*So… hiya lol. Sorry it's taking so long between updates, and I send apologies to all the people I usually PM regularly. School just started up again (actually the week after last chapter was posted, so I'm in my second week of school), and so I've been rather busy. I haven't forgotten about you guys, and I'm not ignoring you. I plan on getting back in touch with my virtual social life once real life settles down a bit.

Back to business, though… I bring you the next chapter, which I've heard that people have been very eagerly awaiting. I hope you enjoy, though I had quite a bit of trouble writing it. Onward!

Discovery

The queen of Asgard exited the throne room, thoughts swirling through her head. It was evident that there were pieces of information being hidden from her and the king. Secrets being kept by her sons for unknown reasons. Why else would they be so defensive about the rebellion and actions taken against it, and yet remain so vague about their reasons for doing such?

She glanced down the halls, wondering which way to go. The princes were probably in their chambers. She turned towards there. She was, of course, going to pass on the information about how the attack on the rebels' base went, but she also wanted desperately to find out what the mysteries were that had been hidden.

And, she decided, Thor was the one far easier to pry information out of. She hated to think of her sons in terms of who she could more easily get secrets out of, but it was necessary for now. She turned down the hall that would lead her to Thor's chambers.

She stopped short at the sound of running footsteps behind her, and she quickly turned to see who it was.

Loki. In his arms were half a dozen large books, and he was making his way with all haste back to his own room, entering an intersecting hall.

Frigga started after him, knowing she at least had to tell him the news of the rebel base attack. "Loki!" she called.

The younger prince practically tripped, whipping around to face whoever had called his name. Frigga blinked in surprise. Loki was panting heavily, his face tense and pale, fidgeting backwards towards the hall that led to his room even as he faced Frigga. "Mother, I can't talk now," he excused himself quickly. "Something important; I'll see you later." He started to turn again, but Frigga stopped him.

"Loki, your father wanted me to tell you about what happened when the soldiers made it to the hideout of the nekos."

A shadow passed over Loki's face, and his brows knit. "Tell me later. I have something more important." With that, he turned and rapidly disappeared.

Frigga stood for a moment, affronted. And now he didn't even want to know the fate that had befallen the neko rebels? Only a short time ago—an hour ago at most—he had been crestfallen and in shock at the idea of the attack. Now he didn't even want to hear of it, evidently finding something "more important" to do. The mother had half a mind to follow him and demand answers… but Thor was more liable to have some insight into this situation than Loki would be willing to part with. She shook her head in slight exasperation and started back towards Thor's room.

When she reached the door, she knocked firmly and received no response from within. She waited a moment, knocked again, and then entered upon further silence.

The sitting room was empty. Upon closer inspection, his bedroom was as well. Puzzled, the queen headed out of his room, wondering if he had perhaps gone to the dining hall or the training fields—or that he may have even been in Loki's room, working on whatever it was that was now so "important."

She was about to test the last of these theories, making for the hallway to Loki's room, when a voice stopped her.

"My queen!"

Frigga turned to see Lady Sif striding towards her. "Sif," Frigga greeted with a terse smile. "I don't suppose you would happen to know where Thor is?"

Sif lifted an eyebrow ever-so-slightly and dipped her head. "It just so happens that I do know where he is, and I am on my way to the very place. Were you searching for him?"

Frigga replied in the affirmative and inquired where it was that her elder son was.

"I was assigned to guard the room of the neko informant," Sif explained. "Someone mentioned Thor had volunteered to guard her for now, but I am to replace him, as his attentions can surely be greater help elsewhere."

Frigga tipped her head to one side. "Guarding the neko informant? The one who gave the information on the locations and numbers-?"

Sif nodded. "Servants say that Loki and Thor were the ones who escorted her to her chambers, and that Thor then returned to her chambers a short while ago."

Sif led the way, and Frigga followed, heading towards the guest chambers wherein the rebellion's traitor was now residing.

00000

Thor and Marron were still in the guest chambers, Thor seated in the armchair while Marron perched on one of the armrests.

