Loki and Thor stood at their mother's sides, anxiously awaiting the carriages that were making their way from the gates to the palace. They had heard so much of the Vanir royal family from their mother, who had always been the closest friend and confidante of the now Queen of Vanaheim. Thor hopped up and down in excitement; but was quickly reprimand by his parents for his actions, while Loki stood stoic still. The brothers were told that the Vanir royal family had a child very similar to them in age, which to Thor meant the prospect of a new friend; however Loki was more apprehensive than his older brother, he was not as outgoing and preferred quiet and more sedate activities to the other prince.
As the carriages pulled up in front of the palace, the grandest one came to a halt just in front of them. A coachman opened the ornate door and soon after, the Vanir King exited, followed by his Queen, and finally came a young girl.
To Loki, the Vanir royals seemed comparable to the Aesir in most every way, just that they were a tad shorter, and though they were identical in features, their attire differed immensely in style.
"Tatiana." Frigga beamed as she walked forward to embrace her friend. "It is so good to see you, after all, this time. I am so glad you could make it."
"Frigga, thank you for your kind invitation. Norn's but it has been too long." The two kings were laughing at something beside them as their queen's spoke, their children standing by their sides. "My word, but how your sons have grown." Tatiana declared, looking at the princes. "I have not seen them since little Loki was being trained out of his cloths." Loki reddened visibly in embarrassment as Thor and the young girl both sniggered.
"It really has been too long." Frigga agreed. "Alexandra, I finally get to meet you." She addressed the girl with a genuine smile. "These are my sons, Prince Thor and Prince Loki." She placed her hand on the head of each of her sons as she stated his name. "And boys, this is Princess Alexandra." Both princes bowed at the young girl.
Thor stepped forward with a large grin on his face. "Princess Alexandra, would you care to join my brother and me in the training grounds and watch us spar?" He bowed.
Alexandra looked to her mother excitedly, and her mother gave a small nod so Alexandra turned back around to Thor and smiled in delight. "Thank you for you kind offer Prince Thor, I would love to watch you both. My parents have told me so much of Asgard's training, it would be an honour to see it first hand, yet not be on the receiving end." That comment earned her a few chuckles from the adults.
She walked along beside the two princes to the training arena, speaking animatedly with Thor on a multitude of subjects as Loki remained quiet alongside them, silently listening and not partaking in the conversation.
When they arrived at the training area, Thor indicated to Alexandra where to stand before the brothers retrieved their training gear and walked into the sand-covered arena.
"We are proficient in many weapons," Thor explained as he took a wooden sword and a shield for himself.
"I see." Alexandra smiled before she turned to Loki. "Prince Loki, are you going to get a weapon?" She asked as she noted he had yet to choose one.
"No." He stated abruptly. Thor frowned at him as Alexandra looked on confused. "I am not being blamed if she gets hurt."
"No one is going to get hurt Loki, besides Princess Alexandra is merely watching us, nothing more. And I doubt she is utterly clueless on the matter, she would have had to receive training in defence also, though you are welcome to join us if you which Princess. And were any of us to receive a minor injury, all our parents would see it as a minor side effect of training. So there is no issue."
"I will be blamed if anything goes awry, I always am." Loki barked before walking off.
"Prince Loki is not as gregarious as you, is he?" Alexandra asked, watching the younger Aesir prince leave.
"I fear the last thing you can accuse my brother of being is gregarious Princess Alexandra," Thor informed her. "So, care to see which one of us is the better fighter?"
X
"What in the realms?" Odin bellowed as the two youngsters returned to the great halls of the palace.
"Oh for goodness sake Odin, they were in the training grounds, it is not as though such things never happen there. There is always a chance of such incidents. You are alright Alexandra, are you not?" The girl nodded. "See, her bruises will be healed by dinner." Her father dismissed.
"Nonetheless, Thor, you should not have been so rough, she is of slighter build. And where is Loki?" Odin demanded.
"He did not partake in the training, he went to the training grounds but then left again," Thor informed him.
"Why ever not?"
"I think it was that he did not wish to risk being shown up in a fight to a girl."
Odin became angered at his younger son's actions and saw fit to punish him by having him polish armour for an afternoon for his dismissive manner.
Loki grumbled as he shone the twelfth breastplate, cursing Thor and the princess for revealing he had not done his training. As he inspected a piece of metal, he noticed a reflection on it. "What do you want?" He asked angrily.
"I'm sorry that you got in trouble," Alexandra stated.
"Yeah, then why tell on me? I knew I would get blamed." He snarled, getting back to the cleaning.
"You were not blamed for me getting bruised, you were only reprimanded for not training." Alexandra pointed out.
"Well no matter what Thor does, he does not get blamed. So I was right regardless. Precious Thor cannot have fault, and neither can you apparently."
"What is it you are implying?" Alexandra was becoming indignant.
"The manner in which you are acting, all high and mighty, just because you will be queen some day." Loki spat.
"I came here to help you get this work done, but if you are just going to resort to nasty comments, then forget it, you pompous…"
"How dare you call me such things." Loki rose to his feet.
"Well, you feel as though you have the right to speak in such a manner to me. What's the matter, can you not take as good as you give?" The princess challenged.
Irate, Loki left, utterly speechless.
The remainder of the visit by the Vanir royal family was marked by the younger Aesir prince nigh on refusing to leave his rooms while Alexandra and Thor enjoyed one another's company. The pair bonding over pursuits such as training and discussing their lessons.
When the day came for the Vanir family to leave, Loki watched their departure from a window high above, relieved that he would not have to see that vile girl again anytime soon. He walked through the halls happily as he made his way back to the training grounds to make up for lost time. There, he found his brother already holding his own training weapons.
"You are alive!" Thor declared loudly. "Mother will be most relieved."
"Shut up. I hope you had fun with your new girlfriend while she was here." Loki snapped back.
"I enjoyed Alexandra's company immensely, but were we ever to like each other in that manner, it would not be permitted. She is to be the queen of Vanaheim, and I; the king of Asgard." Thor pointed out. "Not that I see her in such a manner. We just agreed that as the future rulers, we need to be good friends, and thankfully, it appears such will be easy for us."
Loki picked up his own wooden sword and stretched. "Well off with you both, forgive me if I don't join you."
