Hey Y'all. I love the reviews and from new people and guests this time! Huzzah I feel accomplished! Keep them coming, I love hearing from you!
I'd like to let everyone know this chapter does have themes of violence so... be prepared. Loki is no longer the loving and caring Asgardian we love... Who am I kidding, we still love him!
Anyway, just be prepared.
And you know the drill!
Kaleria sat on her bed, alone in her room and in thought. What if what they are saying is true? What if Sif is right? Her nightmares, her sister, and even her friends were saying Loki committed treason. What was she to do?
So many questions flooded her mind, unanswered questions that she did not know what to do with. Groaning, Kaleria lied back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "Am I the fool here?" She asked to the empty room. "He is my husband, he is true…" She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince at this point.
The door opened, distracting her from her thoughts. She raised her head to see Loki walk in; he walked proudly and in thought as he headed to the window, completely ignoring Kaleria. She watched him for a moment before getting off the bed and walking up behind him. "Loki?" Her voice was soft. "Loki, I am sorry about Thor, I know it must be hard… and you're doing what you believe is best…" She waited for him to speak, afraid to say anything else.
Loki inhaled deeply, not turning to face Kaleria. "You love me." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Of course I love you." Kaleria replied.
"You love me no matter what becomes of me?" Loki asked.
"Yes… why would I not?" She asked as this was not helping her suspicions.
"Odin has fallen into the Odin Sleep, Mother fears he will not wake…" Loki said.
"Loki…" Kaleria tried to be as comforting as possible. "I am so sorry… this must be a lot to take in."
"It is a shame, however…" Loki turned to face Kaleria finally, a slight curl to his lips. "We must take our new responsibility with honor and humility."
"New responsibility?" Kaleria asked.
"Why yes." She could see a hint of secrecy and deception behind his eyes, a look she had grown used to from her time with him. "We must take our new role as King and Queen until my Father is able to take the throne."
Kaleria's eyes went wide, she felt nauseous. "King and Queen?" Panic filled every part of her body.
"Yes my love." Loki added as he took her hand. "With Thor gone, I am the next to ascend to the throne." He kissed the top of her hand gently. "It is with heavy heart we ascend but, we must do it for the people of Asgard." Kaleria could only nod, the shock and sheer panic taking over to body as Loki pulled her closer; his eyes mesmerizing hers. "I promise you, I will make good as King, I will make you proud." He paused, kissing Kaleria on the top of the head. "Things are changing." In that moment, Kaleria no longer doubted, in that moment, she knew something was wrong.
Kaleria looked up at Loki. "Is this what you want?" She asked. "Be honest with me, there is a lot going on now…"
Loki looked somewhat hurt. "Do you not think I can handle the throne?"
"No, not at all…" Kaleria tried to cover her tracks. "I want to know you're okay, a lot has happened in the past few days… I want to make sure my husband is doing alright."
Loki smiled. "I am fine, my love." He said. "We have a duty to Asgard, we can worry later." Kaleria forced a nod as he kissed her a little forcefully. "I promise you, everything will be fine."
"I love you…" She whispered.
"Everything I do, I do for us." He reminded her, causing her body to tremble, this time, Loki noticed. "You are not pleased?"
Kaleria choked on her breath. "I'm nervous."
"You'll make a great Queen, Kali." Loki assured her, kissing her gently this time. She returned the kiss, trying her best to hide her insecurities about the whole situation. Loki would distract her from these thoughts for the rest of the evening…
Kaleria woke the next morning, she knew she was alone in the bed and she was slightly grateful for that. Her body was sore, she knew she was bruised; he had been rough with her. She sat up slowly, feeling pain pierce through her body as she covered it with the blanket. Her arms had bruises in the shapes of fingers, something she knew she'd have trouble explaining.
"Did that happen?" She asked herself. "Am I really Queen?" She sighed. "None of this makes sense… and when I try to make sense of it… Sif ends up being right." Her heart was telling her that Loki was innocent but, all the signs points to the truth; something was just off about this whole situation.
