The end is here! It's hard to believe I have been writing this for months now!
I would like to say a massive thank you to all of you for making this my most popular fic yet! I'm still surprised by the amount of support I have had for this, So I thank you.

Now on the update prior to this I said you would hate me after this and you're finally going to find out.
This update will include... major character 'death'. *Sigh*
-Sorry.

The sound of laughter and cheering wakes me from my slumber; I rise from the bed with a muffled groan. I shuffle slowly to the wide window, the sudden source of light stings my sensitive eyes.

A large frown creases my forehead; a sudden flash of anger takes control of me. A hiss escapes me as I grow frustrated.

"Those awful beings..." I whisper mostly to myself.

"What did you expect, a parade to honor your life?" Thor raises sleepily, his hair displaced and dirty.

"I did many great things to help this realm prosper! I fought many wars, I helped the people, I helped you try and destroy Jotunheim –even after finding out I was born there."

"What are you missing out? How about all of the tricks and evil you also caused."

"I'm starting to not like this conversation very much." I admit aloud.

"I'm sorry, but you really needed that reality check. If it makes you feel better just know that I see no evil in your soul."

What's left of it?

I yawn loudly, this tired feeling nagging unkindly at my mind. Hopefully it will have gone by later. My eyes droop and continue to close without my permission.

"I'm going back to my room; I have to prepare for later. I will come back here straight after."

"Okay." Thor mumbles before falling back onto his pillow.

III

I remove all of my heavy armor, leaving me in a simple olive sleeved shirt and dark trousers. I ruffle my fingers roughly through my tangled hair, relieving it of some stress.

Balder should be here soon.

He arrives not long after, confusion strains his vision and he lacks obvious needed sleep.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I was thinking about our conversation last night,"

"Which part?"

"The part about where you are no longer needed for this realm, I would like to test this theory."

I place a fake smile onto my lips, the anxiety causing my eyes to wander, unable to meet his own stare.

"How so?" A genuine smile flickers at his lips, relief bringing color back to his face.

"This arrow here," I hold up the twisted mistletoe branch, "If I can stab you successfully with this branch you are not needed here in Asgard, and if you survive then you can treat yourself to another glass of alcohol."

He ponders the proposition before a large grin takes over his expression, "Then you know the outcome to this test don't you?" He laughs loudly.

"Let's see, shall we?"

"Sure thing, friend."

He places both hands on his hips, giving more surface area to strike.

"Go ahead." He smirks.

I hit his chest at the speed of thought, leaving him no time to retaliate.

The smirk is literally ripped from his face, pure horror and pain pulls at his eyes. Balder has never felt pain before, even the slightest of pin pricks would hurt him if he could be injured. However, now his fingers become gnarled as he tries to fight the pain, his eyes bulging from his face.

"H-How?" he gasps loudly.

"I'm sorry old fiend, but it had to be done. I made a promise with the wrong person," he falls shamelessly to his knees, his fingers clutching tightly at my clothing, begging me slowly for help, "But not to fear! You did not die in vain, as you are not useless to this realm after all! Your death will bring great happening here, Balder. So I thank you, however I must hide you at once."

He lay's on the floor, his hand still attached to my shirt. I press my fingertips to his eyes, closing the lids as a sign of my respect for the man. I trace my fingers in the shape of the rune 'Raidho', the rune of travel. Hopefully this will work.
My fingers twitch over Balder's body, the rune glowing to life and causing the man's body to slowly disappear. I don't know where this will take his body, but surely it can't be near here.

Someone is bound to find him sooner or later, hopefully once I am gone.

Once everything is locked and secure, I head back to find Thor.

III

I find Thor in mothers garden, Frigga sat close to him. She holds his hands in hers and they speak quietly, Thor nods his head every few seconds. As soon as I enter Frigga looks upwards, a subtle glow warms her amber eyes.

"Loki, come sit down." Her voice shakes with each word.

I sit on her other side, Thor's gaze pierces the side of my head.

"Yes mother?" I sigh slowly with a painful wheeze.

"I have missed those words leaving your mouth; they make me happy." She admits aloud, "I just wanted to see you today, I miss not having your company." She sighs softly.

