Thor and Loki were somewhat startled by the sheer number of young women that were being thrust upon them. They also realised very quickly the motives of some. Loki used his ability to see through liars and gave his brother the most subtle of head movements to indicate who was there only to better themselves. That weeded out many immediately, though they were not allowed to say anything yet, the brothers were adamant, either a good match or none, something even their parents agreed with.

Speaking with the women could be tedious, some were incredible vapid and self-centred, though if Loki was to be believed, so too was Thor, even he had to concede that though Thor could, on occasion be self-centred, two women in particular even put him to shame.

They had their usual tasks and training that were expected of them but they were also expected to spend time with different girls, getting to know them somewhat. It made it difficult to get a few moments to themselves. On one occasion, when it was raining, Loki felt it was easier to seek refuge in the palace gardens than hide from the numerous women that had infested the palace at his mother's request. He sat under a tree watching the fish come to the surface of the pond, thinking the drops of water were food. It was incredibly peaceful with no one else out there, even the gardeners had rushed for cover in the change of weather. He sat there for a time, taking in the sounds of the quiet garden, the water hitting different leaves and water and the now shallow formed puddles. It soothed him greatly, exactly what he needed after the hustle bustle of inside the palace.

He noticed something caught his attention, a sweet sound, somewhere in the gardens. He listened intently and moved towards it, the falling water wetting him as he came out from under his refuge.

'What are you doing here you silly boy, you could get hurt, look at that fall, you could have a terrible broken leg, that will not do at all, we'll have to take a look at it.' he stood behind a pillar and looked around. There, drenched in mud and kneeling in a puddle of water was a woman, he did not recall seeing her in the glut of women that introduced themselves to him, but she was definitely not Aesir, her features were incredibly Light Elf in appearance, her skin, though naturally darker than most Light Elves, was clearly darkened more by exposure to the sun. He circled her quietly as she continued to focus on something in the bushes. 'See, now you have tangled your leg. Come here and let me see it, these strings are to keep the bushes in line, they are not for little hogs to be getting themselves caught up on.' There were little grunts and squeaks following her comments. 'Oh, you poor little thing.' She cooed, 'That leg is terribly sore. Come on, I have just the remedy for that in my room, we'll have you scurrying around looking for grubs again in no time, okay?' She rose to her feet, her dress clearly ruined, her hair stuck to her face and rushed inside, using what she could to keep the creature covered. Curious, Loki followed her but was startled to see she eluded him quickly.

He found himself wondering about the Light Elf, and what was in her hands. She mentioned a hog, but what qualified as a hog? He found her niggling her way into his thoughts. He looked at the girls that he was forced to endure in search of her. There was one Light Elf princess, she seemed reasonably nice, but she was not what he would look for, nor did she seem too interested in him. But she was not the kind-hearted creature that had tried to assist some manner of animal. He looked for her in the staff also, but again, she was nowhere to be found. He began to get irked by it all as he sat in the library one afternoon.

'Excuse me?'

'Yes, Dear?'

'Have you anything on the care of Hedgehogs?'

Loki frowned as he listened to what the girl was requesting, having never heard such a peculiar request for a book in his life.

'Yes, animals are towards the back on the right, if you hit the war books you've gone too far.' The librarian stated.

'Thank you so kindly. I am sorry for the inconvenience.' Loki froze, he knew that voice, she often replayed in his mind in quiet times. He rose from his seat and followed the voice, sure enough, he found himself looking at the same girl again, or he thought so anyway, again her back was to him and her hair was dry this time, but it seemed to be her. She scanned the shelves as high as she could see before stepping back to see higher ones. She did not pay attention to where she was going, and Loki in his curiosity did not step back, leading to her crashing into him, his quick reflexes being the only reason neither hit the floor. With his hand behind her back, he found himself looking into eyes that reminded him of the richest chocolate, they were bright and beautiful, as was the face of the woman that possessed them, in his opinion anyway. 'I am so sorry.' She began to apologise immediately.

'It's quite alright.' Loki smiled, taking in her features. She was a full Light Elf, her ears and markings clear. He had learned the royal Light Elf markings when he was younger, it meant if he ever met a high ranking Elf, he would not embarrass himself, hers were that of King Sika, which startled him, she was one of the princesses, but he had met and spoken to King Sika's daughter, his supposed only daughter Amelia, amiable, but not tempting. 'Are you okay?'

