Hermione looked herself over in the mirror and she smoothed her hands over her dress. Her jaw clenched as she did. She was still haunted by the pain she had experienced in her dream. She was also tormented by the memories of her guard and Frigga staring wide eyed at her from her screaming.
Loki walked out of the closet a fresh pair of his robes on. He moved his hands over the green fabric and the leather panels. As he did he caught sight of Hermione looking herself over in the mirror. He tilted his head seeing Hermione looking herself over in the mirror. Her scars standing out angry and red against her skin. He could see it. Her insecurity. It was the same he had seen in her eyes the first time she had ever revealed her body to him without her glamour. Loki slowly walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her body his chin resting atop of her head.
"Hermione…" He said soothingly and she slowly looked at his reflection in the mirror. "You look beautiful today…" Her glamour instantly came up shielding the scars from sight.
"Now I do…" He let his magic mingle with hers instantly breaking down the glamour and revealing her scars once more.
"This is you…" he said and she took a shaking breath. "You are beautiful…" She looked at his reflection in the mirror. "I don't ever want to hear you say differently…" she slowly nodded.
"Okay…"
"Okay?" he asked with a smile.
"Okay." She said with her own and he kissed her cheek.
"Do you want to leave the scars up?" He asked and she slowly shook her head. "Okay." He said letting her go and instantly her glamour came up.
"It's not a beauty thing…"
"I know." He said.
"I mean sometimes it is but-."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me. Not ever." he said with a soft expression which she returned. "Are you ready?"
"Maybe we could take breakfast in here." Hermione said. "I just… Everyone heard me last night and-."
"It's going to be fine." He said. "I'll be right there with you at your side…" He took her hand in his. "Come on love. You have nothing to be ashamed of… Besides I only think a handful of people heard you." She slowly nodded.
"Okay…" he took her hand in his and slowly they walked to the door. As soon as it opened up Hermione took a deep breath seeing her guard. They instantly looked at her wide eyed and her jaw clenched.
"What are you looking at?" Loki asked. "This is your lady how dare you gawk?" Instantly they adverted her eyes.
"It's fine guys…" Hermione said to them and they slowly nodded before looking to her.
"It was not fine." Loki said quietly. "They shouldn't even look at you." Loki said and Hermione looked to him with an unsure expression. After a short distance of walking they made it to the dining room. Instantly the doors sung open, and instantly the dining room full of people went quiet, their eyes shooting right to Hermione. Frigga stood with a soft expression.
"Good morning." Hermione said and Odins head tilted up as he tried to hide his expression of pride. He couldn't imagine the amount of strength it had taken her to walk in with such a greeting after what had happened the night before.
"Morning." They all chimed and Hermione slowly nodded before walking over to two seats which Frigga had saved.
"Blueberry stacks…" Frigga said. "Your favorite." Hermione smiled softly. "I had them made especially for you." She said quietly.
"Thank you…" Hermione said softly. "And…" Frigga looked to her as Hermione slowly turned her eyes to the queen. "I'm very sorry for last night-."
"A princess never apologizes." Frigga said.
"I'm not a princess yet."
"No one should have to apologize for something as what you went through…" She said quietly as she took her hand under the table. Hermione smiled softly.
"So Hermione?" Vidar asked and she looked to him. "Heard you had a rough night." Loki's anger flew his magic pulsing out and making the table before them lift a good foot off the ground before slamming back down.
"Shut…" Loki said his jaw clenching, while locking eyes with Vidar. "Your bastard mouth."
"Loki!" Odin yelled.
"What did you say to me cousin?" Vidar asked standing his hand on his sword. Loki stood as did Thor.
"You will remove your hand from that weapon." Thor said. "Or I will call mine to my hand." Thor said thinking of his hammer.
"He insulted me." Vidar stated.
"You insulted his wife to be first…"
"I merely asked how her night was… I heard it was rough… Then again I think we all heard."
"Vidar…" Vili said. "Sit. Down. Now."
"Father-."
"Sit!" He bellowed and instantly Vidar did so instantly. "Hermione please let me apologize for my sons antics…" Vili said.
"It's fine…" Hermione said as Loki and Thor slowly sat down. "I'm sorry if I disturbed anyone last night…"
"Not at all dear." Vili said.
