When I woke up the next day in my mother's museum-esque room, there was no denying that I'd slept better than I had in months. Perhaps it was because I had worked out years of struggle with my missing parent. Or, maybe it was just the fact that I wasn't sleeping on marble anymore. It was incredible what a mattress could do in terms of feeling well-rested. Even when it was super old and was in dire need of being replaced. Still.
I got up, stretching my arms, and giving a little yawn. So I was still a bit tired. Fair. One night of comfort wasn't going to erase all of the time I'd spent living in a dungeon. I had a feeling the dull ache in my bones and general lack of common courtesy would be staying for a while. Not like I hadn't been horrible at socializing for the past eleven years of my life. It was eleven at this point, yes?
It was hard to tell. I hadn't even thought to check a calendar when I'd finally been let out. Given how much time had passed, which I only knew had felt like a lot, it almost seemed certain. Had winter come and gone? Or was it only autumn? No, that couldn't be right. It had to be spring at this point. The battle of New York had taken place more than just a few months ago. God, it seemed so far away now.
As I stood, returning the book I'd moved the previous night to its original location, I gave my clothes a little sniff. Ugh, I absolutely reeked. How Raul and Skadi hadn't complained at dinner, I didn't know. Though, I was sure they'd have managed to put up with it for reasons other than the goodness of their own heart. Anyway, I definitely needed to change, but I wasn't about to take something without permission. So unlike me, I know. Perhaps I'd learned a thing or two while being locked up.
Not wanting to head downstairs as such, I decided to reach out to Raul telepathically. It was a bit of magic I hadn't used frequently and was still a bit iffy at times, but as with so many of my lessons, the general idea had come effortlessly. And, with a bit of focus, I could even tell that he was already sitting at the dining room table. I slipped into his mind, relaying the question I wanted to be answered.
Good morning. Would you mind me borrowing some clothes of Eira's? Just for the moment, and I'll make sure to bring them back at some point if it bothers you guys too much.
I could sense that he'd managed to keep his composure as my voice rang in his head. Impressive, given I knew that I would have jumped in fright and shock the first time someone did the same to me. He even responded with ease, leading me to believe this wasn't his first time dealing with this sort of magic.
Of course. Take whatever you need. At some point, Skadi and I are going to need to stop clinging on to the past. He coughed slightly. In his thoughts, though, which was weird, to say the least. There's also a visitor here to see you when you're ready to come down. I was debating waking you up.
Someone had arrived to speak with me? I wasn't aware that anyone knew where I had run off to. Either Heimdall had shared my location with this person, or they just had good instinct. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself I knew exactly who was down there waiting for me.
I tried to be as delicate as possible going through the drawers of untouched garments that sat in a bureau on the opposite side of the bed, far from the door. It was hard enough finding something that would fit, never mind finding something I would feel comfortable wearing. My mother didn't appear to share the same color scheme I so frequently chose. That's how I ended up in a fitted blue tunic and light brown riding pants. I swapped out my worn-out flats for mud-colored boots as well. It was certainly. . . different.
There was no laundry hamper in the room, so I neatly folded my discarded attire for someone else to deal with later. After taking care of the rest of my business, it was finally time for my descent. I was really wishing my assumption from earlier would be disproved as I peered my head around the corner and through the railing of the staircase. Alas, to no avail. Sitting across the table from Raul was my father dressed as elegantly as ever, hair gelled back at the top.
"Why are you here?" I barked from my position on the second floor. I was beginning to regret getting up this morning. I really didn't want to deal with him right now.
Loki turned to face me, one of his signature grins lighting up his face. "And here I was thinking you'd be glad to see me."
"Right, because for some reason I should be thankful you left me to die, not knowing if Odin was ever going to let me go." I marched down the steps toward him, becoming more frustrated with every second that passed.
Raul excused himself from the table before returning to his chamber upstairs, avoiding eye contact with me as he brushed past. There was no way I was going to sit beside my dad and act like everything was all happy-go-lucky. He'd betrayed me. He hadn't even fought for me to be freed. So I stood a distance away, arms crossed.
"You're not going to let that go any time soon, will you?" Loki sighed.
"Not until you apologize. For a person who claims to care so much about me, what you did was pretty unforgivable."
"Listen, I always had a plan to help you escape. It wasn't as though I was going to abandon you down there."
