The ballroom looked splendid. After the attack of the dark eleves, it had been rebuild and was more impressive than ever. Golden walls reflected the flickering lights of thousand of candles, and the nobles of Asgard were dressed in their most precious attires.

Ylva needed a couple of seconds to regain her composure: "It's…" "Beautiful" Kari breathed, completing Ylva's sentence.
Ylva didn't enter the room with Odin aka Loki, but with her red-headed friend. Kari had chosen one the perfect, vibrant blue dress for her pale complexion and hair color, and Ylva had no doubt the young noble man would die for a dance with her.

No one knew they were just servants, and for one night, their station didn't make a difference.

Odin entered the ballroom, and everyone bowed down. He welcomed the nobles and citizens of Asgard in a graceful way, then sat down on his throne. His gaze searched the crowd, and Ylva could swear he was smiling as he spotted the two young girls at the entrance.
"It's so weird he's not actually the All.." "Shh!" Ylva interrupted Kari.

It was still unusual to see Loki disguised in public, but she knew he wasn't ready to reveal himself.

For a while, Ylva and Kari were happy to just watch all the people dancing in front of them.

"Why are the most beautiful women in here standing on the side?" a voice asked, and Ylva shrieked. The voice did not belong in sparkling ballrooms, it sounded rough and deep like the woods in winter.

"Lord Ullr" Ylva greeted him and curtsied deeply. His yellow eyes glimmered in amusement as Kari blushed at his sight. He was dressed completely in black, which brought out his unusual features even more.

"I hope you are enjoying the dance so far" Ylva tried to end the awquard silence and hoped Kari would stop staring at him.

"I am. It has been some time since I last danced" he said with a wolfish grin.

"I think our friend will make the announcement soon. The nobles have some trouble getting used to us" Ullr bowed his head and put his hand over his mouth as if he was speaking in secret to the women.

Ylva looked around, and indeed, most nobles were openly staring at Ullr. Some even put their heads together and gossiped.

"Perhaps they are just very impressed by you, Lord Ullr" Kari spoke up, her voice an octave higher than ususal.

Ullr looked at her like a hunter watched his prey, and Kari blushed deeply. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to…" she started to stumble.

"Or maybe they are just looking at you, my dear. What is your name?" Ullr's yellow eyes were hypnotizing.

"Kari.." Ylva said softly, not wanting her friend to get caught up with someone as dangerous as Ullr. But it was already to late. The young woman was charmed, and when Ullr asked her to dance, Kari didn't even hesitate.

Ylva watched both of them moving towards the dancing floor and sighed.

"I think our young friend moved on from me" a noble spoke next to Ylva, watching Kari dance with Ullr.

Ylva skeptically raised her eyebrows and looked up to the man.

He had weirdly familiar features, although Ylva was sure she had never seen him before. She frowned, searching for words, when the man grinned.

"How can I not see you in your real form?" Ylva whispered when realization hit her.

"Different spell" Loki blinked. He didn't look suspicious to anyone else, but his eyes and his grin betrayed his real identity to an thorough observant.

"May you offer me a dance, Lady Ylva?" Loki asked, and Ylva's shoulders started to relax. She would be able to enjoy the ball with him, while an illusion of Odin sat on the throne at the other side of the room.

"Of course, my lord" she nodded gracefully and slid her hand under his arm.

They danced slowly, and Ylva was aware that Loki was guiding her since she was not a gifted dancer.

Ylva realized how far she had gotten since the day she had left the woods for the palace. Somehow, she had ended up dancing in the arms of Loki Lauffeysson. And even more surprisingly, he wasn't her enemy, but her most trusted friend. His green eyes watched her as, his expression more peaceful than she was used from him.

If she was truly honest, he was no longer just her King or her friend. Her heart was beating steadily, she had no butterflies in her stomach.

Instead, there was a powerful, deep bond between them, like the roots of a tree, embracing every inch of her being.

When Ylva kissed him, she knew that he felt the same for her.

"Loki.." she said as they parted, still dancing on the same spot.

Suddenly she froze. Something was wrong. Ylva snapped for air, and suddenly, a vision flashed across her mind. Dark, stormy clouds, crossed by red, pulsing lights, moving towards Asgard.

The cloud burned hot, and Ylva saw the towers of Asgard turn to ashes.

"Ylva? Everything alright?" Loki asked, puzzled by her behavior.

"Yes. Yes. I am. Sorry, this dress, it's too tight" Ylva breathed between clenched teeth. The vision was over, but her sight was still blurry. She had no idea what just happened.

And she had no idea why she was lying to Loki about it.

"I just need some fresh air" she added, looked into his skeptical eyes and then turned around, moving her way through the crowd. Ylva lifted her dress so that she could run as soon as she was out of his sight.

Her hands were sweaty, and she had the familiar taste of blood and metal on her tongue. Was it a wolf thing? Why would she have such visions? Was she going crazy?

Loki was the god of lies, and there was not the slightest chance he believed her.

Ylva ran mindlessly until she reached the gardens. Her feet seemed to know the way on their own.

Once she regained her breath, Ylva realized she knew three things for a fact. She was slowly going crazy. She in love with Loki. And she had just lied to him.