"I'm confused what happened last night?" Vindi asked looking around. Hermione smiled at the young man who sat next to Inari.
"Nothing dear." Frigga said.
"Hermione?" Inari asked.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Vindi asked if we could go to the beach, I said I'd ask you."
"If it's okay with his father it's okay with me."
"Sure of course. Take the little lady to the beach." Vili said with a smile. Inari and Vindi looked to each other with big smiles. Hermione smiled as she looked to the too before looking to Loki. Instantly her smile faded. He was glaring into Vidar who was in turn glaring at her. She looked to Vidar and shifted uncomfortably.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Sire?" Hermione asked looking to Odin.
"I'd like to speak with you privately after breakfast. If that's alright?"
"Of course Sire." She said and he nodded with a kind expression.
"Good…" He said. Hermione looked back to Loki to see he had taken his eyes off Vidar. Hermione then looked to her soon to be cousin to see he was staring at her with a small smirk worn in his expression.
"Hermione eat, we want you glowing for your coronation not gaunt." Frigga said and Hermione nodded with a smile.
"Right sorry." Hermione said starting to eat the well prepared breakfast.
-o-
Hermione walked alongside Odin silently as they made their way through a vast maze which sat behind castle Summertide. He hadn't said anything to her. Not since he had requested her presence at breakfast. She wouldn't press him to speak though, there was no point to. She figured he would speak when he was ready.
In truth though, Odin didn't know what to say. He was still reeling from the anger that Frigga had unleashed on him the night before. Never had she been so cross with him as to smack him across the face as she did. He was also reeling from the guilt he felt. The words of his wife had struck him and still echoed in his mind.
"Hermione… I'd like to apologize." Hermione looked to Odin.
"Sire-."
"Please, call me… Call me father… You're going to be my daughter soon anyways…"
"Uhm… Okay…" She said. "Why are you apologizing all father?"
"Just father." Odin said coming to a stop and Hermione nodded.
"Why are you apologizing to me father?" she asked and he smiled softly. He had longed to hear her call him father. He had longed for it from the moment they had found out Frigga had conceived.
"I thought sending the Lost Children to Midgard was a brilliant idea… I now see how very flawed it was."
"I don't understand…" Hermione said looking to him.
"Come sit with me so that I may rest my weary bones…" She nodded as they walked over to a stone bench and together they took a seat. "The plan for the lost children was that they were to go to Midgard. Learn the ways of the people there. The people we had lost so much contact with. To learn their ways come back and teach myself and others in court how we may better serve them… I never imagined when I sent you and the others away that…" His jaw clenched. "I never imagined some of you would be put into such situations as you were. I never imagined the evils that could be inflicted upon the lost children. The evils that were inflicted upon you."
"This is about last night…" Hermione said.
"No-."
"Sire-."
"Father."
"Father." Hermione said. "I'm sorry about last night. That rarely happens. I just… I got sucked into this horrible nightmare and-."
"You do not have to apologize it is I that needs to apologize to you." He said. "Hermione if I hadn't sent you away you would have never been put through all that you were."
"It's not your fault."
"It is…" He said.
"No it's not." He said. "If I hadn't sent you away you would have lived in such comfort…" Hermione looked him over. "I can't go back though… I wish I could but I can't… I will make this up to you."
"I don't blame you." Hermione said. "But if you feel you must make it up to me I have an idea of how you can…" He looked to her. "Please… Tell me who my parents are." He stood instantly.
"I cannot." He said.
"Father please…"
"No Hermione." Her jaw clenched.
"What are you so afraid of!?" she snapped as she stood making him turn to look at her. She had sounded so much like Frigga in that moment. "Are you afraid the truth will hurt me?" she asked. "All father I've been cut, I've been stabbed, I've been burned, I've been tortured, I've been poisoned. I've nearly died a hundred times over but I survived it. I survived all of it. I swear no matter how painful the truth of my heritage will be I will survive it. Just tell me!"
"Hermione.
"Tell me!" She yelled with such pain in her expression it made his heart quiver. Still he had to say the most painful thing he could to her at that moment in time.
"No." he said.
"Fine…" She said. "I'll find out on my own… You can't hide the truth from me. Not for forever."
"I am king, and I can-."
