Chapter 11

She had barely made it out of the room before the tears began to flow, with shuddering breaths she leaned on the wall behind her and let herself slide down it, not caring the wall tugged and snagged at her dress.

Her whole body trembled as she sobbed silently, grateful that no one was allowed near the royal dungeons but those few members of the royal family that would even want to visit him. She could sob and scream to her heart's content! Yet no screams left her, though they ragged inside her, begging to come out. Her sobbing was quiet and gut wrenching.

Her face became red as she sobbed for everything she had lost, everything she had given up only to once again be dealt a losing hand from the Gods. Why couldn't she be happy? Had she not repented for her sins? All she wanted was to love and be loved and once again she had been slapped in the face by reality.

No one could love her, would love her.

She was as Loki had so cruelly put it: a means to an end. She thought back, going over every small smile and caring touch Thor had given her. He had been so sweet, so kind...so caring. She had truly believed he was growing to care for her. In the end he was just being nice, playing his role as a loving husband all the while pining after another woman.

It was Inuyasha and Kikyo all over again!

Suddenly anger overtook her, pure blind rage. Once again she would be second best, cared for but not loved. Her sobbing slowly stopped as her anger took over, he had used her from the beginning, yes their marriage was not one of love but he had whispered such sweet words to her, caressed her face so tenderly...all the while knowing that he was in love with another woman.

Yes, he was playing his role but damn if he didn't make her believe him, he had led her on, gave her false hope. Had he just told her about 'Jane' from the beginning she would have accepted it. She wouldn't have let him into her heart so easily and fully.

Anger fueling her she stood and wiped at her face, rubbing the tears away so hard that it hurt. She didn't care, face red and blotching from crying she set out in search of her 'loving' husband ready to confront him and his lies. With each step she forced herself to forget every kind word, every tender touch...she hardened her heart towards him. Well, what was left of it.

Thor laughed heartily as he left the dining hall, Lady Sif and the warriors three trailing behind him. They had relaxed and ate after a very intense sparring session, it was during them that he could let go and be the true Asgardian warrior he was meant to be. No rules and regulations, no appearances to keep up. He could just let go and be himself, the wild man that he had always been.

Not some stuffy regulated prince, who was about to become king. He could let loose and roll in the dirt.

He blinked as he saw his wife make her way towards them, he raised his hand in greeting, a smile on his face. His smile faded as he took in the way her shoulders were hunched and her hands clenched.

He frowned even more as she stopped in front of him, her face blotchy and red as if she had been crying. Immediately he looked at the direction she had come from, dread settling in his stomach, that was where they kept Loki. Had Loki lashed out at her and upset her? He furrowed his eyebrows not at all liking that thought, while he loved his brother dearly he found himself coming to care for his wife in a way he had not expected when their marriage began.

"Kagome, are you alright?" He flinched as her eyes, usually so full of laughter and light narrowed in on him, full of anger and rage, what had he done to upset her so? To deserve such a hard cold look from her?

She gave a hollow laugh as she reached up and pulled the necklace from around her neck, throwing it at him as hard as she could. It bounced off his chest and landed between them with a deafening clink. She ignored his friends as they watched on in surprise. Oh yeah, who cared. Let them watch the drama that was her life unfold.

She bet they laughed at her behind her back, knowing full well what that damned necklace meant. She had cherished it so much, treasured it, and it was nothing more than a stamp labeling her as second best!

She didn't even feel the slightest bit of remorse as his face fell and his broad shoulders slumped.

"You know." His voice was low and shamed, he knew she would find out the meaning of the trinket one day. In all honesty he had no't even wanted to give it to her, to disgrace her in such a manner but his father had pressured him into it. Not wanting him to be stuck in a loveless marriage he had urged him to give it to her, to let everyone know that while she was his wife his heart belonged to another.

It was the only way he could be with Jane once the bridge was opened between their worlds. He had agreed, so easily that thinking back he was ashamed of himself. Yet, in his defense he did not really know her all that well back then, he knew of her but did not know her, had not come to care for her as he did now.

Kagome merely glared at him, her anger cooling into a slow burning rage. She spoke her words low and cold. Shutting down everything in order to focus on the hurt and anger running through her. "I wouldn't have cared to be honest; I probably would have supported you, yet you lied to me, you used me." She paused to let the words sink in. "Your actions were no better than the brother you have locked up."

He frowned. "I did not want to hurt you. It was the only way-"

She cut in. "So, you lied to me, you hid the truth. I'm no fool, this is not a marriage of love...it's political. I get that. You hold no feelings for me. The least you could have done was tell me about her." She sighed and shook her head.

"I thought at the least we could be friends, that you respected me enough to at least try to trust me...to make this work but I was wrong." She backed away from him as he moved to step closer to her.

"Look, we're married. We're stuck with each other...we need to at least play our parts. I understand that, just know that I want nothing to do with you on a personal level. I will play the part of a loving wife and in return just please...don't give me any more false hope." With that she turned on her heels and walked away from him, tears bubbling over and falling down her face.

She was so stupid to think he could love her...so stupid for falling in love with him.