'I scared myself a little I think, I was not expecting that.' She laughed. 'But overall I am fine.' She pulled away from him and tidied herself up. When she took a good look at him, she winced. 'You're Loki, aren't you?'

Loki frowned, having never been referred to like such in his life, usually people ensured to use his title too often. 'Yes, I am.'

'Damn, that is literally half of your family I have insulted.' she hid her face in her hands.

'I don't understand.'

'When your mother came to Alfheim, I spoke to her for a few minutes before I recognised who she was and never once gave her her title, and now I am after doing it with you.' She giggled nervously.

'Have you met my brother yet?'

She shook her head, 'Not on a personal basis, no.'

'Please let me know if you do.' She laughed again. 'What is your name?'

'Clodagh.'

Loki frowned, 'Like the river?'

'Exactly like the river.'

'You are named after the River of Alfheim?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'I don't know. I think I was told as a child it was my mother's wish to call me that.'

'Can you not ask her?'

'Perhaps someday I will.' she smiled sadly. 'I am sorry to have disrupted your day.'

'Not at all, you seem to be in search of something, perhaps I can be of assistance?' He offered, wanting to know more of the curious Light Elf.

'No, I just needed to look for something odd, I don't think it would be something you would be too aware of the whereabouts of.'

'You cannot tell for sure if you don't ask?' He offered.

'It's a book on hedgehogs and their care, I doubt there is one here specifically for them, but an overall animal book that would help care for them.'

'Can I ask why?' He assumed that it was to do with the creature she dealt with the week before, but he could not admit he had been snooping on her before.

'I have a friend that needs a little help.' She explained.

'A friend?' she nodded, causing Loki's brow to raise. 'Is this friend tending to a hedgehog?'

'No, I am,' she stated, her cheeks glowing slightly in embarrassment. 'It started out as a minor injury, or so I thought, now it seems to be having other issues.'

'Such as?'

'I am not sure, it seems healthy and is eating a good bit, I need to see what seasons they hibernate here, maybe that's the issue.' She rambled, looking to the shelves again.

'I thought you mentioned a friend.'

'He is my friend.'

'You…..are friends…...with a hedgehog?'

'Yes.' She stated unashamedly before looking to another shelf. 'Ooh, there it is.' she looked up and realised it was far too high for her. 'I don't mean to be rude, but could you…' she moved him slightly to the side and tried her best to climb up to what she needed.

'You're going to hurt yourself.' Loki magicked the book down. 'Here you go.'

'Thank you.' She took the book from him. 'I will let you get back to what you were doing, I am sure there are women wishing to be in your company.'

'You're interested in Thor.' Loki commented sadly.

'I have yet to meet him, I am not the least bit interested in a person I have yet to meet.' Clodagh laughed.

'But you're… you are one of the princesses, aren't you?'

'Yes, sort of.'

'How is that a "sort of" answer, you have King Sika's markings so you are his daughter and in turn a princess. Can I ask, how do Light Elves get their markings?'

'We are born with them, same as Jotnar.' She smiled, rubbing her hand over the marks of her forearm, similar to tattoos. 'Do you know Midgardians use needles to give themselves markings?'

'I read that somewhere before.' Loki nodded.

'Yes, it's odd, I never really pay any attention to mine.' She looked at it sadly.

'They are Sika's lineage markings though, aren't they, I am not gone mad and forgotten…' he looked intently at the ones he could see.

'No, they are. Sika is my father.' She confirmed.

'So Amelia is your sister?' She nodded. 'Is it odd, being here like this with your sister?'

'Sort of, but only because we are not together very often on Alfheim. I love that I am spending time with her now though, we are getting to really enjoy one another's company.'

'So there is no fighting?' Clodagh scrunched her nose and shook her head. 'You're better than most here.'

'It wouldn't take much. Thank you, your….'

'Loki is fine.'

'Thank you, Loki. I don't mean to be rude, but I have a hedgehog I need to help.' She smiled and left with her book.

Loki went from curious of the girl, to outright smitten with her in that ten-minute conversation.