Part Five:

You led your horse towards the barns of the Rider Academy on the island of Sharian. You and your companions arrived on the shore with your horses and you jumped down from your stallion's back. It was a habit to show the residents of the Academy that you weren't enemy so you told Loki and the others to do the same.

You all walked in silence till you reached the enormous fortress' gates guarded by elven warriors. When you approached them they fell to their knees in front of you bowing their heads.

'Please, don't, my friends. No need for formalities' you smiled at them so they rouse to their feet and opened the gate for you. You gave your horses to the elves, who came to retrieve the animals.

'So this is where you always learnt all those Rider things' looked around Loki as he stepped to you.

'I was a Rider, Loki. I had to learn all of those spells' you smiled sadly watching the approaching man who you knew as your master. His brown hair still shined in the sunshine and he still looked the same even if you didn't see him since your imprisonment 451 years ago. When he arrived in front of you the gazes turned onto you from every angle. You knew every other student of the Academy is now looking at you: the mad princess of Elleméra. You weren't sure if they were right about your mental condition or not but all you felt was the overwhelming hardness of the stares at your form.

'I am glad you arrived safely, (Name)' smiled at you Eragon. His features held a few wrinkles and he looked like a 40 year old human would. He looked tired and lonely. You wanted to apologize but couldn't utter a word of that instead you said:

'Good to see you, father' you nodded keeping your face void of emotions. It surprised him that you called him father in front of everyone but his eyes showed you how happy he was at being called father by you. 'The All-Father sent his two sons and Lady Sif with me to help us ensure the peace on Alagaësia.'

'I assume he believes that if Alagaësia is at peace we could send him our army if he requires it' smiled the Rider knowingly. He was at so many political conferences that he could see through the acts of the kings and queens.

'At least one of the realms realizes his real attempts' noted Loki with a bored expression on his face. Eragon turned to him with a smile on his face.

'You must be Loki… now I can understand why my daughter always waited so eagerly to go to Asgard' chuckled lightly the half-elven Rider. Your face flared up and you looked down onto the ground embarrassed while you felt Loki's gaze turn to you.

'Did she?' sounded his voice close to your pointed ear hearing his smirk in his voice.

'She even sneaked out of the Academy countless times with Srunugr… Arya was so mad at her' shook his head Eragon sadly remembering all those times he listened to Arya fume about your behavior. You sighed at the tightening coming back to your chest.

'That was… a long time ago' you said quietly. 'We need to find rooms for the princes and Lady Sif.'

'Yes, indeed… shall we go?' motioned with his hand the Rider towards the part of the fortress where the bedchambers were placed. You ignored the curious and more hateful stares pointed at your form from everywhere. You didn't have much popularity back in your time as a Rider and could only gain more hatred from everyone than kindness or sympathy. It wasn't your fault, it was your title and your relation to Eragon and the queen. Everyone knew you were his daughter before you got to know it. You cursed yourself for being so blind to it back then but now you only wished to gain Loki's love back.

You followed Eragon through the long marble corridors decorated by beautiful stone flowers by the windows while on the other wall the whole history of Alagaësia and the Riders were carved in the marble. Your friends watched it with curiosity so you decided to tell them what it was about and told them the stories briefly. You saw their stunned expressions even Loki's who looked like a little kid under the Christmas tree. (Even if you're an elf from Alagaësia you know this phrase because well, I can't make a better metaphor. :P)

'We have arrived' smiled your father at your friends. 'This should be Lady Sif's room. Anytime you need help with anything just knock on that door down the corridor.' pointed the Rider to a plain wooden door by the corner of the end of the corridor. The room's two winged door which would give Sif her privacy was a decorated by vines carved from the oak wood. She nodded and you opened her door motioning for her to follow you. The others waited outside for you to show her everything she needed to know. Thor got a similar room to hers at the end of the corridor however Loki was placed into a room on the same corridor your room and Eragon's was.

'This will be your room, Loki. (Name) and I will be behind the fifth and seventh door' smiled the brown haired Rider at Loki. The Norse god was taller than your father but Loki and Thor was always towering over everyone. Your father had to finish the last classes he had with the new recruits and their dragons leaving you and Loki alone on the corridor.

'Would you like to take a walk around the Academy?' you asked after you showed the Trickster his room.

'I know that it was Odin's request for me to accompany you' said Loki stopping you by the door.

'Then why did you accept it?' you quirked an eyebrow questioningly at him.

'I thought a little vacation would be nice after being locked up… and I did not have as good company as yours since a long time' smirked the Trickster walking up to you. 'Shall we start our journey?'

Loki offered you the crook of his right arm as you walked along with him down the corridors and out to the field. You led him through the training fields pointing out several maneuvers and tactics practiced by the recruits and their dragons. You passed the training field which was made for only the Riders to practice swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat and train with different weapons and magic while on the other side was a little arena made for the exams for the Riders. You explained Loki that every grade got different maneuvers and tactics to show against each other. As you walked through the Academy you showed Loki the hatching building where several dragon eggs were waiting for their owner.

