Solace was something which Loki had never found before. It mattered not how many times he walked through the hallways of the palace, he never found anywhere quiet where he could contently sit by himself and think. People were everywhere in the form of guards, warriors, maids, dressmakers and many others. The list was endless. Asgard was just a hype of activity and Loki sometimes resented it.

His days mainly consisted of sparring with Thor and listening to his brother pompously declaring how he was the better warrior. Loki mainly hid from his brother when duels were entered. Magic was something which he knew of and he found it much more enjoyable than using a weapon to become a victor. He was conniving instead of brash. It was a trait which many did not find endearing in him.

If he had his way then his days would be spent mainly on his own, perhaps reading or learning of the nine realms. He would sit by himself, outside on the large balcony off the grand library, the sun streaming onto his skin and he would be content.

He found himself wandering down the garden of the palace, the fresh air feeling refreshing against his pale skin as he walked slowly, his hands tucked behind his back and his long fingers laced together as he admired the different shades of petals and leaves. He sincerely hoped that he wouldn't be disturbed by Thor or anyone else in the only place which he considered a safe haven to him. He sometimes walked aimlessly, just roaming along the rows of flowers until he came to the maze which his father had grown from scratch.

He normally bypassed it, not interested in walking around and getting himself lost in shrubbery when he could admire it just as well from outside its walls. Yet something caught his eyes. Or rather someone. Loki looked down the long entrance of the green hedges, his eyes falling onto a girl who was walking down the path of grass, her head moving in different directions as she observed her surroundings.

Loki cocked a brow in confusion, wondering who she was. His initial thought was that she must be some kind of maid in the palace, neglecting her duties for ten minutes of luxury, pretending she did not work in the palace. But then he noted that she was not dressed like any maid he had seen. Then again, he could not picture her from anywhere. Granted he had only seen the back of her head but Loki had a good memory. He could recognise someone instantly if he had seen them before.

Curiosity was something which attracted him as he found himself following her into the maze, seeing her turn left as he did the same, keeping a few paces behind her. He could tell she was in her own world, her mind simply kept to herself as she extended a hand, her fingers skimming along the shrubs before she pulled off a small branch, holding it in her hands and picking off smaller pines from it.

"And what has that plant ever done to you to deserve being ripped apart?"

Loki watched as she startled, instantly turning round to face him and dropping the branch to the floor, one hand moving over her heart and the other hand resting on her stomach as she dropped her eyes to the ground and Loki watched her intently, his lips in a firm line and his gaze stern.

"I apologise, my Lord," she quickly spoke to him, bowing her head and curtseying, holding her skirts to the side formally. "I did not think that anyone was here."

"I have not seen you before," Loki replied, not caring for apologies. In his mind they were a waste of breath and time. He seldom apologised for anything, but, he was the God of Mischief and Lies after all.

"No, you have not," she confirmed for him, daring to draw her gaze upwards until her eyes locked with his and she watched him for a moment, taking in the green armour which he wore along with his black slicked hair. She knew he was royalty from the moment he had spoken to her and the finery which he wore. He certainly looked the part and she would not be surprised if he could act the part.

"Then may I have the pleasure of enquiring your name?" Loki asked and she nodded, realising she should probably have just told him in the first instance instead of making him stand there and question her as if she were dumb.

"Isabella," she spoke back politely. "I am the new kitchen maid. The Queen hired me this morning."

"Then correct me if I am mistaken," Loki drawled, watching her for a few moments. "But should a kitchen maid not spend her time in the kitchen?"

"The Queen allowed me a day to find my bearings around the palace. I have been told that there are a great many dining halls which I shall be required to find," Isabella spoke and Loki nodded in agreement, his lips almost tugging up into a half smile as he continued to observe her.

"This is true," he agreed. "But, I do not think you shall find any dining halls in a maze in the gardens of the Palace. Do you?" he wondered from her and she bit down on her tongue, keeping her silence for he was royalty. He was a Prince and the son of the King and Queen. Isabella knew when to hold her tongue even when she truly did not want to.

"No, my Lord. I was simply walking through the gardens when I saw the maze and...well...I suppose I was curious," she shrugged and Loki's forehead creased up. Never had he heard of anyone curious to go and see a maze before. "I should leave and go back to my task at hand."

