The first of the eighteen months Queen Cassiopeia had given her daughter were spent mostly in the library. She was looking for a law, or an amendment to Aethiopian law that stated that she did not need to marry to rule. She had not been successful in her quest, though she really could not concentrate on the words in the law books when a certain warrior had been pestering her.

Perseus would find his way to the library every day and lean against the wall, speaking non-stop to the princess about nothing and everything. At first it bothered her but on one particular day, the hazel-eyed warrior got under her skin.

That day, the smell of scripts and old paper wafted through the Aethiopian royal library. Sunlight shined into the large windows of the castle, casting a pretty glow on the marble walls. The only heir of Aethiopia was seated in the bibliotech, reading lines from an old law book and taking notes in a journal.

Andromeda had been home for three months, the first few of her designated eighteen months to find a husband.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet library, though the princess didn't look up. The footsteps stopped next to her and a voice rang out, "Good day, Princess."

Andromeda resisted the urge to roll her eyes and pursed her lips, "Good day, Sir Perseus." She muttered, trying to focus on the words.

"Why are you in this stuffy bibliotech, when the day is beautiful and the sun is shining?" The warrior inquired, leaning against the library wall.

"Why have you not gone home?" Andromeda retorted, not a hint of jest in her tone.

Perseus threw his head back in a laugh, much to the princess' annoyance. "Come for a walk with me." The warrior ordered after he had caught his breath.

Andromeda rolled her eyes before finally looking up at the handsome man, her face warming a tad when she saw his hazel eyes gazing at her. "Why should I?"

"Because the sun is high in the air and your beauty would only be complemented by its glow." Perseus remarked with a sly grin, his hazel eyes shining.

The princess raised a slender brow and held in a snort, not at all fazed by his pretty words. "Is that all the reason you have?"

The warrior frowned for a moment before a smile ticked on his face once more, "I am sure the citizens of Aethiopia will be happy to see their princess."

Andromeda leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms a pensive look on her face. "Okay," She acquiesced, after a long moment of silence, "That is a plausible answer but that still does not include the need for you."

"Well," Perseus started, his face twisting in a smug expression, "I will aid in your protection."

Andromeda huffed and got up from the desk, leaving her book and notes. "I do not need your protection." She snapped, turning on her heel and walking out of the library, her dress flowing behind her.

"Wait!" Perseus called behind her, hurrying after the princess. He began to walk in step with her, "I did not mean to offend."

"Well you did." Andromeda smiled spitefully, though the grin still lit up her pretty face.

"I apologize for how you feel," Perseus stated, his hazel eyes on hers, "But not what I said."

The princess stopped walking then, turning to the warrior with a raised brow. "What does that mean?"

Perseus smiled, taking her hands in his. "I will still guard your life with my own; though I am sorry if you think I feel that you are unequipped to protect yourself." He finished his statement with by bring her hands up to his lips and brushing them against them.

Andromeda tried to think of a mocking comment to make or a glaring look to throw but her mind was blank. She did not know whether it was the tone of his voice or the color of his eyes but Perseus had done what few men had before him; rendered her speechless.

"So," The warrior muttered, still holding her hands, "Will you walk with me?"

"Okay." Andromeda whispered back, her eyelashes fluttering.

That incident was the start of something between the two. As Andromeda greeted the people within her kingdom, Perseus was at her side, as if he was Aethiopian royalty himself. They walked through the high grass fields on Aethiopia, Andromeda letting her fingers lightly graze over the tops of grass and Perseus brushing his hands against hers.

When they stopped where Andromeda had found Loki all those years ago, Perseus sensed her dip in mood and picked a flower, placing it in her curly hair and smiling at her. After the walk it was safe to say that Andromeda was smitten.

After that day, every moment that Andromeda was awake was spent with had many things in common and he made her laugh; he thought her booming laugh was adorable. He complimented her, not just on her beauty but also on her intelligence and the way she spoke.

