A/N: Welcome to the last chapter. Enjoy the ride, folks!


Nothing. A wasteland. The return to the living world hadn't actually offered something alive, yet. They had arrived in something that reminded Gwen of earth's deserts. The sand wasn't red as most would picture deserts, instead it was gray. The whole scenery was gray. She easily became depressed by this sight. Just as Gwen had expected, didn't Loki pay any attention to his promise to take her back to Midgård. His own request had been turned down by Hel. His mission was unaccomplished. Frigga was not coming back to the living world and he wasn't joining the dead. He wouldn't allow her request to be turned into reality when his own wasn't. Gwen was trapped in his damned limbo once again.

She felt sick of his game as he started walking away from her with a silent command for her to follow. Gwen longed for her home so much that it hurt her physically. He had broken the promise, her pride and heart. Gwen kicked a stone on the ground out of frustration and shouted at his back. "I know that you love Sigyn." It was a simple statement.

Loki turned around to face her, he wore a mask of hate. "You know nothing, mortal!" He was definitely affected by her offensive approach.

"I know more than you think, Loki. I see everything. Everything you do and say. Trust me, every action and words counts when it comes to decipher your lies and disgusting behavior! You said her name in your sleep and smiled... after you whispered her name in the heat of the night." Gwen's voice was filled with accusation. Of what? Cheating? How so, when he never had been hers? She suddenly grew tired.

Loki paled.

"She is your soft spot, the consistency to your chaos. The fidelity to your mischief." Gwen's voice was filled with consideration and hurt. "If I were you I would have chosen her as well." That wasn't a lie. Even if it hurt her to say the worlds out loud. What the hell did Gwen herself offer? An unstable temper. A scarred soul. No trust. No safety.

"I am not choosing anyone!" Loki defended himself.

Gwen continued without mercy on his behalf nor her own. Tears streamed down her face. She was currently tearing herself apart. "I've seen what you've done to her. When you lurked around in the shadows of the asgardian palace you must have heard the rumors, you must have seen her burnt scars. She was recovering there. Recovering from your evil tricks! Half of her body is completely ruined by burned marks. I bet you even saw it! You burned her!"

"I never burned her!" Loki shouted back at her. He lost his temper completely, his eyes were vivid and almost crazy... "I never burned her," he added with an empty voice. His appearance was laced with so much motion. Regret. Sadness. Anger. Fright. He closed his fists.

"What did you do to her then?"

"I-" he lost track of his voice. "I thought that I hated her. I despised her because of her naïve world-view and her goodness... She didn't believe in evil."

"Both hate and love are closely related feelings. You confused them." Her voice was professional and laced with a certain matter of fact tone. "You didn't realize until after you left her that she was the subject of your desire. Your beloved one."

"I did something menacingly towards her. Something I regret," he confessed. "I took her shadow from her and left her in the hands of primitive villagers, after I had spent a year with her. Living of her charity and good heart. I thought I could teach her how the world really worked."

"Instead you ended up with almost killing her. Why can't you let anything be?" The last words left her lips in a shriek.

"My intention was not to hurt her!"

"No. You wanted to teach her instead? Show her how rotten the world is! How rotten you are!" Gwen spat on the ground. "It sickens me!"

He flinched.

Gwen was about to tell him about how Sigyn still trusted and loved him. She stopped herself. It was impossible to continue to fuel their love story further. It would only end with him disappearing from her and jumping into Sigyn's arms. Instead she went for another approach. An egoistical approach. "If you love her, leave her be! Just as King Midas turned everything to gold by touch, he ruined everyone he loved. You also destroy everything you touch." She gasped for air and continued. "You are nothing more than a sick sociopath! You don't deserve Sigyn's trust since you-"

Loki sensed the desperation in her voice. He sneered and stepped closed. Time to play. "What would I do instead? Go after you instead?" He tilted his head.

"What are you suggesting?" Her voice went into falsetto.

"I'm also analyzing your behavior, dear Gwen. Don't you think I've noticed how friendly you've got during the past weeks. The longing stares when you don't think I look. And last night, of course. I know that you think of me as I think of Sigyn. I know what you dream of in the nights, I know what kind of emotions that dulls your mind." He leaned in towards her face. "You yearn for it day and night!"

"How dare you?" Tears spilled over. All of her energy disappeared. Her knees grew weak from his straightforward accusations. She fell. The ground was hard to land on but she felt no physical pain. Her face twisted. "Let me go home!" Gwen couldn't take it anymore. Screw Balder's elaborate plan! Screw whole Asgård! Screw the whole universe! She currently hated everything. She layed on her side and saw Loki's feet right beside her face.

They disappeared out of sight.

Gwen let her salty tears water the dry ground. Her whole body shook from the sadness. Betrayal. Hurt. Pain. It was all there, locked into her heart. The doorway had been opened and everything poured out of her. How utterly embarrassing.

Loki's hands were suddenly on her shoulder. "Crying doesn't become you, dear."

She curled up in a ball. "Let me return home! I don't want anything to do with this anymore!"

The ghost of his breath caressed her ear. "Come on now."

She remained stubborn, lying on the ground facing down. So childish.

Loki sighed and pulled her onto her back and slid his hands under her knees and back. Her crying stopped from surprise as he lifted her gently. Gwen's eyes became wide and she squirmed in his hold, he held her in place. Her head found his shoulder to rest on, and slid further down. Loki started carrying her towards his destination without a word. Her ear was pressed against his beating heart. It was beating steady. She envied him for remaining so calm during this time. Unless he was faking it. Like everything else, always.

The tears came back when Loki decided to stay for rest. The night was coming. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and she couldn't keep herself sitting straight up. Loki had contained himself rather quickly after her accusations about his feelings, he kept a stern facade. He lit the bonfire and glanced at her. She was completely useless now.

