Fair warning - next chapter # 42 will be a lemon! Thank you so much for the reviews, faves and follows!
Thor had spent all day with that Migardian Mortal. It bothered Rienne more than she'd like to admit. She was sitting across Sif and next to Volstagg. She was trying to ignore the way this man ate like a starving pig. Rienne quietly picked at her meal, not feeling very hungry. All she could think about was how to tell Loki she was Ragnarok…. What exactly did that mean anyway?... Would she become a monster? Or would she just cease to exist?... Her stomach felt very uneasy. So much so, it was making her sick. Almost as if she would throw up. She started feeling a little shaky and for a split second, her head had fallen back and her body went limp. Fortunately, she came to at the very moment and tried to regain her composure.
"It seems you have not yet fully recovered, Lady Rienne." Odin had seen her almost faint.
"Yes… well... no worries your highness, I'm fine." She faked a sweet smile.
Odin nodded and turned his attention to Thor. "My son, I hope you have prepared your vows for your future queen? I assume you have put a lot of thought into them." That comment made everyone at the dining table awkward. Odin was wasting no time to bring out the true nature for this dinner.
"Father please… I have already presented the woman I want to spend my life with… Jane." Thor was trying to keep an unwavering stance against his father.
"And I have already asked you to return the mortal to Midgard." You could hear the irritation in Odin's voice.
"But fath-"
"ENOUGH!" Everyone jumped from their seats when Odin cut Thor off. "I have had enough with your disobedience! This marriage was planned over a year ago and it shall remain!"
At that, Rienne tried to quietly arise from her chair. To her disappointment however, it made a very loud screeching sound, making everyone turn to her. She formed her hand into a fist and placed it over her heart in respect as she spoke to Odin. "Please excuse me, I'm afraid you were right. I am not feeling very well and must retreat to my chambers."
"Wait." Odin placed his hands under his chin as he rested his elbows on the table and gave Rai a stern look. She wordlessly acknowledged him. "How do you feel about the marriage to Thor?" Again everyone stared at her. She absolutely hated to be stared at…
Holding in a heavy sigh, she forced a kind smile. "Nothing would make me happier… and if this Midgardian girl wishes to steal Thor's affection from me…" Rai turned to face Jane. "Then I'd like to face her in a battle to the death for his love." Bowing to Odin, and holding in a smirk, she made her way out the double heavy doors of the dining hall. All she could hear, as she walked away, was Thor bellowing in protest and Odin yelling back at him to settle down.
As she walked the hallways Rienne was filled with a strange feeling of power. That fear that Jane had given her when looking into her eyes fueled her with a satisfaction she'd never felt before. It seemed that fear had fed her ego and it felt good. She started thinking about Loki. Is this what he felt whenever his silver tongue silenced those he despised? Or those he wanted to play pranks on? Well it felt great. Rai began to feel a little hot and uncomfortable. Realizing she was feeling rather lusty for Loki, she took in a deep breath to try and calm herself. A good night's sleep would help her feel better.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Rienne had a rather rude awakening. She heard through the grapevine that the girl Jane had collapsed, due to some sort of power residing within her. Much to Rienne's displeasure, it was some sort of curse from the dark elves, not natural power. She had been excited to fight Jane but since the healers were attempting to remove the source of the power, she soon lost interest. Thor didn't leave his mortal's side for a second. One of the healers had informed him that the girl might not survive the detachment.
Rienne was now among Thor and Odin. She was looking down on the girl with contempt. Odin, once again, informed Thor that she had to go. Or rather… in his words: "She does not belong here in Asgard any more than a goat belongs at the banquet table." : Rai held in a snicker. The girl was offended and in turn offended The All-Father. Once he properly introduced himself, that shut her up quickly. When Odin gave the order to the guards to take her away, the power within her protected the girl with ferocity. Now, Rai was truly intrigued.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
Odin had taken them to a special room where he kept various books and mystical items. There, he explained about the dark elves and the power that had taken refuge inside the girl. Jane was clearly irritating the All-Father with her questions. She addressed him as if he were some commoner… with disrespect and almost in a demanding tone. She could tell Odin was holding back from putting her in her place, for Thor's sake.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
Rienne was irritated with Jane. How easily she had Thor wrapped around her finger and the way she had spoken to Odin without consequence. How she longed to speak to him that way… to let him know what she truly thought of him.
Lost in thoughts of hatred and disgust, she wandered the halls aimlessly. A loud alarm ripped her away from her fantasies of how Ragnarok might look like. She realized it was the prison alarm. 'Loki!' Her heart skipped a beat and her stomach twisted into a knot. Rai ran towards her beloved trickster, not caring if the guards stood in her way or not.
0o0o0o0o0o
It seemed The Warriors Three were trying to do crowd control on the escaping prisoners. Rienne quickly ran up to Loki, who only continued to tauntingly flip the pages of his book. Of course, moments later, Thor appeared and with one slam of his hammer, silenced everyone.
