A Royal Wedding
Life with Loki was excellent. The two of you had spent the past two years since leaving Earth traversing the universe, doing your best to help end violent wars and resolve conflicts. It was tiring work, and you split your time between doing that and living on Asgard, an arrangement that found both you and Loki happy and fulfilled.
After a particularly difficult month of peacekeeping a specific planet while you tried to find a system of power that would bring them prosperity, you retired to Asgard for a long overdue vacation.
“Tired?” Loki asked, glancing down at where you were sprawled across the bed in his room, your hand draped across your eyes. You peeked out from under it, fixing him with an unimpressed look.
“What do you think? A whole planet full of warlord wannabes who were continuously stabbing each other in the back. We had six assassinations while we were there, Lo. At that point, I just wanted to leave them all to destroy each other!”
“But you didn’t,” Loki pointed out, flopping down beside you. “You established a council made up of the purest souls on the planet and set up precautions to prevent a coup. Impressive work.”
“I hope you’re okay with hanging out here for a bit. As pathetic as it sounds, I’ve had enough of wartime politics for the next little while.”
“Good,” Loki said, rolling closer to you and nuzzling his nose into the crook of your neck. “I was hoping we could stay for the winter solstice.”
“Is it that time of year already?” You giggled at his blatant display of affection, stroking his hair. That was one thing about Loki you never did quite get used to. He was all business when in front of others, but the second you two were alone, he was like a snuggly cat, living off cuddles and affection alone.
“I have been anticipating this solstice all year. Your vacation could not come at a more opportune moment.”
“Glad to hear it. Oh, also, if you could do me a favour and not get absolutely trashed with Thor this year, I’d appreciate that a lot.”
“Whatever my fine lady wishes, shall be done,” Loki swore solemnly. “Even if it is breaking a centuries old tradition.”
“You barely drink the rest of the year! What is it about the winter solstice?”
“Eat, drink, be merry?” He offered. “Now go to sleep, we’ve got a day of relaxing tomorrow that we absolutely can’t miss.”
A few days later, for the third year in a row, you found yourself dancing with Loki in the square, swaying in his arms as the rest of the world faded around the two of you. There was a smile on your face that you couldn’t seem to get rid of, and every time you looked at Loki, he reciprocated it. However, when he thought you weren’t looking, you could see his forehead crease with worry.
“What’s wrong?” You asked him finally at a dip between songs, turning his head towards you so that your eyes met. “I’ve never seen you this nervous.”
“My apologies,” he said, stepping back and giving you a quick bow. “I must step away for a few minutes. I’ll be back.”
You watched him walk away, standing there awkwardly, until Thor approached you.
“What is going on with him?” You asked the god the second he was within hearing range.
“I was about to ask the same of you.” Thor attempted to place his hammer in your hand and you quickly danced aside, dodging his attempt. It had become a bit of a game between the two of you; Thor continually insisted you were worthy, and you consistently refused to find out.
“He was really excited about Jul. Insisted we stayed for the festivities. Now he’s acting squirrelly.”
“I’ll say. He cancelled our drinking contest,” Thor frowned, hefting the pint he was holding in his other hand so that you could see he was continuing on the festivities on his own.
“Oh, that’s my fault. I asked him to a few days ago.”
“What? No, he cancelled last year.” Thor didn’t pick up on your confusion. “He’s probably slunk off someplace where it’s quiet; I never know where he goes when he wants to get away from the crowd.”
He might not have known. But you did.
“Thanks, Thor,” you said, patting him on his arm and heading back towards the palace.
“Where are you going?” Thor called over the crowd, but you just waved a hand over your shoulder, slipping through the entryway and off into one of the many corridors.
You feet carried you to the library instinctively, and you paused outside the heavy oak doors, taking a deep breath. The soul stone you wore around your neck warmed up slightly, letting you know that a single soul stood within the library.
“Loki?” You said, carefully pushing open the door and stepping inside, letting it shut behind you.