She sat up and a snarl crept upon her lips. "You know, I thought that it was a waste to have you killed off when I saved your life only weeks before." The intention was to remove any trace of emotion in her actions.

"You're being pragmatic," Loki said and nodded. "No feelings involved, of course," he refereed to her tears and her emotions practically going everywhere.

Her tears had dried for this time. "You're not going to take me back to Midgård, right?"

"No." His voice was sincere.

"Why? A punishment? For what?"

Loki leaned back and stared into the flames. The scenery was actually beautiful when one got used to it. The savage beauty of the mountains was lovely. After being locked into a cave and a palace was the open scenery a blessing. They could turn their heads in any direction and let their gaze wander over many kilometers. The stars lit up and encapsulated them in the embrace of the night. Loki didn't answer her question at first, he pondered. "It's not a punishment."

"Then what?"

"It's not me, it's you." He shook his head as if to shake off his thoughts.

"What are you talking about?" Gwen leaned closer.

He stared at his own hands. "I think that you chose me the moment you walked into my cell. You constantly gravitates towards me and you always turns up in my path. Don't blame me for giving in to the universe, to simply follow you."

"You're not following me, Loki, it's the other way around."

"If you would follow me, then I could get rid of you."

"And you can't?"

He shook his head. "No."

"I know that you care deeply. More than it's healthy for you." He stared intensely into her eyes. "I think your love is what I can't resist. It's intoxicating and I don't want to be without it. You actually express care. It's so... exotic."

This time Gwen nodded and betrayed herself completely. She knew that even if she hated him, she would follow him as loyal as a dog. Pathetic! "To the point where I would walk across a raging battlefield for you." Another question. "How long do you think this will last?" Gwen asked and kept the prospect of Balder turning up any minute in her mind.

"Not long enough."

"Not long enough?"

He gave her a tired smile. "The end is near," he said and confirmed that he was a man of the apocalypse.

"The end of what? Our relationship or will we die?" Her voice was surprisingly steady.

"It wouldn't surprise me if it was both."

"I suppose you don't fear death. I've seen you long for it."

"No, I don't fear death. Although, I know that you do."

"Why do you insist on taking me all the way to the slaughtering block if you are so aware of the fact that I'm fearing death?"

"You're not being forced to walk in any direction. This is your path. It's actually you who leads me to the slaughtering block. If I would drop you off now, you would only find a new way back here."

Gwen snorted. "You mentioned that you can't resist my love for you," she said and emphasized love as something bad. Underneath her cold facade hid an embarrassed woman who wanted nothing less than to drown herself. "Yet you claim that it's my fault that we are sitting here?" Oh, this conversation was really hard to fuel!

"Double standards, I know," Loki said and agreed. "We find ourselves in a delicate situation, dear. My brother is ready for the throne but it means he must kill his brother to keep it. Frigga rests in cold soil. Balder manipulates everyone that dares to come close to him. We are stuck here in nowhere, waiting for-, well..." He didn't finish the sentence.

"My point still stands; It's not just my fault that we are here."

He sneered. "You won't disagree with my observation that you love me."

She tilted her head. "You don't love me back, Loki."

"What if I could learn to love you?"

She closed her eyes.

"Imagine it."

Oh, she wanted it. She wanted it more than anything. The offer was so tempting. But, would it work? No. She would never be able to fight Sigyn on this topic. Gwen pushed away her own feelings and remained logical. He was just manipulating her. Loki was ready to pull any string to get his way. "What do you want to gain?"

He squinted his eyes.

"Sigyn is in your mind. I will never take her place in your heart. What are you up to?"

"I love you too, you know, in a friendly way. It wouldn't be hard to learn."

Her heart went totally crazy from his confession. The words were right. His voice was soft... even if she knew about the hard edges. It was a lie. Gwen hung with her head, to say no to that offer was killing her. "It's not the way a romantic relationship should start. You can't fake it. I know that you would be dreaming about your woman every second. You would end up hating me since I would be the woman that weights you down... even more than now. Why would you even consider to try to love me instead of her? Do you feel sorry for me, the woman who loves but can't be loved back? Don't play the Samaritan on a mission! I don't need you to that extent!"

Loki warmed his hands over the fire. "I can never have her. Sigyn is as real as the optical illusions in the mist. It's over for us."

Gwen waited. I've already doomed your relationship to end up in ashes! I betrayed you in your weakest moment back in Helheim when I told Balder that Sigyn was your weakest point. The fact that Sigyn never can be yours is my fault and I swear to not tell you what she feels for you. She stared into the dancing flames. Warmth washed over her. It was quite pleasant.

"Sigyn is unobtainable. Reason one; I hurt her in the most cruel ways, and stole her shadow. I made her hate me. Reason two; I can never return to Asgård as a free man. A normal life is not for me anymore."

"Seconds ago you claimed that you could live a normal life when you offered your undying love? It looks like you aren't the eternal trickster nor liesmith for nothing."

He stole a glance. "A life in exile from Asgård is everything I can offer, that's not good enough for Sigyn. She deserves to live peacefully in her own realm."

"What's a normal life according to you?"

"A life in respect alongside... family and friends. The opportunity to give her everything she deserves."

"What would you give her that's suitable for a prince's wife? A mansion, a life in decadence and lipsticks made of crushed rubies?"

The list Gwen had in mind made Loki laugh. "No... no. I would give her shadow back. I would treat to her wounds. I know that wouldn't be enough though. I suppose I would have to kiss the ground she's walking on for the rest of my life."

"That's very romantic. Exactly what every woman wants to hear."

He sniggered smugly.

Too bad it's too good to be true. "Tell me what you intend to do, for real."

