Chapter 1 – Confidence Is Half The Battle

Don't even trip
Don't get too big for your britches
All these bones been jumping out of your closet

He had never seen a dog quite so large, if it was in fact a dog and not a small horse in disguise. Though the woman was no match in height for his mother, she was still of average height for the Aesir and even then, the monstrous animal's head was just above hers.

"What is it you wish?" Odin's voice, calm and powerful, cut through the quiet.

Unlike the other petitioners, Loki noticed, at his voice she straightened, rather than tensed, her shoulders. "Allfather, I -we- bid your leave to join Asgard's forces." There was a stifled murmur that went through those who had come to watch proceedings that day. Aside from Sif, there were no women in the service of Asgard.

Odin ignored the murmurs. "We?"

The woman nodded, smiling at the nuzzle the beasts name earned her. "Myself and Vidar." She touched the animal's muzzle without looking away from Odin.

"What sort of beast is that?" Odin still hadn't bothered with her name yet.

"A hound, my lord." She fell silent after that.

Odin, realizing she was awaiting his judgment and would speak no more, cleared his throat. Loki smiled. Silence, in the right context, could unsettle his father. "What sort of training do you claim, and of what use is your hound?"

"Vidar mostly tracks and hunts." She smiled. "But sometimes, when needful, he fights. I am skilled with both a blade and a bow."

"How skilled?" The curiosity in Odin's tone brought forth a quiet hum of whispers from onlookers.

She smiled slightly. "Who would you have me best, Allfather?"

Loki glanced to his father, noting Thor shift in his seat on Odin's other side. His brother was clearly taking a liking to this maiden. This could be entertaining.

A corner of Odin's mouth lifted momentarily at her phrasing before he turned his head to his second son. "Loki, would you do the lady the kindness of your sparring skills?"

He raised an eyebrow, nodding once. Odin may have appreciated her confidence, but he clearly did not want another women among Asgard's forces. "Of course, father." He rose, holding a hand in the direction of the arena. "Shall we say one hour from now, my lady?"

"Yes, my lord." She bowed low to Odin and his sons before swiftly straightening and turning to leave. She did not look back, and it seemed she did not need to; the great beast stalked after her without prompting.

There was something in her bearing -a certain amount of grace- that made him think of the peoples of Alfheim, Loki decided as he strode towards his chambers to retrieve his sparring gear, but she was not so in her looks. Hopefully her hound would be watching and not participating. It seemed perfectly well-behaved, but it's sheer size was something Loki had never seen before, and he wondered where in the Nine Realms she'd found it.

When he arrived at the practice grounds a quarter of an hour early, he found the woman was already there. She had taken off her riding cloak, dressed now in only brown trousers and a violet tunic. She had twined her long, golden-red locks not usually characteristic of the Aesir into a low bun and was idly twirling the practice sword she had been given, adjusting to it's weight and balance as she awaited her challenger and his father. Her sword, quiver and bow, and a small rucksack lay off to one side, as did her hound. He wondered what an unknown, unidentifiable shield maiden was doing in Asgard looking for a permanent place among the realm's guard.

"My lady." Loki strode into the arena, moving his hand from his heart and motioning to the space in front of him in greeting. "My father -and likely my brother- will arrive shortly. Have you had enough time to prepare?"

She bowed slightly. "I have, my lord. What are to be the terms of our contest?"

Loki noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that her hound was now sitting instead of laying down, watching him carefully as Loki interacted with his master. "If you can best me, you will be permitted to join Odin's army. If I best you…" he smiled. "Well. If I best you, likely not."

She smiled. "Do all of those in the service of Asgard go through such a trial?"

Loki grinned briefly. "No."

She shook her head. "Thank the gods, I would hate to think there was an entire army that could best an Odinson."

Loki bristled internally at that.

"No wonder it is just the Lady Sif, then. Well, and soon myself."

Loki noticed his father and brother seat themselves near the edge of the arena. "So sure of yourself, are you?"