"You won't be king forever though will you?" She asked. "Someday either Thor or Loki will take the throne and they will read the book that only kings are to read that hold all the secrets of the realm and they will learn of the secrets of the lost children, of their, of my true parentage and they will tell me…" His jaw clenched. "You're thinking of wiping the book, but you know you can't…"
"I am king I can do anything-."
"I put a protective curse on it."
"How dare you-."
"It is my duty as the protector of the Asgardian libraries to protect the books which call the library home… Including the Kings Codex." He smiled. "So you may not want to tell me the truth but that doesn't mean that I won't learn it… Someday."
"Hermione… I ask you to please never ask who ever my successor is to tell you the truth of your heritage."
"I can't do that." She said. "I have to know."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't understand… You knew who your parents were…" He took on a soft expression as he watched her walk away.
"Hermione?" she stopped and slowly turned to look at him. "I am sorry."
"I just wish you could at least tell me a good reason why you can tell me the truth…"
"The truth Hermione is that I made a very big mistake and I wish with all my power that I could take it back… But I can't."
"That gives me no comfort…"
"I'm sorry…" She took a deep breath.
"You're sorry for a lot of things aren't you… Father?"
"How can I set this right?" Hermione took a deep breath before smiling.
"There's one thing…"
"Name it." He said.
"Maybe give your son a chance to redeem himself in your eyes once in a while…" With that she slowly walked away with a soft expression.
"She's a spit fire." Vili said walking out from one of the mazes corridors. "Like her mother…"
"I wish I could tell her the truth."
"As does she."
"You know why I can't."
"Indeed I do." Vili said wrapping an arm around his brothers shoulders. "Come on let us walk and talk as brothers do…"
-o-
Loki watched as Hermione walked quickly out from the garden maze. He tilted his head instantly seeing how upset she looked. He apperated instantly and landed right at her side.
"Love what is it?"
"Nothing… Your father has just once again told me that I will never know anything of my true heritage…"
"You asked him about it…"
"Well he wanted to apologize to me. Say sorry for all that happened to me while I was on Midgard… He said he would make it up to me."
"How?" Loki asked and her jaw clenched.
"He's working on it." She said with a soft expression.
"Son?" they turned to see Odin walking with Vili.
"Yes father?" Loki asked, hiding his fear at having done something wrong.
"You've done very well with protecting the Asgardian Libraries in Hermione's absence…" He set a hand on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you." Hermione smiled softly.
"Thank you father."
"Of course… Now come we have much to discuss about your duties during the wedding. It's in a few months time so we should start our preparations now. Come walk with me as fathers and sons do." As Odin walked away Hermione looked to Loki and smiled.
"Go." She said with an excited look.
"I'll see you later." He said kissing her on the cheek before hurrying to keep up with his father.
"So father what sort of duties will I have to engage in for the wedding?"
"Not as many as Hermione that's for sure. Your main duty is to stay at her side. Make her feel comfortable. Relaxed. Also to protect her. If there are still enemy's of this union the wedding day will be their final chance at stopping them."
"I have been researching many protective charms, I could put some into place."
"A fine idea." He said before looking around at the gardens. "I'm very pleased by this union Loki."
"As am I."
"It's been a long road for you two…"
"It has."
"Will you have children straight away?"
"Uhm… I think… I think Hermione wants to wait for a while."
"Of course…" Odin said. "Not too long I should hope."
"We can hope." Loki said with a smile.
"How have you two been since the whole Rayna fiasco?" Lokis jaw clenched.
"We're fine..."
"Hermione took it with Grace and Dignity." Odin said coming to a stop.
"She did." He looked over his son for a long moment. "So did you though." Odin said. "As angry as I was." Loki looked to his father. "I'm proud that you manned up… I'm just sorry you never got to experience fatherhood with Sitara… Or that I got to experience grandfather-hood." Loki nodded with a soft expression. "But as we just said… We can hope more chances will come along shortly after the wedding."
"Indeed."
"You two have already…" Odin cleared his throat. "Engaged in…"
"Yes father…"
"What led to such a leap?"
"It is personal father."
"Of course."
"But I will say it wasn't a snap decision it was just… The right moment." Odin smiled.
"Good… You two are being careful..."
"Very careful. At the moment… She's… never mind."
