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Chapter Thirty Eight

Lienna

I took a deep breath for what seemed like the hundredth time.

Everything seemed so surreal. The dress, the way I looked, the way the gathered Asgardian citizens seemed to pulse with new life seeing me arrive, the way he looked at me, and even now in the cool air of the winter evening, surrounded by Frigga's enchanted lights. My head rested against his chest, and his arms wrapped around my waist. We weren't even dancing anymore, but this was more beautiful than any well executed dance would be for this moment.

Guests had long since ceased walking up to us and congratulating us, and most everyone else had joined the feast and festivities inside the palace. Silence surrounded us, except for gentle breathing and heartbeats, and it was blissful.

A single moment that we had alone, after months of having every action publicized to the satisfaction of the public and finally here we were, holding each other in the quiet of a palace garden. A moment we may never have again. Standing here, I could forget every trouble about the world. Every single problem I insisted on carrying with me had melted away into the dark of the night, by some blessing of Valhalla.

"We made it, Lienna," Loki whispered.

I nodded. "Thank the gods we did."

Loki stepped back to look at me. It felt good to have him revel in my appearance. It took Frigga, Annika, and some palace maidens hours to get everything perfect, and even then we had to bring in an artist to fix my makeup.

His eyes were filled with life and joy and even his ever present mischief. "Lienna, somehow, every time I see you, you're more beautiful than the last. I think this time takes the cake." Loki grinned. "Do you want to have a bit of fun for our first night as a married couple?"

I blushed, the laughter spilling out of me like wine from an overflowing cup. "Odin's beard, Loki, even being married to you ends up being inappropriate."

He joined in the laughter. "Not that kind of fun just yet," he clarified. "We could go get Thor and change our clothes and hair and go into the town and just be free." His eyes were full of excitement now, which filled me with my own excitement. "We could forget being royals and all our emotional barriers for an evening and just live."

My heart swelled at the thought. No bad blood or hard feelings or broken hearts. "Please," I whispered. We were just three friends, no one would know the difference except for us, and even we would forget after a while. I loved the idea, the feeling it gave me. Like the idea of running away as a child.

Suddenly I pulled Loki into a kiss. He tensed up with shock, then relaxed into it. I could feel the smirk on his lips.

"I may have been the one filled with excitement-" Loki began, alluding to his reading my mind- "but you are certainly the one to show it. Let's get you out of that dress, and then we'll find Thor."

I nodded, closing my eyes as Loki placed his hands just above my hips. Once I opened them, we were standing in my room. Loki began to take off my dress, but I stopped him, yanking away his wrist.

"Just because we're married doesn't mean you get that privilege just yet," I said, chastising him with a grin.

He pouted playfully.

I rolled my eyes. "You need to change out of your clothes too." I tapped his jet black armor. Something about the royal men and armor, I thought with a mental laugh.

"Oh, you know love it," Loki said with a wink.

"I'd deny that statement but then I would be lying to Silvertongue," I replied, slipping the dress off and gently setting it on my desk.

"Lienna, you are certainly dedicated to your modesty," Loki remarked, eyeing the light tunic that I had on underneath my wedding dress.

"That was your mother's doing. She insisted that covering up underneath would pay off later," I informed him, watching as he stared at me. "By the looks of it, it certainly has."

He laughed, pulling off his armor. Loki certainly had no shame, which was reasonable, considering I was his wife. I found a reasonably warm dress in my wardrobe and pulled it on. It wasn't extremely fancy, but it was still attractive, navy blue and lacy. Not too revealing, just to annoy Loki out of his mind. It was just too fun to do.

Loki had disappeared, most likely to actually put on clothing or to get Thor. Either way, it was fine with me. I could get ready in peace and not have to worry too much about myself.

I pulled my hair out of the traditional style Frigga promised would look amazing on me (she was right), and tousled it. It had grown quite a bit since I had cut most of it off, and I loved the length. After touching my hair up a bit, I cleaned off the dramatic makeup I had to wear to be noticeable to the whole crowd.

Going without makeup would be fine, especially because we didn't want to be particularly noticeable, and because I didn't want to obsess over my face. I wanted to have fun.

Right as I finished fixing myself up, or rather, down from the wedding extreme, Loki and Thor showed up.

Thor had his long hair braided and wasn't wearing a cape like he usually did. His armor was more subtle, as was Loki's, and Loki had his hair parted on the far right and combed up and to the side. It was a good look for the both of them.

"Amazing how well you two clean up," I said, almost laughing at their appearance. It was good, but also incredibly humorous.
"You're one to talk about cleaning up, Lienna," Thor replied. Loki nodded, flashing a smile.

"Well, boys, let's go live a little, ay?" I said excitedly. "Let's forget about life for a bit, even if it isn't so bad."

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The wedding chapter! (which was not detailed on the wedding at all, I know) I kinda like this chapter, just because of what it is and how it makes me feel, plus the next chapter will be fun ;)

lots of love and Loki to you,
-katiethenovelist

also thank you again for 50k reads! It means so much to me!