Outside, Asgard continued waking. Inside, neither of them noticed. Much later, the chamber had fallen completely quiet. Eirlys lay beneath the tangled sheets, her cheek resting against Loki's chest. Her hair was disheveled, her face still warm with embarrassment, and their discarded robes remained exactly where they had fallen amidst action. Loki's fingers moved lazily through her hair. Neither spoke for several moments.
Then Eirlys muttered, "Don't you dare look smug."
"I wasn't."
"You are."
"I am merely pleased."
She groaned and hid her face against his neck as he laughed softly and wrapped his arms around her. Whatever uncertainty remained between them, one thing could no longer be questioned. Their wedding had not remained merely a promise. That morning, Eirlys and Loki had finally consummated the marriage they thought made no sense before.
Eirlys had never hated mornings more. She had barely enough energy to open her eyes, let alone drag herself out of Loki's arms and pretend to be the composed, responsible newly married daughter-in-law everyone expected her to be. For several blissful seconds, she simply lay there. Then the memory returned. Her cousins and the ridiculous prank they had pulled on Loki. The humiliation on his face and her anger. Her marching straight into Thor's chambers without knocking. Jane's startled expression and Thor, almost entirely undressed, looking as though he had been interrupted at precisely the worst possible moment. And then the slap.
Eirlys covered her face with both hands. "Oh, for Hel."
Beside her, Loki stirred but unlike her, he looked perfectly rested. That was perhaps the most offensive part.
He opened his eyes, glanced at her, and smiled. "Good morning, wife."
She stared at him. "Don't."
His smile widened. "You seem troubled."
"I have every reason to be troubled." She pushed herself upright, immediately regretting it when exhaustion washed through her.
Loki's hand instinctively moved to steady her. "I told you to rest."
"And how exactly am I supposed to rest when I have to face everyone at lunch?"
"Lunch is several hours away."
"I have to bathe."
"Yes."
"Dress."
"Yes."
"Do my hair."
"Yes."
"Wear jewels."
"I believe that is generally how royalty dresses."
She glared. "And then sit at a table surrounded by people who probably know everything that happened yesterday."
Loki's amusement softened. "Perhaps."
Eirlys groaned and fell back against the pillows. The worst part was that Loki looked completely calm. No embarrassment, awkwardness, or any visible trace of the emotional storm currently tearing through her. It was almost insulting. She had spent half of her morning replaying every humiliating moment of the previous night and dawn while he looked as though he had simply awakened after the act. And that sudden reversal of emotions unsettled her. For so long, Loki had been the one uncertain of her. The one watching her carefully, desperately searching for reassurance but now it was her who felt exposed. Her who couldn't quite meet his eyes. Her who wondered what this meant.
Eirlys eventually forced herself from the bed. The bath took longer than usual and getting dressed felt like a military campaign. By the time she was finally fastening the last piece of jewelry, she had already decided that if anyone made even one inappropriate remark, she would personally throw them from the balcony. She entered the dining hall beside Loki with what she hoped was dignity. Everyone was already gathered, she straightened instinctively. She could do this. She was a princess of Vanaheim and Loki's wife, which made it difficult after what they did a few hours earlier. She could certainly survive one lunch. Then she noticed the empty places.
Her brows drew together. "Where are Thor and Jane?"
The table went strangely quiet, Frigga exchanged a glance with Odin. "They left for Midgard last night."
Eirlys blinked. "Last night?"
"Yes," Odin replied. "Thor received word that Jane needed to return, and he decided to accompany her."
Eirlys stared at the empty chair as a horrifying thought crossed her mind. "He left without speaking to me?"
Loki coughed into his hand, she turned slowly toward him. He looked entirely too innocent. "You knew?"
"I knew they were leaving."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were asleep."
Eirlys narrowed her eyes. He had the audacity to smile as her gaze returned to the empty chair. Perhaps it was for the best. She had no desire to face Thor after the previous night's events. Especially not after slapping him while he was half-dressed in front of Jane. Her cheeks heated again and Loki noticed.
He leaned slightly closer. "Thinking about my brother?"
"Thinking about murder."
"Ah." He calmly reached for his cup. "Then I shall consider myself warned."
Eirlys tried not to smile but failed. And somehow, despite everything, the world continued moving. Thor's coronation still waited because the elders still had matters to discuss. Her marriage was still real and Loki was still sitting beside her as though nothing had changed. But everything had. And Eirlys wasn't entirely certain whether she was frightened by that fact or quietly relieved.
Loki found himself strangely grateful for Thor's absence. After everything that had happened between him and Eirlys, he did not want his brother's presence disturbing whatever fragile understanding had begun to settle between them. Thor could make her laugh, distract her, pull her attention elsewhere without even trying and Loki wanted none of that. He wanted Eirlys to have the quiet to understand what the morning had meant to her and what it might mean for them. Perhaps it was selfish but he didn't particularly care. For the first time, he had something he wanted to protect from Thor's interference.
Eirlys, on the other hand, found herself strangely troubled by Thor's absence. After everything that had happened between them, she had wanted the chance to apologize. She had been furious enough to storm into his chambers and humiliate him in front of Jane, but now that the anger had faded, regret had taken its place. Thor could be infuriating, but he was still her family. She wished she could have spoken to him before he left. She wanted the quiet to make amends for what she had done and perhaps repair what her temper had broken. Maybe it was selfish but it was not like she cared. For the first time, she had something she wished she hadn't left unresolved.