A/N: Holy was I ever stuck on this chapter… I still think I could have done better but the amount of rewriting has made me sick of rereading it :P Enjoy it how it is I suppose :)

Damned to the Night

Chapter 4

Aisling walked confidently into the throne room, searching for Odin as she had been told. After her and Heimdall had finished their conversation she had come to the conclusion that whether Loki and Odin had finished their discussion or not she wanted to be there. She wanted to see Loki alive for her own eyes.

Searching the room she saw Odin lounging on the throne, odd, his legs were spread apart and he was leaning against one side of the throne, his elbow supporting his head while his other hand gripped Gungnir. She observed the playful way he smiled at her entrance and how his smile grew when he saw her confusion. Odin would have never looked at her like that, something had drastically changed in order to make the All Father look like that, and especially considering the last counsel she had taken with him.

"Lovely Aisling, how are you?"

"Well I suppose." She answered, she was not at all comfortable the way Odin was looking at her. "Where is Loki?"

Odin's grin grew, "Oh he's here."

Aisling watched the king suspiciously, something was familiar… it clicked; the attitude, the posture and the smirking could only be one person. Aisling squared her shoulders and marched up to the throne. She grabbed the King's face and stared at him, her eyes were ice as she watched his illusion fall away. Like golden flecks of imagination blowing off of the imposter's face, Loki emerged from the once-Odin. A smile graced her features before she pressed her mouth against his.

Gungnir clattered to the floor as Loki wound one of his hands through her white hair and the other pulled at her waist. It had been far too long since she had kissed Loki, her whole being screamed at the contact, wanting more.

She made herself stop, ice returning to her eyes as she addressed him, "What happened? You were dead."

Loki faltered, he didn't want to lie to her, but he also didn't want her to know the truth.

"Tell me." Aisling said softly.

He felt his chest ache, shaking his head he sighed. "You're not going to like what I have to say."

"I always love hearing your voice, even if I don't like the words that come out of your mouth." She laughed dryly, "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Loki smiled sadly, "I was gone awhile after I fell from the Bifrost, and I eventually found myself in Nidavellir. I will admit I did have my fun with the dwarves, I guess they would say I wrecked havoc there." Loki laughed, "I took what I needed and what I wanted, some things I won in bets and some things I stole. I would not say the dwarves were sad to see me leave, in fact I think they were quite upset over some of the things I managed to take." He looked almost guilty then.

"Go on," Aisling urged, so far she wasn't surprised by what she had heard.

"Well I did get a bit carried away." He waved his hand about, "There were tales of a ring, Andvarenaut," At the mention of the ring's name Loki's eyes shone, Aisling wondered what was so great about the ring, "Which was being guarded by a dragon, Fafnir. The dwarves called Otr and Regin are Fafnir's brothers and they kept much of their treasure there, though the ring Andvarenaut was by far the most precious. It has magical qualities that allow the wearer to duplicate whatever he wishes, not just copies or illusions, real objects. I wanted it." Aisling groaned and Loki gave her a sheepish smile, "So I set out to obtain the ring. The lair of Fafnir was very easy to find, he spits out poison so all the lands around him are dead and toxic. A river of the poison runs around his den but I was able to get across and confront him. I tricked him, he was not very bright, it was very easy to place a wager and talk around it so I won. I left with Andarenaut and Fafnir was furious. The ring had belonged to his and Otr and Regin's father, Fafnir had killed his own father to obtain the ring. He wants it back."

"Wants?" Aisling paled.

"Yes, well, I left Nidavellir before they could get it back from me. However now I am safe in Asgard while I pose as Odin and they will never find me." He laughed. "See if anyone asks of me, they will say I am dead, which is true I suppose. Now I am Odin, Loki is dead."

"What if they bring their revenge down on Asgard?" Aisling asked biting her lip. She didn't like this plan; Loki's deception had a lot of holes that she could see.

