The Girl With Bad Luck

Forgiveness

Loki protectively held Persephone against his chest, careful not to jostle her. He dreaded what he knew he had to do next. But he didn't have the healing skills for wounds this severe.

He had no choice but to take her to a healer. Which meant he had to find a way to keep the healer quiet about Persephone's presence. He couldn't have Odin knowing that Persephone was indeed the mortal he was searching for who Loki had been protecting for several days now. As he walked down the halls to go to the infirmary he felt Persephone move slightly in his palm. His eyes shot down to her form and watched as her movements became wilder. He immediately raised her to his eye level and saw her eyes blink open. They searched around lazily trying to figure out where she was. Then they locked onto his. He watched as her expression went from curious to fearful. She tried to back away from his face but found her limbs unable to cooperate. Her thin, wounded arms buckled beneath the tiny weight of her upper half. She whimpered with pain.

His heart dropped with guilt and sadness. She was scared of him.

"Oh dear...little one... do not move. Your hurt I'm taking you to a healer."

Her eyes went even wider with fear. She frantically shook her head no. He couldn't understand why she was scared of this. Then it clicked. If he shrunk down from his tall frame into such a delicate one as Persephone's, he imagines he would be fearful of other giants. In that situation, he would be powerless, just as she was now.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

He blurted the promise out of habit. Immediately after saying it, he realized that he had already failed at keeping his promise. No matter, Persephone was still blazed with fear and taking no notice of his already broken promise. He tried to soothe her with a finger rub on the back and gentle words, yet nothing worked. Eventually, after several moments of her frantic movements, he gently placed the very tip of his forefinger on her forehead sending her into a deep sleep.

He approached the infirmary doors, and found a young woman in a white silky dress, signifying she was a healer. He carefully closed Persephone's wounded form in a loose fist as he had done once before to shield her from unwanted eyes. Last time she had been struggling to escape his grasp, but this time she was still. It felt wrong, and he was reminded of the power he held over this small girl, how she had trusted him to keep her safe and not take advantage of the size difference. He wondered if he still held that trust with her. Nonetheless, he calmly came to stand before the healer and cleared his throat. The young woman looked up at the sound and when realizing it was Prince Loki straightened her posture. Knowing he had the advantage of surprise and authority he took the opportunity.

"I am in need of assistance." He said smoothly, fiercely.

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After threatening the poor healer with her position in the infirmary and her life if she told of her aid with Persephone, she gladly and timidly accepted to help.

It had felt like an eternity waiting for Persephone to wake up after the healer had finished her duties. He had carried her to his quarters and laid her on a pillow. Like always it swallowed her form as if she was floating in a soft cloud. Yet, this time she looked so...fragile. The healer had restored her back to her original health. All of the previous bleeding wounds, broken limbs, and punctured lungs were no more, yet, some bruises still lingered. They stained her arms and legs a dark purple.

Weak whimpers drew him out of his painful thoughts. Persephone's eyes were scrunched up and a whimper escaped past her lips again. She started thrashing on the pillow, enough to worry Loki she would tumble right off of it.