A trail of petals, all Asgardian flowers, were spread over the cobblestone floor of the library, floating candles lighting the space with a romantic glow. At the very end of the library, in front of the massive bay window that overlooked Asgard and the night sky, stood Loki, silhouetted against the glass.
All of a sudden your breath was coming in way too fast, your heart pounding like it was trying to break free of your rib cage. Even so, your feet stepped forwards, leading you down the path that led to Loki.
He turned to look at you when you were halfway across the room and your heart dropped to your feet, a shy smile spreading across your lips when you made eye contact with him. In the candlelight, his cheekbones were high and pronounced, his eyes dark pools you could so easily drown in. And the smile on his face was equal parts mischievous and loving as you approached on unsteady feet.
“You came looking for me,” he said quietly, taking your hand as you reached him.
“I always do,” you responded, your voice shaking slightly. “Had to make sure you were okay.”
“Just needed some time to set this up.” He winked at you, and the space surrounding you lit up, hundreds of tiny little lights, like fairy lights without the string, were suspended in the air, stealing the breath from your lungs.
“It’s beautiful,” you said truthfully.
“I think you know why I did this,” Loki said, reaching into his jacket and extracting a little velvet box. And you stopped breathing all together. “But I still want to get the words out, so if you wouldn’t mind…”
You nodded at him, a touch over-enthusiastically, and he laughed.
“As you know, we’re coming up on two years of having left the Avengers and Midgard behind,” Loki said softly, his voice so much more serious and loving than you’d ever heard it. “And every day I have awoken in paradise. Life with you, y/n, has been thing I’ve ever done. You’ve been eternally patient with me, and while I’ve always thought that you would eventually tire of having me around, you have shown that that is not so. And I love you, even though I don’t say it all the time, I know you understand that I do. And will forevermore.”
He sank down to one knee and you felt tears spill over and down your cheeks as you looked down at him.
“I want to spend every waking moment with you, from now until the end of time, and I want to share every victory and every loss with you, every triumph and every despair. I cannot imagine any future in which I do not love you. So, my question, y/n, the only question I could ever possibly ask you, is—” he opened up the little box, revealing to you a gorgeous ring, one made of the same gold as the Asgardian palace, a diamond shaped like the twinkling stars in the centre, as he took your hand “—will you marry me?”
It took a whole heartbeat for your brain to catch up, and you nodded so hard you thought your head was going to come flying off. “Yes. Yes. I feel…” you had to drawn in a shaking breath as he slid the ring onto your finger. “I feel the exact same way about everything you said.”
He stood up, wrapping you in his arms and kissing you, preventing you from having to stammer your way through a not nearly as eloquent version of what he’d just said. Even so, you attempted to put your feelings into the kiss, your hands sliding over his heart, and you pushed all your happiest memories with him into his brain.
You kissed him as they flowed into him, and you knew he was seeing himself through your eyes, feeling all the love you felt for him. Flashes from when the two of you had first met up until now, all the moments in which you’d felt so much love for him you were unable to describe it.
Loki’s hands slid up to press over yours, kissing you deeper. You felt something wet fall on your face, and you opened your eyes slightly, only to see him crying.
“Loki,” you whispered, sliding your hands up to his face, stroking away the tears, and his eyes fluttered open, irises glowing gold for a second before they faded back to their original colour. “That is the way I love you. And that is how I will love you eternally, until the universe collapses in upon itself.”
“You’re…” Loki shook his head, speechless for once. “I love you.”
“I have long since given you a piece of my soul,” you told him, the soul stone glowing slightly where it sat over your heart. “And in the years we have been together, you’ve gradually given me a bit of yours.”
“I’d be saying more poetic things if you’d stop making me cry,” Loki chastised, wiping his eyes with a gold handkerchief he conjured from thin air. “And to think you once didn’t know how to compliment me.”
“I still don’t have a nickname for you,” you said, pressing a quick kiss against his lips, smoothing his hair back from his face. “But I think that fiancé has a nice ring to it.”
“It does.” Loki rubbed his finger over the ring now on your hand. “I guess we have a wedding to plan now, huh?”
