Thank you, thank you, thank you! I adore each and every word you have taken the time to write for me. I am in complete disbelief to find ninety six reviews for this story after only five chapters… I'm speechless and I honestly can't tell you how grateful I am for them.

For this chapter, there will be another of my fairy tale-esq stories incorporated. Though, like last chapter I'm not writing the entire thing (sorry). The only set up you need to know is that Loki mentioned it in passing last chapter: "Three nights of barely any sleep, yet the imbecile of a protagonist had not yet managed to figure out that his agitating love interest was the beast he had set out to rescue her from."

Enjoy!

Loki leaned over the basin of water, staring into it intensely. His features were lit with a green hue that radiated from the water, which swivelled hypnotically before him. Soon, the ripples in the liquid began to take shape; eyes… a mouth… a nose… delicate fingers tucking hair behind an ear…

A room began to take shape in the basin. A simple room, containing little more than two beds and of course, the woman sitting upon a window ledge. The image became clearer, until it looked as if he could have been merely watching through a window. The sound of her turning a page echoed up from the bowl and Loki leaned in closer, trying to make out how far through it she was.

Another figure moved into view, running a comb through her own long, blonde locks. She, like Rosa, was wearing a loose nightgown which reached almost to her ankles. She stared out past the woman for a time, watching as the last hint on sunlight was slowly disappearing, swallowed up by the horizon.

The blonde looked down at the figure who sat upon the window ledge.

"You have had your head buried in that book for days now Rosa," the woman's voice echoed, as if she were inside a deep cave.

"T'is a new one," she replied absently, not even glancing up from her page.

The blonde sat down opposite her, snatching the book from Rosa. Rosa glanced up, reaching after it, outrage on her face. "Lyora-"

"Rosa, what is going on? You have been acting so strangely of late." Lyora said, her eyes full of concern.

"I don't know what you mean," Rosa told her, glancing down at the book which her friend now clutched onto.

"Yes you do," Lyora replied stubbornly, "You are not yourself."

"Lyora, you imagine this. I am fine... I am, indeed, better than I have been in quite some time."

Lyora studied Rosa's face. She was not at all behaving a she usually did. Rosa was open. She was excitable and honest. She wore her heart on her sleeve, particularly around Lyora. The pair had never hidden a single thing from one another. For Rosa's mind to be preoccupied… it had it have been-

"Rosa… you would tell me had you met someone, would you not?"

A blush graced Rosa's cheeks as she looked down at the book again, trying not to look too caught out. Loki's jaw clenched as he leaned in closer. Rosa opened her mouth, attempting to form words, and indeed, failing. She opted instead for a sigh and a smile. Lyora beamed at her friend.

"Who is he?" she begged.

"There is no one…"

"Do not insult me, Rosa! I have known you for three hundred years, do not pretend that you could possibly hide anything from me. Who is he?"

Rosa hesitated, "You are not acquainted with him." It was not a lie.

"Where did you come to know him?"

A smile, "…in the Library."

What Loki felt in that moment was like nothing else he had ever experienced. If he were given a thousand years to do so, he could never have put into words the emotion that those words had awoken within him. He stared at Rosa's face unblinkingly as the two girls laughed and joked together. His entire body buzzed, and he let out a groan. He had to see her.

Lyora, by now, had handed the book back to Rosa who ran her hands gently over the cover while her friend chattered away. She wore a contented smile.

"Rosa… do you believe in such a thing as love at first sight?"

Lyora was indeed a strange individual. To anyone who did not know her, she appeared to be made of steel. Nothing could touch her, nothing could faze her. But Rosa, and the few others who were close to her knew that really, she was just as delicate… as breakable, as anyone else.

Rosa scrunched her nose at the question, "On the contrary, I rather hope it should not exist."

"How so?"

"I mean to say, who could want something like that to exist? Such an empty and meaningless love… one based on not but face value. A connection could be felt, of course… but not love. How could anyone love a stranger, when you know nothing of their heart?"

Lyora grinned, "I love Hersil. I am sure of it."

"Lyora, you have never even spoken to him." He tone was not unkind, and she took Lyora's hand in hers.

Lyora only smiled, "It matters not."

Loki pulled away from the basin, the imaging fading away until it was not but a bowl of water. He moved to sit in a large, cushioned chair which sat in the corner of his room. As he eased into it, he exhaled a deep breath and took in his surroundings. It was totally different to the place which he had just seen Rosa.