His smile faded. "What does it matter now when I can never make reality out of it?"

"Why do you tease me? Your focus obviously lies on Sigyn. You've already proved that! I'm thinking about how you tore my dress apart and ruined a pearl necklace-"

"When one's blood is boiling it's hard to refrain-"

"Shut up!"

The look he gave her was enough to make her pee her pants. Almost.

Gwen mustered courage. "You are fake. Loki, the only thing you do is to play with people's emotions. First you proclaim your love for another woman then you tell me that you could learn to love me! You only want to survive and therefore jumps at any chance! Now you're starting to look pathetic!"

"Who said life was easy?"

"Good question." Gwen got up and walked away. Now it was enough. She wanted to test for how long she would be able to walk without him hauling her in again. Would he let her go? How long would she last here? The darkness of the night embraced her as she walked away from the warmth from the fire. She could feel his eyes burn into her back. Quite unpleasant.

She had left the water bottles, food and her amazing blanket back at the camp. Gwen gazed up in the sky and the stars. She felt so extremely small here right under the sky. Who cares about trivial things such as food when you're standing before the glory of the universe? She wasn't getting back to Midgård after all, not if Loki decided the rules. Her only hope was if Balder and Thor showed up to save her from Loki's claws. Would they care enough to make sure she came home safely?

Light plowed through the darkness in a spot far away from her. Gwen picked up the pace. The small dot of light grew bigger. A bonfire. She came closed and realized that she had found someone by a fire. Someone too familiar.

She had walked in a big circle and was now back to Loki.

Loki had his back on her. He stared into the flames. "You say you would walk across a battlefield for me, then you say I'm fake. Quite ironic that you claim I'm suffering from double standards when you are just as guilty as myself." He snorted. "I knew that you would find a way back. I told you that I can't get rid of you!"

"It was your trick!"

"I helped you a little," he confessed. "I didn't want your walk to be too long. The nights here turn very cold."

"You didn't bother about the cold in Jotunheim!"

"Sit down to rest."

"Is that an order?"

"It's a simple suggestion."

"Since when do you give a shit about my well being?"

"Since you got used to Balder's lies," Loki answered and referred to her presumed friendship with the handsome asgardian.

Gwen's breath got stuck in her throat. She suddenly wondered if he knew about her and Balder's agreement.

Loki was impossible to read now. "Balder. Balder. The golden boy... the pure one is actually the most deceiving of them all. Trust me, don't believe his words. He's just looking after himself. Not anyone else. He doesn't care about others. I find myself wondering if he did promise to take care of you?"

Silence.

"He lied to you then."

"You're not exactly famous for telling the truth either!"

"At least I'm honest about it; Good day my lady, I'm Loki of Jotunheim and the eternal god of mischief."

"Eternal? You're just as mortal as me. You're not immortal."

"My name will be immortal and therefore eternal."

The scenery had changed. They were surrounded by leafy trees. Loki and Gwen crossed gorgeous meadows and beautiful forests. Not a single word had been uttered between them. They simply walked, sat down to rest, to camp and started walking again. Whenever they were thirsty they drank from a nearby pond or a stream. When they were hungry they ate berries, fruits or an occasional fish. This place was the archetype of Garden of Eden in Gwen's opinion. She had never been religious, she had remained an atheist but if someone came up to her now and claimed that this was the biblical Garden of Eden she would believe them.

Loki remained unaware of her thoughts. He battled his own. He glanced at Gwen who walked beside him and wrinkled his nose. Does he despise her? He tilted his head. Maybe he would perish without her. Sigyn is no longer, never was, his goal. He ruined her. He ruined himself at the same time. He tore himself apart as he removed her shadow. His guilt drove him back to her to see how he had hurt her. It was a morbid desire that drove him back to her chamber in the palace of Asgård. The fact that she had welcomed him with open arms when he returned had ripped his heart apart in shame and guilt.

"Loki!" Sigyn exclaimed. She had spotted him already.

The former prince stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light of the chamber.

Sigyn was sitting up in her bed. The bandages ran across her body. "Loki?" Her voice was soft and warm. So much care filled it. The ragged woman held out her hand for him. "I knew that you would return, my Loki," she said.

Loki had expected hate, not this domestic purr. "Sigyn," he said.

She closed her eyes. "I love when you say my name."

He stared at her fragile form. Burnt marks all over her body. He knew he had caused it. "I want to give you something back."

"What would that be? When you are with me I need nothing."

"I want to give your shadow back."

"That would be terribly nice of you."

Loki felt extremely ashamed. She should be screaming and trying to kill him. Instead she acts like he is going to give her a grand gift instead of giving back what he have stolen.

"I don't understand how you can forgive me for doing such a horrid thing."

"To be able to forgive shows maturity." Sigyn took his hand in hers. "You look like you could need someone who forgives you. I prefer to fight darkness with light."

"It's not worth-"

"Loki. Loki. Stop underestimate yourself. Don't you see; I've chosen you and there's nothing you can do about it. You will always be mine."

Loki snorted but could not hold his smile back.

"I have a special locket-,"

"I'm sorry for what I did to your locket with the photo of your parents!" Loki hurried to say. "Wait! Let me show you." He brought the familiar locket out of his pocket and placed in her hand. "Open it."

Sigyn smiled sweetly and slowly opened the locket. She stared into it and gasped. Tears appeared in her eyes.

"I managed to reconstruct it from my memory."

"Oh, Loki! This is the most beautiful thing you've ever done to me." She hung it around her neck. "I have another locket also." She brought out another one that had been hiding under her blouse and opened it. Out fell a single hair lock.

Loki furrowed his brows. "What does this mean?"

