It continued for another four weeks, girls throwing themselves at the princes and before long, the catty behaviour came out, lies and stories of every manner became normalised gossip of the girls thought to be most in the running, but in that time, Amelia had decided clearly she was not in any way interested in either royal in that manner, though she did enjoy their company, instead, she found herself completely in love with Thor's friend, meaning the girls ignored her completely.

'Wait, the red-haired burly one?' Clodagh looked at her sister, slightly shocked.

'No, the one next to him.'

'The one that looks like you literally just killed his entire family and are sauteing his dog for dinner?' Clodagh looked at the other two men with Thor, hoping she was not referencing the blonde haired one who somehow managed to have four women on his lap at once.

'Oh Clods, you are so cruel. His name is Hogun, do you think Mother and Father would be angry?'

'He is one of Prince Thor's closest friends, I don't think that is looked down upon, what is he like to you, is he nice?'

'Yes, he is sweet and gave me a beautiful rose the other day as he passed me.'

'Oh Norns, a romantic.' She baulked.

'You have no romance, Clodagh.'

'If it makes me a giggly little girl I don't want it.'

'Shut up.' Amelia smiled, hitting her sister with a pillow before Clodagh got to her feet. 'Are you off to the library again? You can do that at home.'

'Have you any idea of the number of books here Miels, I...honestly I would scrub chamber pots to be allowed stay and keep using that library.'

'You are the weirdest elf in the worlds, I love you, but you really are.' Amelia stated as her sister went to leave the room. 'Take that squeaker with you, it doesn't shut up when you're not here.'

'Fine, come on.' She wrapped the hedgehog in a blanket and brought it in a satchel with her.

She was sitting in the library, reading silently when the hedgehog started grunting.

'Shh, we'll get in trouble.' Again it made noise. 'Fine.' She began to read to it softly and it ceased making noise, instead getting comfortable and snuggling into a loose ball.

'Are you reading to a hedgehog?' She looked up to see Loki standing nearby.

'Yes, I am, he is a fan of good literature.' she explained.

'I wish I had your confidence.' Her brow furrowed at his comment. 'You say stuff like that and you do not apologise for it, you are so confident in what you are saying, it is a trait to be admired.'

'Most would think me odd.' she smiled sadly.

'They are envious.' Loki sat beside her. 'What did you name him? Spike?'

Clodagh laughed. 'No, not very original.' She looked fondly at the sleeping animal. 'I don't know, I jokingly called him Mortimer and now Meils is calling him "Morti".'

'Mortimer is a great name for a literature-loving hedgehog, it must be said.' Loki grinned, looking at him.

'Wanna see something cute?' She reached into a little bag with a tweezers and pulled out a grub. As soon as she brought it close to the hedgehog, it immediately went from dozing to interested and gobbled it up.

'That actually...can I try?' Loki asked. She handed him the tweezers and he tried. The animal seemed dubious for a moment before taking the grub from him, unrolling after his snack and going over to sniff the Aesir prince. 'I think I am being inspected.'

'Careful, he has a terrible bite. The day I found him, his leg was injured so of course, he tried to protect himself, I got a terrible nip, it was terribly deep.' Loki remained still as the hedgehog sniffed him, seeing him as no threat, he then went back to Clodagh to sleep again.

'I think I passed the test.'

'What test?'

'Who is allowed talk to his elf.'

'Am I his or is he mine?' She joked, 'Not really, he is a wild animal, he will have to go back to the wilds of the gardens sometime soon, I just want him prepared for winter first.'

'Are elves better at communicating with animals?'

'I don't know, we are a more naturally aware species, so perhaps, but I am not sure.'

'You have an incredible knack with him.'

'I like to think I do with all my animals.'

'You have more?'

'Back home, yes.'

'Tell me about them.' he asked. 'If you don't mind.'

'What would you like to hear?'

'Who is your favourite?'

'Rua, Rua is this fox that I helped once and now lives close by and visits all the time, especially if it is cold or wet. Then there is Pua, Pua as the name suggests, is a pig, it was abandoned because I think it was supposed to be one of those pet ones but turned out to be a normal one, so yeah, there's him. Then there is a few more, but they have the biggest personalities. I see your father's ravens a lot, they are beautiful, they say hello if I am in the gardens.'

'They are nosy things.'

'Not nosy, curious. They just like to try and understand their world, that is the great thing about ravens, they are so smart, such complex creatures.'

Loki looked at her as she spoke, with caring and passion. 'You really care about animals.'

'I do.'

'That's beautiful.'

They sat and spoke for a time more, not knowing who else was in their environs as they spoke of everything and anything.

'Brother, there you are, I was looking for….a hedgehog?' Thor walked over curiously to the pair. 'Why have you a hedgehog, who is that?' Thor demanded.

'Who?' Clodagh looked to Loki for an explanation.

'My idiot brother is of the opinion we turned someone into a hedgehog, ignore him.'

'Loki, if you are playing games…' Thor went to take the animal only to receive a slap on his hand.

'Leave him alone,' Clodagh snapped. 'Who are you to try and grab him in such a manner?'

'That is my brother, the future King of Asgard you are talking to.' Loki chuckled.

'Being the future king does not give him right to harm Mortimer. What has he ever done to you?' She held the hedgehog closer to her.

'Loki?' Thor looked at his brother, shocked at the manner the elf was speaking to him in.