"No, but Thor," Marron grinned, shaking her head. "You see, people don't like losing, and—"

"But I beat him in a sparring match fair and square!" Thor persisted with his side of the argument, gesticulating wildly with his hands to make his point, nearly smacking Marron in the face in the process.

Marron laughed and gently pushed his hand away from her face. "Yes, Thor, and that's alright… But you don't brag about your victory. It's bad manners to pointedly tell them that you beat them and that they're no match for the mighty Thor, and that—"

"I did beat him, and he was no match for the mighty Thor," Thor said stubbornly, purposefully crossing his arms to prevent his unintentional hand movements that had nearly hit Marron. "So I still don't see what's wrong with it."

"Well, it was unnecessary," Marron chided patiently, sighing. "And besides, it was definitely stepping over the line to assert that he fights like his grandmother. Have you fought his grandmother?"

Thor opened his mouth to argue, but then hung his head. "…Very well, I have taken your point. I understand I am not to brag."

"Personally, I think the warrior was quite entitled to start a fistfight," Marron continued. "Though actually, he should have handled it in a far more peaceful manner. Aesir men, it would seem, have a bit of a problem with that, don't they?"

Thor smiled faintly. "Loki doesn't."

Marron shrugged. "Perhaps Loki doesn't. But you most certainly do."

"You're helping, though," Thor countered. "No bragging. I shall remember."

"Good," Marron blushed in both embarrassment and happiness, ducking her head from Thor's bright beam. "Tell me about some other time you think someone wronged you—"

They both jumped slightly and spun towards the door when there was a knock. Marron and Thor's eyes flew to each other's in a panic, amber eyes meeting blue—

And then the door was opened without waiting for a response from inside, and Lady Sif and Queen Frigga stepped inside.

"Thor, I've been looking for you…" Frigga trailed off, seeing the situation. Thor, comfortably seated in an armchair (though his face had frozen into an expression of panic) while a neko girl was perched on the armrest, her fingers clenched into fearful fists while her amber eyes stared between Sif and the queen. Frigga's eyes focused on that neko girl, and confusion washed over her. "…Lady… Marron?"

Cold shot up Marron's spine, and her body suddenly felt very limp and very heavy. The queen—Queen Frigga. So now she saw her for what she really was… not a lady at all, but instead a neko.

Sif's eyes flashed in alarm and then uncertain recognition. "…Lady…? My queen, you know her…?" She flashed a dark look at Marron, still silent and eyes wide.

Thor let out some kind of choked sound in the back of his throat as he tried to force out some explanation. No words came to him, but—he had to say something—

"Thor," the queen said weakly, her brow creasing seriously. "Do you feel like letting me in on whatever it is that's going on here?"

Marron's eyes flicked forlornly to Thor's, as if asking him to please do something to make this situation better, because she didn't know what to do.

Thor felt his chest tighten slightly at the sight, but then his resolve hardened even as his heart softened. With a forced swallow past the dryness in his throat, he pushed himself to his feet. "Mother," he said slowly. "Sif." He glanced between all three women. "This is Chatte Marron Arable, a good friend of mine."

"I've been acquainted with Lady Marron," Frigga said in a clipped voice. "Or so I had thought."

Sif's eyes suddenly lit with comprehension. "Lady Marron Arablesdaughter," she gasped in shock.

Marron cringed, and her ears flattened to her head.

"You were at the ball last night," Sif snapped. "You and some friend of yours in green and black—I introduced myself to you!"

Marron nodded wordlessly.

Frigga twisted her hands into the fabric of her skirts. "Thor," she repeated her son's name. "Explain yourself."

"She's a friend!" Thor said again, sounding defensive. "Marron is not a rebel, nor ever was—"

"Then how can she be our rebel informant?" Sif challenged immediately.

"I was kidnapped by the rebels on the night of the ball," Marron piped up indignantly, Thor's defense sending warmth and strength through her body. "They wanted to recruit us, so they kidnapped us, and—"

"But you had been in the palace days before," Frigga reminded her, an edge of distrust in her voice. "When I found you wandering the halls."

