Asgard was in a state of mourning. Their beloved queen, the Allmother. She was gone, gone for the rest of their days. A traditional Asgardian ceremony took place the night after the attack. Flaming arrows were flying outward towards the floating casket that held onto their corpse of their beloved queen. Both princes stood side by side, dressed in all-black dress robes—the shade worn by royals in their time of grieving. The women, dressed in black, Asgardian gowns, were also in attendance. Standing among Odin and Asgard's army were the two grieving princes and their mates; Jane by Thor's right side and Corine by Loki's left. Tears stinging both brother's eyes as they watched the valet slowly float away and then vanish. Corine's hands clasped in front of her; hues stared down to the ground. Loki barely glanced over to her. The prince took in a rather deep breath before releasing it. And his arm slithered around her waist, pleasantly drawing her. Corine instantly gave in to this comfort that she had been seeking out for weeks, ever since she received the news of her pregnancy. Thor glanced over at the two, which caught the eyes of his brother. "Not a word," Loki whispered. Thor snorts softly, "I said absolutely nothing..."

Once the ceremony came to an end, everyone returned to the palace. The two princes, along with the two women, were summoned into Odin's private study. Both Jane and Corine were sitting on an ornate couch. Thor being by Jane's side while Loki leaned against the mahogany desk, with a goblet of wine in hand. "They need to be returned to Midgard. It is not safe for these two in Asgard. Two attacks. TWO ATTACKS IN A ROW!" Odin's fist slammed against the desk, causing both women to jump slightly. "Father, Jane possesses a dark force within her. She has become a host to the Aether. We must find a way to remove it." Loki snorts as he took a sip of his wine. Thor's attention was brought to Loki, his eyes narrowed, "Does her pain amuse you, brother?" "Enough! If it were for you two, these mortals would not be involved in anything as dark as what they both hold within." Downing the remaining bit of wine, "The only way for ridding Jane of the Aether is to send it back to the Dark World." Thor shook his head, "It is a suicide mission to step foot into the Dark World." Loki smirked, "So is the journey into fatherhood," his eyes avert to Corine's, "Isn't that right, my dear?" Jane scoffed; a hand placed onto Corine's. "Enough!" Odin's hand slammed onto the desk once more. "Guards, take the women to their quarters, now!" After both Jane and Corine had been escorted out, Thor shit the door behind them, "We must take Jane to the Dark World and avenge our mother." Loki growled, "If it weren't for her fiddling with such dark forces, we wouldn't be in this bloody mess, Corine wouldn't have been attacked two nights again, and perhaps Frigga would still be alive!" Thor stormed over, yanking Loki by the collar of his tunic, "You speak ill of Jane once more, and it'll be the last words you speak!" Loki shoved his brother off, "Why wait? Take me out of my misery," he hissed. "Enough! I have had enough of your child-like squabbling! Your mother would be crushed to see two grown me. She has raised to turn into fools!" Loki scoffed; an annoyed smile painted on his face. "Yes, one son grew into a complete tyrant and is fathering a bastard. While the other has no brain cells left and returned home, also with a mortal who has also become a host to dark magic. The point is, we are gods. They are mortals. They shouldn't be here." Thor rose a brow, "Then why bed her? Come now, brother, you have entangled yourself with many maidens before, brewed up contraceptives in the past? What made her different?" Loki groaned, "This isn't the time or place for the nonsense! She and I will have our conversation about this situation when she becomes less hormonal." A chuckle slipped from Odin's lips, "My son, I am afraid that will never change..."

