Once Neala found out that Thor was about to be king she knew she was running out of time. She waited until everyone retired to their chambers for the evening so she could visit Loki. She tiptoed down the long hallway and quietly knocked on Loki's door. He opened the door after what seemed like an eternity waiting in the dark hallway. Once he saw it was her he had a disgusted look on his face and promptly growled, "What?"

"I need to speak with you." She said as sternly as she could. Loki quickly examined her body and with a roll of his eyes he gestured her in.

"I have more important things to do now so don't waste my time."

"Do not do anything to prevent Thor from becoming king that would also hurt the kingdom."

"Whatever do you mean by that? I'm happy for my brother." Loki said the last bit through a slight grimace.

"We both know that you aren't. If you do anything overtly horrible to ruin this for him it may backfire tenfold and cause the set of events that both of us witnessed in my vision." Loki's jaw visibly tightened and he turned around and looked at Neala with a fire in his stare.

"I cannot let my brother take the throne in his current state. He will bring down all of Asgard with his irresponsible ways." Neala was surprised at how truthful he had just been, and she let a silence fall between them to make sure he did not reveal anything else.

"Well?" He persisted.

"You are not wrong." Loki looked down as he heard words come from her mouth that no one had ever said to him before. He suddenly found himself wanting to talk to her. Not like how they've been conversing. He wanted to sit down and have a nice heart to heart chat. He quickly realized that she would probably never want to do that with him because of how cruel he had been to her. He let out a deep sigh and sat down. He faintly gestured for her to sit, and Neala was surprised at this. Loki was also surprised she accepted the gesture and sat down opposite from him.

Loki held his head up with his right hand, leaning on the arm of the chair and closed his eyes.

"What should I do?" He could not believe he was asking this frail creature, let alone a woman for advice.

"If you must, you should devise a way to let Thor fail his father on his own so that it will not be looked upon as if someone else had planned for it to happen." Loki was then lost in thought, apparently thinking of something that could be done. Neala sat there studying the curve of his cheek, the thinness of his lips, his thin but muscular body.

He must have thought of something because his eyes shot open and he jumped up to run to his desk and search for something. Neala sat there in silence, observing his behavior to see if anything sparked a vision. He found what he was looking for and quickly sat back down in the chair opposite of Neala.

"Will you help me?" Neala was shocked that he would even ask such a question. If she was caught that could mean war between Alfheim and Asgard, and her punishment would probably be death or exile from both realms. He looked up at her when she didn't answer and he saw the sheer panic and anxiety in her face.

"You won't be caught, I promise you that."

"How can you promise such a thing?" Neala said with a shaky voice.

"I can promise you that because I am the God of Mischief and if anything were to go wrong or they investigate and actually find something I will make damn sure that they only find me."

"Why would you of all people protect me? Ever since I came here you've been treating me horribly, even going as far as to bruise my wrists from holding me up against the wall. My answer is no, my dear prince. I will not help you and if you wish for me to reconsider my stance you will have to apologize to me formally." She raised her voice at him as she spat this out. She was now standing looking furiously at him. She only grew angrier as the silence grew. All he could think about was how beautiful she looked and how bright her hair was shining as she yelled at him. He didn't truly hear a word that she had spoken.

Neala let out a huff and practically ran out of his room and ran to hers which was just down the hall. She could not believe his stubbornness and cruelty. She even questioned her motives for trying to prevent the royal monstrosity from losing his sanity. She was then overrun with guilt, as she usually is after a burst of anger. She jumped onto her bed and burrowed her head into the pillows and cried at how foolish she was to say no. That could've been her chance to make sure that the prince did not mess anything up. It could also be a way that she could get closer to him and get to know him better. Neala knew that there was a whole other person beneath his horrid moods. Neala fell asleep in the position she fell in and didn't wake up until dawn.

She woke up to the most beautiful sunrise she has ever seen and quickly got dressed into a powder blue dress that fit snugly around her body and then flowed freely after it hugged her hips. The top of the dress came down to a V and showed off her bust a little. She then made sure her hair looked slightly normal and then ran upstairs to the library that also held the observatory. She ran out onto the balcony and the cold morning air nipped at her skin as she gasped at the breathtaking sunrise.

She must have been deeply impressed by the sunrise to not notice that someone else had come out onto the balcony with her.

"You were very rude to run out of my chambers like that last night." Neala whipped around to see Loki approaching her holding his hands behind his back. His walk was cautious, almost like anticipating Neala to run away or slap him. Instead of doing either of those things, she glared at him and turned around to look at the sunrise again. Loki took this as acceptance.

