A/n Hello! For this part of the story, the characters are younger. I don't know their Aesir equivalents, but in human years, Darcy is about 7, Loki is about 10, and Thor is about 14. Basically, I'm going to spend the first few chapters with them younger, then follow the characters through their lives. Darcy will be a bit OOC while she finds the motivation to grow in to the spunky girl we all know and love :) Thanks for reading!

Darcy's POV

"Come now, girl." Odin's pinched voice calls ahead of me. I pick up the skirt of my dress and quicken my pace, hoping not to displease him further. "This is Idsol. She will show you to your room and serve as your nanny until you are of age and ready to be sent back to your father."

Taking that as a dismissal, I curtsey and murmur a 'thank you, Your Majesty' to the king. I silently follow harsh-looking Idsol to my new chambers.

"Here, let's get you changed into something fresh." Idsol leads me into a generously-sized room and takes me straight to the wardrobe on the far-right wall. I begin to take off my current dress and allow her to put me in a new one made of a soft blue color. "Dinner begins at seven o'clock. I will come to retrieve you and escort you to dinner. During dinner, you will take your seat quietly and not speak unless spoken to. Understand?"

She waits for my nod before continuing. "Keep your head down and your elbows off the table. You don't want to make a bad first impression, do you?"

I shake my head 'no', but in reality, I can't find it within myself to care.

"Good. Sit here in your room until I come to collect you."

She leaves and I stare blankly at the door, not feeling much. I sit on the cold stone floor and pull my tiny doll-Elsa-into my arms. It's then that the tears hit me. I rock myself back and forth, clutching the doll that looks so much like my mother.

"Mama…" The name echos off the stone walls.

{***}

Later, who knows how much, Nanny Idsol finds me curled into a ball on the floor of my bedroom, clutching my doll. Tears have stained my face, but I ran out of them long ago.

"Oh, now," Nanny Idsol chastises me, pulling me off the ground and setting me on the plush bed. She disappears, then returns moments later carrying a washrag, which she uses to wipe my face clean. She quickly styles my hair into a presentable braid, and then picks me up and places me on the ground. "Time for dinner." She plucks Elsa from my hands, earning a noise of protest from me, which she quickly silences with a look.

I follow her dejectedly to the eating hall. She pushes me in, and I file into what I hope is my seat. As the King's Ward, I'm allowed to dine at the High Table with the members of the Royal Family, but I do not feel lucky; I just feel sad. King Odin enters and I stand, well aware of protocol even in my current state. As soon as he sits, I make a move to take my seat, but am stopped by a hand on my arm.

"My Lady, I'm afraid that is my seat." The boy stopping me is tall with wavy blonde hair reaching to his chin...most likely one of Odin's two sons.

"I-I…" I try to speak, but all that comes out is air. Panicked, I look at the ground.

The boy sighs. "Father, who is this and where does she sit?" Annoyance colors his voice.

Odin looks up and seems surprised at my presence. "Ah, I almost forgot." He stands, evidently preparing to make an announcement. I take a few steps back, hoping to hide behind Odin's tall son. It doesn't work.

"Lords and Ladies of Asgard. It is my...pleasure," he seems to stumble over the word, "to present to you Darcy Lewisdottir. The Royal Family of Asgard has agreed to take her in and raise her in her family's stead."

The blond son-Thor, I think his name is-rolls his eyes and pushes me forward so the people in the eating hall can get a better look at me. I feel my cheeks heat up as I look down at the hundred-or-so gods and goddesses in the room. They applaud, evidently pleased with Odin's charity. He smiles and waves before taking his seat a few moments later. The matter of my seat, however, continues to go unsolved.

"Mother?" Thor's voice is now positively whining.

Queen Frigga looks up and assesses the situation. A kind smile crosses her face, and I feel a twinge in my heart. "Sit here, child." She points to a seat at the far left end of the table next to a boy a few years older than me with black hair that curls a little at the ends. I shuffle to my seat and wait to be served.

The boy gives me a couple of curious glances, but doesn't say anything until dessert. "I'm Loki."

I look up to meet his kind green eyes. "Darcy." He nods, and that's the end of it.

After dinner, Nanny Idsol comes to escort me back to my room. As she changes me for bed, she feels the need to talk. "Did you enjoy dinner, My Lady?"

I shrug. I don't remember the taste of anything. Nanny Idsol's mouth sets into a frustrated line, but she says nothing further. She puts me into bed and leaves me to my tearful night.

A/n Let me know what you think so far! I'm writing the next chapter as you read this :)