"No go ahead…"
"She's…" Loki took a deep breath. "She's decided that we will not engage in any physical contact until the wedding." Odin laughed making his son look to him.
"Frigga was the same way." He said with a smile. "It's normal." Odin looked to his son. "You seem to be suffering without." Loki merely smiled. "Normal as well… She may break mind you… But doubtful. I wouldn't press things."
"Of course not." Loki said as they came a stop on a ledge that looked out over the city of Asgard. Loki smiled seeing red and gold decorations starting to get put up.
"We didn't ask the people to do that." Odin said. "The people decided to do it on their own. In celebration of Hermione…" Odin smiled softly. "They love her." Loki nodded. "She would make a fine queen…" Loki looked to his father quickly. "You never know." Loki nodded "I just hope Thor will take a wife soon."
"Indeed…"
"Maybe Sif."
"Maybe." Loki said and Odin looked to him.
"You never…"
"Never what father?" Loki asked.
"Sif-."
"No!" he said and Odin nodded.
"Good." He said. "I was starting to worry if there was anyone left for your brother."
"There are plenty of ladies who wait for his eye to catch them… The women I took to my bed merely settled. Other than Hermione of course." Loki smiled. "When I look at her and she's looking back at me… I know that she sees no one else…" Odin smiled. "Though I still get jealous sometimes."
"Of course." Odin said.
"It's not that I don't trust her."
"You don't trust them." Odin said with a laugh and Loki smiled as he looked to his father. "I understand son I really do." He said with a smile as he wrapped an arm around him. "Have you bought anything for your soon to be bride, a gift for the coronation."
"I'm having trouble deciding…"
"Let me aid you on that… Meet me at the palace I have someone special waiting for us. Someone who can help you with a gift." Loki smiled as he watched his father quickly walk away. Loki laughed to himself. It was the first time in a long time he had truly felt connected to his father.
"Psst…" he turned to see Hermione hiding behind a pillar. Loki quickly walked to her. "So?" she asked. "How was it? Where did he go?" She asked.
"It's fine. It's all fine… He said he was proud of me, and we had a nice chat. I'm going back to spend some time with him at the palace." Hermione laughed.
"Loki that's wonderful."
"He actually said the words I'm proud. He's… He's never said that to me." Hermione smiled softly as she moved forward and hugged him tightly.
"I'm so glad you two are seeing eye to eye." Hermione said pulling away. Loki smiled brightly.
"I guess I'll be off then."
"Yeah, yeah of course…" She said with a smile. "Go have some father son time. I'll keep Thor busy."
"Much thanks." He kissed her deeply before apperating away. Hermione smiled brightly to herself before turning to see Frigga looking at her from the door. Hermione gave her two thumbs up and Frigga quirked an eyebrow telling her she didn't know what that meant.
"It means all is good." Hermione said.
"Oh fantastic now come along." She said clapping. "We have table settings to arrange!"
"Splendid." Hermione said dryly but with a good hearted smile.
-o-
For the next few weeks things went smoothly for Hermione and Loki. Loki spent a lot of time with his brother and father, also his cousins and Uncles. Hermione spent a lot of time with Frigga and her Ladies in waiting training for the coronation. At night Loki and Hermione would come back together and rest. Each with wonderful stories to tell one another.
For the first time in a long time, things were happy.
There were no catches.
Hermione though was worried this wouldn't last long. After all nothing in her life which was happy tended to last. She hoped though that this time an exception may be made by destiny. That finally the fates would allow her peace and happiness. Her hopes would be validated by lady destiny, but only for a while. A short while.
Before Hermione and Loki knew it. The eve of the coronation was upon them. This would be a night Loki could not stay with her. One of ten nights, they would stay away from one another, to come. Loki smiled as he tucked a strand of hair behind Hermione's ear.
"Brother come I must escort you back to the castle!" Thor called.
"Coming brother give me a moment!" Loki called back before looking to Hermione.
"Tomorrow you will become The Princess of Asgard." He said with some emphasis. "Are you ready for it?"
"I am I've memorized everything. No mistakes should be made." He smiled.
"That's not what I meant…"
"I know." Hermione said as Loki smiled.
"You're asking me how I'm feeling about it… Truth be told?" He nodded. "I'm nervous."
"Keep your eyes on me I'll be waiting for you at the end."
