Hi all!

How are you doing? I'm sorry it took so long, but I wanted this chapter to be perfect. I don't know if it is... I guess it'll never be completely perfect (and there is a moment all lazy people have to settle with the fact that they just won't make any changes anymore). Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! I certainly loved writing it for you!

A big thanks in advance for everyone who's been reviewing my fanfic, you guys keep me going!

ENJOY!

Chapter 63

The next morning it seemed as if fate was just enjoying making Loki's life as complicated as possible. When he woke up, he found himself capable of breathing. His head was no longer pounding and the never ending drowsiness had disappeared. But just when Loki was ready to accept that his cold was finally over, the memory of what would happen that very morning came back to mind.

Loki groaned loudly and fell backwards into bed. He didn't want to! They couldn't make him! But Loki knew that making Odin wait wouldn't do him any good, so Loki dragged himself out of bed and got dressed. Afterwards he angrily made his way to the throne room where he met Thor outside. His brother looked as if he hadn't slept all night. The two men didn't say a word when they entered the heavy silence of the throne room. Silently they made their way up the stairs and took their places next to the still empty throne. Only then Loki spotted a dark silhouette in the corner of the room. Arya stood next to the furthest column of the throne room, close to the door, but safely out of side. Only someone facing the room would spot her.

Loki groaned. He didn't know how she'd managed to enter, but then again, she was the least of anyone's problems today. Why was she here? Why was she doing this to herself? She was standing in the shadows, but Loki could see the tired and scared look in her emerald eyes. He wanted nothing more than to go over to her and tell her it was all a bad dream, but Odin's arrival in the throne room was just another reminder that it was anything but a dream. The king strode over to his throne, didn't even as much as look at either of his sons, and set down. Loki and Thor looked up from their short bow and turned to the rest of the room. The first ten minutes past just like any other day and nothing pointed out what would soon happen. When Lord Steldor had again finished his list, he slowly made his way back to his spot and waited.

Odin smiled and nodded. "On to the next matter at hand!" he exclaimed, while gesturing to the doors. Four guards entered with in between them the pale looking form of Dale Gotarsun. The ex-Captain let his eyes scan the room. He kindly nodded to everyone who met his stare, but no one seemed to feel the desire to do the same for him. Loki could see Arya dissolve in the shadows even more, skilfully avoiding her father's eyes. The group came to a halt in front of the throne and bowed.

"Dale, son of Gotar, you were sentenced under a king that was no king. You committed crimes against the realm, but your intentions were just. The truth has come to light and therefore Asgard must recognize your actions as the first steps towards the truth. However, no matter your intentions, your actions were rash and wrong and were enough reason to sentence you for life."

Dale swallowed and nodded in agreement. Odin arose from his throne and gestured towards the Lords. Lord Atlas nodded and handed a scroll to Lord Steldor who slowly made his way to the middle of the room where he could face Dale.

Odin continued while Lord Steldor unrolled the scroll.

"In the name of our friendship of years, I, Odin Allfather, will set you free under the terms of the following agreement. If you refuse these terms you will be returned to your cell and spend the rest of your days as you were. If your accept, you will swear an oath to your king and the court. Understand that one violation of the agreement can result in your immediate imprisonment or death."

Dale nodded once more and focused his eyes on Lord Steldor. The Lord didn't seem too pleased with the situation, but started reading the terms of the treaty.

Loki watched the trail continue, his eyes never leaving the nervous form of Dale in the centre of the room. The former Captain hadn't even as much as looked at him. The terms of the agreement were much like his own, although Dale wasn't forced into an inspection of his chambers every two days. After going over the list of terms, Steldor filled Dale in on the terms of Loki's agreement. Only then the former Captain crossed stares with Loki. For a few seconds, Loki could see the dark hatred and madness in the Dale's eyes, but it dissolved just as quickly and made place for a look of understanding and agreement. Loki's jaw clenched, he didn't trust this man in the slightest.

"Loki!" Odin suddenly roared.

Startled, Loki turned to the king. The fact that everyone was staring at him, pointed out that he'd missed something important. Loki quickly glanced over to Thor who subtly tried to gesture towards Dale who was waiting patiently at the bottom of the stairs. Steldor, who was standing next to Dale did the same. When he realised Loki didn't understand what he was supposed to do, Lord Steldor quickly repeated his order, before Odin would get the chance of barking at his stepson in front of the entire court.

