"Thor, would you do me a favor?" a young Loki questioned his brother.
"What is it?" Thor replied innocently, completely unaware of the schemes his brother was about to unfold.
Loki gestured for Thor to follow him down the deserted corridor of the vast, golden hallway, in which not moments ago, served as a perfect area for playing Goblins and Bilshtein for the two children.
"Loki-" he breathed as he caught up with him, "What is it you want?"
Loki stopped suddenly, causing Thor to crash into him from behind.
Loki sneered, nudging his brother away before pointing to a hole in the wall, no larger than a warrior's battle shield, at the end of the darkened hallway.
"...A hole in the wall?" Thor questioned quizzically, cocking his head to one side, similar to that of a puzzled canine.
A sly smirk danced across Loki's lips.
"'Tis not just a hole in the wall. It is something far greater, brother."
"Far greater?" Thor repeated, suddenly fascinated.
Loki's smirk lingered as he nodded, "Indeed."
Thor sauntered towards the hole, his feet clunking loudly on the marble tiles.
In comparison to the vast, stone structure surrounding it, the hole appeared more as a gaping wound among the lavish, intricately designed mosaics.
He crouched down, inspecting the mysterious cavity with genuine interest, yet making sure to from a distance. Thor did not trust the fact that it was completely safe...
"What is it, exactly?" Thor asked.
Loki strode towards his brother as he explained, "Would you believe me if I told you?"
"Depends..."
Loki chuckled, "Well then, I'll be on my way-"
Thor rapidly turned to face his brother, "No, wait!"
"...Yes?"
"I'm sorry. Tell me what it is."
"It's a portal."
Thor raised his eyebrows, "A portal? You mean, like the bifrost?"
"Yes. Only, Heimdal is not it's guardian and it doesn't 'light up'" Loki emphasized the last two words, bringing his fingers up to form imaginary quotation marks.
Thor seemed puzzled as he asked, "Then how does it work?"
Loki took a seat next to Thor, leaning his back against the wall and hugging his knees to his chest.
"It is a one way portal to Svartalfheim. We can not travel through it. Only the Dark Elves there know the secret to accessing it's power."
Thor listened intently, urging Loki to continue. Loki contemplated what else to say.
"I know this because I've seen them enter this very corridor."
Thor's eyes shot up, "When was that? Does father know?"
"No. Best not to tell him, either."
Thor shook his head and asked stubbornly, "Why not?"
"Because then he will just order it to be destroyed! Do not tell me you want that!"
"B-but, the Dark Elves..."
Loki smiled, "And that's why I am asking you to guard this portal, Thor. If there was anyone in the nine realms I'd seek to have protect this hole, 'tis you, brother. I know your worthy of it."
Thor was silent. He wasn't sure if he felt excitement or nervousness at that moment. His jaw clenched and he glanced at the floor.
Loki observed before teasing, "Thor, do not tell me you're... scared."
Thor's eyes shot up again and he sternly replied, "I am not! You want me to guard this portal? I will. I'll hunt any escaped elves down, and slay them all! For the sake of Asgard!"
Loki had to fight the overwhelming urge to burst out laughing at the sight of his brother's expression.
"G-good," was all he managed to say.
Thor shot Loki a disapproving look. "...What's the matter?" Thor asked, seeming irritated.
"Nothing. I-I'll be right back. Go about your duties now."
Thor furrowed his eyebrows and nodded as Loki slipped away around the corner.
He paced briskly down the hallway, with yet another satisfied smirk plastered across his face.
What a gullible fool my brother is...
Loki strode down the many, lengthy hallways of the palace, returning to his chambers. As he veered the corner, he began to hear the subtle sound of... crying?
Loki's strides slowed. He was curious as to who it might be. It sounded like a young girl.
Sif?
No. Sif never cried. Besides, this sounded like someone who was much younger, more... fragile.
Loki furrowed his eyebrows as he neared the bleak sobbing. When he arrived at the far end of the corridor, he turned his head to witness a young girl, sitting, obscured by a marble statue, crying upon the floor. Her legs were hugged to her chest, her head resting upon her knees. Wavy locks of dark hair, shimmering with subtle flakes of golden, fell loose upon her shoulders, in which were shaking with tiny sobs.
Though he had never seen this girl before for in his entire life, Loki could not help but feel genuine sympathy for the stranger.
Without turning her gaze from the floor, the girl whimpered in a soft voice, "Please, g-go away."
Loki was not quite sure what to do at this point. He wanted to know what was distressing the mysterious girl. He wanted to know who she was, her name.
He hesitantly asked, "What's your name?"
She shook her head, still eyeing the ground, "P-Please. Leave me be-"
Loki shifted the weight on his feet, contemplating if he should or not. Yet, something about her intrigued him. Maybe it was her voice. Though shaky, and vulnerable at the moment, was warm and almost soothing to his ears.
"...My name is Skoh," she reluctantly sniffled after a long silence.
Loki's eyes rose to meet hers. They were dark and quite large, catching him off guard for a mere moment because of their intensity.
He introduced himself proudly, "I am Loki."
Skoh's eyes suddenly widened.
"Loki? The All-Father's son?"
"...Yes?"
Skoh rapidly stood from her place among the floor and brushed herself off.
"I-I'm terribly sorry. I did not know 'twas you."
Loki chuckled, "Are you new here?"
At that, Skoh's lip began to tremble again, and her eyes swelled up with tears.
Loki stood puzzled.
"I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?"
Skoh helplessly fell to her place on the floor once again, her tiny hands covering her pink, tear-drenched face.
