"I am going to practise in the woods . You're coming ?" asked Theon , eating his last slice of bacon .
"Jon ?" said Robb , looking at his brother .
"Why not .. I need fresh air . "
"Let's go then !"
"Go in the yard , fetch the horses , I have to do something before ." said Robb , leaving the table .
"She's not awake yet ?" asked Theon .
"No , Maester Luwin said that magic had caged her mind and there was nothing to do for the moment but wait ." replied Jon .
"It's been two weeks .."
"We should go prepare the horses . Robb needs to change his mind ."
Robb opened the door slowly and sighed . She was still unconscious . She looked so petite in the bed covered with furs . Her hair was brushed and shiny and he suspected his mother of this . He closed the door and sat softly on her bed , taking her hand .
"Hi .. I hope you had a good night . It was cold so I came to start a fire . You look great if we forget the part that you're unconscious since two weeks .. What a nap , if I may say so .. Gods I say stupid things , I'm sorry . Sorry I did not come yesterday morning but my father wanted to hunt so I had to go with him . I wasn't the best companion I'm afraid .. Eir and Jon came to see you though . You have a slight scar on the stomach but nothing important . Eir said you were lucky that Father found you that quickly … She also said that if you don't wake up , on your own , before the next moon she'll ask Queen Frigga to do something . Sorry I only bring you bad news … If you can hear me I want you to know that I find you beautiful but I miss your smile and our fights .. Moreover I have something for you . When I was in Nidavellir , the dwarf that saved me gave me informations about your family . I didn't read it of course . So wake up please … Please .. "
He looked at her , waiting for an answer that he knew will never come . He kissed her forehead , said goodbye and left the room .
"Still unconscious ?" asked Theon , on his horse , looking Robb riding his .
"If she wasn't , I would be by her side Greyjoy . Let's go ."
Loki looked at his mother who was reading in the library . He knew he was being watched all the time and wasn't happy about .
"Why are you frowning again ?" asked Frigga , still reading her book .
"I was wondering why you let her go with those savages . She was supposed to be my wife ."
"If the Gods wanted her to be your wife , you would be married already . It's not by thinking about it over and over that it'll change something ."
"You had no right to do this .."
"Do you hear yourself ? You sound like a spoiled child who lost his favourite toy . You should be ashamed . Thess was raised as your sister and look the result now ."
"I never loved her as a sister and you know it . It , always , was more than that ."
"Loki enough . You had her friendship and you ruined it . You're the only one to blame in this . You knew she loved you as a brother and nothing more ..."
"You seen this ? Right ? You knew since the beginning that never she loved me like I love her .."
Frigga said nothing but closed her book and looked at Loki .
"I can't believe you let me do all this .. You knew about this and you didn't say a word ."
"Do not put the blame on me , I wanted to protect you all .."
"Protect us ? Obviously you did a great job ..."
"She is meant to marry the Stark boy and I know that since you two are children . I know how much you love and care about her and never I would have done something to hurt your feelings ."
"Well done , once again mother . Thanks to you , she's gone , she hates me as half of Asgard . Thanks a lot ."
And he left . Frigga closed her eyes and breathed slowly .
"I only wanted your happiness my little snowflake..." she whispered .
Robb came in the room for his daily routine , even if this time he had the whole day for him . No hunt or practise or learning to do with Maester Luwin . He started a fire as usual and sat on a chair next to Thessana's bed with a book .
"Old Nan used to read me this when I was sick . Stories of the Nine Worlds . Sometimes she said Ten Worlds because for her Westeros can be counted as one . Anyway , there are a lot of storied about the white walkers , the Night's watch , the Wall . Stories about the last winter or the Gods … I loved the scary ones because after my mother would come and cuddle me to sleep .. I loved this … I thought you may enjoy some of them .. "
But before he could start to read , she shivered several times . Robb noticed that she had goosebumps whereas the fire was still warming the room and she was covered in furs . He touched her forehead and realised that she had fever . She was almost burning . He called out the Maester who came as fast as possible .
"This is very strange . I fear , my lord , that I don't know what is happening to her .."
"We need Eir … I'm going to send a message to Asgard ."
"Tell Old Nan to bring me pieces of fabric and cold water on your way ."
