...After the 1st wave...

...Behind castle walls...

I am pacing outside the doors awaiting news of Odin's condition. I pray in my mind Odin lives this one day in the middle of Asgard's greatest threat. I am not ready to become king this early in the game. I am not ready at all. I came to a halt when the doors to the room come to a creak and a wide open gesture with a couple healers.

I raise my head up as my hands are behind my back.

"He lives?" I ask, hopeful.

The old healer lowers her head.

"There is nothing we can do," The old healer said. "All-Father."

"You must be mistaken," I said. "I am not the All-Father!"

"Odin has passed of his injuries," The 2nd young healer said. "All-Father."

I feel dread and uncontrollable emotion coming up.

"Prepare our fallen for their last voyage," I said.

"Yes, All-Father," The old healer said, bowing her head.

I turn away then quickly walk down the hallway past the servants. After all I have done to prevent the death of two important figures on Asgard; I failed. Preventing the death of my mother at the cost of defending Asgard and Jane's very short life. How fortunate was I not to lose Mother the first time around? I had been lucky. I was damn lucky and so was Thor. Thor had been twice lucky not losing his father. But maybe not; because in exchange, Thor lost Jane and I never knew Knight.

I shut the doors behind myself with a loud thud.

I made a mess in my chambers-not to confuse with the bedroom I share with Knight-knocking off items on the table,shutting the curtains to the room blocking view of my outrage,and broke anything within hands reach. I collapse in the corner of the room with my back to the wall after 20 minutes lashing out my anger. I throw a glass ball at the door. The ball broke into pieces with a loud 's-latter' spilling water all over the place including what remains of snow flakes. I didn't notice what glass pieces had wedged themselves under my feet, my knuckles bruised for striking at the wall,and in a complete emotional wreck. The door to my room gently opens.

Knight pokes her head in.

"Are you okay?" Knight asks.

"I am," I lied.

Knight walks into the room.

"I heard the news," Knight said. "The people are waiting for you,"

"They can wait for the man to bust his way out of the cell and apologize for his actions!" I said. "That man is not me."

Knight walks over then sat down next to me with her hands wrapped around her legs.

"Loki," Knight said. "The man I married is in a complete mess grieving. More people than before are looking up to him and he is at a loss at what to do about it." She sounds sincere feeling alongside my cheek. "You are unsure,Loki," Knight lowers her hand off my cheek. "And I can do the ceremony for you."

"You are attending?" I ask.

"Why yes, I am," Knight said, putting her hand on her chest. "Scouts honor."

I smile.

"You never lost a parent," I said.

"I have lost dear friends close to me," Knight said, getting up. "I know how it feels," She steps over the shards of glass headed back towards the door. "Take long as you like, Lok." She comes to the door then puts her hand on the handle. "You can grieve in your little way out of public view."

Knight opens the door and exits the room.

I hear the pat-pat of rain outside the curtain.

I get up, push the curtain back, and see a dark sky pouring out rain landing in the body of water laying outside the kingdom. Herds of Asgardians are headed towards the seabody. I turn away feeling unsure about taking up the mantle of 'All-Father'. But who would take the mantle if I were to refuse it? No one asides to Knight and I. Frigga would want me to take up the role I had been spared from for quite a long time. And for that I am grateful.

But what did Frigga see in me?

A leader?

What did Odin see in me; a mischievous Frost Giant?

I lower my head with a sigh.

"Is that what you saw in me," I said, turning my head towards the side. "Mother?"

A coin slips off the table landing on the floor.

I softly smile closing the curtain.

Then I feel pain from my feet.

"Ow," I said, flinching.

I sat down in what remains of a chair and began prying out the shards of glass. First I have to clean up, hide my bruises, and second of all wrap my feet up in some fabric so it won't bleed through my perfectly green comfy socks. We can't avoid honoring our fallen and it is generally not accepted among the people unless not attending has a perfectly logical reasoning. I can attend-while from the castle-using a lantern cube.

But I am not attending from the castle.

I am attending the honor ceremony in a little bit.