'This is Clodagh, one of King Sika's daughters, she is a bit of an animal enthusiast and poor Mortimer here has been one of her victims.' She glares at him. 'Or patient, it's subjective.'

'So that really is a hedgehog?'

'Yes.'

'Why is it in the palace?'

'He is disabled, I am looking after him until he learns to forage with one eye.' She explained. 'See, this one is clouded, he cannot use it.' She pointed out the damaged eye.

'Right. Well, I suppose I owe you an apology then.'

'Not really, you owe Mortimer one, though.'

'What?' Thor looked to Loki who was grinning widely.

'Yes, Thor, apologise to the hedgehog.' Loki smirked.

Thor looked down at the animal, who to his shock, was looking up at him expectantly. 'Is he expecting this?'

'He is quite intelligent.' Loki conceded.

'Well, I apologise for my accusation to you Loki and for trying to grab the little guy.' Thor stated.

Clodagh looked at Mortimer who looked at her for a moment before grunting and curling up. 'He accepts your apology.' she informed him.

'Good?' Thor was unsure what to even say to that, causing Loki to chuckle. 'I have seen you around.'

'Well I am here because of this idea to get you both wives.' she smiled.

'But you have never introduced yourself.'

'I am not Aesir prince wife material.' She stated, getting to her feet and opening the satchel for Mortimer to scurry into. 'I am sorry to be rude, but I need to go somewhere. Sorry, this is three for three with my lack of manners to meeting a member of your family.' She commented before walking out.

'She is very curious.' Thor noted.

'Yes.' Loki smiled, looking after her.

'And Unconventional. She doesn't seem to adhere to any court etiquette, it is so odd, so….'

'Refreshing.' Loki stared to the space she had been.

Thor looked at his brother with a raised brow. 'Why, Loki, I do believe you are smitten.'

'How is Princess Kaitlyn?'

Thor grinned widely as he thought of the Princess that he met on the very first day that had captured his attention. 'Very well, as usual. But that will not thwart my comments. You are very much enamoured with this Princess.'

'She is different.'

'Different does not equate to bad though, does it?' Thor grinned as he looked at his brother.

'No.' Loki concurred. 'No it does not.'

Neither brother realised they were not alone in the library as they spoke.

Amelia wrote to her parents, admitting that she was not interested in either prince, nor were either interested in her, but that she very much found herself caring for Hogun, a warrior friend of Prince Thor. Curious as to this man to take their daughter's heart, Sika and Lydia came to Asgard with their brothers to see this man for the choosing ceremony. On their arrival, they were met by an elated Amelia who did not waste time introducing them to Hogun, who her family could clearly see loved her daughter as she did him, that was all they needed to know.

Lydia went in search of Clodagh, unsurprised to see an animal in her presence as she spoke to her. 'How are you finding it here?'

'Fine.' Clodagh looked at her awkwardly.

'You seem ill at ease.'

'I was never meant for this.'

'You still feel that way?' Lydia felt disheartened on her behalf. She always hoped, given the right circumstance, Clodagh would find her place in the worlds, but she seemed to only ever feel lost. She was more at home with animals, but be it palace or countryside, she always felt as though she did not belong, and as a result seemed uncomfortable.

'I don't belong anywhere.' Clodagh admitted.

'We are all required somewhere, you will find your place, as we all do in this life.' Lydia stated reassuringly. 'Why not speak with Sika about it?' Clodagh gave her a peculiar look. She rarely spoke with Sika, usually when they would be forced to my momentary bumping into one another, but it was so awkward, both tried to remove themselves from it immediately. 'You are as bad as one another.'

'Must be a natural trait, I am sure some being out there would love to study us.' Clodagh joked.

'I dare say they would.' Lydia chuckled. 'So, what can you tell us about this Hogun character?'

'He makes Amelia so happy, he is courteous and polite and I feel as though she would be happy with him.'

'But that does not make you happy?' Lydia noted the sadness on Clodagh's face.

'She would stay here with him then, so I will not see her much anymore, I want her to be happy more than anything, same as the boys, but...part of me feels…'

'We would all miss her, but sadly in this life, we cannot have it all our own way, including our sisters leaving realms.'

'I know. I don't want her to miss out on true happiness.'

'Exactly, now come on, we need to get ready for the ball tonight, the princes have to make their announcement to the realms who they choose.'

Though she thought it was a waste of time, Clodagh did as she was instructed and got ready. Amelia helped her to ready herself, and for the first time since coming to Asgard, Clodagh put effort into her appearance, looking as much a princess as the other women when she came to dinner.

She and Amelia were talking to the girls they had befriended in their time at the palace, they were unlike the main factions that had formed as they were not interested at the task set to them, they were happier to make alliances so they were not bickering as others were. Knowing this, Frigga put them closest the top table, seeing that they were least likely to act up. It was while everyone was eating, the Aesir royal family at the top table and well within earshot when Laura, the Princess of Vanaheim came over to the table, concerning them all and smiled sweetly.

'Clodagh, wow, you actually look like a princess for a change, what a nice difference this is for you.'

'Not all of us are big into certain pursuits like clothes.' She stated nonchalantly.

'No, it is really a princess thing, you wouldn't really know that though, would you?' Everyone listening paused what they were doing. 'I mean, you're not even a real princess, are you, Clodagh? Afte all, bastards with some hussy Healer on a battlefield don't really count as Princesses.'