“Oh god.” That brought you out of your happy daze. “Somehow, I can set up governments across the galaxy, but the thought of planning a wedding scares me to my bones.”
“My mother will help,” Loki assured you. “Now, I think we ought to announce this to the kingdom while they’re all in one place, shouldn’t we?”
“Of course.” You slid your hand into his, happily strolling through the hallways, back out to the square. People were still dancing, Thor holding his annual contest, and all was well and normal in Asgard. That was, of course, until Loki waved his hand and the music completely stopped, causing everyone to turn to the two of you.
“We have an announcement,” Loki said, his voice magically magnified so that it might be heard by everyone. “As I believe they say on Midgard—” he grabbed your hand with the ring on it, holding it up for everyone to see “—she said yes!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, but none so loud as Thor.
“YESSSS!” He bellowed, flinging his hammer at the two of you with sheer excitement. On instinct, you grabbed the handle as it sailed past, preventing it from going flying into the palace.
Everyone froze, staring at you as you quickly dropped the hammer on the ground, pretending you hadn’t caught it. “Whoops.”
“I knew it,” Thor boasted, making his way through the crowd as the band picked back up and wedged himself in between you and Loki, slinging an arm over each of you. “You couldn’t have picked a worthier wife, brother.”
“I was well aware of her worth well before you threw a hammer at her.” Loki rolled his eyes, but you noticed he didn’t untangle himself from his brother’s embrace.
“Loki, y/n, congratulations!” Frigga walked up to the two of you, grabbing Loki and kissing him once on each cheek. His disgruntled look made you laugh, especially since the soul stone revealed to you that he was still extremely happy. “We were all expecting it, the question was just that of when.”
“I’ve been ready to marry him for two years,” you told her, accepting a hug. “I was wondering the same thing.”
“Wait,” Loki said, holding up a finger. “If I had proposed to you when we were still on Midgard, you would’ve said yes?”
“Yeah, that’s what I told Natasha.”
“You told Agent Romanoff you’d marry me before you told me?” He blinked at you incredulously.
“We were friends. What did you expect?” You quirked an eyebrow at him, and he just opened his mouth and closed it again, rather like a fish.
“My boy.” Odin’s voice cut through the laughter of your companions and Loki’s mouth snapped shut and he stood up straighter, although you expected that was subconscious.
“Father,” Loki said sharply, nodding at the Allfather.
“Y/n,” Odin turned to you, and you swallowed hard, giving him what you hoped was a respectful smile.
“Allfather.” You curtsied.
“Your love has rejuvenated my son,” Odin told you, giving you a slightly less stern look than usual. “You have made an honest man of him. For that, you have my blessing. And Loki, I am proud of you. You need not wield a hammer nor sit upon a throne to be a good god.” With that, he took Frigga’s hand and led her off somewhere, leaving you and the Odinsons to stare after them in disbelief.
Something struck you in that moment and you reached down, lifting Thor’s hammer from where you’d dropped it, wordlessly slipping it into Loki’s hand. Just as you’d suspected, he was able to hold it as he stared after his parents.
Thor glanced down to see what you were doing and had to do a double take, looking at you with wide eyes, then nudging Loki. “Brother, look.”
Loki lifted the hammer slowly, as though he thought his eyes were betraying him, turning it over in his hands. The hammer hummed slightly as he spun it around his wrist, the wind it created blowing through his hair, and then he did something you didn’t expect; he handed it back to Thor with a smile.
“I’ve always dreamed of what it would be like to be able to lift that hammer,” he said as a dumbfounded Thor accepted it back. “Somehow I always pictured it to be a far more monumental moment. But it is not my hammer. I do not want it.”
Loki looked back at you, taking your hand instead. “I’ve got something far better.”
“Yeah, the Tesseract,” you couldn’t resist saying, grinning when Loki laughed.
“Darling, you read my mind.”
Thor was still staring at his traitorous hammer as you and Loki stepped around him, on your way to return to the square.
“Don’t worry, Thor,” you said to him in passing, “I still think you’re pretty cool, even if I can lift your hammer.”
