She found him striding towards the weapons vault, below the throne room, and caught his arm when he did not respond to her cries.

"Loki, wait!" she paused, "What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"I need to know," was all he said. She watched him intently, her heart frozen.

"I won't care," she told him heatedly, framing his face tightly, forcing him to meet her eyes. "I love you."

"I know," he told her, his hands coming up to hold her wrists. "But I still need to know the truth."

He took her hand, and they walked swiftly to the weapons vault. The air seemed to get colder as they descended, the guards letting them through unchallenged. Loki was the Prince of Asgard after all, and heir to the throne now in Thor's absence, and Eir was soon to become a princess.

Loki's breath trembled as he approached the Casket of All Winters, Eir coming to a halt slightly behind him, unable to take a step further.

Dread filled her, and her hand rose and her mouth opened to beg him not to touch the Casket. Even though she had told herself it would change nothing, that it would not dissipate her love for him….

She was wrong. Everything would change.

He closed his hands around the Casket's handles, his hands trembling, and then he lifted it, eyes flashing between his uncovered hands, his breathing shaking as he waited.

Then a great, familiar voice echoed across the chamber. "Stop!"

"Am I cursed?" Loki demanded, his voice harsh, guttural as Eir had never known it before. She waited with bated breath for him to turn around, ignoring the presence of the All-Father behind her.

"No."

"What am I?" Loki asked.

"You're my son," Odin insisted firmly. Loki turned, and Eir could not restrain her tiny gasp.

Loki's skin had turned a deep, icy shade of blue, his eyes even down to the whites shone a demonic blood crimson, tribal markings standing out slightly on his once smooth brow.

His eyes met hers, and her heart broke. But she did not move. Loki's eyes left hers, to raise to his father, stood on the steps of the vault in all his golden glory.

"What more than that?" Loki asked silkily, his voice dangerously low. His eyes flickered back to Eir's, and she made herself smile at him. The blue and red was already fading away under Odin's spells.

Tears had filled Loki's eyes, and trembled in his voice as he slowly began to walk towards the All-Father, Eir following slowly in his wake.

"The Casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day was it?" he asked.

"No," Odin admitted, at last. "In the aftermath of the battle, I went into the temple, and I found a baby. Small, for a Giant's offspring, left to die. Laufey's son."

Eir's breath shuddered in her throat, as the words slammed into her. Loki was the son of Laufey…?

She desperately wanted to step forward, to comfort Loki and to shield him further from any more hurt, but something within her warned her not to.

"Laufey's son?" Loki repeated, his voice broken. His strong, broad shoulders were bowed and defeated, the mighty master of magic laid low by the truth of his origins.

"Yes," Odin sighed, dejectedly.

"Why?" he suddenly demanded, stepping forward. "You were knee deep in Jotun blood. Why would you take me?"

"You were an innocent child…" Odin began but Loki cut him off.

"No," he growled. "You took me for a purpose. What was it?"

Odin paused, seemingly paralysed, his mouth hanging open slightly. A tremble ran through his still vigorous frame, as he stared down at Loki.

"TELL ME!" Loki finally screamed, a heartbroken, tortured cry which rang through the vault, making Eir flinch even as she longed to comfort her lover.

"I thought we could unite our kingdoms, one day. Bring about an alliance, bring about a permanent peace, through you," Odin finally admitted, as Loki's heart broke further. Eir gasped.

"What?" he gasped, panting.

"But those plans no longer matter," Odin continued.

"So I am no more than another stolen relic," Loki spat bitterly. "Locked up here, until you might have use of me?"

"Why do you twist my words?" Odin asked quietly.

"You could have told me what I was from the beginning, why didn't you!" Loki demanded angrily.

"You're my son. I wanted only to protect you from the truth," Odin replied gently, and Eir heard the sincerity in his voice. But his words only seemed to make Loki angrier.

"W-why because I-I am the monster that parents tell their children about at night!" he retorted. Eir finally found the strength to step forward and try to reach out to her lover, but he shrugged off her hand.

"No," Odin protested, his strong frame wilting. Alarm rushed through Eir as he began to collapse. But Loki was too caught up in his pain and anguish to realise, as the All-Father sank to the floor, even as Eir rushed to his side.

