Chapter 11

"She does not belong here in Asgard any more than a goat belongs at a banquet table!" Odin was a very charming man, even more so lovely than Fury.

King of Asgard. Protector of the Nine Realms. The All-Father. He has many names, but I see him as a big headed whiny asshole. The fucker had a certain look in his eyes, even Loki seemed to have more sympathy in his eyes for me than the protector of our universe. Thor defended me, insisted I should stay in Asgard, but others weren't as crazed with the idea. They decided my fate as if I wasn't in the room, but I was standing there numbly just looking around. Doing my best to ignore the glares sent my way.

" I turned my gaze upon you in Midgard, but could neither see you nor hear you. You were shrouded from me like the Frost Giants that had entered this realm." Heimdall was the first to truly address me.

First and he already threw suspicion on me. Whole Asgard would crucify me for carrying a stone I ran out of inspiration to continue cursing. Thor, who decided to play a knight on a white horse heartily defended me and did everything in his power to ensure my safety in Asgard. Though I would rather have the horse play my advocate, Thor's status as ascender to the throne had some perks. All this happened of course after I got better from whatever happened to me during way up.

When asked, I didn't have much to say so the servants who were forced to learn sign language were useless. I knew what happened, but there was no need for others to know. It was my business not theirs. Asgard didn't grow on me, not after two weeks with healers, not after a month of getting used to the environment and after six months I still felt out of place and was burdened with the possibility that I will feel this way for the rest of my life. I was the lone mortal condemned to be amongst living myths.

My mortality and great power in my chest, were a mere start of our unsettled differences. The stone kept changing me. My skin often developed blue pigments which reminded Aesirs of Frost Giants. For that reason I was frowned upon. My blue glowing eyes and streaks of grey in my hair also weren't helpful. I wished their mean comments didn't hurt the way they did, but it couldn't be helped. Not when they were loudly laughing at me and pointing their fingers at monstrous human.

"Your friends, wolves, are well. No danger lurks." Heimdall didn't necessary warm up to me same as I didn't to him. Still, he was one of more helpful assholes.

"The woman, Victoria went to Volterra seeking assistance. She was refused."

Edge of Bifrost became my favourite place to be at and I found myself drifting to sleep at rainbow bridge more times than in a soft bed. It was beautiful and with Heimdall in the observatory, it was secluded place where I could have my peace. I missed my planet, I missed the Sun under which I grew up, and I missed my parents. Asgard wasn't the place for me, I was lonely and even if I had a tongue it would he useless to me. Thor seemed to like me though.

"Lady Isabella!" Thor noticed me when I was returning to the chambers. "I was about to send for you. Join me for a dinner." It wasn't the first time I dined in his company so I accepted. As usual Lady Sif and three idiots joined the table and talked among themselves. I had plague.

"Your condition seems to worsen." Lady Sif commented.

"It is the opposite." Thor said. "Lady Isabella is getting better." Thor spoke what I told him earlier.

"I don't see much change under that much blue."

"Isabella is feeling better and that is all that matters." Thank you, Thor. Please kill me Thor.

"Cheers to that."

As we raised glasses, my gaze met with Sif's. The great warrior woman wanted to intimidate me, but that was impossible. I saw things, did things which are dreadful. For that reason I now lived without fear and with a big smile when grumbling bitch with sword tried to bring me down. Sif was great warrior, but not a great company. She was jealous of Jane and would roll her eyes whenever Thor spoke of her. I really enjoyed the part when a simple, fragile mortal was preferable to Thor than strong immortal Sif.

"Lady Isabella." Thor took me outside to see the gardens. "I see you're struggling, granted my people aren't the easiest to be around."

You have no idea.

"We hold many grudges and rarely change... But it is possible for us to try."

Sure, and become even worse. I'm convinced.

"When I proposed you to leave Midgard, I've done it rashly. I saw I couldn't protect Midgard from far as my place is in Asgard and there are greater dangers directed at you..."

Oh, do get to the point.

"You think me strange, but have my word. You are under mine protection."

Now behold Thor, son of Odin, god of thunder... He meant it, it is real oath, but what did I have out of it when Thor left to fight Marauders at Vanaheim first and then to battle across Nine Realms. Our one-sided conversation came to an end and I, left alone in the gardens wandered around. The Asgard offered many sights worth admiring, but I had no will for sightseeing so I sat under a tree. It was the apple tree with beautiful fruits. Noticing a fallen fruit in the grass, I picked it up, wiped it in my dress and took a bite. The fruit was sweet, almost too sweet so I reluctantly took another bite. My mistake.

I threw the apple back to grass when my tooth remained in it.

No Loki :(