Chapter 5

"Mother…what do you mean—as long as I sit in this cell…Terra and I can never be married" said Loki a look of sadness washing over him then her as she gripped his hand as it stroked her cheek.

"Not so, my son, the All father is not as cold hearted as you may believe. Odin could be persuaded to marry you if he is led to believe it is for the good of you both. You must consider, Loki, that to him this would be a sort of redemption—you are marrying the girl carrying your child—you are doing what is right in the eyes of all" said Frigga smiling before frowning in the same movement. Both Terra and Frigga watched as Loki's face and eyes darkened at the very mention of the man who had raised him. He seemed almost to revert to the evil creature he had been scaring them both for an instant. Slowly, he backed away from Terra his head shaking the entire time.

"I do not seek redemption, mother, not in his eyes. The only person for whom I must redeem myself is Terra and that is none of his concern" snapped Loki his body rigid as he turned refusing to look at them and watching him do so they both wondered if now was the time to leave him to himself. After a moment, Terra joined him again, and taking his hand she waited for him to respond. When Loki didn't, Terra found her doubt in him refueled; was all she had seen before an act? It was only when she planted her feet firmly on the ground her eyes boring into his, and she took his face in her hands refusing to let him look away that she saw his truth imbedded in those eyes she had gazed into so many times. Standing eye to eye they both felt a connection that had belonged to them since the moment they met.

"Loki…don't do this—don't become the man you were before…a man filled with darkness that was afraid to love or feel or show any emotion at all. Because if you let your hatred for Odin cloud your heart that is who you will be. Let my love, our love, make you better. You said you want to redeem yourself to me—you can do that by showing me you meant all those things you've said since I entered your cell today" whispered Terra her voice so soft he had to lean closer to hear her. Loki stayed silent, evaluating everything within himself, listening to what she had to say, and quickly realizing she was right. Everyone else made him feel so inferior, so weak that he had always felt the need to prove himself, but not Terra. She always made him feel strong. When he was with her he felt a warmth within his bones that he honestly didn't know the meaning of. She was his strength and he wanted to spend his remaining days showing her that. As he thought all of this, Terra saw his eyes soften, and as he leaned into her she saw something within him lighten becoming something almost pure.

"I apologize, my love…I spent so much time trying to make you see the truth, and then all I did was make you doubt me again with my actions. I will not do so again. I will not let that man come between us or the love I feel for you" said Loki his voice soft as he grasped her wrist as if to pull her closer his head turning to kiss her palm.

"So, you really want to marry me?" gasped Terra doubt still residing somewhere in her heart.

"I do" whispered Loki drawing her in closer, so their lips were barely touching.

"Then why are we standing here, Loki, why aren't we sending for the All father, and having him marry us. Prove to me for the last time how you feel…put your hatred aside for our love…focus on what you feel for me. What we feel for each other and let's be married. Prove to me that I'm your whore no longer by making me your wife, bound to you for all eternity to stand by you in and outside this cell. That's all I want, Loki, to stand by you until death takes me on my journey to Valhalla. If that's what we both want—let's do it" exclaimed Terra her voice quivering making tears come to his eyes to slide down his cheeks. Their hearts beat together as she waited for his answer. Terra could feel the doubt hollowing her heart with every beat that went by until suddenly her wait was over. Loki answered first with a nod of his head that had her gasping for breath her smile taking over the length of her face.

"Mother, go speak with him, tell him I wish to marry the woman I love, finally" said Loki seconds before Frigga ran from the room and Terra broke down in tears. Her tears overwhelmed her so that Terra found she couldn't stand. It took Loki guiding her to the bed and as he held her all she found she could do was cry. Cry not tears of sadness, but deep happiness because her long awaited wish was coming true. They were to actually be married. He didn't fully understand why she cried, not until she looked at him. Terra captured his lips suddenly and fiercely her fingers running through his hair. The kiss was fierce, nearly overwhelming until she pulled away only to keep staring at him.

"I never thought you'd marry me—that you'd want to" cried Terra the salt of her tears clinging to her face as their lips found each other again.

"I always thought I was going to have to watch you marry someone else—that I'd have to go to your wedding wishing you were marrying me" exclaimed Terra tears still streaming fiercely as Loki held her leaning her back onto his bed to cover her with his body as he kissed her deeper.

"I never planned on getting married unless it was to you. You were always the woman I wanted and the woman I loved…I'm sorry I was such a fool—you were the only woman I could ever imagine marrying" said Loki his voice deep and serious and determined while remaining loving at the same time leaning in to continue kissing her.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses" gasped Terra.

"As am I" laughed Loki breaking away only to kiss her again.

"I think we all are" came Odin's voice startling them out of their moment of bliss. As they separated getting up from the bed to approach the barrier, their eyes didn't leave Odin and Frigga as they stood side by side. Odin had a serious look on his face while Frigga stood merely an observer by his side a tiny smile telling them of her feelings on this special day.

