Here it is. Chapter 4! I'm afraid that it isn't very interesting, but Chapter 5 might be up later. Leave some reviews!


"Lieth?" said a timid voice from outside his door. "Lieth, can I come in?"

"The door's open," he said just as quietly. Danny cautiously opened the door, sticking her head in first and surveying the room before actually walking in. The little girl sat down in an armchair by the window, legs swinging over the edge and making a thudding noise as they hit the chair.

"Is it okay if I ask some more about you?" She seemed so cautious that he almost wondered where her previous bubbly demeanour had gone. Or had he simply imagined that?

"Ask away." She sat and thought on that for a moment.

"How old are you?"

"I count myself as late twenties, though in reality I don't know how old I am. We measure time differently in Asgard."

"Where is Asgard?" asked Danny, leaning forward. "Is it a magical place?"

"Asgard is one of the Nine Realms. This, Midgard, is also one of them. There are also Jotunheim and Alfheim, and many others." He paused for a moment. "I don't know if I would call Asgard a magical place, but there we have a rainbow bridge which we name the Bifrost."

"Are there unicorns there?" He laughed a little, though not in a mean way; it was so strange to be having this sort of conversation with a child.

"No, alas, we do not have unicorns. But we have bilgesnipe."

"What are bilgesnipe?"

"Great, big, ugly things, with horns that are constantly fighting, and they trample everything in their way."

'Like myself and my brother," he thought to himself. 'Always fighting. And always because of me.'

"I don't ever want to meet a bilgesnipe," said Danny, shivering.

"My fa- The King of Asgard has an 8 legged horse, which he named Sleipnir. No-one but he is allowed to ride him."

"Really?" she said with wide eyes. "Are there any other animals in Asgard?"

"Once, in the mountains of Asgard, we had dragons. Great, speaking dragons. But then the King of Asgard rode with his warriors to slay them all in an epic battle, the like of which was only equalled by the war between the Frost Giants and the Asgardians on Midgard."

"There were Frost Giants on here?"

"They invaded and planned to take over this realm. The King of Asgard brought forth a charge so mighty that they were swept from Midgard back to their native realm of Jotunheim. And we took from them their source of power, to protect the other realms."

Danny sat there in a wide-eyed stupor as he described some of the greatest battles in Asgard's history. There were tales of the Liosalfar, the Light Elves that resided in Alfheim; Mangamyr, one of the greatest wolves that lived in the underworld; the deadly Ninnir who had drowned many a traveller who had tried to ride them; and also Hofvarpnir, the magical horse of Gna, deliverer of messages.

"Have you seen them for yourself?"

"Some of them. Others, only in books. Maybe one day, I'll find a book and show them to you. Or I'll weave you my own picture."

"I'd like that," the brunette said with a toothy grin. "Promise me that you'll show me them one day."

"I swear," he promised the little girl, knowing that this was one promise that he would make sure to keep.

"Danny, Lieth! Dinner is ready!" Loki looked outside to see that the sky had indeed already darkened considerably and the sun must be halfway through setting.

"Come on, let's go!" Danny took his hand, something that surprised him greatly, and pulled him downstairs. There was so much excitement in the small body; even Thor had not had such boundless energy as a child.

Thor. He winced as he thought about the god and the harsh words that he had said to him. He wasn't one that regretted things, but parting with Thor was something to regret. He had lived his whole life with the oaf, the annoying oaf that had interrupted his studying every day to drag him to training and other things.

"Are you okay, Lieth?" asked Valerie as Danny pulled him into the room. He shook his head and smiled at her.

"Don't mind me. I was just remembering something else." She still had concern in her eyes as she offered him a seat at the table. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

"It's nothing." They all sat down at the table when she said, "Danny, would you like to say Prayer?"

"Sure, Mommy." The girl held out a hand for him to hold as did her mother.

"I'm sorry, but what is Prayer?"

"When you praise the Lord for what he has given you," Valerie said simply, looking at him. "Haven't you ever said Prayer?"

"I… no. I don't believe in one god, I believe in many."

"That doesn't mean that you can't say Prayer. You're just praying to different gods." Loki took one of each of their hands, closing his eyes.

As Danny said the proper words, in his mind he said a silent apology to Thor before he opened his eyes again. The man vowed not to think of the god for the rest of the night, and instead focus on dinner.

...

Thor was called to the throne room in the early hours of the morning, and he barely had time to pull on his boots before he was dragged from his quarters by a soldier.

"Father, why have you called me here so early?"

"I must send you to Midgard. And also, I must give you this." He handed the god a small, black cube. "Twist the top of this three times when you wish to return to Asgard, be it with or without Loki."

"May I bring Loki back with me?" asked Thor, heart rising as he thought of the two of them being brothers in Asgard once more.

"Only if you have proof that he has changed, and if he can admit to this."

"Thank you, Father." He bowed. "So, shall you send me now?

...

"That was very nice, thank you," said Loki, setting his napkin back on his plate. Valerie seemed to notice how the man did everything with a casual, almost lazy grace. Even how he spoke was fluid.

"Is there anything else that I can get you?" she asked as he smiled back at her.

"No, that will be fine. I must return to my room now."

"Why don't you watch a movie with Danny and me?" The god frowned at her.

"A movie?"

"We could watch The Lion King," offered the girl, looking up at him with imploring blue eyes.

"I am afraid that I am most tired. Maybe tomorrow."

"Good night," said Valerie as he stood and left the room.

"Mommy, you like him, don't you?" The woman blushed.

"Don't be silly, Danny. I've only known him for a few hours."

"You like him." The brunette slid off of her chair. "I'm going to go to bed too."

"It's still early, though."

"I know. I'm tired, and I have some drawing to do." She left Valerie on her own at the kitchen table, wondering what her 7 year old, who barely did any drawing, wanted to draw.