At a sound from her formidable companion, she snapped her fingers and lowered her palm to the ground. The hound slid to a laying position without another noise. The woman smiled wide at Loki once the animal had settled. "Confidence is half the battle, my lord."

Loki spun his practice sword in one hand, stepping back several paces and readying himself. He motioned her to advance upon him with his other hand. "And the other half?"

She nodded, circling him briefly before stepping in, sword sweeping towards his right side, which Loki caught with a swift, effortless parry. "Knowledge."

He took aim at her right side, but at the last moment shifted to strike her left. She was fast, very fast, and parried the blow. He shifted into a series of short, quick attacks, forcing her backwards. He had struck three times before, on the fourth, she blocked his sword and quickly -quicker than he, somehow- shifted her weight as she pushed his blade up out of the way, ending up behind him. He turned to face her as he brought his sword down and found the tip of hers resting under his chin.

Even as the words do you yield began to leave her mouth, Loki continued the downward motion of his arm as he pivoted backwards. She ducked under his blow. As she did so, he teleported to be behind her, a smile on his face. A smile that vanished as she straightened, her sword sweeping his weapon away and finding it's way, again, under his chin, this time pressing lightly.

"Do you yield, my lord?"

He ignored her question, eyes narrow. "How did you do that?"

She smiled. "I have heard of you, Prince Loki, and how not? I did it simply: I was not expecting a fight devoid of your talents."

He couldn't help but grin ever so slightly. He stepped back and bowed. As he straightened, he turned to his father, an arm out in his challenger's direction. "The advantage is my lady's."

Odin raised his eyebrow; Thor was grinning fit to split his face. After a few moments thought, Odin nodded. "You may join, my lady."

She smiled wide, though quickly schooled her features as she bowed low. "Thank you, Allfather, I am honored."

"What is your name, my lady?" Loki had to give him credit, Thor had at least given a few moments pause to not seem so overexcited.

She inclined her head. "Ilmr, of Vanaheim."

Loki's eyes widened only momentarily. Thor was not quite so well versed in subtlety and could not help himself. "Lady Ilmr!" He clambered down from his seat into the arena to kiss her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you - had we but known-"

"-Had you known, my lord," she interrupted him, "You would not have let me try."

At that, Loki did smile.

Odin narrowed his gaze. "My lady, I apologize, but I must retract my blessing."

Ilmr's face fell. "You can't!"

Odin chuckled. "You will find, my lady, that I can. Your father would never allow-"

"-My father has no care for a daughter with five older brothers and who does not want for needlepoint or high tea. I have come with his blessing: if I could prove myself worthy of the Allfather's army, I would be allowed to stay." She marched over to her belongings, heedless of Thor's wide eyes and Loki's well-stifled laugh at the sight of anyone but his mother cutting of his father mid-sentence. She produced a wax-sealed piece of parchment, holding it to Odin. "From my father, proof of his blessing."

Odin took the letter dubiously, cracking the seal and reading over the contents briefly. He stared over the letter at Ilmr. She stared back unperturbed. Loki caught his brother's eye, who seemed to be thinking the same thing would they see their father smite someone in the middle of the palace arena?

Odin folded the letter. "And your mother?"

Ilmr shrugged. "My mother has two other, younger, daughters. She has no need for a warrior when she has a harpist and a seer." She fell quiet after that, waiting patiently under Odin's gaze.

Eventually, many minutes later, he nodded. Ilmr had not done much more than bat an eyelash the whole time. "Very well. You are welcome to stay, and you are welcome in Asgard's army." He held up a hand before she could bow again. "You will, however, per your father's note, continue life here as befitting of your station when not fulfilling your duties with the realm's guard."

Loki could see her jaw clench slightly, but she smoothed her features and nodded. "As you wish, Allfather. Thank you."

Thor beamed. He was clearly hoping to set himself up as her host, guide, and personal heater. "Father, I will be glad to show the Lady Ilmr to her chambers."

