ephemeral ━━ 𝘓. 𝘓𝘈𝘜𝘍𝘌𝘠𝘚𝘖𝘕 ✔

□ dance

"Why in Valhalla is that Trickster here?!" Shouted the girl as her skin hissed with lava and magma.

Loraine expected this though.

The guy with the foggy suit melted into nothing then he reappeared in front of the Royal family. "This is an outrage!" He shouted, while Thor, Odin and Frigga remained composed."Why is that savage here?"

Loki's best expression was handled. He was impassive the whole time.

The next thing she knew, the courtyard shot off into a classical quarrel between the Deities and the Royal Family for five minutes; However, it went more than that when someone sent a dagger flying in the air towards the Prankster.

That. Is. It, she thought.

"Stop!" Loraine barked, her voice cutting through the shouts and anger. She quickly summoned a Crown and formulated a shield around Loki. The dagger hit the shield pathetically and fell down.They all stopped and eyed her accusingly.

"You all are pathetically arguing over the fact that he is here. Did you all forget what Odin proposed?" She stared at the guy with the misty suit.

He was about to open his foggy mouth when Loraine cut him, "A meeting for different kin, my lords and ladies. For every kin," she stressed.

She was hauntingly waiting for someone to argue with her, but they remained quiet. "Is it not clear? He is the representative for Jotunheim."

Another murmured and gasped went up. "Yet Laufey does not want peace... I know that. But, Odin knows why his presence is here. It is for the very reason that Odin might unite kingdoms again through him - a jotun."

That was exactly Odin's words years ago.

What are you talking about? Loki hissed from her thoughts.

"She's talking nonsense!" The god, Freyr - king of the Light Elves said. "She is just madly in love with him, as we all know that Thor brought her also for him. It is for Mortals, Love that is. We cannot trust of what she's speaking. She ought to be under his spell." Lots of head bobbed up and down, agreeing to Freyr.

"Im in nobody's bloody spell." Loraine fought back. "Loki doesn't have his powers because it's with me - " another confused faces sprang.

She knew Loki wouldn't certainly approve of this. Yet she had to. She loved him, and she would do anything for him to be well, and with that, she needed everyone to know that Loki was acceptable. Polished and ready, even though it would mean for her to break her promise, even though everyone would know she's his lover, even though her life would be at stake.

"Everyone deserves a second chance," she declared amidst their whispers. Then just like that, the surrounding melted into a peaceful wave of tranquility.

Trickles of glitters started pouring down. The courtyard, which was only lighted by the aid of the moon, went darker than usual.

Loraine teleported in front of him.

"You look beautiful..." He murmured as Loraine slipped her hand to his.

"You always achieve to flatter me. Just don't mind the others anymore," she replied and Loki wrapped his arms around her back.

Both of them already swayed with the music, looking at each other's eyes.

Freya, the only goddess who was silent during the commotion, stared at the two, smiling to herself. She was just at the corner, continuously sipping her punch. She guessed Loraine, her Chosen, really did completed her task after all. It was a charming and delightful sight for Freya as the goddess of Love, looked at such a forbidden love. Yet there they were. Both powerful and regal together.

"And the butterflies in your stomach?" Loki asked, smiling at her.

"Yeah," she breathed, laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

Both of them continued swaying with the music. They didn't even noticed the crowd anymore. It seemed as if they went silent. Loraine caught a glimpse of Thor and Odin, thankfully explaining the situation to others. As the one responsible, they had to do it anyway.

"How did you even acquired this gown?" Loki chuckled.

"With the help of Slynthia of course," she replied. "Do you like it?"

Loki gazed at her inhuman eyes for a second and Loraine stared at him too. "Very much... You look as if you're ready to be an Asgardian..."

Loraine dropped her eyes. She wasn't sure if she would be here to be that woman Loki wanted her to be. Since the dream of Loki, Loraine never thought of living for a couple of years, that she guessed in a matter of minutes, someone might take her... And she would expect that, very much.

"Don't worry... As long as I'm here..." Loki started.

"Don't." She said. "Don't talk about that right now," Loraine continued and leaned closer to him. "Just enjoy this for awhile..."

Loki nodded and gracefully, he glided her to the center, taking Loraine in surprised. He took her hand, held it, and placed his other hand on Loraine's back. She smiled warmly at him.

And they both danced.

They danced like nothing would stop their imperfect perfection. They danced as if the cosmos had demanded them to be with each other. It was a dance filled with pain, anxiety, happiness, tranquility and love, mixing altogether like it was the cocktail of life.

Both of them slid along the floor, Loraine giggling as she noticed how smooth Loki could dance. He stopped and twirled her around, and then they sashayed again. Loraine noticed the smiles of Thor and Frigga as they looked down at them from their crowned seats.

Loraine was sure Loki was the bad and the best thing that happened to her. From the very first time she had set foot here, she thought this was hopeless, that Loki would always be the bad guy. Yet now, he wasn't. He was just another villain, waiting for his story to be told. And the story teller was her. It was always her.

Then everyone stopped staring and Loraine guessed it was time for them to join the dance and stop the ridiculous tension that was spreading. They crowded the dance floor and started to dance with them. For once, Loraine was relieved that they understood Loki. She was so relieved that no amount of words could've described it.

It felt like paradise to her. Would it look like this? Would it feel like this? And how long would this last?

Loki twirled her around again, and she laughed with tears brimming from the corners of her eyes. He smiled at her, pulled her in and gave her a tight squeeze.

He would always love her, he thought to himself. Even if the tree Ygrdrassil and the Maidens placed a beguiling fate on the Tree, he would do anything to keep her happy ---Happy and alive.

And that made the night more interesting.