I am SO sorry everyone! This is the longest I have gone without updating and it wasn't intentional. I had started this chapter a few days ago, but a lot has happened at my house which prevented me from finishing the chapter and posting it. To keep my explanation short, my mom had to go to the hospital because she has cellulitis and she isn't getting better yet. Then, yesterday I became really sick and I am still not feeling well today, but I finally had enough energy to finish writing this and post it. I apologize for the late update :(
I want to welcome/thank my new followers and please don't hesitate to review and let me know what you like about this story!
A Wild Clover- I am sorry it was so short, things were starting to get hectic around here :/ Thank you for your review, as always! I'm trying to pace Loki's development because even in Thor he is still pretty calm until he finds out he's adopted. I won't keep it exactly the same of course, but I still won't have him completely snap until that turning point. :)
Cougar rolypoly bug- No worries :) Thank you for your review and I'm glad you liked the twists! I wanted to have this update done much sooner, but illness prevented it from occurring when I wanted it to :/ Here it is though!
The sun was entering the last phase of its setting as you walked through the palace corridors to the library so you could return the books you had recently taken. You wanted to exchange them for other books to read. You had stopped by Loki's quarters to ask him if he wanted to accompany you to the library, but he turned down your offer which was rather unusual for Loki since he loved to read so much. You decided not to pester Loki since you assumed that he had his reasons for not going to the library and even though the two of you were close, it wasn't your duty as his best friend to pry into every facet of Loki's life. So, you left Loki to tend to whatever he needed to do and made your way over to the library.
Once you entered the library someone suddenly appeared in front of you from the side and before you could stop, the two of you collided causing you to drop all of your books to the floor.
Looking up, you saw that naturally, you had run into Fandral of all people.
"Nice going, Aurora, are you trying to kill me?" Fandral asked in annoyance.
You rolled your eyes and said, "Fandral, if I wanted to kill you, I'd have to try much harder than simply bumping into you at the library. What are you doing here anyway? I didn't know you could read."
Fandral scoffed at the smirk on your face and replied, "Why yes, as it so happens, I can read. It also so happens that you don't own the library; anyone can come here, not just you and your…friend."
"My friend has a name you know." You crossed your arms.
"Yes, I know that," Fandral began as he bent down and picked up your books, "but I rather not acknowledge that I know who he is." Fandral finished as he handed you your books back which you took slowly.
"Just because you're ignorant and want to pretend you don't know who Loki is doesn't mean he doesn't exist." You glared at Fandral clutching your books against your chest protectively.
Fandral's lips curled up into a smile as he said, "Loki who?"
"Ugh! Playing dumb does not garner any favor with me, Fandral." You sighed in frustration.
Fandral frowned, "You're no fun at all. Don't you ever joke around?"
"Yes, but not with you." You stated simply.
"Well," Fandral scoffed, "I can see I'm not wanted here."
"Took you long enough to come to that realization." You noted.
"Fine, see you later." Fandral mumbled as he exited the library.
You turned to watch Fandral leave and then returned all of your books before ascending the steps to the third level to search for books on law. You took a light load today, two books concerning Asgardian law and one concerning 16th century English law on Midgard. You descended the steps to leave the library and while you were walking through the corridor you saw Forseti walking in your direction.
"Good evening, Lady Aurora." Forseti nodded when he came close to you.
"Hello, Forseti. How are you?" You asked the god.
"I am well, thank you for inquiring. How are you faring?" Forseti returned the question.
"I am well also. I'm just coming back from the library." You replied.
"What tomes did you acquire?" Forseti asked you, seeming interested.
You held your arm out and showed him the books you had gotten and said, "I usually go to the library to get a variety of books, but today I just picked up books on law instead of getting others as well."
"Law, hmm?" Forseti asked as he looked up at you from the books.
"Yes, I'm very interested in it." You answered as he returned the books to you.
Forseti nodded, "Even when you were younger I could tell that law was something you were interested in what with you coming to me for advice on what to do, or expressing discontent over wrongdoings because they weren't just or moral."
"I remember that." You smiled and then continued, "I don't know why I was always like that."
"Some people are just born with an inherent sense of what is right and wrong as well as the unwavering need to defend what is right. It is a gift and should be treated as such rather than neglected." Forseti spoke with a slight smile.
You looked at him quizzically and asked, "You really think I possess some sort of gift?"
"I do, and that is why I want to offer you the opportunity to hone that gift by studying the practice of law in the courts here as my apprentice if you will." Forseti proposed.
Your eyes widened at Forseti's words in astonishment, "You're really offering me an apprenticeship?!"
Forseti laughed at your enthusiasm and said, "Indeed I am."
"I accept! Thank you!" You exclaimed.
"You are very welcome. You can start tomorrow if you like." Forseti said.
"I will, thank you so much!" You said happily.
Forseti chuckled and said, "You can come to the courts at sunrise and I shall see you then."
"I won't be late!" You promised.
"I wouldn't expect you to be. Farewell, Lady Aurora." Forseti chuckled and then waved goodbye as he continued walking.
"Farewell, Forseti!" You called out as you too began walking.
"Loki! Open up! I have wonderful news!" You yelled as you banged on Loki's door in a rather unladylike manner.
Loki's door opened to allow you to enter his quarters, but Loki was nowhere to be seen. You slowly stepped into Loki's room looking around for that tall and pale best friend of yours. You turned your head to look behind the door, but Loki was not there. Loki was nowhere to be seen so you placed your books down on Loki's desk and folded your arms, glancing around in confusion.