"Wait," Loki said before she could eve push past him. She stood at his side, turning her body as he did the same, bringing both of them to stand opposite each other once again. Stepping back against the green bush, she looked at him as he shrugged, nonchalance coming into his tone. "You are here now and you seemed intent on finding your way through the maze. No harm would come about you walking through it now and I shall accompany you."

"That really is not necessary-"

"-What if I insist?" Loki interrupted her. He didn't need to be brushed off by her. He hated the thought of someone thinking that they could wave him off and he would instantly disappear. No, he would walk with her and maybe the conversation would be enjoyable. Heavens knew that he had not had one of those in a long time.

"If you insist then I do not believe I am in a position to argue," Isabella told him, nervously tucking her straight blonde hair behind her ear as she stood by his side, allowing him to move first. Her fingers clutched around her skirt, lifting it up slightly so that it did not traipse on the floor. Loki looked down to her for a brief moment, observing her small nose which sat on her pale face along with her pink lips and green eyes which were downcast. He could tell she was apprehensive and that was how it should be in the natural order of things.

"What brings you to the Asgard?" Loki wondered, deciding to make conversation with her instead of walking in silence. Yes, it was true that he often preferred his own company but he supposed that was because he spent so much time in company of people who were not affectionate towards him that being by himself meant less hassle.

"My mother works in the palace. She is a serving maid to the Queen. I used to work in the village as a seamstress," Isabella informed Loki and he turned right, knowing the route on the top of his head due to the large tapestry which hung in the large foyer of the layout of the gardens.

"I suppose it is your mother who secured you a job here?" Loki checked with her and she nodded at him, still not daring to meet his gaze but allowing her eyes to stay on the part of his neck which was visible above his high collar.

"Mother believed I worked far too often in the village. She told me that it was not right and so she enquired of any vacancies around the castle."

"And your mother, does she live in the castle along with many of the servants?"

"No, she does not," Isabella said. "Mother and I live in the village in a small home."

"And your father?"

"My father was a warrior of Asgard. He lost his life fighting alongside the Allfather against the Frost Giants as did so many Asgardians did that day."

Loki did not know what to say in response to that information. Did he simply nod and accept it or did he offer her his condolences?

"You must have been young when he passed," Loki decided to settle on that sentence and Isabella shrugged.

"I was not born. He died before my mother gave birth. I have no memory of my father, simply the stories which my mother used to tell me of him." Isabella said; a hint of sadness in her voice but not one which was instantly recognisable. Loki continued with his staring straight ahead, a small cough escaping his mouth as he pressed his hand to his lips.

"Anyway, my life story is not that interesting, my Lord. I would hate to bore you with it," Isabella shook her head, pondering over what her mother would say if she could see her at this moment in time. No doubt a scolding would be in order for her boring the Prince. Loki stopped walking and looked at her, his face full of seriousness as he did so.

"If you were boring me then I would inform you that you were," he promised her and she smiled vaguely at him. He grinned back for a moment and continued to walk by her side, knowing that the exit soon came ahead. With a flick of wrist Loki soon altered that as the shrubs moved to the side, blocking the way back to the gardens without Isabella's knowledge.

"Unless you are too polite to say so," Isabella replied to him and instantly felt her cheeks redden, shaking her head gently and wondering where her abruptness had come from. Loki could not help but smirk, the sight of her blush at her own words added to his spirits as she finally looked up at him, her eyes wide with what he assumed was worry. "I am sorry, my Lord. I did not mean to speak so."

"No," Loki shook his head at her. "It matters not. Do not concern yourself with such pleasantries. They can become tedious after a while."

"But pleasantries are required," she informed him. "It helps us to know our place in the pecking order."

"And where do you consider your place to be?" Loki enquired, flicking his wrist gently once more as Isabella looked up to the blue sky, shrugging her shoulders as the blue material of her gown moved up and down with her movement.

"I know where my place is. I am near the bottom. Perhaps not right at the bottom yet far enough down to know of those who I must look up to," Isabella declared and Loki continued his smirk, unable to believe what an interesting creature she was. Never before had anyone spoken to him in this manner with such ease.

