An Asgardian Romance (A Loki fanfiction)

Dear Little Ones

~

In came a little boy. His dark brown hair was messy and his eyes looked tired. He seemed to just understand what was happening to his father. He is dressed in his pajamas and he holds a stuffed animal he has had since birth.

"Hi, Brandr," I say softly.

"Hello," his voice doesn't falter, "Whats wrong with daddy?"

I look up at Kensley. The clueless, little, blue eyes that are looking at me are too much for me to look back. I leave this question for Kensley.

When nobody answers Brandr steps in, "its bad?"

We nod.

"What's gonna happen?" Brandr asks.

"Many things," I answer.

"Like what?" Brandr asks.

I give him a forced smile, "Daddy wont be around anymore. I wont see you for a long time. Mother is going to need the most help she can get. Kensley is in charge now." I kept rambling until Kenlsey cut me off.

Tears fall from my eyes, I don' see how I could have anything left to cry.

"Everything, Brandr, is changing," Kensley sums up.

Brandr looks curiously at us. My eyes are focused on his teady bear and Kensley is brave enough to look at him in the eyes.

Then Brandr aks me, "You're leaving?" As if that was the only thing he heard.

"Yes," is all i can push out of my mouth.

"Don't be gone for long. I will miss you too much," Brandr orders.

That's when I break. I reach out, beckoning him. I pull him into a hig and I hold him close. I breathe in his familiar scent and I close my eyes. How can I be doing this? Leaving my family? I have just begun to learn everything and now my father is testing me. I must pass his test, or he too will fail.

After a moment I get up. Kensley leads Brandr to his bed and tucks him in. I walk over, say good-night and kiss his forehead. Kensley does the same.

I give Kensley one last hug before I leave their room. So far every room that I once saw as a safe, comfortable, warm place is now a room that is torture, hurt, sadness and coldness. I don't want to be anywhere that reminds me of this place. So many memories flourish in my mind and I cannot rid them of my presence.

I head to the kitchen.

~

I brought the cool glass up to my lips and gulped down the water that i poured into it. A drop was left on my bottom lip when i pulled the glass away. I could feel the drop freeze to my lip, afterward. I didn't hesitate to moisten my lips with my tongue and the droplet disspeared.

I rested my hip on the counter and leaned my head on the cupboard. My eyes drifted outside the window staring at the dark night. I tooj one last sip of my water anf pit the glass into the sink. I am going to miss this place.

The door to my parents room opens one last time. My youngest sister, Nessa, comes out. Her hair is in pig tails and her thumb is in her mouth. Her dark blue eyes look deprived of sleep and she yawns. She should have been in bed hours ago.

"Nessa," I beckon her over.

She looks over to me, not expecting i would be in the kitchen. But she reluctanly makes her way over, tripping on her soft blanket that is dragging on the floor.

"Hi, Iona," Nessa yawns.

I put out my arms and she walks into them. I grasp her and lift her up. Her body leans into mine amd her head rests on my shoulder. She is still sucking on her thumb.

"Are you tired?" I whisper.

She nods and yawns, once again.

We sit there for a while, Nessa's eyes open amd close and her head bobs. I stand rocking her and stare,out the window.

Suddenly, Nessa perks her head up and her thumb falls from her mouth. I look at her with curiosity. The mides of cgildren amuse me; one minute they are ready to pass out, the next, they are running around, wide awake.

"Mommy says daddy is going to be taking a really long nap," Nessa says.

I nod, while Nessa puts he rhead back down. "Yes he is."

I envy her. She is still too young to realize that her father is dying. she doesn't understand that she will never see her father agian, after the death ceremony. Which i will not be present for.

"I will make sure that I am there to give him breakfast when he wakes up," Nessa tells me.

I smile, "Okay. What are you going to give him for breakfast?"

Nessa whispers, "His favorite."

"I will help you make it," I promise.

"Okay," Nessa agrees.

Nessa pulls her blanket over her shoulders, I deside to go back to our room and put her to bed. I kiss her head and start walking toward our room.

Kelda is flipped over on her bed when ee walk in. She left a single candle lit, just enough light for me to see where Nessa's crib is.

By the time I bend over and place Nessa into her bed she is fast asleep. I, too, am finally becoming drowsy and I make up my mind to put on my sleeping clothes.

The feeling of my bed is so familiar, I think I will miss this most of all. It was the only thing I knew I could turn to when I wasn't feeling normal. In some cases, it was the only thing that would listen when I needed someone/something to talk to. In other cases it was a place where I shared lots of laughs and memories with my sister and mother. The sleepovers we had when we where younger or just the random talks we share very morning and night. Those are the things I will miss most.

But my eyes drift close and I begin to loose grip on reality. My mind wanders and finally I am aware of nothing except the baby that is lying, abanded, in a drift of snow.