So after a brief, but terrifying, trip to the hospital, I'm still sick, but I'm a bit better which means my writing will be better as well.
Oh and thank you guys for your support while I was really sick, it really means a lot!
PS. There's a bit of a time skip in this chapter, only to the point where Luciana leaves the castle because that's when things get...interesting.
PPS. As a get well present from my mother, I got a, crappy, but effective photo editor. So, I changed the cover image for this story again, and I changed the one for Hardest of Hearts! Now Luciana is in them! (Yes, I know that's actually Katy Perry but to me she fits the character perfectly, even if she isn't an actress.)
Disclaimer: All characters involving Thor belong to Marvel, I only own the OC's present in this story.
"I'm very tempted to lock you away somewhere so you don't have to go back." Loki said, his head resting in Luciana's lap as they sat in the garden.
She chuckled as her fingers combed through his hair.
All good things come to an end, and that rang true here. That month at the palace had been wonderful for the two of them. They spent some point of everyday together, and every second of the others company made them fall even more in love to the point where they couldn't stand to be apart. But there month was up, and Luciana would be returning home, much to Loki's bitterness.
"That wasn't a joke," He told her, absent-mindedly pulling out a blade of grass from the ground.
"I know full well that it wasn't," She said.
"I really don't want you to go."
"But I have to, Loki. I'll miss you greatly, but I have to go home."
"Well, you won't be home for long. I'll make sure you return to the castle, even if I have drag you here myself."
Luciana laughed and leaned down, pecking his lips. "The carriage should be ready now, I'll have to go."
Her happy smile turned into a sad one, and she looked into his eyes. "Farewell, Loki."
He sighed in response and sat up. He placed his fingers under her chin and pulled her face towards his, allowing their lips to touch as a final parting.
"Farewell, darling heart."
"Where is she?" Astrid asked, running towards the carriage outside her home. "Where is my dear Luciana?"
Luciana stepped out of the carriage and smiled at her mother. "I'm right here, mother."
The older woman smiled as her daughter stepped out of the carriage, then through her arms around her. "Oh how I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too." Luciana smiled, returning her mother's hug.
"Well, I hope I'm not being forgotten," A male's voice said, and Cyrus appeared at the doorway to the house.
"Father!" Luciana exclaimed, letting go of her mother and running to embrace her father. "I've missed you as well!"
He chuckled as he hugged his daughter. "I'll get your trunk. You go on inside and see if you can't find your sister."
She nodded as she let go of her father, flashing him a warm smile before entering her home.
Cyrus watched the figure of his daughter disappear down a hall, and he sighed. He looked back at Astrid, whose face was etched with worry. She swallowed and looked at her hands, letting out a shaky sigh as she heard the driver of the carriage place her daughter's trunk on the ground before going off back to the castle.
"We'll tell her tonight?" She asked looking at her husband.
"Yes," He replied solemnly. "Tonight after dinner."
"And are you telling me the truth when you say Loki didn't do anything?" Viveca quizzed her sister as they stood in their father's study after dinner.
"Yes," Luciana lied, trying to mask her smile at his name.
The elder Cyrusdottir crossed her arms and eyed the girl suspiciously, trying to determine if she was truthful.
Luciana felt uneasy under her sister's hard gaze, but hid it well. She couldn't let anyone know about her and Loki, especially not Viveca. She could imagine the fit her family would throw if they were to find out, and she didn't want to know what Loki's family would do. So she held her posture and silently prayed.
Viveca finally sighed. "I don't know if you're lying or not, but it doesn't matter anyway."
"What do you-?"
She was cut off by the study door opening and Cyrus and Astrid walking in, the latter looking slightly distressed.
"Good, everyone's here," Cyrus said as he sat at his desk, looking over his family. "Sit."
The three sat on the armchairs around the room and watched him. He was silent as he stared at his youngest, but her let out a sigh.
"This matter concerns you greatly, Luciana," He said. "Over the past month your mother and I have been making very complex decisions concerning your future. Now, my dear, this might seem quite sudden and unexpected, but your mother and I believe that in time you'll see it to be the best arrangement made possible for you."
"What we have decided is not quite along the lines of tradition, usually with this sort of thing we deal with the eldest first," He gestured to Viveca. "But it has been agreed that this arrangement is much better suited for you."