Loki led you through the throng of people, sliding his arms around your waist as the two of you moved to the music. “For this wedding, we ought to blend Asgardian and Midgardian traditions, right?”
“I think we should definitely keep the sword thing in,” you advised. “And Nat and I came up with the idea that we have a sword fight as part of the ceremony. Whoever wins gets to pick where the honeymoon is.”
“Ooh, I like that idea.” Loki’s eyes flashed with the promise of a challenge. “You should invite her. Agent Romanoff. She can be your maid of honour.”
“Really?” You raised an eyebrow. “They’d allow Midgardians on Asgard?”
“I’m sure they can make an exception for their princess.”
“Oh fuck, I’m going to be a princess.” You gaped at him, your eyes bulging slightly as you realized the full weight of what you’d agreed to by accepting Loki’s proposal.
“Relax,” he said, gently dipping you in time with the music. “I’ll help you along the way. Now, who should my best man be? I’m thinking Bruce.”
“Banner?” You laughed. “He’s terrified of you!”
“Exactly. Then he wouldn’t make an ass of me during his best man speech. If I pick Thor, we’re all going to hear about the time I stabbed him or a time he electrocuted me, or that time I pretended to be a cat and shredded all his curtains…”
“Okay, now I want Thor to be your best man.”
Loki sighed resignedly. “I suppose we should have a spring wedding. The flowers are quite nice that time of year, and we can do it outdoors.”
“You’re the expert, apparently.” You leaned forwards to kiss him, happily sighing into his mouth. “I’ll follow your lead.”
The two of you had decided on a nice date in the middle of May for your wedding. Planning it had taken up a great deal of time, even with Frigga’s help, and it had taken you a week alone to write your vows. Odin was to preform the ceremony, and you’d already asked Frigga to give you away. She’d agreed readily, saying she already viewed you as a daughter.
Loki had also fulfilled his promise of bringing in Natasha. She arrived on Asgard a week before the wedding to help you with last-minute preparations, and you met her at the Bifrost, catching her when it inevitably caught her off guard.
“Woah,” she said, looking around.
“Pretty cool, huh?” You grinned, leading her out onto the Rainbow Bridge.
“Yeah, now I can see why you wanted to live here. Also you’re getting married?!”
“Yes, that’s why you’re here.” You deftly avoided the punch she aimed at your arm. “You’re the maid of honour.”
“I know that, it’s just a little bit surreal.” She shook out her red curls. “Okay, what’s first on the agenda?”
“Dress fitting. The top seamstresses in Asgard are making it. I’m a little bit terrified.”
“Is it going to be furry?” Nat asked as the two of you headed towards the city. When you shot her an alarmed and questioning look, she just shrugged. “I studied up on Viking weddings. They usually wore furs.”
“Loki told them to do an Earthen style thing. Actually, he’s been really involved in the whole process of wedding planning.” You stopped outside the shop, opening the door.
“Impressive,” she mused, stepping inside while you held the door open for her.
“Your Highness!” The seamstress closest to the door quickly curtsied for you, giving Nat a curious look.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” you said, blushing slightly. Ever since news of yours and Loki’s engagement had gotten out, you’d been getting royal treatment. “We’re just here for our dress fittings.”
It was even more beautiful than you could’ve imagined. The gown had a trumpet skirt and a v-neck, gorgeous sheer lace decorating your arms. The skirt was made of a thick, silk-like material, with intricate lace patterns and crystals hand-sewn into it. In short, it was a dream, and you looked and felt like a princess.
Nat’s maid of honour dress had a sheath skirt and portrait neckline, in a shade of very light blue that went spectacularly with her hair.
“You look beautiful,” you told her truthfully when she came out from the dressing room.
“It’s not even sized yet,” she said, but she was already smiling as she stepped up onto the platform. “Also, you look like a goddess.”
“I’m starting to feel like one.” You looked at yourself in the mirror, letting your gaze roam down your body as a seamstress carefully poked pins into place. For once, you had absolutely no insecurities, simply just an appreciation for what you saw when you looked at yourself.
