Ermahgerd! It's been forever and I'm sorry but I had MAJOR writer's block but I'm all better! Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review!

Chapter 21

"Second Test: Holding Your Own"

The sun shone bright over the kingdom of Asgard as the elemental stood in a cavern with a fu;; blooming cherry blossom tree. Her dress was spaghetti strapped, to her shins, with a light transparent shawl that rested in the crooks of her elbows and hung slightly below her shoulder blades. The entire ensemble was aquamarine in color and was finished off with a pair of white, gladiator style, sandals. Her hair was free flowing as the wind blew and her crystalline eyes closed; feeling the welcomed breeze.

Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, scaring her half to death! A shriek escaped her throat and she turned her head to see a grinning Loki, who burst into laughter when she rotated to punch him in the arm.

"You're such an ass!" she stated.

"Yes, but I am yours." He cheekily replied making Elsa smile, "So are you going to give me a token of your esteem for the derby tomorrow? Like the knights of old England."

"I'm not sure you're worth it, your Highness. After you keep torturing me when we are alone…" the spring bringer said coyly and received an exasperated look from her lover. It was then her turn to burst into laughter as she reached behind her head and unclasped the blue topaz necklace her father had given her a few birthdays ago. Elsa then turned to face Loki and clasped the chain around his neck, with the stone resting on his chest, "Do your best and be careful."

Loki smiled, grasped Elsa's hands, and kissed her on the forehead saying, "I promise."

The following morning Every Asgardian and Valkyrie gathered in the arena which was to be the start and finish lines. Ladies Freya, Idun, and Sif all sat together and only when Idun spoke up did they notice their fourth companion was missing.

"Has anyone seen Lady Elsa? She seemed the most excited for this race."

"Perhaps she is studying for her princess exam. Odin only knows what could be on it." Sif stated hopefully. Soon the riders were arriving with their pegasi at their sides. Loki brushed hi black steed's neck as a white Pegasus with blue tipped wings was guided next to him by a young man with a helmet on that covered his face. He wore brown riding pants, matching brown boots, a beige tunic, all covered in armor as all participants were.

"Quite the mare you have there, lad. What is her name?" Loki asked.

"Marzipan, great prince." The boy answered; his voice a bit pitchy. Loki shrugged it off as being that he hasn't hit puberty yet. Before long all the riders were mounted on their steeds and waiting at the starting line, "Is that necklace a token from a lady of the court?" The helmet wearer wondered when he took notice of the stone sitting atop the prince's chest plate.

"Yes Lady Elsa is the woman. She is my soul mate… And I love her with all my heart." The dark haired prince answered while smiling to himself. The brown haired boy smiled as well then everyone's attention was then directed to Odin who stood from his place above the crowd and projected his voice as he spoke.

"Asgardians, esteemed Valkyrian guests, and children of all ages! I welcome you to the eighty third annual Pegasus Derby!" cheers roared as the greeting left the Allfather's throat, "Now, let the race… Begin!" and with that, the pegasi and their riders took to the skies.

Loki laughed heartedly as his stallion, Alistair, was equal in speed and agility with Marzipan. The mare's mysterious rider smirked under his helmet as he took a sharp turn to gain distance between the raven prince and his respected steed. The god become exceedingly irritated and mentally decided that no one was going to show him up in front of his fiancé. Alistair sensed his rider's determination so he then pushed himself to go even faster and gained the lost distance to end up level with Marzipan once again.

The war raged as the sorcerers and warriors battled around them; completely oblivious to the two individuals who sped towards the arena, nose to nose. Loki was so distracted on the finish line that he did not notice Mjolnir hurdling towards him! The mysterious rider saw the godly hammer and conjured a barrier of cherry blossom petals along with twisting the wind into a whirlwind where Mjolnir was redirected back to the blond prince who threw it.

With Mjolnir's redirection, Marzipan and her rider came in second to the raven prince and his midnight steed. As the pegasi landed, the riders dismounted as Odin stood again to announce the winner, "The Pegasus Derby has ended! The victor being Loki Odinson!" the crowd cheered as Loki took a bow and searched the sea of faces for one in particular. His heart began to break when he did not find her as Marzipan and her rider approached.

"Why the forlorn look, great prince? You have won the race and gained favor with the people."

"My fiancé, Elsa… She is not here…" the prince replied sadly.

"I am sure she had a good reason, sire." But Loki was enveloped in the queen's arms as the royal couple stepped down to congratulate their son. Suddenly Sif, Idun, and Freya were also gathered around the victorious prince. In the process of all the excitement, the mystery rider disappeared into the crowd.

