Theia looked out over the balcony; the stars were glistening among the blanket of darkness that had been thrown across the sky for several hours now. She was cut off from the rest of the room by a white linin curtain after she insisted she needed some air, in truth she couldn't stand anymore of the questions about her 'relationship' with Loki. Theia wasn't even sure if they had a relationship of any sort. She had only spoken to him twice, and twice on the same day, Loki was more of an acquaintance than anything else. The constant buzz of noise was still going on in her bedroom, she heard them playfully bickering over who would be a more suitable match for Thor, and even though they were trying to whisper, Theia still heard them talking about her and Loki.

She groaned and put her face in her hands as she stared out at the bifrost. I wish they would stop talking about it like it is something, she thought to herself. Eventually, wishing to be once more involved with the convocation if it was going to involve her, Theia swept back the curtain and walked back into her room.

Her friends were scattered about the room, Aria lay on Theia's bed her feet hanging off the side, Greta was brushing her hair out in front of the mirror so she looked presentable walking home, and Kari and Demaris were lying on cushions on the floor. All of them were as tired as they looked. Unfortunately for Theia it seemed this party would be talked about for a very long time. Theia sat down with her back up against the wall, her green gown pooling around her like a waterfall of grass. The book that Loki had given her sat on the bedside table next to Aria. Theia wanted nothing more than to be able to sit and read it to her hearts content as she knew that Loki had already begun to read her book, but she knew that doing so would spark convocation about her and the God of Mischief.

However, in choosing not to pick up the book it gave Aria the perfect opportunity to pick up the book and examine it for herself. Theia heard the pages rustle as Aria flicked through it and she had to restrain herself from jumping off the ground and snatching it from her friend's very careless grasp. Aria stopped, glancing over at Theia a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She flipped the book over in her hands causing small particles of dust to fly from the pages. Aria moved herself so she sat right on the edge of the bed and looked directly at Theia.

"This is not of Asgard," She said. Theia knew exactly where this was going.

"Correct," Replied Theia nonchalantly. "It is from Alfheim, realm of the Light Elves."

"Alfheim books are very hard to come by," Noted Greta.

"Not for a prince," Said Demaris. Everyone was now looking from Theia to the book.

"He must trust you to give it to you,"

"No, I gave him a book so he gave me one is that what you wanted to hear?" That was a bad move on Theia's part for now all of her friends had crowded round her chattering numerous questions only some of which reached her aching ears. She definitely regretted mentioning anything about giving Prince Loki her book.

It was way into the morning when Theia's friends decided to leave, and even in the pits of tiredness Theia couldn't bring herself to sleep. So as the first rays of sun began to break over the top of the Asgardian horizon Theia changed into a tunic and leggings with lace up boots that tied halfway up her shins. She picked up the staff that hung on the wall, and took heed of the things that Aria had said the night previously. Her father would want her to protect herself, and although she wouldn't be directly disobeying her mother's orders by practicing by herself she wasn't actually following them either, which made it all the more exciting.

Slipping from her chambers Theia headed out of the palace and towards the hillside that overlooked the sparring fields. She would remain just insight to watch their techniques but just out of sight so she wouldn't be ridiculed. The sun had risen quite a bit by the time she got to the field; she had brought a small bag in which she kept Loki's book from Alfheim in case she grew bored of practicing. Theia placed the book next to an old tree which grew the strangest but most beautiful tasting fruit Theia had ever tried. She had never seen any mention of such a fruit in her Midgardian books and she wondered how they could possibly go without the most wondrous fruit.

Taking a deep breath Theia positioned herself on the hillside just so she had the right view of the sparring fields. She was glad she had come early because nobody yet occupied the field and so she could fully concentrate on her practice without getting distracted by their more practiced moves.

Theia felt the staff in her grasp, the cool patterned metal felt familiar in her grip; taking a breath she spun the weapon around her head. It was an extension of her body, flicking it around her body and from hand to hand she saw her father sitting by the tree and watching, a small smile on his face. The metal slipped between her hands as she danced from foot to foot imagining warriors coming at her from all angles. Theia turned her teeth grit as she lunged out and speared a particularly nasty looking invisible warrior.

Theia didn't know what was happening, she surveyed the warrior cautiously. The man was choking horribly, blood was gurgling in his open mouth, a giant hole in the man's abdomen spilled crimson where she had impaled him with her spear. This couldn't be right, she was sure she was practicing up here alone, but the man looked real, the blood that was spilling from him looked real. Everything about the man looked real, right down to the golden helmet. Theia dropped her staff, the end of it was dripping with the man's blood.

