Neala's scream filled the palace and guards rushed to her. By the time they got there Ehrlo had dropped the knife and kneeled so they wouldn't think him a threat to any other person. The guards gasped as they saw the gruesome scene and they took Ehrlo away to be locked in prison until further judging. Neala stood in shock, looking at her dead parents' bodies still oozing blood.

"What action will you take, my queen?" A guard with a sad face was looking expectantly to her. Neala snapped out of her trance for a second and looked at the guard blankly.

"Th-the punishment for murder is death. So Ehrlo will be put to death tomorrow morning. As for them…" Neala looked to her parents again. "Take their bodies away and clean them up for a funeral tomorrow. Tell the people at dawn." Neala quickly walked away, holding in all her mixed emotions. She broke into a run and ran into her room. Every time she blinked she saw the calm but crazed look in Ehrlo's eyes as he still held the dagger over her father. Once in her chambers she started sobbing uncontrollably and fell to the floor. She was filled with guilt knowing that she could've stopped Ehrlo from committing this horrible deed. Then again, she didn't know what exactly he was going to do. She knew he did this for her, yet she couldn't help but feel partly accountable for it. She didn't know what to think, feel, or do. So she just laid there on the floor sobbing. For once in her life, she didn't want to think things over. She didn't want to think at all. She couldn't help thinking that if she had never gone to Asgard that none of this would've happened. But she did, and she knew she had to deal with it. She looked to her wardrobe and thought of Loki and the marble. She crawled to her wardrobe, opened it, and uncovered the marble and held it close trying to communicate with Loki.

Loki…. She didn't hear anything for a while but then something felt different. Then she heard it.

Neala! What's going on? What happened? I can feel your strong emotions and then I heard a deafening scream. Are you alright?

I'm far from alright. My father… he sentenced me to be locked in my room for the rest of my life then Ehrlo visited me in my chambers and he seemed strange. He told me that at midnight I would be able to leave my room and he told me to run to my parents' chambers right after I was liberated. Loki… Ehrlo murdered my parents. I am queen of Alfheim now. For the first time in my life I haven't the slightest idea of what to do. Loki was silent as he processed the news.

I'm going to come get you.

Loki, no. I have to execute Ehrlo and bury my parents… there's no reason why you should come see those things.

There's no reason why you should have to do it alone. For now, I will listen to you. Odin is going to name me king in a week's time. I don't know how we would rule two worlds at the same time… is there anybody else that can take the burden of the throne from you?

I-I don't know. I guess I could call upon my distant relatives and see if they have a worthy heir. I want to be there for your coronation. I'm so proud of you.

We'll get through this, my lady. Are you sure you don't want me to come keep you company? Neala smiled slightly. She was tempted to say yes, but it would look disrespectful.

Yes, for now. After tomorrow is a different story.

I love you, Neala.

I love you too, Loki.

Lay down in your bed. Are you there?

Yes.

Sleep tight. A wave of relaxation swept through her body and she fell asleep.

Neala woke at dawn and quickly bathed and dressed in the only black gown she had. She went down into the cellar where they prepared the bodies of the dead for a proper funeral. The workers instantly started moving about faster when they saw her coming down the stairs. She stood before the bodies and grew lost in thought. She was queen now. At this thought she remembered that she told a guard to bring her distant relatives to the palace. She nodded and smiled faintly at the workers and ran back up the stairs. There she heard trumpets telling the arrival of royalty. She ran towards the sound. Up the stairs leading to the palace came her uncle, aunt, and two cousins. The male cousin was her age and the female was about five years younger. Neala has always known about them but she hasn't seen them in years because her father cut off all ties with his brother when they disagreed over some simple thing. She greeted them with a fake smile.

"It is very nice to see you all again. Now, if you come with me we have some matters to discuss." They smiled back at her but they knew something was wrong. She led them into a private meeting room in the same hallway as the throne room. Once there she told them all to sit, but she remained standing.

