The great hall had transformed completely by the time the ceremony began. What Eirlys had once imagined as a simple wedding had become a gathering of two kingdoms, filled with nobles, family members, warriors and guests who had travelled from across Asgard and Vanaheim to witness the union. Golden banners hung between the towering pillars, flowers decorated the long aisle, and the warm light of countless lamps reflected against the polished floor.
At the far end stood Loki, he had been waiting there for what felt like an eternity, surrounded by the people who had come to witness him become a husband. His ceremonial robes looked exactly as they had when he had shown them to Eirlys days ago, dark green and gold, elegant without being excessive. The ring she had given him rested prominently upon his hand. Then the music began. Every conversation in the hall faded into silence. Eirlys appeared at the entrance beside her father. For one brief moment, Loki forgot how to breathe. He had seen her dressed beautifully before. He had imagined what she might look like as his bride, had wondered whether she would wear the colours of Vanaheim or something chosen according to Asgardian tradition.
He had not imagined this. The deep golden-red gown flowed behind her as she walked, the embroidery catching the light with every step. Her hair had been arranged with delicate care, decorated with the ornaments from her family and the gifts Frigga had given her. She looked regal, graceful and entirely herself. But Loki barely noticed any of it after their eyes met, Eirlys smiled. It was not the polite smile she had given guests that morning. It was the quiet, familiar one she had given him countless times when they were alone.
She kept her eyes on him as her father slowly guided her down the aisle, Loki returned the smile. Only Eirlys noticed that something about it seemed different. There was a softness in his expression she had rarely seen, almost as though the usual armor around him had disappeared. His eyes looked strangely vulnerable, and for a moment she wondered if he was trying to hide how nervous he was. When her father finally placed her hand into Loki's, Eirlys felt his fingers close gently around hers. Loki looked down at their joined hands, then back at her.
Eirlys's smile widened. "You look nervous," she whispered, quiet enough that only he could hear.
Loki gave the faintest shake of his head. "No."
She studied his face. "Then are you feeling unwell?"
That almost made him laugh. "No, Eirlys."
She looked unconvinced, her brows drawing together slightly as she continued to examine him. "Then why do you look like that?"
Loki held her gaze for a moment as he had heard everything. Because he had stood outside her doors prepared to walk away believing that Thor had once again been chosen over him, only to hear Eirlys defend him. Because he had heard her say that she did not want a crown badly enough to hurt the people who loved her. Because she had looked at his imagined hurt and found her answer there. But he could not tell her. Not now.
Instead, Loki gently squeezed her hand. "I am simply happy to see you."
Eirlys blinked, caught slightly off guard by the sincerity in his voice. She had expected some clever remark, perhaps a teasing comment about how beautiful she looked or something designed to make her blush. Instead, there was only honesty.
Her expression softened. "I'm happy to see you too."
Loki smiled again. This time, Eirlys understood it. She had never seen him look quite so vulnerable. And though she did not know why, she held his hand a little tighter as they turned towards the altar together. Behind them, the doors of the great hall closed. The ceremony was about to begin.
As the final words of the ceremony were spoken, Eirlys and Loki turned slightly towards the hall, taking in the people gathered before them. Family stood together in the front rows, followed by nobles, warriors and guests from both kingdoms. Yet one familiar face was missing. Eirlys's eyes moved across the hall once, then again. Thor was nowhere to be seen. She did not ask where he was. She did not allow her expression to change either, though something inside her tightened painfully. After everything that had happened that morning, she had expected him to be there, even if he could not bring himself to smile for them. His absence told her enough.
Eirlys drew a slow breath and turned back towards Loki. He was watching her. For a moment, neither spoke. Loki seemed to understand that she had noticed Thor's absence, but he did not mention it. Instead, his fingers tightened gently around hers, reminding her that he was still standing beside her. Then the officiant smiled and announced the final part of the ceremony. The kiss.
Loki's expression changed almost immediately. It was subtle, but Eirlys noticed. His gaze dropped towards her lips before returning to her eyes, and the confidence he usually carried seemed to disappear for a moment. The memory of that evening on the balcony had returned to him as sharply as it had probably returned to her. He had kissed her then because he had misunderstood her. She had been surprised and Thor had seen it. Everything afterward had become a mess. Now, with the entire hall watching them, Loki hesitated and Eirlys understood why.
He did not want to make the same mistake twice but that day, she was completely certain about what she wanted to do. Before Loki could even decide whether to move, Eirlys stepped closer. Her hand rose to the back of his neck, her fingers slipping gently into his hair as she drew him towards her. Loki's eyes widened in genuine surprise, clearly not expecting her to take the lead. Then her lips met his. The hall seemed to disappear. There was no Thor, no confused morning, no awkward silence from the past three days and no question about whether she had made the right choice. There was only Loki standing before her, startled beneath her touch, slowly realizing that this time she had chosen the moment herself.
The kiss was warm and deliberate, nothing like the uncertain one they had shared before. Eirlys kept her hand at the back of his neck, holding him close for those few precious seconds, as though making certain he understood that she was not pulling away. Loki eventually responded, his surprise giving way to something softer. His hand settled carefully at her waist, almost cautiously, as though he still could not quite believe that this was happening. When Eirlys finally drew back, she remained close enough that their foreheads nearly touched. Loki stared at her. There was that vulnerable expression again.
Only now, Eirlys understood it. "You didn't have to look so frightened," she whispered.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "I wasn't frightened."
She raised an eyebrow. "You were hesitating."
"I was being careful."
Eirlys smiled. "Good."
The simplicity of her answer made Loki's smile grow. Around them, the hall erupted into applause and celebration, but neither of them immediately looked away from the other. For once, Loki did not wonder whether she had chosen him because Thor had rejected her. And Eirlys did not wonder whether she had chosen Loki merely because she was afraid of hurting him. She had kissed him because she wanted to. That was enough.
Thor had been standing in one of the quieter corners of the great hall, a glass of mead in his hand, watching the newly married couple. He had seen the kiss. He had watched Eirlys pull Loki towards her herself, her hand resting at the back of his neck as though there had never been any hesitation between them. Whatever small part of Thor had still hoped that perhaps she might change her mind at the last moment had finally gone silent.
He looked down at the drink in his hand and realized he could no longer remember how many glasses he had already had. One, perhaps, or five, it hardly mattered. The mead did little to dull the ache in his chest anyway. He took another drink, keeping his eyes away from the celebrations around him. Everyone seemed happy. His mother looked radiant, his father was speaking with the visiting nobles, the warriors were already making enough noise for half the hall, and Loki looked happier than Thor had seen him in years. Thor should have been happy for his brother. A part of him was and that somehow made it worse.
He stared into the golden liquid in his glass until a familiar voice came beside him. "You look like someone stole your celebration."
Thor turned to find Jane standing there, holding her own drink, offering him a small, comforting smile. She had clearly not come over because she understood what had happened. She simply seemed to notice that he was alone.
"I am fine," Thor said.
Jane gave him a doubtful look but did not argue. Instead, she stood beside him in comfortable silence. Thor glanced towards Eirlys and Loki one last time before looking away.
Jane followed his gaze, then looked back at him. "You really loved her, didn't you?"
Thor said nothing, he only tightened his hand around the glass. He thought Jane was clueless about his feelings towards Eirlys but she seemed to know. Jane's expression softened, she did not know what to say, so she simply stayed beside him. And with her standing beside him, Thor did not feel quite so alone.