TW: mentioning of self-harm

I didn't expect her to recognize me. After all I wouldn't either. An almost invisible maid in the castle of Odin. I wasn't important to anyone except myself. And even that was momentarily. The scars were painful reminders of that.

"Y/N!" A yelled order interrupted my train of thoughts before it was too late.

"The queen wants to have dinner in her bedchambers and you will serve it to her today!"

Oh that was new. But did you have to? A look to the terrified maids from the previous nights made you realise it was the only choice you had. Sighing, you pulled out a tray, put the dish and wine on it and carried it to the queens chambers.

The sound of your knocking echoed loudly in your sensitive ears.

"Come in" Her voice was different. Raspier, darker and more mature than you were used to it from your childhood.

Trying to be as silent as possible you put the tray on the drawer near her study table and were almost out the door when you heard a shout.

"Stop! Come back here maid!" Charming.

You turned around to be faced with a curious impression on her face. It reminded you of the one time when you both studied the butterflies in the royal gardens and she found a particularly big, blue one.  

"Have we met before? Do I know you?" Shaking your head you tried to avoid direct eye contact.

"Look at me when I speak to you!" Woah but still as mean as she was back then. 

"No need to yell I'm not even five feet away from you, your majesty" You replied sarcasticly.

"How dare you speak to your queen that way?! I could kill you right on the spot!"

"Then go ahead. Do it. The girl I used to know wouldn't hurt a fly." Shit, you slipped.

Hela now looked at you in confusion until something changed in her eyes.

"Y/N? My love? Is it really you?"

"Apparently yes. Now if you would excuse me? I have other important things to be done before midnight." That came out sharper than expected but you didn't really care.

"No, wait! What are you doing here-"

"My job obviously"

"But why? I thought you-"

"That I'm a close friend of the royal family and even a princess myself? Well things change, Hela. Even on Asgard"

"But Y/N-"

"No, no 'but'. There is no 'but'. It is how it is. Now if you would excuse me, I really need to go"

You didn't care that she felt guilty for your pain or even pity. You were alone since she left, almost 15 years ago, and you were okay on your own. As she used to say:
'the prettiest birds sing of regret'.

♤♡◇♧☆

The only motivation for this was the picture and the last sentence, which came to me while I studied. Hope you liked it even tho it was a little short

Love you💜