Thanks and enjoy,
Phantomshadow99
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"Father! Help me please!" I shouted, fighting against the arms holding me tightly. The tired eyes of my father looked down in shame, ignoring my pleas and cries of help. A dark chuckle sounded from behind, and I still in my movements to get away from them, too enraptured by what my captor would say.
"You honestly think that man will help you, the brat of his wife? You aren't even his daughter; your mother was a selfish greedy being who never cared for him. She never deserved him. And I told her, just when I plunged a knife deep into her chest," the person said, laughing cruelly as I cried more for my poor mother. The person shushed me and stroked my hair down possessively. "Do not worry, sweet Alvilda, all I want is your safety. Your real father couldn't resist saving his precious daughter, even if he had to pay with his life," they added, shrieking madly with laughter. My tears dropped hurriedly, and I was unable to stop them, to stop anything. My captor had begun to drag me away when Colwyn stormed in with half our kingdom's army, there to save me.
"Release my sister, aunt," he said, and our aunt sneered at him
"Colwyn dear, my favourite nephew. You have it all wrong dear. This isn't your sister, your mother lied to us all this time. I am only doing my duty as your father's sister," she replied, and I could feel the magic in her voice travel to Colwyn, making him hesitate.
"Is this true, Alvilda?" he asked, his voice quiet and his sword lowering.
"Alvilda! Wake up, you're having a nightmare! Alvilda, it's me!" a voice called, as I shook in their arms trying to break free.
"No, it's not true! Colwyn, she's lying!" I shouted, the tears from my dream entering into reality. I thrust my hand out and heard a muffled curse and a loud "ow" come from the person holding me. I shook myself awake, and saw that it was Loki who had helped me escape my memory. The dark room with only one candle lit for light told me it was the middle of the night. Loki was nursing his jaw and grinned slightly at me.
"You've been practicing with Volstagg again, haven't you?" he asked jokingly, and I quickly sat up to have a look at his jaw.
"Loki, I am so sorry, if I had realised…" I began, lightly tracing his jaw for any breakages when his hand grabbed mine.
"Alvilda, it's fine. You were having a nightmare, that's all," he said, calming me as his finger danced around my palm. I shook my head of the dream.
"It wasn't a nightmare; it was a memory from home," I replied quietly, and Loki stopped tracing the outline of my hand. Not wanting to focus on it any longer, I smiled tiredly at him. "And what are you doing in my chambers at this time of night, my prince?" I teased. Loki smiled in return, looking at my hand intently.
"I had to see you after the events of today," he replied, and I sighed. I hadn't left my room for the remainder of the night, too heartbroken to seek Loki out to hear his sorrow as well as my own.
"Perhaps if Thor were to return a changed man, the Allfather may reconsider again," I muttered, knowing in my heart it would be useless. Once the Allfather decided something, it wasn't usually swayed so easily.
"We cannot give up hope," he whispered, and my heart stopped at his tone. He sounded as if he already had given up hope on everything. I pulled the covers back, opening a space for him in bed with me. He looked between me and the space next to me for a moment before gently kicking off his shoes and laying gently down next to me. I began to pull the covers around him when he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, and I happily snuggled into his side. My head rested on his firm chest with my hand tightly gripping his. It wasn't long before I had fallen asleep as I listened to his steady heartbeat beneath me.
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"Good morning, milady," a voice called cheerfully, and my eyes flickered open. I winced, Lyssa had already opened the curtains and the sunlight was seeping down across my bed. Remembering last night, I looked across at the empty space next to me, to see a lily laying on the pillow with a note underneath it. Hearing Lyssa was humming in the other room running me a bath, I inhaled the sweet scent of the lily before reading the note.
We will be together soon, my love – L
I smiled, already praying to the Norn's his words would ring with truth very soon. No nightmares had plagued me after Loki had joined me, and my peaceful night sleep ensured that Lyssa's good mood infected me instantly. I began to sing an old lullaby my mother sang when I was but a child, and I grabbed Lyssa's hands and danced with her round the room.
"Oh my, milady, it seems we both had a good night last night," she said breathlessly after we stopped dancing. I laughed, and hugged her.
"It appears so," I replied, grinning knowingly as I went to bathe myself.
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That night Loki, the Warriors Three, Sif and myself were in a private room that was used by us. Banquet had been cancelled, and it was rumoured it was because Frigga was too upset by the banishment of her eldest son. My regular lesson with her had been cancelled as well, leaving me to roam around the gardens all day with Loki. I was sat with Sif, while Hogun and Loki stood at opposite sides of the room. Volstagg and Fandral were sat opposite each other, and I had just finished checking on Fandral's wound. It hadn't escaped my notice that Loki had been staring intently at his hand, even when Fandral tried to flirt with me.
"It's just to relieve the tension," he whispered, winking at me as I sat back down. I shook my head at him and smiled. I had always been close to Fandral since we were first introduced, and Volstagg threw him across the training yard when he challenged him to a fight to impress me.
"We should never have let him go," Volstagg exclaimed suddenly, and all eyes turned from the roaring fire in the middle of the room to the largest warrior.
"There was no stopping him," Sif replied, and I laid my hand atop of hers in sympathy. She smiled tensely. I always knew she held feelings for Thor, and our betrothal and now banishment had caused a great strain on her.
"At least he's only banished, not dead. Which is what we'd all be if that guard hadn't told Odin where we'd gone," Fandral commented.
"How did the guard even know?" Volstagg asked, and it occurred to us all we hadn't mentioned our leaving to Jotunheim to anyone except Heimdell.
"I told him," Loki said suddenly, still looking at his arm.
"What?" Fandral asked for us all, our confusion evident on our faces.
"I told him to go to Odin after we'd left. Though he should be flogged for taking so long," Loki replied, moving closer to us and facing where Sif and I were sat. I felt relieved that someone had been told, I shuddered to think what would have become of us if the Allfather hadn't arrived.
"You told the guard?" Volstagg asked, accusation in his voice.
"I saved our lives! And Thor's. I had no idea that father would banish him for what he did," Loki answered, a hint of guilt when he mentioned Thor's name. Sif stood and walked over to him.
"Loki, you're the only one who can help Thor now. You must go to the Allfather and convince him to change his mind!" she pleaded, the others nodding in agreement.
"And if I do, then what? I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He's arrogant. He's reckless. He's dangerous. You saw how he was. Is that what Asgard needs from its King?" he asked, before leaving the room for us to ponder his words.
"He may speak about the good of Asgard, but he's always been jealous of Thor," Sif said once he left, and I opened my mouth in surprise.
"Sif, how can you say such things?" I asked, and she looked guilty for a moment before Volstagg spoke.
"We should be grateful to him. He did save our lives," he remarked, and I smiled at his support.
"Laufey said there were traitors in the House of Odin. A master of magic could easily bring three Jotuns into Asgard," Hogun said, and Sif looked as if she was seriously considering his words.
"I have magic, Hogun. Does that make me a traitor of Asgard as well?" I asked, standing to my full height. He looked away for a moment.
"Of course not, Alvilda. But you must admit, it is curious that the frost giants attacked just when Thor was to be crowned, and it was Loki who helped suggest going to Jotunheim," he replied. "You were supposed to marry Thor the next day as well, Alvilda. Does that not seem curious either?"
"No! Surely not!" Volstagg cried, as Sif remained silent.
"Loki's always been one for mischief, but you're talking about something else entirely," Fandral agreed.
"Loki is a prince of Asgard, this is his home. No matter what his jealousy may be, he would never go against his parents or his brother. We are his family," I said, before leaving to find Loki.