Emeralds of Agony

3 years later

As Lai had predicted that day, all those involved in her scheme benefitted. The King and Queen took Nina in as their own, and once shown the love and affection she had always deserved, she flourished. Thor and Loki were delighted with their new play-mate, as Thor exclaimed when their father explained to them they were taking in a little girl, and she was to live as their sister - ‘So she’s not a baby? She can join in with our games now!’ The great pain in their lives gradually subsided as Nina began to thrive, growing more confident each day. The King and Queen noted that she seemed a clear mixture of their two boys – with her blonde hair and blue eyes she seemed so like Thor, but the vestiges of uncertainty that lingered in her character drew such parallels with Loki. Yes, she was the perfect fit.

-

‘Thor, stop it!’ Nina shrieked. ‘Put him down!’

 ‘It doesn’t hurt it! Don’t be stupid, Nina.’ He swung round, the rabbit dangling by its ears.

‘It does! Stop!’ She shoved him, and in his surprise opened his hand. The animal dropped to the ground and scampered off across the lawn, back to the safety of the bushes in the palace garden.

‘Now look what you’ve done!’ Thor’s face creased in annoyance, and he shoved her back, hard. Startled, Nina sat down suddenly, wincing as she hit the ground. She glared up at him, and he shrugged. ‘Sometimes you’re no fun.’ He ran off, intent on finding his prey.

Nina sat, pulling tufts of grass from the lawn, her little face pinched with anger.

A shadow dropped down from the tree she sat under, and she jumped, startled.

‘It’s only me.’ Loki straightened up and smiled at her, but she continued scowling at the ground.

‘Thor make you cry again?’

‘I’m not crying.’ She muttered, bending her head so her golden curls fell over her face.

‘Alright.’ Loki settled himself cross-legged opposite her. ‘I’ve got something that will cheer you up, though.’

She carried on poking at the grass, avoiding his eyes. He reached into his pocket, and she heard the gentle clinking within.

‘Mother’s necklace.’

‘Loki!’ She looked up worriedly. ‘You’re not allowed to take it! I’m only allowed to play with it when she’s there!’ She frowned at him, and he laughed.

‘I didn’t steal it, silly. I just thought about it, and then it came to me. Honestly!’ Nina looked doubtful.

‘It’s because it’s mine, see. Mother told me. She told me she had it made when I was born, and a bit of the blood that came off me is in it. I know, yuck.’ Nina had pulled a face, but watched him in reverent interest all the same. ‘Thor has one too. His is ruby and gold. But he doesn’t care about necklaces.’

‘I wish I had one.’ Nina looked wistful as she ran the stones through her hands.

‘Well. It doesn’t mean anything really. And besides, you can share mine.’ She smiled at him, winding the necklace round her wrist and through her fingers. Ever since she could remember, she’d found great comfort in that sensation. The stones were always cool, never taking on the heat of her body, a calming influence whenever she felt hot and bothered.

And she was usually bothered by Thor. She had great fun with him, but something would always happen. He would get bored, and start goading an animal, or play hide and seek and then forget about her, going off to play ‘war’ with the other boys. Nina would always sulk for a while, and then Loki usually turned up. Often with something to cheer her up – a cake or biscuit swiped from the kitchen, or the promise of a good new hiding place in the palace. He always managed to sweep any annoyance from her.

‘Come on.’ He stood up and held out a hand to her, pulling her up. He carefully unwound the necklace from her wrist, placing it gently back in his pocket. Hand in hand, they ran back into the palace.

 

Frigga sighed from her window’s vantage point. Her bedchamber looked down into the garden, and it pleased her to see the children play inside it. However, seeing them in this environment gave her a new perspective. She noticed more and more that Nina was prone to feeling left alone, and that it took Loki’s interference to distract her. From the very beginning, when Frigga and Odin had decided to raise her as their own, Frigga had been adamant that Nina would be treated exactly the same. But still she knew that she was not of their blood. She had barely any fragments of memory from before Lai brought her to the palace, but she knew she had arrived as a walking, talking child, not as a brand new baby as her brothers had. Well. Brother. Frigga closed her eyes at this troubling thought, and cast it aside. Yes, so Nina knew she was different. And she was also a girl. Frigga was determined this should not matter – Norse women were well-known for their adequate fighting abilities, and the Queen decided then that Nina would receive the same formal training her brothers would when they turned thirteen. Perhaps this would help her assert herself more, and Thor would resist pushing her around. Yes, Frigga thought. This could prove helpful indeed.