Author's P.O.V.

As much as both the parties wanted to and contrary to one's belief, the ride in the elevator was relatively quiet among the two aristocrats, each choosing to maintain the gravity of the situation.

Well, at least that's how it seemed.

While (Y/n) preferred to remain silent for the sake of the situation, Loki soaked in the warmth spread through the temperature controlled shaft which was quite the comfort in the chilly weather.

"Do you think---"

"I hope not.", The emerald eyed prince snapped, cutting the (y/e/c) eyed princess off as they stood in the elevator heading up.

To say she wasn't irritated would be a lie but even though the urge to snap back at him with equal ferocity didn't leave her, a part of Kaal knew this was the outcome of his fear which he concealed.

She gently allowed her fingers to brush against his, at which he turned towards the latter with a raised eyebrow.

She let out a laugh but the questioning eyebrow never left her.

"Anything comical, your highness?", He inquired using the nickname he seemed to have found for her. The princess shrugged.

"Just the thought that your brother is probably overreacting about the whole battle thing, Snowflake.", She countered, deciding to return the prince the favour.

It seemed as though he was satisfied by the silver tongue's answer when he withdrew the brow yet when he turned to her again, all (Y/n)'s hope was washed out.

"While I appreciate the optimism, it begs the question why?"

"Well Loki as far as I have noticed, as long as the troublemaker is away from a certain situation, it is never that severe.", A reply came in a serious voice. He pursed his lips and nodded, complying with the serious tone.

She didn't want to laugh at his antics but couldn't help it when he snapped his head towards her side and narrowed his eyes.

The laughter of the lady soon stopped reverberating through the space and, opposing one's either expectation or prejudice of him, Loki didn't retaliate with any venom, taking the joke in a sporting manner with a nod.

A warm silence spread over the two. Much like it, the Friggason had an unknown warm sensation tugging at his heart while the frost giant's lips tugged into a smile to match it, reviewing the crown princess's response in the comfortable silence.

"There is a reason behind why they call you arrogant, you know?", He teased leaning against the wall on his side on the right, crossing his arms.

She shrugged and cocked her head before adapting a position similar to the other's. The only difference was that she leant on the left.

"Or maybe I am just aware of my capabilities and elect to own up to them along with appreciating them generously.", (Y/n) countered. He felt his irises move in his socket as he formed a response.

"I am pretty sure that's the simple definition for arrogant, your highness.", He pointed. She shook her head.

"Not if it's not approved by either Oxford or Cambridge. Besides, I believe I have enough reasons to be arrogant.", She defended, standing straight in her spot once more. Her companion assessed her defence and posed a question of his own.

"Oh? And how so?" She had a confident glint added to the already present one in her eyes. Upon closer look, he discovered that not only was this glint confident, it was one of teasing too and oh, how he dreaded yet anticipated it.

"I dealt with you for almost an entire hour, didn't I? I consider that quite the reason to be arrogant, Snowflake." His eyes widened in playful horror. He put his hand over his chest to feign a hurt expression.

"I have been betrayed and that too, by my own friend! I wonder what has become of the Midgardian plain!", The new recruit exclaimed as his team leader scoffed. He had a feeling that he was about to recieve a retort even for this and somehow, he felt a zeal rush through him.

"You know, you're not as secretive with hiding your emotions as you think. Guarded yes, but definitely never secretive. Especially with the ones who know you.", The accomplished automobile engineer commented.

"Hmm. So the crown Princess of the United Provinces of Pragjyotispur thinks she knows me. The fates must really be smiling upon me now.", The avid reader teased yet again.

She decided to accept his little challenge and armed herself with another reply.

"Or maybe the younger prince of Asgard is just very much an open book, contrary to what he might believe."

"Ah, but there is also the fact that you like reading mystery or thriller books more than people, isn't there?", He replied. Acharya stifled a laugh when she realised he had apparently read an age-old article on her.

