Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters. (However, if I have created someone, please do not use them.)

A/N: Thanks very much for reading! ^^ Unfortunately my spellcheck is still not working, so please bear with me. I really do apologise if there is a massive blundering error. Anyway, thanks for some of the feedback you've given me! Please continue to do so! Please enjoy yourself!

What Might Have Been

Alluring Abstractions

'What in Odin's name was that?!' you fluster to yourself before bashfully rushing off to the table and taking a seat- far away from Loki. Unfortunately you are closer to the bewitching twins and Thor than you would like. You have nothing against Thor, but he can be a bit of a meat-head at times, and those flirts are clearly after only one thing, which Thor seems almost oblivious to. Thor just loves any kind of attention.

You let out a heavy sigh in your head as you eye them sideways, stroking their fingers up and down his armour and pandering about how 'smart' he is. You roll your eyes.

'If it's smarts they're after, they should be all over Loki.' you think to yourself. Something twinges in your chest at the thought.

Suddenly something is smashed down onto the table next to you and you jump slightly in alarm. You spin around to see Loki plonking himself down next to you, a mischievous look in his eyes.

'Oh the horror! This is what I wanted to avoid! How am I going to be able to face Loki after what he just did? I know! I'll ignore him. That way he won't be able to talk to me. Yes. Okay. Come on Sabella. You can do this.'

You rapidly dart your gaze down to your advanced science book before Loki can make eye contact. You sense he is slightly irritated by your avoidance, but you do not lift your eyes. You can feel his gaze on you, burning into every inch of your skin. Eventually he picks up his book and turns away from you, and you relax a little bit.

"That's a bit rude of you." says Loki in a lowered voice. He continues looking hard into the book. You lift your head slightly.

"What is?" you ask coyly, flicking the page.

"That." insists Loki. He isn't in his usual mood. His voice is a bit more serious and you detect some agitation. You let out a bit of a sigh.

"I still don't understand what you mean." you say evasively. Loki spins his head round, clearly annoyed, and he inadvertently raises his voice.

"Don't-!" You both look cautiously over at Thor, who seems completely unaware of what's going on. Loki leans in to you an lowers his voice again."-play coy with me." Loki has an irked smile on his face. You let out an agitated huff.

"Well, you didn't exactly give me much of a choice." you hiss. It was hard to read his reaction since you weren't looking at him, but he let out some kind of a toned-down laugh.

"You're embarrassed." observes Loki. He didn't seem to be quite laughing at you, but you couldn't help feeling embarrassed. You're not used to men showing that kind of attention. But you can't tell Loki that. He's far too coy and flirtatious to understand. But what you don't understand is why the girls don't fawn over him. Sure, he's not not as buff as Thor, but he has much more raw sexuality. You can't understand how those red-headed bimbos can't see it, but they've never given Loki a sniff.

"I am not!" you erupt in your defense, still whispering. You can already feel the blush coming on again.

"Really?" Loki sounds mockingly skeptical. "Cheeks reddening, eyebrows furrowing, fists and muscles tensing up, and a certain sense of denfense in your voice, yet lacking conviction. Sabella," Loki sits forward. "If you're not embarrassed, then no-one has ever been embarrassed."

"I said I'm not!" you object. You feel it getting hot under your collar. Loki raises his eyebrows at you.

"Methinks the lady protesteth too much." he smirks. You open your mouth to say something, when Thor bellows over to you.

"Borther, Sabella! What are the two of you talking about over there?" Thor smiles broadly as an invitation to talk louder and include him.

"Nothing, Brother." replies Loki with an innocent smile.

"Then don't look quite so secretive!" laughs Thor. "You make me uneasy!" The twins let out a ghastly, forced laugh in desperation to get Thor's attention, but Thor incidentally ignores them. Loki lets out a laugh. Thor stops laughing. "Sabella, are you alright?" comments Thor due to your flushed nature.

"Yes," smirks Loki. "You look entirely rufescent." Loki rubs his finger along his chin.

"I'm quite alright." you stress. "It's just a bit warm in here."

"Really? You appear to be the only one here who's too warm." Loki smiles slyly.

"You haven't put one of your torrid spells on her again, have you, Loki?" questions Sif, who had been keeping quiet. No doubt she found it too hard to concentrate with all the fuss everyone was making.

"As if I would do that to dear Sabella." Loki sounds unconvincing. Nonetheless, you know that one of Loki's childish spells is not the problem.

"And yet, somehow, I'm not convinced." remarks Fandral, glancing up from his book.

"Loki, if you have cast a spell on Sabella, I demand that you remove it at once." appeals Thor.

"No, I'm fine. Really. It's not Loki." You jump in quickly before a fight starts between the two of them. Thor looks skeptical, but backs down.