"I like to keep a simple reminder of my true love by my heart all day long." She appeared to be embarrassed now. Loki had never seen something so beautiful as her then. "I stole the hair lock from you when you were asleep. Forgive me but I couldn't help myself."

He stared at the jewelry in her hand and up to her face again. She stared down sheepishly and hid her eyes under long eye lashes. Loki realized he loved it when she did that. It was so attractive in his eyes.

"I think I love you."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"I think I love you dearly, as well."

The hours that followed were delicate and special. It was the most dearest memory to Loki. Would always be.

He was connected with Sigyn. They shared a bond. He knew it. She was the reason he kept on breathing.

"What would you give her that's suitable for a prince's wife? A mansion, a life in decadence and lipsticks made of crushed rubies?"

Her harsh words stung him. She had been taunting him and boy she did that perfectly.

"She is your soft spot, the consistency to your chaos. The fidelity to your mischief." Gwen's voice was filled with consideration and hurt. "If I were you I would have chosen her as well."

Loki felt something close to sorrow for her when she had uttered those words, knowing that she was probably dying from it.

"If you love her, leave her be! Just as King Midas turned everything to gold by touch, he ruined everyone he loved. You also destroy everything you touch."

Gwen's egoistical side spoke there. She only wanted to keep him for herself. He could see her intention as clear as a day. Although, Loki agreed with her. He had made a terrible mistake with Sigyn. He knew he would have to pay the price for that for the rest of his life. He would happily do that, if he could stay with Sigyn for that time.

The red-head beside him grunted. Loki glanced at her again. He didn't exactly know what to feel about her. He had hated her, despised her for a long time, loved her for a short while no longer than a night. Sigyn could never be his. He was doomed to a life of nothing. Unless he turned his back on the world he knew and brought her with him. Loki had been almost serious when he proposed the twisted idea of learning to love her. Why not? They knew each other well already. Gwen was egoistical. Sigyn would happily give up her own heart for a stranger. Gwen wasn't bad looking after all, but her features were nothing compared to Sigyn's.

If he choose her he would compare her with Sigyn until the day he died.

He didn't know if he would do the opposite if he would live with Sigyn.

It was time to find a spot for the night. Loki lead them to a beach. The lake was like a mirror. Not a single stir in the water. He sensed the magic under the calm surface. Something evil lurked there. He remained calm since he knew that the evil wouldn't get to them on the beach, away from the water. The nymphs were locked into their water prison. They wouldn't be able to drag any of them into the water.

Loki collected firewood and made a fire. He saw how Gwen closed the distance between her and the lake in the corner of his eye. Worry rose in his chest. This woman had kept him safe over and over again. He didn't want to risk her to do something stupid. The thought almost made him dizzy and his mind became blank. He owed her. Over and over again. Maybe that was his cause after all; redemption.

"Don't touch the water. This lake is dead and everything living that comes too close will die to. Evil creatures lies beneath the surface."

Gwen nodded softly and kept on walking. She didn't care about his words. Loki stood up worriedly. He wondered if it was thirst that kept her walking. She sat down on the rocks and stared into the lake. He took a few steps towards her. He hoped she only was mirroring herself.

She reached for the water. "There's a woman here! She's reaching for me. I must help her!"

"Don't go there! Get back from there!" Loki was now running.

"She looks at me with such begging eyes, green eyes. I can't let her stay there." Her voice was in trance mode now. She was dazed by the underwater sight.

"Don't touch the water!" He's right behind her, ready to drag her away from the water if she would disappear into the water.

Something pulled her by her arm. Gwen gracefully swan dived into the lake. She disappeared without a sound nor a stir in the water. Loki grasped the air. Nothing. It was just like she had never existed. Loki froze. Maybe he should keep it that way. Just simply walk away from this mess. Face the consequences of his crimes alone instead of waving her before him like a shield. She was after all pretty useless to him. Why did he need a lovestruck mortal hanging after him when he could go after the most majestic woman he had ever seen. An irrational thought suddenly struck him. What would Sigyn have done? He knew the answer. She would have thrown herself into the water after Gwen.

Loki decided against it in a childlike manner to provoke the mere memory of Sigyn. He would walk away!

Yet, something dragged him towards the lake again and refused to accept that he was walking away. And it wasn't the thought of Sigyn this time.

He dived in after. Loki spotted some movement on the bottom of the lake. He resurfaced to get some more air and dived again. Claws and limbs covered in scales imprisoned the soft human. Her read hear flowed freely in the water and mixed with the water nymph's white hair. The water nymph held the still Gwen with its claws in a steady grip. The human woman was covered by a thin silverlike cover that kept her from waking up. Loki had read about the water nymphs' ways of putting their pray somewhere between death and life, in the library of Asgård. He knew what it meant. Her heart isn't beating anymore. Her breathing has stopped. Nymphs prefer fresh meat, very fresh.

The jotuns are feared by many. Just the sight of red eyes and blue skin can make any creature from any realm turn themselves around and start running. Nymphs are just as many creatures; cowards. Loki's cold skin cooled the water around them drastically. Frost giants are feared... by close to every other living creature. They sure are the monsters that parents tell their children about.

The sight made nymph drop its pray and swim away.

Loki was very careful of not touching Gwen's still body before his skin has returned to its normal, pale state. He dragged her up to the rocks again, making sure that none of her limbs touched the water. "Oh, please don't!" His own voice surprised him. It was weak and breathless. A dry sob slipped between his gritted teeth as he ripped of her leather jacket. He pushed his palm down just over her heart and started the heart massage. Her lungs were still empty from the spell. He filled them again by breathed air into them and listened to her heart. Heart massage again for a while. Loki bent down to breath air into her lungs again. His own lips touched her soft ones. Loki searched for any sign of life again. Her breathing was shallow. But she was alive. Loki let out a breath and his heart started to calm down.

