Hello friends! I hope you enjoy the update! If you are so inclined please like/comment as you read! I love hearing from my readers!

Happy reading!

><><><><><

They trained for almost three hours before Loki started to feel Kenna's exhaustion through their connection. Had he not had the insight through the magic of the necklace however he would not have been able to tell. She refused to show even a hint of weakness. Even as her muscles trembled from exhaustion she stood proud and strong before him, the inky pools of her eyes narrowed in determination.

"Again," she snapped when he disarmed her for the hundredth time. Her keen eyes took in every movement he made. She sank into a crouch, certain this time she would have him.

"Kenna," Loki said stepping back to disengage from the fight. "It's late."

Determination glimmered in her eyes and he had to respect her resolve. Her strength however was not limitless. She was not Asgardian and he had to be careful not to hit her too hard or he could inadvertently injure the small elf. She made up for it however by being quick and clever. She was fast. Almost as fast as he was. With time and training she could be a formidable warrior. Time however was in short supply. At best they would be able to brush up on her past skills and hope. He did not want to think of what could happen to her against a well trained Asgardian warrior, let alone the immortal legions of Harokin.

Kenna relaxed her posture and nodded. The prince was right. Her muscles were trembling with exhaustion and she was starting to get sloppy. She twirled the daggers through her fingers as he had done earlier and held them out to him. He smirked down at her and she arched a brow impishly. He took them back, a flick of his wrist hiding them from sight. Whether it was a slight of hand or magic she didn't know.

Loki waved his hand and her clothes changed back into the one shoulder dress she normally wore.

"Thank you," she said, bowing her head respectfully. "I appreciate you taking the time to...help me," she finished. "Hopefully I won't need it, but..." she dragged off and she looked away, biting her lip nervously when she realized how intently the prince was staring at her. "Thank you," she said again, and this time her voice came out a little breathy.

"You were well trained," he complimented and he stepped back.

She smiled sadly. "By the best Alfheim had to offer," she agreed nodding. "I only wish I had been more dedicated in my studies, perhaps I would be of more use to you. I'm afraid I was an inattentive student when I was young..." she looked away as her memories surged.

Loki could read the sadness in her eyes and couldn't help touching their connection as his curiosity was peaked. When he opened it however he was nearly overcome and tears filled his eyes. The absolute desolation she felt over the loss of her species took his breath away.

He looked away so he wouldn't have to explain his reaction. "How old were you?" He asked, his voice gentle so she would know it was a request from a friend, not a command from a master to a slave.

"Barely a decade," she responded and she swallowed as tears threatened to form.

"Then I think perhaps you were plenty dedicated," he said gently. "And I won't for one moment believe you were wild," he teased lightly.

Kenna lifted her gaze to meet the prince's and she was shocked by the gentle understanding she could read in his eyes. The God of Mischief and Lies, the aloof, serious and most often stoic Prince of Asgard was also kind.

She cleared her throat and tore her eyes from his, needing to put some distance between them. "Are there limitations on this illusion?" she asked gliding her fingers over the warm metal of the necklace.

Loki suppressed a shiver. Perhaps it was because of their proximity or the newness of the connection but when her warm finger slid along the metal it felt as though she had touched his skin. He closed his eyes, tightening his jaw until he had control of his emotions.

"As long as I am conscious it will hold," he promised.

"So if you-" she began to ask uncertainly.

"When I sleep or if I am knocked out..." he nodded, finishing her thought.

She pressed her lips together. What had felt so solid only moments earlier suddenly felt risky. Chances were she would be in her shed while the prince slept, but what if someone saw? Her getting caught would not only lead to her punishment, but their plan, their only chance of stopping the sorceress, would be ruined.

It was strange, but it felt for a moment as though the prince could read her mind. "You can stay here," he said gesturing to the library around them.

She chewed on her lip. It wasn't like she hadn't stayed here before. But for some reason this felt different. Slowly, she nodded.

A small pleased smile tugged at Loki's lips a moment before he forced his expression back to his stoic mask. He gestured with a hand and the furniture moved back into place. Noting that the small elf had her arms wrapped around herself he threw a flame into the hearth so she wouldn't be cold.