A look was exchanged between Thor and Marron briefly. Tell about Loki and the fact that he was the mastermind behind the two nekos that had resided in the palace, hidden? Or keep it a secret? It was going to come out sometime, surely. But Thor was loyal enough to his brother to not be the one that gave it away.

"I snuck Marron into the palace," Thor said firmly, standing up straight.

Three sets of eyes widened with surprise.

"I didn't want to let Marron leave the city when Father set the decree that all nekos must leave the city," Thor continued. "So… I didn't let her leave the city…"

Marron resisted the urge to slap her palm to her face. Thor and his skills at lying under pressure were not impressive.

"…And so I snuck her into the palace. I let her stay in one of the safe rooms," Thor added. "But then she was kidnapped at the ball. When I went to the prisons today and found her there, I knew I had to do something, so… I brought her as our rebel informant, because she had gathered plenty of intelligence during her time as a captive of the neko revolutionaries."

There was a brief silence as the information hung in the air, Frigga and Sif willing themselves to comprehend and make sense of it.

"But… why would you do all of that?" Sif said, still unclear how Thor could take such actions on the behalf of a neko girl.

"Because we're friends," Marron said slowly, her brows knitting together and tail tip twitching with slight irritation at the woman's disbelief.

"Friends," Sif repeated. "With the likes of a neko vagabond."

Thor bristled and pushed his shoulders back and opened his mouth to retort, but Marron threw him a sharp look.

"Maybe I'm just a neko vagabond," the girl said bitterly. "But… that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I'm not against the Aesir, even if you're against the nekos. Just… Thor isn't."

Thor's gaze flicked briefly to her from the corner of his eyes before he looked back to the other women. "Please… don't punish Marron for the actions I have taken. I did them of my own accord and just wanted all to be well. I meant no harm to either the realm or any individual."

Nothing was said as Frigga looked carefully between the two before her. So… Thor was friends with this neko girl, and had disobeyed the orders of his father. Just because of this neko girl.

Frigga found herself at a loss for words. "I… But…" A calculating look at the young woman with feline features. "…And… you were never a rebel, never taking part in the mobs and revolts?"

Marron nodded silently, and Frigga sighed, unsure how to react to all of this. She had only briefly spoken to Marron before, but she had always come off as slightly quiet and nervous, but undeniably sweet and never malicious. Frigga counted herself as a good judge of character. Surely her assessment of Marron had to count for something. The queen nodded almost imperceptibly, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "…I believe you."

Marron licked her lips and pressed her hands together to stop their trembling with relief. "Thank you. Please don't send me back to the prisons," she added quietly, though her tone was strong and firm.

Sif narrowed her eyes. "And what's stopping us from doing just that?"

"We had an agreement!" Marron protested. "I gave your council the information you wanted, and I get to not be thrown in the dungeons!"

The queen's jaw tightened. "I see no occasion for us to go back on our word to a reliable source of information on the nekos, Lady Sif."

Sif's brow furrowed, her mind still whirling at the fact that Thor had been keeping such secrets as this from her, and indignation at the fact that this neko girl counted herself as a close friend of the crown prince. "But—"

"There is something else that must be shared, as long as we are all in agreement that nobody here is a rebel and that nobody is going to prison," Frigga spoke over the lady warrior. "Thor," she said tersely. "Your father wanted me to tell you about the outcome of the attack on the rebel base."

Thor, Marron, and Sif immediately fell quiet and still, staring.

"They did not manage to vanquish the neko rebels. They evacuated their hideout just before the soldiers arrived," Frigga explained.

Marron's shoulders slumped, and she sank back down onto the arm of the chair. Some strange mixture of emotions was filling her—disappointment at the fact the rebels were still out there, regrouping. Relief at the fact that that meant Noir hadn't been hurt in the skirmish that would have broken out had the rebels not escaped. "Oh," was all she could breathe out.

Thor threw her an understanding glance, similar sentiments stirring in his chest. "Then what does Father plan to do next?"

