Page 46 of Thor

“I should have told him.”

Val’s mouth opened and closed several times. Her eyes held compassion Elle had never seen before.

Elle peered around the group and offered a weak smile. “Thank you all for a lovely meal. I think I should go.”

“Elle, stay,” said Frigg. “Thor will get over it. Trust me.”

Elle nodded. “Thank you, Lady Frigg, but I think I’d like to go back to my apartment.”

“I’ll take you,” said Val.

“I don’t want you to miss out.”

“Let me take you,” said Frigg.

Elle shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

Frigg walked to her side. “I have to go pick up a few things at the Raven Weaver anyway.”

Elle wanted to protest but Frigg was right, she shouldn’t go alone, plus she wasn’t sure she’d find her way back on her own.

“Thank you, Lady Frigg.”

Frigg laid her hand on Elle’s arm. “Frigg. Or Auntie Frigg if you prefer. I meant what I said. Your mother was like a sister to me.”

Elle nodded.

The two walked out the door and back through Valhalla’s Throne to the underworld. Elle didn’t notice anyone or anything on her way out. All she saw was the look in Thor’s eyes when he realized who she was. Nothing had ever cut her so deep before. Not even a beating from her father had hurt as much as the pain and hatred in Thor’s eyes.

“He’ll come around,” said Frigg as they walked onto the street. “He’s in shock. But he will realize that what he feels for you is real, and he’ll calm down. If he can forgive Loki for everything he’s ever done, Thor can forgive you for not telling him who your father is.”

Elle’s gut clenched and tears welled again.

They walked down the dark streets and with every step a sense of dread washed over her. She didn’t know what to think. What to feel.

“Would you like me to take you to Thor’s so you can talk?”

“No,” Elle said quickly. “Thank you but I think it best that I give him some space.”

Frigg nodded. “Thor’s always had a lot put on his shoulders and the destruction of Asgard is something he’s never been able to forgive himself for.”

“But it was prophesied. There’s nothing he could have done to change it.”

“True. But you also must realize Thor isn’t used to losing. He was the golden son. Odin’s favorite. That meant in his eyes to keep that favor he had to be the best, always.”

“No one can do that.”

Frigg nodded. “That’s the pressure Odin placed on him every single day. To be the best. To be the hero of Asgard. The savior of his people. And in Thor’s eyes, he failed.”

“No wonder he’s cut himself off so much.”

Frigg sighed. “I’ve tried for centuries to get him to realize he is more than Thor Odinson. I had hoped that coming here and getting out of Valhalla would help him find his own path. Be who he wanted to be. And in a small way it has, but it hasn’t completely alleviated it. But when you arrived... For the first time I saw the possibility of a future for him. You are exactly what he needs Elle. He will see that.”

Elle gave Frigg a stiff smile as they reached the entrance to The Raven Weaver. She hoped more than anything that Frigg was right.

Elle walked through the portal to Midgard. She hiked up the stairs, her body feeling heavier than it ever had. She paused, noticing Heimdall wasn’t in his usual spot, but didn’t think much of it. Even Heimdall had to need a break every once in a while.

She continued heading to her loft. Half way up the stairs she took off her heels, giving her feet a much-needed break from the torture.

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