Even among the throng of people and panic as serving girls ran about to fulfill their time-sensative goals I couldn't help but feel totally at peace. A small ray of sunshine managed to fight its way through the dust and find my face, just in time to improve my mood.

That day was busy, that is, busier than usual. That day was Prince Thor's eighteenth birthday and coronation, which meant us serving girls had to really go the extra mile so the entire event could run smoothly. There were hundreds of us, all pushing each other around and fighting to get their own food platter so as not to be reprimanded if it doesn't arrive on the table and to the many and still arriving guests.

"Sigs!" One of my dearest friends Rae was shoving her way through the crowd towards me, her height giving her the upper hand against all the middle sized servants, myself included. Her black hair was pinned up intricately just like mine, the style symbolizing our not so exciting rank as servants.

She finally made it to me, and I slipped off of the window ledge I was lounging upon to greet her.

"Does Chef have a task for me, Rae?" I asked, in an almost negative way. I wasn't really the one to jump at the opportunity to be jostled and mowed over by a crowd.

"Indeed," she replied in her usual cheery way, the ever-present flush in her cheeks giving away her normal jolly and optimistic nature. "She wants you to scope the top floor to see if there are any stragglers who haven't made it down to the ballroom yet. Oh, and she wants you to bring a tray of food so you can offer it to whoever is up there."

I groaned internally, but on the outside couldn't stop a small frown. I only really let emotions slip when they are seriously overpowering because I've been taught that no one cares about a lowly servants opinion, and frankly I'm not that much of a sociable person to let that truly bother me. "Must I bring a tray? We have to use everything for the feast, and there's probably no one up there-"

"Well, Chef is paranoid and doesn't want a single thing to be messed up." Rae leaned in close just in case we had any eavesdroppers, which was highly unlikely seeing as everyone was too intent on doing their jobs to care. "But secretly I think King Odin wants to make them as big as whales."

I smiled at her, then decided there was no time to waste. After being around Chef for so many years I knew not to mess with her when she was frantic or angry. Counting myself lucky that the kitchen door was nearby I stooped in through the low doorway and got into the quick lineup, ready to receive my tray and be off.

Chef, a stout, rosy-cheeked tomato of a women, thrust a platter of cakes into my arms and was about to shoo me away like a bothersome fly, but paused for a brief second and glared at me with beetle-black eyes. "Don't mess this one up."

I nodded quickly and was glad no one was paying close enough attention to see me blush. Us servant girls were given three chances, and my clumsiness landed me with only one left. I fought my way through the mob of hurrying girls clutching trays with the finest food in Asgard upon them, and I was relieved when I finally broke free and made my way to the very top of the Asgardian palace, a place alien enough for me to walk cautiously to it, unsure what to expect once I arrived.

I pondered Chef's words, and nearly tripped on the staircase. With horror I realized she must have caught a glimpse of my shoes beneath my dress. They were an old pair of Rae's that she let my borrow. I knew how much she prized them, since her grandfather crafted them for her personally, and it was extremely thoughtful of her to let me borrow them, but they were several sizes too big and drowned my feet. I wondered if it was a bad choice after all to spare her feelings and say they fit fantastic, since the fear of tripping and getting my third strike loomed above me like a treacherous shadow.

I reached the top floor and noticed right away the lack of torches and windows. That was never a good sign. The dimly lit halls were replicas of the ones below that I was familiar with, but somehow these seemed more sinister, bathing the golden tiles and walls with eerie yellow light.

I passed through, going as fast as the giant-shoes would allow, childishly looking behind me in search of a follower I felt but could not see.

I was walking through one of the last halls on this upper floor, disliking how my arms shook slightly with the effort of holding the tray for so long. I was tempted to put it down for a second, but then my overactive imagination convinced me that this might all just be a test, and a little snitch is stalking me to make sure I don't step a foot out of line.

I simply peered down the last hall, the motivation leaving me to check it. It led nowhere anyway, so I just turned around and decided to let this food go down to the kitchens instead of letting it slowly rot up there in the dust.

I turned slowly, enjoying the last moments of limb freedom as long as I could, then started going back to the staircases from which I came.

Honestly, I would say that was the worst mistake of my life.

One moment I was walking, holding the tray properly with a good grip, the next my foot was in front of the other, the tray jerked out, spilling its contents in front of me. Except there was a person in front of me.

Except that person was Prince Loki Odinson, the brother of Prince Thor!

I froze.

He let out a snarl of disgust and stepped away from me, looking down at his chest to inspect the damage the cakes made to his breastplate, and I'll tell you, it wasn't pretty. He looked at me with such death in his eyes it made me want to shrivel up and die right there.

"I-I" I sputtered, straightening the now clean tray uselessly. Well, of course it was clean, because all of the evidence was on him! "I just tripped and. . . and it just jerked my hand."

He glared at me still, and I was unable to reach his fierce gaze. He slowly scraped the majority of the cake off and it fell to the ground, landing with a pop. I stared at it, my finger desperately trying to find something to fiddle with as my mind raced nervously and my heart pounded at the back of my throat.

"What is your name?" He asked, his voice low and deadly.

At first I didn't answer, my hands tightening my already infuriating tight dress I had to wear on this occasion, making it even more difficult to breathe.

"Answer me!"

"S-Sigyn, your majesty. I finally realized it was a good idea to curtsy, so I did. "Sigyn, daughter of Iwaldi."

He didn't react to the name, and I didn't expect him to, because to him I was just another face out of millions. Though he did say in a cold voice, "And do you know what you have done?"

"Very much so."

"And do you know the consequences for such an action?"

A hundred different scenarios raced through my head, but I only replied with a swallow.

"Just wait until I tell someone about this, they certainly will not be pleased."

Before I could stop myself, panic shrouded my senses and I blurted out, "Please don't!"

I covered my mouth with my hands as he sized me up again with narrowed slits of emerald, his raven hair bouncing off the dim torchlight, as was my wispy blond mane.

"Alright, servant, give me one good reason why I shouldn't," his gaze penetrated my very soul, making me twist my fingers in agitation as my brain grasped for a good argument. I lowered my head in defeat. What could a small, insignificant serving girl do? Al of my reasons would seem pathetic and insignificant. It would be no use explaining I was the only one fit to work in my family, and I needed this job to fund Mama's medicine. He wouldn't care.

"I'll do anything. Just please, oh please don't tell!" I finally pleaded.

He smirked slightly, and I shivered. "How desperate are you?"

I tried to make myself sound strong, but my voice didn't rise above a mumble. "Desperate enough to mean what I say."

Prince Loki laughed straight in my face. "So naïve. "

I cleared my throat and wiped off my palms from sweat hopefully discretely. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight.

He suddenly became emotionless. "I take my debts very seriously. Don't doubt for even a second I won't collect it."

Relief filled my entire being. He wouldn't snitch!

"However," he said evilly, flashing me a grin. "How long I stay silent is not debatable. I won't tell, for now. But if one day I 'accidentally' let something slip. . ." He shrugged.

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood. That wasn't fair! I was indebted to him forever, but his side of the bargain was temporary!? I looked away to hide it, but I knew he sensed my displeasure.

"For now, I must be off. I have to change my clothes before I head to Thor's coronation." Loki said casually as I kneeled on the floor to try and clean up the cakes. "Oh, and one more thing. If you speak a word of this to anyone, I will personally make sure you are punished."

With that he melted into the shadows, leaving me to clean up the mess not only on the floor, but also the mess of emotions in my head.

So, this is chapter one. Does anyone want me to continue?

-WVCS