AN: Okay so wow, I did not expect people to like this story but hey! Yay so glad you do! Uhm here's chapter 2 I already have up to chapter nine written so do expect more. As always check me out on Tumblr under the name karategirl666 it's where I'll be selling my book in a few short months.
Thank you all so much for reading and do please keep reviewing!
-o-
Hermione smiled as she walked along with Sif through the barns. At first she had thought Lady sif to be a hyper person, but it seemed she was just glad for another woman to be around.
"I am sorry for bringing up battle to you Hermione." Sif said.
"Oh don't worry about it." Hermione said waving it off.
"Are you sure, because if I have offended you I pray you tell me so I can start to make amends, I do wish us to be friends Hermione." Sif expressed with a genuine look.
"Well relax then because we already are." Hermione said and Sif smiled. "I haven't had a friend in a very long time." She admitted. "If I can be completely honest with you." Sif nodded.
"Of course you can." Sif said. "The all father, King Odin that is… Said your friends abandoned you."
"Only a few…" She said her jaw clenching as she stared off. "The rest are dead and buried." Sif looked at her, she could see it, only for a split second, a haunted expression.
"You lost your friends in the war?" Hermione came to a stop. "I'm sorry."
"No." She said. "No it's fine… I just… I got a strange feeling just then." Hermione slowly looked around.
Loki ducked behind a tree his back pressed firmly to the bark. She had sensed him, how he wasn't sure. He had been using a cloaking spell after all.
"I sense a presence…" He heard Hermione say.
"A bad presence?" Sif asked her hand resting on her weapon.
"No…" Hermione said. "No I don't think so… Shall we continue our walk?"
"Maybe we should head back to the palace, after all the banquet is in a few short hours we should start getting ready… I have no clue what to wear."
"Nor do I."
"Then we shall help each other." Sif said her arm linking through Hermione's who smiled. Loki peeked around the tree as he watched Sif and Hermione head back to the palace.
"Spying brother?" Loki smiled as he turned and looked to Thor who had a playful smirk. "Or just eyeing the newest flower in the Asgardian garden?"
"Hardly." Loki brushed off as his brother walked to his side. "Father asked me to keep an eye on her."
"He asked you to do this?" Thor inquired.
"Why would he not?" Loki asked looking to him.
"Oh I don't know…" Thor said. "It's just … She's one of the Lost children of Asgard, a very important being, I just thought that… I don't know…"
"What you have the hammer there for you're the most qualified to handle her?" Loki asked with a smile. "I expect he has harder jobs for you Thor."
"Right… Yes you're probably right." Thor said nodding. "Shall we head back to the palace as well and get ready for the banquet?"
"Yes I should think so." Loki said as they began to walk back.
"Will you wear your helmet tonight?" Thor asked.
"No, I think not."
"I was thinking I would leave mine off as well."
"What, don't like your little fairy wings?" Loki asked and Thor laughed deeply.
"I could ask the same about yours…" He said before mooing and Loki just nudged him. "You started it." Thor said and Loki laughed.
-o-
Hermione ran her hands down her gown. The last time she had been this dressed up was the yule ball, and even then compared to what she wore now that was tame. She had chosen a floor length gown. It had a beaded maroon bodice with maroon chiffon draped off the shoulder forming capped sleeves. The skirt was made up of draped pieces of red satin and like the bodice was filled with intricate beading the whole bottom was lined in gold lace. She supposed that's why she had chosen it because it was the Gryffindor colors.
"You look beautiful." She turned to see Lady Sif walking to her. She was wearing a silver one shoulder gown that had a dramatic train filled with beading. "I'm surprised you chose the red."
"Oh is it wrong?" Hermione asked her hands moving down it once more.
"Not at all you'll make a big impression."
"I don't know if that's a good thing." She said shifting on her feet.
"It's a very good thing." Sif said with a smile.
"You look beautiful as well…"
"Oh thank you, so kind of you to say." Sif said before looking to the doors that held the large banquet inside. "Well I should go in, you remember what to do?"
