Eir skipped towards the prison, still smiling to herself at the All-Father's praise. It was a beautiful day—nothing, not even the pampered prince could upset her.

She greeted the guards with a wide smile and an offer of grapes. They refused, she shrugged and grasped the door handle, smile still playing across her lips. One of the guards cleared their throat, catching her eye with a disapproving gesture.

"He is not in the best of moods."

"And I suppose yesterday was a good day?" Eir laughed.

Somehow, her conversation with Queen Frigga this morning had brightened her day so much that she didn't even care if Loki thought to trick her. She fixed the smile on her face and pushed her way into the chamber.

"Good morning, Prince!" She bowed graciously, presenting the grapes with a flourish. "Today, instead of books, I've brought you grapes. Do they please you?"

"Perhaps. They're probably old and sour," he sneered. He glared at her, hands tucked behind his back and no hint of a smile.

Eir shrugged, smirking.

"That's a chance you'll have to take, Prince. I tasted them and they seem sweet enough to me- but what could a lowly servant possibly know of such things?"

She left the bag of grapes on the table, next to the untouched breakfast tray. He hadn't eaten yesterday's morning meal either.

"Do you eat?"

"Don't be foolish. We may be gods, but even we must provide our bodies with sustenance." he said with a razor edged smile.

"Then why haven't you eaten your breakfast? Is something amiss?"

He grimaced and shrugged, clearly irritated.

"I don't wish to eat it."

She couldn't help but laugh at his expression. She grabbed the sleeve of his robe without thinking and pulled him back to the table.

"Sit," she said, pushing him towards the chair. She knew perfectly well that he only moved because he was humoring her, but she didn't care. He sat, shooting her a skeptical look as he propped his chin in his hands.

"And?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Eat." She sat across from him, determined to see him eat something. He stilled and snared her with his gaze. She felt her spirits sink, as if the sun no longer shone; she was certain that Loki was responsible—she could sense it. She shut her eyes tightly, focusing on blocking his spell. It took time for the effects to recede, and she wasn't sure if she'd succeeded or if he'd simply let the spell lapse.

"You could be powerful with proper training and practice. But that was a truly pathetic attempt at countering my spell."

Eir shrugged, opening the bag of grapes and plucking a berry from the vine cutting.

"I am studying medicine; I care little for sorcery. And do not change the topic—eat! "

"I do not wish to eat!" His jaw clenched, his eyes cold with fury.

"As you wish," Eir murmured, standing up. "Have you finished any of the books I brought you yesterday?"

"Is that what Mother plans? To fill my eternity here with books?" He stood, stalking to the window.

"She wants to help, yet you only push her away. What do you expect to happen?"

"Help me?" Loki spun to face Eir. "I don't need help!"

"As you say, Prince," she said waspishly. She didn't come here to tolerate his childish behavior! "Do you require anything else?"

Loki shook his head, lips drawn tight, emerald eyes cold and distant.

Eir bowed and left him without a word.

It seemed his problems stemmed from his own twisted personality; she wouldn't worry about him anymore. She studied to become a physician, a healer of the body, not the soul.

You could simply help one who needs it…

But that wasn't necessary either.

Even lost in her thoughts, Eir couldn't help but notice that the sun still shone as brightly as ever, despite Prince Loki and his tricks. She pushed her thoughts away and retreated to the library. It wasn't long before she retrieved one of the books she'd been studying the previous day and settled herself at a table. She opened the volume and soon all thoughts of Loki and the outside world were forgotten.

"The red-haired angel returns." Eir startled at the whisper, nearly falling from her chair.

"Pal, what are you doing here?"

"Snorri asks for you. Prince Thor and his companions have returned from battle; if you wish, you may come assist the healers."

Eir shut the book and stood eagerly. "Then what are we waiting for?"

They raced to the clinic, separating once they reached its doors, Pal returning to his duties as Eir sought out Snorri. She found him tending to a nasty looking burn in the men's section of the infirmary.

"Good, you've arrived; Lady Sif awaits you. She claims she is hale, but her arm is broken and she's likely hiding internal injuries."

Eir nodded her understanding and hurried to the smaller chamber set aside for the female warriors. Sif was the only patient and she'd claimed a sturdy wooden chair as her own.

"Good afternoon, Sif." She kept her tone cheerful, but she was already preparing herself to match wills with the proud woman. "Let's see how you fare."

"As I told Snorri, I do not require healing!" Sif scolded, frown pulling at her features.

"Then we'll be done in moments and you will be free to celebrate your victory," Eir smiled disarmingly, checking Sif's face with sure movements.