Odin nodded. "Very well. She may take a chamber of her choosing in the Lesser Hall." He looked to Ilmr. "Welcome to Asgard."

She smiled wide, bowing low a final time in thanks. When she straightened, she gave her thigh two short slaps. At the noise, her hound stood, straps of her bag and weapons gathered in his mouth, and padded to her side. She looked to Loki, then. "Thank you, my lord."

Loki inclined his head. "The pleasure was mine."

She nodded once before turning to Thor. "Lead the way, Prince Thor."

Loki watched as his brother, Ilmr, and her hound left the arena. When they were out of sight, he looked to his father. "Do you think this is wise, father?"

Odin glanced down to his youngest son. "If you are implying I make poor decisions, I would suggest rephrasing. But yes, I do."

Loki sensed his father wouldn't elaborate, so he took it upon himself to retrieve his practice sword and head for his own chambers.

"…Our chambers are just at the other end of this wing, in the Greater Hall. Truly, they are not much different, save for the company." Loki could hear the smile in Thor's voice as he led Ilmr around the Lesser Hall. "There are four chambers at this end - as father said, whichever you like best you may have."

Her voice was harder to hear, as she wasn't shouting as his brother was wont to do, but when he concentrated, Loki could make it out just fine despite the background noise elsewhere in the halls behind him. "Thank you, my lord. Though I would just as soon the same apartments afforded the other soldiers."

Thor laughed, a great booming sound. "Father would not stand for that - more importantly, neither would mother." Loki came around the corner as Thor continued, having turned to her hound. "What say you, boy? A warm bed is better than a cold floor, is it not?"

Loki smiled inwardly seeing the animal stare straight back at Thor blankly. He took the time to speak himself. "You may want to leave conversing with animals to the elves, brother."

Thor grinned. "Loki! Come, help me show our new guest around. She has yet to choose a room."

Ilmr smiled wryly. "You have yet to show me any."

Loki bit his cheek. He was enjoying her lack of interest in Odin or Thor's positions.

Thor pushed open a door on their right, revealing a large space with a connected bath. A desk sat just inside and to the left of a balcony. A few feet away, a large bed carved from cherry wood was situated on top of a large rug made of animal pelts. Across from the door to the bath, kitty-corner, was a large, comfortable-looking chair with an ottoman and a bookshelf next to it. Two settees were also present - one on the balcony and the other facing the chair and ottoman. The high ceilings made the space light and airy.

Ilmr nodded. "This will do just fine."

Thor furrowed his brow. "You don't want to see the others?"

She smiled, one shoulder lifting in a shrug. "It has everything I need - and Vidar needs. I thank you." She looked to the hound and clicked her tongue softly. Vidar strode into the room and dropped her things by the bed before taking it upon himself to sniff around their new lodgings. "He seems to like it, anyway."

Thor smiled. "He is very well-trained, Lady Ilmr."

Loki caught her glance before she slid her eyes to Thor. "Haven't you heard, Prince Thor? Elves are the ones who converse best with birds and beasts."

Thor laughed while Loki tried not to grit his teeth. Thor slapped his back, nearly knocking him over. "And what sort of elf are you, my lady, who can hide her nature so?"

"I am half-elven. My mother is elf-kind, my father Vanir. What my sisters gained in elven features, they lack in many of the elven senses."

That's how she had done it, Loki realized. That's the only way she could have possibly been faster. That's how she'd beaten him. "You heard me."

Ilmr glanced to Loki as he spoke for the first time since he announced his arrival. "Even so, it was almost half a moment too late. They speak of your talent, Prince Loki, but they do not do it half the justice it deserves."

Thor broke in before Loki could speak again. "You may be the only one who will say so, my lady. None have been able to beat him in the field because of his tricks."

She raised her eyebrows slightly. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean." She held a hand palm up in Loki's direction. "Your brother has a talent for magic and uses it to his advantage, as he should. If the stories are true, you use Mjolnir to your advantage where others do not possess a weapon of similar fortitude, do you not?" She smiled. "It is not his fault his challengers do not appropriately prepare to spar with him."

