Notes: Oh my god. I am so sorry this has taken so long. Not only has my muse been on an unscheduled vacation, but just as I started to get my thoughts together to write this chapter, I dislocated my shoulder. Yep, I'm a huge fucking disaster and I tripped and fell on nothing, and managed to fuck myself up pretty nicely. Now, I'm finally far enough along in the healing process that I can type again, and here we are. I apologize for any weird spelling errors and what not, I am still on the fun meds. Enjoy!

Frosty Throne

Chapter 29: Just Click Your Heels

He had said nothing once she closed the bedroom door. He watched in silence as Darcy pulled her sweatshirt over her head and discarded it over the back of a chair, her yoga pants and t-shirt following until she was wearing only a pair of green panties. Slowly he followed her example, stripping down until he was bared to her eyes. She took him by the hand and pulled him to the bed, slipping under the covers with him. They were warm under the blankets, and she couldn't help but wonder at how much better she felt just to feel his skin against hers, and how short a time it had taken to forge that bond. Loki's eyes closed nearly as soon as his head hit the pillow. The night passed in moments, her arms wrapped around the one person in the universe that could bring her true and unending comfort. She breathed in the wintery scent of his skin as she slowly let her eyes drift closed, and surrendered to sleep.

Darcy watched as the sun slowly filtered in through her curtains, turning her small bedroom a soft gold. Her lovers chest rose and fell slowly, his face slack with sleep, and for the first time since he had appeared at her door, she could see how sunken his cheeks were and how deep the shadows under his eyes ran.

"I shouldn't have left you so long," she brushed the silky black hair off his forehead, his face turning into her touch even in sleep. "It was selfish," Darcy lay her head against his chest and listened to his heart slowly beating. "I missed you so much."
She tucked her chaotically missmatched blanket up around them, tucking it under her chin. "Sam says I'm doing really well," she wrapped her arms around his waist, where she could feel his hip bones jutting out to much, and sighed. "That I'm coming along and that what I really need to work on is my own self image, and to accept the changes."

"I have told you," Loki's voice rumbled through his chest against the side of her face. "You have always looked as beautiful to me," he pulled her closer, keeping his eyes closed. "The Apple made you no more beautiful to my eyes, for I could see the light radiating from you the moment I met you."

"How did you sleep?" Darcy looked up at his face, her chin resting on his sternum. His eyelashes fluttered against the porcelain white of his cheeks, but his eyes remained closed. "I know my bed can't be nearly as fine as those…"

"I have not slept so deeply since you lay with me last," he squeezed her gently, and Darcy's breath caught. "The softest beds, the warmest furs, the richest silks could not compare to your presence," Loki finally opened his eyes, their glassy green depths boring down into hers. "I would have just as well been sleeping on the stone floors, fore nothing was right while I slept alone."

"Loki," she looked away, pulling herself up.

"Do not misunderstand," he let his arms fall from around her, as she tucked her blanket around herself, leaving him cold and bare chested before her. "I do not say these things to shame you for taking the time you needed, but to let you know, to assure you, that I am as in love with you as I was the day that you left. That I have committed myself to being best man I could for you, when you came back to me."

"I couldn't sleep without you either," Darcy blinked away the tears that collected in her lashes. "I tried sleeping here, in Bucky's apartment with him and Clint, with Natasha, sleeping in cuddle piles, everything to get real sleep. Half the time I fell asleep on the couch watching Netflix."

"I regret that our parting caused you sleepless nights," Loki pulled himself up against her headboard and opened his arms to her. With no hesitation she curled up against his chest. "I fear we must leave soon, father will meet us at the Observatory, and we will be escorted directly to council."

"Council?"

"Father is to reintroduce me into court as his son," he petted the hair falling down her shoulders and against his skin, curling the silken waves around his fingers, and letting it filter through like a waterfall. "And you, as my chosen."

"I'm being introduced to the whole government as your girlfriend," Darcy made a face. "Seems really formal for a first meet the parents date."

"You are my chosen," Loki said, cupping her cheek with his long cool fingers. "I have gifted you my Apple, that is more than a simple girlfriend," he rubbed his thumb over the corner of her lips. "I have been studying up on Midgardian customs, so I may not have this exactly right. A chosen is more like the step before a betrothal, but yet more than thus, as it is usually binding. And as I have given my Apple, it says that I will not choose another."