Eir skimmed her hand over Sif's left arm, just checking the limb's status with her senses. She could do that much, at least, and she was good at it. Even though she wasn't fully qualified yet, she spent a lot of time observing and helping the healers.

She could feel the break in Sif's body. Eir closed her eyes and focused until bright light the color of spring flickered beneath her hand. She could feel Sif's pain as if her own bone was broken. She grimaced, but waved her hand over the injury until her magic finished knitting the bone back together.

"Done. The worst of your injuries should be healed, but you'll have to settle for an ointment on those scratches. There are too many of them to heal with magic; so much interference with the natural order often does more harm than good."

Eir passed the warrior a bottle of salve with a smile. "Did you give them a thorough beating, at least?"

"Of course! And—my thanks, Eir." Sif nodded and left the room with a laugh.

Eir shook her head ruefully and went to assist the other physicians. When the last injury was treated, she found she was too tired to resume her studies. She made herself a silent promise as she lay in her bed, that she would stay up late the next day to make up for it. She smiled sleepily and thought that, sometimes, dreams do come true.

When she woke, Eir set about her duties as usual. Happily, the Queen didn't mention Loki at all, much less ask Eir to visit him. After assisting Queen Frigga with her morning ablutions, Eir inhaled a quick breakfast and set off for the library, determined to study the entire day.

She'd been studying a difficult but interesting chapter about healing wounded intestines before Pal had called her away. She itched to finish the reading and thought that perhaps she'd study something of sorcery afterwards. But only, she told herself, because she wanted to stop falling for Loki's tricks. She didn't fool herself for a moment, but tried to ignore the parts of her that warmed at the memory of "You could be powerful with proper training and practice."

She studied diligently until her stomach growled with hunger and she was surprised to find the noontime hour was long past. She closed her book with a sigh and stretched her legs, satisfaction with her progress settling in her chest. She felt she had accomplished much today.

Eir wandered toward the clinic, snacking on a luscious red apple she'd saved from breakfast. Perhaps the healers could use her assistance today as well. It was not to be. Even before she entered the room she could hear the healers laughing and sharing crude jests. Likely there was no work to be done, and Eir avoided such crudity when she could.

xxx

It was another beautiful day, balmy and clear, so Eir decided to walk in the gardens as she finished her snack. Besides, the library was close to the gardens and she thought to further her studies before day's end. She closed her eyes for a moment, exulting in the sun's warmth. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed a woman sitting under the trees. At the realization that it was Lady Sif, Eir smiled and went to greet her.

"Greetings, Eir. Would you sit with me a moment?" Sif asked, patting the grass beside her.

"Of course." Eir sat stretched her legs before her, resting her back against the tree's trunk. "I've heard that there's a party to celebrate your victory this evening. Is that so, Lady Sif?"

Sif absently mumbled an affirmative, eyes slightly unfocused. Eir smiled to herself. It seemed the Lady was lost to her own thoughts; likely she hadn't really heard the question.

"Why are you here, Eir?"

The girl blinked and gestured to her apple.

"Oh, I… I was just taking a short break from my studies to eat."

"Eat," Sif repeated blankly. The woman seemed to shake herself out of her stupor and turned to watch Eir thoughtfully, a faint wrinkle of worry on her brow. "May I ask you something? You mustn't tell the others, but I find myself in need of guidance and, well…"

"Of course, Lady." Eir smiled warmly, confident that she knew exactly what this question was about.

"Eir, what would you do? If the one you loved with all of your heart… if he loved another, what would you do?"

As she thought. Eir had known for years that Sif had an eye for Thor—servants knew everything after all—but she'd also heard rumors that Thor was courting a Midgardian woman, a mortal he'd met during his exile. She chose her next words carefully, aware of the delicacy of the situation.

"My Lady… I know it is a hard thing, but I believe I would let the matter be. If you truly love someone, you will wish them only the best. If what is best for them is a relationship with another, then… let it be so. Their happiness, if I truly loved them, their happiness would become my own. If I stood in their way, I would only make us all miserable. No, my Lady. Even if I could only stand by my beloved as a friend, I would let it be so."

Eir bit her lip, suddenly realizing what a fool she must sound.

What marvelous advice, dear Eir! Nineteen years to your name, no suitors, and without any lover in mind. If you wished to see her suffer, a stabbing would have been kinder and more easily fixed!

"I mean to say," Eir began again, the words rushing from her mouth as she tried to repair her blunder.

"Peace, Eir. You meant what you said, and… I thank you for it. You're right." Sif rubbed Eir's arm, a rueful look in her eye. "It wasn't pleasant to hear, but it was the right thing to say. You're a good person, Eir, and a better woman than I."

Eir blushed, suddenly finding the remains of her apple the most interesting thing in the garden.

4