Hello my lovelies. So sorry it has taken so long to post the next chapter – been busy busy busy. My apologies also that this is such a short chapter compared to my usual lengths. I hope you enjoy. Thank you to those that have reviewed; you know who you are. I appreciate it so much; whether it is just a general 'yay I liked it' or creative criticism. Thank you. please read and review this chapter also. It encourages me to continue, but it also tells me that you want me to continue it. Much love to you all.

"Darina"

"I will be out of your way in a moment-"

"Darina…"

"- I just need to collect your-"

"Darina, look at me!" Loki snapped, though instantly regretting it as he recalled her reaction the previous day. Loki exhaled loudly and pinched the bridge of his nose. The woman froze in her step and slowly turned the Prince, clearly trembling from fear. The emerald prince dropped his hands by his side. Looking at the maid, he paused a moment, trying to think why exactly he wanted to speak to her. The silence suddenly became awkward, as did the staring between the two. Darina shuffled from one foot to the other, tears making her eyes sparkling in the morning sun that draped in through the open window. "You need not be afraid of me, Darina. I have no interest in hurting you" Loki then spoke, sounded more exasperated than he intended to. Darina remained silent and looked to the floor, biting her lower lip as though she were a child being told off by a parent. "Oh for Odin's sake, say something, wench!"

"Forgive me, my Prince, but you have not given me reason not to fear you. Your reputation is legendary and last night I …"

"Last night I was angry" Loki stated simply, staring into her eyes.

"You shout a lot for someone who isn't angry" Darina stated, her voice trembling ever so slightly. Darina crossed her arms tightly against her chest, as though to shielding her heart from his icy glare. Though as she did so, she forgot that she was wearing a lot cut dress that morning and Loki stared at her all the more as her cleavage was pushed up. The silence once again became awkward and the prince shook his head, drawing his attention away from her and her body to the window behind him.

"Why do you keep silent?" He asked her, his emerald green eyes piercing her very soul.

"Forgive me my Prince, but you told me to remain silent should I wish to raise an opinion or anything of that sort." Darina spoke deadpan and Loki could all but smirk as her confidence started to resurface.

"I did indeed" Loki chuckled, for once, forgetting something he had said. He knew not why, but a strong urge to keep her there enveloped him like an envelope over paper; he thought it was merely curiosity in regards to this woman. Thinking quickly, eyes roaming around, he smiled. "I would have you remain here this afternoon; my selves are in desperate need of cleaning; not a state fit for literature"

"As you wish my Prince. Is there anything else I can do for you whilst I am in your company?" She asked ever so sheepishly.

"What else could you possibly do for me woman?" Loki spat, sliding from his bed, coming to stand just in front of his window, overlooking the kingdom.

"You only wish for me to clean… You require nothing else of me?" Darina spoke more to herself than to the prince. There was an edge to her voice that Loki recognised in an instant. The maid was clearly relieved; relieved that cleaning was the only thing asked of her. Confusion set in on the prince in a moment. Loki recognized the relief in her tone and thought two things: Why was relieved; did she think Loki would bed her just for the sake of it? And why in the first place had she thought that? Was there a rumour going around that he forced himself and bedded every maid and maiden in the realm? Fury began to surface once more and Loki slammed a fist on the nearest wall. As if his reputation wasn't big enough already; had the kingdom brandished him as a womaniser? He was many things, the prince thought to himself, but he did not and would never abuse a woman in such a way; not like his brother Thor or Fandral who would bed any and every woman then cast them aside once they were finished. Disgusting.

"Get out!" He shouted. Darina jumped at the sudden change in the prince and panicked.

"My lord, what did I say?"

"Get out now!" Loki spun around on the spot, his usually green eyes slightly merging into a blood red. How was that even possible? Darina pondered very quickly before holding up her hands, as though she were surrendering.

"You are confusing me with all your yes and no's, come here and get lost! " the maid shouted back, not thinking before she spoke, and instantly wishing that she had said it in her head rather than out loud, for not a moment later did the prince, full of fury, march toward the woman, placed his hand around her neck and pushed her to the nearest wall. Darina's back smacked against the stone, her eyes wide with fear and trembling. Loki glared into her eyes, noses almost touching and his hand still attached to her neck. Darina instantly placed her hands on his arms, trying with all her might to move the hand that was neither tightening nor loosing around her neck. "Please..." She begged eyes full of years as she wrestled the prince's strength. "Please let me go!" As Darina shouted, wriggling with all her might to try and free herself, Loki was caught in an almost trance like state until the chamber doors burst open, and Thor in all his majesty thundered in, with guards at his rear; weapons to the ready. The thunder god had heard the commotion, passing his brothers chambers, and on hearing the frightful cries of his brother's maid, he dashed to her aid, faster than the guards outside the door. Thor ran to his brother and grabbed the back of his neck, ripping him away from the woman, tossing him to the floor. Darina wept. Holding her neck and gasping for breath, she was ushered out of the room by one of the guards, and by Thor's command, taken to the healing chambers. The trickster god gasped as his back collided with one of the posts of his bed. Seeing red, he reached for the closest object he had; a heavy volume, and without another thought, threw it at his golden haired brother. Colliding with his head, Thor stumbled against the nearby wall and grunted. Scrambling to his feet in an instant, the silver tongue made for the open door, grinning as the one guard standing in the doorway stared wide eyes and frightful at the dark haired prince.

"Move aside and I will spare your life…" Loki stated, his voice filled with the absence of emotion.

"My prince, please, remain in your chambers and I will have no reason to harm you" The guard replied, looking from the Thunder god to the Trickster god; sweat beading on his brow. Loki chuckled at the feeble words and took a step forward.

"Fool. You think yourself a match for me?" Loki's voice echoed, dripping with venom.

"He may not be, but I am brother" Thor sounded from behind, and not another moment later a very heavy object collided with Loki's head and he fell to the ground, like a doll who's strings had been cut. Thor held Miljonir in his hand as he watched his brother's body fall in a heap on the floor, unmoving and quiet. "What happened to you?" Thor whispered with much sorrow evident in his tone. Glancing up at the guard that had not moved, Thor's brow furrowed. "Take him back to the dungeons. He will not wake after a blow to the head such as the one he received; he shall not trouble you." The guard nodded and handed his spear to a guard that had ran over to the chambers after hearing the commotion from a corridor up ahead. Walking to the unconscious prince, the guard picked him up and slung him over his left shoulder, thankful of his strength. Without another word, the guard nodded to the king's heir and left for the dungeons.

Thor shook his head once more, feeling sorrow surround his heart. He truly thought that by allowing his brother to remain in his chambers rather than his cell, that it would change him make him realise that they weren't out to get him; oh how terribly wrong he was. Taking a deep breath, he left Loki's chambers and made his way to the council chamber. Words were needed with his father.