She never minded the smell, though she was the only lady who didn't. She couldn't decide if she didn't mind because she had grown accustomed to it, living so near, or if the smell of horses honestly did not phase her.

She rather thought the former.

Jane was brushing some of them…it was a lulling action, and she felt calm and serene.

She mildly wondered what she would do if Odin told her he didn't want her to advise him. She wasn't inclined to marry, save Thor…

And she sighed.

Jane wiped her brow with her sleeve and wondered if she really would ever marry. It was certainly what her father desired. But Jane knew her heart, and only the fiercest love could induce her into matrimony.

Did she love Thor fiercely?

No, and she adjusted the harness on the horse. No, but she could imagine herself to. She loved him, but it was a subtle love, born of adoration and attraction, not common experience or interest.

Jane knew that he was basically a good man, and that he was often torn between right and wrong…and she knew this because she would hear him occasionally in the gardens arguing with the young ladies he brought there. She sensed real turmoil there, and she admired him for it.

She gathered up the things and left the stables, clicking the door behind her.

She was being unimaginably silly. Of course nothing would come of this thing with Thor. He was a crowned Prince of Asgard, intended for the Princess of Alfheim. Jane was a mere commoner, who happened to live in close proximity to him.

And now he was assigning a babysitter in the form of his younger brother. How humiliating!

"Lovely day, is it not?"

Jane turned to see Loki. "You always appear out of no where," she smiled. "Is that by design, or are you merely that stealth that no one notices your approach?"

"Bit of both, I imagine," he smiled at her. "So…I thought that we'd venture into the village today, Jane. What do you think?"

"You needn't entertain me, Loki. I can manage fine."

"Thor asked me to…"

"Well, I'm fine. I thank you for your concern, but I can keep myself busy," she walked passed him.

"Jane, what has happened?"

"Not a thing. I merely don't wish to take up your time. You are a Prince, and I'm certain that you have other things to see to than your brother's jilted lover," she replied, not unkindly.

"Has it occurred to you that I enjoy your company?"

"I…"

He went over to her. "We needn't go into the village. But I insist that we enjoy some of this day together," he held out his hand. "Come, my Lady," he smiled.

"But I smell like a horse."

"Then it will be like Thor is here with us, and you needn't be sullen," he smiled.

Jane laughed and took his hand. "You don't like him very much, do you?"

"I love my brother, Jane," he replied, aghast, but with a smirk. "But he can be a bit much for my liking," they headed for the palace. "He's also not nearly as marvelous as everyone believes," he couldn't help but add that in.

"No," she said. "But…"

"Pardon me, I forgot your heart," and he opened the door for her.

"I imagine you know him in a very different manner. He's…" what was he? Jane blushed. "…well, he's…"

"…brawny?" Loki supplied.

She laughed. "Yes, there's that…but he's also sweet…"

He led her to the veranda, and asked one of the women there to bring them some fruit and wine. "Are you certain we are talking about the same Thor?" he sat down across from her.

Her eyes fell to her lap. "There is not nothing to what you say. It's true, I don't really know him all that well."

"But you love him."

And she looked at him. His face was searching hers. Jane couldn't answer. When put that way, she sounded ridiculous.

"You loved him yesterday, Jane. Has anything changed?"

"No," her voice was small.

"Well, then. You love him, and that's that," he smiled, and fruit and wine arrived. Loki poured her some, and she accepted it.

"Have you never loved, Loki?"

"No. Not in the way that you mean."

She sipped. "In what way, then?"

Loki took some berries and put them on his plate, poured himself some wine. He didn't know just how much information he should be divulging to the young maid, but it somehow felt right to be confiding in her…"From afar, usually."

"Oh." Jane felt suddenly quite bad…though she knew he would loathe pity.

He smiled at her. "No need to feel any sympathy for me, Jane," and he reached and touched her hand that was on the table.

Jane looked at his fingers touching hers…and she slowly pulled her hand away. "Everyone should experience love, Loki."

"My mother loves me," and he sipped more wine.

"It isn't the same thing."

"No? And what would you have me do, then? Shall I woo as many ladies as Thor has? Visit the brothels? Shall I fall in love with a prostitute?"

Jane blanched and turned away. "I am no prostitute," she turned back toward him. "And falling in love is falling in love. The heart wants what it wants. There is little to be gained in resisting."

Loki swallowed. "I of course…I did not mean to suggest…" and he hadn't. He had gone too far, made it too personal. "Never fear, Jane. I know that I couldn't compare to Thor. So it is for naught," and he shifted. "Shall we walk?"

"No. I think that I ought to be getting back," she made to leave.

"What's it like, Jane?"

"What's what like?" she sat back again in her chair.

"Falling in love?" he painted an uncomfortable look on his face, enough to incite some more pity.

"It's…" she looked to the sky. "It's as though part of you were walking around outside of yourself…you become possessed. And you don't feel complete unless you are with your love."