Seeing Thor's mouth work once or twice and Loki's own small but satisfied grin, she inclined her head. "Now if you do not mind, my lords, I am going to better acquaint myself with my new quarters. Perhaps I will see you in the arena or banquet hall later on." Without waiting for a response, she turned into her chamber.

Loki had to listen to Thor the whole way back from the Lesser Hall to the throne room where Odin had resumed hearing petitions. Listen was too strong a word, he supposed. He had to suffer Thor's background noise the whole walk back. Loki himself had been too busy thinking.

She had voiced to Thor what he always bit his own tongue on, because it did not matter. Thor was the favored son and it would be seen as whining, not reasoning, if Loki said what Ilmr had. She had also said something he hadn't heard before from others - his talent. Most in Asgard considered it a portent of ill tidings, Loki's propensity for magic. At best, it was labeled cheating. None had called it a talent, outside of his mother. But Ilmr had called it thus twice so far.

He took his place on Odin's left, setting his features to a mask of mild interest as proceedings continued.

"Do you think she will join us this morning, brother?" Thor had barely paused mid-bite to ask his question. Much to his older brother's chagrin, the Lady Ilmr did not make another appearance the previous day at the arena or in the banquet hall.

"I know not." Loki skewered candied fruit as he continued. "But she does live just down the hall now, I don't doubt you'll see her eventually."

Thor gave his brother a sidelong look. "You are in a most foul mood, for a man with a beautiful houseguest. Are you bitter about your loss yesterday?"

"No." Loki popped a grape into his mouth. "But I do tire of your incessant chatter. You haven't stopped talking about her since she arrived." He raised an eyebrow. "One might get the wrong impression and think you're taken with her."

"I am." Thor beamed.

Loki tsked quietly, nodding to a dark-haired woman at a lower table. "And what would the Lady Sif think? Surely it would not be wise to pit the only two woman-warriors we have against one another in a contest for your heart."

"Unfortunately, Prince Loki, my adversary would not have much to fight; I am afraid I do not ascribe to the art of fawning over my male counterparts as my sisters seem to." Ilmr sat down across from him, her plate piled high with all manner of fruit, meat and cheese.

"Lady Ilmr! Good morrow." Thor made no secret of his joy at her presence.

"Prince Thor." She turned to Loki. "Prince Loki."

"Where is your hound this morning, my lady?" Thor was doing his best not to stare at the sheer amount of food she had in front of her and barely managed. Even Sif, who kept up with him and the Warriors Three, did not eat so much.

"Vidar is asleep." She plucked grapes from the small bunch she had grabbed as she smiled, speaking quietly as if in confidence. "He likes to sleep in."

Thor laughed. "He is quite large, one would imagine he needs much rest."

"He's acts as a child would, mostly. He is still young, barely out of puppyhood, he has yet to fill out." She shrugged. "But I indulge him, as he's still growing. I will eat my fill and then bring him a plate." It was slightly terrifying to think that the animal was not done growing yet and judging from the look on Thor's face, he was thinking the same thing Loki was.

"Do you not share your food with him?" Thor was still eyeing her plate.

"No." She smiled, looking at Thor with a curious smile that was far too innocent to be innocent. "Why, does it seem like a great amount of food?"

"No, my lady. I mean, well, yes, but-" Loki was going to enjoy having her around despite her haughty attitude, few people could tongue-tie his brother so.

She stifled a laugh. "-But I know for most ladies it is an unbecoming amount of food. Fortunately, I will need all of this in order to keep my strength up."

"...For what?"

She laughed. "Training." She tucked in then, wrapping up meat and cheese together, or wrapping cheese around pieces of fruit. Thor watched in fascinated adoration.

Loki was thankful for his years of practice masking his features and took the opportunity to speak while Thor was still dumbfounded. "What made you choose Asgard, my lady?"

She gave Loki a small, thoughtful smile as she peeled an orange. "Many things. I had never seen Asgard, and it's forces are the best in the Nine Realms."

