24 Chapter 24 Marlowe

Katrina's POV

It's been a few months since I came to Asgard and its been the happiest I have been in an awfully long time. Me and Loki have practically been inseparable, just like when we first were together when we started courting on Earth. He has shown me all around Asgard, all of his favourite spots like his bed and the library not to mention the gardens. But he has also been taking me on surprise dates, practically worshipping me and the ground that I walk on. We are both hopelessly in love and I'm loving it. I can tell Loki missed me and is so happy I came to be with him on Asgard. The idea I did that for him shocks him but makes him love me even more. I guess he was surprised that I would do that for him but we love each other and nothing was going to change that.

We have been so happy and Asgard has been great. Often when Loki is training with his brother, I am spending time with Sif who has become my closest friend or I'm in the library studying magic. I've been studying the magic books that Loki learned from so I can use my magic more and learn to defend myself. Considering I had been kidnapped twice, raped and attacked more than that. I don't want to rely on Loki to save me, I want to be able to defend myself so we can protect each other. Not just him protecting me.

Loki doesn't mind saving me, protecting me but he is pleased I am learning magic. I think he is worried that one day he won't be able to save me and I will die… and it will be his fault. But I know he would always save me, he is always there for me but I must learn to fight back. He has taught me a lot already but the more I can learn, the better. So hopefully one day when Loki can't be there, for any reason, I can save myself. It just means I have been practicing more magic and I have found the longer I have spent on Asgard, the stronger I've got. It's strange but I figure since I am in magical realm, it means I am becoming stronger and Loki thinks the same. Hopefully one day, I will be strong enough to protect myself and maybe save Loki for a change.

However, the past few days I have noticed Odin and Frigga watching me more intently and I have noticed there looks. I think something is going on and Loki thinks the same. But we have both tried not to think about it as we just want to enjoy being together and yet, we both are worried. His family are notorious for keeping secrets and I guess he is worried there is another one, about to shatter him yet again.

Loki has gone training today with his brother and I was going to practice more magic when I got a message or should I say a surprise invitation. Frigga has asked me to meet her in the gardens and it will be my first time alone with her since she helped me surprise Loki when I first arrived. She was so nice to me and I really like her. But I am a bit nervous considering she wants to have a private meeting with me, just us two. And I have no idea what about. It sounds like something important so I am being quick, trying to get to the garden quickly so I don't keep her waiting.

I reach the gardens and I go deeper, past the fountain and deeper than I have ever been to before. I then see her waiting for me on a bench and I smile as I reach her. She smiles at me as I join her, sitting beside her.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting." I tell her.

She shakes her head, "I only just got here myself. It's beautiful out here… how are you settling in Asgard?"

I smile, "I really love it here. It's beyond anything I could imagine and it feels like home. Not to mention you and your family have been so nice to me, so welcoming. I will always be grateful for you both letting me stay and court your son."

She smiles at me, "I'm just pleased you are both happy and that you are in my sons life. You have been a positive influence on each other."

"Frigga, why did you invite me here? I love spending time with you and your family, I really do but I'm just simply curious… and… it's just…"

She interrupts me, "You have noticed the odd looks we have been giving you?"

I nod sheepishly, "I did, we both did."

"That's because there is something you need to know." She tells me.

Taking a breath, she holds out her hand and magically produces a book out of thin air. Its old and leather bound. I notice a name is carved into the leather but it's hard to make out from here. Maybe it is a spell book or something. But I think it's something more and she holds out the book to me so I can take it. I take it from her and look at it. I can now see the name Marlowe carved into the leather and I find myself opening it, staring at the pages. It's a kingdom and by the look of it, this book is about the royal family of Marlowe and all their secrets.

She begins telling me about the kingdom, "Marlowe was a magical kingdom but it was different to most Asgardian kingdoms. The king and Queen were part goddess and had strong magical powers that had been passed down through their family. Years ago, the Kingdom was destroyed and everyone was slaughtered, no one survived. The Dark Order had killed them all… just to get the power that runs through the royal family veins."

