Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Marvel, nor anything else recognizable. No profit is coming from this. I am merely playing in the sandboxes of those far more famous than myself.

Sorry about the delay for this chapter. I have tried to get it out as soon as I could. My life away from the computer is extremely hectic right now, so I can't promise my updates will be any quicker in the next few weeks. Hopefully, by August my schedule will dramatically open back up as I complete all my tests and graduate from the accelerated program I am currently enrolled in. All I can promise right now is that none of my stories are abandoned and that I will do my best to update as often as humanly possible.

Seriously, once my program is completed, I fully intend to go back to updating my stories at least once a week.

Without further ado,

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Idunn's Apples

~x~

Chapter 5

~x~

"Are you sure I am ready for this?"

The boy looked ridiculously nervous. It was the morning of the ceremony, and Haraldr had just emerged from his room. He stood in the doorway between his own bedroom and Loki's main quarters. His arms were wrapped around his middle and he peered up at Loki with worried green eyes. If Loki had to guess, then he was pretty sure the child hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night. Surprisingly though, Loki had not heard a peep from Haraldr since he had gone to bed last night.

Whilst Loki did sort of feel bad about how distraught the boy was, he couldn't help but be amused by how cute the boy looked in that moment. Haraldr had already taken it upon himself to get dressed in his formal white, black, and gold leather armor that had been custom made for him a few weeks back.

The armor was beautifully done and would make it clear to anyone who saw it just who the boy's family was. If Loki had to compare, he would claim that beyond the color scheme, it looked just like the formal outfit he himself had donned as a child.

In the two months that the boy had been on Asgard, Haraldr already looked far older and stronger than the tiny mouse of a boy that had first shown up. Most of that was due to Eir's influence and a far more healthy lifestyle. According to the healer, Haraldr still needed to take his potions for another month or so but he was on track for a complete recovery. She expected to would grow a little bit more too. Just like himself, it looked like the boy was going to be inheriting his tall lean figure.

"You will be just fine, Haraldr." Loki confirmed calmly after a brief delay.

The boy took a deep breath but still kept his hands wrapped securely around his middle.

Loki refrained himself from sighing in slight annoyance. He remembered being scared during his ceremony too, but Loki was pretty sure that he had been able to hide his nerves better than this. At least, he was pretty sure he had...

Regardless, while Loki understood that the child was still incredibly new to being given the attention that came with being a prince, he really wished the child would learn to just put on a mask already. With the formal armor, and his new height and stature, Haraldr looked every bit the prince he was, but with his anxious stance and wide eyes, he still reminded Loki of the boy he had first seen two months ago.

"Would it help if we went over the details surrounding your ceremony again?" Loki asked mildly.

Haraldr nodded quickly and finally decided to exit the doorway. Quickly, the emerald eyed boy scurried across Loki's quarters and sat down on the bed next to Loki. The boy had chosen to sit closer to Loki than the elder prince was normally comfortable with, but Loki decided not to call him out on it today. He figured it wasn't worth it in the current atmosphere.

"Alright then," Loki began, "To begin, you are going to have to wait out in the side hall with a guard. Myself and the rest of the royal family, council, and honored guests will be invited into the throne room beforehand. I am sure that the viewing halls will likely be filled with guests as well. Nobody knows you are a royal beyond a select few, but most know that something is up. There has been too much preparation and secrets surrounding this ceremony for them not to be curious.

"Anyways," Loki continued, "Odin will first introduce you and your existence to the court officially. You will be asked to enter after all the important details have already been cleared up. When you do, your guards will remain at the doors. You shall walk directly down the center of the throne room and kneel down in front of the Allfather. He will address you then. Just answer his questions like we have practiced. Remember to keep your voice strong and clear.

"You shall then be escorted with the rest of us out to the public portion of the palace gardens where you shall be presented with an Apple—"

"And it really won't be a problem that I have already eaten an Apple?" Haraldr interrupted. His voice was slightly muffled due to him pressing his face into Loki's side. Loki wasn't really sure when the child had decided to curl even closer to against him.

Loki glared down at him slightly in annoyance at the interruption, however, the boy never looked up to see. Taking a deep breath, the older prince ran one of his hands through the child's messy black curls and felt all his annoyance drain from his body. Loki was pretty sure that that was the first time that Haraldr had ever actually interrupted him whilst he was talking. He supposed the child was simply a lot more nervous than he had originally suspected. Perhaps he had been wearing a partial mask earlier after all.