That was only two things, but Loki did not push further. "And what is it you seek, as part of Asgard's army?"

She separated a wedge, popping it into her mouth after replying. "Many things."

Shortly after Loki and Thor had reached at the arena to train for the morning, Ilmr arrived, Vidar in tow carrying her rucksack carefully in his mouth. Loki used Thor's distraction against him and disarmed his brother.

"Yield?"

"Yield, brother!" Thor agreed as he retrieved his sword. "Tell me," For once, Thor had lowered his voice. He would have to write the day down. "Do you not think she is most unusual?"

Loki watched her warm up after wrapping her hands in well-worn cloth. She was all grace and purposeful movement, no step or swing wasted. Her hound watched dutifully from where he lay against the nearby wall. "Unusual how?"

Thor shrugged, watching her as well, though Loki ventured a guess that he was paying less attention to her sparring form and more her physical form. "She is very...forthright, but then not so at all. She seems to find much amusing, though in what I know not. And that animal..." Loki glanced to Vidar again. He was quite imposing, he'd give Thor that much. "He is most ...strange. I have not seen it's like before."

Loki reached for his water skin as he thought of a reply. "You are just used to a woman falling before your feet. Even Sif does it. It seems to me she finds your bafflement at her ability to keep her wits in your presence amusing. I will grant you her hound, though. He I have yet to comprehend. I have not seen such a creature in any of my reading."

Two hours later, as he and his brother left the arena, Loki chanced a backward glance, watching Ilmr continue with her practice, moving through the motions as though they were second nature. Perhaps they were.

Mostly, Loki hadn't figured Ilmr out yet, and it irked him. She spoke so little and when she did, she was more enigmatic than himself. Her confidence was another point that he did not understand - clearly the family outcast, but it did not seem to lessen her surety of purpose or self. And then there was the hound. Vidar, she called him. He had never seen something that large called a hound. It was clearly not meant to be a domesticated animal. But where did she get it, and how did she domesticate it so thoroughly? It was completely uninterested in anyone around it, unless it directly affected his master, who he followed around like the puppy he apparently was.

He took a small amount of pride in Thor's inability to charm her immediately; she clearly had her wits about her and would not be fooled or impressed by bravado. He had never ventured to the lands in Vanaheim her father presided over, but he had to be one to contend with, given that she'd cut off Odin once and Thor a number of times by now. He would need to study her further.

"Loki! Come quickly!"

Loki's head snapped up from his book. It was not often that Fandral addressed him so, if at all. He set aside his book and hurried after the tow-haired warrior.

"You must see this, I've…-it's very …strange."

By the time they got to the arena, Loki had gathered that Ilmr was still training, though now with Vidar. The huge animal was stalking her around the arena, crouched low as if hunting prey. She, in turn, had a short staff in hand and circled him anti-clockwise. The animal sprung at her and she tucked and rolled, ending up beside him, giving his hindquarters a smack. In response, Vidar snapped at her staff; she moved not half a moment too soon.

Teasing the animal, she pushed him back from one side to the center of the arena. She clearly hadn't noticed as far as Loki could tell, but by now most of those that had been training in the arena had stopped to watch their sparring. Quick as lightening, Vidar sprang forward and twisted to one side in the air, knocking Ilmr off her feet. As she rolled, he stomped after her form underfoot. Many observers jerked forward momentarily as if to rush to her aid, but then thought better of it considering the size of the hound. Loki merely watched.

She didn't need the assistance, it seemed, as within a few moments she had knocked one of the beast's great paws out from under him and as he fell down towards her, she pushed his front paws up and to one side, ending up sitting on his massive chest, knees keeping her weight off of him, though Loki wasn't entirely sure that was necessary. They were both still for a moment before Vidar started furiously wagging his tail, raising a great cloud of dust and a dull drumbeat.

Giving his chin a scratch, she stood and dusted herself off, only then glancing up and stopping short noticing the watchful crowd, small though it was. She slapped a hand against her thigh and Vidar rolled to his feet, loping after her as she walked towards the entryway to the arena without another moment's hesitation.

