A/N: Wow, that's surprising. Within the first couple hours of publication, I get three follows, two favorites, and two reviews. Thanks a lot, guys! You are my motivation to keep going!

Part I: Shall We Dance?

Chapter 2: Of Distractions and Invitations

3rd POV

Concentrate. Watch for an opening. Step, thrust, step, guard.

Katarina found it much harder to focus on her fencing. Usually, she was almost jumping from one foot to the other in excitement for the next lesson. Her enthusiasm was caused by two things: One, she got to actually do something that involved fighting, and two, she got to be with her brother.

Nikolai was probably one of the coolest older brothers a girl could ever have. Yes, sometimes he was condescending and he scolded her for errant behavior. But having gone through the a-prince-must lessons (and worse, since he's the heir to the throne), he could relate to Katarina in a way that no one else could. He argued with their parents for more of Katarina's freedom, and was also an amazing sword fighter. Needless to say, his younger sister was extremely proud.

Katarina stumbled as her brother suddenly advanced, allowing him to get under her guard and attack.

"What's wrong with you today, Katarina?" Nikolai frowned, removing his face guard and brushing some of his hair out of his eyes. "You're distracted."

Nikolai was rather handsome, with wavy golden hair and hazel eyes like their father, but Katarina could see traces of their mother in his face. It was comforting.

"I don't know." Katarina bit her lip, following suit and blowing a couple strands of red hair out of her sweaty face.

In all honesty, she did know. That young man from the evening party... his face and his whisper had continued to follow her. She could hear her name on his lips.

"Katarina."

"Katarina?"

Said girl started and looked up, blinking. "Huh? Sorry, did you say something, Nikolai?"

He sighed. "There you go again. Distracted, with your head in the clouds." His lip suddenly curled. "Ever since the party. Did you "meet the prince of your dreams?"" He asked mockingly, leaning against the walls.

Katarina glared at him. "That's not funny." She snapped, and her blue eyes grew distant, as if she was thinking about something that happened a long time ago.

Nikolai suddenly realized what he had said, and he stepped towards his younger sister, concerned. "Oh, no, Katarina, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry..." He moved to put a hand on her shoulder.

Katarina allowed him to do so, trying to shrug off her negative feelings. "It's okay. I know you wouldn't say something like that to hurt me. Besides, you know I don't believe in stories like that anymore."

Her brother nodded. "Love..." He began.

"...is for children." His sister finished the statement, and the two siblings shared a grim smile.

"Well! It seems you two are done with those awful swords!"

They turned to see their stepmother walking into the training room with a sleeping Katia in her arms, nose wrinkled.

Despite the fact that Katarina and Nikolai were both quite attractive, they knew that Katia was going to grow up to be absolutely knock-out beautiful. She was only five years old, but her hair was reddish gold and wavy, and her eyes seemed to change color. Sometimes, Katarina thought they were blue. Another time, she thought they were brown. Another time, they looked hazel. She could stare into her sister's eyes for hours and never make up her mind.

Their stepmother might not have noticed, but Nikolai's jaw tightened ever-so-slightly when he saw Katia, and his eyes grew cold. He strode over to the woman and held out his arms expectantly for his baby sister. "They're called foils, Synthia." He said in a level tone of voice. "And they're not awful; I'm just training Katarina to protect herself."

Synthia sighed and handed Katia to him. "Oh, Nikolai, when will you start calling me your mother...?"

Nikolai smiled mirthlessly. "We've gone over this, Synthia." He carried Katia away from their stepmother and towards Katarina. "Never."

As soon as he had his back to Synthia, Katarina saw a whole new person emerge from Nikolai's previously cold attitude. "Hey Katia!" He stroked her hair. "Are you awake?"

Katia opened her kaleidoscope eyes and yawned. "N-N-Nicky?"

"Yes, it's Nicky." The boy didn't even bother to correct the younger girl. "How did you sleep?"

"Good." Katia kicked her legs to signal that she wanted to get down and Nikolai obliged. She hugged his legs. "Nicky, will you teach me to sword fight too? Like Kat?"

