Chapter 56.

The family gathered at the Castle Gates to welcome the arriving dignitaries from the Alfar court, and Thor's soon to be Wife. Floria held Alarea in her arms, the baby sleeping peacefully against her and Loki resting a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, her cheeks rosy and she looking stunning in her lavender and silver gown. The role of Motherhood complimenting her, amd he felt a bit of pride that she was holding his child. He glanced at Thor, seeing him scowl and look as if he wanted to be somewhere far away. His eyes fixed on Floria, and lingered on her and he grinned. The entire sight of Thor making him shake a bit with rage, and he had to resist making a scene.

"I am so glad you are better, this is a wonderful look for you." Loki said and Floria smiled at him. "I am more happy that those awful Midwives were dismissed for causing you to suffer so."

"I am happy to be standing again, and am very sure that the next baby will be born with few issues." She said and he chuckled, the infant against her breast started whimpering softly. Thor looked at the both of them again, sighing and looking like a man led to his execution.

"Don't look so forlorn, it will make a bad impression on Sera." Frigga scolded Thor and he faked a smile for the sake of appearances.

"You would be depressed if you were forced to marry for an alliance. Loki got the girl he wanted, and I am stuck being married off like cattle." Thor growled under his breath and Odin glared up at his son. He regarded the moving emerald green bundle in Floria's arms and smiled at It, the baby starting to cry.

"Make her be quiet." Thor groaned and Floria tried to soothe the child. She began to fret a bit, but Loki took Alarea from her and began to bounce his daughter against his shoulder. The baby belched, relieving the pains causing her to whimper and Floria giggled at the streak of white down her husband's back.

"Oh dear, she spit up a bit on you Loki. Don't move." Frigga said and dabbled a handkerchief into the fountian behind her. Thor chuckled to himself, and Frigga laughed as Loki used a bit of his magic to clean himself up.

"Perhaps Nightengale should watch how much spice she eats while she nurses." Loki teased, Floria sighing at him and crossing her arms.

"You suggested it Dear Husband, claiming it would help strengthen me." She laughed back, the delegation finally arriving and everyone turning serious again. The silver and gold Alfar carriage drew to a stop in the Courtyard, and two men walked forward and placed a small stool in front of the door for the Princess to exit. Floria smiled, the fine boned girl emerging shily and her long silver hair flowing around her head like a halo. She took shy steps toward them, curtsying and lifting her pale lavender skirts.

"My King and Queen. I am Sera, thank you so much for inviting me to your realm, and for my Husband. I am so very happy to join your family, and honored that I was considered for this place." She said, the fine hairpiece of gold shimmering and she pushed some of her hair back over one pointed ear. The baby in Loki's arms cooed, her amber eyes opening and she leaned against her father again.

"Welcome Princess Sera, we are so happy you have come to marry Thor and join our Court. We have a new member of the family, as you see and you are most welcome to join us in celebrating her birth this evening." Frigga said, smiling with her hands open to the girl. She looked at Thor, who stood still and slowly burst into laughter. The Elf girl, shocked by his reaction stood speechless and looked at Floria.

"Look how small she is, I will break her. She is scrawny, no meat to her little bones to make her attractive." Thor howled, and the poor girl looked at the ground. "No hips to hold onto either, how is she supposed to bear a child?"

"Thor!" Odin snapped, and Floria walked over to the girl before she could feel any more shame. She took both of the other girl's hands in her's and smiled at her, kissing her cheek.

"You are so very pretty. Would you like to rest after your long journey?" Floria asked and Sera nodded, Odin pulling Thor after him in his annoyance.

"Yes. I am also hungry." Sera said and Floria put her arm through Loki's.

"Then you can dine with my Husband and I. Queen Frigga may join us as well, she is rather keen to play with her new granddaughter." Floria said and the girl smiled at the bundle. "I do fear that I will drive you mad with questions about the Alfar Court however, it all sounds so facinating. So many customs, and traditions to know of."

"I will do my best to illuminate you then Princess." Sera said and Frigga took her hand, leading the girl into the castle and talking animatedly to her. Odin glared at Thor as the four left, relieved that Floria and Frigga had done so well to greet the girl. He pointed his finger at Thor, uttering one sharp sentence and Thor stopped laughing at the threat behind the words.

"Follow me."

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"These gradens... they are beautiful Princess." Sera said, wondering at the riot of colors around her and Loki smiled as Floria showed her some roses.

