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The wind blew through the open windows of the youngest prince's chambers, bringing with it a chill. A ghost from the past slipped into the wind....
-... Hello, darling... - the ghost's voice sounds in a low whisper somewhere above Loki's head, and he wakes up immediately.
-...Ada? - The man asks in disbelief, holding out his hand to her.
- That's me. - answered the girl with a slight smile and added, shaking her head. - No need. You should sleep.
- I've been calling for you...
- I know, it was hard not to hear.
- Why have you come now? Why not before?
- You should move on...
- NO! - shouted the prince. - I don't want to go on without you!
- You have to. As much as I want to be with you, I can't stay, Loki. I'm dead.
- "Don't go," the prince asked very quietly, sadly.
- I'll come back tomorrow. Just promise me something, will you?
- What I should do? – the Trickster asked hopefully.
- Finally, leave your chambers. Frigga loves you don't make her worry.
- That’s all?
- To begin with, yes.
- Deal. But how do I know you'll come?
- You're the god of lies, so tell me if I'm lying or not.
- I'll be waiting for you, Ada...
- … I know. Sleep well, my dear...
***
Loki was already asleep when the girl made her way around the Trickster's chambers for the last time, picking up anything that might remind him of her. When she reached the study, on the desk Ada noticed many portraits of herself, lovingly sketched by the younger prince's hand. Next to the portraits lay a sheet of paper on which he was trying to find a way to bring her back to life. At that moment she was finally convinced of the correctness of her decision. Looking at the drawings some more, the girl put everything together before entering the dream. A magical fire began to engulf the paper....
-...Hello from the other side.....
- Hi... You came... - Loki sighed in relief.
- I promised. - said the girl, stepping closer to the trickster. - It's a beautiful place...
- I've been thinking a lot lately about our past, about who we used to be...
Moments of their shared past flashed before their eyes. From the moment they met to the day Loki found her dead outside the castle. It all came back to them now, the moments of joy and happiness alongside the times when they couldn't agree.
The day Asgard was attacked, Loki asked her to hide with everyone else, but she thought otherwise. Ada has always had an irresistible desire to help and save everyone. As soon as Loki left, she did what she thought was right again... And this time it cost her the life.
- When we were young and free...- Ada adds barely audibly, but he hears. - So different, sometimes it seemed like thousands of miles between us.
- But we always got through it together. Why couldn't we then?
- They say time heals.
- But it didn't do much for me.
- I'm sorry I broke your heart.
- It's so unusual for me, Ada. I've probably been meaning to say a thousand times that I'm sorry for everything I've done. - Turning to face the girl, the Asgardian said.
- It's okay. I've always forgiven you.
- I shouldn't have left you then, you'd still be alive!
- It wasn't your fault, Loki. I shouldn't have left then, I should have listened to you, but you know that my stubbornness is sometimes out of line. - The brunette said with a sad smile.
- That doesn't excuse me. I had a duty to protect you no matter what and I couldn't.....
- Don't blame yourself, darling. Nothing can be changed. It's time for you to accept it and move on....
- What if I don't want to?
- It can't go on like this, it's time to end it.
- NO! I'll find a way to get you back!
- You know the price may be too high....
- I'll pay any price to have you back... - gently touching the girl's cheek and wiping away tears, the prince whispered.
Tears were also rolling down his cheeks, he couldn't let her go, hurting both of them.
- I'm not ready for any price. But you're not going to give up on this... - not asking, just stating the fact.
- I won't.
- There's no way I'm gonna change your mind, right? - the girl asked, knowing the answer in advance.
Meanwhile, in the Trickster's chambers, the magical flame was slowly fading...
- Ada, I love you so much. - the man confessed, taking the girl in a tight embrace.
Tears flowed more and more from their eyes.
- Oh my darling... Loki Lafeyson, I love you! Do you hear me? I will always love you. - pressing her lips to his in a final kiss, knowing that in the morning the prince would not remember anything, because at that moment the last pieces of his memories of her are burning up.
In that kiss they both put all their love and longing for each other. And pulling away with the last extinguished spark of fire, Ada whispered just one thing, taking away all the memories:
- Farewell, my love...
***
Loki, waking up, inhaled a full breath. The prince felt unusually light, wanting to live and enjoy life, for the first time in a while.
The man walked past Ada, not noticing her ghostly shadow, and headed into the garden.
- I'll always be around, watching over you. - The girl whispered a promise, disappearing with a puff of wind.
Loki smiled again, his eyes shining with life and mischief. So she had done the right thing.
It would be better this way.