You let out a choking sob, shaking head to toe. Tears streamed down you cheeks. You couldn't breath and the room was shrinking before your eyes. Arms wrapped themselves around you tightly, holding you in place. Loki's hand stroked your remaining wing soothingly and you curled into his chest with shuddering gasps.
It could have been hours, or days for all you knew. He stayed and comforted you as best as he was able. Then the sun began to rise through the windows.
"I'm sorry, (y/n), my little swan," were his first words to you throughout the entire ordeal. "I must go." Your response was to clutch at his green, soaked-with-tears tunic harder.
"No, p-please no..." you mumbled into his chest. His hand caressed your cheek lightly. "If I could but stay here forever, I would, but I have duties to attend to. I will not let this go unpunished." He pulled you, not unkindly, from himself, and ran a hand over your forehead. Your eyelids fluttered and you felt yourself drift into sleep.
Frigga strode with determination to the healing wing. She needed to see this girl of Thor's finding herself. She'd been admitted a few days ago but only now was she awake and lucid. Speaking of Thor, he was there as well, preparing to enter.
"My son."
He stopped with his hand on the door handle. "Mother?"
"It is true that her injuries were quite severe?" She would have come at once, but her queenly duties got in the way. She only knew the most basic of details.
"Yes, and that they were my fault..."
She could see the guilt in his eyes, and understood it well. "It was not your intent to harm this girl. I only hope she will fully recover." Offering him her arm, she said "Let us speak with her then, my son."
He accepted, but when they entered, her eyes grew round. You sat, the only patient, by yourself. Your bed was by a window and you stared out of it, (h/c) hair hanging limply in your face. Your wing was folded up behind you. The other was missing.
"How is she?" Frigga asked the closest healer quietly.
The woman launched wholeheartedly into an explanation. "Thor's arrow when it struck, pierced the joint of her shoulder where her wing meets with her back. We couldn't simply remove the arrow, and when we tried our best, the results were unfortunate. Too much tissue damage and there's no way we could ever fully fix the joint. Amputation of the limb was our only choice that guarantees a full recovery without risk of infection."
Thor wasn't listening much, more focused on you. He moved to where you sat, pulling up a chair. You didn't even acknowledge his presence.
"Maiden? Are you feeling well?" You turned to face him, and he caught glimpse of your despondent (e/c) eyes beneath your obscuring hair. He cursed himself inwardly. If he had his brother's silver tongue, he would know what to say without sounding like a fool.
"I-I will recover," you shakily repeated Loki's words. "In time, i'll..." you trailed off.
"I am sorry, maiden," Thor said. "This was all my doing. I cost you much." You regarded him, not with hostility as he expected, but a sad kind of acceptance.
"But the crown will be generous," he added. "You will be given a room, all the benefits as a guest of the house of the Allfather." That offer seemed pathetic, but it was all he had to offer.
"Yes, we would love to have you with us, my dear." Frigga appeared next to him. "I am the Allmother, but you may call me Frigga. My son Thor is most regretful about the circumstances. Anything we can do to provide some measure of comfort."
"I... I just-" you started before stopping, frustrated that the words would not come to you. "I am (y/n), Allmother. Prince. F-Forgive me, but may I have some time a-alone?"
"Of course, (y/n)," Frigga said warmly. "You'll be moved to your chambers by tonight." Placing a hand on Thor's shoulder, she steered him out of the wing, granting your wish.
You were alone.
Never in your life had you seen a room so extravagant. The floors were cool marble, the walls gold and the bed looked like it was made of harvested clouds. Everything seemed huge. It was certainly a step up from sleeping in the bushes.
The woman who lead you up here was apparently your new handmaid, a slightly stern older woman with a limp and a gentle hand as she guided you. In truth, everyone treated you like a small child. You resented and relished the constant feeling of being protected, but as the sun set, your maid departed as well.
You sat gingerly on the windowsill, staring down at the green smear of your forest on the horizon.
There was a feathery thump against the windowpane.
With shaking fingers, you unlatched the window as the pigeon dove into your lap.
"Little Loki! You came to me, sweet creature." He strutted proudly up and down your knee. "How long did you follow me? You should have stayed in the woods, little one."
The bird chirruped and flitted up to your shoulder. Seeing your missing wing, he gave a small screech.
"I know..." The little bird understood to some extent, because he nuzzled himself into the crook of you neck, beneath your ear.
When you flopped onto the bed, sinking into the covers, you were willing to admit you missed soft sheets and mattresses. You nodded off, as happy as you could be given the circumstances, with the little bird curled up beside you.
Loki came and found you that way, his lips curling into a soft smile.