Chapter 52: Biology and Truths

The family of seven returned to the camp at nightfall and all went their separate ways. Fenrir went to eat and drink more and talk to soldiers, while Hela went to speak to Akio to find out if anything had happened. Loki and Jörmungandr went back to the royal tent to look more into healing the Longbottoms, Violet and Jonathan went to check in with Eileen seeing if she was back in camp as she was spending the day at the castle with Severus, even if he was teaching. But the founders were also spending time at the castle, assessing it as they said, so it wasn't like Eileen was the only dead in the castle. Dahlia, however, had to go to see healer Saida as the healer requested that morning.

So that's how Dahlia ended up lying down on the high up bed in the healer's tent with her dress and undergarments off and two sheets, the first covering her up below the waist and the other covering the top of her chest. Her arms, face and a small part of her stomach was visible as the healer was examining the wound. The stab wound was healed now and was just a red scar but around it, the blackness of the poison was still there. It wasn't going around her stomach and up her chest like before, but it was still around the wound and covered it.

"There's something wrong, isn't there?" Dahlia questioned and by the look that healer Saida sent her two assistants, there was.

Healer Saida nodded and said, "signs of the poison should all be gone by now".

"Why is it still here then?" Dahlia asked nervously.

"I'm not sure," Saida said as she was handed a small wooden basin and a knife and said, "Princess, I need your blood".

Dahlia lifted her palm and Saida sliced the knife across it and she squeezed her fist into the basin, so that the blood would drop. One of the assistants then applied some herbal paste to her hand so it stopped the bleeding and it would heal faster. Saida then began to add different herbs and potions into the blood before it set on fire. All that was left was ashes which she placed onto some parchment and the ashes burned into the parchment, creating something Dahlia couldn't see.

Saida, however, looked between the piece of parchment and Dahlia and Dahlia nervously asked, "what's wrong?"

"It seems, Princess, part of your biology is allowing the poison to take root," she then looked to one of the assistants and said, "inform the Queen and Lord Loki".

"Don't," Dahlia said which stopped the assistant, "we've had a good day, if you tell them it'll ruin that. Please".

"I'm sorry, Princess. But your health comes before enjoyment. I have been ordered to report on your health to both the Queen and Lord Loki and their commands outweigh yours," Saida said and nodded to her assistant who then left.

Dahlia then lied there and looked to the ceiling of the tent, her fists clenched as a tear drop escaped her left eye and it streamed down until it fell on the sheets below her. She didn't want to ruin the day, she just thought Saida would see her, give her a potion, check her scar and be on her way but it seemed like she should have just avoided her until the morning.

It didn't take long for her father and sister to turn up, but unfortunately her brothers and grandparents also came. "Great, here's the rest of the crazies," she tried to joke but they all showed no sign of joking as they gathered around her bed.

Hela saw the black marks and turned to the healer and asked, "why's there still signs of the poison?"

Saida curtsied and said, "your majesty," before she answered, "I am unsure fully, your majesty. The antidote I have been giving her works with both her Midgardian and Jotun blood but from looking closely at her blood, it seems that part of her being is denying the antidote. A person born of two realms is extremely rare, so I was very cautious when creating the right antidote for her". She then handed over the parchment and everyone seemed to crowd around it to look but it seemed only Loki, Hela and Jörmungandr could understand it.

Fenrir walked away and stood on the other side of the bed and held Dahlia's hand. He asked quietly, "you okay, sis?"

Dahlia nodded, "just some stupid poison, I'll be fine, fur ball". He laughed but she knew he was worried as he would have come back with a comeback usually.

"This is impossible," Loki said, "I was born Jotun, her mother Midgardian, she should be healed".

"What about Asgardian?" Jörmungandr said and everyone looked to him. "They gave you an apple to age like an Asgardian and not show your Jotun abilities. I know they didn't fully banish your Jotun side, papa, because you still turn into a Jotun when you come into contact with one but what if it did change some of your biology?".

"Is it possible?" Violet asked Saida.

