10

"Port things around she says," Maerwen huffed and shuffled down the corridor carrying a stack of chairs. "Port things around she says," she repeated while putting the chairs down and looking at her hands. Her fingers ached and there were red marks on her hands where the chairs were digging into her skin.

Needless to say from swapping roles Maerwen was still unhappy. She was tired, it was nearly seven in the morning by now and she was making the third trip with a stack of chairs which were to heavy for her to carry. Letting out a sigh she heaved the chairs back up and shuffled off down the corridor again. There was a vacant room which was being used to house all the things which were used last night.

"Do you need help?"

"Are you offering?"

"No."

"Then don't ask stupid questions." Maerwen muttered and walked through the door way and put the stack of chairs down beside the others. Loki leant against the door frame and watched as she wriggled her fingers and shook her hands.

"Aren't you in a happy mood this morning?"

"Unlike you I did not have the option of waking up early. I got woken up early!" She walked past him and tottered back down the hall. "Woken up early to clean up the mess you lot made last night."

"Actually I have you know that once we walked you back to your room we returned to the hall and left ten minutes later." Loki said while walking beside her, she looked up at him and then at the doorway which lead to the hall again.

"Why?"

"Thor was complaining and I was tired."

"But you don't do anything all day."

"How would you know? Do you watch me?" Loki smirked and walked into the hall, she had stopped in the doorway and looked at him. He didn't pay any attention to Eira who was still busily cleaning. But in the same breath, she didn't regard him with a look either.

"Maerwen!" Thor cheered and ran after the red haired girl. She stopped and put down the bucket she was carrying.

"Hello Thor, how are you this morning?"

"I am well, you?"

"Eh well..." Maerwen trailed off thoughtfully. "I'm tired."

"Break?"

"No! I can't," she laughed. Whenever Thor had come across her while she was working he always had a way of trying to persuade her to take a break. She was rather sure Eira would be mad if she had a break considering the cleaning that still needed to be done. "Maybe after a few more hours then yes, I can take a break."

"A few more hours?" Thor looked at her despairingly, "Really?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded, the two stopped talking when her name got called. Appearing in the doorway was Eira.

"Oh! Young prince I did not know it was you talking to Maerwen out here." Eira said while looking down at the floor. Thor shrugged and crossed his arms, "Maerwen will you get that clean bucket of water for me please?"

"Yes," Maerwen nodded and walked off on her way. Thor turned on his heels and ran after her. Eira watched the two of them go and shook her head. She didn't know of the sudden apparent friendship the young girl had with the teenage Princes.

"You are busy at work I see. Are you sure you do not wish to have a break now?"

"You are very persistent Thor! I can't, I do not wish to be lectured by Eira." Maerwen said and then dropped the bucket into the spring when they stopped in front of it. "There isn't much left to do now anyway...now that the other servants have appeared." Maerwen's eyes watched the bucket fill with water. When there was enough she grabbed a hold of the rope handle and pulled it out. Thor helped her, the bucket was to heavy for her to lift on her own.

"I was thinking."

"Is this to do with talking to your father?"

"Yes."

"Alright, continue then." Maerwen said and smiled a thanks to him when he walked carrying the bucket for her.

"Perhaps today is not a good idea."

"Oh?"

"You shall be busy for the rest of the day." Thor said and walked through the doorway and down the corridor. "Perhaps tomorrow, I doubt you shall have much work then."

"What will we say?" Maerwen asked confused, she had no clue what so ever of what to say to Odin. She dearly hoped that Thor had some sort of idea. He seemed to have ideas for anything and everything.