"I do not belong here!" she sobbed.
Loki furrowed his brows, "W-what d'you mean?"
He took a seat next to her on the tiled floor, crossing his legs.
Skoh sighed, "...I am of Vanaheim. I was sent here, by myself, to live among you people, the Æsir."
"Why's that?"
"I'm the daughter of Freyja and Odr. They sent me here, for reasons I still do not understand, but..."
Loki urged her to continue by nodding his head slightly.
"They said I'd only be here for a short while, that's all."
"Then why are you disappointed? I'd be thrilled to be able to spend a day in Vanaheim."
She sniffled and replied, seeming slightly frustrated, "But 'tis not just a day I'm here. It's much longer! I am not of Asgard! I am a Vanir!"
She burst into tears again, and Loki sat utterly puzzled once more.
"...Well, what would make you feel better?" he questioned.
"To go home!" she bawled.
"...Besides that."
She looked up and shrugged her shoulders, wiping away a glossy tear falling down her cheek.
Loki thought for a moment.
What made him happy? What cheered him up when he was feeling down?
"Do you want to see something?
She pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders, "What?"
"Come with me-" he grabbed her hand and pulled Skoh to her feet.
They walked down the hallway, through the banquet hall, past the throne room and up the vast, swirling golden staircase.
After a while of climbing the seemingly endless flight of stairs, Skoh asked, "Where are we going?"
As if on cue, at that moment they reached the top.
Loki led Skoh down another dark, deserted corridor. He stopped suddenly when they reached the far end.
The two stood before a large, shimmering, satin maroon drape. Skoh was curious as to what might be behind it. Loki glanced back at Skoh who stood behind as she shot him a wondering look. He faced the curtain once more and pulled it open, revealing a truly magnificent view of the palace grounds and Asgard.
Skoh's mouth dropped slightly as she walked onto the small ledge overlooking the breathtaking sight and sat down.
Loki joined her, resting his back against the wall and letting one leg dangle down over the side.
"It's beautiful," Skoh breathed.
Loki nodded his head as a small smile played on his lips.
"I like to come here when I need to get away," Loki began.
Skoh raised an eyebrow, "Away from what?"
Loki shrugged his shoulders, "My brother..."
Skoh laughed, "I've heard of him, Thor."
Loki's smile dissipated, "...Yes."
She sighed, "But your lucky. I've always longed for a sibling... a friend."
Loki looked at her, "I know how you feel."
Skoh furrowed her eyebrows and questioned, "What do you mean?"
Loki shook his head, "It seems everyone in the nine realms favors my older brother over me. It's always been that way. He gets all the praise and glory my father gives him... I-It's frustrating sometimes. Sometimes, I just, I feel like I'm alone."
Skoh could sense the tension in his voice at that last sentence. She felt pity for him. She hesitantly grasped his tiny, icy hands in hers and replied in a soft voice, "But your not. I'll be your friend."
Loki's shoulders loosened as a warm smile spread across his lips, and Skoh did the same. From then on, the two would become the dearest of friends. Nobody in the nine realms could ever shatter their friendship.
Later that afternoon, Loki was concealed and content in his chambers, practicing his beloved magic. The wind blew softly through the opened glass doors adjoined to the balcony of his quarters. The rays from the late afternoon sun shone bright, cascading across the shimmering tiled floors. It was peaceful, and Loki savored every lasting moment of it.
For Loki, magic was addictive. The way his body tingled and his senses became intensified. It was as if each time he cast a spell, he was alive. As if he were awaking from a deep slumber. As if any state of consciousness he had felt before, was merely a dream.
Loki sat upon his luxurious bed, his legs crossed and body hunched over his sorcerer's booklet. He read the instructions carefully, re-reading each eloquently scribbled sentence.
He remembered the words of the wizard who gave him the book, "To cast a spell, is to free your soul. To preform it properly, you must want whatever it is you desire to happen, more than anything else in that moment."
The words swirled in Loki's head, refusing to disappear.
He lifted his hand and examined his palm. He closed his eyes, focusing on one thing, and one thing only. Tingling sensations crawled from his shoulder to his fingertips of his right arm. He opened his eyes slowly, revealing a small flame flickering, hovering just above his palm.
Loki breathed a sigh of satisfaction as he fiddled with the flame. It was hot to the touch, but caused him no discomfort whatsoever.
As he sat in peace, Loki's ears pricked to the sound of distant footsteps, drawing nearer every second. He turned his gaze from his hand, and clenched his fist shut, extinguishing the flame.
Suddenly, the large golden doors burst open, clashing against the walls, surely to leave dents.
Thor stood motionlessly in the entrance with an outraged expression covering his face.
"You!" he roared, pointing a stubby finger across the room.
Loki raised his eyebrows in an attempt to appear innocent.
Thor continued, hot with temper, "'Tis not a portal! The workmen came around, hours after you'd left, to fix the bloody hole! They said it was merely in need of a new foundation, from years of wear!"
"Well, it looks like those elves won't be returning anytime soon..."
"THERE ARE NO ELVES!" Thor shouted before charging towards his brother.
Thor leaped onto the bed, expecting to collide head-on with Loki, but instead flew straight through him and landed upon the soft pillows and sheets. It was Loki's newest trick; The projection spell. And he intended on using it more often.
Thor glanced around, puzzled.
"Loki? Where-"
Before he had time to finish, he heard a light chuckle. Thor rapidly turned around, watching as Loki slunk around the corner, and out of sight.