Part Nineteen: I Do

You slowly opened your eyes. There was light coming through your window, illuminating your room. Today was going to be a beautiful day. At least, for everyone else. Nothing about today felt beautiful to you. You were going to be wed to Thor and every moment you ever spent with Loki would suddenly become meaningless. After all, Thor had somehow found out about the “forget me” ring and wanted you to break it as you kissed him at the altar.

You sighed deeply and dragged yourself out of bed. You felt sore all over. Someone knocked on your door and you sauntered over to it, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

Opening it, you saw Eir, your Maid of Honor, who looked like she wanted to both beam and cry.

“Ready?” she asked, quieter than you'd ever heard her before.

“Yes,” you replied, equally as softly.

You grabbed your dress from the closet, hanging it over your arm. The fabric was soft against your skin and you gave a sad smile, thinking that Loki was right, the other dresses you tried on were not nearly as beautiful as this one. The thought made you remember the ring and feel even more like crying.

“Miss?” Frigga's soft voice came from the doorway. You looked up at her. Her make-up was smeared and there were puffy bags under her eyes. She had been crying.

“What?”

“I just.....” she trailed off. “I wish for you to know that I love Thor.”

Why did she come here to tell me that?

“However,” Frigga continued. “I love Loki just as much. They are both equally my sons.” Frigga paused. “I have seen the way you look at Loki,” she said. “And I have long noticed the way he looks at you. Loki has never laid eyes upon anyone as he does you. Nor has he ever been so open and honest.”

Frigga was silent for a moment, then continued, “Both of my sons are worthy of having you as their bride, but one of them needs you more.” Frigga looked down, then directly into your eyes. “The final decision must be yours, but please consider what I have said, __________.”

Eir looked over at you, eyes wide. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

Taking a deep breath and sighing, you responded, “I'm going to marry Thor. It's my duty. Besides, it's all I can do anymore.”

Frigga looked at you with a sadness in her eyes and Eir sighed, but both followed you out the door and down the hall to the room where you were to get ready for the ceremony.

The wedding was in the late afternoon and while you had initially thought it was ridiculous to start getting ready in the morning, you realized that decision was actually very smart. Even with Eir and Frigga helping you to get ready, you still weren't prepared when afternoon rolled around. Finally, in the mid-afternoon, you were ready. Your dress was on, your make-up was done, your hair was fixed.

When you looked in the mirror, you hardly recognized your self. The dress flattered your figure and the make-up made you look absolutely gorgeous. Your hair was down, although two smaller braids lined the sides of your face and one larger braid hung in the back.

“You're beautiful!” Eir shouted excitedly.

“You do look lovely, my dear,” Frigga agreed, smiling.

“Thank you,” You said, blushing a tiny bit and feeling flattered.

Horns blared in the distance, signaling the beginning of the wedding procession.

“We ought to hurry,” Frigga said, helping you with your shoes and leading you and Eir out the door.

The three of you were led by guards to the area where the wedding was taking place. You peeked inside the doorway and gasped. It was a huge open veranda overlooking a sea of people, probably thousands. The thought of that many people watching your wedding was frightening, but you realized you should've thought of it before. After all, the prince of Asgard was getting married. You sighed, the rest of your life was going to be like this, always public.

You also saw a multiple-layer cake with a miniature bride and groom dancing on top, a altar with a long red carpet leading up to it, six or seven tables in the back, and white and red roses all over. There were also all sorts of silver, gold, and white decorations. When Thor had told you right after you got engaged that the wedding would be based on a Midgardian wedding he visited, but you surprised at how much trouble he had gone through to set it up like this.

“___________!” Eir called. “We need to be over here.”

You let Eir lead you a little further down the hallway.

You hadn't noticed before, but people were starting to gather. Odin made his way through the crowd, smiled at you and walked through the gilded doors out onto the overlook.

Although he was out of sight, you could hear Odin speaking to the crowd. “Citizens of Asgard, today marks a new age. For today, Thor and ___________ are to be wed!” There was a moment of deafening cheering, then silence as Odin continued. “My good people, we have been waiting for this day since ___________ first arrived in Asgard. And today, when __________ and my son, Thor, marry, an everlasting bond between Asgard and the mortal realm, Midgard, will be formed!” Lots of excited and happy cheers filled the air again.

Eir snapped to get your attention. “The Allfather is going to announce Thor first, then you. When he introduces you, simply walk in there and head for the front. Don't worry, Frigga and I will be right behind you.”

You nodded. Looking up, you saw Thor. He was dressed in his best clothing and his winged helm graced his head. He smiled and winked at you, then made his way towards the door.

“My son and the prince of Asgard, Thor Odinson!” Odin yelled.

Thor grinned and walked through the doors. Screams, cheers, and applause filled the air.

“And may I now introduce to you, my son's bride, ____________ _____________!”

