AN: My dear readers I am so sorry for the wait. Unfortunately I'm so busy this is probably about how long it's going to take from now on :( Just know that I was chipping away at this the whole time and I never forgot about it :) Also to NightwingNinja: Thank you! I should have checked the spelling before publishing this :D Anyway I'll fix that :)

Nera trudged down the dim corridor. She stared at the tray in front of her laden with food, just a pitcher of water, a cup, and some dry bread and a small candle. Someone, she vaguely remembered, had told her to feed these things to a… person. Prisoner perhaps? Hmm… She kept walking, one foot in front of the other. Her footsteps making a comforting rhythm against the stone floor.

Click, clack, click, clack, click, clack.

The sounds were sharp because her shoes were hard soled and had heels. Nera frowned, that was strange, she had the oddest feeling that she rarely wore heels. But no, of course she did. She was wearing them now so of course she always had. And besides they decided what she wore. And they had always been there to do so. She nodded, satisfied with this answer, and put the matter aside.

She tramped onward for a while more. Where was she going again? Oh that's right, she was feeding the prisoner. Without remembering who had told her she knew which door to stop at. She pulled out a key, once more not really knowing how it got there, and turned it in the lock.

If the light had been dim in the corridor it was pitch black in the chamber she was peering into now. She blew gently on the small candle which was still perched on the tray and the wick glowed bright orange. She blew again and a feeble flame appeared, then gathered strength and became a dependable beacon. Nera decided it was a magical artifact and didn't waste time wondering about the details.

The room, now she had some light, was no more than a dark garret. But on the floor was a large dark object and it took her a moment to realize that it was, in fact, a person. The moment she came to this realization a wave of deja vu nearly incapacitated her. She knew this scene, the prisoner bound and helpless on the ground, the woman standing over them in a doorway… But already the image was fading. She shook her head, it must have been imagined.

Nera knelt next to the prisoner and set down her tray. For the first time now, she got a good look at her (for it was now clear that this person was female), and again she felt memories stirring. The girl's hair was jet black, thick and flowing but rather untidily spread out across the garret floor. Her complexion was pale but her jaw was strong and her eyes were full of anger and fight. Nera knew that if if she could this person would tear her to pieces right now. And yet… as Nera watched the anger left her expression to replaced by shock and confusion. She began to make noises against the gag as if trying to tell Nera something. But… she was so familiar, this girl. So devastatingly familiar. Nera stared at her face, as if in a trance, and tried to remember…

On impulse she reached out and untied her gag. She had to know and somehow the gag was the key. Despite the fact that it was heavily knotted she soon had the it undone and gingerly drew it from the girl's mouth. No sooner had she done so then the silence was shattered.

"Nera, I'm so glad you've come! Where are the others? Quick, get me out of this thrice cursed pit and we can leave!" she paused, apparently noticing Nera's confusion. "Are you… Nera is there anything wrong?"

Nera stared, befuddled. This girl acted as though she knew her… What was she was calling her? Nera. Now she thought of it that was her name and she couldn't think why she'd forgotten. This was odd.

"Who… who are you?" a croaky voice asked. Nera realized with mild surprise that the voice belonged to herself.

The girl's eyes filled with concern. "You really don't know?"

Nera said nothing but that was answer enough.

"I am Sif of Asgard. I am your friend. We've know each other for two years now, by mortal reckoning. We live in Asgard and we fight and play with Thor and the Warriors Three. And your father lives there and…" she trailed off. And then, in a sharper voice, "Never mind, it matters not. But tell me, what are they doing to you? Where is everyone?"

Asgard… Sif… Thor. Her father? She had a father? Those names rang true somehow. They were striking a chord deep within her, inside her very being, and she knew that somehow they were important.

"What do you mean, 'doing to me?'"

Sif's eyes narrowed. "Where did you come from to get to me? Who gave you those things?" she nodded to the tray of food, "And what are you supposed to with them?"