“Hello girls.” Frigga’s voice rang out through the shop and you caught sight of her in the mirror. She was holding a large box, which she carted on over to the two of you.
“Natasha, this is Frigga, Queen of Asgard and my soon-to-be mother-in-law.”
“I would bow or something, but I’m afraid I’ll get stabbed,” Natasha turned like a penguin to face Frigga. “It’s lovely to meet you, ma’am.”
“A pleasure.” Frigga nodded respectfully at Nat. “I’m just bringing this to the seamstresses.” She lifted the box. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
“We’re just about done,” you said. “And we’re going to a tea party next, if you’d like to join us.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your fun.”
“I’d like you there.” It was the truth. You greatly enjoyed Frigga’s presence. “The rest of my bridesmaids aren’t arriving until the day before the wedding since they’re from all corners of the universe, so we’ve got lots of room.”
“Well,” Frigga had a twinkle in her eye as she looked at you, “if you insist.”
The day of the wedding was legitimately one of the most nerve-wracking things you’d ever experienced. At precisely seven in the morning, your bridesmaids had dragged you out of bed, away from Loki, who you would not see until you were walking down the aisle.
Most of your bridesmaids were friends you’d made while doing your work with Loki, so they were very familiar with the two of you and how close you were. None of them had known Loki during what Nat referred to as his ‘feral period’, so they were all very taken with him.
“Loki is going to melt when he sees you like this!” Circe, a Xandarian girl you’d met and quickly become friends with towards the beginning of your journeys, squealed.
“Is that a thing that he does?” Nat asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
“He’s very doting,” Circe insisted, starting on your hairstyle. “I broke up with my boyfriend because he wasn’t enough like Loki. Every man should learn to be as loving as him.”
“Amen to that, sister,” Demetra, a pink-skinned Krylorian, nodded, her space buns bobbing with her head.
“I’m sorry, are we talking about the same Loki?” Nat blinked, giving you a questioning look, to which you nodded in response.
“He’s really changed his tune,” you informed her.
“I have yet to actually have a proper conversation with him. I’ve mainly been following you around and avoiding saying more than a few words to him.”
You laughed and Demetra reached out to keep your head from moving. “Stop! I’m trying to do your makeup!”
“Sorry Dem.” You quickly shut your mouth, unable to stop the smile on your face.
“So, what song are you walking down the aisle to?” Circe asked, tilting your head as she worked on your hair.
“Uhh, ‘The Four Seasons: Spring 1’ by Vivaldi,” you responded. “It’s an Earthen song. Lots of violins.”
One of the guards who stood at the door suddenly opened it, clapping his feet together as he saluted the occupants of your boudoir. “Her Majesty, the Queen of Asgard.”
Frigga breezed into the room, holding the same box she’d brought to the seamstresses’, a glowing smile on her face. You drew your robes tighter across your body, suddenly feeling weirdly naked sitting in front of the queen in all of her wedding finery.
“How’s she doing?” Frigga asked Nat, who cast a quick glance at you.
“No last minute doubts yet. I think she’ll be good to go.”
“I’m a touch nervous,” you said, clearing your throat. “But also excited. I mean, it’s Loki. I love him. That’s really all there is to know, right?”
Frigga’s eyes misted slightly, and she gave you a hug. “Sorry, had to get this out of the way before you’re all sewn into that wonderful dress.”
“It’s going to be the most insane thing I’ve ever worn in my life,” you laughed, hugging her back, ignoring Demetra’s little noise of protest.
“And you’re going to look like a literal princess while wearing it,” Nat said, offering Frigga a cupcake from the stash of baked goods the boudoir had been stuffed with by well-wishing palace officials who had taken a liking to you.
“I don’t feel like a literal princess,” you confessed as Demetra returned to your makeup, Frigga releasing you to accept the cupcake.
“I have something that might help with that.” Frigga placed the box on the table in front of you and carefully opened it, revealing a gorgeous silver wishbone tiara, decorated with diamonds attached to the stem-like structure. It was so regal and beautiful you damn well almost cried just looking at it.