"I'm not choosing anyone else either," she gently laid a chaste kiss against his lips. "I've made my choice, Mischief. You're it."

"I can not express how glad my heart is to hear that," he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him slowly. "We have much to discuss," Loki's lips were soft against hers. He kissed her with a delicacy that made her ache. "But we must first meet with father; he and Heimdall await, and the Council is not known for its patience."

Darcy didn't bother to pack anything. She simply pulled the leather pants and purple tunic that she had left Asgard in, and slipped her boots on over the pants. Loki watched her from her unmade bed, a small smile on his lips as she smoothed the leather of the boots over her legs and tucked the ties into the top.

"See something you like?" her hands rested on her hips as she cocked a brow at her naked lover.

"You are exquisite," he stood slowly, magic swirling around him clothing him in his usual leather and armor ensemble. "There is but one thing I would change," his fingers walked down the purple of her tunic, changing the colors to match his. "Perfect."
"I'm going to want this purple again later," Darcy huffed, taking one of his hands in hers and interlocking their fingers. "You ready?"

"Just one more thing?" Loki placed a kiss at the corner of her mouth and pulled a beautifully woven circlet out from the ether. "If you would be so kind as to wear my gift?"

Darcy took the circlet from his hands, fingering the delicate woven gold. She gently placed it on her head, the thumbnail sized emerald resting heavily against her forehead. "Is it straight?" Loki shifted it back on her head, so the gem sat where her hair parted, his fingers ghosting over the twisted bands that arched over the top of her head, mimicking the horns of his own helmet with delicacy.

"You honor me, my lady," he whispered as he ran the tips of his fingers down the chains that dropped from the circlet and brushed her cheeks. "We must leave," he sighed and dropped his hands from her face.

"Loki?" she wiggled her fingers at him, waiting for him to take her hand again. "It's going to be okay, right?"

"I can not make any promises," he linked their hands together again. "Father did not seem angry, merely eager to meet you. What he has planned for me, I know not. Whatever happens, I will keep you safe."

"I know you will," Darcy flicked off the lights of her apartment, and took one last look around. "I was kinda hoping that when I went back, it would be after I had the chance to show you the wonders of Netflix and Chinese takeout."

"You will show me your world," Loki watched her lock her door and then let her pull him down the hall. "Tell your brothers that you are leaving, then I fear we must go to the Bifrost rune."

Bucky and Clint stood to the side of the Rune, much like they had when Darcy had left with Jane nearly a year before. She stepped away from her lover to take each of them into her arms. "I'll be home before you know it," she kissed Clint on the cheek and let him squeeze her tightly. "You still owe me dinner, Hawk." She let him go and pulled Bucky close, his metal arm tight around her back. "And I can't live without my bear for long," she kissed his cheek, rubbing her face against the stubble that was always present. "No doubt you will be coming back to Asgard soon, too."

"Only if its for a visit, Kitten," Bucky tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "No more middle of the night emergencies. My heart can't take being wrenched out of bed by a panicked God of Thunder ever again."

"Planned visits," she nodded and squeezed him one last time before going back to Loki and letting him tuck her under his arm. She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up to the heavens. "Heimdall," she smirked at Loki. "Open the Bifrost."

Darcy cluched at Loki's armor as they came to a stop in the Observatory. His arms held her fast as her own legs failed her. She beamed up at him as he settled her back on her wobbly feet.

"So much more graceful than last time," she muttered under her breath.

"Well, this time you lack luggage," he whispered, running his chin over the top of her head, between the horn like bands of her circlet. "And my comberson oaf of a brother." He slowly stepped back, his arm still tucking her into his side as he faced his father. "Father," he straightened his shoulders and looked at the AllFather. "I would like to present to you the Lady Darcy of Midgard," he looked down at her with a fond smile before schooling his features. "My Chosen."

"Lady Darcy," Odin took a step forward and held out his hand to her. "We have long anticipated your arrival," he held her fingertips gently and laid a kiss against the back of her hand, the hairs of his beard tickling her skin. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance," he gave her a very slight smile before turning to his son. "Loki, I see you have already declared your intent," the AllFather gently ran his fingers over the woven circlet. "Does the lady know the significance?"

"We didn't really spell it out," Darcy looked up at her lover. Loki's brows furrowed as he looked down at her. "But I understand what it means to be Loki's Chosen, so I can guess."