"You will be fine, Haraldr." Loki repeated his earlier words, but his voice was a touch gentler than before. "And you don't need to worry about consuming an additional Apple. You can eat as many as you wish. For important celebrations, the Golden Apples are often harvested and made into a cider or special tart due to their divine taste… After eating your first, you will never get the same reaction as you did the first time. It will not affect you any more than eating a normal apple.

"Thus, I have taken it upon myself to coat the apple that shall be used for your ceremony with a sleeping potion. Thus, you won't even have to worry about pretending to be affected by the Apple. Simply let the potion do its job. Don't fight it. It is expected that when a child consumes their first Apple that they will fall unconscious after their first few bites; the crowd won't be able to tell that you are merely sleeping rather than unconscious."

Loki could feel the boy nod against his side. The dark haired prince took a deep breath before continuing. "And that is that. Honestly, these ceremonies are always dreadfully boring. You won't miss much after you fall asleep— besides a bunch of Asgardians making fools of themselves, that is. Frankly, I am just thankful that I can use you as a reason to escape. As soon as you fall asleep, we will both retire here for the night…"

Loki trailed off as glanced back down at the boy. He really wasn't sure how to handle this. Sure he was getting more comfortable dealing with the child on a day to day basis, but this was really the first time the child had truly acted this upset. Beyond the initial panic, Haraldr had not even reacted this much during his first few days in Asgard.

The only thing Loki could think to do was to try and emulate what his mother would have done in this situation. Well, Loki knew Frigga would have scooped the child up into her arms and comforted him easily. She had always had such a magical touch when it came to dealing with children. It was that reason Loki had always felt so comfortable going to her when he was younger. She always knew the right things to say when he was scared. Thor used to tease him mercilessly for being a 'momma's boy' growing up which was the only reason he had stopped running to her so often as he grew older.

Loki shook his head slightly to clear it. He really couldn't afford to start thinking about those things at the moment.

"You should probably eat something." Loki commented a touch awkwardly as he brought his eyes up to look at the table across the room. The servants had brought their breakfast before the child had even entered the room that morning.

"Not hungry." The boy muttered, not moving.

Loki sighed. He probably should have guessed the child wouldn't want to eat. Regardless, "You should still try and eat something," Loki argued shifting slightly so that the boy would be forced to move as well. "Look at me, Haraldr. You are going to be fine. I promise."

As the child brought wide eyes up to look at him, Loki could see that the child was on the verge of tears.

"Child, have I ever lied to you?" Loki waited until the boy shook his head before continuing. "Then heed my words now: Everything shall be just fine. And even if something does happen, you are a prince. There is nothing you could possibly do that will change that or make anyone look down upon you. So chin up, eat some breakfast and soon it shall be over and you will see that all this worrying was for naught."

When Haraldr still refused to move, Loki released another long breath and stood up himself. Then, without warning, he scooped up the child and padded over to the table.

Haraldr, for his part, tensed in surprise upon finding himself being moved and Loki was once again reminded of the poor state that the child had arrived in. At least, Loki was pretty sure it wasn't considered normal behavior for a child to tense in fear due to being picked up.

Nevertheless, as soon as Haraldr realized whose arms he was in, the boy curled closer against Loki's chest.

Loki smiled slightly as he came to a halt in front of the table. Against his better judgment, he knew that over the past few months he had spent with the child, he had already become incredibly attached. He simply couldn't help but be fascinated with the child's innocence and trust.

Besides, the child was his.

After a moment of simply standing with the boy held gently against him, Loki slowly leaned downwards towards the chair that Haraldr typically occupied and deposited the boy onto it.

Haraldr blinked up at him owlishly and Loki had to stifle a smirk.

"Eat." He commanded, gesturing towards the platters of food sitting innocently before him.

Loki took a seat in his own chair across the boy and began dishing up his own plate while he kept an eye on the boy. Haraldr still hadn't made any moves to dish up his own plate, instead, he was simply glaring at the food as if it had offended him in some way.

Rolling his eyes, Loki leaned across the table and placed some fruit and bread on Haraldr's plate.

"Eat," he commanded again, "You do not want to go all day on an empty stomach."

Haraldr wrinkled his nose slightly as if he was considering arguing but then seemed to think better of it and slowly raised one of his hands and carefully picked up a piece of bread.

