Love Me?

Chapter Ten

"Mother, father, I love Loki. I'm sorry." Elli told them.

"Elli, I can't believe you'd do something like this." Odin said.

"I can't marry Helblindi. I want to marry Loki and this is the only way." Elli explained.

"This is not the only way!" Laufey exclaimed.

"Yes it is! Because her body has been known by another man before her marriage, it is said in the law that she must marry the man her body is known to." Loki explained.

"That is not-"

"It is true. By Asgardian law, if a woman sleeps with a man who is not her betrothed, she must marry the man who knows her body. Because of this, Elli must marry Loki." Odin told Laufey.

"I will not stand for this, Allfather." Laufey said as he stormed out of the room.

Frigga walked towards Elli's bedside and sighed as she looked at her.

"Elli, I know you love him but do you know what you two have done? You two could have started a war." Frigga asked.

"I'm sorry, mother, but, I can't marry Helblindi. I don't care if there's a war. I only want Loki by my side." Elli replied as she moved into Loki's touch.

"Allfather and allmother, I want to make you aware that this was entirely my idea and you should not blame Elli for anything that happens. It was all my fault." Loki explained.

There was a moment of silence before Odin broke out into a laughing fit.

"What?" Elli asked.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so glad that Elli won't be marrying Helblindi. I know how much you two love one another. I think that this whole situation is hilarious. Excuse me." Odin replied.

"Odin, we might have a war on our hands." Frigga told him sternly.

"Please. You actually think they'll wage war on us? They don't have the proper amount of supplies or weapons. Their palace is in ruins. They can't wage a war which is why they signed the peace treaty in the first place." Odin explained.

"That is true. I'm not even sure how they won the small war with the people from Alfhiem." Loki said.

"Tomorrow your wedding will be held and you, Loki, will be deemed a prince of Asgard." Odin told him.

Loki gasped and beamed with excitement as Elli rested her head on his shoulder.

"Really? A prince of Asgard?" Loki asked.

"Of course." Odin replied.

"But, what about Laufey and Helblindi? Will they be going home?" Loki asked.

"I am not sure. They will most likely be here for the ceremony but, I will find out." Odin told him.

"Um, do you mind if we have a few moments alone...to change?" Elli asked.

"Oh, of course." Frigga replied.

She, Odin and Thor exited the room and Elli let out a sigh as Loki wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"We're getting married." Loki whispered in her ear.

"Yes, but..." Elli trailed off.

"But what?" Loki asked.

"I feel that we're only getting married because of what we did. Not because of our love." Elli replied.

"Elli, don't think like that. You heard your father. He knows how much we love each other. We are marrying for love. We might have gotten our marriage finalized in some nontraditional ways but, we're getting married and that's all that counts in the end." Loki explained.

Loki kissed Elli softly and pulled back as he smiled. Elli giggled softly and rested her forehead on his.

"But you can't deny that last night was amazing." Loki whispered as he laughed.

"It was." Elli blushed.

Loki took the covers covering Elli's chest and laid them down as he rolled on top of her.

"I love you, Elli." Loki said softly.

"I love you, Loki." Elli beamed as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

The two kissed before getting out of bed and changing into their clothes. At the breakfast table, Loki and Elli kept their eyes on their plates as Helblindi and Laufey glared at them.

"So, will you be present for the wedding tomorrow?" Odin asked.

"We will." Laufey replied.

"And what will you do afterwards?" Thor asked.

"Helblindi and I will leave." Laufey replied.

Helblindi shot Laufey a look. Laufey glared at him telling him to step down.

"At least you will accompany us for the wedding. We really enjoyed your stay here." Odin told him.

Later that day, Helblindi met with Laufey in his chambers.

"What do you mean we're just going to leave?" Helblindi asked angrily.

"We will come back." Laufey replied calmly.

"How?" Helblindi asked.

"With an army." Laufey replied as he put his book down.

"What?" Helblindi asked in shock.

"The Allfather is not aware that things work differently in Jotunheim. We will not stand for this and we will wage a war on Asgard. Of course, we need to work up our supplies and weapons but nonetheless...we will have war." Laufey explained.

That night, Elli was in her nightdress pacing back and forth. There was a knock at her door and Elli answered it to find Loki smiling at her.

"Loki, you can't be here." Elli said.

"I couldn't sleep and I can see you were having the same problem." Loki told her.

Elli smiled as she took a step back.

"May I come in?" Loki asked.

"Sure." Elli replied.

Loki walked into her chambers and smiled as he closed the door behind him.

"I just had to see you." Loki confessed.