Her skin was still cold. He checked her eyes and came to the conclusion that she was unconscious.

Only warmth and rest would help her to get back to the living world now. Loki carried her back to the camp and placed her close to the fire. The dead kiss of a nymph could paralyze a human between a few hours and up to days. The only thing Loki could do was to wait. Loki stared at the lying form and leaned forward to plant a light kiss on her unmoving lips. There were no boundaries left in their world. His heart was confused. A great part of it longed for Sigyn, another told him to go for merrier times closer to him. When he had offered a life together with Gwen, even to learn to love her, he had been scouting for another, more nearer path to take through life. It was easy to consider on his part. She had thought that he taunted her. Loki chuckled lightly. At least she wasn't so blinded with love that she jumped at any chance. If Sigyn was the one let her emotions decide, Gwen was the pragmatic one. Loki pushed the comparison of them aside. How would that help him now? He laid down by the fire to rest and closed his eyes.

Death.

Death everywhere. The battlefield was filled with dead bodies. The Asgardian castle was ruined, destroyed. The former glory of this realm was gone. One could hear the whimpering sounds of the soldiers just before life left them. And their souls left for Valhalla.

Pools of blood. Smoke in the air. Despair everywhere.

Limbs were spread out. The dreams of the people were spread everywhere. So many who weren't coming home again. So many shattered families.

This was a godforsaken land. One could almost sense the rooting smell that was beginning to spread. Hours ago, this had been a full blown battle. Now there was nothing here. Just the faint minds of the struggling.

She walked over the broken people. The brave people who had fought until their ultimate death. It stung her heart. She was searching for him. The man she had sworn to protect.

He lied there, in a pool of blood. She was not sure if it was his blood or not.

She fell to her knees next him. He looked dead, her god.

Fumbling fingers made him smile faintly. They checked his pulse. A breath of relief left her lips. He opened his eyes slightly. He adored her for what she had done. That woman had walked over the dead, in search for him. The bow and the few remaining arrows hung on her back. She had been shooting... to kill? For him? Most likely. Oh, how he admired this woman!

She pulled him up to his knees. Worry flickered in her eyes. "You're not hurt, right?"

"No, just minor scratches." He chuckled. His voice was strained.

She rested her forehead against his. "I told you I would walk over a battlefield for you."

"And for that, I hold you dear." He grinned and swung his arms around her. Their relationship was doomed to fail, that fact made him grasp her harder. He knew well he wasn't allowed this feeling of content and pure... happiness. No, he was about to get punished in the worst way ever. She was going to be taken away from him. But they wouldn't be able to take this moment from him.

He buried his face into the redhead's hair, determined to remember the feeling. Forever.

A beautiful voice was heard across the battlefield. Loki released his hold on Gwen and turned around.

There she was. Sigyn.

Loki's eyes watered. He turned his back on Gwen and walked towards the blonde woman. She was illuminated in soft light and she sang an old song which he remembered from his childhood. She was so close that he could reach out and touch her.

Their hands connected.

He drew a hand through her hair. It was as smooth as silk. Her skin was just as perfect as marble. Her eyes were happy and loving. Loki had never felt as content as now. She was one missing piece that now made him feel whole.

A sudden shriek punctured his current bliss while staring into Sigyn's eyes. Loki forced himself to look away from the goddess in front of him. The sight that met him was horrific. Gwen's features had been stretched out as far as possible while the scream continued. He covered his ears with his hands to get away from it, only to irritated find out that that her shriek pierced through his hands.

Loki literally jumped out of his sleeping position. The scream was for real.

Gwen moved around in her sleep. The scream came from her lips.

Loki crawled over to her side to nail her to the ground to protect her from rolling into the fire. He could already smell burnt hair. "Gwen! Gwen, wake up!" He shook her.

Her eyes opened, only to show the whites. A hair-raising scream from her made his blood freeze. "Hush, Gwen! Please stop screaming!" Loki hugged her and shook her at the same time. Water nymphs were known to leave mental marks on their prays. This one had injected fear into her blood system. Loki knew that the only thing he could to was to wait for it to wear rocked her until the scream died down.

Her head fell back over his arm. He softly removed some hair locks that had nestled themselves under her collar His fingers caught a silver chain. Curiosity overtook him. Loki brought the whole jewelery into view.

His breath got stuck in his throat.

He recognized the blue stone in the plain chain.

It was a tracking device.

She had been wearing something that tracked their current position. For how long? Since they arrived in Jotunheim for the first time? After she had returned from Midgård to fetch the medication? After Helheim? It didn't matter. This was Balder's idea. She was on his side. Loki grunted in anger and dropped her to the ground.

He could play her game all day long, he mused. If she wanted to be faced by the asgardians now, he would make sure she would. Loki pressed the blue stone down. It started to glow. What was the point in running now? Let them come, those morons. He was ready to hand himself in. He was going to drag her with him on this downfall. She was going to pay for this treachery!

Dawn emerged. Another day came into view. The fire had burned out. Their night only remained as a memory. Raw emotions ran cold.

Loki shook Gwen to wake her up. He walked straight to the point. "Do you remember what you promised?" He had trouble with making sure that his voice was steady.

She rubbed sleep out of her eyes. Her heart was pounding. Of course she knew what her biggest promise to him was. "To walk across a battlefield for you?" Gwen answered drowsy.

"Yes. This is the battlefield, Gwen. It's us against them whether you like it or not."

She blinked several times while scanning the peaceful scenery in front of her. "I see no swords."

"I see a dagger." The familiar dagger was once again pressed against her throat. "This battlefield might not be filled with pools of blood nor dying soldiers. It might not be seen as a battlefield. You might not consider it harmful, but there will be deaths today."