"I have called you here to inform you that the king and queen were murdered last night while they slept. The crown has fallen to me. I never wanted the crown. I do not think my father would have chosen me as his heir after what happened between us the day before he died. Therefore, I think it is my duty to hand the crown to someone who rightfully deserves it. The crown needs new, young blood. My suggestion is to give the crown to Sylvari. Do you have any objections?" The whole family looked shocked, but not altogether sad at this development. Neala looked to her uncle then to Sylvari. She turned to her uncle again.

"Do you feel Sylvari is ready for the crown?" Her uncle looked thoughtfully at her.

"Yes, I believe so. He is a hard worker and has not let his royal roots get to him. I think he will make a fine king."

"Then it's settled. We will put together a ceremony for tomorrow to crown him. You are welcome to stay in the palace tonight if you so wish. You are also welcome to come to the funeral or execution, although I do not think you would want to." Neala curtsied and walked out, leaving the family alone to discuss the current events. Neala found a guard and told him to go to the necessary people to plan a coronation tomorrow and let the townspeople know about it. She tried to prepare herself for Ehrlo's execution. She knew the ruler had to go through with it by themselves but with a small audience for witness. She didn't know if she could go through with killing someone, let alone killing someone who had freed her. She was trying to think of ways that she could get away with not killing him. Neala started pacing in the hallway she was in. She only stopped when she felt someone gently touch her on her shoulder. She turned around and was startled.

"Loki! What are you doing here?" She was yelling at him but she wasn't mad. He smiled softly.

"News came to Asgard about what happened and Frigga sent me to support you in these hard times." Neala blushed as she felt embarrassed. Of course the news was sent out to the nearby worlds, it always was.

"I don't want to kill Ehrlo." As Neala said this tears built up in her eyes and fell. Loki held her close.

"You have to, unfortunately."

"I know… I suppose I can gather the courage to do it now that you're here." Neala said with a small smile. Loki kissed her forehead.

"We have to go, now." Neala's smile disappeared and they walked together to the courtyard where they held executions. Neala wielded a bow, but she knew how to wield a sword. The sword traditionally used for executions was huge and very heavy. It would take all the strength she had left mentally and physically to be able to kill Ehrlo. As Neala and Loki turned the corner they saw Ehrlo in shackles with guards all around him. Neala held her head high and took the sword when it was handed to her. She took her place beside Ehrlo and the guards backed away. This is what she wore her black dress for. Black dresses were worn at executions where white dresses were worn to funerals in the Light Elven tradition. She placed her hand on Ehrlo's shoulder and pushed him down gently for him to kneel with his head on the block. He looked at her one last time before he submitted and did so with dignity. Neala lifted the sword above her head and before she let it come down she whispered, "I'm sorry," so only Ehrlo could hear. The sheer weight of the sword coming down decapitated Ehrlo and his head rolled into the courtyard. Neala was splattered with blood and she dropped the sword and stood staring at what she had done. Loki came to her side and led her out of the courtyard. Before she exited she noticed that her uncle and his family came to see the execution. Loki turned to face Neala.

"Where are your chambers? We need to get you looking presentable for the funeral." Neala stared at Loki blankly but led the way anyway. Once they were in her room he set to work on drawing her a bath. He turned to Neala once he was done and led her into the separate room where the bath was. He helped unlace her dress but did not stay to take it completely off of her. She quickly washed the blood off of her skin and out of her hair and came out of the little room with a towel wrapped around her. Loki had laid out her white dress and prepared to help her dress in it. She let the towel drop away from her body and Loki quickly looked away. Neala smiled.

"What's a matter, my prince? Never seen a woman naked before?"

"I have, many a time. With you it's different. With you I actually have a will to wait until we are married." Neala moved to the dress and slid it on and then turned her back to Loki so he could lace it up. His hands were shaking slightly as he tightened the dress around her. Once he was done Neala turned and looked at him. She put her hands on his chest and kissed him passionately. He kissed her back, but she could feel that he was holding back. Neala smiled maliciously as her hands slipped lower down his body. Loki's eyes grew wide and he grabbed her hands and placed them high on his chest again.

