There were certain things princes just did not do, and bothering a lady while she was busy should be one of them. Eira sighed to herself as her long time friend– and prince of Asgard– kept pestering her.

"Thor, I told you I'm busy," she repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"You can fuss with your plants later," the god of thunder whined.

"I need to replenish the supplies in the healing rooms," Eira replied, clipping leaves from the herbs on the table in front of her. "And stop whining."

"I am not whining!"

"We've known each other since we were little. I can tell when you're whining."

Eira had known Thor and his brother Loki since all three of them were very young. She had endured years of playing "damsel in distress" with the brothers before starting her training as a healer. She found that she enjoyed helping people.

"Come, Eira," Thor urged. "You can do that later. The feast is starting."

"It must be done now."

"Loki will be there," he replied.

Eira rolled her eyes. It was no secret that she and the god of mischief were close. Too close, some said, but they were the kind of people that Eira ignored anyway.

"I must be in the healing rooms," she pressed.

"But why?"

"Because some drunken fool is bound to injure himself." After that, Eira decided that the conversation was over and shooed the Asir price out of her rooms.

Loki smiled as he watched Eira tend to the healing herbs she kept in her window sill. She was very careful with them, very gentle. She was just as gentle with the patients she healed. It didn't matter how sick or injured they were, Eira treated them all with the same care and respect. It was one of the things he loved about her.

"Lady Eira?" he asked softly, not wanting to startle her. He had enough sharp objects thrown at him throughout the centuries to know better.

"I'm no lady," she laughed.

"But you're my lady," he replied, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. Eira rolled her eyes.

"If this is about the feast, I'm not going," she said.

"But we have an important announcement to make," he chided, feigning hurt.

Eira stared at him, very confused. She couldn't think of any announcement that needed to be made. Unless she was pregnant and didn't know about it. Which was impossible.

"What announcement?" she asked slowly, afraid of what his answer might be. One never knew what to expect when the god of mischief was involved. Loki's grin spread until it took up most of his face.

"Our engagement, of course!" he replied, beaming.

Eira opened her mouth, about to tell him that they weren't engaged yet and then stopped. She gaped in disbelief for a moment before smacking him on the arm. Hard.

"Loki Odinson, that it the worst proposal I have ever heard!" her words seemed harsh, but she was smiling.

"Oh really? How many times has a man proposed to you?" he teased.

"Well, all I can say is that your proposal when we were children was much more romantic."

Loki shrugged and grabbed her hand, "We mustn't be late."

"Wait!" she cried, giggling. "I never said yes!"

"Of course you did," he replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"When?"

"When we were children."

It took everything in Eira's power to keep a smile on her face. She was tired of fielding questions and well-wishes and wanted nothing more than to be somewhere else. The only thing that made it bearable was that the man standing next to her was just as uncomfortable as she was.

"Do you still think this was a good idea?" she muttered once some of the excitement had died down.

"Well I couldn't wait much longer," he replied. "Otherwise, some strong, handsome warrior would come along and sweep you off your feet."

"That would never happen, and you know it."

Loki smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her on the temple.

"I would suggest a walk in the gardens," he replied, glancing over the top of her head. "But my brother is currently making a beeline toward us."

Eira didn't have time to react before she was swept up into a bone-crushing hug and lifted several inches off the floor.

"Eira!" Thor bellowed. "I'm so glad! I've always wanted a sister!"

"You've called her sister since we were children," Loki reminded his brother, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

"Well yes . . . but now it's official!"

"Thor, put the healer down," a female voice called from across the room. A warrior maiden walked over to the small group, accompanied by Fandral.

"Arnora, thanks the gods," Eira greeted her friend once the god of thunder set her down and she could breathe again.

"I'm sorry to take you away from your fiancé," Arnora continued. "But I'm to tell you that you're needed in the healing rooms."

Loki watched as Eira's smile faded from her face and was replaced with a look of concern. He could tell by the look on Arnora's face and the tone of her voice that something serious had happened. Eira pulled away from him to close the distance between the two women.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know much," her friend admitted. "Just that it's a child."

Eira looked back at Loki apologetically. She was about to ask his forgiveness, but he interrupted her.

"Go," he urged gently. "You're needed. I'll meet you later."

He kissed the top of her hand before she hurried off to the healing rooms.