"You sound as if you wish you could change that?" Loki wondered from her and she bit her bottom lip with her teeth. He took note of how the top two teeth stuck out in comparison to the rest and he found himself unable to stop staring as she chewed her lip.

"There is no use in wishing for things which will never come true," Isabella said.

Loki moved his eyes from her lips, smirking slightly; "You believe that?"

"What else is there to believe?"

"And if you had your way," Loki paused for a moment, "what would you be doing if not walking through the maze with me?"

"Possibly become a teacher," Isabella muttered as if it was something to be embarrassed of. She knew it was. She knew it was pointless of dreaming of becoming such a thing. She didn't have the education and it was too late. Besides, money was the only thing which they needed to keep their lifestyle afloat.

"A teacher?" Loki spoke back.

"Yes," she whispered. "A silly dream. It matters not."

"Hardly a silly dream," Loki scoffed, once again moving his wrist. "All you have to be is literate and good at basic math to teach the young ones."

"Well...not all of us are literate," Isabella spoke again in a low voice and instantly wished she had kept her mouth closed. Loki turned back to look at her, his eyes widening in surprise before he coughed awkwardly once again.

"You speak so well," he complimented her. "I assumed you were literate."

"I am observant," she counteracted. "The women who come for dresses speak highly as do so many in Asgard. Learning the meaning of a word and how to say it is completely different to reading it."

"I assume you never went to school in that instance?" Loki said and Isabella nodded tightly.

"I went a few days a week...mother has always told me that reading never did anyone any good. It is work which earns the money and keeps us in a home, not books."

"I see," Loki spoke. "The library in the palace has a large selection of books. Many of them intriguing."

"They would be a waste on me," Isabella shook her head sadly and Loki watched her as she stared back up to him, a sad smile occupying her pale features as her fingers played with her hair. "Besides, I imagine I shall be too busy to have the time to read or learn how to."

"Nothing is impossible," Loki assured her. "Simply take a book. No one will notice for no one goes in the library. The majority of Asgardians are too busy learning how to become a great warrior to have their nose embedded in a book."

"I would not know which to take," Isabella told him.

"I shall find one for you," Loki spoke quickly. "And if you ever need help then I shall be there for you. Simply spell the words out and speak them. It is not that difficult once you begin."

"Do you think that I shall see you again after today?" Isabella asked boldly and Loki turned left.

He tried to be uninterested in her question; "Perhaps. I cannot see a reason as to why you would not."

She hesitated for a moment, noting that the path they walked down looked awfully familiar to her.

"Well, you are a Prince. Prince's do not associate with kitchen maid's...and I am sure we have been this way before!" she exasperated, aware that time was continuing and she had simply learnt the location of one of the dining halls.

"Prince's have their ways of doing things without being seen," Loki mumbled and flicked his wrist again, having far too much fun messing with her for the game to end. "And I do not think we have been this way. Are you sure?"

"I am positive," she said confidently. "Perhaps we are lost in here."

"Well, that is the aim of a maze," Loki said to her and she said nothing to his smart comment. "I would not worry. The exit shall show itself soon enough."

"I have chores to be done...dining halls to count and find," she complained and Loki shook his head.

"If you are that concerned then I shall show you to them," he informed her. "And before you protest, it is not trouble at all. In fact, it would be a joy if it means that I do not have to suffer my brother's brutish behaviour for this afternoon."

"Only if you are sure, my Lord. I do not want to put you out."

"You are not," Loki said. "And my name is Loki. It is much preferred to My Lord."

"It would not be right," Isabella shook her head and Loki smirked, finally giving in and revealing the exit to the maze.

"And I have told you that sometimes pleasantries are not required. This would be an instance." He said. He did not intend to argue with her over the matter. "Now, come along. There are dining halls to find, are there not?"

"Yes...Loki," she said; his name on the tip of her tongue and he led her from the maze whilst she watched him lead the way, wondering why her mother had warned her of the God of Mischief and his dangerous ways.

...

A/N: Apparently I just cannot help myself from thinking up new fanfiction ideas nowadays. Oh well. I simply love writing them, I guess. Anyway, if you are reading this then thanks for reading and taking the time do so! Never wrote a Loki/OC fanfic before so this is new territory for me.

It would be appreciated if you leave a review? Pretty please?