"It all makes sense now, why you favoured Thor all these years," he hissed bitterly. "Because no matter how much you claimed to love me; you could never have a Frost Giant sitting on the throne of Asgard!"

Odin collapsed, his eye closing as Loki finally realised something was wrong. Frantically, Eir felt for the All-Father's pulse, finding it weak but still beating. She closed her eyes, easing her magic into his body, seeking the source of his weakness.

Loki clutched his father's hand, as he called for help. "Guards! Guards, please help!"

"He has fallen into the Odinsleep," Eir said, "Bear him to his chambers and summon the Queen."

The guards lifted Odin's body effortlessly, and bore him away, Eir and Loki following in his wake.

The guards laid Odin on his bed, reverently, before the Queen burst into their chambers, rushing to her son.

"Loki? What happened?" she asked desperately. Eir sat by the All-Father's side, her magic reaching out to make sure he was alive and not weakening further.

"He has fallen into the Odinsleep, Your Majesty," Eir told her, in the stead of her silent son who simply stared at Frigg as if he had never seen her before.

Maidens came and removed Odin's robes and washed his face and hands, before leaving him in a sleeping robe, the furred covers of his bed pulled up and over his body.

All the while Frigg stared at her despondent son, and Eir looked at the All-Father.

Finally, when they were alone, Frigg spoke. "How did this happen?" she asked quietly, eyes fixed on Loki.

"We were in the weapons vault," Eir began to explain stiltedly. "And…"

"I know the truth, mother," Loki breathed. Frigg's face paled, and she reached up a hand to her son's face, stroking it lovingly.

"Oh, my son," she whispered. "I am so sorry. Forgive me."

And Frigg enveloped her son in her arms, her glittering dress swathing him in its warmth. Eir watched as he hugged back with a sudden desperation as if he was falling apart and only Frigg's embrace could hold him together. Her heart ached for him.

The golden haze of Sleep began to cover Odin, as Frigg released Loki, and took a seat at Odin's bedside. Eir stood, giving Loki her place, and standing behind him with her hands clasped in front of her.

Frigg looked to her beseechingly, but Eir could offer little comfort. "He has fallen deep, my Queen," she explained. "I cannot heal his weakness. He must come out of it himself."

This was not the first time the King had slipped into the Odinsleep, but it felt different. Stronger, it possessed more of a hold upon him. His aura was weak and faded.

Frigg read it in her face and nodded, before her gaze went to her son.

Loki finally spoke for the first time since he told Frigg he knew the truth about his origins. "Why did he lie to me?" he asked, in a pained, quiet voice.

Frigg glanced up at him, pity and love shining in her eyes. "I begged him to be honest with you from the beginning," she started. "There should be no secrets in a family."

"So why did he lie?" Loki asked again, his voice stronger this time.

"He kept the truth from you so you would never feel different," she told him earnestly. "You are our son, Loki, and we your family. You must know that."

Wordlessly, Eir reached out a hand to his shoulder, clasping the strong muscle tightly as he tensed, then relaxed under her touch. Frigg's eyes rose to hers briefly, and she smiled gently.

"You can speak to him. He can hear and see us even now," Frigg's eyes fell to her husband, somnolent in his bed.

"How long will it last?" Loki asked, turning to look at Eir for the first time since they left the vault.

"I do not know. This time…it is different," she murmured.

"We were unprepared," Frigg added.

"I'll never get used to seeing him like this," he admitted quietly. "The most powerful being in the Nine Realms, lying helpless, until his body is restored."

"He's put it off for so long now," the Queen murmured. "That I fear…" she reached out and clasped her husband's hand. Her gentle gaze rose once more to Loki. "You're a good son. We mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us, and your brother."

Eir watched Loki's jaw clenched and could only imagine how much more insidious his envy was, knowing now what he did. But watching Frigg gaze lovingly at her son, and recalling Odin's sad, gentle words in the vault, she could only see them as Loki's mother and father, no more, no less. Laufey may have sired Loki, but it was Odin and Frigg who loved and raised him. In her heart, Eir knew that they loved both their sons equally, without reserve.