Kenna stood, rooted on the stop, her eyes fixed on the dancing green flames flaring to life in the hearth. "Does it take more power to make them green?" She asked, unable to help herself.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise as a buzz of curiosity and hunger for knowledge passed between them. He looked back at the fire and slowly closed off the connection between them, feeling overwhelmed. It was difficult to keep track of which emotions belonged to him and which were her's.

He watched the flames thoughtfully for a few moments as though he hadn't considered it. Then he slowly shook his head. "No...that's the color of my fire," he finally said slowly. For some reason feeling the need to explain himself to her. No one had ever asked questions about his magic aside from his mother. "My magic," he corrected himself. "I have to change it for it to appear otherwise." He held out his hand and summoned another flame. It danced across his finger tips first green and then with scarcely a thought it changed to purple, blue, red and then to black. The black flame was so deep, and so complete it reminded him of her eyes.

Kenna was watching it thoughtfully. She didn't look frightened or disgusted as many did when confronted with his magic. Instead, she watched openly curious. There were times when she was so open and honest she seemed almost childlike in her innocence. Before he hadn't believed it to be real, but now, feeling what she felt, it caused a surge of protectiveness Loki didn't fully understand to rise in his chest.

Kenna opened her mouth to ask another question but then closed it.

"You can ask," Loki said in a gentle voice, somehow wanting to distract her from all the darkness and uncertainty that seemed to surround her.

Kenna glanced up at him uncertainly, he wasn't watching her though. Instead he was playing with the flame in his hand. It had stayed black for some reason.

She stepped closer, mesmerized by the flickering flame. "Is it hot?" She asked.

Loki shook his head, only allowing himself glances out of the corner of his eye so she wouldn't know he was watching her. He felt if he pressed her too much she would pull away and hide from him. "It is purely a construct of my Magic. It doesn't have heat until I give it heat."

She pressed her lips together, wanting to ask just one more of the flood of questions she felt overwhelming her. He seemed to realize it and lifted a dark brow in encouragement. "What if I were to touch it?" She asked, gesturing with her finger. "Would it feel hot to me?"

"Only if I wanted it to," Loki said holding his hand out to her. He pulled back every aspect of the fire that would cause her discomfort.

Unable to keep her curiosity contained she reached out tentatively. She hesitated for only a second just as her fingers would have touched the flame, but there was no heat coming from the flame. She plunged her fingers into the tongue of fire before she lost her nerve.

It felt nothing like what she would have expected. It wasn't hot like a flame should be, but there was a strange tingling warmth that spread through her the longer she kept her hand in it. It wasn't uncomfortable though. She moved her fingers through the flame and frowned in concentration.

"It's warmer the closer I get to your hand. Is that because of the fire?" She asked.

Loki looked down at her, watching as she studied the flame in his hand. Her brow was wrinkled in concentration and she was so lovely. She glanced up at him then, and seemed startled to find him so close, but this time she didn't pull away. Instead she gazed up into his eyes from less than a foot away and waited for him to answer her question.

He cleared his throat and looked back at the fire. He debated lying to her but was surprised to find he didn't want to deceive her. He licked his lips. "It's my magic you are feeling. You have access to it because of the amulet you wear," he said softly. "Others would not feel what you do."

She frowned at his words, but didn't look alarmed. "So this is you I feel?" She asked moving her hand until there was only a hairsbreadth between them. "Not a spell, but your magic," she clarified and suddenly the warmth between them felt incredibly intimate.

Now he could feel the heat from her skin. He nodded slowly, his throat thick. He wanted to touch her so badly, but he had made a promise to himself, and he wouldn't. She was a slave, bound by her position. She had no way of saying no. He would never take advantage of that.

She turned her attention back to their hands thoughtfully. Finally she worked up her courage and glided her fingers over the skin of his palm.

He gnashed his teeth together forcing himself not to react to her gentle touch.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she grinned up at him. "I feel it here now," she said reaching up and touched the amulet that rested against her chest. She looked back at their hands and she closed her grip around his hand. Her's was so small her fingers didn't touch when she grasped his hand palm to palm. She watched thoughtfully as the flame flickered and changed but didn't go away. She pulled her hand back a moment and stared down at it. "So I don't smother it..." she mused.