"Maybe you are. Besides, you must be since you just openly admitted to having read a decade old article on me." She looked at him with a slight smirk as she saw a subtle hint of shock sprint across his eyes, giving her the remark she needed to go for the kill.

"It seems subtlety becomes you, your highness.", She commented, leaning on one side of the metallic tube casually, crossing her arms over her chest.

A smirk danced on her lips. Her mind traced its steps back to their conversation on her floor and she had to agree with the silver tongue: tonight was indeed special.

She let her irises linger around the man's figure for a moment or two more. Although when she first met him, the meeting wasn't quite pleasant, right now she had to admit, the younger prince was certainly quite easy on the eyes.

Especially in the category of cheekbones and hair. As well as eyes. Absolute pools of emerald one could sink in and enjoy the various waves of mischief which danced in them in mirth. Well, it also didn't seem too bad that he had a height of a bit more than 6 feet.

The first born of the Acharya dynasty let out a sigh.

To sum up the persona of Loki, it was clear that he was everything a prince should be.

Regal, yet mischievous. Silent yet bold. Unbothered yet careful. Lethal, both with weapons and words. Pristine in stance as well as appearance. And most of all, one thing that stood out like a sore thumb about him--- fuelled to the brim with sparkling ambition.

Even though he thought himself to be somewhat of a dagger in this cold, hard world, Prince Loki was the perfect personification of a lethal sword.

For a second she thought her scrutiny had been spotted when she saw the corners of his lips turn upwards in the slightest bit but soon realised that he was perhaps in his own thoughts when the smile vanished soon enough.

She let out a sigh of relief, occupying herself with her own thoughts.

While she was delved deep in the analysis of the trickster, she had decided to ignore or overlook the fact that he might have actually been doing the same.

Loki's P.O.V.

I couldn't help but allow my mind to.travel back to the words we had just exchanged and I couldn't help but smirk at her cheek.

Her highness surely wasn't one to shy away from a good battle of words.

There was something about this lady. She could frustrate you in a second and make you laugh in the other. She was quiet yet loud. Her boldness could give a competition to brass.

And the way she wore her arrogance? Oh! It was a work of art.

In a world full of roughness, her highness Crown Princess (Y/n) Acharya of the United Provinces of Pragjyotispur was definitely a breath of fresh air.

Graceful, juvenile at the right time, matured and practical, focused, ambitious, loyal, prideful which suited her along with being lethal nonetheless--- she was simply like a jewelled dagger.

Most of all, she offered me a second chance which was something I didn't expect at all, especially from her.

I opened my mouth to serve her with the invitation to another war of words although much to my fate, that was also the moment the doors to the vessel decided to open with a ding to signal the arrival on my brother's floor, the one in question pacing up and down the corridor between his room and here with his hands on his side, Mjolnir in one while the other clenched in a fist.

As soon as he heard the swoosh of the doors, signalling their closing he turned to look at us, striding towards us.

"Vanaheim is in danger, Brother. There is a battle raging and our troops have been deployed but it doesn't look so good and Mother has summoned all three of us right now.", He stated, his voice steely and serious, the same expression, I felt morph into mine.

The both of us met each other's eyes and the one with the blue pair nodded slightly to confirm my suspicions.

Mother never really summoned the both of us for anything unless it was of the utmost importance. Depending on the matter, it was either Thor or I.

But this time the addition of Lady (Y/n) was quite out of the ordinary, to be putting it lightly.

"I'm sorry Thor, but I think I heard you say the three of us?" The blonde haired man nodded.

"Yes, lady (Y/n). I too was taken aback at first when I received the instructions but Mother has asked to bring you along with us."

"Has she mentioned why?", I asked, putting forth what was going on in my mind. The God of thunder shook his head. The scowl on the crown princess's visage deepened and her hands automatically intertwined themselves with one another.

I knew the question she might be pondering upon, since it was shared by me too---- what business would a Midgardian have in Vanaheim?