She only hoped Loki knew it too.

As they discussed Thor, she watched Loki's jaw tighten again, and his eyes darken. He looked down at his fisted hand, resting on Odin's bed, and then stood. He seemed to be in conflict inside himself for a moment, then he turned and went to leave.

Eir reached out to him as he passed, whispering his name. He paused, raising his eyes to hers, but for the first time in their lives together, she could not read them.

But his hand closed tightly around hers, regardless.

Then the doors opened, and cloaked guards marched in, accompanied by a servant carrying Gungnir. The guards went to their knees, clasping their fists against their chests, in fealty and respect.

Loki paused, arrested, before glancing back at his mother, Eir stood beside him, wide-eyed.

The servant knelt before Loki, and held out Gungnir reverently.

"Thor is banished," Frigg explained, her strong voice ringing in the silent chamber. "The line of succession falls to you until Odin awakens. Asgard is yours."

Frigg's voice never wavered, never faltered as she told the son of Laufey that he was now king of Asgard. Eir watched, her breath caught in her throat as Loki turned, and hands shaking slightly, took Gungnir and held it aloft.

"Make your father proud," Frigg breathed reverently. "My King,"

Loki turned to face her, as she bowed her head. Eir followed suit, dropping to one knee and bowing her head.

"My King," she murmured, without reservation or hesitation. She heard his bootsteps, then saw them in her line of vision, before his hand held itself out towards her. She took it, raising her head gracefully to meet his gaze.

"Do you still love me?" he asked, quietly, too quietly for the servants, guards or the Queen to hear. "Despite…everything?"

Eir took a deep breath. "You have my love, and my loyalty. Never doubt it," she replied earnestly, holding his gaze. She didn't want him to think she was merely saying so to ensure her position as his future Bride and Queen.

She loved him. Perhaps even more now she knew the truth, and she would not rest until he accepted it.

His eyes flickered under her unrelenting stare, his mind searching hers, and he smiled, a tiny, slight smile which made her heart melt. He was still her Loki.

He brought her hand up to his, and kissed it, lips lingering on her soft skin. He drew himself up, and Eir caught her breath. A new veneer of confidence, of power cloaked him, as he held Gungnir in his left hand, and Eir's hand in his right. He turned her to face the assembled guards and servants, his voice ringing out in the golden chamber.

"All hail Eir, Queen of Asgard," he called. Eir started, as the men bowed again. She looked to Frigg, but she just smiled and bowed her head once more. Their eyes met, and the former Queen's message could not clearer.

Look after him…

That night, Eir paced Loki's chambers. He had insisted she wait for him there, until he had finished meeting with the commanders of Asgard's armies, to discuss the situation with Jotunheim.

That had been several hours ago. The sky had darkened, and the stars shone brightly as they wheeled overhead in their eternal, celestial dance.

Eventually, she went out to the balcony, watching the stars. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, wondering exactly how her life had changed so drastically.

Yesterday, she had been Eir, Goddess of Healing and Mercy, part Valkyrie and friend of Thor, God of Thunder, the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three; betrothed to Loki, Prince of Asgard and God of Mischief and Lies.

Now, she was the Queen of Asgard, and wife to the King of Asgard.

And she was wearing a dress. Still.

Her new status as Queen saw her swathed in a white skirted gown, hemmed with emerald green, the bodice of the same rich hue, embroidered with radiant pearls from the ocean of Asgard, her collarbone and sternum covered by delicate white lace, the long, draped sleeves floating from the top of her arms.

A gown fit for the Queen of Asgard. She shuddered and longed for her leathers.

Suddenly, warm arms slid around her, pulling her back tightly against a familiar body.

"Cold, my love?" Loki murmured in her ear. She relaxed into his arms, tilting her neck to the side so her golden curls fell away, his lips drifting lazily up her pulse.

"Not anymore," she admitted. She was heated all the way through. "How goes the situation with Jotunheim?"

He sighed, and released her. She turned to see him, garbed in his formal armour, the emerald green of his cape matching her gown, the gold and silver metal of his armour gleaming. His horned helmet shone ethereally, making him look like the God he was.

