I really hope that you have been enjoying this story. We sadly are reaching our end here very soon. We have this and the epilogue and then that is all folks.

Please remember to review!

Music
Jane prepares - "A promise" on The Avengers
A clensing ceremony - "A new day" by Celine Dion
A dance to remember - "Come what May" from Moulin Rouge

Chapter Twenty-five - Rebirth

Asgard

The kingdom of Asgard arose to the gorgeous dawn, but for some apparent reason it glowed with a grandeur unlike any previous morn.

Large hawks swooped down from the mountains, cawing powerfully as they swept across the city and returned to their perches within the castle.

People fanned out and decorated the castle with radiant banners of white and blue; symbolizing rebirth and new life. Flowers petals lined the streets as people were going to celebrate this momentous occasion.

In her room that overlooked the pond and garden, Princess Jane smoothed the golden gown across her body situating the chest top area to make sure she was tightly secured before her mother laced her into it.

She kept looking at herself in the mirror, checking to see...actually she was checking everything. The way it fit, the way it shaped to her, the fact that she was wearing anything this lovely.

"It is so unusual," she said.

"What dearest?" Freyja, her mother asked.

"I am so used to wearing frayed denim jeans, t-shirts, sneaker shoes, and coats," Jane answered. "Not ballgowns like this."

"Well, a princess must always look her best. Especially on a day such as this."

She exhaled and felt the strings be tied and tucked in behind her. It couldn't be tied too tight for fear of her expanding midsection.

Jane and Loki had found out that they had conceived their first child, the first child in this new start for them. It had to have been conceived during that night on Midgard when they were together.

That was twelve weeks ago.

Her mother helped her to step down off the platform.

"Hold one moment young lady."

Freyja brought her the circlet tiara with the marriage knot to place upon her head. It was the same tiara, fresh and cleaned of the blood from when she had been attacked, that she had lost.

Retrieving her emerald from the dish on her vanity table, it was returned to its rightful place on her hand.

"So mother, how do I look?" she asked.

Her mother wanted to weep. "A princess who has found great joy out of the darknesses of her past," the goddess of Valhalla said to her. Her hands came to rest on the outline of her face. "How I am so glad to have you home."

The mother and daughter embraced tightly; Freyja leaving a kiss upon her temple.

"How I am so proud to have you as my daughter and overjoyed to have you back in Asgard once more."

"As am I mother. As am I."

There was a cough outside her open chamber doors that broke away their reunion.

It was Fandral and Hogun of the Warriors Three. Both were adorned in their royal best.

"My Lady Jane and Lady Freyja," Fandral greeted bowing at the waist out of respect. "It would be my supreme privilege to escort you to the river."

Freyja took the free arm of Hogun while Jane took Fandral's crook.

Servants and elders all stared at her, some bowed their heads to her acknowledge her presence within the palace.

Jane chuckled.

"What is amusing princess?" her escort asked.

"I am never going to get used to this again," she replied with a smile. "I have been living on Midgard for far too long. You expected us to kneel and bow to you. Now I am the one getting bowed to. It is just bizarre and new to me."

"Do not worry your highness," Hogun spoke as he walked alongside them. "People are marveled at your return. It is of the highest honor that they acknowledge you."

Jane smiled again as they walked down the steps and entered into the royal gardens. It was a sacred space for the royals and those to gather in celebration of great events. There was a small river that flowed through the main garden that was protected and was said to be filled by a small lagoon in the forest outside of the city.

It was water that was clear as day and possessed magical, healing properties.

For today, it had a special purpose: rebirth.

Lord Odin and Queen Frigga stood in the water up to their knees in the cool rushing ripples around them. The queen's gown was wet, but this gown was designated for this occasion.

She was purifying her baby boy.

Loki fell backwards very gently into her arms that guided his shoulders while her husband's arm held him at the back. His arms were crossed over his new leather and emerald royal tunic while his eyes were delicately closed.

He was guided underneath the cool ripples to where he was completely submerged.

Odin took his spear, watching it glow as he waved it over their son's body.

She looked up at the family and close friends who were to bear witness to this moment. It was a tremendous undertaking for Loki to admit that he needed purification. To admit that his darkness as a Frost Giant was plaguing him.

Thor was smiling while he held on to both the hands of Lady Sif and Princess Jane. The other Warriors stood there watching in disbelief that the trickster god was going through with the ritual.

It had taken some time, consultations with numerous magicians, and gathering the energy it would take to complete the task before them, but Odin and Frigga were willing to do whatever they could do.

Loki also had to renounce his entitlement to the throne of Jotunheim. If he wanted to be purified completely, he needed to let go of everything.

The Allfather was cleansing him of his Jotun nature, Frost Giant powers, and casting out the darkness within him. It was would remove everything that tortured him and allow him to make a fresh new start.

