Here Goes Nothing
Not that playing with Loki wasn't fun (and a little informative), but it was starting to get late. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone in this place was going to wake up soon. And that would mean having my ass handed to me for playing with Hela's anger management. Her punchbag, as she liked to call him before we got here. But I have a feeling she would sooner throw him to Frost Beasts or even Bilgesnipe than even breathe the same air as him. It's a shame that she beat that pretty face of his up. I bet with a little love, he would be alright.
As I walked closer to my room, I grew more tired by the second. That's strange. Usually, I can go days without sleeping. I used to have to because my mother and I had to run away from villages that came after us.
"Good morning, Aurora," I jumped a little at the sound of Skurge's voice. I wasn't expecting anyone in these halls quite yet. I don't know why I am so nervous. It's not like he would know where I have been "Apologies. didn't mean to startle you"
"Good morning, Skurge," I walked up to him "And it's quite alright. Still getting used to being around more than one person. How can I help you?"
"Hela was just looking for you," Skurge reported "Just going to bed, I assume?"
"Not quite," I told him. Trying not to yawn "I don't think I could sleep now if I wanted to."
"Would you care to join us for breakfast?" Skruge suggested.
"I may as well. As you said, Hela is looking for me" I was starving anyway. And something tells me that their version of breakfast wasn't mouldy bread.
"What have you been up to since we have been asleep?" Skurge asked as we walked down the hallway.
"Just exploring the palace," I told her. Hardly a lie. I did explore for all of ten minutes "Nothing overly exciting."
"And what have you thought of your new home?"
"The palace is beautiful. The view to the south is amazing and breathtaking" I sighed, "Considering my beginnings, I never thought that I would ever step foot in a palace like this, let alone live in one."
"It truly is a thing of beauty," Skurge agreed, "How far did you get?" Shit... I think he knows something. He has to. But let's pretend like he doesn't.
"Not very. It's hard to tell. This place is massive. I am used to a mere shack created with bark and moss"
"Well, you will never again have to experience that. Come. The war room's this way. I'm sure everyone's there by now."
I followed Skurge closely, silently praying to whatever god was listening that he didn't know where I had really been. Maybe one of these days, I really should take a better walk around the palace. As I said it is breathtaking. Although, there's something about breakfast in the war room that seemed a tad excessive.
"There you are, Aurora," Hela welcomed me in, pulling out the seat next to her, "I was starting to wonder where you were"
"My apologies, Hela," I took that empty seat, "I got a little lost on my way back to my room."
"If I didn't know any better," Hela shot a look across the table, "I would think Skurge was trying to steal you away from me."
"No need to worry. I know where my loyalties lie." I smiled.
"You really are quite a dear, Aurora. And, I hate to say I told you so, Morbius, but..." Hela awed, taking my hand.
"Alright. I get it" Morbius brushed her off. He leant forward, placing his elbows on the table "Aurora, please do take it personally. I am mistrusting a lot of people. I have never encountered someone of your nature before. Only full breeds. You're a wild card"
"I understand. I am also in the same predicament. I don't trust you guys. I am only trusting of Hela as I have spent the last month with her"
"Aurora..." Hela melted inside hearing me say that I trust her. I don't fully trust her. It's just that I trust her more than Skurge and Morbius. She then pulls me to her side, "Despite her Frost Gaint side, Aurora is definitely one of us."
"You may as well denounce that side of you" Morbius sighed.
"We have talked about that," Hela interrupted. We haven't talked yet but I have the feeling that was to shut Morbius up "And it is none of your business why she refuses to become a full Asgardian" I also didn't know that was even possible.
"If you ever choose to change your mind, I'm pretty sure there is a witch up in the north mountains that can help you" Morbius sighed. I promised my mother that I would never denounce that side of me. There are some days that I regret making that promise. Mainly when winter set in and the nights were below freezing. Denouncing that side would have allowed me to gain a bed for the night. There was no fucking way that I would ever want to be a full-blooded Asgardian. I like being strong. And even if I could, I could never choose a side. I don't fit in anywhere.
"Aurora," Skurge snapped me out of my head, clicking his fingers in front of my face "You did say you were hungry, didn't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I did" I nodded. Hela clicked her fingers and a servant placed a huge plate in front of me.
"We should get you properly fed, shouldn't we?"
"This is far too much. I would have been happy with bread" I was not used to this much food. Mouldy bread would have been more than enough.
"Eat" Hela nodded to the plate. That is when instinct took over. I indulged in the ripe fruit and nuts. my mouth full of salvia as I tasted flavours that I never knew existed.
After a while, I felt as if everyone was staring at me. And when I say everyone, I mean Morbius.
"My, my. She was a hungry creature, Isn't she?" He pointed out, admiring my appetite. I nearly stopped eating. I didn't come here to be judged.