"Good," Odin clapped his hands and stepped back. "May I be the first to welcome you to the family, my dear."

"Thank you," she nodded and looked over at Loki, who nodded back, a smile growing on his face.

"You have chosen well, my son," the AllFather said, patting the God of Mischief on the shoulder. "Now, the council is waiting. I assume the lady can ride a horse?"

"Darcy has tamed the great Sleipnir, Father," Loki said, looking down at her. "I must say, the beast is much charmed by her."

"That is a surprise," Odin lead them out of the Observatory and watched as Darcy held out her hand to his favored stead. The horse huffed into her palm and rubbed his great head up her arm. "That is a sight to see."

"She is magnificent," Loki nodded.

The ride into the city was far to short, as far as Darcy was concerned. She and Loki followed the AllFather through the palace. She could feel the eyes on them as they passed, and there weren't many that felt friendly. The whispers where too low, but she could imagine what they were saying. The scandal of Loki's return, if they only knew, and on his arm, wearing his favors was the closest companion of the Lady Jane. Gossip was going to run rampant through the city. But she would have much rather stayed in the halls with the whispers and glances than face the stone faced men of the Council.

The doors to the Council chambers shut behind them with a resounding thud, followed by icy silence. Loki pulled her to the head of the table where three chairs sat empty. Odin settled himself into his chair and folded his hands on the table before him.
"As you can see," he addressed the room, looking over to his son and Darcy, nodding at the seat to his left. "My son has returned to us. This is a most joyous occasion as we had all through him lost beyond the veil. And he has come home to us with a worthy partner."

"And where has the prince been all this time?" a man sitting to Odin's right asked. He had hair of steel grey, and a nasty scar down the side of his face just to the left of his eye. He stared at Loki with a fire in his eyes that Darcy didn't like, completely ignoring her presence.

"He was being nursed back to health," the AllFather answered without a missed beat. "As he was most gravely injured during the battle with the Dark Elves. It is luck that brought him into friendly arms."

"Where, AllFather," the man asked again. "You named the lady here the Goddess of Mischief when you introduced her to Asgard as the Lady Jane's companion, you must have known."

"Tyr, it is not important, only that Loki has been restored to the House of Odin, and the Lady Darcy is his chosen, and he is now here to council us in our time of need," Odin looked over at his son. "We seem to be having troubles on the Southern border. You have always had a mind for politics. I had hope that you would be able to help us come to a peaceable conclusion to this perpetual trouble."

"I would be pleased to rejoin the Council," Loki nodded at his father. "But first, I must help the Lady Darcy settle in to the palace. And we must introduce her to Asgard."

"Of course," the AllFather grinned, and Darcy could have sworn there was a glint in his eye that she had seen often in Loki's. "A feast to welcome the Lady Darcy of Midgard to the House of Odin, and her rightful place as Loki's Chosen. A festival is much more pleasant to plan than a battle, though your mother was much better at it, I must admit."

"I wish mother could have met her," Loki said quietly, his words only meant for Odin and Darcy's ears.

"Then it is settled," Odin stood, waiting for the rest of the Council to join him. Loki and Darcy stood without hesitation, Loki's hand in Darcy's guiding her gently. The rest of the Council rose slowly, each member eyeing the God and Goddess of Mischief with suspicion. "We will adjourn this war Council until after the festival to honor my son and his intended. The winter holidays are upon us, it will be a fitting time to celebrate the rebirth of Loki of Asgard." Odin clapped his son on the back and then gently took Darcy's hand. "My lady, if you would, I have something that I must show you. Loki, if you would, find your brother and his wife. Lady Darcy and I will meet you there anon," without waiting for a response, Odin tucked Darcy's arm into the crook of his and lead her out. She looked back at her lover, but he just shrugged.

"Where are we going?" she folded her other hand over where her arm was hooked into the AllFather's.

"My late wife left many a mystery for us to solve," Odin said as they walked. "She was a seer, you know."

"Loki doesn't talk about her often, but I knew she was born on Vanaheim," Darcy nodded. "The Vanir are known for their sight."

"We are going to Frigga's rooms," he nodded, the smile on his lips telling Darcy that he was pleased by her response. "I must show you her weavings."

Notes: We are so close to the end that I can taste it! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through this entire ride with me. It's not quite over yet.