INFORMATION

Disclaimer: Thor & The Avengers are properties of Marvel.

Synopsis: When Odin realizes that he has always been too easy when disciplining Loki, the All-Father takes advice from his court member who may be using Loki for his own agendas as he offers the Asgardian Prince his daughter.

Pairing: Loki/OC

Between Every Lie

Prologue

The slashes came, one after another, with full force that sliced harshly against his already stinging back. The painful echoes ripped through the still and silent air. Loki trembled on his hands and knees before the All-Father on the cold Throne Room floor, unable to do anything but bite his tongue and take the humiliation that the king had mindlessly called discipline.

With his magic suppressed, there was little he could do but accept his father's sentence for his most recent antics. The entirety of Odin's Court must have been present, their eyes all trained on his painful predicament but Loki cared nothing for any of them. He slowly looked up at those of his family members' instead. The All-Father's were furious, rigid like the way he sat on the golden throne. His brother, Thor's saddened ones seem to almost wince at every strike by the soldiers. Then there were his mother's, shut away, hidden, not wanting to see her youngest son endure the physical punishment.

Loki mentally scoffed at all of them. Some of the audience must really be enjoying this, he thought humorlessly to himself. He knew, from the way some of them whispered agreements when Odin announced the verdict of his sentence. He refocused his gaze onto the metallic floor and listened as one of the soldiers counted off the number of remaining lashes.

Chapter I

Loki hissed when the nurse dabbed cool ointment onto the gashes on his bare back. He was sprawled out front side down with the pillows scrunched up between his arms for his head to rest. He preferred the warm comfort of his own chambers over the eeriness of the Healing Room. He barely glanced up at Thor who was sitting at the side of his bed. The afternoon glow making him look majestic while Loki probably looked pathetic.

"Loki," Thor began. "Father should not have been so severe with this. The punishment should always match the degree of the crime. That is what he's always taught me."

"I hardly see what I did as criminal," Loki muttered in reply.

"Lord Volund was wrong to run his mouth the way he did. Such an insult against a Prince of Asgard..." Thor shook his head. "You were right to show him a lesson."

To that, Loki grinned at his brother. "You have to admit, I made that boring excuse of a feast more memorable."

Thor gave a small chuckle to which Loki echoed laughs of his own. He had to admit, his older brother could be infuriating when he's flaunting around his precious hammer while admirers howled and swooned his name. But today when the House of Odin stood quietly and watched him suffer, Thor had bellowed at their father to stop Loki's sentence until even the God of Thunder was silenced by Asgard's King. When the two of them grew quiet again, Loki breathed out a heavy sigh.

At least he had someone, even if it had to be Thor. He knew his mother could have been there, but as Queen and the Goddess of Marriage she was obligated to continue with the duties assigned to her.

He heard the door open creak open and a soft female's voice greeted him and Thor politely. Thor nodded at the visitor so Loki hardly bothered to look up from his position on the bed.

"You're needed in the Healing Room," she said. "I will take over for you."

The rustling of the nurse's gown singled her leave and Loki heard her quickly mumble the usual formalities before shutting the door with a heavy thud. The nurse's last few words barely registered in his mind until Thor spoke.

"You are no nurse. Why are you taking on this task?"

"I was there when this happened," the newcomer replied. "I also work in the Healing Room and volunteered to come here."

At her words, Loki finally shifted his head to the other side and true to Thor's observation, the young woman was wearing a long, flowing gown and silver bands too elaborate for any servant girl. Her dark hair was allowed to fall freely over her shoulders. She stood beside the bed next to the table with medical tools and began to dab a new piece of cotton into the bowl of ointment.

"Shall I?" she asked, gesturing to Loki's bleeding back.

Awkwardly, he nodded for her to complete the last nurse's work. Once more, he felt the cool liquid sting the open lesions on his shoulder blades and winced. The pain was duller this time while he was preoccupied with confusing thoughts as to why this stranger would willingly come to dress his wounds.

"I'll try to be gentle," she assured him. "There are only a few more wounds that need treatment."

"You are a lord's daughter," Thor said. "Who is your father?"

"Mika Sigyn, your highness. Do you know him?"

