The next morning, I wake up to find a note had been slipped under my door. The beautiful handwriting is a cross between cursive and print, and the paper is of unusual texture, but is decorated with a lovely drawing of a single rose.

I welcome you, dear Victoria, to our humble home.

We tend to be a little wild, Vikki, so please use caution.

But not too much caution, for we wish to treat you as our own.

I, Astra, am the one who seems to be complete with way of words,

And I hope you find this poem soothing.

For while we are wild and crazy,

We will love you truly.

Signed by the sisters of Frigga's Home

I smile, touched that they would welcome me in such a way. Perhaps Asgardians didn't look down upon Midgardians quite as much as I'd thought. I place the poem on my nightstand, and then prepare for the day, putting on one of the dresses in my personal wardrobe. There are only three there right now, but more will be added as the month progresses and the ones I was fitted for last night are completed.

Breakfast is served in the kitchen, as it is not a formal affair, and because we ladies seem to be rushed through the meal. Apparently, I missed the memo, and am running late. I'm supposed to be at the palace by the time the sun has fully risen, which is around 7 or 8 in the morning. In Asgard, no one uses definite times. But even without definite times, I'm about to be late. On my first day, no less. I practically wolf down the delicious breakfast, rushing out of the kitchen with half a piece of sausage in my mouth-yes, sausage is an actual meal item in Asgard, though I can't say for sure what animal it comes from-and meeting Liv in the grand entryway of the home. All of the others have already gone ahead of us. She grins when I come running in.

"You came!"

My face reddens slightly, and I roll my eyes. "Well, it would be kind of stupid to miss my first day...doing whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing." Liv and I exit the home, walking out of the courtyard and through the streets toward the towering palace ahead of us as we speak. "The Queen explained vaguely what it is that you do as her handmaidens, and I agreed to it without really knowing exactly what all I'll be doing. She said something about being in training to be ladies of the court. Is that right?"

Liv nods. "Yes. We are being trained according to our abilities and interests to serve in the palace. Some of us have already taken positions of importance, like Leyja and Noma. Both of them serve as advisors to the AllFather-Noma because she can see into the future, and Leyja because of her interest in law. They have both been here much longer than most of us. Especially Noma. She was raised here."

I nod thoughtfully. "So...do you know anything about what I will be trained in?"

Liv shrugs. "That depends on your interests and abilities. The queen will decide where you will be placed in your training. But we all serve as her handmaidens, so her word is our command."

"So...we're basically like her squires?"

Liv grins. "I suppose you could say that."

We continue through the city until we reach the palace, passing the guards at the gateway and entering the courtyard. Queen Frigga meets us just past the entrance to the palace, in the hall of white stone. She gives us a smile.

"Good morning, Liv and Victoria. How was your first night in your new home?" she asks me. I smile back.

"It was wonderful! Thank you, my queen, for paying for my wardrobe...I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you for all you've done for me."

Frigga shakes her head, waving me off. "Nonsense, Victoria. Now, I need to speak with you, but before that, I need you ladies to make sure that Loki has breakfast. Everyone else has already been tasked."

Liv nods, but I'm rather shocked. I try not to show it, though. "Yes, my queen."

"Come, Victoria," Liv says, leading me away. "The kitchens first, I suppose."

As soon as we're out of earshot of the queen, I turn to Liv with a confused look on my face. "So besides being the queen's trainees, we're also Loki's personal servants?" I know I sound rather disgusted, but I don't really care. I do not want to go back to serving him, especially not when he's behind bars. Just how much damage is my pride going to have to suffer at his hands?

Liv shrugs. "We do as the queen commands."

I sigh. "Well...I guess that's the job description."

Liv leads me straight to the palace's enormous kitchen area. There are so many ovens, counters, fireplaces, and cooking utensils and dishes that I can't even begin to describe it. The sheer amount of cooks is mind-boggling enough. Liv walks straight into the well-organized chaos, up to a younger man wearing an apron.

"Good morning, Aven," she greets him cheerfully. He looks up from the dough he's kneading and grins at us.