Kaleria quickly dressed, trying her best to cover up any reminiscence of last night. She headed to the banquet hall for a quick meal, one she preferred to have alone. On her way there, she began to notice a few different Asgardians that she'd pass were bowing their head. Kaleria shook her head, ignoring how strange everyone was acting and continued on her way. "Kali!" She heard from behind. Kaleria turned to be met with the dashing smile of Fandral. "May I join you on your walk?"
Kaleria nervously nodded. "Yes, of course."
The two began walking together towards the banquet hall. "I want to apologize for last night; everyone is being a bit too rash with the situation at hand." Fandral said. "You must also understand where we are coming from."
"I do, and I thank you for standing up for my husband and myself." Kaleria replied. "It looks bad…"
"Terrible, actually." Fandral corrected with a charming smile.
Kaleria couldn't help but smile in return. "He is a good person, Fandral."
Fandral's smile fell to a sympathetic one. "Are you convincing me or yourself?"
She sighed. "I don't know anymore." The two stopped walking as Fandral faced the distraught girl. "He's changed…"
Fandral opened his mouth to speak, only to narrow his eyes at Kaleria. "Are those bruises?" Kaleria had trouble finding words, Fandral did not however. "Are they from Loki?" Kaleria still could not respond. "He hurt you?"
"It wasn't on purpose." Kaleria tried to defend. "He was just a little… rough." She tried to explain.
"No, that is not a little rough." Fandral said. "That's not okay."
"Fandral, please, do not take this the wrong way." She pleaded. "I promise it's fine."
Fandral shook his head. "I can't Kali, there's a difference between uncertain treason and physical evidence of him hurting you."
"Fandral…" Kaleria's voice was soft.
"No man should touch a woman that way." Fandral reminded her. "Even if it's out of passion..." He looked to her apologetically. "I must tell Sif."
"Do not tell Sif." Kaleria warned.
"It is for your protection, Kali." Fandral stated; sadness in his eyes. She knew it was with a heavy heart that Fandral would have to go against her wishes. Fandral turned and left Kaleria's side, she knew he was going to tell Sif so she did the only thing she could do… warn Loki.
Loki was not to be found in any of their normal locations, she ran through the hallways trying to find any sign of him. In a state of panic, a guard had come up to her, nearly startling her. "My Lady." He bowed, which just confused Kaleria more. "May I be of assistance to you?"
"My husband?" She breathed. "Have you seen him?"
"He is in the Throne Room." The guard smiled pleasantly.
"Throne room, why is he there?" Kaleria then remembered their new titles. "Never mind, thank you very much." The guard nodded, bowing his head again as she ran off to the Throne room.
Kaleria inhaled deeply, mustering as much courage as she could before entering the Throne room. Loki lazily sat on Odin's throne, holding Gungnir; a wide smile appearing on his face as he noticed her. "My wife." He said standing and closing the gap between them. "I am glad you've come to join me. It suits me well, no?"
"Loki, there is something I have to say." Kaleria began, ignoring his last statement.
"You should visit the healer about that." Loki motioned to her bruises.
Kaleria sighed, muttering. "I didn't even think of that… this could have all been avoided."
"What could, my love?" Loki asked.
"Fandral was upset at the bruises on my arms." Kaleria said. "He was going to tell Sif."
Loki's smile faded slightly as he pursed his lips, contemplating. His smile quickly returned. "It is nothing to be ashamed about, they're overreacting."
"Fandral says it is not normal."
"It is not his marriage to judge." Loki narrowed his eyes disapprovingly. "Are you unhappy with last night?"
Kaleria felt her body tremble. "I did not say that, Loki."
"As my wife is expect you to honor me, respect me, and respect us." He said, placing a gentle hand on Kaleria's arm. "Especially now, we must uphold this sense of respect and honor. Understand?" Kaleria was screaming in silence, her mind screaming to protest, to yell something, and say anything against this. The way Loki was saying all of this alarmed her, it down right frightened her. "Come stand by my side, my love." Loki's hand traveled down Kaleria's arm and to her hand, he laced his fingers with hers and led her to the Throne where he sat, motioning to the area next to his. "Stay with me?"
"Loki… I don't know…" Kaleria said.
He eyed her, his voice a little more stern. "Stay with me." This time, it was not a request. Her heart sank in her chest as she stood in her 'place'. Her body trembling with anger and slight resentment; this wasn't her husband, this man was a stranger.