"When I hear my name I… Walk in?"
"Exactly… You're going to do great I'll be waiting at the end for you, just keep your eyes on me it may get loud in there."
"Okay…" Hermione said nodding. "Thank you Sif."
"Of course." She said with a smile before taking the side entrance in. Hermione took deep breaths. She hated being stared at. It's why she had left England for the San Francisco muggle community. To go somewhere she wasn't known.
"I call upon now one of the ten Lost Children of Asgard. Hermione Jane Granger." She took a deep breath hearing Odins voice as the double doors opened. Instantly a roar of applause sounded.
Loki stood by Thor as he watched Hermione instantly walk into to the room her head held high. She was wearing an elegant royal looking dress which dragged behind her dramatically as she moved. Her hair was pinned up and held with three red and gold bands in a Grecian style. She looked beautiful. He would dare say, she was the most beautiful woman in the room. Hermione made it to the end and the all father pounded his staff silencing the roars of the banquet.
"Hermione Jane Granger…" Odin said walking before her. "Lost child of Asgard, you have returned to us having far exceeded our expectations of you. You were only to go to earth and learn the ways of the Midgardians… Instead you learned the ways of not only the human midgardians but the wizard midgardians as well. You also aided in the saving of the midgardian world. You are a hero, a warrior, and proud daughter of Asgard, I wish to bestow you with a title. Kneel." Hermione slowly kneeled with an unsure look. "You shall now forever be known as Lady Hermione Knightess and Savior to Midgard. Rise now Lady Hermione." She slowly stood as the hall broke out into applause.
"Thank you sire." Hermione said and he nodded as she walked to Sifs side who smiled brightly.
"Well done." She said clapping and Hermione only nodded. Loki stared at her. Never before had he seen someone look so lost upon being knighted. After all most were beyond ecstatic. The Lady Sif had laughed in glee.
"You think she would smile." Loki said to Thor who slowly nodded.
"This must be overwhelming for her." Volstagg said quietly as Odin ordered music to begin being played.
"A knightess like me, now I won't be the only female knight in the realm!" Sif said hugging Hermione who smiled softly. "Aren't you pleased?" She asked pulling away.
"Of course, you'll have to teach me how to be a knight though."
"I will do so gladly." Sif said with a laugh.
"A Lady now." Volstagg said walking over with the warriors three, Thor and Loki. "It seems we have to become Thor, his warriors three with the Lady Sif and Lady Hermione…" Volstagg said before smiling. "You know what that rhymes. I think it works." Thor laughed deeply while Hermione just smiled.
"Yes the next time we go on one of our adventures you will have to join." Thor said.
"I've had enough adventures to last me a life time but thank you for the offer." Hermione said with a kind look.
"Yes you will have to share your tales of battle at some point." Thor said and Loki looked to him, not believing he had brought it up after their father had chastised him for even thinking of it.
"Yes, maybe someday." Hermione said quietly. "If you'll excuse me…" With that she walked off with a soft expression.
"Thor you big fool, she doesn't like to talk about it." Sif said before going after Hermione.
"Father did warn you about bringing up such a thing." Loki said before walking off.
"But… I was only making conversation." Thor said and Fandral just patted his back.
-o-
Loki watched Hermione for the next few hours. No one had approached her yet. Probably unsure of how to greet the Midgardian born Asgardian. They knew not how to handle her. Or how to take her in. In all honesty though Hermione didn't seem to mind this. She seemed perfectly at ease, if not a bit bored. He tilted his head as he watched her look around before heading out onto one of the many balconies of the ballroom, a move that seemed to go unnoticed by everyone but him.
Hermione took a deep breath of the cold nights air. The frigid breath put her at ease. It had begun to get stuffy in the large ballroom with all the dancing and bodies that had inhabited it. Also she had grown tired of all the sideways looks she had been getting. She had wanted to sneak back to her room but she figured as the subject the party was being held for that would be a bit rude to do. Hermione stood up straight and smiled.
