*

After a long day training with Sif, Maeve fought to stay awake at dinner. She wasn't bad in a fight, but keeping up with her friend proved to be exhausting, especially when they sparred with the no-magic rule. Generally, the only person who allowed her to fight them with magic was Loki, and that wasn't exactly an option.

Hoping that no one would mind, she excused herself from dinner early and retreated to her bedroom. There, she washed off and immediately she changed into more comfortable clothes, a pair of soft pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Most Aesir women wore nightgowns to bed, but she didn't care. Pants were comfier. Winter approached, and the cold always made her feel drained. The last few days, she'd been feeling the changing weather more than she ever had before in her life.

Maeve ran her fingers down the spines of the many books on the shelf, selecting one about the Jotunheim. Having grown up with so few reliable sources of information about the realms beyond hers, she loved these volumes, even if many considered them dull. Odin kept books on the land of the Frost Giants in his personal library for reasons she didn't understand, but Loki had stolen this particular one a few months back.

A gentle knock on the door pulled her out of her reading and she quickly bookmarked the page before saying, "Come in."

The door swung open and Thor poked his head in. Despite having tried not to get her hopes up, she couldn't help feeling disappointed. The only person she truly wanted to see wouldn't talk to her.

"Hello."

"Hi, Thor."

He walked into the room and sat next to her on the sofa near the fire, setting down a covered silver tray on the coffee table.

She glanced at her brother-in-law, confused. "What's this?"

A smile crept onto his face. "Well, I noticed that you weren't eating much at dinner, and you completely missed dessert, so I brought you something."

"Really?" Grinning, she lifted the lid. A small pile of strawberry tarts sprinkled in powdered sugar sat on the tray. "You're the best."

"I know." He bumped her shoulder with his, and she reciprocated the action. "Are you looking forward to having guests?"

"Not particularly. It's all a big act." Maeve rolled her eyes. Normally, she'd welcome a visit from the Light Elves, but with that came balls and throne room finery, meaning that she'd have to pretend that everything was all right with her marriage. "As if people don't know that everything's not okay."

Despite Loki's sometimes-scathing remarks, Thor was actually quite bright, even though he didn't dedicate his time to books and studying like his younger brother did. It didn't take an intellectual to hear rumors, and Thor had heard plenty. He knew that Loki had been the topic of palace scandal before, but he didn't think Maeve had ever suffered from being the victim of gossip. That was why he spent his free time with her.

That, and it was Loki's fault in the first place. Thor had no sympathy for him whatsoever.

"Well, if my stupid brother won't dance with you tomorrow night, then I will."

She smiled a bit. "Won't people talk if I dance with my husband's brother instead of him?"

"Let them talk," Thor said.

Easy for you to say, Maeve thought darkly. You're the golden one in this family. Everyone loves you either way.

"I don't even want to go," Maeve admitted.

Thor sighed and said, "Father will make you."

"I know. That makes me not want to go more." She took a bite of one of the strawberry tarts. "Are you taking Sif to the ball or not?"

Thor, who had just stolen a tart from the tray and put the entire little dessert into his mouth, nearly spit it back out. "How did you know about that? Who told you?"

She winked. "Not all of the palace gossip is bad."

"Oh. Well, in that case, yes. Yes I am." Thor cleared his throat, a faint blush coating his cheeks, which Maeve found hilarious. "I'm going to ask her to court me."

"That's great! You two would be perfect together!" She gave him a tight hug. "Don't tell her I told or she'll kill me, but she's super excited. You know, as excited as she gets, at least."

"I like her a lot," Thor said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "She's not like most of the maidens around the palace. She would be a fierce queen."

Maeve's eyebrows lifted. "Isn't it a little early to be thinking about queens?"

"Yes, but it's how I was raised. If Father chooses me to be his heir, then I am to be king. Someday, I will need a strong queen at my side. That is what Asgard needs."

No. That's not what Asgard needs at all.

Asgard didn't need two warriors ruling. It already had one, and they didn't need another Odin. At least Frigga balanced him out. As much as Maeve loved Thor and Sif, they were right for each other, not the throne. With all of the unrest in different realms growing by the day, they needed someone intelligent, diplomatic, charismatic.

Someone like Loki.

But that would never happen.

"She'll say yes to courting you," Maeve finally said.

The look of happiness on Thor's face as he stood brought a smile to her own. "Thank you, little sister. Good night."

"Night, Thor. Thanks for stopping by and checking on me."

Grinning, the blond prince bowed and let himself out. Maeve shook her head to herself and returned to her reading, thankful for her new brother.

*

A few hours later, long after dark, Loki returned to the bedroom to find his wife sound asleep on the sofa. She shivered slightly under her blanket. Instead of ignoring her as he wanted to, he took  a moment to look at her.

Maeve really was lovely. In the faint moonlight, her white-blonde hair seemed to shine. And she was so small. Was there something wrong with wanting to protect her? For a minute, he forgot that he was angry.

Sighing, he carefully lifted her from the sofa and carried her over to the bed, where he laid her gently on her side. He changed clothes with magic and laid down opposite her, but he changed his mind and moved closer, holding her in his arms. It was something he'd missed in the last few weeks, just this simple intimacy.

We'll talk tomorrow, he vowed to himself. Tomorrow.

Loki pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, the first time he'd kissed her since they reunited in Vanaheim. He would have been happy for this if he hadn't noticed something else.

She was hot.

