Asgard's Angel

The Royal Ball

"I've been here for two weeks Loki, are you ever going to show me around the castle?" Angel asked as she read the instructions for a light spell.

Loki looked at her. "At some point, yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because I would like to be able to go places by myself and not have to get you to take me from one room to another."

"So you don't like my company?" He asked.

"It's not that, I just think it would be easier for you to have me walk myself to the library. Besides, I'd like to see somewhere other than the library in my free time." She explained.

"So you don't like the library as much as you first said." He summed up.

She groaned. "Would you stop twisting my words?!" She went back to her spell.


"Alright." Loki told her a few minutes later. He couldn't say no, no matter how much he wanted to. It would seem strange. "Tomorrow, after your lesson, I will show you around the castle."

She looked up at him, her head cocked to one side. "Why not today?" She asked, curious.

"Because today you will be busy getting ready for the ball tonight."

She nodded and went back to her spell book. "Oh right of course the ball." Her head snapped up. "Wait what?!" He chuckled at her shock.

"I'll tell you after your lesson finishes." She grumbled about always being the last to know everything but went back to her studying.


Lunch seemed to drag on forever. Finally, Loki finished his sandwich and Angel was able to ask her questions. "So what's this about a ball?" She asked.

"My parents have to decided to host a ball to welcome you to Asgard, and so everyone can get a glimpse of my apprentice, the first one I've ever taken."

She shook her head. "They really didn't have to do that." She said softly.

He chuckled. "They enjoy doing it. Plus, you are the first apprentice I've ever had, not to mention-" he stopped suddenly.

"Not to mention what?" She pressed.

He smirked, "not knowing will kill you, won't it? I don't think I'll tell you, not yet." She opened her mouth, but a knock came to the door. 'Every single time!' Angel thought. Queen Frigga looked in. Loki smiled. "Hello mother, what brings you here?" He asked brightly. The woman smiled lovingly at her younger son.

"Actually, I was looking for Angel."

Angel stood up. "I'm here your highness, what can I do for you?" She asked, rubbing her thumb on her necklace.

"I- what a lovely pendant. May I see it?"

"No." She answered quickly, then corrected herself. "I mean, I'm sorry your highness, but I must decline." Her fingers wrapped around the gem.

"It must be very sentimental to you, if you refuse to even take it off."

Angel smiled sadly. "It is. It was my mothers. I never knew her, she was dead by the time I was two days old. This is the only piece of her I have."


Loki was silent. Angel had never opened up like this before, and he was amazed. But as quickly as she had opened, she had shut again. His mother patted her hand comfortingly. "I am so sorry my dear."

"It's alright." Angel said quietly. "Why did you come to see me?" Queen Frigga seemed to brighten.

"Oh yes. I suppose you've heard of the ball tonight."

Angel shot a glance at Loki. "Yes, I've heard of it. You are too kind your highness." She said graciously.

"It was no problem." Loki chuckled from his desk.

"What did I tell you Angel?" His mother turned to look at him.

"Loki, do be a dear and be quiet. We girls are trying to talk."


On the outside, Angel was calm and serene, but on the inside, she was killing herself laughing. Loki's face when his mom told him to shut up was priceless. The queen took her by the elbow. "Let's go back to your room to prepare you. We have much to discuss." Angel allowed herself to be led away.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Angel rummaged through her bag as. Advantia and Queen Frigga looked on. "You aren't going to wear a short dress like you have been for the last few nights, are you miss?" Advantia asked worriedly.

"What did I tell you about calling me 'miss'? But no those little numbers were to push Loki's buttons. Though I have to admit, it was fun seeing everyone's faces." Angel told them. "Tonight, I think I'll wear... This." She pulled out a beautiful white dress with blue down the middle and on the top. Frigga gasped.

"It's wonderful my dear, you'll look so amazing." She told the younger woman.

"Thank you your majesty." She said graciously. Advantia helped her into the dress, then pulled her over to her usual spot by the vanity table. As the girl played with her hair, Angel continued to converse with Frigga.

"How old are you Angel?" She asked curiously.

"I'm twenty, why?"

She waved her hand, "no reason."

"There, in done." Advantia announced. She pursed her lips. "It's missing something though." Angel stood up.