Loki shook his head. "You wear the amulet, so you have a connection to it. You are a part of it."

She nodded thoughtfully then reached out and touched his arm, her hand resting against the metal of his armor. Her brows pulled down and she chewed on her lip thoughtfully. She didn't feel anything.

Loki watched her in wonder. How had she seemed so subservient all those years? Even without her memories this small woman didn't have submissive bone in her body. Watching her now he couldn't imagine her going back to that life. He resolved then and there he wouldn't let that happen, not to her, not again.

She reached out and touched his other hand freely. He didn't move as the swell of magic rose between them once more. She nodded as though that answered her question and then she looked up at his face. She lifted her eyes to meet his and her gaze flickered to his face. It was his only other exposed skin. She drew in a single, deep breath then she reached up and cupped his cheek in her palm. Once more the magic flared between them. He never broke eye contact with her. He gazed down at her, watching as uncountable emotions chased themselves through her obsidian eyes. He sucked in a shuddering breath and forced himself to tear his gaze from hers.

She blushed, dropping her hand. "I'm sorry," she muttered and looked away. Anywhere but that the prince. She felt her face heat all over again as she realize what she had done. She had just been so curious about the magic and then...

After a moment Loki closed his hand into a fist extinguishing the flame. "You should get some rest," he said decidedly. He moved to the other chaise and lifted an afghan off of it, bringing it to her. "We will have much to do tomorrow to prepare."

Kenna nodded and turned away from the prince as emotions she didn't dare give name to surged through her. She told herself it had to be the magical connection between them that made her feel this way. She could never come to care for an Asgardian after all they had done to her. But as she laid down and curled beneath the blanket she found her eyes tracking the prince. There was something about him that seemed so lonely and yet so kind despite his position and strength. He was a study of contrasts.

She let out a contented sigh and drifted off to sleep feeling safe in perhaps the first time since she was a child.

She woke once in the middle of the night. A shout caught in her throat. Tears burned the backs of her eyes and as she pinched them closed they squeezed down her cheeks. Greater than the terror choking her was the relief that she could keep and remember the nightmarish image of Odin standing menacingly over her as she wept for her father on the mud soaked battlefield.

She pulled the blanket tighter around herself. The library was dark, the only light coming from the strangely reassuring green flames flickering in the hearth. As she adjusted, the necklace clanked gently as it shifted along it's chain. She looked down and it looked like the necklace instead of her collar. The green and black gems caught the light of the fire and she was strangely reassured to know that Loki was resting nearby. She gripped the necklace in her hand and fell asleep thinking of the prince.

That night was the first night Loki had nightmares of the All Father standing proudly over a field of battle, surrounded by mud and blood in Alfheim.

><><><><><

The next day Kenna was woken by the quiet tread of the prince. He smiled and nodded to her before slipped out of the doors so he wouldn't be late for training. The illusion firmly in place on the necklace Kenna returned to her garden. She worked for several hours in solitude, attending to some of the planting she had gotten behind on over the last few days. Several hours into her work the queen appeared. Frigga walked through the garden, her shrewd eyes taking in the work Kenna was doing. Kenna was careful to keep her movements submissive and her eyes down, but still the queen stared at her suspiciously.

"Is there anything I can help you with Queen Frigga?"

The Queen stepped forward. "The kitchen staff will require your help today. The feast for my sons takes precedence over your other responsibilities."

"Yes, Queen Frigga," Kenna replied automatically, bowing low. It seemed odd to her that the queen herself would bother with the chores of a single slave. It was yet another piece to a puzzle that didn't make sense. The queen had always been the one to issue orders to Kenna, and yet Kenna had never been strictly speaking Frigga's personal slave. She had been left in this small garden to rot for a millenia with no memory and no ability to resist the orders of Asgard's monarchs.

Frigga turned to leave, but paused. "Oh and Kenna," Kenna turned to look at the queen, lifting her eyebrows. "Have you seen my son today?" Frigga asked in a sugar sweet voice.

