Before she could even go to the chambers and change her clothing, they had barged in and totally conquered her, pulling her onto the floor.
Takumi found herself being dragged into the throne room by her arms, her legs dragging limply on the tile floor as the guards bought her in. Chains were put on her wrists, latching her hands together so that she couldn't move them. The guards had said that it was so she wouldn't run away, but she knew what it was really for. The same thing for the mask that was latched over her mouth so she couldn't speak. It was to prevent her from doing any magic, from escaping, from breaking the law.
Bruises from the attack were starting to form on her, she could feel them on her face and shoulders. A flash of memory came to mind: the Frost Giant pushing her roughly into the wall, her body slamming to the ground and the air being knocked from her lungs. She grunted in pain as the chains chafed at her wrists, pulling her shoulders up in a tense position. Her hands were clasped together in front of her, they were still covered in Frost Giant blood. Even her silky dress was dabbed with red blood and black ash from the fire. She could have laughed if the mask wasn't over her mouth.
Such a prime Princess to meet in front of the All-Father.
The guards weren't hurting her, but they weren't being so gentle either. She limply hung from their grasp, trying to make herself as heavy as possible to make their trip harder. But the guards were strong, and she weighed nothing to what they worked with everyday. She was just like a feather, floating in their grasps. Blearily, she looked around her and saw the large windows letting in the suns. They were getting close to the throne room.
She offhandedly wondered how the white lilies in the Asgardian garden were doing. She wondered if the frost had killed them.
She could hear Thor's footsteps running behind them, the man protesting as loud as he could. Takumi let out a soft grunt as the guards halted and tugged on her chains, the metal rubbing on already reddened skin. She opened her eyes again, looking at Thor with lowered eyes. She wanted to talk, but the mask was cutting into her mouth, jutting against her teeth.
"Unchain her at once! This is unnecessary." Thor said angrily, the words hissing from his mouth. "I understand if you wish to escort her to the throne room, but not this! You do not need to chain her like an animal! She has done nothing but defend herself from the enemy!"
The guards stared at him. "This was not our choice."
"My Father does not have the power to chain whomever he wishes. Takumi is under my protection, and I wish for you to unhand her before she meets before the All-Father." Thor said, his steely grey eyes flashing with fury.
"The All-Father has not requested this." the guard said flatly. "He has simply asked to meet with her to discuss her actions against her enemy. This was not mentioned."
Thor stared at Takumi, and then at the guards. "If my Father has not asked for this treatment, who has?"
"Kaisa Vanir." the guards nodded. He jerked on the chains and Takumi stood up straighter, her legs wobbling ever so slightly. "Her sister has asked that Takumi remain restrained until the meeting with Odin, to ensure that she will not try to escape. She seemed very concerned about the safety of Asgard. It seems as though Loki's bride-to-be is as much as a pain as he was."
Thor seemed speechless, simply staring at Takumi and the guard as though he couldn't believe what he had heard.
The guard nodded once and then the both of them started to walk again, pulling her behind them. Takumi numbly followed, barely registering the movement and moving as though she was on auto-pilot. Anger roared in her ears, and she had the sudden urge to just flail in her constraints and break free. Words like 'betrayal' and 'backstabber' was flying through her brain. It made it worse that she couldn't speak, she longed to spat and curse with all her might.
Kaisa had done this. Kaisa had asked for the guards to come to the chambers and chain her up like a prisoner, to muzzle her like a dog. Kaisa had been the one to have her dragged through the hall like this, unable to fight back from the previous attack. It was a disgusting act, and it hurt.
Why have you done this, Kaisa? I am your sister. Sisters do not do this.
Blearily, she saw the huge windows of the hall. Light was floating in, making it look heavenly. Takumi darted her eyes back to the front, where she saw two familiar wooden doors.
Once the doors opened, the guards walked in and set her down onto the floor in front of some stairs. There was a push on her back, forcing her to kneel on the ground in front of the All-Father. Through her tangled, black hair, she could see Odin and his queen Frigga sitting at their thrones, looking at her in alarm. Neither of them said anything, but the look on their faces was enough.
She couldn't brush the hair from her face, and she couldn't ask anyone to release her. All she could do was sit there like an idiot and wait. Her cheeks started to blush a furious red.
In the corner of her eye, she could see Thor stepping into the room and standing next to his father. He whispered something to Odin, and earned a shake of the head in return.
The look on the Thor's face looked sympathetic, as though he longed to run over to her and assure her that everything was going to be okay. But he couldn't, and Takumi knew it. Even worse, she saw a prideful stride of green and black in her peripheral vision. Loki stopped and stood next to Thor, looking at her with wide green eyes. The rest of his face was emotionless, and Takumi stared back at him, unable to decipher his feelings.
If only she possessed the Gift. She needed that, more than ever. To decipher auras and people's feelings is something that she could never do.
More footsteps resounded around the room, and Takumi scrunched her eyes shut. Was everyone in Asgard showing up to witness her humiliation? Were they all going to find out that she was a witch, and going to stone her or throw her out of Asgard? She actually preferred the option of death right now, at least there wouldn't be anymore humiliation wherever she was going.
Takumi heard a rich rustle of silk behind her, and she opened her eyes to see a beautiful brown cascade of fabric in front of her.
