Now and Always

It was midnight in the Realm Eternal, but to a certain young lady who currently looked out on the silent sheen of night; this fact wasn't something to be regretted. For in Bryn's world- as of late- it was always midnight.

As a Dark Elf, Bryn had always loved the way the moon looked canvassed upon a black and blue sky, but this was not the reason she looked forward to the dark hours now. It was the peace and solitude from the everyday Asgardians that made her evenings her highlight.

Bryn gazed up at the starlit sky in silent awe, and felt her heart stutter at the welcome sight. These days, the fragile beauties of the night were the only pleasures that the woman could enjoy. So much had happened; everything had changed, and due to this alteration the Dark Elf lass had put herself into seclusion.

As the events of the past few months crowded back into her weary mind, the woman cringed painfully. Though time had flown by, the ache in her heart had only grown. For how could you stop hurting when the two people you loved the most were dead?

Loki. . . .

And her father, Malekith . . .

Her Life Mate. . . .

And her only family-member. . .

Bryn knew that her face had fallen, but for all the inner-strength she had once possessed, she now couldn't muster a single smile. Though she had tried and tried to make her lips rise.

Every day since the morning she had learned of her beloved's passing, and her father's demise by Thor's hand, Bryn had fought to smile. In the hopes that perhaps one day the show of positive emotion might not be false . . . But since then, she hadn't been able to conjure up even one tightlipped grin. And as more time passed, the woman was sure that she'd never be able to smile again.

Bryn sighed gently into the night air, once more looking out from her balcony to the shining city of Asgard. And as she observed its regal splendor, she once more loathed it. Everywhere her gaze fell; there was hateful happiness and overbearing memories- for her and even for other members of the community. And with each recalled recollection of joy the woman was forced to feel. Forced to embrace her ever spreading pain, and the bittersweet taste of the love she had once known so well: the love of Loki, and the stern, guiding presence of her father Malekith the Accursed. The only people she had ever truly trusted . . . the only people she had ever believed in or cared about.

And now both were gone.

With one last gaze out into the beautiful night, Bryn turned her back on the moon and stars. She would have stayed out on the balcony until morning came- as her usual routine dictated- but she had received a summons from the All-Father earlier that day. She was meant to appear the next morning- and despite her newly found devil-may-care attitude towards the Aesir and their way of life- the woman knew that it was a command she would have to obey.

So with a heavy, burdened heart, Bryn got ready for sleep. And as she lay down against the soft covers of her downy bed, she made an altering decision. After her meeting with Odin she would prepare herself. She couldn't stay in Asgard any longer . . . she couldn't continue the way she had. So instead of accepting what she had been given, Bryn would take her destiny into her own hands.

Tomorrow, after she visited with the King, she would meet her end. Tomorrow she would leave her pain and now acrid memories behind. . . But until the morrow, she would dream of happier times. When a young mischievous God had held her close, and the anxious butterflies in her stomach had been from his sweet kisses, rather than the thought of what the morning would bring.

Bryn had only ever talked to the All-Father when Loki was with her; when she had been intended to join the royal family as the younger prince's bride. A good year or so before Thor's banishment and Loki's fall from the Bifrost Bridge.

Now as the young elf woman- her Asgardian disguise fully in place- walked through the halls of Valhalla she wondered what the All-Father wished to discuss with her. Even when she had been close to both of his sons- Loki as a mate, and Thor as a friend- Odin had never specifically pulled her aside, or talked to her. And now she was to have a private counsel with him for a matter that still remained unknown. In truth, the very idea was terrifying to her, but Bryn would hold her ground; as she always had, and always would. She might be leaving the world of the living after this encounter, but that didn't mean that she would disgrace herself before that time. She was warrior, and would keep her head held high, until the very end.