"Return to your cells and no further harm will come to you. You have my word." Thor was suddenly hit in the face by a very foolish prisoner. He proceeded to beat him to a pulp and the riot continued. Rienne only shook her head and rolled her eyes at him.
She turned to Loki, who greeted her with a sly smirk. She thought this a perfect opportunity to bust Loki out without having to resort to Ragnarok. Though, she was unsure of how exactly to enact Ragnarok in the first place.
"Ooh… I love that devilish smirk…" Loki licked his lips wishing he could capture hers in a lustful kiss. Before she was able to reply, there was a strong… earthquake?… no… it was an attack! Thor ran out in a frenzy toward his mother's chambers but Rienne stayed with Loki.
"Make sure Frigga is safe! I don't trust that buffoon Thor!" Rai had never seen Loki so afraid. His eyes held urgency and pleading. She knew arguing with him would be futile and even though she worried for Loki, she figured he'd be safe in his prison cell. So she gave the raven haired god an assuring nod and ran after Thor.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Thor got there just in time to attack Malekith and watch his mother be killed by the bastard's dog. Thor went in a rage and threw Mjolnir at the two intruders but they disappeared into the sky. Odin and Rienne had just arrived in time to see the poor queen lie dead… she seemed almost at peace by the way her eyes were closed.
Odin knelt down to her and held her in his arms. Her blood spilled from her mouth and down the king's hands. Never had Rai seen the king in such sadness… She stood next to Jane wanting to scream that it was all her fault. If she hadn't been here, Malekith wouldn't have come looking for her and the queen would still be alive. However, she only whispered in her ear so Thor or Odin wouldn't hear her saying, "I hope you're content with what your presence here has done."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The queen's funeral was dreadfully beautiful. Flowers were present at every corner and petals danced in the wind. The queen was dressed in her finest golden armor and her sword placed delicately in her hands on top of her. Even in death she looked very beautiful. Her ship quietly and slowly sailed away into the vast ocean as everyone in the kingdom cried and mourned the loss of their beloved queen.
Odin stood in his battle armor. Sadness painfully plastered on his aging features. A guard lit an arrow and pulled it, holding it steady for firing. A split second later, he let the arrow fly and it lit up the queens ship. It glowed in a hauntingly beautiful warm glow of orange, red and yellow. Soon after, the hundreds of ships following her highness were also lit ablaze and followed her down the waterfall where she had led them. Her soul, in a brilliant white light, lifted itself up into the heavens where surely she would meet her beloved husband again in Valhalla. Everyone in the kingdom released an orb of light to follow their queen. Rienne held two. One for her and one for Loki.
"My beloved queen… let these words reach you… please be safe and know that I loved you like a mother… and though Loki was hurt when he found out about his true patronage… he will always see you as his birthmother…" The tears finally spilled down her cheeks as she kissed both orbs and released them.
Unknown to Rienne, a guard had informed Loki of what happened and of his mother's funeral. He remained calm as the guard left but as soon as he did, Loki stood up. He released a surge of power that destroyed the furniture in his cell. His back towards the opening so no one would see the tears roll down his face… so no one would see the way his calm exterior contorted in agony… in sadness… in regret of what the last thing he said to Frigga was… that she wasn't his mother… he was only trying to look strong then… being a stubborn and defiant child when in fact he loved her… the only woman he loved as much as Rienne…. Perhaps more… the woman that initially taught him magic… that no matter what happened… she always loved him… always gave him her undivided attention and affection, unlike Odin.
Rienne had retreated to her chambers for the night. Unable to face Loki for not keeping his mother safe, she thought getting some sleep would do her good.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
It seemed Thor had visited Loki and broke him out of prison. Much to Rienne's good morning surprise. "Loki! W-what are you doing here?! I-is it really you?..." She placed a gentle hand on his cheek to confirm it was him and not an illusion. She nearly cried at the very sight of him. Their heartwarming reunion was interrupted by Thor shortly after.
"One hour Loki. You have one hour to say your goodbyes to my future queen while I take care of a few things for our departure." Thor gave Rai a glare. He didn't need to say anything to her for Rai to understand… this was payback for what happened at the dinner with Jane and Odin a few days ago.
"My you are so merciful and generous brother." Loki taunted. Thor merely walked away silently.
"You called him brother…And where are you going? You're leaving me here alone again?..." She stared at Loki with furrowed brows.
"Merely to fuel his anger…" He ignored the second part of her question and closed the door behind him. Immediately after, he roughly pushed Rai up against a wall.
"Loki what are you-" Loki cut her off with a rough kiss filled with lust and desire.
Breaking the kiss, to Rienne's dismay, he let his lips hover ever so dangerously over hers. "I shall ignore that little comment from Thor… right now I must have you… I lust for you and you shall be mine."