Hello all!

Sorry for the lateness but I promise I will be back on track next week. But due to a project I have to finish for school I will only be updating once a week.

Thanks for the continuing support I am getting for this story!

Now onwards!

The next week went by rather quickly. Training with Prince Loki at night, Lord Fandral during the day, and my other servant duties began to take a toll on me. I'd like to say I handled the change with much grace, but in truth I had probably fallen asleep while working at least once a day.

I made it an unwritten rule that I would not fall asleep while training with Prince Loki. I knew that he would not only be mad if I did so, but he also would probably stop training me. Which was not an option. When Lady Sif asked me to come with her to get my own armor fitted for the next journey, I was definitely ready for the much needed change in my day.

We ended up going into the busy part of Asgard, which made me very excited. I hadn't seen this part of Asgard since...well before my mother became a servant at the palace. "The armory is around here somewhere…" Sif said as she tapped her index finger to her bottom lip, then she smiled. "Ah that's right it's past the tailor's, come on Sanna."

I followed her wordlessly for a while, much too tired to talk. "You're not talking much Sanna, you okay?" I did not know how to reply for a second. Do I tell her the truth? That I am tired because Prince Loki is training me? Well I guess she will find out eventually. Once we arrived to the armory, the woman who worked there immediately started getting measurements for my armor. As she did that I told Sif about my recent training with the prince.

"He really agreed to train you? That is very unlike Loki to do something without getting anything out of it in return. I mean he does do some nice things, but not often."

I shrugged as the woman took measurements of my waist, "I-I do not know either Sif, I asked and he agreed. So far he has been an immense help so I do not know what to think." As we left the armory we decided to continue our walk around the market.

"Just be careful though alright Sanna? Only a few people know that you are a servant and we would like to keep it that way for your safety." I notice a strange look on her face as she says her last sentence.

"Sif, what do you know?"

She winced as soon as I asked, "apparently people have been talking of seeing a new archer amongst us on our last trip to Nidavellir." I feel fear form in my body, unable to stop myself I begin to panic.

"H-How much did they see? C-Could they tell that I was not of high status? D-Did they see what I look like? I-"

Sif's hand suddenly appears to cover my mouth and stop my rambling.

"Sanna calm down, all that has been said is that there was a woman archer with long black hair seen with us. Nothing more, many people can fit that description. You have nothing to worry about." I take a breath of relief after her words. We drift into a comfortable silence for a while, but suddenly the atmosphere turns for the worst.

"Sanna, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your father?"

I felt as if I had just been stabbed in the chest. "I-I-Uh I do not like to discuss it Lady Sif I-I'm sorry." I said it so quietly I was not sure Sif had even heard me at first. But finally she responded, "I'm sorry Sanna I did not mean to intrude. I had just been curious ever since you yelled at Loki." I nodded and plastered a fake smile on my face. "It's fine, really. Well I have to go sneak back into the palace now. I'll see you in a bit alright?"

Sif looked as if she wanted to say something, but she closed her mouth an nodded. I smiled falsely, turned and quickly ran in the direction of the palace. Once I'm back I start work again immediately. I cannot help but feel bad about how I treated Sif but it could not be helped. If there was one thing I found it difficult to talk about. It was my father's death.

By the time it was midnight I was almost overjoyed to go train with Prince Loki. If he was good at one thing, it was getting your mind off of things. At least I thought he was anyways.

"Alright Sanna, today we are going to begin channeling your magic into objects. Once you master channeling you will be ready to begin enchanting. Are you ready?"

I nod wordlessly, as Prince Loki closes the book he was reading and walks closer to me. He then puts a small stone in my hand. I look down at it remembering what Loki had told me during the week. Channeling is easier with smaller objects first. Meaning if I master this stone, I can move on to bigger things and eventually an arrow. I start concentrating and begin to channel my magic into the stone with Prince Loki's guidance. For a moment I thought I was going to get it the first time. Everything was going perfectly in my channeling, the moment I was going to exclaim my happiness at this though, I was cut off by Loki's unexpected question.

"Sanna, would you care to explain why you felt the need to yell at me after the quest last week?"

I curse loudly and jump at the sudden words, dropping the stone as well. My magic flew out of the stone, flying in every direction the rays knocking over a few books in the process. I watch in horror as one of the beams flies towards Loki, but he just calmly lifts his hand and catches the magic in his hand. The magic then disappears within his grasp, he looks at me with amusement and disappointment clear in his features.

"You know," he said shaking his head. "I'd hoped you would begin to start expecting some things eventually. You are just too easily startled Sanna."

I took a deep shaky breath to keep my cracking composure.

"Why do you even about last week care Prince Loki?"

I winced after I had said it, for I could still feel the bite in my words despite my efforts to conceal it. Thankfully though Loki just smirked, "more proof that the so called obedient servant has a temper hidden underneath that shy exterior." I could practically feel my confusion rising along with my anger and embarrassment. But for some reason, Prince Loki's words caused my anger to fade leaving me as my normal quiet self. I look down to avoid his gaze. But to my surprise he just calmly walked across the room and lifted my head by placing his fingers underneath my chin, forcing me to look directly into his eyes.

"I refuse to let you not give me an answer. Do not make me order it."

I feel my face heat up and my stomach do flip flops as my body reacts to the prince's closeness. I swallow with difficulty, still looking into his eyes for a moment more before I finally lift my hand to move his own, looking across the room instead of at him. Once I break free from Loki's gaze I am able to form coherent thoughts.

"I-I am truly sorry for how I acted towards you."

I stopped and he gave me an odd look, and I continued.

"I simply became angered towards you because you were saying things that bothered me."

