Loki's Downfall

XI

It was near dawn when I reentered Loki's chambers for the rest of the night. Sighing after I closed the door, I tip toed to the bed and quietly slid the handcuffs underneath it. For a while I just sat at the edge on my knees, watching Loki sleep. He looked like my old Loki...but I knew he wasn't. I kept my eyes on him as I got under the covers.

More memories flooded my mind as time drew on, moments I sorely missed and wanted back. Involuntarily, I started silently sobbing, and cried myself the rest of the way to sleep.

***

I awoke again in Loki's arms, perhaps only an hour later, but I didn't want to move away this time. I needed this. I needed him to hold me, to just be here with me. No words. No complications. Just to be.

Loki was still asleep, and I watched as the sunrise outside began to pour in from the balcony behind me and illuminate his face. It soon woke him up, and he shook his head, soon burying it in my neck. "I couldn't tell if it was the sun or your beauty blinding me," he commented with a sigh, almost as if he would've fallen back asleep if he could. For a second I couldn't help but smile.

"Serena," Loki addressed. I hummed slightly in response. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you." Just then he pulled away and leaned up, still looking back at me. I shuddered. Half because he was warm and he let go of me, but also because conversations that start off with that sentence never end well. Still I leaned up with him and gave him a perplexed look.

"I knew about you and Luka...a long time ago. I never told you because you acted like you hated me, I wanted to make things right with you somehow without the memories...finally I realized I couldn't do it if I kept pretending, so I confessed," he started, but he wasn't near finished. I tried my best to look shocked yet still loving, though it was easy to pull off at this time. I was shocked he was coming clean about this.

"And that worked for a while, but quickly you got sad and disappointed with me again. I know you think I didn't pay attention, but I did, and I know you don't like the parts I play here in Asgard. I've been more distant lately because I've been working on something. A speech, per say, and I plan to address the kingdom today...as myself. And announce you as my Princess, Luka as the new prince, and..."

By then my jaw was hanging open in a shocked frown, and I'm guessing seeing my reaction was the reason Loki quit talking. "W-why would you do that?" I asked him. "Because of you, Serena. You make me want to be better," he told me simply. I shook my head. "But, Loki, the people...they could kill you for this," I reminded him. He smirked. "They wouldn't kill a Prince that has such a noble Princess," he hinted.

Wait a minute, Prince and Princess? That's when I closed my eyes and tried to figure what he meant. "Prince?" I whispered hopefully, trying not to get too excited if he was hinting at what I thought he was hinting at...

Just then a knock came at the door. Loki or I didn't have time to say "come in" before both doors to the chambers were busted wide open by Odin. Smiling Odin. He had his arms spread wide as he laid eyes on Loki and me. "My children! Come here! Come!" He beckoned. I grinned at him first, then looked to Loki before standing up and running to my father in-law for a hug.

"Ah, Serena, look at you. Alive and well and beautiful," Odin commented, kissing my forehead. "Not to mention a wonderful muse," he added, looking behind me at Loki. I looked back as well to see him walking toward Odin and I. "Because of you, this man has turned over a new leaf for certain. He came to me begging for my forgiveness in your name. Did you know he broke the memory curse all on his own will? Because he knew there was something missing. He loved you enough to break that spell without any magic at all," Odin assured me.