Bryn proceeded down the lengthy halls, closely matching the stride of the guard who was escorting her, and forced her mind to focus. She would need all of her wits about her when she finally spoke to Odin; there could be no room for flighty thoughts or emotional memories. This was now, and that had been then. She had to stay in the moment: to hear what the All-Father wanted, then say her piece in return, and leave. No more, and no less.

Finally, after several more minutes of brisk walking, the guard stopped before a single door on the side of the hall- much to Bryn's surprise. The woman had expected to be taken to the main hall, not to a side chamber in the royal apartments. Odin never counsel with lower subjects- even if they were upper class- anywhere save the main hall or ballroom.

After a polite moment of pause, the guard stepped aside for her, and formally placed his hands behind his back.

"The King is waiting for you just inside, Milady. Please feel free to enter."

Bryn gave a single nod of thanks to the guard before she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and reached for the door handle. But just as her fingers were about to tighten around the knob, the door opened of its own accord. Startled, the woman retreated a step; but when the guard gave her an encouraging smile, she once more approached the doorway. With small steps, the woman entered and was surprised to see the door close behind her- once more without any Aesir hand to prompt it.

And as the clicked shut behind her, Bryn knew that there was no going back. So, the woman did the only probable thing in her situation: she moved further into the chamber with baited breath.

The royal chamber was dimly lit; large curtains drawn over the windows making it hard to see. But being blessed with the eyesight of a Dark Elf, Bryn was able to locate the All-Father at a glance. Though to keep her true heritage a secret, she pretended to look around aimlessly for several moments- seemingly sightless in the dark. The last thing Bryn needed was suspicion, so she wouldn't give anyone reason to be curious. She had lived many years a lamb amongst sheep and as such she had learned to cover her tracks well.

Odin- the All-Father and King of the Realm Eternal- stood with his back to her, looking off to something only he could see. He was relaxed as he gazed off, but it was clear that he was alert and aware of her arrival. His bearing was dignified and absolute; marking his royalty better than any crown ever could have. Though to Bryn, his royal standing meant very little.

For several minutes Bryn stood in silence- respectfully waiting for him to speak- and when her patience was rewarded the Dark Elf in disguise internally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Welcome, Lady Bryn. I trust your journey was a good one?"

Bryn lived several good miles away from the Palace, and she had had to ride for a good part of the morning to make her summoning in time. And though her journey had in fact been pleasing, the woman was surprised. She hadn't known that the All-Father knew of her residency, or furthermore, that he cared to.

"I thank you, my King," she answered plainly. "My travels were indeed pleasant; it is a beautiful morning."

Odin accepted this answer, and turned around to look at his guest- though there was no hurry in his movements. He appraised Bryn with his one good eye, before he spoke again.

"I suppose you are wondering why I summoned you here."

Bryn kept her face completely impassive. "Yes, All-Father, I had pondered as to why you wished to speak to me. Seeing as we have not been frequent acquaintances and neither of us has spoken to the other since your son fell."

"You speak of Loki?"

Bryn nodded.

"Then you would do well to refrain from granting him the title of son," Odin stated calmly. "He has not been my son for many cycles now."

Bryn was silent for a moment, as her heart continued to break for the one she had loved. Even his own father had abandoned him. Did he not mourn for the child he had once held? Did he feel no remorse at all for the role he had played in Loki's fall from grace?

So many questions rose unbidden in Bryn's mind.

"Can a person's actions truly change their family bonds, sire?" The question was out before Bryn could think better of it, and she mentally chided herself. She was playing with fire, challenging Odin so openly. But now there was nothing for it. What was said was said.

Odin regarded Bryn for a long moment, before he moved to speak. But he did not answer the woman's question. Instead he moved to some inquiries of his own.

"Do you still stand by Loki of Jotunheim, Lady Bryn? After all the monstrosities he has committed? After all the lives he has destroyed? Do you believe that his crimes can be purged, after all he has done?"

Bryn met the gaze of the All-Father head on, though tears had begun to form in her tired amber eyes. "I stand by Loki- Prince of Asgard and of Jotunheim- in all things," she whispered. "I always have and I always will."