"Are you going to hang back the whole night or come speak to me?" She asked and Loki smiled before moving forward, she had sensed him once again even with a cloaking spell on.
"Lady Hermione." He greeted.
"Prince Loki." She said looking off at the Palace gardens below them.
"Just Loki."
"Then just Hermione for me." She said with a soft expression and Loki slowly nodded.
"Hermione… It's such an Asgardian name for someone born on Midgard."
"Not really, it's the name of a character in a story there."
"Which one?" he asked.
"A winters tale by William Shakespeare."
"I have read Shakespeare." She looked to him. "I like Henry the Eighth."
"My favorite is midsummer's night's dream." She said looking off.
"Swift as a shadow, short as any dream…" Loki began and she smiled softly before looking to him.
"Brief as the lightning in the collied night." Hermione finished and he looked to her. "It's a good quote…" she said before looking off. "Very true to life." He looked her over with a soft expression.
"I feel the need to apologize for Thors antics."
"Antics?" she asked looking to him as she leaned forward against the balcony her hands draping over the side.
"I mean him asking about your experiences with war, my brother is a bit battle obsessed."
"It's alright, it will be cured when he goes through a war…"
"Thor has been through many battles."
"Battles are battles, wars are wars, the difference is less subtle then you may think." She said and he slowly nodded. "You should apologize as well." He looked to her.
"Me?" he asked and she smiled cheekily. "I should?"
"Yes you, you were very rude the other night."
"I was rude?"
"Yes that's what I said." Hermione said looking to him.
"You're the one who stormed off."
"Because you were being rude." He looked at her for a long moment before smiling.
"Are you making a jest?" he asked.
"A jest indeed." She said with a smile and he chuckled. "Don't worry it doesn't happen often." Loki smiled as he returned to looking out at the gardens.
"Can I ask why you came out here?"
"Needed to the escape the party…" She said.
"It must be a lot to take in…" He said looking back at the ballroom to see many staring at them. "You could take a walk if you like, escape it for a while at least. I would gladly accompany you." She looked to him.
"Do you wish to escape?" She asked.
"Yes in truth I could use a small break from it…" He stepped away and leant his arm. "Shall we?" She slowly took his arm in hand and they walked to the stair case that would lead them down into the gardens. Hermione looked around at the garden as they walked. They were quiet for a little while before Hermione looked to him.
"You're not what I expected." He looked to her. "I'm sorry." She said shaking her head.
"No it's fine." He said and she looked to him with a soft expression. "You expected something of me?"
"Well I've read a few stories about the legends of Odin and you of course were in a few of those tales… They were of course written a long long time ago, back when all of the world accepted the simple truth that magic was real…"
"What did they say about me?"
"One of them was that you gave birth to an eight legged horse."
"Not yet no." He said and she laughed softly, he smiled as he looked her over. He liked her laugh it was the most genuine one he had ever heard.
"Also that you're a shape shifter."
"Yes, that I can do." He said with a nod. "As can you, I don't know if magic is limited on earth... But you can."
"No it isn't but it is governed. I always wanted to shape shift but I wasn't to the age I needed to be to do so."
"I could teach you."
"It's kind of you to offer, but I don't use magic anymore." He looked her over. He never heard of such a thing. Why would she refuse to use magic if she was able to? "Don't look at me like that." She said with a smile. "It's perfectly normal."
"No it's not." He said with a laugh. "I would never give up magic."
"Well that's your life choice." She said.
"Why would you do such a thing?" He asked with wide eyes.
"I no longer fit in the magical world so I left to live amongst the muggle one. Non Magic folk that is." He nodded understanding. "Turns out though that I didn't belong there either."
"That's because you belonged here."
"No I don't." she said coming to a stop. "I'm an Asgardian born from a midgardian introduced into the muggle world but injected into the magical one. I'm such a mix I can't belong to any of them."
"My father made you knightess, gave you a title trying to make you feel at home here." She looked to him.
