Heart of Stone [On Hold]

36

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night sky blanketed over the realm of Asgard, a lulling peace of quiet that soon faded into a new morning that would soon be filled with the sounds of people going about their day. The sun was just starting to rise from the horizon, chasing away the stars as (y/n) laid awake in her bed. She curled around Loki whose back was to her chest, her holding him close as she laid her chin on top of his head. One of her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, holding his hand as the other ran through his hair softly. He slept soundly in her arms, slept peacefully knowing he was safe with her as his mind was free from endless nightmares.

(y/n) takes in a deep breath, hoping the weight on her chest would disappear but as usual, it didn't. She lays a kiss on Loki's head before gently slipping away from him and getting up from the bed. She frowns, seeing his face scrunch up from the loss of warmth and she pulls the blanket higher over his shoulders before getting dressed. She couldn't bear to face her body as she wore her armour, her hand holding the mask in her grasp before putting it on to hide her face. 

(y/n) glanced over to Loki, taking one of his many green magic flowers he had given her and places it in front of him as she kneeled before the bed. She brushes her fingers against his cheek, gently shifting his hair back from his face as Loki slept. He looked so free, free from any worry or from any burden, free from his fear and from his terror. (y/n) shifts her mask up just enough to kiss his forehead once more before putting it back and leaving her bedroom silently.

The girl slipped past all the guards patrolling the palace, moving into Frigga's room while she slept and walking through her magic door. The magic warped around her and the scenery changed to a dark cave, a cold and damp interior that was so different from the warm and sunny palace. (y/n) walked towards the entrance of the cave like she has done many times for the past couple of days at the exact same time every day, sitting down on a rock as she overlooked the whole realm of Asgard in all its glory.

She took her mask off to enjoy the breeze that blew over her, trying to ignore the crumbled pieces of her arm floating away with the wind. She looked over at Mörker, her sword that sat next to her, her sword that she could no longer carry like she used to. The more she crumbled away, the less she had the strength to wield her trusted sword like she wasn't worthy anymore. (y/n) took off her mask, her fingers gently running across the crack over her face.

She came out to the cave every day to die. She would never let Loki see her fall apart and cause his dispair, to make him think it was all his fault that she slowly broke away. No, she wouldn't do that to him. (y/n) wanted to let Loki live a peaceful life and let herself break away alone. 

No one had to know...

No one had to see...

She came to the cave every day in case she just... fell apart but there was a part of her that was happy to go back to Loki at the end of the day to lay with him in bed one more time.

(y/n) watched over Asgard for some time, closing her eyes to let her mind wander and as always, her mind was filled with memories of her and Loki. If she had to, she was glad that Loki would be the last thing she saw if she dusted with the wind. There was a sudden flash of lightning and (y/n) jolted awake to see the Bifrost activate. Someone had arrived into Asgard and she was curious to see who it was, her fingers holding onto the hourglass locket she wore before twisting the dial and falling into darkness.

The girl was dropped into the palace, seeing a strange brunette woman with Thor. He was extremely happy, the expression on his face was one that (y/n) has never seen before. Sure he was happy all the time but there was something about the way he smiled at the woman who smiled back at him with the same expression. There was a warmth between them, an adoration for each other and (y/n) knew that that woman was the very same Midgardian woman Thor had fallen in love with during his time on Earth when he was banished.

"You should come say hello." (y/n) jumps as Frigga stands next to her, smiling softly at the girl and she wondered how the Allmother could see her when no one can. I guess it's all part of her magical abilities. "Loki misses you. He asks every day where you are and no one seems to know." (y/n) frowns at that. "You know that you can always come to me if there is something weighing on your heart." (y/n) turns to look away from Frigga, syphoned back into her body on the cave. She lets out a sigh knowing she was caught and stands up, walking back through the cave and opening the door to walk into Frigga's room. 

The kind woman that had looked after (y/n) all these years waited patiently for her. She walked up to the woman, slowly taking her mask off. Frigga didn't falter her smile once, holding (y/n)'s face gently. "I'm falling apart..." those words made her smile falter, hearing a deep sadness in them. 

Frigga gently detaches the metal from the smaller woman's armour, letting them fall to reveal the cracks enveloping her entire body. "Oh (y/n)..."

"I don't want Loki to see me like this..." (y/n) was pulled into Frigga's arms as she hugged her, the pounding in her head beating louder as she tried to hold back her tears. She didn't want anyone to see her break down like this. "I don't know how much time I have left-"

"-do not talk like that, there is always time." Frigga pulls back, tapping (y/n)'s chin up. "If you wish, I can cast an illusion to cover them up." (y/n) thought about it. She would be lying to Loki for the first time ever and she was worried about Frigga's well being if she held the illusion for too long but... she wanted to spend whatever time was left with Loki without worrying about hiding the cracks from him. "Too late dear." Frigga chuckles and (y/n) felt the magic wash over her, turning to a mirror to see the cracks disappearing except for the ones that were already filled in with metal. There was a sense of relief even though (y/n) knew this wasn't real, that this wasn't temporary.

"Mother have you seen (y/n)-" Loki soon barged through the door, a frown on his face to wake up alone in the bed once more but it lifted once he sees his love who he was looking for this entire time.

"Right here Loki, but you should make sure to keep yourself invisible around the palace." Loki doesn't say anything as he walks up to (y/n) and hugs her, his racing heart calming down once he smelt the familiar flowery scent of his love and felt the warmth of her body against his cooler one.

"Where do you disappear to every day?" he mumbles quietly.

"She was training with me Loki. I apologise for pulling her away from you." Loki seemed to believe the lie from his mother, seeing the dismantled armour (y/n) wore. "Now that you both are here, why don't you say hello to Thor's friend. She just arrived." Loki's magic swarms over him as he becomes invisible but he doesn't let go of (y/n) as they both follow his mother.

"My father doesn't know everything." Thor says as he and Jane stood by the balcony, unknowing of his mother walking up to him with company.

"Don't let him hear you say that." Frigga chuckles lightly as she walks towards her son, Thor holding Janes hand as he smiled at his mother and to (y/n).

"Jane Foster... Please meet Frigga, Queen of Asgard, and my mother." Janes smile quickly drops and she pulls away from Thor, embarrassed to be seen so close to Thor in front of his mother. "And this is (y/n), a dear friend since childhood, and my sister-in-law."

"How many times have I told you not to call me that!" (y/n) blushes red as Loki chuckles next to her but Thor just grins, Jane giving her a kind smile. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------