"I have merely two hours of life left." My voice sounds weak.

"That is also why I needed your company. I wanted to tell you an old tale."

A yawn escapes my mouth before I reply, "Trust me, I would love for nothing more, It's just that I am exhausted. I think I shall go to my bedchamber and rest for a while." My eyes begin to droop once more.

"Of course Loki," I stand from my seat and attempt to leave the garden, "I will come to collect you later myself." Her voice becomes quiet and strained.

"Very well."

I walk slowly to my room, a painful limp developing from my left hip. I wince as the pain progresses towards my lower back and finally up into my neck. By the time I reach my chamber I can no longer walk, my hands and knees bruised from already crawling half of the journey here.

A short gasp leaves my lips as I flop down, my body stiff, against the mattress. My eyes close instantly, my torso turning limp and vulnerable. A pathetic cry for help escapes me, not to be heard by even Heimdall.

I have no time to be foolish; I have to think this all out. Ragnarok is to be here in less than a few hours. Hopefully I will be out of the way by then, no need to worry about that now. However I feel guilty, and tired, yet mainly guilty. I'm leaving Thor and mother to face the wrath of Ragnarok, the end of the realms as we know them.

They should be fine; I'm far too tired to care...

III

A heavy feeling rests on my chest, almost as if someone is sat upon it. My heart begins to pound heavily in my torso, the feeling spreading to my throat. My head begins to throb with the rhythm.

Okay, don't panic. Everything is okay.

My chest cavity gets tighter, leaving not much room for my heart to beat, getting tighter with each second. It feels as though my heart is being clutched tightly in someone's hand, someone with great strength; like Thor.

I gasp and wheeze loudly, croaks scorch like fire down my increasingly dry throat.

My heart gets tighter, tighter until there's no breath left.

This time my eyelids don't drop, instead they are left wide open, shock and panic all too much. A slight pair of fingers closes my eyes, for a sign of respect.

"Goodbye..."

I shoot upwards, my clothes damp and sticking to my humid skin. Frigga is leaning just inches above me, her face worried.

"Loki," I settle my vision on her face, disorientated, "It's time."

I nod once, rising up from the wet bed sheets. She places clean and fancy clothes in my outstretched hands, her eyes not able to meet mine.

"Where will the execution be held, the center? Will outsiders be visiting?"

"No. It will happen in the royal court, away from the gods. Only family will be attending. Your father has asked that no one else enter."

A small smile lands unwanted on my lips, this news makes me happy. I'm glad that no one unwanted will see me in my most vulnerable state.

"Call me when you are ready." She heads towards the door,

Once outside in the hall with Frigga we walk in silence. She stops abruptly before the doors leading outside and faces me, face tense.

"Thor would like to see you first, but be quick about it." She points towards his door on the opposite side of the hall.

"Yes."

I knock twice before entering, finding Thor sat on the edge of his bed.

"You called."

"Loki..." A sad smile lights his face.

I walk over to him in record time, wrapping my arms around his large waist, trying my best not to let go.

A choked cry rumbles through his chest, trying its best not to leave his mouth. He fails miserably.

"I don't want this to happen!" he wails loudly into my neatly styled hair, messing up the dark waves.

"I'm sorry, Thor, for bringing you so much sadness!" I sniffle into his chest.

"Why is it always you apologizing? I'm the one who has been ignorant for all these years, please, for once let me take the blame-"

"No!" I pull away so that I can see his face, "You listen to me now, I ask for your forgiveness, for everything! For the past and future years."

"Future?"

"Never mind that now, just satisfy a dying man's need."

These words cause him to wince, his eyes closing in sorrow, "I forgive you."

"Thank you," I lean my chin up and connect our lips together, "I forgive you too, for your ignorance, although I never really blamed you." I smile against his touch.

My fingers lock inside his hair, pulling his head closer to mine. I inhale his smell one last time, not wanting to leave him again. I just want to stay like this-

"Thor, Loki? Are you ready?"

I move away from him slowly, the pace agonizing, "Yes."

We both leave his chamber and head with mother to the courtyard, Odin already waiting in his place.