"Your father made me a knightess and gave me a title in an attempt to keep me here, not to make me feel at home… Strange of him to think he can actually keep me here though…"
"You can't get home without his permission." She laughed.
"Sure I can… One simple spell."
"You don't use magic anymore though." She slowly looked to him.
"Then… Maybe I'll teach it to you and you can do the spell for me."
"I wouldn't betray my fathers orders."
"So he has orders then about me?" she asked and he looked to her, she was very cunning. "Was one of them to follow me?" He stared at her for a long moment.
"He asked me to keep an eye on you, make you feel at home here." He admitted.
"Some friendly advice Loki, following someone while keeping to the shadows doesn't make them feel at home…" She said walking away from him. "It makes them feel like a prisoner." Loki walked after her.
"Sorry." He said and she turned her russet eyes to him stopping him in his tracks. They were so inquisitive, yet wise, all at the same time. "I just didn't know how to approach you after that night I kept you from leaving the palace."
"You could have just approached me as you did this night." She said. "It's okay though, I'm used to it… People have never treated me like they would anyone else." She smiled looking off. "I've always been somewhat of a pariah… Though I will admit, Lady Sif has accepted me with open arms."
"I do as well." He said and she looked to him with a soft expression. "I know what it's like to be a black sheep…"
"Yes, I've noticed how it's Thor, Lady Sif and the warriors three… Not four…"
"You noticed that?" He asked with a mischievous smile as he walked to her. "May I inquire as to something Hermione?" She nodded. "Have you ever belonged?"
"Once…" she said looking off. "But the people who I belonged with are long and buried now." He watched as a flash of great sorrow came across her expression before disappearing completely.
"How long has it been?" he asked.
"I'm sorry?" she asked not understanding the question.
"How long have they been buried?"
"A little over a year." She said quietly and he could tell she was thinking back on those people.
"Was it your parents?" He asked.
"No…"
"I just assumed, my father said you had lost your parents."
"I didn't lose them I know right where they are… They just don't remember who I am."
"How can they not?" he asked and she took a deep breath, trying to figure out the best way to explain it.
"I had to cast their minds away to protect them... Then I casted them away, hid them, gave them new lives… When the war was over and I finally found them the damage had been done… The memories I had created for them had become reality, if I had tried to reverse it they would have gone insane from shock. So I not only lost my friends, but my family as well…" She smiled as she looked off. "Maybe I had that coming…" She added quietly.
"Why would you have it coming?" Hermione bowed her head, she could hear it in that moment. The screams of every man and woman she had killed during the war.
"I've…" She looked up finding it hard to admit the truth. "I've killed too many friends and family members of others to have any of my own…" She admitted before looking to him. "Don't ask." He tilted his head.
"What was I going to ask?"
"How many people I've killed." He slowly nodded before looking off.
"How old are you?" He asked instead and she tilted her head, it was such a random question.
"You're being rude again." He smiled as he looked to her. "You're not supposed to ask a lady her age…"
"Only when that lady is old." She smiled.
"I'm about to turn 18… How old are you?" She asked.
"Older."
"How old?"
"Old enough for your question to be deemed rude." She laughed and he smiled as he looked to her.
"You have a joyous laugh…" He commented and she looked to him with a soft expression.
"Well… Thank you…" She said and he nodded. "We should head back to the party." He leant his arm and she took it once more before walking off.
"Do you like horses?" he asked.
"I do."
"Can you ride?" She laughed.
"Can I ride a horse?" she asked sarcastically and he smiled as he looked to her. "Not even a little bit." She said and he laughed himself. She had a quick wit to her, one he appreciated greatly.
"Well I can ride." He said. "Maybe tomorrow you'd like to take a ride with me to the libraries?"
"Libraries?" she asked and he could tell her interest was piqued.
"The libraries of Asgard seeing as you seem to be a fan of Shakespeare I thought we may go there you could get some books from midgard to make you feel more at home."
