CHAPTER 18

Later at the feast, Darcy approached the Allfather wanting to ask him why he had chosen them to be the next rulers of Asgard.

"Your Majesty," she began with a slight bow.

"Yes?" he asked, looking at his new daughter-in-law with pride in his eyes.

"May I ask why you chose Loki?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"What I said during the ceremony was true, you know it to be so. I didn't just have to weigh which of my sons was more worthy but also which of my two soon to be daughters-in-law was as well. You, Darissa, have a compassion that would serve this kingdom well. You balance out Loki's more troubling tendencies, mainly his tendency to be mischievous, but you also make him speak the truth which goes against his very nature. With both of you ruling Asgard we would flourish and thrive like never before. I admit I have been wrong about many things, most of which lie with your husband and my son. I was wrong to assume that he had been abandoned by the Frost Giants when I took him. It has been a decision that has haunted me ever since your sister told me the real reason for him being in that temple on Jutunheim. I took a child that was loved by his father and caused that father much grief in the process. It is no wonder Laufey wanted me dead. I would have done the same thing if I had been in his shoes, so to speak. I always wondered why he said that I was a murderer and a thief. The thief I could understand as I did take from them their source of power but murderer? It wasn't until Jane revealed to me the true nature of Loki's supposed abandonment did I understand what Laufey had meant."

"Father," she began, addressing him the way a daughter would. "I understand, I really do, but you need to talk to Loki. You need to really talk to him. He needs to know that even though you took him as a child from his true family you brought him into his other family too. Your queen is his second cousin you know, making you his family too," she finished and was surprised to see the same surprise written not only on his face but the face of her husband who had walked up behind Odin at that very moment.

Loki had been watching his wife speak to his father when he felt a shift in her through their bond. A wave of compassion, the likes of which he had never felt coming from her before, was directed towards his father and he wanted to know why. Walking up behind his father he heard her final words to his father and it shocked him to his core and he almost crumpled under the wave of pain that hit him. He had tried to kill his own family! His real family!

Darcy felt sorrow hit her like a ton of bricks and realized that it was coming from Loki. She didn't understand how she was feeling his emotions but she wasn't going to ask questions then. She needed to comfort her distraught mate. With that thought in mind, she stepped around the still frozen king and went to embrace her husband.

"Is it true?" he asked quietly while holding her to him tightly.

"Yes, Loki. Your real mother and the queen were cousins. Making you the queens second cousin and therefore family. You didn't know and you can't start blaming yourself for what happened."

"Why didn't she say anything? Is my entire life just a big lie? Why must they hide everything from me? Why?"

At that moment Frigga came up to them. "My son, I kept the truth from you to protect you."

"My love, your life isn't a lie. You are the most blessed person here actually. You have held the love of two very great kings, two beautiful queens and not one but two princesses. For though she may never admit it, Jane loves you too. She did after all stand up for you to both Thor and your father the day we returned from Jotunheim…. It's a parent's job to do what is best for their children and they will make mistakes as I am sure we will too," Darcy told him gently while caressing his beloved face with her hand that held her ring.

Turning back to a now unfrozen Odin and silent Frigga she said in a light voice, "This topic should wait till another time. This day is one of celebration and it shouldn't be marred by sadness. Shall we get back to the guests?"

They all nodded and walked back to the dining room from the small alcove that they had been standing in.

Jane saw her sister return from the alcove and walked up to her and Loki. "Loki, I wanted to thank you again for telling me I was with child."

"Princess Jarissa, you are welcome. I knew that you wouldn't know about the child for several months and because of my connection with your sister I sensed that there was something different about you. It was then that I felt the same sensation I had felt when I noticed Darissa was with child. I therefore could not allow you to go through the Bifrost. Contrary to popular belief, I do love my brother and by extension you as well. You are now my sister and I could not wish to cause you pain."

"Well, I am grateful still." She then turned to her sister, "Darcy, I can't believe it. You are going to be Queen of Asgard!"

Darcy, who still could not believe that fact, simply smiled at her sister. She knew that Jane was happy not to have that title; to have to live up to everyones expectations of what it meant to be Queen of the Realm Eternal. She, herself, was scared to death that she would blunder the job and again wondered why in all the nine realms Odin had chosen her. He had said as much when he had announced it. Had said that it hadn't been just his sons worthiness he had had to weigh for the Throne of Asgard, but their wives too. So what made her so special?

"Yes, and you are going to be Queen of Alfheim."

Jane's face dropped slightly at the mention of that, knowing that she was not going to be able to return to her home world until after her child was born. The people of Alfheim would have to wait, for she would not put her child and now her heir in danger. "I know."

Loki, squeezed his wife's hand then left to find his brother. He found him with not only the whole Avenger's Team but also with his merry band of followers. The Warriors Three and the Lady Sif.

"Brother! Where have you been? I saw you walk off and then lost track of you?" Thor said in his normal booming voice.

"I was with Mother and Father and my lovely wife," he returned in his normal quiet voice. "I just found out something I didn't know and it was a shocking revelation to say the least. And I do not need to be tracked Brother," the last part with a bit of bite to his tone.

"I meant no offence, Brother. I know you do not need tracking. It's only because there are so many people here that are wishing us joy in our marriages that I just lost sight of where you were."

Tony, who had been asking questions about Asgard, turned to Loki and asked, "What did you learn? You look kind of confused and angry yet calm. Don't get me wrong, calm is good but we (motioning to the rest of the group) tend to get a little on edge when you go calm."

Loki sat and told them what he had overheard and the truth that had been revealed to him.

"Thor, I personally want to apologize for everything that I tried to do to you," he finally told his brother.

The group again was astonished by the change that had taken over the man before them. The man they had known would never have apologized for anything and here Loki was apologizing to his brother for trying to kill him.

"Brother, all has been forgiven. Princess Darissa has changed you in ways that I could never have imagined. She is right though. You have reverted back to the way you were when you two first met. You are the man I knew before you learned of your heritage and anger, hurt and feelings of betrayal took over. And Loki, you will make a good king for the people of Asgard. You might have Frost Giant blood running through your veins but you also have the blood of the Vanir as well. The people of Asgard might admire brute strength but the power you hold has always been admired, though the people have never shown that admiration to you. They do admire you and think very highly of you. You might be the God of Mischief and Lies but our father is right about one thing. Darissa's compassion and truthful nature will make her a wonderful queen."

Loki couldn't help but smile at that. It was true. Darissa would make a wonderful queen. He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard the musician starting up and found his lovely wife standing before him a gleam in her eyes and a smile on her lips. "Dance with me?" she asked him softly.

He looked over to see the rest of the tables occupants were also pairing off an pulled his wife into the throng of dancers.