Chapter 7

Emilia POV

Loki walked me back to my room and we talked for a bit. I told him how much I had heard and he had flinched at some of the parts and had a dazed off look for the others. I apologized for overstepping my boundaries. He simply nodded and went to walk away. I tried to go after him, "Loki! I don't care about what you guys were talking about." He turns around, "How can you say that, Emilia. I am a monster and that is all I'll ever be!" I shook my head, "Loki. You might be mischievous and known as a prankster, but you will NEVER be a monster! You are the same Loki that I have known for the last ten years." We were inches apart. Close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off of his body. He was looking into my eyes and said, "Did you fear me when you saw me in my true form?" He was scaring me, but I wasn't going to back down. He stepped forward and I stepped back, not knowing that I was about to be backed up into the wall behind me.

My shoulder had hit the wall, but he wouldn't let up with his yelling, "Emilia, do you fear me right now, knowing what my people have done!?!" I reply, "Loki, you weren't brought up there. You aren't a true Jotun and you know it. You were brought up here with people who care about you." He spits back, "Like who?" Without hesitating, I yelled at him, "Me!" He was taken back by this, "You care for me?" I sighed and nodded, "Yes! I don't even care that you were born in Jotunheim. I don't care about the fact that you come from a family of Frost Giants and that you are one. I care about you!" I could see that he was processing this information. He stepped away from me and I saw the rage was gone from his eyes, "I'm so sorry, Lady Emilia. I shouldn't have screamed at you." He had walked away, but this time I wasn't going to follow him. I decided to play it safe and go in my chambers.

________________________________________________________________________

Loki's POV

I knew that Mother would be in Odin's chambers tending to him while he was in Odinsleep. I walked there, so I could take time to think about the information I had just heard. Emilia cares for me. She must be lying though. Like how could a sweet person fall for a monster like me. You will NEVER be a monster. Her words had went through my head over and over again since she had said them. I shook the thought from my head before arriving outside of Odin's chamber where the guards were standing outside the door. They stepped out of my way to let me in the door. Mother had seen me walk through the door and walked over to hug me. We hugged for a moment before leading me to one side of him and sitting across from me, on the other side of Odin. She took his hand in hers. I looked at the pale and lifeless man I thought was my father for many years. His body and the space around it was warped from the effect of Odinsleep. I couldn't look at him anymore, so I look at the room around it, noticing that the walls of his chamber had moved to close around him. The room looked like it was protecting him like a dark crypt, sealing off any daylight. She spoke up, "I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning. There should be no secrets in a family." I asked, "So why did he lie?" She sighed, "He kept the truth from you so that you would never feel different. You are in every way our son, Loki, and we your family. You must know that." As I take this in, I stared at Odin.

As much as I deserved to be angry at him, I couldn't be angry at him in this moment. She continued speaking, "You can speak to him. He can see and hear us, even now." I replied with another question, "How long will it last?" Frigga shook her head, "I don't know. This time is different. We were unprepared." I told the truth, "I never get used to seeing him like this. The most powerful being in the Nine Realms lying helpless until his body is restored." "But he's put it off for so long now, I fear." I had heard her say. I picked up her hand and held it in mine. I could tell she was grateful as she wiped tears from her eyes, "You're a good son." I sit here, uncertain on how to react and how I really feel. Mother continued, "We mustn't lose hope that your father will return will return to us. And your brother." I look up concerned, "What hope is there for Thor?" She replied, "There's always a purpose to everything your father does. Thor may yet find a way home." I was somehow troubled by this revelation. I got up and headed towards the exit when I hear a clatter of armored footsteps, which were hurriedly approaching. It was the Einherjar guard, who entered the room and blocked my way out of the door. I tensed and prepared for the worst, but he just stood there. I was actually baffled. I hear my mother speak up yet again, "Thor is banished. The line of succession falls to you. Until he awakens, Asgard is yours."

I was really shocked, but the guard kneeled before me. Another guard enters the room and hands me the spear (Gungnir), while also kneeling before me. I looked back at mother when I heard her start to speak, "Make your father proud." I reached out tentatively, and take it. I like the feel of the spear in my hand.