Kaira was sitting in her seat in the middle of the table. Odin was standing at the other end, talking abruptly with his generals. Thor watched Kaira, staring and trying to ignore the conversation.
"It is a danger to the realms." Thor looked at his father. It was true that he had wanted Kaysa to pay for humiliating him, but the time he had spent with Kaira had erased that feeling. His father's general was still planning absurd and disrupted plans. The sound of a moving chair caught his attention. Kaira had gotten up and was heading towards the group, followed by her guards.
"I will not participate in your plan to capture and kill Kaysa." Odin looked at her seriously. His eye fixed on hers.
"Do you plan to turn your back on the realms?" A robust man faced the queen. Thor got up and joined the group as well, staying between his father and Kaira.
"No." Kaira answered. Thor had never heard her speak so coldly. "But I'm not going to turn my back on my sister." And with this, she turned around and went to exit the room. "I want you to leave, all of you. I do not want to see any Asgardians when the night falls." Kaira's gaze fell briefly on Thor.
"Kaira." Thor whispered, but the elf left without paying attention.
"She is as her sister." Another general of his father protested. "She will also give us problems in the end, the elves are very broad-minded people."
Thor hit the table while he ordered the soldier to shut up.
"You do not know what you're talking about. I do not want you to hurt her." This time Thor looked at his father. Odin walked away from the group, followed by his son's gaze.
"She has chosen her side in this war. She has betrayed the All-father, she does not deserve compassion."
Loki and Kaysa left their training sessions. Kaysa feared she was wrong in telling Loki her secret, and Loki was too busy trying to organize his feelings.
Loki walked for hours and days through the palace aimlessly, although his head kept turning over the conversation with Kaysa a few weeks ago.
Loki was in his room when someone knocked loudly on his door. He sat up slowly and walked to the door. The knocks were repeated, this time with more insistence. When he opened the door he found two guards waiting for him. Loki feared that Kaysa had returned to send his 'arrest' in the room. He waited patiently to be informed.
"Follow us." Ordered the oldest of the guards. Loki looked at him and took a step out of his room. Loki followed the youngest of the two. It was the same one who had been informing him the first few days about the situation in the palace. He tried to talk to him several times, but only received a nervous glance. Loki feared the worst.
After a couple of turns and climbing stairs, they came to a large pair of dark wooden doors. The guards stopped and placed themselves in their sentry position. Loki opened the doors. Thousands of shelves full of books appeared before him. His eyes danced from one place to another: books of history, literature, philosophy, poetry, enchantments, ancient magic ... His green eyes fell on the open doors where the guards were waiting for him. Kaysa appeared in the background. Loki tried to approach her, but Kaysa left without looking at him.
Thor reached the door of Kaira's room. The force and decision that had made him get there disappeared in a matter of seconds. What should I tell her? That she is in danger? That nobody is going to hurt Kaysa? That I fall in love with her? The noise from the door brought him back. A maid left the room. When she saw Thor, she bowed and waited at the side. Thor peered with shame inside. Kaira was sitting on her bed in her light white dress and gray tunic. Her dark, wet hair fell down her back. Thor came in hesitantly. He did not know if Kaira would want to see him or not. The queen noticed his presence, but ignored it and started brushing her hair. Thor said nothing but kept walking towards her. He took her small hand with his, removing the brush. He turned Kaira gently and brushed her long mane in silence. Kaira's shoulders relaxed slowly. They did not need words. They both knew what that moment meant. Thor placed his free hand on Kaira's shoulder. She stroked his hand and pressed it against her cheek.
The soldiers waited outside the castle in their golden armor. Thor turned on himself, hoping to see Kaira seeing him off. He only found Einar. The two exchanged a glance as a farewell. Thor would never forget the help he offered when he needed it the most.
"We're going back to Asgard." Odin announced, leading the way to a clearing where the bridge to the Bifrost appeared. Thor did not look back again.