"Why would they ever do that? Odin has never been anything but fair to the dwarves, I don't see why they would try to get revenge on Asgard." He shrugged.

"Loki, they will come looking for the ring here. Odin's Armory is most famed for housing precious artifacts. That will be the first place they will try to look." Aisling shook her head, "How do you always find yourself in such trouble?"

"Love, to be fair, you used to get into as much trouble as I did, in fact whenever I was in trouble you were standing there next to me." Loki smirked.

She smacked him, "Maybe I've grown up."

"Doubtful." Loki teased. "Come now, I am sure the dwarves and Fafnir have already given up on the ring." At the sight of Aisling's unimpressed face he added, "I will ask Heimdall if he sees any unrest in Nidavellir tomorrow, fair?"

Nodding Aisling reached down for a kiss, "Fair."

As the kiss deepened Loki groaned and reached for her again, "Aisling, let me take you to my chambers, it has been far too long."

Excitement laced with desire ran through her, eyes eager she nodded, than faltered. She remembered her last sexual encounter and shuddered.

"What's wrong?" Loki asked for he had seen the distinct change in her behavior.

"Malekith," She mumbled and turned away, she couldn't tell him of the probable child in her womb, but she could at least explain her hesitance for intimacy.

Loki listened to her story with a grimace. He knew how hurt Aisling must have been by the treatment she had received by her people. When she had finished her story he couldn't believe the extent of Malekith's torture of her. He rose and took her hand. "Come along, let's go somewhere more familiar and comfortable."

They went to Loki's old chambers, it had once been sealed, but he easily let them inside with magic. Seated in the large soft bed Loki brought Aisling close to him. He cringed as he felt her flinch against him before relaxing.

"Loki, I fear I am broken. What if I never want intimacy like that again? I fear the pain and humiliation that came with it." Aisling admitted.

He sighed, "I would never do such a thing to you. I love you. You're the only thing left for me now Aisling, I will not give up on you."

"What of Thor?"

"I gave him permission to be on Midgard with his mortal."

"You think he will stay away forever." Ailsing asked.

"I can only pray."

She smacked him. "Loki I worry for the future of Asgard. You must promise to take care of the people. I know how you have longed for the throne, but what does it mean now that you have it but no one but me knows?"

"It is all part of the trick. I am fooling the entire realm. Just wait until I reveal myself." He said gleefully.

"Loki this is not a prank. People's lives and futures are in your hands. You must treat them with the respect they deserve."

"And what of their treatment of me? They never gave me the respect I deserved."

"For that you must forgive them their sin. You must play the ultimate trick, prove to them they were wrong about you this entire time, you are kindhearted Loki, I know you are."

"Aisling, if you are trying to play me the fool please stop." He rolled his eyes. "I will rule as fair and as just as they deserve."

"Then I will continue to fear for the future." Aisling contended.

Loki frowned deeply, he truly didn't want to disappoint her, but his feelings on this topic were absolute. He needed to get back in control.

"Aisling," He whispered softly, "Do you need to talk more about what happened with Malekith or will you be able to get through it alone?" He knew he was twisted the knife, but he couldn't help it.

"I have spoken of it enough I think." Aisling said coldly, though the coldness was not directed at Loki, it was directed towards Malekith. "I wish I could have killed him myself." She said fiercely.

Loki was mildly surprised at the confession, as Aisling had never had a tendency for violence, not even participating in friendly skirmishes as children. She had always been soft, always up for tricks and fun, but never fighting. This is a reason why she had grown so much closer with Loki and not Thor.

"Now he is dead all I have left to kill is the feelings he left inside of me." She said, however her thoughts took it a step further, thinking of the possible infant that she would have to live with forever.

A/N: Okay, sorry it's a little bit short… My mind has been elsewhere and it has been super hard to actually sit down and write anything at all. Don't worry I have found a new muse, Fall Out Boy's new album Save Rock and Roll. Holy is that album good!