"Yes, I would appreciate that greatly." She said with a smile and he nodded.
"Then I shall take you." He said as they headed up the stairs to the balcony. "I'll meet you at your room tomorrow morning."
"Alright." She said with a nod.
"Good… Well… I shall retire for the night."
"Good night Loki."
"Good night Hermione." He took her hand and kissed the back of it before walking into the ballroom. Hermione smiled softly as she watched him disappear into the throes of the party.
"Hermione there you are." Lady Sif said walking out. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just getting some air, I was about to head back in."
-o-
Hermione once more didn't sleep that night. Instead she waited for morning to come. After all she was excited to go to the libraries of Asgard. Late last night more casual clothing had appeared in her closet, much like what lady Sif wore. She pulled on a pair of leather leggings a leather skirt with maroon tool underneath. She then wore a leather underbust corset with a maroon peasant shirt beneath which hung off her shoulders. She heard a knock on her door and smiled as she pulled on a light maroon jacket that had gold buttons and a bustled back detail. She walked to her door and peeked out at Loki.
"Ready?" he asked. "Or is it too early for you?"
"No I was up." She said with a smile as she walked out. Loki smiled as he looked her over. She was slipping into Asgardian dress more easily then he thought she would. "Are you ready?"
"Indeed I have the horse waiting for us in the garden." He said as they began the walk to the nearest garden entrance. "I don't normally eat in the mornings, are you hungry we could stop for breakfast with the others?"
"No I'm not much of a breakfast person either." She said with a smile.
-o-
Sif smiled as she headed into the dining hall. She was greeted by grunts of Thor and the warriors three as they ate. She sat down and Thor looked to her.
"Where is Lady Hermione?" He asked thinking they would be together.
"Last I saw her she was walking off with Loki." Sif said serving herself some food.
"She doesn't want breakfast?" Volstagg asked.
"Maybe she figures you eat enough for the both of you." Fandral said with a smile and Volstagg laughed.
"Didn't those two sneak off last night?" Vostagg asked.
"Rumor is they took a long walk through the gardens." Sif said with a smile.
"It is only friendship, father asked Loki to keep an eye on her." Thor said.
"He didn't ask you to do that?" Fandral asked him.
"That's what I said." Thor said pointing a chicken leg at him. "We should all work on making her feel comfortable, after all if she is the warrior father says she is we may need her help at some point."
"You heard her Thor, she's not interested." Sif said.
"Once a warrior always a warrior." Thor said with a smile.
-o-
"Here we are." Loki said walking over to his horse. "This is Tristan, my most trusted friend." Hermione smiled as she walked over to the massive white horse.
"Nice to meet you Tristan." She said petting the horse. "I'm Hermione…" Loki smiled as he walked to the side.
"I'll lift you onto the horse scoot up on the saddle as far as you can." She walked to him and he moved behind her his hands setting on her hips. He lifted her up easily and she swung her leg over the horse and scooted up on the saddle before Loki mounted the horse behind her. He moved his arms over hers and took the reigns in hand. He was increasingly aware how close they were, her back set right up against his chest.
"Do you need me to move forward more?" she asked.
"Not at all." He said before giving the horse a light kick and Tristan instantly look off. Hermione smiled as the horse began to canter. She had never been horse riding before, but she found it exhilarating right off the bat. It was a freeing feeling, the wind moving against her as they rode. After getting out of the gardens they rode through a luscious forest filled with creeks, and moss covered boulders. After riding for a long while they broke through a line of trees and Hermione smiled seeing a structure made of pillars covered in ivy with large gold gates. Loki dismounted the horse before reaching for Hermione. She set her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her down.
"Thank you."
"Not a problem." He said and she smiled as they walked towards the buildings where two guards stood. They opened the gates and Hermione took a breath as she stepped into a building which was filled with book cases upon book cases of different texts. She slowly looked up and smiled brightly seeing more levels which rounded all the way up filled with more book cases.