"Who dies?"

"I will," he said... sadly. "What do I have to live for now? I should have died the moment the arrow pierced Frig-, mother's heart."

"Will I get out of this alive?"

He smiled tiredly. "You're always thinking of yourself before anyone. I like that. Sigyn would have already sacrificed herself."

"Sigyn is from a different planet!" She hated being compared to Sigyn, Gwen realized with a sour taste in her mouth.

"I agree, you are more easier to understand. But if we should go back to your question; Probably not. You will not get out of this alive."

"Oh."

"You seem to not care. Where's the tears, the struggling, the begging?"

"I've already given up my place in our universe."

"Is it my fault?"

"Yes, it is."

"That makes me feel much worse than I could have imagined it would. Not even in my wildest dreams," he admitted.

"Funny, huh? Life is weird."

He scanned her. Anger suddenly showed its ugly face. "Trust me, you'll be screaming and begging. I can tell that hope hasn't left you yet." Loki left her side to pace around her in a circle. His temper had changed.

Gwen realized that she had woken up from her dreamless sleep hearing Loki walking around the camp. His illusion of false safety had momentarily fooled her. She had almost started to believe that things were going to be okay. Everything would sort itself out. His eyes were black from anger. She sat up immediately and half prepared herself to flee.

"Do you know what I consider to be most ironic? The fact that I fooled myself to trust you!" He shouted at her while passing back and fourth. He started laughing. "I could only see your sad eyes when you thought that I betrayed you! How could I ever consider that you plotted against me?"

"What?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

She shook her head.

Her response almost made him go entirely crazy. He dragged her up on her feet and shook her while shouting into her face; "The jewelry that's dangling around your neck is not just an accessory; It's a tracking device! It logs our position."

Gwen played dumb and said with a small voice; "I didn't know-"

"Of course you did! You are not stupid. Tell me the truth. It was Balder's idea, am I right?"

Gwen could feel his spit on her cheek. Oh shit!

"Answer me!"

What's the point in lying now? "Yes."

He dropped her to the ground.

"Why did you do it?" He spoke slowly with threat laced in his voice.

"How else could I stop this?" Gwen asked. "What did you expect from me? Me to be overjoyed by being dragged across realms as a loyal dog? Stop being so irrational!"

He snorted.

"You are not god's gift to humankind, Loki! Remember that time I wasted all the water on cleaning your wound?" Gwen hissed between gritted teeth. "Urine is sterile. I know I should have pissed on you!"

"Such harsh words from such a sweet mouth. Darling, we're both guilty here. To be honest, we actually work together really well. We make sure things are done properly, at least I do."

"What are you-"

He chuckled. "You really amused me when you brought a Odin-dummy into my glass cell and hit it with an arrow. I figured I would play along to your flute, your hobby with bows. Sadly it turned out that you were rather atrocious when it comes to actually hitting your targets."

"What are you-"

"I had to move the guard into the way of your arrow! You couldn't even hit the fool! I had to move the him into a line right in front of you. If I hadn't been there you would've missed him."

The bush rustled again and the third arrow made its way towards her. This time she was hit, in the shoulder. Despite the pain, she released the arrow. Gwen aimed a bit to the right, only to scare him. The last thing she wanted was to actually hit someone. The arrow wobbled extremely. It was a terrible shot. Yet, she could hear the impact, Gwen had hit something, someone. She dropped her bow. Gwen's knees failed her, she fell to the ground. Oh no, it couldn't be!

Out from the bushes fell the senseless guard to his face. With horror, Gwen recognized the blonde hair. It belonged to the friendly guard. His face wore a plastic expression of surprise. The arrow was placed between his eyes.

She fell down to her knees. Tears fell. "What more are you responsible of luring me into doing?" Gwen asked with a low voice. She stared unseeingly into the mist that grew around the them.

A long line of horse riders appeared in the horizon. Mist followed their steps. Loki snorted. "They want to encapsulate us." Stupid and cheap tricks, in his opinion. The warriors coming was a sight Gwen had been waiting for for a long time. As they rode closer Gwen started to recognize them. Balder, Thor, Heimdall and Sigyn.

Let the showdown begin.

"They are answering fast to your so called cries of help!" Loki taunted her. "Trust me, you are going to need them." He grabbed her and pressed his familiar dagger towards her neck.

"Stand back, asgardians! Or else you will fear for this woman's life."

"My brother, we are arriving with peace in our hearts. I shall drop my weapon and I hope you will do the same."

"I know too well that Thor never puts his weapon aside. We have not gathered here for small talking."

"Loki, former prince of Asgård, you are responsible for all the faults I've been accused of. When you gave me the cloak of guilt and inability of speaking free from my own mind you committed a horrible crime."

Loki ignored Heimdall and turned to Thor instead. "Oh dear brother, have you downgraded me to the former prince?"

"Don't make it worse, brother. Give up," begged Thor to his little brother.

Loki liked this game too much for simply giving up. He turned to the gatekeeper. "Heimdall, Heimdall, Heimdall. The dearest gatekeeper of them all. For everyone? Don't you think I can see how worthless you are? You should know how to remain silent in my presence! I will always be a prince, there's nothing 'former' in my title. I will always be above you. You are just fated a hateful life, you will always have a muddy back for you will always serve as a watchmen of the royalty. Nothing more, I tell you. Don't try to climb the stairs of the social hierarchy. You have nothing to collect here." He circled around them with Gwen in his hold. She followed awkwardly after and tried hard to not let the sharp knife in his hold dig into her neck.

"No more fighting, no more hard words, it's my order." Thor remained sure of himself. "Let us dine together, as brothers and friends like in the old days. Allow us to speak of what went wrong! I'm opening my arms, welcoming you and I'm offering my peace."

