Hello, all!

Welcome back to a new installment of Ruin, where s*** is getting SUPER tense, haha.

I wanted to thank you all for your patience. Junior year in college is proving to be my most busy yet (17 hours of classes, 27 new songs to learn for my Junior Recital, new President of an organization, not one but two internships? YEAH MAKE HEALTHIER DECISIONS THAN ME GUYS.) Anyway, since my first round of tests finally concluded, I finally had a chance to knock this thing out. So thank you and THANK YOU to Team Damon for her all around wonderful-ness and her never ending support! You complete me *heart eyes*

It's the moment you've all (Team Damon and myself included) been waiting for. The reunion chapter. This is the big turning point in this story guys. It's actually happening.

This was quite the difficult chapter to write (so many emotions, yeesh) so I really hope all goes well! Please write a little review and let me know what you think! And again, feel free to contact me on Tumblr as well! take-me-tom-hiddleston

Midnightwings96

As Aemilia slowly regained consciousness, she felt as if she was suspended underwater. Her consciousness struggled to reach the surface, sluggish and confused and helpless to the muddy, suffocating darkness around her. She could sense the world above her, a petite, blurry figure pacing back and forth anxiously, and a calming caress of a soft hand on her motionless arm. Two feminine voices spoke quietly and urgently between each other, but she couldn't understand why. Her memories were dulled, faint and pushed to the back of her mind in a thick haze.

Minutes passed. Eventually, the hand on her arm gently squeezed, accompanying a tentative call of "Aemilia?"

With a rush, everything flooded her mind so quickly that Aemilia shot up in her seat with a nearly violent inhale, skin slick with sweat and her head and heart pounding faster than lightening.

Loki was alive.

She looked around the room wildly as if Loki would be there waiting on her, but instead her eyes fell to Frigga instead, who was sitting to her left on the edge of the bed, expression worried and exhausted. Elida stood to her right with frightened eyes and fingernails promptly wedged between her teeth.

"Aemilia, dear, are you alright?" Frigga asked, grasping her hand. Aemilia looked at her incredulously, eyes wide and confused. Why in all of the Realms was she wasting time with a question such as that?

"Loki…He's here. He's alive. Or was that just some cruel hallucination?"

The Queen managed to look both joyful and tortured at the same time. "Yes, Loki is alive. What you saw was real."

Questions upon questions rattled Aemilia's brain faster than she could process them all. How did he survive? Where did you find him? What happened to him during all this time? And the most concerning: Why was he escorted to the Grand Hall in enough chains to subdue the Titans themselves?

But, for now, "Did you already know?"

Frigga visibly tensed, and she shut her eyes during a small exhale. Her shame was palpable, and despite her physical reaction being more than enough of an answer, she quietly admitted, "Yes."

Aemilia tried to maintain an open mind, but she couldn't help but feel the stab of betrayal in her heart. She wanted to trust the Queen's reasons…she had always been wise and calculated in her decisions, but this… "How long?"

"Aemilia—" Frigga began, but Aemilia held up a hand with tears in her eyes.

"How. Long?" she asked again, voice strong despite her hand shaking.

Frigga sighed again, pulling her hand away to tiredly rub at her eyes. "Around seven months now."

And the knife simply twisted. The sting of emotion became too much, and her tears finally fell. It was with a grave, horrifying realization that she said, "You…you knew Loki was alive when I asked for your blessing to move on. You encouraged me to be with Fandral, knowing he was still alive! You let my grief and guilt and trauma destroy me, yet you knew. "

The Queen's eyes widened at Aemilia's uncharacteristically hateful tone, shame briefly losing to panic of possibly losing the younger woman forever for her actions. "Aemilia, yes, I did, and I will have to live with that guilt for the rest of my days, but you must understand the circumstances. They are far more complicated than you can even fathom."

"Then explain," Aemilia demanded, her proper courtesy all but obliterated. There was no room for false airs any longer.

Frigga looked at her warily, unsure if she truly knew what she was getting herself into, but she knew it had to be done. With an ill-fated attempt at a calming breath, the older woman told Aemilia everything. Of how she refused to believe that Loki was truly dead until she found his body, and how that search led to her finding him in some obscure land, chained up and tortured like an animal by a demon called the Other. How his body had been stripped of his Aesir form, leaving his Jotun visage scarred and lashed like a slave. Aemilia held herself together as much as she could, but her tears streamed freely down her face as the Queen told her of how she had found him, his mouth jaggedly sewn shut, desperately clinging to what he once knew and his identity through the simple little lullaby she sang to him what felt like a millennia ago.

Frigga left no detail out. She continued to explain Odin's order of maintaining discretion between the Royal Family as insurance if Loki were to perish before they could locate him. That would keep those who cared from feeling the same loss twice. Despite the good intentions, however, Aemilia still felt seething anger and betrayal, though she now realized it was more Odin's fault than Frigga's. As if she needed any more reason to resent the All-Father.

Then Frigga told how, just a couple of days prior, Heimdall witnessed Loki suddenly appear on Midgard – of all places – with his Aesir form intact and in possession of a foreign scepter. It apparently radiated dark energy that attacked the mind, and it was still up for debate as to whether it had influenced Loki's as well. Odin harnessed a concerning level of dark magic to send Thor to Midgard with a mission to retrieve Loki and the artifact of which he sook: the Tesseract.

From Thor's recollections, Frigga relayed that Loki was on some mad quest to take over the mortals of Midgard and act as a benevolent god to them, yet he ran havoc throughout the world, killing 80 or more people in two days. He then opened up a portal to the dark land of the dreaded Chitauri – a race that Aemilia had only heard of in tall tales – and all-out war began. Loki and his alien army fought Thor, who teamed up with a small group of Midgardian warriors. An entire city was nearly obliterated before Loki was subdued and the portal was closed. Then, during the aftermath, Thor took Loki back to Asgard in chains with the power of the Tesseract. It was during Loki's escort to receive judgement from the All-Father that Aemilia had seen him.

As Frigga's explanation came to a close, Aemilia was simply more confused than ever. She felt an overwhelming amount of joy that he had survived, she was disgusted and heartbroken to know of the unspeakable things her love had endured, and at the same time, she was horrified to know that he had lead a conflict that resulted in hundreds of deaths, all for a meager mortal throne to sit upon.

