A/N: Don't own don't sue

Lyrics at the beginning are from 'If I Knew' by Bruno Mars

Lyrics in the middle are from 'Rolling in the Deep' by Adele

If I Knew

Chapter Twelve

I was a city boy
Right into danger's where I'd always run, a boy who had his fun
But I wouldn't've done
All the things that I have done
If I knew one day you'd come

Frigga eyed her son in nothing short of amusement. His expression was carefully schooled into his court mask, which in itself was a red flag to her, and his words were clipped and cool. He had been dancing around the topic of Eira and her marriage for her entire visit, using his clever silver tongue to coax information from her without once mentioning her outright. It had taken a while before Frigga had realised what his sudden interest in court life had meant and once she had caught on, she had allowed him to steer the conversation with smug amusement.

"I must go." She finally said, glancing towards the huge arched windows behind her where the sun was beginning to rise.

Annoyance flashed over Loki's face and Frigga sighed. Her son was too stubborn for his own good, unwilling to admit to himself that he cared for the girl. She was more than simply an interest for him to toy with, no matter what he convinced himself. Frigga blew her irritable son a kiss and ended the spell, watching his cell dissolve around her. She pushed her hands through her hair wearily. How long would this continue? She had been carefully working on Odin for months now, chipping away at his resolve to punish his son. Some of her guilt at being unable to stop this had eased while Eira was entertaining her son, providing him the companionship he so needed. Now that was threatened and her chest was aching. She could halt this wedding in any number of ways, which would make her son happy, but she could not let Eira suffer. The girl had been a good friend to her during her time here, clever and loving, indulging her silly old Queen with her taste for Midgardian music without complaining. If Eira wanted a good marriage with a kind Lord, then she could not stand in her way. The trouble was that neither of them were willing to open up to her, which left her in a tight spot.

She sighed as she dropped her robe onto the floor and slipped back into her silken bed. Oh to be young and foolishly stubborn again.


Eira smiled politely and curtsied prettily as various Lords and Ladies greeted Queen Frigga besides her. She forced her court mask into place and tried to feign interest in the general chatter flowing around her. She was grouchy and tired and did not want to be here. She had not slept well last night, tossing and turning well into dawn as her mind whirled. The talks of marriage were becoming more serious and there were even hints of a trip to Lord Moncliere's lands to secure the match. Before it had all seemed simple, keep her possible fiance and her father dancing to her tune while she took her time making her decision and allowing Lord Moncliere to court her. It was all starting to seem very real now the serious negotiations were taking place.

She was going to have to make a choice. Marry the perfectly pleasant Lord Moncliere and retire to a life of boredom, stilted conversation and breeding, or stay here with her Prince. Her stubborn, selfish, infuriating Prince who was locked in a gilded cage for the next few centuries.

"Lady Eira?"

Eira snapped back to the present, finding Lord Moncliere before her. He was smiling expectantly, his eyes sparkling. Eira glanced over his shoulder at the assembled court, eyes flashing her way and malicious mouths already gossiping. She forced a smile to her face, bobbing dutifully into a perfect curtsy. Lord Moncliere made polite conversation with Queen Frigga, his head cocked slightly towards Eira the entire time. Eira felt a golden cage closing around her, tightening unbearably on her ribcage. She could see her father beaming behind Lord Moncliere, her step-mother twittering vapidly to a gaggle of courtiers. The room was starting to spin, her corset was unbearably tight, there was no air. She stood up suddenly and a ripple went through the room, Lord Moncliere breaking off mid-sentence.

"Lady Eira?" Queen Frigga sounded concerned, turning towards her flushed handmaiden in surprise.

"Please excuse me, Your Grace, I'm not feeling very well."

Queen Frigga frowned but nodded.

"Of course."

Eira dipped perfunctorily, lifted her expansive skirts and ran. Her heeled slippers clacked noisily against the marble floors as she tore through the castle, her mind racing faster than her rapidly aching feet. She had no good reason to turn down Lord Moncliere's courtship and it had already opened the door for other interested parties to come sniffing around. She tried to take a corner too fast and her slipper went out from under her, the heel clattering noisily across the hallway as she collided painfully with the marble floor. She lay against the cool marble, her breathing loud in her ears. She heard footsteps and a vaguely familiar voice, felt a tentative hand on her arm. She lifted her head to see her guard, his face wary as he helped her sit up.

"What's happened, My Lady?"

She shook her head, looking away from him and at the huge dungeon doors behind them. Had she even been aiming for this side of the palace? She hadn't thought so, but where else would her panicked mind have taken her?

"Nothing." She finally replied, pushing her tangled hair away from her face. "Nothing to be worried about."

He looked at her crumpled, sweating visage doubtfully and she shook her head.

"No one is under attack, there's no need for concern."

He continued to look concerned nonetheless and she smiled, reaching out to touch his cheek with a gentle finger. He flushed beneath her touch, his gaze sliding away from hers.

"What were you running from?" He asked awkwardly.

