When lightning strikes

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You slowly wander through the gardens of the palace looking for the perfect place to hide. You seek shelter behind a bush as you hold your breath. When suddenly you feel a tap on your shoulder.

"I found you" Loki chuckles as he quickly runs away. You get on your feet following him through the garden. You've always enjoyed playing with the princes. They didn't seem to care about who you were, nothing but a simple maid's daughter. You're too consumed by the thrill of the game you don't notice the woman standing in front of you until you collide with her. As you look up your eyes are met by the queen. You quickly get upon your feet bowing in front of her. As Loki and Thor come out from their hiding.

"My queen I am terribly sorry" you mutter not daring to look up at her eyes.

"My sweet child. I think I've known you for far too long now. You can call me Frigga dear" she smiles kindly, as she lifts you from the ground. Holding your hand.

Thor and Loki race to you, as they stand behind their mother. "We were only playing mother" Thor grins.

"Can We please play a little longer?" Loki asks. "Pretty please mother" he pleads.

Frigga grins kindly "Well go ahead then" she gestures for you to play along. You rush towards Thor catching him before he can run off again.

Odín walks out grabbing a hold of Frigga's Hand. She admires you as you play. The bond you had with the princes was unlike any other. And she adores you deeply for loving them equally as she did.

"Our sons seem to be quite taken by her" she chuckles..

"Indeed they are," he says questioningly..

You and the boys play every day till the sun sets. Growing up in the castle alongside royalties, imaging you're a princess roaming the golden halls. And although years passed you didn't waste a moment in their presence enjoying every encounter with the loving princes. You imagined someday you'd marry one of them. Become a true princess.

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It seems as though time only made the three of you closer. From playing in the garden when you were kids to racing on horses. Stealing moments alone with them as often as you can. But your duties as a maid for the king made it quite difficult. As time went on the three of you stopped being together as much, and your meetings with the princes became more personal, spending time with them on your own. Always without the other brother. It seemed as though your affection for both of the princes only grew stronger as the days went by.

Loki would often take you to the library to read old stories to you. Leaving books in your room with small notes, and highlighted parts in the book that reminded him of you. You clearly remember the first time he kissed you, sitting under the stars reading you a poem he had written about you. He made you feel special, and with him, every day was an adventure. It was passionate and daring.

Thor was something else entirely, you never for a moment sat still with that boy, going on long walks in the forest. Swimming in the lakes past midnight. Stealing food from the kitchen while the cooks ate lunch. They were both equally good to you, and equally jealous of the other. You knew one day you'd have to make a choice, it's not fair to them for you to love both of them. But love them you did, with every fibre in your body. In ways, you could not  understand at such a young age.

As you're about to go to bed after a long hard day. You smile as you turn around seeing Loki standing in your doorway. His soft smile Lightning up even your darkest day.

"It's quite charming you think you can sneak up on me after all these years" you chuckle as you embrace him. He passionately kisses you, his lips moving in sync with yours. He breaks the kiss

"Well it's never a problem when I sneak up on Thor" Loki smirks as he sits down at your bedside. "And perhaps I just enjoy watching over you"  Loki grabs your rope pulling one of the strings, causing you to almost drop it on the floor.

You feel your cheeks grow red, quickly grabbing a hold of your rope. "Well haven't your mother taught you it's very rude to sneak into a lady's room when she's alone?" You tease as you cover yourself up. "Heaven knows what I could be doing at this time of the day" you smirk as you sit down beside him.

"Perhaps that's what I was hoping to see" he winks at you. Trying to get your satin rope off you.

You playfully hit him on the shoulder as you roll your eyes. He pulls the rope off your shoulder planting small kisses along your collarbone, all the way to your ear lope. You feel a warm sensation run through your body.

"What are you truly here for Loki it's late?" You whisper trying to contain yourself. You wanted him so badly. But someone could hear you.

"How about an evening stroll?" He whispers. You can feel his cold breath on your earlobe

"It would be my honour.." you say quietly. As Loki's face lights up. "I'll fetch myself some clothes, wait outside in the garden I'll meet you there shortly," you say as you gently push him out the door, placing a passionate kiss on his lips. You rest against the door frame for a second. Feeling as your entire body tingles. Then you quickly grab your clothes dressing yourself. When you hear a gentle knock on the door.

"Doesn't your mother teach you any manners at all"You sigh deeply as you open the door. But it's not Loki waiting on the other side.

You quickly realize it's not him, covering your neck with your hair remembering Lokis's small love bites covering your neck.

"Thor?" You smile.

"Expecting someone else?" He says with a hint of disappointment on his face as he eyes you up and down. Clearly noticing your slightly bruised skin.

"No.." you smile. "I was actually just meeting Loki for a midnight stroll in the garden," you say casually. You've always known Thor liked you. You would often catch him glancing at you. It had never gone beyond that with Thor. Nothing but stolen longing glances from afar.

"Well, my lady I wouldn't want to keep my brother waiting.." Thor says sadly as he turns around about to leave.

You grab ahold of his hand. "Come with us" you insist.

"Perhaps I shouldn't"

"Please Thor, it would be lovely," you say, as you squeeze his hand. "Like old times"

You and Thor quietly sneak past the guards, out to the back of the gardens.

"I see you brought my oaf of a brother" Loki scoffs disappointed.