"Soon enough, my lady." Loki looked nervously at her. Neala's smile grew wider as she turned away to look in the mirror. Loki appeared behind her and he cast a spell on her hair to dry it. Luckily for Neala, once her hair was dry she didn't need to do anything else to it besides brush it. Neala's smile disappeared again as they walked through the hallways to the courtyard where they held funerals. Neala took her place while Loki disappeared in with the other people.

Neala walked up to the bodies and folded down the white sheet to reveal their faces. She then took two flowers native to Alfheim and placed one on her father's chest and one on her mother's. Neala stepped back and let a member of the high guard recite the poem to send off their spirits. Once he was done the bodies were placed on a stretcher and carried down to the catacombs filled with all the royalty that came before. The walk was slow and strenuous on Neala but Loki took her arm and supported her the whole way through. Once the funeral was over Loki took Neala to the little feast they had prepared. When Neala saw the food in front of her she ate it so fast Loki laughed a little at her. Neala Socialized with her uncle for a bit and caught up on some of their accomplishments they achieved within the years that they were separated. Neala had to excuse herself because of how exhausted she was from the day's events. She and Loki headed back to her chambers. She changed out of her dress, slipped on a night gown, and laid down. Loki took off his shirt and climbed in after her. Neala was impressed with what she saw. The thin but muscular build of his body made her swoon but she was too tired to act on her feelings. He wouldn't have let her do anything anyway because he sent his magic through her body to relax her further and she went right to sleep.

Neala and Loki awoke after the sun had already come up. Neala panicked and quickly got dressed and rolled Loki out of bed.

"Loki, come on! We have to be at the coronation!"

"Coronation?" Loki got out of bed and looked at Neala with a confused expression. Neala had forgotten to tell Loki about the arrangements yesterday.

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I have offered my cousin the crown and he is accepting it today." Loki smiled at Neala and hugged her tightly. Neala pulled away and with a quick kiss she continued getting ready. Loki slipped back on the tunic he wore yesterday and pushed his hair back. When Neala was fully dressed again Loki fixed her hair for her. They walked out together and hurriedly made their way to the front of the palace where they held the coronations. Behind the door stood Sylvari waiting for her to arrive so they could continue with the process.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Neala said with a kind smile. Loki stood off the side when the three of them walked out. Neala took her place at the top of the stairs and Sylvari kneeled before her. She said a little speech and the small crowd that gathered applauded. The crown was then brought to Neala by a servant. She smiled at the servant and took the crown.

"Sylvari, I pronounce you king of Alfheim." Neala placed the crown on top of Sylvari's head and applause erupted from the crowd. Neala finally felt free from Alfheim and all that was holding her back before. They only thing weighing her down still was Ehrlo's blood on her hands. His blood would never wash away even though he knew what he was getting into when he murdered the king and queen.

The feast later that day was magnificent even though there was only a day for it to be prepared. There was a wide variety of food and people filled the dining hall with chatter and laughter for the first time in years. It's about time for happiness to enter the palace again, Neala thought. Neala smiled as she watched everyone converse. Loki walked to her side and smiled at her.

"I'm free." Neala said somewhat dreamily.

"Yes, you are." Loki took her arm and began leading her back to her chambers, or so she thought. Loki instead led her into an abandoned part of the palace that was underground.

"Loki, what are we doing down here?"

"I want you to see something." Loki lead her down further and then stopped abruptly at no particularly special part. Out from one of the coves stepped a hooded figure. Neala grew confused and turned to Loki.

"Loki, what is going on? And who is this person?"

"See for yourself." Loki turned Neala to the figure as he took off his hood. Neala couldn't believe her eyes. She was confused, scared, and happy all at the same time.

"How?"

"Neala, I'm a master of magic. Did you really think I would let you kill him when he's helped us be together at the cost of his own life?"

So what do you think of the last two chapters?