Healer Saida looked down as if she was thinking before she looked up and said, "from what I know of the apple of Idunn and how the Asgardians can change someone into one of them through a process, including the apple, such as they did with Thor's wife, it is possible that there was some effect on your biology. On your biology, Lord Loki, and that of your children's. But".

"I'm not liking that but," Jonathan said.

"But the poison has been in her body too long. It isn't a simple act of taking a potion every day to heal her now".

"Injection to the heart and injections every day," Hela said and sighed as she looked to the others. "It's very rare that we have to do it, but at this rate, Dahlia needs all the help she can get".

They all looked to Dahlia who was being distracted by talking to Fenrir, but they stopped when all eyes were on them. Dahlia asked, "what is it?"

"Dahlia," Loki said and sat on her bed, reaching for her hand but realising she had healing paste on her palm so he just put his hand on the top of her hand. He said, "the poison has been in your body too long to be healed with a potion. You're going to have to have a few injections"

"No," Dahlia said, "I just want to go home, can we not just go home?" Tears sprung to her eyes and all Loki wanted was to do as she asked and take her home and save her from the pain she would have to go through.

"I'm sorry, but it's not that simple," Loki said.

Hela then said, "it's one injection in the heart and then a few everyday".

"Can we still go home on Saturday?" Dahlia asked hopefully.

Hela shook her head and answered, "it'll take a few more days but we'll know you'll definitely be better".

Dahlia just looked up to the ceiling to avoid looking at anyone else and Saida said, "she should be in bed when I administer the first injection. It will hurt, and it will knock her unconscious".

Loki nodded as he grabbed a blanket and put it around Dahlia to cover her up more for the outside weather before he picked her up and Hela grabbed her clothes. They made their way to the royal tent; many people, soldier and servants alike, were looking at them but none were asking what was wrong with the princess.

When they got to the tent, Loki put Dahlia down on the bed as Hela put her clothes to the side and got Dahlia's nightdress for her. The boys gave her some privacy as she put her nightdress on and got under the covers but came back in when it came to have the injection. It looked bigger than Dahlia thought it would which made her nervous as it was about 150mm long and had a silver liquid in the barrel with black specks floating in it. Everyone could tell she was nervous when she asked, "is that gonna hurt?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," Saida said as Loki crawled onto the bed and sat next to Dahlia. He put his arm around her and she cuddled up to her father.

He kissed her forehead and said, "everything's going to be fine".

Dahlia could only nod as she lied down, Loki holding her hand with her family around her as she pulled down her nightdress slightly on her chest, still covered, and took a few deep breaths as Saida sat beside her and positioned the needle over her chest. "Would you like me to count down?" she asked.

Dahlia shook her head and said, "just do it".

Said nodded and the needle pierced her skin. Dahlia clenched her teeth together to stop her from screaming and squeezed her father's hand tightly, but she couldn't help the scream that broke free when she felt the needle pierce her heart. Thankfully, the boys grabbed her legs to keep her still and after a few moments, Saida pulled the needle out and said, "done".

Dahlia moved uncomfortably, and she felt her eyes go heavy before they closed, drowning everything and everyone around her out.

"Is she going to be okay?" Violet asked as Loki covered Dahlia up and kissed her forehead.

Saida answered, "she should be fine now. Whatever is stopping her healing fully won't be able to fight against this. She'll be sleeping until morning and after that, one injection in the morning, another in the afternoon and one at night in the thigh. I can't tell you when she'll be fully healed, I'd have to see how it affects her. Is there anything else, your highness?"

Hela shook her head and Saida bowed and left the royal tent, returning to her own and with the help of her two assistants, to make more of the solution to help Dahlia heal but on her own, she would investigate why Dahlia wouldn't heal like Saida was certain she was supposed to.

Violet and Jonathan went to their tent as Loki decided to stay with Dahlia and the three siblings left the tent, Hela wanting to secretly talk with Jörmungandr without their father hearing. Fenrir walked away without noticing that Hela grabbed Jörmungandr's arm and pulled him away to the side of some tents. He protested for a moment in shock but went willingly. She looked around and saw no one so she stood when they were between two tents that she knew were empty and let go of him.