And somehow Nera had no answers. She knew she ought to, there was shelf space on her brain just for that sort of thing, but the memories were gone. No, not gone, just hiding. Just hard to get to. Because now she remembered; not half an hour ago there had been a woman and what had she said? Take these to the prisoner downstairs. Feed her. Fifth door on the left, here's the key. The candle lights up when you blow on it. But she had forgotten. Why? She struggled to think but she simply couldn't formulate an answer. It occurred to her, for the first time, that her brain was acting very sluggish.

Nera struggled to respond, "They… they told me to feed you. There's a woman… upstairs...and I must do what she says."

"Must? Why? Do they threaten you?"

Nera said nothing, unable to answer.

"Listen" Sif said urgently, meeting Nera's eyes, "They're controlling you. They've taken your memories and your wit, made you into a lowly household servant. But you're not. You are the Lady Nerdanel! You are a noble of Vanaheim! The only daughter and heir of Lord Jormundur! You've got to fight them, Nera."

Nera's brain spun. She wanted to believe Sif; but at the same time… she wanted to leave her lying here and never think of her again.

"How are they making you forget?" Sif asked frantically. "Are you being drugged? Perhaps if you don't eat or drink..." she trailed off and they were both silent for a count of twenty.

"Anyway," Sif said finally, "I need you to free me so I can eat that food. Then we can start making plans."

Alarm bells went off in Nera's mind. No, no, no. She did not trust this girl and she would not do as she said. "No. You eat bound or not at all."

Sif's eyes narrowed, "Nera I'm your friend! Look how do I know that your favorite colors are green and blue?"

Nera gave her a blank stare. That meant nothing to her, she didn't even know what her favorite color was herself.

"Or… Look Nera please believe me: I am your friend! We've played and fought and sung and dined together for so long now!"

"Do you want to eat or not?" Nera asked coldly.

Sif opened her mouth to argue then closed it again. Instead she gave a frustrated growl and a stubborn, determined look appeared on her face, "I swear I shall hunt down and murder whoever-"

Nera stuffed the bread into her mouth, effectively shutting her up.

Nera found herself pondering her conversation with Sif the rest of the day. The names she'd said… Thor, Odin, Jormundur, and even her own name, Nerdanel, had all struck chords with her. But she felt like something, or someone, important was still missing. She muttered the names to herself as she mopped the kitchen floor. She desperately tried to comprehend the implications of Sif's words while she dusted the sitting room. But she was met with disappointment, her mind simply would not function as it ought. She lost her grip on complex thoughts, they slid out of her grasp as though they had been coated in a layer of grease, and she could remember almost nothing.

The one thing she did succeed at was not eating. Though the details of her conversation with Sif were already slipping away (each time she tried to replay the scene it got a little harder) she distinctly remembered being told not to eat or drink. With this came the vague idea that doing so would make her remember. Much as she distrusted Sif the conversation had sparked her curiosity. And so at lunchtime when they silently offered her food she took her plate but quietly dumped it out the window.

The day passed and by late afternoon the encounter with Sif had settled into the back of Nera's mind, already threatening to be forgotten. As she trudged up the stairs (she had been assigned to tidy up the upstairs bedrooms) she thought to wondered who owned this house. A dim memory stirred in her mind, a woman's voice saying, You are in my mistress, The White Lady's, house.

The Sorceress?

No more questions. I need you to change into these clothes.

The White Lady? Sorceress? She tried to fathom what this might mean but, as always, she couldn't seem to wrap her head around the dynamics involved. Everytime she got close to an answer it slipped away from her. She shrugged the problem off and got to work.

Most of the bedrooms were not currently in use so there was little for her to do. She dusted and swept the floors (if they were uncarpeted). She cleaned the windows and brushed out the occasional cobwebs. But she moved through the rooms quickly and eventually got to suites complete with sitting rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, everything someone might need. These slowed her down as they were bigger and needed more attention.

