CHAPTER 2

"Come here, my sweet," he nurtured. "You'll be okay."

She ran into the outstretched arms of her father. She nuzzled her face into his strong, broad shoulders, allowing his scent to envelope her senses.

"I'm scared, daddy," she whimpered. Tears rolled down her face.

He sat her up straight to look at her. She wasn't entirely sure where she was. It was warm, bright, and gave her a feeling of security. She looked into his bright, green eyes. It was where she got hers from. His features had softened from what she remembered. He cupped her face in his large hand.

"You are my daughter. You are strong, intelligent, and resourceful. I know you can make it through this." He smiled at her warmly.

Lina grabbed her father's hand and pressed it closer to her cheek. "What if I can't?" She collapsed to her knees feeling defeated well before the battle had begun.

"You won't," he replied. "If you ever need anything, I'm always here for you. Just call out when you need me."

Lina looked up at her father one last time before his image started to fade.

"Daddy?" she panicked. She tried to grab for him, to hold him one last time, but his once solid figure was disappearing like smoke. "DADDY!"

"I love you, my little princess…"

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"Will she awaken?" the king asked his queen. It had been two weeks since the attack on Lina's kingdom. She hadn't awoken. She only murmured names of her mother, father, and brother. She cried for help on occasion.

"I'm not sure," Frigga replied. The long nights of tending to the girl had made her grow tired. Odin didn't want anyone else to watch Lina. He wanted her in the best care possible.

Odin sighed deeply. "What we saw that night was nothing short of disturbing. Should that evil spread from her kingdom, we will be in grave danger." He walked to the edge of Lina's bed. "Please child, do not remain in this sleep for much longer.

"You should rest, my king," Frigga commented, taking Odin's hand within hers. "I shall take care of her."

Odin kissed Frigga's forehead before turning to leave the two women alone.

Frigga turned to Lina. "Oh child, what has become of you?" She resumed her place next to Lina and dipped a towel into a bowl of cool water. Since she came back, Lina was running a high fever and it refused to break. Dabbing at her face, Frigga took note of Lina's features. It had been many years since she had seen the princess. Lina grew up well, her beauty heightened as she came of age.

A groan escaped Lina's lips. Her weight shifted in the bed, Frigga's eyes widening.

"Meredith!" Frigga called.

"Yes, my lady," the servant girl replied, giving a small curtsey to her queen.

"Tell Odin that our guest has awakened."

"Right away, ma'am." Hurriedly, the servant left for the throne room where Odin was seated with his two sons.

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Lina groaned. Her body was even more sore than she remembered.

*Ugh—what happened…

She suddenly remembered her mother and brother. What had happened to them? Where were they?

Lina shot up in the bed she was in, only to be greeted by a sharp pain in her temple. She cried out in pain. No sooner had the scream left her lips did she feel a pair of hands on either side of her head helping to rest her back down onto the bed.

"Where—where—" Lina gasped.

"Calm down, Lina. You'll be okay, you're safe now." This woman was very familiar. Her golden locks flowed down her back and framed her face. She looked tired and concerned for Lina. She had a gentle touch and a soothing voice. Lina was reminded of her mother even more.

"Do you know where my mother is?" Lina asked.

Silence.

"My brother?" Lina knew the answer to that one.

"I'm sorry, Lina," the queen apologized. "They're both dead."

Lina released a long, deep sigh. "What of my kingdom?"

"You should rest," Frigga distracted. "We can discuss this all later." She brushed hair out of Lina's face and cupped it with her hand. "We're just glad that you have awoken."

Frigga stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Lina alone with her thoughts.

It had all happened so fast. First Lina was in the hallway, astonished at the lack of door her brother's chambers had. Then she saw him lying in the hall covered in his blood. Who was the woman that was standing over him? And who had saved her?

