There was less than a month away from their wedding and Nik couldn't be more excited. Loki finally decided to help which made planning everything go faster. Nikolas was so happy. He had found actual love, not just lust, and would be married and living in Alfheimr. It was too good to be true. He was constantly pinching himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Nik stood still as an elderly woman poked and prodded at him. She was tailoring his outfit for the wedding. They were in the All-Mother's chambers. He was appreciating how the green and black suit looked on him when he noticed the Queen enter the room. "Oh darling, you are captivating! My son won't be able to keep his eyes or hands off of you."
Nik's eyes grew wide and he could feel his cheeks heat up. "Frigga!" The Queen smiled wickedly. "I'm sure your honeymoon will be very eventful." Nik hid his face in his hands. "This right here is where Loki gets all his mischievousness from!" Frigga gave a smug smirk. "There's nothing wrong with sex darling. It's a completely natural thing. Now Odin and I-" Nik's face, ears, and neck turned red.
"Oh Norns! I am NOT talking about sex with my fiance's mother and the Queen of Asgard." The tailor snorted in amusement. She stood up facing Nik. "I'm finished my dear. Prince Loki's and your suits will be done before the wedding." Nik hugged her. "Thank you so much!" With a small smile, she turned to leave, stopping in front of the Queen. "And Frigga dear, stop tormenting the boy."
Nik ate dinner alone on the balcony overlooking Asgard in Loki's room. Loki and Thor had been sent to Alfheimr to discuss the terms of peace and trade between the two realms. Doing their princely duty, though it was most likely that Loki was doing all the talking while Thor indulge in the food and mead. Loki was also on business to find a place within Alfheimr to live after the wedding.
Suddenly Nikolas was brought back to the present by a loud knock on the chamber doors. A moment later, the king walked in. Nik's eyes grew wide as he scrambled from the table into the room to bow before the All-Father.
"Hello my boy. I have come to speak with you concerning my son." Nik gestured to a set of chairs. "Of course my king." The king remained standing. "I have found you a place in Alfheimr to live." Nik smiled. "Thank you your majesty. That is very kind of you. Loki will be most-" "Only for you to live." Nik looked confused. "I don't understand." "I will free you as a slave and allow for any costs to live in Alfheimr if you leave Loki and never come back, never see or talk to my son ever again for as long as you live."
Nikolas was shocked. Never had the King seemed averse to his being with Loki. "Your highness, I love your son with every breath in my body and every beat of my heart. He has filled a void in me that I never thought possible. I'm sorry Odin All-Father, but I cannot and will not leave Loki." The king looked indifferent as he half turned to the door and banged Gungnir against the floor.
"I feared that would be your answer. Very well. You leave me with no choice." Before Nik could ask what he meant, the doors opened and several Einherjar soldiers came in. Two grabbed Nik. "I Odin All-Father hereby condemn you to spend the rest of your days in slavery in Vanaheimr." Nikolas felt numb.
~How could the king do this? What had he done wrong?~ Both Nik and Odin knew that Nikolas would be executed if he stepped foot into Vanaheimr again. The guards started dragging Nik out of the rooms with Odin following behind. Nik may have been relieved to be going down secret pathways to get to the Bifrost if he wasn't so shocked about what was actually happening.
"My King? Why do this? Have I not done all that was required of me here? Have I not made your son happy?" Nik felt slightly sick by the intense expression on the king's face. "None of that matters. Loki has his duties to follow and you are in the way." Nik's jaw dropped. "Odin All-Father, please. I am his soulmate. The Norns have decided that Loki and I belong together. You cannot tear us apart. The Fates will make you suffer for cutting their thread of destiny."
They had arrived at the Bifrost where Heimdall and King Njord stood waiting. "I see this one still tries to rise above his station by going after a prince." Nikolas sent a deathly glare at the King of Vanaheimr. "I am Loki of Asgard's mate. Our threads of destiny have been woven together by the Norns." Njord looked at Odin, mystified. "Odin, if The Fates have indeed determined that they should be together, the consequences could be dastardly."
"I do not care what the Fates have or have not prearranged. I have plans that will not be hindered by a mere slave. Now you will take him back to your realm and keep him hidden. I do not care what you do with him. Execute him if you must, but keep him a secret. No one is to know where or even who he is." Njord hesitated for a moment. He turned his gaze to Nikolas. He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "Very well All-Father, but if Loki finds out-"
"He will not find out." Odin hissed angrily. "I will do as you ask Odin, but if the God of Chaos ever learns of this treachery, there will be no Valhalla for us. He will make certain that we suffer in Hel until all of time." Odin turned and began walking to his palace. "I will handle Loki. Just take the slave and be gone." Njord grabbed Nik by the hair. "Come slave. We must get you retrained." Tears gathered in Nik's eyes. Nik was feeling so many emotions. Fear and regret being the strongest. Everything had been going so well just that morning. If only he could have said goodbye to his love.