A/N: Hey guys! So I really struggled writing this one...it was just a chapter that didn't come naturally to write. But I hope you enjoy it all the same. Also, yesterday I posted up a little one-shot called 'The Angel of Asgard' which tells the story of how Loki first met Herja. So go and check it out!

And as always, a huge thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter:

moon82993, Fushia Grasshopper, TheHoneyBadgerNight, The Yoshinator, xRDJ603, lostfeather1, MayFairy, theena.x and Lornaa.

Chapter Four - The Green-Eyed Monster

Herja was so very tired.

Her feet were aching and her legs were heavy as she made her way along the dirt track, passing by homeless people begging on the streets and drunkards leaning heavily against the wall. She didn't really look at them; these sights just weren't shocking to her anymore. Perhaps she should feel disappointed that she had become immune but instead she just felt relief that they no longer bothered her. In fact, in her time travelling back and for to the palace, she had become friendly with some of the homeless men and they greeted her as she walked past, her wings setting her apart from others also passing by. Odin did not allow his valkyrie to fly home as most of them taken up the offered rooms in the palace but aside from that, he disliked the idea of them using their wings for anything other than getting to Valhalla Hall. Herja mentally cursed the All-Father for it and trudged on, feeling dust sliding in her sandals and clinging to the back of her legs.

Eventually, she came to a sharp right turn and saw a street of rickety homes built from whatever could be found. The third one along was hers. To anyone else, it would seem a horrid place to live but to Herja, it was home. Aside from this one, she had only ever known one home and she could barely remember it. Before her father died when she was six, Herja lived with her parents on a little isolated farm outside the city where there were acres and acres of green fields and the only sign of the city was the tall golden palace glinting far in the distance. But Herja and her mother had lost it when her father died, unable to keep up the work themselves and Herja's mother was forced to move to the city to support her daughter.

But the story turned out happily ever after anyway, Herja mused with a smile as she pushed open the front door to the house and laughed at the weight of three young children throwing themselves on her and calling her name excitedly. Herja's mother had found love again in the form of a guard named Denny and proceeded to have a further six children with him.

"Oh there you are, love." Herja's mother poked her head out from the kitchen and beamed. Herja smiled back at her mother and extracted herself from her younger half siblings who were all still chattering about what they'd done that day.

"Herja! Herja! Guess what! I found a duck today!"

"Herja! Herja! Herja!"

"He kept quacking!"

"I saw a snail!"

"Jojo keeps pulling my hair!"

"Oh shush you three!" Herja's mother called to her three youngest children. "Herja's tired. Let her sit down and have her dinner."

Herja sat and ate gratefully as the children took turns in telling her about their days. She listened patiently, giving the right comments and making the right noises until their mother sent them to bed where the other three children already were. With Denny working tonight, Herja was left alone with her mother and found herself feeling relieved.

"How was work, my love?"

Herja sighed. "It was fine." That was her standard response, she knew her mother was proud of her for what she was and the opportunities she had been given and Herja didn't want to disappoint her. "Busy as always."

"Well I am so glad, sweetheart. I am so proud of you." She squeezed her daughter's hand and Herja smiled, realising how glad she was to be home. Suddenly her mother jumped up saying, "Oh my! I very nearly forgot! Someone delivered a letter for you."

Herja frowned as she watched her mother search the table in the far corner of the room until she returned with a small piece of parchment. Herja took the letter and studied the envelope with interest, unsure of who would have sent her a letter. She opened it eagerly.

Her mother watched her read it quickly. "Who is it from? I did not recognise the boy who delivered it."

"It is from Thor." Herja sighed, setting it down on the table. "He wishes me to accompany him on an evening out of the palace tomorrow."

"Oh, well that will be lovely I am sure." Her mother smiled.

Herja knew it would, they always had a good time whenever they went out for the evening but right now, after she had been working all day and her feet were aching, she could think of nothing kindly except climbing into bed and sleeping until midday. It seemed Thor knew that she had tomorrow away from work and was keen to make the most of it.