"Not well," he told her, leading her back into the privacy of his chambers. "It is likely they will attempt an attack soon."

"But you will try for peace?" she pressed. "The culprit of the attack on Jotunheim is stripped of his power and banished, surely the Jotuns will agree to a new peace treaty? They know they do not have the strength to prevail against Asgard, not without the Casket…"

"You should be my General, not my Queen," Loki smirked, but she sensed his displeasure.

"What is it, love?" she asked, frowning. He sighed, placing Gungnir on a cushioned pedestal reverently, before taking off his helmet and running a hand through his raven black hair.

"I fear the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three are disappointed with my decision not to allow Thor to return from banishment," he explained. Eir frowned.

"Even I realise that could prove divisive for the kingdom. Some factions might try to displace you in favour of Thor," she mused.

"Yes, but I fear they did not see it as such. They could be powerful enemies if their oaths of loyalty prove too weak to hold them," Loki continued. Eir's face paled.

"Surely not," she breathed. "They're your friends as well as Thor's. They will remain loyal to you."

"I hope so, for their sake. I will not hesitate to punish them severely if they break their oaths, Eir," he replied coolly, taking her by the shoulders. "Tomorrow I will visit Jotunheim and attempt to negotiate with Laufey."

"Let me come with you," Eir suddenly pleaded. "You need someone at your back."

Loki smiled, and stroked her cheek. "No, my love. I need someone I can trust here, to care for Mother and Father, and to keep an eye on the court. I would not trust them in my absence, particularly not our erstwhile friends. You are Queen now, unless war is declared, your place is here."

"My place is by your side," she argued, but he cut her off, kissing away her resistance as she moaned, and pulled herself closer. His armour was hard against her softer form, and she could barely breathe in his embrace.

"I love you, and I need you to trust me," Loki breathed when they parted for a moment. "I must deal with the Jotuns, and I must do it alone."

Eir sighed. "Fine," she capitulated reluctantly, as Loki's wayward lips once again drifted across her neck. "You win."

"Not something I hear coming from your mouth very often," he grinned, raising his head.

"But promise me something, Loki," she whispered, as their eyes met. "Do not let the hatred you bear for your origins dictate who you will become. You are an Asgardian, a King of the Æsir. Make the All-Father proud of you."

"I can assure you, my Queen, I have every intention of doing so," he murmured hotly, cutting across her when she opened her mouth to say more. "No, hush."

His look changed, turning from cool to intent, desire rising in those piercing eyes, as he pulled her close to him. "I need you now, tonight," he murmured huskily, making her melt.

And with that he lowered his head and kissed her, hard and fierce, wiping away any thought of argument or resistance. She could not fight as he pulled her to his bed, their clothes melting away at his touch, and she pulled herself astride him, her hands buried in his dark hair.

When she awoke the next morning, Loki was gone.

The whole day, unease filled her. Something was going wrong.

She feared she knew what it was.

When Loki returned from Jotunheim, he seemed his usual self, but there was a shadow in his eyes now that Eir knew had not been there before Odin's revelation.

The All-Father remained deep in the Odinsleep, and the city prepared itself for war with Jotunheim.

And the city was divided. She knew it clearly.

Particularly when Lady Sif and the Warriors Three came to Loki's chambers, now hers as well.

They bowed low, intoning as one. "My Queen."

"Volstagg, Fandral," she murmured. "How are your injuries?"

The warriors rose, and the red-haired giant and the golden warrior eyed her uneasily.

"Good as new," Volstagg answered for both of them.

"That matters not," Sif stepped forward, meeting Eir's gaze. "Eir, you know something is wrong."

"Tread carefully, Lady Sif," she replied coolly.

"Eir," the warrior woman began again, cautiously. "You know, in your heart, that something is wrong. Loki claims to care for Thor more than any of us, yet he won't bring him home from his banishment, particularly when he was the one to mention Jotunheim in the first place. Search your feelings, you know something is out of place."