"Sounds painful."

She smiled and looked at him. "It is, in a way."

"Why would anyone want that?"

"Because without it you are never whole."

His gaze fell, and after a pause, "I can walk you back if you like."

"No, I'm fine," she stood, and he along with her. "Thank you again. You are doing a very fine job, Loki," she smiled.

"It's my pleasure. And it is hardly work," he nodded and turned. He felt a sudden need to be out of her presence.

Loki walked quickly to his rooms and closed the doors behind him. He swallowed, his breath was fast and his heart was pounding…he looked at his hands, and noticed that they were trembling.

He strode over to the balcony and went outside…soon, he would be free of this place and he could do what he liked without Odin's gaze upon him. Soon he would be his own man, confident and…

…he thought about what Jane had said about being whole. He had never felt that, but he dismissed it as a result of his life on Asgard. Always criticism, never love. Always dismissals…always Thor.

She was distracting him with her pithy observations and had no idea what she was talking about. She was a simpering child with no information nor wisdom, nor…

He closed his eyes, and knew instantly that that wasn't true. Jane was very wise for as young as she was.

He had mucked up this afternoon. He would need to rectify that. Immediately…Odin hadn't granted him a lifetime to win this young maid.

Jane was brushing her hair. The sun had fallen behind the mountains, and a burgundy hue basked the terrain in light. She was looking out of the window, admiring the tableau, as though it was artwork, and not an actual vision.

She sighed, and then something caught her eye.

It was Loki…

He was by the stream just below, skipping stones on the water.

She had felt rather bad about the scene earlier; it wasn't his fault that Thor had asked him to keep her company in his absence.

She hesitated a moment…he could be irascible, despite his protests, and she did not know if he desired solitude.

She then dismissed it, as they had become friends, and she thought it perfectly acceptable to see him. She made her way downstairs, and left for the stream.

Her footfalls were soft as she approached him…it was then that she noticed that he wasn't skipping stones…

He was lifting the water from the stream and letting it fall, making a splashing noise. As he would lift the water, he would turn it in midair, and alter the color somewhat…when it fell back into the stream, the colors would mingle, and make a swirl of hue.

She gasped.

He turned.

…and smiled at her. "Hello, Jane."

"What are you doing?" she breathed.

"Playing," he turned toward her.

"Show me?"

He held out his hand, and she went over to him. "Here," and he stood close behind her, his fingers wrapped around her wrists, and she felt a warm sensation curl through her digits. "That is the seior," he whispered in her ear.

…and she felt a tingle in her spine…

He directed her hands down, and moved his fingers over her wrists again…the water was brought up, shaped like an orb, into the air. "What color?" he asked her.

"Violet," she trembled.

His index finger graced along the top of her hand, and she shivered…"Keep your eye on it, Jane."

She looked at the water suspended in midair…and there…amaranthine swelled in the water in front of her, she gasped. "Oh, Loki," she whispered…

His fingers went up her hands to find find hers, and as they locked, he brought their hands down, and the water went with them…he was holding her close…their arms wrapped around her waist…his face very close to her neck.

"What are you doing?" she asked in a gulp.

"I don't know," he replied, and as he said this, he let his right hand go, and it traveled up her person, his fingertips touching very lightly along her body, until they reached her face; he directed her chin toward his mouth, and lowered his face to hers…

It was like she was having an outer body experience…for though he had kissed her a few days previous, it was playful in nature, and she had dismissed it outright…

…this was not, and her mind was screaming, "No! Stop!" but her body was responding to his touch, and she hardly knew what was happening, until it was…

He kissed her mouth softly, though not as soft as before…and she closed her eyes, lifting herself up to accommodate him…

And he turned her to face him, never abandoning the kiss, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

Their mouths moved in tandem, and he was not quite hungry, but certainly eager, and she was not nearly as overcome as she was with Thor…but exhilarated in a different way. She pulled away, swallowing…

"What is happening, Loki?" she rested her forehead on his chin.

His heart was beating much too fast for his liking…his hands remained on her arms…he kissed her forehead softly. "Jane, I…" he was at a loss.

She looked up at him. "This was a mistake?" she asked, her voice cracking a touch.

He stepped out of the embrace. "No."

She nodded, but then turned and walked back to house. She was confused to the point of being unable to speak, so she should just go home.

It would do to think on it in the morning.

And Loki walked to the palace…his mind churning the events in the garden just now…

"So, how are you faring, son?"

He looked up to see Odin there. "It's coming along," Loki replied.

"Thor will be home quicker than I expected," he began to walk alongside him. "Can we expect the Lady's love soon?"

"Of course," Loki returned. "But how much time remains?"

"I believe Thor said Sunday."

Loki stopped and looked at his father. "That's four days from now."

"Aye. And you've had four days. Are you incapable of seeing this through?"

Loki's face hardened. "Four days, and her heart is mine," he nodded, and left the hall.

…and Odin smiled.