The weeks following Loki's victory against Thor were filled with a mixture of sulking, barbed jibes, and much more training in the arena. Thor took Loki's omission of his extra practices as a slight against his trustworthiness. Loki took Thor's anger as rage that he lost. Neither brother would speak to the other and Virdi was caught in the middle.

Fandral and Volstagg were also at a loss. The tense atmosphere at meals and practices could not be lessened by jokes; the two young men could not bring themselves to question their princes. They had often approached Virdi asking her to force reconciliation between the royals but she would simply mutter that it was not her duty and that she may have already done too much damage.

Lady Sif, who continued to watch sourly from the stands due to her father's mysterious decree, was of no aid to the troublesome band. For some reason the Allmother was also keeping her distance and leaving mediation up to the Protector Eternal.

With Loki and Thor's frigid temperaments and their nearing coming of age ceremony, Virdi was at her wit's end. This contemplation was giving her a piercing headache.

Virdi had felt a sharp pressure between her eyes all evening. It was almost like the headaches she felt when she was up late reading in the library with no lamp. She was currently at one of the rare dinners where all members of the royal family were present and she did not want to mess it up.

"Where has this come from? What have I done today that could have caused me this great injury?"

Virdi tried to continue to eat without showing her pain. The pains would pulse, sometimes quickly and sometimes slower than the steadiest heartbeat. As she was lifting her fork a stabbing pain wracked the forefront of her brain and the golden fork crashed to her plate as her hands flew to the center of her forehead.

"Have I been poisoned?" she thought in a panic. "No you stupid girl," echoed a voice in her mind from her days back home in the mountains. "You'd be dead already and so would the princes."

"Dear, are you alright?" Nothing escaped the Allmother and her delicate voice drew the attention of her sons and her husband at the table.

Both boys looked up from where they had been glowering at their plates at their mother's question. As they both examined Virdi's sharp features, they noticed her pale face was almost white and purplish circles had developed under her eyes. Surely she hadn't looked very ill that morning? Loki felt slightly shamed; he had been taunting Thor and attempting to outdo him all morning in the arena. He had barely spared his friend a word after their customary "good morning."

Thor, surprisingly, had noticed Virdi's pale face and sickly complexion at the end of their morning session. He had jokingly commanded that Virdi visit the healing chambers, saying, "Even warriors such as you fall sometimes, Virdi."

Virdi had ignored his teasing order and was currently regretting it as pain in her mind grew quickly.

"Lady Virdi." The Allfather's voice was loud, like one used to being deferred to without question. It was a voice that dared someone to lie. "Are you unwell? Speak." Frigga's gentle hand on her husband's arm softened him slightly but his gaze never faltered. He expected an answer from her.

Virdi swallowed with a dry throat and fought the urge to press her whole palm to her forehead.

"I have a persistent pain in the forehead, your grace. I'm sure it will pass," said Virdi as she slowly withdrew her hands from her head. Her voice never faltered despite the increased pounding in her brain. She felt as if she was going to vomit and she noticed with alarm that her hands were shaking.

"Dear, do these pains come and go?" Frigga mothered. She placed her napkin on the table and made to rise from her chair. It was clear from Virdi's slumped posture she was not feeling well at all. She was disappointed in herself for not having noticed earlier- the poor young thing was so pale. Had she looked that pale at the start of the meal? As the queen rose, Odin raised his hand.

"Virdi, you may be excused to the healing rooms," he granted with a nod. Virdi did not argue, showing how ill she truly felt.

Loki frowned at his father. Why couldn't his mother look at Virdi? She was the best healer in the world as afar as he was concerned. It seemed strange to make Virdi walk all the way to the healing rooms.

"Father, surly Mother could just-"

"To the healing rooms, Lady Virdi." The Allfather ignored Loki and returned to the meal after Virdi gave a slight nod.

Virdi rose, feeling the pressure in her head increase tenfold. As she pushed her chair in and turned, her stomach rebelled and she clamped her mouth shut in order to keep her measly meal down.

She took one step, and another toward the hall door.

Another pain lanced its way through her skull and she flung her arm out to catch herself on the edge of the table as her world spun. With a rioting stomach and a spinning mind, her hand missed the table and she collapsed on the floor of the royal family's dining chambers. The agony in her head was so intense and so sudden that she fainted before the Allmother and her sons reached her.

"Guards!" Frigga's voice usually echoed throughout the halls of the palace like chimes but now it was as clipped and efficient. She had quickly raced to the girl's side as Odin stood abruptly. The boys were frozen in astonishment as their friend and protector collapsed but quickly flung their chairs to the side and rushed to her aid.

She had never fallen in front of them.

Two golden-clad guards entered and immediately flew to the queen's side as she knelt by the fallen girl. With a delicate hand that was as practiced as it was manicured, Frigga checked Virdi's pulse and commanded the guards to pick her up.

