A/N: sorry this is a bit shorter than the other chapters. I envision probably three more chapters, and about 2 weeks to complete them. Thank you for reading!

He said that he adores me. She looked at him. Adoration, while certainly a nice enough thing, wasn't exactly what she was hoping to hear. "Thank you, your Majesty, for that. But I…"

"Don't discount my affection Jane. I don't bestow it irresponsibly."

She smiled at him. "I should go," and then stood up.

"Why?"

"I'm not answering that."

He stood. "You will answer, as I am your Prince."

"As you subject, then, I reserve the right to keep my peace," she turned to leave.

"Jane Foster. I command you to stay here."

She did not turn, but began to run…in some ways this was exceeding silly, and she knew it. But she was tired of the game. Tired of feeling like she was being emotionally tossed about like a rag doll.

Her feet pounded the earth…she panted her breath, and sweat began to pearl on her forehead.

"You cannot escape me Jane," Loki said, appearing before her.

"Please, Loki. It hurts too much," she cried, and backed herself away.

Part of him died that moment, hearing her beg him not to hurt her.

As if he could!

She had become so much more to him than…

…anything. Perhaps, even… "Jane, I would never, could never, bring you harm," he reached his hand out. "Surely you know this."

"I don't know anything anymore. And I'm tired of it. Tired of playing these games…"

"As am I," and he cupped her face, and kissed her softly. "Do not leave me, Jane. I am to Alfheim in two days' time," he wouldn't add that he was thinking about her hating him after the dinner tomorrow night.

"What am I to do?"

He looked at her steadily. "Just stay with me," he pulled her down to the soft carpet of grass, and held her close.

And he ignored the sort stirrings in his belly, desiring more than just this reprieve. He would not risk it.

And he knew, in that moment, that he was, without doubt, in love with the young maid.

And she could never know that.

He sighed, and pulled her close. "I promise you. Though you may regret your heart now, I never shall."

Tears fell down her cheek, and she fisted a bit of his tunic in her hand. She hurt everywhere, and just wanted to sleep…

…and she did.

It was quiet torture for him that night. She was so very close, and though he was sleepy, he could not settle enough for proper rest.

She loved him. She admitted it…

…and he could not say the words, for this was the first time he could recall desiring to keep someone he cared for safe. Excepting, perhaps, his mother.

The sad irony was he was protecting her from himself.

Loki laid there on the soft grass, Jane at his side, breathing softly.

He stared to the ceiling of stars Yggdrasil was showing him, and he thought that tomorrow at this time, he'd be on his way.

And he pulled her slightly closer.

She was warm next to him, her steady breath lulling him into a dreamlike state…part of him never wanted to leave, and though it was a small part, it had been growing slightly steadily…

He was a fool to think that he could stay! Asgard was poison to him, and he could never stay here.

It was ludicrous that he even contemplated it.

Besides, Alfheim really was a lovely place. He would be happy there while he arranged more fixed plans.

And she sighed in her sleep and nuzzled him more.

He closed his eyes. He did love to torture himself.

Jane stretched on the ground, not quite remembering where she was. The air was cool, the morning glow slipping through the overhanging leaves peppering the space with soft light.

She looked at Loki, sleeping next to her.

And for a moment she thought about what it would be like to wake this way every morning.

…but she couldn't think about that, for she felt silly enough to not allow herself. Jane sat up and looked to the sky in the distance. She should go back to her father. Tonight was the dinner, and she would be saying goodbye to the royal family for good.

They would move to Alfheim, and all would be as it should.

"Good morning, Jane."

She turned and saw Loki smiling at her. She looked away, embarrassed. "Good morning."

He placed his hand on her back. "Nothing untoward happened between us."

"No nothing, except I lay with you all night in your embrace," she muttered.

Loki sat up, and whispered in her ear. "And it was the loveliest night I can remember."

She smiled in spite of herself. "It was mine as well."

"But…" he kissed her neck. "You ought to be getting back."

"Yes," and she closed her eyes.

His hand traveled her back, he kissed her ear…"Tell me that you love me, Jane."

"I love you," and she opened her eyes, and swallowed. "I should go," she stood. "I'll see you this evening," she smoothed out her skirt.

He stood from the ground, holding her gaze, and then nodded. "This evening."