Nikolai laughed and winked in Katarina's direction, who was laughing. "Nah, I can't. But you know what?" He spun her around so that she was facing Katarina. "When you're old enough, Kat will teach you."

"Oh, will you, Kat?" Katia turned to her older sister and begged, her eyes wide, and Katarina could feel her heart melt. How could she say no to that face?

"Of course I will." She picked up Katia and hugged her.

OoOoOoO

Loki couldn't get her out of his mind. He could see her dark red hair and light blue eyes, that small, tentative real smile, not the royalty act, like a glance from behind a veil. Her pale complexion and graceful stride.

"Princess Katarina of Vanaheim."

There was a book resting in his lap, and he was trying to read it, but found that he could not focus. He found himself reading the same sentence over and over again, not comprehending a single word. Sighing, he closed the book and instead tried to amuse himself by summoning an illusion, and instantly, a black snake appeared in his hands, slithering over his fingers.

Perhaps... perhaps he should have told her his name. This way, it felt like he was somehow tricking her.

Well, why wouldn't I be tricking her? Loki thought crossly to himself. I'm the god of mischief!

But no, his anonymity had not been caused by his instinct to cause trouble. It was because he hadn't wanted to see her back away, narrow her eyes, and put up a wall.

After all, it's what everybody does when they see him.

"Brother!" The door was flung open without warning, and Loki internally sighed. He did not need Thor to barge in right now; he wanted to be alone, with his thoughts.

"What is it, Thor? I'm rather busy..."

"Busy doing what? Playing around with your magic?" The golden-haired boy noticed the midnight-colored serpent. "I came to ask your opinion on something."

The younger brother raised an eyebrow. Thor rarely asked his opinion on anything. "Yes? What is it?"

Thor took a seat in one of the chairs, glancing nervously towards the door as if afraid he would be overheard. Then he leaned forward, lowering his voice, eyes shining. "I met the most enchanting person at the evening party last night..."

Loki groaned. "Thor, you say that after almost every party you attend. Save it for when you mean it, okay?"

"This time I really do mean it." Thor said seriously, and then smiled slyly. "Brother, do you believe in love at first sight?"

Loki scoffed. "If I believed in love at all, I think it would take a little longer to fall for someone, Thor."

And yet all it took was two seconds for you to fall for Katarina, Said a sneaky little voice in the back of his head, the princess's face yet again surfacing in his mind. He shook his head very slightly.

Get out of my head.

"Aw, c'mon, Loki! Can you get your nose out of your books and live a little?" Thor asked, gesturing to the room around them.

Ignoring this comment, Loki asked, "So, who is this maiden that managed to capture your heart so easily?"

"Did you not see her? Princess Katarina herself! That red hair and-"

Crack.

Thor looked up in surprise to see that Loki had just broken the snake's neck. And the expression upon his face was stony. "Brother...?"

"I've told you, Thor." Loki stood up, walking out of the room. "I have important matters to attend to."

OoOoOoO

All three Rykerson children were currently in the fireplace room, the older two sitting at the table, while Katia played with her toys near the hearth.

Katarina sighed, trying to concentrate on the schoolwork that lay before her, but the words seemed to bleed together so that she could not read what they said. She growled. Usually, schoolwork was a breeze, and she easily completed it. Today, she found herself being distracted by everything. The constant crackling of the fire, the scribble of her brother's pen from across the table, the occasional clink of porcelain on porcelain as her sister played with her dolls. She sighed again.

Suddenly, Nikolai looked up, looking furious with himself, and banged his fist on the table. Katarina jumped as his inkwell was upset and black ink slowly spread across the table's surface.

"God, curse Synthia. I never did find out why you were distracted today, did I?" He stared at Katarina expectantly.

His sister sighed for a third time, and stood up, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. "The ink will stain your papers." She moved to clean it up.

Her brother clicked his fingers, and a servant instantly rushed up and started to clean the ink mess. "Stop avoiding the subject. Tell me. I'm your brother."

But Katarina stubbornly shook her head. "No. You'll laugh at me." She picked up a book and started to read.

Nikolai snatched it and gave her a knowing look, suddenly smirking. "Oh. Was it perhaps our honored guests?" He teased.