It just…it didn't make any sense.

Aemilia stayed quiet for a very long time, simply trying to process the overwhelming amount of information she had been given. Frigga and Elida, who had quietly listened in the corner of the room, remained still, waiting. She broke the silence with another question. One that she feared the answer to.

"What was the All-Father's judgement?"

Frigga visibly winced and answered with dread, "The All-Father has sentenced Loki to life in prison amongst some of the most dangerous and terroristic criminals in all the Realms. No visitors."

In a matter of hours, Aemilia had gained the love of her life, and lost him again. She had heard of this prison, and there was no way she would ever see him again. He was so close, but too far all the same. The tell-tale prickling of panic began creeping up her neck. "B-but…couldn't you reason with the All-Father? Make some sort of arrangement—"

"Aemilia, I already have," Frigga interjected. Upon receiving a questioning look, she quietly explained, "I saved him from execution."

…Execution.

Aemilia took in a shaky breath, so unsure of what to do – if she could even do anything – but thrumming with the need to do something. "I…Frigga, I have to see him."

If the Queen could look any wearier, she did in that moment. "Loki is being held in the most secure holding facility in Asgard. It's connected to the palace to ensure tiers upon tiers of security. It would be impossible for you to sneak in."

Aemilia's eyes widened as a thought suddenly hit her. "No, but if you helpedme…"

Frigga immediately shook her head, "But if you were to—"

Aemilia stood firm. "Your Grace, I've come to know you very well, especially what you are capable of. If anyone in all of Asgard could get me in to see him, it's you." When she was only met with more wary looks of rejection, she couldn't help but add, "…You owe me that much."

The two women locked eyes, wise and guilty blue against determined and firm hazel, and Frigga knew Aemilia was right.

With a reluctant nod, Frigga conceded. "I will help you, but I must have time to prepare and concoct a plan. I will send for you when I am ready, but you must be patient."

Despite the obvious tension between the two of them—it would take some time for her to fully forgive Frigga's lies—Aemilia thankfully grasped the older woman's hand. "Thank you, my Queen."

One way or another, she was going to see him.

Frigga nodded, knowing how grateful Aemilia was without her thanks. "I suggest you take this time to mentally prepare, my dear. The Loki you will face might not be the one you remember. We have still not fully discovered all that he has endured and the current state of his mind."

"…I will proceed with caution."

"And know that I will only help you sneak in this one time. The risk is too high. If you were to be discovered, you could be imprisoned yourself, and I will not take part in causing a fate such as that." Aemilia almost balked, but quickly bit her tongue. She would take what she was given, and find another solution later. She just needed to see him first. The rest would be figured out in time.

"Now," Frigga continued, standing, "I must go. The All-Father and Thor have requested my presence, and I shan't give Odin any reason to be suspicious by being late."

Elida, who had remained as quiet as a mouse in the corner, suddenly piped up, "Wait!" The tiny woman visibly shrunk as Aemilia's and the Queen's gaze met her own, but she continued, "I was wondering, if…Well, uh, I have been struggling with anxiety as of late, and…well, Aemilia told me you might have, uh, maybe, since your already here…would you have a type of remedy or potion that might help me with that?"

Frigga glanced at Aemilia quickly before looking back to Elida, surely seeing straight through the fidgety woman's angle, but said nothing of it. She simply nodded and said, "Yes, of course." She quickly retrieved a pen and paper on Aemilia's desk and scribbled down a list of ingredients. "This recipe should help. Aemilia knows how to combine the ingredients."

"Thank you!" Elida exclaimed quietly. With one more troubled look between the two young women, Frigga then disappeared with a wave of her hand and a subtle flourish of green light.

Aemilia turned to her friend and asked, "Elida, why did you take on my troubles as your own?"

The blonde sighed and plopped down on the bed next to her, infinitely more comfortable without the warm but still intimidating—at least to Elida—Queen in the room. "Because. I knew you wouldn't want to trouble Queen Frigga with anything else, so I saw an opportunity and took it. Her Grace hasn't seen your anxiety like I have, so I took it upon myself to make sure you got the help to get through everything. Especially now."

Aemilia sighed, but she knew Elida was right. Valhalla knows how she would start to react to the stress of Loki's more than questionable return, so she thanked her.

Then, a sudden thought struck her. Amongst all her bewilderment, she had completely forgotten. "Elida…where is Fandral?"

"Well, after you fell unconscious, he was the one that carried you back to your room while I fetched the Queen—which was quite a task, considering I had to babble to a couple of guards for what felt like hours before they finally let me through. When she came, though, she asked him to leave so she could talk to you when you woke up. He was very clearly worried, but he left. That was about two hours ago. I'm not sure where he is now."

Aemilia knew where he would've gone.

"But..," Elida added with big blue eyes, "What are you going to do now?"

Her insinuation was clear. Now that Loki was back, what was to become of her courtship with Fandral? Aemilia could do nothing but answer honestly. "I…I don't know."

There were simply too many things for her to think about now.

Minutes passed. Hours passed. Deep into the night, Aemilia was still frantically awake, her mind so troubled with unsurety that the concept of sleep was laughable. During this time, Aemilia gathered enough proper ingredients for Frigga's anxiety remedy to make a batch large enough to last her quite a while. Considering her life as of late, it seemed wise to plan for the future.

Like all of Frigga's recipes, there were no ill side effects, if made correctly. Upon Aemilia's first trial of the calmingly blue liquid, she was pleased to discover that it did not totally expunge all of her emotions. She still felt everything, but the stirrings of panic and the physical reactions that came with it were seemingly abated. Her emotions—though still obviously troubled and out of balance—were manageable, and that was all she could ever ask for.

However, now that she wasn't constantly fighting back another attack, she had plenty of headspace to think about Loki. And their secret future meeting. And Fandral.

At one point in the night, Aemilia almost sook out Fandral to ensure him that she was as well as she could be. She knew he would be at the training arena—either swinging his sword at an imaginary foe or polishing it until it was free of blemishes—working out the sudden stress of the day to clear his head. Her hand was just about to turn the latch on her door, but something kept her from going to him. It was just…simply, too soon. Everything was too fresh. She did not have one iota of an idea of what to say to him yet, so she decided to wait until she did. So, she stayed in her room all night long.