Stooping down Theia grasped either side of the man's helmet and pulled, and when she did she wished she hadn't. The man had brown curly hair, with stubble coating his chin, and his eyes were every bit as dark as Theia's. He locked his gaze on her, and no matter how much Theia tried to look away she just simply couldn't. This image was real, it was too real…

"Father…" Theia choked, her breath hitched and tears welled in her eyes. "Father… I-"

"You… Killed me…" His voice was harsh, almost venomous.

"No… no father… I didn-"

"You… Killed me…" His voice rose despite the gurgling of blood in his throat. Before Theia could move he had her wrist in a tight grasp. "You… Killed me…"

"No… no!" Theia struggled against him, his nails dug into her wrist. "Stop it!" She cried and with a wrench Theia fell back on the ground and scrambled away. Her eyes were trained on the ground as she tried to take calming breaths. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Glancing up Theia sucked in a breath when her eyes fell upon the ground where her father had lay only moments ago. She didn't know why she expected him to still be there, maybe it was the fact he looked so real? Or maybe it was the fact she could still hear his harsh voice ringing in her ears? But maybe it was the nail marks that were scratched into her wrist.

Theia dropped her head into her hands and using her sleeve wiped the tears from her cheeks. She ran a hand over the scratch marks hoping they would disappear, but they did not. Why had she seen her father that way? Only moments ago he was sitting by the tree smiling at her, and then she had impaled him. Is that how he died? Rayla had never told her daughter the circumstances surrounding her father's death. But he had said, he said that Theia had killed him. Theia shook her head trying to banish the memories from her mind, she hadn't killed him. She couldn't have, she was only young when he'd died.

Theia was so consumed by what she had seen, was she going mad? Could she have picked up a fatal disease that caused her to see those horrid illusions? No, she can't have, because Asgardian's don't get sick, it isn't the way. The soft sound of footsteps on grass alerted Theia to her surroundings that had blended out among her thoughts. She felt the shaft of the spear in her hands and as quick as a flash she spun onto her feet her spear pointed away from her. She was so scared that the image of her father was back, that she didn't notice who had snuck up on her until she was staring him right in the eyes.

Theia dropped the spear from her hands, her emotions overwhelming her as she crumpled to the ground sobbing. She grabbed fistfuls of her hair and pulled on them she had to do something, something to block out the pain she was feeling. Theia felt the warmth of his hands on hers gently pulling her hands away from her hair. Theia looked up, grateful for the comfort but her eyes were still swimming with unshed tears.

"What pains you so?" Asked Loki, the young prince looked down at Theia and tilted her chin up so she would look at him.

Theia shook her head and rubbed her eyes with her free hand. "You wouldn't understand."

"I will try to understand," He persisted. There was concern emanating from within his liquid green eyes. Concern that Theia knew he shouldn't be expressing towards her; they had only met three times. But Theia couldn't deny that somewhere she hoped Loki would understand. He was friendly, kind and a prankster. He was everything she used to be and more. There was a connection, a spark of some sort, and maybe this was enough to make him understand.

"You can't…" She said softly. "Even if you wanted to, you can't."

"Then make me understand."

"I… It is my father," Theia admitted, and then everything came tumbling out. Everything from the moment she had picked up her staff to the moment she pulled out of her father's grip. "He was right there… and I killed him."

"You didn't kill your father, Theia." He said gently. They were sat opposite each other now, their legs were crossed and their arms draped over their knees. Theia had pulled the sleeve over the marks on her arm, but she subconsciously ran her hand over the fabric every few minutes. "You were practicing too hard, that is all. An illusion from the heat."

Theia wanted to show Loki the marks on her arms, but something at the back of her head told her not to. Something inside her thought he would think her a freak if she showed him. "Yes, you're right."

Loki bent his head and rubbed his hands together, and then he furrowed his eyebrows. He was deep in thought and Theia noticed it.

"Something troubles you?" She asked, he looked up quickly, his green eyes sparkling in the sun. It was strange that Theia took note of his eyes. They were as deep as the sea, strange and mysterious; they hid so much about him.

"Why do you not train with the others?"

Theia opened her mouth to speak, she was never a very good liar, and what she was going to say would have most definitely been found out as a lie by the God of Mischief, so she stopped and took a breath before continuing. "It is not what a respectable lady does… in my mother's opinion."

"Sif is a respectable lady." Loki said, already Theia's arguments were becoming rather invalid.

"My mother doesn't wish for me to fight… I think it would remind her too much of my father."

