Chapter 10

A/N Not even going to excuse myself, or yes, I am. Sorry guys, for being world's slowest writer!

The sun was on it's highest point in the sky by the time Loki got up. He had not felt particularly great that morning and though sleeping in in the slums usually meant a day without food, Peghee insisted he'd crawl right back into bed. She kept murmuring about being worried and no wonder he was sick, the way he was exhausting his body and so on. Loki just smiled and enjoyed the fact someone was worried about his wellbeing. Well besides his brother. Which left him with a pang in his chest, because every minute not spend on practicing could mean he would not be reunited with his brother. Just when he was about to leave for the entertainment group, he felt his stomach twist and after an embarrassing moment in front of Stieth's house, which resulted in Peghee and Stieth scowling at him while basically ordering him back into bed. Loki figured, being not healthy would only influence his dancing, so maybe it was for the best.

Loki slipped on the decorated coat he had been able to buy with the money Fury had given him, along with an entirely black loincloth. Which Peghee had tugged out of his hands as soon as he returned from the city with it. Days later she returned with it, showing the gold embroidery she had done on it. It was magnificent, but meant for the dance, should Loki ever get the chance to perform. When he had shown it to Natakhta, she had been impressed and had nodded with approval.

Fury and Colloson had grown attached to Loki by now and Fury had officially placed him in their troupe. After a night with drinks and laughter he had pulled him aside.

"Loki, you're now officially one of us. If you leave, you leave, if you want to join again later, you do. We may implore on you if we know you're in the city though, since you and Natakhta may very well be the talk of the town, soon."

Loki nodded. "If it does not hinder my own plans or work, I would gladly join."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it!" Fury smiled. "In two days I may have something important to announce, make sure you're here in the evening, we plan to hold a feast regardless." With that the dark, and mysterious, man walked away.

Loki had meant to ask him, how he had lost his eye, where he came from, what he used to do. But he didn't dare. He had smiled and returned to Stieth.

Today was two days later and illness or not, Loki was going to be there for the great announcement.

ooOOoo

By the time Loki woke up for the second time Tony was still sleeping, his head resting on the table, a puddle of drool forming right next to the cup that held the beverage he enjoyed last night. He was alone, which he was thankful for, when he woke up. Just as he stretched his body, Pepper walked in with a cup of fresh milk and grapes.

"I figured you'd be up by now!" She said, placing the cup and plate in front of Tony.

"Ah yeah, I was completely wrecked from last night's endeavors with the ladies." Tony send a grin her way from where he was sitting, placing one hand on the low table, while the other pulled the sheet of silk that matched with the pillows he was on, a little higher, so he was more decent. It's not that he was ashamed of himself. But Pepper was like a sister.

"Tony, dear, really, we all know there were no girls here last night, I've seen what you tried to hide just now plenty of times when I had to wake you up from your sleep in time before your… your father would see you with your hangover. And really, it's not like you'd really enjoy the company of any of those ladies, now would you?" Pepper said matter-of-factly. Trust Pepper to bring up three touchy subjects within ten minutes being awake.

"What do you mean, I would not enjoy their company?" Tony decided puzzled him the most.

"Oh… I mean, those three shallow girls your father had been so keen on seeing you married to…" Pepper said blushing.

"That's not what you were implying though, were you?" Tony said. Laying with people of the same sex was not uncommon and though rarely spoken off, not forbidden either. It didn't really matter either, as long as in the end you'd honor you parents by producing an heir with a woman you were married to. Tony had admitted to himself he sometimes felt more attracted to men then he was to women. They tend to nag less, and were, sometimes, prettier than most women.

For instance, take Pepper, though absolutely gorgeous and wonderfully adept in taking care of Tony. He'd rather take, let's say, Thor into bed than Pepp… 'okay, let's not go there' Tony thought. As if he knew though, the blonde, tanned bodyguard entered his room.

"Goodmorning" he greeted.

It took all he had to not blush and return the greeting. "Morning…" Though, now Tony saw Thor, he'd admit he wasn't entirely his type. Just saying he wouldn't mind if the broad, muscled, godlike man with incredible abs, would accidentally tumble into his bed one night… 'Okay, stop it Tony, you're acting like a wild dog today.' Trust Tony to have had three indecent thoughts only half an hour of being awake.

ooOOoo

Loki entered the main tent of the entertaining group. It was not nearly evening yet, but the place was filled with everyone Loki had seen at least once in and around the group.

His eyes widened when he saw someone he had not expected to ever see again. He growled as he recognized the man.

"You!" he hissed.

"Oh hey look what the desert swallowed and choked out!" The cocky thief chuckled at his own joke. "I have a name you know, you could use it! Hawkeye. And, Loki, how fare you? You realize what I did was only an act of self-preservation, right?" He mockingly nudged Loki in the ribs.

"How do you know my name is Loki?" Loki demanded, then sputtered. "And I'll show you self-preservation!" Loki was about to tackle the shorter, but deadly, man when Fury stepped between them.

"I see you met Hawkeye then?" Fury asked.

"I'd rather not have seen his face ever again!" Loki spat.

"My, my, Hawkeye, what did you do this time?" Fury asked turning to the offending short man.

"Took his food…" the man shrugged.

"In the middle of the desert, leaving me with nothing." Loki hissed.

"Now, Hawkeye, you know how I feel about that. I don't like you stealing at all, but if you must, steal from those who have a little extra to share. I know for a fact, the food you stole was indeed all he had, you could've killed him!" Loki expected Hawkeye to give a witty retort to that, but instead the man hung his head in shame. Fury seemed to have earned his respect.

"You're right… Lo' I'm sorry for what I did, he was right, you could've died…" Hawkeye muttered.

That took Loki by surprise, but before he could answer him the man simply turned around and walked away.

