Four long, dark days had passed and you were still unconscious; residing within the badlands due to Loki's fear of moving you.

Your respiration was short and shallow as your frail body continued to fight against your affliction, but with no improvement with each passing day, Loki's worry only increased, plummeting his hopelessness into severe depression.

He remained at your bedside, refusing to eat or sleep, causing his own health to deteriorate which sparked concern among the Docat's around him.

Ovahh had enlisted Xanda to keep an eye on Loki while he and Suri spent many hours gathering ingredients for the concoction you had provided. It was a arduous task, but by day two, it was prepared and administered to the children, and, as if by magic, it relieved the children's symptoms almost immediately.

However, even that news did not brighten Loki's visage. He showed no reaction as he continued to  routinely pump his healing magic into you, despite the knowledge that it was having little effect.

You still remained pale and listless, your body as cold as ice, and despite all efforts to raise your temperature, nothing could warm you.

He believed that because your heart had ceased beating in the icy waters and your vitality had been drained by the kellite for too long, your core was impaired. And like any life tree, once it's centre has been infected, the chance of survival were minimal.

Ovahh entered the small room and observed Loki in his usual position. Sat by your bedside, his hand delicately holding yours, while his thumb never ceased its gentle stroke against your skin.

Like always, Loki did not question who entered and neither posed nor responded to any inquiries. He simply sat there, lost in the void, unable to tear his focus away from your expressionless face.

However, for the first time in several days, Ovahh heard Loki's voice. His imploring cries that were hardly audible above a whisper, were directed not to the gods of Valhalla as might be expected, but rather to the ancient goddess of Death, Hela, who ruled over Hellheim.

Ovahh felt even more sorrowful as he watched his king lose himself in his ramblings of despair, praying to the dark master of the shadowy underworld out of sheer desperation.

As he slowly approached Loki from behind, he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing Loki to become startled out of his trance-like mutterings by the abrupt physical contact.

"Hela, like the gods above, only act to serve themselves. Do not waste the little energy you have praying to them." The disapproval in Ovahh's voice reflected his loss of faith in any and all deities; lost was his religion.

"And Eat!" He exclaimed. "For when Eden awakens, she will scorn you for appearing so pallid, and swat me for not looking after you." Ovahh attempted to make light of the oppressive gloom that pervaded the air.

Loki didn't answer. He simply brought your hand to his lips and lingered them against your skin. Ovahh took a seat next to him and implored. "Please Loki. Talk to me." He longed to hear his friend's voice.

While silence ensued, Ovahh observed as Loki delicately wiped a damp cloth against your grey skin, and as he saw tears well in his king's eyes, so did his own.

"She is dying, Ovahh."

The impact of Loki's unexpected words was like a punch to Ovahh's chest. The severity of the grief that accompanied it, rendered him speechless.

"She gave me her heart, and due to my recklessness, it ceased beating in Jotunheim." Loki continued his despondent utterances.

"It is not your fault, my king."

Loki slowly turned to Ovahh, revealing his face for the first time in days. Ovahh uttered a gasp upon noticing the extent of his misery. He appeared as sickly as you, with dark circles around his sunken eyes that had all but given up on life.

"Not my fault?" He repeated in incredulity. "It is because of me that she lies still and unmoving, almost passed over to the afterlife. The love we share is an abomination; it should never have existed. It drained her, just like the very creature that poisoned our waters and sucked her life force."

"Stop that!" Ovahh ordered, fresh tears running down his cheeks. "It was her love for you, for me, and for all of Jotunheim that saved us. And now it is our love for her that will make her pull through. She won't leave us. She promised."

"She broke her promise!" Loki screamed, angry tears saturating his face. "She is departing this world and leaving me behind, and she knew it! She herself told me that she perceived impending doom in the air. And I ponder the question, did she know it was her own demise?"

Since the day Loki brought you back, this damning query has tormented his mind incessantly.

"I believe she did." Loki admitted. "She held me so tightly and told me that she would always be in my heart, but I again disregarded my better judgement and left her!... I LEFT HER!" Loki's loud yell reverberated off the walls. "She chose to abandon me! My queen is selfish!"

