Ella knew that she was dreaming again. Loki was back in her dream. The two of them were in the library, just like old times. She was running her finger along the seams of books while Loki sat on the chaise longue, dressed in his usual green and black attire. His long black hair was tucked behind his ears and he was watching his sister move around the room, her pale blue dress swathing around her feet. She hummed softly and gently, the tune something she had heard from a feast her father had once held.

"So," Loki drawled, grabbing her attention back to him. She turned her head over her shoulder and looked over to him as he eyed her with intrigue, drinking in her features. Loki's own lips quirked at the sight of her.

"What?" she wondered from him, questioning why he was looking at her like he was doing and what he wanted to talk about.

"Nothing," Loki said with a shake of his head, smile still on his face as she continued to watch him. "I just keep thinking about how much you have grown."

"Be quiet," she demanded with a roll of her eyes, the smile still on her face. She wandered back towards him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, the future Queen of Asgard," he said to her and she shook her head, chuckling at the sound of that from his lips. It still felt strange for her to think of it. "I cannot believe father asked you to help him rule."

"Odd, isn't it?" she checked with him, moving to sit down next to him on the seat, resting against his side as he draped an arm over the back of the chair. She felt his chin move to rest on the top of her head and she closed her eyes, feeling content in her dream. "Why would father want me to help him?"

"Why would he not?" Loki wondered from her as he watched her lace her hands together and toy with her fingers in her lap. "You are the most worthy out of all of us."

"No, I am not."

"Ella, do you forget how badly I ruled?" Loki responded. "And while we both might care deeply for Thor, we both know how he is…well…too flighty to stay on and rule Asgard. You, Ella, are dependable. You are kind, caring…able to sympathise. I can see Asgard becoming rather prosperous under your leadership."

"Well, now I know this is a dream."

Loki frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you are rarely this sweet to me in real life," she teased him and he swatted her elbow and she laughed, slumping even more back against his side as she continued chuckling to herself.

"I was always sweet to you," he responded to her.

She let out a sigh she had been holding in and nodded her head, agreeing with that comment. "I know," she said, a tone of sadness almost in her voice as she thought about the past. "I miss you, Loki."

"I miss you too, Ella," Loki said, kissing the top of her head. She sighed softly. "So, are you excited about ruling?"

"Nervous," she responded. "I know that I can do it, but I just worry about what people might say. Will I be able to help them if they need help? Will I be useless?"

"No, you will not be useless," Loki assured her. "All you need to do is listen. Listen to what people tell you and know that you can help them. You are in a privileged position to do so."

"I will do what I can," Ella said to him. "Anyway, what are you doing here again? How am I able to keep dreaming you up and things just feel so normal? It is almost like you are really here."

"Your magic is rather strong," Loki lied, knowing that it was he who was bringing himself into her dreams. He was the one who was able to do it, not her. But it was best for her to keep thinking as she did. It kept him out of trouble for the time being. "Mother would be proud."

"I think about her often," Ella said to him. "I think about both of you all the time."

"I am glad to hear that I am still in your thoughts."

"Always," Ella responded to her brother. "I love you, Loki."

"I love you too, sister," he said, kissing the top of her head again.

…

Thor had watched his sister with intrigue. He had observed her as she walked around the local school and spoke with children. She had knelt down on the floor, talking to three children and showing them her magic. She made a flower bloom in front of their eyes and the children gasped loudly as Ella smiled with them, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. Thor kept his distance, insisting on going with her alongside two palace guards. One of the school teachers had asked the crown for more funds and Ella had come to them to discuss their terms and reach a solution. But the teacher had asked if she wanted to meet the children, clearly trying to play on her emotions. It appeared to have worked as Ella had been entertained and had played with them.

"She is a natural."

Thor turned to the side, seeing Sif stood next to him. He nodded his head and agreed with her on that. "She is," he said.

"Is it true?" Sif wondered from him.

"Is what true?"

"You intend to go and restore order in the Nine Realms while she stays here and helps Odin?" Sif checked and Thor nodded.

"It would seem that is the case," Thor said.

"Is Odin priming her to become Queen?" Sif dared to wonder. She knew that she could talk to Thor about nearly anything. She trusted him just as she hoped he trusted her. He said nothing for a few moments, thinking on his answer. He suspected that could be what was happening. Why would Odin choose Thor over Ella? Thor was a good fighter and he was smart in battle, but he did not have Ella's ability to talk to people.

"I do not know," Thor admitted to his sister. "Father admitted last night that I was to be the next King, but I told him that Ella would be a better ruler. I do not know if it is the position for me."

