A/N: Sorry this took FOREVER to post! Working retail throughout the holidays doesn't leave much time for a personal life, let alone writing. And, then by the time I was able to get some time to write I had complete writer's block. But, I think I'm past it so hopefully I'll be able to update sooner. Thank you for being patient you guys and hope that you had a wonderful holiday!

Chapter Seven

I sat in the library, my chin resting on my hand and stared off amongst the piles upon piles of old books. My mind was lost to the legends of old wondering what it would have been like to see wars between gods rage. What it would have been like to see the nine realms before anyone set foot upon their soils. How it would have appeared to watch the first person take air into their lungs.

But, my mind was not occupied with such thoughts for long. Not when Loki was always lurking nearby. And as if on cue I dragged my eyes upward not at all surprised to see Loki standing before me. Inhaling slowly, I raised both eyebrows and pursed my lips together.

"Shall we?"

"Shall we what, Loki?" I asked, my tone not at all curious.

"Leave the confinements of the library."

"And, go where?"

"Do you often ask so many questions?"

"Yeah when the person I'm talking to keeps avoiding the answer."

He sighed. "Just come."

I slid out from my chair, straightening the wrinkles from my skirt and followed after him. Silently, I matched his step as we walked through the long corridors passing by other Asgardians who would acknowledge the two of us with curious glances. I shifted my gaze toward my heeled feet and brought my hands together, folding my fingers in front of me and sighing.

Loki turned to look at me for a moment before rolling his eyes and looking away. I grimaced, annoyed that one small sound would irritate him so much already. He had already taken plenty of time to tell me how he disliked Midgardian noises, specifically the way they talked, breathed—basically, lived—to the point that I stood up and walked away from him. The following morning he woke me by pointing out how loudly I exhaled while I slept and that it was no wonder why I had no man to sleep beside at home.

My cheeks flushed at the memory and I did well not to exhale sharply in irritation. The man really knew how to get under my skin. Though, I highly doubted he did intentionally. Then again, he was the God of Mischief.

I looked up at him curiously. The light from the windows poured through the halls, illuminating around him as we walked. It shined off of the gold plating on his leather ensemble, reflecting along the walls and the marbled floor. He donned on his green cloak that I recognized from when I had accompanied the Lady Sif and her hunting party into the woods. It flapped behind him with each long stride of his boot-clad feet.

"Where are we going?" I asked him moving my gaze to his determined face. His thin lips were tight, and his dark brows knitted as he chose to ignore my question. I sighed and tried again. "Are we going out into the woods?" He titled his head slightly and continued with his even stride. "Loki, I really don't feel comfortable out there. Especially what happened last time."

"You can be rest assured that there will be no horses to trample you under their feet or swine for you to hunt," he said in a bored tone.

I stopped walking. I felt much safer confined inside walls rather than out there in the woods. I could still learn a lot without trudging through the dirt and leaves of a mythical forest. Loki turned around with a less-than-amused expression scrawled along his face. He raised one brow, and gestured for me to continue following him. I remained still.

"Do not defy me," he said calmly, a vein protruding from within the confinements of his robes. "I offer you a great chance to learn things that no book should ever teach you." I folded my arms across my chest and shook my head. "Dare I ask why?"

I shrugged. "I just don't want to go out there."

"Letting fear cripple you is weak and pathetic," he sneered, "it is—"

"What?" I cried out extending my arms outward, "It's human?" Slowly, I brought my hands down to my waist. "Newsflash Loki, I am human."

His jaw set and his sharp tongue quickly licked at the bottom of his lips. "Fine, suit yourself. Play it safe inside these walls and do the opposite of what it was that you were sent here for."

My mouth started to open, my brain digging for a snarky comeback when he suddenly vanished and left me in the hallway alone.

"Why does the pretty lady sulk alone?" I looked up from the book that sat comfortably in my lap and twisted to see Fandral hovering over my shoulder. Feigning a smile, I closed the book and shrugged. He frowned and came around the bench that I sat on, taking a seat uncomfortably close. I scooted over a bit, tensing as his arm draped around the back of the bench. "It is a far too beautiful of a day to be sad."

I nodded, pulling the book closer to my stomach. "I'm not sad. It's just been a—"

I paused trying to decide what kind of day it had actually been. Loki's change in mood hadn't settled well with me and I couldn't figure out why. I tried to find him after he had vanished but it was in vain. So, I decided to pick a book from the library and sit out in the gardens.