With a touch of hesitation, Haraldr brought the bread to his mouth and took a small bite. He chewed slowly before swallowing thickly. "I don't think I can eat anymore." He muttered, placing the bread back on his plate.

Loki was not impressed. However, instead of speaking, he narrowed his eyes and considered the boy in front of him. The dark haired prince was so tempted to simply force the child into eating, but really, he realized that that wouldn't truly accomplish much in the end. Besides, Loki had really never been one to use such force in such matters; that had always been more Thor's style.

Instead, Loki once again considered what his mother would have done, and suddenly, a light bulb went off.

"Alright," Loki conceded, "But would you be able to drink something?"

When Loki had been a very young child, his mother would often have the cooks make a thick cold drink made up of fresh fruits and juice. She had most often procured them for him— and Thor, for that matter— when he was especially nervous about something. Or, at least when she expected he was going to be nervous. As a child, it had annoyed him sometimes that she could predict his inner thoughts so well, despite trying his best to hide them, but he always did appreciate her concern.

In front of him, Haraldr cocked his head slightly to the side in confusion. "A drink? Er, yeah. I guess I could. Why?"

Loki didn't respond. Instead, he turned his attention onto the platters of food that sat before him. Logically, it would be wise for him to simply call a servant to request one of the drinks from the cooks, but that would take time. And honestly, Loki wasn't sure that they would be quick enough for the drink to arrive in time for Haraldr to drink it before it was time for them to make their way towards the throne room.

No, it would be better if Loki simply made it himself. Loki was sure it would be an easy task for a seidr user of his caliber. After all, all he really had to use his magic for was to combine the ingredients together and chill it slightly. Such tasks would be mere child's play for him normally. Unfortunately, with the binds on his wrists, Loki knew that this small task was going to be near his current limits. Loki was tempted to coach Haraldr through the task and let the child make his own drink, but then thought better of it. Again, they were running on little time, and by the time the boy actually made the drink, it would probably already be time to go. No, it really was better for him to simply make it himself.

Steeling himself, Loki picked up the pitcher of fresh juice and poured some into a glass so that it was filled half way. He then placed some of the various fruits into the glass as well.

Whilst he was doing this, Haraldr eyed him curiously. "What are you doing?" The boy couldn't help but ask finally.

Loki didn't look up from his work when he answered. "Making you a drink."

Haraldr's face scrunched as he considered that. "Like a smoothie?"

"…a smooth-E? I haven't a clue what that is, Haraldr," Loki replied mildly.

"It's a Midgardian drink," Haraldr responded quickly. "My cousin used to buy them in town sometimes. I've never had one myself, honestly, but they look good… How are you going to blend it? …you are going to blend it, right?"

"Yes. It shall be blended by magic," Loki acknowledged, glancing up at the boy. "And no, it is not a Midgardian concoction. My mother used to make these for me when I was your age. If they do have them on Midgard now, it is either a mere coincidence, or they copied us. Now do be quiet for a moment, I need to focus."

Taking a final deep breath, Loki turned his attention back onto the now full glass of fruit and juice. Placing both of his hands loosely on the glass, he began to release his seidr, using it to fuel the spell he was running through his mind. All too soon, the familiar hum that came from using his magic swept through his hands and the green magic appeared around the cup. Slowly, the mixture within the glass began to blend together and Loki could feel the glass' temperature begin to drop as the two spells ran their course.

Like he had expected, however, the spells quickly began to drain his energy. Gritting his teeth, Loki held them in place until he could see no more lumps in the glass before he finally allowed the spells to break.

Loki's vision tunneled dangerously as he finally released his hold on his seidr but he forced himself to remain conscious through sheer willpower. There was absolutely no way he was going to show such weakness in front of the child.

The dark haired prince took a moment to take a few deep breaths before he dared to move or even look up. He was careful to hide any external signs of discomfort. Regardless, when he finally did lift his gaze, he could see Haraldr watching him with a touch of concern lurking in the depths of his emerald green eyes.

Loki didn't allow himself to dwell on how well it seemed the child could read him. Instead, he carefully pushed the glass towards Haraldr with one hand.

Cautiously, Haraldr accepted the glass from Loki and took a small sip.

"Good?" Loki asked after a moment. His mouth felt like it was filled with sawdust, but at least his voice sounded normal enough.

The boy nodded, taking another small sip. "Yeah. Thanks, dad."

