I'm sorry! I'm so sorry everyone! I felt like the worst person in the world reading all of your reviews. :( For real, you guys know how to guilt trip!

So I put all my efforts into finishing this chapter nice and quick for you… SURPRISE!

I hope you enjoy :) and as always, thank you so much for all the lovely reviews. I can't believe that I'm at 900. That's actually ridiculous! I'm so grateful to all of you. Thank you.

I meant to say! Did everyone get a look at the new Thor trailer? Looks exciting! My absolute favourite thing about the trailer is how crazy the internet has gone over Loki's hair. My God, there are some hilarious pictures on tumblr.

Anyways, enjoy! I love you all!

Thor pulled himself to his feet and approached Loki slowly, his footsteps were the only noise to be heard within the Throne Room. The excruciating pain he had just experienced had all but dissipated.

All around him, the people were silent. They huddled towards their loved ones, clutching on to one another, frightened and confused by what had just unfolded before them. They had come so close to death; it had happened so very quickly. And it had been the traitor – the Frost Giant – who had saved them from such a fate. They watched in silence as the Might Thor moved slowly towards him, despair evident upon his features, though it was nothing compared to looking upon Loki.

Loki knelt at the centre of the throne room, with Rosa's limp body in his arms. His shoulders slumped, as if an impossible mass weighed down upon him. Silent tears streaked his face and a single look into his eyes was enough to cause a heart to break. He was a man lost, defeated, broken.

Loki had known pain in his life, Thor was well aware of that. He was at a total loss as to what had happened until he had heard Loki speak a name that had haunted him in his childhood bed. Karnilla…

He knew what she would have been capable of had she managed to overtake the Throne. She was a woman without a conscience – without a soul. She was pure evil, and reigned terror wherever she went. She would have started with Asgard and slowly torn the Universe apart. Loki had sacrificed Rosa to ensure that she could not do so.

Thor couldn't even begin to comprehend what Loki must have felt in that moment. Only hours before, he had come to him for help to keep her safe. To protect her… and now she lay dead in his arms… by his own hand. Loki had sacrificed the only thing that he held dear to save the family he believed to have forsaken him.

"Loki…" he managed to choke out.

Loki didn't respond, didn't react. He just knelt there with Rosa's limp body in his arms. His breathing was shallow, and his face damp with silent tears. A trembling hand moved to brush a few stray hairs off of her face, he moved as if she might crumble under his touch.

Loki was incapable in that moment of tearing his eyes away from her. He couldn't think. She couldn't be gone, she couldn't have left him. He was trying to make it right, trying to keep her safe… and now…

He'd done this to her.

The pain of that thought was crippling.

"Loki?" He heard Thor murmur in a trembling voice and he felt a large hand placed gently upon his shoulder.

They were going to take her from him, and then it would all be over. Nothing would ever matter again… nothing…

"Loki, please…"

There was nothing left for him anymore. Nothing, without her there was nothing.

She was gone.

He… Loki, had killed her.

She was gone.

He had failed her.

His magic hadn't been enough to save her.

She was…

Magic tingled beneath his fingertips and Loki looked down at Rosa's lips. A thought… an idea, which sparked the smallest ray of hope... His heart was suddenly beating a million miles a minute. Karnilla had been able to separate herself entirely from her body. Everything she was, she had pulled away, separated. If Karnilla was able to transfer her entire consciousness into another, perhaps Loki would be able to…

He gazed down at Rosa's face. She could have been sleeping, so peaceful in his arms. In his arms… where he had hoped she might always belong. Not like this, never like this. If this worked, she could have a life, the life he wanted for her. She would be safe, comfortable. She wouldn't be running, or searching, or hurt by him again and again. She'd be Rosa. Just Rosa. Perhaps he could give her that…

He had to try.

Loki leant over her giving her one final look, committing every detail to memory, maybe that at the very least he might take with him. He was ready… Loki pressed a kiss to her forehead, a goodbye. He then closed his mouth over hers and felt a tear slip from his face, landing on her cheek. He focused on her, on everything she was. Everything that was wonderful about her. He focused on the life that seemed to shine from her eyes every time she'd ever looked his way… and then on how it had consumed him. He drew forth every ounce of energy his body possessed, coaxing it forward. Her face, her touch, her smile a guiding light.