It was quiet in the Throne room, Kaleria stood there as a few people came in to speak with the 'King'. She had to bite her tongue a few times in fear she'd have an outburst and really get herself in trouble with Loki. A few times he would pass comments to her, sometimes loving, other times about being King. She replied in small increments, not truly carrying a conversation.
Towards the afternoon, a surprise visit made Kaleria nearly faint. The door opened quickly as Sif and the Warriors walked in hastily, their heads down as they kneeled before Loki. "All Father, we must speak with your urgently." Sif said before looking up. Her expression a confused one as she made eye contact with Kaleria, then to Loki.
"My friends." Loki grinned, standing up now.
"What is this?" Volstagg asked, desperately looking to Kaleria for answers.
"Oh, have you not heard?" Loki asked, walking closer to them. "I am ruler of Asgard now."
"Where is Odin?" Fandral asked.
"Father has fallen into the Odin Sleep." Loki said, his voice feigned sadness. "Mother fears he may never waken."
"May we speak with her?" Sif asked.
"She has refused to leave my Father's side." Loki said. "You can bring your urgent matter to me… your King."
Sif gave her sister a look of desperation, as if asking for Kaleria to say none of this were true. Sif returned her attention to Loki. "We ask that you end Thor's banishment."
Loki's grin fell as he narrowed his eyes slightly at the group. "My first act as King cannot be to undo the All Father's last. We are on the brink of war with Jotunheim; our people need continuity to feel safe." Kaleria bit her tongue once more, the need to scream returning. "All of us must stand together, for the good of Asgard."
"But of course…" Fandral said as all but Sif bowed their heads. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Sif quickly responded with a quick nod before standing with the Warriors. She exchanged one last glace with Kaleria before turning and leaving.
Kaleria began to start after them, only to be stopped by the cold voice of Loki. "And where are you off to?"
Kaleria tensed as she spoke. "I wish to speak with my sister."
"I hope the conversation will not be against my ruling today." Loki said musically. "OR do you not enjoy my company?"
Kaleria turned to face him, narrowing her eyes at him. "I enjoyed your company before you sat in a big chair playing King." She quickly turned and rushed out of the Throne room before Loki could say anything in retort.
Kaleria had asked around hoping anyone knew where Sif was. One guard had mentioned she went into the training room with the Warriors, and that is where Kaleria would look. Kaleria walked into the empty training room, sighing in slight defeat before remembering the smaller room, the one she nearly destroyed on her second day training.
Kaleria opened the door, hearing voices quiet immediately. They were there. All four eyed her suspiciously as she closed the door behind her. "Relax, I'm here to talk."
"Were you going to tell us of your new… social standing?" Fandral asked.
Kaleria groaned. "I only found out last night. I thought it was a cruel sick joke." She deflated. "You think I actually want this?"
"What do you want, Kali?" Sif asked, raising an eyebrow. "From what I gather, you're just a silent trophy of Loki's."
Kaleria narrowed her eyes. "I want my husband back. He's not the same man I married." She was desperate, she felt weak, and the man she loved was changing into something that felt wrong.
"Kali…" Sif said, her tone softening as she stood, walking over to her sister and pulling her into a hug. "Maybe you can try talking to Loki?"
Kaleria pulled away, staring at her sister weirdly. "Talking to him about what?"
The room fell silent before Fandral intervened. "Maybe you can try convincing him to bring Thor home."
"His word is done." Kaleria replied. "I cannot do that."
"Kali, he loves you. Even though it doesn't feel right at the current moment… he loves you." Sif added. "He will listen to you."
Kaleria thought for a moment, her heart aching at the choices before her. She knew Thor had to return to Asgard and she knew her husband was following a dark path. Could she turn him around? "I'll… go talk to him… but, I cannot guarantee anything."
"If you cannot convince him…" Sif began, looking back to the Warriors, then to Kali. "We are going to go after him."
"Now that is treason." Kaleria crossed her arms nervously.
"He may be able to talk sense into Loki as well." Volstagg added. "The two Asgardians closest to him, one of you is bound to make a difference."