You were speechless as Circe lifted it out of the box and fit it atop your hairstyle, carefully pinning it into place and adding your veil. Demetra finished your makeup and stepped back, spinning you around to face yourself in the mirror.
“Oh my god, guys.” You leaned closer to stare at yourself, widening your eyes and raising your eyebrows to make sure it was really you staring back at you from the mirror. All hesitations aside, you sure looked like a princess now. Demetra had done your makeup in such a way that it accentuated and emphasized your natural features without overbearing them, and with the tiara on your head, it was hard to believe you weren’t already royalty. “I look…” You couldn’t even finish the thought, tears welling up in your eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Nat said, waving her hands in front of your face, as though to dry your eyes. “That makeup is too gorgeous to mess up.”
“Let’s get you into that dress before you melt.” Circe hoisted you out of your seat.
“Thank you, Frigga,” you told the other woman. “For everything.”
“Of course, y/n.” She affectionately rubbed your back. “I’ll see you just before the ceremony.”
It wasn’t long before you were completely dressed in your whole gown, the bridesmaids in theirs too, and it was time to head to the venue.
The wedding was held out in the mountains, in a grove of trees, which had all been wrapped in twinkling lights, giant trellises decorating the space, dressed in thousands of white flowers. Intricate benches were placed on either side of the long aisle you’d have to walk down, where beings from all across the nine realms would sit to watch the procession.
Your bridesmaids followed you up the mountain, Frigga having magicked little platforms to fly you along so that you weren’t making a mess of yourselves. A curtain of ivy separated your little entourage from the rest of the procession when you arrived, just to give you a moment to collect your thoughts before you had to go out there in front of everyone.
“Are you ready?” Frigga asked, handing you your bouquet. It was beautiful like everything else was, little crystals included amongst the flowers.
“I have never been more ready for anything,” you assured her, smiling as Nat and Thor, each carrying a long, thin box, stepped up in front of you. Within them lay the swords you and Loki had made each other, your rings tied to the handles with ribbon. You didn’t know precisely what Loki had made you, but you were excited to find out.
A group of four little Light Elves had been chosen to be your ‘plant children’—as Loki had so affectionately coined them—each carrying a basket of flower petals to throw at the audience and along the aisle. They were sent out first, ducking through the ivy, and you heard a collective ‘awww’ arise from the guests.
“Am I really doing this?” You asked yourself aloud, and Thor gave you a beaming grin as he adjusted his ivy and white rose boutonnière.
“Yes, you are. And I know you’ve been waiting a good long while for it, too.”
And with that, it was time for him and Nat to step out, each of them carrying their boxes lengthwise across their arms. Your heart was pounding as your bridesmaids got into position in front of you, all preparing to lead you down the aisle. Frigga gently looped her arm through yours, giving you a comforting smile.
“You’ve got this,” she assured you, and then the violins started and the ivy curtain drew itself open and your bridesmaids started forwards.
Taking one last deep breath, you followed them, looking straight ahead.
Your heart stopped when you saw Loki.
He was dressed in a simple black and white suit with an understated crown, sticking to the classics, and yet it could have been a shroud of heaven and earth itself by the way it looked on him. Your eyes met his and he gave you a small smile, his eyes filling with tears as an already-crying Thor joined him at his side with the rest of his groomsmen.
It was like the audience faded away, as all you could see was Loki as you approached, your footsteps background noise against the pale carpet. A tear freed itself from your lashes and slipped down your face as you joined him at the altar, Odin standing there, a book in his weathered hands.
The two of you faced each other, your expression mirrored in Loki’s as the song reached its dramatic finish before gently tapering off. You heard quite a few people in the audience blow their noses as the world slightly returned to focus.
“We gather here today,” Odin began, his booming voice echoing off the mountains that surrounded you, “to witness the sacred union of Loki Odinson, prince of Asgard, and y/n Ævidóttir, the only being borne of Vormir. They met on Earth, a place with a painful past for the both of them, and together they realized that they could overcome even the limits of the universe.”