"Don't be such a fool." You are riding my horse, dear brother. Loki grinned and directed his gaze towards Sleipner. "Throw him off, my Sleipner." A single whisper was enough for the horse to obey the order.

The king to be flew off the eight-legged horse and landed with a grunt on the ground. Loki chuckled.

Thor crawled back on his horse again. To fall of his own horse was the worst thing that ever could happen to a warrior. Embarrassment shone in his eyes. Now it was time to bring out the ugly tricks, he turned to Gwen. "Did Loki ever tell you everything? Has he told you what he made you do?"

Gwen simply stared, unsure whether she should answer or not.

Loki laughed in a relaxed way when he understood what Thor was suggesting. "Gwen, someone had to physically place the spell on Heimdall. Who walked past him every second day for months? You. You did it unknowingly."

"So you mean I did it? Impossible!"

"I simply passed it on to you every time you visited me since, little by little. I knew you would pass by Heimdall and the spell left you as you walked by him."

"You were locked in the cage by your own magic."

"There's always imperfections in our magic. I found a crack in the magical wall, that was enough."

"I don't know what to say!" She buried her face in her hands.

"Don't say anything at all, then. The game's lost."

Loki turned to the line of riders. Thor was once again seated on Sleipner and sat in the saddle with a straight posture. Well, as straight as he could muster with embarrassment shining out of his eyes. Thor hunched slightly. Yet, Loki had to admit that he had the aura of a true king. Even in this momentarily state of weakness. Next to Thor was Balder on his faithful white courser. His golden hair matched the color of the horse perfectly. Heimdall had arrived on a black horse and he carried his pride with honor. Loki's eyes locked on Sigyn's pale appearance beside them. Beautiful and proud as always. It was to her he spoke with soft words. "Please go away, Sigyn. Not just for your sake, also for my pride and honor. I don't want you to see me as I'm falling for Mjölner and Thor."

"I am not going to leave you! I have made a plea on your behalf. Loki, love, you will be spared. They cannot kill you. Surrender yourself, please. For me."

Gwen noted how the grip on her neck was released. She stumbled forwards and breathed heavily.

"Sigyn, their words are poisonous and false. Don't fall for their lies," Loki instructed her.

She laughed, as clear as a waterfall, and shook her head. "You are safe, my love."

"Why?"

The crown prince gracefully took part in their conversation. "The words of Sigyn are heavy. A king cannot deny the plea of a burned woman who wants to keep her betrothed alive," said Thor. "You will not be sentenced to death nor will you get away from this. A punishment lies on you, Loki. You will serve it."

"Betrothed?" Loki asked Sigyn with a thin voice. He scanned her for answers.

Balder clenched his jaw and retrieved a parchment out of his inner pocket. "In order to consider a couple, where one of the individuals are royal, to be in faith for each other they must follow the ancient traditions. The individual that asks the question must be held responsible for the tradition to be followed. Sigyn, will you choose to answer?"

"Yes, I will."

"According to Sigyn, did Loki follow the traditions when he still was considered a royal and therefore shall he answer to three ancient rules. Power, economical status and a gift."

They waited.

"Sigyn, has the former prince Loki ever offered you power in the name of the royal house of Asgård?"

"I can give you everything. I can give you power over the all realms. No one has ever dreamt of this kind of power before. The throne is yours."

"Yes."

"Sigyn, did the former prince Loki ever offer you wealth accordingly to a princess to be?"

"Your wealth will be so grand that every other rich people in all the realms will appear poor. You could afford to only dress yourself in jewels and gold."

"Yes, he did."

"Sigyn, what did Loki offer in his last gift?"

"I can give you the chance to start over again with only your family and dearest friends close to you. You get the chance to meet the ones you have lost. You will get unlimited time here. Immortality. If you accept this offer will Hel never claim you nor your most dear with her cold hands."

"He offered immortality for me and my dear ones."

Heimdall made a sound as he tried to hide his laugh. Thor also looked away to hide his smile.

Balder was also close to start laughing but still managed to remain serious. "It will pass. The gift is often very symbolical, I am sure Loki isn't as delusional as he appeared to be when he made that offer to you."

Loki scowled towards him, clearly ashamed.

"I will now ask you, Loki, if these offers are considered by you to be the start of your and Sigyn's alliance?"

Loki kept a poker face but emotions were stirring under his calm facade. His offerings had not been aimed in that directions at all but if it turned out that he would keep his head if he said they were...

"Yes."

Sigyn jumped off her horse and walked towards Loki. Thor made a movement to stop her but she simply smiled and held up her hands in a peace gesture. It calmed him down even though everyone present were tense at the moment.

Sigyn closed the distance between her and Loki. "I had a dream last night, dear Loki. I was wearing a golden dress and was about to inherit the world, you were by my side and I've never been happier as I was in that moment. I wish to make that dream true, will you help me?"

Gwen scanned her with squinted eyes. She wondered if Sigyn was bluffing. If she did bluff, it was perfectly executed. Sigyn summoned a look on her face that could be mistaken for deeply love. If it wasn't real love after all?

Sigyn smiled warmly at Gwen before turning her focus on Loki. "Loki, dear, don't cut her throat! She will be bleeding and die unworthily." She softly caressed Gwen's cheek. Her hand moved to a point right over Gwen's heart. "Be ethical and end her life without much of pain. Drive the knife through her heart."

Loki immediately brought the knife close to Gwen's heart.

Sigyn's words slowly made sense to Gwen. "No! Noo! NO!" Gwen screamed out all of her pain, fear and frustration. She was doomed at last. Nothing could ever save her now. This was truly the end. Just as Loki had predicted. Even if he always had claimed that he would be the one to die, not her. The liesmith had performed another lie. Gwen had fallen for it, again. She squirmed in Loki's hold as Sigyn decided her way of death. The group of people reacted from Gwen's scream behind Sigyn and moved closer. Gwen stared at them in vain. Why did they move so slowly? Why didn't they pick up the speed? Was it a spell?

