Loki's pov

I pull on my collar. "Thor, I'm starting to think this is a bad idea." I whisper to him. "Fear not brother. You'll gain her heart tonight." He says with a smile. "Easy for you to say, you've got the confidence to get any girl you want." I mutter. "Thor, Loki, it's good to see you two tonight." Mother said. I looked up at her nervously, but my heart nearly stopped when I saw Mira. "Hello Prince Loki." She said, without meeting my eyes. She looked stunning in her light green dress and golden accessories. "Thor, dear, could you please follow me for a moment." Mother said, leaving Mira and I alone together. "Um, I got you this." I say as I hand her the golden rose. She gingerly takes it from my hands and places it in her hair. "Thank you, Loki, I love it." She laughs at my growing blush. "What's wrong Loki? Has your silver tongue turned to led?" Her words relaxed me. In a strange way it was like we were kids again.

"Absolutely not. I've still so much to say before that happens." I say and she laughs again. "Perhaps you can say it as we dance?" She asks, holding out her hand. I take it and lead her to the dance floor. My mind went numb as we glide across the floor. "Loki," Mira's soft voice made me alert once more as I focus solely on her eyes. "Thank you." She says, resting her head in between my neck and chest. "Why do you thank me? If you mean the rose, it was nothing but-" She hums and I cut myself off. "No, I mean, thank you for being my friend." We are no longer gliding, we've become stationary, munis a small amount of swaying to the melody. "I know that, with the circumstances of my birth, most find me to be the disgrace and abomination of my mother's love for my father." She lifts her head, but doesn't meet my eyes. "But you-you have accepted me. You, Thor, Sif, you're all my friends and I can't tell you how much that means to me." She sniffs and looks into my eyes.

"I cherish you so much Loki." Her eyes are brimming with tears. I take her hand, leading her out of the room and to the abandoned hall. "Loki, why did you take me out-"

"You mustn't let them see you cry." I say hurriedly, gently wiping away her silent tears. She stops my hand and presses it to her cheek. "You're so thoughtful of me, Loki." She sighs. "Loki, what am I to you? To Thor, I am his friend, to Sif I am like her sister. What do you think of me?" She never broke my gaze. "Mira, I," I lean in, sliding my hand to the back of her head and pulling her slowly forward. She doesn't fight my actions. "Mira, I think I love you." I whisper on her lips before she closes our gap.

When we pull away, I can't help but laugh. I've known this girl since forever, and now- well now she just might be the most important person to me. "Mira, I take back what I said." I say, a bit of seriousness in my tone. "I don't think that I love you. I know that I love you." I take her small hands in mine. "I have no words to even begin to describe the feelings I feel when I'm in your mere presence, let alone speak to you, or even hold you as you've allowed me to do now." A rose color starts to dust her face. "Loki, I-"

"Please don't say anything else." I say softly, taking in her wonderful features. "Just promise me that I'll be able to see you tomorrow." She bit her lip. "If you mother permits it, you could come with me to the city. She's asked me to purchase some materials for a dress. She's going to teach me advanced apparel magic." She smiles. "Then it is settled, I will met you at the gates and we'll go into the city together." She nods and we step back into the festivities.

Mira's pov

I was internally screaming when I woke up to the darkness of my room. It wasn't until now that I'd realized the dangers of Loki being with me. The ridicule, the anger, and worst of all, his dream of being king could evaporate all together. I quickly donned my dress and cloak before swiftly exiting the castle. If I could get back to the castle before light hit, I could just explain to Loki that it was a mistake, that I didn't need the fabric.

I flipped up my hood and flew out the gates, my wooden basket at my side. "Please be open." I chanted as I ran through the streets. Coming upon the large market I nearly cried out I noticed that no shops were set up yet. So I waited and soon fell asleep against the fabric cart.

"Dear me. How long have you been waiting here?" A female voice asked. I look up to see Zarina, the fabric merchant. "Good morning Zarina." I yawn. "Well not really child. The sun's barely even up." I laugh. "That's what makes it good. I'm in a bit of a hurry. If you could hand me the queen's order I'd really appreciate it." Zarina shook her head. "Are those boys giving you problems again? Is that why you're here so early." She asks as she cuts the fabric I need. "No, it's just that-" I look around to see if anyone was around before dropping my voice to a whisper. "Prince Loki had decided to court me and I just don't want him to know about what happens to me when I leave the castle." Zarina sighs. "If he intends to wed you, maybe he should know." I slam my hands down on the cart. "No, he can't know. All he needs to know is that I go into the city when it's dark and come back before dawn. I mean," I slump down to the cold stone pathway. "He knows that some find me to be unworthy of my placement, but that's all he needs to know. Nothing more."