I look at her, slightly horrified about what happened but confused, "How horrible… but… but why? Why are you telling me this?"

She looks at me pained, "You are the lost princess of Marlowe. You are half Asgardian and half Goddess… and you are in more danger then you realise."

"What?" I shake my head, shocked and in total disbelief, "I can't be…"

But then I find myself looking at the book and I turn the pages to the family tree, the royal blood line and I can't believe it. My name is there, at the bottom of the tree and a baby picture of me. It takes my breath away and I feel my face go pale. It's true, it's really true which means I am a princess and part goddess. It has shocked me down to the bone and I can't believe it. I'm from this kingdom, from this family but they are all dead. All slaughtered she said by this Dark Order so how am I here? How am I alive when they are not? How did I survive and end up on Earth? I have so many more questions than answers.

I look at Frigga, clutching the book, "I'm really this princess?"

"You are." She reassures me, "I recognised your magic when I checked you were an Asgardian but I could also sense your goddess side. I knew straight away who you are but couldn't quite believe it, we all thought you were dead."

I nod as I close the book, "But how am I not dead? You said yourself the kingdom was slaughtered, my parents too… so how did I survive and end up on Earth?"

She shrugs, "We don't know. We think your mother might have sent you to Earth to protect you from the Dark Order." She looks at me pained, "As they wanted you."

I gulp, "For my powers."

She nods, "You are half goddess and extremely powerful. The Dark Order wanted you and slaughtered a kingdom and your parents to get to you."

"Are they still after me?" I ask, my voice laced with fear.

"Yes we think they are."

This shocks me to the bone and I take a moment to think it all over. I've been curious since Tony told me I was adopted about how I got to Earth and where I came from but I never expected this. I'm this supposed to be dead princess from Marlowe and I am half goddess and powerful. Not only is this shocking enough. But the Dark Order slaughtered my parents and a whole kingdom to take me for my powers and my parents sent me to Earth to protect me. To save me. And now not only do I know, but I'm also in danger and it terrifies me. All for my powers.

I look at Frigga, trying not to break, "Is that why you are telling me now? Is this Dark Order coming for me?"

She shakes her head, "They are unaware you are alive so you are safe, don't worry. But one day they could come for you and Asgard would be in danger." She looks at me, "Which is why Odin forbid me from telling you but you deserved to know the truth, either way."

I take a breath, a bit relieved I am safe for now, "Thank you for telling me Frigga, I am pleased you told me."

She nods, "I am just sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I make to give her the book back but she shakes her head, pushing it back into my hands, "Keep it. Your father and mother would have wanted you to have it."

I nod, clutching the book tighter, "Thank you Frigga. I admit I am shocked and overwhelmed and not sure what to think. But I am glad that I know. It's just… I feel bad. You told me even though Odin told you not to. I don't want to get you in trouble."

This makes her laugh, "I can handle my husband and he should know by now that we shouldn't keep secrets anymore. Especially after what happened last time." She smiles at me, "Come on, we will be late for lunch."

"Seriously thank you Frigga."

Then we hug before we get up and begin walking through the garden and towards the palace. But all I can think about is the book clutched to my chest and everything I had just learned. It makes me smile a little now that I know who I am and where I came from. The idea that I am a princess and a goddess is just unbelievable and fantastic. But it also scares me, worries me. When this Dark Order or anyone finds out I am alive, they could come for me because of my goddess powers. Like they did before and I hate that my parents and my kingdom died for me. But they also saved me and I'm grateful for what they did. But they also died… to think what my life would be like if I had lived in a kingdom… I would have never met Loki but then that worries me.

I've been trying so hard to learn to protect myself, use my magic so that Loki wouldn't have to keep worrying about me. Protecting me all the time and saving me. I thought now that I am on Asgard, away from Hydra and safe, I would be ok. Even Loki was thinking the same but still I have been learning magic and now I learn I will always be in danger. The Dark Order or anyone could come after me and it scares me. Can I really expect to put this great burden on Loki? As well as on his family and on Asgard? He will always have to keep protecting me and I don't know if I can do that to him.

