The Lady of Darkness (Loki x OC)

Chapter 11

Loki had asked if I wanted to stay with him the night before, but I couldn't do it. There was too much on my mind. Although Loki seemed hurt by my rejection, he didn't question it. Everything that Eisa and I talked about haunted me. I wasn't able to sleep due to my tossing and turning all through the night. Eventually, I gave up trying. Until sunrise, I sat on the balcony railing staring absently at the view with a shawl wrapped around my shoulders with the conversation with Eisa replaying over and over again. Even the things my friends told me.

Even when I decided to leave my chambers, I didn't see Loki. The first thing I needed to do was take care of the Staff. Closing my eyes, I created the warding to protect it. When I checked how powerful the spell was it glowed a bright white light, lighting the dark room as if there was a sun. It was a much more powerful enchantment compared to the other night. It forced me to come to the reality that my father was becoming weak. He hid his condition from me and I didn't even know how long he was unwell. What kind of daughter was I to not notice anything?

"Ravenna..." a voice whispered. I looked around trying to find where the voice came from but saw no one. A growl echoed across the room. I conjured my dagger to prepare myself if anyone should attack.

"Who's there?" I called out. "Show yourself."

"Ravenna..." the voice said again but this time it came from behind me.

I turned to face the Staff. A strange force engulfed me. My eyes closed as I felt the urge to remove the enchantment so I could pick it up. Realizing what it was, I swiftly moved farther away from the Staff. I moved towards the steps, giving the Staff a final look to make sure the enchantment and casing were secured before I left the room. I ran up the steps and slammed the doors of the vault shut. I leaned against the door as I took ragged breaths. I lifted my arm while I hovered my other hand to examine if the Staff had influenced me. Thankfully, there was no reaction. I scratched the back of my neck in relief.

I wouldn't be able to protect the Staff if I had negative emotions. I felt guilty for not knowing what was happening to my father and for cheating on Thor with Loki. I was afraid that Loki had a hidden agenda that I didn't know about. I wished I could look inside his mind, but I knew that he would sense me inside his head. There was someone who could see things that I wasn't able or willing to see. Knowing who, I rode my horse across the Bifrost. Heimdall was already outside the observatory waiting for me. I got down from the horse to approach him.

"You seemed troubled," Heimdall said, walking inside the observatory with me following close behind him.

"I believe your insight will be much appreciated at the moment," I responded. "Hopefully, you can bring some light to the situation at hand."

"I'm at your service," he said, holding the handle to his sword. "What do you need of me, My Queen?"

"Ravenna," I insisted softly. I looked at the portal, remembering the night of Thor's banishment. "How is he?"

"He's getting along nicely," Heimdall replied. "The mortals he resides with are showing him humility. He found Mjölnir, but was unable to lift it."

"Why?"

"Allfather cast a spell. Only someone worthy can lift the hammer and have Thor's power," Heimdall explained.

"Why would Allfather do that to him? To put that weapon so close to him, knowing the ability to come home is right there, only to show he's not able to? That's rather cruel."

"To lose everything allows you to realize what you had in front of you the whole time. It gives you a chance to be grateful for what you get in the future regardless of how small or big it is. After that, you learn to hold onto what you have and never let it go. You learn to never take anything for granted." Heimdall expressed.