"What?" he asked.

She crossed her arms and said, "Lily found you, didn't she?"

The single hesitation she got was all she needed to know the truth but even then, he tried to lie, "no, of course not, why would you think that?"

"Liar. The merperson said Greek cousins. Sirens live in those waters and years ago, Lily always suspected you were there. She even went to Greece and tried for days to find you but when she finally managed to speak with the Sirens, they told her that you weren't there and then tried to kill her. When Fenrir said you needed to tell us the story behind the necklace, you got defensive and looked to us, well I thought you were, but you looked to Dahlia. What was it? Regret?"

"Like you," he fired back, "you didn't look so happy telling that story of Dahlia when you said you would have given her anything".

"I have reasons".

"So, do I".

"Fine, I'm full of regret because even as a baby she knew about you. We told her stories and everything, little paintings I had done of the two of you and she'd point to them and say brothers. There were a few times just before Lily died that she started saying your names and giving her the stuffed animals of you didn't make her happy, it made her cry. She'd point to the door instead, as if you were going to walk through and yes, I can go on and say I could give her everything she wanted but I couldn't. I couldn't give her you".

She began to get upset and her arms dropped to her side. Jörmungandr reached out to touch her arm and said, "I didn't mean for you to-"

"Doesn't matter," she interrupted and shrugged off his hand. "Like I said, I couldn't give her anything truly. You, Fenrir, even papa and I full time. I couldn't even keep her safe and because of that I lost the woman I saw as a mother and left my little sister to grow up with people who treat her like she's nothing".

"Lily was really like that?" he asked, and she nodded. He sighed and brushed a hand through his hair before he said, "she found me. I was scared, I didn't know who she was, and I didn't believe what she was saying. She came and just kept coming but I wouldn't show myself. I'd been with the Sirens for some time and they knew what happened and because I protected their princess, they protected me. They thought just as I did that, she was just someone Odin sent or someone who believed in the legend and came after me. I've been hunted by mortals before. I didn't say anything because I didn't see the point".

"The point," she exclaimed, "the point was Lily did it! The promise she made papa and I that she'd find you and she did fulfil it. She may not be here to meet you but I'm sure she's watching and knows that she did it. Why the guilt?"

Jörmungandr shrugged and answered, "same reason you do...if I'd have believed her, maybe I could have protected them somehow. I was stuck in the water, but I could have done something, maybe you and papa could have found another way to get me out without the talisman. I could have known Lily myself to see if she was like you said...maybe she wouldn't have died. Besides, Dahlia ended up with those people, it's not just your fault".

"What do you know about them?" she asked curiously.

"I was in her mind remember?" Jörmungandr smirked, "and Fen and I think they should not be breathing much longer".

"Tell me, what did you see?"

"What do you know?"

"Not much," she shrugged, "Dahlia has always been anxious, unsure when it comes to others' love for her. She's been like that since we reunited. But then when she got hurt, the Avengers told me that she was locked in a cupboard, called a freak and didn't even know her own name".

"They did a lot more than that from what we saw," Jörmungandr said and looked around, "the first memory was when she was fighting Voldemort when she was eleven, you know about that?" she nodded. "The next one was her fighting a Basilisk and killing what I think was the Horcrux you told us about, then the werewolf one. By the way, Fenrir really wants to meet with the murderer who killed the village".

Hela nodded, "he's suffering but I'll have it arranged. What else?"

"The next four were her in a tournament, fighting off dragon, merepeople, a maze full of creatures and Voldemort's resurrection. It's after that we figured out how to get to her memories when she was younger. The first memory, she looked about five, she was dressed in dirty overgrown clothes and she was dirty as if she didn't have a wash in days. She was in a kitchen cooking and there was a boy".

"Dudley, her cousin".

He nodded, "he was there and threw a toy car at her and made her drop a pan and the food went everywhere but she burned herself," Hela crossed her arms and moved on the spot, already hearing her sister hurt once and it didn't sit well with her. He continued, "she screamed and that's when the man-".