It rose within him, white hot energy gathering up within his very core.

Thor saw it first, the radiant glow building up within the chest of the man he had once called brother. It was beautiful, vibrant, like nothing he had ever seen before. And it was rising. Slowly the light rose up from Loki's chest, travelling up his throat and into his mouth. The light passed through his lips which were still pressed to Rosa's and became a blinding white light for a split second. As soon as it touched Rosa, it ignited her entire body with glorious radiance.

Rosa's eyes shot open. Her chest arched upward as she sucked in a deep, shuddering breath. The light faded as the wound over her heart slowly healed over until not even the faintest scar remained. Rosa stared around blindly for a moment before her eyes locked on Loki, he slumped back, looking suddenly frail.

Rosa shot up, catching the front of Loki's garments as he fell backwards so that he would not hit his head. She leaned over him, trying desperately to catch her breath. She rested her hand upon his chest as his breathing become shallow.

"Loki?" Panic caused her voice to quiver. "Loki, what did you do?"

His eyes met hers for only a moment, the light within them fading slowly. He reached up and took hold of one of her hands. She was alright. He smiled gently as he closed his eyes.

"Loki… Loki!"

"Rosa!" Thor took hold of her pulling her away from Loki and forcing her to look at him. He needed to be sure, he had to know she wasn't Karnilla.

Rosa shook him of almost instantly, tears already brimming her eyes. She moved back to Loki, leaning over him, stroking his face gently with trembling hands.

He was sleeping, she told herself, that's all it was. He'd saved her and the efforts were too much for him, leaving him weak.

"Loki?" she murmured gently. "Loki, I'm here… Wake up."

Thor bowed his head, pain piercing his heart. "Rosa, I am sorry."

"He's alive." She whispered, resting her head on his chest for confirmation. She heard it, his steady heartbeat. "He's still alive."

Thor placed a comforting hand on her back, his words weighing heavy upon his tongue before he even spoke them. "You… you were dead, Rosa. I saw you die, in his arms… whatever Loki did to bring you back… I'm sorry Rosa, I don't think that he's going to…"

"No…" Rosa whimpered, holding onto his face. "No, he has to wake up, this is my fault, Thor. He must wake up-"

"Rosa, you couldn't have known-"

"No! I went to her. I did this, Thor. He is gone because of me, because I wouldn't listen."She looked at him with tear filled eyes and shook her head furiously, "all I wanted was for him to come back. I was going to take him away from here. It was all supposed to be over…"

Rosa trailed of as she heard heavy footsteps approaching her. She looked up to see Odin walking steadily towards Loki, Frigga by his side. Behind them, those who had been in the Throne Room when Karnilla attacked scurried out the doors. Odin had ordered them away, willing them to check on their families.

Odin met Rosa's gaze, her eyes vulnerable and scared. "Your Highness," her voice strained as she did her best to remain composed. "Please, help him."

Odin knelt down by Loki's head, taking his time, inspecting his limp body. He held out a wrinkled hand and pressed it over Loki's forehead. The Allfather closed his eyes, concentrating, searching. Rosa watched him with bated breath. She clutched tightly onto Loki's lapels, as if he might disappear if she were to let him go.

After a time, Odin exhaled deeply and pulled himself upright once more. "He sleeps." The King confirmed, "but for how long I do not know. He has drained himself. Not of energy or power, but of life. Loki has given it to you, Rosa. Little else than a dying ember of what should be a blazing fire remains within him."

Rosa looked up, horrified.

"Fix it." She begged.

"I cannot," Odin bowed his head, sound so very tired, "and perhaps it is for the best."

The words caused bile to build in her throat. How could this man, the man who raised him, speak of Loki in such a manner? "He saved your life!" Rosa hissed, glaring at the King through her tears.

"He saved mine, and all of Asgard's." Odin agreed calmly, "The city only remains standing because of his actions."

Thor knelt down beside Rosa, gazing with sadness at the God of Mischief's face.

Odin continued, "but it was not just Asgard who wanted Loki's blood. All the nine realms want to see him punished."