"I'm never going to run out of things to read." She said with a laugh before moving forward. "This is amazing." She said looking all around. Loki smiled as he let his eyes move over her. This was the first time he had seen a genuine smile reach all the way to her eyes. Normally she would smile and he could see the sorrow still held deep within her, eating away at everything she was. "I don't know where to start."
"May I make a suggestion?" he asked.
"Yes please do." She said as she followed him to a door which had two guards standing by it.
"Open it." Loki said and the two guards eyed Hermione. "She's with me. Open it." He said with more authority they continued to look at Hermione. "I am a prince of Asgard and you will mind me." Hermione eyed Loki for a long moment. He had been so demanding with them, it was a side she hadn't seen of him before. "Now… Open it." The two men both took keys out and unlocked the doors before Loki moved forward a key appearing magically in his hand. He stuck it in the door and twisted instantly the door disappeared and he turned to Hermione with a smile. "Shall we?" She nodded moving forward into a large room which was filled with large white marble columns. This room was filled with books as well.
"What makes this room so special?" Hermione asked as the door reappeared behind them.
"This area holds every historical text ever written about Asgard." Loki said. "It is the history of our people… I think you should start here as to learn where you come from, and to see that you belong here more then you ever did anywhere else." She looked to Loki with a soft expression.
"Any suggestions where I should start?" He smiled as he walked to a book case and pulled an ancient text. He brought it over to her and she smiled as he handed it over. A strange language morphed right before her eyes into English. "Asgard a History." She read aloud.
"It's the best one of a general history I've read." Loki said and she smiled as she looked to him. "These books can't be taken out of this room so while I go find something to read I suggest you get started." A table and chair formed in the middle of the room. "I'll come by and check on you in a bit."
"Thank you." He saw her eyes had caught something else. "Loki what is that?" He smiled as he followed her gaze to a gold book illuminated by light surrounded in a marble cage.
"That is a book that holds the deepest secrets of Asgard…" He said walking her over to it. "Only the Kings of Asgard have ever read it."
"So no chance I can steal a peek?" she asked and he smiled.
"Afraid not, I've tried every spell I know on it much to my fathers disapproval but it was all in good fun." She smiled as she looked to him, he really was mischievous. "Many have tried to steal it all have failed."
"Now I get the security detail." He nodded his hands going behind his back.
"Well I shall leave you to your reading then." He said.
"Thank you Loki."
"Of course." He said with a short bow before walking off. Loki got to the door and opened it. As he left he looked over his shoulder to see Hermione already sitting down the book laying out before her.
-o-
Loki casted the books he wanted to read back to his room magically before walking to the restricted room and pulling out his key. The guards moved forward and unlocked it this time without him asking and he then used his key to unlock the door. It had been six hours since he had last seen Hermione so as the door opened he tilted his head to see Hermione nowhere in sight He looked all around before taking a step inside.
"Hermione?"
"Mhm?" she asked walking out into the open her nose buried in the book he had given her.
"Oh there you are." He said and he saw that she was near halfway through the book.
"I think we should head back to the palace." Loki said.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"A few hours from when night is to fall." He said and she looked down at the book in her hand.
"I see…"
"What is it?" She looked to him.
"I was just wondering… Could… Could I stay here?" she asked.
"You wish to stay here?" he inquired with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes… Not in this room I know that's not possible but… Maybe in the library?"
"Are you sure you want to?" he asked.
"Yes… I would very much like to."
"What about sleep?" She shrugged with a smile.
"I don't sleep much." She admitted and he slowly nodded.
"It's alright if you think it wrong…"
"Are you sure you want to stay here?"
"Yes, positive." She said with a bright smile.
"Well, I guess it would be alright." He said and she happily followed him out of the room.
"Thank you Loki." She said before heading off to explore.
"Keep an eye out for not only this room but her as well." Loki said to the guards who nodded before he walked out.
"Good night Hermione!" He called.
"Night Loki!" He heard from somewhere deep within the libraries. She had sounded so carefree he couldn't help but smile.
