Author's note: Hello hello, this is the second to last chapter! I hope you'll enjoy it!

"It is getting sunnier day by day" exclaimed the queen in forced merriment. She kneeled in front of the garden bed of roses and smiled but her voice sounded falsely cheerful when she pursued. "Spring will be warm this year!" She delicately brushed the pink buds from the back of her hand and glanced over her shoulder at her son. Loki was quiet, turning a deaf ear to his mother's attempt at making small talk. A closed expression was showing on his face and Frigga's heart grew heavy. Winter was almost over and Odin had announced a few weeks ago that Vanaheim would need a leader before the start of the seeding season. He had said he believed that Solweig was ready, for he had heard nothing but compliments about her after their return from Niflheim. She would be made queen any time soon and that evening, during dinner, he had announced that the coronation would take place on the next day, the last one of Women's Month. Everyone had gasped in surprise but Loki had simply nodded at his father's words, leaving the room the minute Odin had dismissed them all. Frigga had found him in her garden, sitting on a bench, staring at a tree in the dim light. She had asked him to accompany her for a walk and he had obliged, yet his face remained closed.

"Do you know when you will… free her?" she asked carefully while searching for his gaze. She did not want to appear persistent but she knew Odin was afraid that Loki and Solweig would change their minds at the very last minute. The Allfather had kept secret the date of the coronation for weeks exactly for this reason. Frigga knew Odin had picked a date the very moment he had heard about his sons' plan, but he was too scared that Loki would finally decide not to free the girl. Would this be the case, there was nothing he Allfather could do for even the god of all gods was accountable to the Asgardian law. Frigga recalled how often she and her husband discussed this matter at night, what a shame it would be if all the efforts invested in trying to make Solweig queen would prove to be vain. Loki shrugged and Frigga watched him walk away, heading to the terrace of the garden. He crossed his hands behind his back, staring at the rainbow bridge in the distance, his back turned to her. She stood up and joined him, resting her elbows on the cold stone of the balustrade.

"It's probably better that way you know…" she began. "The longer she stays the harder it will be for you to let her go"

He remained quiet as he kept watching the moon casting its light over the Asgardian sea.

"You will… let her go… won't you?" the queen insisted, her face turned towards her son.

He humphed, suddenly angered by his mother's insistence.

"Is that all that matters to you?!" he asked before shooting her an irritated glance and adding, spiteful: "I cannot believe that you and Father are so eager to dismiss her already"

Frigga closed her eyes, trying to keep her composure despite the pain she felt at her son's words.

"You know I wish she could stay" she whispered, holding back her tears and he sighed, regretting having snapped at her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her close. He rested his chin on her head and stroked her back, staring at the horizon. They remained like this for very long, trying to soothe each others' pain.

As Loki and Frigga walked back inside the castle, they heard bursts of laughter stemming from the end of the corridor. The raven-haired prince caught sight of his brother who was making large movements with his arms in an attempt at recounting one his prowess in battle. The blond girl walking next to him was bent in half, her shoulders jolting rhythmically with her laughter.

"… and then he screamed woaaaaarggg" and Thor moved like a bull ready to charge and Solweig had to lean against the closest pillar for she could not stop giggling. Loki watched her, her long hair charmingly moving around her face. She had changed since they came back from Niflheim. It was subtle, something in her behaviour, a newly found audacity, her regained confidence… He felt it whenever he stared at her, when she met his gaze and held it, her chin up, noble. He felt a pang in his chest to see her so cheerful despite her soon-to-be departure. Somehow he had hoped that she would change her mind, would beg him to stay. He knew he would have refused her request, that he would have freed her no matter what but he felt terribly afflicted by her glee. As if she could feel his sorrow, she stoped smiling, suddenly serious.

"My queen…" she bowed in front of Frigga, "Prince Loki" she added, meeting his gaze. He breathed in, lifted his head.

"Prince Thor was just seeing me to my room" she indicated politely while keeping his eyes on him. She had moved out of his apartments on Odin's order once they came back from their diplomatic trip. For weeks, all of their interactions took place in public, for she was constantly surrounded by people. Someone picked her up each morning, took her to her apartments each night, her room was constantly surveilled by a bunch of rotating guards and she was never walking alone. Loki was well aware of the motivation behind such scheme. He knew his father feared Solweig and him would back off but he also noticed that his parents were trying to make the transition as smooth as possible for her. He was thankful for it but he sometimes had to keep his cool not to snap at one of the servants continually accompanying her for he thought those measures were a bit exaggerated.

"Thor" started Frigga. "There is something I would like to discuss with you. Your brother will bring Solweig back to her room"

Loki glimpsed at his mother, frowning at her words. He wondered whether the five minutes of freedom she gifted them was not a tacit compromise to ensure he will be remain true to his word and free her before the coronation.