"The Allfather requires you and Dale to settle your differences from the past to ensure the peace of Asgard."

Loki blinked. For a second he wanted nothing more than to launch himself at The Allfather and make sure he understood just what an idiot and a bastard he was, but Loki somehow managed to remain calm. He nodded and slowly descended the stairs until he and Dale were standing face to face with Lord Steldor in between them. Both men looked each other in the eye for a couple of seconds, but Loki didn't want to wait for Dale to make the first move, so he lifted his hand as if he wanted to shake hands.

Dale smiled and Loki could swear he saw an almost amused look in his eyes. Slowly, yet resolutely, Dale closed his hand around Loki's wrist and waited for Loki to do the same. Loki carefully responded.

"I am genuinely sorry for my actions against you, my lord!" Dale said loud and clear. "It was wrong of me to take the throne as my own and neglect my first priority, which is ensuring Asgard's safety."

Loki lips twitched in a smirk, but he quickly restored his neutral expression to his face. He knew what Odin expected him to say now, but it seemed a lot harder than he initially already had anticipated. Steldor send him a meaningful glare, so Loki set his pride aside and tried to find the best way to both satisfy Odin and escape his own humiliation at the same time.

"You were merely trying to protect a realm you believed to be in danger, Dale," Loki finally said. "We have both made mistakes…," he continued, forcing every word over his lips with a lot of effort. "I belief if we can set aside our quarrel from the past, we can lead Asgard to greatness once more."

Dale smiled shortly. Just before they let go of each other, Loki felt Dale's nails dig deeper in the soft flesh of his wrist, but it happened so swiftly that no one but the two men noticed. Loki had to try very hard not to wince in pain. His mortal body was no match for Dale's Asgardian strength. After another short silence, Loki turned around and made his way back up the stairs. Thor send him a satisfied glare, but Loki didn't care. He needed all his willpower not to run out the throne room. Just before Loki had reached his spot next to Odin, a loud crashing noise filled up the throne room. Loki turned to the source, just like everyone else in the room. A few words of apology came from the dark corner next to the door.

Loki sighed. Clumsy Arya had managed to tip over a bowl of fruit on a table. Arya very quickly decided that to keep hiding in the shadows didn't have any use. So she nervously stepped into the light. Judging by the excessive mumbling that filled the room when everyone recognized their former Captain, no one had spotted the girl at all during the meeting.

Blind amateurs… Loki though rolling his eyes.

"Arya…," Dale's voice sounded, both surprised and relieved. Arya focused her eyes on her father, trying to smile, but her fear took the upper hand. Dale didn't seem to notice and swiftly crossed the few meters between him and his daughter.

"My beautiful daughter…," he said while raising his hand to stroke Arya's cheek, but the girl quickly took a step back.

"Don't touch me!" she said in a scared tone. Dale's eyes flashed dark for a moment, but he lowered his hand immediately.

"Arya, my child, I never wished to do you any harm. You know that… you knew that! I made a mistake! If you would only allow me to prove my intentions were just…"

"There was nothing just about your intentions!" Arya bit back. "I'm ashamed to be your daughter!"

Dale scowled and raised his hand once more, ready to grab Arya's wrist so he could pull her closer, but another hand rapped onto his and prevented him from completing his action.

Dale turned, only to be greeted by a pair of burning light grey eyes.

Loki couldn't remember descending the stairs to make his way back to Dale and Arya, but he knew he was doing the right thing.

"I belief Arya made her point clear enough, Dale. She doesn't want anything to do with you!" he hissed in Dale's face. A few moments later, two guards pulled Loki away from Dale, but Loki shook them of and pierced his eyes into Dale's. He didn't fully understand why the former Captain's action got such a rise out of him, but he honestly didn't care. Lord Steldor softly put a hand on Loki's shoulder.

"Loki, this is a family matter, you have no say in this," he said calmly.

"A family matter?" Loki shouted infuriated while turning back to Odin, who clearly had the same opinion as Steldor. "He tried to kill an Asgardian citizen! And I'm not even talking about his rash and treacherous actions against the realms! That is not merely a family matter!"

Odin shifted his weight in his chair and calmly looked down on his stepson. "You are in no position to place judgement over anyone, Loki!" he said sternly after a short silence.

