Consciousness flitted around Loki's head like snowflakes caught in an updraft. She struggled to grasp onto it. As her hold became stronger, she noticed a strange sensation on her skin. It was warm and utterly foreign. She squirmed and moaned softly, all the complaint she could manage. Besides, it really wasn't all that unpleasant. She was comfortable, in a bed so soft, it felt as if it was straight out of one of the stories she'd heard told. Her eyes, though shut, saw an amber glow through the lids. Strange, she thought again.

Finally, she felt awake enough to open her eyes. Blinking against the bright light, it took a few moments for her vision to come into focus. The first thing she saw was the smiling face of the prince and the memory of her circumstance at once came back to her, filling her with dread. She groaned and rolled away from him.

"Go away," she grumbled, shutting her eyes tight once more, as if she could make him disappear by simply refusing to look at him.

"I shall not," came the reply, and she could hear the smile in his voice. How dare he enjoy this!

"You shall see that grin ripped from your face if you do not remove it this instant," she growled, still turned away.

"My apologies, I am happy to see you well. Wait, how did you know I was smiling? You're not looking at me," the prince's confusion was honest, and frustratingly endearing. Loki relented and turned to look at him.

"You speak your emotions with foolish ease. I wonder if you even possess the ability to hide them." Loki sat up, slowly, feeling a bit lightheaded. Thor fretted over her, but she shushed him. "I am fine. Leave me be."

As her vision stopped swimming from the change in position, she glanced down at her arms and noticed something. Something troubling. Her skin was not her skin. A panic rose in her, and she cried out in alarm and rubbed frantically at her arms. Gone was her deep blue hue and Jotun markings, in their place, the plainest, pale porcelain. An atrocity.

"What is this? What have you done to me?" She threw aside the thin coverlet and her legs under her gown were the same awful shade of alabaster. Her hands shot to her head, feeling for her small horns, but those were gone now, too.

"Loki, calm down," Thor demanded, putting a hand on her shoulder which she promptly shoved off. He spoke louder. "It was done to save your life!"

"You've stolen my body!" Her words were a high pitched yell, and Thor desperately tried to quiet her down. He stepped in front of her, trying to catch her gaze, to get through to her, but she was not hearing him. "My skin, my markings! You've stolen them! Put me back!" She pummeled her hands uselessly against Thor's chest until he grabbed them, stilling her.

"Will you be quiet!?" He shouted back at her in frustration. "Listen to me! We had to change your skin, you wouldn't have survived!"

"Lies!" she yelled, but she finally realized how futile her struggling was and gave in to tears. "I am a monster. You've made me a monster!"

Thor released her hands, which retreated to be clutched against her stomach. "Loki, you are not a monster. You're still you, still Jotun, but now you can survive here. Do you not remember when you fainted coming out of the Bifrost? You could not live like that. You were in so much pain. Remember?"

Loki shook her head, spitting her venomous anger at him. "You selfish bastard! You think you can just change someone, take away their identity to satisfy your royal whim? Was I unacceptable?! The spoiled prince could not stand to look at a Jotun? Why did you take me, if I was not what you wanted?"

"Silence!" Thor's own temper hovered on the edge, spurred on by her accusations. "This was not my choice! I did not want it. It was necessary. I thought you beautiful before, and you still are. Though your mouth is not very becoming at all."

And Loki was beautiful, even though she could not yet see it. Her pitch black hair, though it hung in messy strands, remained unchanged, and now it stood out in lovely contrast to her newly pale skin. Skin so pale, it was like honeyed milk, with just a hint of color on her cheeks and lips. Her eyes, though they shone with a furious fire, were actually a vivid green. She was so wholly unique, unlike any Aesir Thor had ever seen before.

"Perhaps you should have altered that part of me as well," she sneered, unmoved by his words. It is a spell, she realized, and stilled. Magic was something she was quite familiar with, an unusual trait in a Jotun, and one she kept hidden for that very reason. Loki felt around the edges of the spell, to see if she could find a way underneath, but the edges were all tucked in tightly. She could not undo it. Not yet.

Calmer, she finally was able to stop and think. And as much as she hated it, she did remember the suffocating pain of the heat when she first arrived. Suffering with this awful, plain skin was better than living with that. Loki had no choice but to relent, though she did not have to be happy about it.

So the pair was left glaring at each other, neither willing to let go of their anger, until finally Loki made to stand. She wobbled a bit, but held steady, her stubbornness helping to keep her upright.

"What are you doing?" Thor was right there at her side, holding out his hand to steady her, though she drew away from him, taking a few steps on her own. Satisfied that she was able to walk, she turned to him.

"I wish to see my quarters, unless," she looked around the healing room with disdain, "this is where I am to stay?"