Inside the castle, Kaira watched as the figure of the man who had managed to embrace her heart disappeared. Two tears fell down her cheeks. She knew that the next time she saw him it would be in battle and the two were on opposite sides. With determination, she dried her tears with her hand and called her council and Einar. They had to prepare their plan for the battle.
Loki's room was full of mountains of books that he had been taking out of the library to read them. He missed philosophy and poetry, but he also had an interest in Svartalheim's history books. His interest grew as he progressed in those books. Something in those pages caught his attention. One name: Malekith. It was not the first time he had heard that name, but he was unable to locate it in his mind. Malekith had been the last king of Svartalheim, almost 1,000 years ago. His attempt to dominate the kingdoms condemned him to death by exile. Loki slowly closed the book. He had been reading for hours and had missed dinner time. However, he did not seem to mind. His mind analyzed everything he had read. His eyes widened as he realized everything.
He left his room in a hurry trying to get to his destination as soon as possible. Something outside the palace caught his attention. Loki peeked into the nearest window when he saw how a glow appeared in the forest. Cursing under his breath, he changed course and went out to the palace gates, wishing it was not who he believed.
His contracted face awaited the arrival of the visitors. He summoned his daggers and hid them under the sleeves of his robes. Several soldiers in dark armor were gathering behind them. His face relaxed when he saw white armor. At the head marched a small silhouette on the back of a horse. Loki felt a chill when he saw her descend, it was Kaysa's face, but at the same time totally different.
"I'm here to see the queen." She announced with authority and courteously. Loki looked at her and then behind her. Several generals kept the young woman's back, including Einar. The knight gave Loki a suspicious look of contempt. Everyone was waiting for his response.
"Welcome." Loki finally said with a lively voice and a mischievous smile, making a small bow.
"Where is Kaysa?" Einar asked as they kept waiting for the queen to appear.
"Who are you?" Loki pretended not to listen to Einar and focused in the presence of the young woman who had arrived demanding to see Kaysa.
Just as she was about to answer, the living room doors opened and Kaysa appeared in a dark brown tunic and her long hair pulled back in a braid. Her walk was angry.
"What are you doing here?" Kaysa's eyes shone with rage. It seemed she only had eyes for that girl. Loki then noticed who she was.
"Sister." Kaira seemed worried. Her suspicions had come true. Something was consuming her sister, making her real person disappear and replacing it with something dark and cruel. "We have come to help you."
"Who told you I need help?" Kaysa looked with sorrow at her sister. "Go away." The sisters began to argue agitatedly. The discussion ended with Kaysa turning her back on her sister. Loki looked at the situation with surprise. I did not expect the queen to take her character with her sister. With a bow, Loki apologized and went after her.
Loki quickly reached her, holding her by the wrist. Kaysa tried to pull away, but Loki was too strong for her. That infuriated Kaysa more and she started screaming and hitting his chest. Even though that got Loki out of his nerves, something in his head told him to hold on. When he had the opportunity, he caught her in his arms and squeezed enough to immobilize her. Slowly Kaysa stopped fighting Loki and began to place her hands on his shoulders. They held each other for a couple of minutes until Loki parted a little and looked at her. Her head was low. With his hand tucked under her chin, he lifted Kaysa's head until their eyes met.
"I'm a horrible person." Kaysa finally said. Loki tried to comfort her with his gaze. "She is not safe here Loki. She has to go."
"You're not horrible." Loki answered, stroking her cheek. Kaysa shook her head. Loki acted without thinking and brushed his lips with Kaysa's. He waited for her reaction. Kaysa did not move, her face showed the surprise she felt. Loki bowed again but not only touching her lips that time. The feeling that Loki experienced was very different from others. He felt like a sensation of heat invaded his whole body. He could not control the situation, not even his gestures.
They separated slowly. Loki tried to regain his composure before opening his eyes. He looked at Kaysa with a small smile. She replied blushing in the same way. The moment did not last long. Kaysa began to feel dizzy, felt the room spinning. Her eyes clouded and slowly she lost the image of Loki until everything turned black. Loki held her in his arms, calling for help and unable to understand what had happened.
