Many years have passed since my first toast. Odin formally adopted me into his family and I had to give many more. Loki continued to teach me tricks. He quickly fell back into his mischievous ways and frequently pulled pranks. They were mostly harmless and, after I reprimanded him, he helped repair any damage. And though I had an additional 1,016 years to practice, I never mastered Loki's signature projection trick. But as time wore on, my energy seemed to fade. It was barely noticeable at first but I can tell. I knew I did not want to wait until all my powers had left me and I was a feeble old lady. I thought about it for a long time before I confronted Loki. I asked if I had his permission to die this year. He didn't understand until I showed him proof of my waning strength. He said he didn't wish it but he would bow to my wish. He said only to let them celebrate me one more time in life.
I waited until today, my 1 thousand and thirty-eighth birthday. There was another big feast for dinner but an intimate dinner this evening. Just the family. It was solemn but happy. Laughing about adventures we had and pranks we pulled. Thor, Odin, and Frigga each thanked me for past fables and for the time we spent together. Loki led me out saying he had one final birthday present for me. We walked out to the garden and he sat me down on the stone bench among the daisies. He took my hands in mine and got down on one knee.
"I haven't changed my mind," I laughed, thinking he was going to propose to me yet again. He tried about every seven years.
"No." He smiled. "I gave up on that after the fifth time. I have a much more important question to ask. When Ragnarök comes, as we know it will, it is foretold that all of the gods will die and the world will be reborn. The stories also say that chosen warriors from throughout the ages will come back from the dead and fight in that battle. We can each choose one warrior to be by our side in that war. I can think of no one else I'd rather have by my side when I die. And so, Lady Lorainne, daughter of Susan," he swirled his hands and produced a small oak box. "Will you be my warrior at the end of all things?" He opened the box to reveal a necklace with a thin silver chain. From the chain hung an emerald heart. The light of the setting sun was refracted inside as I held it up in front on me.
"Oh. My. God."
"I'm right here."
"Shut up." I was stunned. "I can't even...this is...wow-" Loki interrupted my stuttering.
"Will you?" His blue eyes were pleading desperately in spite of the smirk on his face. As much as this meant to me, I saw it meant infinitely more to him.
"Of course." I went to my knees and embraced him.
"Thank you," he whispered. I squeezed him tighter. "Can't breathe."
"Sorry." We stood.
"Let me put this around your neck." I handed him back the necklace.
"Wear this necklace and when the day comes," he lowered the stone to my chest where it rested between my breasts, "you will be brought to my side and we will go down together."
"I'm honoured that you would choose me," I said.
"For the longest time I didn't think I would find anyone I would want next to me." He smirked his unique little smirk. "Then someone shot me down from the sky and healed me five minutes later. I didn't know for sure, but I had a tiny spark of a thought. Somehow I knew you were special." We sat down on the bench with our arms around each other. It was a comfortable silence.
"I don't think I should drag this out any longer." It was nearing midnight and the nearly full moon was peeking over the tree line. Loki didn't say anything. I glanced over and saw tears running down his cheeks. I wiped them away.
"I don't want you to go," he choked out.
"Don't cry. It won't be too long. You're not alone, you still have Thor, Sif, Odin. And don't forget you promised to watch over my kin. There will only be more as time goes on-that will keep you busy."
"Never as busy as you kept me." I smiled and laid down on the bench. He knelt on the floor to give my legs room. "Weapon of choice?" he asked. "If you're going to fight with me you need one."
"Longbow," I replied quickly. He picked a daisy and it lengthened into a bow. A few blades of grass provided the arrows. I held the longbow across my chest and the arrows at my side.
"You're ready now." Loki looked at me with a deep sadness in his eyes. I looked up at him.
"I'll see you at Ragnarök." He smiled a little through his tears. I closed my eyes and let my body rest. But just before my spirit left my body, I felt his lips brush mine and my mouth twitched up in a smile that stayed on my face for all to wonder at.
Fin.