Chapter 4

"Why?"

"How?"

"Mother."

"Father."

Loki and Thor pleaded with their parents as they sat looking up at their panicked sons in their private quarters after the banquet and the revelation.

"Enough. My decision is final." Odin stated forcefully.

Frigga looked at her husband, her face showing that she did not agree with his actions either.

"You knew." Loki accused, Frigga could not meet her younger son's eye. "You knew he was going to do this, and you did not have the decency to even warn us. Did you even attempt to alter his decision?"

"Your mother argued on your behalf." Odin revealed. "But this is my decision as the King, the Allfather. My duty is firstly to the realm. The girl is better suited to being Thor's wife, everyone sees it but you Loki."

"Father, I do not want this either." Thor butted in. It was the truth. He knew of his brothers love for Kari, and hers for him; he had witnessed it bloom and flourish first hand. There was no good could come of this and Thor knew it.

"You both need to cease shirking your responsibilities and step up to being the princes of the realm. Thor, you are soon to be king, which means you require a wife. One suited to the role and of good standing."

"She is a armourers daughter, that is hardly Queen material father." Loki argued.

"If she is good enough for you, she is good enough for your brother." Odin countered.

"Please father."

"ENOUGH!" Odin rose to his feet. "The girl is to marry Thor in the morning, and if either of you so much as utter another word on it, I shall banish you to some hovel of a realm until you learn to respect my authority and the girl will be used to broker peace with Jötunheim."

Even Frigga stared in open mouthed horror at her husband's threat. She turned to her sons and pleaded silently for them to listen to their father.

Loki stormed from the room, unable to control his anger, Thor followed swiftly after. "I am leaving."

"Loki?"

"I cannot stand by and witness what I am being forced to." Loki swung around to look at Thor. "I cannot stand in that room and watch as the woman I love marries my brother."

"I do not wish to marry her, I want nothing to do with any of this Loki." Thor stated, trying to get Loki to see sense.

"She…I-I love her so much Thor, and now, now I am being told that I cannot have her." Loki's vision was blurred as his eyes brimmed with tears.

"I know you do Loki. I do. If there was anything I could do to stop it I would, I swear." Thor's voice was small; he looked at his hands, not able to get his mind to think with the shock of everything that was happening.

"I have to leave; I cannot possibly be expected to witness that."

"Where will you go?"

"I neither know nor care." Loki turned to leave. "Please Thor, look after her."

"Stay Loki, please." Loki did not even acknowledge his brothers words as he went through the vast hallway.

Kari paced her rooms frantically. How could this be happening? What sick, twisted games were the Norn's playing on her? And on Loki? She loved him, she adored him with all her being, and now, they were not to be able to have one another. All her happiness had been taken from her by one simple sentence. Odin, her king and Allfather, had sentenced her to a fate worst than death. To have to look at the man she loved every day, and not be able to be by his side. It was the most perverse of tortures.

She had not been permitted to join Loki and Thor as they went to see what was happening with their parents; instead all she witnessed was Loki turning to her saying that he would see what was the reason for his father's statement, with Thor agreeing with him as they rushed after their parents when they left the dining hall. Since then, she had heard nothing. Her handmaid had retired for the evening, having been dismissed by a very frantic Kari, not realising that the girl was acting as she was for reasons other than the usual nerves and anxiety a bride has the night before her wedding.

Kari's attention came to the beautiful dress that was ready for the morning, and she began to think of her previous excitement of thinking of Loki seeing her walking toward him in it, and what his reaction would be, of her dancing with him in it; and even dancing with Thor, who would most likely goof around and try and coax her into joking with him to make Loki jealous, she would oblige for a few minutes, before then walk over to her new husband and show him that he was the only one she cared for, that he was everything she would ever want. She swallowed hard as the tears finally overflowed from her eyes, falling so fast, they barely touched her cheek as they fell to the floor. Now her wedding day was to be a farce, the man she would walk toward, the one she would dance with, would not be the man she loved, she would have to look at him across the room, she did not know if she could bring herself to even look at him, her heart would break and she knew it. Slumping against the nearest wall, she fell to the floor and wept.