As she swept the ashes out of the fireplace in one sitting room, going over the few names Sif had mentioned that she could still remember, she was again struck with the feeling that something was missing. Sif had mentioned someone called Thor and she had said Nera had a Father. But there was some huge aspect of her life, a person perhaps, that was missing; she could feel it. Nera rose and began dusting the mantle. Maybe Sif had filled that gap. Had they been close friends? Yes, that felt right… but not close enough for what she was looking for.

Someone behind Nera coughed.

She froze, arm hanging above the mantle, mid stroke. Why would someone be here? It didn't matter. She turned without even looking at who had intruded and clasped her hands in front of her, studying the floor intently. She waited for an admonishment or scolding, to be sent away or merely ignored, in which case she would quietly make her exit. But the stranger did none of these things. Instead they paused and for a few moments and she could only feel their gaze boring into her. Then they took a step towards her. And another.

Nera began to get the vague feeling that this was bad, she ought to be frightened.

Two more steps.

Three.

Nera continued to keep her eyes fixed on the carpet although the person was now no more than a foot from her. The footsteps stopped and again she knew she was being gazed intently at. An arm entered her field of vision, bridging the gap between them almost hesitantly, and a strangely cool hand touched her cheek. She tensed at the contact. The hand gently moved to her chin and softly pressed upward, forcing her to lift her gaze.

She looked up reluctantly. She didn't want to make eye contact, although she obviously had no choice. But the instant she saw his face, the instant she looked into his bright emerald eyes, all doubts vanished and the pieces of her life fell into place. She smiled.

"Loki"

He was the missing piece. He was what made all the lessons and courtiers and pressure bearable. He was how she had survived. It all made sense now. And with Loki came all the other missing memories. She recalled everything now, Vahaheim, her mother, Asgard, Key, Odin, her tutors, her father. Everything. She basked in pure joy at these revelations. But then a horrible thought struck her. Did Loki remember?

She looked up, concerned now, and saw on Loki's face a mix of confusion and desperation. He was so close; she knew he was. But as hard as he was struggling he didn't quite remember yet. Nera smiled and touched Loki's cheek even as he was touching hers.

"Loki it's me. It's Nerdanel."

He looked her straight in the eye. "I know you."

"Yes, yes Loki! You do!" She grabbed both his hands and shook them frantically, half crying though from either joy or desperation, she couldn't tell which, "Loki it's me! We're best friends! We love each other…" she stopped and collected her thoughts, trying to explain, "We… we met two years ago. At a banquet remember? And you were trying so hard not to show you cared about me, or anyone really… you do that a lot, you know." A fond smile played at her lips as all the memories came flooding back, she was recalling them as fast she spoke."And then we had a misadventure and we became best friends! Don't you remember all the nights we snuck up to the observatory to look at the stars? Don't you remember pranking Volstagg together?"

He stared across the room, as though his mind was a million miles away. "Yes."

His eyes came back into focus and he met her gaze. "Yes, I do."

She laughed through her tears. "And do you remember me?"

"Yes, I remember you. I remember... everything." Suddenly he looked weary. He sank down into a nearby couch and put his head in his hands.

"Loki…" She gently took a seat beside him. "What's been happening to you?"

He looked up and said a little too quickly, "It's not important."

She cocked an eyebrow.

"Well... it is. But first tell me how you've fared of late. Then I can relate my past few days."

Nera was reluctantly obliged and told him everything she could remember, starting with noticing too many white trees in the forest and ending when she saw him. Loki listened attentively as she spoke but offered no comments. When she had finished he remained silent for a long while, thinking. Nera almost spoke several times but something always stopped her.

At long last Loki said, "There's something in your food that's addling your mind."

"Yes, I guessed as much." There was a little more sarcasm than Nera had intended in her voice.

"But I was experiencing the same memory loss…" Loki muttered. For a while he said nothing more out loud but stared at the carpet, mouthing things to himself as though trying to work out a difficult arithmetic problem.

After he'd been doing this a little too long Nera said, "Were you going to say anything or just have a conversation with the floor all day?"