"Really? Cause it certainly seemed like it. You literally told me that I'd have to save myself. You'd think that if you actually were scheming something, you'd bother to share that with me instead of acting out of your own self-interest."
"You're right. What I did was wrong, and I'm sorry. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
I stared him down. "Something along those lines. But I would have preferred your words were sincere instead of just another lie."
"So what, Winter? I'm not sorry. And you know why? Because I got myself out of the mess and that's what matters to me. I'm not great at the whole parenting thing and being the better man, sure, but that's because that's not who I am. I do things that benefit me and that's not changing as of the moment, so I suppose you just need to get over it."
It took all my energy to bite back a snarky retort or stomp over and slap him. I knew better than to anger him too much, though. He was after all a god.
He ran his hands through his hair, seemingly just as annoyed with our bickering as I was. "Anyway, that's not why I came here. I needed to make sure that you didn't try anything stupid and stayed with your grandparents. The Dark Elves will be here soon, and I'm not taking any chances, so you're staying put."
"And what if I say no?"
"Then I'll make you."
His gaze was unblinking and I was fearful for a moment. This was more than just some overprotective "dad stuff", this was a threat. Still, I couldn't let that hold me back. If I just explained myself.
"I can't sit here and wait for things to blow over." Loki began to interrupt, but I shushed him.
"No, I don't want to hear it. I know I don't have the same training that you do or even the Einherjar, but I do at least have a clue of what I'm getting myself into. And, I need to fight back. Not just to prove myself, but to clear my name and avenge Frigga. You can't tell me you're not in it for the same reasons I am. Honestly, I was stuck with you for long enough to grasp some of your motives. So, please?"
I didn't wait for him to respond. "Either way, I'm heading back to the palace. Today. You can either join me or not. But I'm not staying put."
After taking a deep breath, I turned and began making my way to the door to leave when I felt him grab my arm, holding me back.
"I have a few loose ends I need to tie up here, but I'll see you at the palace. Don't get yourself killed while I'm gone."
It was the closest I was gonna get to a seal of approval. So I nodded, assuring him that I'd be all right, and headed out.
The walk back to the towering, golden castle was a lot longer than I remembered. Which, was saying a lot considering I'd been half-dead the day before when I'd wandered into the forest. It wasn't too difficult to find my way back, though, and as soon as I had exited the woods and reached the main road, it was smooth sailing from there. Naturally, instead of striding right through the front gates, I went to the gardens first, hoping my makeshift rope of bedsheets would still be hanging from the balcony.
Unfortunately, it was not. Not only did that mean that Odin was most certainly aware of my disappearance, but it also meant that getting back inside was going to take a bit more work. Fantastic. Well, I guess that I would be going through the main entrance now. In no way was I going to simply walk right in, though. I was sure all the guards were aware of what I looked like and there was no doubt in my mind that Odin would have told them to arrest me on sight. Or, at least, return me to my chambers.
That was, at this point, where I planned on going, but being escorted by burly men who generally hated me because of my parentage wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. So it was time for a bit more magic. I faded from existence, turning myself invisible. It was a trick I'd used countless times at this point, and the action was almost comforting because of that. Somehow it managed to be incredibly draining still. I blamed that on my unsuitable living conditions.
Thankfully, despite the fact that I was ready to pass out, I hadn't had any issues sneaking in and beginning my trek to the second floor. That was until I had to do the inevitable and pass the throne room. A room that, let me remind you, was almost always holding a very unhappy and unlovable Allfather. A fact that hadn't changed no matter how much of a blessing it would have been.
And, so, as I went to pass said room, I made direct eye contact with the King. He hadn't seen through my trickery before. I knew my magic was nowhere near as strong enough as it would need to be to stop him from noticing. Shockingly enough, though, I was saved from having to be confronted with this fact as a royal advisor I didn't recognize had raced up to the throne, eyes wide. It appeared he had vital information to share. While Odin was distracted, I continued past.
By the time I had hopped up the stairs and finally stood before the double doors that marked my bed-chamber, however, an obnoxiously loud horn was sounded. From where? I couldn't tell, but I was sure that all of Asgard would have been able to hear it. Which was in fact the point, I realized, as men and women suddenly rushed into the hall and down toward the armory.
It looked as though the enemy had finally arrived.