"I see," Sif said. "So, you can go off and do whatever you please while your sister remains shackled to Asgard."

"That's not fair," Thor said and looked to Sif with pursed lips. "I have no intention of doing anything selfish or leaving Ella to fend for herself. I will be here to help her. I will be here for Asgard. I just…I cannot do this…" he said, motioning to how Ella was showing the children how she created flowers.

"I understand," Sif said and nodded. "I did not mean to be harsh, Thor. I just…I feel restless. Things have been strange ever since you left Asgard with Ella. Odin has been different, neglecting many things. I think that perhaps he has struggled without you and Ella by his side. We know that he has grown older and help is perhaps what he does need."

"Perhaps so," Thor agreed, although it seemed unlike his father to be on top of things. Sif said nothing for a moment, choosing to keep silent as Ella stood up and made her way back to them, leaving the teacher to take control of the classroom. She kept her smile on her face and Thor watched her.

"Everything good?"

"Everything is fine," she said to him. "I need to speak with father to discuss getting more materials for the classroom."

"More materials?"

"Yes," she said and looked to Sif. "How are you, Sif? I have not seen you in a while."

"I am well," Sif said, voice curt. Ella knew that Sif did not entirely like her. She had never been fond of how Ella had always sided with Loki, seeing her as completely bewitched by the God of Mischief. "I should go back to the Warriors Three. Thor, inform us if you need help in the Nine Realms."

"Of course," Thor said and watched her go.

He walked with his sister back to the palace, both of them talking about everything and nothing. Once they were back in the Throne Room and before Odin, Ella walked off, taking the steps up towards her father. She inclined her head in greeting before bending down, kissing him on the cheek. She was trying to put the past behind them. She did not want to hold a grudge against her father, but she knew it would take time for them to be as they once were.

"How was the school?" Odin asked from her.

"Good," she said and he noted the pink tinge on her cheeks, almost like she had been exhilarated. "I enjoyed it. I showed the children some magic."

"Did you really?" Odin enquired from her.

"Only how to form a flower," Ella said, trying to act nonchalant. "It was one of the first things that mother showed me how to do."

"Impressive."

"I guess," Ella said. "Anyway, the school is running out of new books for reading. I said that I would see what we could do, but I was thinking that…well…perhaps we could have a cost effective solution."

"Tell me more," Odin urged from her and she perched down the step in front of him, looking up to her.

"We have a grand library, father," she said to him. "We have so many books that we can afford to give some to the children. Who really uses our library except for us? This way, we are not paying for more books and we are able to share our resources with the people of Asgard instead of hoarding them for ourselves."

Odin hummed and Thor nodded his head. He hadn't stepped foot in a library since he was eleven.

"Good idea," Odin said and Ella's face almost lit up.

"You mean that?" she asked from him.

"Yes, I do," he said to her, voice earnest. "Can I trust you to sort the logistics of this?"

"Yes," Ella said and jumped to her feet again. "I will go and speak with Bella in the library to see what we can box up and what would be appropriate…if that is fine with you?"

"Completely," Odin said and he watched Ella move off and over towards the doorway, a spring in her step.

Thor chuckled at the sight of her going, hand holding his chin as he shook his head back and forth. He moved up one step closer to Odin. "She seems happy."

"Happier than I have seen her in a long time," Odin said to his son. "Tell me, when do you leave Asgard?"

"Tomorrow," Thor said. "I have Lady Sif and the Warriors Three on board with me. They have agreed to join. I hope that I will not be gone long and peace can be achieved."

"We all hope for that," he concurred with that viewpoint and remained silent for a second. "You understand why I asked Ella to help me on Asgard, do you not, son?"

"Yes, father," Thor said. "She would be a better rule than I, but I understand exactly why you did this…by keeping her here, you keep her safe. You keep her under your watch. That is what you wanted all along."

"I want both of you to be safe," Odin said to him.

"I know," Thor said. "But you and mother never taught Ella how to fight. You tried to shield her from the world, which is what you are trying to do now. I want the same thing for her, despite knowing how well she can fight."

"Truly?" Odin asked and Thor nodded.

"Oh yes," he spoke. "She has spirit inside of her."

Odin chuckled deeply. "Must get it from her mother."

"Perhaps so," Thor said before turning to leave the Throne Room. Odin watched him go, but it was only when he was gone when he turned into his true self. Loki sighed and wondered what could have been had he not been so foolish all those years ago.

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think!