Ignoring the aches in her body, Lina again attempted to sit up in her bed. She took this approach slowly as not to agitate the pain in her head even more. The room she was in was large and regal. Beds lined the wall Lina was against as well as the one opposite of her. Each bed was separated by curtains to give each patient privacy. High windows let sunlight fill the room, kissing the tan colored walls in all their splendor.

Lina looked down at what she was wearing. A white gown flowed to her feet. Lina's bruises had disappeared and scars that she had sustained from practicing with her brother had also been erased.

She slowly climbed out of her bed and made her way to the door. The halls reminded her of her home. The cool marble under her feet, the windows letting in the sunlight, and the great doors at the end of the hall that she assumed lead to an even larger room. It was cracked and she could hear voices coming from it. Slowly, she crept over and peaked inside, listening to the conversation that she soon learned was about her.

"Why is it of concern to us to keep her here? If she's a danger to Asgard then we should remove her!" a strong voice boomed. She saw the blonde haired man who had uttered the idea. He was strong looking and had a presence of authority about him.

"Her father was a dear ally and friend of mine," another figure replied. He too looked familiar to Lina. He sat upon a throne in the front of the room. "She is the only one left of her line and to leave her outside of Asgard with this threat looming around would mean certain death for the lady."

"But what if the people of Asgard are put in danger because of her presence? We cannot risk an attack on—"

"Enough!" the king bellowed. Lina watched with unwavering eyes. "She is a guest in Asgard and she will be treated as such. We will protect her and we will welcome her. Am I understood?"

"It might be helpful to note," another man interjected, "that this conversation is no longer private." The man had jet black hair and an outfit composed of blacks and greens. He gestured towards the door that Lina was hiding behind.

As if on cue, the large doors opened, allowing Lina to walk into the hall and to stand in front of Odin.

"Lina Sparrow," the king announced. "Welcome to Asgard. I am Odin, King of Asgard, and host to you during your stay here. These are my sons, Thor—" He gestured to the blonde haired man, "—and Loki," he finished, pointing towards the dark haired man.

Lina curtsied as she had been taught. "Thank you, my lord, for your kindness in allowing me to stay here. I do not wish to be an inconvenience during my stay. As soon as I am well, I shall be leaving to return to my kingdom.

Odin held up a hand. "I'm afraid that will not only be unnecessary but also impossible.

Lina's eyes widened.

"Your kingdom was destroyed after we rescued you, my lady," Thor added.

"Were there any survivors?" she asked. Her eyes longed for a happy reply.

Odin shook his head. Thor looked away from her as Loki stood up from his chair and walked towards the window.

"If the rest of the household had listened to me, we wouldn't have this situation for you," Loki spat.

"Loki," Odin warned.

"You were the voice in my head?" Lina questioned, turning her body towards the man.

"Yes. And might I add, you should really listen to someone when they're trying to save your life."

"Brother, please do not do this now," Thor asked.

Loki turned to him with a smirk. "And you were demanding that she leave not ten minutes ago. Clearly I'm not the only one who needs to stay in line."

"Do not tempt me with your sly comments," Thor challenged.

From there Lina didn't know how much of the arguing was really about her. It was just as if she was home. She was forgotten as the two brothers and their father yelled and bickered at each other.

Lina clenched her fists and closed her eyes, calming herself. She wanted answers and she wasn't going to get them with these three acting in such a way. Her knuckles turned white as her balled up fists reached their limit.

"ENOUGH!" she yelled. She released her fists and something happened that never happened to her before. A vase on the opposite side of the room from her shattered. She stared at it in awe, as did Odin, Thor, and Loki. "I don't know what family quarrels you three have but I would greatly appreciate if you set them aside to deal with the issue at hand." With that she stormed out of the throne room. She didn't know where she was going, but she needed answers. And she needed them now.

Hello! Sorry the beginning might be a little slow. Hope to hear back some reviews and hopefully I'll be bringing out more chapters as the day goes on! :)

-sparrowlina