"It think I have the perfect thing." She reached into her bag and pulled out a silver circlet. Sliding it into place, she turned to face her companions. "What do you think?" She asked nervously. For once it was real. In her mind she was going over all the dances she learned when she was young, before Fae, before Earth.

The queen clapped her hands happily. "You look beautiful." She turned to Advantia. "Leave us girl, I wish for a moment in private." She nodded and walked away.

Angel caught her arm as she went by and whispered, "I'll fill you in on everything later." The girl nodded and left, looking a little bit happier. As soon as the door clicked, Frigga waved her over. Angel came and sat on the bed.

"Thank you my dear." Frigga started, placing a hand on top of hers. Angel had to resist making a face, going instead for looking slightly confused.

"For what?" She asked.

"First, for Loki. Before you came there were days when I would only see him briefly at dinner, for he would shut himself in that library at seemingly forget the outside world. But now, I've seen him outside, training with his brother. You, I think, have brought it out in him."

Angel bit her lip. "Your highness, I don't know what you believe is between me and Loki, but we're just friends. I doubt he likes me in any romantic way." She said quietly. The queen chuckled.

"I'm his mother child, so trust me when I say I think he does. He rarely goes anywhere now with our you in his arm, and I've seen the glances he gives you when you aren't looking."

Would he still give me those looks if he knew who I was? What I was? All the secret I had kept?

"But that's not the only thing I want to thank you for. Are you aware of all my children?" Angel nodded. "They're all boys. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, even Loki with all he's done, but I've always wanted to have a chance to see what it would be like to have a daughter. You've given me that chance." Angel felt honoured that Queen Frigga had chosen her to "adopt". She smiled.

"You know, I've always wanted the chance to see what it would be like to have a mother." She said quietly. Frigga leaned forward and hugged her. After a moments hesitation, she leaned over and hugged her back.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I bet I'll dance with her the most!" Volstagg boasted. The dinner had just finished, and patrons were preparing for the dance.

"Why don't you just dance with yourself?" Fandral asked, a smile on his face. "Your big enough!" The others couldn't help but chuckle, all but Loki. He was too busy thinking. Where was Angel? Had she found a way to weasel out of coming? Apparently Hogun was thinking along the same lines, because he entered the conversation.

"Why are you all arguing over someone who isn't here? What if she doesn't end up showing?" He asked. The was a chuckle.

"Oh ye of little faith." Angel sighed. Loki couldn't help staring. She had always been lovely, but now... He tore his gaze away.

"I trust my mother was not too overbearing." He said.

"She's sweet." Angel told him. He noticed her usual calmness was there, but so was slight nervousness and excitement. Suddenly, the music started.

"May I have this dance?"


"Of course." Angel thought she could hear the popping sound of jaws dropping, and she could almost definitely feel the stares on her back as she was led away. While her and Fandral had become friendlier as the days had past, she doubted anyone would of suspected her of agreeing to a dance.

"Did you see there faces?" He asked as they danced. She shook her head.

"I didn't dare look back for fear of giving something away."

"I glanced. Their eyes looked like plates and I think their jaws had unhinged." Angel giggled. Maybe it was because she was nervous, or maybe it was because she was preoccupied trying to remember the steps for a quadrille, but it sounded as fake as it was.

As they danced, Angel found herself gazing around the room, looking at the dancers, until her eyes landed on Loki, standing at the back, partner less. His eyes looked up and she instantly looked away. Continuing to look about the crowd, she had a sudden flash back to her first ball, and she smiled at the pleasant memory. "What?" Fandral asked, returning her grin. Not being able to tell him the truth, she went as close to it as she could.

"I had a vision," she told him, "of everyone dancing two feet off the ground." She noticed for the first time the crinkles around her friends eyes when he smiled.

"Now Angel, why would you think of something so impossible?"

"When I was younger, I would sometimes imagine six impossible things before breakfast." She told him. 'Not to mention it isn't as impossible as you think.'

Dance after dance, partner after parter, Angel was handed off to one friend after another, forced to close her eyes until she was told to open them. Finally, after so many warm hands, Thor passed her off into a pair that were cold. "Open your eyes." The familiar British voice told her. Looking up, her deep blue eyes met a pair of emerald green ones. As they waited for the band to play, she smirked.

"I was wondering if I would get a dance with you." She told him.

"Are you happy that you do?" He asked.

