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"You know, that wasn't the first time I heard you sing that song, dear," he said, after several long moments, absently twirling a strand of my hair around his finger.

I looked up at him.

"Back in the dungeons, you would sing at night, practice the songs Bodil taught you."

"I—I didn't think anyone else was awake," I spluttered, "I only did it late at night when I couldn't sleep—Specifically so that you wouldn't hear. Why didn't you say anything? Seems like something you'd tease me about."

"Because I knew if I did, you would stop," he confessed, letting the strand of hair fall between his fingers, "And I liked having that to myself. I could've listened to you sing that song for hours, Alivia. Hearing it again, now—I'm not going to let you go again."

"Well, you aren't going to get along very well with the Grand Master, then, because I think I need to get going," I said, pushing myself out of his embrace, "Unless I want to end up like the last entertainer he laid off."

"He'll have to contest with me, then, because I'm afraid you aren't leaving," Loki said, as he pulled me closer to him—If that was even possible.

I gave him a stern look and he cocked his brow, smiling challengingly at me. I rolled my eyes, reaching for a kiss, and he met me halfway.

Being with him like this—Knowing he wanted me—It was purely... Magical. I didn't care how childish it was to feel that. I let the past slip away, focusing my mind on now, where the man I loved, loved me back.

But did I really still love him? Could I, after everything?

I dismissed the thoughts. They could be tomorrow's problem.

Right now, I had another problem, and that was the Grand Master.

"Really, though," I said, untangling my legs from his waist and slipping back into the warm water, "I've got to go."

"Well, I can't truly complain," he said from behind me as I lifted myself out of the water and made for the pile of discarded clothes, "I do love to watch you go."

I rolled my eyes even as I flushed to the roots of my hair. I was conscious of his eyes on me as I pulled on my clothes.

I noticed now that the sky has lightened significantly outside, and with a flick of my hand, my flames went out.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of disturbed water before I felt Loki behind me. His fingers worked the buttons at my back. A flash on my finger drew my attention as I swept the wet hair back from my face and over my shoulder.

My ring.

I wiggled it off of my finger, just as a voice called my name in the adjoining room. It was Sun. I startled, whirling to face Loki.

"I've really got to go now," I said, pulling him down by the neck into a quick kiss. "But I need you to take this for me." I pressed the ring into his hand. He examined it, and I barely noticed the faint frown that took over his face. "I don't know whether it will be taken from me, it's a miracle it hasn't been yet. I don't want to lose it. It was my mother's—"

"Byrd!" Sun's voice sounded more distant now, likely because he was moving on in his search.

"—But I really have to go."

I turned for the door, unlocking it and barely jarring it open before Loki's hand closed over my shoulder.

"Alivia where did you—"

"Firebyrd!" Sun's voice cut him off, and I shrugged out of his grip, pulling open the door to find the adjoining room empty.

"Sorry, we'll talk later, I promise. But I have to go."

With that, I broke for the door that led into the hallway. At the end of the corridor, I spotted Sun's tall, wiry frame, glittering with golden body paint beneath the lights.

"I'm here," I called, "Got lost, sorry."

Sun looked between me—Which was when I remembered my soaked hair—and the room I'd emerged from. He smiled, almost knowingly. But he couldn't know, could he?

"Lost," he grinned, taking my hand and guiding me down the hall, "Right."

"Why were you looking for me?" I asked, trying to change the subject, "I'm not performing again am I?"

I didn't know any more songs on the Tagleharpa.

"The Grand Master wanted to see you. Show off his newest prize."

I rolled my eyes, following Sun back into the crowded room.

My eyes picked out the Grand Master quickly in the crowd. His attention seemed to be fixed on someone in a chair similar to mine.

"He seems occupied with another prize at the moment, how about we try again later?"

By later I meant never, of course.

Sun quieted my protests with a look, and continued to drag me through the crowd. I glanced briefly over my shoulder, to find Loki had clothed himself and rejoined the party, already having managed to acquire himself a drink.

I turned back to the Grand Master, my attention falling to his latest prisoner with a job. And that was when recognition flooded through me.

"Thor?"

"Alivia!" He grinned widely, nodding at me to approach, "Here, over here."

"Yeah, I see you thanks," I said, as Sun and I came to stop before the Grand Master. Sun smacked me with his elbow, and I realized I was supposed to bow. I did, with much spite.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing?" I spat, "Same thing as you, evidently. Serving the ever-so benevolent Grand Master."

That all too pleased with himself smile appeared across the Grand Master's face.

"You learn quickly," Sun whispered lowly.

"Alivia, there is much I must tell you, I'm glad you're here—"

"I guess we all ended up here. I just bumped into—"

"Loki!" Thor called, having spotted him through the crowd.

Loki hurried over in a rush, and I noticed my ring was still rolling between his fingers.

"Where's his chair, why doesn't he get a chair?" Thor questioned, looking between me and Loki.

"I didn't get a chair," Loki responded.

"Well get me out of this one," Thor demanded.

"Tall order," I added.

"I can't," Loki said, voice lowering to a whisper. "I've made friends with this man, he's called the Grand Master."

"Oh he's crazy," Thor spat.

"I've gained his favour. The Bifrost brought me out here weeks ago."

"Weeks ago?" Thor repeated dumbly.

"Yes."

"I just got here—"

"What are you whispering about?" The Grand Master interrupted suddenly, and Loki skittered back as Thor yelped in surprise. He seemed to have completely forgotten the Grand Master's presence.

"Time works real different around these parts." The Grand Master explained. "On any other world, I'd be like, millions of years old."

Yeah, I'd figured that out.

Suddenly, I felt Sun's hand close around my arm, and he began drawing me backwards. I turned to him, frowning.

"Let's join the others, we're heading to prepare for today's Contest," he explained.

I cast a glance back toward Loki and Thor, who watched me go, blatantly ignoring whatever the Grand Master was rambling on about.

I offered a meek wave before I was swept into a stampede of entertainers and taken back to our room.

"So," Sun said later, as he leafed through a selection of outfits while I towel-dried my hair, "Tall, raven-haired one. Tell me about the two of you."

"The two of us?" I repeated, blinking dumbly, "There is no the two of us."

Sun nodded sceptically. "Right, right. So the soaking hair is just a happy coincidence? I'm not blind, doll."

I groaned, turning my back on him.

"So what is this stupid contest anyways?" I question, dancing around the subject. "And why do we have to attend?"

"The Contest of Champions," Sun explained, "There is to be a fight between the Grand Master's Champion and the blond fellow you were speaking with."

"Thor?" I gaped, swivelling back around.

Sun shrugged. "Suppose so. The entertainers usually keep those attending company, if you catch my drift."

Ah. We were to serve as pretty decorations and accessories to those who were lucky enough not to be a prisoner with a job. I nodded stiffly.

"This Champion of his, he isn't going to be for long," I said, pinning my hair into a bun with a ruby clip.

"I wouldn't be so certain," Sun smiled, "The Champion goes so far undefeated. None who have faced him have lived to do so again."

I blinked, my eyes shifting to fix on Sun's.

"I'm sorry," I began dumbly, "What?"

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