Rage rose up, white hot within Rosa, "How can you say that-"

"And so all the realms will be told," Odin went on. "That that is exactly what is to happen. A punishment. It is the only way to ensure his safety. According to anyone residing outside of this room, Loki will be locked away for the remainder of eternity. He will spend the rest of his life in chains, in total darkness… in complete solitude. This is my word as King of Asgard, it shall be told to all other realms. Any who would oppose it, beg for war.

"Loki sleeps, but I cannot say for how long. It has never been attempted before; what he did. I don't know if his body can heal from such an exercise, he may indeed never wake up. But if he is to have a chance to he must be kept away from all others. Many want his head, many want to see him suffer. Even when – if – he wakes, he must hideaway for what remains of his life. If anyone were to find out the truth, I fear he will suffer a terrible fate. I shall keep him entombed beneath the city, where he may rest. He's safest this way. It's what must be done."

Odin's words reminded Rosa exactly why Odin was such an adored King. He could make the choices – those that would be impossible for any other – and he could push aside his personal emotions in order to do what was best for the realm at any given time. Perhaps it was why it seemed that one could not be a wonderful King and a wonderful Father all at once. It saddened her. Rosa watched the King for a moment, gratitude swelling in her chest, before she turned back to Loki. Her tears welled in her eyes once again at Odin's words.

Darkness…

Solitude…

Eternity…

Solitude…solitude…solitude…solitude…

"But he will wake up, will he not? Eventually?" Rosa murmured, tears flowing freely down her face. She asked the question as if she didn't truly want an answer, too fearful of what it might be.

"Only time shall tell…" Frigga answered in return, looking to her husband who nodded in concurrence. He looked so old, so weary.

"What he did should have been impossible. There is no telling whether he'll wake at all. Any other man would have died, attempting to do what Loki did."

"He'll wake up." Rosa whispered, "he's stronger than anyone thinks… he'll come back."

Odin's ever steady gaze burned into Rosa. Once it would have made her uncomfortable, made her feel small, but how could anything possibly matter now?

"I shall stay with him." Rosa said at last, her gaze never wavering from Loki's face. There was such conviction in her words. She meant them truly, leaving no room for persuasion otherwise.

Odin remained silent where Thor could not. His stomach knotted at the very thought. Loki lay before them, comatose, so that she might go on living. Thor owed it to him to do everything in his power to assure that happened. He could not let her lock herself away, never knowing how long that might be. He spoke with caution, knowing that every word he said had to be chosen carefully. "Rosa… you are not thinking properly. You need rest. What you are suggesting-"

"I know exactly what I'm suggesting, Thor." Rosa cut him off, "I won't leave him down there alone."

Thor moved closer to her, ducking his head in an attempt to catch her gaze. It was to no avail, she looked only at Loki. "It could be years, Rosa… centuries. It would send anyone mad."

Rosa shook her head, more tears falling upon her cheeks. "I can't leave him… I have to be there when he wakes up. I won't let him be alone. It cannot just end like this… after all we've been through, Thor. After all we've done. I can't just leave him now. I won't."

Thor stared at her, horrified. He wanted Loki to suffer such a fate no more than she did, but to leave her down there alone… he looked to the Allfather for help. Surely he would not allow this to come to pass. The King studied them for a time, his expression unreadable.

Odin spoke at last, "The door will be sealed from the outside. We cannot risk anyone looking for him. The people of this realm and all others must be lead to believe that he suffers a great punishment… The door will open only from within. If you choose this, Rosa, you will not be held captive in there against your will. But you must understand that if you choose to leave you will never have access to the room again."

Rosa nodded, stroking back Loki's hair. "I understand."

The sun had long since set over the world above.

A select few of Odin's most trust guards had escorted them down into the depths beneath Asgard, carrying the body of the God of Lies. Further and further down into the darkness they walked until at last they reached a small archway which led into a dimly lit cavern.

It was a bare cavern. Rock made up the floor, the slightly rounded walls and the ceiling. Loki's body was layed out upon a stone slab in the centre of the room. The only other thing in the entire domed room were twelve enchanted candles, they hovered by the ceiling, illuminating the cave-like room. Odin had cast a spell to assure that they would burn eternally, forever giving the pair light, however long they remained down there.

Thor stood by the doorway – the only way in or out, and soon to be sealed off to all those on the other side. His arms were crossed over his chest and he stared back and forth between Rosa and Loki with disapproving eyes.