"Don't say that!" Ovahh scorned, gripping Loki and pulling him against his body tight.

At first, Loki fought against him, resisting all consolation, but soon his angry walls crumbled and he yielded to the comfort he deeply needed. He broke down as Ovahh cradled him in his arms, and allowed all of his pent-up emotions to be released as he sobbed uncontrollably onto his shoulder.

"I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it, I swear. She is not selfish, my love is never selfish." Loki cried, his body rife with further remorse.

He retreated from Ovahh's embrace and began kissing your face, pressing his tear-stained lips all over your icy skin.

"Forgive me, my love. I didn't mean a word. You are everything but selfish, my queen."

Ovahh attempted to pry Loki away from your body as he couldn't bear to see the heartbreaking scene, but Loki tore his arms from his grasp and insisted on continuing to tend to your body.

"She needs more blankets; please bring her some blankets; she's freezing!" He spoke erratically while rubbing your skin with his hands to generate heat. "My magic is depleted, and I cannot conjure anything.."

"That is because you grow frail and as sickly as she!" Ovahh chastised. "Eden would not want you to become so vulnerable."

"I require a blanket, not scolding!" Loki issued an order in the midst of heated tears.

Ovahh sighed as he rose to his feet and exited the room to retrieve another blanket, but as he shut the door, a powerful feeling overcame him, telling him not to leave Loki alone. He quickly turned the doorknob to enter again, but the door was already locked.

He pounded on the door and shouted for Loki to open it, but he received no response, and so mustered all of his strength to charge at it. The door was propelled open by a single powerful thrust, and Ovahh's gaze was immediately fixed on Loki.

He was laying next to you with a dagger raised, preparing to plunge it into his heart.

Ovahh dashed forward and wrenched it from Loki's grasp, yanking him violently to his feet and hurling him against the wall.

"Don't you dare leave us! She is not gone you hear me! She is not gone!"

Loki's physique sagged in sorrow.

"I understand now, Ovahh. I can comprehend why you, yourself, felt the desire to end it all. This pain is all consuming."

Ovahh looked into his king's glassy eyes and recognised the hopelessness that he once felt when he was first thrust into the desolate badlands. It was the darkest period of his life.

"I can help save you from yourself." He replied.

"There is no rock large enough to stop me as it did you. Should I wish to depart this realm, none can stop me."

Ovahh turned his head to look at you, his wounded heart writhing in agony at the sight of your once vibrant, glowing skin that was now dull and lifeless.

Loki saw Ovahh's dejection. He knew what he was feeling.

"Her selfless act stopped her beautiful heart when she drowned in the infected waters. And she declines because her lungs are still contaminated with the poison. Don't you see, Ovahh? Her soul resides more in Valhalla than it does here. That is why her skin resembles more of death each day. So please, please, my loyal friend, allow me to be on the other side before she departs this world. I do not want her to be alone for a second more."

"But we can still fight, and .. and I will pray, I promise I will..." Ovahh was on the verge of collapsed as he pleaded. Unable to fathom the fact that Loki wished to die.

Now it was Loki who gently placed a hand on Ovahh's shoulder to calm his distraught ramblings.

"She is dying, Ovahh." Loki spoke truthfully, and his subdued tone reflected his acceptance of the situation.

Both men gazed into each other's eyes. Loki's dismal depression was so contagious that they both exhibited the same feelings of defeat. Ovahh quickly shook his head, attempting to shake off the glum emotions that invaded him.

"The land gets better, Loki. The children grow stronger each day. I cannot be around your gloom, for it makes me lose all hope, and I refuse to give up."

"They get better?" Loki assimilated Ovahh's words at last.

"They do, my king. The serum that Eden provided worked."

Loki peered at you as you lay still on the bed. "Then I want to give the treatment to her, too."

Ovahh appeared startled and retreated from Loki. "You can't. It was created with the genetics of Docat and Jotun in mind. Some of the ingredients would be lethal to any normal person. You cannot trial it on her."

"I will lose her anyway."

"You cannot! For it will be you who kill her, not the creature. The risk is too great."

