Chapter 2

Darcy returned to Shield Headquarters the following day and went directly to Director Fury's office. She found him standing by the window looking out over the city. He turned when she entered.

"Miss Lewis, can I help you?" he asked offering her a seat with a hand gesture.

She shook her head and then said, "Director Fury, I wanted to tell you that I will be resigning as Jane's assistant at the end of the week."

"And why is that, Miss Lewis?"

"Because I will be returning home and it is too far away to commute to work. I still have to give Jane my resignation letter."

"May I ask were your home is? Just in case we need you?"

"Asgard," was the only thing she said and watched as Fury's eyes nearly bulged from his head.

"Excuse me?" he asked

"I am from Asgard, Director. And before you ask. No, I did not know this until yesterday when my mother revealed to me my
heritage. And just so you know she will be returning to Asgard with me."

"Miss Lewis, is there a particular reason why you are telling me this?"

"Yes, Director, there is and this will come as a shock to you I am sure, for it came as a shock to me as well. Anyway
the reason I am returning is to honor my betrothal to Loki."

"Are you telling me that you are engaged to the same man who tried to take over our world last year?"

"Yes, I am. Unfortunately, it is true, though I wish it wasn't."

"And does Thor know about this betrothal between his brother and yourself?" he asked.

"I am not sure. My memories of my time on Asgard are hazy at best so I do not know if their memories were tampered with
too."

"Miss Lewis we will miss you here but we understand why you have to go. I only ask that if your marriage to Loki does
happen that you keep him on Asgard."

"Will do." with those words Darcy turned and left the Directors office. She walked down the halls to Jane's lab. Upon
entering, she came face to face with the brunette scientist that had taken her in and had become like and elder
sister to her. It was going to be hard to tell her that she was leaving but she had no choice. She had to do it.

Jane looked up when Darcy entered. She stopped working on the portal device that she was trying to complete, to embrace her clearly distrught friend.

"Darcy? What's wrong? You seem out of sorts."

"Jane, there is something that I need to tell you."

"What is it Darcy?"

"I am leaving at the end of the week. As much as I enjoy being your assistant, I have no choice in the matter."

"Darcy, I understand but you don't live that far away. So why do you feel you have to leave?" Jane asked clearly confused by her friends words.

Taking a deep breath she said, "Jane, I am going to Asgard. I just found out that I was born there. I am not mortal, according
to my mother that is. I don't feel like I am immortal but whatever. Anyway, there is one other tiny detail that I have to tell you and I don't want you to freak out on me okay."

"Darcy just tell me already okay."

"I am engaged to Loki. I have been since I was a baby. I have no choice but to go back to Asgard to marry him."

"Darcy! Please tell me you are kidding, please!" Jane said in shock.

"It's true Jane and on top of that I have a brother. Mother wouldn't tell me his name but she says I will know him when I see
him."

"I wish I could go with you."

"Me too, Jane. Me too."

"Say hi to Thor for me, Darcy, and tell him I miss him."

"I will, Jane. I promise."

After the conversation the two women got to work, both knowing that their time together was now limited.

Xxx

Loki was in his cell when he got a surprise visitor. Odin stood outside his cell looking in.

"Loki, I hate seeing you like this and I think it's time to release you."

"And why would you release me? I thought I was too dangerous to be let out? That I needed to learn a lesson?"

"Because Loki, your betrothed is returning to Asgard at the end of the week and I do not wish her to see you like this."

This bit of information took Loki by surprise. He was betrothed? To whom? When had this happened? He searched his
memories and could not find when he had become betrothed to anyone.

"Who?" he finally asked.

"She is not mortal if that is what you are asking. She was born immortal but when Asgard was attacked years ago she and her
mother were sent to Midgard to keep them safe. Her father has asked me on more than one occasion to return them to
Asgard but I refused to do so. Her Asgardian name was Sigyn Berensdottir, I do not know if her mother changed it on Midgard."

Suddenly a sliver of a memory returned to him; of a beautiful baby that he had seen many years ago. He remembered then
the betrothal ceremony. He was indeed betrothed and he wondered what she looked like now.

"So you are just going to let me out of here?"

"Yes, but you will still be guarded until you can prove that you are no longer a threat. Her brother, Ronin will be your guard.
I am also going to reinstate you. You will regain your title when you marry the girl."

Ronin Berenson was a warrior who could match Thor in might and glory. In fact the two of them were good friends though
Ronin had declined the chance to be in Thor's merry little band of warriors. He wondered if the man even remembered his
mother and sister.

His adopted father released the energy that was closing the cell and Loki stepped out once more a free man. Ronin met
them at the entrance to the dungeon.

Odin walked away leaving Loki in the man's care. "My Prince." Ronin bowed his head in deference to his prince's title.

"I understand that your sister is returning to Asgard soon, Ronin," Loki said trying to make conversation with the man as they
walked to Loki's chamber.

"Yes, so I have heard. I doubt she will be going by her given name though. My mother would have changed it to keep my
sister safe."

Loki nodded. Odin had said as much.

Odin heard the two men's conversation and he knew that Loki was wondering why he had chosen his betrothed brother to be his guard. He had sone it so that Loki would get to know his betrothes family before she arrived at the end of the week. He walked into the Hall only to see Beren standing beside the throne awaiting him. Odin sighed. Trying to surprise the man was becoming more and more difficult as the days and years went on. He had refused to allow Keeren and Sigyn back only because Frigga had seen what would come to pass and that Sigyn would need all her compassion and understanding when it came to Loki. Now that she and her mother were to return (though he had only mentioned that the daughter was returning and not the mother) trying to keep the surprise in check was becoming difficult.

"Beren, if you are here to ask once again that I send for your wife, the answer is no. Is it not enough that your daughter is returning home to you?"

"Yes, your Majesty it is but I miss my wife. I have not seen nor heard from her in over two decades, my Lord. Surely you can understand my longing to see her again."

"I understand Beren, but you must be content that your daughter is returning home."

Xxx

"Mother, are you ready?" Darcy asked for the umpteenth time.

"Yes, now I am ready."

"Good, then let's go. I am anxious to meet my brother and possibly my father too," Darcy said purposely leaving out the fact that she had a fiance who was also possibly awating her return.

"Darcy there is one other thing I forgot to tell you and I must tell you this before we return for you are not going to be addressed as Darcy on Asgard."

"Okay so what will I be addressed as then?"

"Your name that was given to you at birth was Sigyn. You are not just the daughter of a soldier but also a Baron. You will be addressed as Lady Sigyn. I thought you should know, so it will not confuse you when you are addressed as such when we arrive."

Great, Darcy thought. Just when things couldn't get any more confusing her mother had to come out and tell her that she had changed her name too. Shaking her head she held the necklace aloft and her mother began to chant. Darcy closed her eyes when she felt her feet leave the floor. When she opened them again, she was looking at very large golden palace which her mother immediately began walking towards.