"Sif, regardless of Loki's intentions, Thor still made the choice to go to Jotunheim and disobey his father's commands. What was more, he started the very fight which would tip us into war! You must see that Thor's return would only destabilise this realm when it needs stability the most," Eir replied passionately. "Instead of scheming against Loki, help him! Help him to become the ruler we know he can be!"

"No," Sif argued. "No, he is not the ruler we need. Something has changed inside him, Eir, you sense it too. A darkness…"

Eir eyed her friends, her entire body tense as a drawn bowstring. As much as she didn't want to admit it, some of what they had said was true. Loki had changed, but not for the better.

"I will not help you," she began, feeling a deep pain as their faces fell. "but neither will I hinder you."

And with that, she turned and left the chamber, walking fast to get away from the stark truth of all that had happened in the past few days.

She reached a balcony which overlooked the entire city, and out towards the Asbru Gate, and halted, watching the horizon.

She stood there, how long she didn't know, watching and waiting for something she didn't know, her breath short in her chest, her mind whirling. Familiar arms slid around her, but she could not take comfort in their embrace now.

"My love, what is it?" Loki asked quietly. "What is wrong?"

"You planted the suggestion to go to Asgard in Thor's mind, didn't you?" she began, feeling him tense. "You knew what he would do."

"Yes, I did," he finally agreed, his voice hoarse and cold. Suddenly she was spun around, her gaze pinned by his. "But I did it for this realm. Thor is dangerous and reckless. He would bring war down upon the Nine Realms just to satisfy his need for glory and battle. Is that really what this Realm needed?"

"You betrayed your own brother," was all Eir could say. Loki's jaw tightened.

"I did it for you, and for this Realm. Everything I have done and will do, is for you and for Asgard," he snarled, as Eir's face paled.

"What else have you done, Loki?" she asked, quietly cold. "What else will you do?"

"What needs to be done," he replied brusquely. Her heart aching, Eir turned away, back to the horizon, back to the peace of the stars. She felt his heat press against her back, his chest against her body as the wind plucked at their clothes and hair. Shuddering breath warmed her neck, and despite all she had learned, she could not stop herself from leaning into his touch.

His hands caressed up and down her arms, sliding the silk over her skin, before twining tightly around her waist, pulling him back against him. His head lowered, his mouth marking the curve of her neck as he breathed her in. He whispered her name, longingly, against her skin, rising to her lips which she was powerless to deny him. He kissed her heatedly, passion and need pushing aside any obstacles.

Regardless of all else, she still loved him and he still loved her. She felt it in his kiss, his strong hands as they strained her to him.

Until the Bifrost roared into life, and tore them apart once more.

They looked to the side, to see the beam of light shoot from the Bifrost chamber, making Eir's heart sink. The Warriors Three and the Lady Sif had done it.

They had gone to Earth to retrieve Thor.

Loki's jaw tightened angrily, as he turned to her.

"Go to my mother and await me there. Heimdall's treachery must not go unpunished," he snarled, before he swept away, emerald cloak flapping in his wake.

"What will you do?" she called urgently, afraid for her friends, for Heimdall and for Thor. But Loki did not answer.

His words rang in her mind, making her heart break and sink.

"What else have you done?"

"What needs to be done."

Frigg glanced up as her daughter-in-law glided through the doors of Odin's chambers, a soft smile on her lips.

Until she saw the veiled tears in Eir's clear grey eyes.

"My daughter…" she began, standing from her perch on Odin's bed, but Eir pulled herself together and shook her head.

"I came to see how the All-Father is faring today," she replied, deciding not to trouble Frigg with the news of Loki's growing madness and the betrayal of Sif and the Warriors Three.

Frigg did not move, unconvinced. "He is unchanged, but I sense you are, my Queen," she murmured, moving towards Eir. Without a word, she enveloped Eir in her arms, tightly holding her. "My daughter," she whispered. "My son needs you now more than ever. Whatever has happened, do not doubt that."

Strength flowed back into Eir, and she pushed away from Frigg's embrace. With a nod, she turned and swiftly walked back the way she came.

She entered the throne room, to find Loki seated on the throne, his helmet shining, Gungnir iridescent in his hand. He looked every inch a King.

But his gaze was turned inward, to something only he could see, and she guessed what it was.

