A Royal Arrangement

Chapter 24

- Lord Hawthorne's Pov -

I hated seeing my daughter like this. I was rooting for Loki and Vesper to work but then I found out that he went to see his former lover... mistress. I do not know what Miss Hellstrand was to him. All I know is that my daughter is heartbroken. And my wife does not care.

For the past three weeks, Lilith has been nothing but cruel to Vesper. And without proof, I can't stop her. Only Odin and Frigga believed me. But then Lilith was the sweetest bitch when they were around. I have been talking to Odin and he said he would help me divorce Lilith.
"Father?" I heard from behind me. I spun around to see Tallulah. She looked as if she had been crying.
"My sweet girl, what is wrong?" I held my arms out and Tallulah ran into them.
"Mother said that when I am of age, I have to marry Lord Gisbourne. I don't want to marry him. He is cruel and evil. But mother said that I have no choice and I am to be his slut. I do not want to be his slut," Tallulah cried. I hugged her tighter.
"My little sapling. I will never force you to marry him. You always have a choice. Please believe me when I say that I am working on a way of freeing us all from your mother,"
"I wish to be with another. Her name is Lousia. She is a maid at the Palace. I love her," Talluah sniffed. I knew the girl. Louisa is a sweet little thing that wouldn't say boo to a goose.
"I wish there was a way for you two to be together," I sighed. The weight of my regret weighed heavily on my shoulders. I wished that I never marred Lilith.
"I could run away. Hide in the slums of Asgard," Tallulah lifted her head.
"My little sapling, You know that your mother would find you. The only way to leave would be death," I clicked my tongue. Tallulah sobbed.
"Then... If I marry Lord Gisbourne then I will kill myself,"
"Sweet girl, It will not come to that. I am in talks with the Allfather on freeing us." My daughter argued that Odin is a fat lazy bum that will not help us. I grabbed Talluah by the face "I do not know what he will do but we must trust his judgement," I pulled Tallulah into a hug. I will kill Lilith myself if I have to. But that time will come. Right now, I have another daughter who needs my help.

- Vali's Pov -

I watched as Loki paced around the study. Heimdall had informed him that the Hawthornes were back in Asgard. However, what he had not counted on was the family returning without Vesper. No one knew where she had gone.

Heimdall was being stubborn and would not talk so that left Skurge and even he could not tell Loki where Vesper was. He did offer to track her down. Loki had stopped by Vesper's parents' house but there, hard the door, was thrown in his face so often he didn't even keep up anymore. He had also gone to visit his father-in-law's company and again the door was slammed on him.
"I wish I knew where she was," Loki sighed as he picked up Vesper's sweater.
"So you know she is not with family. Perhaps with a friend? Maybe that Luna,"
"She is on Asgard and no, Vesper is not with her. I already checked. Luna threatened to turn into a wolf and kill me if I bothered her again," Loki clicked his tongue. I knew the uncertainty was killing him "I understand that she needed time and space to be alone now and think things through. I shouldn't have gone to Alfhiem,"
"You should have left her alone for a while, waited until she was back in Asgard and then made an attempt to fix things. But no, you had to act brusquely and spontaneously without first thinking of a plan of action and it had all backfired,"
"Thank you for your involvement, Vali. I thought you were supposed to be the supportive one," Loki scoffed.
"I am. That doesn't mean I can't annoy you about it all. I'm meant to be the younger brother and here I am babysitting you,"
"Never asked for you too," Loki mumbled.
"No. But Mother did as I am the only one who will be honest with you. Loki, You have been unbearable for the last three weeks. You made things difficult for Mother and Father by not going to yet another ball. Then I don't know what you said to our sister last night but she ended up running off going back to her room and crying all night. You made the Goddess of Death cry. The afterlife is going to be torturous for you,"
"Don't you think that I felt bad about that!" Loki screamed.
"You also scolded Vidarr and Thor each at a game of chess because they were taking too long to make their move and Baldur complained that you were cranky and unpleasant to deal with," I yelled at my brother. Loki looked at me over his shoulder, murder in his eyes. And then he did the one thing I didn't expect him to do. He stormed out. I let out a sigh of relief. I thought he was going to stab me. I might have gone a tad too far.

