Mid-September, 2012

Two months.

I've been in the MCU for two months.

Gosh, that sounds so unreal...but it's become my reality. I can't mark the exact date that I entered this universe, but I have finally become accustomed to its ways. I'm still learning new things about the Asgardian way of life every day, but now it isn't nearly so hard to fit in. The culture is so similar, and yet so different from Midgard's.

Anyway, my training is going well. Sir Halvor is a strict trainer, expecting nothing less than my best. But I'm a quick learner, and the hard work is paying off. I feel more fit and confident in my abilities than ever before. Arne is Sir Halvor's only other student, and he is quite the challenge for me. Trying to defeat him in a sparring match is nearly as hopeless as trying to defeat Loki. But he is fun, and light-hearted. He likes to tease, but he also is an encourager, and that eases the sting of defeat. Needless to say, we were fast friends.

I've found, to my surprise, that most Asgardians are actually interested in the culture of Midgard. They do look down on the "mortals", as they like to call them, but I think most of them don't really mean to. It's just how they were raised. I find it rather irritating, though, because despite their interest in Midgard, they don't find it at all necessary to help them in any way. They see themselves above the Midgardians, almost like distant protectors. There are a select few with more favorable opinions, including Queen Frigga, but even they do not act on these opinions. I can't blame them, though. It's easy to forget about the troubles of Midgard while in the Realm Eternal.

The problems of my own heart, however, are not so easy to forget. Every day I remember my family, my former life. Some days are worse than others, and some days are easier. But they never leave my mind. And neither does the guilt. My choice has affected them deeply-they have been forced to go on without me with no explanation. I'm sure they think I'm dead. Perhaps they had a funeral for me. I can't know, and I never will...but I pray every day that the transition wasn't too hard for them. We were a close-knit group, even after I moved out. I know this hit my mom the hardest...oh God, please forgive me...

Well, I suppose sitting here and crying won't help anything. I need to get ready for the day-I'm probably late again. I have a meeting with Queen Frigga today, after my duties are accomplished and before my afternoon training session. I'm not sure what she needs, but I think it has something to do with my future as a handmaiden. All of the other girls have goals in mind, except me. Perhaps today will clear this up. Though I don't really know how much it will help, as the Dark Elves will attack within a year...I wonder what will happen to the handmaidens after Frigga's death?

Ok, I really need to go. I completely forgot about the supper tonight-Leyja is bringing her friend Damien over. Apparently he used to come all the time, but has been busy lately. Anyway, I'll be back.

Signing off.

~ Loki POV ~

Eat. Sleep. Read. Stare at the ceiling.

It seems that's all I do these days.

But what else is there to do? I'm stuck in a prison cell that I can't escape. The highlight of my days is when visitors from the world above bring food and water down to the dungeons. Occasionally a handmaiden will bring new books and remove old ones, add a new piece of furniture to the cell, or replace old clothing with new outfits. But I am cut off. The handmaidens are my only access to the world above the dungeons.

And they will be my only escape.

My patience has paid off, to an extent. Victoria has softened, and has become as friendly to me as I have to her—perhaps even more so. I even allow her to call me by my given name, instead of by my title. Not that it would do much good to demand otherwise-she can be very stubborn when she wishes to be. And neither of us ever apologized for our brief outbursts of anger when she discovered the dungeons while exploring, but I know she has forgiven me. I doubt she has forgotten it, though. I have not yet broached the subject of the future, mainly because she rarely comes down to my cell alone anymore. In fact, she never does. I will have to build her trust until she is willing to come down alone again.

I am snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of the dungeons doors opening, and the murmur of voices drifting through the corridor. The handmaidens are bringing my breakfast. I debate whether I should tease them by pretending to still be asleep, but quickly decide against it. They know me well enough by now that it won't fool them. Instead, I lie on my bed comfortably, staring at the ceiling as I wait for them to approach my cell.

A few seconds later, I frown slightly. Is that a man's voice? I turn my head to watch for their approach. After a moment, I see them walking down the hallway towards my cell. It is Victoria, and a young man with auburn hair that looks vaguely familiar for some reason. Victoria is carrying my tray of breakfast and laughing with the man, who is carrying a small table. No doubt something my m-Frigga-sent down for me. I sit up, and then stand as they near the cell, still talking.

"He actually did that?" The young man asks Victoria, allowing her to go first. She nods, grinning widely, and steps up to my cell, ducking through the glimmering cell wall. She frowns as she passes through it, shivering almost imperceptibly. I smirk slightly. She still doesn't enjoy stepping through it.