She would tell him stories about her childhood and he in turn would tell her stories about his battles and his home. Andromeda was so enamored with Perseus, she stopped looking for a loophole to go around marriage; though the warrior had assured her that he would wait as long as she wanted to get married.

The princess was happy. She was back home with her family and she had someone who adored her, but she could not help but feel a pulling at her heart every time she looked up into the sky. Especially when the night sky was so clear above her.

Andromeda and Perseus would sneak out of the palace and lay in the soft grass of the fields, staring up at the night sky.

"Meda," Perseus would chime, looking over to his paramour and seeing the solemn look on her face, "What are you thinking about?"

Andromeda would not look back at him, instead staring in the sky like she could see something more. "Nothing, love. The night is just so beautiful." She would whisper back wistfully.

"Just like you." Perseus would retort, lightly turning her face to his and brushing his fingers against her lips.

Andromeda did not tell Perseus about Asgard, for her mother and father forbid her from ever speaking of it. According to the rumours, Andromeda had been sent to Greece to escape the wrath of the Gods, not a far away world. All of her stories of Asgard and godly princes were silenced, never to be spoken of again. The only reminder of her time was the emerald necklace that graced the column of her neck.

Sometimes, when Andromeda was in the tub or she was brushing her hair at her vanity, she felt as if someone was watching her. She felt foolish, but she would call out her secret lover's name, "Loki?" She would whisper into the silence but she would never get an answer.

In her sleep, he would come to her. Or at least his face would. She'd reach for him but he was always just beyond her reach, smirking at her and taunting. She would wake up and cry, cursing his name and halfheartedly wishing he would leave her alone.

Andromeda went to her mother about this problem and the Queen had a quick solution: just visit one of the oracles. One day, under the cover of night, Andromeda met with her father's oracles. She asked if there was anything they could do to heal the emptiness she felt. To heal her of her affliction.

"What would you like, dear?" The old woman inquired, her hair gray with knowledge and her eyes full of wisdom.

"I do not understand." Andromeda told her, her pretty face clouded with sadness, "I have someone who loves me and I love him, but every time I am on my own…"

"You feel solemn? Empty? Like something is eating you from the inside?" The woman offered and the princess nodded.

"What can I do?"

"You can forget."

Andromeda's eyes widened at the notion and she shook her head. "I do not want to forget, I just do not want to feel so sad."

"There is no other healing for your ailment." The old woman informed her, getting up from her chair and opening a cupboard, looking around vials of liquids.

"But I…" The princess trailed off, biting her lip. The images of Asgard, the memories of Thor and Frigga, the memory of Loki… did she really want to forget about them? About him? Her childhood memories of the week with Loki, were they worth losing to alleviate the pain?

But she just hurt so bad. Her heart felt like it was collapsing on itself. She felt terrible and like she could not return the love Perseus gave to her because her love was still on Asgard. There was no way for her to return, or any reason to. Maybe it would be better for everyone if she didn't remember; then she would not hurt so much.

"Okay." Andromeda finally answered and the woman grinned at her. She took out a vial with a clear liquid in it and offered it to her, the princess taking it from her hand hesitantly. "What exactly will this make me forget?"

"The other world, my dear."

"All of it?" Andromeda asked, examining the vial. The oracle nodded, her dark eyes seemed to mirror the night sky. The princess bit her lip, "Is it permanent?"

"Almost." The old woman stated, leaning back in her chair, "If you were to travel back to the other world your memories would be returned." The elder scanned the princess' frightened face and placed a withered hand on hers. "It is the only way, princess."

Andromeda nodded to the oracle and looked at the vial once more. Everything in her mind was screaming at her to stop, to halt, to run out of the room and stare into the sky. But instead she sat there, one lone tear running down her cheek as she gulped the liquid down.

When Andromeda awoke the next day she was in the healing room. Her mother and father were there when she woke up, watching over her worriedly.

She could not remember why she was there.