That night passed by excruciatingly slowly. Only until the sun finally pushed through the horizon did Aemilia fall asleep from sheer exhaustion. She thanked the heavens that she didn't have dress rehearsal that day.

…Oh yes, there was also that to worry about. The opera was debuting in no less than a week. Valhalla save her.

She fully hoped she would sleep until the late afternoon, but her subconscious wouldn't leave her at peace. Images of a faceless, evil creature flaying the skin of Loki's back with a whip plagued her nightmares. She could hear the violent screams rip from his throat as the Other mercilessly burned him—for what better way to torture a frost giant than with fire? His pained, tortured cries of her name. Aemilia! Aemilia! Begging her to save him, but she never could.

It was with a teeth-rattling jolt and a gasp that she woke up. She had only slept three hours.

Much too disturbed to fall back asleep, Aemilia got up with a groan and immediately went to her desk. If she was simply going to wait for Frigga's plan of action, she might as well do something useful. So she studied. Spells, incantations, potions, anything she thought might help get her past the guards and into Loki's cell. Then, as today turned into tomorrow, it was finally time for her to go back to the theatre for her final dress rehearsals.

Sleep for three hours. Study. Think. Rehearse. That went on for five days. She did not see Frigga or Elida or Thor, and she did not seek out Fandral. He unexpectedly stopped by her chambers at one point, wanting to know if she was okay and if he could do anything to help. He was so genuine in his worry for her, and she couldn't help but feel the sting of guilt from avoiding him. He did not deserve such treatment; however, all she could bring herself to do was to ensure that she was as sound as she could be, given the context, and thank him for checking in on her.

It was with a gentle squeeze of her hand on his and a delicate kiss of his cheek that she bade him goodbye. He seemed incredibly reluctant to leave her, but he did not question her. For that, she greatly appreciated. Fandral had always been so incredibly patient with her, but this simply was a step above the rest.

After their little encounter, Aemilia's thoughts drifted more towards Fandral and the status of their courtship.

It wasn't as though Aemilia expected her and Loki to pick back up right where they left off. Oh no, that idea was absolutely laughable. Aemilia—while still loving Loki more than words could even say—was a completely different person than she once was. Losing Loki changed her forever. She was quieter, sadder, and more prone to getting lost in her ever-swirling thoughts. At the same time, however, she was more disciplined than ever, harder, stronger, faster, more determined, more powerful. She also far more appreciated those tiny moments in time where she felt truly happy, for she now knew how fleeting those moments could be.

Before Loki's fall, she was but a mere child, mature yet impossibly inexperienced. She had yet to know despair, a despair so real she could almost taste it. And guilt. And anger. And confusion. She thought she had experienced those emotions, but it took watching her love willingly let go and fall into an abyss to realize that she had never truly felt any of those things until that very moment.

Also, she had a year to look back on her relationship with Loki, and while she wouldn't take back a second she had with him—the good and the bad—it took bitterly clear hindsight for her to realize just how toxic their relationship had been. It was riddled with lies and mistrust and deceit. Loki's crippling self-doubt caused him to frequently question her love for him, despite her constant affirmations. Then, once Loki discovered his true heritage, everything simply got worse. And when Thor was banished, Loki's paranoia and hatred spread throughout him like a sickness, causing him to question Aemilia's loyalty to him, of all things, despite her steadfast devotion that had been proved again and again and again. Their relationship fell apart just barely after it even had a chance to begin, due to Loki's demons and Aemilia's naïveté.

But, despite all of that, Loki was also key in her journey to realizing her true desires. He had been her best supporter, her liberator, awakening so many possibilities and dreams that she couldn't have even fathomed while under the pressing thumb of her mother and the strangling norms of society. And despite the hurt and the heartache and the secrecy, Aemilia knew that she could never ever love a man like she loved—loves—Loki.

That certainly didn't mean they could truly be together again, though. While Aemilia had changed exponentially, Loki had truly been to Hel and back, and while she couldn't know for sure, the likelihood of him being mentally sound was next to impossible. She still had not quite processed the tirade that he had lead in Midgard. All those lives… That was something she couldn't truly address until she saw and spoke with Loki for herself. There was also the glaring issue of his life sentence.

And then there was the matter of Fandral.

Fandral and Aemilia worked together. They really did. They were supportive of each other, they respected each other on the highest of levels. They made each other laugh until their sides hurt. And even though they were certainly nowhere close to being "in love," they didlove each other deeply.

That being said, despite Aemilia's affections for Fandral, she had decided to take the first step in courting him because Loki was dead.

…Could she really give her heart and mind to another man while Loki was alive?

Aemilia contemplated that question for many days. It was on the fifth day after Loki's return, with the chained ring clutched in her hand, that she finally knew the answer.

The next morning, Aemilia headed to the gardens with a heavy heart. Fandral always took a morning stroll in the Queen's gardens just as the sun started to rise, and she knew this day would be no different. As she walked down the steps and followed the path of Frigga's eternal roses, she saw him off in the distance. He walked a little slower than his normal, bounding-like stride, his hands in his pockets. Even from afar, he looked absolutely lovely in the morning sun. He was dressed in a casual, olive green tunic, his sword fastened to his side, and his typical brown leather pants. His tousled blonde head almost looked like a halo as it reflected the light.

As she grew closer, He looked to be deep in thought, his bright blue eyes cast downwards to the ground. He clearly had something on his mind, since he didn't even look up as she approached him.

"…Care for some company?"

Fandral immediately stopped, quickly looking up to see her standing there, a small smile on her face. "Aemilia," he stated, eyes wide. She must have taken him off guard. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Yes, I know. May I join you?" she asked again.

"Oh! Yes, of course, please," he lightly babbled. It was obvious that he wasn't exactly sure how to act around her right now, and she didn't blame him in the slightest. How should one react if your current partner's dead love-of-their-life miraculously returned? Had there ever been a situation like this to occur to anyone else? It seemed unlikely.

She then went to his side and took his offered arm. They walked silently for a long time, enjoying each other's company and finding comfort in the other's touch, but there was a distinctively different air about them. It was sad, melancholy, and despite Aemilia not having said a word yet, it felt like a goodbye in a way.

They walked through the heart of the rose garden and came upon a marble bench. Aemilia held back a sigh. She couldn't delay this any longer. "Could we sit for a moment?"

