At first Maebh thought Loki's actions had been a spur of the moment idea to try and convince her to stay, but when she returned to the house, every time Loki got her alone, he seemed to find a reason to glide a hand against her, or steal a small kiss. Initially she was quite wary of his attentions and their meaning, but soon she came to enjoy them as she realised them to be genuine.

For his part Loki could not have been happier, the affections he gave Maebh felt so natural and easy. With Aslaug, he did it only because it was expected, or on occasion he did it to try and force himself to try and feel something for the woman. However Maebh's reaction mixed with his constantly increasing feelings for the woman made him yearn for her more and more. He ensured to not let Nafi see anything for the time being, he did not want to upset the boy if it did not work out, or for him to tell anyone before he had a chance to speak with his family regarding the matter.

Three weeks after the argument and the subsequent kiss, Nafi was outside watching the farmhands as they worked, while Maebh was inside preparing food for the dinner, Loki came in from doing work with the horses and cleaned his hands before standing behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning in to kiss her neck, she naturally leant her head over to give him more access.

"Do you know yet when you are due to leave again for Midgard?" she asked as she continued to cut the vegetables, her voice calm and even.

Loki paused for a moment, his lips still against her neck before pulling away slowly and answering warily not wanting to cause an argument. "Not yet no. there will be a meeting held about it soon. Father, Baldr and Thor will decide then." He explained.

"And you have to go?" She asked sadly, putting down the knife and holding her hands over his, leaning her head to his chest.

Loki pulled her into him as close as he could and sighed. "Sadly, yes. Believe me, I have never really wanted to go on raids, but I am forced to."

"They will try and get you to force me to tell you of where the best treasures are won't they?"

"I believe so yes, in fact I have no doubt at the very least it will be discussed. But I would never try to force you." His pressed his lips to her neck, right under her ear.

"They will be leading you all to your slaughter." Loki pulled his lips off; she could feel the intensity of the look he was giving her. "The warriors, they blend into the landscape, it is very heavily wooded and the land is vast and uneven, they will see you long before you ever see them. They will surround you and pick you off. They are trained in many areas, including archery, swords and shields just as basic training." She explained. Her voice was fearful as she thought of Loki facing them.

"So you think them unbeatable?" he asked, listening carefully.

"I know how they train, I know how they think. They are not gods, they can be killed. I can teach you." She offered.

"I thought you would not betray Midgard?" Loki asked, pulling her to face him, still holding his arms to her waist.

"The only lands I can tell you of are filled with the warriors that betrayed my father and in turn me. They took my family from me. I cannot let them take you too." She leant up, placing her hands to his face and kissed him chastely. He returned the kiss almost hungrily.

"Well then you better train me so I can return to you." He smiled after he finally pulled himself back from the kiss.

"To teach you alone is not enough. If all of the other Asgardian warriors are slain, what good is all the training I give you when you are heavily outnumbered?" she added.

"So you would teach us all?" He asked almost sceptically. She simply nodded. "Why? Why would you go from being so vehemently against us going back to Midgard at all, to wanting to teach us how to ensure minimal deaths to us and how to decimate them?"

Maebh smiled sadly. "I do not want to lose you, so if I am honest, I rather you safe at their cost. I know it to be selfish, but I owe them nothing."

"And you owe me?" Loki was slightly crestfallen, thinking her affections were merely a result of a sense of obliged gratitude.

"No I do not owe you either." She laughed, which confused him. "I simply do not want you to go at all, but if you are to go, I want you to stay safe. I care for you too much Loki." She admitted.

Loki smiled at the way Maebh said his name. "Could you teach me your language too?"

"If I can remember it at this stage." Maebh joked. "Yes I can teach you, if you are quick to learn that is." She added.

"I will have you know I have always excelled at everything I have done, especially my studies." Loki grinned proudly as he informed her and brought her back into his arms.

"That does not surprise me in the slightest, but my tongue is not very similar to yours."

"Really?" Loki leant in and kissed her as deeply as he had the very first time. Both found it more and more difficult to resist the urge to ravish each other more, though they never allowed it to get that far. Loki had meant what he said about rectifying her place within his home. The only issue was raising the situation with Odin in a way that would convince his father permit it. It had been he who had made Loki take Aslaug as his wife, her father had been a powerful man before he was killed in battle. He was unsure how he would react to his second sons love for a Midgardian that was supposed to be a mere thrall, regardless of her birthright.

"Father? Maebh?" A small voice caused them to stop though neither knew how many times the boy had called them or how long he had been standing there for. They looked at each other briefly as though trying to silently figure out what to say to Nafi, when something caught Maebh's eye, and her cheeks began to redden, causing Loki to frown as he turned to face the door.

"Brother." Saluted Thor, who was beaming widely, arms folded across his chest as though he had caught them doing something, while standing next to a giggling Nafi. "Maebh." He added.

"Thor." Loki nodded his head slightly. "I think it is safe to say brother, that we were not expecting you." Loki kept his features emotionless as he spoke, trying not to convey the embarrassment of being caught by his brother.

"I gathered." The older smiled.

Nafi stood looking between the adults. "Does this mean father and Maebh are going to be wed?" He asked his uncle hopefully, unsure if he would get an answer from his father.

"I do not think you will have to wait long." Thor smiled to the child, causing Nafi to jump up and down gleefully. "With that news however, perhaps you should return outside Nafi. I have much to discuss with both your father and Maebh." Thor's jovial demeanour was replaced by the one he used when he had to deal with official business regarding Asgard as he patted the young boys head. Nafi obeyed without question, looking once more to his father and Maebh and smiling before heading towards the door, leaving Thor to turn around once more just as Loki and Maebh shared a knowing look and a mutual sigh of understanding as to the reason for Thor's visit.