I could tell by the look on his face that he did not buy my lie for a second. But I could not just tell him my reasons for becoming angry. Besides I am almost sure that he said those things just to irritate me, but why? In reality I assume at this point he is just messing with me for his own amusement.

Either that or he wants to know how my father could teach me horse riding if I came from a servant family. If that is the case, I cannot allow him to learn the truth of what happened to cause me to become a servant. It is simply too much...Even if I did tell him, would he care? Instead of calling me out on my lie like I expect he sighs.

"There is no point in forcing the matter, you will tell me eventually. Besides if you are desperate enough to lie that pitifully to keep me from the truth it must be important to you."

I feel my face redden at his comment, "I am not that bad of a liar…am I?"

He looks like he is about to laugh, but he quickly composes himself. "Honestly, you are the worst liar in the palace, maybe even all of Asgard." I was taken back by his statement, I knew I was a bad liar but was I really that bad? Either way at my own expense or not, it is a way to get him off of the previous subject and for that I am grateful.

"How do I make my lies more believable then?"

I ventured, and thankfully he allows himself to drift farther from the previous subject. Sadly though, it still does not give the means for me to get at a respectable distance from him. We are still standing rather close to one another, not as badly as before though. He smirks at my question. "I guess I could teach you," he says walking back to the table and away from me.

Thank the Norns!

I mentally praise, happy that I have managed to get Loki to let the subject of what happened a week prior. Sadly though I also know it is only a matter of time before he brings it up again. I am almost positive that if he brings the subject up again I will tell him, of my own accord or otherwise. I watch curiously as Loki sits on the table, and makes eye contact with me once more. When he does I feel myself blush again but I deliberately ignore it.

This is getting out of hand.

I choose to ignore that thought as well. "Simply put Sanna, the reason you cannot lie is because you know it is a lie. Because of this you cannot help but feel guilty. The secret for getting past this obstacle is tricking yourself to believe the lie as well. If you believe it then others will too." I nod in understanding, "A-Alright but how do I test this theory?" He stops and strokes his chin with his hand in a mock thinking gesture, then he snaps his fingers as if he has come up with the most magnificent idea in history.

I'm sure this will be fantastic…

I can't help but think as Loki smirks almost evilly.

"I have the perfect lie for you to test with. I know how all of you servants think of my brother and I. So I will ask you to say that I am more handsome than my brother. I'm sure that is a lie for all of you servants based on what goes around the palace."

Why do the Norns love to torture me so?

I look at Prince Loki as if he has asked me to kill a puppy. Can I refuse? I have never even thought such things, yes I have noticed that both of the princes are attractive but I have never gone as far as to compare them to one another. Who in the Nine Realms does that?!

Once I finish my mental rant I realize one thing in particular, there is no way he is letting me out of this library tonight unless I do this. It looks like my time of not being tricked by the trickster has come to an abrupt end. I feel my face heat up as well as my heart begin to race. I look to the left at the book shelves and mumble my lie.

"I'm sorry Sanna I did not catch that?"

I wince, why can't he just leave me be? I turn back to him, I close the space between us slightly, and look him in the eye.

"Loki, you are much more handsome than Prince Thor."

As soon as I say this I realize three important things. 1) I had forgotten to use a name of respect for Prince Loki, I have never forgotten that unless ordered to! Especially for a prince of all people! 2) I did not stutter when I said that. That is not normal for me! I normally stutter when I am speaking to people of high caliber. Yet telling a prince which one is better looking than the other and I do not?! What is wrong with me!? 3) The one that puzzles me the most...I do not feel as if I have lied. When I lie my voice shakes and I stutter much more excessively than I do with normal speaking. Not to mention the overwhelming guilt that normally engulfs me that I have to ignore for a while afterwards.

Since I feel none of these symptoms, that can only mean either I have taken Prince Loki's advice and I am a quick learner, or that it was not a lie. For my own sanity I have decided to believe the first. I can tell by the look on Loki's face that he realizes my much too quick mastery of lying. He looks quite amused and almost happy. Underneath that though I see slight confusion that was not there before. As soon as I finish my 'lie' I look away from him and down to the floor.

"I-I believe we are done with my lessons today correct? I-If that is the case I hope that it would be alright if I-I retire for the night? Besides tomorrow is an important day for you is it not?"

To my surprise Loki does not have a snarky comeback for me. He simply nods, while having a very distant look on his face. "Very well I will see you at the same hour tomorrow." Curtseying quickly I take my leave as if another Rock Giant is at my heels. Walking down the hallway I realize no matter how hard I try I cannot get the obvious blush to leave my cheeks, or the quickening of my heartbeat to die down.

Why is that?

That's it for chapter 9!

Chapter 10 will be put up Wednesday of next week!

Also I have started another story for Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but it is an experiment only since it has not been done in the fandom before. It has not received many views, and I expect it is because the fandom is known for Mary-Sues and the story centers around my OC. So if anyone likes Percy Jackson and the Olympians you can check out my other story. Be warned it mentions suicide in the first chapter but not much after. If it doesn't show any promise I will probably take it down and start the Vampire Knight story I want to do earlier than expected.

Alright that's it then see you all for the next chapter!

Chapter 10: Preview

I smile politely towards her as if to say I'm not interested. But even though I send that message through my smile, I cannot help the anger that begins to form inside of me as she addresses Prince Loki . I watch as she rises from her curtsey, smiling at the prince. "My prince, if you are done attempting to indulge your present company. I was wondering if you would like to dance?"

Attempting to indulge really?

The statement true or not irritated me for some reason. At this point I want nothing more than to put her in her place.