"Of course." The couple sat down close enough to remain touching. Neither one said anything else for a long time. Aemilia relinquished his arm to slide her hand down to his, and they gently intertwined their fingers together. Her hand was so small and delicate next to his, and Aemilia stared at their hands with a growing sadness before finally speaking.

"I've been…hoping to talk with you," she began, unsure of how to start. Both of them kept their gazes on their shared grasp.

"I've been worried about you, Aemilia."

"I know."

"And I've missed you."

She shut her eyes at that. Fandral was just so unbelievably real with her. Open, trusting, genuine. That was the one thing about their relationship that she had never experienced before with Loki. Loki, while trusting her to a degree higher than he trusted most, still held a staggering amount of secrets and lies. He had lied to her face on more than one account. He had deceived her and tricked her. She always trusted his love for her, but she never truly trust him. And while Fandral and Aemilia certainly didn't share the all-consuming passion for one another that she and Loki had, they held no secrets between them. Loki had loved her, yes, for certain, but because of his lack of trust in her, she knew that he never really regarded her as his equal and his other half. Fandral and Aemilia, however, were partners, through and through.

She would miss that the most.

"I missed you, too," she finally replied, opening her eyes to look at him. The grip on their hands tightened.

His lips were slightly upturned in a sad smile—an expression she didn't see from him often—with his brows lightly furrowed. He was clearly waiting for her to start.

With another small sigh, she said, "Obviously, I've had a lot to think about these past few days. I've had to think about things I never imagined I would have to think about. I'm sorry I've been so absent without much explanation, but I didn't want to speak with you until I could really reflect on all that's happened and organize my thoughts."

"You don't have to apologize, Aemilia. I can't imagine all that's going through your mind right now. I knew you needed space."

She nodded. "And I really appreciate that."

After an unsure pause, Fandral gently pushed, "So, tell me what's on your mind."

She hesitantly glanced at him before silently pushing herself to just get on with it. "Fandral… I've had a wonderful amount of support this past year. Frigga, meeting Elida and bonding with her...they've both been incredibly therapeutic for me. But you," she said, meeting his blue gaze, "you have helped me more than I could possibly thank you for. You helped me find myself again at a time where I was totally and utterly lost. You helped me smile again. Laugh again. Your encouragement is what pushed me to go back to my passions and to learn new things. I will be forever indebted to you, for that."

"Aemilia," he said, turning his body full towards her. "I only did what you would have done for me since the very beginning of our friendship."

She briefly looked away for a second before looking back to his eyes. "And then…beyond friendship."

He swallowed and nodded slightly. "…Yes."

"Being with you…courting you, has been extremely healing for me. It's been irreplaceable having you as a partner by my side. We make a great team, don't we?"

He chuckled a little bit. "We sure do."

"But…obviously," Aemilia had to suppress a cringe as her eyes couldn't help but leave his as she said, "things are, are different now."

There was a poignant pause before Fandral said quietly, "…I know."

Then, the sudden need to thoroughly explain herself kicked in. "Trust me, it's not like I want to just go and be with—"

"Aemilia," he interrupted, squeezing her hand. She stopped mid-sentence and looked back to him. His expression remained the same: sad, but still somehow warm. His voice was quiet, but steady. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I know, and I understand."

"But…I don't want you to get the wrong idea—"

"I won't get the wrong idea. Aemilia, you are the first woman I've ever really, truly cared about. As you know, I had never been in a real relationship until you. And like you said, we're partners, we have been far before our courtship began, and I respect you too much to try to change your mind or question your reasons…especially when your reasons are perfectly valid."

She felt the pin prick of tears begin at his words, but she didn't let them fall. She placed a hand to his cheek, his slight scruff rough against her palm as he leaned into it. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Aemilia, I promise you. I'll be okay. We'll be okay."

"…We will?" she asked. More than anything, she had been worried about the state of their friendship after all of this.

"You were my friend first, Aemilia. I won't allow that to change. I…think it may be best if we gave each other time, to get our thoughts collected. But yes, we will be just fine."

Despite everything else seemingly going up in flames around her, Fandral's words manage to calm her heart and ease her mind. Her relief was palpable as she brought her lips to the back of his hand in a lingering kiss. "Thank you."

Fandral's eyes lingered on her lips on his skin. All he could do was nod, giving her another reassuring smile. Then, her arms wrapped around him as she thanked him again. He welcomed the embrace, lightly stroking the ends of her hair and putting his lips to her forehead in a kiss goodbye. He had known this was coming the moment he saw Loki was alive, but that didn't make it any easier. He couldn't be angry with her. What had happened was beyond either of their control, and all they could do now, was to accept change.

After Aemilia and Fandral reluctantly parted ways, Aemilia spent the rest of the daylight hours at the theatre for the final dress rehearsal of the simply titled Helena. Tomorrow evening, the show would finally open at long last. Despite everything, she felt the same excitement and nervousness that she did during her last debut, even though the timing of everything could not be worse.

She had half expected to be so absorbed in her thoughts of Loki and her pending visit with him that her performance quality would start to dwindle; however, just the opposite occurred. The first day she returned to the theatre after Loki's return, she was reminded just how much she shared with the titular character, now more than ever. Somehow, that gave her a laser-like focus, and proved to be a rather effective emotional outlet for her.

Loki had always been at the back of her mind during rehearsals, but now? He was all she saw. As she was rehearsing the pinnacle duet where Helena and Eirik are reunited, so joyful yet also so broken, Aemilia had to sing through a stream of tears. Everything was so much more real now. That made the character easier to play in some sense, but it also made it more challenging than ever. All she could hope for was that she held it together the following night.

Though, of course, as soon as she returned home, her life just had to be upturned again, because Frigga was in her chambers waiting on her.

"Your Grace…?" she asked as she shut the door behind her. Frigga was quick to put a finger to her lips and give her a pointed look. Aemilia, wide-eyed, clamped her jaw shut as she watched the Queen cast a privacy spell, sound-proofing the room.

When the spell had fully taken hold, Frigga walked towards Aemilia hastily, putting her hands on her shoulders. "Aemilia, know that no one can know about this plan. Not Fandral, not Thor, no one."

Aemilia looked at the Queen, bewildered by her almost frantic countenance. "O-of course. I shall not breathe a word to anyone….You've come up with a plan?"

