Chapter 21

The next day Leah woke up to the sound of faint whispering in her ear. She looked around but there was no one next to her ear speaking. Loki was in a bed next to hers holding her hand, but he was fast asleep.

"You will never be good enough." A voice whispered to her.

"No, stop it! You're lying! Leave me alone!" Leah screamed.

Loki woke up with a start and he sees tears streaming down her cheeks and he also sees that his beloved Leah looks terrified.

"Shh Leah, darling please tell me what's wrong so I can help you?" Loki asked gently.

Leah shook her head in fear. For she was afraid to tell Loki that she is hearing voices inside her head.

"Leah, my love please talk to me. Please tell me what's wrong?" Loki asked again.

"It was nothing Loki." Leah said.

"Leah, sweetheart, it didn't sound like nothing." Loki said.

"Oh it was only a bad dream it was just a bad dream." Leah said and she kept repeating it.

"Oh come here Leah, my love." Loki said and he opened his arms wide so he could hold her in his arms.

Leah got up and walked over to lay down beside Loki. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She snuggled into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. That was when she heard the voices again. "You will never be good enough...this will not last."

Leah did her best to ignore the voices, though it was hard. She just wanted them to stop. She just wanted to be able to be happy with Loki. "You know that can never be." The voices continued. "You are nothing."

"That's not true." Leah said.

"Leah, my love, what is not true?" Loki asked, making Leah realize she had spoken aloud.

"It...it was nothing." Leah answered quickly.

"Come on Leah just tell me?" Loki asked.

"Well I….uhmm." Leah began.

"If you tell him, he will hate you and he will think you're weird." The voices whispered.

"Oh uhmm never mind Loki, let's just forget about it." Leah said.

Loki looked into Leah's eyes. He could tell that there was something bothering her but for whatever reason she wasn't telling him anything. "Are you sure, my love?" He asked.

Leah nodded. "I am sure. Do you think we'll be able to get out of here soon? I'd like to see the gardens again."

Loki smiled. "I think some fresh air would be good for us."

"Eir, I must speak with you." Loki called.

"Yes Prince Loki?" Eir inquired.

"Lady Leah and I would like to get out of this room and get some fresh air. Do you think that would be alright?" Loki replied.

"Well maybe in a few weeks you and Lady Leah can leave the healing room. Now try and get some rest and I shall return later with your breakfast." Eir said.

"Please, Eir?" Leah asked. "I really believe I need some fresh air."

Like I said maybe in a few weeks you and Prince Loki can leave but for now you both are to stay here and heal." Eir said and with that she left.

As soon as Eir left Leah burst into tears and Loki held her close as she cries into his chest. He began to rub her back gently as he tried to calm her.

"Shh there, there Leah, my love it's alright. Everything is going to be alright I promise." Loki said lovingly.

"Loki, I…I'm scared." Leah said trying not to start crying.

"Leah, my love why are you so scared?" Loki asked.

"Loki, I…I…I." Leah stammered and she started trembling and she began crying.

"If you tell him you will lose his love and you will be alone ha-ha." The voices told her cruelly and they began laughing at her.

"Leah, my love please tell me what has gotten you so scared you're trembling and you're crying. Oh sweetheart, please don't cry, please talk to me. Please Leah, please let me help you." Loki begged.

Leah, shook her head. "I am fine, Loki. It...it is nothing really." She said, shaking her head and drying her tears.

Leah wished that she could tell her beloved Loki the truth but she just couldn't do it. For she was scared that if she did she would lose his love forever and she started trembling again.

Loki noticed that Leah was trembling again so he pulls her to him and he held her close and then he kisses the top of her head but his kiss didn't calm her trembling or her fears.

"Shh Leah darling, everything is going to be alright my love, so there is nothing to fear." Loki said.

Leah finally took control of herself, knowing that if she didn't Loki would find out what was going on. She nestled into his embrace. "I love you, Loki." She said.

"I love you too, Leah." Loki replied, kissing her forehead.

"Are you sure we can't get out of here?" Leah asked, hoping that maybe a change of scenery would get rid of the voices.

Loki grinned. "We can do anything we want." He told her. "I am the trickster after all."

Leah thought about it for a moment and she knew that she couldn't let Loki leave the healing room for her because if he got hurt again it would be all her fault and she couldn't do that to him. No matter how badly she wanted to leave the healing room.

"Loki, I have changed my mind let's stay here." Leah said quickly before he could use his magic.

"Are you sure my love?" Loki asked.

"Yes Loki, I am sure." Leah said.

Loki looked at Leah confused. He couldn't understand why his beautiful Leah was acting so strange. He wanted to ask her again to tell him what is wrong, but didn't want to force her.

Loki looked into Leah's beautiful blue-gray eyes. "Leah, my love, you know you can tell me anything that's bothering you. I love you and I want only to be here for you and help you in any way I can."

"Loki, I….I….I'm….sorry…..but I….I….c…..can't." Leah said through a new wave of tears.

"Why Leah, why can't you tell me?" Loki asked concerned and somewhat confused.

"Be...because...you...will…leave…me…and…I…I...don't…want…to…alone." Leah said through her tears.

"Leah, there is nothing in the nine realms that could take my love from you. You are the love of my life, my heart is yours, always." Loki told her. "You can tell me anything."

"Loki, I am scared and you promise that you won't stop loving me when I tell you everything?" Leah asked sounding nervous.

"I promise Leah now tell me what happened and why you are so scared." Loki said.

Leah sighed and opened her mouth to speak and the voices started again. "He's lying. He can't love you once he knows."

Leah clamped her hands over her ears again. "Stop it. Just stop." She cried.

"Leah, what is wrong?" Loki asked, concern coloring his tone.

"The voices...they won't stop." She finally said.

"Voices, what voices?" Loki asked.

"The voices...they keep telling me things." Leah replied.

"Leah, what do the voices tell you?" Loki asked worriedly

"They said, I am weak and pathetic no one will ever love me, and then they said oh yes go on cry and call out for your beloved Prince. Let's see if he will come for you. Oh he hasn't come for you yet well I guess he doesn't love you anymore and I guess he doesn't want you, why would he want an ugly weak and pathetic creature that just cries all the time. He will never come for you and you know why because he has forgotten you and you are ours forever. You ugly little monster. No one loves you. Why would anyone love a weak and worthless creature like you? I will never be good enough, I will never be good enough...this will not last, it can never be, I am nothing. If I tell you will hate me and you will think I am weird and that you are lying. You can't love me once you know." Leah said sadly and a little crestfallen.

Loki held Leah in his arms. He kissed the top of her head. "It's alright my love. I will help you. I will make the voices stop."