"Yes," I answered. "Oh, and most people just call me Rhodie. Summy's the only person who really calls me Halle."

"This 'Summy'" said Loki, "Is he a friend of yours?"

"He's my fiance," I said. Loki suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway.

"You are," Loki said slowly, "to be married?"

"Well, yeah," I answered.

That seemed to really get to Loki, because we didn't talk for the rest of the walk through the winding hallways of the castle. Oddly though, I noticed that there were no guards on duty or anything. We didn't pass a single person on the way to the flying boat. I instantly thought of what the man had said at the Bifrost. "You should not have brought her" I shivered.

Together we flew over the same area of the city I had seen last night except today it was more full of life. We kept soaring past the city and over a giant body of water. I turned the look at Loki steering and was instantly weakened by the way his hair flowed in the wind. He turned his eyes to meet mine and flashed a slow but flirtatious smile. I looked away and blushed.

He landed the ship at a small cove with a beach. As I dug my toes into the warm white sand, I noticed Loki setting out a blanket. He smiled and gestured to the cloth.

"Breakfast?" he asked. Realizing I was famished, I sat on the blanket and started to munch on some bread and scrambled eggs.

"Don't you have any prince-ly duties to be attending to right now?" I asked, eating a spoonful of fresh fruit.

"Not this early in the day," he answered. "I do have some plans this evening, though I wish not to partake in them."

I smiled, not sure how to continue the conversation.

"So, Halle," said Loki, emphasizing my name, "tell me about yourself. You've already learned much about my city."

"Um, okay," I said. "I grew up in California, where I was born." Loki looked confused. "It's like a small territory in Midgard." He nodded understandingly. "I have a brother-"

"Older or younger?" asked Loki with a seriousness that caught me off-guard.

"Older. His name's Bjorn. I don't see him often, he's currently working in Havanna, Cuba."

"Brothers can be a bother," murmured Loki.

"Sure, but they love us," I said, taking a sip of juice. "Bjorn and I used to fight all the time. It was almost our way of showing affection."

Loki didn't answer, so I let my eyes wander along the water, which looked especially beautiful. Just the thought of a dip stimulated my nerves.

"Wanna go swimming?" I asked, excitedly.

"What?" asked Loki. I threw off my shawl and began to take off my dress as I ran towards the water.

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" I shouted. My feet hit the cold water and I shivered in my black bra and underwear. Not from the chill of the water, but the sensation the liquid gave me.

"Halle, come back," Loki called, running after me.

"You're going to have to come and get me!" I shouted, laughing as I waded deeper and deeper into the water.

"Halle!" he called. Finally, he timidly began to wade into the water.

"C'mon!" I invited, holding out my hand. With a smile, Loki took my hand. "Gotcha!" I screamed, and pulled him into the water. We laughed and splashed and, for the first time, I was actually beginning to warm up to him.

Suddenly, something wrapped around my foot and pulled me underwater. I had just enough time to scream before I was engulfed into the waves. I tried to fight and kick my legs, but I only sunk farther. I was panicking; I hadn't been fully engulfed in water since I went to China. I felt my consciousness slipping away. Just before everything went black, my foot was released and I felt a body pulling me towards the surface. When we surfaced, I was coughing and splashing and on the verge of tears, something that did come easy to a woman in my line of work.

"Easy, Halle," soothed Loki, carrying me onto the sand. I took some deep breaths and coughed before I could speak.

"W-w-what was that?" I asked, still in a little shock.

"An eel native to Asgard," answered Loki, stroking my face. "They are not usually this near to the coast." He took our picnic blanket and wrapped it around my soaking body. It was then that I noticed blood on his left forearm.

"You're hurt," I observed, moving in for a better look.

"It's nothing but a scratch," he said. "I'll have it looked at when we return to the castle later."

My frigid body went tense. "Later?"

"Yes," he smiled. "You did express an interest in the town, so I have decided to grant your wish."

I smiled, suddenly excited thinking about how jealous everybody back at S.H.E.I.L.D. would be. We redressed and once again, embarked the ship.