The Winter's Sun (Bucky Soulmate Fanfiction)

Chapter 4: Hold On Tight

After that enlightening conversation Elysia was more bound and determined than ever to get control over the power she now contained. It was clear that the stone would not reverse what had been done and there wasn't anything that Elysia could do about it. At this point the only thing she truly wanted was to be able to be released from her imprisonment and allowed physical touch with others.

That was the worst thing about it all, that she could only touch what was provided in the room. Elysia had never been a particularly clingy child, occasional she would hang onto her brothers when something frightened her but beyond that she was very self-reliant. However she knew that as soon as she was "free" she would grab ahold of them and never let go.

People needed touch, it was a vital thing that many took for granted. To be deprived of it was serving to make her go mad. She never knew that there could be such an intense longing for a simple hand to hold, or the slightest brush of her fingertips against another's. Every time Thor and Loki would come to visit her the three of them would sit on the floor, separated by that awful barrier, and place their hands together as if they were actually touching. She appreciated the gesture, but there was a hollow ache in her heart every time they did it.

She had just finished her lesson for the day with her mother, they were practicing her holding objects without absorbing their energy, when her brothers came barreling into the waiting section. "Elysia you will never guess what father has just decreed!" Thor's cheeks were a bright rosy red, indicating that the boys had run all the way down here after their own lessons.

Frigga chuckled as she watched her children. How wonderful it would be to be young again and able to find joy within the smallest of things. Watching them as they were now, it was almost easy for Frigga to forget where they were exactly and why they were here.

Elysia walked closer to the barrier and took her place, hands raised and fingers splayed out as her brothers mirrored her actions without a second thought. "I have not seen you this excited for quite some time Thor, what did father do?"

Thor looked down at Loki, noticing him bouncing up and down on his heels in his excitement. "Loki, would you like to do the honors?" The blinding smile that overtook his younger brother's face let him know that he had made the correct decision.

"Father has decreed that the naming ceremony shall only occur once you are able to attend!"

Elysia's breath caught in the back of her throat. She didn't dare to believe it at first, surely she was not this lucky. A million thoughts raced through her head as she tried to comprehend what this meant for her.

"Well everyone has already chosen, but our ceremony will only be held when you're better." Thor felt the need to clarify slightly, hoping that the first part of his news would not cause her grief. While Odin had indeed postponed their ceremony, he had chosen not to change the date of the simple one where the other children would choose their titles during lessons.

The only reason for an actual naming ceremony was when it involved the royal children.

Elysia's eyes were soft when she gazed at both boys, and they felt immediate relief. If she had started to cry that would have complicated things, seeing as how they could not comfort her in the way that they wanted to. She had been gaining more control and Eir had been hopeful that she would be able to be released in the coming weeks.

Elysia had wanted to lay down and cry it all out, maybe even pretend that the whole thing was just a long nightmare, but she knew that the longer she wallowed in self-pity the longer she would remain isolated. Frigga had sensed the conflict within her daughter and had given her a push in the right direction, something Elysia was extremely grateful for.