"Take her to the healing rooms, now!" One man bent to scoop the girl up gently. The queen grabbed Virdi's plate from the table and shoved it at the second guard. "Tell Lady Anya to examine this for poison immediately. Boys, do not eat anything else from the table."

Both guards ran from the room as the Allfather spoke. "She was not poisoned."

Frigga turned and looked at her husband sharply.

"Undoubtedly the girl has had a trying day. She may be exhausted or even ill, it is not for you to worry." Odin resumed his seat and began to eat again. Loki and Thor were aghast but they looked to their father.

Frigga, the Allmother, stood resolute. She had never understood her husband's feelings toward the little girl. Since she had arrived years ago, she went unnoticed by the king. Why? She was to be with them for an eternity, why was he so uncaring to her plight? Frigga looked at her husband, nauseated by his cruelty.

"She is a child. A child who is sworn to protect your sons, a child who has never had a mother or a father."

The boys winced and Odin looked back up to his queen. His eyes glinted with sadness but they were unflinching. He sighed and placed his knife and fork down again.

"She is not your child."

Without deigning to give her husband a retort besides a withering glance, she whirled around and strode from the room. The boys were still frozen and at Odin's grunt they retrieved their chairs and continued their meal. Neither ate much, their foolish quarrel forgotten as they worried about their friend.

Loki and Thor had visited Virdi every afternoon since she collapsed three days ago but she remained unconscious. His mother had sat with her every morning and was overseeing the healers' research on what had happened. They discovered she had not been poisoned and had not been injured but the healers were unable to detect why she could not wake. They believed magic to be at work. Thor had quickly encouraged Loki to research with the healer while he himself furiously fetched books for him and guarded the door to her chamber. Loki only nodded and read more than he had in his life.

"You don't suppose…we did this, do you?" Loki had asked his brother after the first two days had passed. "That we caused her-"

"Mother said she suffers from a spell, brother, it is not our fault," Thor had said sharply. Loki remembered his wince at those words and how he had looked back to Virdi were she lay in the sickbed. "However," Thor had continued more quietly, "we failed to see her condition. We were too wrapped up in our own enmity to care for her."

Thor paused and then continued with a slightly pained expression on his face. "I'm sorry, brother, and I say that I'm also sorry it took Virdi's sickness to make me say it."

Loki had looked at his brother incredulously.

"Loki, this is the part where you apologize to me, now."

"I'm sorry. We must be sure to apologize to Virdi if she awakens."

"When she awakens."

The boys had hope. Odin had given in to his wife after the healers had reported that Virdi was under some sort of spell. He ordered a thorough search of the palace and of Virdi's rooms but nothing had come up. However, security had been tightened around the palace these last few days, especially around the princes. It was causing everyone in the palace to chafe at the guards.

Virdi had missed their lesson on the third night of her slumber and Loki felt the need to creep into the healing wing and see her again. He had continued to practice his own weapon skills without her but it was not the same. Sitting on the rickety wooden stool at the foot of Virdi's bed, he thought about how she looked too pale and her dark hair was dull as it spread around her on the pillow. Her breathing was shallow through her narrow, parted lips and sweat soaked the plain grey tunic she wore.

It alarmed him to see her this way. She was strength and speed embodied; this wasn't her. He had been helping the healers research spells after his lessons and had yet to find one that could affect someone like this. He wanted to do more but what could he do?

"I can't defend you like Thor. I can't find the spell. I can't tell you things will be right. What kind of man am I?" the boy whispered weakly. After several hours, Loki finally gave in and left for his bed. It would not do for the healers to find him in Virdi's room during the night.

Virdi awoke in the healing rooms without her armor or cloak and with only a dull pain in her skull. It was dark in the healing hall and only a few candles lit the walls with yellow light. What time was it? How long had she been in this bed?

Her stomach was still roiling and she had a bad feeling in her gut that had nothing to do with it. Something was wrong, she had to leave.

She flung off the blankets and placed her bare feet on the cold stone floor. She looked down at her hands and noticed different healing symbols painted up her arms. They glowed slightly and Virdi had a feeling they were the reason she was awake. Her short gray tunic clung to her clammy skin. As she tried to stand, a pretty brunette ran around one of the gauzy curtains fluttering in the room. She quickly came to Virdi's side and supported Virdi as her knees shook.

"Lady Virdi, you mustn't stand yet! You were asleep for six days! Such exercise could put bring you back to unconsciousness! Our magics can only do so much, the runes will exhaust you!" The brunette, Fridha, had tended to Virdi before when she had cuts from training but Virdi did not recognize her as she absorbed what was being said.

"Six days!?"

"Yes, please, sit." Fridha was attempting to help her sit back on the edge of the bed again but Virdi shook her off.

"No. Something is wrong. I must see them." As the healer let go of her, the pulsing in her head inexplicably increased but Virdi took a deep breath and tensed her muscles. The foreboding in her heart sent adrenaline through her veins. She swayed forward, took a step, and then shot off toward the princes' chambers. Fridha's frantic call for guards echoed down the passages but Virdi was off.