"Vernon".

"Yeah, he came in and started saying how she made a mess and that it was all her fault to waste their good food. She kept on saying sorry and crying but he wouldn't listen and said a day locked in her room without food should teach her discipline and called her freak. She tried to run but he grabbed her, and she kicked and screamed and that's when he called on Petunia and she opened the cupboard under the stairs and they locked her in it".

Hela stiffened and took a deep breath.

"Everything else then went dark and we just saw Dahlia in the cupboard, crying on this small makeshift bed repeating over and over 'I'll be a good girl, I promise I'll be a good girl'".

"How could you watch this?"

"We couldn't," he said, "it made us so angry. Fen and I may have been in our own prisons but at least we could move. After that, we saw her being chased by an older Dudley and his friends and having to use her magic to get onto a roof and she was punished the same way. She used accidental magic to turn her teacher's hair blue, same punishment. Releasing a snake out of its cage without realising, same punishment. She must have been around eight when she was chased up a tree by a dog of a relative I think, and she had to run and climb up a tree and everyone just stood there and laughed, and they left her like that until midnight and blamed her for it. One of the youngest we saw her; she was drinking from a bottle on the floor and Dudley had took it from her and she used accidental magic and was punished for it. In every memory, she had bruises and sometimes walked or hunched over as if she's been hurt so badly that something was broken".

A few tears escaped her eyes and she wiped them away angry and said, "what else?"

"That's it," he shrugged, "memory after that is when we found her. A memory of her as a baby with Lily reading and singing to her".

Hela began to pace in front of him and clenched her fists. It looked like her magic was going to explode from her as little sparks were appearing around her hands.

"Papa doesn't know, does he?"

Hela shook her head, "if he did they wouldn't be breathing. They won't be breathing when I get my hands on them".

"We," he said, and she stopped pacing, "you're not doing this without me and Fenrir. Maybe you should tell papa too. It'll explain why she was distant and he'd want to know".

Hela nodded and said, "wait till tomorrow, he's too worried tonight".

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The next day didn't go as planned though. Dahlia woke up and she felt refreshed, better than she had in days and she sat up, expecting to see her father, sister or at least one of her brothers by her side, but they weren't there. Her grandmother, however, was there smiling with a tray of breakfast, more than she could eat, and she sat down as she placed the tray on her lap and put a smaller pillow behind Dahlia to help her lean forward easier.

"What's this?" Dahlia asked smiling.

"I want you to eat at least ¾ of that considering you didn't have anything to eat when we got back to camp last night. No buts missy," Violet added as Dahlia opened her mouth to protest but ended up closing it, smiling.

She bit into her toast and took a sip of her orange juice before she asked, "grandma, where is everyone? I know Hela is supposed to be helping the ghosts today, but I was going to help her. She hasn't started already, what time is it?"

"You relax," Violet said as she put a hand on her shoulder as Dahlia seemed to want to jump out of bed, "your sister is just informing the people on something, maybe how we're staying a few days longer than usual. Your father is speaking with healer Saida on your recovery and Jörmungandr is with him while Fenrir is getting food".

Dahlia laughed and said, "sounds like him. He's going to get fat one day and question how".

Violet shook her head and said, "he's too hyper for that to happen".

Dahlia nodded, "you're right, I didn't factor in his hyper 'I'm faster than all of you' attitude".

They both laughed but then they heard a voice shout, "BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY, SHE WILL BE COMING WITH US!"

Dahlia dropped her toast and asked, "who was that?"

"No one, just eat, I'm sure they're resolving it," Violet said as she looked between Dahlia and the flap opening as if she wasn't surprised by the voice.

"Grandma, did you lie to me?" Dahlia asked already suspecting the answer.

Violet shook her head slightly and said, "come on, eat. Then you can get changed and see healer Saida for your injection then help Hela like you had planned".

Dahlia then heard shouting and what she could tell were swords being drawn so she pushed the tray off her lap and put her slippers on and grabbed her dressing gown before her grandmother grabbed her hand.