"So, you're leaving?" Sif asked. The two girls were holed up in their "hideout", an old storage room up in one of the castle's towers that they'd found years ago and filled with books and games and blankets and comfortable chairs.

"Mhm," Loki hummed in affirmation as she sharpened one of her daggers.

"To Midgard?"

"Indeed."

"How's that supposed to work?" Sif wondered. "They don't even have magic."

"I'm not supposed to use any while I'm there." Loki studied the blade, frowned slightly, and went back to sharpening it.

"That's ridiculous!"

"Yes, yes it is." Loki put the dagger down and faced her friend, waiting for her to reach the conclusion Loki had already come to.

"The Allfather's trying to get you out of public view. He's already chosen Thor."

"Yes."

"Is that why you challenged your brother today?" Sif asked.

"Mostly." Loki told her, smirking. "I also happen to have a particular fondness for chocolate, and now Thor owes me his share of dessert."

Sif laughed. "You still haven't told me how you pulled off that flying trick. I've never seen anything like it!"

"Mother has been teaching me a few tricks in her spare time," Loki explained. "I'm glad you liked it."

"Liked it? That was awesome!"

Loki smiled, then sighed. "Well, I'd best go pack my things. I have to leave in the morning. Make sure my idiot brother doesn't get himself killed while I'm gone?"

"I will," Sif promised. "Take care of yourself."

"You too," Loki told her. With a somewhat ridiculous bow and a smirk, Loki vanished in a puff of green sparks.

"Showoff," Sif muttered. A scroll appeared suddenly, floating in midair just in front of her. Sif unrolled it:

Heard that. - L

She shook her head and laughed.

Back in her chambers, Loki chuckled as well. Loki and Sif had always been very different. In another world, perhaps, that would have made them natural enemies, but circumstances had brought them together and made the two fast friends. And if others raised their eyebrows at the idea that a trickster and a warrior got on so well, well, that was their problem, not Loki's.

Her smile faded as she thought about the task at hand. How in the Hel was she supposed to turn this around in her favor? Loki spun the problem round and round in her mind, but by the time she was done packing, she'd come no closer to a solution. It was aggravating to say the least.

With most of her stuff safely stashed away in the space between worlds and a few essentials in a satchel swung over her shoulder, Loki left her room. She'd lied to Sif earlier: she was leaving tonight. Loki had always hated goodbyes. Sif knew this. Which, of course, is how Loki found her friend waiting for her at the entrance to the bifrost.

"I knew you might try something like this," Sif said with a smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes, though; this was goodbye for a long time, after all.

Loki chuckled, and if it sounded just a little bit forced, well, she should be grateful the tears hadn't started coming yet. She did have a reputation to maintain. "You know me too well."

Sif dashed forward and threw her arms around her best friend. Loki stiffened instinctively, then relaxed into the hug.

Then, Sif pulled away and lightly punched her in the shoulder.

"Ow?"

"That's what you get for ruining my tough girl image."

"Oh, please, you did that yourself..." The two shared one last laugh. "-I've got to go now."

Sif nodded. Loki turned around and walked into the bifrost. She didn't look back.

Only Heimdall saw the look on the young goddess's face as she was forced to leave her home and everyone she cared about behind for who knew how long.

Wisely, he said nothing about it.

Gears spun and lights flashed a thousand colors, the Loki was speeding through the universe towards her fate.

Only to slam into the ground a few minutes later and black out.

Gods, everything hurt. Loki groaned and sat up. That had definitely not gone according to plan. Where was she?

The first thing she saw were the trees. Then she heard the sirens. Of course.

A giant beacon of light crashing down out of the sky is completely inconspicuous, right? Riiiiiight.

Carefully, Loki stood up. And almost blacked out again. It was cold here, wherever here was, her brain realized numbly. The sirens were getting closer. Each step sent a spike of pain up her leg, but she needed to move. Somehow or another, the young goddess forced herself into something somewhere between shuffling and walking. She bit her cheek and tasted blood. She could still hear the sirens. She needed to hide.

Hide where?

There were buildings ahead. That was good. Buildings meant warmth, and her fingers were turning blue. That wasn't good, right? Need to get inside.

There was fire escape. People were shouting in the distance now. They'd probably found the scorch marks from her landing. That was bad. It meant they were close.

Loki wasn't entirely sure how, but somehow she made it to the top of the fire escape. She pushed up on the window, there was a crack followed by the sound of tearing wood. She should be concerned about that, but she wasn't. The window was opening. That was good. The yelling people were closer now.

What was she doing again? Maybe she should just lay down and rest. It was so, so cold. And she was so very, very tired. It would be nice, to just close her eyes...for a few...minutes...

No! With a final surge of determination, Loki yanked the window open and tumbled through in a shower of snow. She should probably close that, she thought, but she was too tired. Maybe after she rested a little while...

A/N: Yes, Loki is a Jotun. Yes, she just nearly died of cold exposure kind of. How does that make any sense, you ask? Well, it's a fanfiction; it doesn't really have to, but I do have an explanation. First of all, she's only half Jotun. She's also in her Aesir form right now, and if you've read the original Queen of Lies, you know that my Loki actually has two separate forms; neither one is an illusion. Why that is will be explained later in this story, so hang onto those questions for now - we're just getting started.

So, to sum up what just happened, her hands turning blue was not frostbite but her body subconsciously trying to shift into her Jotun form to protect her. Part of her being completely out of it is the fact that she has a pretty serious concussion from, well, you'll find out what went wrong with the bifrost later.

So, to sum up, it's the combination of exposure, concussion, and complete and total exhaustion, that has put her in this state.

And if you're wondering whose house she just broke into, I'll tell you...

In chapter 5.

See you guys then!

-Silmae