Forthright (Sequel of Silenced)

Chapter 2

Unknown POV

This is the girl Lord Loki has fallen for? And yet he turns me down? How can this be possible? I don't see anything desirable in her.

I am the most beautiful woman in the nine realms and yet he doesn't fall for me? There was a brief period of time where he was under my influence.

Then she came along. She stole his heart while he was imprisoned. She visited him behind the back of the All-Father. And she cut him loose.

And now he's gone. All because of her. I despise her. And I was the one who put the widow's attire in her wardrobe.

And now, Odin faces us and demands who gave her the dress. No one speaks. I resist the urge to laugh at her humiliation. She thought she had importance in his life. She didn't. She was one of many women.

Sure, she was his last, but because he wasn't of capable of more. Then, like the attention seeking whore she is, she let out a shriek. She's probably found the other dresses. I fight a grin as Thor runs for her chamber, everyone in the palace trailing after him.

She looked wide eyed at her open closet. Tears streaked her face. Thor puts his hand on her shoulder and looks at the closet. His eyes widen as well. He walks forward and plucks the green rose from the folds of one of the dresses.

A lot of dark magic was put into making that rose green. He pulls the note from its thorn. He unrolls it and reads it silently. His eyes widen even more as if they'd jump out of his socket.

He looks at the floor and hands the note quietly to Leidi. I relish the pain on her face as fresh tears streaked down her face.

Odin snatches the note from her hand. He reads it over, his expression getting angrier for every word he read. Good.

I, Amora the Enchantress, will not rest until I make this girl's life a living Hel.

Leidi

Leidi,
I know I left you alone in the world, but I left you with a misconception. I know I told you I love you, but I don't. I never did. You are no more than a pawn to me. My heart belongs to another and always will. And I do not regret anything I've done. I enjoy seeing you hurt. I love your pain. I only live to dominate.
-Loki

The letter hits me right where it hurts. How could this be? He told me not to doubt his love. He said it with his dying breath. He gave me his last kiss. His last words. His last glance.

And now, he's telling me there was another? I'm nothing more than a pawn to him? The All-Father snatches the letter from me, reading it over briefly. His eye shows horror and disgust.

He crumples the note in his fist, looking down. I sink down onto the mattress. I look down, tears slipping out of my eyes. I felt as if though I was going to die. There in the room. I stare at the ground.

Murmurs pass through the crowd. Thor holds the green rose in his hand. His face is contorted with anger. I grip the mattress.

He can't have written that. He told me that he loved me. He said not to doubt him. And I don't. But how can he say such things?

"Nonsense. This is complete nonsense. This joke isn't funny. It never was," he crumples the note tighter, "Whoever did this, speak up now!" He's angry now. "Very well. If none of you will tell me who did this, I will punish you all!"

"No," my voice is hardly audible. "Pardon? No?" He looks at me. "It's alright," I say quietly, "Whoever did this, I forgive them."

The All-Father looks at me with shock and disbelief, "You forgive them? They questioned your relationship with Loki! They mocked your loss. It hasn't even been ten days!" "I know," I say meekly.

"I wish to be alone," I say leaving the room, still dressed as a widow. I take Loki's helmet with me.