Loki sat beside Eldrid as they watched over her father. The light dimmed in the room as the walls closed. Frigga looked at them cautiously, concerned for her husband but sensing a shift in their dynamic. "There's more to what you've told me, isn't there." Frigga says with her knowing eyes and small smile. Loki couldn't look Frigga in her eyes, his mind was still coming to terms with the fact that he was not an Odinson, but the son of Laufey. El glanced at Loki, her hand slipping into his and he squeezed it tightly for a moment.

"He knows the truth. And so do i, Mother." Eldrid says, speaking for the two of them. Frigga tilts her head curiously until she realizes what her daughter means. That Loki knew the truth of his heritage. What came about his arrival to Asgard.

"I..." Frigga begins but shakes her head. She refused to make an excuse for herself or Odin. She would not play the game of lies anymore. "I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning." She says softly. She leaned her forearms onto Odin's bedside and looked at the two of them. "There should be no secrets in a family."

Loki takes a moment for himself, still not having the strength to speak just yet. So Eldrid looks at her beloved and he nods, pleading with his eyes for her to speak on his behalf.

"So then why did Father lie?" Eldrid asks gently.

"He kept the truth from you so you would never feel different." Frigga says, looking between the two of them. "You are our son, Loki."

"I do not wish to be your son if i cannot wed the woman i love." Loki says, speaking for the first time. Eldrid's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time Loki was talking about marriage openly. They had just vowed to themselves in the Vault that they would never part from the other. But Eldrid never anticipated marriage so quickly.

"Loki..." Eldrid whispers.

"Just the possibility, Angel.." Loki whispers back to her, "I would like the option, at least, to call you my wife one day." He says with a small smile reserved for her.

Frigga smiles gently at the two of them. "We are your family, whether that becomes through marriage or not." Frigga tells them both. "You don't need my permission to wed." She adds with a light chuckle. "You two are old enough to make your own choices."

Eldrid smiles softly, a blush on her cheeks at the thought of calling Loki her husband someday. Her eyes then fall on her father and her heart aches. "How long will it last, Mother?" She asks.

"I don't know... this time it's different. We were unprepared." Frigga responds.

"I never get used to seeing him like this." Eldrid mutters, looking over her father's sleeping, unmoving form.

"The most powerful being in the Nine Realms, lying helpless, until his body is restored." Loki says, looking at Odin for the first time since he and Eldrid arrived to the chambers they're in now.

"He's put it off for so long now... That i fear...." Frigga trails off as she leans over the bedside and grabs onto her husband's hand gently.

"Mother..." Eldrid whispers, shaking her head, "Father is strong." She tries to reassure her mother.

Frigga smiles weakly and looks at Eldrid and Loki, "Thank you, my Petal. We mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us." She says but pauses for a moment causing Loki to look at Frigga, his eyes burned with unshed tears of frustration, confusion and anger towards Odin. He would not let his emotions overcome him while he was beside the woman he loved and the woman that raised him. "And your brother."

Loki reels softly, Eldrid being the one that notices his shift in demeanor. "What hope is there for Thor?" He asks slightly bitter.

"There's always a purpose to everything your father does." Frigga says and then pauses, "He is still the one that raised you alongside me, whether you want to call him your father or not." She says and Loki sharply nods his head.

"Thor may yet find his way home." Eldrid says with a small, hopeful smile. "Then our family would be whole again. It just looks differently than how he remembers." She states and looks at Loki with her smile. He tightly gives his beloved a smile in return with a quick nod. But he doesn't want Thor to return.

Loki stands from where he sits beside Eldrid and turns away from them. He steps down the small stairs to leave. Eldrid knows he's still coming to terms with it all, that he loved Thor but still always was in his shadow. She knew that a part of him feared that everything would return to how it was if Thor were to return.

When he makes his way to the grand double doors, they open and reveal guards waiting for him. They kneel in front of Loki and he's taken aback. He turns his head towards Eldrid in shock and she simply smiles at him. One of the bishops steps into view with the Allfather scepter in his hands. Loki stands in stunned silence before them all. The ceremonial clergyman walks in front of Loki and kneels before the Prince. He holds up the scepter for Loki to take.

