Down below

Chapter 1.

Loki sighed and nodded, gesturing to the servant to leave. He didn't like to be interrupted when he was studying in the library, but he knew his mother wouldn't have summoned him unless it was something important. He could never refuse her. Frigga was nothing, but kind to him, shared her magic with him, tutored him. She was her only confidante for many years until his preparation for more official roles at the court began and he had to take up weaponry and combat lessons which meant spending more time with his father and Thor, drifting apart from her. He closed the book in front of him, got up and teleported in front of her mother's chambers, startling the guards a little. He smirked; he always enjoyed keeping them on their toes. He waited until one of them announced his arrival.

'Loki, thank you for coming.' Frigga smiled at him warmly.

'Your message sounded urgent. Is something wrong, Mother?'

'I would like to ask you a favour.'

She pointed at the armchair next to hers and they sat down.

'I see what I can do.'

Frigga smiled at his cautious reply that was so like him: precocious fueled by his high intellect and his desire to prove himself worthy of his parents' trust. His immense thirst for knowledge amazed her and she was proud how well he progressed in the arts of magic. He no longer needed her help and she allowed him to use her private library for his studies, where nobody bothered him. She sometimes missed the mischievous little black haired child, pulling pranks on Thor and others, making them laugh or more often seethe with fury.

'Your Father and I welcomed a guest last week. We kept her arrival secret due to numerous reasons which I am not at liberty to share with you right now out of respect for her privacy and safety. She lived on Midgard. She is under our protection and I am also teaching her the arts of magic.'

She fell silent, waiting for Loki to speak who wasn't sure what all this had to do with him.

'And you want me to ...'

'Show her around the palace, answer any questions she may have although she is still adjusting.'

Loki wasn't over the moon at the idea of babysitting some foreigner.

'I think Thor would be way better suited as a guide. He loves to hear his own voice and knows all the best places in and around Asgard.'

'Your brother is due to return later today. He is still in Vanaheim with your father.'

Frigga saw resentment flashing through Loki's eyes and she felt sorry for him. She knew how badly he wanted to prove himself to his father, yet Odin seemed to favour Thor, because he showed greater joy and interest in bloodshed and wars, while Loki was more interested in magic and diplomacy.

'She has shown great talent at sorcery. I think you two will get along fine. I will keep tutoring her, but with the Annual Celebrations barely two weeks away, I'm simply too busy with the preparations and I need someone to make her feel welcome. Besides, you are closer in age.'

Loki was undoubtedly intrigued. Who was this mysterious guest and why do his parents feel obliged to make her feel welcome?

'As you wish, Mother.'

'Thank you, my dear. Let me go and fetch her, get you two acquainted.'

Frigga rose from her chair and went to the other room. Loki was wondering what the fuss was all about and tidied his tunic. He heard her mother talking and he stood up to receive them appropriately. The girl was walking a few steps behind Frigga. She was slim and tall, her gaze directed at the floor, walking respectfully a few feet behind his mother. She had short, unbelievably fair hair, shaved up the sides, her ears pierced with several silver studs and earrings, a ring in her bottom lip. She wasn't dressed like the Asgardian ladies, she was wearing dark faded pants of a strange fabric he had never seen with black boots and a white long sleeve, high neck top. Must be Midgardian attire.