Hello my lovely lot. So this is a really long chapter, because I didn't want to split it in two, so forgive me if its loads. I hope you enjoy….goodbye Barthais! Haha, sorry, just gave you a sneak peak. Please please please review, I love your comments. Also thanks to all those who have recently added me to either their favourite author or alert subscription. You've made my day. Also a great shout out to LOKIWORSHIPER13, SAVYSNAPE7 and WRITE-GIRL91 my most frequent fans. In honour of your love for this, and for really inspiring me to write more because of your frequent and awesome reviews, I dedicate this story to you three!

Marvel owns Loki and all remnants of Asgard, Barthais and Leera are mine.

…

The night was peaceful, and the two dark haired beauties slept, clutching on to one another. The golden Asgardian sun blasted in the room, casting an elegant array of golden light amongst the objects royal room. Leera snuggled in closer to Loki's chest, smiling in her dreams. Loki however awoke because of the sudden light in the room and looked down to the woman leaning on his chest. Kissing her head, Loki breathed in her scent and sighed contently. Shifting slightly, Loki moved his hand from Leera's arm and cupped her stomach, resting his hand softly there, smiling quietly and the thought of his child growing inside this woman, his love's stomach. Closing his eyes, Loki tried to focus his magic to perhaps see the child, or sense it. Pressing his hand slightly harder, Loki searched, but found nothing, realising that the child need perhaps grow a bit more before he could do such a thing. Opening his eyes he looked down to see Leera looking up at him, smiling like an angel. "What do you hope for?" Loki asked, kissing her head again.

"I would love a boy" Leera grinned, moving slightly away to look at Loki without having a crook in her neck. The prince's face glowed with happiness and showed his teeth in a marvellous smile.

"I would love that too. Though, you know, I told you about my true parentage? The child may be, he might look like, he…" Loki's smile fading at turned away his face, but Leera reached a hand out and pulled his face to hers.

"I care not about what the baby looks like, what gender it is, if it had four arms or three heads; it will be my child, our child, and I will love it no matter what" Loki's eyes watered and he leant down and kissed his fiancé hard, showing a lot of emotion in one kiss. Leera responded and sighed happily until a knock on the door broke the romantic moment.

"My Lord?" The guard's voice came.

"What is it?" Loki replied, slightly irritated that the guard had interrupted them.

"Lady Frigga has asked me to remind you that this morn you, the royal family, shall be celebrating the first meal of the day with the people of Asgard, as is tradition on the fourth month, and has asked me to tell you that you are required to be there before the people turn up" The guard responded. Loki rolled his eyes, annoyed that even now, his mother seemed to think that he would forget certain events. Perhaps Thor would forget, yes, but not him. Loki prided himself on his memory.

"Thank you, we shall be ready momentarily" Loki replied, kissing Leera's forehead and slid from the bed towards the wash room. Opening the door and closing it, Loki returned to his oh so familiar mirror. Looking deep into his reflection, Loki saw anger, and hurt. He remembered everything Leera had told him last night, and the reason why she was blackmailed; what exactly she saw. He promised to punish Barthais for his actions, and a promise was something Loki certainly did not break. He would punish him today, he thought, and what a better time to do it, in the celebration, Loki thought. He grinned at his reflection for a few minutes, thinking of all the possible things he could do to him in front of his parents and the people of Asgard. Laughing quietly, Loki shook his head and dressed in his royal, emerald green, gold and black garments, only worn for special occasions and entered the bedroom once again. He stopped however at the sight of Leera sitting at her dressing table in a beautiful green dress, crying. "My Love, what's wrong?" Loki asked, frowning. Leera looked to him and stood her eyes red.

"Look at me, I'm on show, I can wear this!" Leera said, pulling at her dress that was just slightly tight over her stomach. The dress she wore the night before was of a different design, with more material, so it was much more comfortable than this one. You could see she was pregnant.

"What does it matter if you are?" The handsome man replied, crossing his arms, not understanding her problem.

"We are not married yet Loki. It will look bad to see me pregnant before marriage" Leera explained, still pulling at her dress"

"My Love, it does not matter, we are to be married, we are not about to end our relationship, therefore, there is nothing wrong with it." Loki explained honestly.

"What will the people say, because on earth it would be shunned upon" Leera's expression turned solemn.

"This is not Midgard, Leera. They will rejoice because there will be a child born to royalty, something that has not been seen since the birth of Thor. Come, we shall announce this great news at the celebration this morn." Loki grinned, reaching out his hand. Leera took it and they both left the room, and walked to the great hall together. Before entering, Loki whispered to Leera and asked her to act natural towards Barthais, as if she had not told him anything.

….

