Aaliyah sat on her bed as the rain poured. She had been going to college for several months now, but she still continued to hide herself away from the world. She thought her life and how different it could have been if Loki had still been with her. Would it dispell the cloud of emptiness that followed her everywhere? Soon she got up and stepped outside as thunder crashed. She swallowed her fear as she lay down on the grass feeling the raindrops crash against her face. Thunder rumbled but the rain had stopped. She opened her eyes. It was still raining but she couldn't feel it anymore. She looked around aimlessly when she saw Thor. she got up and walked to him
"Aaliyah..." The man's face brought back so many memories of what had happened only a year ago, bringing tears to her eyes.
"What have you done to Loki!?" she said between tears. "you didn't even consider what it would do to me did you?" She asked. suddenly she was in Thor's arms as he kissed her. she stood shocked for a moment until she shoved him away. She stared at him for a moment before slapping him. Surprised at her actions she immediately took off running into the storm. The rain stopped as Aaliyah fell in front of a tree sobbing. When she calmed herself she stood up allowing herself to wander several more steps.
"Heimdel." She whispered once she stopped, remembering the stories her grandfather had told her about the watchman. "Please open the Bifrost. I need to see him." she felt tears roll down her face once more and closed her eyes. How could she think that Asgard would open it's arms to a mortal like her? she suddenly felt very dizzy and lightheaded for a moment. keeping her eyes squeezed shut she waited for it to pass. She had probably gotten herself sick. When opened her eyes she was no longer in front of the willow but in a round golden room. In front of her knelt a man in golden armour the same colour as his eyes.
"Aaliyah Jakobson" he said gently reaching a hand out to her. "Welcome to Asgard."
""Heimdel?" Aaliyah asked. The watchman nodded. "Your knowledge of our world amazes me." He said "How do you know so much?" He then asked.
"I'm sure you already know." She answered "The stories haven't been completely lost, just altered over time as all stories are." she explained. She surprised herself with how normal this conversation felt. Heimdall nodded. She curtsied before starting towards the rainbow bridge but turned "Heimdel." Aaliyah called. He turned from his post. "Thank you." The watchman bowed with a slight smile. If anyone could change Loki, he thought, it would be her. He had already seen the effects this mortal had on the trickster. He sighed, hoping his judgement was correct.
Aaliyah made her way across the bridge until she reached the city. Then she realised she would stick out like a sore thumb in her attire. She stuck to the shadows as well as she could, carefull not to get noticed when she bumped into someone. Aaliyah felt her eyes widen as a hand covered her mouth.
"It's alright" A small voice spoke. The girl had blonde hair long and flowing, with light brown eyes."You are not from here are you?" she asked. Aaliyah shook her head and the girl removed her hand "My name is Karida." She said with a friendly smile. "How did you get here? Was it the convergence?" Aaliyah nodded not wanting to get Heimdel into trouble for letting her through. "I've never met a Midgardian before." Karida explained. "What is your name?" She blinked her brown eyes.
"Aaliyah" she finally managed to speak. Karida smiled.
"What a pretty name! You don't seem too surprised to be here." Karida noted. "You must have been here awhile." Aaliyah nodded more than happy to let this girl create a story on her own. "Follow me." Karida said grabbing Aaliyah's wrist, dragging her into a dimly lit room. "I know it's not much but you can stay here with me, if you like. I think I have some clothes that will fit you. We are close to the same height." Aaliyah noticed that Karida was only a little shorter than herself. She looked around the room there were two beds with straw mattresses, a bookshelf with only a small selection, a chest, and a kitchen.
"Two beds?" Aaliyah asked. Karida nodded
"one used to be my brothers, before he was called into the royal guard." she explained.
"Do you ever see him?" Aaliyah asked.
"Sometimes" the girl answered as she straightened up the other bed. "not very often though. He's always on an adventure." She sat on her bed and her eyes lit up. "but when he does come he always has wonderful stories, and sometimes even gifts!" She lowered her head. "I only wish I could see more of him." Aaliyah nodded.
"How old are you Karida?" she asked her new friend.
"In mortal years I would be 17." Karida beamed
"and your brother?" Aaliyah asked.
"He would be 24." Aaliyah smiled at Karida's enthusiasm."about the same age as Prince Loki." Karida added. Aaliyah felt her heat skip a beat at the name. Karida pulled out a night dress. "My brother brought a few of these back from Alfheim." It was a beautiful white cotton gown and Karida beamed. "I want you to have one." Aaliyah shook her head.
"No Karida I couldn't..." But the girl insisted. Finally Aaliyah gave in putting on the garment as the sun started to set. After saying their good nights Karida swiftly fell asleep. Aaliyah stared up at the ceiling wondering where Loki was and if he thought of her.
Loki lay on his prison bed staring at the ceiling. Heimdel had told him of Aaliyah's new life in college and Loki had told the watchman to stop reporting on her doings. It only dug a deeper hole into his already aching heart. The guard entered with Loki's evening meal and the god glared venomously at the guard until he left. Loki threw the now empty cup against the wall and it clanged against the floor as it fell. He was to stay there for an eternity, cut off from everything and everyone he ever loved. To be honest it would have been no different from his past life, but Aaliyah...he was anxious to return to her, to tell her she had not been abandoned. Surely she must know that. He paced about the cell before resting his head against the wall. He had to find a way out. He pushed himself from the wall, anger rushing through him. With a wave of magic he threw a chair across the room.
"You should learn to control that anger." a soft voice spoke from behind him. Loki sighed.
"In most situations I do." he answered, holding back his irritation.
"You did this to yourself, you know." Loki turned to face the woman, his mother, Frigga. "I thought you had learned not to meddle in mortal affairs." Loki shook his head.
"This was different." he argued.
"Yes, it was." Frigga agreed. "You singled out one person." She noted. "Why?" Loki turned his back to the woman, reflecting on his reasoning. It had started out as a simple game, for his amusement to pass the time. Why her? well, because she was different from other mortals he had watched. She was smarter, more observant, and there was just something about her he couldn't place his finger on; but then he saw the pain and loneliness that matched his own. It became something more; she became something more.
"I'm not quite sure myself." He answered absently.