"Queen Frigga makes them grow so pretty, every spring. When she is in celebration, they grow even larger and more fragrant." She said and Sera put her hand on the child in the sling that Floria wore across her chest.

"I can only guess why she is in... celebration, as you say now." Sera said and Floria laughed. "They say she, the Queen adores all of the children."

"She does, and is so very kind as well. She is very intelligent also, she does celebrate learning and knowledge where she finds it." She replied and Loki wondered at how she was being a sweet and caring hostess to the newcomer. Doing everything she could to make the silver haired Elf feel welcome, and succeeding at it. He mused about what a wonderful Queen she would herself make one day, shouting from a window above them causing their heads to turn.

"I don't want her!" Thor screamed back and Floria took the girl by the elbow and made a comment about showing her the other garden.

"Yes Princess." The poor girl said, Floria and she walking away from the shouting.

"Your brother needs this alliance! when he is King..." Odin shouted back, the anger in his voice evident and Loki shuddered at the sound. Memories flooded back, and he mentally cringed at the thoughts that came to him.

"He is not my brother! He is a bastard born of a whore and a monster!" Thor shouted back, Loki's eyes going wide at the words. Even if they were spoken in anger, they cut him and it caused him to ache deeply. A memory coming back, and making his fists clench.

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Then.

He sat in his cell, the end of his sentence and looked toward the glowing shield. Thor stood, the documents in his hands to free him and strip him of his title. He was truly a slave, a relic to be kept in the castle until Odin decided to use him or let him die. This was his fate now, and his shame was known by all. Loki the monster was to be allowed to walk among them, one foot in their world, the other in another. Rejected by both for what he was.

"I assume I am to be freed?" Loki said, looking back at the pages of his book. He turned the page, scanning it and slowly bringing his attention back to the Golden Prince. Thor shifted, he could never stand still. Such an irritating habit for a King to have, always shifting and squirming.

"Yes." He said and Loki glanced back at him. "Loki... I... I only want my brother back. To go back to how it was before all the ugliness happened, I want a chance to start again."

"We cannot go back, only forward Thor." He replied, stretching his legs in front of him. "I will never be your brother, because I lack a bloodline to be proud of. Do not haunt me with the past, for I am my own man now and not of your concern."

"You are still a Prince..."

"I am a Slave and a Prisoner. Nothing more, and will have nothing more to reach for. Your sickening sentiment is pathetic, I suggest you bury it before it is used against you. Leave the document, I will sign it at my leisure." He said and returned to his book. He could feel Thor's eyes boring into the back of his head, he heard the shield fall and he stood with his book. Walking out of the cell and taking the page from Thor as he walked past.

"Leave your sentiment behind you Thor. The boy you once knew is not the man that you fear. Affections will destroy you, leave you ruined for having them. That is why I avoid women, or any attachments in general." He said and ascended the stairs to his freedom, not looking back at the space that had once been home for fifty long years.

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Floria tied her shift shut, laying the fed child down in her cradle and lay next to him on the bed. Loki covered her, setting aside the book he was reading and held her close. She never returned to her chambers, and he liked that she did not.

"You were so kind to Sera today, a perfect hostess to our new guest. I can see you as Queen now, caring and sweet." Loki said and she smiled as she snuggled into his chest. Her eyes shone up at him, and he kissed her softly.

"Only if you are My King. I will have no other man as my husband, or in my bed." She said and he smiled at her, her hands curled against her and she looked worried for a moment.

"What is wrong my beautiful Wife?" He asked her and she smiled softly.

"Will we have more children? I have heard that husbands can sometimes find their wives... after a birth... Can..."

"I still desire you." He said, laying a finger over her lips and she blushed. He pulled her close to him and he whispered into her ear, sending shivers through her. "I cannot wait until you are fully recovered from our Daughter. I will worship your body, kiss every inch of It, and make you see stars as you cry out."

"Loki!" She whispered back, blushing a deep crimson and he grinned down at her. He laughed, trying to kiss her but she pushed her head back into the pillows playfully. He laughed, and claimed her lips and settled her close to him.

"I will always love and desire you Floria, it is not in my nature now or at any point in the future to find you unattractive." He said and she lay on her side with her back to his chest. Her eyes watching the cradle, and she wrapped her arms around the one over her.

"I love you." She said softly, and Loki smiled. Trying to forget Thor's shouts from that afternoon. But they still weighed so heavily on him, and he found himself unable to sleep.