As the citizens slowly dispersed to enjoy the festival activities, Elsa came running up dressed in a forest green sundress with black flats and her hair in a braid over her shoulder. She appeared winded as the royal family spotted her approach; Loki having a very stern look on his face.

"I'm so sorry I'm late! I was studying for the princess exam and lost track of time! Did I miss the race?!" she asked alarmed.

"Yes, Elsa, as a matter of fact you did! I was hoping you would be here to support me!" the half-Jotun shouted, hurt that his love was absent during his amazing moment of redemption. Elsa wanted to tell him the truth but was stopped when her love ripped the chain off his neck threw in to the ground at her feet and angrily walked away. Odin allowed Frigg and Thor to follow the angry prince as to prevent him from doing anything rash. He then placed a hand on the young lady's shoulder after she stood from stooping to retrieve her chain.

"Lady Elsa, I am aware as to why you did what you did but I feel Loki deserves to know the truth. A true princess does not burn bridges with the people closest to her." The Allfather offered as Elsa turned her head to look the king in the eye. She knew he was right and in her heart, she knew what was to be done.

Loki trudged through the festival with a heartbroken look on his face. The citizens he passed greeted him with warm smiles and congratulations which he accepted whole-heartedly but it still hurt him to know that the woman he loved hadn't been there to support him. Just as he a particular vendor's booth, his eyesight caught sight of a beautiful, handcrafted gold medallion in the shape of his horned helmet. The woman who ran the booth smiled and offered it to the prince; free of charge. The green-eyed man denied the offer kindly and countered that he should pay for the perfect piece of craftsmanship. Not accepting his offer, the woman simply placed the medallion in the prince's hand, "She gave you a token of her love… You should do the same in kind."

Elsa stood to the side of the stage that had been set up for the Ceremony of Champions that was to commence halfway through the festival. Her heart raced at the thought of confessing what she had done not only to Loki and the royal family, but to all of Asgard and the Valkyries.

Odin stepped onto the stage as the citizens gathered, "My friends we are now gathered here for the Ceremony of Champions! As we all can recall Thor had been the champion of the derby for the last six years! Well, now he will hand over this title to this year's champion… Loki!" the crowd cheered as the two brothers moved to stand on the stage; Thor with a silver garland around his head. The Allfather moved behind his eldest and removed the garland and as he moved to stand behind the younger son, the silver garland shimmered to gold and was placed upon Loki's brow. The crowd burst into applause as cherry blossom petals began to gently flurry down like snow causing Loki to find Elsa walking up the steps.

"Allfather, may I speak?" she whispered. When she received a nod, she turned to the crowd, "Citizens of Asgard, visitors of Vanaheim… You may not know me but I am Lady Elsa of Midgard; betrothed to Prince Loki. I stand before you to bring to light a terrible occurrence that has transpired… I competed in this morning's derby!" The gasps signaled disbelief from all present except for herself and Odin.

"I know that ladies of the court were advised not to participate but me being who I am… I had to. I fear I have brought shame to you for this misdeed and take full responsibility for these actions." The elemental then turned to face Loki, "My love… I was the one who was riding Marzipan… I am the mystery rider… I'm so sorry…" she then burst into tears and knelt at the bewildered prince's feet, "I do not deserve to be a princess of Asgard! Or be your wife for I have brought shame upon your name!" she wailed. Loki's heart was shaking with the news of the mystery rider's true identity and was perplexed when Odin lifted her to her feet.

"Lady Elsa, during the derby when Mjolnir was flying at Loki, you not only used your magic to deflect it but also placed yourself in its path. I have said before that a true princess cares for others and you have proven it in more ways than one. Though you disobeyed the rules of the derby, you also prevented an awesome travesty. Today, you have proved that ladies may be pristine in court but can also be courageous as men, like Lady Sif has demonstrated many a time. I hereby pass you on your second test of princess ship as well as declare that every year from now on, anyone who wishes, my partake in the derby!" the Allfather announced and the crowd burst into an enthusiastic uproar.

Loki stared at his betrothed who still shed a few tears and approached her. At first she stiffened when he gently grabbed her hands but relaxed when her held them to his chest, "You should have been honest with me, Elsa."

"You would not have allowed me to participate if you knew the truth." She responded and closed her eyes in sadness. The prince then took the opportunity to clasp the medallion he was given around her neck.

"I know but we promised to be honest with one another, remember?"

"Of course… I'm sorry." Elsa then returned the favor by clasping her necklace back around her love's neck. Loki then pulled her in for a passionate kiss while the crowd burst into cheers and cat calls.