This was wrong. Rosa was in a state of grief, it was not right to allow her to make such a decision at a time like this. She could not truly be expected to remain for centuries under the earth with only a corpse to keep her company.

"She is free to leave whenever she might choose to, Thor." Frigga had assured him gently, a motherly touch upon his forearm. "She needs this time to mourn him, and perhaps in time she'll decide to come back to us, perhaps she won't. Either way, it is beyond our control… it is her choice to make, not ours."

Thor had sighed deeply, knowing she was right. It did not make leaving her there any easier though.

"And in truth," Frigga's voice quivered with hesitancy, as if she knew she ought not to be saying it at all, "I don't wish for him to be down here alone. It's a comfort to know that she'll be with him… watching over him."

Together, Frigga and Odin bid farewell to their son, unsure – and perhaps doubtful – that they would ever see him again. Rosa stood at a respectful distance with her face turned away, the scene before her – the two of them leaning over Loki's lifeless body – proving to be too much.

Eventually, Odin placed his hand on the small of Frigga's back. He waited while she pressed a final kiss to Loki's temple and then guided her towards the doorway. They slowed when they reached Thor's side, Frigga placed her hand gently on her son's face, turning her to face him and giving him a sympathetic smile.

"We shall wait outside for you," Odin told him gently, and Thor nodded in return. He did not move until they had passed through the door and it had closed shut behind them with the sound of heavy stone scraping against stone.

He looked over to Rosa, her expression unreadable.

"Rosa… are you sure this is what you want?" Thor asked for the thousandth time. Yet somehow, down below the city, with Loki's body lied out in front of her, his words seemed to carry more weight. Perhaps it was the way they echoed out into the emptiness around them.

Rosa didn't take her eyes away from Loki, she moved slowly to sit by his side and took one of his hands in hers. She gave a small, absent nod. "I'm sure."

"The door cannot be opened from the outside, Rosa. We cannot come to you. You might spend years down here, centuries… alone."

"It doesn't matter… I need to be here when he wakes-"

"If he wakes."

"When he wakes."

That stopped Thor, he stood watching her. Her gaze never once wavering from Loki's face. Thor felt a deep pity rise up within him, he wished for nothing more than for his brother to be reunited with her. How differently things might have played out had Loki confessed his feelings to him sooner, if Thor had not been so stubborn, if Rosa had reached the edge of the Rainbow Bridge just a little earlier. There were so many 'what ifs'. Too many. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't seem to achieve happiness with one another.

But still she wouldn't stop fighting for it.

Thor's resolve to convince her to leave softened at last. Slowly he moved closer to her, inhaling slowly. He studied the pair for a moment before speaking in a calm tone.

"When we were young boys," Thor spoke gently, looking down at Loki's sleeping face. "Loki and I, along with some of our friends went out into the Mountains surrounding the city. We were far too young to be out there alone but I convinced Loki to cast a sleeping spell over our carer and we wandered off on our own. There were seven of us, and I wanted to make them admire me as all seemed to admire my Father."

Thor's eyes glazed over slightly as he lost himself in the memory. A memory he had never told another living being.

"So when we came to a deep gorge, I tried to jump across it. I thought that my friends would think me brave for my actions, but the gorge was too wide and I fell... I still remember the fear I felt when I reached the bottom, so far down I could barely see the light above at all.

"My cries echoed up to the boys above and they laughed, but I was too petrified to care. They just kept laughing at me, while I sobbed for help… All but Loki."

Thor smiled a little to himself.

"He enchanted rocks into snakes to scare the boys and once he had them cowering, he commanded them to go to our Father for help. As soon as they left, he climbed down into the gorge and he stayed with me until help came, holding an orb of light in his palm so that I wouldn't be afraid.

"We were down there until well after the sunset but Loki never left my side, and he never let the light dim for even a moment." Thor shook his head a little. "You must understand; he wasn't as powerful as he is now. He was just a boy, just getting started. To have held that orb of light for me as long as he did, it would have weakened him greatly – it would have been painful in the end. But he did it anyway. He did it for me.

"And when the Allfather finally came for us, Father cradled me. Carried me, the entire way back to the Palace… with Loki walking behind us."

Emotion swelled in Rosa's chest and she squeezed Loki's hand a little tighter.

