Disclaimer:I (sadly) own nothing that is included in any of my stories. All characters, names and copyrights belong to the fantastic writers of fantastic shows and are borrowed by myself for the enjoyment of readers on . All scenarios are a product of my (overactive) imagination and are purely for entertainment purposes; NOT for any personal monetry gain.

I do, however own Harmonia. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

For about a week after the excitement of The Midnight Glade, Sigyn and my mother did not speak to me. Just my dear father. I decided to shut myself up in my room and read, I'd rather sit in solitude then be shot scathing looks from the two older women in my family.

Then one day when I was walking around the market I saw a bunch of people crowding around a message that had been pinned up to a board. Intrigued I moved closer to learn its message. It turned out to be an advert for new maids to work in the royal palace. The potential candidates would have to turn up at the palace gates at sunrise the following morning, state their intentions to the guard and would then be put through various jobs to determine their suitability. If they completed their tasks successfully the job would be theirs.

I craved escape from the tension of the house so I decided to got their the next morning. I rushed home with my purchases to tell my parents.

I burst through the door and saw my father relaxing in the front room. "Father, is mother home?"

"She is my child, do you wish to speak with her?" he asked

"I do, I have an announcement"

My father nodded and fetched my mother who still didn't look too pleased to see me.

"This better be quick Harmonia, I shall be taking Sigyn to her riding lesson shortly"

"Mother, father. Tomorrow I shall be going to the royal palace for they're advertising for new maids to work there and I shall like to give it a go"

"You take orders! I hardly think..." began mother but father stopped her.

"Good for you my darling. I hope you get the job"

Mother reluctantly smiled at me and added "yes good luck Harmonia. But before you do please go and apologise to your sister. What you did last week really upset her"

"But I have, mother. Many times!" said I

"Well do it again, otherwise I shall not let you got tomorrow morning"

I screwed up my fists to stop the anger from rising up within me. I nodded and walked up to Sigyn's room. I knocked on the door and let myself in.

"Sigyn, I apologise for my actions the other night. They were uncalled for and I'm sorry if I spoilt you evening"

Sigyn turned around and looked at me from her dressing table, hairbrush in hand.

" You have apologised to me more than once Harmonia and I still have not forgiven you. What makes you think this time will be any different?"

"Because mother said I would not be able to go to the palace tomorrow to try out for a maid's job if I did not apologise to you today"

Sigyn siged sadly and put the brush down. "I knew there would be something in it for you. Very well I do forgive you this time. But know this. If you ever try something like that again. No amount or grovelling will excuse you this time"

She stood up and pulled me into a big hug "Good luck sister"

Very early the next morning I pulled a cloak around my shoulders. Put on my darkest dress and made my way up the path to the Royal palace. In the dim morning light I could still see the palace gleam gold like it always did. A small crowd of people were standing outside the gates both male and female all awaiting to be let in to try out for the jobs.

The tasks they had us do were almost degrading. I had to collect the palace's washing and take to be washed and ironed. I had to clean the entire throne room between me and two other girls and I had to serve the less important Senators lunch and dinner. By the end of the day was exhausted but unsure if I had performed as well as the Head of the Servants wished me to.

My fears had been unnecessary as I was one of the few that was hired. There were three others chosen on that day. Two other girls and a male.

The next day I arrived at the palace at the same time as the previous morning. Given robes of the servants, a golden material that made me feel regal even though I was still just a peasant and given my area of the palace to work in.

I was paired my an other maid called Collia who had been working in the palace for some time. We were in charge of making sure that the corridor that connected most of the palace to the main throne room was clean and also serving food to those who requested it to be brought to their rooms.

It was hard work but I was glad to be out of the house. Even though my sister had now forgiven me, my mother was still under the impression that I was going to sabotage Sigyn's courtship to Prince Loki and reminded me daily that I was at the palace to work and not to flirt with the royal Princes.

I had seen Prince Thor and Loki a few times since my employment began but they often ignored me which was to be expected.

One day we received an order to bring Lunch to Prince Loki's bed chambers. My colleague said she was too busy so requested that I take it to him on my own. I agreed and made my way down to the vast kitchen to collect it. It turns out he had only ordered a green coloured soup and a bread roll. Most men who wanted their food brought to them order the equivalent of a whole pig just to see the servants struggle to get it in their room all by themselves with out dropping it all on the floor.

I collected the soup and eventually found myself in front of Loki's door. His room was once of the highest in the whole palace. Out of the way over everyone at the top of a tall tower. Slightly out of breath I knock on the door but heard no response. Braving it a little I decided to not knock again but to open the door an walk right through.

What I saw astounded me.

The young pince was shirtless, with his back to me. He was not extremely well built as Thor was but he seemed to be one of those guys that would always come out on top in a fight. The reason for his half nakedness was unclear to me as I noted the actual events that was occurring around him. Golden balls were flying round his head and with a flick of his wrist they seemed to change direction. He could levitate them and control their direction and speed. He could do magic!

Sensing this was something I should not be witnessing I cleared my throat to declare my presence. Immediately the balls dropped and he wheeled around to see me.

'My Gods his front is even more glorious than his back' thought I before hurriedly saying "Your lunch Your Majesty"

I quickly put the soup down and all but run out of the room.

I took a moment to calm down in the small almost cupboard that the maids were given to relax in when they were not needed.

There had always been rumours that Loki's tricks and pranks had magical workings but nothing was ever proven or addressed. Now I had seen proof clear as the day that Loki had extraordinary powers. This intrigued me. I wanted to know how.

That evening when I returned home from work I cornered Sigyn in the kitchen to see if she knew about Loki's magical abilities.

"Of course I know!" she said matter of factly "Its a well known fact in the inner circle of Thor and Loki's friends"

Recently Sigyn had decided that she had become key to this inner circle, with her being Loki's current and longest lasting courtship.

" and I bet that if I asked him nicely, he would teach you some tricks of your own. He tried with me but apparently I don't posses that sort of power"

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