Hello readers! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and was understanding about my current situation! My mom is slowly getting better and while I'm still ill, I'm better than I was the past two days. Once again, I'd like to welcome and thank my new story followers! :)

Also, to my reviewers:

A Wild Clover- Aurora is slowly starting to get there! She's starting to become a bit suspicious of him, finally! Ugh, I feel the same way. Love Loki no matter what! Don't feel bad about thinking that; I'm actually most excited to write those parts! They're starting to come! Ah yes, I remember that myth! Don't worry, I love suggestions :) Haha, yes she is! Nidhogg did poor Verdandi dirty so to speak haha. She won't be taking care of Yggdrasil forever though! As always, thank you for your review!

Katerina13- I'm following some who take awhile as well- thank you for your kind words! Thank you for your input, I felt the same myself at some points, but there are some chapters I have planned out that I wanted to space out a bit. Things are starting to pick up concerning Loki starting with this chapter :)

Cougar rolypoly bug- Thank you! I love foreshadowing! Aww, thank you :) It always makes me smile to hear that people like what I write!

So, in this chapter, we get to see a change in Loki and in the next chapter, spoiler- he's going to get a bit violent, and we all love a violent Loki don't we? I know I do haha. So, here is chapter 22!

You found yourself anxiously fiddling with the sleeve of your gown as you stood outside the courtroom. You were on time as you had promised Forseti yesterday, but you were nervous about your first day studying in the courts under Forseti's instruction. You weren't even sure that you would one day be able to devote your time to working in the courts as your primary duty in Asgard. You would much rather spend your days in the courts than on the battlefield like most Asgardians. Taking a deep breath and steadying your nervous hands, you stepped into the courtroom to find that it was empty except for Forseti himself. You began to wonder how often he left the courts, which seemed to be very rare.

"Good morning, Lady Aurora. You abided by your word I see." Forseti smiled at you as he walked over to you.

"Good morning, Forseti. I would never wish to be late and miss out on this opportunity." You replied with a nod of your head.

"Well, you have quite a first day ahead of you. It is good that you arrived on time, because a trial is set to begin momentarily." Forseti said.

"Who is on trial?" You asked, hardly believing that you were going to witness a trial already.

"As I trust you know, it is forbidden to travel to Jotunheim without King Odin's consent. Well, the one on trial went to Jotunheim without Odin's consent. Heimdall naturally alerted Odin right away. From what I have heard thus far, I do not believe this individual meant any harm, but I still must oversee the trial to ensure that Asgard is not in any danger." Forseti explained.

You nodded, "I see. Who is it exactly?"

Before Forseti could answer your question, a group of people entered the courtroom surrounding the goddess Jord. You did not know Jord well, because she was often visiting the most uncivilized areas on Midgard. You had a hunch about why Jord was going to Jotunheim that correlated with her devotion to uncivilized areas.

Jord was led into the court and the others took their places to watch the trial. Forseti motioned for you to follow him as he took his place at the front of the room and spoke, "Greetings, everyone. This is the trial of Jord versus the kingdom of Asgard. Will the defendant please rise?"

Jord complied as she eye Forseti who spoke directly to her, "Jord, do you understand why you were brought here today?"

"I was just doing my job, Jotunheim is uncivilized and-" Jord spoke but was cut off.

"Yes, but you went to Jotunheim, a forbidden realm, without King Odin's consent. Do you understand how suspicious that looks?" Forseti asked.

Jord paused and then replied, "I suppose so, but I have to tend to primitive regions so that they can progress toward becoming a better civilization."

Your suspicions about what the problem with Jord's actions were was confirmed when Forseti said, "Your intentions meant well, but if you helped a civilization such as the Jotuns develop into an improved society, they could become more dangerous than they already are. By helping the Jotuns, you would be putting your own home in danger and leaving Asgard to travel to Jotunheim without speaking to Odin first heightens the suspicion about your actions."

"I-I didn't think of it that way." Jord stuttered slightly.

Forseti offered Jord a small smile and said, "I do not believe that you intended to bring harm to Asgard, but it is my duty to investigate this matter fully before making my decision. You may be seated."

Jord sat back down as you looked around the room. You had never witnessed a trial before because only those involved in the case or gods like Odin could see any trial they pleased. As Forseti began the actual trial you realized that you might be there for a while, but you wanted to see what happened behind closed doors, especially since law interested you. So, you listened intently as the trial went underway.

Loki's POV

I was wandering through the palace, pacing with nervous energy as I looked at the shadow magic book that I held in my hands. There was something odd about just holding the book; it gave off an aura that was none too benevolent. I thought it was absurd to believe that a book could be evil, but the book in my hands felt like just that. I found myself wondering if a book could be possessed by an evil entity, or if it had been cursed, thereby, transferring its afflictions onto me. Still, I felt drawn to the book and craved the oddly disconcerting sensations that the book produced in me. I was torn between listening to my mind which told me to abandon the book and my desire to continue to learn from its pages and experience the dark, yet pleasurable aura the book infiltrated my whole being with even though I was not willing it to happen.

Distracted by the contents of the book, I was not aware of my surroundings and abruptly came into contact with a hard, cold stone wall.

"Mmmpfh!" I groaned after walking into it and dropping the book onto the floor.

I rubbed my forehead and cursed my foolishness under my breath. I knew it was not wise to read while walking because I would not be able to see where I was going, but I still did it anyway. Now, I had succeeded in making a fool out of myself. Just as I was hoping that no one was around to witness my blunder, I heard a feminine snicker from behind me.

"At least it is not Fandral." I thought to myself as I turned around to see Sif not even attempting to conceal her amusement as she openly snickered at my unfortunate encounter with the wall.

I glared at her and asked, "What is so amusing to you that you are incapable of controlling your juvenile laughter?"