A few hours went by. Loki and Corine would now be found asleep in the bed. Corine had positioned herself on her side on the edge of the bed. She wanted to give him the space he needed. After all, it was /his/ bed. Her body trembled, tears running down her face. Soft whimpers slipped out as her fingers were clawing at the satin sheets. Her trembling caused the prince to awake. He quickly turned over to see her trembling figure. It appeared that she was having yet another night terror. Loki promptly sat up, hurrying over to her side of the bed. Loki pulled her in close to him, "Corine? Corine! Corine, wake up, darling!" Her deep blue hues fluttered open, adjusting her eyes to the moonlit bed-chambers before they avert up at him. Tears streaming down, she buried her face into his bare chest, his hand resting on the back of her head. "Shh, you're alright; it was only a night terror," whispered Loki. His chin was resting gently on the top of her head. Corine shook her head slowly, "But it wasn't; it was a memory." Loki perked a brow, "Perhaps this is the same night terror you confided in Jane with? Thor expressed his concerns to me." Corine nodded slowly; no words were necessary at that moment. Loki sighs, "Corine, what happened that afternoon, had absolutely nothing to do with you. I had no idea you were an employee of his. It was a moment of rage, and I regret harming you, let alone getting you involved with this current situation we both have become stuck in." Corine sobbed silently into his chest, "Why me? What have I done to deserve such things hitting me all at once?" Loki began to feel some odd feeling within him. Sentiment? Guilt? He wasn't entirely sure, but it stung. A worse feeling than being stabbed. Perhaps it was a moment that he needed to be a bit easier on her. "Corine, the sun will shine on you once more. I do promise you that," He took her hand into his, placing a soft kiss onto it. She wasn't entirely sure what was currently going on between them They have been on a constant rollercoaster since their meeting. Meet and hookup one day, the next she is being held hostage by her, then the next he is saving her life from dark elves, then they both are screaming at each other over the unexpected pregnancy, now... they were sharing a rather soft moment with each other. Deep blue hues gazed up at his, and suddenly, her lips pressed against his. Did he even attempt to, let alone desire to break away? Absolutely not. His hand placed itself gently on her cheek, all while he deepened their kiss. After a few moments, Corine broke away slightly, "I am sorry. I don't know why..." she was quickly hushed by yet another kiss. A slower, more tender kiss than they have shared before. In an instant, Corine had found herself beneath Loki. His knee sliding in between her knee, while one hand was sliding up the satin nightgown. His fingers gently running up and down the side of her left thigh. Corine trembled beneath him, breaking away from this kiss only far enough for their lips to brush against each other's. Loki pecked her lips once, before whispering, "Am I hurting you?" Corine shook her head slowly, "You're not. I promise. I am just...nervous." Loki chuckled softly, pecking her lips once more, "I am going to go ahead and restrain myself. I don't want to hurt...it. Let alone you."

The next morning, Corine had woken up a bit later than usual. Laying on her side, eyes fluttering open, to see all of the dark curtains had been pushed aside. Tha Asgardian sun beaming a bright light into the room. Her finger tips gently graze against the satin sheets. She jumped slightly as the shifting in the bed, along with the arm that was wrapping around her waist. She smiled; the touch familiar to her. She slowly turned over onto her back, looking down at the sleeping prince. His arm now resting across her abdomen. The first time he had even acknowledged what grew inside of her womb, even though he was completely asleep. Her fingers running through his hair. She continued to gaze out the floor-length window she was near. Her brow perked; a crow flew onto the railing of their balcony. She tilted her head, was this crow... staring her down? "Its name is Muninn," Loki said, in a raspy voice. Her eyes avert to his, which were still closed. His head now resting on her chest. Another smile formed upon her lips. "Does he visit you often?" His eyes slowly began to open, he now gazing over at the crow. "Far too often." His statement seemed to cause the bird to fly off. Corine smirked, "Well good morning to you as well. Barely awake for five minutes, and you are already scaring off birds." Loki chuckled softly, burying her face into her shoulder, "I do not wish to leave this bed. But sadly...Thor has requested an audience with me, the moment I wake." He groaned, as he slipped out of the bed. Only wearing the trousers, he had the previous night during Frigga's ceremony, he leaned down to grab the simple black tunic from the ground. Slipping it over his head, he leaned in close to her, pecking her lips. "I'll return soon. During a period of grieving a monarch, most things are put aside. I shan't be long." Corine, smiled, "I do believe I will remain here until you return." A hint of a smile formed, as he was tucking his tunic into his trousers. "I shall return." With that, he quickly turned on his heel, to descend from their chambers.