"Here we go, Annerledes - it's time to serve again," Jennie smiled a few hours after waking Christie up, handing her a silver tray containing a basket of various freshly baked breads. They were in the kitchens again, ready for another morning service. The smells around them were almost addictive; even though there was nothing unusual or particularly different about the dishes compared to the ones Earth, the scents wafting around were delicious.

"I'm ready," Christie confirmed confidently, confidently taking the tray from her. "Let's do it, guys." She and the two helpers Renesme and Delilah swiftly worked their way into the large dining room, which actually resembled more of a hall now that Christie was looking at it in closer detail. The walls were glistening with gold, the floor looked as if it was made of the finest bronze.

It was clearly designed for royalty.

Christie approached the table and placed the tray down in front of the watchful eyes of the Odinson family, accidentally making eye contact with Loki once more. He looked away quicker than he did the day before though - much to her surprise. Was this suddenly change in tone something to make a mental note of?

Probably.

Christie bowed her head and stepped away from the table, resuming her place in the corner of the room where she stood the day before. This time she listened to the table talk a little more intently, keeping her eyes solely focussed on the polished floor beneath her feet.

"So, have you thought any more about how we will present the official coronation, father?" Thor was asking as he assertively grabbed taking a piece of warm bread from the basket.

"I have indeed," Odin confirmed briskly as he poured himself a drink. "But it shall take some time before anything actually takes place. You simply cannot rush into these things - it's an important decision and it will take time."

"Your father's right, son. This isn't just something you can jump into. It takes a long amount of thought and weighing of options before anything could even think about being decided. More to the point, the Mjölnir decides on its own," Frigga explained with pure grace before taking a sip of her sweet almond tea.

'Mjölnir?' Christie thought, trying not to crinkle her face at the name. 'What the hell is that?'

"I certainly don't doubt any of your points. It is the fate of Asgard after all," Thor nodded. Christie dipped her head lower and made sure she listened hard – this was definitely the sort of information S.H.I.E.L.D would want her to look out for.

"Although I doubt you would both make excellent leaders and someday, kings," Frigga smiled at her two sons, clearly bursting with genuine pride. Thor beamed back at her whilst Loki simply shot her a small smile, before going back to miserably poking his at his food. Odin happened to glance over at the same time and frowned at his childlike actions.

"Don't play in your food, Loki!" he barked sharply. The tone in his voice was so unexpected that it even startled Christie. She stole a quick glance at both Delilah and Renesme to see if they reacted. But they didn't appear to be fazed in the slightest, in fact they looked perfectly fine. Loki simply glanced up at his father, before shaking his head and releasing a deep sigh from somewhere within before speaking. Frigga dropped her gaze, knowing exactly what was to come.

"Tell me, dear Father…do I look happy? Do I have a joyful smile on my face? Do I look content? Do I look excited in any way? Am I clapping my hands with glee?" Loki asked darkly, his cold voice ringing against the walls of the hall. Odin didn't know how to answer - he knew that what he really wanted to say wouldn't be well received by his beloved wife.

"Loki," he decided to growl with warning tones.

"No? Then I'm not 'playing' in my food, am I?" Odin let out a small sound of anger but said no more, doing well to exercise his patience. Christie's own eyes grew wide and a small smile threatened to play on her lips. Loki briefly looked up at her and gave a ghost of a smile himself after seeing her face.

"Are you not hungry, brother?" Thor frowned as he cleaned off yet another piece of bread, completely and utterly oblivious to the tense atmosphere that was beginning to swallow everyone else. Loki shook his head stiffly.

"My darling, you haven't eaten properly for quite some time now," Frigga suddenly piped up, her eyebrows furrowing together. "You refused dinner yesterday and today no morning meal? Please, do eat something."

"I'll have something a little later mother," Loki promised, before suddenly raising his head again. "Actually…my throat is a little dry. May I have some more water please?"

"Of course. Annerledes! Please fetch us a pitcher of cool water with a wedge of citrus please," Frigga smiled over graciously in Christie's direction. "Delilah and Renesme could you also bring the pastries out? I think we're wrapping it up here." Christie, Delilah and Renesme all bowed as a simultaneous response and walked in line formation out of the dining room and back into the kitchens, Christie feeling Loki's eyes focussed on her yet again. She shut the large wooden door behind her and leant against it, taking a shaky deep breath. It was like she felt a panic attack coming on.

Something about Loki's behaviour just wasn't registering properly but she couldn't put her finger on it - and that was what made her feel uneasy and slightly paranoid.

"Sorry, did none of you nearly wet yourselves when Odin barked at Loki like that?" she asked once she had finally caught her breath, staring at Delilah and Renesme who were busy taking the pastries out of the oven.

"No Annerledes. The King and Prince Loki have had this relationship for a while now. They argue on most days for the tiniest of reasons and, according to the older servers, it's been happening for quite a while. You do get used to it, trust me," Renesme shrugged without even looking up. Christie felt slightly sorry for Loki then. She knew all too well how it felt to be that child.

"Damn. What a sad life to have," she murmured quietly as she nibbled on her bottom lip.

'A prince with resentment to his father? Noted.'

"I think Prince Loki has grown accustomed to it too," Delilah pointed out fairly, bumping the oven door closed with her hip.

"I bet he does, but what a horrible thing to have to get used to," Christie muttered with a frown. Delilah handed her the new pitcher of water and Renesme held the giant tray of fresh pastries with oven mitts.

"Ah I wouldn't fret - he'll survive. Come on, let's get back in there with these pastries," Delilah beamed, without a care in the world.

A/N: Your kind words mean so much! Thank you x