Chapter 4

"Didn't I always say that you should have spent more time learning how to ride horses when we were young, but no, you were more interested in following our father around like a little dog, wanting to be the warrior." Loki sneered as he grabbed handfuls of his steed's long, silky mane, dug his heels into the animal's sides and in a streak of silver, he was off.

"Loki, wait!" Thor said as he clambered onto his steed just as the animal took off, giving chase to the one Loki was riding.

The world seemed to fall away to Loki as it whizzed by faster, and faster. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as the wind whipped his long black hair around behind him like a cape.

Then, almost as quickly as it began, the trip was over and the animal Loki was riding came to an abrupt stop. If it weren't for his skills at riding horses, he surely would have been sent sailing over the creature's head.

Just then, he heard a bellow, followed by quite a large crash. Loki chuckled as he swung his leg over the withers of the unicorn, and landed lightly on his feet.

"All those years traveling the nine realms and you still cannot ride a horse to save your life, brother." Loki said with a chuckle as he offered his hand to Thor, who begrudgingly took it.

"There, that is her house." Loki said as he started down a gentle embankment toward a quaint cottage made from stone.

"Wait! how to you know …?" Thor trailed off as he slid down the hill after his brother.

"Because they told me." Loki said, gesturing to the two unicorns as he came to a stop at the cottage's door.

"You will be surprised what creatures will tell you if you just listen, Thor. For example, the one you were riding just complained that you were infuriatingly heavy." Loki said with an amused chuckle as he used magic to enter the small cottage.

"Be mindful, Ylva is known to have quite an affinity for booby traps." Loki said as he stepped forward cautiously.

"There's nothing here, no furnishings, nothing." Thor said as he looked around.

"How does that Midgardian saying go? All elephants are grey but not all grey things are elephants?" Loki said as he snapped his fingers, and the façade of an abandoned cabin disappeared in a haze of glitter.

Thor looked around him, shocked as quite a cozy, homey cottage filtered into view, there was fresh wood by the fireplace, and there were clean dishes neatly stacked next the sink in the kitchen.

"Ylva! Did you really think that humble façade would fool the likes of me?" Loki called out to the seemingly empty cabin. "You must've thought my brother was coming alone, or else you would have tried a lot harder than this!" He added when he received no response.

Suddenly, Loki dodged with the quickness of a frightened cat, pushing Thor out of harms way and drawing his dagger in the process as a blur passed between them. Loki winced as he put a hand to his shoulder and came back with blood.

"Time in the old slammer has made you slow, Loki. I could have killed you." Their attacker said as she sheathed her dagger and turned to face them.

Like all of her race, she was beautiful, she was tall and slender. Her tapered chin and high, accented cheekbones gave her features a kind of sculpted, artistic beauty. Her white blonde hair reached almost to her knees, cascading down her back in one long, single elegant braid.

The most striking thing about her were her eyes, unlike others of the light elven race, whose eyes were either a crystal blue, or green, Ylva's eyes were a vivid shade of maroon with ice blue pupils that stood out in stark contrast to her pale skin and feminine features.

Loki smiled through his grimace as Ylva turned to Thor. "Prince Thor Odinson of Asgard, I presume. My name is Ylva Lioridottir and I am pleased to be at your service." She said as she curtsied deeply, her long, flowing royal blue dress billowing out around her like a flower.

Thor took her hand and helped her up. "It is nice to meet your acquaintance, Lady Ylva. Asgard greatly appreciates your help, as do I." He said charmingly as he kissed her hand.

Ylva's cheeks flushed slightly as she pulled her hand away bashfully. "Well, let's not make too much of a fuss, now." She said.

Then, she suddenly turned on Loki and slapped him hard across the face. "That's for what you did on Midgard!" She slapped him again, equally hard, on the opposite cheek.

"And that's for betraying your family! What the hell were you thinking?" She said, suddenly seething, her maroon eyes glowing in the dim light of the small cottage.

"I don't hear a thing from you in years, and then I get word that you have been arrested and charged with crimes on not one world, but two? I am supposed to be your friend, how do you think that makes me feel?" She said as she poked him hard in the chest.

Thor watched the pair with an amused grin on his rugged face.

"Now, are we ready to get out of here, or are we just going to sit around and reminisce all day?" She said, the anger gone as soon as he appeared, Thor had a suspicion that there were feelings at play, but anger wasn't one of them. He motioned for her to lead the way.

"I like her." Thor said, he giving his disgruntled brother a nudge as they followed the feisty elf.