Elli blushed as Loki wrapped his arms around her and laid his lips on hers. She pushed him back and Loki furrowed his brow.

"We must wait until the wedding, Loki." Elli said softly.

"Are you nervous?" Loki asked.

"Why else would I not be able to sleep? Are you?" Elli retorted.

"Yes." Loki told her.

"What will happen after we marry?" Elli asked.

"I haven't thought about that." Loki replied.

"Would we start a family?" Elli asked.

"I'd assume so." Loki replied.

Elli smiled softly as she took Loki's hands in hers.

"I've always wanted a family of my own." Elli said.

"Then we'll have many children while we're married. A whole litter of them." Loki chuckled.

"But...what would they look like?" Elli asked.

"What do you mean?" Loki asked.

"We have two kinds of blood running through our veins. You're a Frost giant and I'm Asgardian. Would they look like you or like me?" Elli explained as her brow furrowed.

"They will look beautiful and handsome." Loki told her.

Elli beamed as she kissed Loki tenderly and pulled back to walk towards her door. She put her hand on the door's handle and smiled as she opened it.

"Are you kicking me out?" Loki asked with a smirk.

"We need our beauty sleep." Elli replied.

Loki sighed as he walked out and turned to face Elli in the doorway.

"Good night, my darling." Loki whispered.

"Good night, Loki." Elli said as she closed the door.

The following morning, Elli was woken up by Frigga and helped to clean and dress herself for the wedding.

"Do you think Loki will like it?" Elli asked.

"Oh my sweet pea he'd love anything on you." Frigga replied.

Frigga quickly studied Elli's face and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Elli, are you alright?" Frigga asked.

"What if Helblindi or Laufey try to do something during the ceremony?" Elli asked as she turned to face her mother.

"Oh, darling, everything will be alright. No one is going to hurt you and Loki will personally see to it that you don't get hurt. Just relax and enjoy the day." Frigga told her.

"But they said that if I didn't marry-"

"Who cares what they said. You're marrying the man you love today." Frigga explained.

Elli chuckled softly as she looked down at the floor.

"You're right," She said. "Mother, we're you this nervous marrying father?"

"Every woman tends to be nervous on her wedding day. Just don't run away when you get on the aisle." Frigga replied.

"I wouldn't do that." Elli said.

"When you see his face, all your worries will go away." Frigga told her.

"I hope so. I have these butterflies in my stomach that won't go away." Elli chuckled.

"Now, let's get going. Your soon to be husband awaits you." Frigga teased.

As Elli walked down the aisle with Odin, she couldn't take her eyes away from Loki. As his eyes landed on her, he felt his breath hitch in his throat and his heart raced in his chest. Once she was next to him, he took her hands in his and beamed.

"You look absolutely stunning." Loki whispered.

"Thank you." Elli whispered back.

Laufey and Helblindi sat themselves in the back of the throne room and watched as Loki married Elli.

"I do." Elli beamed.

"And do you, Loki Laufeyson, take Elli Odindottir, as your wife?" Odin asked.

"I do." Loki replied.

"By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride." Odin told them.

Elli giggled as she bounced with excitement and wrapped her arms around Loki's neck while his arms snaked around her waist as the two kissed. The guests all clapped and cheered as the two walked down the aisle and made their way into the dining hall for the celebrations. Loki and Elli sat next to each other at their table and couldn't stop smiling and giggling with one another.

"I still have butterflies in my stomach from this morning." Elli told him.

"Really?" Loki asked.

Elli nodded her head as she took a bite of her food.

"I can't believe we're married." Loki confessed.

"Me too. It seems so surreal." Elli said.

Loki smiled as he kissed her cheek and furrowed his brow when he pull away.

"Elli, are you alright?" Loki asked.

"I feel a little lightheaded." Elli replied.

"Your face is so pale. Elli, is something wrong?" Loki asked frantically.

"I'm not sure. I felt fine a few seconds ago." Elli replied.

Elli went to stand up and Loki gasped as she lost her balance. Frigga, Thor and Odin saw her trip and quickly ran towards her. In their commotion of running towards her, Laufey, Helblindi and the other guests all turned to face them. Loki held Elli in her arms as she panted. She began to grow seat on her brow and looked deathly pale.

"Elli, what's wrong?" Frigga asked.

"I don't know, mother," Elli cried. "I feel dizzy and my butterflies haven't gone away."

"Loki, help me take her to the healers." Frigga said.

Loki nodded his head quickly as Odin assured the guests that everything was under control. Loki swooped Elli into his arms bridal style and paced towards the healers.