"I've had some time to think about what happened last night and how I could get around having to use another person in my plan." Loki paused for a second, taking in the brisk cool air and staring at Neala to see her reaction.

"I'm sorry." Neala looked at him with a malicious grin.

"Was that so hard, God of Mischief?" She wanted to play it off in a manner that would cast a mischievous light on her as well. Loki blinked at her, expressionless and not answering her question.

"Will you help me?" He asked for the second time. Neala contemplated his question, staring into the now disappearing colors of the sunrise. She sighed and leaned onto the railing.

"Yes."

"I trust you will tell no one about our little arrangement?"

"Of course not. That would be silly of me to do such a thing. Besides, I don't think you want to be seen even just talking to me."

"Thor thinks that I took you in my bed." Neala let out a gasp and glared at Loki, demanding Loki to say more on the subject. He stayed silent, smirking and staring at the horizon.

"Why would he think such a thing?" Neala spat. Loki's smile only got bigger the louder her voice went. She is so cute when she's angry, Loki thought. Loki looked at her with a big grin and turned to walk inside again.

"Oh no you don't…" Neala said as she blocked the doorway.

"I do believe you're blocking the prince's walkway." He said with a sly grin on his face.

"I don't care if I am. Tell me why Thor thinks such a thing!" She looked as sternly at him as possible, clenching her jaw with anger. Just then Loki looked around to make sure they were alone and pinned her against the door, much like he did the night they had their first confrontation. Neala started with surprise, but it wasn't an altogether horrid surprise. She found she liked being this close to him. The only difference of when he held her before and how he was holding her now is that now he was gently holding her, and she could easily slip away if she chose to. Loki leaned in close and placed his mouth by her left ear so his lips were practically touching her ear. Neala shivered with anticipation and her heart flutter as she thought that he was going to say something very personal.

"He thought so because you were avoiding me at all costs." He whispered gently, released her and swiftly moved around her. He was grinning ear to ear as he heard her regain her thought process and growl to herself at what just happened.

She let out a sound of frustration and then paced around the balcony beating herself up mentally.

How could I let myself be so stupid as to think he was going to whisper a sweet nothing into my ear or even kiss me?

Neala realized that the only reason why he does this to her is to see her angry and frustrated.

He's a well-rounded sadist, he is. He gets pleasure out of watching me helplessly let my emotions out when he controls his emotions so elegantly.

Neala hoped that he shared some of the same emotions she felt with him. She sighed as her mood slowly lowered.

Of course he doesn't share the same emotions for me as I do for him; he's just simply having a little fun teasing me.

She then walked slowly back to her room and drew herself a bath. While she sat there soaking all she could think about was Loki. Frustrated, she lifted herself out of the tub and made herself look presentable. When she walked into her room, naked, from her bathroom she noticed a note that was slid under her door. She lifted up the note and opened it. When she opened it a snake slid out from the paper and she screamed and dropped it. She growled as she guessed who it was from. The snake faded away and she picked up the note to read it.

Meet me in my chambers tonight. We have a lot to discuss.

- Your favorite prince

Neala scoffed at how he signed it. If anyone were to see this note they would surely think they were having an affair together. Must not let them think that, Neala thought. She used what little magic she knew and lit the paper on fire and left it burning there on the stone sink. She put back on her powder blue dress and went down to eat breakfast.

Neala entered the dining hall and found Thor and the warriors all having breakfast together. Thor spotted her from across the room and yelled out to her, smiling all the while. Neala joined them for breakfast and jested with them.

"We are going hunting today, would you like to come?" Thor offered. Neala was delighted to be included in one of the group's adventures.

"I cannot refuse such an appealing offer!" Neala responded.

As they were readying their weapons, Loki stepped out from the shadows.

"I thought you weren't going to join us, brother!" Thor proclaimed as he slapped Loki on the back. Loki began readying his stead as everyone else had done before. After he had mounted his horse he glanced to his side and studied Neala climbing up on her horse. He couldn't help admiring her grace of lifting herself up and gently sitting down on the saddle. Neala saw him looking at her and cocked and eyebrow at him. He quickly looked away and looked as if he wanted to gallop away.