Loki looks back, still in shock, and looks at Frigga for some kind of explanation.

"Thor is banished. The line of succession falls to you until Odin awakens." Frigga says with a smile on her face, "Eldrid does not wish to take your place as second in line no matter your true heritage."

Loki then looks at Eldrid, a tear slipping from his eyes, his mouth slightly parted as he took in everything that was happening. "Asgard is yours." His angel tells him. In his mind, the only thing that could make this better was if he and Eldrid married. But he knew she wanted to talk, to air out their grievances instead of burying them for the time being. They knew everything about each other, they grew up together. They both felt that the next step for them was to wed. It may have felt rushed if they were Midgardians, but Asgardians did things differently. They felt strongly about their lovers and companions. They died in victorious battles for their loved ones. Family was everything to them and their people.

Loki looks over the scepter with a longing glance before he decides on his answer, "I accept." The god of Mischief says. He then looks at Frigga, he was getting what he desired most in all the realms, "Under one condition." He states, then looks at Eldrid, she was his entire world. She kept him grounded but also felt as if he could fly. "If you'll have me, Angel... I know we have things to discuss.... But i cannot do this without you by my side."

Eldrid's eyes widen in shock and she stands, her hand covering her mouth. "Loki..." She whispers in surprise. Was he truly doing this now?

Loki extended his hand for her to take, his emerald eyes eager for her to truly become his. "I am yours, if you'll have me." He says gently. "So, will you be mine?"

Eldrid silently steps down to where Loki is, taking his hand. Her eyes briefly glance at her mother, Frigga smiling in approval. Sapphire meets emerald when Eldrid and Loki's eyes meet once more. Her heart was full, it was overflowing with love for the man in front of her. "I have always been yours." She whispers in response.

And that's all Loki needs, his mouth begins to form a smile as he takes the scepter from the ceremonial clergyman. Eldrid stands beside him, his queen, as he turns to look at Frigga. The little boy in him looking to his mother for approval.

"Make yourself worthy of her." Frigga says to Loki and then bows her head, "My King."

When they are alone, Eldrid cannot help but smile as she looks at Loki who lays his head in her lap. His head reaches upwards and caresses her cheek. "When shall it happen?" She asks as they sit beneath the tree that meant so much to them as children.

Loki looks at his bride and chuckles, "Whenever you want, my Angel." He responds to her. "It could happen now if you so choose."

Eldrid rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "So much has happened today... I do not wish to crowd it more." She says, taking in Loki and smiling softly. "Perhaps tomorrow?"

"At sunrise?" Loki suggests and it only makes Eldrid beam more.

"But where?" Eldrid asks with a grin as her hands fiddles with the edge of his hair, plaiting them to ease her excited nerves. "And who will do it?"

"There are only a few people i would allow to wed us." Loki says teasingly and Eldrid chuckles. "And perhaps for our location.... Here in the gardens? In the gazebo?"

Eldrid smiles at him at his suggestion of her mother's gardens. Some place that was incredibly special to both of them. She nods in approval of his location and then glances up as she thinks of who could marry them. "That only gives us two people, my love." Eldrid reminds him, "My Mother and Heimdall."

"Heimdall it is. Frigga can be our witness." Loki states quickly. He had seen weddings be planned in much more complicated fashion than this. He wanted her to have everything she could ever dream of. Loki didn't want her to lack for anything. "Will you wear a wedding dress?" He asks softly.

Eldrid glances upwards at the falling petals around them. A smile hasn't left her face since Loki was crowned king and he proposed all in one breath. "Why wouldn't i?" She asks softly.

"I just remember all the things you wanted for your wedding when we were growing up." Loki says and Eldrid nods, remembering how she would convince her brother and Loki to help her plan her future wedding. The extravagance it would have. Her wedding dress would be the talk amongst the noblewomen and commoners alike. Her wedding day was supposed to be some of the biggest fanfare Asgard had ever seen, only second to what would have been Thor's coronation. "You're getting less than what you envisioned by marrying me so quickly. And for that i am truly sorry, my Angel."

She looks down at him and shakes her head, "Eventually... when everyone is home and awake.... We will have a proper ceremony with fanfare and celebrations for the people." Eldrid says, already having come to terms that her dream wedding would not take place until much later. But she was okay with that given the circumstances they were under.

