When Darcy woke, she grumbled a the stiffness in her neck. What the hell? She looked around her.
She had slept up against a wall. A wall, she noticed in the biggest corridor she had ever seen. It was beautiful she had to admit, the cream and gold walls were offset by pristine terracotta. Beautiful, she decided, and strange. Why was she asleep in a corridor?
She tried to remember the night before, but could think of nothing. Actually, now she tried, she couldn't remember anything before waking. She grew scared, why did she not remember anything? The only thing she knew was that her name was Darcy Lewis, and wherever she was, this place, this world was called Asgard.
Suddenly she became aware of whispers, and as she looked to her left she jumped. There, stood two men, pushing each other forward, obviously fighting who would wake the strange girl on the floor. They hadn't even noticed her wake.
"No brother! I refuse to wake a sleeping maiden!" the larger, blonde male whispered heatedly, pushing the smaller one with his back to her.
"Brother, I simply refuse to wake her!" the raven haired male hissed "but we can't leave her." Darcy smiled at their cuteness. A small part of her brain wondered why she wasn't more scared at waking here with no memory. Another part told her she was safe, that she could trust these apparent brothers.
"Wake who?" her voice rang through the corridor and both brothers turned sharply to look at her, like rabbits in headlights.
The muscular brother rushed forward, not stopping before he scooped her into his large arms "My lady, my bother and I are sorry for our intrusion on, your, um, rest, are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.
Darcy didn't know what to say. Still confused as to why she was now suddenly 5 foot into the air, held by a stranger she was speechless, her heart thumping. She did the only thing she could think of.
Darcy Lewis punched him in the face.
The blond stumbled back, touching his reddening cheek "daemoness!" he hissed under his breath "what is the meaning of this?" his features grew angry.
"Brother" the apparent younger cried, rushing forward for the first time "How many times? Women are not objects! Have you no manners? You startled her you heavy handed brut! She reacted so out of fear. Reign in your temper." Darcy was breathing heavily still, but she saw kindness in this second brother's eyes. A shyness and careful manner where she saw the opposite in his brother, despite the blonde's kind disposition, his muscles intimidated her. The leaner, angular dark haired male however, made calmness flood through her.
"Are you hurt?" he spoke carefully, she shook her head. Edging with outstretched hands towards her he spoke slowly "My name is Loki, what's yours?" he smiled.
She returned his grin "Darcy" she spoke quietly.
Loki looked back at his brother "See Thor! You need to be more gentle, she's obviously scared"
Thor merely grumbled, his pride wounded "I still think her to be a wild cat" he mumbled sulkily. Darcy giggled at him, despite herself.
"I apologise for my brother. He is more use to the battlefield than to matters of emotions" he smiled kindly, a chuckle passing his lips. "I'm afraid matters of the heart scare him somewhat" his eyebrow quirked in his disgruntled brother's direction.
"If you're talking about Sif, then I really don't think this-"He began,
"Peace brother, It was a joke" The younger laughed again, this time Darcy joined. Loki winked at her "come Miss Lewis, where are your chambers?" he offered her an armour-clad arm which she took.
"Actually" she stuttered "I'm not sure I have any. I woke here, you see, and I can't remember anything" her voice began to shake. Loki looked concerned.
"You must have had an accident" his voice grew low "we will find you a healer, and then some appropriate sleeping quarters for a guest of the royal household" his chest puffed subconsciously.
"What? Royal household?" she cried, appalled at her behaviour, had she just punched royalty?
"Yes" Thor came to her other side, also talking her arm in his, more gentle this time. "I am sorry, we should have introduced ourselves before, I am Prince Thor, of Asgard. This, is my brother Prince Loki" his voice lowered to a whisper "Also the prince of mischief, don't believe a word he says!" the brothers laughed, Loki looked outraged. "A joke brother, I know how fond you are of them" Thor discreetly got Loki back for his jibe earlier.
