The throne room was nearly empty. Loki could see his father reclining on the throne, looking stony as was his usual. Thor stood to his right, glowering at Loki as he approached. Freya trailed behind in his shadow, her head bowed. He hoped she had the sense to keep her mouth shut, as he was sure that his father would look for any reason to punish her after her last outburst.

"Loki," Odin said when he finally reached the base of the throne. "What is this that Thor tells me that you did?"

"I do not know Father, I have been asleep in my chambers all morning. That is, until Thor came barging in, accusing me of shearing off the poor Lady Sif's hair."

"Did you?" Odin asked plainly.

"I would never do such a thing," Loki lied easily, his face slipping into a carefully mastered offended expression.

"Thor tells me that you two fought the day before," Odin said, staring him down.

"We never fought," Loki replied. Thor jumped in.

"It is true what he says father. They did not fight. But Sif offended him when she insulted Lady Freya," Thor said quickly. It was clear that he was just trying to do the right thing, though he was only making things harder on Loki.

"Did you do this for that girl?" Odin said, his voice rising. Loki took a step back, his words slipping easily over his tongue.

"Of course not Father. Of course not—because I didn't do it—"

"Tutor Erikson said that you missed your lesson today—"

"He was with me," Freya said suddenly, in a voice just loud enough to carry. She stared down at her feet as she spoke, avoiding Odin's fiery gaze. "He was with me all morning. I waylaid him and asked him to tutor me on the workings of the soul forge. I am afraid that I was too dense to understand it when Tutor Olsson explained it the other day and I wished to understand it before his next lesson. He was kind enough to oblige me."

Odin stared at her through narrowed eyes. Freya could feel his gaze, but she kept her eyes firmly planted on the stone floor. "Thor saw us, when he came up to confront Loki. I know that he didn't do it. He couldn't have. I woke him up early this morning and he never even changed out of his pajamas until you called him. It had to have been someone else."

Thor turned to Odin, his brows furrowed. "It is true what she says. Loki was wearing pajamas and Freya was studying notes when I went to talk to him. Perhaps he hadn't done it—"

"Regardless," Odin said. He knew the pair was lying, though it was becoming harder to prove. "Loki, you shall make this right. It is your duty as a prince, and as my son. I expect it done by nightfall."

Loki slunk out of the hall, Freya following. Thor had remained behind to continue some lesson with his father.

"Well," Loki said, breaking the silence, "You certainly laid it on thick, didn't you?"

"A thank you would be nice," Freya replied, though she didn't need one. Loki was right and she knew it, though she was used to lying for Freyr and whomever his flavor of the month was, which required it to be thick enough to build an amphitheater atop it.

"So how are you going to do it?" Freya asked.

"Do what?" Loki replied.

"Grow back her hair."

"I'm not."

"What do you mean, you're not."

"Do I look like I spend my time growing back hair? No. And besides, I wouldn't know where to begin."

"Well, the head, I'd say," Freya replied, fighting a smile.

"Suddenly you're so clever, is that it?"

"Well now that you mention it—"

"Save it for the theatre, Vanaheim," Loki said, turning to her. "I'm just going to take whatever punishment the Allfather dreams up once he finds out that I can't."

"Or, perhaps, we could go on an adventure."

"What are you saying Freya," Loki asked, intrigued and wary all at the same time.

"I'm saying that I know how to get Sif's hair back."

"So than tell me the spell."

"We have to go to Svartleheim."

"What do you mean, we have to go to Svartleheim?" Loki asked, anger slipping into his voice. "That is a poor jest—"

"There are smiths there that can make anything in all the realms that you may require. Two dwarves by the names of Brokk and Eitri. Were I still in possession of my things, I would show you many examples of their fine work. It is like no other."

"I am familiar with them, actually," Loki said, his eyes far away as he thought. "They crafted Thor's hammer."

"Then you know that it is our best wager then," Freya said eagerly. "I will ready provisions for the trip—" Freya turned excitedly and began practically bouncing back towards their apartments. After a second more of contemplation Loki shook his head and caught up to her, stopping her with a hand placed firmly on her shoulder.

"You cannot come with me."

"What do you mean, it was my idea—"

"That doesn't matter, Freya," Loki said sharply. "You can't leave Asgard."

"But I'll be with you."

"It doesn't matter, you're not allowed to leave to realm."

"But Loki—"

"It's not my decision, Freya. Before you even arrived the Allfather decreed that you were not to leave the realm without his express permission."

Freya stared at him angrily, her green eyes flashing. Her chest heaved. Loki could feel the atmosphere of the room change at once, feel it crackle with barely controlled magical energy.

"Don't—" Freya stopped and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Don't you trust me?"

"No," Loki said plainly. Freya bristled and turned on her heel. Loki watched her go impassively.