New memories

Chapter 7

After the chaos with the dragons, we got back into the palace and me, Bucky, and Nanna went to my room to settle down. Nanna needs food and sleep probably every two hours, so we have to fit everything in those frames. I gave her a bottle and we are both now laying on our bed. Thor and Loki have provided us a crib for her so that she has her own place to sleep. But the feeding times are the easier and calmer times, so I like to just be close to her and observe what she is doing. Bucky is laying on the other side of Nanna and just smiling at her and me. This feels really good, and I couldn't be happier. I think that even before Nanna fell asleep, I was already sleeping. Luckily, Bucky was awake to put her into the crib before he came to lay next to me, put his arms around me and pulled a blanket on us. It's like before, just us cuddling, and holding each other close.

I woke up from the nap, and Bucky was gone. Where could he be? I don't have time to think about that, because I hear Nanna crying and I realize why. There is someone at her crib. A woman. She is about my height, light brown hair, and she was wearing a green dress. She was stroking Nanna's cheek and looking at her with a smile. "Step back!", I say firmly. She startles but doesn't move. I have seen her before. She was at the courtyard when the dragons were acting up. I stood up and with my powers I form a force field around Nanna. My hands were glowing, and I think that she knows what that means. She finally takes few steps back and her face has changed completely from the smile to scared. "I don't mean any harm, my name is Deliah. I am helping your brother at the palace.", she tries to convince me to put my guards down.

I try to determine whether to trust her or blast her with my powers. "Why are you here? If you are supposed to help my brother, why are you near my daughter?", I ask her. My mother bear instincts have woken up once again. I move myself in between of Nanna and Deliah. "I am really sorry your highness. I was supposed to come and tell you that Thor and Sir Barnes have left on a quest. When I got here, she was crying, and I just tried to calm her down. I am sorry if it seemed like something else. I promise that you don't have to be afraid of me, I am only here to help." I am not lowering my hands and I still look incredibly pissed off. Suddenly, three phoenixes fly to my room. They land themselves in between me and Deliah. They keep shrieking at her and I fear that it will scare Nanna even more. But when I turn to look at her, it looks like she calmed down immediately after the phoenixes appeared. I turn back to them and realize that they are Funí, Taran and Spjalli. My phoenix companion and my brothers'. I can see that they don't trust her and now they are protecting not just me but also Nanna.

I guess these three made enough noise for others in the palace to notice it because in few minutes Loki has run into the room. He has now positioned him between Deliah and the three phoenixes. "Spjalli, stop it! Funí, Taran, you too, stop!", Loki shouts at them, but with no results. They are still there. "Halla, do something!", he then turns to me, "This is Deliah, my girlfriend.". I look at him and the first thing that comes from my mouth is, "Excuse me? What?". Loki puts his arm around her put keeps himself in between her and us. "She is your girlfriend? The woman, that came into my room, uninvited, and was putting her hands on my daughter and making her cry, is your girlfriend?", I ask Loki. Now he looks confused. He looks at Deliah and she is looking back at him. "I knocked on the door and heard the baby crying. I tried to ask if anyone was in. I came in because I was worried. I saw her sleeping on the bed and the girl was crying in the crib. I just tried to calm her down, but I wasn't able to do that.", Deliah explains to Loki.

I am now holding Nanna in my arms. Loki is trying to insure Deliah that everything is alright. He then let's go of her and tries to take a step towards us. The phoenixes are staying still until Deliah takes a step to follow Loki. "Stop!", Loki yells at them and Nanna startles and starts to cry again. Loki looks worried, I know he doesn't want Nanna to be afraid of him. "Why are they doing this? Can't you do something Halla?", he asks me.

"I am not sure if I want to.", I answer to Loki and look at Deliah. Loki looks at me and says firmly, "She has done nothing wrong. Make them stop this!". I look at Loki and respond to him, "Are you asking me to do so or are you giving me orders? Have you thought that maybe there is a reason that they are doing this? I trust them more than I trust her right now." Loki is getting angry and Deliah is also noticing it because she moves closer to him and takes a hold of his arm. "This is nonsense. Make them stop or I will!", Loki states and now he is not thinking about Nanna or how she might get scared. Right now, he is defending his girlfriend and apparently ignoring everyone else that he cares about.

Spjalli shrieks to Loki couple of times like trying to speak to him. He then flies away. For a moment, Loki looked sad that Spjalli left and maybe said something to him. But he shakes his head and looks at the other two phoenixes. "Leave!", he orders, and I am getting mad again. "They are protecting me, just like I am protecting the Phoenix Fire. Even though they have gotten close to you or Thor, they are my companions, and they will do as is their nature. Do not shout at them! They are not your pets that you can order around. They are not here to please you.", I tell Loki and he looks astounded. "Keep your stupid birds if you wish. Deliah, please, come with me.", he says. They leave our room, but before Loki steps out, he looks at me and telepathically asks me, "Isn't this what you wanted me to do; find purpose outside the palace? Didn't you push me to find someone and be happy? Is your failing relationship the reason you hate her?".

He closes the door behind him, and I am astounded. What did he mean by 'failing relationship'? Has Bucky or Thor told him something that I don't know? I am playing with Nanna on the bed and only thing that I am able to think is what Loki told me. Is my relationship with Bucky failing? I know that things aren't like they used to be, but we still love each other. We are still together and trying to fix things. I agree that it doesn't help that he leaves me and Nanna alone without even saying goodbye. I am starting to get angry at both Loki and Bucky. Luckily, Nanna keeps having fun with Funí and Taran.