Chapter 4 – Settling

A/N I changed Sti-Fen to Stieth, it looked better I think. I hope everyone enjoys reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it. Slightly longer chapter this time.

Thor woke up with a massive headache in a bed as comfortable as he could remember his bed was back in Tanis. For one fleeting moment he thought he was back in their old house. He longed to hear his father's booming voice telling him to wake up, to take in the smell of Frigga's cooking and hear his younger brother's laughter as he would run through the house chasing some animal that broken free. But he was not in Tanis. He was in Thebes and he had been 'stupidly drunk' as his prince, Tony had servants bring in beer after beer. He had not heard his brother laugh that way ever since their mother died. He hadn't seen a smile on his face since their father followed.

The clever royal had him talk about life in Tanis when he was intoxicated enough to forget how painful the memories were. He had never talked about them besides with Loki and he had to admit talking about them with this perfect stranger, was making him feel better. As if a heavy load slipped of his shoulders. Tony had nodded and had listened with interest. Then, as the prince was starting to have red cheeks and a looser tongue thank to the alcohol, he would talk about how he had felt when his mother, the queen, had died. The men had both sat in silence for a while in respect of their departed loved ones.

Thor washed his face with the water in a bowl standing on a marble stand and walked out of the room, where he nearly bumped into a woman. Dressed as a servant she turned out to be one as well. "Ah I was just on my way to see if you had woken." She said as she noticed the tall, muscled blonde in front of her. "Name's Virginia, but everyone calls me Pepper, as I usually work in the kitchens." Thor gave her a look that so much meant as 'what are you doing here checking if I'm up then' and she noticed it. "Tony, he was worried. He's notorious for drinking quite a lot and so far he hasn't found his match in his drinking endeavors. He was most likely seeing of what stuff you were made last night. Please tell me you're no regular drunk, Tony could use a good example and that simply won't do." Thor shook his head. "I am not, Pepper, I don't drink a lot of alcohol, even if it's easier to get then milk in the slums. Last night it was a welcome diversion."

Pepper looked at him with skeptical eyes. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again, Tony can be very reckless at times, but if the wrong people would've found the both of you, it could cost you your life." This shocked Thor, as he had not realized it before. Sure the pharaoh would not take kind to the man who instead of guarding his sons life turns out to be best drinking buddies.

"You are right, I'm sorry." He said bowing his head. "There's a lot I don't get yet, I hope I will in due time."

"Come on then, follow me, I'll get you something to eat while we do a tour." Pepper motioned Thor to follow her, smiling. She would not admit it, but she liked this man already. He was honest and loyal, loyal to a man he hadn't met two days ago.

She showed him the palace as far as they were allowed to. First they went to the kitchen where she fetched nuts and fruits for Thor and made sure he had enough milk to flush down that food. Which turned out to be quite a lot. Then again, Thor was a big guy, so she only expected him to eat a lot. He had also mentioned to be from the slums and the first rule was, she knew, is to eat when you could, save only if you know there won't be more. Thor knew there would be food, why else had they bothered to keep him alive to guard the prince? She decided more info on the newest personal guard was desired.

As she showed him the bathing area she asked him to tell her more about him.

Thor did, and as they arrived in some inner garden they ran into another guard. "Pepper, your assistance is required in the kitchen. Thor, you are to follow me, our prince would like to tell you of your tasks." Pepper nodded, but leaned closer to Thor to whisper a 'remember not to use Tony unless you're with me, Rhodey or Tony himself' and Thor nodded. Apparently secrets and whispers were common in the palace as the guard didn't even look at it with suspicion.

