Fallen Star

Fallen Star Chapter 7

"Did some things you can't speak of
But at night
You live it all again

You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you had seen
What you know now then

Wasn't it easier
In your firefly-catching days
When everything out of reach
Someone bigger brought down to you?

Wasn't it beautiful
Running wild till you fell asleep
Before the monsters caught up to you..."

-Innocent

CHAPTER SEVEN

The sunset in the sky over Asgard lit the clouds with a golden sheen, and deepened the heavens above it, lighting the billions of constellations and colorful glowing nebula. The soft, warm breeze wafted through the open windows and across the balconies of the palace. Below, the distant waterfalls whispered, and a flight of white birds twittered as they flitted past the second highest tower. But Thor Odinson, who stood on a broad balcony overlooking the majesty of the mountains and the vastness of the sky, saw nothing, and could not hear the song of the birds or the waters. His eyes had filled with tears, and he was unafraid of letting them fall as he leaned his broad hands on the stone railing. He wore a deep red tunic and trousers embroidered with gold—his usual attire felt too heavy today.

Cloth whispered behind him. He straightened, and tried to gather himself. He turned, expecting to see his mother. Then, his eyebrows went up, and he swiped at his eyes.

"Sif," he said, then cleared his throat to steady it. He forced a smile, but could summon no other words.

Sif, wearing a long blue gown, her hair hanging loose, watched him from the doorway for a moment. Thor found it too difficult to meet her always-intense gaze, so he turned back, and studied the peaks in the distance.

Soft footsteps approached him, and then he saw Sif lean her winsome form against the railing off to his right.

"I cannot believe it," she whispered. "All that time...he was a Frost Giant."

Thor gave a rough laugh—it hurt his throat.

"I cannot believe it either."

"Did the All Father tell you why he kept it a secret?" she asked, gazing at him. Thor ran his thumb along the smooth stone.

"He said he wanted Loki to feel like one of us—like his son. Like my brother."

For a long while, both of them were silent. Thor's hand turned into a fist, and he set it down on the railing.

"I don't know what to think of him, now. Loki," he said, his jaw tighter. "My father gave him mercy—a home—when his father had left him to die. We took him in as one of our family, and raised him as a prince. And he turned around and did...what he did."

"He was a traitor," Sif said. Thor looked at her.

"And he was your friend," he said.

Sif ducked her head, her hair fluttering. She bit her lip.

"I know, Thor," she murmured. "I just couldn't bear what he did to you."

Thor smiled, his heart growing a little warmer.

"Which is why you came to rescue me, right?"

She looked up at him, and returned his small smile. But soon it faded, as she studied his face.

"You truly miss him?"

Thor looked away again, gazing far off into the stars. He did not speak for several minutes. But when he finally did, his chest tensed.