Loki did not know where he would go, he just knew he had to leave, he could not watch Kari walk towards Thor, in the dress she was supposed to marry him in. He could not witness her standing by Thor's side, her hand on his arm, and he was no fool, in time the realm would want heirs, even the thought of… no he had to leave, and he had to do so immediately. He just had to tell her, she would understand surely.

He walked to her rooms and knocked on the door, there was no answer, fearful she was not inside, he walked in. her living area was empty, there were different boxes and the like ready for the following morning, but it was deserted of any living being. He approached the door he knew led to her bed chambers, though he had never entered it, as it was highly improper to do such a thing before they were wed, but he did not care for propriety at that time, all he cared for was getting to see her one last time.

Placing his hand on the door, he heard something from within and he felt even worse. To his relief, in their courting, even with their disastrous beginning, he had never heard her cry. The idea of Kari, his heart, his love, weeping crushed him. He opened the door and slowing walked in. she was slumped against a wall, her breathing shallow, telling him that she had been crying for some time. Without even thinking, he walked over and sat beside her, placing his arm around her.

Kari looked up slightly startled, but on feeling the leather of Loki's coat, she felt a little better, until she saw his face. One look told her everything she never wanted to know, there was no stopping the fact that she was marrying Thor. She wanted to cry again, but she was out of tears, instead, Loki began to cry, holding her in against him. "We could just leave."

"He would have Heimdall find us. And the consequences when we would be found do not bear thinking about. It is safest for you to just do as he says."

"I am not frightened to defy the Allfather."

"Kari, Kari my love, listen to me." He made her look him in the eye, though it filled him with pride to see her so determined to defy Odin. "He will banish you to a fate worse than death. It is for the best."

"I can't do it Loki."

"You must my darling, for me."

Kari swallowed, her fight gone when she saw that Loki had lost his. "What are we going to do?"

"You are going to marry Thor, and you are going to be fine. He will not harm you, you know that."

"And what about you?"

"I am going to leave." Loki raised his hand to silence her as Kari pulled herself to her knees beside him as she went to argue. "It will be easier on us both this way, you know it." Kari shook her head violently side to side since her words were failing her. "I do not want to leave you my love, but I fear I must." His own heartbreak blatant in his voice.

Kari knew he would not be dissuaded. "I shall do as you ask." It shattered her soul to say those words. "But on one condition."

"Anything my love."

"Kiss me." She pleaded.

Loki stroked her cheek with his thumb, drying the tears that shone against the lights of the room, her face was patchy from crying, and her eyes puffed, but she was still beautiful to him. He leant forward and placed his lips on hers, just one last time.

No sooner had their lips met, and they clung to one another, as though their lives depended on it. Kari's hands went to Loki's hair, and Loki's gripped her neck and lower back, forcing her to straddle him as the kiss deepened. Neither wished for it to ever stop, both wanting to hold onto the other just a little longer, before they would be forced to be parted for eternity.

It was Loki who finally pulled away first, though he was extremely reluctant to do so. He was forced to because of the need to breathe and for that reason alone. Kari sat on his thighs, her lips reddened and her face flushed from the lack of air. "I am so sorry my darling, I failed you."

"No." She leant forward and kissed him again. "You did not fail me my love." Her words traced on his lips as she did not lean far back to speak. "You did not fail us." She kissed him again. Loki immediately responded once more. "I love you."

"And I you." His hand had unintentionally made its way to her ass, gripping the fleshy area tightly, causing her to moan into his lips.

Gasping for breath, she pulled back again. "Loki."

"Mmhmm."

"Take me."

"I cannot, I can only hide myself from Heimdall."

"No, I mean…" She looked at him anxiously as she repeated the words. "Take me."

Loki's eyes widened as he caught her meaning. "I cannot."

