Servant of Jotunheim

Rain

After writing a note for Hank and sliding it under the door at the diner along with my apartment keys, I run out into the pouring rain and away from the town with the book still gripped tightly in my hand.

I needed answers and there was only one place I would be able find them. It is already dark when I reach the field that I had been returned to this very morning.

Me: "Heimdall, bring me back!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

Nothing happens as I grow anxious the longer I am forced to wait. He is rumoured to see and hear all so he must be able to hear me now.

Me: "Please, Heimdall, I need to know!"

The bright light of the Bifrost surrounds me and I arrive back on Asgard mere moments later, watching Heimdall turning his sword to close the portal behind me.

Heimdall: "Welcome back, Princess Valanya".

Me: "Where is he?"

Heimdall: "The throne room".

He hands me a hooded cloak to hide my Midgardian clothing so I can make my way through the kingdom and back to the palace relatively unnoticed.

When I reach the throne room, the King is sitting down on the golden steps themselves with his head in his hands, clearly crying and completely alone.

Me: "Loki?"

Loki: "Valanya?" he seems surprised to see me there and wipes the tears from his eyes.

I remove the cloak before he gets up and runs into my arms, squeezing me so tightly that I can hardly breathe.

Loki: "You are soaking wet?"

Me: "It was raining".

Loki: "Come, quickly. There will be a fire burning in my chambers".

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The King loans me a nightshirt and I sit in front of the fireplace inside his chambers attempting to warm myself.

Having placed my wet clothing nearby in an effort to dry them off, he sits beside me in silence when he notices the book next to me.

Me: "Who am I, Loki?"

Loki: "You are who you have always been, Valanya".

Me: "And what am I?"

Loki: "You are a princess".

Me: "How long have you known this?"

Loki: "My mother told me the day after I confessed my love to you for the first time".

Me: "Your mother knew? Why did you not tell me sooner?"

Loki: "You know of what happened to the previous royal family of Alfheim?"

Me: "It hardly takes an intelligent person to conclude that they were all murdered".

Loki: "My mother feared that if anyone were to discover who you truly were that it would potentially put you in harms way".

Me: "How did she know who I was?"

Loki: "It was your eyes that caught her attention. At first she could not be certain, but she suspected that your grandmother was her cousin Valanya. Once she learned of your mother's name her suspicions were only confirmed".

Me: "Why are you telling me all of this now?"

Loki: "You are strong, far stronger than you realise. All you have survived and overcome, that strength comes from inside of you. You have powerful magic that wants to come out, but having Jotun blood inside of you for so long appears to have dampened your abilities".

Me: "How do I even begin to accept what I am when I have no family to help me understand any of this?"

Loki: "Do what you enjoy the most. Read and learn".

I lean my head on his shoulder while he runs his fingers through my hair in an effort to comfort me and I soon begin to fall asleep.

Shortly after, I feel myself being carried over to the bed and his body pressing against mine in a warm embrace that I never wished to end.