Loki locked himself into his rooms; even his servants were not even able to use their private stairwells to enter. He did not eat, and he did not sleep, he simply wallowed in the darkness, hating himself more and more by the moment. Today was the day; Aurora's seven hundredth names day, it was the day that her life would end, not in death, but in a living death, which was infinitely worse.

He was not even aware if the sun was still high above Asgard, or if it had begun to set. Nothing felt any different, he thought there may be a sensation that would fill him when the curse had come to pass, but he did not know. All day, he simply wallowed, falling deeper and deeper into his despair.

That night, he did not sleep, he simply sat on the floor in the centre of the debris of his destruction, staring straight ahead and thinking of nothing but Aurora, thinking of how he had watched her grow and develop into the beautiful maiden that had stolen his black heart.

Loki was so engrossed in his own self-pity; he never noticed the loud banging on the door, followed by Mjölnir's magic fighting Loki's seidr to open the door before the young king lost his patience and used the hammer and brute strength to break through the seidr secured door.

Thor could not see in the darkness, but as his shin collided with something wooden and his boot crunched glass beneath it, he knew the room resembled a war zone. Sure enough, when he pulled open the long heavy drapes, he was met with nothing but shards of furnishings and shards of glass, in the middle of which, an unshaven and dishevelled Loki sat. "I thought you would be celebrating." Thor could hardly contain his anger. "She arrived at the palace, only to be offered a drink when she came and took a chalice to do so, they know not where the crystal chalice came from, but sure enough, she cut herself on it, and now she rests, in a death-like sleep."

"Just leave." There was an eerie lack of emotion in Loki's voice; he did not cease looking directly ahead.

Thor stared at him; unsure of what it was that had Loki in such a manner. "You would think that you would be happy with yourself, you ruined that girl's life." Loki did not respond. "I have a good mind to make you suffer for what you have done." It was an empty threat, Thor could do nothing, Loki had been owed a debt, but he stated it in hopes of instilling a reaction from the prince if only to point out to him. Loki said nothing. Thor was at a loss at what to say. "What is going on Loki?"

"Just leave," Loki repeated, his voice as quiet as before.

"I am at a loss Loki, I do not understand."

"No one does."

Thor sighed. "This is not living Loki." He walked out the door again.

"I deserve it for what I've done," Loki stated, but he was alone again, Thor did not hear his admission.

For weeks, he remained just sitting there, not moving, falling asleep from time to time before waking again only to continue to wallow in self-hatred. The images of her, from childhood through to adulthood, her kindness and beauty flooded his mind while awake and in sleep. Guilt began to change to anger; anger at the foul wench that had cheated on her side of the bargain, forcing his hand, anger at Thor for having dismissed him that evening when he was in search of his council, and he cursed himself, for having done what he had to the one creature to actually care about him, and whose command to leave her caused him more heartache than he could have ever thought. While she developed, she always sought him in the skies above her, and spoke to him with great kindness and treated him with such also, and in doing so, stole his heart. Unlike the despair, however, the anger did not leave him immobile in agonising misery, instead, it made him restless, the walls that surrounded him began to feel as though they were caving in on him, making him feel as though he was a wild animal captured and pacing behind bars. Not even rising to his feet, Loki turned himself unconsciously into a raven and once more flew for the window.

He flew aimlessly, trying to escape the anger in his own mind; trying to forget all that had occurred and how it was his doing; he flew as fast as his wings could carry him, going through worlds via portals he had discovered over his near two millennia of living, not paying much heed to the realm he was on at any time, instead focusing on just going as far and as fast as he could to try and escape his torment.

After a while, he began to tire, it was only then he was able to take the time to focus on his surrounds. To his surprise; he was flying over the Vanir palace, if he had not been as anguished as he was, he would have given a caw at the irony at it, instead, he went to continue flying away. But something pulled at him from within his chest, he felt as though he was being dragged toward a window, and without considering it, he made his way to it. Landing on it, he regretted it immediately; lying on a bed, dressed in a beautiful royal blue trimmed white dress, was Aurora, terrifyingly still, as though dead. She looked as beautiful as he had last seen her, more so really, for her face was peaceful, as opposed to her hurt and pain at her accusation of his being a spy for the monster of her faceless tormentor of which she had been told of. The thought that she had never known the truth ate at him, knowing that she had been fed lies enraged him, he was not much better than it, but it still caused him to be irate. Though many thought being the God of Lies implied he was simply a talented Liesmith, it was in fact, a name given to him due to his inexplicable ability to detect lies in others; it sickened him when people thought they could use them against him. He swooped from the window into the room, landing on the floor in his Aesir form, looking at her sadly. "Aurora" his voice was hardly a whisper, "I have done this to you, I am so sorry, I should never have…" he bit back the tears, "I will do everything in my power to try to right my wrong," he swore, leaning down to take her hand. But before he could do so, he heard someone coming, and made for the window again, changing back into a raven as he did so.