Things must have happened so fast... or perhaps very slowly. Time was speeding up. Sigyn's eyes remained lovely and warm throughout the painful cries of help from Gwen's side. "Do it now, love!" Sigyn ordered Loki. "Do it quickly. End this charade."

"Am I worth nothing in your eyes, Sigyn?" Gwen's voice was hoarse and she screamed the words in pure agony. "Why?" Her voice broke. She tried again. "Why?!" Gwen tried to kick Sigyn and clumsily lost balance. Loki's grip hardened around her torso. Tears streamed out of her eyes and mixed with drops of sweat from her forehead.

"Of course you are worth gold to me. You brought me and Loki together and I will always remember and love you for that." She caressed Gwen's cheek. Gwen responded in spitting on her face. It's not possible to love the one who's deciding to end your life. Even when said person is smiling so fondly at you.

Sigyn gave Loki a soft nod. He nodded back in return and moved the sharp edge to the point Sigyn had been pointing on. "For once I will do what's right for someone else."

The body of Gwen fell to the ground before Thor came up to Sigyn's side.


Epilogue

Gwen would never forgive him. He had tricked her in the most cruel ways possible. She had experienced pure fear over her own death, slipped away from the living, only to resurface again. Alone. Alone and afraid. Alone and cold. She had found herself in pitch black night. The only thing she wanted then was to roll over to the other side and close her eyes.

If it wasn't for those small dots of light in the dark night.

Frail voices. Voices that grew stronger. Someone was calling her name.

Gwen's eyes fluttered open.

"Ms O'Hara!"

"Gwen!"

Oh, she recognized that voice! That belonged to her father. Her father? What was he doing here? He was too old to be walking around in the night.

"There, I can see her!"

"Let me come through, it's my grandchild!"

Oh, he was always keeping himself in character. Her father would never allow anyone to know of her secret, their secret.

Gwen found herself being lifted by someone she couldn't see the face of. It didn't bother her particularly.

"Gwen, you had this on you when we found you. It fell out off your jacket. I took it with me. Forgive me for being so nosy, but the book fell open. I read it. Do forgive me, but I found it fascinating."

Gwen hummed slightly.

"Do you know what it is? I've never known you to be interested in Scandinavian mythology? Ah, I can see that you are looking at me with confused eyes. I suppose that you must be exhausted. Although, would you allow me to read it to you? Perhaps you will drift off into sleep again. Yes, you are nodding. I will speak to you how foolish you have behaved earlier but now you will just simply rest. Allow me to soothe you."

"Thor arrives before the evident of his last crime, and tells Loki to be silent, referring to him as an evil creature, stating that with his hammer Mjölner he will silence Loki by hammering his head from his shoulders.

Acknowledging that Thor has arrived, Loki asks Thor why he is raging, and says that Thor won't be so bold to fight against the wolf when he swallows Odin at Ragnarök. Thor again tells Loki to be silent, and threatens him with Mjölner, adding that he will throw Loki up on the roads to the east, and thereafter no one will be able to see Loki again.

Loki states that Thor should never brag of his journeys to the east, claiming that there Thor crouched cowering in the thumb of a glove, mockingly referring to him as a hero, and adding that such behavior was unlike Thor.

Thor responds by telling Loki to be silent, threatening him with Mjölner, and adding that every one of Loki's bones will be broken with it. Loki says he intends to live for a long while yet despite Thor again commands Loki to be silent, threatens Loki with Mjölner, and says he will send Loki to Hel. Loki laughs ant tells Thor that he's already been there and Hel does not want him there.

Loki continues and says that he spoke before the asgardians and before the sons and daughters of the asgardians what his spirit urged him to say, yet before Thor alone he will leave, as he knows that Thor does strike. Loki ends with the poetic verses:

Ale you brewed, Ægir, and you will never again hold a feast; all your possessions which are here inside, may flame play over them, and may your back be burnt! Thor responds, now with fury in his veins, that the death of the midgardian was unnecessary and a crime beyond words. He calls Loki corrupt and threatens him with Mjölner once again Loki sighs and tells Thor that he can think of Loki as corrupt. He's ready to accept his fate and his punishment. He calls out to the rest that the only thing he wants now is the comfort of chains. With a sneer on his lips, he reminds Thor of how he fell of the grand Sleipner and ridicules the king to be. After amusing himself, Loki holds out his hands, begging for chains. Sigyn stands by his side. So proud and radiant. She bows slightly and whispers in his ears that he did the noble thing. She lets him know that he will forever be remembered for this day, that the Midgård always will acknowledge him for this day.

Skaði, summoned by the court of Asgård, fastened a venomous snake over Loki's face, and from the same poison dripped. Sigyn, now Loki's wife, sat with him holding a basin beneath the dripping venom, yet when the basin became full, she carried the poison away; and during this time the poison dripped on to Loki, causing him to writhe with such violence that all of the earth shook from the force, resulting in what are now known as earthquakes.*"

The book was shut again.

Gwen opened her eyes to see the man who soothed her with the story. He placed the book beside her and returned her gaze.

Green eyes bored into hers. "Every action and words counts, dear, but I must say that this single action weighs more than the rest. I told you I would do what's right for you."


A/N: Thank you and forgive me!

Shattered Glass has been around for some time, and I can't possibly tell you how much you've meant for this story!

I am so exhausted right now, and I'm so happy that this story is over. It's been a tough journey.

*The tale that's being read to Gwen is slightly altered by the author. Most of it actually remains official.