"Yes. It will. Thor has taken a room at the palace for me tomorrow night so I shall not have to travel back."

"Oh, that is so very thoughtful!" Her mother said, beginning to clean away the bowls and tankards used for supper. "Herja...Thor is...very lovely to you, is he not?"

"Yes, I suppose he is..." She glanced at her mother and realised what she was angling at. "Oh, mother! No! I know what you are insinuating and I will hear none of it! Thor and I will never be anything other than friends."

"Oh, very well. But you cannot blame me for suggesting it." She beamed suddenly. "And just imagine it...my daughter – Queen of Asgard!"

Herja spluttered suddenly. "I had not thought of that! Oh my, that would be quite something, would it not?" She laughed again. "No, I think becoming a leader of the valkyrie would be more than enough." But then she remembered Colwen's words and the attitudes of most of the people in the palace. She sobered suddenly. "Though perhaps...I do not think that power would suit me, mother."

Her mother smiled. "Those who suit it never do."

Rejuvenated after a good night's sleep, Herja arrived at the palace a little early and thoroughly looking forward to spending the evening catching up with Thor and getting to know his friends better. She knew Volstagg as he was the same age as Thor but she knew little of Hogun and Fandral other than the tales Thor had regaled her with.

She had only been waiting a few minutes when she saw Thor's hulking frame exit the palace doors with the heavily bearded Volstagg in tow. Thor smiled widely when he saw her and scooped her up in a tremendous hug when he reached her. She squealed in surprise and laughed as he put her down.

"It seems as though I have not seen you for an age, Herja!" Thor boomed, still beaming.

"It does. I have, rather unfortunately, been working most days. The last time we spoke for a long time was Loki's coming of age ball, was it not?"

Thor nodded. "I believe it was. Three months is far too long, my friend! And you know Volstagg, do you not?"

Herja's gaze moved to Thor's fellow warrior and she smiled at him as he picked up her hand and kissed it affectionately. "I do indeed! Hello again, Volstagg. I do believe your beard is even more tremendous than it was the last time I saw you."

The warrior laughed heartily. "I think you may be right! It is a joy to see you again, Herja. And may I say you are looking as beautiful as always."

"Oh! Why thank you." Herja was wearing a long red dress that was low at the back, tight on the waist and smooth everywhere else. It was flattering but not particularly extravagant. Herja couldn't really afford extravagant. Odin paid his valkyrie a little but their work was considered duty instead of a profession. Herja was just happy to not be wearing white for a change.

"Very well, you two! That is quite enough of your flattering Volstagg! My friend shall end up with a big head if you carry on."

"Like yours?" Herja said sharply with a slight grin.

Thor snorted. "You are cruel Herja! Come, let us go. The others are already at the tavern."

The first time they went out like this back when they had only just come of age, Herja thought that when Thor said 'the tavern', he meant a small, dingy pub full of old men with no teeth and loose women. However, she quickly learnt that when you were close to the palace, 'the tavern' meant something else entirely.

The tavern they most often frequented was the Kama Lounge which was close to the palace to be extravagant but still far enough away to not be strict. The whole place was filled with candles and gleaming bronze statues and always had a band playing on the small stage up the stairs which kept everyone drinking – and sometimes dancing. Though that usually depended on how much drinking they had done.

All the way to the tavern, Thor had been going on and on about ow excited he was to have more people to go out with after the ball three months ago. As well as Loki and Sif, Hogun and Fandral had also come of age and Thor was brimming with excitement that their group had gotten bigger. To Thor, bigger always meant better. When they finally arrived, Thor pushed the door open with a flourish and immediately ordered three drinks for them before spying his brother and his friends sat at a table in the corner. He snatched up his drink, and strode over to them leaving Herja and Volstagg to collect their own drinks and follow along behind him.

"Where is the Lady Sif?" Thor asked as he sat down at the table, frowning.