Fandral glanced to Loki. "What do you make of that?"

For his part, Loki did his best not to sigh. It seemed Fandral was now taken with her, too. It was easy to see why; without speaking much, she kept an inherent mystery to her that otherwise would likely have exposed a much more blasé background. "I think, Fandral, that she practices often with her animal."

Ilmr inclined her head as she approached. "My lords. Will either of you be venturing out of the palace in the coming fortnight?"

Fandral couldn't help himself. "Is there something I could help you with, my lady?"

"A guide."

Fandral knit his brows together. "Where to?"

"Any nearby open spaces - forest, meadow; anything." She gestured behind her. "I would not wish this upon myself or Vidar again."

"It was a sight to behold, truly. You would not practice here again and indulge a few curious soldiers?"

She smiled slightly. "No."

Loki spoke before Fandral could take it upon himself to look hurt. "I would be glad to lead you, Lady Ilmr. There are many places you could practice unseen that are not more than an hour ride from the palace."

"Perfect." She glanced to Vidar before looking back to Loki, a curious expression hovering over her features. "Would you be willing to lead us there now?"

He wasn't quite sure what her hurry was, but he acquiesced. "Of course. I will meet you in the stables in a quarter of an hour."

"What brings a high-born daughter of Vanaheim to the ranks of Asgard's forces?" They had been riding for almost ten minutes in near silence aside from banal pleasantries, Vidar easily keeping pace with his long legs.

She stole a glance at Loki before sighing, clearly taking a few moments to properly form her reply. "As I said, Prince Loki: my father has five elder sons to whom he will pledge the land, and political and military positions of Vanaheim. My mother has two other daughters who are well pleased to act their role and become political pawns and housewives. I have neither desire or place among the Vanir."

"Loki."

She raised an eyebrow before nodding. "Ilmr."

Loki allowed the faintest of grins to pass his lips before continuing. "You are the eldest daughter, are you not? Surely there is a place for you in the plans of your parents."

"There was. I bargained for my own place in the Nine Realms. My father did not believe that I would be successful in my bid for a place among Asgardians. He wagered my identity would be discovered and I would be turned away." She smiled. "I think he was sure I would present his letter before, instead of after, winning our contest." Ilmr glanced at him again. "But what of you? Do you not also have a place in the plans of your parents?"

Loki frowned. "I do."

"And?"

He gave her a blank expression. "I do not know what you mean by that."

"Of course you do. Thor's place in Asgard is as mighty as his weapon. You sit on the Allfather's left side. You know as well as I do the place that has been carved for you. Do you not think to bargain for the place you want?"

Loki blinked at her, narrowing his eyes. He brought his horse to block her way, ignoring the growl the motion elicited from Vidar. "You know nothing of me."

Loki was surprised to see her smile, unfazed by the glare he had fixed on her. "And yet you presume to find out all you can about me? This will not do, Loki. We are more similar than you realize, you and I." She nudged her horse past him. "And as I recall, I seem to be the only one who takes you wholly into account, if Odin is to be believed."

He stared after her a moment before catching up and riding close beside her. He was unsure when he became less able to mask himself, but it seemed that since she'd arrived the day before, she had made it nearly impossible for him to remain passive in many things. This venture was learning her more about him than he planned. Without much information from her, he could not properly discount her from his day-to-day goings-on and he needed to; a haughty, discarded princess would greatly interrupt him. "What makes you think others do not account for me?"

"For one? Your upset at my assertion. For another, Thor's insistence that it's cheating to use your magic, and Odin's surprise that anyone could best you if they accounted for this talent, as though no one had thought of it before. Is that true?"

She brought her horse to a halt when he didn't answer, looking at him straight on. It made him uncomfortable, to have her search his face so. He nudged his horse forward a couple steps. After a several moments silence, she nodded to herself. "It is, isn't it? They do not fully account for you because they have measured you against their faults and found you somehow wanting instead of themselves."