Your eyes didn’t leave Loki’s as Odin spoke, searching his soul for any signs of hesitation. You found none. The two of you were so vulnerable up here, in front of everyone, announcing both the details of your past and the minutiae of your love, and yet both of you were okay with it. Both of you wanted to share it with the universe.
“To these two individuals, love has never been simple. It has been a difficult endeavour, a trial not so easily won. But that which is worth doing is never easy. Together, they have found themselves, and searched the very depths of each other’s souls. Now there is no corner of the universe in which one would find themselves alone, for the other shall always be close behind.
“This ceremony is one of the most important you shall ever bear witness to. This ceremony is final stamp on a journey of redemption, the final leap of faith in this relationship. Both parties have taken the ultimate chance on each other, and today they will reap one of the most ultimate rewards that chance can bring them. The very notion that we would all be gathered here today for this reason was unfathomable only a few short years ago. Let today be a lesson that one can always be brought back from the dark, no matter the tragedy of their past. In love, every obstacle is surmountable.”
Odin turned a page in his book, his single eye looking fondly between you and Loki. It was easily the most emotion you’d ever seen him display.
“And now, we have readings from each.” Odin gestured to Loki, who bowed his dark head and begun to recite. You recognized it instantly as a Shakespearean sonnet, the words rolling off his tongue, so infused with love that you felt yourself blush.
“‘Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.’”
He wet his lips, giving you a smile so gentle you thought your heart might melt as your eyes filled with tears once again. “Or, as they say on Earth, ‘in sickness or in health’.”
Of course he’d gone that route. You’d chosen a poem by Rabindranath Tagore, one that you were now having difficulty getting out as he gazed at you.
“‘I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain,
Its ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:
You become an image of what is remembered forever.
You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played alongside millions of lovers, shared in the same
Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.
Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man’s days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –
And the songs of every poet past and forever.’”
Thor was making quite the ruckus by now, having to blow his nose on his handkerchief, and you could see Frigga crying in the first row too, but that’s as far as your eyes dared wander. Loki turned away slightly to wipe a tear out of his eye, and the audience let out slight chuckles. Odin gave a brief nod of approval, then returned to his schedule.
“I trust that the two of you understand the gravity of the vows you are about to partake in,” he said, proceeding when both you and Loki nodded in tandem. “I have faith in this, as the two of you chose to write your own vows for each other, which I would invite you to read at this time, beginning with Loki.”
“Y/n,” Loki said your name in that low voice of his, carrying throughout the crowd, and yet it felt like he was speaking solely to you. “Your love has saved me from the depths of condemnation, washed me free of the wrath and burden I once carried. I know now that it was never power I sought, but love. You have shown me that. Now and forever I shall love you, this I swear. We shall face hardships, this I do not doubt, but I know that with you by my side, we shall always be triumphant. I promise to you my love, my soul, and my heart. These are my vows, and I shall never go back on them.”
He held out his hand to Thor, and Thor choked back his sobs long enough to open the box he was carrying, revealing to you the sword Loki had made for you. It was a gorgeous classic Viking sword, made of such a shiny silver, you could see Loki in its reflection as he carefully removed it from its box. The handle was made of polished gold, made in the shape of an ankh, your classic blue stone in the loop at the top. As Loki lifted it, you saw that the date was engraved on one side of the sword in Loki’s scrawling script, along with a short message: ‘For my love, so that you might always have a piece of the night. – Loki’.
His ring for you was tied to the handle with a white ribbon and he quickly untied it, his hands far steadier than yours were as he slid the ring onto your finger. It was made of a beautiful black metal, a green gemstone in the centre, attached to the rest of the ring with golden tendrils. Simple, yet breathtaking.
“Your sword,” Loki said, bowing slightly as he handed the sword to you, fixing you with a mischievous grin. As you lifted it, the smooth surface of the blade rippled, showing you the endless expanse of the night, stars glinting brightly within it. On first glance, it appeared as though Loki had infused it with a slight bit of the Tesseract’s power, so that you might always have a window to the night sky you’d always loved so much.