However, I didn't think I'd be interrupted after only five minutes of reading.

"It's been a long day," I said heavily, rubbing my fingers along the spine of the book.

He looked down at my lap, and tugged the book from my grasp. "And, what is it that you are reading?"

"Oh, nothing," I said quickly reaching out as he opened to a random page and began to read with an amused expression. "It was just a book I picked up."

"Ale you brewed, Ægir and you will never again hold a feast; all your possessions which are here inside—may flame play over them, and may your back be burnt," he read eloquently and almost over the top. He laughed loudly, and slammed the book shut. "This is pure nonsense, tales of the old. You are here to learn of our ways are you not?"

"Yes," I said trying to reach for the book once more. "That's why I'm reading about the tales of the old as you put it."

"Reading these old books will get you no where, my fair lady." His blue eyes lit up and a smile scrawled along his handsome face. "Oh, what wonders behold inside my mind. I have a wonderful idea." I stared at him blankly. "Come with me. I have something to show you."

Before I could even think to say no he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from my spot, the book falling onto the ground. I started to protest but he was ever persistent and excitedly dragged me toward the edge of the nearby forest, the last place that I wanted to be in.

He bent down slowly, his long fingers brushing at the broken spine of the book as he lifted it off the ground. Curiously, he thumbed through the yellowed pages, glancing at the poetic words that scrawled across the leaf. So, she had been reading about him, how quaint, he mused shutting the book closed.

"Fandral, I really don't feel comfortable going—"

"I promise you my lady you have never seen anything more beautiful."

Loki pursed his lips together and against better judgment decided to follow. After all, it was he who wanted to take Hayden into the woods. There was no doubt in his mind that Fandral was taking her to the springs. It was where he had planned to take her before she became completely and utterly stubborn. Midgardians. Rolling back his shoulders, he set the book neatly on the bench that was still warm from where Hayden sat and followed them into the woods.

It was growing darker with each step that we took and I could feel my heart beat wildly against my chest. I kept reminding myself that at least there were no horses to try and stomp me into the ground and I wasn't being dragged to kill a scared, helpless animal. This was more like a hiking expedition, not a hunting debacle. And, Fandral was handy with a bow and arrow. What exactly was there to be afraid of?

Other than the fact that I tended to shy away from being outside as it was.

My foot slipped in something mud-like, the heel of my shoe digging into the earth caused me to nearly fall. Steadying myself I cursed silently wishing that I'd have known I was going to be dragged through the woods. I'd have worn much more sensible shoes than high-heels. Or, at least have locked myself in my chambers all day.

Fandral stopped—sensing a woman in distress, no doubt—and rushed to where I awkwardly stood as I tried to pull my heel free. "Do not struggle my lady," he urged kneeling down onto the ground and gingerly placing his leather-gloved hands onto my ankle. "You will only upset it more."
"It?" I asked raising both my brows. "Upset it?"

Fandral nodded as his eyes grew slightly smaller. He then smiled wide and laughed. "I forget you are not of this realm. Your beauty is matched for that of an Asgardian Goddess much rather than a Midgardian."

I tried my best not to gag. "Fandral…what is it that my foot is caught in?"

"Oh," he said as though he had completely forgotten what it was that we were talking about. His hands slipped my foot free from my heel while his arm swooped down and caught me in his grasp so that I was cradled against his chest. He carried me away from the sludge as I helplessly watched my shoe sink into the mud hole. "It is a slugorth."

"A slugorth?" I tiredly asked as he set me down onto a grassy patch of ground. The area was slightly damp and cold to my feet but not so much that I couldn't get used to it. Sighing, I bent down and slipped my other foot free and tossed the shoe aside. There was twelve dollars I would never see again.

"You do not have slugorth's in Midgard?" I shook my head no and he smiled. "Be that you consider yourself lucky, my lady. They are quiet distasteful things." He cocked his head and indicated that I continue to follow him, despite now being barefoot. "Come now, we are not much further."

I cast a longing look back to where my shoe once was noticing that the mud hole was now bubbling. Scrunching my nose, I quickly followed after Fandral making a mental note to look up what a slugorth really was.