"Very well Mother"

Solweig bowed and followed the prince in the direction of the girl's bedroom. They strolled together in the labyrinth of corridors, their pace synchronised. The further they walked, the closer she moved until she could feel the back of his hand against hers, their fingers slightly brushing. The girl breathed in, her heart beating faster. She could not help but slid her hand within his palm. She squeezed it, to let him know how she felt, that she missed him, so dearly that she cried herself to sleep every night since she stopped sharing his bed. They turned to the right, taking the last corridor that led to her room and the God of mischief looked over his shoulder, making sure no one was there. Quickly, he pulled her against him and he held her so tight that she thought her ribcage would break.

"Let's bunk off" he suggested in her ear, interrupting the quietness of the hallway.

"What?" she whispered back in shock. They heard some footsteps echoing in the corridor and Loki swiftly pushed her behind a pillar, his body pressing against hers, concealing them both.

"For a few hours. We'll be back first thing in the morning"

A hopeful smile parted her lips when she asked where they could go.

"I know a place where we could spend the night"

"The mountains?"

He shook his head.

"Your home, princess"

—-

Loki slightly pushed the heavy front door and a smell of damp and chalk reached them. The girl crept into the door that Loki was holding ajar, squinting in the darkness. She could make out the piles of construction material lying along the walls and the furnitures covered with white sheets. The room was bathing in a faint blue light, the moon shining through the high stained-glass windows. Solweig shivered, from the cold or from the castle's austerity. She reached the middle of the room when torches suddenly bursted into flames, illuminating the hall. "Thank you" she said over her shoulder before she walked towards the throne. She stood on the first step of the flight of stairs before her, holding her breath.

"This is you" indicated Loki, nodding at the mosaic behind the throne that represented a group of Vanir deities lazing on the grass among an abundance of food. A small blond girl was depicted, extending her arms before her as if trying to reach for something. She was held by a bearded man she assumed was meant to be Óðr, her father. Solweig remained quiet for very long, her eyes fixating the artwork until she felt Loki's hands on her shoulders.

"Do you regret that I brought you here?"

His voice was soft and she could feel his body against hers.

"No" she whispered before turning around to meet his gaze. "I am grateful to see what awaits me"

He reached for her hand and led her out of the throne room.

"Odin sent workers here each day since we came back from Niflheim. It is far from being ready but it looks better than it did"

She nodded silently, surprised to hear that he seemed to know so much about that place.

"The hall will be finished in no time but the other rooms might take a while" he informed her while guiding her through a labyrinth of corridors.

"At least… the royal suite is done" he smiled softly as they stopped in front of a tall double door. He pushed the right one open and a fire immediately started roaring in the hearth, warming them up. Solweig walked a few steps forward, marvelled by the refinement of the furnitures. Loki closed the door behind him and took off his cloak that he left on the armchair. He made a jug of wine and two glasses appear on the coffee table.

"My mother and I were asked to advise the architects about your room before your arrival. I hope you like it…"

"It's beautiful" she whispered, caressing the desk located in front of the window. Most of the furnitures were carved from Vanir wood, a luxury the Aesir spent lavishly for. She grabbed the drink he handed her and sat on the sofa near the fireplace, glancing up at the complicated floral patterns that decorated the ceiling. He sat down next to her.

"Are you looking forward to the coronation?"

"I'm terrified"

"You will be a great queen"

She thanked him with a smile and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She snuggled up against him, surprised by how easy it was to meet again, how comfortable she felt in his presence. She wished she could pause time, retreat forever in the safety of their communion. They spoke for a while, contemplating the fire. She was very talkative, laughing at each of his jokes and her warmth soothed him. Yet, the longer they spoke, the quieter he grew and after a while he said he should free her. He kept staring at the fire as he said it, for he could not bring himself to watch her reaction. He felt like his soul would split in half would he find sadness in her eyes and he averted her glance. She looked at him for very long until she framed his face with her hands, forcing him to look at her. She felt herself on the brink of tears when he finally held her gaze and she thought a hole had opened within her chest, one that would swallow her whole. The pain she found in his eyes was unbearable, yet she wanted to be brave, because she felt that he needed her to be.

"I am ready" she whispered.

Loki stared at her for a few minutes before his hand brushed her arm, pushing the sleeve of her dress to the side, revealing her shoulder. His digits lingered on her back for a minute before he pressed his palm against the mark that betrayed her condition. He spoke the words that would free her, so quietly they were barely audible and she gasped. She tilted her head, her eyes closed for she felt her blood shifting, the seidr rushing through her veins. She was flushed and Loki looked at her as she slowly opened her eyes, her entire self radiating with life, her back arched. She breathed out as it to compose herself, the grip of her hands around his face now firmer. The prince's hands moved around her neck and unfastened the lock of her collar, discarding the last symbol of her enslavement on the couch next to them. Her hands left his jaw and searched for his. She brought his fingers to her throat, made them caress her skin for she felt like something was missing, unused to the absence of constriction on the flesh newly exposed.

"What now?" she asked and her voice was hoarse.

He asked whether she would accept that he'd be the first man to take her, now that she was a free woman. She smiled as she guided him to her bed; they made love and it was slow and gentle, tender and kind.

When she fell asleep in his arms, contented and peaceful, she whispered in his ear: "I will always be yours"