Thor's eyes met Rosa's, "there has always been true goodness in him, but no one ever allowed him to let it shine through… until you. I truly believe, Rosa, that if he hadn't met you he would have fallen a lot further than he did. You've given him so much already. I just want for you to understand that Loki chose this. He would deny it, but he would sacrifice anything for those he loves. It's why he stayed down in the gorge with me. It's why he threw himself from the edge of the Bifrost… It's why he gave his life to you. You mean more to him than anything else ever has – ever will. Do not torment yourself, Rosa."

Thor placed a hand upon Loki's shoulder and lingered there, knowing full well that it might be the last time he ever looked upon his face.

"Goodbye, brother." He said, before turning towards the door.

Rosa looked up at last, "Thor, wait." She said gently.

He stopped and turned towards her, looking weary with sadness. She stood and moved towards him, reaching up and cupping his face. She offered him a kind smile.

"You're a great man, Thor… you've been so good to me. There is no way of showing you how truly grateful I am, Thor. Do take care of yourself, my friend, I wish you every happiness the fates can afford you. "

Rosa buried her head in Thor's broad chest, her arms wrapping around his waist. She sighed as she felt Thor pull her in closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. More than anyone else, Rosa would miss Thor. He had been so good to her. He would make a good King some day, perhaps one day she'd emerge to see it for herself.

"I'll miss you." She whispered.

"Rosa… if you change your mind… no one will think any less of you if you leave-" Thor took her hands in his. He had to say it one last time. He had to be sure she understood that.

Rosa nodded. "I won't leave, Thor. I'll never leave him."

At that Thor gave a gentle, accepting smile.

"I know… Take care of him, Rosa." he whispered.

"Goodbye..." Rosa's hands slipped from Thor's grasp as she turned to take her place at Loki's side.

The years rolled into centuries and the name of Loki Laufeyson came to be not but legend. The people of Asgard and Midgard alike told his story; the God of Lies and Mischief who sought to conquer and destroy all the nine realms. They spoke of how the Mighty Thor – who had once seen Loki as a brother – had defeated him time and time again. They whispered to their children about the Almighty King Odin who at last condemned the God of Lies to suffer for all of eternity within the deepest caves beneath the golden city of Asgard. It was believed that Odin had him bound to a great boulder beneath the great fangs of a venomous snake, forever dripping it's poison upon him for the remaindr of existence as punishment for his crimes. Many said that it was Loki writhing to escape the bonds – to escape the pain – which caused earthquakes.

And some spoke of woman… a woman who was little known to the great Asgardian Gods.

They whispered that she was the only thing that the Jotun God had ever truly loved. They said that she was the true reason that Odin was able to lock Loki away for eternity. They say that it was she who finally stopped him. And for that – though little else was truly known of her – they called her 'triumph' and referred to always as Sigyn.

Those who believed in the existence of this woman would tell it that she remained by Loki's side through his torment, holding a bowl over him to catch the searing venom.

Though Loki was forever regarded by Gods and mortals alike as not but wickedness and chaos. Lover's told the story fondly, of he and the woman who waited by his side, never to be forgotten.

Deep beneath the city of Asgard, where sunlight had never before touched, Rosa rested her head upon Loki's chest and closed her eyes, listening to the ever steady sound of his beating heart.

Seriously? You really thought I would do that to you guys? Just kill her off and leave Loki alone and miserable all over again… Ye of little faith :P

Though I suppose this isn't much better at the moment is it? Is it a little worse maybe? I sure hope not! Perhaps you'll just have to come back and see what happens in the next chapter…

OH! Also, since our time together is drawing to an end, I've decided I'm not happy about that! I'll miss you guys! You've all been so awesome. So! Seeing as you obviously all love reading, how about adding me as a friend on Goodreads? If you don't have a Goodreads account, seriously, GET ONE! It's an amazing website. I spend faaaar too much time on there if I'm being honest with you.

I changed my name to 'PaperHeart' so that I'd be easy to find. I think there's a few of us on there so I'm the one from Australia.

So yeah! You add me, I'll add you. We can recommend and discuss books with each other and be best book friends forever!

Now… someone mentioned something about fanart if Rosa lived? I'd LOVE to see what you can do :)