"Aurora, So you know. We're going on a scouting mission this evening." Hela filled my goblet with orange juice.
"Really?" It had felt like ages since I saw any real combat. And I had only been at the palace for less than a week "When are we leaving?"
"Darling, you misunderstand" she settled me, "The scouting mission will be just us three of us. Are you going to be alright on your own here?"
"You can't be serious." Morbius stepped in. Hela and Skurge glared at him "You're just going to leave her here? Alone?"
"And I don't see the problem in that" Hela lazily rested her head on her hand "I do hate the thought of leaving you home all alone, but chances are, you will be fine. At the end of the day, you are still new to the realm."
"You speak about this creature as if she came out of you."
"No offence but ew! No. That would mean fucking Volstagg and I have much better things to do than that. No offence, Aurora. From what we gather, your mother didn't have much of a say in the matter. Honestly, I don't have much respect for the women who would fuck him willingly"
"None took" I kept stuffing more food into my mouth. I was so hungry. It had been a good year or so since I had a decent meal.
"You need to slow down, darling. You will make yourself sick. No need to glut yourself." Helagrabbed my wrist.
"I'm sorry," I eased back, feeling stupid "I was pretty hungry, though."
"That is quite alright. You needn't starve yourself but slow down" Hela smiled, letting go of my wrist.
"I will try not to." I then turned to the others "I apologise for my manners. I am still not used to people" Skurge waved me down and shoved a large piece of bread in his mouth. Morbius nodded.
"Alright then," Hela got up from the table, offering me her hand "And since you were up ridiculously early. Let's get you to bed." She then turns to Morbius "Morbius, I don't want to hear it."
"And that would be?" Morana played innocent.
"I know what I sound like," Hela pulled me onto my feet, "And I don't need you rubbing it in. Say goodbye to everyone, Aurora."
"Goodbye, everyone," I followed Hela back to my room. With this full belly, I could go to sleep very easily but I can't quite yet.
"Aurora," Hela sat at my bedside, putting something in my hand, "I didn't want to give this to you in front of the others. I'm sure you understand why."
"They don't fully trust me" I looked over her gift, not sure how to feel about it "Is this a piece of the travel mirror?"
"Just in case you have a hard time sleeping and you need a drink again," Hela explained. How she is so kind to me, a stranger, but a complete bitch to her brother "I know the others make jokes about it, but I really do worry about you as if you were my own. If something were to happen to you, Aurora, I would never be able to forgive myself. Especially if I knew I could prevent it. So, if you do go out tonight, don't stay out for long. And please, For the sake of my sanity... be careful."
"Hela, you have my word that I will be careful." I laid my head down on the pillows, yawning "Thank you, Hela, for everything you have done for me. Good luck on your scouting mission tonight."
"Thank you, sweetheart," she pulled the blankets over me and placed a soft kiss on my forehead, "Rest well, my dear Aurora. We'll be back by dawn" I nodded and sighed. Hela smiled as she closed my door.
I sat up as soon as the door shut. I press my hand against the spot where Hela kissed me. Wow... I hadn't felt so loved since Mother died. It was so strange that someone I had only known for a month was actually caring about me. It was a strange feeling. I suppose even people like Hela can be caring and nurturing person when she wants to be. Maybe if I gave into my Forst Gaint urges and killed everyone in the other realms, I would spare Hela. Maybe Loki too. He had done nothing wrong from what I understand and was being treated poorly because he was the adopted son of Odin.
After a few hours, I made sure everyone had left. I slowly removed myself from the bed. I fought sleep and headed back toward the distance mirror room. I looked into it and to no surprise, it showed me the same dusty, rundown pub that is somehow still running, despite the insane amount of show. The only thing that was different was there was a covered wagon stopped out front.
"That's strange" I wonder who else was there.
But that was another problem that I could not care for, I had bigger problems to worry about. I needed to meet someone. Someone that I have had my mother tell me stories about for years. The chances of him being a tad volatile were high, but I couldn't blame him. Frost Giants and Asgardians were not meant to be friends. And he was chased out of his lands. I just hope that once we do meet, he doesn't reject me completely.
And it's not like it's my fault that I am the way I am. I didn't ask for the powers I had. If I can make him understand that, I should be alright. Don't get me wrong. I am still grateful for what Hela and others have done for me. I'm grateful for the fact that I still wake up every morning without any of them standing over my bed, making attempts on my life. Hela wouldn't let any of them get close enough to do it (I would also kill them without any hesitation) And I'm grateful for the friend that is Loki. But at the end of the day, I was still missing something. And I think that something may be waiting for me in this shard of distance mirror. Here goes nothing.
"I know you're listening, distance mirror. Take me to this pub, wherever it may be. Take me to my destiny. Take me to Thor Odinson. Lost son of Asgard"