"I believe so. I've only seen him on a few occasions. He's a member of my father's court."

Loki saw her nodded at Thor's comment. Silence once again found its way into the atmosphere and Loki turned his gaze to the headboard, not knowing what else to do with the situation. That was until Thor made some sort of grunting noise and stood up from his seat.

"You're leaving?" Loki said abruptly. The sudden realization that he would be alone with the healing girl startled him.

"Sorry, Brother, I do have matters to attend to. I must head out now, but I may come by later in the evening if you wish."

Loki bit his inner cheek out of annoyance but reluctantly said, "If you must go, then go. I won't keep you."

"Then I will see you," Thor nodded. "Please take good care of him, Lady... You did not tell me your name, maiden."

"I am Elise," the girl said. "And I will do my very best to care for his highness."

"Good," Thor said, approvingly. He gave Loki one last smile before leaving the bed chamber.

Once the heavy doors closed again, Loki felt alone and exposed. The only sounds came from squishing of the medicine and his breathing mixed with hers. He turned to watch her work again out of the corner of his eyes and saw her setting aside the cotton for some wrapping cloths strips.

"Can you sit up, please?" she asked. "It'll make this easier."

Loki blinked a couple times before he released his pillows and slowly started to push himself up into a sitting position. He felt a light grip on his upper arm and pulled away slightly, making her retreat her hand.

"I'm fine," he murmured to her.

"My prince, if I may," she placed her finger tips onto the edge of the bed.

Loki raised an eyebrow at her but curtly nodded in her direction. He watched her carefully as she eased herself down onto the bed next to him and began to wrap the cloth around his torso. A ticklish feeling run through his body when her fingers feathered across his skin. Whenever she would pat down on the bandage over a wound, he would suck in a breath and he felt her hands immediately lightened their touch. He swallowed the saliva in his mouth and didn't realize how dry his throat had become. He wanted to say something, anything to ease the awkwardness, so he decided on a straight forward approach.

"Why did you come here on your own accord?" Loki asked.

"Today was the first time I accompanied my father to the Throne Room," she replied. "It just happened to be the day that this happened. Forgive me, my prince."

"What is there to forgive?" Loki furrowed his brows. "You didn't do this to me and yet you speak of it as if it were your fault."

"I know that it isn't but I felt for you. It must have been hard to be—"

"Humiliated in front of the entire court," Loki finished for her, a bit of anger hanging in his voice. By then, she had already finished wrapping the bandages. Once he felt her pull away from him, he turned to face her fully for the first time. She had a young looking face, perhaps a few years his junior, with clear eyes and soft features. She continued to sit on the edge of his bed and Loki was surprised that she was acting so familiarly towards him.

"You do not know me," Loki said. "Yet you said you felt for me."

"Yes," she replied. "But may I ask for a chance to know you?"

Loki smiled—almost laughed—at her answer. She was a strange one indeed but he didn't find any of it disconcerting. Though, her gaze seemed to reflect sincerity if he ever knew it. "You speak boldly to your prince, do you know that? Your words are some of the most steadfast from someone outside of my family. Or my brother's friends."

"I don't see the point in wasting time or words, your highness," Elise said with a smile.

He chuckled and felt at ease for the first time since her arrival. She seemed to have finally realized her position and hastily got up from his bed and brushed her gown into place.

"I'm sorry," she said and moved to the small table to pack the medical equipment. "I've taken up enough of your time. You must rest now."

"No, stay," Loki said without thinking. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat there watching her close the pack. At his command, she froze and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Your Highness?"

"I... don't want to see my family tonight," Loki began. His quick tongue found the right words with little effort. "Join me here for supper this evening. I'll have my servants prepare something for you."

"You are most kind, your grace," Elise said. "But I fear I would be bothering you during your meal."

"You said you want to know me."

"Yes but—"

"I will allow it but you must come this evening."

He felt a smirk on his lips, knowing that she could not refuse the command of a prince. Loki ran the words over in his head and felt proud of himself while he waited for her response. She was quiet for a moment but eventually smiled gently and nodded her head.

"If that is what you insist," she replied. "But, right now I must return to the Healing Room."

"Of course," Loki said.

