The Lady of Midgard [Book 1]

Chapter 23

Áedán didn't have any lessons that afternoon so you grabbed a few blankets, some food, the current book you were reading and a ball for him, packing them in a basket and heading out to the meadows beyond the city. You knew it would be safer in the palace gardens, but you needed to get away from everything. Especially Helena. Every time she knew you were around her lately her wedding and any plans to do with it would always come up in conversation.

Enjoying the sounds of nature surrounding you, you both enjoyed an afternoon where it almost felt like home; just no planes in the sky when you looked up. Even though it had started to grow late you weren't ready to head back in, having a light dinner with Áedán on the blanket you both watched as the sun set and the stars came out. Since being here Áedán loved looking at the twinkling lights in the sky and you just sat with him, listening to him tell you stories from his lessons, smiling at his joy.

"Mum, is that the North Star?" Áedán asked as he pointed to the brightest one in the sky.

"I think so."

"Think? Mum, I thought you knew the stars."

"At home baby, not here. Maybe ask Loki, he knows the stars here."

"Can you ask him for me?"

"I think it would be better coming from you."

"Are you not friends anymore?" he asked, turning to look up at you.

"No baby."

After a while you grabbed the extra blankets, wrapping Áedán up in them and getting him settled to sleep. Once he was, you laid him on the blanket you were sitting on making sure he was still rugged up, settling down beside him to watch the stars as they twinkled in the heavens. Closing your eyes you listened to the wind as it rustled through the grass around you, you could almost believe you were back home in these little moments.

You wanted to go home more and more each day. Almost another year here and still nothing, you had hoped that maybe Loki had found a way, but the never ending silence told you that maybe you needed to accept that this was your home permanently now. You were stuck in a place that had magic and knowledge beyond anything you had ever known yet you still felt like you didn't belong.

Trying not to let the tears win, you reopened your eyes to look back at the stars, right as a shooting star moved across the sky. As much as it wasn't home, the night sky here was beautiful. Hearing Footsteps in the grass getting louder as someone drew closer you ignored it knowing it was most likely Thor coming to find you since you had left without bothering to tell anyone.

"You have given Thor and Stiorra quite a scare," Loki said once he was closer.

Not expecting Loki of all people to come looking for you, you startled at the sound of his voice, sitting up to look at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Finding the wayward mortal," Loki answered with a small shrug. He had offered to go find you only because he knew exactly where you would be. "Why didn't you tell anyone where you were going?"

"I needed to get away," you said as you laid back down.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure." Closing your eyes so Loki didn't see your tears.

You felt Loki lay down beside you, shoulders brushing close against yours. Sighing, you opened your eyes to look up at the stars again.

"What are you looking for?" Loki asked, turning his face towards you.

"Home," you answered, refusing to take your eyes off of the stars.

Loki watched as a tear escaped and moved slowly down towards your ear.