"Do you like to dance?" Loki asked Maeve, who enthusiastically nodded. "All right, come on." He grabbed her hand and the two of them ran out onto the ballroom floor.

"Hey, you're good," Maeve commented, giggling as he dipped her. We fit together so well, she thought.

"Thank you very much." He grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth. "Are you happy?"

"I'm ecstatic," she said giddily. "This is better than anything I ever imagined."

Even with me here? "I'm glad, darling."

"Darling, huh?" She smirked. "Are we there yet?"

"Only if you want to be."

"Yeah, we can be there. Darling." She giggled and he playfully tapped her on the nose. The two swayed to the music, chatting incessantly.

From the banquet table, Thor turned to Asmund, who was busy observing his younger sister. "They're very fond of each other."

"It seems to be that way," Asmund agreed, sipping his wine. "I'm surprised. She was absolutely terrified of you all the last time I saw her."

"It has been slow for the both of them," Thor admitted, "but they like each other. They spend most of their spare time together, too."

"She seems very taken with him." Asmund smiled as Loki twirled Maeve. "I'm glad. I was worried about her."

"Worried?"

"She can be very shy," Asmund said. Through correspondence with his sister, he knew that the separation had been hard on her. He had been supportive and kind, letting her vent without venting himself. Typical of an Empath, to hide the strain and stress. Even tonight, he had put up an illusion to hide the bags under his eyes that just wouldn't go away. "My sister is one of the kindest, softest souls you will ever meet. Her new title suits her. I just didn't know how she would handle the transition."

"She is. And she keeps my brother on my toes," Thor laughed. Loki joined them at the table, grinning to himself. "Ah, Loki, tired of dancing already?"

"I could dance all night," Loki replied, pouring himself a glass of red wine. "Maeve had to speak with her father. They'll be back soon."

"Papa?" A faint crease appeared between Asmund's eyebrows. "Did he say why?"

"Something about congratulating her," Loki said dismissively. "What are the two of you talking about?"

"You and Maeve," Thor said.

"Maeve and me?"

"Yes, about how taken you are with her," Thor said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at his younger brother.

"Taken?" Loki sputtered. Red shot up his neck, coating his pale cheeks. "I am not taken with her!"

"I don't know, you looked pretty smitten while you were dancing," Asmund noted, adding to the fun.

"All right, so what if I am? She is my betrothed, I ought to like her."

"Yes, but you finally admitted that you do!" Thor boomed. He and Asmund grinned at each other.

Loki quickly changed the subject. "So, Asmund, how are situations in Vanaheim?"

Asmund's smile dropped at the question. "Fine, I suppose. We've been having squalls with the Jotunheim. Nothing major, currently. They've been threatening us, but we're stronger than them. Corey's been taking care of any fights, and I've been trying to negotiate, but they just won't listen. I'm afraid it might fall into another war."

"Jotuns are such unreasonable creatures," Thor said disgustedly. "They've been doing the same thing to us, but we don't know why. Sometimes I wonder if they have any brains at all."

"Well, there must be something they want from you," Loki reasoned. "Have they made demands?"

Asmund shook his head. "No. And that's the oddest thing. They just keep attacking, just stirring the pot. I can't figure out why. It puzzles me." He leaned forward, deep in thought. Loki also bit his lip as he thought. What could those ice monsters want?

"Asmund, have you seen Maeve?" Corey asked, walking past the table with an easygoing smile on his face. "I promised her a dance, and it is getting pretty late."

"Maeve was with Papa," Asmund answered, his mind still on the matters with the Jotunheim. "Have you seen him?"

"Last time I saw him was over an hour ago. I thought he was going to bed."

"Why?" Thor asked.

"Because he was almost dead drunk. He could barely walk straight two feet."

Worry fluttered through Loki's chest. "He seemed fine when I spoke to him."

"He's a good actor, even drunk," Asmund muttered. He stood roughly from his seat, startling both Thor and Loki. "Do you know where they went?"

"I don't know. I saw them leave the hall, but that was it." Corey's golden brown eyes narrowed. "You don't think-?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I think." Fury flashed in Asmund's eyes as he motioned to the two Odinson brothers. "Come on, we need to find her."

"What's going on?" Loki demanded as he followed Asmund and Corey through the sea of guests, Thor close behind him. "What are you talking about?"

"Later," Corey said. "Okay, I'll take the west wing, Thor takes east, Loki gets north, and Asmund takes south. Go."

The four men separated in their different directions. Loki traveled down the north wing, wondering why he had to be doing this. She was with Frey. She was fine. Right?

He couldn't help being more than a little nervous.

"Maeve?" He asked quietly. She could be anywhere. She could be outside, or in her room, or-

Loki switched course and backtracked, heading to the hallway near the kitchen. When he approached his hidden library, he realized that the door had been locked by magic. She must be terrified.

Rather than unlocking it with his own magic, he knocked quietly. "Maeve? Darling, are you in there?"

"Yes, one minute," she said. She opened the door, smiling brightly. Loki frowned. She looked exactly the same as she did during their dance.

"What are you doing in here?" He asked, noting the lit fire in the fireplace. Clearly, she'd been there for a bit. 

"Just getting away from the party," she replied. "Are you all right?"

"Your brothers are worried about you. They were worried about your father."

"My father?" Her eyes darkened as she pulled away from him. "He just congratulated me on my title. Nothing else."

Loki sighed as he detected the lie. "Maeve, you can't lie to me."

"Honestly! I'm fine, and he went to bed. I think he had a few too many brandies."

"Maeve." He stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands. She instantly jolted away, blushing furiously. But it was more than that. It was pain. "You're using illusions."

"Loki-"

"Don't make me take them down, please."

She nervously played with a loose curl. "Okay," she finally muttered. When the magic had shimmered away, Loki couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen from crying. Bruises dotted her pale cheeks, and several spread down her neck.

"What- what happened?" He finally whispered, unable to move. He just stared at his lovely fiancé as she began to cry.

"I- Well, he asked me to go with him outside. I was a little nervous, but I went with him. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He started yelling about something, I don't even remember what, and the next thing I knew he was hitting me." Tears slipped down her bruised cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

"You're sorry? I'm the one who should be apologizing. I let him take you away." Loki felt the rage building inside of him, but he willed himself to stay calm, at least for now. "How long? How long has he been doing that?"

"This wasn't the first time, if that's what you were hoping," she said, and the Prince's heart sank. "He used to do it every once in a while when he got drunk, but he kind of stopped. That is, until my mother died. He was just so angry, so full of hate. I was the easiest target in the house, and I just let it happen." He wrapped his arms around her, careful not to touch her face.

"It's all right, darling, it's all right," he mumbled soothingly into her hair. "I've got you. I'll keep you safe now."

"You wanted to know about my relationship with my father," she whispered. "This is it. I hate him, but I love him, too. I can't help it."

"I know. It's going to be okay. You don't have to be afraid. I'll keep you safe. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore, flower." He'd taken to calling her that recently, and the nickname calmed her down a little.

"Thank you." Her voice was so small.

As Loki held her in his arms, felt her small body shudder against his as she tried to control the tears, a strange feeling came over him, as well as a strange desire.

He wanted to kiss her.

He wanted to tilt her chin up, gaze into her blue eyes, and kiss her deeply.

But he wouldn't. She was too delicate right now, too terrified of contact, especially men. He thought it a miracle that he was hugging her.

"You're so strong, darling."

"You think?"

"I do."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Maeve Freydottir, I will keep you safe until I die.

New one, leave your thoughts!