Loki's breath caught in his throat at the name and he temporarily forgot about his current discomfort. That was the first time that the child had actually called him that when the two of them were conversing. Logically, he had expected Haraldr to eventually begin calling him that. They had discussed it after all, and he had accepted the title and what it meant for their relationship.

But he hadn't expected to actually hear the word in normal conversation so soon.

Up until that point, Haraldr had simply been calling him 'Loki' as he had told the boy to call him that first day. The only time that Haraldr had ever referred to him as something different was when they were in public, where the child usually remembered to tack on a 'prince' before his name. Not once had he actually referred to Loki as his father in any form beyond questions about their relation.

And just then, the child had used it so naturally. Like, it hadn't even crossed his mind what hearing that single word was doing to Loki's head. Like, the boy hadn't even considered not saying it.

Looking at him now, Loki knew without a doubt that Haraldr didn't have an inkling of a clue what that innocent word had done to Loki's insides. Loki couldn't help but wonder when exactly Haraldr had decided that he was actually worthy of such a title. Or if he was even conscious of such a decision. Regardless, Loki couldn't help but still feel completely overwhelmed by the responsibility that he knew came with such a role. At the same time, it merely made him more determined to not fail the boy like he had failed in so many other aspects of his life.

No, if he had anything to say about it, the child would not end up like him. Loki would do anything to ensure that that didn't happen. And if there was one thing Loki was good at, it was keeping his promises. Right then, Loki made a silent promise to always be there to protect the boy. Nobody would harm Haraldr if Loki had anything to say about it.

All too soon, Loki finally realized that in his initial shock, he had never actually responded to the boy. To his son.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth and willed his voice to sound as normal as possible.

"You're welcome."

~x~

Later that afternoon Haraldr found himself standing in the corridor outside the throne room. His father had left him a few minutes ago to take his position for the ceremony.

Now, except for a few guards, Haraldr was all alone.

He knew any moment he was going to be expected to walk into the throne room and join the rest of his family.

His family.

It was still mind-blowing to the green eyed boy that he actually had a family now. Because really, he never really considered the Dursleys as family. Relatives, sure, but they had never been family for little Harry Potter.

But now it didn't even matter. Harry had found his own blood-related family who actually wanted him; 'freaky' magic and all. Sure he had found that his newfound family was a bit quirky— and well, not even human for that matter— Haraldr still couldn't help but love them even more for it. Besides, wasn't every family supposed to be a little weird behind closed doors?

Well, unless you were the Dursley's that is.

The only thing that really concerned Haraldr about his new family was the reason he was currently standing in the corridor outside the throne room.

Harry had never been a child who really wanted a lot of attention brought upon him. Sure, the occasional approval was always nice, but to constantly be in the limelight was never something that really appealed to the young boy.

Perhaps it was due to living so long with the Dursley's that Haraldr was so comfortable with disappearing into the shadows.

Back on Earth, it was so easy for him to not have to worry about reputations or unwanted attention. After all, thanks to the Dursley's, Harry's reputation was already trashed, so it wasn't like there was anything that Harry would actually do that could really bring himself down any lower— it wasn't like he was going to steal or anything, after all. Harry was too good of a kid to stoop to that level.

Regardless, now Haraldr didn't have a choice. As soon as he walked inside that throne room, Haraldr's life was going to change dramatically and he knew it. As a prince of the realm, Haraldr would never have the same privacy and freedom that others had. From his father's teachings these last few months, he was well aware of some of his responsibilities to be a role model and positive figure for the people. His face would be well known all throughout Asgard by the end of the day. Even on the other realms— except perhaps Midgard— Haraldr could expect to have his name recognized. He would forever be expected to be an envoy of Asgard.

It was tempting for the green eyed boy to turn around and simply walk back to Loki's quarters. To demand to be returned to Midgard so that he wouldn't have to deal with what was coming. To run from his new responsibilities. But to do so would also be to run from his new family and life, and Haraldr couldn't do that. Already, they meant too much to him. Loki meant too much to him. He could no longer imagine his life without the taller black haired prince in it.

Haraldr loved having Loki as a father. Really, if this was what it was like to have parents, then Haraldr could understand why Dudley was always vying to please his.

So Haraldr had no choice. He would follow his father's guidance and accept his new standing in society willingly. Because, more than anything, he wanted to make his dad proud.

