The Unknown

Chapter 40: Truth Behind Legend

Of course, after the soul-binding contract had been signed and the family reunited for the first time in a thousand years, it seemed only one course of action was left to take...Celebration. Night had soon fallen and the large fire in the centre of the camp was the main source of light, the torches around camp only being of little help compared to the fire. A small fire was not too far away from the large one, roasting the food while the servants prepared a large banquet table and some even sat around the fire and played music. Nakers, cittern, tambourine, bells, recorders, flutes, harp, pipes and tabor, all instruments were present at the celebration and livened up the camp greatly as everyone was dancing and drinking around the fire. Even the servants making the food were drinking and laughing but not forgetting about their job. Everyone from royals, to soldiers, to council members, to healers and servants, were all celebrating. Since becoming of age, one thousand and eight hundred, in captivity or banishment, the boys had never had wine or mead before so Loki made sure to watch them that night, not wanting to stop them from celebrating, especially since the coming of age a male made the mistake of drinking too much the first time, it was a rite of passage. Loki just wanted to make sure they stayed safe and didn't do anything rash such as change into their animal forms and destroy the camp.

Loki also, however, had to keep eyes on his daughters, swearing at one-point Hela gave Dahlia some wine and although he allowed her half a goblet, he wouldn't put it past Hela to smuggle her sister some more for the celebration. He didn't mind too much, after all it was part of being siblings but what he wasn't happy about was seeing Hela and Falcon together again. Lingering touches, dancing where his hand was a little too low or they stood a little too close to one another. What he found when he looked around, however, was that no one batted an eyelid the way Hela and Falcon were with one another. He knew his eldest daughter was of age, of age to drink, of age to travel, for goodness sake she's a Queen and a Goddess but it also meant she was of age to marry and he could not allow that. When he looked at her, he still saw the sweet little girl who would run up to him and beg for a magic trick, he still saw the little girl who would come to him with tears in her eyes when someone was mean to her, knowing her father would make her smile again. She is, and would always be, his little girl and it was impossible for her to be in love. He was all too happy when Hela left dancing with Falcon and went to sit with Dahlia on a log in front of the fire. His youngest clearly tired of dancing and the celebration as he knew it took a drain on her with the poison still being in her system.

Hela was most certainly enjoying herself and when she looked around, it seemed everyone else was as well. Fenrir was drinking and laughing with the soldiers and dancing with the odd girl or two, Jörmungandr drinking not quite as much as their older brother but enough for him to be having a good time, talking his way around the camp, even their father worked his way around the camp asking god knows what Hela can imagine. It was when she saw her sister, sat on the log looking tired, did she decide to stop dancing with Falcon and join her. Falcon kissed her hand before letting her go.

Joining her sister, she sat as close as possible, taking a sip of her wine while Dahlia had juice, she asked, "how're you feeling?"

"Fine," Dahlia answered but Hela raised her brows and her little sister sighed and answered truthfully, "it only hurts a little now, I promise. I still feel tired though, shocking for someone who was unconscious for two days".

Hela hummed and responded, "yeah you'll feel like that for a few days. Tired because of the poison but the pain from the wound should fade within the next week or so if you keep taking the potions".

Dahlia nodded, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course,".

Dahlia gestured her head to the other side of the fire and Hela glanced to see the founders talking but what she did see was that Rowena kept glancing up to the castle and didn't seemed as involved in the conversation as the two others did. Dahlia asked, "what's the story? I mean at my birthday ball when I brought up Slytherin, it seemed to upset her in a way, Lady Ravenclaw. Now, she looks up at the castle as if she wants to go inside but is scared".