Asgard's Angel

A Letter from Home

"What are you doing after lunch?" Angel asked a few days later.

"Working. What else would I do?" Loki's tone sounded like he thought it should be obvious. She shot him a look.

"Do you ever go outside?" She inquired. He popped a grape into his mouth.

"Hardly ever."

She huffed. "Well I do. If you need me, I'm going out."

When Angel got back to her room, all she could hear was an insesive tapping at her window. Throwing it open in annoyance. A large raven flew in, paper trapped in his beak. "Hey Valcur." She greeted, stroking his head. He dropped the paper in her open palm. Unfolding it, she read the letter. By the end there were angry tears in her eyes. She growled and ran out to the stables.

Nobody had given Angel an official tour, but Thor had gotten her a horse after her first day of training. The dun gelding was nothing compared to her black stallion, but he was ok. On this particular day, she didn't bother even saddling the thing, she simply led it out and swung herself into its back. Threading her fingers in his mane and giving him a sharp kick, she urged him into a canter, pushing him as hard as she could. Into the forest she led him, not caring if he tripped or spooked, in fact not really caring about anything. It wasn't until she realized she could hear the horses panting breath over the sound of the birds that she thought she might be pushing the animal a little too hard. She brought the gelding to a halt and slid off, giving her muscles a stretch. In a sudden bout of fury, she picked up a stick off the forest floor and began to attack the nearest tree. The anger was gone as quickly as it came, taking away the bubbling fire under her skin and replacing it with cold, empty despair and slight terror. Sinking to her knees, she began to sob in quiet pity.

Fandral was used to him being the only one in the woods. He was so surprised that some one was there he didn't instantly recognize her. He watched the girl drop to her knees before he realize who he was looking at. "Angel? Are you alright?"

She brought her head up, but didn't look at him. "What do you want pretty boy?" She snarled. He was about to snarl back when he noticed her eyes. They were red and puffy. She had been crying. He instantly softened with concern.

"Angel are you hurt? Why were you crying?"

She turned her head away in shame. "It's not like you'd care." She muttered sullenly.

Fandral walked over to her. "Why do you hate me so much Angel?"

His tone of voice caught Angel off guard. He sounded so sad. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to say another smart remark, but found she couldn't do it. She sighed. "I don't hate you." She said wearily. He looked surprised. "You just remind me if someone I want to forget." She bit her lip as he sat next to her.

"But why are you out here crying?" He asked.

She wiped the salty tears from her cheeks. "I got a letter from my father. I've been betrothed." She murmured.

Fandral looked at her. "Shouldn't that be a cause to celebrate?" He asked warily.

"No." She snapped. "The man I've been promised to, he's cruel and abusive."

When Fandral looked at Angel, her eyes were different. He didn't know how, maybe it was just that he could see actual emotion in them. Fear. "He scares you." She nodded mutely. "When is the wedding?" He didn't bother asking how she got a letter from earth.

"As soon as I go back home." She swallowed.

"Then you won't go home." He told her.

Angel was surprised once again at the tone if his voice. He was so determined. She nodded. "Alright. Now, why are you out here?"