"Yes, he did! I felt like an idiot afterwards, but I made sure never to attack him like that again." She turns sparkling eyes to me as she sets my tray down on the table next to my chair. "Good morning, Loki! Sleep well?"

"Well enough," I respond, watching the young man step though the cell wall after her. Victoria smiles at me.

"Glad to hear it!" She turns toward the auburn-haired man behind her. "Here, put that-" Suddenly, she stops and turns back toward me. "Wait, where do you want this?"

"What is it for?" I return. She frowns at the table.

"Um...oh, it's a bedside table. But you can use it for something else if you want," she offers, giving me the choice. I think for a moment.

"I suppose a bedside table would be useful," I decide. Victoria nods at the young man, and he sets the table down next to my bed in the corner of the cell. She walks over to my rather large pile of books in another corner, kneeling down and sifting through them.

"Are you done with any of these yet?" she asks over her shoulder.

"Take as many as you like," I answer. "I finished the last one two days ago."

Victoria whirls around, surprise on her face. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Loki! Why didn't you tell me when I brought your supper last night? I would have gotten more for you." She turns back and begins gathering up several of them in her arms.

"I assumed you would be bringing more titles today," I reply. I glance at the young man as he walks over and begins to help her pick up my books, giving me a wary look. "Care to introduce your escort?" I ask casually, walking over to my chair and sitting down.

"Oh, yeah, right!" She stands carefully, balancing the books in her arms and trying not to step on the hem of her dress. The young man follows suit, the rest of the pile secured in his grip. "Loki, this is Arne, son of Lord Darren. Arne, Prince Loki," she introduces us both, jogging my memory. I nod towards him, and Arne returns the gesture with a bow. Not quite as deep a bow as befitting a prince, but I never was a true prince of Asgard, anyway.

"I assume your father recovered from his illness, else you would not be here," I say, picking up the tray of breakfast and putting it in my lap. Victoria frowns as Arne answers me cryptically.

"He did."

"Wait, you two know each other?" Victoria looks between us, surprised. Arne glances at her.

"We were acquainted before..." He trails off, looking towards me.

"Before I was thrown from the Bifrost into a wormhole," I fill in, if not a little bitterly. Victoria glares at me.

"You were not thrown from the Bifrost. You let go. There's a difference."

I frown. "You weren't there."

A flash of fear shows in her eyes, but is quickly masked. "I didn't have to be. And you know it's true, so don't try to deny it," she returns. Arne gives her a strange look, and I glower at her.

"I don't enjoy being ordered around by a servant girl," is my barbed response. But she glares back with just as much annoyance in her expression as there is in mine.

"I am not just a servant girl!" she says, eyes flashing. "And I'm not ordering you around, I just-" She stops, then blinks, some of the anger vanishing from her face. "Well, ok, it did sound like I was ordering you around. But I wasn't. It's another Midgardian thing, just forget it." She shakes her head, shifting the books in her arms and sighing. I stare at her for a moment, then go back to my breakfast. An awkward silence falls, but Victoria breaks it by moving past me and exiting the cell. Arne follows.

"Enjoy your breakfast," she calls as she walks away, her voice subdued considerably from when she first arrived. I glance up, but her back is turned, gaze straight ahead as she walks back down the long hallway with Arne.

That did not end very well...

~ Vikki POV ~

"Why do you speak to the prince in such a manner?" Arne asks just as we're out of Loki's earshot. "Especially while in his cell. Don't you realize how dangerous that is? How dangerous he is?"

I shake my head. "He's not an idiot, Arne. He won't hurt me."

Arne frowns. "How do you know that? He attacked Midgard-"

I roll my eyes and interrupt him. "For heaven's sake, every time someone new discovers the way Loki and I speak to each other, they always have to bring up his attack on Midgard."

Arne gives me a look that is somewhere between irritated and astonished. "Why do you call him by his given name? And I daresay that his attack on Midgard is a very good reason for you to be wary of him. That is what he is in prison for, after all."

I give an annoyed sigh. "Arne, do you really think that a man as intelligent and cunning as Loki would be stupid enough to attack a handmaiden to his own mother? Especially with having barely escaped the AllFather with a life sentence. He nearly earned a death penalty."

"He deserved it," Arne says under his breath as we pass the guards and leave the dungeons, starting up the stairway. I lower my brows at him, slightly distracted as I do my best not to step on my dress while walking upward.

"Perhaps he did. But if it were you, I'm quite sure you'd want to go on living, instead of facing the axe."