"Marriage." She muttered dryly and he blinked at her in shock.

She shook her head, waving away any further questions and allowing him to help her to her feet. She smoothed down her wrinkled dress and fluffed out her wild hair, tugging off her remaining shoe and tossing it unceremoniously over her shoulder.

"Can I get someone to escort you back to your quarters?"

She eyed him coyly from under her lashes and he flushed again, no doubt recalling their liaison. She toyed with the idea for only a moment before sighing.

"That's not necessary." She smiled sweetly at him and gestured over his shoulder at the doors. "Clearly I am needed elsewhere."

He frowned in confusion, shooting a wary glance at the doors.

"I am not certain that-"

She put her hand on his arm and his mouth snapped shut reflexively, somehow blushing even harder.

"Must we have this argument every time, my sweet?"

He eyed her with huge wary eyes as if she were a wild animal he feared to turn his back on. She saw the resolve crumble in his eyes, his shoulders stoop slightly as he gave in. He did not respond to her, but he did move back towards the door. Eira padded behind him on her bare feet, the familiar electricity stirring to life in her belly as she approached the elaborate doors.


Loki heard the giant doors swing open, sensed the footsteps crossing the threshold, scented her silken hair as she approached. He frowned, tossing his book aside in agitation. By his calculations it was the middle of the day. She had never been to see him in daylight hours before. Neither did his mother. What had happened? He surged to his feet, sliding his body into a fighting stance in preparation.

She emerged into the dim light emanating from his cell, stepping through the barrier and into his presence. He stared at her. He had never seen her as anything other than perfect, but she was inexplicably dishevelled. Her hair had fallen from it's pins and tangled down her back, her dress was crumpled and marked and her shoes had gone completely. Her face was flushed and her eyes were bright. In fact she looked very much as he suspected she would look tumbling into his bed and his jaw tensed, jealousy gnawing at his insides like a wolf.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked dangerously, his face a rigid mask of ice.

She lifted her eyebrows.

"What is the meaning of your attitude, Prince?"

Loki's jaw clenched so tightly his teeth creaked and she blinked at him curiously.

"I'm here to visit you, Prince." She stepped over his discarded book and settled gracefully into his chair.

"You brought no books." He observed icily.

She shrugged one shoulder carelessly and he watched her pulse start to pound in her throat as she registered that he had not relaxed his stance. She sighed, pushing her hair back from her shoulder absently.

"This was an unscheduled visit." She admitted, lifting her cold feet and tucking them under her.

Loki relaxed a fraction.

"Is that why you look like… this." He gestured with his hand, his lip curling slightly in distaste and she bristled.

"Like what?" She snapped, her glittering eyes narrowing.

"Like you've just fallen out of some fool Lord's bed." Loki burst out before he could stop himself.

She stared at him in amazement and he glowered back, furious that he had let his control slip. She drew herself up haughtily and fixed him with a powerful glare.

"What business of yours is it, Prince, if I tumble any handsome young Lord who catches my eye?" She pursed her lips and gave him a scathing look from head to toe. "Certainly none."

She looked so sure of herself, her head tilted back to glare at him exposing that lovely throat he so longed to wrap his hands around, her eyes flashing under her long inky lashes and her pretty mouth pursed defiantly, that Loki saw red. He crossed the cell in two long strides, wrapped a long-fingered hand around her arm and hauled her to her feet. She let out a squeak of surprise, the chair clattering behind her as she slammed into his body. Her feet barely touched the floor as he snatched her against him, his spare arm closing like iron around her waist.

"It is my business." He snarled, his eyes practically shooting sparks.

He could feel her heart pounding against his chest, her breath fluttering against his neck in quick gasps. He could see that she was uncertain, wariness flickering behind her eyes as she gazed up at him. Still she was not afraid. The fact made his blood boil and in that moment, he wanted her to be afraid. He wanted her to think of nothing but him and what he would do to her next.

"It is most certainly my business, nightingale."

Her lips closed, her lashes lowered obscuring her glittering eyes. His grip tightened on her until her eyes flew open again and her mouth twisted petulantly.

"How so, Prince?" She spat, her chest lifting and falling rapidly as his arm steadily squeezed the breath from her body.

"I. Do. Not. Share." Every single word breathed out of him was a threat and they whispered across her skin like a poisonous caress.

She tilted her chin, meeting his gaze and he felt his body shudder at the challenge contained there.

"I am not your belonging, Prince." She murmured defiantly.

A slow dangerous smile crossed Loki's face, his eyes liquid midnight and predatory.

"Is that so, nightingale."

Her breathing was irregular again, her cheeks stained pink as she held his gaze but her mouth was defiant as always.

"I do not belong to you."

Loki dropped his head, his nose touching the delicate curve of her ear, his lips a whisper away from her sweetly-scented skin. She forced herself not to tremble but he heard her sudden intake of breath, felt the sensitive skin of his neck prickle in its wake.

