While I soaked in the warm water of my chamomile and lavender scented bath, I puzzled out what Loki was alluding to with his mentioning Thor and I during meals. Now that my hair was loose and my scalp was no longer being tortured by the tight braids - and my body was no longer constricted by my gown - I felt more capable of the challenge.

Meals were gregarious when Thor was present - loud and a near feast, even when there was no real reason for celebration - that was just how he was, boisterous. He knew everyone's name and used those names when he spoke to people. When I first arrived, he zeroed in on my quietness and sought to bring me out of it - usually during meals since that was the only time we were in the same place. Like a sibling, of which I had none, he taunted and teased. At most he hugged me, or put his arm around my shoulders -

"Lady Sigyn," he'd roar, in his bearish way, "come have a drink with us and tell us how the witchery goes!" I'd roll my eyes, shrug off his arm and beg off from the drink, smiling and laughing at his attempts.

Being cruel to Thor would be like kicking a wolfhound. It wasn't his fault he was huge and playful - he just WAS. "Thank you for the offer," I'd murmur, a blush on my face because his voice would carry and draw attention to us. "I think your mother is calling for me," and I'd go off to Frigga's side, happy to sit quietly and have my meal before retiring to my rooms - before stealing away to the gardens.

I'd simply seen his invitations as those of a thoughtful brother by proxy. He wanted to include me, he didn't yank me onto his lap like I'd heard stories told of the wenches and the Warriors Three. Instead he just wanted to make certain I felt welcome, in his own way.

Apparently Loki saw it through a slightly different view. I tried to understand it, but I couldn't. Jealousy would be my first thought, but that would be ridiculous. Why would Loki be jealous?

After my bath I put on the green nightshift, I considered my choices - reading in the window seat or a walk with my new guard through the gardens. My book lay where he'd set it after he snapped it shut, and I was curious if he'd simply picked up where I'd left off - after all he hadn't turned the pages while I'd watched him - or if he started fresh? As if he'd spelled it, I had to see - and as I grew closer I was enveloped in the scent of him - apples, jasmine, leather, sandalwood, and that subtle hint of galbanum. Swallowing past the dryness in my mouth, my fingers closed around the leatherbound volume I'd left and he'd picked up - it was warm, as if he'd just left - I let it fall open in my hands, where my ribbon still held my spot and it was if it also bookmarked HIM. I held it up to my face and if the cushion and my reading nook held his scent heavy - the book was a portable version.

I took the book to my bed, my choice made for me. Crawling in and propping myself up against the headboard with my pillows, I started where I left off - letting the fragrance surround me much like my hiding spot in the gardens would. I read until my eyes grew heavy, marking my spot and putting the book carefully beside me on the bed, and sleep came easily - far easier than it had since I'd arrived at ten years old.

I felt far better when morning dawned. A good night's sleep will do that for a person - at least until they sit up and find that they aren't alone.

I sighed, there he lounged in my window seat, but at least he brought his own book this time. "Good morning, Loki," I thought if I greeted him, perhaps he'd take the not so subtle tone of aggravation in my voice and leave - so I could get out of bed without him seeing me in the nightshift he'd chosen.

"I think I prefer it when you address me as your prince," his eyes stayed on his book, but he sounded amused. "You look far more rested today, Lady Sigyn."

I propped my pillows up and sat against my headboard, settling in for a visit. "I feel more rested," I agreed. "Your mother will be expecting me." I reminded him.

"No," he shook his head, turning the page of his book. "You and I are spending the day together." My eyebrow rose at the change in my routine without notice. "I told you, we should get to know one another AND you are ill prepared for another realm without -"

"Yes, you wish to teach me SOMETHING," interrupting him caused his head to raise from his tome. "You never quite got around to what precisely it is that I'll be learning from your capable tutelage." I may have come off sharper than he thought appropriate, since his eyes were narrowing again. "Are you going to illuminate me, MY PRINCE?"

Lips fighting to choose whether he wanted to smirk, smile, or - "You play with fire, Lady Sigyn."

"Do I?" Studying him, I wondered if he was all that hot? "You seem rather cool, MY PRINCE."

Letting out a breath that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, his flashing gaze met mine. "You wore the green, I see."

"I was told it brought out the color of my eyes." I countered. "I never learned what the blue did - not completely anyway."

His gaze flickered to my hair, loose around my shoulders. "As if it were kissed by fire," he murmured, and my breath caught. "Your hair -" his eyes locked on mine again. "When we're in Midgard, you should wear it up." I nodded. "It could be a cumbrance, get caught on things, or be used to hold onto you - you haven't my aptitude for -"

"Quite," I knew what he meant. I couldn't just vanish at will. "So I'll wear my hair up and out of the way." And so we began our day with Loki telling me how to dress and appear for my first voyage out of Asgard.

"You have to leave," Loki had discussed everything from my hair to my shoes - I was hungry and I wanted to change for the day. He was still lounging in the window, and raised an eyebrow at my tone. "Loki, I would like to break our fast, and I'd like to change my clothes - at least one of those would require you to leave my rooms."

He sat and studied me. "You do understand that while we're in Midgard I will not let you out of my sight." I stared at him. "Not for a single moment."

My mouth had dropped open - not a moment alone? "Not even when I'm -" there are certain moments that EVERYONE needs to do on their own. "My prince, surely you know that you cannot follow me EVERYWHERE."

"Mother insists, Lady Sigyn." The smile that formed on his lips was pleasant, yet also challenging. Daring me to force the issue, to press back, to argue - to throw another tantrum.

A challenge was it? A dare? Fine. Chin up, shoulders back, I slid out of my bed. Bare feet touching the floor and my moss green shift sliding down my length, I let my loose hair settle down my back. "Fine," I maintained eye contact. "If Frigga INSISTS, then I suppose you SHOULD learn what I go through to get ready every morning."

While he acted as my captive audience - I once again chose a gown - this time one of my day and public ones, far more restrictive and constrictive. I also had to choose my undergarments, my shoes, and I had to work literal magic on my hair. Which I did - SLOWLY.

"You said when on Midgard my hair should go up?" I asked, still standing in my nightshift. He nodded. Taking a deep breath, I contemplated all the ways that my hair could go up without it looking ridiculous. And as he watched, up it went. "How's this?" I turned around and looked over my shoulder at him. "Does this pass your standards, my prince?"

A curt nod and I moved on. He'd dared me - challenged me with the idea that Frigga expected us to never be apart for a moment during our time on Midgard - and so, with my back still turned I let my nightshift drop from my shoulders and pool around my feet. Without looking at him I dressed, skin out, down to my shoes.

"There," when I finished I faced him. "Does that meet your approval, Loki?"

"I think that'll do, Lady Sigyn." His gaze was on mine, and I felt that I might have surprised him for once. "Let's have something to eat and then -"

"Yes?" I wanted to know what my day would look like, since my routine was broken.

His smile returned. "Then, my lady, your new studies begin."

"Which are?" But he didn't answer, instead standing and offering me his arm. His scent - apples, jasmine, leather, sandalwood, and of course, galbanum wrapped around me like a cloak - and I was surprised when he matched his pace to my far shorter stride.

"You'll see," was all the answer I received, that and a smirk.