She looked up as far as she could and saw Kaisa staring back at her. Her sister's usual calm face was lined with fury, her brown eyes wide and surrounded by curls of light brown. A small tiara sat atop her head, the red gem in the middle gleaming in the sun. Takumi felt like a slave compared to her sister, covered in blood and ashes whilst her sister was covered in riches and jewels.
"Takumi." Kaisa hissed, kneeling down to Takumi's eye level. "Look at you. Just look at you."
Takumi made a small muffled noise as Kaisa grasped her chin, forcing her to look at her.
"You are covered.. in the blood of Jotuns." Kaisa breathed, her breath soft against Takumi's skin. "And.. You smell like the remnants of magic. Disgusting."
Takumi tried to shake her head loose, but Kaisa had a firm hold on her chin. She squirmed in her sister's grip, unable to get up.
Odin got up from his throne and pounded the end of his staff against the marble floor, once, then twice. Kaisa quickly got up and turned to him, her face devoid of emotion. The All-Father looked at his sons, and then back at the two girls. "Kaisa Vanir, I ask you to leave your sister's side so that I may talk with her personally."
"Of course." Kaisa bowed swiftly before walking over to join Thor and Loki. The two men stood stiffly beside her, watching Takumi intensely.
There was absolute silence in the room, even though there was a crowd of people watching. Takumi felt herself stiffen up as she watched the All-Father, a shudder ripping through her body. She couldn't help but feel terrified- she didn't know if he was going to act as terrible as her Father had. Or perhaps worse. She knew how positively horrible she looked- with greasy hair and bloody hands, and with bruises covering her face. Definitely not like a Princess, and entirely unworthy of marrying a son of Asgard.
Odin spoke after a moment. "Takumi Vanir. I understand that you have been victim of the attack of the Frost Giants. You had been against your will, and you did not have a choice in which you could defend yourself. I am not angry with you on that account, for you have done nothing wrong. But you have revealed a secret about yourself that none of us have expected."
Takumi shrunk under those words, wishing that she could disappear. But the muzzle dropped from her face to the floor as if a spell had been unleashed, and it clanged harmlessly to the floor. She looked up, suddenly able to speak again.
"You, being a part of royalty, should know that magic is outlawed in the Nine Realms since the Fire War. It has lead to many secrets, many betrayals, and many innocent deaths. Sorcery is not to be trifled with, Lady Takumi." Odin said sternly. "My son Loki, has broken the law by handling magic and has paid for his crimes. You do not have the same excuse."
Takumi shifted uncomfortably, feeling a soft feeling of relief wash over her as the chains on her wrists came off, sliding onto her lap. She was free. Twisting her hands over one another, she slowly got to her feet and stared at Odin. Was she supposed to say something?
"I cannot let this go unattended, however, and you must be punished accordingly. You defended yourself with magic, and therefore broke the biggest rule in Asgard. With the upcoming wedding, we cannot afford anymore casualties. You will be kept under lock and key for the duration of the moon, until the wedding. Loki will be your only escort, and you are to go nowhere without him." Odin paused, taking a look at Loki. "He will make sure you will weave no magic, and he will be the one to punish you if you do."
"What?" Takumi felt herself splutter. Locked in the chambers with no one but Loki? This wasn't funny- Odin didn't know what went on behind closed doors. He didn't know what was going to happen the second the doors were locked. She was going to get her ass kicked, and no one would even notice, or they'd believe that she had broken another rule. This was even worse than being under his control. Now Loki had permission to beat the crap out of her.
Odin stamped his staff on the marble. "This is law. Takumi Vanir, you will be escorted to your chambers at once to make yourself more presentable."
Two guards stepped forwards, and grabbed her by her arms. It stung, and she let out a soft harsh hiss. Tears sprang to her eyes- tears of desperation and terror. She struggled fiercely again, ignoring the small stabs of pain in her shoulders.
"You do not understand!" Takumi yelled, her voice ragging in her chest. Everyone in the room flinched once at her outburst. "Let me go at once, you idiots!"
"Take her to the chambers!" Odin barked. Frigga quickly got up from her throne, looking at Takumi with a soft expression.
"My darling, do not fight it." she called out, her voice cracking through the chaos. "Please, just follow instructions!"
The guards jerked harder on her, and panic surfaced. The pain intensified, and she let out a wail of pain that echoed around the throne room. Takumi vaguely heard Kaisa shout out at her, but she paid no mind to it. She was more focused on the growing pain in her stomach that threatened to engulf her. She opened her eyes, and then there was a burst of light.
A large twist of fire erupted from the ceiling, crashing down rubble and fragments of marble. There was screaming, but Takumi didn't care. All she wanted was to escape from the guard's tough grips, to run away where Loki wasn't. The fire swooped down and surrounded her and the guards, the heat sizzling around them. Her head slammed into the cold marble, and the burning pain her stomach suddenly stopped. The fire disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a burning smell.
"Stupid girl." one of the guards snarled, and she felt her head being lifted and the metal muzzle being slid over her mouth again. The thing cut harshly into her teeth, making her gag, but neither guard paid mind to it. Takumi felt her arms being jerked behind her back, and the chains being slid back on. She was chained, once again, even tighter than before.
They got her to her feet. Takumi stared at the All-Father, panting heavily.
"You will do as said." Odin said softly.
Frigga gasped quietly, the Queen's face slightly singed with ash. "Please, Lady Takumi. Everything will be easier this way."
The guards gave her a final tug, and then she found herself walking out of the throne room to the chambers. When the throne room doors closed behind them, Takumi knew that she was in major trouble.
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