Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 3 - Good

The knock on Era's door was followed up by her opening it, revealing her father standing on the opposite side.

"What in Hel's name were you thinking running off like that yesterday?"

She sighed in response, keeping the door close to her body to deny him any kind of invitation. Era was his daughter, true. But a real dad, this man had barely ever been. Especially for the last few years. Hence the reason why she didn't prefer for this man to wander trough her personal space.

"Well, I've got to say, I'm quite honoured you seem to care about my well-being so much." Of course, sarcastically.

"Don't talk to me in such a tone, Vera. You can't disappear for over 12 hours and expect me to accept that."

"Why the sudden eyes on me?" But she knew the answer. "I already told you I will be there for every festivity. Your family will look perfectly happy and complete."

It was exactly what they had agreed upon. Stick to her brother and father's sides whenever eyes were upon. Because for Era's father, image was important. And he wanted to be known as a man without any flaws. A man who's family hadn't fallen apart after the death of his wife.

"I just thought we had discussed this whole situation back home." He continued. "This isn't our realm, and these aren't our people. They will not like it if you run trough their space like a reckless child and neither will I."

"Vanir and Aesir do not differ in looks. For all they know I'm as much Asgardian as them."

"By the Norms Vera." He was beginning to loose his patience, that much was clear by the soft punch he gave the wall next to her door. But Era didn't flinch. Her father realised soon enough that they were in a public space anyway. And raising his voice in front of her could open up some doors. That would ruin the family image for sure. "We are attending royal festivities in the following days. These people will know your face soon enough."

"No one saw me." A lie, but her father didn't know how to spot that on her face anyway. "You're lucky you sent the slower guards after me, though. Results would've been different if they had actually caught me. Which, by the way, I should thank you for." She held up the underside of the arm where a bruise was coloring the entirety of her elbow. Nothing too wounding, but bad enough to make any 'normal' parent feel guilty for sending two guards on a pursuit after their daughter. But of course, her father didn't. So Era just rolled her eyes as she hid her arm back under her sleeve. "Was that all?"

"Quite. But deliver me stress like that once more and I will lock you in here. I have enough on my plate already."

It was the cue for Era to close her door. And she was planning on doing so. But apparently, her father needed to get just another set of words out. "Harald will escort you to the Welcoming Dance tomorrow. Be there."

Era hated this. Her father had become cranky, bitter... He was distant from his daughter and often didn't even acknowledge her presence for days. Unlike years ago, the man now only seemed to care about the blood that ran trough her veins. Because Era was the only one in her family to have inherited the rare genes her mother once had. And her father thought it to be extremely important to pass those genes on. But never with just another man. No, a wealthy man—his only demand. Because that way, his 'grandson' could be taken care for the way he should.

It made her all the more want to have a girl. Want to marry someone poor some day.

But for now, she nodded.

The Welcoming Dance didn't sound too bad after all.

Still, throwing the door in her father's face was the highlight of his visit. She had been quick hiding her bow, and the arrows she had been sharpening. Quickly thrown under the bed, with her heart racing as she thought about the consequence whenever her father would find out she had brought some of her weaponry here. All because it 'wasn't for a lady' to carry any given object made to harm. Because as her home realm quoted: 'A woman is the carrier of life. Death must never be upon her hands.' But fuck that. Era had been taught to defend herself as a small child. And especially in a realm unknown to her, she wouldn't walk alone without being able to.