She nodded, then left.

He had done it. He had her fall in love with him, and she confessed it.

And he felt positively wretched.

His look was wild, as he contemplated what he would be doing to her…what he must do.

He disappeared, and reappeared in his chambers. And he looked about him, all of his books and his swords, his green tapestries and his luxurious furniture.

He loathed it.

His ire welled, and in an explosion, set the tapestries afire, the books from the shelves…and the glass erupted in splinters onto the floor.

Some time later, he heard a knock on the door. "Go away," he said.

Thor, being Thor, opened the door, and found his little brother sitting on the floor of his destroyed room, feet bloodied, hair disheveled…"By the gods, Loki. What has happened?"

"I've decided to rearrange things. I tire of the same look in the room."

"So you set fire to your tapestries?"

"Aye. And break glass. You disapprove?"

Thor came over to him. "But you are hurt."

He smiled. "Ever the observer of the obvious."

"Tell me what has happened to you."

Loki's head fell back, thudding on the wall. "How was Alfheim?"

Thor's brow creased. "How was Alfheim?"

Loki nodded. "Did you manage to fall in love with Saga?"

"She is a lovely creature."

"…and that is all that is required."

Something came over the thunderer. "No, Loki, that is not all which is needed. But I understand my duty."

Loki barely heard him, he stood and rubbed his hands on his pants, attempting to quell the magic beginning its ascent inside of him. "There is to be a dinner this evening."

"I heard. Will Jane be there?"

"She will," his chin lifted slightly.

Thor nodded. "Will you be making yourself presentable? The dinner is but a few hours from now."

He curled a smirk. "You'd prefer I not be there."

"You are, more than occasionally, insufferable," and he turned to leave.

"You plan on telling Jane about your wedding, then, I trust?" he followed him a bit toward the door.

"That does not concern you," Thor replied without turning.

"What, then? You won't tease her? Lead her on meaninglessly?"

"Loki," he said, turning. "I fail to see how that is any of your business."

Loki studied his face. "You will not keep her as your consort…" he whispered.

"I should beat your smug face to Helheim," he spat.

"Do it," Loki chided. "What care have I? I'm leaving tomorrow, and doubt very much that we will ever see one another again."

"Odin would never…" Thor began, confused.

"Odin has already permitted it!" he cried, now pacing around Thor. "Odin wants me gone! He has seen this as the only way to peace in the family. And so," he stopped, his face very close to Thor's. "I shall leave, and travel among Yggdrasil. And you shall be shackled to your Elf wife."

The anger was evident enough on Thor's face.

And Loki loved it. Loki desperately wanted him to hit him…He was in a particularly masochistic mood.

"I'll not strike you, Loki. But know this, you may think that you give and give to Asgard, but I sacrifice as well."

"Poor Thor. Poor man. Do you love the Aesir girl, brother?" he mocked. "Will the Light Elf not satisfy you? Surely you know by now…"

…and with that, Thor punched Loki squarely in the face.

Loki fell to the floor, delighted that he had succeeded in riling him enough to violence. He laughed, touching his face and feeling the warm liquid seeping from his nose.

Thor was panting a touch, but had calmed himself. "I expect to see you at dinner."

Loki didn't respond, but proceeded to mend to broken nose.

And once that was accomplished, he fell on his back and looked at the ceiling. What was the point of that?

Nothing.

No point to any of it, ever.

He had succeeded only in angering his brother, when he was angry at Odin.

Succeeded in having Jane fall in love with him, only to break her heart once more in a couple of hours.

He felt like a fool, used by Odin for his own purposes.

He swallowed and rose from the floor.

He waved a hand and the room was tidy once more…

Jane was walking, in her new gown, toward the palace. Her heart was thrumming against her ribcage. She was terrified of seeing Loki and Thor in the same room, for she felt like a child, falling in love with whomever gave her attention.

But she knew that it would be over soon, and that despite her love for Loki, she would have her father and an adventure in Alfheim. She would need to take comfort in that.

The palace grew large in her sight, as she looked up at the towers looming over it. Jane took a steadying breath, and ascended the stairs to the door.

She would be fine.

It would be over soon, she repeated.

She had nothing to be ashamed of.

Maybe she just wouldn't look at either of them…

…and her hand found the knob.

She turned it.