Okay, this one came easier than chapter 20. Probably because of the care-free tone of the whole epilogue. Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed the book. Thanks to all of you who decided to read HeartBound and stuck around to the end. It means the world to me. Now, to editing I go.

Song of the Chapter: Start of Something Good ~ Daughtry

Epilogue

"Have at you, Jotun!"

A young Jotun boy in a black tunic and trousers spun out of the way quickly, narrowly missing the hammer that hurtled towards him.

"How dare you attack a Prince of Jotunheim, Asgardian!" he declared, raising his blade of ice. "We will not stand for this treachery!"

He charged at the blonde girl, lips pulled back in a snarl.

"Don't worry, princess," a dark-haired boy announced, brandishing a sword. "I'll save you from the Jotun!"

The boy gently pushed the girl behind him, attacking the Jotun with a grin. The girl's eyes widened in anger and she swiftly brought her hammer down on her savior's head.

"Ow!" he yelled, rubbing his head as he turned to face the girl. "Torunn! What was that for?"

Torunn frowned, cross her arms over her chest after returning the wooden hammer to her belt, "I don't need rescuing, Ari, especially not from a boy younger than me."

"Can you believe that, Krumr?" the boy asked as he turned to the Jotun boy. "There's the gratitude of Torunn Thordottir!"

Krumr grinned, "What did you expect, Ari?"

Ari was interrupted with someone shouting a war cry and suddenly there was the sound of wood colliding with flesh. Torunn shouted in anger, rubbing her arm as she turned to face a boy with straight black hair who was holding a wooden staff as he smirked at her.

"You would hit a girl?" she demanded as Krumr fell into a fit of giggles.

"You claim not need protection and then become offended when you get hit," the younger boy exclaimed. "You can't have both!"

"Frey has a point," Ari laughed, ducking as Torunn swung at him again.

"You missed him," Frey pointed out.

Torunn rushed at Frey, hammer raised in preparation to strike. However, her swing flew straight through Frey as if he were no more than colored mist. The swing threw her off balance and she tumbled through the projection and right into her father. She shook her head and gazed up at Thor. Loki glanced over from where he stood beside his brother, a girl of six holding onto his hand as if she might blow away, and raised his eyebrows.

"By the Wise One, you've passed on the same mistake to your daughter," he exclaimed with a kind smile. "When will you learn, Thor?"

"It's not fair," Torunn announced. "You taught him how to cheat!"

"Magic isn't cheating," the girl at his arm mumbled, her scarlet hair falling into her face as she shook her head.

"It is when it's used for deception," the Asgardian Princess retorted.

"Daddy, what's 'deception' mean?" the little girl asked, looking up at Loki with bright green eyes.

"Deception means to trick someone, Runa. Can you remember that?"

She nodded excitedly as if it was a quest she could not fail in.

"What is this I hear about deception and cheating?"

The group turned to see Freyja and Byleist walking out of the palace, both looking amused and surprised at what was going on. Byleist turned to look at Loki, smiling at the sight.

"I do hope your boys haven't taught Krumr any bad habits," he stated in mock seriousness.

"They would never do such a thing," Loki countered, sounding almost offended at the idea. "Torunn, Ari, and Frey have simply been arguing over the morality of magic."

"It was his fault," Torunn and Ari announced at the same time Frey said, "It was her fault."

Freyja looked between the three. Torunn was gesturing towards Ari, who was pointing to Frey. Frey looked at his older brother and dropped his arm.

"Traitor," he muttered, frowning at Ari.

"Be nice to your brother," Freyja said, giving Loki a wry smile.

"Me?" they said simultaneously.

"Both of you."

"It was a pleasure speaking with you again, Freyja," Byleist announced, beckoning his son towards him, "but I believe we should be going."

"Tell Mjoll she is welcome whenever she pleases," Freyja replied.

"Yes, she and her cooking," Loki announced. "I'm afraid Freyja's a bit lost in the kitchen."

He raised his hands in defeat as Freyja raised her eyebrows at him, "It's only the truth, love."

Byleist laughed, "I will give her my best, Loki. But I fear I will be in as much trouble with my wife as you are going to be with yours if I tarry any longer."

"Bye, Krumr," Frey said as he waved. "Bye, Uncle Byleist."

"Come back and visit soon," Ari yelled as they walked away.

"What is all this noise?"

"Jormungand!" Runa yelled, letting go of her father as she ran to her half-brother.

Jormungand laughed as she jumped into his arms, "Hello, sunshine. How have you been?"

"Good. Uncle Byleist and Krumr just left."

"Shame. Krumr is a quick learner."

"What have you been teaching him, Jormungand?" Freyja asked as Thor began to chuckle.

Jormungand made his best innocent expression, "Nothing of consequence, Freyja. Nothing at all."

"We were just having a bit of fun," Ari agreed.

Freyja raised her eyebrows, knowing that whenever anything was 'just a bit of fun,' it was hardly ever that. But Jormungand was quick to change the subject.

"However," he announced a bit too loudly. "Hel and Fenrir are arriving soon."

"Is he bringing Feilan and Haelga?" Frey asked.

"Of course, Fenrir would never leave without them."

"And Hel?" Freyja asked. "Is she bringing Anubis?"

Loki scowled, still not quite happy with the fact that his eldest daughter was courting the Heliopolitan.

"I believe so," Jormungand answered. "Perhaps we should meet them?"

"Can we?" Runa asked, batting her eyes. "Please?"

"Alright, let's go," he said as they began walking down the hill.

"Wait for us!" Ari yelled as he and Frey chased after them.

"I'm coming, too!" Torunn called, dragging her father after her.

Freyja shook her head as Loki walked over to stand next to her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and sighed contentedly.

"That girl has Jormungand wrapped around her finger," he muttered.

"Indeed," she answered with a smile.

They stood at the top of the hill in silence, watching Thor and the children grow ever smaller in the distance. There was nothing that needed saying between them. Freyja found that both the tarot cards and the Norns had been correct. Though there were some scars that would never fade, things had turned out fine. She and Loki watched as the light of the Bifrost lit up the sky, marking the arrival of the rest of their family. Leaning her head against her husband's shoulder, she realized there was nothing more she wanted.

"Lady Queen! Your sons have enchanted the entire contents of the library to come to life," a servant yelled as he walked briskly from the newly-built castle.

Freyja gave Loki a pointed look. He could only smile apologetically in reply.

Thor will return in Alchemist: The Seventh Avenger.

Freyja and Loki will return in The Unforgiving.