Shattered Reflection

Chapter Seven

Natalia's POV

I am currently being laced up in a black ball gown. My mother picked it out and I despise it. The word mother feel so rotten to me, I want to spit. The maid pins up my dark chocolate hair and places a small, black, birdcage veil over my face. I feel a tear run down my cheek.

"Do not cry princess. I know the loss of your sister is difficult, but be strong for your poor mother," The maid says and I clench my jaw.

"Thank you," I say as she leaves. I stare out the window. Overlooking Talahgard. It is a truly glorious kingdom, but nothing will ever compare to Asgard's beauty.

I am called out and we take a carriage to the Relay. It's our BiFrost. The bright lights surround my parents and I and we land in the BiFrost. Hiemdall bows to us slightly.

"My Lord and Ladies," He says. I stare into his gold eyes, crying for help. His eyes hold nothing but blissful ignorance. This curse must be strong to see past Hiemdall's powerful eyes.

A carriage takes us across the bridge and to the palace. The bridge lights up below us as we pass along it. Jane greets us on the stairs. She says hello to my parents and then comes down to me.

"You must be Reuka, your parents spoke much about you. I'm Jane. I'm sorry about your sister. She was a dear friend to me," She says. I looks at my mother and she gives me a look. I look back at Jane.

"Lovely to meet you. I'm sorry it has to be under these circumstances," I barley manage to get out without breaking down.

We step inside as are led to the gardens. I see Thor and he comes over to us.

"Hello. I am Thor. Jane has told me you are Natalia's sister. Reuka, yes?" He asks.

"Yes. Lovely to meet you," I say with a plastered on smile. I see Loki twirling a white rose between his fingers. A tear rolling down his face. He looks dreadful, his cheeks are even less defined and his skin has somehow became an even lighter shade of pale. My heart breaks.

"How is your brother?" I ask. It strains me to see him like this.

"Not well. He isn't listening to me, maybe you can get through to him?" Thor suggest. I nod and walk over to Loki slowly.

"Are you going to be all right?" I ask. Loki head shoots up and his green eyes rip my insides to shreds, they hold no shine. Only pain.

"That's the first of that one. All I've heard is I'm sorry and what a shame," He jokes dryly. I sit next to him.

"I know you are not going to be alright for a while, but do you think you will be. Eventually?" I ask. Praying he'll believe that he will find joy again.

"I'm not sure if I'll ever be happy again," He says. I sigh.

"I understand. I lost someone I love as well. He was very special to me. But now he's gone," I say sadly.

"Does it get easier?" He asks.

"Honestly? Hasn't so far."

He looks at the flower and sighs," I just wished I could of saved her."

"You did. She was lost and you saved her, loved her. I thank you for this," I say and Loki looks at me with broken eyes. I feel tears of my own escape.

"Why her? Why? We had won a war, I was going to wed her. It was suppose to be perfect," He says and more tears fall onto the rose.

"You never know. The universe has many surprises," I tell him.

"Thank you Reuka," He says. 

"You are welcome. I'm always here to talk if you need to," I tell him and get up. He stands up and hugs me softly. I sigh.

He pulls away and gives me a sad smile before walking off. I fall to the ground, my silent tears falling on my dress. Will I ever get to see the love in his eyes again? Will the curse ever lift? And, if it doesn't, will he find someone else?

That thought stops me dead. Someone else. Just the thought of someone else on his arm, making him laugh, reading with him, makes me sick to my stomach. I couldn't bear it.

I mentally hit myself, how selfish can I be? Loki deserves to be happy, even if it's not with me. I will have to see him married off to someone else and I will be happy for him.

But I know I'll never do the same. I will forever feel bound to him, for I love him so. Not even the most powerful of curses could change that.

I was sitting next to my mother and Loki. A painting of me was set upon a stone structure. Flowers surrounded it and the wind scattered the petals over the grass.

One by one my family walks up and places a black rose on the structure. Loki is last. He walks up with a Frost Fire Orchid bud and plants it in front of the stone. He snaps his fingers and it it blooms. He turns and walks back to his seat. I place my hand on his shoulder reassuringly. He looks at me. I feel myself tear up, knowing he's in so much pain.

We sit in silence for a second as people start to leave. I remove my hand and stand with my family. We walk inside the castle for lunch. Jane and Thor soon meets us.

We sit at the table and food is served. Loki is still missing. We all just stare at the food, no one much in the mood for eating. I can't stand the silence anymore and excuse myself.

I make my way to the gardens and to the pond that Loki and I shared. It was so still, lifeless. Like it knew of the sadness in the air. I kneeled by it and went to touch the surface. My hand slips through the water and I gasp softly.

It doesn't know who I am. I lean back against the pillars surrounding it. I feel myself slowly slipping and I start to cry.

I cry that I lost Loki, I lost the kingdom, I lost all happiness.

I've lost myself.

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I'M SORRY!!!

I know it's like I fell of the earth or something, but I needed to do something before I could continue.

Forgive me? ☺️

I love you all!

P.s. I'm going to a Con Saturday, so the upload may not happen. Sorry!!!

Good luck with life!