"I have not seen Prince Loki," Kenna lied, keeping her eyes down.

Frigga smiled and it had a little too much teeth. "I was speaking, of course, of Prince Thor," she replied triumphantly.

Kenna swallowed, feeling as though she had somehow fallen straight into a trap of some kind. "Oh, I'm sorry Queen, I didn't know."

"Indeed," Frigga replied tightly and she left Kenna alone. Frigga swept through the palace unmindful of a destination. Her thoughts were churning however over her quiet younger son and the elf slave she was responsible for.

><><><><><

After training Thor called Loki, The warriors Three and Sif together to discuss his plan for the next morning. The others arrived together laughing and chatting. Volstagg shot Loki a sullen look at they took their places around the table waiting for Thor. Loki smirked at the burly warrior who clearly had not gotten over Loki's little trick during the war council. Volstagg glared at the prince as he took his place across the table from him.

The other warriors laid their weapons in the center of the table before them as a sign of unity and trust. Loki summoned two of his daggers and laid them there as well.

"My friends," Thor greeted coming through the door.

The others stood and bowed to the heir apparent. Loki nodded respectfully to his brother who took the seat beside him.

"Tell us Thor," Volstagg encouraged. "What glory shall we find in Alfheim on the morrow?"

"I have a plan," Thor said smiling as he leaned back in his chair smuggly. He pulled out a map and began to show his friends where Heimdall would open the bifrost. "According to Heimdall the mercenaries and Harokin appear to be camped here, here and here," Thor said pointing out the places on the map.

Loki listened politely but he couldn't help the knot of worry that formed in his chest. Alfheim had changed much since the map his brother was using had been created. He had seen the volcanic damage himself.

"It seems odd they would camp so far apart," Hogun commented, running a thoughtful hand along his mustache. Of all the warriors present, in Loki's opinion, Hogun was the most intelligent and the most likely to use his head over his brawn in a fight.

Thor merely shrugged away his friends concerns. "Alfheim is empty. They would be able to camp where ever they choose. Mercenaries are not good company I'm sure," Thor said with a confident smile.

Loki stared down at the map, his thoughts racing. "Brother-" he started to say.

"Aye, good. We will be able to keep the separated and confused," Volstagg spoke over him.

Thor nodded in agreement.

"Brother-" Loki started again. "Perhaps we-"

"If we split our forces here and here we will be able to move through his men faster. Harokin himself will prove a formidable foe for you," Sif commented.

Volstagg let out a loud guffaw and slapped Thor on the shoulder. "For the furture King of Asgard?" he laughed again.

Thor laughed with his friends. "The morrow my friends will bring us glory the likes of which we have never known. To defeat one of the greatest legends in all of Asgard's history," Thor's eyes were glinting hungrily.

"Brother," Loki tried again. His brother's plan would lead them all to ruin and death and he had no way of saying that. Now way of revealing what he knew. "Are you sure of the accuracy of your information and the maps?" Loki finally settled on asking.

Thor let out a loud laugh. "You worry far too much brother. Do you doubt Heimdall?" Thor challenged good naturedly. "Do you doubt me?"

"Of course not brother," Loki responded quickly.

"Good, for I do not doubt you or your place at my side tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," the other warriors agree.

"But tonight-" Thor started to say, his eyes glinting. "Tonight we feast!" Thor said by way of dismissal.

The others laughed and they all stood, gathering their weapons and heading towards the door.

Loki scooped up his weapons, trepidation running through him. Thor's plan left much to be desired and he couldn't help the doubt surging through him. He loved his brother and was loyal to him, but his plan was risky.

Even if Loki managed to subdue the sorceress, there had to be another way to defeat Harokin without attacking head on. Even without the immortality granted to them by her magic Harokin's legions would be formidable. They were Asgardian and had more time than most to perfect their skills at combat. He would not have men risk their lives for his brother's pride. If there was a way to flank Harokin and his men instead of a frontal attack they might be able to defeat the ancient Asgardian. Resolving to not give up until all avenues were exhausted Loki returned to the library. He moved over to the rack of ancient maps, pulling them out one after another until they were scattered across the table.