He had sent the Destroyer after Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three.

"Loki," she breathed, diverting his attention. His eyes snapped to hers and widened. "Please, do not do this. Your brother does not deserve this."

"Like many you take his side in things," Loki snarled, standing abruptly as Eir ascended the steps of the throne.

"I do not. But I do know this is not right. Killing Thor is not for the good of the realm," she hissed fiercely.

Suddenly Thor's disembodied voice filtered into the throne room, echoing off the walls.

Brother, whatever I have done to wrong you, whatever I have done to lead you to this, I am truly sorry. But these people are innocent, taking their lives will gain you nothing.

So take mine and end this.

For one moment, Eir thought Loki would recall the Destroyer, as his eye softened. Then it hardened again, and she could almost feel the blow as the Destroyer struck a fatal hit to Thor, who was no longer an Æsir, who was mortal…

"What have you done?" she breathed horrified.

Loki turned away, and sat once more at his throne. He pulled Eir to him, burying his head in her stomach. She was torn between the urge to recoil and the urge to cling to him as sorrow rose up.

At last, she pushed away, tears dropping from her eyes as she backed away from him, his arms outstretched to her, his eyes hardening yet still glistening with unshed tears.

Her heart broke.

She turned and ran.

She finally collapsed against a pillar, body bowed over the pain of Loki's actions and her heartbreak, tears glittering in her eyes but remaining unshed, as her mouth opened in a silent scream of despair.

Eventually her heart slowed and she calmed, the Valkyrie within her rising up, subsuming the healer, soothing her mind, burying her heartache.

At last she stood tall and strong once more, her long, warrior's strides taking her to Odin's chambers.

She needed to inform the Queen of Loki's madness.

But then something walked around the corner of the corridor which made her heart freeze. Eir pressed back into the shadows as Laufey and two Frost Giant warriors stalked towards Odin's chambers, ice daggers clutched in their hands.

Eir's mind raced. Did Loki know of the intruders? Where was the guard?

Silently she called on her magic, and conjured Drengskapr and Sigr into her hands, and stalked after the invaders, the predator prowling after her prey.

Then they encountered the guards and the fighting started. Eir forced herself to hold back, before rushing down a side corridor and through another doorway, a more secret entrance to Odin's chambers.

Frigg looked up as she entered. "Eir?" she gaped, as the doors of the chamber suddenly froze.

"My Queen, Frost Giants have penetrated Asgard-" she began but then the doors swung open violently, revealing Laufey and his warriors. Frigg grabbed Odin's sword while Eir leapt forward, only slightly hindered by her long skirts.

She ducked under the guard of one Frost Giant, killing him before Laufey's fist smashed into her, driving her to the floor. She blinked, desperate to get her bearings as she heard Frigg's cry of pain as she too was struck down. Her head swam and she felt sick.

Where was Loki?

She was dimly aware of Laufey straddling the All-Father, an ice dagger in his hand, saying something low, and threatening, making Eir's skin crawl but she couldn't make it out. Her head ached and every sound was agony.

She tried to rise, but her legs would not support her. She collapsed again.

Suddenly a blast of fire rent the air, and Laufey flew off of Odin's chest. Frantically, Eir raised her head to see Loki, in full armour and helmet, lower Gungnir slightly as he glared coldly down at the Frost Giant.

His birth father.

"And your death came by the son of Odin," he hissed, raising Gungnir once more, and fired one last blast, destroying Laufey entirely.

"Loki," Frigg stirred, rushing to her feet, Eir somewhat slower behind him. "You saved him."

Loki held Frigg to him tightly, his gaze going to Eir as she struggled to stand. He released his mother to go to his wife, pulling her up and enfolding her in his arms. She was too weak to resist.

His lips came down on hers, and she shivered and kissed back, relishing the feel of him.

"Thank the stars I was able to reach you in time, my love," he breathed, desperately. His gaze rose to Frigg as he helped Eir to stand. "I swear to you, mother, that they will pay for what they have done today."

"Loki!" a familiar voice barked, and all three looked round to see Thor, in all his scarlet and silver armour, appear in the doorway, Mjolnir clutched in his fist.

