Two chapters today, and probably none tomorrow. The last one was short, and I'm going skiing tomorrow. :)

...

Loki watched her over a wine glass on the other side of the feast hall. He had tried several times to attract her attention or approach her, but each time she disappeared into the crowd. In the end, he stopped trying, and stewed in his own guilt, frustration and jealousy.

She laughed with his brother and their friends. She danced with Fandral and Thor, chatted with Sif, and ate and drank as though nothing was wrong. Loki mechanically ate scraps from his plate for forms sake, neither seeing nor tasting what he swallowed; his plate remained full while most guests were serving themselves seconds or thirds.

He knew she was trying to punish him. Acting with more abandon than she normally would. Even wearing a sleek, form fitting gown of crimson… he knew she did not like that color. He knew she chose only to irk him.

He felt so many things at once he thought he might choke on them all, pain, anger, guilt, jealousy and more thudded through his veins and his mind like poison. He watched her stand to join the dance yet again, when suddenly she turned pale.

All his other emotions vanished in a heartbeat to be replaced only with concern. He saw her shake her head slightly, lose her balance and stumble. She looked awful, suddenly sickly. He rose from his seat without thinking, and began to cross the room to her. He was brought up short when he saw Thor with his arms about her, talking to her and stroking her face with the back of his hand. She seemed to be resisting him and trying to squirm away, but she looked weak and confused. He gathered her against his side and disappeared through a door into the hall just behind their table.

Dark assumptions and rage pounded through Loki's brain as he turned and stalked out a different door, planning the best path in his head to intercept them.

He caught up to them quickly, as Aislinn still seemed to be struggling against Thor's grasp. Loki stepped out of the darkness to block their path and Thor stopped midstride.

"Get… OFF… me!" Aislinn was mumbling. "Always touching, why do you do that?" she snapped in a slurred and confused voice shoving at Thor and pushing away from his body.

"Brother… what are you doing?" Loki said in a voice as dark and dangerous as he had ever mustered.

Thor dropped his arm from around Aislinn abruptly, and she stumbled away a few steps. "I was trying to take Aislinn back to her room." Thor said simply.

"I am sure you were." Loki said dryly as he watched her move away from his brother. She slumped against the wall and slid down, sitting in a heap at its base.

Thor flushed and looked angry saying in a raised voice "You cannot think…"

"I never know what to think when it concerns you and women, brother!" Loki spat, walking over to Aislinn and kneeling beside her. "What did you do?"

"I just offered her some wine." Thor said, "I thought it would make her more… friendly. She can be so cold."

To you, maybe. Loki thought sourly, leaning in close to Aislinn. "She reeks of spirits!" He snarled. "What did you give her exactly?"

"It was that Nectar wine, you know, made from those golden flowers. She liked how sweet it was."

"NECTAR WINE?" Loki exclaimed almost shouting, "She can barely drink a glass of plain wine without getting dizzy. She never drank before she came here. How much did she have?!" He demanded.

"…Four glasses…"

"FOUR?!" Loki shouted in earnest now, "You know two would be enough to put the ALLFATHER under the table! You never drink more than one yourself, no matter how irresponsible you are being." Thor tried to say something, but Loki waved him away, turning to Aislinn.

Her skin was pale and clammy, and she struggled to keep her eyes open. She was taking shuddering little breaths, as though it took real effort. He tapped on her cheek gently to get her attention, and was shocked that she felt so cold. She managed to look up at him dazedly, although her eyes were clouded. "Loki, you are here!" she whispered, a smile spreading slowly across her face as she recognized him. "I'm sorry," she slurred, "I feel strange…" she mumbled as she leaned her head back against the wall and her eyes slid closed.

Looking over his shoulder at his brother with venom in his eyes, Loki cast a spell over her to neutralize poisons and to restore her strength. Warmth and color instantly flooded back into her skin, and her breathing became more deep and even. He kept casting spells over her until she fell into a light sleep, and seemed to not be in danger anymore.

"She will be fine, now. She's only drunk and not dying of poisoning." He spat at his brother. "She needs to sleep. I will take her to her room."

