Author's Note: Hello, and welcome! This is a companion piece to my other story, Sága. This will center on the events leading up to that particular fic, greatly focusing on my OC's relationship with Loki.
I probably won't be updating this regularly until that other story is complete. But I wanted to post this now, for LittleMissMia123. She's been one of my most devoted readers and reviewers, and she's going through a hard time. I wanted to devote the next chapter of Sága to her, but I've hit a wee bit of writer's block. I know this first chapter is horrendously short, but it's what I've got and I hope you enjoy it anyway despite that. LittleMissMia123, I hope this helps cheer you up!
Chapter One: Run Into You
Loki Odinson had been wandering the castle grounds for hours. Thor and his friends had become too irritating to stand, so he had left them in search of something to quell his annoyance. His boredom was putting him on edge, making him easily angered and nearly murderous. Something interesting needed to happen before he took matters into his own hands.
Without warning, a small, dark figure darted around a corner and ran into him, face flat against his chest. His annoyance getting the better of him, he pushed her away—more roughly than specifically necessary—and snapped, "Watch where you're going, child."
Fury flashed through golden eyes, and she pushed him right back, with enough force to make him stumble back a step. "I am no child," she snarled.
Surprise overtook him first. He quickly gave her an appraising glance and realized that she was, in fact, fully grown—and quite well so, he didn't mind admitting—though clearly too petite to be an adult Asgardian woman. But before he had time to wonder about her race, his surprise and interest were eclipsed by anger, and he realized that she was shouldering her way past him and walking away without a second glance. He snatched at her arm, pulling her back to face him.
The look she gave him was so full of hate that he almost released her. Surely, he had not yet done anything to deserve all of that! But there was something beneath that hatred, a shame and sorrow profound enough to fuel it.
Before he could interpret that look, she was gone. Vanished entirely. His hand was gripping nothing but air. He glanced up and down the hall, but there was no sign of her anywhere, and no one else to have witnessed her disappearance.
Slowly, he straightened up and turned, heading around the corner she had come from. He could hear Volstagg's laughter all the way down the hall, and begrudgingly decided to return and see if they knew who the furious little woman had been. He strode into the room with as much an air of indifference as he could muster.
"Oh, brother! I fear you have returned too late! You have just missed Asgard's newest resident, Heimdall's daughter Sághildr."
He raised a brow, curiosity piqued. Perhaps they would prove to be useful for once. The odds were certainly in their favor. "Is that so?"
His answer came from Fandral, surprising no one. "Yes, and what an amusing, lovely, and tiny little thing she is! Mortal-born, I'm sure you remember?"
In fact, he had forgotten. That would explain her short stature. He forced a dangerously conciliator smirk, hiding his elation at this new turn of events. "You sound as though you've fallen for her already, Fandral."
"Oh, he was quite taken with her, as always!" Sif agreed with the usual bitter smirk she used whenever Fandral's attentions were fixed on another woman.
"I assure you, this time my love is true!"
"We have no question as to the authenticity of your many loves, friend," Hogun spoke up, his quiet voice silencing the room as always. "It is their many rejections that give us pause."
Loki lowered himself to sprawl out across one of the couches as the group of friends burst into raucous laughter. Even their miserable conversation could not dampen his renewed spirits, nor wipe the smirk from his face. He had wanted something interesting to disrupt his boredom. For once, it seemed his desires had been fulfilled.