It was spacious. Ridiculously so, if Loki were to think about it. Everything in the room was elegantly crafted with intricate detail. It, and everything in it were the richest emerald greens, golds, blacks and beiges. His colours. His bed, unnecessarily large for only himself, dressed in the finest of fabrics. The entire place looked utterly snobbish, Loki suddenly decided, utterly him.

But then, there were other aspects too, that made it his. The piles of books, absolutely everywhere. Against the walls, upon his dresser, beside his bed, on the window ledge. Evidence of his craft were scattered here and there as well, foreign objects to anyone else's eyes but to Loki, they held great power in terms of sorcery.

It was odd to have gazed over the glowing basin into a room so simple and then to have looked up and found himself here. It hit home just how very different his life was to Rosa's. The fact that she had ever mustered the courage to speak to him… she truly was remarkable.

How he missed her.

The way she had blushed when her friend had enquired about her love life… her coy smile… in the Library…

No more hesitating, Loki decided, no more hesitating.

It was nearing sunrise, yet Rosa had not slept for even a moment. She had read on through the night by candle light, desperate to finish.

Loki looked up from his book only to glance for a moment at the rising sun.

"My Lady?"

Frigga looked up into the mirror she sat before, using the reflection to make eye contact with the young woman who had entered the room. Frigga gave a gentle smile as the woman curtsied respectfully.

"A boy or girl?" she asked, turning to face her handmaid properly.

"A son, My Queen. Both are happy and healthy. I have only just left the pair, and he was suckling easily. Emora is tired but that is the worst of it."

"I am so pleased to hear that, be sure that she receives some fine garments for the child on my behalf. And rose oils for herself." Said Frigga, "Has she chosen a name?"

"Katos, my Lady."

Frigga smiled, "Inform her that I do wish to meet the child, when her strength returns to her."

"Very well," The maid bowed to her again, "I have taken the liberty of organising another maid to replace her in her duties to you, My Queen. She has been informed of the tasks Emora fulfilled and she seems quite capable."

"Wait," Frigga stopped her, "There was a young girl… the seamstress Orellin had her accompany her when I was last fitted for my gown. Find out who she was and which duties she is assigned to, then inform her matron that I have requested her instead."

The Prince stood before the horrendous creature, panting for breath as they stared at one another. His eyes were filled with hatred, but the creature's… they held a great sadness. Why would it not just fight back? The Prince had spent a great many moons pursuing the thing before him, yet when he attacked it, it shrunk from him.

The Prince let out a snarl, it would not do. The beast had stolen from him his love… He knew that he must hurry, if he were to complete the action himself. The townsfolk were heading in their direction, wielding blades and pitchforks. They wanted the monsters head, and they would not leave without it.

The Prince looked up to meet the eye of the beast once again, seeing only the sadness and nothing more. Only… there was more… What was it in those eyes that the Prince found so infuriatingly familiar? The blue orbs stared at him, ever-filled with sorrow.

And just as the roars of the approaching villagers reached his ears, it dawned upon him.

All this time he had thought the thing to be taunting him, but it was not… She was not. She was trying to show him who she was.

His sword and shield clattered to the ground as he stared in disbelief. Slowly, he approached her, and this time she did not shrink from him, but instead fell to her knees, at his mercy. He reached out a hand to touch her-

A blinding flash surrounded them, and suddenly, there stood a woman beside the pair. A beautiful woman, whom the Prince once found himself inclined towards. He might have even chose her, had it not been for that untrustworthy arch in her eyebrows…

And suddenly, all the events clicked into place. This woman had condemned his love to this fate; turned her into a beast so that her Prince would slay her. The Prince fell to his knees, begging for the temptress to release her from the curse. But the beauty was a cruel woman, with an icy heart. If she could not win the Prince's affections, no other would.

She promised the Prince that slaying his love was his only option, she would not allow them both to live. And she commanded him to act with haste.

Without a moment's hesitation… without even need of a thought… the Prince took up his blade and plunged it deep into his own chest.

The beast let out a terrifying roar which soon melted into the forlorn scream of a heartbroken woman. The woman stumbled towards her love as her body morphed back into its true shape. She fell to her knees beside her Prince, he had only long enough to caress her cheek with a smile, before drawing his final breath.

The townsfolk who had reached the scene and witnessed the events unfold became outraged, for they loved their Prince dearly. They surged towards the temptress, wielding their weapons. The evil woman screamed for mercy, but it was in vain. She was ripped limp from limp, until she was no more.

As her heart gave its last dull thud the Prince's eyes shot open and he sucked in a ragged breath. The curse had broken with the dying breath of the temptress. The lovers stared into each other's eyes, overjoyed to finally be reunited.

