Flowergirl |L. Laufeyson|

Chapter Fourteen

Zoë was standing in a place she had never been to before. Green grass was around her, the sky above her cloudy. She was wearing what she had been wearing during the day. Where was she?

"I've been expecting you for some time."

She jumped, surprised at the voice. She turned to the sound, only to see the back of an old man. He was sitting on a rock, looking at the sea in front of him. Immediately, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She knew that man from somewhere, she was sure of it.

"Who are you? Why have you been expecting me?"

The man chuckled as he stood up and turned around. Zoë found herself speechless.

"You," she murmured, her voice wavering as she gazed at the man who had had a vital role in the way things had played out.

He wore no smile on his face, but he did not look at her in a judgemental way either. His expression just seemed blank, nothing more, nothing less.

He took some steps towards her, and she took some time to realise how much he had truly aged. Had she really been gone for that long? She was tempted to scoff at her own thoughts. Of course she had been gone for that long.

Odin stopped some ways in front of her and gazed down at her as she raised her head to meet his eyes. For some time, they remained silent, until he decided to speak.

"I knew you would come."

"It was obviously not my choice," she retorted, and a hint of a smile appeared on the man's lips. "What is this? A dream?"

"It appears like you are sleeping, so yes, let's call it a dream."

"You brought me here."

"Me? No. You did that."

Zoë just raised an eyebrow at him. "You are telling me that I brought myself to you? Why? Why would I wish to see the person who had played a vital role in my conviction?"

For some time, Odin remained silent before he spoke slowly and clearly, as if trying to make sure that she understood every single word he said.

"Because you have no other choice."

"What are you talking about-"

"You are desperate," he cut in, "Loki is dead, and you had craved to have him with you for too long. Now that he is not alive, you don't have much of an option. So, you brought yourself to me."