"No, but you are still recovering. You need to rest."

"Nonsense! I am perfectly fine." She managed a few steps, then let out a squeal as Thor hoisted her up in his arms.

"If you insist on leaving now, then I will carry you." he proclaimed, holding her tight despite her squirming and howling. The healers, gathered on the far side of the room, watched with open mouths as the prince struggled to hold onto this woman who not long ago was so sick, she appeared near death. A few could not stifle their giggles as Loki sunk her teeth into Thor's shoulder, and his own yell filled the room. Still, he did not put her down, just threw her over his shoulder and headed out into the hall.

Resigned, Loki looked around as she was ferried down the hallway. Never had she seen so much gold and bright colors. It all shone, not with an icy coolness, but with metallic warmth. The light touched everything. Stunning, Loki thought, though she still resented being carried.

"I am quite enjoying my tour, your highness. Who would have thought the royal sons of Asgard made such handy servants?" she teased. When she got no response, she huffed and was about to let loose another remark when Thor stopped and let go with one hand in order to open one side of a pair of double doors. He strode into the room and Loki let out another loud squeal when he unceremoniously dumped her onto the middle of the large bed.

With an air of indignation, she scrambled to her feet and glared at him. "Do not ever do that again," she seethed.

Thor smiled and waved his hand to dismiss her protests. "Shush. You are fine. You wanted to see your room. This is it."

Loki held her glare a few more moments, then reluctantly let her gaze shift to examine the room. It was done in the same golden tones as the rest of the palace she'd seen so far, but it also had some touches of rich, dark wood in the furniture and deep green fabrics. The green was striking, Loki thought, and she went to a long drape, held open to showcase the balcony, and ran her fingers along it. It was smooth, pleasing to touch and she smiled.

Walking out onto the balcony, she became awestruck at the sight of the glistening gold city laid out before her. The rooftops all cast long shadows as they shone in the setting sun, for it was nearly nightfall. Thor came up behind her, though he remained a respectful distance.

"This is Asgard. It is my home," Thor said softly. "It is yours now, too."

"It is beautiful, but it is not my home." Loki replied, frankly but without bitterness.

Thor frowned, but seemed to understand. "It will be. You must give it time, Loki. Tomorrow, I shall take you around, and show you all the beauty of Asgard. You will come to love this realm as much as I do."

Doubtful, Loki thought, but did not say it aloud. Instead, she gave Thor a noncommittal nod and returned inside. There was a desk and chair, some empty bookshelves, and a wardrobe, with two fancy golden knobs, that when yanked open, revealed a collection of long gowns in all sorts of colors and soft fabrics. It was more than she ever had on Jotunheim, more than she'd ever expected to have.

Footsteps behind her told her Thor had followed her back in, and she wondered how long he would stay. To be honest, she was torn. Thor was overbearing and irritating, and Loki had always enjoyed the peace and quiet of solitude. But Thor was also caring and earnest and the only thing even remotely familiar in this strange place. Still, weariness had begun to seep back into her bones, and she decided she'd had enough.

"Thank you, Thor. That will be all." said Loki, closing the wardrobe doors and turning to Thor, plainly dismissing him. Thor's smile froze on his face, then began to melt away as he blinked at her and then all that was left was the unhappiest expression Loki had ever seen. Like someone had just kicked his puppy. She giggled and felt sorry for him. "Unless you need something else...?"

"Well, um, I was thinking maybe you'd be hungry." Thor stammered.

Loki's interest was piqued. The stories told about the fancied feasts in Asgard were among her favorites growing up. Meats, all kinds of vegetables, and they were all cooked and served hot! Fresh fruits that dribbled sweet juices down your chin when you took a bite and cups overflowing with rich mead that warmed you from the inside out. Yes, she was terribly excited to see the food, and her stomach rumbled loudly.

"Oh, yes. I am hungry," she said eagerly and Thor grinned broadly in response.

"Are you up to joining me in the dining hall, or shall I have our meal delivered here?" he inquired.

The prospect of being presented to the public left a sick feeling in Loki's stomach, threatening to steal away her appetite before she even had a chance to look at the food. "Here, please," she asked.

Thor nodded, as if he'd expected that answer. "Then I shall go and request our meals. Is there anything in particular that you'd like?"

"Anything." Was Loki's eager reply, for she really did want to try it all. Again, Thor grinned and excused himself, promising to return quickly.

Finally alone, Loki wandered the room for a while, discovering the attached washroom. The white marble surfaces reminded her of the icy surfaces in Jotunheim and she wrinkled her nose at it and returned to the bedroom. With no distractions, her tiredness returned, and the warmth that she doubted she'd ever get used to, wilted her. She laid down on the bed, intending to just rest her eyes until Thor returned, but was asleep within minutes.

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