Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 69 - A prince and a princess

One week later, Vanaheim

"Hi mom. Hi dad." Birds chirped happy songs up in trees, next to the patch of grass Vera let herself sit down on. Her brother knelt down with her, both smiling up at two beautifully detailed gravestones. A display of heaven's colours decorated both Bryn and Frode's names, to which the siblings both contributed with another set of freshly plucked flowers. "It's been a very, very long few months."

It was the first time visiting their graves as themselves, in this true life and existence. Frode's headstone next to his wife's was the only thing of Morgun's magic that Vera and Harald had decided to leave standing. It felt a bit wrong at first—to leave even one single thing of Morgun's creation in existence. But once they got on location, Vera and Harald didn't even had to look at each other to know that it was weirdly right. Because this gravestone, right next to his wife, was where Morgun had shown that tiniest hint of compassion. And to know that that would be the only thing the witch would leave behind in this world was satisfaction at its finest. Both Frode and Bryn wouldn't have had it any other way.

Vera and Harald talked to their parents as if they were there for a little while. Of course, got the biggest obstacle addressed first. Questions and frustration about Bryn's decisions shot into the open air as forceful as Vera's arrows. Disappointment came with it. Slight anger got mixed with the words Harald spoke to Bryn's headstone too. And even though they'd get no answers from their mother in this life, it felt good to throw it out. It felt good to make clear to a stone that Bryn had done something wrong. But that even though she did, she was loved as a mother for many, many other things.

Never once did a tear roll. There was grief, for sure. Sadness because of loss was present too. But peace was what mattered most. The fact that their mother died on her own terms all those years ago, and Frode sacrificed himself knowingly, with the thought that he'd join his wife in the afterlife, was what brought their deaths peace. Frode never stopped to love his wife. Bryn never dared to say goodbye to him when she knew that her time was near. Now, they sat together again, undoubtedly on the softest, brightest, nearest cloud.

When everything had been said, Vera rose to her feet. The flowers she had plucked from her mother's garden now decorated their graves, and whatever buildup emotions both the siblings had were now out of their systems. They were done for today. And so, did she offer her brother her hand. "Are you ready?"

Harald took her hand, getting back on his feet as well before smiling down at his parents' graves. "Yeah. Let's go."

Turning to walk down the path they had come from, Vera's eyes immediately landed on Loki's. He had been waiting for the siblings, leaning against a tree on a distance far enough to not be able to accidentally eavesdrop. It was a distance he had kept out of pure respect, knowing that neither Vera nor Harald would have minded for him to hear their words, but wanting to give them time alone either way. It was a few steps away from were Bodil sat on a little wooden bench, who immediately stood as soon as she saw the siblings return.

The Asgardian healer approached the two as if they'd break when moving too quick. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah." Vera sighed, the same time Loki put his arm around her shoulders, to have her sink away against his chest. She smiled up at him after he placed a gentle kiss on her head. "Our father died for us. I feel like he wanted that to be the way to go, you know?"

Bodil nodded thoughtfully. "I didn't l know him. But from what I heard, he was likely stuck between two forces of love. Sacrificing himself for you, and joining his wife, was the best of both worlds for him."

Vera's smile spoke appreciation more than her words could, in contrast with Harald who felt himself tear up now. "Thank you." He spoke softly, before motioning his head towards the exit of the graveyard.