"Actually, I would prefer death," Arne says. I roll my eyes, but he is quick to defend himself. "Truly, I would! Death is a much more preferable option to spending the rest of my life in the dungeons."

I raise my eyebrows. "Then perhaps you can understand why he acts the way he does. He didn't get the choice."

Arne shakes his head. "I don't think I'll ever understand why you defend him the way you do. Or why you're willing to speak to him in such a manner."

I shrug. "I don't know how to explain it without sounding like a complete fool, so..."

"You never sound like a fool, Vikki," Arne chides me. I blush, and he grins slightly. "You do sound strange, but not like a fool."

I roll my eyes, laughing. "Thanks, Arne. I really-oh, great." I stop, and Arne stops with me.

"What is it?"

"I forgot to ask Loki-Prince Loki-what books he wants this time." I furrow my brows, debating whether I should return these books to the library first, or go back to his cell now.

"Do you want me to take those?" Arne asks uncertainly, glancing at my armful of books.

"No, you have too many already...I guess I'll just set these down somewhere." I look around for a place to put them.

"Are you sure?" Arne is still uncertain. I glance at him.

"Yes. Besides, you've got places to be. I've detained you long enough." I smile at him. "Thank you for bringing that table down for me."

He smiles back. "It was my pleasure. Will you be alright?"

I nod, trying not to blush again. It's nice that he cares. "Yes, I'll be fine! You go, I don't want you to be late because of me!"

He smirks at me, then turns and heads upward. I watch him for a moment, then hastily turn and start back down the steps, my cheeks coloring. Staring is rude, Vikki. Learn a lesson already, will you?

Upon reaching the guards at the dungeon entrance, I request to leave the books with them, and they immediately agree, to my relief. Those things were getting heavy. I walk the familiar passage back to Loki's cell, and find him nearly halfway done with his meal. He looks up with surprise when I approach.

"Hi again, Loki," I say, stepping up and through the cell wall with a slight shiver. Whatever the wall is made of always sends tingles down my spine, and I don't like it. "I forgot to ask what books you'd like this time."

Loki's face clears in understanding, and he thinks for a moment, sipping his tea. I try not to grin. He reminds me of Tom Hiddleston sometimes.

"I suppose you may surprise me," Loki says finally, setting down his cup. I raise my eyebrows and shrug.

"Alright, I guess I'll-Agh!"

I yelp in surprise, feeling something grab me around the waist from behind. I spin around and stumble backwards, just in time to see the Loki in the chair disappear, and the real Loki appear just behind me. I trip and start to fall backwards, but Loki grasps my hand and hauls me back to an upright position, grinning mischievously.

"Are you alright, Victoria?" he asks, voice dripping with snarky sarcasm.

"You little-"

I cut myself off before I can insult him properly, staring at our clasped hands. Tendrils of our magic are swirling together again, taking me back to my days as his prisoner on Midgard. How the tides have turned. It's been so long since the last time this happened that I nearly forgot about it.

Loki lifts my hand a little, watching our intertwining magical energies with narrowed eyes, obviously trying to figure out the lovely phenomena. All traces of mischievousness are gone. "Do you know why it does that?" I ask. He continues examining the magical dance, seeming to ignore me. But I know he heard, so I just wait patiently. Finally, he lets go of my hand, brows still furrowed in thought.

"No."

I stare at my hand as my blue magical energy settles back into my skin, and I notice Loki doing the same to his own hand. "I take it that is an unusual occurrence?"

He nods absentmindedly. "It is." After another moment of consideration, he returns his attention to me. "I've changed my mind. There are a few books I would like to have."

I nod. "Alright. Which ones?"

Loki opens his mouth, then pauses. "You won't know where they are."

I furrow my brows. "Would your mother know where they are?"

His eyes brighten. "Yes, she would. Tell her-" He pauses again. "Tell her I would like to speak with her," he says, a little more quietly. I nod again.

"I will." I give him an encouraging smile, and to my surprise, he gives me a small, but sincere one in return.

I exit the dungeon a few moments later with a barely concealed blush on my cheeks.

Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry that it's been so long since I updated. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. I was acepted into the school of my dreams, had to move to Ohio in two weeks, started school, and then everyone got COVID. We're finally on the mend and back in school, but it's been pretty rough.

Unfortunately, I am not allowed to work much on my fanfiction while I'm in school. So I will keep updating here until I've run out of chapters. After that, I'll only be able to write when I'm on breaks. So it may be quite a while between updates.

Thank you so much for reading! It means the world to me.

Signing off, AuthorsDream.