The golden hall was full. It was the most packed it had been, and Leera was surprised that this many people even lived here. Taking her hand, Loki guided his beloved towards the royal table at the top of the hall. The All-Father, Lady Frigga and Thor already sat there smiling at their entry. Taking their place at the end of the table, Leera looked down to the tables below, on the floor and spotted Barthais on the table with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. The All-father stood, made a great speech about the loyalty of the people of Asgard and what this celebration meant, and then took his seat about to feast when Loki grinned and stood, the whole of the hall falling silent, including Odin and Frigga, looking curiously on at their son. It took many by surprise, because, apart from the speech given at Loki's return, never did he make public speeches. Turning to his father, with a loud voice for everyone to hear, he said "If I may, I wish to say a few words before we take part in this spectacular festivity" Gaining a nod of approval from his father, Loki turned to face the people. "I would like to begin by saying that my fiancé and I have some news…" Turning to face Leera with a smile and taking her hand, Loki spoke "…We are expecting a child" The whole company gasped, then burst in a sudden up roar of cheer. Looking over to his parents, Odin for the first time Loki could remember, had such a pleased face, and looked almost proud when he gazed at his youngest son. Frigga was crying happiness and Thor grinned, his smile stretching from cheek to cheek. After the cheers had died down, and after many disappointed faces from the envious maidens disappeared, Loki's face slightly changed. Grabbing his goblet, walking behind Leera, Loki walked down from the royal table, down the steps and onto the court, amongst the people. "Secondly…" He began, turning to his confused parents. "I would like to raise a toast to Lord Barthais…" Mutters filled the room and Loki turned and walked to his table, placing a hand on his back and ushering him to stand with him in the centre of the room. Barthais looked suspicious, but also terrified as he shot a glance to Leera at the royal table. "I would like to congratulate him on his outstanding stupidity…" Odin glared and rose to his feet to silence Loki, but Loki raised his hand to his father and said. "No, no, father please allow me to finish. You see, Lord Barthais here, thought it a good idea to assault a member of the palace guard, to the extent of killing him, whilst my fiancé looked on. Then had the audacity to blackmail her with hollow threats, by means of torturing her and my dear brother Thor, then killing me in my sleep, and then…" Loki emphasized with a slight laugh, then eyes growing darker, while the crowed sat muttering "…thought it acceptable to take my fiancé and defile her as punishment for what she saw!..."

The crowed then erupted in a disgusted gasp. Odin looked to the man in question, eyes blaring with fierce anger. Frigga, stood in a flash and walked to Leera, placing an arm around her shoulder in comfort. "… But the one thing that amuses me is that he thought he could hide his, treacherous and treasonous acts from the God of Mischief and get away without reprimand." Loki turned to face Barthais who was now red from embarrassment. Loki tossed aside his goblet on the floor and wrapped his long, slender fingers around his neck and flung him across the room, straight through the crowd and into the far wall. The crowd screeched and dashed to the sides. Loki turned around and used his magic to push aside the tables so that the space on the floor was big enough to move about in. Looking up to his father, expecting a disappointing look, Loki instead, saw nothing. Odin glared, but not at him, to the man whom plotted against his family and assaulted the family.

The looking to the crowd, at least expecting them to shoot disappointed look to him, Loki noticed yet again that they too glared at Barthais. In a flash, Loki appeared by Barthais side and grabbed him harshly, tightening his grip on the man's throat and walked to the centre of the room and flipped him onto his back. As Barthais hit the floor, Loki hovered his foot over his throat and looked to fandral, then raising his hand, Loki commanded Fandral's sword to fly to his hand. Once in his hand, Loki pointed the tip against Barthais heart and stared deep into his soul. "You wish to strike my family and see them fall? I would not give you the satisfaction, yet, if you wish to battle me, then so be it. But be warned, you will not succeed, for you will pay dearly for what you have done to Leera…" Loki snarled and removed his foot, allowing the man to stand. Scrambling to his feet, Barthais looked to the All-Father for pardon, but saw that he just sat in his throne, with an unphased expression.

Loki chuckled darkly, and ran towards the man, thrusting the handle of the sword into his side, winding him. Barthais coughed and grasped his side, shocked that the prince was challenging him. Looking around for a weapon, he found none and panicked. Loki was right, he wasn't going to survive this. Barthais was about to moved when he felt another blow to his side. Looking up he saw Loki smiling down at him, sword in hand. Barthais walked backward from the god towards the tables and spotted a knife, picking it up from the table. Loki's laughed echoed throughout the court, as he lunged forward, sword ready. Barthais dodged and the sword cut into the oak table. Pulling it away, Loki swung the sword, slicing the skin of Barthais arm. Yelping from pain, Barthais looked to the crowed for sympathy, but he received none. How dare this man do such a thing to the house of Odin they thought.

Loki smiled in victory and added another gash to Barthais opposite arm. Now heavily breathing and winded, Barthais, growled in frustration and jumped towards Loki, taking him by surprise, knocking him to the ground. Falling to his back, Loki lifted his feet and kicked Barthais in the chest sending him to the floor. Lifting himself up, Loki grasped the sword in hand, and hovered over the man on the floor, the crowd began to cheer. Loki lifted the sword high, ready to plunge it into his chest. Looking up, Loki looked to Leera, wanting to know that this was for her, then to his father, whom giving the circumstance of the situation, nodded. Loki grinned at his oncoming victory, looked down and plunged the sword into his chest, not realising, or feeling that the hand which held the knife rose up to Loki's stomach. Twisting the sword with great pressure into Barthais chest, Barthais withdrew his hand and blood flooded his throat; his organs being harshly attacked from the inside by the sword. Coughing and blood spluttering, Barthais spoke, whilst chuckling evilly "S-she e-enjoyed it you-kn-ow" Loki growled and twisted the sword deeper and further up his body. Barthais eyes widened and the blood flowed from his mouth. The sound of gurgling echoed around the court as Blood flooded his oesophagus. With once last gurgle, Barthais breathed his last breath.

Loki pulled away smiling at his victory, leaving the sword imbedded in the monstrosity on the floor. The people cheered and chanted Loki, Loki over and over and a slight smile entertained Odin's mouth as his son has shown his strength before the people of Asgard and that also he fought for the one he loved in revenge for treasonous acts. Thor stood and clapped his brother's victory. Loki, weary from the fighting it seemed, looked to his fiancé and smiled. Leera smiled in return to, but that soon faded when Loki's hand slowly made its way to his stomach, cradling it; his smile no longer present. Pulling his hand away, Loki looked and saw red. Looking up to his parents, Loki panicked. Odin gasped and rose from his throne, and rushed down the stairs, followed by Thor. Loki looked back down to his hand, shaking; the images around his becoming fuzzy. Before Odin reached Loki, the young prince felt his chest tighten and his tunic dampen with blood and fell to the floor unconscious…