Chapter 35.

She walked into the dining chambers, Loki seeing the apple in her hands and his eyes going wide. He stepped toward her, his hand reaching for it and he stopped. Her innocent expression causing him to relax his gait for a moment, standing atill so not to frighten her. The shock on his face giving way to awe, and she held up the fruit for him to see it better.

"Where... where did you get that apple?" Loki said and Floria smiled at him.

"Prince Thor and Lord Fandral gave it to me as an apology for their behavior. They said it was the sweetest apple I would ever taste." She said, her naivete showing. He put his hand on it, sensing that it was in fact one of the legendary apples of Idunn.

"This apple is very special Floria." He said and looked at her, his eyes locking on her and she blinked at him in her confusion. "One bite of this, even a small one can repair any infirmity to your body and lengthen your lifespan to match mine. For you, it is a chance to regain what was stolen from you long ago, to bear children one day."

"You believe... that if I take a bite of this apple, that I would no longer be barren? That I would one day have children?" She gasped and blinked at Loki. He smiled, cradling her cheeks and ran his thumbs under her eyes.

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean. And it will work, but I leave the choice to you." He said and she looked at the golden apple in her hands. She ran her hand over the smooth flesh, amazed that such a fruit existed. She thought long about the bite she was offered and opened Loki's hand, placing the apple in it and giving it to him. His eyebrows raised and he shook his head, unable to believe she was giving away her chance to be a Mother one day.

"Floria... I... I cannot accept this from you, you have a chance to heal the wrong done to you. A chance to one say be a mother, and..." He said, but stopped. The look in her eyes taking away his speech.

"You are my happiness, and if it heals all the hurt in you, then the apple is yours." She said and his eyes filled with tears. He blinked, placing the apple in her hands again and holding her close.

"My wounds are healing Floria, they are scars on my very heart and no apple can heal them. You are so pure, so giving. I do not deserve such a sweet creature as you." He said and his tear fell and struck the crown of her head, his heart having never felt so loved in a manner that made her willingly sacrifice her own joy for him.

"You do deserve me, because I say that you do." She said and he squeezed her a little tighter, the apple in her hand finding its way to her mouth and she took a bite. A warmth started in her stomach then, spreading out and eventually reaching the tips of her fingers and toes. She felt something in her stomach stir and gasped, gripping the soft, green tunic under her hand and clenched her teeth. Her cries filled the room, and he legs gave out and Loki held her close to him. In her dazed state, she looked at the floor between her feet and say the small flecks of gold in it. Her eyelids felt so heavy then, and she closed them and became limp and heavy in his arms.

"Floria? Norns! Open your eyes, please." He said, shaking her gently and trying to wake her. "Floria, please. Wake and look at me."

Her eyes opened gently, and she lifted her hand to his cheek. The soft fingers touching him and she allowed him to help her get her feet under her, she looked at the fallen apple and it turned to dust on the floor.

"Am I healed?" She asked him and he nodded, a smile crossing his face.

"You are Floria, you will have children wirh me one day." He said and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt dizzy suddenly, and he held her to keep her from falling. He lifted her, carrying her to his bed and laying her on it.

"I felt light headed, I am sorry." She said and he laughed at her. She touched his cheek, her fingers coming away wet and he laughed, kissing his tears off them and she smiled.

"You worried me a tiny bit, it seems that I am to be a lucky and blessed man after all." He said and she smiled up at him.

"Yes, I wish to make you feel so." She said and he laughed. He covered her with a blanket, helping her to remove her shoes and he kissed her. He then lay under the cover next to her, pulling her close to his chest and wrapping her in his arms. She wiggled, trying to get loose but failed.

"Let me hold you, that is all I want. Nothing more." He said softly and she relented, her hands around his arm and her eyes closing from the strain her body had undergone.

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She woke first, carefully slipping from the bed and leaving Loki to sleep. She padded bare footed around the chambers, looking at the dust that was allowed to accumulate in his absence and began cleaning it away with a rag. She then cleared the books he had been reading away, neatly organizing them before returning them to his shelves. She was sweeping the hearth in the sitting room, when Loki woke. He sitting up and laughing at Floria, his hand open to her.

"I did not expect you to work, you are my Bride and therefore my equal Nightengale." He said and she walked over to him and took the hand. He placed his free hand over her stomach, and she held it there. "How do you feel?"

"It did hurt when I first at the apple, but I am better now." She replied, her soft voice soothing him. "I do not mind working for my place Sir, it is what I have known my whole life."

"You did work Floria. You lay next to me and indulged me some comfort and the succor of your presence, acting as a shield against all the awful things I experience in my sleep. I do not sleep well, and you had a calming effect on me. Quieting my mind so that it did not torment me as I rested, your presence alone tempering my resolve and giving me peace."

"I am glad to do that for you then." She replied and her hugged her around her waist, resting his cheek against her belly. He felt the boning of her corset under the shifting fabric, and paid it no mind. He only wanted to be close to her, his mind troubled as of late by his past.

"I am such a fickle man Nightengale, I never thought I would find a woman who could use her gentle nature to find my very center and be so forgiving of my sins. I truly fear ever letting you go, but fear more that clipping your wings would make you despise me." He said and she stiffened at his confession, her heart pounding as she put her hand on his shoulder. For a long time, they were quiet and the only sound around them was the pop of the fireplace. He looked up at her, her fingers moving strands of his hair back and she smiling.

"Give me no reason to desire leaving, and I shall stay willingly." She said and he kissed the fabric covered belly in front of him. She trembled at the affection, and he looked up at her.

"I want to deserve you, your gentle nature, and to promise you anything you want. Tell me your desires, I will snap my fingers and make them happen. Jewels? I will lay them at your feet. Clothes of silk? I will have you draped in them and make you a goddess. A star of your own? I will make its fires the brightest in the night sky." He said and stood, his fingers around the back of her neck and he kissed under her ear before whispering the last in her ear. "Tell me, and I will make it yours."

"I only want to be loved Sir. Nothing more." She said and she gasped as his lips met hers.

"You are, and I will never let you feel anything but that." He said and she blushed at him. She took a steadying breath, her soft curls of hair tumbling down her back and he smiled at her.

"You have no idea the power you have over me, how you have brought me to my knees to thank whatever fate is listening for the providence of meeting you that day." He said and held her to him. "You are true beauty, all the way down to your gentle soul."

"You have always been so kind to me. I feel yours is the same way, but it burns with the warmest of fires." She replied and he leaned close to kiss her. A knock stopped him, and he walked to the door. A Paige stood on the other side, and the words he spoke next put ice in Floria's veins.

"My Prince. The Allfather is awake again and wishes an audience with you." The boy said and Loki nodded, he looked back at Floria and she folded her hands silently.

"Thank you boy." He said and closed the door. He took the staff, offering Floria his arm and she took it. "I believe I have to return something. And see how much I disappointed my Father."