"She decided not to come." Fandral said, stretching out in his seat. "She said she had no desire to watch us all drink ourselves into oblivion. Especially when she has so much training to do."

"She has a point." Volstagg agreed, sliding into his own seat.

When Herja looked, there was only two seats left. One was between Loki and Volstagg and the other was between Thor and Fandral. Thor would have been her immediate choice but suddenly Fandral stood up and took her hand in his across the table, nearly spilling her drink, and kissed it. It wasn't friendly like Volstagg's kiss had been; it was deliberately slow and light.

"You must be the angel that Thor has told us all of. Herja is it not? I am Fandral...the dashing." He still held her hand. "Why do you not take the seat next to me and allow me to tell you all about my adventures?"

Herja tried not to make a face as she pulled her hand out of his grip. "Oh, that is very kind but I think I shall sit here." She pulled out the seat between Loki and Volstagg and sat quickly before Fandral could try to persuade her otherwise. He sat back down and, unfortunately, he didn't look perturbed.

An hour and a half later, he had caught her.

"So you see, I was able to carry the poor maiden away while still fighting off an army of fierce warriors with only one hand." Fandral finished triumphantly, his arm draped around the back of her chair. Herja shifted discreetly.

"That is...very impressive, Fandral."

"Thank you, my angel."

Herja winced. He kept calling her that, an angel. And she hated it. From most people she could take it without problem but from Fandral it felt horribly slimy and wrong. And if she was an angel, she was most definitely not his.

"Excuse me, angel. Little boys' room." He winked and slid out of his seat.

Herja sighed and hurried to the bar where all of the others were talking. Thor was stood with Loki and when he saw her, he grinned.

"Enjoying yourself, Herja?"

Herja desperately wanted to say no and ask him to tell Fandral to back off but these were his friends and Herja knew that Fandral was not a bad person. He was merely...persistent. So instead she smiled and said,

"Yes, thank you." Herja thought for a moment she saw Loki tense slightly but when she looked at him, he looked as relaxed as ever. "I am enjoying getting to know your friends better. It is a shame that Lady Sif could not be here tonight."

Thor's face dropped for a moment before he straightened up again. "I suppose. But there are plenty of young women here to distract me!"

Loki groaned. "Thor, do not get yourself into anymore trouble with father! He is already tired of your womanizing."

Herja laughed. "I am not surprised. I think that perhaps you should control yourself, Thor!"

"Maybe I should copy Loki?" Thor began mischievously. "After all he never seems to have any interest from the female sex. Do you Loki?"

Loki glared and flushed slightly, embarrassed that Thor had spoken about Loki's love life in front of Herja. Herja noticed Loki's embarrassment and raised her eyebrows at Thor and said,

"Well I cannot speak for other women, but I would certainly rather be pursued by a man who has only ever been solely focussed on me rather than a man who has chased after every woman in Asgard."

There was moment of silence when Thor was surprised and Loki visibly tensed, his eyes wide and fixed on Herja. Thor laughed loudly and slapped Loki on the back.

"Well then perhaps there is hope for you yet, little brother!"

Herja felt Loki's eyes slide over her body before he took a deep drink.

"Herja!" Thor called suddenly. "Herja, listen to this nonsense! I have heard rumour that some people believe that Loki is better looking than me!"

Loki rolled his eyes. "Oh, no. Not this again. Mother only told you that to try to stop you from being so arrogant."

"It is nonsense, is it not? Surely I am the most handsome man in all of Asgard!" Thor bellowed and downed another tankard of mead.

Herja made a face. "How much of that have you had?"

"Do not distract me!" Thor demanded, smashing the tankard. "Why do you think that people are saying that? Why are they saying that Loki is more handsome than me?"

Herja glanced at Loki who looked as though he was caught between embarrassment and boredom, before she grinned and said, "They are saying it because it is true."

"WHAT?" Thor bellowed again. "Surely you jest!"

"No, I do not!" Herja replied, confused as to why Thor found it so unbelievable. It was typical of Thor to believe that he was better than Loki; he always thought that he was greater, grander but, thankfully, even he did not think he was cleverer.