Luciana looked at her father, horribly confused. "What do you mean 'arrangement'? What arrangement?"
Astrid sighed. "Luciana," She said solemnly, and her daughter looked at her. "You are to be married to Ramsay Talonson."
Luciana's jaw dropped to the floor, and she felt as if she had been slapped across the face.
Married? Why in the Nine Realms would they want her to get married before Viveca? And why would they tell her the day she returned home? Suddenly, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Her mother's tears; her being sent to the castle; Viveca's lack of anger towards Loki. It had all been so they could make the wedding arrangement.
Her heart broke in half. She didn't love Ramsay, she hardly even knew him, and now they wanted them to be married? She loved Loki, she felt comfortable with Loki. Even if he wasn't her lover he was still her best friend, and they would always have an immense amount of love for each other. She wanted to be with Loki, but alas, she was promised to the son of Talon.
"Wha- Why?" Was all she managed to choke out, fighting back tears.
"Because we deem it a very good arrangement for your best interest." Cyrus said.
"But- But I don't want to marry Ramsay!" She exclaimed, standing up.
"Luciana, sit-" Astrid said as she grabbed her daughter's hand, but was cut off.
"No, no I will not sit down!" Luciana cried. "Why do I have to be married? Viveca should have gone first, it's not fair that you're making me get married before her, especially to someone I hardly even know!"
"That's why, next week, you'll be spending time with Ramsay and his family," Cyrus said.
"That's not going to change the fact that I don't love him!"
"Overtime you may grow to love him; I did with your mother."
"That's completely different! You and mother were the best of friends before you were set to be married! It's easier to fall in love with a friend!"
"Well, then if that's the case, then you and Ramsay can become friends."
"No! I refuse to marry him!"
By now the two were screaming at each other, Cyrus standing up from his desk and tears streaming down Luciana's face.
"You are going to marry Ramsay whether you like it, or not. That is final!" Cyrus yelled.
Luciana glared at her father, tears still flowing down her face. She whirled around stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Cyrus sighed and sat down on his chair, running a hand through his hair.
"I thought you said your sister took a liking to Ramsay," He addressed Viveca tiredly.
The girl shrugged. "That's what she told me," She lied. "Perhaps sending her to the castle wasn't the best idea, father. Perhaps absurd thoughts have been placed into her head by the amount of freedom you gave her."
"No," Cyrus sighed. "The castle is a fine place; I don't think that it had anything to do with her behaviour."
"What about the dragon?"
"Odin had assured me that his sons would have found some way to that castle, and without Luciana there they would have without a doubt been killed. I know you aren't fond of the royals, Viveca, but don't blame them for your sister's new-found rebellious streak."
Viveca scowled, but quickly covered it up. "I'm going to speak to her; perhaps I'll get her to see reason."
Luciana buried her head in her pillow as she cried, her loud sobs muffled by the cushion.
She couldn't believe what was happening. She was to be married to Ramsay, her father's newest apprentice. But there was one problem, she would never be happy with Ramsay for her heart had already been taken by Loki Odinson, and she was never going to get it back.
A knocking on her door broke her out of her sorrow. "Go away!" She shouted as she raised her head from her pillow.
The door opened and Viveca stepped in. "Oh, sister, I hate to see you sad." She said as she walked towards the bed. "Why are you crying? You knew this would happen eventually."
"Yes, but I thought you'd be first!" Luciana exclaimed.
"But," Viveca said, sitting down. "You were fully prepared for your own marriage. Why the sudden change of heart?"
The younger sister didn't respond and she buried her head back in her pillow.
"I asked them why they chose you to be married first," Viveca started. "They said it's because they want to keep you away from Loki."
Luciana literally felt her heart ache, and her head shot out of the pillow. "What? Why?" She asked, her voice nearly a whine. "They can't stop me from seeing him!"
The elder sister sighed. "They fear the effects he's been having on you."
"Effects? What effects?"
"The rebelliousness, the defiance, the emotional scenes. Luciana, he has changed you."
"He hasn't changed me!"
"You went after a dragon, Luciana, which is something my sister would never do! Besides, father and mother have forbid you to protest against it. You can't stop your marriage. There's nothing you can do."
Luciana let out a sob at this.
There was nothing she could do.
Viveca, Viveca, Viveca, you truly are wicked.
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