Loki has a suspicion and he isn't letting go of it any time soon.


Tia sits at the chambermaid table. She can feel Loki's eyes on her but she can't spot him in the growing crowd.

Brenya keeps talking beside her. Brenya is Prince Thor's chambermaid, she is also Tia's best friend. A petite blonde who can easily outdrink the eldest Son of Odin. "Prince Thor is just so beautiful!" Brenya suddenly exclaims, breaking Tia from her search for Loki. The hall goes quiet as Tia watches Brenya's face turn a bright shade of red. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."

"Neither can I." Tia replies, rolling her eyes when Brenya runs off.

"You should go after her." She hears his silky voice whisper before the tip of his finger lifts her chin. Her bright green eyes meet honest green eyes, full of unspoken truth. "She could use a kind word after that embarrassing moment."

"What would you know about kind words?" Tia asks, her green eyes still focused on his as she stands to face him. He's a good foot taller than her but she stands tall.

"I told you last night.. I do have some good qualities." Loki whispers, his ice cold finger moves from her chin to her temple before he taps it lightly. "And you know it."

Before Tia can reply Loki disappears into the crowd again. A ghost in the night.


"Brenya?" Tia calls out, she walks faster down the long corridor searching behind each pillar. "Brenya I came to see if y-oh." Tia turns away when Thor and Brenya emerge from the shadows in a state of undress.

"Tia please don't tell anyone about this.. we.. we just.." Brenya begins, she can hear the tremor in her friends voice.

"I wanted to see if you were ok but I guess he sorted that.. I'll leave." Tia whispers, shuffling back towards the Grand Hall.

Tia is suddenly yanked back by a strong grip on her arm. "Tia stay with your friend, I'll leave." Thor replies, his hand still gripping her arm. "If I hear you have told anyone.."

"You'll what.. kill me? How wonderful." Tia says, rolling her eyes when Thor's face turns a shade redder.

"Now you listen here girl-"

"It's ok she's always like that.. leave Thor." Brenya interrupts, she takes Thor's hand off Tia's arm and pulls her friend away. "You can't use that sarcasm with Prince Thor. Tia he could get you hurt."

"He can try." Tia huffs out, turning to face her friend. "Anyway what were you thinking? He's a Prince.. nothing can actually come of this. You sleeping with him doesn't automatically end with you marrying him you know!"

She watches Brenya's face fall. "He loves me." Brenya whispers, tears forming in her eyes.

"Is that what he told you?" Tia asks, her hand gently stroking Brenya's tearful face. Brenya nods allowing the tears to fall over. "He's using you. That's what they do. They are Royals, they play, they do what they want.. when they want. If you start having feelings for them then they will leave and it will just prove that they win at everything." Tia takes Brenya's hand leading her towards her bedroom. "Your coming to mine. I'll make you a nice bath then we can sort this.. ok?" Brenya nods again.


Loki watches Tia lead her friend to her bedroom before closing the door tight. Why is she so perfect? Everything she does it seems to always be good.

Loki carefully opens the bedroom door, the heavy wood creaking under the pressure. He steps into the room, closing the door quietly behind him. The room is small. Tiny compared to his. Is this how staff live? Looking around he notices a few things. The dark wood covering the floor matches the two doors within the room, green curtains cover the two small windows but they will probably have the same wood. He knows the main bedroom door and guesses the other leads to a bathroom. The room is full of little boxes, many filled with sewing items, others filled with more practical things such as makeup. A heavy duvet covers the double bed in the middle of the room between the windows. Examining the rest of the room he notices small bottles sitting on a chest of drawers. Smelling one of them he realises it smells awfully like arsenic. Maybe she wasn't as good as he thought.

"Prince Loki, what can I do for you?" He hears Tia ask from behind him and suddenly the potions and ingredients are covered by a large bowl.

He turns to face Tia with a smirk playing on his lips. His green eyes meeting hers. "I was.. curious about what your room looked like. You see mine all the time." Loki whispers, knowing Brenya is just in the other room. "How's your friend?"

"She's fine.." Tia replies, her eyes still narrowed in an almost challenging way. "Why would you want to know what my room looks like?"

"It's only fair. You see mine everyday."

"I don't think that's the only reason you came here." Tia whispers, her finger gently running along the skin at the neck of his tunic. "Is it Prince Loki?"

"You think you can win this battle of seduction.." Loki replies, his own voice low as he stops her wandering finger before kissing the tip of it. "You can't Tia."

Tia pulls her hand away from him. "I can't win.. or your afraid incase I do win?" Her green eyes meet his. "How does one win anyway?"

"Say I kissed you right now.. if you let me then I win." Loki whispers, leaning his head down so his lips are mere centimetres away from hers. Bright green meet fiery green. "Simple." Then he's gone.


When he whispered the word simple, Tia felt as if her heart was about to explode. The silkiness of his voice as he whispered that one word against her lips.

"Tia I'm done." She hears Brenya call out from the bathroom. "I'll get redressed then you can help me dry my hair."

"No problem, just come out when your ready." Tia calls back, moving to the dressing table on the other side of the room and pulling out the chair.

She hears Brenya's soft footsteps come closer before she sees her friend sit down on the chair in front of the mirror. "Were you talking to someone?" Brenya asks, handing Tia the brush from the table.

Tia shakes her head. "No why?" She replies, brushing the end of Brenya's blonde hair.

"I thought I heard Prince Loki.. must have been my imagination."

Tia hums her response as she watches Brenya close her ice blue eyes in the mirror reflection. Continuing to brush her friends blonde hair she misses the shadow pass behind her. The end of a green cloak brushing against her ankle before disappearing altogether.