Loki poured over the maps for hours, a quill in hand as he filled in what he could remember of the changing landscape. He would have liked to have Kenna by his side and see what else she could remember of the changes, but she was working. As it was, the sharp volcanic glass that now covered Alfheim was as much of a danger as their foes themselves.

The door opened with a bang and Loki didn't have to look up to know who had entered the library. "Loki!" his brother called loudly. "Come! The feast is in a few hours, we must prepare!"

Loki glanced up in annoyance. "I am preparing brother," Loki responded tightly.

Thor walked over to Loki's desk and scoffed. "By pouring over ancient texts? Tell me brother? What good are books on the field of battle?" Thor's words were slightly slower than normal and when he leaned down next to his brother Loki could smell the ale already on his brother's breath. It seemed Thor had begun celebrating early.

Loki scowled, but traced his finger over a map he had redrawn. "There might be a way for us to flank Harokin and his forces-"

"Flank them?" Thor asked gruffly. "You mean sneak up on them from behind like cowards. No brother, I appreciate your efforts, but my plan will work. Now, we feast on the eve of battle!" Thor said, pounding his brother roughly on the shoulder. "Come. Let's go to a tavern. We still have a couple hours."

Loki absorbed the impact, gritting his teeth over his brothers quick dismissal. "I have more to do to prepare brother," Loki replied tightly. "But I thank you."

Thor grunted in disappointed and jumped up to sit on Loki's desk. He sat on some of the texts, his legs swinging as he watched his younger brother.

There was gentle knock on the door and the gentle pulse against Loki's magic told him Kenna was close by. "Enter," he called loudly.

Kenna slipped through the door, a tray in her hands. Her eyes went first to Loki's, he looked weary and worried. Thor cleared his throat and she finally allowed her gaze to slide over the ruling prince. When she found him staring at her she immediately lowered her gaze submissively and hurried into the room.

She curtsied first to the heir apparent and then to the younger prince. "Forgive the intrusion Prince Thor, Prince Loki, I was sent up by the kitchen. Where shall I place the tray?"

Loki stepped forward. "Please, on the desk please." He could have bit off his own tongue as he stammered over his words. He normally did not have trouble with such things, and his brother picked up on it immediately. He watched as Kenna scurried in, looking like a frightened mouse. He felt strangely protective of her, and found it interesting Thor seemed to make her uneasy. He briefly let his power graze the connection. She was uneasy as he had suspected, but also confused. It was as though she didn't know what it was about the other prince that made her so.

Thor stepped up and clapped him on the back, breaking his concentration. "I see what it is you have to prepare, brother," Thor laughed and he moved to the door still chuckling. It was unlike his brother to take a servant to bed, but good for him.

Loki ignored him and turned back to the maps. There had to be a way to get them out of this. There had to be a way to preserve life, if he was only clever enough to see it.

Once Thor left Loki glanced over at Kenna who continued to steadfastly removed each item from the tray. "You can stop that now, he's gone," Loki said looking back down at the map that showed Thor's doomed plans.

Kenna cleared her throat and stood up, holding the tray under her arm. "Regardless of whether I wear the collar or not I'm still a servant," she said firmly and she curtsied and moved towards the door.

Loki frowned and jumped forward, catching Kenna's arm. Kenna stilled in his grasp and Loki immediately released her. "I'm sorry-" he started to say.

"It's just-" Kenna said at the same time and they both fell silent. She looked down at her feet. "I should be getting back. I'll be missed."

"Kenna-" he started to say.

She lifted her eyes up to meet his gaze and they found themselves only inches apart. Loki exhaled, studying her face. "When you are able to get away...please come back. You can stay here tonight," Loki cleared his throat, and shifted his weight uncomfortably. "We've more to do after the feast."

Kenna pressed her lips together but agreed, nodding. She slipped out of the library, feeling for some reason like it was suddenly very difficult to breathe properly in the prince's presence.

><><><><><

I hope you are enjoyed the story! Please like and comment! I can't tell you how much your support means to me! This story has a special place in my heart and I'm so excited to share it with you guys!