Frigga nodded as she pulled Aemilia by the arm to sit down on the small couch by her desk. "Yes. I have taken great pains to ensure the success of this plan, but you must listen to me very closely and do exactly as I say, or it could all fall apart."

Despite the automatic stress that Aemilia felt—this was finally happening—she couldn't help but be incredibly excited. She knew not to get her hopes hope. She would have no expectations in regard to Loki. But. She was going to see him again.

"I will do everything you say."

"Good. Now, I got my hands on the guard rotation for the prison. All guards employed there are top tier, their skills just beneath those of our top warriors. However, there is one particular guard that I have personally encountered, and I think he will be the easiest to slip past. Don't underestimate him though; he might be subpar compared to most of his colleagues, but he still has centuries of training. He will be able to subdue you if he catches you, despite your intensive training."

Aemilia nodded seriously. "I will exercise caution, I assure you. I know I have improved greatly, but I'm not blind to my inexperience. When is his next shift?"

Frigga looked at her cautiously. "Tomorrow evening, just before dusk."

Aemilia blinked. "Is this a jest?" She had to be at the theatre a mere hour and a half after that. And that was if she missed official call time for costuming.

"I am afraid not," Frigga stated.

"…There is no other option?"

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. After tomorrow, he will be transitioning to a daylight shift, and he'll be replaced with a guard who I would rather you not encounter. The next opportunity could be months. If you want to see my son, you have to go tomorrow."

"Well, I suppose it's settled then," Aemilia said. This was the worst timing imaginable, but she would make it work. She had to. "Let's proceed."

"Good. Now," she continued, grabbing a small drawstring bag at her side, "I do hope you've been practicing all of the illusion skills I taught you."

"Yes, all the time."

"Well, consider this the ultimate test. You will have to disguise yourself as a guard to get through the front gates and down into the bottom sector, where Loki is contained." She handed her a small piece of a paper with a sketched out map. "Our official city records intentionally leave out the structural plans to prevent the very thing we are planning. This is the best I can provide. I've been down to the prison a small handful of times. Thankfully, I've been to the very place Loki is being held. This should suffice to guide you there.

"Now, once you reach Loki's sector, this is when you'll need to get past the main guard. Thankfully, the cells are so advanced there that they do not have extra guards walking the halls, so you just have to face this one guard. If you had the experience Loki and I have, you could simply teleport inside and past the security, but unfortunately I had to get creative." She then pulled a small vial full of a sand-like dust from the bag. "You will need to throw this at the guard, close enough to his face for him to inhale it. It should put him in a sleep-like trance. This will work for about 30 minutes. If I had made it stronger, it could cause side effects. So you will have to get in and get out as efficiently as you can."

Aemilia took the vial, thoughts moving at light speed in an attempt to absorb all the information.

If you were to just speak to him, that would suffice; however, I need you to get inside his cell so you can give him something for me. For us."

Aemilia furrowed her brows. "Give him what?" she asked, just as Frigga pulled out a clear crystal about the size of her palm.

"Despite my experience, it took quite a bit of studying from old Vanir spell books to make this. This is a communication device. It cannot send out messages, so he won't be able to contact anyone, but with the right incantation, I can speak with him. And you can, too." Aemilia's heart leapt at the thought. Being able to see him again might not be so unreachable after all. She just had to execute Frigga's plan correctly.

She continued, "I knew I needed to do something for Loki's sake. Unless something drastically changes, he will be in the cell for a very, very long time. Staying in one room, doing nothing, with no contact to the outside world would drive him absolutely mad. I am able to send him books and various other harmless things, but it would be impossible to get this crystal past the guards. Thus, why you need to smuggle it in."

Aemilia took the crystal, grasping it tightly. "No matter what happens, one way or another I will get this to him."

"As for getting inside the cell, the barrier is programmed to analyze our DNA. Only a few select people can walk through it. For days I've been working on a cloak that should make you undetectable to the sensors. I will have it finished by tonight. All you have to do is make sure that not one hair on your head touches the barrier, or all Hel will break loose and an entire team of guards will be there faster than you can blink.

"Then, once you're inside, all you have to do is cast this cloaking spell," she handed her another piece of paper with the incantation, "which will ensure that no prying eyes or ears will detect your presence. It will be just as if Loki was sitting there by himself.

"Upon your exit, simply put the cloak back on and get out the way you came in. I will be waiting for you by the weapons vault outside the prison entrance."

Aemilia's head was absolutely swimming, but she still managed to absorb everything. Frigga had her recite the entire plan back to her, ensuring she knew everything she had to do. Once Aemilia relayed everything back to her, Frigga stood to her feet. "One more thing. This, of course, is for emergencies only. Don't use this if you absolutely have to." She then pulled a small holster from the bag. In it nestled a dagger. Aemilia's eyes widened.

"Your proficiency with a dagger is quite impressive, given your small amount of training. You've taken to it very well, and I figured it time you have one of your own instead of those deplorable old things used at the training arena." She then pulled the knife from the holster, and the flawless metal glistened in the lamp light.

It was absolutely stunning. The handle was tightly wrapped in the finest of leathers and a soot black. The blade itself was a work of art, with a subtle engraving of curling vines up near the hilt, and the metal extended into a deadly point, so sharp even the slightest of touches could bring forth blood. Aemilia didn't know what to say. "Y-you're Grace, I can't accept—"

She held up a hand, silencing her. "Aemilia, dear, I want you to have this. I do not wish to buy back your favor after I lied to you, but consider this a token of my severe apologies." She paused for a moment, her regret palpable in her gaze. Voice softer, she continued, "Once more, I lied to a loved one against my better judgement on Odin's command, and I refuse to do so again. Please forgive me."

Aemilia grasped the Queen's hand, beyond touched by her apology. "I was terribly hurt to discover your dishonesty, but I know you only had the best intentions, and you were only abiding by the All-Father's wishes. I do not blame you, my Queen. You've already done so much to atone for sins that were really not your doing. All is forgiven. Thank you for all of your irreplaceable help, and thank youfor the dagger. I truly don't know what to say."

For the first time in days, Aemilia saw Frigga smile. It even reached her eyes. "You need not say anything at all, my dear. I am simply relieved you are no longer angry with me."