"Please, I want it to be you, I have waited so patiently for it to be, now that it has to be someone else…I need this Loki, please, don't take this away from me."

"I wish I could, I have dreamt of us together, more times than I should admit, but we cannot."

"Please Loki." She grinded herself down on his legs. Instinctively Loki rose his hips up to increase their contact. "Take me, please."

Loki's resolve dissipated. He knew it was wrong, she was to be Thor's, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He loved her, and by the God's did he want her. He forced them to their feet and lifted her into his arms, taking her to her bed. Laying her on it, he crawled over her, and kissed her once again.

Kari had no idea what came over her, she knew it was wrong to want such things, but she could not stop herself. She loved Loki, and wished to show him that even though they were being forced apart, he still had her. She pulled at his coat, which Loki used his seidr to remove, along with everything bar his pants. She pulled away from his kisses for a moment to look at his body. It was glorious, lean muscle covered by taunt skin; it sent a yearning through her body the likes she had never experienced before.

Loki gave a small smile on seeing the lust on her face. "May I?" he indicated to the dress she was wearing. Though nervous, Kari nodded. With a wave of his hand, her dress disappeared, leaving her only in her undergarments. Loki's eyes widened and an illicit moan escaped his lips. He knew from looking at her she was beautiful, but the Gods were to be praised for how she appeared without her clothes. His pants were too uncomfortable for him now, his body aching for him to remove them. Leaning down, he kissed her lips gently before kissing down her neck, across her collarbone and to her covered breasts. "My darling, you are too beautiful, have you ever been told that?"

"No, but you are biased; not to mention you are also the only one to ever see me in such a manner." She gasped, relishing the feel on his lips on her skin.

"Well you are." He slid the cup of her bra aside and gently licked the hardened nipple that he uncovered.

"Ah!" The sensation sent a shock of lust and ecstasy through Kari.

"That's it my darling, give into it. I promise this is only the beginning."

"Loki, please." She fisted his long dark hair as he continued to swirl his tongue over it, while also using his fingers to play with its counterpart.

Having ensured her breasts were well cared for, Loki mouth then trailed kisses down her torso and to the top of her underwear. He looked carefully at Kari for a moment to see if she still wished for him to continue, to which she answered his question with reverent nodding. So he pulled the offending clothing down and took a moment to relish the feminine scent that filled his nostrils.

Kari was anxious and nervous at Loki's face being so close to a part of her that she never thought a man would really want to be, but as he placed his lips on her, she gave a small cry.

Sensing it was not one of pain, Loki gave more small kisses to her intimate area, loving that already her body was showing how greatly she yearned for him. He climbed up her body again and pressed his lips to hers hungrily. He smiled at the small frown on her face as she tasted herself. "You are exquisite in every manner my dove." He gently slid his hand down her body, tickling her skin as it went, heightening her sense of touch. When he again came to her entrance, he slid a finger in gently, but this time Kari tried to pull away. "Does it hurt?" She nodded slightly. "I'm sorry. Do you wish for me to stop?" She shook her head. So instead, Loki used his thumb to find and circle the bundle of nerves over her entrance, which caused her to raise her hips in search of more friction. As he continued his ministrations, he slid his finger into her again, this time her even wetter channel accepting him more easily.

As he watched her bite her bottom lip, Loki refused to believe there was any more beautiful sight in the world. Kari's breaths were coming as gasps as her hands grasped the sheets so tight, her knuckles paled. He added a second finger carefully for fear of hurting her again, but there was little need to worry. In fact, he was almost certain she barely noticed, though her moans became louder. Loki relished in the noises she made as her voice betrayed her impending release, so he continued to caress her body inside and out until finally she called out his name and gasped, her body spasming around his fingers.

His own arousal was painfully reminding him that his pants were not ones that left much room for such yearnings, so with his other hand, he ridded himself of the offending garment as Kari regulated her breathing once more. "I take it you enjoyed that?" He smiled wolfishly.