Loki pushed himself away from the wall and hovered over your cold body. He grasped your hand and brought it to his lips.

"My love, tell me what I should do."

Suri quietly announced her presence with her little voice. She grasped Ovahh's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, and in response, he cast her a heartbroken gaze.

"Come Ovahh, let us leave the king to be alone with Eden."

"I can't leave him." Ovahh feared that Loki would attempt to take his life once again.

"I will not stop my heart this day, Ovahh, I promise." Loki reassured, noticing his hesitation.

"And tomorrow?" Ovahh enquired.

Loki sighed. "Tomorrow is a new day. And a new day requires another promise. I will let you know should I wish to give it."

Before Suri left with Ovahh, she approached Loki and placed a tender hand on his shoulder. His red rimmed eyes peered up at her from his seated position.

"Eden is strong. She survived the badlands longer than any non-native. Her Embrodi bloodline is resilient." She moved her hand to his and squeezed it as she did Ovahh's, then quickly departed, taking Ovahh with her.

When the door firmly clicked shut, Loki opened his closed hand and gasped when he saw a clear vial with blue-glowing contents.

"The potion." He whispered. In disbelief that Suri would go against Ovahh's judgement and discreetly provide him with some.

His mind repeatedly played back her words. "Eden is strong, her Embrodi bloodline is resilient."

Was she subtly informing him that she believes you could withstand the serum?

He held up the tiny vial, and his heart raced. He gazed back at your face and saw your once radiant features now withered, just like the sickly plants you treat when their roots are diminishing.

"Oh Eden, my love." His raven hair sprawled out over your body as he once again hunched over your chest and wept. He was flooded with conflicting emotions, and he couldn't decide what to do.

His mind was suddenly inundated with recollections of you. Memories of a life that you deserved to share together. It made him determined to not wait any longer, and he now knew his answer. He was compelled to test the potion on you.

"If my actions make your heart cease beating, kindly forgive me, darling. But please, my sweetheart, do not forsake me in the afterlife; continue loving me until we meet there."

Loki popped the small cork of the vial and proceeded to empty the contents down your throat. He watched in trepidation, observing with rapt attention for any reaction.

As time progressed, his sharp stare became heavy from tiredness and he slowly dampened into low spirits. You displayed no instant reaction like the Docat children and now further grief consumed him. He buried his face on your chest and once more allowed his excessive tears to stain your clothes.

The familiar sound of the door opening alerted Loki to the presence of a visitor. But he no longer cared; nothing mattered. A Wesson or dire wolf could have walked in and he would not have been intimidated. For him, his existence had already ended, his body merely a vessel from which he intended to depart soon.

Ovahh peered inside with no intention to disturb Loki. However, he needed to be certain that he would not commit an action while he was absent.

"You may enter, Ovahh. Eden always enjoys your company."

He gingerly entered the room, relieved to be welcomed. Yet, the abrupt movement of your body caught his attention.

"Loki!... Eden is moving!"

Loki shot up, his pulse racing as he witnessed this new movement.

"She's waking" Loki exclaimed in hopeful optimism.

However, your body began violently trembling, increasing in intensity until it manifested as full-fledged convulsions.

"Eden!" Loki yelled and restrained your body to prevent you from injuring yourself. "Help me, Ovahh!"

Ovahh raced forward, but then realised that his Jotun skin prevented him from touching you.

"Her head! Protect her head!" Loki wailed as he held his entire body weight on top of you, finding your violent thrusting to be excessively powerful.

In a panic, Ovahh rapidly wrapped whatever material he could find around his hands and held your head steady. However, the flimsy fabric provided no protection, and his skin quickly began to char your temples.

The intense agony caused your eyes to snap open and your mouth to gape in a silent scream.

"Let go Ovahh!" Loki screamed upon observing your scorched skin.

Instantly, Ovahh released his hold, and both men watched in disbelief as your entire body stopped its brutal shakes but took on a bluish hue. Their eyes widened in astonishment of what they were witnessing until the colour began to gradually fade to your normal skin tone. Your eyelids gently closed and you returned to unconsciousness.

Suri and Bear suddenly ran inside the room upon hearing the commotion.