"That will depend on whether or not your a good dancer." Loki wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She raised an eyebrow as the band began to play a waltz. Taking his hand in hers and resting her other arm on his shoulder, they began to move around the dance floor. Loki, unlike his brother (and many others she found) was actually quite a good dancer. She supposed that this came from working with magic, not a weapon.


Loki looked down at the girl in his arms. The thought forced him to repress a shiver. Where it came from, he wasn't sure. What he was sure of was that Angel was (most likely unconsciously) humming. A different one from the usual though, which made him curious. "What song is it now?" He asked. She looked up at him.

"Pardon?"

"The song. That you were just humming. What is it?" He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he saw she actually looked slightly embarrassed. He had only seen a few of her no doubt range of emotions, but embarrassment was never one of them.

"It's a children's song. I can't help think of it though." She was quiet. Loki knew that if he wanted to hear it, he was going to have to push for it.

"Why are you reminded of it?"

She sighed. "It's in this thing called a movie. It's kind of like a story. It's sung while the two main characters waltz around a ballroom. Except its more of a love song." She seemed to grow more reluctant by the second.

"I want to hear it anyway."


Angel could sigh. She was slightly embarrassed by being caught thinking of a children's movie, but she knew it would just be easier to just sing and get it over with. She wasn't even sure if he'd be able to hear it over the band. "It goes a little something like this:" she took a deep breath.

"Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change
Small, to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Rising in the East
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast"


Loki didn't think he'd ever get over hearing the sound of Angels voice. But at the same time, he felt a pang in his heart. 'Beast... That would be me.' He thought to himself. 'She didn't mean anything by it. She couldn't have known.' He reminded. "Lovely voice, as always." He told her.

She smiled demurely. "Why thank you." The waltz came to an end. "I have to close my eyes now, don't I?" She asked. He nodded.

"Why?" Loki shrugged.

"So you can be surprised. It was the others idea, not mine." He clarified, hoping to escape her disapproval. She rolled her eyes but complied. He led her over to Hogun to hand her off, but as She was led away, he found himself slightly reluctant to let go of her hand.


'Great.' Angel thought. Hogun was one of the stiffest dancers she had ever met. And it seemed even worse compared to Loki. As she danced, she found herself wishing that she was back with him. She could of sworn his hand had lingered a moment, as if he was slightly unwilling to hand her off. Her stomach felt slightly funny at the thought. But she had no patience for strange feelings, because Hogun had stopped dancing. She stopped too, hoping she hadn't been dancing for too long after him, and looked up at the tall black man who had appeared behind her partner. "May I cut in?" He asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, of course." Angel felt only a little insulted at her partners slightly relieved face, since she was feeling the same way inside. The man offered her a hand, and she gladly took it, thankful to be able to see where she was going and who was taking her there.

The man leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I hope you don't think me to forward, but I wanted to walk with you in the garden. I feel there is something we need to discuss." Angel knew why he was being so formal, but the moment she didn't care. Suddenly, the thought of being outside made the room seem claustrophobic.

"Not at all, lead the way." She told him, wrapping her hand around his elbow and allowing him to lead her discreetly out.

After the warmth of the ballroom, the night air was cool on her skin. "I'm sorry sir, I don't believe we've met. Can I get your name?" Angel asked, realizing she had no idea who she was with. "I am Heimall, guardian of the Bifrost." She smiled.

"It's nice to meet you Heimdall. I assume you know who I am." She said, and she swore she detected a slight mirth in his solemn honey eyes.

"You assume correct," he said, adding after a moment, "Angolel."

Angel froze. Very slowly, she turned her head to look at her companion. "How do you know that?" She whispered, her hand slipping from his elbow.

"Your mother." He told her simply, then began to walk away. She ran to catch up.

"How do you know my mother?" She asked, standing in front of him.

"Your mother studied mythology when she was alive. And because of your father, she knew they were true. She made a slight detour going back to heaven, coming to me. She pleaded for me to watch over you, to make sure no real harm came to you. I agreed. I'm not only the guardian of the Bifrost, but I'm your guardian too." She could hear an emotion his voice that she figured he didn't usually express. Admittedly, it was also an emotion that she wasn't familiar with being directed to her. Care. Parental care. She closed her eyes.

"It was you." She whispered. "You were the one who would watch me. I could feel your eyes." Heimdall offered her his elbow. Angel took it, once again walking along side him.

