Thank You so much for coming the read my new story. I'm not sure how I will update this one as well as The Younger Sister, but I will figure something out.
Athena hobbled around the room, restocking supplies. She limped from one side of the room to another, replacing supplies with others.
It was a bit hard to get around with the permanent limp, but she had gotten used to it by now.
Her mentor, Freya, walked into the room. Freya was an older, heavyset woman. She was also the Senior Healer of Asgard, and Athena was her apprentice.
"We have enough supplies to last us through the winter." Athena told her mentor.
Freya nodded. "Good. Odin said there was a new prisoner that needed tending to."
"I'll do it!" Athena offered immediately. Freya never let her to tend to people on her own. But this was a prisoner.
"Alright. Come back quickly." Freya dismissed her with a wave of her hand.
Athena stood in shock, before grabbing her supplies and set them all on a tray and headed out.
She couldn't believe that Freya actually let her go. To a prisoner! She didn't argue, but it didn't seem right.
She ignored it and limped over to the Prison Chambers.
The guards bowed slightly downwards her and stepped aside, letting her through.
She walked down the hall, with cells on both sides of her.
As she walked past, fists pounded on the glass. She glanced over once, and saw a man with a scar covering his face. His face was twisted into a grimace, a permanent face of hate.
She quickly turned her head away and hobbled faster, hoping to get to wherever she needed to go.
A guard met her halfway. "Greetings Athena. Are you here for the new prisoner?"
"Yes. Could you lead the way? I'm not quite sure where I am going." Athena said quietly.
He chuckled and nodded. "Of course." He turned and led her down the end of the hallway. There was a separate room with another cell inside, separated by a door with two guards, making sure no one entered.
She stopped and the guards glanced at each other, before stepping aside and letting Athena into the cell.
No one was in the room, so she placed the tray on a table, and was rearranging the supplies, getting ready for her patient.
"Athena?" A soft voice asked.
Athena whipped around, knocking the tray onto the ground.
A surprised Loki stood in the doorway to the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?" His tone was not accusing, it was filled with curiosity.
Athena was silent, staring at him in shock.
"Lo-Loki?" She asked hesitantly.
A small smile lifted his lips upwards. "Hey Athena."
Athena smiled and ran towards him and almost jumped into his arms. He grunted, but stayed on his feet.
She wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight. He let out a small laugh, before grunting and stumbling backwards.
She gasped and stepped back, seeing his face twist with pain. Athena grabbed his arm and led him towards the bed.
"Lay down. Let me clean you up." She said in a commanding sort of voice.
He chuckled softly, but lay down on the bed.
Athena picked up her tools from the floor, and set them on the table again by the bed.
She grabbed the bowl and went to the bathroom and filled it with warm water.
She brought it back and sat down on the side of the bed and started to wipe his face with a soft towel.
He watched her carefully, before asking. "What made you become a Healer? If I remember right, you wanted to be the best warrior." He said with a chuckle.
Athena paused, her movements stilled, before replying.
"After the accident, Odin couldn't have a crippled warrior. That would ruin his perfect reputation." She spit out, her anger and pain seeping through her words.
"I couldn't be a warrior anymore." She said softly, a tear seeping out, and she turned away before he could see.
But he did anyway.
When she looked back at him, his face was pained, but not from his injuries. "I'm sorry…"
"Now stop! That was not your fault! Please stop saying it's your fault." She whispered softly.
"It is my fault. And you know it." He looked away.
The memories came flooding back.
FLASHBACK
"Come on Athena! You're falling behind! Are you really going to let me win?" A laugh sounded in front of her.
Athena kicked her horse faster, urging it into a faster gallop. Her horse ran faster, and Loki's horse was slowly coming closer to her. She was catching up.
She soon was at his side, and glanced over at him. "Who's falling behind now?" She tossed her head up and laughed as her horse ran faster.
She beat him to their finish line and pulled her horse up, as he skidded to a halt beside her.
"Nice luck. But I'll beat you next time." He said with a competitive smirk.
Athena laughed. "Yea right. Keep dreaming prince."
Suddenly something sharp hit her leg. She screamed and fell off her horse, landing hard onto the ground.
Loki was down beside her in an instant. "Athena! Are you alright?"
Yells of triumph sounded in the distance, and Loki looked up and his eyes looked murderous.
He slipped his arms under her and lifted her into his arms.
Athena risked a glance down at her leg and saw a long arrow sticking out of her thigh. It had gone deep.
She whimpered softly. "Don't worry Athena. You're going to be fine." Loki soothed, though his voice was laced with panic.
More arrows whizzed past her, but Loki easily dodged them.
He turned and his hand shot out, a blast of energy shot out, hitting the enemies that were hiding in the trees.
They slumped over, motionless.
He carried her out of the open, into the shelter of the trees and gently set her down.
He rolled up her pants, exposing the wound.
He growled softly. "These arrows are laced with poison. If I leave it in, you won't make it home." His eyes met hers, and they were covered with fear and desperation.
"I have to take it out." He said softly, as if asking for her permission.
Athena nodded quickly. "Take it out!" Tears streamed down her face from the intense pain.
Loki nodded and grabbed her hand in one of his. "Squeeze my hand. Concentrate on my hand. You can squeeze it as hard as you want. Don't concentrate on the pain. Concentrate on me." His emerald eyes met hers.
Athena nodded and grasped it tightly as his other hand grabbed the arrow. She screamed softly.
"I know it hurts, but it will be over in a second. Squeeze my hand." He urged as he held the arrow tighter.
"On the count of three. One. Two." His eyes met hers. "Three." He yanked the arrow out, and Athena screamed loudly, clenching his hand in hers.
He threw it away and placed his hand on the now gushing wound. "There. It's out."
The pain was excruciating. "I know it hurts, but you will be okay now. I promise."
He took off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around her leg, and picked her up again.
Athena was dizzy and black started to edge around her vision. He head rolled back.
"Stay with me Athena. Stay with me."
He placed her on his horse and got on behind her, and pulled her into his arms, cradling her gently.
He spoke softly to her, as they galloped back towards the city and when she saw the palace, she passed out, the last thing she remembered was the sound of the horse's hooves as Loki urged it to go faster.
She had been fine, but pulling the arrow out had damaged her leg. It was going to have a permanent limp.
END OF FLASHBACK
Athena shook her head, clearing the memories. "Forget about it Loki. You saved my life. I would have died."
He looked at her, his eyes sad. "But look what I did to you. This is not the life you wanted."
"But I'm alive Loki! That's what I wanted!"
Loki looked into her eyes, not entirely convinced, but he nodded and laid back on the bed.
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