"Again, I cannot guarantee anything." Kaleria reminded them. "You ask so much of me."
"And I apologize greatly for it." Sif said.
Kaleria bit her lip before asking the group. "You truly believe Loki is corrupt?"
Fandral was the only one to speak then. "You're just a suspicious of him as we are…"
Kaleria nodded. "Let me go speak to him now…"
"Return here when you are done." Sif smiled reassuringly. "I know you can do good for him." Kaleria just nodded as she left the room in silence.
It took the rest of the day for Kaleria to find the courage to speak with Loki, luckily for her he seemed to have disappeared after their last encounter. She walked into their chambers; Loki was already there, waiting for her arrival. "My love how was your talk with your sister?" His tone was cold.
Kaleria panicked, did he know? "It was fine; we are going to take a ride out to the fields tomorrow." She lied, slightly impressed with how good she was getting at it. Kaleria closed the door behind her, walking further into the room and closer to Loki. "How are you?"
"Peachy." Loki retorted, his eyes narrowed but with a grin.
Kaleria sighed, looking down at the floor, avoiding his gaze but still feeling it on her. "Can we talk?"
"We are talking." He mused.
"No, really talk." Kaleria said, finally looking up at him.
Loki sighed first. "I know it is a hard adjustment, being Queen so suddenly."
"As is being King." Kaleria reminded him.
"Yes, it is." He eyed her suspiciously. "But we must maintain our dignity."
"I miss us." Kaleria blurted out. "I miss how we used to be. I feel we are losing who we were. Existing, you and I, remember?"
Loki smiled half-heartedly. "I do."
"Then exist with me, we don't need to reach to any standard. We can be rulers with our compassion and love for one another." Kaleria half pleaded.
"We are on the brink of war, Kali." Loki said. "I have to be a just ruler."
"Yes, but, the people need compassion too." Kaleria said. "The role of King can be stressful, maybe you need someone to help advise?"
"Then what will you have me do?" Loki asked, annoyed. "Who can advise me?"
"Maybe Thor?" She asked, a thick air filling the room. "The two brothers of Asgard, whenever you need someone who understands the Throne like you do, maybe he can be of help?"
Loki's face was blank, expressionless. He just stared at Kaleria for a while, the tension in the air so thick it could be cut with a knife. Finally, his eyes narrowed. "So that is truly what you and Sif spoke of today." Loki snarled. "Were the others involved too?"
"Loki…" Kaleria began.
"She does not believe I can be a fair ruler." His tone became somewhat maniac as he spoke, sending fear throughout Kaleria. "And now you do not believe I can be?"
"I did not say that, Loki." Kaleria defended. "I'm saying I know it can be stressful-"
"Enough!" He interrupted. "I know exactly what you're saying." Loki began walking closer to Kaleria, causing her to take equal steps back until she felt the cold wall on her back. "You believe Thor would be a better King than I." He growled, practically on top of her now, grabbing her right wrist tightly. "You are my wife, Kali. You are to honor me, respect me, and fear me."
Kaleria's eyes went wide; she had heard this conversation before. Her heart was racing a mile a minute as she stared up at her husband in fear. "Loki… let me go." She tried to say calmly.
"No!" He roared. "You will not leave me."
"Please Loki…" She begged. "We can talk about this later, I'm sorry, I was wrong."
"It's perfectly clear with whom your allegiance lies." It started from his head, and traveled down his body. The markings visible on his exposed skin, turning blue. Kaleria stared in horror as she looked up to his eyes, ruby. "Does this better fit the monster you see me as?"
Kaleria felt the sharp pain in her right wrist, the burning ice. She panicked, looking at his blue hand wrapped around her wrist. "Loki, you're hurting me!"
"Oh no, this is nothing compared to the hurt you have done to me." Loki hissed.
Kaleria, with all her might, forced intense heat to her left hand and shoved it forcefully into Loki's side, burning right through his armor and to his skin. Loki let go of her, falling to his knees as he yelled in pain.
Kaleria, wasting no time, ran for the door. Her instinct to survive and get away from him overtaking any other feelings as his screams lingered in the air.
Final Thoughts: Now we know how she received the ice burn on her wrist! To find out more keep reviewing and favoring this story!