"I don't need to be a king let my voice count!" Loki bit back, ignoring the warning glares Steldor and Thor were sending him. "The most marginal village idiot would see that this man is a monster, a danger to the kingdom and to the peace you crave to maintain!"

Odin scowled shortly. "If I were you, Loki, I'd be more careful who I'd call a monster! Or have you forgotten what you have done?"

Loki's nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. Lord Argus took a step forward and focused his dark gaze on Loki.

"You will stand down, Loki. Or we'll treat you with the same respect as we'd treat any other Frost Giant!"

Lord Steldor sighed and most people in the room suddenly diverted their eyes from Loki, shifting uncomfortable on their spot. That was the final straw for Loki. There were a million things he wanted to say, but he knew that he'd only make things worse. So he turned around and furiously stormed out the throne room.

-xxx-

Loki burst into his chambers and smashed the door closed behind him. He screamed out his frustration while kicking over his chair at the table. If he'd had the strength to lift the heavy oak table, he would have flipped it over as well, but he doubted his mortal strength would suffice.

The door of his chambers opened. Loki turned around to see who had the nerve to enter without his permission. He somewhat expected Thor, but the person who entered lowered his anger levels just enough to keep himself from throwing a book at the unwanted visitor.

Arya froze for a second when Loki's burning gaze of fury fixed on her, but it swiftly faded. She'd followed Loki on his escape from the throne room without thinking, but now that she'd entered his chambers, she wasn't sure what in the world she was doing anyway. The two watched each other for a couple of seconds before Arya slowly closed the door behind her. Loki sighed. He actually wanted to be alone. He wanted to be angry, but that would possibly scare Arya.

"It's not the best time to be in my company," he said pretty harshly, knowing full well that Arya's presence wouldn't keep his anger at bay for long.

Arya didn't answer and watched Loki slowly pace around the room, every now and then he would glance at her, as if he waited for her to say something.

"He's wrong…," Arya finally managed to say. Her voice broke of the hidden emotion in her words. "They all are…"

Loki smirked and laughed shortly.

"No, they're not…," he bit back. "Right?"

Arya frowned, not fully understanding what he meant, but Loki continued.

"Are they wrong, Arya?" he asked in a hoarse whisper while slowly making his way over to the young warrior. "I am a Frost Giant! That makes me a monster! The monster!"

Loki came to a halt right in front of Arya. "I am the traitor!" he continued. "I am the prince, the king, fallen from grace, trapped in this… this…," Loki laughed and gestured to his body. "In this weak mortal form!"

With a swift move, Loki turned around and started pacing again. "I am nothing more than a bargain gone wrong, a fly on the table, annoying, always one second away from being smashed flat!"

"Loki…," Arya tried softly, but Loki wasn't listening and continued his tantrum, his voice raising in volume with every word he said.

"I'm a burden being tolerated as long as the Allfather pleases, but in the meantime they all laugh at me! They don't respect me…. They don't even fear me anymore! They laugh at me! Puny, little, mortal Loki!"

"Loki, please, listen…," Arya tried again while taking a few steps towards him, but Loki didn't hear her calming words. He didn't want to listen. Breathing heavily, he rested his hands on the table and looked down at the shiny brown surface.

"How is it that even our enemies know more unity than we do? How is it that those bandits, the Seven, consisted of all kinds of creatures from across the realms, working together against us? But I, the filthy Frost Giant, never had a place amongst the magnificently perfect folk of the mighty Asgard?"

Arya went quiet at those words and wondered how and why she'd never questioned the same things. Probably because it wasn't easy to travel across the realms without use of the Bifröst. You needed knowledge of secret passages, but then again, that wasn't a very big problem in companies of bandits. But Loki still had a point and it made her wonder whether this was an advantage or a disadvantage for the realm of Asgard. But much time to think, she didn't get, because Loki had decided to work out his frustrations on the few things that were standing on the table.

With a loud bang a big bowl of fruit fell to the ground. The few glasses and cups Loki had brought to his chambers quickly followed. After the crashing sounds had died, Loki looked for something else to throw on the floor or smash against the walls, but all he had left were his mother's books, so he went back to his shouting. Arya watched, helplessly trying to figure out a way to make Loki feel better. But with every word he said, she could feel his despair grow.

"I was a king! But they don't listen!" he called out. "They never will! They only laugh! I don't have a voice! Why was I even there? Odin doesn't care! I was only there for his pleasure, for his never ending desire to belittle me, embarrass me and remind everyone, every time again, what kind of monster was sitting in their throne!"