She gave him a curtsy, picked up the pack and headed towards the door. He felt a strange urge to thank her. Perhaps it was the fact that she wasn't a servant but a Lady, a highborn. If it were any other palace worker he would not have even bother with idle conversation. Before he could, however, he heard the door shut and the clicking of her shoes echoing gradually quieter through the halls.

Alone, Loki sighed. He stretched out over the sheets on his stomach again, moving slower than usually so the cuts on her back wouldn't open. Reaching up, he grabbed one of the books from his side table and tried to concentrate on the words.

When nighttime arrived, Loki still hadn't left his room. The torches were crackling with flames for light and he could finally sit up against the headboard without his back stinging against it. He had put on a comfortable black tunic instead of his usual clothes due to the bandages. With another spell book opened in his hands and his favorite incense burning sweet fumes into the air, Loki could almost forget about the ordeals from earlier in the day, almost.

He gave a small groan out of annoyance when Thor barged loudly into his chambers.

"Aren't you coming to dinner?" his brother asked.

"No," Loki replied. "I'm having dinner here."

Thor gave him a concerned look. "I know you're still upset with Father but at least come eat. You're acting like a child, don't you think, hiding here in your room alone."

"I won't be alone," Loki said without looking up from his book. Although, Thor's lack of reply made him reluctantly place the book down to see his brother's confused expression.

"I've invited Elise to eat here with me," he said.

The answer only seemed to baffle Thor to a higher degree.

"The girl from earlier?" he said. "Loki, is there something you're not telling me?"

"What is there for me to hide from you, brother?" Loki asked. He was beginning to feel somewhat irked with the questions. He got up off the bed, dropped the book on his desk and made his way to where Thor stood near the entrance hall into his private chambers.

"You're not usually one to have guests," Thor said.

Loki shrugged. "Eating alone does bore me, but I rather eat with someone different tonight."

"Is this attraction that I sense from you?" Thor teased with a grin on his face.

"Attraction?" Loki was taken aback.

"I had suspected it from her, but not entirely from you, Loki."

Loki swung his arm at Thor who effortlessly dodge it and laughed.

"That just proves me right," Thor said.

"It proves nothing," Loki countered stubbornly. "I'll have you know that she asked for the chance to know me."

"But you allowed her to and even invited her for dinner. And here I thought I would be the one to assist you with your courting when the day comes. Baby brother, you grew up so quickly."

Loki growled but said no more. He wasn't in the right condition to spare with his brother and there wasn't a chance you would risk Thor reducing his precious room to rubble. He furrowed his eyebrows and endured some more of Thor's teasing before he finally decided to let Loki be and leave the room. When the doors opened again, he was afraid that his brother had come back, but it was only the servants bringing in two sets of food trays. Loki instructed them to leave them on the table and took a seat in one of the chairs.

He began tapping his foot impatiently while he waited for the girl, trying not to let his brother's words get to him. There was a small pinch of disappointment inside when he began to wonder if she had forgotten about their meeting. Though that couldn't be the case, he thought. She was the one who wanted this in the first place. Loki decided to give her a few more minutes before he had a guard send for her but that proved unnecessary.

Elise came, dressed in a fresh gown, wearing that similar gentle smile.

"I apologize greatly for making you wait, your highness," she said with a bow of her head.

Loki returned her smile from his seat. Her presence was different than before. Now that he had expected her, her being in the chambers gave him a joyous feeling. He reckoned that having dinner with this complete stranger who seemed sympathetic towards him would be more enjoyable than an uncomfortably silent one under his Father's angry gaze.

"It's quite alright," Loki said, waving his hand at her. "And you may drop the formalities. They get exasperating after a while. Sit." He gestured to the empty chair at the table.

"You are too kind," she replied and sat down across from him.

Loki took a sip of wine from his goblet and pressed his lips together in thought. He wasn't used to spending time with people other than his brother, Sif, and the Warriors Three. Most inhabitants of the palace either had some sort of reluctance towards him or just preferred Thor's war stories over his discussion of intellect. He debated whether Elise would be bored if he began chatting away about his experiments with magic.

"Are your wounds still hurting?" she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"No, actually, I feel much better, thanks to you."

"Thanks to the medicine, really. The best kinds come from the herbs in the outlands."