"You may enter now, Prince Haraldr." One of his guards spoke quietly, breaking Haraldr's current line of thought.

Nodding slightly, Haraldr took a deep breath, set his shoulders and stepped forward into the brightly lit throne room.

The brightness blinded him for a moment and the loud chatter of the crowds inside was a stark difference from the room's usual echoing quiet. But he let his feet lead him forward, knowing that so long as he remained walking straight, he would remain on course.

Pretty soon, the room came into sharp focus, and Haraldr had to keep himself from freezing right there. The throne room was more crowded than he had ever seen it before. All around him, impressively dressed individuals stood tall, looking down on his much smaller figure. Compared to them, Haraldr still felt vastly outclassed, even if logically, Haraldr knew he wasn't the poorly dressed tiny boy he had been only a few months ago.

Nevertheless, Haraldr still couldn't help but feel that he was still that little boy again. That he was simply playing dress up with someone else's clothes.

The outfit that he was wearing today was likely the most expensive thing that Haraldr had even touched, let alone wear. It was also the first thing that had been custom made for him, just as Loki had previously promised his future clothes would be. According to his father, the outfit was decorative armor, that would identify him as a prince of the realm.

When he had voiced his concerns about feeling silly in the outfit, Loki had promised that as a child, Haraldr wouldn't be expected to dub the outfit all the time. Unfortunately, despite what his dad had promised, Haraldr could read between the lines well enough to understand that as he grew older, he would be expected to wear the armor more and more frequently. But, he also understood that he would be given more and more free reign when it came to the armor's basic design.

As it was now, Haraldr's armor was quite similar in style to Loki's. The only major difference was the colors. Where Loki's was green, black, and gold, Haraldr's was white, black, and gold. Haraldr was pretty sure that his father had chosen that particular color scheme as a nod towards his seidr's color. Regardless, the green eyed boy kind of liked it, so he never questioned it.

Swallowing thickly, Haraldr focused his vision forward as he continued his way towards the front of the room and put all his attention on Loki. His father stood on the steps leading up to the throne, his posture giving off the feel as though he were exactly where he was meant to be. Haraldr could only hope that one day, he could obtain a fraction of his father's confidence. As soon as Haraldr made eye contact, Loki raised an eyebrow slightly and a small smirk appeared on his face. Haraldr felt his own lips curve slightly upwards as he returned the look with a slight smile.

Finally, he made his way to the front of the room and came to a halt at the base of the steps leading to the throne. Slowly, just as he had practiced, Haraldr knelt down on his knees and kept his head bowed down to the floor and behind him, all the voices grew quiet as they awaited the Allfather to stand and speak.

It was a long moment before Haraldr could hear the Allfather shift as he stood and began to speak the same words that Loki had spoken to him numerous times in the past few days as he learned his lines.

"Are you Haraldr Magnus of Asgard?"

"I am." To Haraldr's own ears, his voice sounded squeaky and high compared to the majestic voice of his grandfather.

"And do you further recognize yourself as a son of Loki, my own son?"

"I do."

"And is this child a recognized blood son of your's, Prince Loki?"

"He is. I recognize him, and title him as a Lokison." His father's voice replied steadily.

"As a recognized Lokison, do you accept the responsibilities and duties that come with being a prince of the realm, Haraldr Magnus?"

"I do so accept."

"Then, as the son of my son, I recognize you as kin, and title you as prince. From this day forward, let it be known that this child shall henceforth be known as Haraldr Magnus, son of Loki, Prince of Asgard. You may rise, Prince Haraldr, and take your place by your father. "

"I thank you, Allfather."

Haraldr finally looked up and stood. The Allfather smiled slightly down at the ten year old and Haraldr opted to duck his head once more in a slight bow as he began climbing the stairs to join Loki. The place he was expected to stand was something that they had also already rehearsed.

When it came to the elevated throne and the steps leading up to it, the elite and royal family members all had their expected places. Odin was the only one allowed to sit, occupying the beautiful golden throne with his spear, Gungnir in his hand. Thor, as the crowned prince was the only other individual that was positioned on the elevated platform. He stood just to the right of the throne.

On the Allfather's left were the prized Warriors Three, who were considered elite fighters and the chosen companions of Thor. To his right on the highest step was where Loki stood. Haraldr was expected to stand to the right on the steps directly beneath his father. On the lowest step on that side was where the elite warrioress, the Lady Sif, stood, putting Haraldr directly between the two dark haired adults.

