The silence was unbearable.

Shyael paced back and forth in her alabaster prison and watched her sister who remained locked in the cell across from her. She was sitting on the bench with her head hung low, avoiding her sisters gaze as she undid her hair.

A lump began to form in her throat but Shyael never gave in to tears. Such emotion was useless right now, she must be strong even so that Tira wouldn't have to be. - Gods know she couldn't handle it. The blame was hers to bare after all, perhaps if she showed her sister mercy or had come forth sooner then none of this would have happened. Some queen she turned out to be.

She could imagine the gossip now, echoing through the farplane. The once greatest fighter, Odins favorite source of pride, future queen failed to control and contain her younger sister. Sister valkyries having an affair with the princes of Asgard. Jote was probably sipping on the finest wine with lips as red as blood.

And what of her soldier?

What would happen to the one she took under her wings? A life she had impulsively took in her hands in hopes of proving something to her stubborn sister...to prove to herself that she could do something more. Now that soul was abandoned and probably clutched in the claws of her worst enemy. It pained her, Shyael didn't even know his name.

It was once rumored that Valkyires are connected to those they choose to deliver. Two souls united by spirit, when one dies the other mourns. Will she feel it when life leaves his body? Will she envision his blood being spilled? Such thoughts became unbearable to the point Shyael was becoming beyond anxious in her confinement.

A royal guard passed with his spear in hand, catching his eye Shyael ran to the front of her cell bound by magic and called to him.

"Has his majesty made his decision?" she called out, but the guard continued on his patrol without as much as a glance. "Hello?"

"In a hurry to stargaze in your waters." Tira glared at her sister. "Can't wait to predict your precious soldiers next move. I hope he is dead."

"Do not speak such things." Shyael spat. "You know nothing of him, of his strength, his will to survive."

Tira stood from the bench and walked over to the barrier, facing her sister. "You love him."

Love.

Such a frail emotion, yet hard to kill. But were her sisters words something of truth? Did she love this man, the mortal she suddenly devoted her life's power too? They were divergent yet equal. Watching over him brought her a unique joy that she never felt. Never in her immortality did a mans eyes so blue, make her loss for words and a voice that weakened her legs. Was this love?

No, what was wrong with her. Shyael shook thoughts of this Captain from her mind and focused on her sister. 

 Tira continued. "All you did was smother me and drag me through the dirt. You never loved me, you never respected me! All I got was your shame and abuse you could never accept and be happy with me even when I fell in love with Loki."

"I adored your happiness with the prince, I even envied you." Shyael admitted for the first time. "What I hated was how you did it. You went behind my back and for years I still kept your secret so you could dwell in your happiness. Everything I ever did was for you!"

"Everything you did was always for yourself." Tira's words struck like knives. "Every day I watched you get what I wanted and dwell miserably...it made me sick. You're pathetic."

"You don't mean that, you're just hurt."

Tira placed her hand on the barrier, letting small sparks burn her as she applied pressure. "I wish you would just vanish and never come back. Sometimes, I even wished for your death."

There was no lying in her younger sisters eyes. Years of carrying her weight and fighting so Tira could show her potential and become something greater...just wilted.

Suddenly a group of guards showed up and unlocked Tira's cell. Shyael thought the amount of security was a bit excessive and worried about what Odin had planned for them. Whatever held their fate there was nothing she could do about it now. After such verbal lashing, the valkyrie deserved the stars to fall upon her skin and burn.

Tira didn't even look at her sister as the guards slapped shackles on her wrist and dragged her away. Shyael found herself not ready to be separated and went against the barrier. It's magical sparks reacted,  zapping her right shoulder, arms and the side of her face. A bitter taste lasted on her tongue as her only family ascended the stair of the dungeon and into darkness.

"I loved you." Shyael's heart broke, "With all I had."

A bitter taste lasted on her tongue as her only family ascended the stair of the dungeon and into darkness.

"How sweet." A velvet voice chimed in.

"Jote." Shyael's whole attitude changed when you watched the redhead step in front of her prison. She wore breast armor and a feather dress of gold. She looked like the very trophy she wished to resemble. "Come to boast."

"No," She smiled. "Odin has put me in charge of making sure your punishes go accordingly...won't that be something."

Like her sister before her, three guards unlocked the barrier and clamped cold steel around her wrists. and led her up the stairs. 

Night had fallen over Asgard and the stars made their presence known quite beautifully. It reminded her of the night with the crowned prince when he so desperately tried to make a good impression. Thinking back on that moment he kissed her made Shyael realize she wanted more nights like that. Another wish that would probably never become reality.

Jote pulled her through the palace, not a word was said but the clicking of her heels against stone echoed vibrantly through the halls. The confusion and curiosity was too great when they stopped at the doors of Loki's chambers.

"What are we doing here?"

"First off," Jote began as she unlocked her shackles. "You are going to go in there and wipe his pretty little mind."

"What?"

"Yeah, Odin figured the weight of a lost lover or...a punished one would be too great on the young prince of Asgard. The first part of your punishment is to remove every memory of your sister," Jote placed her hands on Shyael's shoulders in a way of comfort for a split moment she thought she actually cared about her fellow angel. "Free this young soul."

It is what must be done.

Calm and collected Shyael opened the doors and entered Loki's chambers with her hands balled into fists. To erase all the belonged to her sister, a cruel fate for the prince indeed but Shyael could understand ones drive to ease the mind...hers never seemed to rest. She  found him sitting in a chair across the room with a book in his hand. His expression was one of great stress as he didn't even have the book open, he just stared at the leather cover while anxiously tapping his foot.

The all changed when his gaze lifted and spotted the Valkyrie in his room. Hope flowed through him as he jumped up to meet you. "Has he come to a decision?"

Information, that is why he thinks she is here. This only crushed her more when she had no idea what was in store for them. Glancing at the book in his hand, Shyael realized it was the collection of poetry Tira had in her chamber.  The one she grew angry over and forced her to return...the one book that started everything.

Who knows, perhaps if she returned the book herself everything would be different. Too late to ponder on that thought now.

"I just..." Shyael stopped when she felt the pain form in her voice. "I just wanted you to know that I am infinitely sorry for everything that I have caused, I only wanted to -"

"To protect her." Loki finished. "It would seem you and I shared the same purpose."

"This was not supposed to happen."

"Yet here we are." Loki smiled weakly.

She felt for him. It was the very first time they have spoken and Shyael wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and break. Loki carried himself so differently than Thor, his whole posture was strong yet there was a softness in his eyes...matching Tira's.

"How are you handling all of this?" Loki suddenly asked.

Shyael's eyes widened, "You are...asking how I feel when your heart is longing for her?"

"Surely your heart breaks as well. I do not believe it is made of stone like you deem it to be."

"I am trying to stay strong."

"I am sure whatever happens your place is secure on the throne...Thor would not have it any other way."

Loki stepped forward and reached out to take her hands, it seems he was trying to further comfort her when she remember what skin on skin contact would do to him and pulled away.

Loki chuckled, "Of course, I almost forgot.  Tira has spoken about your unique gifts."

It seems her sister had shared so much with her lover, Shyael wondered how much he had told her...but her time was running out. A guard opened the door and stepped inside, grabbing Loki's attention. Jote seemed to be an impatient one, she had to finish this.

" I wish we had more time," Shyael whispered, "...I'm so sorry."

Without a second to lose, a light formed in Shyaels palm. When the prince turned back to her Shyael touched his face and watched his eyes roll back.

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Author's note

This is Jote's current outfit, I couldn't stress it's beauty enough so I show you!