Over the next few weeks, Thor barely left Loki's side. Every morning, he would knock on her door first thing. She rarely answered him, as he always entered without waiting for her welcome. Loki found it endearing and never chided him for it. Usually he brought breakfast with him, and they ate together in her room. Over the meal, Thor would quiz her relentlessly about her life in Jotunheim. She in turn asked him many questions about his own upbringing. The difference in the way they had lived their lives thus far was astonishing. Though technically, they were both royalty, it meant nearly nothing in Loki's life and absolutely everything in Thor's.

After each meal, Thor brought her to a new section of palace, or the grounds surrounding it. Every part of it fascinated Loki, though she found herself getting more and more annoyed by Thor's company. It was a stark contrast to the life of near-constant solitude that she had been accustomed to, and one that was difficult to get used to. She bristled at his presence often, though Thor seemed to take it all in stride. In fact, he seemed to particularly enjoy when Loki snapped at him. Which she did. Often.

Part of Loki's frustration stemmed from Thor's behavior toward her during that time. Sure, he was with her all the time, and he touched her often. But they were all chaste, fleeting touches, confined to neutral places like her arms or back. Since the kiss they'd shared in the library, Thor had kept himself at a distance. That kiss had awakened parts of her psyche that she'd never paid attention to before, left her wanting things she'd never wanted before. She wanted him to kiss her again; she wanted him to do much more than that. Loki supposed it he was simply trying to prove his intentions honorable. She could not find fault with that, but it left her discouraged.

Loki worried that he'd changed his mind about her. That he was no longer interested in courting her. The amount of attention he gave to her would argue otherwise, but it was never the right kind of attention. Part of Loki longed to be the aggressor. While he leaned in close to point out a detail on some painting, she considered leaning back and closing the gap between their bodies. Or when he rambled on and on about about some Asgardian artifact, she considered how nice it would be to shut him up with a kiss. But Loki never did. It was not her right to take from him. If she acted too bold, he would have cause to send her away.

So she waited. And grew more and more frustrated.

Of course, the times where she thought Thor would drive her insane were tempered by joyful days, like the one where he brought her to the stables. The great wooden structure was full of horses. Horses were unheard of in Jotunheim, though again, Loki had read stories and seen renderings of them. Seeing the beasts up close was awe inspiring. As Thor led them both down a row of stalls, Loki peered into each one to see the occupant. She smiled at them, but Thor pulled her along too quickly for her to greet any.

Finally, Thor stopped them in front of a large stall near the rear of the stables. A large white stallion, broad and beautiful, came to greet Thor.

"This is Bjartr, my stallion," said Thor, his pride evident in his voice.

Loki was astounded by his size, but also by his gentleness. She approached the beast with no fear, only curiosity. He sniffed her as she touched the smooth, wiry hair on his side. The horse sniffed at her, and Loki laughed.

"He is breathtaking," she exclaimed, stroking down the soft fur of his face.

"Bjartr comes from a long line of royal stallions," Thor boasted. "He was bred to be the strongest, most handsome horse in the kingdom." He paused, watching Loki fawn over his horse. "He seems to like you."

"He is a wise creature." Loki said, quite taken with Bjartr as well. She ran her hands along his smooth, muscled shoulders, feeling the thrum of power just underneath the skin.

"He is a lucky creature," Thor grinned, patting the stallion fondly. Loki rolled her eyes, but could not help the grin. "Perhaps I will take you riding. Show you the woods just beyond the palace."

"I would like that very much. Oh!" Loki startled then, for another nose nudged her on the back. She spun around to see a black mare poking her head over from the next stall.

"And who might you be?" Loki laughed, petting the horse's snout.

"That is Nott, the mare intended for Bjartr," Thor answered. "She has proven difficult to train and is not yet broken in enough to ride. We will find another horse for you."

"Oh, I don't know, Thor. She seems quite gentle to me." The black horse was snuffling around Loki, tickling her. "She is very sweet."

"I believe both my horses like you better than they do me!" Thor complained with a playful pout. "Or anyone else, for that matter. She has never been like this with any of the stable-hands or trainers. But I still do not think it safe for you to ride her." Nott whinnied nervously when Thor approached, causing Thor to pause where he was. He did not want to risk upset the horse any further, especially with Loki standing so close. Bjartr came up behind him, curious about the goings on, but also keeping his distance.