Katarina blinked. "Honored... guests?"

"Yes. The king and the princes of Asgard. Was it young Prince Thor?"

"Brother, you could not be more wrong." Katarina said irritably, making a futile grab for the book. "Give that back!"

He ignored her, using his height to his advantage, lifting it high above his head. "I've heard he's captured the hearts of his entire kingdom, loved everywhere, worshipped by all." He whispered in mock-awe. "And that, ever since he's won his first battle, all the women and goddesses of Asgard have flocked to him in droves, ever his fans, all vying for his attention. So unlike his younger brother." He added, as if in an afterthought.

Katarina frowned. "Brother?"

"Did you not notice him at the evening party?"

The princess shook her head. "I did not know he had a brother..."

"Well, perhaps you'll meet him." Nikolai said slyly. Katarina's frown deepened.

"What do you mean?" She asked suspiciously. Her brother just shook his head and went back to his schoolwork. "Brother, tell me." He ignored her. She grabbed his paper and got right up in his face. "What is i-"

"Katarina! Oh, Katarina!" The door banged open.

Both of the older kids froze as Synthia ran through the door, a letter held aloft in her hand. She looked absolutely overjoyed.

Nikolai sighed, an annoyed expression crossing his face in an instant. "Synthia, what is it this time...?"

"Katarina, oh, darling Katarina!" She sang, oblivious to Nikolai as she dashed towards her stepdaughter and grabbed her hands in obvious joy. "I knew this day would come!"

"What day?"

"My beautiful Katarina, always so charming and-!"

Nikolai's expression hardened, and suddenly he was between his stepmother and his sister, forcing them apart. He glowered at the former, eyes narrowed. "She's not your Katarina."

Silence. Dead, suffocating silence. Katarina shivered. There was such contempt in her brother's face.

"What news do you have?" Nikolai asked coldly after a few seconds.

"Oh... yes." Their stepmother looked at the letter in her hand, now much quieter. "Katarina has been invited to the palace of Asgard for a hunting party that Prince Thor is giving."

"Thank you. You may leave." Nikolai pointed to the door, and Synthia left quietly.

As soon as she had left and closed the door behind her, the prince turned to his sister and grinned. "It seems that your heart was not the only one captured."

"I'll ignore that for now." Katarina said dismissively. "But, Nikolai, you really need to stop doing that."

"Doing what?" His hazel eyes were suddenly frigid again.

"Shunning Synthia!"

"But you're not her Katarina. I will not stand by and watch while she calls you her Katarina. I will not stand for it."

"At least be a bit more subtle about it!" Katarina snapped. "She will complain to father, and father will bring the hammer down on our heads and force us to call her mother! And then Katia will take after us and-"

"No. Don't. Just stop." Nikolai pressed his hands to his temples. "I'm sorry, okay? I'll try to stop it in the future. Good enough for you?"

There was a brief moment of silence in which the two glared at each other. Then Katarina sighed.

"Look, I don't like her as much as you do." She said softly. "But we have to deal with her." Nikolai looked right into her eyes and realized that they were thinking the same thing.

~Flashback~

A younger Nikolai was carrying a crying Katarina from the room.

"She's not my mother! She's not my mother!" Katarina screamed, beating Nikolai with her tiny fists as she cried.

"Katarina, shh." Was all that her brother said. This only caused his sister to scream louder.

"She's not my mother! She's not my mother!"

"Katarina..."

"SHE'S NOT MY MOTHER! SHE'S NOT MY MOTHER!"

Nikolai snapped. "SHE'S NOT MINE EITHER!"

Silence.

~Flashback End~

Nikolai sighed and sat down. Katarina followed suit, taking it as a signal to drop the conversation. They were both quiet as they started on their work again.

Finally, Nikolai said, "But seriously. Is Thor the reason for your absent-mindedness?"

The answer was easy. Katarina shook her head. "No. He is pleasant and charming and strong, but he is also arrogant and full of himself. I find that rather irritating."

"Hm. And yet, you will still accept his invitation."

"To appease father. He will have my head if I passed up an opportunity like this."

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