Loki looked very relieved once they started moving towards the forest outside of the palace's east gate. The group stopped before a clearing full of Asgard's deer-like creatures. They dismounted and stood silently, waiting for Thor to signal that the ambush were to start. He finally gave the signal and the warriors, Thor and Loki charged out. Neala jumped out of the tree line, pulled out an arrow and shot one directly through the heart and ran to the other side of the clearing, continuously shooting and killing. The warriors and Thor were using their usual techniques for battle. She realized, suddenly, that she had never seen Loki fight or practice fighting so she decided to search him out and observe his ways. Loki threw knives every which way, each one of them striking one and stopping it completely. He was also using replicas of himself to make sure that their prey wouldn't escape. He noticed her looking and threw an illusion of himself that came up behind her. She yelped with surprise and went to hit him, but of course it disappeared as quickly as it appeared and Loki had a wide grin on his face for the rest of the hunt.

All was going well with the hunt almost over when a loud roar came from behind Neala. She whipped around to see a bildstein getting ready to charge.

She woke up in her bed with a soaring headache and looked around, wondering what happened. She wasn't familiar with the bildstein, so she tried to attack it. That was the last she remembered. She looked outside and felt like it was around midnight, so she went and knocked on Loki's door. When he answered he looked quite shocked that she was out of her bed and quickly invited her in. He gestured for her to sit as he sat in the same chair he sat before.

"What happened?" Loki cocked an eyebrow as he was about to tell the story. This told Neala that he was going to make fun of her and her actions earlier that day.

"You charged after the bildstein with your bow and arrow and thought that was a good idea." Loki said simply, trying hard not to smirk. She quickly realized that he was not going to divulge any more information on the subject and sighed.

"I guess we shouldn't waste this time together on something I know you won't tell me. Have you thought of a plan yet?" He sat contemplating for a second. Neala noticed a glimmer of excitement in his eyes she never saw before and it excited her as well.

"I found some ways to sneak in one of Asgard's enemies. It will only allow for a few of them to enter the treasure room, and of course they will try to get something of theirs back. The all-father will sense them and end Thor's coronation early, thus preventing him from becoming king while I give him a little push to set him off the edge."

"What of Heimdall? Won't he see right through your plan?" At this Loki smiled maliciously.

"You think the God of Mischief cannot outsmart a gate keeper?" Of course he thought about it. He would be daft if he didn't. Neala studied his face, noticed bags under eyes and realized he hasn't gotten enough sleep since Thor's coronation was announced. This gave Neala a very unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"What do you need me for?" She asked, confused.

"You have powers to lure people to you, yes?"

"Yes." She answered hesitantly.

"I need you to lead the Frost Giant leader to the way in and communicate your plan unto him in such a way that he thinks it is his idea." Neala's face soon turned troubled and fraught with worry.

"Why can't you do it?"

"I need to help prepare for this horrid celebration. If I am gone they will surely take notice. But you, they won't notice since you're always hard to find anyway." Neala let out a sigh and stared at the rug, wishing that she hadn't agreed to help. She felt like she was betraying all her morals for this man who doesn't care for her. She can't back out now since she gave Loki her word.

"Are you going to do it or not?" He sneered.

"I have no other choice, my prince." With that, she got up to leave. Loki got up and grabbed her wrist to prevent her going and she turned around to look at him. She looked at him with a sad, longing expression and he looked at her blankly.

"You did not ask when this was to be done."

"When?"

"At first light." He let go of her wrist and she quickly left, no wanting to make a fool out of herself three times in one day.

She got up at dawn and went to breakfast, finding Thor eating alone.

"Nice to see you conscious again, my lady!" He said with a smile. Neala saw this as a chance to find out what happened the day before.

"I'm afraid I don't remember much, could you tell me what happened?"

"You went after a bildstein all by yourself!" He laughed and continued, "You were knocked against a tree and before the beast could hurt you further my brother grabbed you and disappeared in time for the beast to knock itself unconscious. It was one of the wildest things I've witnessed and by far the funniest! You know, you should look out for Loki, I see how he stares at you." He pointed to her haphazardly with his fork. Neala's face flushed with crimson.

"I don't think you know how to tell if someone likes another if you think Loki could even be remotely interested in me!" Thor laughed.

"My brother has a way of hiding his feelings, but none too good at hiding them once he's confronted with them." He pointed at her again with his fork, implying that she should talk to him about it.

"He also wouldn't have been so quick as to put his life in danger for a lady he did not care for." Neala thought about what he had said for a moment, then said farewell and made her way to a room no one went into and most did not know of its existence.

