~ Chapter 2 ~

2 Weeks Later

Loki ran down the long hallway in a hurry. He couldn't believe that he had overslept and missed breakfast. But more importantly, he had to find Thor. He wasn't confident yet to be on his own and although he didn't know the big man that well yet, he was his lifeline here in this strange world.

His little feet took the turn, his light gray robe swiping behind him as he came to a crushing stop. Stumbling backward a few steps, his nose hurt so much that his hand came up to rub and hold it before his green eyes turn up to see what he had run into.

"If it isn't the little prince." an unfamiliar voice said.

Before Loki stood two guards that he vaguely remembered. Their dark brown uniforms with golden armor stood out as much as it melted in with the background of Asgard. With their helmets on they looked like statues carved into life.

"I'm sorry." Loki said politely before he tried to go around the big men, but was stopped.

"Whoa, not so fast. What's the hurry?" the guard he had crashed into said as he blocked with his arms. "You know," the guard looked at his friend. "I think I know how 'he' feels now." He looked Loki up and down and saw nothing but a little child.

Not really understanding who or what they were talking about Loki gave them a curt nod. "Excuse me."

"Yeah, I feel sorry for 'him'. Being laden with a child." the other guard commented offhandedly, making Loki stop as his sharp mind now knew who they were talking about.

He thought back to the two weeks he had been here and Thor had been nothing but kind to him. Even as he followed the Asgardian like a lost puppy, Thor hadn't said a single harsh word to him or hinted that he was unhappy with their situation.

Loki might be young, but he wasn't stupid. He knew that his fiance had had a life before he came along, a life he still knew nothing about. He didn't want to hear it so he once more started to walk.

"I bet Sif is not happy about loosing to a kid."

'Sif?' Loki had just about gotten past them when his feet stopped on their own. His heart hurt to have a name on a person he somehow had hurt.

A new voice broke through. "Doing some gossiping?"

Loki turned his head to see the female warrior that often trained with the men and was a great beauty. She was tall with long dark hair in a tail from the top of her head. She didn't wear dresses like the other women in Asgard, but preferred pants and leather.

The guards snapped to attention when they saw her and stood stiffly next to Loki who was confused to their attitude change. His little bright mind guessed it was because she had to be a powerful person.

"You didn't answer my question." she repeated while subtly glaring at the guards.

"No, Lady Sif." the two men choked out while they resisted the impulse of running away.

'I bet Sif is not happy about loosing to a kid.'

The words echoed in Loki's mind as he made the connection. His eyes widen as he realized just who was standing in front of him.

"Then get back to work." Sif said without leaving out the hint that she meant it, and that she had heard them.

Without one more word, the warriors left so fast that Loki almost believed it was magic. But he couldn't look away from Sif who turned her eyes on him.

He was so sure that she was angry with him. She had to be.

As she came closer Loki knew she would hit him. A spurned lover was always dangerous.

Despite the imminent danger he stayed calm, and despite his little body wanting to tremble with fear, Loki stayed still as the female warrior knelt down in front of him.

"Are you all right?" she asked gently with a concerned look on her face. "They didn't hurt you?"

It took Loki a moment before he shook his head and answered weakly. "No."

Sif's face broke out into a smile. "That's good. They had no right to bother you like that. Where is Thor anyway? He shouldn't be leaving you alone yet. You are not familiar with Asgard yet." She looked around to see if she could spot him. "I bet that oaf has completely forgotten." before she returned to look at Loki with a smile. "He's probably at the training area, let's go find him and give him a piece of our minds."

With ease she stood up and held out her hand for the child to take. "I'm Sif by the way. We haven't really talked before now have we?"

"Are you not mad at me?" Loki asked carefully, not sure if he should take the hand.

"Why?" Sif asked confused.

"Because..- because of me you had to... to..." he bit his lower lip because he couldn't say it. The child didn't know if his conclusion was right or wrong, and he didn't want to offend her.

It took a few seconds before Sif realized what the child was talking about. It landed like a brick on her head, making her curse the idiots and their big mouths. She knew it would come out to this child sooner or later, but she personally would have wanted it to be later.

Heaving a sigh, she hunched down so that her head was almost the same height as the child.

"I'm not going to lie and say it's not true, and that I regret Thor and I couldn't be together, but I'm not going to cry over something that I knew could happen. He was the heir and anything could happen. So I want you to know that I don't blame you in any way." Despite her words, the child still looked unconvinced. "Can you promise me something?" Sif finally asked.

"What?" Loki couldn't help his curiosity.

"Can you look after Thor for me?" she smiled. "He's always thinking about duty and what's expected of him. I want him to enjoy life. And if it's you then I know he will be in good hands. Because you are smart and a good child. You will no doubt to grow up to be an amazing man."

Once more she held forward her hand to Loki.

"Shall we?"

Loki looked from the hand to her face before he hesitatingly took it. He had grown up in the worst of situations. He was a war child. So trust didn't come easy for him. His adoptive father had so far been the only other being that he trusted completely. He was to spend the rest of his life with Thor Odinson so he had to trust the Aesir. But somehow, he wanted to trust Sif too. He didn't know why but he knew in his heart that she wasn't a bad person and that she would always keep her word.

As they walked down the hallway in search for the heir of Asgard, a thought passed through Loki's young mind.

'Maybe she won't die before me.'

TBC