Thor knew more about the palace now. He was not to leave the personal rooms of the prince, be vigilant for attacks; he was expected to lay down his life before letting harm come to the prince. He would report any and all suspicious behavior to either the prince of the pharaoh. He could go to the kitchen at any given time to get food, but was expected not to get more then he absolutely needed. He would be above normal palace guards, but they were instructed to not let him go out of the designated areas. In short, he was as much a prisoner as a guest. But he knew Pepper and Rhodey were allies, whereas Tony, his prince, was a grey area. He seemed nice enough, but he was still a prince. And maybe not intentionally, but he had gotten him in this situation. All the other guards and servants he had met so far treated them as stiffly and… as was expected, of guards and servants, he supposed. He would have to make sure he seemed stiff and impersonal to them and the outside world, as it would be safer. Just as he arrived at the other side of the inner palace garden, solely for Tony, he noticed the prince sitting on soft pillows, surrounded by three beautiful women. The man had one of them feed him grapes, which she seemed delighted to do. The other two women looked scorned and annoyed. Jealous maybe?

Thor didn't get it, why would you be jealous of someone else serving food?

Then again, Thor wasn't a woman, he figured.

Tony noticed him. "Ah, good job soldier, many thanks, and now if you would; please escort these ladies back to their rooms?" This seemed to shock 'the ladies' in question. How dare he send them away over one guard? A handsome, blonde haired guard, but still! One nearly huffed, but Tony paid them no mind.

Once they were alone he sighed. "Courtesans, send by my father. He hopes I take one as my wife… or all three, I bet he wishes. They're dull creatures. I've only met two interesting women in my life, one was my mother and the other is Pepper. And I can't marry either of them." At the confused look Thor gave him he explained. "Pepper is not of Egypt, a queen should be of Egyptian soil. Father would not stand it." Thor nodded. This man would marry a servant because he'd love her, not some spoiled rich girl to please his father. He could admire that. Tony could have anyone he wanted, if he so wished, but he would pick Pepper. "So…" Thor began, smirking. "You like Pepper?"

Tony flustered. "It's really none of your business. But no not like that, I just figured if I had to marry, I wish it was Pepper instead of one of those whiny creatures. All they ever do is squabble over who can touch me, and who I would love more. Except for Delilah those three would kill me as soon I wasn't a prince anymore. I should not have let her feed me, as those other two will most likely give her hell for it." Tony thought Delilah to be such a bore; she would agree to anything he did, had no personality whatsoever, but at least she was not of the backstabbing kind, unlike the other two. They would talk bad about each other and Delilah in an attempt to come out better. Thor meanwhile only could admire yet again how Tony was worried for someone else's wellbeing.

"Well then, I trust Pepper has explained you your tasks?" Tony asked Thor.

Thor nodded, she had.

"And she may even have started to tell you some of the rules of the house and how to play this game called palace-life?" Tony asked again, this time smirking.

Thor nodded yet again. "Though it may take a while before I get used to it."

"I expect no different, I'm still not used to it, and I was born here!" Tony said clasping a hand on the man's shoulder. "Now then, as Rhodey is fetching your brother, I would like you to spar with me! Please follow me. I would love you to meet my master of arms." Thor followed Tony to yet another room to meet another person.

ooOOoo

Loki had not been on a horse since they moved to Abydos. And not soon after they arrived there, his father, drunk on grief and the alcohol it took to forget said grief, lost all wealth they once had. He would simply not care for the world anymore. Loki could not blame him though. He missed Frigga so much as well. She was truly the best mother a child could hope for. Her protecting him had been her last act and some days Loki would blame himself. If he would not play outside with Thor on that fateful day, she would be alive. If he would never have been born, she would've been alive today. But the one time he spoke out these thoughts his brother had grabbed his head firmly between his two hands and told him if he would not have been born, something else would've caused her demise and Thor would've been alone in the present. Things happen for a reason, some say. But no one told them the reason. But at some point Loki would just accept that he did live and he would not slander his gift by sulking about it every day.

He enjoyed the wind through his hair as Samson ran ahead of the other horses. Sometimes they'd stop to let them keep up with him. He didn't understand the Captain's words about the horse. He was a fine steed, just needed to know who was in charge. Once it did, it would take each and every command. They reached Thebe's city gate as first and waited patiently for the blonde man, his son and the herd to arrive.

