"Only one of you can ascend to the throne... But both of you were born to be Kings." Odin smiled at his two young boys, beaming under their eager gaze. As they walked up the steps to city level, Thor immediately broke off to tear after his friends while his brother stayed behind, holding onto Odin as he scanned the passersbys for a familiar face.

"Are you looking for Aswren, Loki?" Odin asked, knowing the boy was almost too quiet to ask Odin to help him look. The boy nodded, green eyes still looking around.

A soft voice sent out a bird call, a whistle to beckon the attention of her friend. Loki whipped around at the sound, startled when his friend appeared behind him.

"She seems to have found you, boy." The father laughed, patting his son on the back and walking on without him.

"Good morning," Aswren chirped, trying to coax him into speaking to her.

"Hello." He smiled back, softer and with less teeth.

The little girl grabbed his hand and started to lead him back the way he came. "Come on, I have something new to show you."

"And I have something to tell you." He said several minutes later when they approached the woods on the outskirts of Asgard, near the BiFrost. Freyr could be seen in the distance, walking towards the gate after he knew his daughter was with the prince.

"What is it?" Her head ducked down as they maneuvered between the branches and lush green.

"Father told Thor and I today about the Great War, about kings. He even showed us the Frost Giant's casket, where all of their power is stored." Loki crouched to sit next to her on a smooth rock.

"And to think I spent my morning doing chores with my brother."

Loki paused as he watched her draw patterns in the soil. "Can I ask you a question, Aswren?"

"Of course."

"Do you think I would make a wise king? Father said a wise king never seeks out war, but is always prepared for it."

Her little mouth twisted in thought. "I think so. You are always prepared for anything. And you are a good friend, so I don't think you would ever look for war. Mother says war is one of the worst things."

Loki bowed his head, fully unprepared for the adoration of his friend. "What did you want to show me?"

"Oh! This tree." She jumped up, grabbing Loki's hand again and leading him into the brush behind them.

"It's a Carving Tree, with wood just strong and flexible enough for whittling. I made this already." Her little hand dove into the pocket on her hip, pulling out a small wooden whistle, only as big as her palm with three key holes.

"You keep it, since you can't whistle with your mouth."

His eyebrow arched at her, but he nonetheless turned the instrument over in his hands. "So I can call you?"

"Yes, the same way I call you when we lose sight of each other in the forest."

"Thank you, Aswren. It's beautiful."

"Like us." She made a face and grabbed his hand once more, taking them off to adventures unknown.