Author's note - I'm trying to get more up and quicker but my personal life has been a rollercoaster of yuck lately, sorry.

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Liya's eyes fluttered open and she found herself in her bed rather than on the floor in the Odinsleep Chamber. Her limbs stretched regaining the feeling and strength in them. The Princess seemed blissfully unaware of what happened then it hit her. Panic read clear on her face; they were on Jotunheim.

"I'm here Dove," Loki said somberly from the corner.

Amaliya turned to where his voice was coming from and focused her eyes on his lithe figure. He was standing with his arms crossed. He came toward her with a perplexed look on his face. She flew out of bed to him, "I was so worried what happened?"

"We went needlessly into Jotunheim for answers," he said, his voice still somber.

"Is everyone alright?"

He looked at her with shame in his eyes, "Thor has been banished, Fandral was injured during our scuffle with the Jotuns, and your father and brothers are leaving for Vanaheim," he told her, "they want you to join them as soon as you're able."

Liya stood there her arms around the Prince trying to process what he was telling her, "Why am I to leave?"

"Laufey threatened you while we were on Jotunheim and the peace treaty has been broken, war is coming," his voice was now thick with emotion, they would be separated again for Odin knows how long. "I will leave you to get ready for your journey."

"Loki no," she protested but he walked away from her almost emotionlessly.

Loki left her in her room closing the door behind him choking back his emotions. He looked down at his forearm in wonder. Volstagg was burned when the Frost Giant grabbed him but something altogether different happened to the Trickster. His armor broke away and he prepared himself for the cold burn, but no frozen feeling came but his skin changed. It turned blue with some type of rune markings then once the Jotun let go his pallor returned, he had to know why.

Amaliya was stunned, she couldn't move, Loki had never treated her this way before. Was what he said true? Had Thor been banished, what of her brothers and father? Was war with the Jotuns really upon them? There were too many questions that needed answers before she could decide or was that decision already made for her?

Tears stung her eyes as she turned to start getting ready for home. She changed from the light dress she had on to a more appropriate one for traveling. Her hands shook getting dressed and tears fell onto the fabric. It seemed that she had just gotten back and now…she shook her head surely, she would be safe on Asgard, why was Loki pushing her away? A knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Li," Alek ventured opening the door.

Amaliya stared at her brother happy he was alive but also angry with him for going to Jotunheim in the first place.

"I know," he told her, "there is nothing I can say to apologize for what we did but know little sister that we are truly remorseful for what our actions have caused."

"As remorseful as you may be Aleksei that does not excuse the fact that you put not only you and our brothers in danger but Loki and the others as well. That peace treaty was hard fought by our father and Odin and for it to be so carelessly ignored by their sons," she sighed throwing her arms around her brother's neck, "I am so thankful all of you came back alive. Promise me that you will never do something this foolhardy ever again."

"I promise Li."

"Loki told me that Thor had been banished, was that true."

Alek nodded, "Odin stripped him of his power and sent him and Mjolnir through the Bi-Frost."

She shook her head again, "He didn't deserve that, as rash as his actions may have been…"

"It wasn't just his actions my sister, the way he spoke to not only Odin but Father as well, I'm surprised that we didn't get banished as well."

"Are you three the reason I am going back home?"

Alek nodded slowly, "I am sorry Amaliya." Liya crossed her arms almost glaring at her brother as he continued, "I am hoping that Father can persuade Odin to keep you on Asgard as we both prepare for what could be coming. No one wants you caught in a war that was entirely preventable."

"Preventable," she repeated, "your oversight was preventable, I understand you were angry that Thor was angry that Jotuns had slipped past Heimdall once again," she paused trying to find the right words, "you weren't there when it happened Alek," she looked directly into his teal eyes, "I was, if anyone had a right to be angry it was me."

"Li…"

"No, I was angry but now I'm frightened. Neither Asgard nor Vanaheim is prepared for a battle especially with the Jotuns who have had thousands of years to build forces to move on us when the time is right." She told him, "You put not only me but our realms in danger, lives will be lost because of your actions."

"You sound like Dad," he smiled but it dropped knowing she was right. Their stupidity would cost countless lives if a war was to be had.

"Good, maybe you'll listen…" she stopped tears reforming in her eyes. The pain, the anxiety…it filled up her being, it was more than she had ever felt before and all she heard was:

"TELL ME!"

Liya doubled over sobbing nearly dropping to the floor but Alek held her up as best he could, "Liya," he questioned.

She lifted her head, her whole face twisted in pain, tears flooding her face. She shook her head slightly before breaking away from her brother and sprinting to where Loki was with Alek following close behind.

Amaliya got to the entrance to the vault seeing the Einherjar guards carrying out Odin followed by Loki. She wrapped her arms around him, "What happened?"

He looked at her in utter disbelief, she must have known the truth now, how she could still want to be around him, the horrible thing he was. He collapsed to the floor pulling Liya with him. The Trickster buried his face into her shoulder, "Did you know?"

"Know what," she said tearfully, "Loki what happened?"

He pulled his face to hers pleading with her, his green eyes wet and so remorseful how could he tell her that he was one of the monsters that killed her mother and tried to murder her. The ones that she needed to be protected from. That he was Laufey's son.

"Loki," she said softly clearly hearing what he was thinking. She was indeed shocked, but he was wrong, "You are not a monster," she told him gently, "you will never be a monster." Liya paused looking at the Prince she wanted to make sure that he heard her, "I don't care whether you are Laufey's son or Odin's son, Asgardian or Jotun, I love you Loki," she held his face gently in her hands, "and I will never stop loving you."

Strength was found in Loki's arms again as he wrapped up Liya, "Thank you my Dove," he whispered through tears.