frost giants unscary...

Chapter 2: Asgard

She sighed deeply and took a swift glance around the quiet library before opening the book and sitting in one of her favourite corners. She was sure no one would find her, even if they entered the library. Lira had a knack for hiding in places which one would think impossible. And no one ever visited the library anyhow, so it wasn't as if she'd get yelled at.

She was halfway through the novel before her sensitive ears heard the swish of clothing from in front of her. She licked her lips nervously, setting down the book and silently making her way around to the opposite end of the shelf.

A peek around the corner told her that Nora had entered and was looking behind the numerous shelves and piles of books. Was she looking for someone? Nora was Lira's only friend, whom she shared a room with down in the servants quarters. There was nothing the two of them didn't know about each other, though a fight broke out many a time over Lira's constant reading.

She smiled to herself and snuck up behind her, playfully tugging her friend's long blond locks. Nora whirled around; blue eyes open wide in shock before she smiled relieved at finding Lira.

"Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere for you! Finally, I decided that the only place you're ever around is in the library."

Lira frowned at her friend, "I go to the forest too."

"Yes but its near sundown!"

Nora rolled her eyes and spun Lira around to face the windows.

"See?"

"What of it? I've gone there after dinner before."

Her friend grinned cheekily, nudging her side, "So! How's your day been?"

Lira groaned, screwing her thin red lips into a disappointed grimace. Nora's eyes widened and she grabbed Lira's hand, making her way to the thin glass door.

"You have to tell me everything."

Lira stumbled along, trying to loosen the iron grip of Nora's hand on her own. She really didn't want to bring it up again, when she'd just forgotten it.

"Must I? It's really not interesting."

"Yes, darling. You have no choice." She sang aloud as they entered their room. She flopped down onto the bed happily, swinging her legs. Lira saw a chance to change the topic and managed a shrewd smile at her friend,

"What are you so happy about?"

"Oh nothing!" Nora tried to compose her excitement, yet her eyes betrayed what she was feeling.

"Are you going to tell me, or do I have to force it out of you?"

"Stop it!" she playfully hit Lira on the shoulder, "Alright, so I must admit I have been feeling slightly exhilarated lately."

"Mhmm." Lira raised an eyebrow, urging her on.

"Well, Herrus passed me on the way to the dining hall! He's been posted closer to where we work! Can you believe it? And he smiled at me – can you believe that? When we passed, his shoulder grazed my own, and he asked me to accompany him for a stroll tomorrow, when he's off duty for a while."

"Well, that is good news." Lira smiled, happy that somebody's day had gone well.

"I know!" she gushed, "Can you believe my luck!?"

"Are servants even allowed to "stroll" with guards?"

Nora frowned, but then smiled and jumped up in excitement, "Now now, Lira, why does that matter? The princes are far too engrossed in themselves to notice a lone guard and a servant girl wandering off."

Lira twisted her lips to the side. Form what she knew of Loki, he saw everything, no matter how insignificant it was. She shrugged reluctantly and tried not to think about him, but his haunting eyes still resided in her mind, refusing to depart however hard she tried to force him out.

Oh Valhalla. Why the prince?

She sighed and rolled onto her stomach, face in the pillow. Nora chuckled lightly and grabbed a dishtowel before heading out the door.

"I'm going to dinner. Don't wait up for me, I have dishwashing to complete. Unfortunately it's my shift today."

She grimaced at Lira and disappeared down the hall. Lira waited until she could hear her footsteps no longer, then sprung of the bed and grabbed the thick book resting on her bedside table. She needed to relax, and the only way for her to do that was to go find a place in the forest to read.

Adamant to what she'd witnessed before, Lira was not going to let one stray Frost Giant scare her out of the forest. She'd gone there before hand, she'd go there now.

Her hand clutched the book tightly as she made her way through the maze of corridors and out into the twilight. The setting suns transformed Asgard into a beautiful dream before her eyes. This was where she'd been born, and she didn't want to ever leave. War, carnage, blood and tears; this was her home.

She felt confident the great Odin would not let any harm befall Asgard while King. She was not so confident about the heir though. Thor may be big and strong, but from what she'd found out from Hera, he was a spoilt boy, yearning to prove himself in any way possible. Even if it meant war.