"I would like to try." Loki stroked Nott's mane to calm her, Looking into those deep brown equine eyes, Loki saw a good deal of apprehension, but also a longing to trust. It was a mix of feelings that Loki was quite familiar with, and she felt a bond with the animal because of it. She believed the horse would be fine. "Please, Thor."

Thor sighed, as if he wanted to argue, but felt unable to. "We will see what her mood is tomorrow. If she is agreeable, then you can ride her. Is that alright?"

Loki nodded and grinned, her green eyes sparkling as if she had already been given permission.

The next day, Thor brought Loki and a pack of provisions back to the stable. He'd explained to her along the way that Nott would likely not be fit for riding, to not get her hopes up. Loki just nodded, though she knew he would be proven wrong. The head trainer greeted the pair as they drew near the stable doors.

"Majesty, your horses are both saddled and ready for you to take them," the man said with a small bow.

"Both?" Thor asked. "Nott allowed the saddle?"

"Yes, sir. She has been much more docile since you and your lady left yesterday. She has allowed us to groom her and saddle her with few problems. You'll see." At that, the trainer left to bring out the horses.

Thor turned and raised an eye at Loki. "Magic?"

"No, Thor. I did not use magic on her." Loki rolled her eyes. "I believe she was just waiting for the right person to trust."

It turned out that Loki was right. Nott accepted her and followed easily the commands Thor had shown her. The pair seemed to learn together, and took to each other quickly while both Thor and his steed watched proudly. Once they cleared the palace grounds, a wide open plain sprawled between them and the woods. There, the horses were allowed to show off their speed. Loki found it exhilarating. The wind whipping through her hair, the powerful vibrations of the horses hooves pounding the ground, the sight of Thor's exuberant grin as he rode along next to her, all made her heart sing.

It continued to sing as they entered the woods, slower now that the horses had to maneuver around trees and over some uneven terrain on the path. Here, the trees are what captured Loki's eye. They were everywhere. Surrounding her all the way up to the sky, where they converged so thickly that only sparse sunlight could break through. The ground was covered in bushes and shrubs and a thick layer of leaves and ivy that crunched underfoot. As Thor led them further in, the woods seemed to close up behind them, leaving Loki in a world unlike any she'd ever been in before.

As Loki looked around in awe, Thor looked at her. She caught him watching her several times, though he turned away each time. That made her frown, despite her high spirits. She wished he would make his intentions more clear. Was this what Thor meant when he asked her to trust him? If anything, she felt farther from him than ever.

The serene beauty of the wood surrounding them, along with their complete isolation made for exactly the romantic atmosphere Loki had been hoping for. Perhaps Thor was planning to use it to his advantage. Loki hoped. They came to a clearing beside a small lake, where the dappled sunlight made the crystalline blue of the water sparkle and dance before Loki's eyes. They dismounted and Thor led the horses to the edge of the water to drink.

Despite Loki's hope, Thor proved yet again to be completely, infuriatingly honorable. They had a picnic lunch with the provisions Thor had brought. Sitting next to each other on the blanket, the pair laughed and talked about everything. There were many times Loki's heart sped up because Thor would glance at her, and she'd fully expected him to lean in closer and kiss her. But she was let down every time. It left her annoyed and by the time he'd packed everything back up and they started the return trip, Loki was full on angry.

Thor seemed to take no notice of Loki's mood. He was smiling and genial as always as he led them home and Loki wondered if he really was daft, or if he was purposely ignoring it. After returning the horses to the stables, Loki wanted nothing more than to return to her rooms to be alone. Since she knew the way back to palace from here, she took off without waiting for Thor, who was talking with one of the groomers.

Walking quickly, trying to get far enough ahead of Thor that he wouldn't catch up, she didn't notice the Warriors Three or Sif coming along an intersecting path.

"Loki!" Volstagg called out cheerfully. "It is wonderful to see you!"

Loki forced a polite smile. "Hello, Volstagg." The group had stopped, and though Loki felt obligated to stop as well, she didn't want to. She took a few steps toward the palace, hoping they'd get the hint. "I am sorry I cannot -"

Sif cut her off. "Where is Thor? Has he tired of you already?"

