It makes her sick, the way sadness is addicting. Sadness is familiar. It's comfortable and it's easy in the sense that it comes naturally to her. But everything else about it is hard. The way her body aches with self-hatred. The way her mind spins a...
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Athalia forgot how to be happy. Something she's not, but something she be. Something she waits for. The princess of Asgard hadn't been the same since the death of her twin. It had seemed, to her, that everyone had moved on. That they didn't care and they thought it was time for her to move on too. But they have no idea the pain that runs through her veins still.
Something she had learned is that grief affects people in different ways and it last for as long as it lets the person control them. Athalia had decided that the only way to live was to embrace grief. For the grief only exists where love lived first.
A lot had changed over the past couple of months. Not only had Asgard and its people changed, Athalia had changed. Athalia's hair was shorter. The hair that used to flow to her mid-back, not rested at around chest length. The scars she had received the year before when Athalia was in Jotunheim, had fully healed. Now there were only thin pink lines tracing her cheek, jaw shoulder, and jaw, a mere memory now. Her deep blue eyes held pain, longing, wishing to hold shimmers of the happiness she felt before.
Athalia wore a white and red dress. The white and red fabric overlapped and mixed with each other, and the bottom of it dragged across the ground. The dress had a strap of fabric wrapped around her neck, like a choker, with a lacy material covering her chest that was sowed into the sweetheart neckline. The sleeves were thin, made of the same lacy material over Athalia's chest. Flowing down her arms, hanging off her shoulders. There was a small slit on the right side, where the red and white fabric met.
Athalia sat alone. That is how she spent most of her time, alone, but she liked it. Sometimes it was easier that way. She was in her favourite place to be alone. The castle Gardner. As she sat in silence, she listened to the sounds around her. The sound of the water from the water fountain, as little fish swam around. She listened to the waterfall from the statue, into the water below. Birds chirping and singing spread through the garden as the young princess enjoyed the peaceful moment by herself, her book placed in her hands, eyes skimming over the words. She hadn't noticed that she wasn't alone until one of the palace guards made his presence known.
"Your royal highness," The guard spoke, bowing his head out of respect. "Your father requests your presence in the throne room." Athalia smiled at the guard, closing her book as she stood from her spot in the garden. The young princess followed him out of the garden, he led her through the halls of the palace until they made it to the big doors of the throne room. Two more guards stood next to the door, upon Athalia's arrival they bowed their heads, opening the door and allowing them to enter.
"Father? You wish to see me?" Athalia asked, standing at the bottom of the golden stairs. The whole room was gold. The walls, the pillars, the stairs, the throne that Odin sat high on. The thing Athalia loved most about the room was the view. You looked over the whole kingdom from both sides of the room. It was the best place to see the sunrise and set, and formally watch the Bifrost open and close.
Athalia thought that she would never fully forgive her father for everything he's done, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't care about him, and still love him. He did raise her after all, it didn't matter if she wasn't his biological daughter. Odin sat high on his throne, staring down at the black-haired girl. He was still weak, not as strong as he used to be. Heimdall stood a few steps up from Athalia, making her confused.
"My daughter, I have news to share." Odin told her, "Your brother lives. Heimdall says he saw him on Earth. Now they're trying to rule it, become its king." He explained. Odin didn't have to say a name. It only made sense who he was talking about. By the gods, it was not Thor. She knew exactly where he was. Loki. That's who the Allfather spoke of.
Athalia moved her gaze to the gatekeeper of Asgard, "Heimdall, it what my father speaks true? Is Loki alive?" She asked, not knowing what emotions to feel. Sadness? Relief? Anger? Confusion? Heimdall nodded his head.
"Yes, Princess."
"When was the first time you saw him?"
"A month ago. He kept shifting forms, never staying the same way longer than a day. I didn't know if my all sight for correct or not until now." Heimdall informed her, "He's been walking around openly for the past 24 hours."
"Loki has been mind-controlling people to do as he pleases. He plans on using the Tesseract to open a portal in space and unleash an army. My daughter, I want you to go to earth and bring back Loki and the Tesseract."
"But father, how would I even get to earth? The Bifrost has been destroyed and we do not know any other way for us to get to Earth." Athalia spoke, "Why send me? Why not you, father? Or Thor. What is your reasoning for sending me?"
"Thor, though he is a good fighter, can be reckless and loud. He can draw unwanted attention to himself, he's known to the people of Earth. I am not the god I used to be, I'm not strong like I was." Odin said, "But you, Athalia, I send you because are strategic, practical, and independent. You, my sweet daughter, have a talent most people don't notice. I believe you are the best choice."
"As the Bifrost has been destroyed, Heimdall can not send you there or bring you home. You will need the power of the Tesseract to help you return to Asgard." Odin explained, "Nevertheless, getting you there will be no easier. You will have to put your faith in me."