Sighing, you began to walk over to Loki's window when you felt a strong hand clamp down on your shoulder. You jolted in fear and turned around to see Loki staring down at you with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Gods, Loki!" You exclaimed as you clutched your chest and stumbled backwards, tripping over your own two feet.
You fell to the floor in shock and glared up at Loki who was laughing at your fall.
"You frightened me, Loki! Don't do that again, you almost scared me to death!" You exclaimed breathlessly on Loki's floor.
Loki's emerald eyes were shining with mirth as he extended a large hand down to you to help you up, which you accepted. Loki lifted you off your feet right away and had you standing upright again as you looked up at him.
"You're lucky I didn't seriously injure myself." You huffed.
"I would be most remorseful if you had, but fortunately for you well-being and my conscious, you did not become injured." Loki answered with a grin.
You rubbed your shoulders and shook your head, "Your tricks are going to cause problems one day."
Loki furrowed his eyebrows as he looked down at you, "What makes you think that?"
You sighed, "I know you mean no harm with your magic, but let's face it Loki, you wield something no one else here has or can even understand except for your father I suppose, but he's always busy. It's just you, Loki, and nobody could stop you if you decided to lash out or get revenge. If you lost control, you would be very dangerous and likely impossible to restrain."
"You make me sound like I'm some powerful god or something." Loki said looking at you in confusion.
You shrugged, "You might as well be."
"Hmmm…" Loki mumbled.
"What are you thinking?" You asked Loki.
Loki put a long, slender finger to his lip and said, "It's a secret."
"That is not fair!" You exclaimed as you pushed on his chest, failing to cause him to move even a fraction of an inch.
Loki laughed as he grabbed your hands and said, "Ignore it and tell me what you came here for; what is this wonderful news of which you speak?"
"Oh right." You said. "I ran into Forseti on my way back from the library and he wants me to be his apprentice in the courts! I accepted his offer and I start tomorrow at sunrise!"
"That is wonderful news! Congratulations, Aurora!" Loki exclaimed as he hugged you.
"Thank you!" You laughed as you hugged him back.
Loki pulled away and smiled down at you, "I better stay out of trouble, otherwise one day I might have to answer to you for my crimes."
You laughed and replied, "Yes, you better be mindful of your actions. I won't be biased towards you just because we're friends!"
Loki placed one of his hands on his chest and asked, "You would punish me, your dearest friend?"
You placed a hand on Loki's shoulder and said, "I'm sorry Loki, but no one is above the law."
Loki chuckled, "I better never give you a reason to punish me then."
"You're a good person, Loki; I don't anticipate such a thing ever occurring." You smiled.
"Me neither." Loki smiled at you.
"Good, now what should we do with our evening?" You asked him.
"I was practicing my magic for the majority of the day, which is why I did not accompany you to the library, so it would be nice to take a break and leave this room." Loki said.
"We should go outside then, come on." You said as you grabbed Loki's hand and headed towards his door.
The two of you wandered through the palace and eventually came to the steps where you had last stargazed at the night neither of you could sleep. You and Loki sat down on the steps and gazed up at the vast nighttime sky.
"Where do you think the other realms are?" You asked Loki as you stared at a particularly stunning astronomical display.
"Well, if I am correct, I believe that right now you are currently looking in the direction of Aflheim." Loki said.
"It looks very pretty." You noted.
"Even Jotunheim looks nice from here, but that does not mean that it is not an awful place." Loki said quietly.
"You've never even been to Jotunheim, Loki." You remarked.
"Yes, I know, but from what they have done in the past, I suspect the Jotuns are just as vile as they seem." Loki stated.
You glanced over at Loki, "Try not to judge any races would you?"
Loki looked over at you and smirked, "Why not?"
"Because it's mean!" You exclaimed.
Loki chuckled, "Oh, Aurora. There is not a mean bone in your body is there?"
"There is actually," You trailed off, "I was rather flippant with Fandral today in the library."
Loki narrowed his gaze at you, "Fandral reads?"
"That's exactly what I said!" You laughed and then continued, "Anyway, we bumped into each other near the entrance which caused my books to fall and when he was speaking to me, I was rude which caused him to abruptly leave."
"Good." Loki said simply as he looked back up at the sky.
"You know," You began as you edged closer to Loki, "I don't know what this feud of yours is going to amount to one of these days."
"Nor do I. However, it will not end until I win." Loki said to the sky.
"Seeking victory can lead to a dangerous streak." You murmured.
"I am not as dangerous as you think I am, Aurora." Loki said as he turned to face you, his emerald eyes staring into your hazel ones.
You fidgeted under Loki's piercing gaze. Loki was your best friend and you trusted him, but somewhere concealed deep underneath his emerald depths, was something you didn't quite understand. You didn't know what lurked inside of Loki, but you had a sinking feeling that it was something that would surface soon, and more so, you felt that it was something that was indeed dangerous, even though Loki insisted he wasn't a threat to anybody.
Loki was still staring at you and you swallowed before saying as convincingly as you could, "I know you aren't, Loki."
Loki's eyes continued to stare into yours, as if they were trying to break you down, but you maintained your composure as you smiled at your best friend. Loki smiled too, and diverted his gaze away from you after which you finally released the breath you didn't even realize you had been holding. The two of you remained on the steps of the palace for a portion of the night as you both looked up at the vast sky, occasionally talking, but mostly sitting in comfortable silence as you both got lost in the wonders of the universe.