Servant to the King. 16+

The Cruelty of Day.

You yawn, walking through the dimly lit streets of your home realm.
You predict your sister will be doing her due diligence in a matter of moments.
It's always been rather hard for you to deter the time in which you live.
For other realms, a day cycle can be the equivalent of an hour.
Perhaps even a second..
You, like the rest of your people, only relay to the sun in the sky and the moon that follows.

You had finished your shift of the night, however, and Sol would spare know light.
The crack of dawn shone beams across the land as the sound of wind blew through the trees.
Seemingly...a gleeful "good morning".
You sigh, rubbing your eyes and heading towards the palace.
As usual, once your job is complete for a cycle, you report to Frigga, the queen, who relays that information to correspondents.

You arrive in the garden, practically relying on your staff to carry you as you dredge forward.
The queen sits at the table in the center the courtyard.
You watch as the first light of day rises as she sips her wine.

"Ah, Mani.
You are quite late this morning."

"Heh...I was dreading that.
I assure you, it won't happen again."

She laughed.

"Nonsense!
Being late for the first time in over three hundred years?
I'm astounded you and Sol have managed a perfect record for that long."

"Well, we try our best." You say, placing a scroll in front of her.

"Here are the reports.
Sol will give-" you we're interrupted by the queen getting up.

She walks over to you and places her hands on either sides of your face.
They're soft to the touch yet firm..

"Oh, you look dreadful.
When was the last time you slept?"

"I can't...say I recall.
Perhaps the last eclipse?"

"Mani, the horses-"

"Can manage themselves, I know, I just.."

"Not everything can be made to perfection, my dear.
Especially with a job as significant as yours."

She brushes a bit of hair out of your face before embracing you.
Honestly, Frigga had always been the mother you never had.
After all, you and Sol were made to be beings of light in darkness.
In a constant loop of motion.
There was no room nor reason for you two to have anything more.
As such, you basically raised Sol on your own for the first few centuries.
Then the king married and, well, suddenly there was a greater purpose.
A break to the cycle...

"Now, why don't you come inside and rest?
I'm sure you and your sister could use it."

"I'm not sure, your highness.
I don't know if-"

"Mother!" Exclaimed a familiar and slightly obnoxious voice.

"Good morning, Thor." She responded in a huff.

Without any hesitation, he pushes you aside to talk with her.
Although she notices and gets on to him as a result, he pays you no mind.
In his mind, like many others, you and your sister are irrelevant.
You have no place among the gods.
No matter how utterly irritating that is to you, you take your leave and head into the palace.
Unsurprisingly, it isn't long before your stopped by guards.

"What is your business here?" They ask.

"Your kind is not aloud in the palace!"

You turn back to the courtyard in hopes the queen had followed.
However, they wouldn't be so inquisitive if she were, would they?
You sigh, turning around and walking back out to the garden.
You don't really pay much mind to the foul looks they give you as you walk out.
Your so tired...even if you wanted to debate with them, it would be to no avail.
By the time you've been politely escorted out, it's the morning shine of day.

Looking around, you see all people alike smiling and laughing in the early morning sun.
Some are out bargaining for an array of pleasantries while others clean their stoops.
Children run and play around the buzzing streets of Asgard without a care in the world.
Unfortunately, just as the guards had done, you were given odd looks among the crowd.
Some analyzed with disgust or in a repulsive manner.
Others, you watched their eyes fill with fear.
Going as far as to shield their children's eyes from you...

Without much hesitation, you swerve off into an alley where you manage to catch a break.
The rise in the east casts a shadow over the roof making it darker.
You manage to find the darkest corner and curl up against the cool brick wall.
Despite the joy of the day, it only brought about discomfort for you.
The dark was where you could hide.
A cool peaceful night...forever grateful for your presence.

You fall asleep rather quickly as the shadow seemingly cradles you.
You embrace it.
After that, the rest of the morning is just a blur.
A noisy apathetic blur..