"Well here's the queen's order." I take it from her and place it into my basket. "You stay safe and hurry home. The lights touching the castle now." I turn to see that she was right. "Good day Zarina! I'll see you soon!" I say, running as fast as my legs would permit. My hood and cape flapped behind me, letting my unbraided hair fly free. I could see the gates shine in the sun and I thought I was free from the city behind me. That is, until something forcefully yanked me back. "Look boys! I've caught a wolf in sheep's clothes!" The boy that had caught me says this and and the others laugh. "Let me go!" I cry out as they pull my hair and push me to my knees. "Look her hair's long enough to make horse reins out of it. In fact," I heard the boy behind me pull out his dagger. I started to cry as he cut my hair off from my shoulders. "Leave her be!" A voice boomed. Though my blurry gaze I could see Loki running towards me and the boys.

I whimper out his name as I watch his fight off the boys. I try to get off my knees but I can't. "Mira! Mira are you alright?!" He questions me. I look up and see Loki's face but his skin is blue, like the darkest sapphire and his eyes as red as the blood that circulates through my body. I whimper his name again before I'm absorbed into the darkness.

When I awaken from what feels like a century of sleep, I feel cold and restless. I didn't dare open my eyes for fear of what I might wake to, until I heard Lady Frigga speak. "Mira, are you awake?" Slowly, I opened my eyes to see the light hit the golden walls of my room. "My Lady, what happened?" I ask, as I sit up in the bed. "You were attacked, and Loki saved you." Her tone was not of the light hearted air it usually was. It was almost dark and absolutely serious. "My Lady, is something wrong?" I ask. "Did you see him?" She looked me dead in the eyes. "Loki? Of course I did, he saved me."

"What color was his skin and eyes?" My breath hitched in my throat. I lowered my head. "His skin was blue and his eye, red." Frigga sighed. "That's what I was afraid you were going to say." I tensed. "Have I-have I done something wrong, My Lady?" She didn't answer my question. "I'm sorry, Mira. But that's for the Allfather to decide." Tears started to flow down my cheeks. "Please, My Lady, you must tell me. What have I done?!"

"You have done nothing!" I jumped as she raised her voice. "Just promise me, promise me that when you speak to the Allfather, you will not speak of what you saw." She took my hands in hers. "Please Mira, for Loki, you mustn't speak of what you saw Loki turn into."

"But what is he? What is he that I should be so afraid of?" Frigga met my eyes again. "He's a Frost-" She was cut off by the doors swinging open with great force. "The Allfather wishes to see the girl!" The guard boomed. With a shaky breath, I slide off the bed and walk towards the golden armored men. "I will follow." My voice barely even a whisper. They chain my hands in magic restricting bounds and pull me towards Odin. As we walk, I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror. My hair was to my shoulders now and my face was covered in grime. "Hey, keep moving." A guard pulled me and I'm thrown forward into a set of doors.

Pushing them open I'm greeted with the most unpleasant sight. Loki is lying in a large bed with Odin by his side. Loki's skin is shifting from blue to is normal pale color as he breaths. Beads of sweat cover his body and he's gripping the sheets for dear life. "What's wrong with Loki?" I ask softly, looking at Loki in shock. "He tried to save you, and with his anger, brought his true self out." I bit my lip to try and hold back my tears. "Why am I here?" I ask steadily. "Because," Odin swished his cape behind him and grabbed my neck. "You did this to him! You've nearly killed him, Mira!" I flinched at his words. He drops me and I fall to my knees. "I want you off Asgard by morning. And you are never to come back unless I've deemed you worthy."

"You can't do this. Frigga is my mentor, you must speak with her about my punishment. You alone cannot-" He stomped his foot down. "I am the Allfather! I may do as I please without my wife's consent!" Loki groaned from the bed and Odin rushed to his side. "Take her away, and lock her in her bed chambers." Odin orders were swiftly executed by the two guards next to me. "No! You can't do this! You can't do this to him!" I scream as the guards pick me up by the arms and take me to my quarters.

"Please! You can't do this!" I scream as they unlock my bounds, throw me into my quarters and lock the doors behind them. "Please. This isn't right." I whimper as I slam my palm against the door. I begin to cry horrendously. "Mira? Mira is that you?" Thor's voice calls out as a whisper. "Thor?" I whisper, walking to the balcony. "Thor, what are you doing here?" I hiss. "Why? You are my friend after all. Why couldn't I visit you?" I look away as he lands on the banister. "I am no longer your friend Thor. Your father has deemed me a threat to Loki and most likely you as well." He laughs. "What poppycock. You could barely even bring yourself to hurt a flower in my mother's garden." I glared at him though my puffy eyes. "Be that as it may, I am leaving Asgard tomorrow. I might never come back." I felt the tears come back. "And Loki will be without me. Who will be there to love him as much as I? Thor," I gripped his hands tightly. "You must let Loki know how much I love him. That when he is able to sneak away to try and find me. Please Thor, please tell me you'll tell him that I didn't mean to leave like this. Whatever excuse Allfather gives him will be a lie, show him that. Please." I was blubbering at this point.

Thor took me into his embrace and allowed me to cry on his cold armored chest. "Mira, I promise, you shall have your prince. It might take time. But you will see Loki again." I smiled as he rubbed my hair. "Thank you." I whisper.