"Sif, that is not necessary" Volstagg admonished her, then turned to Loki sheepishly. "We are all missing our friend, though we know he has been busy showing you around. Which is not your fault. Perhaps you would know where we could find him?"

"I left him at the stables. You should check there." Loki said, speaking to Volstagg, ignoring the others. "Now if you'll excuse me."

"Do you need any assistance, my lady?" Fandral spoke up before she could leave.

"No, thank you." Loki's brows knitted at the obvious look of disappointment on the blond's face. What was he playing at? No matter, Loki turned and left them without a backwards glance.

Sif was lucky she was not in a mood to fight. Had Loki been at all confident in Thor's feelings toward her, she may have stood her ground a bit more. But his behavior left doubt swirling in her mind. Had he changed his mind? Had he grown tired of her? What would Loki do if he had?

She made it back to her room, and after changing out of her riding clothes, into a more comfortable dress, she plopped face down on the bed. Melancholy had crept in and now had a firm hold on her. Loki was at a loss as to how to escape it. If Thor no longer wanted her, there was nothing she could do to change his mind. Was there?

A knock at the door roused Loki from her pensiveness. Thor? Groaning, she got up from the bed to check, torn between wanting to see him and not wanting to see him ever again. Her steps slowed as she approached the door, realizing that if it were Thor, this would be the first time he waited until she opened it to come in. What would cause such a break from his typical behavior? The possibilities left a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach. However, when she hesitantly opened the door, it was not Thor standing there. It was Fandral.

"My lady," the blond said with a small bow. "I came to check that you were alright. You seemed distraught."

"I am fine, Fandral." Loki replied, her brows furrowing into a frown. "Thank you for your concern." She moved to close the door, but Fandral shot his hand out to stop it.

"May I come in?" he asked. Loki wavered. She really wanted to be alone, and if she had to have company, she'd have preferred Thor's. But to refuse Fandral would be rude. Besides, she was a little curious as to what he wanted.

"Alright" She stepped aside and allowed the warrior into her room. He looked around the still sparsely furnished room. Only a few books she'd brought from the library made the room seem at all lived in. Leaving the door open wide, Loki made her way over to where Fandral stood.

"What is it that you want?" Loki demanded after Fandral did not speak for several moments. He gave her a smile that was nowhere near as innocent as Loki knew he tried to make it.

"As I said, I merely wished to make sure you were well. What was it that had you upset before? Is it Thor? Has he been inappropriate with you?"

"How Thor behaves with me is of no concern to you." Loki had a hard time keeping a straight face. Fandral was so transparent, it was laughable. He saw this as an opportunity to perhaps win her heart, since Thor had not seemed to claim it thus far. A snowflake stood better chance here in Asgard than Fandral had with Loki, but she saw no reason not to play along for a while. She was bored, and a game with Fandral sounded like fun.

She stepped closer to Fandral and delighted at how wide his eyes became as they took her in. She smiled demurely, "Why do you worry so about my welfare? I am nothing worthy of such trouble."

"Oh, but you are, Loki." Fandral reached a hand up, likely aiming to touch her cheek, but with a shake of her head, she avoided it. Dropping his hand, but holding her gaze, he spoke softly. "I am likely playing with fire here, but I find you irresistible."

"Fire would be a welcome respite from the trouble you're inviting now." She looked up and met his eyes boldly. "You are either brave or stupid. I am not sure which yet."

"Likely a bit of both." Fandral laughed. "But you, Loki, you are worth it. Rare, stunning yet feisty. Like a delicate flower, pretty but poisonous. What price would not I pay for the chance to court you, my flower. To court you properly, I mean. Like you deserve. My friend has no wiles when it comes to seducing a woman. He has never had to work for anything."

"As you have, I'm sure, for everything." Loki quipped. Fandral was coming on strong, making him an easy target.

Loki's dig passed right over Fandral's head, of course. He grew even more bold, placing his hands on Loki's hips, a lascivious look upon his face. "I would work for you."

Suddenly Loki no longer wanted to play the game. His hands felt heavy and wrong, his scent cloying now that he was too close. She stepped back, needing to distance herself from him.

"You'll have to work much harder after your arms are rent from your body," she warned. Loki wanted to believe Thor would do that, but she really had no idea if he'd care at all. Still, she played the bluff and hoped Fandral would buy it.