'We are waiting for new recruits but only a few people want to become Riders. Father, mother and the council decided to let go of the hatching dragons whose didn't choose a Rider. Do you want to take a peek at the eggs?' you asked stopping near the glass building. You noticed Loki's curious glance towards the house but he kept silent. You decided to pull him with you chuckling at his hesitation. You felt like you were kids again. You pushed open the doors and led him inside. There were dozens of posts in the place keeping dragon eggs with colors you could imagine. You noticed Drulva, a woman with brown hair and blue eyes and teacher of the martial arts from the Vardens. She taught the recruits to use weapons. She walked silently amongst the eggs when you walked in making her pause in her tracks. Her eyes widened at your sight but she kept on her strict face. You smiled at her and walked over with Loki.

'Atra estherní ono thelduin, Drulva' you greeted and she answered you however the greetings were the only things she could learn on the ancient language. 'How are you?'

'I am well, (Name) Dröttningu' nodded the woman. 'I have heard that you could escape Vraë's prison.'

'With help, yes' you nodded. 'This is Loki, my childhood friend and prince of Asgard.'

'I'm not wondering anymore why you always sneaked out of the Academy, my princess' smiled mischievously Drulva making you blush and Loki smirk satisfied. It was the second person who was amused by it and this way he could find things out about you, things you never told him back then.

'Why is it so amusing to everyone? I was just a little kid!' you sulked still with burning cheeks.

'Oh, because you didn't see your mother's reactions… it was amusing because everyone heard her screaming throughout the Academy.' laughed the brown haired woman.

'I only remember the times when she scolded me for being irresponsible. She always told me to take responsibility for my actions and that I should act like a princess.' you sighed sadly. Arya never showed you how much she cared about you and always scolded you for the smallest of things you failed at. You ran away to Asgard when you were scolded by her for not making your exams perfectly or failing a new magic spell. You couldn't remember only one time when she smiled at you and told you that you did well. However Eragon was always there for you and showed love. Only now could you see the difference between the other students at the Academy and yourself. Loki placed a gentle hand on your upper arm at seeing your sad expression waking you from your memories.

'We should continue our tour around the fortress before dinner. I wish to be punctual' said the prince his deep voice reaching to your core. Your heart bumped harder at his voice because he was quiet since you left the main building. 'It was nice meeting you, my lady. We shall meet sometime.' smiled at Drulva Loki as he pulled you out of the hatching house.

You walked with him until you reached your favorite spot in the fields: the secret garden. The labyrinth which was placed behind the main building's right arm hid a beautiful garden but only few could find it. It was Eragon's creation when he decided to build the Academy and he wished to find the best Riders with this. The garden only showed itself if you had a pure heart… or loved someone so much that you would give your life for that person.

'Where are we going?' asked Loki curiously.

'To my favorite spot' you answered and kept silent till you reached the right spot in front of the green fence in one of the narrow passageways in the labyrinth. Loki quirked an eyebrow amused as he watched you looking at the green leaves. You opened your mouth and started singing to the plant. The dark prince of Asgard watched as the leaves slowly backed away from your form and formed an open door. When you could walk through you stopped singing and grabbed his hand pulling him with you into the garden. Loki fell completely silent at the sight. Lilac flowers framed the path to the small pond in the middle, a white marble bench stood on the other side of the pond. Red and white roses decorated the stone walls around the hidden garden while above you vines shadowed you from the sight of anyone who flied above. Dark green grass lied on the ground like a thick carpet while a stone path circled around the small pond.

'My father made this small hidden garden in the hope of finding the best Riders to prevent another betrayal' you spoke up walking over to the pond where water lilies broke the monotone darkness of the water with their pink colors.

'Do you think the not mighty students will not think it unfair?' asked Loki following you to the water.

'They don't know about it. The mighty ones are find this place on their own and cannot speak about it outside of this place. My father's spells are made to protect this secret.' you answered smiling up at Loki. His blue eyes looked deep into your (e/c) ones with something pure and gentle. Was it admiration?

'Do you remember the time when we were wrestling in the fountain of the garden at our palace?' smiled the Trickster grabbing your hand.

'That night was the last time I saw you until now' you sighed sadly.

'Did you miss me?' sounded softly through the air. You placed your hands on his chest as he stepped closer to you and held onto your waist with his arms pulling you closer. Your heart bumped fast and hard in your chest.

'There was not a day or night when I did not crave for your company in that rotten cell I was banished to… I know that we changed and that we lost a lot of time but I want to try again and this time, I'm not leaving you no matter what' you said determined. Soft lips touched yours cutting you from air and hands massaged your scalp and skull through your soft (h/c) long locks pulling you closer and closer to his body. You slid your arms around his neck and held onto him tightly not wanting to let go. When you were too out of breath Loki pulled away panting and pressed his forehead to yours.

'I will not let you go this time, my queen' he whispered sliding his hands down onto your slim waist and caressed your hipbones through the gown you wore. You knew if you don't let go of him now you wouldn't till next morning until you get rid of the want you had for Loki during the five hundred years of your imprisonment. So you pulled away a bit and looked up at him.

'We should go back now. I have to show you the main building and the dining hall' you said.

'I could do without dinner' smirked the dark prince playfully.

'But Thor will be concerned about our absence' you pointed out.

'Ugh… somebody should tell Odin that I am old enough to not be in need of a babysitter' rolled his eyes Loki following you out of the garden and smiled happily at your bubbling laugh as it erupted from your chest.

To be continued…