Valediction [Fólkvangr End, Book 3][Loki Fanfiction]

Chapter Two - The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay, I'm back at school again, and as one could imagine, terribly busy, possibly more so than last semester. Anyway! I am so glad to be carrying on with this story and I hope you will lend me some patience as I know the journey has the potential to be a slow one. Valkyrie and Loki are still separated, unfortunately, and their adventures have only just begun. This chapter takes place two months after the previous. I say it at the beginning of the chapter, but for everyone's sake, another reminder. The POV switches from Valkyrie to Loki midway through, but again, pretty clear. Okay, cool! Enjoy!

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The tide rises, the tide falls,

The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;

Along the sea-sands damp and brown

The traveller hastens toward the town,

      And the tide rises, the tide falls.

 

Darkness settles on roofs and walls,

But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls;

The little waves, with their soft, white hands,

Efface the footprints in the sands,

      And the tide rises, the tide falls.

The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls

Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;

The day returns, but nevermore

Returns the traveller to the shore,

      And the tide rises, the tide falls.

                           - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Two Months Later

“How are you feeling?” comes a voice from the darkness behind me. I am startled out of my daze, staring out over the Nile, reflecting the thousands of stars above it in the sky. I turn around to see Atsu smiling at me and he extends a paper cup of water towards me.

I take it from him and down it quickly. He takes the cup back and crushes it in his hand. I crack my knuckles and then hold my hands out. Atsu adjusts the tape wrapped around my knuckles, drawing a gasp from him and a wince from me.

“Jesus, kid,” he whistles out lowly. My knuckles are a combination of deep, purpling bruises and fresh, bleeding cuts. I roll my eyes and pull my hands away from Atsu to re-wrap them myself.

“I’m fine, seriously,” I mutter.

“Are you ready to go back in?” Atsu asks, putting his arm around my shoulders, leading me back towards the building.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply with a sharp nod that sends my head spinning. I stumble heading back through the door and Atsu catches me by the shoulder.

Atsu peers into my eyes. “You okay, champ? You seem a little off-balance.”

“Yeah, no, I’m good. Just ready to end tonight, you know?” I assure him quickly and I wipe the blood that has trickled from my forehead into my eye.