Loki POV
At 7 pm, music begins to play. The audience chamber is fit for a royal wedding, but we've been waiting nearly an hour with no bride or groom in evidence.
An hour during which I've had time to sit and think. I'm wearing the black suit that Thor said made me look like a witch. My lips twitch slightly at the memory. Father warned me black was not appropriate for a wedding when he saw me, but this is more like a funeral. This takes my brother one step closer to being King. And ties that fascinating creature forever to a man who cares nothing for her.
Suddenly everyone gasps. I look up and the little minx has walked in wearing a silvery white dress, entirely made of demure lace, her white blond hair in intricate braids. The lace covers her hands, and a loop around her middle finger holds it in place. The dress has a train long enough to extend into the hallway outside. A high neckline appropriate for a royal wedding. As she turns to speak to her parents, I see it dips in the back all the way to top of her large, pert sitting cheeks. I sigh and smirk. She really is trouble.
As the music strikes up again, her mother takes a seat, and her father, in dress robes apparently, begins to walk her down the aisle. They reach the end, thinking Thor and Odin will appear, but no one does. Stunned silence.
"Where is Thor?", everyone hears her father ask. "Where is Odin?"
We look up and Odin drags Thor, who is wearing his typical sleeveless black leather armor with a dirty red cape, into the room. His hair and beard are braided and unkempt.
"What is the meaning of this?", N'jord booms. I cover my laughter with my hand. So he's really going to refuse. I didn't think he would. Fools, every single one of them.
"Thor has not gotten ready on time so he will marry wearing this", Odin states, as if there's nothing strange about all this.
"Father, stop!" Thor yells "I'm sorry, Sir, Your Majesty, but I cannot and will not marry your daughter. I love another. My father has known this for a long time, and chose not to tell you. I apologize for the trouble, he should have sent Sigyn home weeks ago."
"This is an outrage!", N'jord booms. The crowd turns around when they hear her mother let out a cry. This is the best entertainment Asgardians have had in a long time.
"You insult my daughter, and embarrass my entire family. What do you have to say for yourself "All-Father"?", N'jord hisses.
"Thor will marry Sigyn", Odin growls.
"He better", N'jord barks.
"Can't you see what this is doing to your daughter?", Queen Skadi yells at her husband. "I will not force her to marry a man who doesn't want her. Let's just take her home."
"Under no circumstances! I'm in control of this, Skadi, I am King! She will marry a crown prince. Today", N'jord shouts.
"A king indeed", Odin laughs, "A glorified minor sea god would be closer." She's a demi-god? She never mentioned it.
"You...bastard!", N'jord hisses. "It's war now, Odin, war with a fully armed Vanaheim."
Gasps go up again. "Oh now settle down", Odin orders, "Thor will marry her. He loves a mortal, it's nothing."
"Nothing?!", Thor shouts.
"Thor, Thor", his friends hiss quietly. "You can't do anything else here", Sif tells him, "Let's go."
"He's not going nowhere!", Father shouts.
"What the hell are you grinning about?", Father shouts at me. I couldn't stop smiling at threat of execution. They're all hilarious.
"Thor, your home will be at war if you don't show some sense", Odin yells at him. Thor's eyes are glazed over as if he can't decide what to do.
I'm howling with laughter, when I look for Sigyn. She's standing at the altar, sobbing. And suddenly my smile is gone. For some reason, that's less funny. Oh c'mon, Sigyn, this is hysterical. But she continues to cry and look like she wants to do nothing but hide.
Alfhild gets out of her seat and moves to comfort to Sigyn.
"Leave her be", Odin orders, "She's getting married right now and does not need a nursemaid."
"I send you the most beautiful princess in Nine Realms, smarter than this muscle-bound idiot could ever be, and he does not want her?", N'jord booms.
"Watch your words, sea god", Odin advises, seeing that all is already lost.
"Son of a...", we all hear as N'jord draws the sword he had hidden in those robes they all wear.
"Stop!" I shout, standing up. "Stop!" No one can hear me and N'jord is about run Odin through.
"I said stop!", I yell and flash green lights around the room. Silence.
"And what pray-tell, do you want?", Odin yells at me.
"I'll have her", I say. She looks up suddenly, meeting my eyes.
"You will not!", Odin booms.
"You are a useless second son who will inherit nothing from your father except a bad temper", N'jord points out. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"If Thor doesn't want the crown, if he'd rather be an Avenger, if he'd rather protect Earth, if he'd rather marry Jane Foster, I say let him", I insist. "Let him go down to Earth and be with his real friends. (his Asgardian friends glare at me) Let Odin make me his heir. I want the throne. And I want Sigyn. Will you accept me?", I ask her directly. I didn't mean it to sound like my heart was on a platter, but that's how it came out. Damn this woman, I have so little control around her.
"I would accept him", Sigyn says, "In truth, we had an instant connection I never developed with Thor." I can tell from the look on her face she didn't expect this of me.
N'jord looks me over, head to toe, twice. "Very well", he pronounces, "I will accept this plan also. If Loki is to be king, he can have Sigyn's hand." I grin wildly. How deluded this poor man is.
Sigyn POV
"You don't see what he's up to", Thor shouts. "He's tried this before. To take my throne. That's all he wants—power. He cares nothing for your daughter!"
"Loki will never be King", Odin insists. "He's a scoundrel, a devil, locked in a cell a mere week ago, and he's not even my real..." If he says that, my father will never agree.
"It's to be war then?", I interrupt Odin. "Perhaps you should stop there, because it will be war if this cannot be settled."
"Answer my child!", N'jord shouts.
Odin squints his eyes, as if seeing me clearly for the first time. He didn't see this coming. "Damnable little...", he starts, and I know it's aimed at me, "Very well."