"Well done, Haraldr." Loki muttered under his breath as Haraldr finally came to a halt on the steps.

Haraldr smiled slightly but didn't dare reply or even turn to look at his father. He had been told previously that it was expected for them to remain politely quiet as they awaited the Allfather's dismissal to the courtyards for the Golden Apple portion of the ceremony. And as his first time in the public's eye as a recognized prince, Haraldr was determined not to mess anything up. So he stood as tall as his youthful stature allowed, kept his chin up and his eyes forward, no matter how stupid he still felt.

Odin addressed a couple more issues with the court before finally dismissing the court for Haraldr's Golden Apple ceremony.

"There is one more matter that needs to be addressed today," He began, "My grandson, who has now been officially introduced to Asgard has also passed his tenth year, and as such, I would like to cordially invite everyone to join myself and the rest of my family to the garden courtyards to witness his partaking of an Apple of Idunn. Court dismissed."

At his final words, Odin stood and let Gungnir strike against the hard floor. The resulting sound echoed throughout the high ceilinged room as the volume of voices once again increased. Quickly, people began to file out of the throne room and move in the direction of the courtyards. Well, Haraldr was pretty sure that that was where everyone was headed. Loki had warned him that he should expect extremely large crowds. After all, "it's not every day that a prince receives their immortality, let alone a regular Asgardian," according to Loki.

"Are you ready to head down there then?" Loki asked from his side. Haraldr finally turned his head to look at his father and offered him a small smile.

"I think so."

Loki dipped his head slightly as he began moving down the steps. "The hard part is already over, Haraldr. Now all you have to do is fall asleep."

Just as Loki had promised, the Golden Apple ceremony was far less intimidating than his induction into the royal family. The only thing that was nerve-wracking about it was the vast amount of people present. Just as Loki had predicted, the Asgardians put quite a bit of importance on this ceremony. Adding that to the secrecy surrounding Haraldr, the rumors, and how fast word had spread about Haraldr's official rank, and the crowds really weren't that surprising.

All too soon, Odin introduced Haraldr and presented him with his Apple. Haraldr took it with careful hands. As instructed, he took a seat on the elevated platform before daring to take a bite.

The Golden Apple of Idunn tasted just as unnaturally sweet as Haraldr remembered. Although, the intense taste was tainted slightly by what Haraldr was sure was Loki's sleeping potion. Sure enough, after a few bits, Haraldr could feel his eyes becoming heavier. It wasn't long before he couldn't even hold them open if he tried.

His last memory of that day was slumping against Loki's chest as the Apple once again fell from his hand.

~x~

"So when exactly were you going to tell me that you were a prince?"

Haraldr jumped slightly at the sudden voice appearing behind him. It was a few days after his ceremony and this was the first time that he had exited the castle since being officially inducted into the royal house.

By his side stood a guard who hadn't made any indication that someone was approaching. Some help he was.

According to Loki, as a young prince, a guard would now have to remain beside him whenever he was alone. At least until he received his ranking as a warrior of the realm, that is. He had a training session scheduled for later that afternoon, but he had decided to leave the palace a little early to get some fresh air and await Master Tyr's arrival.

Over the last month, he had begun to learn how to wield a staff as his primary style of weapon. A Svärdstav, as Master Tyr had called it was what he was what he was aiming towards. According to Master Tyr, a staff was a weapon that did not require as close of contact as a dagger or hand to hand, and relied on leverage, momentum, and quick motions, rather than brute strength like some of the weapons common on Asgard.

Of course, at the current moment, Haraldr was only learning forms with a wooden pole, and it was not expected for him to touch a metal weapon, or even fight against an actual opponent of any sort for a good while. Occasionally, Haraldr also still practiced with a waster sword, because as a prince, it was expected that he have a well-rounded knowledge in all basic forms of combat.

Back in the present, Haraldr quickly spun around to face the newcomer. "Runa? Where did you come from?"

In response, the bleach blonde half-elf rolled her eyes. "Seriously?! I called out to you twice as I approached. Are you deaf now? That apple do something to your hearing yesterday? Again, you never answered my question, when were you gonna tell me?"

Haraldr blinked slightly at the onslaught of questions. "Um, my hearing is fine, thanks. I was just lost in thought, I guess. And I did want to tell you, but my father told me to keep quiet. Sorry, I really didn't want to lie!"