These thoughts keep going through my mind as we go into the palace and to the private dining room. Frigga keeping a comforting arm around me but all I do is clutch my book tight to my chest and think about who I am. It explains so much but I'm in so much more danger now.

We reach the private dining room and go inside and Odin is sat at the head of the table with Thor and Loki on one side of the table. They already have drinks but food hasn't been brought in yet. They smile at us as we go over to them and I sit opposite Loki with Frigga opposite Thor, but she is closer to Odin. I smile but its forced, my mind still spinning and Loki can tell something is wrong. I am still clutching the book tightly and that's when Odin sees I have the book about my kingdom.

He frowns and glares at Frigga, annoyed, "You told her. I forbid you from telling her and you still went behind my back."

She nods, "She deserved to know Odin."

The tension in here has risen and I see Thor and Loki looking at me. But I can barely meet their eyes, not sure what to think or what to say. I manage to pull myself together and put the book down, all eyes are on me. But I'm still looking at Marlowe, carved into the leather and with everything I am feeling right now… a blend of emotion from joy to shock and pain. But I also feel slightly betrayed and angry. Odin should have told me and Loki. Considering secrets nearly broke his family last time. Loki was right, they were keeping secrets but it just wasn't about him this time.

"What is going on?" Loki asks, "Mother what did you tell Katrina?" He looks at me, "Katrina what's wrong? Katrina?"

I look at Loki, "You were right. Your family love keeping secrets except it's about me this time, not you." I look at Odin, "You should have told me the moment I arrived here."

Odin signs in frustration, "You were never supposed to know. I forbid my wife from telling you but she told you anyway. All of Asgard is now in danger."

"She deserved to know the truth." Frigga states, "It's her birth right. She deserves the truth about who she is and the danger she is in. Keeping her in the dark would only destroy our family like it nearly did last time."

Loki growls, getting annoyed, "Alright someone start talking." He looks at me worried, "Katrina what's going on?"

I take a breath, "I'm the lost princess of Marlowe and part goddess."

Loki's eyes widen in shock, "That's not possible… she's dead."

"Everyone thought I was dead but clearly not. Look for yourself." I pick up the book and pass it to Loki, "Proof is in there."

He takes it and opens it, skim reading it and he stops when he reaches my family tree. My name is clear on the bottom and he looks just as shocked as I am. Thor is looking at it too and Loki leans back in his chair in shock. He doesn't say a thing, just keeps staring at it before looking at me, slightly pleased but worried about it all.

Then he looks at Odin, "More secrets father? Really? I feared you were keeping something from us but I would have never suspected this."

Odin shakes his head, "I had to protect my family, Asgard. This secret had to be kept."

I shake my head, "No it didn't." I look at him, "I get it. You were trying to protect everyone and I get that. The Dark Order slaughtered my kingdom, my parents and basically everyone I should have known to get to me. And somehow I escaped to Earth… blissfully unaware that thousands died for me but I had every right to know the truth."

"You are dangerous company Katrina." Odin states, "The Dark Order or anyone could come after you, take you for your powers. I had to protect you, my son and all of Asgard."

Taking a breath, I stand up, "No you were just protecting yourself, as usual. All you care about is your secrets. I deserved to know the truth about who I am and the danger that I am in. Considering I am courting your son and basically putting him, your family and everyone I know in danger just by being here. I deserved to know and the fact you kept this from me…" I shake my head as I tuck my chair in, "And to think, after what happened last time you kept a secret, you wouldn't be a fool and do it again."

He takes a breath, "It seems I have made a mistake… I should have told you. I do apologise."

I nod, "Yeah well, its little too late for that." I use magic and summon the book to my hand, "I'm sure lunch would have been great but I have no appetite. I will see you all later."

Then I leave the private dining room and I go straight out into the garden, tears rolling down my cheeks. Eventually I end up at the fountain, once of our favourite spots and sit beside it. I clutch the book tight to my chest, letting the tears roll down my cheek as I just let myself cry and let the pain out.