Authors Note: I deeply apologize for making you wait! I appreciate your patience and understanding with everything so far. Without further ado, please enjoy!

Chapter 10

My stomach is in my feet as we slowly canter back to the house. I wish I could have heard him say he loved me. I wish I could have looked into his eyes and kissed him. I wish we could have made love… just once. I hardly eat lunch, my stomach still lying somewhere in Valhalla's Castle. My family tries to offer distractions but I steal myself away to the empty room.

"Cierra? My lovely daughter?" My mother pops her head in and I glance at her from my perch on the window seat. She glides over to me and sits taking my hands in hers. "I know your heart is in pieces, but please do not dwell on what might have been. You will see him again in due time." She tries to sympathize but I shake my head.

"I will never see him again, mother."

"You do not know that for certain."

"But I do." I look her in the eyes. "You should know. You know of how rebellious he was and of the crimes he has committed to the realms. Even if he has repented for his sins, what he's done, the lives he took in cold blood, can never be over looked when he is judged. He also has come to terms with what he has done and knows full well that he will only be welcome in Hel." I look back out the window, fresh tears in my eyes. "I also, will soon come to terms with the truth; that I will never see him again except in memory."

"The power of love," She gently turns my face to gaze at me. "My child, will often overcome the greatest adversities that life gives you. Do not give up hope on something that you believe to be gone forever. Everything has a funny way of getting back to you, no matter the distance." She smiles softly and kisses my forehead, then leaves as quickly as she came.

***Loki's POV***

*A few hours earlier*

"Great Watcher of Valhalla, I come to trade a soul for another." I say boldly.

"And why should I listen to the words of the Mischief God? Trading a soul for another is no laughing matter, Prince Loki." The old one sneers.

"You should listen to my words, Old Man, as I have a soul that is worth ten times more than the soul I ask for."

"I know who you wish for, Prince. She is on her way here with her family to try and convince me to let her return to Asgard to be with you. However, I have no reason to allow such a favor. Even for you."

"You would be a fool to refuse the offer of which I present to you. Surly the God of Thunder's soul is worth more than all the warriors here in Valhalla combined."

"And why would you offer your Brother's soul for this woman?" He thunders.

"I care for her." I say after a moment. "I love her and would do anything to get her back."

"And you realize that doing this will make your Brother die after a year of separation from his soul? You would risk that and an eternal sentence of going to Hel with no chance of ever being with her again?"

"I do." I swallow past the lump in my throat, resigning my fate.

"A fool you are, God of Mischief. But you have your trade. She will be returned tonight and the God of Thunder's Soul will be kept here in the Palace. If you choose to bring her soul back within the year, she will perish almost immediately as she has died once before. And your Brother's soul will be returned as if the deal never happened. Leave now and return to the land of the living in Asgard. The family has arrived."

Bowing slightly I disappear with a smile on my face and return to the cabin just as the doors open. Fenrir jumps when I move from my position on the floor. With a wave of my hand, the symbol of the floor is gone and Cierra is back in the bed. Grabbing a chair I sit next to the bed, and settle in for the long wait. She will never know.

***Cierra's POV***

I kiss my mother and father good night and give my brother a hug, telling them I love them dearly. I wait till I am behind closed doors and let the tears fall. Gingerly climbing into bed, I curl into a ball, willing the deep throes of depression to subside and beg that sleep will catch me in its grasp. Succumbing to unconsciousness, I float away to a land of fresh pine and clear skies.

Waking with a start, I glance around my surroundings, startled and confused by my surroundings. Soft light filters through the windows, dust mites dancing in the warm beams of light. A mass of fur is curled on my side, breath coming and going in an easy rhythm of sleep. On my other side is Loki propped up in a chair, eyes closed and head hung against his chest as he too, sleeps. It must be early morning as the fire in the hearth is cold. I stretch out my stiff muscles waking Fenrir in the process. Realizing that I'm awake he yips and whines as he licks my face as the events of yesterday rush into my mind. Did my Uncle truly kill me? Or is this just a bad dream? Was I really in Valhalla? How am I here? Where is here? So many questions fill my mind, but movement to my right directs my attention to the man I love who stirs awake.

"Cierra?" His eyes light up as he collapses to the ground at the edge of the bed, clasping my hand in his. "I was so worried!" Warmth spread across my hand and I realized he was crying.

"Loki…" I whisper and wrap my free hand into his hair cradling his head against my side. "I'm here, it's alright."

"I thought I had lost you forever." He whimpered and crawled into the bed, resting his head on my chest. "You passed out… I didn't think… I thought…" He couldn't finish the words but I knew exactly what he meant. So was it all a dream?

"I'm here, Loki." I say again, stroking his raven hair. "You saved me and I'm not going anywhere. If this didn't prove to me that you loved me, I don't know what will."

"Marry me?" His green eyes sparkle with unshed tears as he looks at me.

"I… Loki…" His question catches me off guard, but I already know the answer. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes."

Authors Note: Again I want to thank you for your patience with everything. I promise I have not forgotten you or this fic. I absolutely hate leaving work unfinished. I can't believe this fic is already 2 years old! I'm thinking there will be 2 more chapters for this and it will be the end :( I guess I will have to start writing more! lol. But anywho, thank you again for your understanding and will hopefully get something up again soon! Stay Classy!

~B.R.13