"That's really the best you'll get out of him, I'm afraid." Fury said. "He means well, most of the time, and I know he's trying to stay away from the stealing, but truth is, he doesn't have anything himself either. It's why I'm asking him to join us, from time to time. Earns him an earnest coin, and have an extra act. Please don't be too hard on him." Loki nodded in understanding.

"It's just… I was carrying a letter my father wrote to my brother and I think he took it." Loki said, biting his bottom lip.

"I'll ask him to return it, if he has it." Fury said. "Now If you'll excuse me, you need to practice with Natakhta while I prepare some good food for tonight!" With that the man walked away leaving Loki behind alone. Or that's what he thought. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and when he turned around to see who sneaked up on him so, he saw a head full of fiery red hair.

"Natakhta! You startled me! It's a strong feat to sneak up on me!" Loki smiled.

"Light feet!" She said, as if that explained all. "Come on now, I need us to finish up our routine, we're almost there!"

ooOOoo

Tony was pacing through his chambers. He hadn't left them all day and he had send most of the servants asking him if he needed food, a drink, clothes, maybe company, anything, away. He was about to throw a tray of grapes at the person who dared to enter as he was thinking, when he realized it was the person he was thinking about.

"Thor!" He said, a little too loud and and little too fast. The man in question looked at him confused, wondering what may be wrong with his prince, soon to be pharaoh.

"Is there something that ails you?" He asked instead.

"No, no, no!" Thor shook his head. "I was just annoyed at all these interruptions all day… but not you! You're cool!" He patted the man on the back, secretly admiring the mass of muscles Thor was.

"Oh, alright then. Vali wishes to speak to you about entertainment involving your crowning ceremony…" Thor said. The old weapon's master had asked Thor to get the prince out of his room, since he knew perfectly well what kind of mood Tony was in.

"That old dog, getting you to ask me!" Tony said, grinning. Thor was only more confused. "Very well, I will discuss entertainment with him. I guess he's afraid I'd have a disaster like last time I threw a big party… Never again!" Tony said aiming for the door.

"What kind of disaster?" Thor dared to ask, afraid of the answer.

"I had sword dancers, turned out they meant a different kind of sword and when they tried to cover that up by pretend they were, people lost limbs." Tony said casually. He was sure he saw Thor face go green before he left the room. Oh Thor was so easy to trick. In reality no one died, but one, when the sword dancers indeed turned out to be just a group of male prostitutes of which one had dare to lay with Tony. When his father had found out, enraged, and though it was not forbidden, he had the man beheaded, blaming him for something else entirely. Tony had regretted asking the man, for he had to pay with his life, but the night itself had been absolutely blissful. Behind his father's back Tony had had many sexual adventures, just after that one first time with a man he had never dared doing so again, afraid of what his father may do. And never with important ladies who had important fathers that may demand his head on a plate for deflowering their precious daughter and not asking her as his future queen.

He was still in an extreme happy mood when he met up with Vali, who had been so kind to look around what kind of entertainment was available for the crowning ceremony. Together they picked some groups, singers, dancers, anything that would entertain on different parts of the ceremony. Vali then proceeded to arrange all of it for him, while Tony headed back to his room to ponder on a certain someone's godlike body.

ooOOoo

Loki finished practice with Natakhta content at the results they had. They now officially had finished their routine. It was perfect and elegant, and thought Natakhta had done most of the choreography, Loki's input was appreciated and often accepted in it. Natakhta had decided, though that put Loki slightly in a bad mood as he didn't trust him, to ask Hawkeye to open their performance with his archery skills. Which were according to her the best the country had to offer.

They were now discussing their clothes and make-up for the show as Colloson entered the tent to enthusiastically ask them to join for an announcement Fury had to make. Loki and Natakhta looked at each other but neither of them knew what it was going to be about.

When they all gathered around Fury inside the main tent, Loki noticed Vali, who nodded at him before leaving the tent. What is going on?

"Friends, colleagues, pain in the butts. Thanks for gathering… wish you guys were quicker about it…" Oh yes Fury knew how to hold a speech. "I've just gotten wonderful news. News that'll force you all to practice a little harder, and do your utmost best." Fury was quiet for half a minute while looking each and every member of his troupe in the eye.

"As you all know, the crowning ceremony usually has several occasions where they need entertainment." Everyone nodded. There was the morning parade, where the prince would be carried in a golden litter, adorned with hieroglyphs and images of the gods. There would be music acquired along the way, and street performers to accompany the parade. After the ceremony in the temple they'd return to the colossal steps leading to the main gate of the palace where the new pharaoh would show himself to his people, after which he'd declare a party in his name, and entertainers, big and small groups, would be scattered around town to perform, paid by the pharaoh's coin, which was always a handsome fee. But the absolute most honor and money was in the evening's celebration. In the palace the pharaoh would hold a party in honor of himself and around him would be gathered only the highest of officials who were quite eager in spending money on getting the favor of a serving girl, to serve him a little more drinks and sometimes even more.

"The master of arms has just notified me that we are expected to work on this joyful day." Everyone cheered, because though the group wasn't low on money, these kind of festivities usually meant a lot of money for all of them. Ra knew some of them could really use that little extra.

Fury kept them all guessing at what part they were to fulfill until he decided it was enough. "Alright I won't keep you in the dark any longer, I can hear you all gnashing your teeth in anticipation. We are asked to perform at the night festivities, inside the palace, in honor of our new pharaoh!"

Loki felt the words washing over him. This was what he had been working for, this was what he had prepared himself for. Ra must be smiling upon me, he thought. He had an actual chance to get inside the palace. He would free Thor!

Oo

A/N So yeah, slowly getting somewhere. Next chapter is going to be what some have been asking for, for a while now. Hope everyone liked this chapter!? Reviews are appreciated!