Loki's body returned to full Jotun form that he was born as. The water began to grow cold as they waded within the blessed liquid. Their boy began to glow as the spell began to work upon him. He was in a great deal of pain as his eyes were shut and teeth gritted tightly.

The spell had passed through him and soon, dark blue magic left his body and flowed away down the river's flow.

Then her eyes locked on her niece, Jane who had returned from her reincarnation on Midgard and returned to claim her rightful station at home. The smile on her face beamed as brightly as the sun that shined on them in this moment.

Once Odin had finished, Loki's eyes were opened under the water.

They each reached their hands downward for him to grab.

And their son took them so he could be wrenched from the river quickly.

Loki breathed and coughed at the sudden breath that he was able to take. He raked his fingers through his hair and struggled to get back to standing.

However he, voluntarily, fell to his knees in front of his father.

"Loki," Odin spoke to him, using his hands to get their son to look up at him. "No longer will you be a monster. No longer will you be feared. For you are no longer to be associated with great darkness. You are made anew, my precious boy. You are cleansed of that former existence. You are no longer a son of Laufey. Loki, you are a son of Odin."

Loki wanted to weep, but could not seem to bring it forward. Tears flowed and mixed with the water droplets of the river.

They were shocked when he came and embraced his father.

Odin combed his wet locks as he gathered them in his grasp and allowed the strands to slide through his fingers.

"Father," Loki whispered as he wept.

Frigga came and held him at the same time.

"Mother," he also wept, turning his head so to rest it between the both of them. "Thank you, the both of you, for never giving up on me."

The parents released their boy, seeing him smile. It was a sight that they prayed they would never stop seeing.

Loki turned and locked eyes with his beautiful wife. She smiled at him with great joy and accomplishment.

He bounded out of the river, scaled to the ground, and took up Jane into his arms.

Jane giggled uncontrollably as he approached her.

It did not matter that he was soaking wet or that she was wearing a beautiful golden gown.

He wanted to embrace her and the child that they had conceived.

Spinning them about in celebration, Jane laughed with loud joy as her arms came to rest around his neck. He was careful not to crush her stomach that held their precious baby within.

Once becoming disoriented himself, Loki still held her off her feet, but wanted to look up at her.

"Shall we be married now?" he asked her. "To make our marriage complete and perfect; now that I am truly a Son of Odin and not of Laufey of Jotunheim."

"Let us be then," she answered. "Grant me the honor of marrying you again and again and again; from now till the end of time."

He tossed her legs upward so that he may carry her into his mother's private sanctuary where she would perform their marriage rite.

With everything set into place and the entire family repaired, there was nothing that would separate them again.

The evening brought about a feast with a heavenly glow around the Castle of the Allfather. Most believed the torches glowed brighter in their array of colors. Some attributed it to the golden moon shining off the water and the spires of the castle. Others thought the fireflies that fluttered about the grounds brought the kingdom to life.

However, the newest prince and princess of the realm thought they were the ones to blame.

Asgardians of all rank and stature stood in a thick circumference around the dais in the middle of the throne room. It was the platform that rose up where the person that wanted to step before the Allfather's throne would stand before walking towards him.

Loki and Jane Odinson were on display for all the realm to see.

The expectant princess felt like a jewelry box dancer as she moved to the music that surrounded them.

Her prince looked amazing, almost glowing in the happiness that covered his face. His royal tunic and long flowing emerald cape graced the floor as her new white gown dragged slightly off the stage.

Jane opened her eyes as her cheek rested against his elated heart. His chin rested upon her extravagantly curled mane and headpiece that she wore.

She wanted to stay in this moment, even if she was exhausted from the days' activities, for the end of time.

Their eyes locked with one another, but Loki brought his forehead against hers as well as a hand to his lips for a tender kiss.

"Thank you," he whispered to her, not skipping a step or messing up their motion.

"For...?" she asked.

"Bringing me back from the abyss that I was ready to plunge myself into," he told her. "I was ready to jump and fall to my doom. Now I have a reason for live. Many reasons to live."

"And thank you my darling," she told him. "Thank you for helping my family to come and share in this day with us."

Jane looked off the stage and saw the entire Hastings family, all done up in royal attire and designs. Rachael waved like a goofy child in excitement.

"It was the one gift I knew you wanted, even if you did not say it," Loki said. "You have to admit that Rachael is loving the way she looks."

She laughed and their mouths met gingerly before intensifying. Her fingers laced their way through his hair; his freshly trimmed and proper hair.

Her prince's hand did the same while the other pushed against her upper spine to bring her against his body.

The entire crowd erupted in applause around them.

However, their day was ending and people were needing to get off to bed, the Hastings needed to be getting back to Midgard, and this couple did want to spend some of their wedding night together.

This was to be a night to remember.

I know that this was a happy moment, but we have a epilogue to get to...please review and proceed