"How could I be? Without you, I could never hope to see Loki again."

A slightly worried look flashed through the older woman's eyes. "Well, don't thank me yet. I pray all goes well. This could end very badly."

"I will be more than careful," Aemilia assured her. Frigga still looked wary, but nodded despite it.

"Well, I must be off. I have to finish your cloak and make some final arrangements. Stay here tomorrow. Practice the incantations and your illusions. When the time comes, I will fetch you. If all goes well, you will be back to theatre in time for your show, and no one will be the wiser."

Aemilia swallowed nervously. "I pray you are right."

Time ticked by at a torturous pace the next day. Of course, sleep evaded Aemilia yet again, and she fruitlessly attempted to soak up the minutes and hours practicing, both in magic and rehearsing her lines for the opera. She had already put in so many hours that guaranteed her proficiency, but one more time wouldn't hurt, right? Or...five more times. Or five more.

With the help of a few leftover herbs she had on hand, she thankfully managed to get about four hours asleep once the sun had already begun to ascend over the horizon. A meager four hours was not nearly enough, but it was all Aemilia could muster amidst her rampaging thoughts.

She had no idea what she would say to Loki once she got there, if she got there. What does one say to one's resurrected lover after they've gone on a murderous claim of tyranny and thus eternally imprisoned?

After toiling over it all night and day, she simply decided she would just say what she thought of in the moment. That way, she wouldn't have enough time to talk herself out of saying anything.

Eventually, during the sun's descent, Frigga finally came for Aemilia.

She was sitting at her dressing table, occupying her time by getting ready for the opera while she could, when she heard the Queen's voice behind her. "It's time."

Brush still held up towards her lips from painting them a dark berry color, she paused as a thrill of nerves and excitement rushed through her heart. Taking in a deep breath, Aemilia set the brush down and turned to look at Frigga, who was dressed in a startlingly dark blue dress. "I'm ready," she said as she stood.

"You have everything you need?"

"Yes," she said, retrieving the small satchel at the end of her bed, going through it once more to be safe. "I have the map, the spell for the guard, and the crystal."

"And the dagger?" Aemilia nodded, parting the inconspicuous slit of her dress to reveal the dagger holstered tightly to her right thigh. "Good. Don't be afraid to use it, but use it only when absolutely necessary. Hopefully you won't ever have to."

Aemilia prayed she wouldn't have to either. She had not been fighting long, and certainly not long enough to have even considered the thought of possibly killing another in defense. It had been something she was simply choosing not to think of, but now she had regretted voluntarily living in such denial. Nothing could prepare her for something like that.

Aemilia thought she was covering up her nerves fairly well, but of course Frigga saw right through her. "I know you're scared, dear, but know that I have utmost confidence in you. You can do this. You will."

She looked at the Queen warily, but still nodded in recognition. "Do you have the cloak?"

"Yes, go ahead and put it on," she said with a wave of her hand, a deep black, hooded cloak appearing in her arms. Aemilia quickly fastened it around her neck, putting the large hood up. The two women making eye contact—Frigga's intense gaze meeting Aemilia's nervous yet determined one—Frigga extended her hand and asked one last time, "Are you ready?"

Aemilia looked at her hand pointedly, knowing as soon as she took her hand, there was no more backing out. But there was really never any choice. This was the only way to see Loki, so she would do whatever it took. The young woman then definitively placed her hand in Frigga's.

"As I'll ever be."

Well, what a spectacular turn of events. Absolutely fantastic.

Loki looked about his new living quarters with enough disdain to last two lifetimes. There was literally nothing there but a depressing looking cot, a rickety chair, four glowing cell walls and the floor.

Oddly, Loki had taken to the floor more than anything. He simply sat there, arms crossed over his chest, angrily staring into nothing as his thoughts consumed him. He had already been in this dreadful cell for a week, and that was a week too long. But for all of Loki's cleverness, he knew there was no way he was getting out of this for a very long time.

Which, unfortunately, gave him an inordinate amount of time to think, which was not boding too well for him thus far. Loki's mind was not one to be in isolation for a long time with absolutely nothing to occupy it with.

"Frigga is the only reason you're still alive, and you will never see her again. You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons."

Oh, what a glorious purpose to be burdened with, indeed. Rotting in a cell, alone, the world above him moving on as if he never existed. Loki would laugh if he wasn't so irrevocably furious. The All-Father had just thrown him in here to wither away and die, when he had done no worse deeds than Thor or Odin himself! Thor had sought to eliminate the Jotuns without even blinking, and he was banished for all of three days before his power was restored. Yet, Loki goes to a land of lesser, weak, mortal beings with an intent to rule—not annihilate—and is sent to life in prison for just a handful of pointless casualties? The double standard was staggering.

But, this would not have even been an issue if he hadn't let a band of ridiculous, wise-cracking Midgardians and his oaf of a brother get the better of him. His plan had been stunning, well thought out, fully matured, yet somehow, he let everything slip through his fingers. Loki's lips curled into a burning scowl. You idiot! How could you let this happen? He had been so close, but he let his guard down, let those fools get under his skin. It didn't make any sense. He was smarter than that. In hindsight, he could pinpoint each and every little mistake he made, and he simply couldn't figure out why he would let himself make such blunders. It was completely unlike him, which only served to make the situation even more infuriating.

He wondered what Thor was doing right now. Probably still in the midst of celebrating his victory, flanked by Sif, Hogun, Volstagg…Fandral…Aemilia…

Loki's fist clenched even harder and gritted his teeth in a low growl.

Seeing Aemilia so soon upon returning to Asgard was…unexpected in the least. He vividly remembered hearing her call out his name, voice desperate and confused. When the guards parted to allow him to look, for a short moment, he completely forgot all betrayal and bitterness he held towards her. He simply saw her, standing before his very eyes and just as stunning as ever. It had been a year since he had fallen, which felt equally like a lifetime and the blink of an eye. She looked the same as he remembered—how could he forget?—yet slightly different all the same, in a way he wasn't able to quite put his finger on. Seeing her did something to his heart that he hadn't felt since he'd fallen.