"No, sorry. Just putting some pieces together but I suppose it'll make more sense if I tell you my story first."

"Very well, go on."

"I…" he began to nervously fidget with his fingers. "Well, you see there's a girl, well woman I suppose but she looks like a girl. And she continually summons us and asks many questions."

"Us?"

"Me and Thor."

"Thor's here too?"

"Yes, but that's not really important. What's important is the way she manipulates our minds. From how you described your befuddlement all today I'd say it's the same. And there's a smell…" his eyes went out of focus and he trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Oh, right. And anyway it's difficult to think around her. I don't know how much we've both told her about Asgard, it's defenses, rituals, curfews… but if my scattered memories are something to go by then it was a lot. So anyway not only is our food probably contaminated but she also seems to radiate confusion and lethargy."

Nera thought on this. "So a lady, obviously a magician of some kind. She lives in a manor all on her own save a few servants. And she's interested in Asgard… that really doesn't sound good. Loki we have to get out of here."

"I know, I know. We can't do anything with our minds half smothered though. We've got to fix this."

"What can we do though? Surely not starve ourselves! I can't go much longer without eating. And I'm far too thirsty now…"

"Well you should probably get used to it then. Eat and drink as little as you can without physically or mentally incapacitating yourself."

Nera pursed her lips but accepted this highly unsympathetic answer, "And you? Do you think your food is contaminated as well?"

"Yes, I do. And I'll eat as little as possible too. But if she calls me in to be questioned again I'll be entirely helpless. But it's the best we can do…"

Nera nodded slowly. "And once we're as free as possible from her mind bewitchments?"

Loki shook his head wearily, "I don't know. One step at a time. Although…" a light kindled in his eyes, "Is there a library here?"

"I think so… it's so hard to remember! But I think so. I might have passed it a few times."

"Good! Maybe you can find old maps or information on… her."

"They call her 'The White Lady'" Nera said.

"The White Lady…" Loki rolled the name about on his tongue. "A fitting title…"

"But anyway," Nera continued, "I suppose I should act quickly before I absolutely must eat."

"What, you mean go to the library now?"

"Well, maybe not now…" Truth be told she didn't want to leave at all. She was irrationally terrified that is she let Loki out of her sight she would forget everything all over again.

Loki smiled mischievously at her, "Ah good. For a moment I thought you were going to abandon me!"

She laughed but said gently, "But I must eventually, Loki. They'll miss me."

He looked at her strangely, "Not as much as I will."

"Oh yes, I'm sure you…" she stopped. There was something different in his expression. "And of course I you. But…"

He grinned, "You've always been quite charming when you're flustered."

"I'm not flustered!"

"Oh, but you are."

She glared at him suspiciously, "Loki Odinson, what is that supposed to mean?"

He sobered and gripped her arms, "Nothing. I just missed you. I couldn't even remember anything about you and I still missed you!"

"Loki…" she pulled away slightly but he did not release his grip. "You just remembered who you are, you're probably still confused…"

"What, and you're not in the same state?"

"It's different. Look I need to go before I absolutely must eat." She gently touched his cheek. "You have to let me go. You won't forget, I promise." She pulled away again and this time he let her go. "Tomorrow I'll meet you at the top of the back staircase and I'll tell you what I've learned about this 'White Lady', alright?"

He nodded numbly.

"Thank you." She stood gracefully. "Tell Thor and the others in the meantime." She left him still sitting on the couch and slipped away in search of the library.

It was well past midnight when she at last returned to her chambers. Her eyelids were heavy from reading and she fumbled with the latch longer than if she'd been fully awake. When she at last opened the door she merely stumbled across the garret and into bed. Alarice, her roommate, was sleeping soundly in her bed and did not wake. Nera slipped under the covers and was asleep within seconds.

But much later, a third person slipped through the door. And Nera woke to a hand clamped on her mouth and a dagger at her throat.

Two cliff hangers in a row! I'm getting the hang of this... Anyway please review and tell me what you thought :D