"You're not a monster!" Arya suddenly shouted in frustration.

"Am I not?" Loki asked in a hoarse voice. Arya furiously shook her head and made her way to Loki until they were only separated by a few more steps, a distance Loki swiftly crossed until he was towering over Arya once more. "Why don't you go back to the throne room and ask them what they think of me?"

"You stood up for me while the others merely watched!" Arya shouted back. Any other time she would have been intimidated by Loki's proximity and dark fierce stare, but now she only felt stronger. She knew she was right and she would do anything to make Loki see that.

Loki shook his head and laughed. "No, I failed a test! I gave Odin just what he wanted to see! Don't you see, Arya? It's a game!"

"Since when do you let anyone tell you how to play?" she bit back. That one simple question caught Loki completely off guard. For a minute he even forgot to be angry.

Arya could feel her heart flutter when Loki's anger faded and his own soft light grey gaze returned to his eyes. She finally had his attention! But she didn't waist those valuable seconds.

"You're not a monster, Loki! You never were. You're simply different! That's always been your greatest strength! Why let it become a weakness now, only because Odin wants you to belief it is?"

Loki wanted to say something, but Arya's words smashed into him like waves crashing onto the shore, dragging at his anger to take it back into the sea. But Loki didn't want to calm down just yet, so Arya continued.

"You could have chosen to use your power as king the way my father did. You could have become the monster Odin takes you for, but they've got it all wrong! You've got it all wrong!"

Arya's words dissolved into a relieved smile when she realised she'd just solved Loki's earlier question.

"It is as you said: you're a Frost Giant on Asgard, but that does not make you a monster, but merely a stranger. You're both Dark and Light in a world that strives to ban out all darkness. However, you understand Light cannot exist nor continue to do so without Darkness. That's what made you such a good king, that's what you've taught the people of Asgard and that's why they still trust you and respect you above Odin."

Arya heard her words fade in the air and she suddenly became very aware of just how close Loki's chest was to her body. She stared up into his light grey eyes and found herself drowning in his pained, yet confused and equally surprised expression.

Loki didn't know what had hit him, but when Arya's final words found their way through, he found himself silently begging for more. Somewhere he knew he was supposed to be angry, to be furious, mean and blunt. But Arya's green orbs burned underneath him like emeralds glistening in the morning sun. She was standing so close that he was barely able to breath, afraid that his heaving chest would touch hers. From out the chaos in his mind suddenly came one clear realisation, so simple that Loki wondered how he'd never noticed it before: Arya, with her green shining orbs, her raven wavy locks, messily falling around her soft cheeks, and her eternal optimism and kindness, was simply gorgeous.

Arya didn't know just how long she and Loki were staring at each other, but it certainly felt like years and if it were up to the young warrior, it could continue for ever. But a sudden change in Loki's expression which made Arya's heart skip a few life-threatening beats, drew her attention to the rest of his face. Something had changed. Something in those hard, often cold and emotionless features that could keep her awake for hours at night, had softened into something Arya could only describe as dangerously attractive and downright unfair for her helplessly lost heart. Her eyes shifted to Loki's lips for a while and rested there. But the last attempts of her mind to keep track of the situation would soon fail.

Everything turned black and for a split second Loki thought his body had truly given up on him and somehow found it necessary to fully shut down, but the next wave of sensations proved the exact opposite. First there was the feeling of silky hair on his face, then there was the smell: a soft, sweet, delicious perfume, immediately followed by the soft touch of slim, elegant fingers folding around the back of his neck from underneath his ear to his hairline. But that all dissolved into the sweet, tickling sensation racing through his being when Arya's lips finally touched his.

Loki had never been a fan of flying, but right now he had no intention to find his way back to the ground where he felt safe. No, he could soar the skies for ever!

When Arya pulled away after what could have been an eternity, as well as a few seconds, Loki felt strangely cold. He kept his eyes closed, if only to allow his other senses to fully experience the blast of emotion that was still surging through his body. Only when he opened his eyes, he realised his right hand had somehow found its way into Arya's raven locks, resting in her neck, just below her cheekbone. His other hand rested on her lower back, softly pulling her closer.