Loki nods in understanding, looking up at her, taking in how much she's matured and grown since they were last together. He didn't really have the time to do that on Jotunheim and he was still bitter in his past emotions before. They both wanted answers to those centuries of no communication, but they knew they'd have all their lives to discuss that. Right now it was their private time. "You've aged so well." He whispers, "Grown into quite the Princess." He teases with a smirk and Eldrid giggles.

"You've grown into the man i knew you would as well, Darling." She responds back, he had grown tall, he was not as filled out in musclemass as Thor but he was perfect in her eyes."Though your hair is shorter, less for me to plait." She teasingly pouts and Loki sits upright with a smile.

"Then i shall grow it out for you." Loki promises with a twinkle in his eye of mischievousness. "Only for you." He says in a whisper and he pulls Eldrid closer to himself. El looked at him closely as their foreheads touched. Her eyes closed slowly and she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Would you gift me a star if i asked for it?" She asks softly.

"I would gift you the Nine Realms." Loki replies but he pauses, his demeanor changing as he looks down at Eldrid, realizing he hasn't even given her a ring to solidify their engagement, no matter how brief it is. "I treated you unfairly when you arrived home. I have much to make up for, i know this-"

"And you will. In time." Eldrid stops Loki from rambling to make up for his past mistakes. She knew he would make it up to her, and she would make it up to him for her silence when she was poisoned on Alfheim. "Do not dwell on that today, or tomorrow. For tomorrow is our day of blessings."

Loki blushes with a sheepish smile, pressing a kiss to her temple as he holds her. "I am yours... and you are mine." He says softly. His large hand clasped over her left hand and he conjured a gold band with an emerald in the middle, tiny diamonds wrapped around the gem and band. Solidifying in his mind, and hers, that they were going to be wed come morning.

Eldrid's ladies maids were shooed away from their post outside her door by Frigga before the sun began to rise over the horizon. The Princess could hardly sleep that night. Rampant thoughts plagued her mind all throughout the evening. But when her mother entered Eldrid's chambers, her mind eased.

"We must get you ready, my Petal." Frigga says with a smile. She was still waking up herself, but she was already dressed for her daughter's wedding day. All she had left to do was her hair. "Today is a joyous occasion."

Eldrid sat up in her bed and smiled weakly, "You don't... discourage this?" She hesitantly asks her mother. Eldrid knew before that Frigga supported them, but that was before her parents gave her strict command to never tell anyone that she had been poisoned on Alfheim. El didn't like the thought of hiding what happened from her soon to be husband, but she wouldn't go against her parents.

"Why should i get in the way of a day that is meant for you and Loki, Petal?" Frigga asks with a tilt of her head as she conjures an enclosed dress, hanging on the open door of her wardrobe. "It's none of my business who you love. The heart longs for things some people may never understand." She concludes and Eldrid smiles softly at her mother's words. They meant a lot to her and deep down, she knew that they would mean a lot for Loki. Because even though Frigga was not his biological mother, she still raised him with love and care.

Eldrid stands from her bed and steps over to the vanity where her mother is waiting to begin working on her hair. When El sits, Frigga begins working. "Mother..." Eldrid begins but cannot find the words.

"Hush. We will celebrate with everyone when things are not so up in the air as they are now." Frigga says, taking the words from Eldrid and speaking them into the open. Eldrid was sad her brother could not be here to witness the marriage of his beloved sister. That their father could not attend in person. That Sif and the Warriors Three were not going to be there to cheer and support her and Loki.

"Thor being banished.... Can Loki reverse that now that he is King?" Eldrid asks as Frigga pinned El's curls away from her face, leaving a few small curls to frame her face.

"If he so chooses." Frigga says softly in response, placing decorative pins around the back of her hair before she begins to plait the rest of her daughter's hair. "But i do not believe he would go against your father's last command."

"I don't think he would either." Eldrid whispers, watching her mother plait her hair and smile softly. Frigga smiled down at her daughter as they sat in a comfortable silence. Frigga then conjured a veil on the vanity for Eldrid to wear once she was done. "Mother... is that..?"