I always thought I knew Mother the best since I had been the one to spend the most time with her since Thor and I were children, but as she would have it, it seemed the Allmother is never void of any more tricks up her sleeve.

But what did she have in mind this time?

I sighed and mentally made two decisions. One, to trust my Mother's judgement and two, to be by (Y/n)'s side at all times during the battle.

"Well, we definitely wouldn't find the answer standing around, now will we? I suggest we make a move, brother, Lady (Y/n).", I suggested before the silence could get any more deafening, raising my hand towards the elevator.

"You do realise this is another realm and not a late night coffee trip, right?", She asked me, as if pondering upon my sanity.

"Are you scared, your highness?" She looked at me, aghast.

"I--- of course I am scared! Loki, the furthest I have ever been is to the south pole and even then once I'd returned I had caught a terrible cold on the first night which lasted for a whole damn week! So forgive me, Snowflake, if I am hesitant to torture my tastebuds again with the God awful taste of kaadha!", She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air and placing them on her waist.

I had to bite back a laugh and saw the same was the situation with my brother. This was the most worked up we had seen the mighty leader of the Avengers be. She unfortunately noticed it.

"Yeah, I'd like to see you laugh when you have literally been dipped in boiling lava and you", she said, turning to Thor. "Have to be struck by lightning yourself. And believe me sirs, I can arrange for both the scenarios." As if on cue, a few sparks of electricity buzz out from her hand.

At the moment, if anyone was to question me on why my palms were starting to sweat, I would perhaps blame it on the poor air conditioning of the tower.

Thor and I looked at each other.

I suddenly felt quite parched.

"Well, I don't assume it required that severe a threat and besides, it's a good thing you are not going to the north pole, then isn't it?" She shrugged.

"Yeah, of course! I would obviously know since I have visited Vanaheim many times during this time of the year. It's truly lovely, actually! How silly of me to be scared and act like I have never been there before!" She grit her teeth on the last part of the statement. I rolled my eyes.

"You do realise that I may be an alien, as Stark puts it, but I do understand sarcasm?" She gasped.

"Me? Sarcastic? No!" This time, I decided to apply a different tactic with her.

"Lady (Y/n), if you are not confident in your powers or abilities, just say that." By saying this, if looks could kill, the crown princess would have already stabbed me to death before I could even say muggle.

"I beg your pardon?", She challenged. I folded my hands over my chest and shrugged.

"What? I merely spoke the truth, didn't I?", I goaded. I saw her jaw grit itself mimicked my stance.

"Loki, remind me who was the one who threw you across the living room of the Stark Tower only a month back?", She questioned. I scoffed.

"It was you but it seems as though you don't have the previous confidence you had in your powers, your highness. Or even yourself, for the fact. Because if you did, you'd not have so much hesitation only for a battle."

She let out a low laugh after a scoff and looked to her side. By the way she had clenched her fist, it was clear that she was surely holding herself back.

"Right. Only a battle." She looked me directly in the eye.

"And what happens if I happen to die in this only a battle?" I didn't miss a beat.

"That won't happen." She raised an eyebrow. "The Asgardian army isn't that weak."

"Well, they definitely couldn't keep you the first time.", She countered this time. I nodded my head to the side.

"Fair enough. I will be by your side at all times to watch your back and you have my word on it." She let out another laugh. Her eyes didn't leave mine, probably searching for even a hint of a lie. Fortunately for the both of us, there was none since this was one of the things I didn't lie about.

She then nodded.

"I swear, if I die or something I will haunt you for the rest of your existence." Relief washed over me as well as a grin. One, which leaked onto Thor's face too and even though her tone was threatening, the slight smile at the corner of her lips.

"I would expect nothing less, your highness."

"It's settled then!", Thor announced. "We, my friends, are going to march into a glorious battle- crushing windpipes, slitting throats and being covered in blood, sweat and mud. Preferably of the enemy's.", He added.

"Sorry, crush what?"