Loki jumps into action. "The transfer of title will be conducted before the wedding", he says.
"Yes", N'jord confirms. "She will marry the Asgardian Crown Prince."
Everyone flies into action, drawing up papers to transfer kingship from Thor to Loki. They all look at each other as if they're not sure this is really happening. Odin barks orders at everyone to draw up the papers, but they wonder if he really means it, and even if he does, if they should really do it. It's obvious Loki did try to seize power and cause quite a lot of trouble once before.
"I will have a look at those papers!", my father shouts.
"Oh I have no doubt!", Odin growls.
"You cannot actually do this, Father", Thor insists quietly. "We won't have a world left if Loki has the power of a king."
"Do you think I don't know that?", Odin hisses back softly. "This", he whispers pointedly to Loki, "Will be shredded the very instant her parents are off planet."
"Will it?", Loki asks.
Documents are drawn up. Thor refuses to sign.
"We will tear it up as soon as they leave! Thor, sign it! I will not have war", Odin insists.
"Father, do you really think Loki isn't two steps ahead of you? If I sign this, there may be no undoing it", Thor insists.
"Loki FAILED last time and he will fail again. We will undo it immediately." Thor signs and within an hour, the details are finished, and my father is carefully reading the contract line by line.
"Odin, here it says that if Thor goes off planet and returns, the right of kingship shall be restored to him", my father says, "Strike that out. Did you really think you could get such things past me?"
Odin groans and Loki glares at him. Finally, Father is satisfied that all power lay in the hands of Loki Odinson (Loki requests the last name be struck, and while my father doesn't understand, he agrees) upon the death or incapacity of Odin. Odin should have known my father has a great deal of experience drawing up a similar document with his own son.
"You are now my heir", Odin says to Loki with malice.
"We should marry immediately", Loki says.
"Indeed", I hear my father growl. My mother is sitting alone with head in her hands.
"Momma", I call to her. She jumps up and embraces me. "Sigyn, this is not what any of us had in mind. You don't have to marry this man. You don't have to marry either of them. Your father will get over it."
I hug her tightly. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret either choice."
"Then come home with us!", Mother insists.
"But I have curiosity, Mother. About this one. I have curiosity." Mother looks over his tall, slim frame, and his unbelievably long legs. His face is handsome, but not flawless. It's haunting however, and his every emotion is reflected on his face like a mirror.
"I don't blame you", she says.
Loki and I stand at the altar- polar opposites in looks and demeanor. I'm short, he's tall. I'm light, he's dark. A white wedding gown it took months to make next to a casual tight black suit. I try to smile at my parents while Loki smirks at everyone.
An official steps away from his discussion. He looks like he'd rather do anything right now than marry the two of us.
"Are you sure, Your Highness?", he asks me.
"Get on with it", Loki orders.
"We are gathered here today to unite both two individuals and two realms. As love blooms and grows between these two powerful and honor...honorable representatives of their home realms, so will the connection between the people of Vanaheim and the people of Asgard grow. Prince Tho...Loki of Asgard, do you take the Princess Sigyn of Vanaheim as your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and plenty, will you keep to her and only to her as long you both shall live?"
"Is there any way we could make this a bit more realistic?", he chuckles. No one else is amused.
"What's going on now?", Father booms.
The official clears his throat.
"I do", Loki finally spits out.
"And Princess Sigyn of Vanaheim, do you take Prince Loki of Asgard as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and plenty, will you keep to him and only to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I do", I growl out. What a beginning.
"Then I now declare you husband and wife. Prince Loki...you may kiss your bride."
I don't know what I'm expecting, but he touches my cheek, cups my face, leans down, and kisses me. I think they got each other confused, this one must be the God of Lightning, or Thunder, or...my head spins like I've had too much to drink. I feel myself softening, relaxing into him, and my irritation at his behavior is dissolving.
His arms are strong and sure and feel like coming home. My legs seem to give out all at once and he catches me suddenly, breaking the kiss. "Allow me", he says with a smile, looking deep into my eyes. I know my mouth is hanging open and everyone is watching.
I clear my throat. "Show off", I whisper to him.
"You didn't do so bad yourself", he returns, then looks out to the crowd.
Reluctant clapping.
"Now Loki, about that contract", Odin immediately starts.
"On to the feast!", Loki shouts and the crowd heads toward the enormous dinner table. He walks by Odin, ignoring him.
"I hope you know what you're doing, little girl", Odin barks at me.
Loki offers his arm and I take it.
Father eats well now that he considers his troubles over. Mother and I can hardly stomach a bite. Loki enjoys himself and laughs with the crowd.
"So how long will you be gracing us with your presence?", Odin asks my father. There's no veil on their animosity at this point.
"We're leaving in the morning", Father confirms.
"Excellent", Odin responds.
Mother drops her fork. "So soon,N'jord?!"
"Yes. I cannot tolerate this place for another day", he responds. A server stands over him with a platter of roast beef.
"Will you please take that rotting animal flesh elsewhere?", Father says loudly and the poor server runs to the next person.
Loki and I meet eyes and both laugh at the same time.
When dinner is nearly over, Loki stands and offers me his hand. I take it as he thanks everyone for coming and leads me out of the room.
Odin is on our heels. "Do not tell me you're intending to have a wedding night", Odin laughs. "You cannot. You must know that. Even you wouldn't besmirch a princess with a frost giant. You cannot expect your brother to take her to wife if you've already had her." My mouth hangs open.
"Your ideas are so archaic, Father", Loki says, "But aside from that, no I don't. I sometimes wonder who is the real barbarian here. No, I do not expect my brother to take her to wife, to bed, or anything else. She's MINE. Touching her is now treason."
He leads me away before I can say a word.