"My veil." Frigga answers and smiles at her daughter. "I saved it in hopes of one day passing it to my own daughter."

"Oh, Mother... it is beautiful." Eldrid says, gently lifting it into her hands and looking over the detail of it. "Who made it?" She asks curiously, the lacing detail was exquisite.

"The witches that raised me." Frigga responded as she tied off Eldrid's hair with a crystal blue, laced, ribbon ribbon she had weaved through the plaits. "It was their parting gift to me the day before I wedded your father."

"I will cherish it." Eldrid states with a determination, causing Frigga to chuckle briefly.

"Come now, my Petal. It's time to get you dressed." Frigga says as she steps away from the vanity and opens the sheet that covered Eldrid's dress. "Your Prince awaits."

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Loki stood anxiously under the gazebo in Frigga's garden with Heimdall behind him. "I've never seen you this anxious, my King." Heimdall informs Loki and it causes Loki to pause. It was still only less than a day from his impromptu coronation, it hadn't fully set in yet that he was now king of Asgard. Temporarily, but king nonetheless. "She will come."

"I know she will." Loki says breathlessly, seeing the sun start to peak over the horizon. Morning was breaking through the darkness, just as Eldrid's light did for his darkness. It was why he chose sunrise for the time of their ceremony. The starting of a new day, a new life together. Everything was falling into place for him.

"Have you a weapon?" Heimdall asks though he knows the answer. It was customary for a wedding couple to gift their soon to be spouse a new blade. Vowing to protect the other with everything they have in battle or in secret. The exchanging of the weapons was a big part of Asgardian tradition. And Loki still wanted to honor that despite everything else being rushed with haste.

Loki nods and conjures a long blade sword, it's hilt was short but still long enough for Eldrid to hold with one or both hands. Decorating the hilt were a pair of small wings. Eldrid was truly his angel sent from Valhalla to rescue him in his most dire times. Even when they were apart or not speaking, he would think of moments when he was there for him and he would smile through his dark thoughts. And to finish the sword off, there was a blue crystal in the center representing her colors. Though from today onwards, they would be the colors of her past. Such was another tradition, the bride assuming the colors of her husband. That was why Frigga wore gold, it was Odin's color.

"Will she like it?" Loki asks like a child seeking approval from a father figure. He appreciated Heimdall's wisdom and knowledge of everything that went on, even if the Gatekeeper would poke fun at the Princes.

"I believe she will love it, but i will not speak for her." Heimdall says and Loki nods.

He conjures the blade away with its sheath and straightens out his attire. He was in his ceremonial attire from Thor's almost coronation. But he wasn't wearing his typical horned helmet. He was wearing a smaller version of them, less obnoxious Eldrid would tell him. "Quite right, Gatekeeper." Loki agrees quickly. His hands going behind his back and clasping together.

Heimdall smiled ever so slightly at the temporary king. Loki was putting up a front to not show anyone how nervous he was. It made the Gatekeeper remember when they were all just children, running around the gardens they were standing in currently without a care in the world.

But the world was much different now.

"She's coming." Heimdall says, his golden eyes looking ahead.

Through the blossoming trees, Loki could see the veil of his bride. How her head dipped to hide her face ever so slightly. He could see a smile on her lips.

And when she came into full view, Loki swore his heart forgot how to beat. His breath caught in his lungs and the world stopped turning. Everything could crash and burn around them, but in this moment. This moment that was set aside for them and them alone, neither of them would care what happened around them.

As Eldrid walked down the stone pathway to the gazebo, she clung to the small bouquet of her mother's roses. Petals fell from the blossoming trees that surrounded them. Her heels clicked on the stones as she and her mother walked down the 'aisle'. Frigga held Eldrid's veil behind her, making sure it didn't touch the ground until the ceremony began.

Eldrid's dress was something Loki never wanted to stop looking at. The intricate flower lace detailing around her chest, the sleeves that hung off her shoulders. Her skirt flowed freely but was cinched at her waist to show her figure just enough.

When she reached where Loki stood, Frigga fluffed her daughter's skirt enough to breathe new life into it. Her mother stood off to the side in the gazebo, simply watching. This was not her day, her day had long passed. Today was her daughter's day, where her son would truly become her son.

