"You have to admit, he is a formidable warrior."
Lady Sif had been tending to Serena's hair for the banquet that night. She sat on the plush stool at her delicately prepared dresser while Sif pinned up Serena's chestnut curls in an assortment of curls. It was a style popular with the ladies of Asgard and Sif herself donned it well.
"Yes, Sif," Serena smiled with a reassuring chuckle, "Prince Thor is one of the finest in that field."
"He is the finest," Sif giggled as she pinned another curl, "I've yet to see any of the Warrior's Three defeat him in training."
Though Sif hadn't said, it was obvious to Serena that Lady Sif harboured a fondness for Thor. Every time she spoke of him her eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed. Serena thought of asking her but decided against it; she didn't want to embarrass the poor love-struck woman if she wished to keep her feelings a secret.
"I'll take your word for it, my Lady." Serena said, when she heaved a heavy sigh. Sif looked up in to the mirror, meeting Serena's eyes in the reflection.
"What's wrong, Serena?" she asked, "Are you not excited for the banquet?"
"No, I am." Serena quickly shook her head. "I'm just…a little rattled is all."
She couldn't hide it. Since her encounter with Loki in the gardens that afternoon, she had felt irritable and tense. Just the thought of having to speak to him again, when he did nothing but give her a headache, made dread begin to creep in. Sif inhaled deeply through her nose and rested her hands on Serena's shoulders.
"Don't let Loki's mischief bother you," said Sif, "He may play tricks, but he means no harm."
"I know he's harmless, my Lady. He enjoys playing tricks on me; I have no time for them. I just hope he doesn't do it tonight."
"Well, if he does…" Sif pinned a final curl secure, "Send him to me. I'll see to it that he won't bother you again."
Once Sif was satisfied, she placed her hands on Serena's shoulders standing behind her.
"There we are, my Lady." She smiled proudly.
Serena stared at her reflection in complete bewilderment. Sif had taken a woman with wayward locks and plain dress and transformed her entirely. Gone was her shy, reserved self. From the mirror, a princess stared back at her.
The banquet was the largest Loki had seen for a while. Asgard was known for nightly celebrations and unmatchable feasts, but this was truly a banquet to behold.
Music from the ancient times played ethereal throughout the Great Hall. Numerous guests teemed through in throngs, laughing, dancing and drinking noisily, Thor leading the ruckus. The aroma of spit roast hog, roast potatoes and an assortment of other fine delicacies filled his nostrils and made his mouth water.
By the throne Loki could see his father, Odin, overlooking the entire affair with the same regal charisma he always carried, Queen Frigga faithfully by his side as always. The All-Father had insisted on a banquet to welcome and honour the many guests and diplomats to Asgard in the past weeks.
Loki dodged a couple who stumbled tipsily out on one of the castle's many balconies and heaved a frustrated breath. Normally, he didn't care for such events like his brother did. He enjoyed a party, yes, but nightly banquets and getting drunk for the ancestors wasn't his lifeblood as it was Thor's. He appreciated the beauty his brother tended to ignore, like nature and books.
The noise had become overwhelming for Loki and he turned to doors to get some air and hopefully, some peace and quiet, when he stopped dead in his tracks.
He thought his eyes were deceiving him, for an angel had glided in to the hall. An angel in a golden gown and chestnut hair, looking around shyly as if she were a hare caught in light. The prince felt a pang in chest when he recognised just who this angel was…
Lady Serena.