Vera sighed in frustration as she strode down the gold halls of Asgard. Her dark purple robes flowed behind her in her quick steps. The morning had started out as well as it could, everyone was preparing a large celebration for the great prince Thor. The elder son was going to be announced as the new king of Asgard and everyone was in a fit of excitement. Everyone except the younger green eyed prince, to whose room she was heading to right now. Glaring at the guards in front of his quarters Vera pushed the doors open. Her heels echoed as she entered startling the maidens tending the room.
"Milady, the prince has yet to come from his bed chambers," One of the maidens who stood before his door spoke.
"I shall deal with him. You may go finish the preparations for the ceremony." Vera waited till they all left before she waved her hand over the door unlocking it.
Shoving the doors open she walked inside scanning for the dark prince. Her violet eyes caught his figure leaning on the railing of his balcony.
"I was wondering when you'd get here." His voice was silky and seemed to hold a secret, as she had come to learn he always had a hidden meaning behind everything he said.
Vera shook her head as she came closer to him. "Why must you act like this? You are not a youngling anymore."
"So you believe I'm acting childish?" He turned smirking at her.
"Indeed, Loki. You do this every time your brother is praised."
His eyes darkened, "He is not just being praised but announced King. So if I am indeed acting like a child, it is because of good reasoning." Loki stalked past her his rage flowing off of him.
Vera rolled her eyes and followed him, "How many times must we talk about this? We knew this day would come eventually. It was inevitable." He kept his back to her, she let her words settle before stepping behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Please Loki don't make this harder on yourself. You know I hate to see you in such distress."
Relaxing to her touch he turned to her. "And who knows maybe today will have some excitement."
"I believe Milady, you might be right." Loki smirked at her; Vera smiled her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Now will you change, I dislike being the only one over dressed."
She watched as Loki's eyes trailed down her body to her formal attire. A short purple dress could be seen from under the tight black mesh that covered it. It flowed to the floor showing off her knee high heels and covered her slender arms. Her purple and black robes fell around her body; she looked perfect.
"Did you choose this dress or my mother?" His fingers twirled around her long dark magenta hair that fell around her face.
Vera's chest tightened at the tenderness Loki was showing her. It was something he only did in private, something he had only started doing not too long ago. They had grown up together, all of them had, but their friendship was instant. Both felt in ways like outsiders compared to the others as well as their same desires of sorcery.
Swallowing she grabbed his hand that was playing with her hair, "I did. Does it please you?"
"Indeed." Pulling away he started for the door, a golden shimmer flowed over his clothes. His simple black attire changed instantly in his formal green robes. "Come now. The excitement is about to start."
Releasing her breath, Vera trailed behind Loki, maybe the day wouldn't be so bad.
The day went bad; Vera frowned as she leaned against one of the giant pillars. It was suppose to be a day of celebration and joy but instead came the icy touch of Jotunheim. Vera's mind wondered to the events that happened only an hour before...
The grand hall was decorated in gold and red, everyone dressed in formal ware. Vera was standing beside Loki like she always did, his face drawn up in annoyance to the scene before him. Thor had taken his gracious time walking to the throne, waving and encouraging the crowd. True he could be overly competitive and cocky to the extreme but she had grown up with him and Loki, loving them in her own way. She can see why Loki always looked at Thor with a somewhat jealous eye but Thor would still hold a brotherly place in her heart.
The ceremony started out so lovely, All-Father speaking out about Thor and his mighty hammer. Eventually he asked him if he swear to protect the nine realms, the people and to give up his own selfish ambitions.
Vera had stared at Loki when his own eyes caught hers. It was a look of understanding; they both knew how needy Thor could be in his own selfish desires of glory. Still Thor spoke loud and true that he swore he would.
It was then that the air had changed, All-father was about to announce Thor as the new King of Asgard but something froze his lips. It was like a cold chill up ones back and then the words escaped from him.
"Frost Giants."
The room seemed to drop into an even deeper silence and then a thunderous sound echoed when All-Father slammed his scepter against the floor.
Time moved fast in those next moments, All-father made his way down the steps with Thor quickly beside him. Loki gave a quick nod to Vera signaling her to stay with Frigga then followed after his father and brother.
What Vera would learn was that a few Frost Giants had somehow made their way into the chamber of relics. Their goal was the Casket of Ancient Winters, the main source of power for all of Jotunheim. Their act was to say pointless for the guardian of the chamber was known as the Destroyer, an indestructible creation that only the king could control. It eliminated the threat of the Frost Giants, protecting the casket from being taken.
It was what happened amongst the king and his eldest son, that brought Vera to the moment before her.
Thor roared in anger tossing a table easily with his strength. Vera couldn't help but flinch slightly, sure she has seen Thor mad before but one never really gets use to the sound.
He had apparently argued with his father demanding that they go to war with Jotunheim. All-father did not take Thor's anger lightly and reminded him that he was not yet king. Thor's rage was quite understandable but his father was right.
Loki caressed Vera's shoulder, as he walked up from behind her. Following him with her eyes, he walked past the pillar and over to Thor.
"It is unwise to be in my company right now brother," Thor glanced at Loki.
The green eyed prince sat smoothly beside his brother.
"This was to be my day of triumph."
Vera watched Thor flex his hands in anger, a sadness for her friend washing over her.
"Your day will come," She spoke softly taking a seat on his other side.
"In time," Loki added staring at Vera.
The silence was quickly broken when Sif and the Warriors Three walked into the room.
Loki turned his attention back to Thor, "If it's any consolation I think your right. About the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything."
Now one thing Vera had learned from growing up around Loki was how to detect his lies, some say she was a goddess of truth able to detect the false of anyone's words. Although he was not lying there was something hidden in his voice.
"There is nothing you can do without defying father."
Vera's eyes widened right as the words left his lips.
Thor looked at his brother, "What?"
Unconsciously Vera shook her head at Loki but he repeated what he said. Then as if he realised what he said he started to shake his head,"Wait no no no. I know that look."
Thor stood up, "It's the only way to insure the safety of our boarders."
"It's madness," Loki objected.
"Complete madness," Vera voiced as she rubbed head in frustration.
Thor began to speak of going to Jotunheim, and why they should all follow him in his quest. Sif and the Warriors Three would always follow Thor they were as loyal to him as she was to Loki. "My friends we are going to Jotunheim. Get what you need quickly we are leaving at once."
Once Vera and Loki were alone she spoke. "That was an absolutely foolish thing to say, my prince."
Loki could hear the anger in her tone, it always amused him when she was furious at him. He stared at his hands before he looked at her, "I did not intend for him to take it in such a way."
Standing up she crossed her arms, "Really? You out of all of us know how he can be and yet still you let such words fall from your lips."
"I did not say for him to go to Jotunheim, I said anything he did would be defying father. If it is his decision to do so then it is his own doing." Loki stood up casually walking toward Vera; she kept her eyes from him not wanting to give in to his hypnotic gaze. "Do you think I like that he constantly puts himself in danger? That he throws himself into such 'complicated' situations?"
The back of his hand trailed down her cheek; she swallowed at the sensation.
"Of course not, but still why-." She tried to speak but Loki placed his thumb across her lips.
"Good. Now we are going to go with him and try to keep him out of trouble."
"Is that even possible?" She tried to hid a smile, his own smirk upon his face.
"Go change, it will be cold." His eyes lingered on his thumb lightly traced her bottom lip before dropping away entirely.
Bowing her head Vera made her way quickly out of the room with the heat of Loki's gaze upon her back.