"I enjoy a small prank or two 'tis all" he smirked in return. They began to walk.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know who you were- If I had-" she was cut off by Loki,
"What? If you had know, you would have curtsied and held your tongue?" he joked "Oh Miss Lewis, I much prefer your true actions! I've been waiting for a maiden to punch my brother for longer than you can imagine. Please, we are friends are we not? And friends can act as they like to one another."
She was touched by his words "Thank you" she smiled before turning to Thor "I'm sorry for punching you" she spoke embarrassedly.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, truly" he replied "can we begin again? It is a pleasure to meet you, may I introduce myself and my brother here? We are Thor and Loki, what might your name be?" They laughed, she shook his outstretched hand.
"Pleasure to meet you both, my name is Darcy." she shook both brother's hands, smiling.
"Well" said Loki "now we are all properly acquainted, Lets find you a healer to get your memory back" the three began walking again.
She liked these brothers, Darcy decided happily.
"What do you mean no cure?" Thor and Loki spoke at once, looking down at Darcy who was wondering yet again if she should feel some nervousness, yet something inside her told her not to be. She was just curious as to what happened to her in the time before she woke that morning.
"I'm sorry sires, but we have tried all we know. There has been no trauma to remove her memory, because there simply were no memories to recover. It is as if she were born over night." the healer looked puzzled as she observed the strange brunette led in the bed "All I can say is she is unharmed, and quite well." she looked at Darcy again "you are lucky you have people to care for you, you need rest now" she spoke pointedly at Thor and Loki before leaving her room.
"Thank you for looking after me" she said for the hundredth time that day. She had been fed, and cared for, and Loki had found her a room close to his. Just in case you become scared again he assured her.
"Darcy do not thank us, it is not necessary! You are home here until you wish to leave" Thor's voice was soft, they were both knelt next to her bed "Rest now. Tomorrow we shall show you Asgard" he grinned widely at the idea "brother, are you coming?" he turned to Loki.
"In a while, I have something I wish to show Darcy before the morning" he motioned to a book at his side. Thor rolled his eyes,
"Very well, enjoy. Goodnight" he retreated from the room. If there was one thing Thor found more boring than sitting still, it was reading.
Darcy sat up excitedly "what do you have to show me?" she asked, moving across the bed to make room for Loki to sit.
"It's nothing" his cheeks flushed slightly as he led next to her "but earlier you mentioned your love of the stars" she nodded, smiling "so I thought this would interest you, in case you were bored with bed rest. I mean, that is if you like reading. I'm sorry, I didn't think to ask." he grew shy which made Darcy laugh at the prince.
"I love reading, thank you Loki, this was kind of you" she took the book and opened the first page, yawning "but I am tired, Could you read to me? I mean, if you haven't got anything else to-" Loki cut her off by removing the book from her arms.
"I haven't" he assured her she smiled and rolled to face him, shutting her eyes as he began to read in a peaceful, steady tone about the stars she loved as she drifted to sleep.
When he was sure she was dreaming, he shut the book and sighed. What would Asgard think if they saw the Prince of Mischief, the Trickster none the less, reading bedtime stories to a maiden? He chuckled softly. It was a strange feeling, but from the first time he had seen her, he had been bewitched by Darcy Lewis, the strange girl with no memories. He could feel a sadness hidden behind those blue eyes, something that Loki could well understand. Being a prince was an honour and a curse, he had never had many close friends beside Thor because Asgardians didn't understand his quiet, reserved ways or his pranks and many were too shy to be themselves in front of the prince. Everyone, until this sleeping girl beside him appeared with her punches and her jokes. He felt comfortable with her. Secretly that was why he waned her to have a room so close to his own, although he would admit it to none but himself.
Loki looked at the sleeping girl. She looked so peaceful he decided, her pink lips were tickled by her dark locks, he brushed them out of her face softly.
No Thor was wrong, not a wild cat, she reminded him of a kitten. A stray kitten.
A last look in the dreamers direction and he left the chambers and the mysterious Darcy Lewis to her rest.
So Darcy has reached Asgard! What does everyone think? This is one of the 1st stories I've written the chapters as I'm posting them so reviews really help me with creative thoughts :) hope you liked it!... Update soon xx