Eir nudged you through the door and slowly you made your way up to the railing in the front. You nervously waved to the hundreds or thousands of people below you. Frigga, Eir, and two men came through the door right after you. Eir smiled reassuringly.

The wedding went on semi-normally after that. Odin gave a speech and then Thor and you were to say the vows you had written when you first got engaged. Frigga, being the goddess of marriage, was called over to bless the new couple, you and Thor, and make your bond official.

However, Odin first yelled out to the crowd: “If there is any one person who finds fault in this everlasting bond, let them speak out now, or else forever keep their silence.”

A dead silence washed over the crowd. Odin turned, but just as he was signaling Frigga, a tiny voice from the very back of the crowd called out.

Immediately, everyone's head whipped around. The person, probably a man, judging by the sound of his voice, began walking towards the front of the crowd. People parted, creating a pathway for him. As he got closer, you realized who it was and gasped. He looked up at you, grinning in an incredibly mischievous manner, his green eyes shimmering.

When Loki reached the front of the crowd, he climbed up onto the overlook, which was only a few feet from the ground, swung his legs over the stone railing and stood facing the sea of faces.

“I object!” he yelled loudly, holding his arms up to the sky dramatically.

“No...” you whispered. Although on the inside you were squealing like a fangirl. Turning around, you saw Eir had a grin that spread from ear to ear and though she was trying to hide it, Frigga was smiling as well. Thor and Odin, on the other hand, looked pissed.

“Loki! What is the meaning of this!?” Odin said angrily, through clenched teeth.

“You want to know what the meaning of this is? You want to know why I can't just accept that my brother is marrying the only woman I've ever truly had feelings for? Is that hard for you to accept?”

Odin was silent, slightly shocked by what Loki had said.

But Thor spoke, “Brother, do you assume that I do not love ____________ as well? I have loved her since we were children, just as you have.”

Everyone was silent.

Then, Frigga spoke, “Why not let Miss _____________ decide?”

Odin looked from you, to Frigga, to Thor, and finally to Loki. “Very well then,” he said, after what seemed like an eternity. “Who do you choose to marry?”

Everyone's eyes were now on you. You fidgeted under their intense gazes. You looked at the faces of the people around you. Frigga was pleading for you to choose Loki with her eyes, Odin kept a good poker-face, but it was obvious he wanted you to choose Thor, Thor was grinning confidently, and Loki was expressionless, although deep within his emerald eyes, you could see a begging hope.

You struggled for the words to say what you wanted to. You didn't want to let down or disappoint anyone because of your decision. You closed your eyes, took a deep breath and sighed. The answer was obvious, and it wasn't getting any better for the people who'd be let down.

"Loki," you said, very meekly, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

A thundering applause and cheering erupted from the crowd and Eir began squealing and clapping rapidly. Frigga smiled like never before and hugged you. She stepped back and Loki stepped forward. He tilted your chin up, smiling softly and looking directly into your eyes. Loki closed his own eyes and brought his lips to yours, his kiss gentle and loving. When he broke away from you, you slowly opened your eyelids and looked over to Thor.

 "I.... I'm...." you struggled to find words.

Thor smiled slightly sadly at you, a glint of laughter twinkling in his deep blue eyes. "It is okay," he assured you, "I will be alright." Thor moved closer to you. "After all, I will not be loosing you completely from my life, you are still one of my closest friends. And if you are as good as Sif tells me, you will make an excellent sparring partner." Thor eyed you, grinning.

You responded by beaming. "Of course I am."

"_____________," Odin caught your attention. He paused. "I wish for you to know that I hold nothing against you for choosing Loki. If I did not think he would make an honorable husband, there would have been no decision for me to make in the first place. I wish you well."

"Thank you," you replied.

"So, when are you having the wedding?" Eir asked curiously.

"Why not today?" Loki suggested. "We have waited long enough to be together."

"How about tomorrow," you countered. "I'd like to get some rest first and enough has already happened today."

"Very well," Loki agreed. "Then I shall accompany you to your quarters."

"Actually I'd like to have some dinner," you admitted. "I've barely eaten anything today."

"I'll come too!" Eir interjected.

"I am hungry as well," Thor put in.

"We could all dine together," Frigga suggested.

"The feasting is not supposed to start until after the bride and groom have been wed," Odin reminded everyone.

"It is not a feast," Frigga said, "it is merely a supper."

Odin sighed. "Very well then, let us make our way to the dinning room."

The six of you walked to the golden dining room you had become very familiar with, ate and drank and talked until you were all very tired. Afterwards, Loki accompanied you to your room, helped you get out of your dress and ready for bed, and, giving you a goodnight kiss, returned to his own quarters.

As you laid down, you smiled, thinking excitedly about tomorrow. You were undoubtedly in love with Loki and you were finally getting to be with him.