Chapter Fourteen.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the support with last week's chapter! It really made me feel loved! You guys are all wonderful! I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's a bit longer and has some conflict and surprises for you! (Hopefully it's a surprise lol)

The door to their room threatened to split under the force of the fist pounding on it. Bri sat up, her heart thudding against her ribcage as she looked around in confusion, eyes searching for what woke her. Loki was nowhere to be seen but there was a fresh sprig of jasmine on his pillow. The garden.

As she began to calm the sound came again, more persistent, demanding. "COMING!" She yelled while slipping from the bed and padding over to the door. Sif was on the other side. And she looked furious that she had had to come retrieve Bri, her eyes quickly scanning the chemise she was wearing before narrowing in disgust.

"I expected you would be here." Her lip twitched with disdain. "You were to be at the training arena at dawn."

Bri sighed as she stepped back into the room and went to grab something to wear. Loki had provided her with a short, dark green dress with spaghetti straps and black leggings. Presumably it would help her move better. She doubted she was going to be fast no matter what she wore. She picked up the letter:

Try not to die on the first day, my pet.

She pursed her lips as she held back a smile, aware that Sif was close enough to read it. She shifted and cracked her neck. She was definitely going to kill Bri. "I have to get dressed…" She had intended it to come out angry but it was barely a whisper. Damn.

"You have five minutes. I suggest you tie your hair back."

Sif stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Bri jumped with the bang then sighed and started changing. "Okay. She won't kill me…" She told herself as she stooped to look in the mirror, using hair chopsticks to pin her long curls in a bun. But she can break all of my bones and leave me crippled…

"Shall we?" She walked past Sif, trying to hold her shoulders back and her head high.

Loki snapped his book shut, crossing his legs and leaned against the back of the bench. He had passed the morning by training with his illusions until he could hardly stand. It still hadn't kept his mind off of Bri. His thoughts raced with concerns about her safety. Was she healed enough to start training? He wasn't sure how long it took a Midgardian to heal. Was Sif being gentle? Probably not. Would they take her to the hospital wing or back to him? He knew the answer and it was irritating.

He ran his hands over his face then stood up. He thought reading might take his mind off of her but he barely knew what book he had picked up. A smile tugged at his lips. He knew a passage that would let him out of his wing. He hadn't tried it since the containment spell but he was sure it would still be there.

He stood with a wicked grin. All he had to do was make himself invisible. Then he could make sure Sif wasn't going to hurt his pet. Especially after he just got her back. Yes. He needed to be there. She was his pet after all. It was his right to be wherever she was. He had to keep care of his property.

"Are you looking for your passageway, son?" He turned at the voice of his mother, watching as her dress ruffled in the breeze. She was holding a tray of food as she passed him and walked to one of the tables littering the garden, a mischievous smile on her face.

"You knew about it?"

"Naturally." She motioned for him to join her, chuckling as he plopped down with a bewildered stare. "I doubt her training will last much longer. Thor has informed me that Sif is rather…forceful with her."

"You let him watch them?" He long fingers curled into fists as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Naturally." She handed him the plate of fruits and meats she had prepared him. "Perhaps, if you are able to control yourself, you may join her."

He lifted an eyebrow. "We have discussed your situation and, if she is willing, you may accompany her when she leaves your wing." His eyes widened as he stared at his mother in shock, his tongue feeling made of lead rather than silver. She took a sip of her tea as she studied his expression, pleased that she was able to startle him into silence. "As a trial, you will join her tonight at the feast being held in her honor. I expect you to dress her appropriately."

"Sif. Perhaps you should begin with learning positions." Fandral suggested as he spun around Volstagg, the two having come out to train, and to watch how Bri's training was going.

Bri held a thumb up from her place in the dirt. She had, once again, been thrown onto her back and was having trouble catching her breath. "She is an agent is she not? She should be able to defend herself." Damn. It had been hours and Bri was barely able to stand. For the umpteenth time she wondered if she could just give up and lay there. As soon as she thought it though she was pushing herself to her feet, refusing to give into Sif's vendetta.

She took the stance she had learned, swaying from exhaustion.

"You never give up do you?" Volstagg shook his head, parrying Fandral's sword and striking with his axe.

"Never."

Sif glared between them all. "You seem to be rather comfortable with giving into Loki." Her eyes shimmered when she saw she had struck a chord with Bri. "Prepare yourself."

It took a few seconds longer for her to be flipped again, this time her ribs making an audible crack. "Fuck." She exhaled, clenching her jaw against the rush of pain.

"I believe that will be enough for today." Thor stepped out from where he had been watching in the hallway, staring disapprovingly at Sif as he scooped Bri into his arms to bring her to the doctor.

"I…" Bri wheezed.

"You will allow me to carry you to be healed." No questions. No objections. Royalty. Bri thought irritably, trying to lean as far away from him as possible without falling or making it harder to breathe.

"You should watch your resentment for her Sif." Fandral warned before being knocked a few feet back by his partner.

She ignored the jab and watched Thor's retreating figure. She would teach the pet her place.