Runa huffed in annoyance, but her features seemed to soften slightly when she spoke next. "So am I supposed to call you Prince Haraldr now or something?" she probed further.

Haraldr shook his head almost violently. "Please don't." He nearly begged, "I really don't want anything to change between us! You're my best friend, and I still don't really know how to deal with all this new attention and responsibilities."

Runa raised her hands in the universal sign of surrender, "Okay, okay, I promise not to treat you any different." She agreed. To Haraldr the girl looked just as thankful by the outcome of their talk as he felt. "Although, if your father complains, it is your fault, not mine."

Haraldr grinned, "Deal. So what are you doing out here anyways? You practicing archery?"

Surprisingly, Runa shook her head. "No. Actually, I was just looking for you. I wasn't actually present for your induction ceremony of course—I wasn't important enough to get into that— but my father was. As a high lord of Alfheim, he was invited even if he had no clue what was actually going to happen. That's probably the only reason he actually came, to be honest. Curiosity killed the Cat Elf or something… Ha! Isn't that one of Midgard's sayings?"

"Er. Kinda," Harry responded with a lopsided grin.

"Well anyways, he was shocked, to say the least." Runa continued. "I mean, all the other realms look to Asgard to set an example, so anything that happens here is typically a big deal everywhere, but a new member of the royal family? That's huge! As soon as he left the throne room, he was worrying about what he and the rest of Alfheim were going to do to welcome in the new prince and I—"

"You guys really don't have to do anything!" Haraldr interrupted with wide eyes waving his hands in front of his chest slightly to underline his statement.

"Yeah, we do actually." Runa maintained proudly. "Trust me, all the realms will be expected to do something to welcome in the new prince of Asgard… Most of the respect will be paid to the Allfather or even your own father, rather than to you, however. Lucky for you, I was able to speak to my father before he left for Alfheim yesterday. I told him how you wanted a Riding Cat."

Haraldr blinked. "Wait what? I thought only Cat Elves could ride them!"

Runa shrugged. "Well, yeah, normally that is the case. But you are a prince, Haraldr! That means that you don't exactly have to follow the same set of rules as the rest of us! In this case, that means that if you demanded one of our Cats, we wouldn't exactly be able to say no. Not without starting a potential dispute with Asgard, anyways."

"But I don't want—"

"I know you don't." Runa cut in with another roll of her eyes, "And I also know that you would not say no to a Riding Cat. So lucky for you, you have me as a friend and I asked for you. You're welcome."

"But I—"

"You are supposed to say thanks here."

"I—"

"Just accept it. Seriously."

Haraldr took a deep breath. "Thanks. I really do appreciate it, but I can't accept it! I mean, I would love one, but I don't want to upset Alfheim or cause any sort of conflicts! You know that I was only partly serious when I mentioned them in the past!"

"You are not causing any such problems, for Alfheim or anyone else by accepting our gift." A new voice butted in. "If anything, it would be an honor to Alfheim that an Asgardian Prince would willingly choose and accept one of Alfheim's Riding Cat's as a familiar."

In his panic, Haraldr had not really paid the newcomer any mind until just then but now he turned his full attention on him.

Almost immediately, Haraldr could deduce that the man was Runa's father. With his similarly violet colored eyes, bleach blonde hair and clearly visible elven ears, their relation was quite obvious. Beyond that, the elf was tall and clearly strong, despite his lean frame. Beside him stood a Riding Cat that Haraldr had never seen before. This one had the coloration similar to that of a leopard and looked far more dangerous in appearance than Haraldr had ever attributed to Mista as being. It was also far larger in build, which Haraldr supposed did make logical sense. Runa had informed him once that Mista was young, but he had never really thought about the fact that that might mean that she wasn't quite full grown yet.

But what really caught Haraldr's attention was what the Cat Elf was holding in his arms. In the Cat Elf's arms was none other than another RidingCat. Only this one was no bigger than a few month old lion cub. As far as Haraldr could see, the kitten was completely black; his fur almost taking on a blue tint to it due to its dark nature.

Bringing wide eyes back up to meet the elder Cat Elf's violet ones, Haraldr really wasn't sure what to say. Luckily, the Cat Elf seemed to realize that.

"My name is Lord Faradei, Your Highness, and on behalf of all of Alfheim, I have been given the honor of presenting you with this kitten as a gift. He was specially picked from his litter as one displaying great promise. I hope he lives up to his full potential under your guidance."

