"Do you think her being the Goddess of Love could have anything to do with it?" Katja asked, unaware that his mother was capable of such things, for she knew very little about his family. 

"No. I have never loved anyone and I never will." Although Loki was standing next to her while she was sitting, he felt much farther away, a distant look on his face. "Not even myself."

It started to snow outside. It was the middle of summer, yet it snowed. 

"I mean, why else do you think I was condemned to this castle? Because I enjoy it? Odin threw me in here, trapped in this form when I found out who I was. I did not receive an explanation until a month after I arrived. My mother said that I was found in a casket. That I was not..." He grew distant again, his eyes were lost as they just stared at the snow outside. 

"-a part of the family. You're an outcast, sent away because you're too painful to look at. Because when they look at you, they see something they would rather forget." Katja finished for him, knowing he wouldn't say it out loud. She knew exactly how he felt, she wasn't adopted, but she did painfully remind her father of her mother too much at times. 

Katja shivered from the change in weather and knew Loki had something to do with it, but she was still cold since her halter dress was designed for the summer. Loki hadn't made a noise since Katja had spoken and had only turned to hide from her. When she felt his heavy coat around her shoulder, she looked up, but he was already gone. 

The coat was huge and engulfed Katja, her hands in the sleeves and the coat itself was so long it was almost dragging on the ground. The lining was deep green silk, the exterior was black leather embossed with gold. The collar was velvet, the same shade as the lining. Katja buttoned it around her as she made her way back down the stairs. It smelled like Loki, minty and light, helping her to relax. 

Once she finally reached Loki's bedroom again, she paused, not wanting to leave, worried that her hands may freeze again. She yawned, quite tired and laid down on his bed, that also smelled faintly of him, not needing the covers since Loki's jacket was already so warm. 

++++++

Katja awoke sprawled all over the mattress, her hair a mess, and some drool on the side of her face. After stretching, she found a small note left on the bed. "Breakfast will be served at 9 o'clock".

Too bad it was already 10 in the morning. Katja blushed, realizing that the only person who would have known that she was in here was Loki, the handwriting on the note too perfect and extravagant to be anyone else. She prayed to Valhalla that he didn't see how she looked while sleeping, but he probably did. 

She tidied up his bed, folded up his coat, whose warmth she dearly missed, and tried to find her room. She ran into Dagrun in the halls, who helped Katja find her room since the maid wanted to talk to Ingenbjorn. 

Katja stood in the doorway as Dagrun and Ingenbjorn spoke, but soon felt out of place, the two lost in their own world. Katja was relieved that Ingenbjorn found someone else to confide in, but she also missed the private time she got with her sister and the fact that she used to be the only person to know Ingenbjorn so closely. 

After tucking into her own room and changing into her own clothes that she brought with her, Katja wanted to be outside. She used to spend hours alone in the woods, hunting for food, and after being cooped up in a castle for long, she was aching for sunlight. 

Her breath was caught in her throat as she threw open the glass doors that led out to the garden. Roses of every colour were full bloom and wisteria climbed the overhead archway and as the wind blew, Katja's hair became purple from the petals. Large hedges created a maze with topiary statues that barely stuck out over their height. Katja entered the labyrinth, testing her sense of direction and was enjoying the sun on her face when she tripped over something. 

"Ow!" As Katja stood from the ground, she realized that she had tripped over a leg. 

"You know that was unnecessary Dagrun, quit pulling my leg!"

The man crawled out of the hedge, and Katja was shocked to find that he looked a lot like Dagrun. "Oh sorry, you're not my sister. I am Dagnfinn, at your service." He bowed and took her hand, kissing it. "I tend to these here gardens, for they are the Queen's favourite." 

Katja rubbed the back of her hand to her pant leg, "I see, well thank you for retaining their beauty, they are quite enjoyable. I shall best be on my way." 

As she turned to leave, Dagfinn caught her wrist. "Wait, my lady, wouldn't you like to enjoy them with me then?"

