Part Two - Magic & Memories (Loki x Reader)

Chapter Sixteen - Dashed Hope

     Astrid lay asleep on the bed curled up on her side, her back to the door. A dark, wet spot next to her pillow the only evidence that she cried herself to sleep. Queen Frigga closes the door behind her as softly as she can and sighs. Sigrid told her Astrid had broken down into hard sobs as she walked her to the room next to hers. She still wanted to check on her dear friend herself and was relieved that she had found her asleep. Now she walks to the door to her own chambers a couple of doors away.

     As soon as the door closes behind her, she leans against it tiredly. After a few deep breaths, she walks over to one of her favorite chairs and sits. There is just one more thing she wants to do before she goes to bed, lest sleep elude her from waiting until tomorrow. Queen Frigga hesitates for a second before she decides and she closes her eyes.

     "Heimdall."

     When she opens her eyes, she sees Heimdall standing in front of her and his head slightly bowed. Queen Frigga can see Himinbjörg around her before fixing her gaze on him.

     "My queen. I know why you have called me and I know the questions you want to ask me. I did not foresee this particular incident until I saw you helping bring her soul back into her body. There were pressing matters that required my foresight. As for your other questions, do not ask what you do not want to know. What you may not be ready to know. Help her in other ways, if you feel compelled to. Do not come to me seeking answers that could harm the realm."

     "Is this path dangerous?"

     "The future down this road is obscured from my sight for now. I shall keep my eyes open for anything that can signal danger to the child or to us all. I will say no more. Apologies, my queen."

     In the blink of an eye, Queen Frigga finds herself in her chair once more and lets out a weary sigh. Heimdall's nonanswer to the questions she had not needed to speak out loud gave her more than enough answers. Now she had to decide what to do with this information. A yawn breaks free and she gets up to get ready for bed. This new information calms her heart back down and allows sleep to beckon her once more.

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     "I'll walk you to your room, but we need to talk Kyrie."

     The words Loki said hang between them in the silence that follows as they walk to her room. The little Valkyrie expected her best friend to grab her and move them with his magic. When he grabbed her hand and began to lead her, anxiety began to creep up into her heart. The longer the silence lasted, the harder it was for her to break it. They make it to her door and Loki quickly glances around them before opening it and pulling her inside. He closes the door behind them and leans wearily with his eyes closed on it as she stands there wringing her hands together.

     Loki's eyes fly open and they hold hers with an intensity he has never directed at her before. "You lied to my mother, you lied to Sif and Dagny. Worst of all, you lied to me. How am I supposed to keep you safe if you lie to me? You are my best friend, Kyrie. I have never lied nor will I ever lie to you. Am I not your best friend anymore?"

     Loki's pained eyes close up her throat and she barely manages to whisper, "You are."

     "Then why didn't you tell me? Why did you go off by yourself and try a spell that could have been really dangerous to do? And out of everyone you know, what makes you think I would have stopped you instead of following your idea? You know me! Do you know what seeing you on the floor and not waking up did to me? I don't think I've ever been more terrified, more helpless!"

     The little Valkyrie's shoulders sag as her body curls inward and her gaze lowers, tears threatening to spill. "I thought this up while you were gone. Once you came back, I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to ask Queen Frigga about the spell. Because maybe she would've stopped me from trying. Please don't be mad at me, Loki."