Loki sat next to his brother , looking at the empty seat of his mother . Guilt overwhelmed him .
"Where is mother ?"
"She left for Westeros earlier with Eir . Thess' state is getting worse ..." said Thor .
"Is she awake ?"
"No and that's the problem . Mother said that someone , probably cast a powerful spell on her . It's like her mind doesn't want her to wake up . I wanted to go but after what happened she said it might not be the best idea … She's my sister by the Gods ! How can't I see her ?!"
"What kind of spell ?" asked Loki as Thor burried his head in his big hands .
"How can I know ? Mother just told me it was a powerful one and that it could have erased her memories ..."
Thor looked at Loki and frowned .
"You couldn't … No … I can't believe you .. No .."
"Can you express your thoughts in a correct way Thor ?"
"You did not cast this spell right ? To make her forget all what happen so for her you're not the bad guy of the story . Tell me you did not ."
"I did not . I may love her Thor but I am not that cruel ."
"Right .."
"Do you feel it ? "
Frigga looked at Eir . She was clearly worried .
"Your Grace , I don't think she'll be the same as before .."
"You don't think we can fix her memories ?"
"It'll be hard , maybe impossible .."
"Who can do this ? This is the most powerful spell I have ever felt ..."
"The only time I saw a spell that powerful it was when Melisandre was still in Asgard ..."
Frigga shivered and looked at Thessana . She was thinner , pale . The door opened and Frigga saw Catelyn and Robb .
"Is she fine ?" asked Catelyn .
"We don't know yet . We're going to wake her up and see the damages . "
"What kind of damages ?" Robb looked at the Asgardardians , waiting for an answer .
"Loss of memories , changes in her personality or maybe nothing . We don't know ."
"Really helpful .."
"Robb ! " scolded him Catelyn .
"I understand you're frustrated Robb but you have to be patient .."
Robb left the room , slamming the door behind him .
"Your Grace , please excuse my son's behaviour .."
"Do not worry Lady Stark ..."
"When are you going to wake her up ?"
"Now ..."
"I'm going to talk to Robb .."
Catelyn left the room as Frigga sat on a chair next to the bed .
"Do not lose yourself in her mind , Your Grace . We don't know what you're going to see ..."
"I know her , do not worry dear Eir ..."
Frigga held Thessana' hand and closed her eyes as Eir cast the spell .
Frigga expected darkness but it was the opposite . She was in a field , surrounded by long trees and recognized Asgard . In the middle was a little girl , wearing a white dress , her hair floating in the wind . She was sat in the grass facing a dark shadow. Frigga came closer and recognized Thessana . The dark shadow has a human figure but a wolf head. She didn't notice her and kept playing in the grass with a wooden toy and the shadow. A howl came from the woods and the shadow disappeared .Thessana left running towards the trees , following him . Frigga ran after her and found her facing a grey wolf , bigger than the little girl . It was showing his teeth and fangs to her but she walked to him and touched his head . The wolf rested his head on her tiny arm and she smiled .
"You're a nice wolf aren't you … I'm going to bring you back home and ask Queen Frigga if I can keep you . Is it okay with you ? Yes nice wolf .. You need a name too ! But first , let's go back to the land , I don't like the woods since Melisandre killed those people .."
But as soon as she turned an arrow was shot in the wolf's hand . Thessana cried out and kneeled next to the wolf . She held his head and took the arrow off .
"Who did this ?! Who ?! Show yourself coward !"
Frigga gasped when she saw her son , Loki , coming out a tree with a bow looking at Thessana and the wolf with a smile .
"What is wrong with you ?!"
"He was about to kill you ! To take you away from us !"
"He was my friend !"
"You just saw this wolf ! And a wolf isn't a friend !"
"I hate you .."
The whisper faded in the wind . Thessana was crying silently , still holding the wolf .
"Come on Thess .. Thess I'm sorry . I just wanted to protect you ."
When she look up at him she wasn't the little girl anymore . The wolf body disappeared replaced by a dead Robb .
"You killed him .. You killed Robb … It wasn't for protecting me . It was for keeping me at your side like I was your toy . "
"I love you , it's my duty to protect you !"
"Liar ! I hate you !"
All went dark . When light came back Frigga was next to Thessana . She was facing several persons . Frigga understood it was all the persons she cared about at some point of her life . Loki was behind her , talking to her .
