A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

SEVENTEEN

     In Asgard, Odin is seen standing at the foot of his broken throne. Head bowed. The same guard from Svartalfheim approaches.

"Forgive me, my liege. I've returned from the Dark World with news."

"Thor?" Odin turns his head to the guard.

"There was no sign of Thor, or the weapon, but..."

"What?" Odin turns his whole body towards the guard.

"We found a body." Odin looks away, then looks back to the soldier.

"Loki." The soldier says nothing, but looks up from beneath his helmet and gives a dark smile.

~

Despite her powers, Thor decided to send Astrid back to Asgard to be seen to by Eir. He didn't feel it was safe for her to be near Malekith as he dealt with him. Eir had checked her over to make sure her body was coping with the sudden awakening of her powers. As Eir is examining Astrid, she questions the scars on her body. But she just tells Eir it was from the battle.

"Something still troubles you, my lady." Astrid sits up and sits on the side of her bed fiddling with her hands.

"I know not everyone sees Loki as a good person. But he is my hero. He has saved me countless times, and I feel like I could've done more to save him." Eir could see she was in pain and brought her hand up to her shoulder to comfort her.

"Even though Loki's actions have been questionable in the past. There is no denying that he will be added to the history books as a hero." Astrid smiled at Eir for her kind comment.

"I'll leave you be, my Lady." Eir went to walk out but turned around to her to say something else. "My Lady, one more thing. You must know your father, the King... he is recovering in his chambers."

"He lives?" Considering she didn't want his blood on her hands, she was glad she didn't kill him, yet she still wasn't thrilled that he was alive.

"Why of course Lady Astrid. We are unsure of what exactly happened. Must've been an attack from the dark elves. He is awake, however..." her tone changes. "...he has been paralysed from the neck down." Astrid was at least glad to hear that. That way he could no longer hurt her.

"Thank you, Eir." Eir bowed to the princess and left.

~

Astrid went to visit her father in his chambers, two guards stand outside. They the princess approaching them and allow her in. She closes the door behind her and hesitates to turn around to view her father. She sees a guard standing the other side of the room. He must be there to keep Frey safe. She changes her mind and tries to leave...

"Who's there?" It's too late to leave now.

"It's me... father."

"Ah, my failure of a daughter who tried to murder me." He still remembered what happened so why didn't he tell anyone?

"I'm sorry." Even though he couldn't touch her, she was still scared. "If I may ask, why didn't you tell anyone the truth of what happened?"

"What? Tell everyone that my daughter did this to me rather than in battle?" Frey scoffed at her. He couldn't even lift his head to see the guards standing not far from him. "Oh please, why would I embarrass myself like that? I look better telling them I fought the creatures." He was so full of himself.

"You know what father? You have threatened me, beaten me, and pushed me around for years now. Since mother passed. But none of that was my fault-"

"How dare you speak to me like that-"

"And how dare you treat me like that!" She had nothing left to lose. He couldn't touch her anymore anyway. "You've broken me slowly but Loki was always there. Everything that has happened was your fault and nothing can change my mind about it." For once Frey was speechless. The guard in the room looked to her and smirked, but she didn't see this.

"I will be speaking to Odin about holding a funeral for Loki. After that I will be returning to Vanaheim-"

"But your marriage with Inez-" at that name the guard looked up at him. He had heard that name multiple times before and that man was wanted. Astrid, however didn't let her father interrupt her.

"-and I will take over as Queen and rule Vanaheim the way that you should've but couldn't! I will make it a better place for our people... my people." Frey once again was speechless.

"Farewell, father." Like a Queen she had put Frey in his place and walked out.

A few moments passed and the guard in the chambers with Frey walked to the doors and dismissed the guards. They looked at each other unsure of why they've been told to leave their post but with the guard being a higher rank than them, they obeyed.

The guard walked back in and locked the door, he walked over to the bed where Frey lay and stood over him.

"What do you think you're looking at?" Frey glared at the guard who was just looking down at him.

"Oh nothing your majesty. Just enjoying the view of someone who's just lost everything."

"How dare you!" Frey then moves his eyes to the door and calls for the guard but there was no answer.

"There's no point calling for them. I've sent them away." The guard was obviously amused at the helpless King.

"And as for you." The guard brings his hand up over his mouth and pinches his nose so he can no longer breath. "I will make sure Astrid finally gets the life she deserves. She and I will rule together, and this time there is nothing you can do to stop us."

The green glow of magic appears revealing Loki.

"And the best thing is. I will be the last person you ever see." Frey's eyes widen. He thought Loki was dead. He feels he's starting to lose conscious, he's desperate for air but with him paralysed there's nothing he can do but look at the person he hated more than anyone as he leaves this world forever.

"You good for nothing scum." Loki spat at him as he removes his hand away, Frey no longer breathing.