The Ties That Bind Us

2

I wake up early the next morning and stretch while yawning. My feet hitting the floor with a soft thud as I walk around the room. Upon finding an armoire, I open it to reveal a few select dresses. Picking the one that looks most comfortable, I slip on my shoes and quietly leave the room.

After sneaking down the halls, the daylight greets me warmly. The journey back to the garden being shorter than I remembered. I make light work of climbing the tree until I reach the middle. A little break in the leaves allowing the sun to shine on me perfectly. I find a comfortable position and bask in the rays in an attempt to warm my soul.

That sounds dramatic, but I really do need to soften up a bit. It feels like only five minutes have passed when I begin to hear footsteps. I sigh quietly to myself as I rearrange my position. I'm not trying to have anyone see up my dress, not that they'd think to look up here anyway.

"Oh look... still alive" I hear who I assume to be Hela say, "much to your dismay, huh?" Loki replies tiredly. "I wouldn't say to my dismay... but I suppose it's a fitting alternative" she chuckles. "Asshole. I'm going inside" he grumbles, "have fun tending to your wounds" she snickers.

I roll my eyes and lay my head back against a thick branch. The tree begins to rumble, causing my head to hit against it, so I lean up. In between the leaves I see something moving quite fast towards the courtyard. I squint my eyes trying to make a clearer picture but it's no use with so many things blocking my vision.

"Ah, Fenris, my darling" I hear Hela say in a considerably more sweet voice than usual. Now that it's a bit closer I can see it's a big animal of some sort. Possibly a wolf, though I've never known them to get that big. It growls softly and leans it's head down so she can pet him. I hear him huff before his head turns in my direction.

Without giving me any time to react he makes quick and large strides over to the tree. "What are you doing? There's nothing there" she chuckles. He sticks his nose in the tree pushing away the branches. His tongue coming out and just missing me. Soon half his head is stuck in and he's staring right at me.

I put my finger to my lips and very quietly shush him. He narrows his eyes slightly but doesn't make any sound. Smart dog. I carefully reach out my hand and he sighs happily. "Fenris... what's up there?" Hela asks annoyed, "dumb dog" she grumbles but he pays her no mind. He swiftly grabs me in his jaw and pulls me down, placing me gently on the ground.

"Ew" I grimace, holding my arms away from my body as I look down at all the slobber on me. I glance back up to see Hela glaring at me, her hands on her hips. Very impatiently waiting for me to explain myself I assume. "What? It's your dog that dragged me down here" I argue, "is anything ever your fault?" She counters.

I slowly drop my hands to my sides sighing as my memories flash in my mind. "Yes" I reply, walking away without glancing at her. "Come back here" she demands, "I need to change" I say softly. She doesn't bother asking again, just lets me go. I try to find my way back to my room but I get lost, which frustrates me even further.

One more thing might very well break the dam. "Honey? Isabella" I turn around to see Frigga approaching me. "Gosh what happened to you? Let's get you cleaned up" she utters upon taking in my appearance. Understandable but ouch. I follow her silently as she leads me into what I think is a bathroom.

It's more like a very large pool in all honesty. "You can't tell Odin I brought you here" she giggles and I nod solemnly. She brings me over to a more private room and three women soon follow behind us. "Khali, Cleo, and Mary, this is Isabella" Frigga says, "hello" they say relatively in sync.

"Umm hi. I'd like to be... alone if possible" I mutter, "oh of course, darling! They'll leave the necessities for you" she replies warmly. I nod with a small smile and they file out the room, closing the door softly behind them. I sigh in relief and discard my clothes, getting in the bath so I don't get cold.

I moan as the warm water brushes against my skin. It's funny how much I took every day things for granted. I even forgot what it was like to have the luxury of such things. This is way more glamorous than anything I had privy to so it's even more of a pleasure. As I'm relaxing, laying my back against the tub with my eyes closed, the door opens.

I pull my knees to my chest and try to bring the bubbles closer to me just in case. As I glance up I see Hela walking in, shutting the door softly behind her. "Can't you see I'm in the bath?!" I exclaim and she just leans against the wall. "I came to see if you were ok" she says with a forced smile.

"I'm fine. Can you get out now?" I utter quickly, "oh please, it's nothing I haven't seen before" she scoffs. "Ok well I'm not some whore or something and I want privacy" I grumble. "What makes you think I've had whores? It's ok if you're shy" she smirks. "Just please... get out" I sigh, "'not until you tell me what's wrong" she counters.

I roll my eyes and relax my body a bit more now that I'm sure she can't see me. "Nothing is 'wrong' with me" I reply, "you know what I meant" she quips. "I'm fine" I mumble, "you're not 'fine'. Now tell me what it is" she demands. "I don't answer to you" I argue, "you should. Maybe if you weren't so stubborn-" "stop" I interrupt her.

She raises an eyebrow and I just look away and close my eyes. "Leave please" I tell her, "so now I'm supposed to-" "I said please" I repeat. "You infuriate me" she grumbles before I hear the door slam shut. None of the doors slam though, so it's still quite soft. I groan and wash myself off, grabbing a towel to dry myself.

I see a dress lain over a chair in the corner and I slip it on. I'm not sure if it's mine but I'm not exactly eager to try to find my room again, half naked. Once it's on and adjusted I put my shoes back on. Heading out of the big bathroom and into the hallway. This time I just follow my instincts and surprisingly end back up in my room.

I lay there for a while before a servant comes to alert me that lunch is almost ready. I decline and they hesitate but leave. As I stare at the ceiling, I think of what Hela said today. I've always had a strong sense of justice, of right and wrong. When I feel something is morally incorrect I don't hesitate to speak up about it.

Yet, in reference to the massacre of my people—my home—I blame myself. I never did get to see who did it and of course they are the ones at fault as a whole. However, as for my family, I can't help but to feel responsible. They died trying to save me and they succeeded, but I often wish they didn't.

Their lives meant far greater than my own, then and even now. Especially now. I mean I spent—who knows how long—floating in the fucking ether. Only to land up in Asgard of all places and I'm not even worthy to be here. It's not like my life before was all that nice but I'm not equipped to deal with this. At the very least, my parents would know what to do.

It's hard living your whole life feeling misunderstood. Worse, spending the majority of my life completely alone. But this is a whole new experience. Being in a place full of people and still feeling like I have no one. Surrounded by strangers in a foreign land that doesn't so much as resemble my own.

I don't know what the future holds anymore and for once in my life, that scares me.