"Are you always going to do what your mother says?" Theia looked through her eyelashes at Loki, his lips had curved into a mischievous smile. It was if he was daring her to break the rules, to be different and not be the person her mother wanted her to be.

"Not always…" She said with a smirk. "But I am not sure the other warriors would approve of me."

"Now you're just making up excuses," Loki noted, shuffling so he was on his knees. "Just fight me if you are nervous."

"I am not nervous, Loki Odinsson." Theia said aghast. "Besides, I would be too much for you to handle, and I wouldn't want to hurt you."

"Try me." Said Loki, his eyes gleaming. Theia picked up her staff from where it lay on the floor and clambered to her feet, Loki did the same.

"You know, I think I will do just that." She smirked, her eyes mirroring the same mischievousness as the prince.

Many Asgardian warriors had taken to the sparring fields by the time Theia and Loki had descended the hillside. Theia glanced around at them, once again she saw Thor and Sif and her warriors three, once again they were battling ferociously with one another despite the playful edge that was given away in their facial expressions. Theia stopped, a small knot forming in her stomach. What if they laughed at her? What if they didn't accept her presence?

You're sparring with Loki, who cares what they think? A small voice in the back of her head asked her. Just fight as you would with father.

Theia nodded to herself and hurried to catch up with Loki. He stopped, as did Theia, at the far edge of the sparring field. The sounds of battle reached Theia's ears, and she curled her fingers tighter around her staff. Loki turned to face her that same smirk still on his face, but Theia's eyes trailed past him to the warriors around him.

"Don't look at them," He said. "You are fighting me, remember?"

Theia nodded once, and gripped the shaft of her staff tightly within her hands. Her eyes stayed on Loki, waiting for him to make the first move. Theia always felt that she was better on the defensive. Loki still had the same grin plastered on his face, he snapped his fingers and he too had a staff much like Theia's.

Typical God of Mischief, thought Theia resorting to magic already.

Loki stepped forwards and Theia readied herself, taking a stance that her father had taught her about many years ago. He struck first and Theia's staff swung upwards blocking the blow. The clang of metal on metal reached Theia's ears. Loki struck again and again spinning the staff around his hands as Theia blocked blow after blow. Theia had seen Loki fight before, she'd saw him fight with Thor from her regular vantage point on the hillside, but she had never seen him fight with a staff. He usually fought hand-to-hand with Thor or he used one of his many magical skills against his brother. But now Theia could safely say he was as skilled with a staff as he was using his magic.

The smile never left Loki's face as he fought, his attacks were never malicious and he never hit hard enough to harm Theia but his skill with the staff meant that when he eventually knocked Theia to the ground she could feel a bruise forming where the staff had connected with her leg. Theia laughed, rubbing the dust off her tunic as Loki helped her to her feet.

"You fight well with a staff," Loki said as he made his own staff disappear.

"So do you," Complimented Theia. "Although you fight well with magic as well."

Loki raised his eyebrows, and Theia felt her cheeks redden. What she was suggesting was that she had been watching Loki fight for a while, although she knew that was not the case, she merely took on more of what Thor, Loki and Sif and her warriors three did.

"I tend to watch the sparring fields a lot." She said.

"I could teach you magic, if you wanted of course." Loki chuckled.

Theia was about to answer when Loki was clapped on the back by his older brother, Thor. The soon to be king was dressed in his usual attire, silver armour and a red cape which fluttered as he walked. The great hammer Mjölnir hung at his side.

"Brother, who is this fair maiden you fight with?" He asked, his deep voice ringing in Theia's ears. Theia forced her eyes not to narrow at being called a maiden. She was far from a maiden, she didn't enjoy lady activities. Climbing trees and sparring were high on her to do list rather than fancy parties and fine dresses.

Loki was about to respond but Theia cut him off quickly, "My name is Theia, and I am far from a fair maiden." A smile curved on Loki's face as Thor boomed a laugh.

"Forgive me, Lady Theia. It is merely how a prince should address a Lady."

"Loki does not address me so," Theia said, tilting her head up so she could look directly at Thor. "I would prefer it if you didn't either."

"As you wish, Theia." Thor said, inclining his head in a small bow. "I am glad my brother has found someone as silver tongued as he. You have some competition, brother." Loki's face reddened as Thor clapped him on the back again. He then retreated into the thick of the sparring fields.

"Are you ready for another round?" Asked Theia spinning the staff between her fingers.


Thats chapter two up and running XD It seems that Theia has some skelentons in her closet where her father is concerned! Don't worry though that will be developed later! Please review!