"Prince Wilhelm, come back, you are not permitted here." A woman scolded. A moment later, Loki watched as the room door opened and a small hand came into view. "Your Highness, get out of there." Came the voice again, sharp and clipped.

"But what's in there?" the youth inquired.

"Nothing of any relevance, I can assure you."

Loki's feathered puffed up in anger at the woman's words, she truly believed his beautiful Aurora was of no value, and for that, he wished to make her suffer. As he went to go back to the bed, the door opened again and a middle-aged woman came in, looking at the princess, lying stoic still on the bed for a moment before recognising there was a bird on the window sill and flailing her arms to shoo him. With an indignant caw, he turned to fly off.

Taking to the sky once more, he studied the exterior of the castle for a moment, until something caught his interest. Frederick and his wife were on the balcony that he assumed adjoined their chambers, and before he ever came close enough to hear anything they were saying, he could tell they were having a serious conversation, the king's hands moving animatedly as he spoke. Curiosity got the better of him, so Loki landed on a small part of the ledge, hidden behind an ornate flower pot, and listened.

"Absolutely not Eleanor, she is safest here." The king declared.

"Even if she is taking up a perfectly good bed? What will she know, it is not as though she will ever awaken again, that foul beast ensured it will not occur." The woman snapped. "It would be more in our interests, to cast her to the small cottage once more and try and have a second son, for fear that he decides to return and take Wilhelm from us too."

"The Allfather has ensured me that his brother is not bothered by Wilhelm, he sees his debt as repaid." The king argued. "Though I agree another child would be a wise decision, I think we need not worry with regards that prince concerning himself with him or any other children we may have."

"But we cannot guarantee that, can we? At least we had the daughter first." Eleanor sighed in relief, "For had she been a boy…"

Loki's eyes widened, he felt somewhat nauseous at the callous manner that the Vanir queen had referred to her daughter, and of Frederick's indifference; even if he did not agree with his wife, his lack of reprimanding over her comments signified his stance on the topic. It was little wonder the staff held no value in Aurora when her own parents could not be accused of such. Sickened to his core, he turned and flew away. With the king and queen not overly bothered with their daughter, he knew there was little chance of her ever awakening, for, without their attempts to find a man to bestow selfless love on her, she would remain in that state until her five thousandth names' day, just as he had condemned.

With the wind running through his feathers once more, Loki tried to think of what he could do to try and remedy it all. As though by chance, a glint in a forest caught his eye, causing him to fly down through the trees to investigate. When he saw the reason for the distracting glint, his eyes widened; Prince Philippe, the Alfheim prince, with a hunting party, one of whom he recognised as King Frederick's younger brother. He recalled the day which he had seen the young prince speak with Aurora, and of his clear interest in the girl, and her in him, and thought to himself for a moment. Deciding on a course of action, Loki flew down from the tree and took a satchel that was tied precariously to the side of the Elf Prince's horse and flew back into the air once more.

"Damn, I need that." the prince cursed, looking up at the dark bird. After a moment, there seemed to be a small gasp of recognition.

"Your Highness?" his aide asked worriedly.

"I know that bird." The elf declared.

"You know a bird?" his aide asked, somewhat worried at what his master was saying. "Here on Vanaheim?"

"I met him before, when I was in the forests, speaking to a young beautiful maiden." The elf explained. "Follow him," he ordered, grabbing the reins of his horse and kicking its sides, urging it to gallop after the creature, who inexplicably remained in view, flying just below the tree line at all times.

"Prince Philippe," The Vanir prince called as he and his horse galloped after him. "It is heading to the palace." He informed him.

"Then that is where we are headed." Leaning closer to his horse's neck and pressing his legs harder into its sides.

Loki was able to keep an eye on the royal party that was following him, making sure he was always in sight and ahead of them, when the palace came into view, he was tempted to fly straight to Aurora, but instead he controlled himself and waited for the princes to be right below him, before going to the window to the room that held his beloved Aurora, ensuring that the Elvin prince saw exactly where he went. Placing the satchel at the end of her bed, he went to the window again to see if the prince was still standing below or if he was on his way. He cawed in frustration to see that indeed, he and the rest of his party were simply staring up at him.

