Fill 15 Card 2: Weak/Week

[innitmarvelous_og]

Odin and Loki were walking through the halls of the Palace, enjoying the quiet peace that had settled over Asgard.

In the distance from where they are, a group of young maidens are walking together. In the midst of them Loki sees his betrothed is in conversation with another one of the young women. They're laughing together, and Loki is relieved to see her making friends among the Asgardians, for her doesn't want her to be lonely after they've wed.

They are precisely one month away from when they would exchange vows not be all of Asgard but a good portion of it. Eva's family will also be at the ceremony that Odin had agreed to officiate as both the King of Asgard, and as the father of the groom.

Loki had hesitated at the idea of Odin having such a huge role in their wedding, but Eva had thought it would be a good idea as it would help to continue to heal the rift between them.

He'd bowed to her wisdom.

Suddenly, Eva looked in his direction, her face lighting up when she saw him, and she waved.

He returned her wave, and was suddenly aware of the fact Odin was watching him closely.

"Have care, Loki. For while she seems to be strong, vital, and beautiful now, all too soon she will wither, then die. And she will do far sooner than you will."

Loki was taken aback by his words, and then he grew angry, "How can you say such things when we are to soon wed?"

"Mayhap you will not believe me when I say this, but my words are not intended to be cruel. They are a simple reminder of the folly which you are about to enter into with your union with the Midgardian woman. Her people are fragile creatures as they are born, live, and they die after such the blink of an eye for us. It is the way of things concerning them."

"But does a shorter lifespan means she is weak? Eva may not be as powerful as a single warrior of Asgard, but she has qualities that I admire. She is endlessly kind, and an indomitable strength of character that I admire."

With a nod, Odin acknowledged Loki's words, "It is true that that mortals, especially those of Midgard, have some admirable traits. Even so, it is their mortality that makes them weak when compared to us. When compared to them, we have life eternal, and we are far more powerful than they will ever be."

He thought about Odin's words for a moment. He knows there is truth to what Odin said. He knows that mortals are weak in some ways, but that didn't necessarily make them lesser beings than those who dwelt in Asgard. Yet he knows he cannot condemn Odin for perhaps having such thoughts as he himself once thought of humans as being less than the dust on his boot.

"I concede your point, Father," Loki said, "Nevertheless I still see Eva as the remarkable woman she is, despite her mortality."

"I do not doubt that she is a remarkable woman, my son, as she has been able to capture your heart so completely. But you must bear in mind she is also fragile and mortal."

"I will, Father. Now if you will excuse me, I must go seek out Thor."

Odin dismissed him, and as he watched him go, his old battle hardened warrior's heart ached for both of his sons. For they both loved mortal women, and sailed in seas that had a false calm now. He knew that when the two women they loved breathed their last, both of them would find themselves lost in the raging seas of grief, to perhaps perish on the razor sharp rocks of its shores before they returned to shore.

If they ever did.

Odin prayed they would not perish.

 

Comments

[pattrose]

Odin is right but immortals have to take Thant chance. That’s the wrong word. Are they immortal or. Just live longer than humans. At any rate I like how Loki answered him. Very nice little story.