"I should do that," said Thor, coming over and reaching down to Aislinn. Loki wanted to hit him, kill him rather than let him touch her again, but, begrudgingly he stepped aside. He did not want to disappoint her again by starting a fight.

Thor scooped her up into his arms as though he was trying to show off, and she woke when he jostled her. She again started to struggle in his arms, murmuring nonsense sentences about wanting to be put down. She struggled so much she was in danger of being dropped, when Loki stepped forward and plucked her out of his larger brother's arms.

He was surprised when Aislinn quieted almost immediately, curling into his body and resting her head in the hollow of his neck. Her hand clutched the front of his tunic, and she was still. "I will take her." Loki said in a tone of finality. "You have done quite enough damage for one night."

Loki stalked off down the hallway for dramatic effect, carrying Aislinn as though she weighed nothing. He might be leaner of build than his overstuffed brother, but he was still strong enough to carry her without effort. When he reached the end of the hallway and turned out of his brother's sight, he knew he really ought to teleport himself directly into her chambers and put her to bed. But he delighted in the feel of her body in his arms, the scent of her hair, the way the skin of her forehead felt against his neck.

He decided to walk with her a little longer so that he could drink in the sensation of her touch that he had so meticulously avoided until now. He carried her for several minutes until he had to dodge into a shadow to avoid being seen by a guard. Loki was not at all interested in explaining himself to anyone. His sudden movement woke her, and she stirred.

When the guard passed and he stepped out into the light, Loki glanced down and saw her smiling up at him softly. Her hand released its hold on his shirt front, and reached up to touch his face. She ran her fingers down his cheek, and then through his hair.

Loki quickened his pace a bit; concerned the wine was making her act strangely. Although her touch sent electric shocks through his body, he was relieved when she dropped her hand again. He did not want her to awaken angry at him for taking advantage of her vulnerability. What she said next caused him to freeze in his tracks altogether.

"Ah, Loki." She sighed as she nestled her head back against his neck. "My lovely Loki. Do you know how much I love you?"

He stood as still as a statue, heart thudding in his ears. He knew he must have imagined it; his mind was playing tricks on him, surely. He was just about to continue walking when she stretched up to kiss his neck, one delicate peck followed by another. A flush came over him, and he shook slightly.

I have to put her down, now! Loki thought hurriedly, calling the magic that brought them to her bedchamber instantly in a swirl of green light. He carried her over to the bed and laid her down gently, then went searching through the dark to find her a blanket. As he leaned over to cover her, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Losing his balance, he fell into the bed, partially on top of her. His heart thudded even faster as he felt her body press against his. She drew up one of her legs along the length of his, her dress sliding up and pooling at the top of her thigh, leaving her skin exposed.

"Stay with me tonight?" she murmured, running her hands over him. "Please?"

Loki could feel his body answering hers, felt the passion in his blood rise. He wanted to stay; he felt that he might explode into a thousand pieces if he did not.

She cradled his cheek in one hand, and gripped his shoulder with the other, pulling herself up to kiss him. He gazed at into her beautiful eyes, still hazy from drink, and hungered for her lips as though he were starving. They were less than an inch apart when Loki placed his hand gently over her mouth.

"No, Aislinn." He gasped, "Not like this."

He stood up and slid out of the bed, his whole body screaming at him and aching for the sudden lack of her warmth. He threw the blanket over her, and knelt by the side of the bed. He gathered her hands into his, and looked her straight in the eye to make sure she could understand.

"Come to me tomorrow and say these things again and I will never leave your side." He whispered. She nodded, but her eyes were already closing and she was almost asleep. Impulsively, he pressed a kiss into her forehead before leaving in another flash of green light.

...

Loki collapsed into a chair in his own chambers, staring into the fire. His mind was so full it ached with the weight of his thoughts. He replayed every word, every gesture, every sensation of those few moments again and again until they were nothing but a dizzy swirl of impressions. Joy and doubt and lust and fear tumbled about within him, each vying for supremacy.