Loki's eyes widened but he quickly nudged his horse back into a trot. He had never had someone speak to him thusly, and he wasn't sure whether he was relieved or put off. After several minutes of silence, he spoke as they entered a fairly large clearing in the trees. "This place is as good as any; you and Vidar will be left in peace to train."

"Loki." She stopped him as he turned to leave. "If you return, Thor and Fandral will pester you to no end." She motioned to the open space around them. "Stay." As he started to turn away again, she continued. "I will tell you what you wish to know about Vidar."

That did bring him up short, and he sighed. He wasn't sure how she could read him so well, but he did not like it. She was not two days into her indefinite stay in Asgard. Given enough time, it would drive him mad. He had spent years constructing his mask, making sure none could read him. To have that upper hand amongst his family and peers shattered not long after her arrival would be too much for him. Still, he reasoned, he would likely be able to read her -and keep her from reading him- if he spent the time now, however uncomfortable he was. He slid off his horse and tied him to a low-hanging branch at the edge of the clearing.

Ilmr smiled and did the same. Calling Vidar over, she sat down on the grass, turning her hand as he approached so her palm faced the sky. The hound rolled onto his back, presenting her his belly and the drumbeat of his tail sounded as she indulged him in a bellyrub. "He likes you, you know."

Loki sat down several feet away. "How so? I have not spent any time around the creature and when I do, he's growling."

"Vidar," she corrected him, "does not bother with your brother. He stares past him, through him; bored. He tracks you with his eyes."

Loki nodded. "Perhaps he does not like me and he's merely keeping an eye on me."

She shook her head. "Elves can speak with the birds and beasts, remember?" He disliked that she had thrown that back at him for the second time in as many days.

"How did you come upon him?"

She rolled up one sleeve to a wide, pink scar that ran from just below her elbow and disappeared up into her sleeve. "His kind hail from Nidavelir, but often times rock trolls thieve them from the dwarfs to bring into their own lands."

"And how did you end up with him?"

She smiled. "My eldest brother, Anleifr, convinced me to travel with him to Nidavelir. He had heard tales of the Cailean -the type of hound Vidar is- and wanted one for himself. They grow so large and loyal if acquired as pups, he felt that it would be a fitting memento of this particular adventure to another world." She gave Loki a pointed look. "He was not unlike your brother and his exploits, from the tales I've heard."

"And how did you end up with the pup meant for your brother?"

"He died. I had had six brothers, Anleifr was the oldest and he had always had a fondness for me, as the oldest daughter. Some centuries ago - maybe four - he convinced me to go with him on this adventure. I agreed, foolhardy as I was for five hundred. We knew of the unrest between the dwarves and rock trolls but we went anyway. When we arrived in Nidavelir, it was fairly quiet, but on our way out with no luck sighting one of the Cailean, we found ourselves on the edge of a vicious skirmish. The rock trolls thought we had come to aid the dwarves and we ended up trying to fight our way out to the Bifrost site. My brother was the best of us, with a sword, but the size and might of the rock trolls was too much." She smiled briefly. "He was trying to look out for me, though he shouldn't have. I managed to support his weight until we found a cave, deciding to hide until the battle ended, but he didn't make it; he was hurt worse than he led me to believe. I covered his body with stones, and as I made my way back to the Bifrost site I came across a Cailean pup among the battlegrounds. Whether it was dropped or abandoned -or orphaned- I didn't know, but he was weak. I took him with me."

Loki nodded. "And he has been at your side ever since? Four hundred years is a long time, for a hound of his size."

"They live a long time - two thousand years, more or less, or so the tales say. I've never seen another. He looks and acts as though he's still a pup; he's only just beginning to fill out. You saw what I brought him for food this morning when I left the banquet hall."

"Almost as much food as you eat, I know."

She sat back on her heels, rummaging through her rucksack. "I have been training for five hours today and I'm not quite finished yet. Without that much fuel, I could never hope to properly practice or further develop my skill."