But then, he showed up, running up to her side like the sniveling, needy dog he was. By the gods, Loki felt hatred for many, many people—especially as of late—but, Lord Fandral was nearly at the top of his list. He had always been the most accepting of Loki of the remaining Warriors and Sif, and somehow that fact made his betrayal sting even further. He stole Aemilia from him, right under his nose, and it had taken walking in on the two of them in his bed for him to even realize. Fool.

However, despite his hatred of the annoyingly charismatic swordsman, it didn't come close to what he felt for her. He hated Aemilia.

She claimed to be loyal to him, to care for him, to love him, and just when things became difficult after Thor was banished, she hopped over to Fandral's bed without a second thought. Loki had given that ungrateful woman everything, saved her from banishment, shared with her his knowledge of magic, proclaimed his love for her, and she threw it back in his face. He hated her, he hated her, he hated her. Yet, somehow, amidst all of that hatred and betrayal, he still loved her.

Love and hate held a fine line after all.

The sound of a guard's approaching footsteps pulled him from his ever-darkening thoughts. With an annoyed groan, Loki stood to his feet. He looked over to the guard and immediately quirked an eyebrow. He had never seen this man before.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked, scowl firmly in place.

The guard looked at him but said nothing. In fact, he stared at Loki for an uncomfortable stretch of time, as if he wasn't sure what to do now that he was here.

Loki rolled his eyes. "As much as I'm enjoying this riveting staring contest, please, do get on with whatever you're here for before I die of old age."

Then, the guard smirked as if he were amused at him. He then took a breath and looked down as his figure was suddenly bathed in a green light that Loki knew all too well. Loki's scowl fell off his face in an instant.

Before him stood a cloaked black figure. "Mother?" Loki asked. Frigga was the only one in all of Asgard—himself excluded, of course—capable of such magic, and despite Loki's ruling, he knew his clever Mother would eventually find a way to speak with him. But the figure said nothing. It simply began walking towards the cell barrier.

"You do know you can't simply walk through these walls, correct?" Again, the figure remained silent. As it reached the barrier, Loki's eyes widened as it slowly walked through, the cloak splitting the energy force as if it were nothing. Just as the figure had fully passed the barrier, a glowing hand reached out. Loki could hear faint murmuring, just barely comprehensible for him to identify the spell. As far as cloaking spells go, it was not a particularly difficult incantation, but was very effective and widely unknown. Whoever this was had done their research.

"Who are you?" Loki asked, sick of these games. "Quit toying with me and take off that ridiculous cape."

With another wave of the hand, the cloak finally vanished off the figure to appear draped across his rickety chair.

Of anyone, this was the last person Loki ever expected to see here, in his cell, looking at him so intensely with those painfully familiar hazel eyes that his heart started racing. He couldn't help his knee-jerk reaction. His eyes widened, his mouth just barely dropped in surprise, but he quickly snapped his jaw shut and schooled his features.

"Loki," she breathed, as if she couldn't believe he was standing alive before her.

The feeling was mutual. He took some time to look her up and down, not caring in the slightest if it made her uncomfortable. Loki hated to admit it to himself, but she was more beautiful than ever, so much so that it almost felt like he had just taken a hefty blow to his stomach. Her familiar auburn hair was longer now, reaching all the way to the small of her back in waves. He could remember how soft it was on his fingertips, how lovely it smelled. She was dressed in a breathtakingly stunning dress, dark blue and hugging every line and curve of her body, draped in elaborate embroidery and see-through mesh down her arms and across her chest. She looked different, somehow. Her body still possessed all of the same curves that he remembered and loved, but she was somehow thinner, harder. She looked older, even though only a year had passed. But, Valhalla, the very visage of her made his heart hurt. He wouldn't give her the pleasure of letting her know that, though.

His features purposefully blank, he replied, "Aemilia. I see my Mother has taken you under her wing." Truthfully, he was surprised. Even though her display of skills had consisted of fairly elementary—intermediate at best—skills, with only a mere year of practice, her improvement was…impressive, to say the least.

Aemilia stared at him further. His hair was longer, much more unkempt than she remembered, the ends growing wavy at his shoulders. They had stripped him of his armor, in its place he wore black linen pants and a green tunic with a long black leather vest. He was still heart-achingly beautiful, and seeing those green eyes look neutrally back at her as if she meant nothing to him hurt her to her core. And angered her. "After all this time, that is the first thing you choose to say to me?"

"What would you like for me to say, Aemilia?" he bit back, his jaw twitching in annoyance. She knew that look. She knew he was intentionally trying to look indifferent in an attempt to hurt her, to protect himself.

She found herself unable to formulate words. "I…I don't know, I just—"

Loki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms impatiently, "Why are you here?"

Aemilia looked at him as if she'd never heard something more ridiculous. Eyes already beginning to sting in frustration, she quietly said, "…I had to see you, Loki."

Loki scoffed, "Yes, well, now you've seen m—"

"You died, Loki." she suddenly exclaimed, making him stop in his tracks. "I saw you fall right before my eyes. I saw you die!"

"As if I would be so lucky! Death would've been a much sweeter fate than what I had to endure!" he cried out in response. His calm façade gave way to a bubbling rage that had been building since he'd been thrown in this forsaken, wretched cell. Aemilia coiled back, not expecting such a visceral reaction, but she stood strong.

Just as soon as the façade disappeared, it came back just as quickly, his jaw still taut. He hadn't meant for that to come out as harshly as it had.

"Loki…" she pleaded, "Talk to me. What happened?"

He merely sneered, turning to sit on that damned chair. "I'm sure Thor and my Mother have told you plenty of what happened."

"I want you to tell me, though," she said softly. There it was again, that understandingly loyal and gentle thing that she did that automatically made him want to confide his entire life story to her. He wouldn't fall for it this time.

"It hardly matters now. What's done is done, and now," he gestured to the room about him with a humorless smile, "I get to enjoy the rest of my days in this cell, because what I did was so much worse than the genocide that Odin himself has committed in the past."

"We…we can try and find a way out of this. Surely, if Frigga and I—"

"Oh, please, don't act as if my imprisonment isn't terribly convenient for you," he snapped, the barely suppressed venom in his voice clear.

Her brows furrowed in blatant confusion, "What? What are you talking about?" Oh, she played this game very well.

