Worlds Apart

Chapter 36

A/N

Hi everyone! Happy New Year!!

I know, I'm sorry, I'm a big fat liar 😅 Although it hasn't technically been two months yet, I did promise it was gonna take less time than last time to update, so I'm sorry that didn't end up happening. I'm sure you guys are tired of hearing about how crazy my life has been lately LMAO, so I won't go into detail, but just know that I haven't given up on this fic or my other main one. I do still genuinely love writing in these, it's just a lot has happened in the last few months (especially this last month) and I've just been too physically and emotionally exhausted to keep up with the writing schedule I used to have.

That being said, this time around I'm just not going to make any promises about when then next time I update will be 😂 My hope is that it'll be soon, but like I said, I don't want to promise anything just in case. The important thing to know is that I have no plans to stop writing this fic anytime soon, so I thank you in advance for your patience as I try to balance life outside of my writing.

I hope you guys enjoy today's chapter! 'Til next time :)

~~~

When Max awoke the next morning, it wasn't of her own volition. She wasn't entirely sure how long she'd slept, but considering how her last few days had been, it hadn't been nearly enough.

As the sunlight penetrated through her eyelids, she squeezed her eyes shut even further and lightly groaned as she moved her elbow to block the light.

"Sorry to disturb you, Miss," she heard a feminine sounding voice come from over by the windows.

Wait, what? Who was in her room? Max squinted her eyes open in an attempt to see who had intruded on her space. Once her vision cleared, her eyes landed on a woman - a chambermaid, presumably.

"I'm afraid I have put off waking you as long as I can. Breakfast will be over soon and I was informed that your presence has been requested in the dining hall," the woman said.

Max blinked a few times to let her eyes further adjust to the light and pushed herself into a sitting position. "Huh?" she asked groggily. "By who?"

"The order came from the Prince, but I believe it is the Queen who wishes to see you."

Suddenly, Max didn't feel quite so tired. Frigga wanted to meet her? But why?

Well, she supposed that was a rather stupid question. Max was supposed to be helping her son, and she knew that (prior to Max's own involvement), Frigga was the one trying to be there for Loki and help him in any way that she could. Max could only assume she just wanted to meet one of the only other people who shared in her concern for him.

Regardless of the reasoning, the thought of meeting the Queen was nerve-wracking. Max knew that she probably had nothing to worry about - Frigga was one of the nicest people on Asgard (at least out of those shown in the movies) - but Max still couldn't help but worry about meeting someone not only royal, but someone whose opinion and trust she valued. If either Frigga or Odin didn't like her, she had a feeling it was going to be a long four months.

~~~

After getting ready for the day (which she sort of had to speedrun in order to make it before breakfast ended), Max began her walk down to the dining hall while she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. What was probably only a two minute walk felt simultaneously like a fifteen minute and a thirty second walk at the same time. As she approached the hall, she noticed her hands were starting to get clammy. Quickly wiping her palms against her dress, Max could only hope and pray that handshakes weren't a common custom on Asgard, or she would be screwed.