"Oh come on Lokes.. it'll be just like the old times" you smile as you grab onto each of their hand.

"Fine.. the last one to the stables is an old wench" Loki calls out, as the three of you race to the stables. You outrun them easily. As you jump on your beloved horse riding into the night. With the two brothers admiring you from the back. You take the same path you've taken a hundred times. This is what home was like for you. Spending time with the two people you hold dearest. You stop by the cliff side looking down upon the beautiful water surrounding Asgard. As you get off your horse you sit down for a moment.

"I've never truly realized just how beautiful it is here," you say, looking down as the stars are reflecting down upon the water. The boys are silent. "Isn't it just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen!" You ask.

"Yes" they both say, as they look at you.

You turn around to face them. As you catch a glimpse in their eyes. "I've never heard the two of you so awfully quiet.. it's just me" you smile confusedly. "One of you is going to be king soon"

Thor and Loki sit down beside you.

"No matter who it is I'm sure father will make the right decision," Thor says proudly.

Loki still doesn't say a word.

"Just promise me you'll still have time for me..My princes" you say happily as you intertwine your hands with each of theirs.

"I assure you, my lady. We'll always have time for you. Right brother?" Thor asks.

"Right," Loki says weakly.

You look at him with a hint of concern in your eyes. "Thor, may I have a moment alone with your brother?" You ask kindly.

Thor nod understandingly as he steps away.You gesture for Loki to wait before quickly following Thor for a second.

"My lady I thought you needed a moment alone with Loki," he says confusedly.

"I do.. aren't you worried about him?" You ask. But notice the confusion still lingering in his gaze. "Thor we both know who your father is going to pick... And Loki he's always been the second choice.. I worry for him" you say sadly.

"Loki will be fine y/n." Thor assures. "Besides you shouldn't worry about us.. we are the ones who would be protecting you remember?" Thor smiles kindly.

"No need my prince.. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself" you smile. "I'll go cheer him up before I'll beat you on the ride home"

You slowly sit down beside Loki, he stares blankly up at the stars. "What is bothering you?" you ask as you rest your head against his shoulder.

"Shouldn't you be with Thor" he scoffs.

"Loki stop... it's not like that" you sigh. He's always so jealous, so insecure. If only he saw himself the way you see him.

"My apologies. I don't know what's gotten over me the last weeks" he sighs. You grab his hand once more.

"I care for you Loki.. deeply" you reassure him. "So now what troubles you?" You ask once more.

"I fear my father is hiding something from me... and I fear more that my mother knows about it as well" he explains. He turns his sad eyes at you. You let your forehead touch his, looking deeply Into his eyes.

"I'm sure everything is fine.." you assure him. "You'll always have me... my king" you whisper as you place a kiss on his hand. Seeing a small smile on his lips as you do so. He returns the kiss on your cheek.

"I'll never be half the man he is"

There it was.. the truth.

You rest your hand against his cheek, stroking it gently."no" you agree..  "But You could become so much more" you whisper.

"You really think so highly of me?" Loki asks softly, as his eyes meet yours.

"I think the world of you, as do you brother" you assure him.

"Do you love him?"

You take a moment to let the question sink in.

"I do" you admit.

Loki slowly pulls away, as a tear falls down his cheek.

"Do you love me?" He asks questions scared of your answer.

"With every bone in my body and every beat of my heart," you smile. "I'll always love you Loki.."

Thor returns sitting down next to you, as the three of you sit in silence.

"We should ride home.. before mother notices we've snuck out," Loki says quietly. He quickly gets up reaching out his hand to help you up.

The three of you hop up on your horses. As the boys race to the stables. You take another glance at the water. When a bolt of lightning crashes onto the ground beneath you. Your horse steeps and in a moment of panic throws you off. You scream In terror as you fall off the cliff side, clinging onto a root on the side of the cliff. You look down in panic as the waves crash against the walls of the cliff.

Thor and Loki quickly rush back as they hear your loud screams. The look of terror on their faces as they realize how far down you are. Loki reaches his hand as far as he can, but there's no point.. you're sliding further and further down. It's only a matter of time until you can't hold on any longer.

"Y/n hold on. We'll get help" Loki screams. "Thor get father" Loki calls out. Yet Thor stands frozen. "NOW THOR" Loki screams. Loki tries everything, but there's no use.

Thor quickly mounts the horse and rides back to the palace as fast as he can.

"I can't hold on any longer Loki" you cry out. As you feel your grip loosen. If you could just hold him one more time.

"You must.. I can't lose you" he sobs.

"I love you"

"I'll find you! I'll always find my way back to you" Loki screams.

"I'm sorry" you mouth to him, as you fall to your death. You can hear Loki's muffled screams as your body falls through the air. As soon as you hit the water everything goes silent. The heavy feeling as your body sinks to the bottom of the river. The ice-cold water burns against your skin. Water fills up your lungs, silencing your screams. You can't move. Then suddenly another lightning strikes the water. You feel as if you get pulled apart and then put back together. You slowly open your eyes as you feel your consciousness slowly return. You fight with all you have left to reach the surface climbing up onto the shore..

When you look around you don't recognize this part of town. You're on a shore.. and everywhere you turn there are people and tall buildings. Something tells you that you're not on Asgard anymore