"No, sir. I am actually quite fine. Now please do let me go." Katja was as red as a cherry with anger. Why do men think that they can just grab her at their leisure?

"That wasn't an option, Miss." He dragged her back and pushed her against the hedge. Katja wanted nothing more than to be out of that situation, wishing Loki would help her. 

Dagfinn held both of her wrists above her head and began to lean down, so Katja kneed him with all her might, causing him to fall to the ground and howl with agony. As he began to tear up, Katja called Loki to her side. 

"Why, you insufferable bitch. I am going to chop you to pieces with my shears!" He lunged to punch her, but Katja ducked and instead uppercutted him so that his front tooth fell out.

"You will do nothing of the sort!" Loki hissed, grabbing his collar after Dagfinn grabbed his tooth. The air froze, the birds stopped chirping and the roses wilted around them. All life was still, there was no wind, only cold. "The dungeons are too good for you, scum."

"Please! I have a sister! What will Dagrun do without me?" He started grabbing at his neck, Loki's ice cold hand evidently causing him pain.

Loki called Dagrun to the gardens and she brought Ingenbjorn with her, the two must have still been together. They both looked dishevelled, their hairs were a mess and they were both profusely blushing, faces beet red and lips swollen. Katja assumed that they were out of breath from running from the second story. 

"You brother attempted to attack and harm Lady Katja, for this, what do say we shall do with him?" Loki turned to Dagrun since she was Dagfinn's brother

She paused and thought for a long time. "Dismiss him from the castle, Father always thought there was something wrong with him, the look in his eyes. I suppose I see it now as well."

"But sister! I love and protect you! Who else would do the same for peasants like us?" Dagfinn begged, but Dagrun seemed reserved, grabbing Ingenbjorn's hand.

"I have found someone new that loves me and protects me for who I am, and is not ashamed of who I love." 

"Is this about what I said? About you and girls? I will not take back my statements, it is unnatural! You look pathetic right now."

And Katja finally made sense of what Dagrun and Ingenbjorn were doing. "Don't you dare say such things, you pathetic excuse of a human! My sister and Dagrun are enjoying their lives while you can hardly say that you have one." Katja was fuming. "My prince, may you please?"

"Of course." Loki bowed to the girls, took Dagfinn's hands behind his back and led him to the large doors. 

"Sissy," Ingenbjorn whispered, grabbing Katja's hands, "Thank you. I am sorry I never said-"

"There is no need to apologize, I am glad that you have found happiness, and with such a wonderful young lady who is the personification of beauty!" Katja gave both her sister and Dagrun a hug, tears building up in her eyes. She was so proud. "Now run along back upstairs, I am afraid I have some private matters to discuss with the prince."

"Oh la la, you are speaking much with him, sister! Perhaps I am not the only one who has found love." Ingenbjorn teased, but Katja's heart sank. Loki said that he never loved anyone and Katja supposed that she had no chance. 

The girls returned to the castle and Katja sat on a marble bench, her hand in her hands. The mystery with her ring still remained, and now that Ingenbjorn has found someone, does that mean that she will live in the castle? What would become of Katja if Ingenbjorn was to join Dagrun in her upkeeping of the place? She would probably have to leave and maybe marry the man from the other village. Katja wanted to gag at the thought of it. Tormod was a pig, and although Loki hadn't been exactly a charming man at the ball, he was beginning to warm up to her. But then again he didn't love her. Katja began to cry, she had no idea what to do. 

She didn't hear Loki's footsteps as he approached her. "Are you alright?" Katja looked up at the sound of his voice. "Sunshine, I am so sorry I had no idea he would try to do such a thing. Please do forgive me, I pray to Valhalla that this doesn't make you want to leave."

"Sunshine?" Katja dried her eyes and raised an eyebrow at him. 

"Yes well, it's sunny out and it's like the colour of your eyes, and also, well nevermind. Stupid, I know, I won't say it ever again, just will you stay?"