Loki furrowed his brow. "Why so much practice?" She was shaping up to be much of what he had hoped - a few interesting stories, but mostly ordinary.

She smiled. "The same reason you try so hard to remain expressionless: what I want I must try twice as hard for in order to have even the slightest chance."

Loki had a blade at her throat in the space of a heartbeat. "You forget your place."

The deep, gravel-grating sound that issued from Vidar's chest did not surprise Loki. Her hand motioning his silence and stillness did. She did not move otherwise, save to return Loki's glare with a passive stare. "My place has no bearing on the truth." She watched him quietly, continuing to disregard the blade still at her throat. "What is it that unsettles you so?"

Loki shifted, sitting back. He was quiet for several minutes before looking back to Ilmr, the curiosity in his tone edged with cruelty. "What did your father say, when you returned home with a pup in tow and news of his dead heir?"

She did not take his bait, much to his chagrin. "He was livid. I was punished for allowing him to die." She shrugged slightly, toying with the tufts of tawny-colored, wiry fur on Vidar's back. "We have not had a good relationship since. As much as he was anticipating my return to Vanaheim, I imagine he is well pleased with the news I have sent that I will not be returning."

She noted his look of mild bewilderment. It was the most emotion of any kind he had purposely allowed her to see since she arrived. "Do you not resent your brother for what happened?"

"Anleifr?" She watched Loki nod. "Why would I resent him?"

"Because of him, you suffered."

"My father's faults are not the burden of my brother to bear."

"Were you not jealous of him, as you grew, watching your father favor him over you and your siblings and, once he had died, were you not jealous that you could not command similar emotion from your father, had it been you?"

Ilmr regarded him as she thought. "Loki, I don't know if you're too young by Asgardian standards to know this, or you simply have never been told, but...envy? Envy is like holding your hand in flame and expecting that you will not be burned."

He scoffed. "We cannot all be so pure of heart, my lady."

"I do not say that I do not envy. I say that I try not to let it make my decisions for me. You would do well to remember that for yourself."

Loki would give her the credit, no matter the glare, word or weapon, she did not back down from him. She had gone back to idly mussing Vidar's fur when he finally spoke again. He did not try to hide the sarcasm in his voice. "Did your mother teach you this?"

She didn't spare him a glance as she shook her head. "My nursemaid. My mother was not in the business of being envious of much overlong. She got what she wanted when she wanted it - such is the life of an elven princess. Granted, she had a better life than most, but my nursemaid knew envy well. She didn't have the luxury of imagining what she was missing; she knew exactly, as my constant caretaker. She had the burden of feeling -and becoming bedmates with- envy. She did her best, when she saw it in me, to teach me what she had had to come to terms with." Ilmr finally raised her eyes to meet Loki's. "I am a covetous creature, Loki, do not think I am not. I will never be Solveig; she was a woman without parallel. She was the pure-hearted woman."

His mood was slowly beginning to sour. "Sadly I have not had the luxury you have had, of kind minders and the ability to bargain for your freedom."

She twisted her lips to one side as she watched him. Loki thought she would let the comment lie. She didn't. "You are both the prisoner and the warden. Remember that."

He stood in a single, fluid motion. "Enjoy your practice."

Loki fumed the entire ride back to the palace. How dare she. This haughty, aloof, downright pedantic woman deigned to speak to him so. She needed to learn her place. She might have been royalty in Vanaheim, but she was in Asgard now. Her station at home afforded her well-appointed chambers in the palace, but no more than that, and she was a fool to think otherwise.

A/N: Hi, All! I'm going to try to update this weekly as I'm a bit ahead of myself in terms of writing and editing. The italicized song lyrics (and title of this story) are taken from Peeping Tom's "Don't Even Trip". I have a playlist in my head for this story that I think fits not just as a soundtrack instrumentally but lyrically as well and I'll include each song and artist in an author's note at the bottom of each chapter. Reviews, faves, follows, constructive criticism all welcome!