the morning."

She watched as he ascended the stairs, then went over to the window. "Morning," and she nodded, then went up to her room.

Jane took the bag from its place on her bed and crept back downstairs. She scribbled a note to her father about how much she loved him, how she would miss him, but leaving Asgard was not really what she wanted.

She left out the bit about really wanting Thor.

She slipped out the front door and went to the stables…

…and, quite literally, ran into the Prince.

But not Thor…his younger brother, Loki.

"Jane Foster! What are you doing?" he scanned her person, his eyes rested for a moment on her bag. "Where are you off to at this hour?"

"I…" she swallowed. "No where."

"Then why do you need a bag?"

"Well…" her mind was unaccustomed to making tales, so her hesitation was enough to prove that she was about to.

"Come with me," and Loki offered her his hand.

"No…I really must…" she feared he would take her to her father.

"I thought that you said you weren't going anywhere," and he smiled.

"I'm not. No where of consequence, anyway," her chin lifted a touch.

"Then you may come with me," and he pulled on her arm, taking her with him.

"Your Majesty," Jane hissed as she fumbled along in his wake. "Where are we going?"

But Loki didn't answer, he merely continued to lead Jane down a path. After a few minutes, he stopped. "There," and he pointed to a small pool of water.

Jane looked, and saw in the water, the bright lights of Yggdrasil reflected, yet minimized…she could almost touch it…"Beautiful."

"You are off to Alfheim, I understand, to study the Tree?"

"Yes," she looked at him. "How did you know?"

"Well, I was listening to your father speak with Odin just a day ago. He is lamenting your absence already."

Jane shrugged. "I do not doubt it."

"But, it would seem, judging from your bag, that you are either eager to get there, or else eager to stay put," and he smiled.

Her eyes snapped to his. "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but you do not know me."

"No," and he folded his arms in front of him. "But I know enough of people in general to know that most do not go sneaking about at night with a bag unless they have concocted a plan to leave."

Her eyes fell to the pool. "I'm…nervous."

"'Tis natural to be so."

"I'll be gone for so long."

"How long is the program?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Ten years."

He chuckled. "Ah, but a breath. Jane, you will be back before you know it. And you will have unlocked the secrets of the Tree…"

"Everyone will forget me. I'll come back, and everything will have changed."

Loki looked up at the sky. "There will be changes, yes. But I promise you. I shall remember you."

"You don't even know me," she protested.

"Nevertheless, I promise, that when you return, I will recall this conversation, though I shall speak not a word of it to anyone," he looked at her. "Agreed?"

She looked up at him, and she nodded.

Loki smiled. "Now, off you go."

Defeated, Jane went back to her house. She went to bed.

And the next morning, she boarded the Bifrost for Alfheim.

A/N: So, here we go! I wanted to do something funny, having tarried long in some sad stories...and though "Sabrina" isn't the funniest story, it has its moments. And it is ripe for Lokane.

I'm not abandoning anything! Just taking a detour.