We walked for a couple of more minutes which mostly consisted of my stepping on twigs and small rocks followed by grunts and small cries. By the time we reached the clearing I knew I'd need a tetanus shot of some sort. Did Asgardian's even have medicine like that? I paled at the thought of having to have my foot hacked off from an infection.

"I told you, did I not? It is breathtaking," said Fandral in a light, soothing voice.

I blinked a couple of times, realizing that I hadn't paid attention to anything around us. He was right though, it was beautiful. We stood in a small clearing in the woods with a gurgling spring that trickled along mossy rocks. Small bird-like creatures chirped happily with one another amongst the large, drooping trees. Their fire red leaves pooling in the clear water.

Slowly, I brought my hands up my beating heart and felt a small smile slip into place. Never had I seen a more beautiful place. Carefully—as though afraid to disturb the beauty around me—I stepped forward walking to the edge of the pool. Brightly colored fish swam at the bottom. One jumped out of the surface landing with ease onto the ground, flopping helpless as it gasped for air. I moved only to have Fandral hold me back. I turned around and stared at him in question only for him to nod and jutted his chin forward at the breathless fish.

Furrowing my brows I turned back and watched in wide-eyed wonder as four legs began to unfold from underneath its scaly skin. The fish flipped over, testing out the strength of its new legs before walking off into the woods. Gaping, I turned back to Fandral feeling the tug of the smile grow wider.

"That was amazing!"

"The water comes from the land of a powerful Sorceress. It is said that just a sip of the spring will show you the darkest depths of your hearts desire," he said with a wink leading me toward the shore. I knelt down, cupping my hands into the cool water and bringing them slowly to my lips. Fandral grabbed my wrist, the water trickled from the cracks of my fingers dripping back into the clear spring. "Be careful for even you do not know what lies in your heart. Such knowledge can be dangerous, and one must pay the consequences of what one learns."

I tilted my head and turned back toward the water, opening my palms wider so that the rest of the water poured out. "Better safe than sorry," I smiled watching the small fish swim away from the ripples on the surface.

"A wise move, my lovely lady." I shook my head, biting at the bottom of my lip when Fandral leaned forward and placed a small kiss at the corners. I pulled back quickly, taken completely by surprise. "I am sorry for my impulsiveness," he half-heartedly said placing his hand on his chest. "Your innocence in this moment is charming and I was struck down by the beauty of it all."

"Well, next time…" I breathed sharply, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks, "perhaps next time you will—"

Fandral quickly straightened, his head lifted up with flared nostrils. "We are not alone," he whispered reaching for the quiver at his back. His fingers slid along the pouch he carried pulling out one, long arrow and knocking it into place. He held it steady as his eyes tried to pinpoint whatever it was that he heard.

Heavy panting caught my attention and I whirled around only to have Fandral step in front of me and hold out his bow shooting—and missing—a large, dark gray wolf that leapt from the cover of the trees. A scream sounded before I realized it was coming from me as the beast's yellowed and salvia-filled mouth came down on Fandral and tore into the leather of his arm.

He bellowed in pain, reaching for the knife at his side and sliding it along the wolf's throat, only gashing at the matted hair instead. The beast howled as it unclenched its teeth to avoid the attack, striking Fandral with its thick, black claws. Blood seeped instantly from the wound on his face, his blue eyes darkening as his lips turned upward into a scowl.

He brought a gloved finger to the wound and wiped at the blood, smearing it slightly. His nose scrunched as he stared at the dampened spot on his leather finger. Rubbing them together a couple of times he turned to me with a hardened expression.

"Hayden, I suggest you run."

"But—"

He smiled playfully before turning back to the wolf and twisting the small blade easily in between his bloodied fingers. "Do not fret my lady. All those who let fear cripple them let death find them with ease." Before I could try to protest he loudly yelled, "Go!" and charged at the wolf's throat once more.

I didn't stay to see what happened. Instead, I took his advice and blindly ran. I ran with tears in my eyes until I couldn't run any longer. Ready to collapse I fell onto a tree and rested my head against its rough, thick trunk. Inhaling deeply I brought my hand to my chest, clutching at my wrinkled shirt and letting the tears rush down my face.