Frigg rushed to her son and hugged him, but Loki's stance turned defensive, and he raised Gungnir in front of him, herding Eir behind him.

"Why don't you tell her how you sent the Destroyer to kill our friends, to kill me!" he demanded, advancing on his brother.

"What?" Frigg gasped.

"Oh, it must have been enforcing Father's last command," Loki hissed silkily.

"You're a talented liar, brother, always have been," Thor growled, raising Mjolnir, the bed of Odin lying between the two brothers.

"It's good to have you back," Loki smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim."

And with that, he blasted Thor through the wall with Gungnir.

Without another word, he grabbed Eir's hand and towed her out of the chamber, ignoring his stunned mother, as they strode through the corridors of Asgard.

Eir fought his grip but it was too strong, almost bruising. He glanced at her, then turned and yanked her into his arms. She fought him but she was still weak from Laufey's blow.

"Trust me, Eir," he whispered urgently. "I need you to trust me so I can explain. Now come!"

He pulled her around and onwards, until they reached a courtyard where Einar awaited them. He swung Eir into the saddle and then swung up himself, imprisoning her in his arms.

With a squeeze of his powerful thighs, Loki pushed Einar into a gallop, racing through the streets of Asgard and out onto the Bridge, and to the Bifrost chamber.

Once there, he dismounted and then helped Eir down, leading her by the hand into the chamber.

"What are you doing?" she asked coldly. Loki ignored her as he inserted Gungnir into the central console, positioning the Bifrost to target Jotunheim, then retrieved it. As the power grew, he stretched out his hand and froze the console, the tendrils of power crystallising and turning to ice, Eir's blood along with it.

A memory returned, of Heimdall warning them what would happen if the Bifrost Bridge remained open too long.

It would destroy Jotunheim.

Loki caught her eye, and a truly insane grin lit his features. "Yes, my love," he hissed. "I will destroy Jotunheim, and that race of monsters forever. At last my father will see me for what I truly am: the superior son, the heir of his crown and legacy, his might and his trust as Thor could never be."

"Loki, please, no!" she gasped. She rushed forward but he caught her around the waist and pushed her back. His face transformed into something alien, bestial. She didn't recognise him anymore.

"You can't stop it!" he snarled, but then they were both distracted as the Bridge sung when someone alighted upon it, and they looked to see Thor running towards them, Mjolnir hefted in his fist. Loki simply smiled. "The Bifrost will build until it rips Jotunheim apart!"

It happened too fast. Eir saw Thor rush the great crystalline tree of energy around the console, saw Loki raise Gungnir, felt the power grow…

She threw herself in front of Thor, eyes wide and pleading towards her husband. She felt only agonising pain, as she stopped and looked down. Her stomach was burned by Gungnir's power, and she felt the life seeping from her.

A blast which might only have weakened her was to be the death of her.

And the unborn child which even then grew in her womb. Eir's eyes filled with tears as she collapsed to the floor, struggling to breathe as an unearthly scream filled the air and warm, strong arms stopped her from falling.

"Eir…" a familiar voice choked out her name, as she fought for consciousness. "Eir, stay with me."

She looked up, her vision blurring, stretching up one shaking hand to her beloved's face, stroking his jaw, his handsome features lit up by the flashing light of the Bifrost as the energy built to lethal levels. She was dimly aware of Thor's presence beside her, but ignored it, reaching out urgently to her love.

"Stop this now," she gasped. "Stop it…This is not you, Loki. I love you so much…This is not..."

She could feel him desperately trying to heal her, but it was too late. Not even Loki's power could heal a wound dealt by Gungnir, and her own power was useless. She had protected Thor, and paid with her life.

She felt her body weakening, her mind drifting, her eyes growing dark as she slumped back, and her last breath left her body.

Unknowing that her death would only embed the madness deeper within Loki with all the power grief and love can wield. Did not know that her death would push two brothers apart, and destroy Asgard as she had known it forevermore, and set the man she loved so desperately onto a path of darkness.

But there is always hope to be found.

Even as Eir felt her body die, her spirit merely went into slumber until it was time for the Goddess of Healing and Mercy to come forth once more.