"But you do have tender healing hands," Loki complimented.

"Well," Elise said with a small laugh. She took a sip from her cup before continuing. "My mother did teach me a few Alfar healing spells when I was rather young. I've been practicing medical skills ever since."

"You know of Alfar magic?" Loki asked, surprised. He unconsciously leaned a little closer over the table.

"I only know of spells used for healing minor cuts and easing pains."

"How come you did not use magic to heal me earlier?"

"Your wounds were more severe," she said shaking her head slightly. "My magic would not have been as effective as the medicine."

"Regardless, you must show me these spells that you know," Loki urged. It wasn't every day that he became acquainted with someone with magical talents such as himself within the palace walls.

"You give me too much credit," Elise said. "The spells I know are nothing to be impressed with."

"I'd still like to see them," Loki insisted. "But that can wait until after dinner. Let us eat."

They enjoyed the dinner of a perfect roast, savory herbs, vegetables and warm cheese on bread. Loki noticed that while Elise appeared to be enjoying her meal, she also did not show any signs outward astonishment. She truly was a high lord's daughter who was accustomed to the more lavish foods.

Loki ended up discussing some new spells he had been experimenting with lately and to his delight, Elise was not bored or put off by it. On the contrary, she looked interested, nodding her head as his blabbered about magic. She even asked him if there was a way to enhance the spells she already knew.

"Well," Loki said after wiping his mouth with the napkin cloth. He issued commands for the servants to take their empty trays away, leaving only their newly filled wine goblets. "That would require you to show me your magic first."

"And for that to happen," Elise said. "I require a wound first."

Loki smirked at her quick remark and held out his palm towards her over the table. She raised one of her brows, perplexed by his motions at first. With his other hand glowing blue with energy, he conjured up a small, sharp crystal blade and nipped a thin cut on his palm.

"Wait—" Elise gasped and her hands shot out to grab his wounded one.

Loki only chuckled as he made the blade vanished. "Show me your healing spell."

"My Prince..." she mumbled quietly. She gave a small sigh but released his hand to place both of hers above the wound.

Watching her concentrate on the spell, Loki noticed her lips moving as she silently murmured the incantations. Her eyes were rigorously fixated on their hands and Loki shifted his gaze there. The golden glow from her hands did not come as instantly as his. It seemed to materialize from the center of her hand, slowly spread out over her palm and finally made its way onto his. It felt warm and soothing. Loki hardly felt any pain when the bleeding skin began to close itself completely. Once it was gone, Elise took a cloth from the table and dabbed the excess blood still on his hand.

"You did not have to do that," Elise murmured. "I could have shown you tomorrow in the Healing Room if you were free to come."

"No, that was brilliant," Loki said. He examined his freshly healed hand and found only a thin scar that was hardly visible amongst the natural lines of his palm.

"I still have much to learn," she replied.

Truly she did. Loki knew that she was still inexperience with her magic. Sorcery had always came naturally to him, but for Elise, he assumed it must have taken a good amount of practice.

"Perhaps, I could teach you some of my spells." Loki wondered if he had finally found someone willing to share an interest in magic with him. Her magic was not at his caliber, but with guidance, he was sure she could learn to improve her skills.

"Your highness has offered me far too much."

"I insist," Loki said. "You have potential and if you are willing to learn, I am willing to teach you."

Her smile was answer enough for him. The night continued onward with the two of them conversed on an array of topics about magic, books, the latest news about the palace and even food until Loki had forgotten how late it was and allowed Elise to return to her own chambers for rest.

Climbing into bed that night, Loki couldn't wipe the ridiculous smile off his face. He had planned for a rendezvous with Elise in the courtyard after her duty hours for her first lesson in spell enhancement. Always, leisure time with others consist of Thor and his friends. Loki found it exciting that, perhaps, he may have found a friend of his own, one that actually shared and interest with him and maybe even in him. Despite his annoyance towards Thor's words, Loki secretly hoped for both to be true.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

My second attempt at an OC. I usually don't write OCs but I thought it would be interesting to try. I hope that the opening chapter wasn't too slow? The majority of the story will be written in Loki's POV. Please let me know what you think!