From that day, they were never parted again. They lived long and happy lives together, grateful every day that they had found a love so true.

The end.

Rosa's eyebrows furrowed. The end? That couldn't have been right… She had thought the story seemed to be coming to something that might be considered a conclusion, but there were still at least two hundred pages left unread. She flicked through them and her stomach gave a pleasant jolt. They were blank… Well, save for one. The one which, amongst the hundreds, caught her eye.

Scrawled elegantly upon it in green ink were three words: a pleasant surprise?

A smile exploded onto Rosa's face. That trickster! She checked the book once more to be certain, and she let out a joyous laugh. He had enchanted it to look longer. Relief washed through her body, it was over… she could see him. Her stomach knotted at the thought.

Loki…

Rosa leapt off of her bed and with shaking hands, she pulled on her maid attire. Excitement was coursing through her veins. Though, it was more than that. She was nervous… but she could not quite tell why. Why was this different to any other time she had encountered him? She supposed it was due to how long it had been since their last encounter. Truly, Rosa had considered just forgetting the entire arrangement and speaking to him without the completion of the cursed books they had picked. But then she had pictured the pompous smirk that would adorn his features, knowing that he had succeeded where she had not. She had kept her mouth closed.

But it was all over now. They could return to the way things had been… The thought of his gaze boring into her again made her whole body tingle. Rosa loved the way Loki would look at her, she thought perhaps, that was what she missed most of all.

She smoothed her hands over her pale blue garb before smiling as she picked up the now completed novel. With a small laugh, she hurried out of the room and headed for the library.

Loki leaned over the balcony, waiting. He shot up straight at the sound of the door being pushed opened.

"Loki?" he heard her call out and she scanned her surroundings for the Prince.

Loki watched her, unable to blink as he took in her features. It seemed an eternity since he had heard her speak his name.

No more hesitating…

Their eyes met as she moved further into the room and once again she felt breathless as she smiled at him. How was it possible to feel such relief and simultaneously, feel so very nervous?

Loki turned and moved towards the spiral staircase, "You've finished?" he called to her. The sound of her voice uttering his name, it felt as if a fire had been ignited inside of him.

No more hesitating…

"Not fifteen minutes ago!" she said rushing forward, a smile plastered on her face… there was that light in her eyes again. "What did you think?"

"Both were far too long." he told her as he reached her and his arm was then around her waist.

"I couldn't agree more!"

No more hesitating…

Loki took hold of her face and when he leaned in, their lips finally crashed together in a passionate kiss.

Rosa's eyes fluttered closed and she melted into his arms, her small hands settling upon his chest. Loki's fingers found their way up to tangle in her hair and he pulled himself even closer to her (if it were possible) when he felt the small moan of pleasure she emitted against his mouth.

Rosa was certain her heart was exploding. In that moment, she was happier than she had ever been in her entire existence.

Desperate for more, Loki ran his tongue along her bottom lip and growled as she parted them, giving his eager tongue access to her mouth. There they stood, chest to chest as Rosa ran her hands through Loki's hair, her fingers scratching gently against his scalp and Loki held her firmly in place, a hand at the base of her neck. Each was desperate to get as close to the other as possible.

They broke apart only for sheer need of oxygen, but still neither let go of the other. Loki pressed his forehead to hers, his hands holding her face. She smiled, her eyes met his as she fought to catch her breath.

"I missed you," he murmured.

Rosa closed her eyes again, savouring the words, "I missed you too…"

Loki leaned in again, a gentler kiss this time. Not as aggressive and desperate, just warm and intimate. Rosa's smile widened before returning the kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck. He pressed his body to hers and they moulded together perfectly. Shivers ran up his spine as he breathed in her scent, God, he'd missed her.

Loki threw his arm out suddenly in the direction of the door. Rosa broke the kiss and looked up to see it glow a faint green for the briefest of moments, before returning to its original state. She cast Loki a questioning look.

"It's sealed," he murmured against her jaw, where he set about leaving a trail of kisses, "I will not have anyone interrupting us this time."

Well, there you have it! :) I hope you enjoyed it, please review and tell me your thoughts! I now have a rough draft of the whole plot line for this story (except for the ending, endings are hard) so with any luck I'll be able to keep updating regularly for a while!

Also, to the reviewer who pointed out some similarities in my story to a book called Stardust, I can honestly say I've never read it before. It was purely a coincidence. Though, after reading your review I looked up the summary on Wikipedia, and I couldn't help but to be intrigued by it. So I've actually ordered a copy and am now waiting for it to arrive! :)