Chapter 21.

Elanora opened her eyes slowly, and saw Loki resting his head on his arms next to her on the mattress. She smiled down at him, his eyes closed in sleep and his hair a mess. She reached out weakly, her fingers seeking to feel how feather soft it was, and she moved it back over his ear and ached with the effort. Her hand lost all momentum, weakness taking its toll and it rested on the bed again. His eyes opened and he saw her, a smile on her face and he took the hand in his and kissed her fingers.

"Hello." She said and looked around her. "Where are we?"

"Asgard, I brought you back after you were injured. Do you have much pain?" He asked her and she shook her head. The expression on her face, as she tried to sit up to embrace him told him different however.

"Just lay back, you had an arrow in your side." He urged her and sat up on the bed. Her eyes followed him and she felt her body raise up and into his lap, he lay against the pillows and cradled her gently. Her hands gripping his tunic as the wound stretched, and she whimpered.

"Please stay with me. " She whimpered and he cradled her closer. She turned her face into his shoulder and he rocked her gently.

"I will, you have my word. Go back to your rest now my sweet, I will hold you until you wake." He said, relief washing over him at her recovery. She lay still, and the door opened softly. Odin and Frigga entering and stopping as they approached the bed, he put a finger to his lips and Frigga nodded. She pushed Odin back out of the room and smiled at the two of them, slipping forward and laying a paper on the bed before closing the door after her.

Loki felt the soft breath of the sleeping woman on his neck and savored the sweetness of it, picking up the paper and reading it. He smiled at the words, reading the permission from Odin to marry as they wished. He rested his cheek or the top of her head, and together they slept, inky darkness juxtaposed against golden light.

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The garden was in full bloom on that early Spring day, the gathered Royal Family smiling as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Loki watched, a tent nearby opening and stepping out was Elanora, her gown of soft blue and snow white adding to her beauty. She walked toward him, a smile so bright the sun became jealous as her long hair framed her face like a halo. She borrowed jewels from Queen Frigga and she fought the urge to run toward him as she stepped down the path toward him. Instead of a bouquet, she carried a single rose to be a symbol of the one perfect love they created. Loki stunned into silence at her gentle nature, and they way she looked that morning.

He took her hand, and she smiled at him holding it tightly. The ceremony was performed, and they promised, on top of their vows as Husband and Wife, to always be as friends. She kissed him, his arms pulling her close to him and he held her as if she would fly away.

She wore many titles through the years, Daughter, Princess, Child, Pauper, but never one so sweet to her as Wife. They danced in the garden after, he being gentle as she still healed from the arrow and being careful not to hurt her again. She gazed up at him, their eyes locking and they kissed under a blooming Cherry Blossom tree.

Their day filling with so much love and joy as they went into the feast. The laughter that was never expressed at their first Wedding was loosed upon the hall, and toasts were shared and blessing bestowed upon the couple.

That evening, following a soft knock at the door. Elanora stepped timidly into his chambers, his hands open to her and she held her robe closed over her shift. He saw a soft tremble as she looked at the readied bed, and he held her hands gently in his.

"Are you nervous?" He asked her and cradled her face in the palms of his hands. She nodded, a tremble in her lips and he kissed her.

"I do not know how to please you, or what to do." She said, and he lifted her chin. His smile was gentle as her pulled the sash on her robe open and his hands found her waist.

"We will learn together, and be gentle with eachother. You hold my heart in your beautiful hands, and it is as fragile as glass." He said and she smiled as he kissed her again. She looked into his eyes and made a solemn promise to him then, one she could never break.

"Then I shall never let it fall from them, and protect it with mine always." She said, and he lifted her off her feet and carried her to his bed.

He promised her to be gentle, and he kept his word. And after that night, she never returned to her chambers, preferring to sleep in his arms. The two of them making gentle promises until dawn, as they held eachother through the dark night.

In time, the room she once occupied became a nursery, and in it stood Elanora with her first of seven children. Loki walked in, seeing her cradle the baby close to her and singing to his son. The infant only knowing love as she lay him down, rocking him the rest of the way to sleep and He standing next to her to kiss her cheek.

"He is beautiful Elle, I cannot se my life without you or he in it." He said and hugged her close. "I will lay my life down for the both of you, and more My Adored Queen."

"Don't you dare, for I will be at your side should that fight come." She said, and he held her close and kissed her forehead gently. His hand resting over a hidden scar under her dress, a reminder of what was nearly lost as it was just found.