- Loki's Pov -

I didn't want to admit it but Vali was right. I had become unbearable these last few days. I was at my wit's end. I don't know how to cope. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I enjoy being married? I miss sleeping with her. And I'm not talking about fucking then passing out. No, Vesper is worth way more to me than that. I just want to lay next to her. I loved rolling over and finding her next to me. I loved holding her close, Protecting her. I find her in my arms when the sun rises. I listened to her heartbeat as she snored on my chest. Kissing her forehead as she slept in my arms. Our bodies intertwined.
"I shouldn't have gone to see Sigyn," I mumbled. I closed my eyes and headed to where I found peace. The only place where my siblings will leave me alone... The library.

As I sat in the bay window, reading the works of Victor Timely. I know he's a Kang Varient but his writing is truly something. Plus, I have read everything else. I heard a small cough. As I looked up, I saw Mother standing still, picking her left hand. A nervous trait that we both share.
"Is this a bad time?"
"No. Not at all. Please, take a seat please," I said before calling for the maid over and asking for tea and refreshments. Mother sat and had a slightly nervous expression on her face "To what do I owe the honour of this visit?" I began.
"Loki... I know you're having a hard time with your marriage but I can't condone your behaviour. You argued with Hela. I know she can be difficult sometimes and she drives me up the wall with her stubborn demeanour," I didn't say anything and just listened "She would probably kick me for telling you this but after your argument, she seriously cried for 2 days-" I immediately felt horrible.
"I will apologize to her," I looked to the floor. Mother coughed and I looked up.
"Interrupt me again and I will let Hela torture you in Helhiem. I'm not done speaking yet. Please remain silent until I do," Mother stated with a slightly sharp tone "You're picking fights with everyone. Your brothers are only trying to help you and even Hela confessed to me that she has trouble being around you."
"Vali told me that too," I sighed, staring at the floor.
"I want you to know that we are here for you, Loki. We understand that you're having a hard time but that doesn't mean you can take it all out on us. I for one, will not allow it anymore. Is that clear?" Mother hissed. She wasn't one to snap easily but I will admit that I have pushed many, many buttons over the years. I said nothing and just nodded. I knew I was in the wrong "Have you heard from her yet?" she asked, and I shook my head.
"No, I haven't," The maid dropped the tea off and hurried away again.
"Any idea where she is?"
"No, I haven't," I sighed. I don't want to admit defeat but I fear that I will agree to divorce just to heal the heartache.
"It'll be all right, dear... I believe that things will work out between you,"
"Well, that makes one of us," I replied with a small smile "She obviously doesn't want to be found, at least not by me," Mother narrowed the distance between us and gave him a brief kiss on my forehead.
"She'll be back, Loki. I am sure of it. Now, if you want, you can join us for dinner, even though you've been acting obnoxiously around us, the thought of you sitting here alone is not a pleasant one." I smiled for a moment.
"I would love to,"

- Hela's Pov -

Once Loki walked into the dining room, he apologised. Even though he had nothing to apologise for, I accepted his apology somewhat aloofly and gave him a hug. Baldur and Thor told him to stop being a jerk and didn't talk about it anymore. Vidarr and Vali rolled their eyes and made him beg more. That was until our mother stepped in and made us all behave.

We were all sitting in the drawing room when Vidarr poked my shoulder.
"Sister, a word?" He nodded towards the door.
"Whatever has happened, I didn't do it," I sighed. We excused ourselves and left.

We went out onto the balcony. The one that overlooks the city. I loved the view from here. I hopped on the stone railings and leaned against the stone columns.
"What do you want?" Vidarr stood next to me and leaned on the railings.
"I know where Vesper is," He spoke quietly. This got my attention.
"Where?"
"She never left Alfhiem. I paid Skurge to tell me before he told Loki. I also might have paid him not to tell him," I tilted my head.
"You should have told him," Vidarr rolled his eyes.
"We both know Loki is barely holding it together. He needs to remember who he is without her. A few more weeks will tell us if Vesper is truly ready to give up the marriage,"
"It's already been 5 weeks" I sighed, running a hand over my hair. I leaned my head back and looked out towards the city "We both know that Vesper is set on divorce. Our family lawyer has already drawn the plans up and is now waiting on her lawyer,"
"We need to tell Mother," Vidarr looks back towards the drawing room. We both spot Loki smiling as he beats Vali at chess.
"Perhaps we leave it for another night. This Loki, I like," I smiled at my brother.
"Doubt Vali does," I looked at my nails.