The couple was disturbed by a knock on the door, which made Mirilya jump in his arms. Loki chuckled and gave her a quick kiss before he released her. "To be continued," he said, to which the young woman showed a coy smile. He gently pushed her in the direction of the door so she could open it while he put on some clothes. When he came out of his changing room, buttoning up his tunic, Gervais was waiting for him. The squire quickly glanced from his master to the handmaiden, whose rosy cheeks stood out against her porcelain skin, but said nothing.

"How's the princess?" Loki asked, barely holding back his grin.

"She's well, my Lord, the battle never reached the throne room. Lord Hergund took her back to her chambers."

"Good," Loki replied, satisfied that the princess was safe.

"My Lord," Gervais said with some hesitation, "I actually wanted to come see you after the coronation. There is something you should know."

"Well, the coronation is over for today and you're here now. Tell me."

The squire looked at the open door to the bathroom, where Mirilya was cleaning up. "I think I should tell you in private, my Lord."

Loki magically shut the door to the bathroom, causing Mirilya to let out a soft shriek, and stepped closer to Gervais. "Tell me. What do you know?"

"It's about the princess and Lord Hergund," he said in a hushed voice. "I… I saw them kiss, my Lord."

Loki took a moment to reflect on Gervais's words. It wasn't a surprise to him, but he had to be sure. "You saw them?"

"Yes, my Lord. Late last night, after dinner. I had already left, but I had forgot something so I came back. When I turned the last corner I saw them, standing before her room."

"Did they see you?"

Gervais shook his head. "I don't think so, my Lord."

Loki thanked his squire and dismissed him, opening the bathroom door with his magic again. Behind it stood a wide eyed Mirilya. "You're not afraid of a little magic, are you?" Loki chuckled as he held out his hand to her.

"No," she said slowly, eyeing him suspiciously as she walked up to him.

He took her hand, but held her at an arm's length. "I want to ask you something and I need you to tell me the truth. Will you do that?"

"Yes, my Lord, of course." She looked a little nervous, but maintained eye contact, which made Loki believe she had no intention to lie.

"Lady Loriana is your friend, is she not?"

Mirilya nodded fervently. "She is, we grew up together. My mother was her nurse."

"Then why did you kiss the man your friend is supposed to marry?" Loki asked in a serious tone, looking at her intensely. The young woman gasped at his question and tried to pull her hand away from his, but he didn't let go of her. When he saw her eyes glisten with tears, he realised she was scared of him, afraid of what would happen if she answered. He pulled her closer and put his hand to her cheek again, softly stroking her skin. "I didn't mean to scare you, darling. I'm sorry."

She looked at him, fear and doubt still visible in her face, so he put his arms around her, stroking her back until he felt her relax against him.

He led her to his bed and made her sit on the edge before he sat down next to her. "You can tell me anything, Mirilya, I will not get mad at you." He squeezed her hand to reassure her and she nodded slightly. "I have a theory and you can tell me whether I'm right or wrong." Mirilya didn't answer, so Loki continued. "You kissed me, because you know Lady Loriana doesn't want me anyway. She already has a lover. Is that true?"

The young woman looked at her hands, still not saying anything. Loki lifted her face with his hand, gently making her look at him. "It's true, isn't it?"

Mirilya stifled a sob and a tear slid down her face. "Not entirely, my Lord," she said quietly. When he lifted his eyebrow quizzically she added: "I kissed you because I followed my heart."

Loki smiled and leaned over to gently kiss her tears away. "I'm glad you did, my darling."

He planted small kisses on her cheek until he reached her lips and she received his caresses eagerly. The kiss was passionate and warm, more loving than Loki had ever experienced before. He never knew there could be so much feelings hidden in one kiss.

"The rest of it is true," Mirilya said softly when they had released each other again.

Loki nodded. "I take it Lord Gerhund is not just her guardian."

"No, he is not. They love each other."

"Do you think Lady Loriana will confide in me if I talk to her? Nobody really wants this marriage, except for the king."

"I'm not sure," said Mirilya, wringing her hands. "There aren't that many people that know about it. They are very secretive."

"I'll think of a way," Loki said, more to himself than to the young woman at his side.