Sif continued to laugh at my words so I rolled my eyes and continued, "For someone who is supposed to be a warrior, you display very poor skills at maintaining your composure, especially in the face of a threat."

Sif finally stopped laughing and looked at me with confusion, "A threat? I trust that you are not referring to yourself, the one who walked straight into a solid wall."

I set my jaw tightly as I felt a hot, boiling sensation inside of me. It felt like my veins were flooded with a scalding liquid that threatened to burn through my skin and completely consume me. It was a feeling I had never experienced before, and while part of me felt like I should quell douse the fire that was burning inside of me, a larger part of me wanted to watch it burn.

Before I knew it, I was on Sif in an instant and clamped my hand over her mouth. Sif immediately began to struggle but I pushed her back into the wall that she had mocked me for walking into moments ago.

I pressed her into the wall harder as I seethed, "At least I came into contact with the wall on my own instead of being forced into it because I was too weak to defend myself."

Sif stared up at me with anger in her eyes. Anger was not good enough; I wanted to see her eyes cloud over with fear. I pressed my shoulder into the space above her shoulder to pin her against the wall as I stared down at her waiting for fear to manifest itself in her eyes. I detected a flicker of fear, but that still was not enough for me.

So, I titled my head down and growled, "Minding your tongue would suit you well, Lady Sif. It does not bode well for you to insult me or invoke my wrath. If you dare to anger me again, even slightly, I will not be so forgiving."

After I finished speaking, I put extra force into my fingers against her left cheek while still covering her mouth before I removed my hand from her mouth. I stepped away from her and Sif immediately slumped down the wall before hitting the floor.

"Y-you're a d-deran-nged an-d-d e-evil p-pers-son." Sif stammered as she tried to catch her breath and touched her cheek, where an indentation now existed from the pressure I applied with my fingers.

I laughed loudly as I shook my head and replied, "No, no Lady Sif, I am afraid that you are mistaken. I am merely tired of being the object of everyone's scorn and mockery. Losing my patience does not make me evil or deranged. I suggest that you leave before your mere presence angers me even more."

I ended my last sentence with extra emphasis and a deeper tone which caused Sif to quickly get up off the floor, glare at me, and begin to walk away. As she was walking away, I noticed her long hair moving back and forth and felt the urge to cut it off. I smirked and began following Sif down the corridor after I retrieved my book from the floor. My footfalls were silent and when I was close enough, I used my magic to conceal myself and then proceeded to cut off a substantial portion of her hair. Once her hair fell to the floor, I stayed long enough to see her turn around and stare dumbfounded at her hair on the floor as she frantically looked around for presumably, me. Sif clenched her fists and picked up her hair before running out of the corridor. I stopped concealing myself and snickered before heading to my quarters.

"That was just for annoying me, there is worse to come if you do not learn your lesson." I snarled aloud, as if she could even hear me at all.

Aurora's POV

You were on your way back to your quarters from the courtroom after Jord's trial had ended. Forseti proclaimed that Jord was innocent of any transgressions, and that she would not be punished for her first offense in not clearing her visit to Jotunheim with King Odin. You thanked Forseti for allowing you to be present during the trial and again for allowing you to see how law worked in Asgard. You couldn't wait to continue your apprenticeship in the courts as you pondered about your experience today.

In the corridor you saw someone walking in your direction. You recognized the tall and slim figure.

"Loki!" You yelled out as the figure who was indeed Loki looked up from the large book he was reading.

Loki smiled at you as he shut the book and reached you in a few long strides.

"How was your first day in the courts?" Loki asked you after giving you a quick hug.

"It was really exciting! It was long too, but I didn't mind. I got to see an actual trial!" You exclaimed.

Loki chuckled, "Your enthusiasm indicates that it was as exciting as you claim."

You laughed along with Loki and said, "I wish that I could work in the courts one day."

"Perhaps you will, you never know." Loki said with a small smile.

You smiled back at Loki as your eyes wandered to the book in his hands.

"What is that?" You asked Loki pointing at the book.

"Oh, this?" Loki asked shifting his hand a little too quickly as if he was nervous about answering your question.

"Yes, that." You said narrowing your eyes at Loki.

"This is just a book on Midgard." Loki replied.

"Can I see it?" You asked holding out your hand.

Loki handed the book over to you and you opened it up to find that it was indeed a book on Midgardian history. You were surprised to find such a book in Loki's possession.

Handing it back to him you said, "Why were you so jumpy about having a Midgardian history book? I'm also shocked that you're reading such a thing as you usually read books about magic and don't seem to think too highly of Midgard."

Loki took the book back from you and replied smoothly, "I just have a lot on my mind is all. Do not be so quick to think that I am dismissive of other realms, Aurora." Loki finished with a wink.

"If you say so!" You laughed and you raised your hands in surrender.

The two of you continued walking as Sif entered the same corridor and quickly brushed past the both of you. You noticed that Loki's eyes shifted toward her as she walked by and you too turned around only to cover your mouth at what you saw.

"Sif's hair!" You exclaimed, "It's half gone!"

"Yes, it appears that it was cut in a very hasty manner as well." Loki noted.

"Why would she do that?" You wondered aloud.

Loki shrugged, "I do not know, but the look really does not suit her."

"I'll agree with you on that, Loki." You said as you turned around to continue walking.

Loki stood still for a moment and smirked as Sif turned around to glare at him from the other end of the corridor. Loki could tell that she knew he was responsible for it, but he did not care. If Sif had learned her lesson, she would keep quiet and if she did not, Loki would have more fun with her. As far as Loki was concerned, he had won either way.

"Are you coming Loki?" You asked, noticing that Loki had stopped.

"Yes, sorry about that." Loki replied as he caught up with you and the two of you continued down the corridor.