"Morning Liv, new girl."

I grin, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, my name is 'new girl' now?"

He shrugs, grinning back. "Well, I gotta have something to call you."

"Vikki," I supply. He nods.

"Morning, Vikki."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Good morning."

"I assume you're here for the prince's breakfast?" he asks Liv. She nods.

"Yes, thank you, Aven."

He smiles at her, then turns and lifts a tray laden with a breakfast similar to what I ate this morning. Eggs, toast, sausage, and hot tea, along with some sort of delicacy that I can't name. It looks good, though. "Here you are."

Liv smiles up at him, taking the tray. "Thank you! We'll be back later." She then turns and exits the kitchen, me on her heels. As we walk through the palace's ground level once more, I hear someone shout from behind.

"Liv! Wait!"

Liv and I both halt, turning back to see Andromeda rushing up behind us, her arms full of books. "Let's all go together!" she suggests with a smile. Liv and I smile back.

"The more the merrier!" I agree. We all continue walking through the halls again, and Andromeda shifts the books in her arms uncomfortably. "Here, let me help," I quickly say, taking some of them from her. She smiles gratefully.

"Thanks!"

"Where are you taking these?" I ask.

"To the prince, of course."

I raise my eyebrows. "Oh. That explains."

As we near the dungeons, I notice that both women walking with me don't appear particularly happy. Actually, they look tense. "Are you alright?" I ask, concerned. They both look at me.

"Oh, yes. Sorry."

"This is one of our more...dreaded tasks," Andromeda informs me. I frown.

"Why is that?"

Liv looks at me, the usual cheeriness in her expression now absent. "The prince is not known to be...particularly polite."

My frown deepens. "Are you telling me he treats you like a jerk?"

Both girls' eyes widen, but they nod, exchanging a look. I feel anger rising in me. "That little twerp," I mutter. Liv looks at me, fear in her eyes.

"You shouldn't say such things," she says quietly, eyes darting around the darkening hall as we near the dungeon entrance. I roll my eyes.

"Liv, he's in a prison cell, and there is no one around to hear me anyway. Come on. I'm not going to let him treat my friends like crap just because he got his sorry butt stuck in prison." I practically march forward, annoyance fueling my quick steps. I can feel both girls staring at me in shock, but they quicken their steps to match mine.

"You're not afraid of him?" Liv asks.

"Yes, didn't you say he strangled you?" Andromeda adds. I nod, slowing my steps somewhat so they don't have to run to keep up.

"Yes, he did. But I don't have any reason to be afraid of him, especially now. He's in a cell." I sigh, some of my annoyance dissipating. He's bitter and hurting, and that's why he's lashing out at others. I'm the same way when I'm upset. I need to calm down. "And I promise you, he won't hurt us."

Andromeda frowns. "How do you know? If he's as dangerous as we've heard he was while on Midgard, why should we assume he is any different now?"

I look at her as we reach the dungeon stairwell and begin our descent. "Because those actions were not entirely his own. Trust me. He may be a twit sometimes, but he will not hurt you. He has no reason to."

The girls give me doubtful looks, but drop the subject.

The guards don't question us when we reach the bottom of the stairs. They merely open the doors, nodding to us and allowing our passage. We walk the aisle of forcefield-walled cells in silence, passing mostly empty cells until we reach Loki's. He's lying in his bed this time, perfectly still, eyes closed. Liv breathes a sigh of relief. "He's asleep. Let's just put his food on his table and leave," she whispers.

I narrow my eyes at the still form of the prince, highly doubting that he's actually asleep. But I say nothing, merely letting the girls go ahead of me. They both step hesitantly through the cell wall and into his cell. My eyes widen, but I also rather hesitantly step through the wall. Apparently, the magical forcefield allows us passage in and out of the cell, which I find quite fascinating. How does the force field know who to let in and out? I wonder if one can shapeshift and confuse it...