"Did you see that! Did you see it?" Loki shrieked in disbelief.

Ovahh, too stunned to speak, merely nodded.

"Did she wake? Did the potion work?" Suri frantically asked.

"Potion?" Ovahh stumbled back, having recovered from his initial shock. "You tested the harmful serum on Eden?"

"I had to." Loki argued.

Your body began contracting once more, and this time you appeared as if you had been placed in a sauna; your body was no longer pale and cold but burning up.

Loki noticed the hot vapours that rose from your bare skin as it reacted to the cold air.

"She will die if she does not cool down. Her organs will fail. I need to submerge her in cold water." Loki exclaimed in a panic.

"You caused this! You went behind my back and slipped her the serum!" Ovahh scolded in rage.

"I have no time for trivial disputes with you at this time, Ovahh. Hate me if you must, but only after you've assisted me!"

"The lake, take her to the lake!" Bear said.

"No, it is not yet free from infection, and the snow is too solid to be useful." Ovahh replied.

"I know a place." Suri suddenly spoke up. "The waters are clean, and free of contaminants. It is a natural cold spring."

"Take me there!" Loki ordered as he lifted your body from the bed and cradled you in his arms. The heat emanating from merely holding you against him was felt through his leathers. The sensation was almost to the point of being intolerable.

Suri led the way to the sedenia cave, where hundreds of uncommon sedenia plants reside. As they approached the cave's entrance, the plants emitted a bright light, as if anticipating your arrival; this compelled the dangerous bats to leave their usually darkened cave because of the intense light they emitted.

"What makes that glow?" Ovahh asked, feeling apprehensive.

"Many prunes." Suri replied, beckoning both Ovahh and Loki inside upon seeing their hesitation.

They were both amazed as they glanced around the cave, which was illuminated by the many glowing plants.

Loki viewed the clear, luminous water and observed the plant roots hydrating themselves with it. It alleviated his concerns, as he knew the water was not harmful if the plants were thriving after nourishing themselves with it.

He carried you inside the water while magically dissolving both of your garments to maximise the effect of the purified and icy spring.

As soon as he submerged your naked body beneath the water, the chill against your blazing skin caused you to take a stuttered breath. Loki peered down at you, observing as your flushed cheeks revert back to your normal shade of pink.

"That's it my love, breathe, focus on coming back to me."

As you remained in the water, your entire body cooled, and your body temperature returned to normal.

"She's getting better!" Loki cast a hopeful glimpse at Suri and Ovahh, who were standing together and observing.

He gazed back down at you and delicately moved you through the water as he brushed your hair away from your face. As he spoke, his soft voice echoed throughout the cave, causing the numerous sedenia plants to vibrate and glow brighter.

"My love, my darling queen. Oh, what a life we will have. We will dance a lot, laugh a lot, and travel a lot. Together, you and I will see the world and experience everything. My beautiful queen of Jotunheim. You will thrive my love. Flourish in our garden of love."

Loki leaned over and pressed his lips to yours as tears rolled down his cheek and merged with the water.

"Come back to me, Eden. Come back to me."

The fluorescent waters became even brighter as the plants began to rustle their leaves. The combined sound of the hundreds of plants was almost deafening, and Loki turned in alarm to Suri.

"What's happening? Why are they doing that?"

"Prunes do that when they feel emotion. They mean no harm." She answered with a smile before summoning all her energy and yelling out loud. "Fix her prunes! Make Eden strong, as strong as a Jotun!" Suri's plea reverberated around the entire cave.

Loki heard a small whisper over the loud hiss of the leaves and turned his gaze towards your face.

"Loki?" You murmur, glancing up and noticing the dire impact his grief had on his appearance.

When he heard you say his name, he took a startled breath, but it was your open eyes that stunned him the most. They were not your typical hue, and for a moment he believed he was peering into the eyes of another Jotun. However, after he squeezed his own eyes shut and reopened them, your eyes were once again his beloved ocean blue.

"Eden, my love, you came back to me."

"I..I.. feel different, Loki..I .." Your voice trailed off as your eyes rolled to the back of your head.

"No no.. please.. stay, stay with me." Loki pleaded.