I yawn loudly, my fingertips becoming tingly.

Why am I so tired?

I rub at my eyes, trying to clear my now blurred vision, leaving them bloodshot and irritated.

"Ah Loki,"

My attention is ripped back to what is in front of me; Odin.

"Have you said your goodbyes?"

"Yes..." I yawn again, this time longer.

"You seem tired? Would you like to rest?"

"Yes, actually, I would."

"Take a seat here," My eyes make interference with a large resting table, suddenly placed in the middle of the courtyard.

It doesn't look dangerous. I'm too exhausted to care right now...

"If you say so."

I sit on the edge of the bench, my back and shoulder slumped over, the pain slowly circling its way back up.

Odin notices my pain and takes the chance, "Why don't you lie down, get some rest, son?"

"I would appreciate that."

My back connects with the hard wood, soothing some of the pain in my hip and shoulders, a warm sigh escapes me before I can even care to conceal it.

"Do you know why you are in pain?"

"Yes," I close my eyes, "I only have half of my soul, that's why I'm so tired, right?"

"That is true."

"What?" Thor's voice echoes through my skull.

"Hela doesn't work without a price." Odin stated blandly.

"This is absurd! What is this all about?" Frigga interrupts.

"All will be clear soon enough," Odin dismisses their questions with a uncaring wave.

"Now, Loki, you rest all you want."

"Okay."

A comforting darkness surrounds me, warm and gentle. Three voices argue around me, Thor's voice becoming strained and painful to hear. Only parts of the conversation were audible,

"Sleep... why?"

"For the best... the kingdom... at rest."

"This is crazy... our son!"

I ignore the voices and drift into a dreamless sleep, the first in months. Just the sound of my thoughts to aid me on.

The tightness around my chest is still there, nagging for my attention. It will get my attention soon enough, I just want to sleep...

The invisible palm grabs my heart again, not willing to wait for my delayed reaction. My eyes shoot open, and blind spots of blue and yellow obscure my sight. My hand moves instinctively to the left side of my torso, gripping deadly at my clothes, threatening to rip them from my skin.

Small wails vibrate through my body, causing more and more pain.

Okay, you win, you have my full attention.

"By the house of Odin," Odin's voice roars from somewhere above me, "I cast you into eternal sleep, not to awaken again until the time is right."

The second the last word leaves his mouth, so does the breath from my lungs. My hand slips from my tight chest and falls beside me, a slow and forced whisper exits my mouth, the sound of oxygen leaving my core.

The feeling is strangely gentle, not excruciating like you would believe so. A flush of responsibility brushes away from my body, happiness setting in. Odin has finally listened. He has finally given me what I needed all along; peace.
My thoughts hurriedly become jumbled and distorted, old memories flashing through my eyes, happier times... slowly fading.

All thoughts are now gone... slowly leaving.

Leaving me, just a lifeless body...

III

I face away from his body, the whole scene just too morbid for my own tastes. Mother cries beside the resting table, uncomfortable to hear, tearing me up both physically and mentally.

I brush away blond locks of hair from my damp cheeks, my jaw tight as I force the next words from my mouth.

"Why did you put him into an Odin's sleep, father?"

"Do you really think I could execute my own son?" Father looks towards me, face set in one stern expression.

"But isn't Odin's sleep equivalent to death? The brain is like a bowl full of slime, the heart completely damaged beyond repair. To be honest, I'm surprised you live to tell the tale. He surely will not, and you knew that." I spit venomously.

"Loki is better this way. He will awaken in due time, once everything is fixed."

I walk over to mother, her small fingers placed on Loki's open eyelids. She places them down into a closed position.

"It's a sign of respect." She say's, mainly to reassure herself.

And with that Odin leaves, leaving me to listen to Frigga's horrendous wails and watch my little brother rest peacefully. His cheeks look warm and flushed, and his skin looks replenished, but really he's not. Loki has just entered a dreamless sleep.

Maybe this is for the best, after all.

I can't believe I have just done that.

I mean, technically, Loki isn't dead. He's just having a nice long and well deserved rest, for like, a long time.
I am so sorry.

Please review and tell me what you think, and you have full permission to express any anger!