"I say, you know your horses. I think it's faith we met! No one could tame Samson like that!" the blonde smiled as he approached them. "Come, please, follow me to our house." And Sti-Fen, did not enter the gate, but rather walked around it, to some of the bigger houses outside the wall. Sure, they'd be defenseless when there would be war, but war had not reached Thebes in centuries. And the greater amount of space it gave was a plus. "We stay here, so we have enough space for the horses." Bakhee, Sti-Fen's son said, as he pointed out their house. It was a nice house, not the biggest, but big enough to hold a family.

"My brother, Bakhee, used to live with us, but he… he died." Stieth (as he kept reminding Loki to either call him the Captain, everyone did.) said. "You're welcome to sleep in his room, as long as you work for us. We named my son after him, he is forever in our heart. He made some mistakes along the way and… he tried to drown his troubles in the wine." Stieth shook his head. "Eventually he tried to drown them in the Nile."

"My father lost everything to alcohol as well, then he lost his life because the alcohol had made him weak… he lost his fight to a simple cold." Loki said. They both shared a sad smile before Bukhee, the son, yelled from inside.

"Father, mother wishes you to come inside!" Stieth flinched.

"She must be curious to how the trade went, and what stray I'm taking in this time. Please follow me, it'll be so much easier if she saw what a fine young man you are!" He motioned inside, and Loki followed.

Pegh, the Captain's wife, was a short woman but she had a great temper. She was lovable regardless, and she didn't blame Loki for the Captain taking him in. Turned out Stieth saw good in man when there was nothing and it usually only resulted in horses getting stolen. She shook her head, her long dark brown curls flowing with her. "I promise you this Loki, you seem like a fine man, but if I find out you hurt my husband's trust, I will make sure you'll regret it!"

"The only one regretting it, would be me, I promise you this, madam." Loki said, inclining his head.

Pegh seemed to be ok with that, and inclined her head as well. "Stieth, show him his room, I will fix the three of you some dinner. It's nice to have some help around the house though, I barely get to see my husband nowadays. Our last help didn't do a lot on his own. And even he" she nudged her head to Stieth. "did not trust him enough to let him go on his own. Good thing as well or we would have no horses at all anymore." She walked back to what Loki supposed to be the kitchen and he followed Stieth through the house as the tall blonde gave him a tour.

"And this is where you will be staying." The Captain said as he motioned Loki to enter a room. It had a straw bed, and a washing basin, but was otherwise very empty. "I know it's not much but…"

"It's a lot more then I had. I have to thank you, Stieth. If you would not have come along I would probably be dead by now." Loki smiled, something he hasn't done in a while, but was the only reward he could think of, paying for the kindness.

"If you wouldn't have been there I would've lost another Bukhee and like Pegh said, we could use the help. Welcome in our house." And he gave Loki a pat on the back. "There are fresh clothes in my room, we will get you your own clothes tomorrow. Wash up and come to the kitchen when you're done or Pegh will think you're dodging her famous cooking."

"Your wife is lovely." Loki said.

"Really? Most people use terrifying, or downright scary." Stieth grinned. "But you are right, she is quite the wonderful woman and I'm happy to have her!" the Captain turned around and left.

Loki washed himself, had dinner with the family he'd live and work with, for now. He would love to stay, as he had never felt so wanted in a while. But it lacked something. It lacked Thor, and without Thor, Loki would never feel right again. So he would work hard for Stieth and work even harder to find out where his brother was kept.

And there you have it, another chapter. Bukhee… Pegh… They must sound so lame, I couldn't come up with anything better, but using typical American names for Egyptian characters seemed off. If anyone has a name for Howard Stark, I'd be glad! So yeah suggestions are welcome! (and not just for the name thing, if you have anything you'd love to see, let me know. No promises though, as I have most of the upcoming characters already planned out, but I'm sure I can work things in.)