"Very well." grunts Thor. "But what is the problem. Indeed, you do not look well at all." At the thought of explaining, your tongue becomes locked in your throat and you are unable to speak. Sif looks up at you and, having analysed the problem, comes to your aid.

"Sabella no doubt just needs some air." she smiles while getting up from her chair and giving you a definitive look.

"Y-yes." you say, forcing a smile and leaving the room with Sif.

Once outside, Sif walks alongside you in silence until you reach the balcony where you had found Loki only hours before. The image of Loki sitting there flashes through your mind and your chest tightens, but it's gone in an instant, and you shake it away with your head.

"So..." starts Sif, leaning back against the pillar. "...who is he?" You stare at Sif, wide-eyed. You could almost feel the colour drain from your face.

"...how did you know?" you ask, genuinely bewildered. Sif lets out a small laugh.

"It's not exactly Asgradian science." she decalres and grins. "You were very obviously embarrassed by something, and I've never seen you embarrassed about anything other than boys and that time you walked in on Loki bathing." added Sif, rather matter-of-factly.

"That involves a boy as well." you point out.

"Exactly." laughs Sif. "So it was obviously a boy. And there is no reason for you to be bashful unless it invoves you as well."

"Huh." you say as you sit down on the balcony wall. Were you really that easy to read?

"So who is he?" interrogates Sif playfully.

"Well...I would prefer that he remains nameless." you say, simpering. "But he's very smart, and incredibly good looking. He can be a bit of a prankster at times, but he is deeply passionate..." you claim. Sif nods her head slowly before replying.

"...Loki, huh?" she responds with almost a lack of interest. Once again, you stare at Sif in agonising admiration.

"H-how d...did you...?" you stammer. Sif looks over at you with a look of sympathy.

"You betray yourself, I'm afraid. You said he was a prankster."

"Oh..." you think to yourself in dismay.

"And it made sense, after what happened in the Great Library." added Sif.

"I suppose..." You hang your head low and let out a long sigh. "And you're not surprised? Or disapproving?"

"Disapproving? No." Sif shakes her head. " The heart wants what the heart wants. But surprised? Not as much as you might think. You have been close ever since children." Sif is a couple of hundred years older than you, just as Thor is to Loki. "In fact, I believe that this union could be better accepted than you think, Sabella. You are the daughter of a great family, after all."

"You say 'union' but there have been no advances on his part." You sound quite pessimistic.

"Are you sure? None whatsoever?" asks Sif, slightly disbelieving.

"None that I have been aware of." You think back to the glowing tree, but decide not to say anything. He hadn't said anything definite, so it couldn't be counted.

"But you do love him?" inquires Sif.

"Yes. Undoubtedly. He has always been like a brother to me." you say.

"That's not what I meant." says Sif darkly. "Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun have also been like brothers to you, but you are not emotionally attached to them. I asked if you love him." You sit still for a while before raising your head and nodding. "I see." says Sif compassiontely. "We should be getting back before Thor and the other get suspicious."

You both get up and begin to leave.

"Oh, and you won't tell anyone about this?" you plea.

"I'll be as silent as the grave." smiles Sif. You relax for some reason, and a wave of trust washes over you.

On re-entering the library, you sit back down in your place next to Loki. You let out a thankful sigh: they seem to have settled down again. On seeing Loki, your heart begins to race, and you look down sheepishly. The rest of the study session went by without much interruption. The Allfather left in the middle, but that was the most exciting thing that happened. On leaving the Great Library, Lady Frigga calls out to you.

"Sabella!"

You turn round to see her walking gracefully up to you in a flowing, canary yellow dress.

"Lady Frigga." you say, doing a short bow.

"Mother." adds Loki, standing behind you and no doubt interested in what's going on. Frigga nods at Loki and smiles.

"Did you wish to speak with me?" you ask.

"Yes, I did. My husband has invited the Torp family to dinner tonight, and has requested that you and your family might attend." You're taken a bit aback, and Loki frowns.

"Of course, my family and I would be delighted, but I must ask: the Torp family? Are they not the second most important family in Asgard? Why should the Allfather request my family's presence?" you ask, puzzled.

"That, I cannot say." says Frigga. "But it should not be as strange a thing as you are making out. Your mother and I are very close friends, and have been for such a long time. You, yourselves are important as a family." she smiles.

"You have my thanks." you say, and bow quickly again before Frigga turns and leaves. You turn and begin to head back to your home to bring your parents the news. But you couldn't help thinking that this was very much out of nowhere, and it didn't sit right.

A/N: I know this seems like a weird way to end a chapter, but I wanted to get the next one out. It may look like nothing is going to happen, but I promise you, you will want to read the next chapter. ^^ Unfortunately I couldn't include the option thing at the end of this one Hopefully I can next time. So please review and tell me what you think, and follow/alert this story if you like it! Thanks again for reading! 3