"I beg your pardon but, covered in what?" But when we looked at our current supposed leader, was already off on his way to the elevator, with a pep in his step which was quite unusual for someone about to head into a probably deadly, inter realm battle.

"I shall meet the both of you on the terrace. JARVIS, take me to the terrace!" And with one sure Mr. Odinson, the doors of the tube shut, taking the man to the terrace.

"You know, he looks quite happy for a man who is a few minutes away from, as he put it, crushing someone's windpipe.", (Y/n) commented, looking at the direction the God of thunder left. I laughed lightly.

"Oh you should see him when he gets to decapitate someone. Absolute ball of sunshine then." My comment was met with a questioning look and I just shrugged in an it's the truth fashion. She looked down and let out a laugh, before looking up at me with a smile.

I couldn't hear what she said in the next part since the only thing I could hear was the violent sound of my heart beating all of a sudden but when I heard the electronic butler give a confirmation, I knew she was not speaking to me.

"Alright then, shall we go?", She proposed with the same smile on her face.

*Major Time Skip ('cause author got lazy again)*

Author's P.O.V.

All (Y/n) was feeling was as though she was being sucked in by a vacuum cleaner. When she felt her ears stop popping, Kaal realised she was back on the ground. She now understood what Loki meant by her to hold on tightly if she didn't want to end up in Knockturn alley and made a mental note thank him for covering her eyes from the light which she was sure would have blinded her if Loki hadn't put her head on his shoulder to shield her from it.

Now as she lifted her head and started realising her surroundings, she could hear the faint sound of swords clashing, yells, blasts and grunts, signifying they had arrived at their destination.

The light had thankfully dimmed to become a bit more bearable, allowing her to lift her head from the leather clad shoulder of the raven haired demigod who looked at her with visible concern in his eyes.

"Are you alright? Do you feel ill?", He frantically questioned, his arm not leaving her waist, in case she got dizzy and lost her balance. And as far as Loki had experienced, falling down even before heading into the battle was not a good thing for someone's first Asgardian battle. Especially, if those three were here. The elemental took a deep breath with her eyes closed, attempting to stop her head from spinning. Once she felt like she was successful, she exhaled before opening her eyes yet again.

She shook her head.

"I think I am alright.", She pondered, feeling the tight grip Loki had on her loosen a bit as she walked slowly to stand next to him, his eyes following her every step.

"Lady Kaal, welcome to Vanaheim.", Thor said turning back towards her as he motioned his hand forward towards the battle.

As she looked at the battlefield, (Y/n) was confused about whether they had landed in Vanaheim or on the set of some fantasy series, albeit a dirtier, more chaotic and bloodier one.

Right in front of her eyes, warriors seemed to battling what looked like elves, covered in the most gorgeous armors she had ever seen. Most of them held swords which actually seemed pulled straight out of a fantasy book either written by Rick Riordan or Cassandra Clare.

The landscape was a huge open field covered with sand and to the back, lined by lush green trees which stood tall and proud as though they were the Romans who sat in the coliseum surrounding the arena where the valiant gladiators were defending their titles, where the gladiators were the warriors.

Just as she was taking in all these things, she felt the pungent smell of burning and her pupils moved in their sockets to find the source. At last, she saw that to one side of the area there were many things which were on fire and amongst them were a few trees. On one side, she observed, were machines which looked like the modern day army tanks shoot beams of light and understood they were the ones to be blamed for the blasts.

"Still think you're going to die?", Loki teased from next to her. She scowled.

"Oh yeah, definitely." Then, she looked directly at Loki. "But even if I do, it going to be freaking awesome and I am so bloody ready for it!", She exclaimed, not being able to stop her 14 year old self from making an appearance.

Loki grinned at her enthusiasm and childlike expression. He had to admit, even though it was rare to see (Y/n) let her inner child out, she looked really adorable when she did.

From the corner of his eye, the God of Mischief saw Thor throw his hammer into the battlefield and understood what it meant.