Not just warm. Although he usually had cool hands, one touch told him that this temperature wasn't normal. It felt unnatural, feverish.

"Maeve," he whispered. She didn't wake, just shifted in her sleep. He shook her shoulder a little. "Maeve, wake up."

She cracked one eye open, then the other. Annoyance flirted across her face. "What do you want?" She mumbled. "It's late. Shouldn't you still be out ruining our reputations?"

He ignored this jab. "You're warm."

"No, I'm actually cold. Cold and tired."

Loki frowned and said, "You're definitely running a fever. Are you feeling alright?"

"No, I'm not. I've been feeling odd these last few days. I think it's just the changing of the seasons. It messes with my magic. I'll be fine."

"I think you're getting sick."

"I'll be fine in the morning," she mumbled. "Just go to sleep."

Loki stared at her worriedly, hoping she would change her mind. When she didn't back down, he groaned and rolled over, but he didn't fall asleep. He couldn't. Something was wrong with Maeve, and she wouldn't do anything about it. That bothered him.

"We can't keep living like this."

He turned back over, surprised that she had spoken again. "Hm?"

"We've got to figure this out," she whispered, her blue eyes soft. "I can't be the only one who's heard all of the rumors about us."

Loki stretched out and laid on his back. Staring at the ceiling, he said, "I haven't been unfaithful to you, if that's what you're worried about."

"I wasn't worried about that," she said automatically, although she did breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yes, you were," he said, chuckling as he detected. "I would never do that to you, flower."

Maeve reached across the bed and gripped his hand. He noticed that she was still shivering.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm really sorry, Lo. I said some really terrible things to you. I've wanted to talk to you for a while now, but I haven't been able to figure out how."

"It's okay. I forgive you." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckle. "I'm sorry, too. I've been a terrible husband to you. I haven't been there for you when you needed me."

"I missed you," she whispered shakily. "You shut me out."

Loki ran a hand down his face. "I know. I didn't know how to deal with seeing you, so ignoring you was easier for me. I'm sorry."

"Thank you for telling me," she said quietly. "I feel terrible."

"What doesn't feel well?"

"My stomach," she replied. "And my head. All of me, actually."

He gave her a soft smile. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Maeve considered this and realized there was only one thing she wanted. "Hold me."

She fell asleep in his arms, feeling better than she had in days.

*

"Maeve. Maeve. Flower, it's time to get up."

Maeve buried herself further underneath the blankets. While sleeping with Loki again kept her nightmares at bay, she was up half of the night anyway. She felt worse than she did the night before. The chills had completely overtaken her, and she couldn't seem to get warm no matter how many blankets she piled on top of herself.

"I feel sick," she moaned from under the pillows. "I'm so cold."

Loki uncovered her from the mountain of blankets and sat down on the bed next to her. He had already dressed for the day, wearing his formal Asgardian robes of gold, black, and green.

"You're burning up," he said, frowning as he placed the back of his palm to her forehead. "I already told Father that you weren't well, but he insisted on the entire family being there to greet the lords and ladies of Alfheim."

She groaned dramatically. "Your father's a real pain."

"Yes, he is," Loki chuckled. "But he's a pain we have to listen to."

Once again, Maeve let herself imagine a world where they didn't have to listen to Odin. A world where Loki could have a chance to prove himself. A fantasy world.

"Fine."

Maeve dragged herself out of bed and started for the wardrobe, but Loki stopped her. With a mischievous wink and a bow, he said, "allow me."

With a shimmer of magic, her pajamas disappeared and changed into a dress more fit for the Royal Court. The gown was a dark evergreen color, with draping long sleeves and golden trim. It was soft, but more importantly, it was warm.

Maeve smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, darling," he purred, pulling her closer. Even though he knew she wasn't feeling well, he couldn't resist giving her a kiss. It had been too long.

Once they separated, Maeve ran her fingers through her blonde curls and applied makeup so that she didn't look so pale. Then she turned around, a question in her eyes. "Do I look okay?"

"Beautiful, my love." He offered her hand and the two left for the throne room. "If you're still not feeling well after we greet the Light Elves in the hall, then I'm going to take you to see Mother." 

"I'm sure it's not that bad," Maeve said through a yawn. Loki just frowned.

When they entered the throne room, Thor was the first to greet them. He seemed ecstatic that the couple was getting along again. In fact, everyone appeared to be grateful for this, as it created less awkward situations for the family to deal with.

Maeve stood next to Loki on the steps as their guests began to present themselves to Odin. Unfortunately, because of how many lords and ladies had agreed to come, the line seemed to drone on and on.

"This is boring," an irritated Loki muttered under his breath to Maeve, who gave him a thin smile. He noticed that she looked paler than she did when they left their room. "Maeve, are you alright?"

She shook her head rapidly. Black splotches danced across her vision and she swayed in her spot.

"It's okay, I've got you." He wrapped an arm around her waist and glanced worriedly at his father, concerned at her nonstop shivering. This greeting would go on for another hour, at least. "It'll be over soon."

"Liar," she whispered, her blue eyes sparkling ever so slightly.

Loki pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "You're too good."

Maeve closed her eyes as the room began to spin. The room was too warm: it felt hard for her to breathe. "Lo, I need to sit down."

"Just hold on for one more minute. I'll figure something out-"

He sounded worried. And far away...

It was only Loki's arms that kept her from crashing to the ground. Screams and gasps echoed in the hall as she lost consciousness.

new chapter! tell me what you thought! any predictions?