"And also what?"

"Sunshine is just something my mother used to say I needed more of." His eyes darkened and his shoulders slumped. He must miss his mother, Katja wondered how long it had been since he last saw his family, while turning multiple shades of red darker than the roses around her.

"Of course I will stay, it's not like I have anywhere else to go."

Loki beamed, truly glad that she was staying. "Well then, sunshine, a tour of the castle? A proper one this time?"

"I'm sure I have other matters to attend to."

"Fine, even the restricted area."

Katja grinned, "Lead the way."

++++++

The two rounded a corner and Katja recognized the corridor they were in. It had a single door at the end and, if she was right, she had insulted him there. Loki didn't seem to mind since he continued forward, his smooth, black leather boots clicking against the gold floor. Katja looked to her own shoes, dirty and patched up multiple times, they assaulted her eyes and offended the pristine floor, which was so clean that she could see her reflection: a poor girl who will never belong in this castle. 

Loki pushed the door open and from the long windows, thin beams of light illuminated the dust in the room and there was quite a lot of dust. The room was as she remembered seeing it a few days ago, all gold with soaring ceilings and the largest bed known to man. The bed itself was in its own separate room, this chamber clearly was an en suite. 

"Here is the forbidden part of the tour. The bedroom of the King and Queen." Loki spat out with malice. He sat on one of the gold couches, looking at the wall, allowing for Katja to explore the room on her own.  

The room itself was enormous, even for a room of royalty, the entire space was large than her whole village and was the entire West Wing of the Palace's upstairs, minus the library, but this place had its own. As she flicked through the pages, she came to find that the book in her hands was a history of all the battles Asgard had taken part in, how many had survived, how many had died. She felt a shiver going down her back as she traced the number of deceased of a battle in 976. What if Loki had been one of those? Where would she be now if he was dead?

Katja suddenly liked this room a lot less so she returned to Loki's side to continue the tour, but found him staring up at the painting, his hands tracing over a portion of it. 

"I wish that I could see you again, but Odin will not allow it, oh how I miss you, mother." His fingers lay on the cheek of Queen Frigga, and although Katja knew that she was not supposed to hear this private soliloquy, she could not help it, Loki was finally revealing himself, unravelling his many layers. "I know it has been years since I have come here to speak my mind with you, but someone brought me here. I think you would like her for I see the same fire in her eyes as you used to have when teaching me magic. She is keeping me away from my own internal thoughts and instead, commands all my attention. I think, with her by my side, I may be Asgardian enough to return home."

Katja stepped out from behind her bookcase, and gently put her hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump from her touch. "Oh, are you ready to leave?" He rubbed his hands under his eyes which were rimmed red, "The dust in this room is giving me allergies, but did you at least enjoy it?"

"Somewhat, I do not think I care for it much. How do you feel?" Katja asked, walking to stand in front of Loki.

"I feel allergic, I must tell Dagrun to see to this room immediately." He stood straight, his chin raised, as he looked down at Katja. HIs classic grin was plastered onto his face and for once Katja could see through the pain it tried to mask. 

"If I may ask, why do you hate yourself so much?" Katja gestured to the shredded painting, and Loki's posture began to relax and he gently put his arms around Katja, resting his forehead on her shoulder. He looked utterly defeated. 

"I'm starting to hate myself less because of you."

"Huh? Sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you describe how fabulous I am-ah!"Katja was suddenly attacked by Loki tickling her, causing her to jump back and lean against the wall for protection. "That was uncalled for!"

Loki put his hand against the wall where Katja's head was, "Was it really?"

"Click!" The wall panel had sunken in and started to slide behind the rest of the wall so that a large, dark looming door was open before them. 

Katja poked her head in, eyeing the spiral staircase that stretched downward for ages. "Do I get a tour of the forbidden part of the forbidden part of the castle?"

"I don't see why not."