"What are you doing?" the elf asked the bird in a low voice, though he would not hear him.

"That is odd." Frederick's brother noted as he looked up.

"What is Prince Barwin?"

"That room."

"What of it?"

"That is Princess Aurora's room, she, well she is cursed, and the raven…"

Curiosity got the better of Prince Philippe and he dismounted his horse and walked quickly into the castle once more. He got so far before he became confused as to where to head next, though thankfully, Barwin had followed him and when he stopped, the Vanir prince took the lead and continued to lead him to the right room. On their arrival, they noticed there was a guard outside the door, who stepped aside and permitted their entry immediately. On entering the room, Philippe stared at the raven that was at the window, looking between him and the bed, it was only then that the elf noticed the petite blonde that lay nigh on lifeless on the bed. "Her."

"You know Aurora?" Barwin asked, slightly bewildered as to how the elf could possibly know his young, and until her fateful accident, exiled niece.

"I did not know her name, or indeed who she truly was, but we have met before, in the forests." The elf explained. "And that raven was there also." He pointed to Loki. "He tried to lead me to her." He realised.

"Yes, well, unfortunately, Aurora has been cursed, though she has always been, Prince Loki of Asgard…"

"Yes, my father told me, your sister in law, she tried to one-up him, and if there is one you can not pull the wool over the eyes of, it is the Aesir Prince Loki."

Loki felt some form of solace in the idea that at least one person knew more than the lies Frederick and his wife were spreading. He gave a caw and flew to the bed, landed next to the satchel, and then looking at Aurora.

"What is it doing?" Barwin asked.

"I don't know." Philippe looked at the raven and then to Aurora. "What was it again that is said to break the curse?"

"A kiss of love or something, I can't remember, I wasn't even four hundred at the time," Barwin replied. "Why do you want to try?" he jested.

"Has any tried?"

"No, not that I know of anyway, my brother and his wife think that it may not work, seeing as it is a very un-Loki thing to do, make a remedy so simple."

Loki glared at the Vanir prince for a moment, but in his mind, he had to admit there was some truth in it, though it was arguable since many, himself included, did not believe such a thing as selfless love could ever exist.

"I think you may be right." Philippe sighed, walking away from the bed, grabbing the satchel as he did. "Too bad, she seemed very sweet, and is very beautiful."

Loki felt himself begin to become enraged at the prince's lack of attempt and flew at him, cawing and striking him with claw and wing alike. "That thing is a menace." Barwin declared swiping at the raven. "Guard, get in here and deal with this thing." A moment later, the guard came in and began to try and strike Loki with his sword.

"No," Philippe called.

"I get that your elves are more animal caring than most other species, but that thing could have a disease," Barwin argued.

"There is something about it," Philippe stated. "It only got angry when I went to leave." Loki landed and ruffled his feathers indignantly before glaring at the elf again. "I think he wants me to try." Loki gave a caw in response.

"Well then, why don't you?" Barwin pointed to his niece, "It's not like she can object."

Looking at Aurora, he stepped forward and assessed her, she was as beautiful, if not more so than the day he had seen her in the woods, leaning down, he gave the raven one last glance and pressed his lips to hers.

It hurt Loki in his heart to see another lay their lips on her, but he would watch such a scene for eternity were it to break the spell.

When he stood straight again, Philippe stayed looking at the princess for a few moments, expecting something to happen, however, nothing did. He looked to the raven and was startled to see that it seemed as though it was just as shocked as he was. "I take it you thought there would be a different outcome also?" He asked it.

Loki looked at Aurora, who remained as still and as asleep on the bed, his heart breaking further. He wished he had not tried, for if the only man she had ever met and had treated her with kindness could not break the spell, then none ever would, for they would not do so with selfless love.

"We've wasted enough time, we may as well just get ready for the banquet now," Barwin suggested leaving the room. "A good hunt wasted also." He murmured as he went. "See, I said it already, that Loki would never have been so straight forward."

Sighing again, and with a last glance at Aurora, Philippe went to leave also, looking at the raven as he went. "I am sorry bird, it is a pity you are not able to do anything for her, for you clearly care for her." He stated as he left the room, leaving Loki to weep once more, alone with the sleeping Aurora.