Loki looked at Eldrid through her veil and they both smiled at each other breathlessly. His fingers carefully lifted her veil off of her face and over her head. "You look.... Magnificent." Loki breathes out, nearly not being able to find a word that suited her great enough.

Eldrid beamed upwards at Loki, "All for you." She whispers back.

Heimdall smiles slightly at the two as they look at each other. "May we begin?" He asks the two, wondering if they would let him proceed or if they'd continue staring at each other.

Eldrid giggles and looks at Heimdall. "Thank you..." She tells her dear friend and the Gatekeeper bows his head.

"It is my honor, Princess." He informs her and then begins the ceremony. As he speaks, the world seems to fade around Eldrid and Loki. The two of them only focusing on the other. Nothing else mattered. But as Heimdall reached the part of the exchanging of the weapons, Loki and Eldrid took their stances, slightly parting from each other to showcase the weapon they had crafted for the other. "My King, you will show first."

Loki glances at Heimdall and nods. "Right..." he mutters as he conjures Eldrid's sheathed sword into his hands and smiles at her. "My Angel, i vow to protect you from all harm that would ever even think of befalling you. I swear on my life to be worthy of you. With this sword that i have created for you, i give you my life in its entirety. My name is yours, my colors shall become yours. Everything that i am and more, is yours." He says and unsheathes her sword, kneeling down onto one knee, holding it up for her to take.

Eldrid blinks back tears but fails to stop them from falling. Her hands tentatively take hold of her sword and looks it over, seeing the thought and heart that went into creating the design. "I will fight anyone who dares bring you suffering. Slay any beast that causes you pain. You are my light.... My joy, my sorrow, my love. You help make my life worth living. I have been without you before, i never wish for it to happen again." Eldrid says as Loki stands slowly. She straps her sword onto her hip and then conjures the daggers she had crafted for him. They were light and darkness all at once. Elven runes on the hilts signaling her time on Alfheim. The runes she added infused the daggers with ice magic, signifying his heritage he was still coming to terms with. But with her help, she wanted him to flourish in his newfound truths.

Loki stared at the daggers in awe, smiling at Eldrid breathlessly as he took them from her. He has no words to say to her, he is speechless. Heimdall motioned for Loki to sheath his daggers and place them on himself. Loki quickly does so and then grasps onto Eldrid's hands as Frigga hands Heimdall a long ribbon with both of their colors.

"If you will hold your hands out to me." Heimdall instructs them. Loki and Eldrid offer up their clasped hands and the Gatekeeper slowly wraps the ribbon around their hands. "Your souls from today on are joined. No longer will you suffer hardships alone, for you have someone willing to share your pain. When one of you cannot stand, the other will stand for both of you. For you both have chosen to offer yourselves up for the other, gladly willing to give your life in protection and service of the other. Your love and devotion is seen and heard by the witness here today. May your commitment stand the test of time and flourish for generations."

Eldrid looks at Loki as Heimdall finishes his final word. They both lean towards the other, their hands still bound with the ribbon. Their lips connecting for the first time since she returned home. They were whole again. The hole in Loki's soul had been filled by Eldrid's love for him. His anger from the past was dissipating, bringing new warmth into his lacking soul.

Eldrid had no words to describe how she felt. She felt as if she was waiting for this moment since she realized that the person her soul needed to be complete was Loki. She finally felt that she was being true to herself. Openly loving the man before her. No more hiding. No more secret love affairs.

As once Loki read to her from their favorite book,

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.

And as if Loki read her mind, he whispered to her. "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair." He quotes Romeo as he kisses her once more, sealing their love for the sun to behold.

This is by far the longest chapter. But such an important one!

These are all the images for this chapter! Eldrid's ring(s), her gorgeous dress, Loki's dagger from El and El's sword from Loki. I'm not well versed in customs of the weapon exchange in marriage ceremonies. I know bits and pieces of it and i love the symbol of it. I'm taking creative liberties for quite a bit of it, Asgardian-fying it if you will.

El's rings

El's dress

Loki's dagger(s)

El's sword

I found these images on Google and Tumblr, i don't own them in any way, shape or form. I just found them to be perfect for what i needed in telling a visual part of my story.

Love, Red