“Y/n,” Odin said, gently taking the sword from you so that you could deliver your vows to Loki.
“Loki,” you breathed out, slightly shakily, as you faced him, doing your best to steady yourself. “Not many people can reduce me to tears like this, so we already know you’re special…” There was a smattering of laughter from the audience as you reached out for his hand, clasping it between yours to soothe yourself.
“Truly, I have never met someone who cares for me like you do. You have been there for me through thick and through thin, even when it would’ve been the easier and saner thing to walk away. You have already shown me that you can act upon your vows, and I swear that I will show you the same compassion and love that you have always shown me. Today, I see my apple tree in full bloom.” Loki squeezed your hand at that, a fresh wave of tears falling down both your faces. “Ever since I met you, you haven’t been the God of Mischief, nor the Prince of Asgard, nor any of the titles of which you have ever laid claim to. With me, you were always Loki. And I promise I shall always love you no matter what title you bear. Forevermore, I shall love you with power under control. These vows I shall never break.”
Nat opened the box for you and you extracted the sword you’d made for Loki, his simple gold ring with a black onyx stone tied to it. The sword was sheathed in gold, designed to look as though a snake was eating the blade. The cross guard was pointed and slightly curved to resemble his horned helmet, made of the same gold. The pommel had a clear sphere atop it, a miniature rendition of Yggdrasil inside it. Truly, it was one of your best works.
“I have forged this sword from the waters of creation, so that one who wields it will have with them in part a piece of me.” You slid the ring onto his hand, passing the sword to Loki, who gave it an approving once-over before he had to pass it off to Odin.
Odin raised both the swords, waving them in between you and Loki as the two of you stepped apart. “With the power so vested in me, as King of the Nine Realms, I do hereby bless your matrimony and pronounce you husband and wife in all the Realms and beyond. You may kiss the bride.” He swept the swords up and out of the way and a golden light burst from them, enveloping you and Loki as the two of you strode forwards, as though pulled by invisible magnets.
Loki grabbed you and lifted you off your feet as he kissed you, the crowd cheering in the background. It was nothing short of magical as the orchestra began to play again, Loki carefully placing you back on your feet, still not breaking the kiss. In a moment of utter defiance, you dipped him like you had once upon a time at the winter solstice, swallowing his laugh with your own mouth before bringing him back up.
The two of you broke apart, grinning as the wedding venue changed around you, Odin and Frigga using their combined magic to change it into the reception venue. It changed from day to night, the lights around the trees lighting the space, as well as some that hung above the now-solid dance floor. Tables and chairs surrounded it, palace staff bringing a whole feast to load them up.
“I guess we’re supposed to do the first dance right away?” Loki asked, leading you onto the dance floor as the band began to play a romantic tune.
“I’m not complaining. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can kick your ass at our sword fight.”
“The only way you’re going to win is if you rigged my sword.” Loki pulled you close to him, gently swaying to the music. You were vaguely aware of the fact that everyone’s eyes were on you, but you didn’t care, pulling him into another languid kiss. Somewhere in the crowd, Nat and Thor whistled.
“You’re my husband,” you whispered as the song came to the end and the rest of the partygoers trickled onto the floor. “I mean, minus the days when you’re my wife.”
“And you’re my wife,” Loki said, pressing a gentle kiss to your neck. “I can’t wait to find out what married life is going to be like.”
“How long do you think we have until your parents start asking us for grandchildren?”
Loki frowned. “Fuck, I forgot about that. We can probably stave off that conversation for a couple centuries or so.”
“Sorry to interrupt.” Nat slid right up to the two of you, pulling you away from Loki. “You two will have forever to dance, and people really want you to throw the bouquet like, right now.”
Loki waved you along. “Do what you must. I have hogged you for long enough, and I intend to do so for the rest of time, so get that out of the way now.”
“I love you,” you told him, giving him one last kiss before letting Nat drag you off.
“I know,” he said jokingly, giving you one of those genuine smiles that had once been so rare and were now commonplace. “And I love you too.”