Though, it seemed when one thing bad happened another shortly followed after. The tree beneath my head began to shift and its branches swung out causing me to flail and fall to the ground. The finger-like twigs came down reaching out for me as I tried to crawl away, it scratched at my ankle clutching onto my bare skin. I screamed as they clawed at my legs, dragging me along the dirt and leaves. My fingers stretched out digging into the ground in vain; they desperately tried to cling onto anything to keep me from being lifted.

My stomach turned, heart-raced, sweat trickled down my brow as the tree picked me up with ease. I dangled helplessly above it watching in silent horror as a hole began to warp through the bark turning and changing so that it was almost mouth-like. Closing my eyes tight I felt my body start to fall into the inevitable doom of my pathetic fate when I slammed onto the ground rather than inside its mouth.

Groaning at the pain that shot through my side, I rolled over pushing myself up with bloodied and scratched hands to see Loki standing in front of me. His cape blew behind his strong, lean back as the tree-creature roared in anger reaching out to grab for him instead.

"Tut-tut, I suggest you not do that," he soothed. The tree stopped, its branches hanging as though it were confused. "I am after all a God you pathetic creature. I think it far from wise to try and attack me."

Carefully, I started to pull myself to my feet when the tree quickly extended its branches and swatted at Loki. He moved with ease, ducking in perfect time as the leaves slid over his slicked back hair. Straightening his robe, he stood straight and cocked his head to the side.

"I warned you."

Legends of old had told of Loki Laufeyson, the God of Mischief being a fantastic warrior. His armor would gleam through the blood and sweat, his head held high under the massive horned-helmet he donned in battle. He would fight like a true God with no fear to hold him back.

Upon my meeting with the Prince of Pranks I only thought of him as annoying and nothing more than a child in a God's body. He knew how to get under one's skin, how to perfect his joking demeanor and what to say to cause other's confusion. The Loki I had begun to know was nothing more than a nuisance always looking for trouble and mischief to cause.

The Loki before me was far from what I had ever expected to see. He was no jokester deceiving a maiden to eat a poisoned fruit because he was bored. No, this was the man who led an alien army into New York City. This was the man who killed thousands upon thousands of people, a man who tried to bring an entire world to its knees. This was a man to be feared, one that I should have remembered to fear to begin with.

With ease, he pulled out a sword from within his robes and in the blink of an eye sliced through the trunk of the giant tree. It roared so loudly that the ground began to shake underneath, falling with a tremendous thud. Leaves scattered all around, falling from the sky as Loki carefully placed his sword back into place. He inhaled deeply before turning around to stare at me with those cold, green eyes.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the pain that ran through my entire body. Each step he took toward me matched the beating of my heart. It pounded against my ears that I feared he might hear it.

Gingerly, he took my hands in his own and inspected the cuts and nicks underneath the dirt that caked them. Clicking his tongue he let them drop and started to walk away. When my footsteps behind him did not sound he looked over his shoulder and lazily raised an eyebrow.

"I do not feel as though I should cater to your vulnerability. If you wish to remain in these woods and become a meal for some other creature than please, be my guest. If not, I think you would do well to follow me back to Asgard."

Without having to be told again, I quickly walked to where he stood and silently followed behind him. Licking my chapped lips, I looked down at the palms of my shaking hands and sighed. "Thank you, Loki." He said nothing, even stiffened a little as I turned my gaze toward him. Deciding that he didn't care to hear anything I really had to say I remained quiet the rest of the way back.

A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. As always comments and reviews are appreciated. I seriously love reading them. :D

Ellize Avalon: Glad you liked it!

Apples10: Aw thank you! Sorry it took so long to update. I'll try to keep it from being so long next time :D lol

AaylaKitofNiflheim: I sent you a message but you never replied so I'm left to assume you either didn't care to reply back or never got it. Anyhow, I'll just paste what it is that I wrote you to you:

Oh yes I actually know this. He was more Volstagg than Chris Hemsworth haha I'm very into mythology. Though, more so Greek and Roman and Egyptian than Viking/Norse but I have dabbled in reading with it. But, I wasn't writing so much based off of actual mythology so much as basing this off of the movie/comics. If it wasn't though I could see how that detail could be so nitpicky cause it would annoy me too.

But, no worries. Details are what make a story a story. Without them then you're just writing...well...crap. Haha.

Also, you can't call something a review if it's not a review on the story. You didn't review. You just pointed out that Thor and Loki were depicted as redheads in Norse Mythology. I wasn't writing Norse Mythology. But thanks.