Entranced the two stared at one another for a while. But their short moment of perfection was rudely interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

With a start, Loki became aware of his situation. Arya's taste, still left lingering in his mouth, her smell that seemed to have dug itself in his skin, her burning emerald orbs, closer than ever before, all led to a sudden wave of unexplainable panic rushing through his body. Moving faster than his mortal body could manage, Loki found himself a lonely cup resting on the table nearby and threw it towards the opening door. Arya had frozen in Loki's arms, now also realising what had happened. A million voices in her head were shouting at her to step back, free herself from Loki's grasp and wait for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. But she remained quiet, scared to move or breath, praying that whoever was at the door, would take the hint and leave before spotting them together.

For one petrifying second, they waited. Loki, with his eyes fixed on the door, his jaw clenched, and Arya, finding that perfect jawline exceptionally interesting, with her eyes fixed on the man in front of her. The sound of the metal cup first hitting the wall, before falling to the ground slowly died and the door, which was now opened ajar, came to a halt. It remained quiet for a few seconds.

"Loki…," Thor's voice eventually sounded through the chink. "Brother, can we talk?"

Arya felt Loki's grip on her back tense for a second. A flash of fear lit up his light grey eyes, but Loki quickly reacted.

"Just piss off, Thor!" he shouted, trying to sound infuriated. Loki's shouts cut through the tense silence in the room and drummed in Arya's ears, making her shiver from top to bottom, but she still remained quiet.

A seep sigh sounded from the other side of the door. "Loki, please... father didn't…"

"Leave me, Thor!" Loki interrupted, forcing a bit of heartbroken emotion in is words, knowing that that would make Thor feel uncomfortable. "I'm not interested in anything you have to say!"

Another silence… Loki could feel his heart beat out of his chest, fast and uncontrollable, although he wasn't sure that was due his fear of being discovered with Arya in his arms, or just because of Arya's proximity. At last, Thor sighed once more and started closing the door.

"All right, we'll talk later, Loki. Please don't do anything foolish."

With that said, the door closed once more. Arya and Loki remained quiet for a couple of seconds before awkwardly losing their grip on one another and taking a step back.

"I…I…I'm…," Arya stuttered while putting a lock of her raven hair behind her ear with trembling hands. "I don't know… I didn't mean… I am so sorry, my lord…"

Arya's voice died and silence fell once more. The young warrior barely managed to look up to meet Loki's gaze. Loki swallowed while he scanned the nervous features of the girl in front of him.

"Don't be…," he finally said, only then realising how long it had taken him to answer. Loki forced a smile on his lips and cleared his throat, but Arya continued before he could say anything more.

"I should go…," she said. Loki's smile vanished and made place for a confused frown.

"No!" he immediately answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I mean…"

"I should go," Arya repeated more resolutely this time. She clumsily made her way towards the door, trying very hard to walk in a straight line, because her head was spinning.

"I'm not… I'm not angry, you know…," Loki's voice sounded behind her. Was it her imagination or did she really hear some desperation in his words?

Arya stopped in her tracks, her mind battling over her next move.

"I mean…," Loki continued, again finding it very hard to find the right words, but this time he knew exactly who was responsible. "I'm surprised you… I mean… I don't…"

Loki sighed. Why was it so hard to talk to Arya? The young warrior finally made up her mind and turned around, but once her eyes locked on Loki, her mind shut down once more. He seemed almost desperate, but at the same time Loki had that gorgeous spark in his eyes that she'd missed so much. He almost seemed like a child, trying to impress his mother.

"Why?" Loki finally asked. It seemed his mind wasn't capable of producing more than one word at the time. Arya's heart skipped a beat.

Why? she thought. Why did I kiss you? Why did I follow you? Why did you kiss me back? Why did you panic when Thor was about to enter? Why aren't you mad? Why are you asking me this?

Arya felt her blood raise to her cheeks. The answer was very simple, yet so hard to say for some reason.

"I… I really need to leave…," she eventually said. Clumsily but quickly, she crossed the few extra steps towards the door of Loki's chambers, opened it just enough to allow herself to fit through, before slipping into the hallway and closing the door. Without a second look, Arya sprinted towards the exit of the palace, back to her house, somewhat hoping that in her hurry, she would leave everything that had happened that day behind on the steps of the palace.

So? What did you think? I didn't want to rush things too much, because I don't see Arya nor Loki react like that, but I hope you're happy with what I got for you.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed it, I've been looking forward to writing this cute chapie ;)

Please review!

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