Supper time came, and Deirdre was the one to escort Octavia to supper tonight, as Loki didn't make an appearance. Octavia began to wonder if he was still angry at her after all, and her heart sank. Hard as she tried, Octavia could not figure out how she had cast that spell earlier. All she remembered was thinking that she had to protect Fandral from Loki, and suddenly bam, it had happened. Didn't spells typically need an incantation or something? Then again, Octavia hadn't exactly grown up in a world where magic was something anyone truly knew how to perform, and Octavia figured fairytales probably weren't the best source of information.
Loki's seat was conspicuously empty at the giant table as well, and Octavia sat down feeling even more self-conscious tonight than she had the night before. Luckily it didn't appear that the news of the incident earlier had spread, and it was only the Warriors Three, Lady Sif, and Thor who gave Octavia an odd glance as she joined them.
"Hello," Sif greeted Octavia, and Octavia thought her friendliness seemed a bit forced. "Is Loki not joining us tonight?" Octavia shrugged in reply.
"I don't know, I haven't seen him since he took me to my new room," she replied.
"Well, I'm not complaining," Fandral mumbled, obviously still sore over what happened earlier. Sif looked as if she was considering elbowing him in the ribs, but then Thor spoke.
"My brother has not hurt you, has he?" He frowned as he spoke, his bright blue eyes worried. Octavia was little taken aback by his concern, and she thought back to how terrified she had been that Loki did mean her harm.
"No, I'm fine," Octavia answered, trying a weak smile. "Just a little tired."
"It's been a trying day," Volstagg commented, his gruff voice a little softer than usual. The others nodded silently in agreement.
"So, Octavia how did you do it?" The question came from Hogun, and everyone turned to him in surprise that he of all people had been daring enough to bring it up. He met their gazes with a blank expression before focusing on Octavia once more.
"H-how did I do what?" Octavia stammered, knowing exactly what warrior had been referring to.
Hogun looked around, almost fidgeting with discomfort, but spoke again.
"Cast the Time Binding spell," he clarified in his thick accent. All eyes turned to Octavia, full of curiosity and suspicion, and suddenly the plate in front of her seemed very fascinating.
"I don't know," Octavia mumbled truthfully. She still wasn't ready to believe it truly had been her who cast the spell, but since everyone else was convinced, Octavia saw no point in arguing. "I was just thinking that I had to protect Fandral, and it sort of happened."
"Spells don't typically just happen," Thor said slowly, "especially not ones as potent as the Time Binding spell. Loki himself has trouble with that one."
Octavia looked up in surprise. Was Thor seriously suggesting that she had done something by accident that even someone as skilled as Loki hadn't mastered?
It was at this time that Odin and Frigga made their entrance, and the conversation was put on hold momentarily. The Allfather's gaze rested on his youngest son's empty seat, and a worried expression crossed the queen's face, but nothing was said. When everyone was settled once more and the banquet appeared, Sif addressed Octavia.
"You say you come from Midgard, is that correct?" she asked, reaching for a platter of hot, fresh bread. Octavia nodded in reply, taking a slice herself. Sif's brow furrowed in thought.
"If you have no memory of how you came to be here, couldn't it be possible that your memories of Midgard have been tampered with as well?" Fandral inquired quite suddenly, and everyone turned to him in surprise, including Octavia.
Octavia had to admit that the thought had not even crossed her mind, and it unnerved her greatly.
"I suppose that's not impossible," Lady Sif said slowly, staring into her mug of mead.
"Well, I'm sure we all know who it was that brought her here," Volstagg boomed.
"There's no proof that Loki had anything to do with it," Thor interrupted, his tone defensive. Octavia would never understand how one minute he'd be attacking his brother and the next he'd be standing up for him, although come to think of it, didn't all siblings behave this way?
"No proof he didn't, either," Fandral pointed out smoothly.
"Wait, what exactly are you implying here?" Sif cut in, addressing Fandral. "That somehow her memories are false? That she's not, in fact, a human?"
This whole conversation was not going in a direction that made Octavia feel very comfortable. Not only that, but they were speaking about her as if she wasn't still sitting at the table with them.
"Excuse me, guys?" Octavia said weakly. Suddenly she didn't have much of an appetite anymore. "Can we just drop it for now?"
Thor looked at you with concern etched in his features.
"But of course, my lady," he responded sympathetically, reaching across the table and petting Octavia's hand comfortingly. "I apologize on behalf of myself and my friends for not being more sensitive."
Octavia gave him a grateful smile, but she realized she had to get away from all of these people and the roar of conversation. Excusing herself awkwardly, Octavia fled the banquet hall, hoping that no one would decide to follow.
It couldn't be true. Octavia had a home, a family, and friends. She could picture the high school she graduated from as clear as day, and could still recite the combination to your bicycle lock. All of that couldn't have been an illusion, could it? Would Loki really do something like that?
Octavia almost screamed when a hand clapped down on her shoulder. Whirling around, Octavia came face to face with Lady Sif.
"I'm sorry for startling you," she said sincerely, "but I had to know if you were all right."
"I'm fine," Octavia mumbled, but she didn't feel fine at all, in fact she was rather surprised to discover that her eyes were blurred with tears. Sif must have noticed, for she pulled Octavia against her chest in an awkward hug.
"I wish this didn't have to happen," she murmured softly. "Count on Loki to come along and ruin things." Octavia pulled away from the hug, fixing her with a curious stare.
"What did he do to you?" Octavia blurted out, unthinkingly. The tall brunette's features hardened with pain and anger for a moment, and then she sighed.
"If I tell you, do you promise not to repeat it?" Octavia nodded, eager to finally hear the tale you'd been waiting for almost since she arrived.
"A long time ago," Sif began, "Thor and I were in love, and Loki was jealous. I don't know if he necessarily wanted me, or simply envied his brother's happiness. One of the main things that attracted Thor to me was my hair, for at one time it was as golden as the wheat fields."
Octavia gave her a sceptical glance, particularly her long, dark ponytail, but didn't say anything.
"That little sneak Loki thought it would be funny to cut off all my hair," Sif went on, her brow furrowing in remembrance. "I awoke one morning to find myself bald. Thor was furious of course, and it didn't take long to figure out who the culprit was. Loki asked the dwarves Brokk and Eitri to forge me new hair out of pure gold in order to escape Thor's wrath, but to spite him they made it out of the night itself, so that now my hair will forever be dark."
Octavia blinked at the fantastical tale, hardly able to believe it.
"I suppose we were young and foolish then," Sif added, "but I guess I've never been able to forgive him for that."
"Well, it was a rather nasty thing to do," Octavia said hesitantly. Sif nodded.
"Now I guess you understand why I don't trust him, although don't get me wrong, that wasn't the only time we clashed."
"Do you really think he'd mess with my memories for his own entertainment?" Octavia asked in a small voice. Sif wouldn't meet her gaze.
"For your sake, I hope he's above such things," she said at last, before giving Octavia one last hug and leaving her alone to walk back to her chambers.
With a heavy heart and weary limbs, Octavia pulled open the door, letting herself in, she glad that Deirdre wasn't about. Octavia didn't really feel like seeing anyone else this evening. Numbly she pulled on her nightgown and crawled between the soft, warm blankets, and for a brief moment, Octavia wished the bed didn't seem so big and empty.
Thoughts of the day's events chased each other around in Octavia's head, but at last sleep overtook her, and she began to dream.
I am sooo sorry it has taken me so long to update! I also apologize for this crappy chapter Writer's block is a terrible beast...