"Even with a flow of death and torment following in his wake?"

"I did not agree with his methods when he went to the Midgard," Bryn said truthfully. "But I loved him no matter what he did; in life and death I chose him. There has never been another I have trusted or loved more. And there never will be."

Odin studied the woman before him with a strange expression. "What you admit is treason."

Finally, for the first time in months Bryn's lips upturned into a smile- and it felt glorious. Though, her reason for smiling wasn't exactly what she had hoped for, it gave her more courage than she'd ever thought possible.

"Why, yes," she said quietly, her smile still in place. "Yes, it is."

Odin's readable expression briefly flickered to something else, and Bryn felt a wave of confusion. Why was the All-Father asking her these questions? Why did he care to know about this now?

"You stand by him, even when it could mean your end." It wasn't a question; for Odin already knew the answer.

"I do," Bryn agreed. "But now that he is gone from the living, I am afraid that he never believed me when I told him as much. . . I fear that- that. . ."

Odin slowly took several steps towards Bryn- and to her everlasting surprise- placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What is it that you fear, Bryn?"

The woman's eyes held blatant disbelief as she lifted them to regard the King. Never before had the All-Father called her by her name alone, and never had he touched her. But somehow, as she looked at his calm face, she found herself answering him all the same.

"I fear that Loki never knew how much I loved him," she replied emotionally. "I fear . . . that he never fully understood when I told him that I needed him. . . And now . . . I will never get the chance to make him believe me."

Bryn had been looking down at the floor while she spoke, but when Odin's hand on her shoulder tightened at her words, she raised her amber eyes to see him. And at the tender smile that met her, the woman froze.

"You need not fear, Bryn," the All-Father said lovingly. "He has always known, and now he understands without question the extent of your devotion."

Bryn's brow crinkled. "You can't say that for certain, sire. . . You can't presume to speak for Loki; not now or ever again."

Odin's smile became larger- an actual smirk- before he said with a laugh, "Actually, my dear. I most certainly can."

Then- as Bryn watched with now tearful eyes- the All-Father began to transform. Bathed in a shower of green, misty light it was impossible to tell what was happening at first. But then as the smoky light cleared, a broken cry escaped the Dark Elf. For there, standing beside her wasn't Odin. In his place stood the one that had been claimed dead; the one that Bryn had thought lost forever.

"L-Loki," Bryn cried, her face transforming into a beaming vision of tears and joy as she beheld him. "Y-You're alive!"

Loki gave her a tender smile as he gazed down upon her lovely face. "Yes, darling, I'm alive."

Bryn shook her head in disbelief, before a watery laugh echoed forth from her lips. "Y-You came back to me!"

"I always come back to what's mine," Loki answered deeply, before he hesitantly reached out his hand to cup Bryn's cheek. He sighed softly at the contact, before he said lowly, "Oh, how I've missed that."

"Are you really here?" Bryn hopefully reached out her own hand to cup Loki's cheek, mirroring his actions, and gasped when cool flesh met her palm.

"I am," Loki answered. "And after that lovely declaration you just made, I doubt I will ever be able to leave your side again."

Bryn laughed once more, enjoying the feeling of her Life Mate's hand on her skin before she let her glamor spell slip. And as it did so, her true form as a Dark Elf reappeared.

Once the transformation was completely, Bryn's ethereal blue eyes once more lifted to look at Loki. And the sight that met her made the she-elf intake a raspy breath. For the clear want in Loki's eyes was enough to make her heart break for an entirely new reason.

"You are beautiful, my darling," he whispered gently, before lowering his now Jotun-blue lips to hers, kissing her with the longing of years of separation and suppressed passion. "Unequaled and unchallenged by all who surround you; now and always."

"As are you, my handsome prince," Bryn whispered back against Loki's lips, before repeating the promise. "Now and always."