With that said, Faradei moved closer to Haraldr and carefully deposited the sleeping kitten in Haraldr's arms.

"Be mindful of his wings." Faradei murmured as Haraldr adjusted the cub. "As he is so young, his wings are still quite fragile."

"What is his name?" Haraldr breathed.

"That is for you to decide, Prince Haraldr." Faradei explained. "As part of the bonding that takes place between a cat and it's rider, only its rider can give it it's name. Mostly, this is simple tradition, but there is believed to be some magic to it that links a familiar to it's master."

"You are correct," Loki affirmed as he drew closer to the group. Haraldr had noticed his father exiting the palace a short while ago and had been tracking his approach ever since. "There is magic involved in such a thing."

"Prince Loki, a pleasure." Faradei acknowledged with a slight bow of respect.

Loki dipped his head slightly in response. "Lord Faradei. On behalf of Asgard, I would like to thank Alfheim for such a thoughtful gift. I will ensure that my son takes good care of his new companion."

"As I have informed your son, it is Alfheim's pleasure."

While his father and Faradei were talking, Haraldr had turned his full attention on the still sleeping kitten in his arms. Carefully, he shifted the kitten slightly so that he could use one hand to stroke the winged cat's obsidian colored fur. This action seemed to be what finally woke the tiny Riding Cat up, however, as all of a sudden, the kitten was blinking sleepy ice blue eyes up at Haraldr. Those eyes reminded Haraldr of something and he took a moment to remember what.

"Shruikan!" Haraldr remembered suddenly as he remembered the character who reminded him so much of the kitten. He then looked up to see that all eyes had fallen upon him. "That is what his name shall be."

"Shruikan..?" Loki tested the word on his own tongue. "I cannot say that I am familiar with that particular word."

"He was a dragon from a book I read," Haraldr explained. "Shruikan was not exactly a good guy, to be honest, but the character still always touched me. When I first read about him— I don't know— I just felt like I could relate to him with my time at the Dursleys and all, I guess. By giving him this name, I can give him a better life than he was shown in the books too."

Faradei nodded. "It is an acceptable name, young prince. Now, I believe it is my time to bid you both adieu and journey back to Alfheim once more. It has been an honor, Prince Loki, Prince Haraldr."

Runa, who had remained quiet through most of the conversation turned to follow her father, over her shoulder, Haraldr could see the half-elf glance at Loki before turning impish eyes on him.

"See ya later, Haraldr!"

Even without physically looking, Haraldr knew that Loki's eyes had narrowed slightly at the informal comment. Thus, before his father could actually say anything, Haraldr spoke up, "Bye Runa!"

Haraldr watched as the two elves grew smaller in the distance for a long moment. In his peripherals, he could just see his father watching him. Finally, he tore his eyes away from the horizon to look up at Loki, only to find that it wasn't him exactly that the taller prince was looking at specifically, but the kitten still tucked carefully in his arms.

"You could have just told me that you wanted a pet, you know." Loki pointed out flatly.

Haraldr merely grinned.

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AN: Let me know what you think so far, and please don't forget to review!

Trivia:

Svärdstav is a medieval Scandinavian weapon. It translates to Swordstaff, and is basically created by placing a blade on the end of a staff. There is very little information out there for this weapon, unfortunately, but I will try my best to make the information I do use as accurate as possible. I chose this weapon in hopes of being a bit unique. Regardless, Haraldr will not be giving up his archery in exchange for this.

Shruikan is a character from the Inheritance book series. I will be honest, I only ever read the first book, but I wanted Harry to choose a name from a character he had read about. A character from The Jungle Book(Bagheera, in particular) was another name I seriously considered. I am honestly not certain I am completely sold on the name Shruikan, so if you guys can think of something better, I might still change it. Let me know!

For the ceremony, I used the first movie of Thor for an idea on how to present everyone. If you are curious about where exactly everyone stood, take a look at a clip of Thor's coronation on YouTube.

I used some of my own personal experiences for this chapter… I have very strong stage fright. Always have, and probably always will. I almost always refused to eat the morning of whatever was causing the stage fright as a child, and my mother would always refuse to allow me to start my day without eating. When I refused to eat, she'd make me a fresh fruit/protein smoothie. Even today, when I'm nervous, I either drink yogurt or make a smoothie instead of eating a normal meal.

Till next time,

~Dawn