A tall man was looking at her from his cell across the path. Sly green eyes gazed at her, practically sparkling with mischievious light. He was different from the other prisoners down here. His clothes were of fine make, and clean. His cell was furnished, albeit sparingly. His black hair was down to his shoulders, and slightly unkempt, showing that he had been there for a while. When he smiled at her, Vielae found his smile positively haunting. He said so much in just one smile that she couldn't catch everything. What she did catch was scheming, some form of courtesy, and even a hint of a genuine smile.

"A Dark Elf," he continued, almost musing. "Everyone was under the impression that you were extinct."

"It would seem you were lied to," Vielae said softly.

"Yes, it would," the man replied, not even bothering to hide the contempt in his voice. "Then again, the Allfather seems to be very good at keeping secrets."

"You speak as one who was lied to before," Vielae commented. The man looked at her, a look in his green eyes that Vielae could only describe as...pain. The pain was not physical. Rather, it was emotional pain, as if the lie had been completely life changing, once it had been exposed.

"It is of no concern," he said, the pain in his eyes replaced by the sly look from before. "What is your name?"

"Vielae," Vielae replied. She did not know why she felt so comfortable telling him this. Perhaps, it was because she figured he was going to be the only person she could consistantly talk to. "And you?"

"I am Loki...of Asgard," he replied, bowing slightly. His body language almost screamed noble upbringing, but Vielae did not fail to notice the slight pause between his name and his home. She also noticed that he did not mention his father's name. But then, neither did she, so she decided to forget the matter for now. "If no one else has welcomed you, my lady, then allow me to be the first. Welcome to Asgard," Loki continued. His tone was mocking when he welcomed her, and he even spread his arms, motioning to the dungeons. Vielae gave a small chuckle at his gesture, allowing herself a small grin.

"You have a very cynical sense of humor, Loki of Asgard," Vielae said, standing up to talk to him. "You are clearly nobility. Why are you here?" Vielae hoped for an answer, but already, she was starting to wonder of Asgard was his real home.

"I, like you, am not a welcome guest in Odin's hall," Loki replied simply. Vielae studied Loki's face. He was not really attempting to hide his feelings regarding the Allfather. The more Vielae looked at him, the more she started studying his features. His face was angular, with pronounced cheekbones showing through his pale skin. His body was lean, but muscles of a warrior.

"Your cell is pretty well furnished for someone that Odin does not welcome," Vielae observed, her voice a little cynical.

"This is because of the Queen," Loki replied. He suddenly had a softer tone in his voice. "She's made every effort to make me comfortable. It's not much, but it's still better than nothing."

"But, why would she do that?" Vielae asked.

"Why would she help you?" Loki answered, a knowing look on his face. Vielae thought for a moment, and then realized that he was right. The Queen helped her, so it's no surprise that she would help him, especially if she liked him.

"Does...does that mean...?" Vielae began, but no sooner had she spoken, then the Queen materialized in her cell. Vielae gave a cry of surprise, but the Queen merely smiled.

"I was able to convice Odin to afford you some comfort," she said. At a nod, the walls of her cell were deactivated, and several guards walked in with a day bed, a chair, and a small table. There was also a small box of books and a bottle of wine with a silver glass. Vielae just stood there and watched, too shocked to say anything. When the guards had left, and the cell walls reactivated, Vielae found her voice again.

"Your Highness...why?" she asked. Her voice still sounded so small.

"Even a hostage deserves some hospitality," Frigga replied, still smiling. "Sadly, my dear, that is what you are: a hostage. When Bor captured you all those years ago, that was the precedence. You were to be held hostage in exchange for your people's compliance. Holding one of their own seemed reasonable at the time. I don't suppose that Bor had thought that Malekith would have sacrificed his own people rather than lose."

"Why didn't they just let me go...or kill me?" Vielae asked.

"Because Malekith disappeared," Frigga answered, her expression sad. "Bor must have thought that you would be the perfect bargaining chip if Malekith ever returned."

"He was wrong," Vielae said, her voice turning dark. "Malekith could not have cared less if Bor killed me." Even Loki had to frown slightly. Her tone was so cold, it probably could have made Jotunheim feel like the Sun. From what he had read, Malekith had inspired so much vigor in his people that they followed him to their deaths, but he had sacrificed them all rather than lose. Why would he care for her? What made her so special that she was not killed like the rest of them? "Bor was wasting his time." Vielae said, sitting down on the day bed. Frigga sat down next to her, careful not to touch her. This close, Vielae looked at the Queen...and caught the unmistakeable glimmer of magic. If she had learned anything from her schooling as a child, she learned to recognize magic. Vielae herself had a decent knowledge of dark magic, but she could still recognize light magic when she saw it. "You're not really here, are you?" Vielae asked suddenly, her tone lightly colored with disappointment. When Frigga smiled sadly, Vielae swatted at her, causing the projection to glimmer out of sight. She made eye contact with Loki for a brief moment, and turned away. That brief moment was all that the God of Mischief needed.

There was pain; excruciating emotional pain. Her face may not have shown a thing, but it was more than obvious to someone who got by on reading other people and what they try to conceal. Vielae was in emotional pain. It was pain the likes of which she hated even admitting to herself. Why did it hurt her so much? What caused her this much pain?