AN: So sorry for the massive wait, I just have a ridiculous amount going on with school this month so I'm afraid there won't be another update till February most likely but regardless of that; thank you very much for all the follows and reviews!

Chapter 37

"Heimdall, tell me…"

The guard looked to the floor and around the interior of the Bifrost, anywhere but Prince Thor's gaze; his expression displaying his guilt tremendously. After all, he had promised Freya that he wouldn't tell Thor where she went so often; he did know why she went, to meet that boy…

"I assure you she's not in any danger," he attempted to persuade. "Presently," he then quickly added.

"Presently?" Thor echoed with a raised brow, "So she might be in danger?"

"Oh no, not at all," the guard said quickly. "She's just gone…"

"To meet a boy, yes I know about him…I just didn't realise he wasn't from Asgard," Thor admitted. "I assumed he was, and today when she went out…"

"You followed her," Heimdall stated.

Thor's shoulders sagged, "yes, I did; now please tell me where you've sent her."

Heimdall sighed, "Jotunheim, Prince Thor, I thought it was safe; we are at peace with them after all…"

"Send me there now," Thor stated.

"With all due respect, it is not necessary. She will be safe there," Heimdall tried to reassure but Thor was having none of it; his mouth now set in a thin line of determination.

"Just do it," Thor insisted, " now."

"I'll be back before dark father!" Fenrir called as he walked out, the door shutting noisily behind him. As soon as it was closed Loki jumped up from his feigned position in which he'd been 'reading' a book….but he had actually just been waiting for his son to leave; so he could follow him, naturally. He couldn't help but notice, Fenrir running off all the time at all hours to a mysterious location where he seemingly spent most of his time and he also couldn't help but be curious.

He slipped quietly through the door and followed the other, casting a simple invisibly spell on himself as he went; it didn't conceal him completely it merely made him less noticeable, more like a shadow than a being. He hoped that Fenrir would be too fixed on his destination to notice him; else no doubt some form of argument would follow. He also had to be back for midday; the council wouldn't be impressed if he missed another meeting, so time was of the essence.

Unfortunately for Loki it seemed that Fenrir was travelling quite far, after nearly half an hour of walking they were still on the move; the castle now barely visible from the forests tall trees shrouding it from view. He let out a quiet sigh when he saw his son break into a run, he really didn't feel like this but now he'd come so far it seemed silly not to actually go the whole way; even if he was lazy his curiosity was still stronger.

Freya smiled when she saw Fenrir coming out from the woods, he waved to her and she waved back; just as they always did. Fenrir brushed the snow out of his hair as he walked up the shallow hill; glancing up at the sky as he did so and immediately frowned. The clouds were still billowing and churning, the colours of the Bifrost still prominent there in the sky; someone else was coming through.

Freya followed his gaze and her brows knitted together. "I didn't bring anyone," she said meeting Fenrir's perplexed expression with a mirrored one as he came to walk up alongside her.

"Perhaps they're travelling here and it has nothing to do with us?" Fenrir suggested hopefully but Frey shook her head.

"Heimdall wouldn't have teleported them to the same spot," she said. "He said he wouldn't tell anyone, he promised…there's only one person he would have told."

"Your father?" Fenrir said, nerves creeping into his tone. "There isn't another it could be surely."

Frey nodded subtly and looked up at the sky, a brighter light now splitting through the clouds, "'Fraid so," she sighed. "We should probably step back…" And they did so, backing down the hill a good distance away from the landing site.

Just as predicted Thor arrived, looking flustered and somewhat agitated but not initially angry, much to Freya's relief. Within moments his eyes had locked upon the couple and his eyes looked down at with an understanding, yet still a wariness Freya couldn't deny.

"Freya," he nodded once he'd come down the hill to join them, "who is this boy?" His tone was not threatening but most certainly not friendly either, Fenrir himself looked positively ill; he hadn't been prepared for this, he'd known it was coming sometime yes. He was always going to have meet Prince Thor but still…a little warning before hand would have been nice to say the least.

"This is Fenrir," Freya said with a brave smile, and Thor only nodded slowly as his gaze flickered over the boy; his lean figure and calculating expression, the mop of hair on his head wild and messy.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Prince Thor," Fenrir managed to get out in a calm voice with a small yet respectful bow.

Thor just nodded again, catching his daughter's gaze for a moment.

"You did say once that I could be with whomever I wanted," Freya pointed out after a short silence, crossing her arms loosely across her chest.

"I did yes, and I still stand by it," Thor said, his gaze once again traversing between the two still not really sure how he felt about it. "But…"

"But what?" Freya said, "There is nothing that should cause you to oppose this father." And Thor sighed, because he knew it to be true. Another silence fell out again but longer this time, and far more awkward; Thor didn't truly know what to say. He didn't think it had quite settled in yet or if it would ever in fact.

"Well if it helps at all, I have no qualms about this."

The trio turned to see Loki lent against a tree right beside them, looking oddly relaxed considering the situation; an almost fond smile curving onto his lips.

"Oh yes," Freya said. "I should probably should have mentioned that," she turned to her father biting her lip, " Fenrir is a Prince."