"I find it remarkable that you could feel me watching you. But yes, it was me. True to my promise, I would turn my eye on you as often as I could." She looked up at him, her cocked slightly to the side.

"Why?"

Golden eyes looked down at her. "Because I promised."

"But why did you promise?" She asked. "You could have just as easily said no, and not have to of bothered with me for all those years." The man took a deep breath.

"Your father was not the only man who had his eyes on Maria Green."

Angel was about to reply to that shocking confession, when something black flickered in her peripheral vision. She turned her head. Nothing. "Is something the matter?" There it was again! Her head whipped around, but if there WAS something there, it was gone now. "Angolel?" Heimdall asked.

"It's nothing." Angel told him, but she had the feeling it was something. Something big.


Loki had felt a stab when Angel had walked out the door with Heimdall. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, hoping for some piece, but it would not come. As with many other times in the past few days, Loki found Angel's face on the back of his eyelids. 'Why does she haunt me so?' He thought. 'What is wrong with me? What madness is this?' He was so confused. He couldn't get her off his mind. And their waltz. Why hadn't he wanted to let her go? 'It was just so perfect.' He remembered, the smoothness of her steps, the coolness of her hand. What was this feeling he had? And when he had seen her leave, that had felt like... Jealousy. It was almost the same feeling he felt when he found out that Thor would be king.


Angel was brought back just in time for the last few dances. Handed of to Volstagg, she found herself swept back into the whirlwind of the ball. Finally, it was the last dance. Another waltz. Thor (her previous partner) held her hand and led her, eyes closed, to her new one.


Thor knew he was supposed to give Angel to Fandral for the last dance. But that was before he had caught sight of his brother, standing lonely against the wall. Him and Loki had fought in the past, and they weren't actually related, he understood, but they were still brothers in his mind. And he had seen the way he looked at her. So his mind was made up.


From the surprised look on Loki's face when she opened her eyes, Angel guessed this wasn't exactly what was planned. But, always on her toes, she pulled him onto the dance floor anyways. Following her lead, Loki soon caught up and they were dancing along merrily. There it was again. That feeling, the one Angel got when he had held her in the first dance. That feeling of, just, rightness. She couldn't describe it any other way. It was like this was just where she should be. She tried to remember the last time she had felt like this. The memory was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't reach it. "I saw you sneak out with the gatekeeper. What were you doing out in the garden?" Loki asked, and when she looked at him, his eyes were hinting.

"Nothing like that, you dirty minded child!" She said, not bothering to deny it. Loki wrinkled his nose in indignation at being called a child. "We just talked."

"About what?" He asked mischievously, raising an eyebrow, though she thought she saw a hint of something in his eyes.

"That is none of your business." She told him. The something was definitely there. It looked like jealousy. She couldn't help but think of what Frigga had said earlier, no matter how much she had sworn to keep it out of her mind.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" He asked suddenly.

She allowed a real smile to grace her lips. "Yes, I've had a wonderful time. Thank you for holding this ball."

He nodded. "Thank my parents, not me." She nodded and they fell into silence. Even though it wasn't actually silent, what with all the other people, and the band with its music.

"Your quite the dancer." She admitted.

"I know." Loki said with a self important smirk. Then it faded into a real smile. "You are too. "

"Thank you." She said.

"It's strange." He said, "it's almost as if you've danced at a ball before. I've observed that many girls are quite shy at their first ball, but you seem right at home." She smirked at him.

"I just have an extremely high amount of self esteem." She said confidently, but inside she was thinking, 'you have no idea how right you are Loki.'

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

That night, Angel had a lot to think about. Heimdall, Loki, but mainly thoughts black things she saw in the garden. The thought that something may be scurrying around in the dark was worrying. But the night if dancing did take its toll, and she finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

Authors note: I don't own anyone but Angel and Advantia. And the little black things.

Anyways, what have we learned? A lot, thats what. Anyways, hopefully the updates will be coming a little faster now, since I took the time to map out my story. I now know EXACTLY what is going to happen. I also know what everyone looks like. I'd show you, but I have NO idea how to put pictures in. If your reading this and you do, please tell me! (Anybody get my Alice in Wonderland Reference?)

Grammar/spelling errors go in the comments, I will fix them as soon as I can!