"I don't believe he has decided certainly yet," the queen murmured. "But it seems there is little to do but wait and see what happens next. Lady Marron—"

"I'm not a lady," Marron said under her breath with a blush.

"—would you mind if we remained in your quarters for a bit?" Frigga continued, pretending not to have heard the girl's protest. "I have a few more questions to ask you."

Thor and Marron exchanged slight cringes, but surely there was no denying the queen the information she was due.

"Of course. Stay as long as you like," Marron invited quietly, lacing her fingers together in her lap.

"Thor, may I speak to you in the hall?" Sif asked abruptly. "As long as Chatte Marron Arable and your mother are occupied."

Thor dropped his eyes to the floor and nodded, moving to the door to step out with the dark-haired woman. Frigga and Marron watched pensively, and then the queen delicately seated herself on the edge of the royal blue bedcovers.

00000

"When were you planning on telling me of this?" Sif whispered harshly several paces away from the closed door to Marron's chambers.

Thor frowned. "I did not plan on telling you at any point, actually," he answered bitterly. "I did not mean for all to go so awry—"

"But it did," Sif interrupted.

"Why do you care so much that I did not tell you?" Thor huffed, crossing his arms. There was absolutely no reason for her to be so distraught about this situation—Thor broke rules all the time. It never seemed to bother Sif this much. What was different about this time that made Sif actually angry at him simply for not telling her of some of his brash actions?

Sif's glare fell away, and she glanced to the floor. "…Because I'm your friend," she muttered. "You call her your friend, you sneak her into the palace, you have done so much for her… and I did not even know of her existence," Sif confided quietly.

Thor's brows furrowed in confusion. "Are you… jealous?"

Sif's fists clenched. "Don't be daft, Thor. I just feel… betrayed by your lack of trust in me. If you had told me before, I could have helped." He didn't need to know about the envy in her heart at the ball when he had danced with Lady Marron. She didn't need him to know that.

Thor sighed. "I have told nobody of this situation," he informed her. "You should not feel any more betrayed than anybody else."

"Nobody?" Sif questioned. "You've told nobody?"

Thor shook his head.

"What about Loki?" Sif asked, tipping her head to one side. "Wasn't he acquainted with Marron at the ball? He seemed to know who she was…" Wait a moment. There were gaps in the story, pieces that didn't quite seem to fit together anymore. "She had a friend with her at the ball. Loki knew them both. Loki knows about this, doesn't he?"

Thor hesitated, unsure of how to answer.

"And who was her friend at the ball?" Sif pressed. "Her friend danced with Loki at the ball. Was he somehow involved with this?"

Thor still gave no answer, not willing to be the one to give others' secrets away.

Sif's eyes narrowed, and she scoffed. "I thought we were friends. I thought you trusted me." She turned away and walked briskly away down the hall, having had enough of this drama.

"Sif!" Thor exclaimed, watching her walk away. His brow furrowed, and a breath of exasperation left his lips. He shook his head and turned back to Marron's room. He didn't understand sometimes. He wished he could, but sometimes he thought it might be better simply not knowing.

00000

Marron fidgeted under the gaze of the queen, halfheartedly dodging questions she wasn't sure how to answer. Frigga was quickly finding gaps and holes in the story she and Thor had offered. The web of lies was unravelling, and soon more secrets would be coming out if the questions kept coming.

"You said Thor snuck you into the palace," Frigga was saying slowly. "And that he disguised you as a servant. But… surely any disguise you two could have devised would easily have been seen through by the guards."

"Hmm…" Marron hummed noncommittally, picking at her fingernails and staring down at her boots.

"What exactly did you do to disguise yourself?"

"Just… hiding my ears and tail…" Marron answered weakly.

"I see… and then he led you to the safe room?"

"Yes…."

"And you stayed there until the night of the ball?"

"Right…"

"Except the time you got lost in the hall and met me."

"Mmhmm…"

Frigga frowned in puzzlement. This all sounded far too clever and well thought-out for Thor—no offense to her son's Skills at planning. He was usually more… bold. Brash. Brazen. Outright in his actions, not resorting to trickery and slyness. There were still pieces that didn't fit together here.