With every bound forward Virdi felt more and more certain that she had been enchanted. That enchantment must've been to get her out of the way in order to make an assassination attempt at her charges. She turned a corner, her feet slipping slightly on the smooth floor, and was struck with an increase to the pounding in her head. The prince's doors were down the hallway but Virdi had bent over with her palms pressed to her forehead.

She had to continue. She swore an oath, this was her destiny. Through the pain she felt vindication that she was right. Something must be trying to keep her from the boys.

Her footsteps were silent as she approached the doors, one across from the other. She had no weapons and needed the element of surprise. As she reached the wooden doors, she hesitated only slightly as she decided which to open first.

Thor was the crown prince, the firstborn.

Loki was her first true friend, her confidant.

She flung open the door to the chamber and saw two shadowy figures in black armor. White hair in various braids fell down both their backs and one held a shining solver blade over Thor's body, now shifting awake because of the slamming door.

Without acknowledging the stabbing pains in her skull, she leapt at the one wielding a knife. Ducking under the arm that reached for her, she slammed her left hand into the crook of the assailant's right arm while grabbing his wrist. She slammed the arm and the figure into the wall. A sickening crack echoed in the room but only a grunt was heard from the masked man. He dropped the knife on the bed.

Before Virdi could reach for it, the second armored figure kicked her straight in the ribs and knocked her to the side. Virdi felt several of her bones give slightly but she ignored them and kept her feet. In a crouch, she ducked another high swing from the figure against the wall and rushed the smaller figure that had kicked her in the side. While jamming her shoulder into the- now obviously female- stomach of the assassin, Thor finally woke and rolled from the bed onto the floor on the other side.

Both she and the female assailant crashed to the ground with Virdi on top. She noticed that the female was clutching a silver amulet in her hand, but her vision was blurred and her head was splitting.

"Look out!"

Thor's cry alerted her to the other assailant behind her and she threw herself off the prone female just before a dagger would have been embedded in her back. However, that dagger was immediately redirected towards her again as the man tried to stab at her face as she lay on the floor. The pain dissipated slightly as she distanced herself from the female.

She had to get the female to release the amulet.

From his awkward position bent above her, Virdi saw another dagger belted at the large man's waist. Quick as a flash she brought her forearm up to block the oncoming knife to her heart. Her arm hit the man's inner wrist but he still succeeded in stabbing her shoulder. She yelled in pain but grit her teeth as she grabbed the knife from his belt and brought it to his neck. Before the would-be assassin could recognize his mistake Virdi had buried the blade in his jugular.

As black blood gushed past the cloth mask of the man onto Virdi, the woman had scrambled to her feet and approached Thor.

Virdi withdrew the wet blade from the falling body of the man and rolled to her side to avoid being crushed. There was a knife halfway in her shoulder and as she rose, she used her right hand to yank it out. The woman was almost to Thor with an outstretched hand when a knife was buried in the base of her skull. The pain in her head ceased immediately and Virdi was so alert she could hear the steady drips black of blood onto the floor.

There was a clamor down the hall, the clanking of armor and shouts sounded like guards on their way. Before Thor could do anything Virdi raced from his room and kicked open the door to Loki's. At first glance she did not see him in his bed. The room appeared empty. She took a step forward in a defensive position, one raised hand clenching a knife and the other in a fist prepared to guard her face.

There was a small creak of the wooden door behind her and she turned just in time to see a small silver blade arcing towards her. It was child's play to turn her body to the side and avoid it. As she did, she recognized the pale hand and the knife's wielder immediately.

"Loki," she breathed in relief as he stood before her in his nightwear. A cursory glance back around the room showed that it was empty but that the great window was open by the bed. There was no sign of a struggle in the room and Loki seemed to be unharmed.

"Virdi, thank the gods. He leapt out the window when he heard the noise," Loki mumbled as he lowered the knife. "I'm a light sleeper." The dark haired prince looked dazed and leaned against the doorframe.

Virdi turned away from her friend and ran to the window. Peering out, she saw nothing. She heard guards entering the two boys' rooms but she didn't turn. Frigga's voice could be heard now. She would not wait.

She had a job to do entrusted to her by the Allfather- to find the other assassin and to protect the princes. This was what she born for and she would not break her vow, no matter how much she wanted to sit down and be mothered by the Queen.

She jumped from the balcony with bare feet and a small silver knife in her hand.

Hey guys, I'm still around! Sorry to make you wait for this one but two jobs can really exhaust a person. I had a bit of trouble writing this one but I think I can get back on a roll. Thank you to all those that have encouraged me to keep going, I can't tell you how much it means to me. It really helps me get creative.

To be honest, this chapter came out of nowhere but I felt the story might be getting a bit stale. I do feel that this bit sets up the next few chapters better than what I had originally planned and I hope you like it.

Everything looking good? People still in character? Tell me what you think! I love all forms of critique and encouragement. Review!