Emprise [Fólkvangr End, Book 2][Loki Fanfiction]

Chapter Twelve - Sorgardagarnir

Author's Note: Well, this chapter comes a bit more quickly than the last, no thanks to my immense writer's block. Thankfully some of this was written beforehand and then altered to fit the way the story has been progressing naturally. Okay, that's all boring stuff. Anyway, had a long weekend, so that's the true blessing here. Writing this chapter was admittedly difficult, but I hope in the end it came out alright. It's a bit short, but I need to just let it rest where it is now. Some of you may have seen my Wattpad status about crying while writing this chapter and admittedly that happened twice. So, look forward to that. Again, thank you all for your support with Recompense and now Emprise, it means the world to me and I would like to hear from you guys as you read! I know many more of you are reading than commenting, so come out every so often and say hello! Now onto a new page in the journey of Emprise...

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Chapter Twelve - Sorgardagarnir, or Mourning

“Eat something, princess,” Frey insists, sliding his food towards me, despite the full plate in front of me. I frown, looking down at it, and turns my stomach.

“I can’t,” I insist. Frey looks to Jane and they both frown at me like the disapproving parents they’ve become. I prop my elbow on the table, resting my face in my hands. “I’m not hungry. I don’t feel...right.”

“How do you mean?” Jane asks, studying me in that way that she does, like I am a fascinating specimen. Beyond the fact that I am not even in the realm of her type of expertise. I itch under her scrutinizing gaze.

“I don’t know but I just know that something is wrong,” I insist, flattening my palms against the table top. I press my fingers into the wood and feel the grooves, trying to transfer my mounting stress into something else. My head is reeling and I feel nauseous...again. Frey and Jane have finally gotten me to agree to see Eir like I was supposed to two days ago. And I will go...after breakfast. The breakfast I can’t bring myself to eat. 

I can hardly describe the feeling - this chill down my spine, a discomfort, a shooting pain through my left shoulder. I slip my hand into the neckline of my gown, running my fingers over my scar absent-mindedly.  Something is trying to tell me something is terribly amiss. And it is not helping that the party that traveled to Svartalfheim has yet to return, nor have we heard any word. It fills me with a certain dread. Though, how could anything have gone wrong? The plan was simple enough.

“Are you alright?” I hear Jane asking. I nod, withdrawing my hand from beneath my dress.

“It’s just my shoulder again. Sometimes it acts up. It’s fine,” I insist. I roll my shoulder back once, avoiding the instinct to wince at the searing pain. I can’t remember the last time it hurt like this. I pick up my goblet wishing I was drinking something a bit stronger than water. I swallow hard, looking up and meeting Frey’s gaze with a tight smile. “I mean it, I’m - ”

The doors burst open and suddenly Thor comes rushing in, flanked by Sif, Hogun and Volstagg. I clap my hands together, ecstatic to see them all returned. I get to my feet, pushing my chair back. Admittedly, I kind of stole Loki’s seat at the table, which I will have to return now, despite how miraculously comfortable it is. 

The four of them kneel before me, hands clasped over each of their breasts. “Valkyrie,” Thor is the one to speak. I look to him, brow furrowed, and I notice for the first time that he is holding Loki’s helmet in his hands, the golden curved horns catching the light in a particular way. 

“Thor...what’s wrong?” I ask, realizing the air has left my body. I squeeze my eyes shut. 

You know. I tell myself. Don’t be stupid.