"Look at them … It may be the last time . You're mine Thessana . Nobody will take you away from me .."
"Fight him Thessana . I know you can make it !" shouted Jon walking towards her .
"Jon..." whispered Thessana .
"Forget him . Now ."
And Jon disappeared . Little by little , several persons died . Mainly people she met coming from Westeros and the Starks .
"Loki did this ..."
Frigga took Thessana by the shoulders and shook her .
"Thessana look at me this is Frigga . You know me . I spent my whole life protecting you and I'm not letting you go now ! Look at me ! Remember those persons . They count for you , you care for them . Jon is your friend . As Robb . Fight the spell . I know you can make it . "
"Who's Jon ? And Robb ?" asked Thessana , frowning .
Frigga touched Thessana' brow and shared the vision she had when she was younger . The vision of Thessana and Robb's wedding .
"See ? He's part of you . You can't let him go . You need to keep him with you ."
"Robb ?..."
"Remember him . Remember them ."
"I need to leave this .."
"You need to wake up now ! While you remember or the spell will take your mind again . Wake up !"
Thessana looked at Frigga , not knowing what to do . She was slapping herself but nothing happened .
"It doesn't work !"
Loki appeared behind her , a dagger in his hand . He winked at Frigga and cut Thessana's throat .
Frigga's eyes snapped open and it took her several seconds to get back to her normal self . And then she realised that Thessana was screaming , sat on her bed , Eir and Robb trying to hold her back . It was like she was possessed . She was holding her throat while trying to push Eir and Robb , who struggled to hold her .
"What is happening ?!" yelled Robb .
"Her throat was sliced and it woke her up .. "
"Who did this ?!"
"I … I didn't see .."
"We need to calm her down ! Hold her tight , boy ." said Eir , letting Thessana go .
Eir touched Thessana brow and whispered some words . Thessana stopped screaming and felt in Robb's arms , lifeless as a puppet .
"What have you done to her ?"
"She's only asleep . It'll calm her down and she'll wake up in few hours . She needs to get back to reality . Don't worry she's safe . Your grace , have you seen something that might help me ?"
Frigga looked at Robb , waiting for him to go . But he didn't move , waiting for her to speak .
"Robb .." started Frigga .
"No . I'm her husband , I need to know everything ."
"You're not her husband yet boy .." whispered Eir .
"He's right Eir , he can stay after all .. Some parts of her memories , I think , may be erased . Her recent memories … I think I helped her recover from it and she'll remember everything . I hope at least .."
"Suppositions and hopes .. This will not help her .. Your Grace ."
"Have faith Robb . Thess is a fighter , never forget that .."
Robb sat on a chair and burried his head in his hands .
"So ?! Is she fine ?" asked Thor , welcoming his mother on the Bifrost .
"Better . She's sleeping now . The Starks will send us a message when she wakes up . She'll be fine son , do not worry ."
"Could I go see her ?"
"Why not . But wait for her to wake up ."
"I'm going to see if Fandral or Sif want to come !"
"Do you know where is your brother ?"
"In the library . Why ?"
"To talk to him .."
Loki was reading silently . He smiled when he saw his mother and stood to bow .
"About what I said mother .."
"No . No Loki . What have I done wrong with you ? I gave you everything you wanted , I loved you and still do , I thought I raised you well , taught you all the things I could and yet , you still disappoint me . How could you do this to Thessana ? Where did I fail in your education ? Gods I can't believe it … Nobody knows about what you've done . I couldn't bear to see the disappointment and judgements in their eyes .."
And she left . Loki sat back on his chair and opened his book . The persons walking by could see the prince reading a book , peacefully . But behind the illusion cast , Loki was crying silently .
Robb woke up , jumping a little . The sky was dark , the only light in the room coming from the fire and the moon . He lit some candles and looked at Thessana . She was moving , switching sides and after several minutes , she stretched and yawned . Robb noticed that she froze as she touched the furs . She opened her eyes and look around , sitting .
"Gods .. You're awake ! I thought that .. You scared me … "
And he held her in his arms . But she did not held him back nor move . Robb let her go and looked at her , frowning .
"No offense but who are you ?"
Robb sank in his chair , shock and fear overwhelming him .