"Come forward, children" said Frigga nodding as they approached the barrier their steps unsure as Loki's features began to darken once more at the sight of the man who had raised him. Odin stared at his second son expecting some sort of outburst, but there was none. He looked at the girl who Frigga had watched over while Loki was thought dead. She carried what should have been his grandchild and now, she was marrying his son, a solemn affair that he had pictured in his mind, but not like this. Looking at her still, Odin suspected she was the only reason Loki wasn't spurning foul words towards him.

"You wish to marry this girl or, so I've been told" said Odin peering directly into Loki's face.

"I do" said Loki, Terra's hand in his, the only thing keeping him from attempting to smash through that barrier going right for the all father's throat.

"And you wish the same?" said Odin looking directly at Terra now as he had done Loki before.

"I do" said Terra her smile growing.

"So be it" whispered Odin moving his hand and suddenly Loki felt a tremendous amount of binding magic filling the cell. Suddenly, Loki and Terra were facing each other as a long gold cord appeared out of nowhere, and then suddenly the two were tied together. The cord went around their waists pulling them together then it bound their hands wrist to wrist, so they couldn't move away from each other, but instead only look into each other's eyes. Their faces were only inches apart and as the ceremony began they felt the connection they had always shared deepening until it was almost a hum within their very veins. It sang for only them to hear so that even as Odin recited the marriage vows they could barely focus on them choosing instead to focus on who they were for. Each other.

"Do you promise to protect her, guide her, stay with her as long as your heart still beats for her, and never love another as long as she still draws breath in this and every realm?" said Odin the sound of the two lover's breath drawing as one waited for the other to answer. Loki couldn't help drawing a breath of his own as he prepared to answer. He couldn't believe this moment was happening especially after all he had done. He had believed he'd never see her again and now, here he was making her his bride.

"I do" whispered Loki.

"Do you promise to always be truthful with her, to trust her above all others, and do you solemnly swear from this moment on to give her your heart and cherish hers in return?" said Odin. Terra was beginning to cry now, and Loki found he was struggling to hold in his own emotion as the words were said. Each new vow brought them a step closer to being man and wife.

"I do" whispered Loki.

"Then I bind you to this woman from now until eternity. You Loki are forever tied to Terra of Asgard until death shall forever separate you" whispered Odin his gaze falling on Terra as the time came for her vows.

"Do you promise to protect him, guide him, stay with him as long as your heart still beats for him, and never love another as long as he still draws breath in this and every realm?" said Odin hearing as his own wife shed tears next to him.

"Yes, I do" exclaimed Terra her tears streaking messily down her face. They went down her face falling onto their connected hands and somehow, they both felt like they were somehow sealing their bond even more then the words being spoken.

"Do you promise to always be truthful with him, to trust him above all others, and do you solemnly swear from this moment on to give him your heart and cherish his in return? "whispered Odin.

"Yes, I do" exclaimed Terra feeling as her heart beat faster as the ceremony came closer to ending.

"Then I bind you to this man from now until eternity. You Terra are forever tied to Loki of Asgard until death shall forever separate you" said Odin moving his hand once more to seal the binding and the vows. The ceremony was coming to a close and as it was they both felt the magic leaving the cell as it tightened around them until they shared one breath. The cord itself seemed to fade into their very skin becoming part of them, but a special part. The part that would forever connect them.

"Loki and Terra of Asgard, your two souls are now connected, lover to lover, heart to heart, being to being. This binding is unbreakable except to the very hands of death and no matter how far apart you shall be, you shall be together, connected in spirit as true soulmates. Not even realms can break such a bond and by binding you in this way, you are now husband and wife, an eternal lasting bond sealed with a kiss" whispered Odin officially ending the ceremony and, in that moment, it was done. Terra and Loki were now officially man and wife. A moment passed before the two realized they could move again and breathing a sigh they knew what was expected of them. They must seal their bond with a kiss something they were both more then willing to do. Smiling, they held each other's hands, and another moment seemed to pass before any action could be taken. Loki took a step towards her, his arm slinging around her to draw her closer. As he pulled her into his chest, Terra released a little giggle of delight before he slanted his mouth over hers. Terra found herself falling into him, her hands on his chest as his seemed to envelope her, and suddenly she couldn't breath because it was real. He was actually her husband now. When they drew away, Odin was gone, only Frigga remained a large smile on her face.

"Congratulations, my children. I hope despite it all that you live happily and that your wedding night is as happy as it can be" exclaimed Frigga walking away.

"Wait, mother, do you mean Odin is allowing Terra to stay here for the night?" exclaimed Loki, not daring to believe it.

"Of course, my son" said Frigga before disappearing. They stood, shocked, bewildered until suddenly Loki drew her back into his arms.

"I love you and I will spend my life proving it" whispered Loki kissing her deeply. Terra held him close knowing in the back of her mind this would be all they would ever get. Loki knew that to, that was why he held her to his heart. She was the woman who had always held it and now, he was overjoyed. She was finally his wife.