"Then better buckle up kærasti, here come two charging right at us. Brother!", he yelled before summoning his two throwing knives in his hands and launching them in full force, the blades hitting the oncoming soldiers perfectly. The lady next to him didn't really understand her companion's motive behind this move but when she looked in front of her, she saw that this had cleared the way for Thor to go ahead of them and smash his hammer on the ground, letting out a few sparks of electricity.

The rumble of the ground had caused the oncoming soldiers to loose their balance and fall down while the thunder had taken care of the rest of process, killing them upon contact. This rumble however had caused a huge pile of dirt to erupt from the ground and before it could hit her or Loki, Kaal sent her mind to autopilot, raising her hands to shape the huge amount of dirt into a large ball, before sending it flinging towards one of the enemy's cannons line.

Since there were three lined up together, as soon as the first one was hit, the other two too went tumbling down, breaking them altogether and allowing the Asgardian soldiers who had taken refuge behind a boulder to save themselves from its firing to move out before nodding their head to her in a thanks, marching on to battle. She too responded with a quick nod of her head before turning the younger prince.

"Not bad, Kaal. Not bad at all.", He commended as she mocked a small bow.

"That's high praise coming from the skilled knife thrower. Even caught me by surprise with your strategy.", She returned as they walked over to Thor and a female warrior he had been in conversation with.

"The lady was wearing a red and silver armor while, wielding a sword in one one hand with a shield in the other. Her jet black, wavy hair was left open but this definitely didn't make her loose her focus, as Kaal had observed. Her face was slightly tanned which signified the long hours of training she put in the scorching heat of the sun while the impeccable shape her body was in, confirmed her theory to be true.

Her eyes, however, was the one feature which caught the princess's attention first. Even though they seemed wary of the raging battle, it was not enough to extinguish the fire in them. Her face, the entrepreneur observed was void of any injuries except a nasty gash on her forehead, one she didn't seem affected too much by.

Acharya raised her eyebrow in amusement when her analysis matched the description of only one woman in her mind. The valiant warrior who stood in front of her in all her glory was none other than the legendary warrior of Asgard, Lady Sif. Or a good friend of Thor who he couldn't stop talking about for the past three months.

"This is my friend Lady Kaal of Midgard, by the way. Lady Kaal, this is my other friend Lady Sif of Asgard.", Thor introduced when he saw the woman walk towards them.

The two women greeted each other with a nod, given the circumstances they were in before the blonde spoke again.

"Ah yes, and you definitely remember Loki, right Sif?" The other shrugged.

"A bit hard to forget him, actually. You actually look good without all those chains, you know.", The warrior teased.

"It's absolutely phenomenal to see you too, fair Lady Sif!", Loki countered. "Say, your hair looks quite nice after having grown back. Am I not right brother?" A curious look was shot at Loki by his newest friend.

"Am I missing something here?", She asked. Before Loki could even answer, they heard a dull noise, much like that of a sharp object hitting something like a shield. When they looked towards the raven haired woman, the three of them saw that it was exactly the same.

In her shield, Lady Sif seemed to have caught an arrow aimed straight for Loki.

"You're welcome.", She stated, not breaking eye contact. When Loki looked at her eyes he saw a warning clear as day written in them; breathe even a single word of the matter to anybody, and the next one will surely go through your heart.

A thud shook the ground just before either of them could say anything and all 4 pairs of eyes shot towards the source of the problem.

Now, during the course of her life (Y/n) had thought she'd seen everything there was to see. But when she looked to her right and saw something like a giant made of rocks approaching the battle, she took a few steps back herself.

Sif however, was unfazed but it was only natural about the goddess of war.

"All yours.", She casually said before grabbing the hand of the woman in front of her.

"Come on, Lady Kaal. Let these dumb boys make themselves useful while you and I have a chat." At this, both women shared a laugh.

"Lead the way, Lady Sif."