"Why? Why is my dear brother more appealing to you than me?" Thor threw his arm around Loki who seemed like he just wanted to escape.

"Well," She took a good look at Loki and realised that she didn't have to lie or make anything up. "He's more intelligent, he's more controlled, more gentlemanly, not nearly as oafish as you and, most importantly, I know you well so I know all your faults while Loki remains a creature of mystery."

Thor laughed loudly again and pulled Loki closer to him, patting his cheeks and making his wince. "You see brother? All is not lost! You may find someone for you yet!"

Loki pulled Thor's arm off him. "Well brother, I assure you I can manage with or without the attention of a woman. I am not nearly as attention seeking as you."

"And that is another point in your favour." Herja said with a grin at Loki who gave her a smile in return. Herja felt an unnerving nervousness in her stomach as she took in Loki's shining eyes, chiselled features and tall stature. He had come a long way since she had first met him when she was just thirteen and he was eleven; just a little, dark haired boy with a quick mind and piercing eyes that noticed everything.

Now, she had to acknowledge to herself if to no one else, that Loki had become handsome indeed. Especially since she had begun to feel that there was something between them that was growing stronger.

Thor turned away, relaying the conversation he had just had to Volstagg and Hogun when Loki opened his mouth to say something to her as they were blissfully alone when Herja felt a hand on her hip and she jumped.

"There you are, my angel!" Fandral said loudly, sliding between her and Loki, blocking him from view. "I have been looking for you! I shall buy us some wine and you can take a seat at our table and I shall tell you of my adventures."

"Oh." Herja felt like her legs had turned to lead. "I suppose...well, yes. Of course."

She moved reluctantly towards her the table in the corner and saw Loki watching her sit down, his eyes dark and his lips thin.

"Two more wines, my good man!" Fandral called to the barman, handing over two coins and waiting for the drinks to arrive. Fandral noticed that Loki was watching him. "Loki! Are you having a good night?" He glanced over his shoulder at Herja who was looking bored at the table on her own. "Such a beautiful young thing. I should challenge Thor for not introducing us sooner!"

Loki took a sip of his wine before saying slowly and carefully. "Perhaps it is for the best that you have not been introduced previously."

And just like that, Fandral was hooked. "For the best? I cannot fathom what you mean, Loki."

Loki feigned a look of surprise. "Oh! Did you not know? My father has plans for Herja and they are all linked to Thor."

Fandral swallowed. "Your father? And he plans for Herja and Thor to...be married?"

"Oh, yes. Why else do you think father brought a girl from Asgard's slums in to dine with us all those years ago? He wants valkyrie in the royal blood line."

"Ah." Fandral's enthusiasm seemed to have disintegrated. "Well then...perhaps I should...leave her alone." He puffed his chest out again. "After all, cannot have the future queen falling in love with me!" He thought for a moment more before asking, "Does Thor know of these plans?"

"No." Loki went with it. "And he mustn't, Fandral. Father would be so very angry with whoever told him. He is waiting for the opportune time to tell him. But you know that once father's mind is made up, it cannot be undone."

"Well, yes. Yes of course." Fandral nodded. "You are quite right Loki. I shall stay away from the angel."

And with that he hurried off to join Hogun, Thor and Volstagg at the other side of the bar, leaving Loki alone with the goblet of wine Fandral had bought for Herja. He picked it up and walked towards the table.

"Oh! Loki!" Herja stage-whispered when she saw him approaching. "Sit next to me I beg of you! Fandral shall be returning at any moment and I cannot tolerate another story of his fake adventures!"

Loki smiled and sat next to her, handing her the wine and marvelling at how beautiful she looked sipping slowly and gazing at him over the goblet. Loki smiled again, realising that he found her even more wonderful when he was alone with her with no one else to interrupt and take her attention away from him.

A little more jealous Loki for you with drunken Thor to boot!

Hope you liked it and please leave a review! Thanks!