A/N: Hey, guys! Yes, I know this is a short chapter, it's set-up for things to come. Slight trigger warning, so be warned. This one is sad, but better things to come...

Nancy could only pace back and forth in her cell as she waited for Loki's decision. She hoped beyond hope he would keep her. But she knew better. He'd had that woman for a reason, even if he said he regretted it now. He didn't regret it while he was doing it, and that's what scared her the most. He could have any woman he wanted. Why would he choose a mortal?

/

Galt Dorson stalked through the dungeons. How dare the commander lower his rank down to one such as this? To be guarding the dungeons was a lowly punishment, reserved only for the new trembling waifs his majesty decided to hire. How dare Commander Neld sentence him here, just for plundering a few of Loki's golden relics? It's not like the king needed them anyway. Not that Loki was the king. In Galt's opinion, Thor was the rightful king. He would always be the true heir to the Asgardian throne.

He'd been there when Odin brought back the little twerp from Jotunheim. It'd all seemed so mysterious. A baby came out of nowhere. Odin said the Jotuns were going to sacrifice it to their gods. Told his subjects the queen simply hadn't shown herself to be pregnant. But Galt knew. He'd always known Loki was evil. Nothing from Jotunheim could ever be good.

He passed the cell of a young maiden, then backtracked. Not just any maiden. Loki's consort. The red-haired beauty he'd brought to court once. Galt had seen how Loki doted on her. How he'd nearly killed the nobleman who spoke against her.

A maniacal grin spread across his features. He could get revenge like this. Revenge on the commander who'd sentenced him. Revenge on the usurper. Revenge on the Jotuns who'd caused the war. Mortals were hardly worth their weight. Little more than dogs. Demanding of a master. Well, he'd tame her.

Galt approached Nancy's cell and grinned. Suddenly, a hand made contact with his breastplate.

"You know our orders, Galt. She cannot be touched." The guard was small… scrawny really. "Back away."

"Per." Little runt. "You back away." Galt drew his sword. "Go on, little mouse. Back to your little hole."

Per unsheathed his own sword. "No. I will not allow you to harm her!" As the guards circled, jeers and taunts grew louder and louder from the inmates.

Nancy backed into the corner of her cell, though still near enough to the barrier that she could see them.

Per jumped and dodged, small enough to avoid Galt's heavy-handed blows. But he was new to the sword and unskilled. In a few short moves, Galt ran Per though. He sank to his knees, then fell to his side, dead.

"Now." Galt wiped a spray of blood from his grizzled face and looked to Nancy. "For my prize."

"No!" Nancy backed as far against the far wall as she could, gripping at her collar with both hands. Anything to summon Loki to her side. "Loki! Loki!"

The barrier lowered, then rose again as Galt stepped through. "Nowhere to run, mortal. You fat pig. Let's hear how loud you can squeal."

Nancy cowered back and sank to the ground, her eyes wide with fear. "Loki! Loki! Please! Master!"

Galt advanced on her.

"Loki!"

But Loki never heard her.