"Everyone is going to be there." Hermione said softly.
"I know… You'll do beautifully…"
"I hope so…" Hermione said softly. Loki moved forward and kissed her deeply. Instantly she felt her tension slip away.
"I'll see you tomorrow love…"
"Tomorrow." She said with a nod.
"Brother come on!" Thor called and Hermione laughed softly
"Go…"
"Just remember when you hit the long walk, look to me, I'll be there." She smiled softly and nodded.
"Okay." She said with a soft expression as he moved forward and kissed her deeply. He took bother hands in his and kissed the back.
"See then princess." He said with a wink before running off to join his brother. Hermione took a deep breath as she watched them disappear around a corner. She smiled to herself softly before turning and looking to Adriel and Daradye.
"To my room I suppose…" She said with a soft expression and the nodded before walking with her.
Loki and everyone else would sleep easy that night. Everyone except for Hermione. Hermione would lay in her bed her hands rested on her stomach as she stared up at the gold leafed ceiling of her room. She laid there for hours. Sleep never coming. Though Hermione didn't mind after all she wasn't exhausted. She was the opposite. She was buzzing with energy.
But with every minute that passed, that excitement turned into anxiousness. After a while she found herself unable to lay back any longer. So instead she sat up. A pillow hugged to her chest, a book laying forgotten at her side. Her eyes were set forward. Set forward on a dress which clung to the body of a pure gold mannequin shaped to her exact measurements.
This was the first time she had really looked at it. Even when she had, had her previous fittings, she hadn't been focusing on the dress. Instead she had been focusing on everything she had to get down. Now that she truly gazed at it she loved every inch of it. She had another of course. One for after the Coronation ceremony. Another dress which waited for her at the palace so she could change into it.
She felt something warm slowly set upon her cheek. She took a deep breath as she turned and looked to the curtains that were drawn over the doors of her balcony. She could see it, the tiniest of bright lights streaking in from between the grand fabric of the drapes. She slowly got up and walked over before drawing the curtains open. The light of morning Asgardian sun instantly flooded in. Hermione smiled as she let her eyes close and allowed the warm light to engulf her completely. She took a deep breath before turning and gazing at her gown once more.
She felt close to as she had on the morning of the Yule ball. She had barely slept the night before. But as soon as she had woken up from the little sleep she had gotten her eyes had instantly looked to her blue dress hanging at her cabinet. She had felt unsure as she stared at it. Just as she felt unsure now staring at her coronation dress.
As Hermione walked towards the grand ball gown she had to wonder if she could pull such a regal garment off. Her hands slowly reached out and set her fingers on the soft fabric of the skirt which was a color Hermione could on describe as a blood red. A deep Crimson that made her skin seem to glow it contrasted her porcelain skin so brilliantly. She heard a small knock and turned to look at her door.
"Come in!" she called and instantly it swung open to reveal Frigga and Sif in grand ball gowns. There was a line up of people behind them, including her ladies in waiting.
"Are you ready?" Frigga asked and Hermione merely took a deep breath before slowly nodding.
"Let's do this." She said and Frigga smiled, her pride completely showing through.
"Let's get started then…" Instantly a wave of people rushed towards Hermione to help her get ready for the big day.
-o-
Loki took a deep breath as he walked out onto the balcony of the palace. He smiled as he overlooked the royal city. It was covered in roses and gold drapery. All done by the people in the weeks before the Coronation. He had heard the night before that the people had begun to collect rose petals to throw upon the carriage which would carry Hermione to the Palace. They really did love her, and Loki couldn't be more pleased. Still not everyone loved her, which had been proven by the attempts on her life.
"Loki?" He turned to see Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun.
"My brother?" Loki asked.
"Getting the old helmet and hammer polished." Volstagg said and Fandral looked to him. "That came off wrong didn't it?"
"Yep." Fandral said patting his back. "Do you need him?" Fandral asked turning to Loki.
"No what I need is you three to join Hermione's guard."
"We were already on our way to castle summertide when you called for us." Fandral said.
"We will keep her safe." Hogun said.
"Thank you." Loki said with a smile and the men nodded before walking away. Loki took a deep breath as he smoothed his hands over his most regal of outfits. He had, had all the gold used in its making polished and refurbished. The leather head been reworked as well. He wanted to look good for his princess to be.