The girls look to be in a hurry, setting Loki's food and books down on his table quickly. I, however, stand back, watching him with a critical eye. Once again, he doesn't disappoint. He opens his eyes and gets up silently while both girls' backs are turned, standing just behind them. I open my mouth to warn them, but I'm too late. They both turn back to exit the cell, and nearly jump out of their skins at the sight of the prince behind them. Liv gasps and Andromeda yelps, both of them jumping backward with shock and fear on their faces.

"Loki! Was that really necessary?" I say sharply. Andromeda and Liv quickly step out of the cell as I step forward, an annoyed frown on my face. Loki's gaze snaps toward me, mischief dancing in his eyes.

"Hello again, Victoria." He takes a couple of steps towards me, looking me up and down. "I see you've made yourself at home in the Realm Eternal." His eyes and tone mock me, and I see bitterness hiding behind his smirk. I glare at him, though I know why he's bitter. But it's his own fault he's here. And I'm not going to let him treat my friends like crap because of his mistake.

"Yes, I have. But why are you trying to frighten my friends?"

Loki shrugs. "I didn't frighten them. I merely stood to greet them." He sends a smirk at the girls behind me, just outside the cell.

I roll my eyes, walking forward and setting his books down on his table, then turning to face him. "You did it on purpose. I'm not an idiot, and neither are you. It doesn't suit you, so quit acting like one."

Annoyance flashes in his eyes. "Who are you to order me around in such a manner, Victoria? You have no authority here."

That only fuels my own annoyance. "And since when did that stop me? I seem to recall not caring, even when you threatened to kill me." I glare at him. His eyes darken in response, a look of disgust flashing across his face and giving me a sense of satisfaction. We glower at each other for a moment.

"You haven't lost your stubbornness," he observes finally, something like a bitter smirk crossing his lips.

"Neither have you." One corner of my mouth turns up, and I feel the tension in the cell dissipate somewhat. "And I think we're both rather proud of that fact."

Loki huffs a laugh, walking around me to sit in his chair. "That we are." He picks up the tray of food and sets it in his lap, rearranging the items on it to his satisfaction, and clearly ignoring us. I roll my eyes again, and then turn to Liv and Andromeda, who are watching with shocked looks.

"Told you." I step through the cell wall, back down to the floor of the dungeon, and turn to leave.

"Told them what?" Loki's voice is tinged with suspicion. I glance back at him.

"That you wouldn't hurt us." My voice is confident, my eyes giving him a meaningful look. He flinches slightly, and I think I see a look of pain—regret, perhaps?—in his eyes. But it's gone in an instant, and he merely nods, returning to his meal. I smile slightly, then turn back and leave the dungeons with Liv and Andromeda.

—

~Loki POV~

I look up when Victoria turns away, watching her leave the dungeon with Liv and Andromeda. She walks with confidence, even in this place that she knows next to nothing about. And she was completely sure that I would do nothing to harm her or her companions. How did she know? She is right, of course. I won't hurt them, unless necessary. But somehow, she knows me well enough to be relaxed in my presence and confident in her predictions of my behavior, even though we have known each other for a mere two weeks. How is that possible?

And what else does she know? She has spoken many times of the future, and the terrors that lie hidden there. But she refuses to share them, afraid of changing it. She has lied to me and tricked me twice now about what my own future holds. What is she hiding?

Perhaps I can use her relaxedness around me to my advantage. I have tried using force to make her tell me the truth, and she twisted it to her own advantage. But if she tells me without force—perhaps a subtle nudge—then all I must do is be her friend. This will work especially well, since she lost her family and friends when I captured her. She is the type who needs close friends, as am I. And since she already seems to know me so well, she will be much more willing to open up to me.

I smile slightly, and begin eating the breakfast she and my mother's handmaidens brought to me. I don't feel as elated as I thought I would. Victoria is a smart woman, like my—like Queen Frigga, and she is wary of me. But this invites a challenge.

And I have never been one to back from a challenge.

Author's Note: Hello, my lovelies! What do you think of the new POV? I'm going to start adding Loki's POV to the story as we continue forward, because Timeless is not just Vikki's story. It's his too. I hope you liked this!

I love you all 3,000!

Signing off, AuthorsDream.