He brushed her brown curls to the side, revealing her slightly pointed ear, a reminder of her origins. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fixed on his. The way she looked him in the eyes, not shying away, made him hold his breath. She truly had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

There was another knock on the door, followed by Brent's voice. "My Lord? They are waiting for you."

Loki cursed under his breath. He had to go to the vault, survey the damage done by the Jotun attack. He called out to Brent he would be there shortly and looked back at his squire's sister before him. "What would your brother say?" he chuckled, laughing out loud when he saw Mirilya's shocked face. He kissed her on the tip of her nose. "Let's just keep it a secret for now, shall we?"

"Yes, my Lord," she answered timidly.

"It's Loki, darling."

"Yes, my Loki," she said, a smirk forming on her face.

After donning his usual leather gear Loki made his way to the vault. Brent was trailing behind him, but Loki ordered his squire to stay outside. In the vault he found his father and brother, who looked up when he entered.

"There you are," Odin said impatiently. "You made us wait."

"I'm sorry, my King," Loki answered curtly, noticing how his attribution of their father as king made Thor frown for a second.

The vault was restored to order, the dead bodies and debris cleaned up. "Do we know what they were after?" Loki asked, casually walking through the room. To his left and right were alcoves, each holding an artefact of some sort. To the back of the room stood the Destroyer, a magnificent weapon in the form of a metal giant. Loki stopped in front of a square shaped relic on a short column. The relic looked like some sort of glass box, the glass walls scratched so they looked opaque, protected by a metal structure with curved lines.

"You're looking at it," Odin answered, his eye fixed on the relic in front of Loki. "The Casket of Ancient Winters."

'Well, they sure had their timing right," Loki smirked. "No offence, brother."

Thor scoffed. "When they got in doesn't matter. I'd much rather know how!"

"A portal, obviously," stated Loki, still looking at the Casket. Deep inside it glowed an ominous blue light.

"Heimdall didn't see them coming, so it must have been a secret portal," Odin said, glaring at Loki.

The prince acted like he didn't feel the old man's stare, but the truth was very much like the opposite. He could feel Odin's disapproval in every fiber of his being.

"They killed two of us, we killed ten of them. I say we go to Jotunheim to even the score even further!" Thor called out, his mighty hammer in his hand. "Those Frost Giants should know better than attacking Asgard. Let's destroy them!"

"No!" said Odin loudly and Thor turned to his father in surprise.

"But father, surely we can't let an attack like this go unpunished?"

"I said no," Odin repeated coldly, staring down Thor with his one eye. Loki looked upon his family from the other side of the room, it felt good to see Thor on the receiving side of father's wrath for once.

"If I were king…" bristled Thor, gripping his hammer firmly, as if he was ready to strike.

"But you're not, are you?!" roared the Allfather. "There is no crown upon your brow. I am still king. And as long as I am, you will do as I say!"

A little while later Thor and Loki were in the sitting room in the West wing of the palace. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three were present too, all listening with worried faces to Thor, who tried to convince them to strike against Jotunheim as fast as possible.

"But the Allfather forbade it," said Lady Sif. "We can't go against his will."

"I'd prefer not to, but an attack like this can not go unanswered!" Thor threw back.

"True," admitted Fandrall, "yet the wrath of the Allfather is a punishment in itself. I'd much rather stay on his good side."

"Can't we persuade the King?" Lady Sif asked, looking hopefully at Thor.

Loki scoffed. "It's not possible to persuade Odin. His mind is set."

"Then what do you suggest, brother?" asked Thor. "You also think we should punish Laufey and his Frost Giants, right?"

"I do," answered Loki slowly. "But it's dangerous and it could spark a war."

"Not if we wipe 'm out first!" called Thor, swinging his fist in the air.

"You can't just barge into Jotunheim and annihilate them all, brother!" Loki urged.

Thor stood up and pointed Mjölnir at Loki's chest. "This here says I can!"

"At least sleep on it," the prince pleaded with his hot headed brother. "Please. You can't go in unprepared anyway. If you still think a counterattack is the best way after a good night of sleep, I'll support you."

"Allright," Thor agreed. "Tomorrow, we'll send Laufey and his troupe into oblivion!"