"Loki?" He turned to see his father.
"Would you look at it Father…" He said turning back to the city. "The people have prepared the royal city… Just for her…" Odin smiled as he walked to his side.
"It's remarkable." Odin said setting a hand on his back. "Before I forget this arrived. From the Royal jewelers…" Loki smiled as he followed his father over to a table where a gold box rested. Loki flipped it open and smiled as he looked down at it. "I shall give it to her after the Coronation." He said with a smile.
"A fine idea indeed." Odin said.
"Have you seen her Tiara yet?" Loki asked as they began to make their way to the Throne room.
"I have." He said.
"And?" Loki asked.
"It's… Simple… But very elegant. She will look regal indeed."
"Wonderful…" Loki said.
"You seem nervous."
"For her." He said instantly. "She was jittery last night. More jittery then she was the moments leading up to the war back on Midgard…"
"War is easy… Court is difficult." Odin said and Loki smiled. "Now come our people have begun to gather, and guests have begun to arrive."
"Is Alverdus here?"
"He arrived late last night." Odin said his jaw clenching. "He's eager to see Hermione crowned. I think he hopes someday she may be queen…"
"He would have sway in her opinion. At least that's what he thinks."
"Indeed…" Odin said.
-o-
Hermione took a deep breath as she looked herself over in the mirror. She couldn't believe it. She looked amazing. More amazing then she had ever felt. In truth this was the most beautiful she had felt since the night Loki and her had laid together for the first time. The dress wrapped around her body perfectly. Her hair lay around her wavy and free resting just at the center of her back. She loved her makeup the most. It was simple until it got to her eyes. Then there was an intensity of bronze, golds, and reds that made her eyes shine and smolder.
"Hermione?" she turned and looked to Sif who wore a gold draped chiffon and silk gown. It would be the only time other than her wedding she would have to wear the colors of Hermione.
"Is it time?" Hermione asked.
"The carriage awaits along with your other ladies in waiting…" Hermione walked to Sif her gown dragging behind her as she moved.
"You look beautiful." Hermione said seeing her hair filled with intricate braids that made a beautiful up do atop her head.
"Me? Have you seen yourself?" She asked with a smile as she took her hands in hers. "Hermione... You've bestowed upon me an honor I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you-."
"You already have." Hermione said. "Your friendship means more to me then you could ever know." Sif smiled softly.
"Hermione?" they turned and looked to a lady in waiting. "The carriage awaits."
"Of course." Hermione said softly.
"Let us go…" Sif said and Hermione instantly nodded walking off. They made it outside to castle summertide and Hermione smiled Seeing Inari in a carriage with the other ladies in waiting. She was wearing a beautiful red and gold gown with lace gold sleeves that came to points on her hands. A last minute design by her majesty but one that suited the child all the same. Hermione took a deep breath as she slowly walked out of the darkness of the castle revealing herself for the first time. Instantly a roar sounded as the first line of the Asgardian subjects spotted her. Their cheers mixed with the thousands who could not see her but instead were waiting to try and catch a glimpse of her while on her way to the palace. Lowly the sounds of the cheers grew and grew until they roared throughout the royal city.
-o-
Odin smiled as he sat upon his Throne. Frigga stood on his right, Loki and Thor stood on his left. He was smiling because of his family which surrounded him. He was smiling because the Throne room filled with hundreds of people had grown silent. Silent because of the roar that was erupting from outside. It was a roar of the people.
"Someone is on her way…" Odin said and Frigga smiled.
"Your soon to be princess approaches brother." Thor whispered to Loki who smiled as he took a deep breath. He could feel Hermione in that moment. She was nervous, but she was also exhilarated. Excited for the title in which she was to take. Loki smiled as the moments passed. She was drawing closer and closer. He could feel her.
-o-
Hermione smiled as she took a deep breath. The carriage had come to a stop. It stayed levitating before the line of gold stairs that led to the opening of the palace doors. Her guard instantly moved forward and Hermione smiled as she stepped out of the carriage. She wanted to turn to the thousands of people who had come out to see her. Instead though she did as she had been instructed and moved towards the doors of the palace which led right into the throne room.
"Here we go…" she said to herself. "Just… Breathe…"