The rest of the afternoon Kyra spent exploring the castle. Frigga had last-minute court matters to attend to, so the meeting was pushed to later that evening. 

The Asgardian warriors had kindly took along her shoulder bag that fell to the ground, and in it she found her smartphone. As she wandered through the vast grounds, she was blown away by the structures and the design. Her smartphone clicked away incessantly as she took photo after photo - discreetly of course.

Imagine the articles I could write with this! Front page headlines I bet! 

She returned to her bedroom and found out that lunch had been laid out. She eyed the tray warily. It can't really be cabbages and bread only, surely......To her relief she found a plate of meat and gravy, along with green peas and carrots. There was a small bowl of what looked like grapes but were bright orange. Kyra hesitantly tasted one. It was like a cross between peach and apple. She decided she rather liked it. 

She took a shower in the bathroom - which had a simply colossal marble bath tub that she could have done laps in it if she wanted - and wrapped herself in a bathrobe. She was looking around for the purple dress when she realized that it had been taken away, replaced by the one that was lying on her bed.

The new dress was so magnificent and exquisite that Kyra doubted if it was really hers. There was a knock, and two court ladies entered, curtseyed and explained that they were sent from Frigga to make sure that Lady Kyra would be ready for the ball tonight. The words "What ball?" hadn't even left her mouth before she was escorted away for an Asgardian makeover. 

Now Kyra stood before the mirror, adjusting the hemline of her new dress. Perhaps it was a bit vain of her, but she couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror. Dang, these people could come to Earth and work as Hollywood stylists! 

There was a knock on the door. Frigga peeked a head in. She had changed too, and was now wearing a butter gold long dress with a gorgeous flowing cape. The Asgardians must like sequins very much, Kyra thought, as she looked from her dress to Frigga's. Both were beaded with small white things that reminded her of crystals. 

"The dress looks wonderful on you dear! Here let me help you with that."

As Frigga helped, Kyra asked what the occasion was.

"Ah! That is what I wanted to talk to you about. It's the Elska Ball tonight. On this day, centuries ago," Frigga explained, "the great god Bor, Lord of Asgard, met his wife Bestla. It was love at first sight, and they soon got married a year later, also on this date. Their union was one that transcended space and time; their love so strong it resonated across generations of Asgardians. Hence we have always treated this day as a special date for love - the Asgard equivalent for Valentine's Day, so to speak."

Frigga stood up and took a step back, her keen eye running across the dress. She nodded in approval and continued.

"There is also a well-spoken legend about the Elska Ball. It is said that the couple that kisses at the stroke of midnight, when the Asgard moons shine the brightest, are blessed by the gods and fated to be with each other, to love and be loved for all eternity."

Frigga gave a wink. "Of course, these are old wives' tales. For most of us this is but yet another opportunity to drink merry and celebrate. However, it can be rather embarrassing for one to show up without a date, so I was wondering if you would like me to pick one for you? I know of quite a few eligible bachelors, sons of noblemen."

Kyra blinked, unsure of how to respond. Frigga laughed.

"Oh don't worry dear! It's but another festival! Most of those who attend aren't even lovers themselves, they come just to have fun. I'll find a nice handsome man for you, don't you worry."

......It would be rather boring to be by myself wouldn't it? Not to mention awkward. I'm already standing out enough as it is.

"Oh well. Okay then. Thank you Mrs Frigga."

"You're very welcomed dear. Now let's get you some shoes......"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Herrick marched down the stone steps and down the corridors of the dungeon. He ignored the prisoners in the cell, who all snarled, growled and hissed venomously as he strode past, the hatred flashing in their eyes. He had gotten quite used to it by now. He was the man responsible for putting half of them in there, and the threats and curses he had heard over the years flew right over his head.

He reached one particular cell and slowed. With a rather lazy gait he walked up to the glass and tapped it with his spear.

"And over here, we have the criminal in its natural habitat. What a marvelous sight!"

Loki looked up from the book he was reading. The mattress, table, chair and lounge sat in their rightful places in the cell, upright and proper. The books were all arranged nicely on the bookshelf, who was no longer lying on its side. One might be tempted to believe that Loki was up to another of his illusions, but a closer look revealed that the leg of the chair was crooked, as if it had been recently fixed, and the holes in the mattress had been patched up. The cut on his lip too remained, and his left foot was bandaged.

Loki eyed the palace guard and mimicked him right back.

"And over here, we have the obnoxious palace guard, who too is in his natural habitat underground. And I must say, unlike the criminal, he is rather the ugly sight."

There were heckles of scorn from the other cells. Herrick's smirk vanished pretty quickly. Loki shot him a smug smile, returning to his book.

Herrick's jaw clenched. "I heard you had a visitor today. The Queen I believe. Bringing along the mortal Kyra Pierce." His voice took on a sneer. "And my my, the two of you even had a very touching reunion. Is the great god Loki associating himself with the 'lowly' mortals now?"

Loki smiled pleasantly and flipped a page. "That is the whole aim of my exile, is it not? So that I would get over my biased prejudices and misguided views on Midgard. And I do believe it's coming along very well!" Here he looked up at Herrick. "Why, soon there might come a time when you'll see me wandering as a free man down the palace hallways!"

Herrick narrowed his eyes. "Oh really? I doubt I'll be seeing you much though. I have a feeling that like your brother, you'll be hopping down to Midgard more than once in awhile. If you know what I mean."

Loki closed the book. "I'm afraid not, Herrick. The words you speak are usually so senseless that I'd long stopped listening to them."

"Is that so? Let me elucidate then." Herrick moved closer to the glass, his voice a taunting whisper. "Kyra Pierce means more to you than just another mortal, does she not?"

Loki's green eyes didn't even flicker. "Are you insinuating something, Herrick?  You're rather bad at subtleties, so why don't you just come out and say it? Don't worry, I've gotten quite used to your fantastical and far-fetched theories."

Herrick laughed, a nasty sound. "Far-fetched? Hardly. With the world you are a cold heartless criminal, but with that mortal you act as if you are human. Do not presume to lie to me, prisoner. I am not the only one that has bear witness to this fact. Is that not why the Queen brought her down to the dungeons in the first place? To crumble your walls and get through to you?"

Loki shrugged. "If you say so." His tone was the embodiment of careless nonchalance, and it annoyed Herrick that he wasn't getting the reaction he was after.

Without warning he changed the topic of conversation.

"Do you know what day it is today?"

"Not at all," Loki replied cheerfully, "but I have a feeling you're about to tell me."

"It's the Elska Ball tonight. The Festival of Love."

"Ahh. No wonder you're excited. Still single aren't you?" Loki gave him a casual once-over. "I'd advise you not to hold out much hope though. It just makes for a nasty fall. Sometimes I really worry about you, you know. Honest truth. I fear one day you might not be able to pick yourself up from the endless slew of rejections."

"Oh it's not me you should be worry about!" There was something in his laughter that set Loki's senses tingling. "You should be more concerned with your mortal friend. She's going, you see. And she has a date. A well-mannered gentleman from a noble family, one that has been personally handpicked by the Queen herself."

Loki's voice was still as light as ever.  "I see. And you know all of this because you've been sneaking around and poking your nose into other people's business, I presume?" 

"Hardly." Herrick stood a little straighter and the smile he wore was one of a cobra's. 

"I know all of this because I, am Kyra Pierce's date."

And for the briefest of seconds, Loki's eyes flickered.