"Don't waste your time with that 'innocent' act; you know exactly what I'm referring to. Or, more accurately, whom," he ground out, green eyes blazing into hers with a fury so palpable it sent a shiver down her spine. He slowly stood up, his expression increasingly dark. "I know you've been with that bumbling Lord Fandral. As if you could keep me from finding something like that out. I'm really quite impressed. You're very bold Aemilia, much more than I ever gave you credit for. And the audacity…really, you had me quite fooled for quite some time."

Aemilia was only growing increasingly more confused. Yes, she and Fandral courted, but…it was never something she kept a secret. Yet, how could he even know about that? She highly doubted Thor found the time to tell Loki something like that.

"Loki, I-I don't understand," she said truthfully.

He didn't acknowledge her statement. "You know, I really can't blame you. I really can only blame myself," he said, taking a few steps towards her. "I was a fool, naïve and lonely and blinded by such a pretty face." Loki then reached out and just barely caressed her cheek with a finger. Despite his words, Aemilia felt herself react to his touch the same way she always had. It was magnetic, electrifying between them, and as their anger grew, so did the undeniable connection between the two. This was that spark between them that Aemilia never could feel with Fandral. Aemilia and Loki's flame was bright and hot, and could easily burn both parties if pushed too far.

This was clearly one of those times.

Loki kept pushing, stepping closer with each statement, and his anger radiating off him in waves. Aemilia felt her eyes grow misty in confusion and frustration, but she held her tongue. For now. "I stood strong for a long time, kept my distance emotionally, but you…you broke me down," he growled."Despite my better judgement, I caved in and gave my heart to you, fully and unyielding." He chuckled humorlessly before he spat, "I cannot believe I was so ignorant and wasted my time with such a lying, manipulative witch!"

In was with dread that Aemilia realized Loki thought she had been unfaithful to him. He actually thought she had been with Fandral while she was devoted to him! Confusion temporarily gave way to a blinding rage. Voice quiet yet undeniably threatening, she fought back. "How dare you?"

Loki's eyes widened in fury for a split second before he suddenly pinned her up against the wall with a growl. "How dare I?!

Aemilia gasped at the unexpected impact and pushed against his hold on her arms, but his grip held strong. The couple's glaring was blazing with a hateful and angry heat. Aemilia pushed at him again, exclaiming, "Get your hands off me! Clearly, you never knew me at all if you ever thought I could be unfaithful to you!" she yelled, restraint all but obliterated.

Loki snarled, "Oh, please spare me and drop this ridiculous innocent act! I saw the two of you fucking in my chambers!"

Aemilia was absolutely reeling. "What? You have no idea what you're talking about! You're absolutely mad!"

Between gritted teeth, Loki moved in even closer and ground out, "Am I? Am I, really?"

Aemilia flexed once again at Loki's grip on her, "I said, don't touch me!"

Loki looked at her with an equally disgusted and devious smirk. "You? Rejecting my touch?" he asked, letting go of one arm to softly stroke her cheek again and leaned in towards her ear. His voice turned impossibly low, threatening, yet purposefully sensual. "I remember when you begged, groveled for my touch." He then suddenly snapped back to yell, "You certainly didn't reject Fandral, jumping into his bed, being his whore!"

Aemilia had damn well had enough. In a furious rage, her instincts kicked in and knocked his remaining hand off her. Before Loki even had a chance to process it, Aemilia reared back her right hand and backhanded him so hard her hand ached. The resounding slap rang about the room as Loki's head suddenly whipped around, a red mark already appearing on his jaw.

Loki couldn't help the resulting gasp that flew from his throat. He had not been expecting that, not for one second.

Aemilia lowly said, "You should know by now to never speak to me like that," referring to the last time he had the audacity to falsely accuse her of being a whore.

Loki rotated his jaw a bit, the impact still holding quite the sting. He had been slapped by her before, which held more of an emotional impact than a physical one, but this time…, the power behind it was startling, to say the least. A grin stretched across his face as he looked back to her. "Oh, Little One, you have changed much during my absence."

His negative use of that name made her heart painfully lurch in her chest. She had always loved hearing him call her that, but to hear it for the first time in so long in such a manner…it hurt more than she ever could have expected. Eyes stinging with unshed tears, she let him have it. "How could I not, Loki? You died! I had to change, or I couldn't have lived through such all-consuming grief of losing you. Yes, I sought comfort through a relationship with Fandral while you were gone, and in hindsight, I realize I was deluding myself into thinking I was ready for something like that." Loki smirked darkly, as if he had finally gotten her to admit his delusions were true. "But," she continued, "I will not tolerate your false accusations of my supposed infidelity to you." His smirk fell at the same time as her tears. "I was nothing but fiercely loyal to you, with a love so strong that losing you nearly killed me. Believe what you will, Loki, but what I speak is truth, and deep down you must know that."

His jaw clenched at her words. She could see his control of his features slipping again. "You know nothing of me," he stubbornly stated, stepping away from her.

She didn't let him get far as she followed him, unyielding in trying to make him see reason. "…But I do, Loki. I know your mind much more than you care to admit. Despite your attempts at disguising it, I can see the torment and confusion in your eyes." Just as she said it, Loki's mask slipped just enough to prove her point, his eyes getting that reluctant shine of unshed tears.

"I want to help you, Loki. I want to be there for you, but…I will not if you fight me every step of the way," she said quietly, tears silently streaming down her face. "I cannot be near you if you are to spew forced, fake hatred at me. So, it's up to you. Think on what I have said. It will be your decision that will determine if you ever see me again," she said, that sentence much harder to get out than she expected.

Aemilia then turned from him and retrieved her cloak, pulling it over her shoulders. "I must go," she said, picking up her small bag. She pulled out a clear crystal the size of her palm and handed it to him. "This is from your Mother. She took great pains to make this for you. This will allow you—at her discretion—to communicate with us and see the world above. It is unsafe for me to try and sneak in and drug a guard once again, so it will be through this that I will call on you." He eyed the crystal for a moment before finally taking it.

He quietly muttered, "Send Mother my thanks."

With a small pause and a nod, Aemilia pulled the hood over her head and walked towards the cell wall. She turned her head to look back at him. He was standing there, frozen in his spot, his uncharacteristically wide eyes staring blindly down to the floor. Her words had gotten to him. Good.

"Goodbye, Loki. I will see you within a week's time."

She then revoked the shrouding spell, pulled her cloak tightly around her, and left just as she had come.