Relax, flower," Fandral chuckled, earning a grimace from Loki over the endearment. "I know not to overstep my bounds. I will bide my time until Thor is finished." He closed in once more and Loki stiffened.

"When he grows tired of you, when he tosses you aside for the next woman, I will be there. And I will show you how you deserve to be treated." Fandral's words spoke directly to her deepest fears, and it threw her. Her mind reeled and she barely noticed that he'd grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. His beard scratched her knuckles unpleasantly when he pressed his lips to them, but she could only stare.

"Just wait for me, flower," he whispered, then he let her hand down and walked out the door. Loki was left staring after him, mouth agape, wondering what had just happened.

So Fandral figured the same thing she had, that Thor would have his fun with her and then move on. He knew Thor better than anyone, and his assumptions did not ease Loki's mind at all. Was that what waited for her when Thor turned her away? A life with Fandral? Loki seriously doubted he would be any better. He seemed as prolific a lover as Thor, though without Thor's brawn or his crown to ease his way.

She did not have much time for introspection though, for no sooner than her daze began to clear than Thor's brawny form filled her doorway. She watched him warily from where she still stood in the center of her room, for he looked cross. The door shook in it's frame with the force he used to slam it shut and when he strode up to her, Loki could not help to shrink back a bit. Had Thor seen Fandral emerging from her room? The implications that carried, how it must have looked to Thor, left cold fingers of dread playing their way down her spine.

"Why did you leave?" Thor demanded. "Had you somewhere else to be?"

"No," Loki said simply, in response to his second question. She ignored his first, as she could tell he was more focused on accusations than explanations. It was as she'd feared. Thor suspected the worst.

"I saw Fandral leaving your room just now. Is that why you left? To see him?"

"No." She repeated, this time with exasperation. "I figured you were finished with me, and I was feeling tired, so I returned to my room." Thor's anger incited her own. Why should he care if Fandral showed interest in her? It's not as if Thor was interested.

"You returned here to see Fandral," he prodded.

Loki sighed. "I came here to be alone. I wanted to be alone. I came across your friends on the path and I suppose Fandral took it upon himself to come check on me. Why is that a problem, Thor?"

Thor began to pace, his face pulled into a scowl. "Why did he check on you? What did he say? Was he inappropriate with you?" His echoing of Fandral's words made Loki chuckle. "This is not a laughing matter, Loki! If he laid a hand on you..." Thor let himself trail off, his anger cutting off his words. His fists were balled by his side, knuckles white with tension.

"If he laid a hand on me, what then?" Loki shouted, unafraid. "Someone should be able to! Why not him?"

The prince stopped in front of Loki, his eyes wild. "Because you are mine," he seethed.

Loki barked out a laugh. "Ha! Yours!? Oh, you have some way of asserting your claim, haven't you? How am I yours? You do not touch me, you do not kiss me, you've shown zero interest in me other than as a tour guide. Maybe I desire more than just a tour guide. If you will not claim me, then give someone else a chance."

Thor gripped her arms, a favored move when he was angry, it seemed. "Did you give Fandral that chance? Is that what happened here?"

"No, Thor! I did not! I could not!" Loki hated the tears that threatened to spill over, hated the weakness they conveyed, but she was powerless to stop them.

"He did not touch you?" Thor demanded again.

Loki shook her head, refusing to acknowledge the kiss Fandral put on her hand. "I have not been touched. By anyone. That's what you want, right? Perhaps you should find a gilded cage to lock me away until you might have use for me."

"If that is what it takes to keep you safe, I will." He stepped closer to Loki, so that their bodies were practically flush. His broad hands wrapped nearly entirely around her upper arms, fingers pressing into her skin. Loki could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, and as she looked up into his shining blue eyes, her heart beat so rapidly, it seemed as if it could take flight.

"I have kept my distance out of respect to you." The fire in Thor's eyes shifted, from anger to lust. A different hue, perhaps, but the flames still roared, searing straight through Loki. "But make no mistake. You are mine, Loki. It is time I showed you what that means."

Yay, long chapter! Fandral is a scoundrel and Thor needs to get a clue. He'll get something next chapter, that's for sure.

Thank you for reading! Comments/reviews are always appreciated. :)