A/N: Hey guys! This chapter is unusually short and the plot itself doesn't progress much, so I must apologize for that. I intended it to be longer and for things to pick up a bit in pace regarding the Alfheim events, but I didn't manage to because I've been busy with Uni stuff. This next week I won't be able to write, because I won't have my PC with me, but I didn't want to leave you hanging any longer, since it's been long enough. I figured it'd be better to post what I'd written than nothing at all. Again, not much revision work was done, so please excuse any typos/mistakes you might find.

Hopefully when you get to the end of this chapter you'll be feeling a bit more forgiving.

As always, thank you so much to anyone who favorited/followed and to the wonderful people who left feedback: Alliprince, segagenny, JigokuShoujosRevenge and Argetaie!

Amends

Thor's hand was hesitant before it connected to the door of Elsred's chambers.

Such was his anxiety that he unintentionally made a hole through it with his fist, causing him to panic.

There were steps on the other side of the door and then a muffled word Thor had never expected to hear out of Elsred floated through to him. Had it not been for the aforementioned unease, he would have laughed.

Elsred opened the door, her eyes a bit red and her face pale. All thoughts of mirth left him, replaced by the guilt of knowing he was the reason for her hurt.

"Thor?" as her eyes met his, the frown that had adorned her features gave way to surprise. "Why did you poke a hole through my door?"

"I was restless and accidentally used too much force while knocking and... Um, this happened. I'm truly sorry, I will have it fixed as soon as we have talked," his embarrassment shone through and Thor ruffled his hair awkwardly.

"It's alright. I know you didn't mean to," Elsred sighed. "Do you want to come in and sit with me, then?"

"Yes, if you do not mind it."

There was a short corridor, only five strides long at most, through which they made their way into a tastefully decorated sitting room.

Thor knew upon entering that his mother had been the one to choose these particular chambers for Elsred. There were paintings of Alfheim lining the walls and the predominant colors were various shades of green and white, revealing Frigga's attention to detail and her desire to make the young girl feel at home.

Elsred sat on a pretty settee and gestured for Thor to sit in front of her on a bigger version of it.

"Why did you come here, if you'll excuse my asking, after making it so clear you did not wish to speak to me?" Thor didn't miss the sting in her voice. He took a deep breath.

"I came to apologize and to tell you why I acted like such a thick-headed brute. You didn't deserve it," Elsred never teared her gaze away from his contrite face as he spoke.

"Then tell me," her voice was quiet.

"I don't know how to deal with what the thought of you leaving has made me feel," he admitted. Thor could feel that whatever Loki and Sif had made him drink was losing effect, but he still wished he had more control over the words that came out.

Damn Loki.

Elsred appeared to be slightly taken aback, as if it wasn't an answer she'd been expecting. There was silence for a while, which left Thor feeling apprehensive of what she might say.

"I honestly wasn't expecting it to affect you very deeply. My going back to Alfheim, I mean. I didn't tell you sooner, because I didn't want our time together to be tainted with the notion I won't be here much longer, once Alfheim is once again at peace," Elsred admitted.

"But of course it does affect me!" Thor rose, pacing the room in an attempt to calm down. "I'm fond of you as I never have been of any other maiden," his tone was considerably lower now and his shoulders sagged. Thor's back was turned on her. "But it doesn't matter, does it? You're leaving."

She reached towards him, tentatively putting her hand on his back.

"It doesn't have to change anything. We can still see each other. I'll come when you need me," her tone was pleading.

He turned to face her, smiling a little. "Will you miss me, sweet Elsred?"

She grinned. "Of course I will!"

Thor's smiled widened and she hugged him tightly.

He held her and they stood in an embrace for a bit. Then she pushed back, without really letting go and their gazes locked. Blue on green.

"You know, I really want to kiss you right now, but that's only going to make things worse in the future," he murmured. Thor swallowed dry, still looking into her eyes.

Elsred turned red, but found herself unable to say anything back. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Thor stepped away and smiled sheepishly at her, thinking she was probably uncomfortable at his straightforwardness. "You don't need to say anything about this. I hope you can forgive my indiscretion and everything is alright between us. I'll leave now."

Before she had time to react, Thor had gone out of the room in a few of his long strides. When Elsred finally registered all that had been said and went out into the hall to search for him, Thor was nowhere in sight.

She withdrew back into her chambers, wondering what on the Nine Realms she was supposed to make of it all and feeling more confused than ever.

Come morning, her door had been fixed, just as Thor had promised her it would.

Sif felt as though she had tuned out the world around her.

It was just Loki and her, standing... She didn't know where they were standing and it didn't matter. All that mattered was his lips were on hers and Sif was losing herself. His hands were tangled in her dark hair, gripping it with a sort of desperation that was almost palpable and hers were around his neck, the same feeling fueling her.

Their kisses were hungry and when they parted to inhale the air they were lacking, they would just stare at each other smiling and say nothing, until their breath was ready to be taken away again.

Neither knew how long had gone by, but suddenly Loki stopped and chuckled against her lips, leaning his forehead on hers.

"What?" Sif asked, unsure of what he was finding so funny amidst what was probably the most intense experience in her whole life.

"Nothing. I was just thinking that if I knew kissing you would feel like this, I would have done it sooner," Loki's green eyes were alight with glee and Sif found herself smiling.

"Can't say I'm disappointed, either," her tone was casual, but Sif knew he could probably see right through her. Especially since her legs seemed to be made out of pudding at that moment.

She wasn't giving him the satisfaction of knowing how much he was affecting her just yet, though.

"Is that all the praise I'll get for my kissing prowess?" Loki said in a mocking hurt tone.

"For the time being," she teased, trying not to laugh at his expression.

"And to think I went through all that trouble practicing with other maidens!" he added dramatically, a knowing smirk almost escaping him.

Sif's eyes narrowed and she pushed him off her, anger boiling quickly under her skin. "What?!"

Loki's laughter boomed across the space Sif now realized was a corridor where anyone could have seen them. "You should have seen the look on your face!"

He kept laughing and Sif was becoming upset.

"Shut up!" she turned on her heels, walking away. Loki immediately stopped laughing and went after her.

"I was just teasing you!" he caught up to her, still trying to stop smiling. He grabbed her by the arm and stopped in front of her.

"Irking you has its perks, but undoubtedly kissing you is better," Loki smirked cockily, before he leaned down, about to kiss her.

Sif put her hand between them at the last moment, smiling wickedly. Loki frowned. "What?"

"This annoying each other business? It takes two for it to take place. Your turn to be annoyed, Loki."

Sif walked away, smiling as she did, a surprised Loki left behind.