She blushed as she nodded. "Yes." She sighed, her tone blissful.

"Care for a little more?"

Her reply was her pulling his neck so that his face was to hers once more and she kissed him, the kiss was not as desperate as before, but still as lustful. "Please Loki, take me." She repeated.

Loki did not wait any longer, he ridded himself of his underpants, and lay over her as she spread her legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. Bearing his weight on one hand, he aligned himself with her core and gently pressed in.

Kari had never experienced anything like what it felt to have herself and Loki bond in the most intimate fashion possible, it was exquisite and primal, and were any other to hear of it, apparently it would be wrong; but could not bring herself to care. As he thrusted his hips, she looked him in the eyes, their love for one another emanating through every part of their beings. Again her pleasure began to overtake her, the divine feeling of passion as her hips arched to meet his, the sound of their gasps, moans and skin meeting filled her chambers, she never wished to forget to sounds of that night as her body shook.

Loki knew she was close, her body drawing him in as he continued to try to bring her the pleasure he felt she deserved. Tomorrow she would be Thor's and she would lay under the older Odinson as he did such things to her, but tonight she was his, she had wanted him, and he would ensure the first time she had a man it was to be of her choosing. She deserved it, his pace increased as he felt the heavenly sensation of his own release beginning to rumble in his lower abdomen. "Kari."

"I'm gonna..."

"I know my love. I want you to, I need you to." He gasped as he continued to take her.

"Please Loki." Her voice desperate, she yearned for him as he did her.

"Please what my darling?"

"Finish in me."

He stared down at her, his movements nearly ceasing fully. "I…Kari, I cannot…"

"Please, please don't let him be the first to…to have me know only…" Her eyes had filled with tears again. "I am your in all ways but one Loki, you have marked my heart and my soul, please mark my body too."

Loki knew it was wrong, he knew he shouldn't, but he didn't care. Renewing his vigour, he kissed her passionately again. She was right, they had each other in every other way, and this was simply completing their love. He could not control the noises he made as her body clenched around his manhood, she felt amazing, as though she was made to fit him perfectly. "Fuck." He could feel his end coming.

Kari pulled his head down, their foreheads and noses touching, and looked straight into each others eyes. "Please Loki. So good."

"Kari…" He bit his lip; he had to stave off his own pleasure long enough for her to reach hers. But he had not to wait long, her name sung from his lips finished her, and as greatly as her body wished for her to, she did not close her eyes as she looked at him, her body erupting such pleasure, she temporarily forgot to breathe.

Loki grunted as her body pulsed around him, unable to stave off his orgasm any longer, he erupted within deep within her, the words "I love you" whispering from his lips over and over with each spurt of his fluids into her body.

Finally, their breathing returned to normal. As tiring as it was, Loki refused to remove himself from Kari's body, leaning on his elbows; he remained above her for as long as he could.

"What are we to do?" She asked her heartbreak now even worse.

"You have to marry him."

"And you?"

"I have to leave."

"I don't want you to."

"I know my dove, but I cannot love you so close, it will kill me. I can only love you from afar now."

"Don't go."

"Shhh. Let us just rest for now." As his spent length finally slipped from her body, he rolled over so to be by her side. Instinctively, she curled up against him; with her head on his chest and he placed his arm around her. "What are you doing?"

"This way you can't leave."

Loki took a deep breath and kissed her head. "I love you Kari, with all my heart."

"And I you." She curled in to him more, her breathing becoming more and more even as she drifted off to sleep. "Please don't leave me." She pleaded sleepily. Loki kissed her head again as he waited for her to fall asleep fully.

The next morning, the handmaid entered the room to see Kari sitting on her bed, her face solemn, and her eyes empty. In her hand she held a small note and the words 'I'm so sorry my dove, I will love you for eternity' written in beautiful writing. Kari refused to let go of it; and as her wedding dress was fitted into place, she took the note and placed it over her left breast, right over her heart.