My knuckles are white around my sword. A single drop of blood falls from one of them as a practice dummy loses its head. The sixth one today. My breath is heavy and my heart pounds. I somehow find peace only when I am here in the training room. Silent save the clashing of metal and the swoop of weapons. However I am the only one here today. Or so I thought, then I hear, "Impressive."

I look to the door where the voice came from. The prince stands in the doorway, watching. Loki. I had never spoken to the prince, but I'd heard him speak many times. I never really had a particular affinity for any of the Asgardian royal family, but he seemed different. I still did not know if it was a good different or a bad different.

"Hello your highness. Do you need something from me?" I ask, eager to get back to training. He just moves into the room a bit more and says, "Try that move again, but keep your arms closer to your body."

Oh. Oh no. He had no right to critique my fighting skills. Even if it was constructive. He was not a general. Nor was he in any kind of army. He has no experience as far as I know. "What do you know about fighting?" I asked while I wrapped my hands in athletics tape. Loki laughed. "My mother taught me how to fight. Always keep your arms close to your center. Very important. Try it again." Now I laughed and said, "You think you know better than me?"

"I was not suggesting that, but now that you mention it, yes." he said, his green eyes flashing like a shining emerald. I grinned. "Shall we test that?" I asked. Loki grinned and pulled out a dagger. He sauntered into the ring, ready to fight. "Let's dance." I said.

We commenced fighting. Several hits were thrown. After a few hits, he knocked my sword out of my hands. I punched, but each time, his hand intercepted mine. I hit him in the jaw, but he recovered in seconds. He then backed me up to the wall, countering over and over again. I was then against the wall, his dagger pressed against my throat. We both breathed heavily. I could feel the heat of his breath on my face. His eyes flashed again and he grinned.

"I underestimated you." I said with a sultry voice. He held my gaze. "Don't worry. You put up a pretty good fight yourself, love." he said and then licked the blood that was starting to run from his lip where I had punched him. I could see my sword just a few feet from his legs. I could feel his eyes still on me. "Thank you your highness, but I don't think you should judge a fight until it is over."

Loki looked at me puzzled for a moment. Then, in one swoop, I slid out of his grip, in between his legs, grabbed my sword, and slammed him into the wall with my sword at his throat now. He laughed holding his head away from the sword. "Well done, I must say." he said. "Why thank you. Now, what is it you need from me?" I ask. He then grins and laughs. "Your wonderful lips on mine. Oh my dear, I like the sound of that."