Something suddenly hit her—Thor wasn't capable of trickery and slyness such as this… but… someone else was. Trickery and slyness. Ideas clicked into place: the magic surrounding Marron the night of the ball, disguising her. How she could have been disguised as a servant to enter the palace. Brief memories of Marron mentioning that she was acquainted with Prince Loki. Marron sitting at a table with the younger prince at the ball. "Marron," the queen said slowly. "On the night of the ball, you were disguised with magic so that you wouldn't look like a neko."

Marron tensed slightly and said nothing.

"Loki was a part of all this, wasn't he?" Frigga asked dilatorily. The realization made so much sense—Thor and Loki, seemingly spending more time together and having meaningful glances at the table and suddenly agreeing on their opinions on the nekos.

Marron stiffened, and nothing came out of her mouth when she opened it. What could she say? Was she to lie? Tell the truth? How much trouble would that cause? She and Thor had already hidden the truth for as long as they could, but—

The door opened, and Thor walked in, a deep frown creasing his handsome features. Marron threw him a panicked look to let him know all was not going well, but he didn't catch it before his mother was already on her feet, looking between the two of them.

"There is more to this story, isn't there? Why did you not tell me of the fact that Loki was included in all of this?" Frigga asked coolly, keeping the countenance of a calm queen, holding her composure despite the deceptions now coming to light.

No answer from either the neko or the prince.

Frigga's eyes flashed in irritation. "What is there to hide?"

What was there to hide? Why, the existence of Noir—more specifically, Loki and Noir together.

Thor sighed and stood up a little straighter, decidedly holding his ground. "I… apologize," he picked his words carefully as he spoke them. "You must speak to Loki about it."

Marron nodded. "It's not our place to tell you about it," she agreed softly, her gaze shyly dropping to the ground before she forced herself to glance back up at the woman.

Frigga's frown softened slightly at the two's earnest expressions of firm and honest resolve. At least… at least they were only being loyal. At least they had told her what they could. "Not your secret to give," she repeated. "Not your place to say. So I must talk to Loki myself."

They both nodded.

She sighed. "Then… that is what I must do. Thank you for telling me what you have."

"Mother," Thor said quickly as she began to head for the door.

She paused and looked back at her older son inquisitively.

"…Loki is uncertain of himself," Thor informed her quietly. "Don't push him or be upset or harsh… it might ruin things." The faintest tug at the corner of his lips. "All we want is for him to be happy."

Frigga tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth to ask a question, but then Thor was shaking his head and ushering her towards the door.

"He'll explain," Thor assured. "Maybe."

Frigga found herself in the hall quickly, and she was walking towards Loki's room. There was more to be discovered, and she perfectly intended on finding it out.

Note from LoquaciousQuibbler: Guess what? I actually really dislike this chapter. I had a Helheim of a time writing it. So bloody hard. I get the feeling that that will show through in my writing, but whatever :P

So we finally got to see a little Marron/Thor bonding! Lol I mean, more playfully than before eheheh. I actually loved writing those two and their interaction in this chapter. My intent is to show how they're changing each other the closer they get. Approve of how I'm doing it? Disapprove of how I'm doing it?

And then *throws open the door* "HOLY HELHEIM IT'S LADY MARRON AND SHE'S A NEKO!" …and that whole explanation… Hmm… that's the part of the chapter I really didn't like writing. Meh. I'm not a fan of Sif, and so writing her wasn't very fun, and trying to make her interactions with Thor and Frigga and Marron, all characters I very much like… it was difficult. *Sigh* I have no idea where my muse went.

Anywho, now the lovely queen is on her way to our favorite trickster's room! What shall she discover? Will all end well? Will somebody die? *cough cough* Heh just kidding. Find out next chapter. I fully intend on having more of the happenings in Loki's bedroom next time. ;)

Love ya, duckies, and rest assured that though sometimes I take a while between chapter updates, I swear to Loki I don't plan on abandoning this story if I can help it.

Please favorite, follow, and review.