Loki was still laughing when they arrived at their destination. Madisyn gazed up at the bright gold castle. Cotton candy clouds surrounded it, raining chocolate milk.
"Like what I've done with the place?" the Frost Giant asked her.
"It's..." she stammered, "lovely."
"Wait until you see the inside!"
He carried her to the door and opened it up. Madisyn's eyes widened at the interior. It was like looking at a drawing by M.C. Escher, with stairs leading to nowhere and doors hanging sideways.
"Welcome to my humble abode!" Loki said proudly. "Or should I say our humble abode? What do you think?"
She put a hand to her head. "I think I'm getting dizzy."
He chuckled. "You'll get used to it, my dear. After all, this is your new home."
"My...my..."
Overwhelmed with it all, Madisyn fainted in his arms. He summoned a daybed and set her down gently. He gazed in triumph at his prize. So innocent, he thought. Well, we'll soon fix that.
"She sacrificed herself for us?" Anna asked in wonder.
"She thought she was the only one who could do it," Alyssa explained solemnly.
"He told us what our freedom would have cost, but I never would have thought Madisyn..."
She buried her face in her husband's shoulder.
"That God has gone too far this time!" Harleen bellowed, using her traditional Columbus voice. "We motion that we go to that castle and demand he return the marcher at once!"
Auer put a arm around her. "No, sister. If the agreement made is broken, Loki could unleash his mischief again."
"But..." she stammered. "You can't expect us to allow such an innocent soul to be tied to that monster!"
"This is all my fault," Vahl whimpered. "I'm sorry, Prince Auer. I've failed you."
Auer raised an eyebrow. "How have you failed me?"
"You left me in charge of Ohio, and it was put in danger because I didn't take precaution. And...I let one of my best friends accept a fate worse than death!" She hid her face in her hands. "I'm a terrible ruler!"
She stopped crying as her mentor lifted her chin. "Being a ruler means one has to make difficult decisions for the good of her subjects. There was nothing else to be done."
"It should have been me then! I could have handled him, I could have..."
"I am as distressed as you are, but this was her choice. Loki may do terrible things, but believe me when I say he won't bring Madisyn any physical harm."
"How do you know that?"
"His nature is to corrupt what is orderly, not to inflict pain. Some creatures...are not as evil as they seem."
"So," Cwryen Caster sniffed, "what do we do now?"
"All we can do now is pray that Madisyn will be safe and move on with our lives."
When Madisyn had gained consciousness, she was lying on a couch. She glanced at her surroundings and the ring on her finger, realizing that the events of the day hadn't been a dream. She sighed heavily. She had accepted Loki's proposal, saved the prince and princesses, lost her friends and freedom all in one day. Now she was engaged to the God of Mischief with no escape. Speaking of which, where was Loki?
Her answer came sooner than expected as the God materialized above her. She squeaked and jumped to the back of the couch in surprise.
"Have a nice rest, my dear?" he asked.
