The Lady of Midgard [Book 1]

Chapter 18

Anger flooded your veins. After months of snide comments, looks, and down right stalking you had had enough. You finally snapped. Looking back at Helena who had a smug smile on her face as she looked at you like she had finally won, you walked forward, lifted your hand and slapped her across the face.

The sound of it caused all those around you to stop laughing and gasp staring at you both in silence.

Lifting her hand she put it to where you had hit her, feeling the mark that was now showing across her skin. "You will pay for that!" Helena spat out, glaring daggers in your direction.

Mustering as much courage as you could, you stood straighter before turning and walking from the hall. Running straight to your room once you were clear of the doors.

This time Loki didn't go after you.

— — — —

The dress was ruined, you doubted the wine would come out. Already you could see stains setting into silk. You should feel bad as Loki had given it to you, however he did enter your room without asking and that got your back up, who else could just come in without you knowing? Sighing you stripped off, chucking the dress into a corner and hopping into the shower.

Walking out of the bathroom once you had cleaned yourself up and put on your night dress you debated what to do. Áedán was still with Hilde in the Allmother's room, where he'd be for the night so you had the bed to yourself for once. You weren't tired though, your night had been cut short but you refused to give up and just go to sleep. Deciding to make your way out to the balcony hoping the night air might rejuvenate you, putting your hair into a plait as you walked towards the door.

Your mind was still reeling from what you had done. You slapped Helena; yes she had deserved it, honestly you hated to think of the consequences of that one action. Her threat didn't sound empty. Njörðr was another question on your mind, what had he been told about you? And why was he interested in you? And Fandral, what did he mean?

Sighing, you opened the balcony door and walked out, closing the door behind you, shivering a bit in the suddenness of the cold air. You looked down at your clothes wishing you had your fluffy pyjamas on. At least the air was still tonight.

Homesick.

That's how you felt.

It was silent and after the noise in the hall it just felt different, it made you feel how alone you truly were here as well.

Looking towards the city you wondered if you could slip through there unnoticed; you couldn't here in the palace as everyone knew who you were. The one downside to having friends you guessed, that was the only upside to that arsehole removing all your old ones from your life, it allowed you to slip away with Áedán unnoticed. At least he wouldn't find you here.

You leant your hands on the balcony looking up at the stars twinkling in the darkness wishing you could just go home.

Years. Frigga told you.

Years, you would be stuck here. That's if you weren't stuck here permanently.

There had to be a way home.

Closing your eyes trying to keep the tears at bay. You had worked out you had been here about nine maybe ten months, based on your calculations of the seasons from what you had learnt from the books in the library. It would be Áedán's birthday soon but you had no idea what day it would be, wishing for something as simple as a calendar.

You hoped you would wake tomorrow to find this was all just some horrible dream and you would be back home in your bed surrounded by your possessions. But that was a lie, a hope your heart kept trying to believe while you knew in your mind you would never see your home again along with items you would never see again. Had it all ended up in goodwill by now or had they just been thrown. Only one item made you sad at its loss, you hoped someone else was finding comfort in it.