She sat with her legs crossed and let her mind wonder, free from the weight of her body. She knew where Jotenheim was, but she never dared go near it. This time she embraced the darkness of the realm and searched for King Laufey. Once she found him she lured him into a cave separate from all the others, and whispered in his ear that within a few days' time he would send three warriors into the cave to retrieve what was rightfully theirs. He took this into his mind and smiled. At the gruesome sight of his sharp teeth Neala knew that he had accepted the plan as his own. She let her mind travel back into her body.

She knew it took time to do that, but when she came to the sun was setting. She was baffled that time could go so fast when she was concentrating so hard to not mess up. At least she can have the satisfaction of telling Loki that she did as he wished.

She set off for dinner and found no one she knew to eat it with. She ate rather fast, as she had no one to converse with. When she was done she made her way as if she was retiring to her chambers, but as she approached her door she looked around to make sure no one was watching and kept going to knock on Loki's door. He answered quickly, anticipating her every move once she was inside.

"Did it work?" He said eagerly.

"Yes." She let out a smile and looked at his relieved face. Neala relished his calm, relieved face before she spoke again. She planned to do exactly what Thor suggested, and she knew Loki would not take it well.

"Why did you save me from that beast yesterday?" Loki's face hardened and he even looked a little insulted. He looked as if he was fighting some internal battle over what to say. At last, his face softened a little.

"You think I would just watch you die without doing anything?"

"That would be very cruel, but I wouldn't put it past you." He looked insulted and narrowed his eyes at her, but said nothing.

"Why do you want me alive?"

"I need you for my plan to work. We will talk no more of this." Loki hissed as he looked out of his window. Neala was stung, but she didn't know what else she expected. It wasn't like a prince of Asgard, the realm eternal, would fall for a princess of Alfheim. Alfheim was nothing compared to Asgard, and if an Asgardian prince decided to marry an Elf princess that would surely be disgraceful. She suddenly felt like she was going to cry, and she'd be damned if she let him see her do it. So she turned to leave, and Loki whipped around.

"I'm not done with you yet." Loki growled. Neala already had tears in her eyes, waiting to fall. She did not turn to meet his gaze, but she did stop from leaving.

"Can you turn your gaze on King Laufey while in the coronation?" He asked gently. The tears that she was holding in suddenly dropped as she realized that she was just a pawn to him. When she did not answer him he walked hastily towards her and grabbed her wrist to turn her around. She still looked at the ground even though she faced him, so he tilted her head upwards with two fingers under her chin. Neala looked at him through the tears and saw his face was fraught with guilt once he realized she was crying. He brushed her cheek softly and looked as if he was going to kiss her.

"I saved you because I could not stand to see you die." He whispered softly, never taking his gaze off of her. Neala then saw something else in his eyes. Was it love? Could Loki feel love? She started doubting reality because surely this was not happening. He embraced her and held her close to him. She put her hands on his chest and breathed in his scent gleefully.

"Will you still work with me?" Loki pulled away so their eyes could meet and he brushed away the hair from her face lovingly.

"Yes, my prince."

Knock Knock

Loki's brow furrowed in confusion as to who would be knocking on his door at this hour besides Neala.

"Brother! Let me in!" Thor said drunkenly. Loki sighed and quickly hid Neala in his bathroom to the left of his bed and opened the door to a very drunk Thor.

"Brother! I have someone who would like to be with you! Hurry and take her so I can get back to my room where my woman is!" He pushed a gentle shy looking maiden from the slums into Loki's bedroom.

"Thor, take her with you back to your chambers, I would think you like two women at the same time." Loki replied slyly.

"No, no. This one's for you!"

"I will not take her." Loki said sincerely, led her out of his room and slammed his door shut. Neala slowly crept from the bathroom, seeing Loki clearly upset that this happened in front of her.

"Does he do that often?"

"More often than I would like."

"Do you accept his offers on most nights as well?" Neala dared to ask.

"Sometimes," He answered truthfully, "when I feel lonely." Neala felt sorry for him just then. She realized that he never got his father's full attention and that no one liked him much because of how bitter he had become. His bitterness was a defense mechanism against getting hurt. She saw now how vulnerable he really is. She wanted to hug him, but felt like that would be out of the question after Thor interrupted their tender embrace.

"I will keep an eye on the three Frost Giants and make sure they break in on time." Loki turned around and looked at her.

"Thank you, Neala." Both of them noticed he dropped 'lady' in front of her name. She blushed and Loki laughed a little at her.

"I should go." Neala said gently.

"Yes, I suppose you should." His hand brushed her cheek again and he led her to his door. She left feeling better than ever, but also growing more nervous about the plan as Thor's coronation grew closer.