"Belonging is such a definitive word." He murmured teasingly, her hair fluttering against his skin. "Regardless… you are mine, nightingale." She was trembling against him, her pulse thundering so loudly he could almost hear it. "And I do not share."

Before she could respond he sank his teeth sharply into her earlobe, his tongue briefly touching the dangling pearl she wore there. She was so shocked she could only let out a gasp of surprise, squirming wildly to get out of his grip. Loki laughed and released her. She jumped back from him, almost tripping over the fallen chair in her haste. Loki could taste blood on his lips, see the vivid red droplets beading on her delicate white ear.

She could feel the throb of her heartbeat in her ear but it was nothing to the pulsing between her legs. She wanted to turn away from him, to gather herself and regain control but she knew better than to turn her back on him. He was aroused too, she could see it in the way the lean muscles in his body were coiled, the faint pink tinge to his cheeks and the eyes sparkling so brightly they looked like jewels. If he touched her again, if she touched him, neither of them could predict what would happen.

"You cannot mark me, Prince." She finally said, once she was certain her voice was steady and not dripping with the desire tingling through her limbs.

He cocked his head challengingly, more than ready to mark her in several ways. She shook her head, pushing her hands behind her back to hide their trembling.

"I am being courted for marriage. I cannot have another man's mark on my body."

Loki ran a heated gaze over her from head to toe, taking in her bare toes peeking out from beneath the embroidered hem of her soft peach gown, her slender waist and hips nipped in by the corset and her pretty rosy chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Until you are married, you are perfectly within your rights to tumble any handsome young Lord who catches your eye." He tossed her own words back at her with malicious pleasure and she scowled.

"Certainly." She agreed primly, tossing her hair back. "As long as he doesn't mark my body."

Loki's eyes flashed and he stepped towards her. She forced herself not to flinch, not to step away from him as he towered over her. She was trembling but not from fear, she wasn't certain what she wanted him to do next but the hungry expression on his face was intoxicating.

"And have you?"

She frowned at him.

"Have I what?"

His teeth flashed, a predator's grin that made the tips of her fingers tingle.

"Tumbled any handsome young Lords?"

She cocked her head mockingly, tilting her body slightly so her breasts were angled towards him.

"Recently?"

Something dark flashed over his face, dark and tempting. The pressure between her thighs was unbearable, the danger written across his features only increasing her arousal. She could not hide from it, she was unbearably attracted to him, his evident possessiveness only burning that fire even hotter. This was now a dangerous game she was playing, being alone in a locked cage with a man who ignited her entire body with the lift of a mocking eyebrow.

"Who I let into my bed and when is not your concern." She finally deflected. "Just as whatever pretty little maids and vapid little Ladies you entice into your royal chamber is none of mine."

Loki lifted his eyebrows in amusement.

"There have been few of either of late." He replied slyly, watching the colour flush up her throat. "More's the pity."

"I'm sure your mother could provide you a plaything, if that is all you desire." She snapped coldly, leaning away from him.

Loki pursed his lips, watching the passion in her cool before his very eyes. He had thought to inflame her jealousy and watch what happened, it appeared he had taken a wrong turn somewhere.

"Excuse me, Prince. I need to bathe before the banquet."

She made to step past him but he sidestepped into her path. She froze, hovering on the spot, unwilling to concede power and step back from him but determined not to touch him again.

"There is a banquet tonight?"

She nodded, looking over his shoulder.

"To celebrate an official engagement." She gave him a sweetly barbed smile as his eyes narrowed at the implication.

It was not for her engagement, but they both knew he was too stubborn to ask.

"Then there will be no visit, no song." He shook his head. "That will not do. Ask your question, nightingale. "

She glared at him, furious that she had allowed herself to believe that he wanted anything more from her than what was between her legs. She had allowed him to seduce her with his silver tongue and she had fallen for his lies and tricks. She was grateful that at least she had not succumbed before her eyes had opened.

"Have you had a maid in here tending to your needs?"

He stared down at her, his face expressionless. She glowered up at him defiantly. She wasn't sure what she wanted him to say. He was gloriously handsome, frighteningly charming and a member of the royal family, he was hardly likely to be chaste.

"Certainly." He said blankly and she flinched back from him. "One such as I can hardly be expected to change my own bed linen and clean soiled garments." Loki continued scathingly, tossing his head back.

She swayed slightly as she was flooded by such a wave of relief that she felt quite dizzy. He smiled smugly at her and her hand actually twitched with the force of her need to reach up and slap him.

He loomed over her for a moment more, watching her gaze slide angrily away from his. Eventually he moved away from her and made himself comfortable on his bed. Her cheeks flushed but she did not join him, choosing to lean against the wall of the cell instead.

"There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare
See how I leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and its bringing me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless, I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it to the beat

Baby I have no story to be told
But I've heard one on you and I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there 'cause mine sure won't be shared

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless, I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
And you played it to the beat."

Loki had to work hard not to frown as she dropped into a mocking curtsy and swept haughtily out of the room the minute her song was over. Yes he had most certainly made her angry somehow.