CHAPTER 22

Darcy had to get used to the giants always steps behind her. No matter where she went they followed her whether it was to the dining hall the library or to her chamber. They really did take their job seriously. They would guard her with their very lives, but she really needed to sit down and have a talk with them about when the child would take up the throne of Jotunheim.

"You know, I really do need to know your names. It would make conversing with you so much easier,"
she told them a few days before the coronation.

"Our apologies, my Lady. I am Narfi and my companion is Skrymir." Darcy simply rolled her eyes at the title. She hated it but it was something she had had to get used to once she and Jane had returned to Asgard.

"Well, it's finally nice to know your names," Darcy replied then after a moment of thought asked, "I
am curious though. Why did why did you, I mean the Frost Giants as a whole, take my husband's explanation of why he would not rule you so easily?"

"It was not easy my Lady, but we did but we did not know he lives till now and we would still like him to be our king, if only until the child you carry is old enough to take up the throne. We understand that he grew up hating us, if only because of the stories that were made up to scare children into behaving. Even though he will not tell us we have always known that it was he, the Dark Prince, that slew our king."

"You knew?!" Darcy exclaimed, astonishment coloring her voice.

"Yes, my Lady. We knew. Is that why he feels he cannot be our ruler? Is it because of the guilt he
must feel for killing his own father?"

"I am afraid that that is only part of the reason. He is also the reason part of Jotunheim was destroyed.
He still feels guilty about it though he would never say it."

"My Lady, we forgave him a long time ago. At the time, we only knew him as the Dark Prince of Asgard. We did not know that he was the heir to Jotunheim's throne. We could never and would never harm our
prince and by extension you and any of your family."

"Thank you, Narfi for telling me this but you seem to want to say something else. Like there is a
question you want to ask but are afraid too? What is it?"

"I only wanted to ask, my Lady, if you would talk to him. Ask him if he would consider the
possibility of taking up the throne, temporarily at least. For we intend to ask this of him after the
coronation and we know that it will be a decision that will take some time for him to answer and so we
are giving him that time."

"I will ask him, but I cannot by any means know what his answer will be."

"Thank you my Lady."

With that Darcy entered Frigga's apartment.

"Darissa! Dear, I am so glad to see you. Did you need something?" asked Frigga as soon as Darcy
walked through the door and closed it behind her.

"Well, there was something I wanted to ask of you really."

"Yes, my dear what is it?"

"As you know I have been away from court a long time now and I am afraid I am not ready to take on
the mantle of ruling Asgard by my husband's side. So he suggested that I come to you," Darcy told the
queen.

Frigga smiled at her daughter-in-law; little did the younger woman know that she had the makings of a wise and just queen. "My dear, you can ask me anything, you know that."

"I know," Darcy smiled shyly.

"My Queen, I just had an interesting conversation with our two resident Frost Giants. One in which has
left me both baffled and yet not."

"And what was it that has you baffled, my dear daughter?"

Darcy was slightly taken aback by the way the queen had just called her daughter but then she
supposed that now that she had married Loki she was essentially Frigga's daughter and she her
mother. The thought made her smile.

"They would like to petition Loki once he is king to take up the Throne of Jotunheim until the time
comes to give it to our son."

"I see, and what would you have him do then?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You are going to be named queen in two days and if he does take the giants up on the offer
you are going to be their queen. So it isn't just Loki that must make this decision, Darissa but you
must make one as well."

"I don't know what to say. But they need and deserve to be led by someone. And it will take years
before our child is old enough to take up the throne. I would take them up on their offer only because
I hate knowing that they are forever standing around an empty throne."

"That is a very wise decision, Darissa. However, you will have your work cut out for you convincing Loki of this and by extention Odin as well."

Darcy sighed. Frigga was right she was going to have a hard time convincing Loki and Odin to do just that. There was no way in the nine realms that either of them, Loki especially was going to take the giants up on their offer.

"I know, I know…"

The rest of the afternoon she spent on court etiquette and the role of the queen.

Xxx

That night, she approached Loki with what the giants were going to request of him in two days' time.

Loki wanted to say no, he really did, but there was something holding him back and he didn't know
what it was. Maybe a talk with his father would help in making the decision.

"Loki, please just think about it okay?" she pleaded with him before climbing into their bed.

"I promise I will think about it my love," he said kissing her head before pulling her into his arms before they both fell asleep.

Xxx

The day of the coronation dawned bright and woke Loki long before his wife. After two days of
thinking about the giants request, and a long talk with Odin, he finally knew what his answer would be but he would wait to reveal his answer. He wanted to see the look on his wife's face when he answered their petition.

Turning over he watched his wife sleep for a few minutes before he saw her eyes flutter open.

"Morning," she said with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning to you too, my darling. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, very well," she replied leaning up to kiss him playfully on the nose.

"Are you ready for today, Darissa?" he asked after a light kissing session.

"As ready as I can be, I suppose, though I should ask you the same thing."

He smiled at her then kissed her temple before getting out of bed without answering her. The truth
was, he wasn't ready but he knew that with her by his side he would be. She was his strength
though he would never let her know that.

He went to the bathing chamber and then dressed for the ceremony that would be taking place in only
a few short hours. When he came out he found Darcy dressed as well. Their outfits were the same
color as their wedding attire except this time Darcy's dress was in the Asgardian style. Her hair was
done up into curls atop her head with a few curls left loose framing her face and falling softly along
her neck. He had to let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding.

"Darissa, I didn't think that you would ever outshine yourself the way you did when we got married but
I admit I was wrong. You are absolutely stunningly gorgeous."

Darcy blushed at his praise and murmured a soft, "Thank you."

Loki sat her down on the bed and held her hand within his, "Darling how are you feeling really?"

"I'm fine though I did get sick again this morning but it is to be expected as I am pregnant. I am ready
for this Loki. I was after all raised to rule a realm. I just never expected it to be this one," she said with a light laugh.

He allowed a small grin to appear on his face before schooling his features into a more harsh line.

There was a knock on the door signaling that it was time for the coronation to begin. He stood and pulled her up and offered her his arm as they made their way to the throne room.

Just outside the Throne Room doors they stopped. Loki gave his wife's hand a light squeeze before the
doors were slowly opened. They each took a calming breath and together they stepped into the throne Room.

The procession was different from her wedding day. Where her wedding day procession had been silent, there was now an aura of excitement in the air. She forced herself to smile as she and her husband made their way to the front of the room. Together they knelt before the Allfather and Mother.

Odin lifted his hands and the crowd that had gathered for the occasion went silent. "Friends and Noble
Warriors from all the Nine Realms. Today we have gathered to witness the coronation of a king and a
queen."

He then looked at the son he had spent a lifetime wronging and smiled. For he knew he had made the
right decision in making the young man before him the new ruler of Asgard.

"Loki, my son, today you are to take up the Throne of Asgard as its King. Do you swear to guard all the
Nine Realms?"

"I swear."

"And do you on this day, swear to set aside all selfish ambition and look to only use your power for the good of the people you are going to be ruling over?"

"I swear," Loki again said his voice strong and loud in the silent room.

"Then I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you King of Asgard. May your rule be a peaceful one, my son." he said
and nodded for Loki to stand. As soon as his son was standing before him he handed over his staff, as
Loki had no weapon of his own except his immense magic.

Then Frigga stepped forward. "Friends, Noble Warriors from all the Nine Realms, today marks
the first time another race, apart from the Aseir have ruler over Asgard. Today we induct into our line
a Light Elf of immense wisdom and honor. The Goddess of Truth and Compassion, shall be your new
queen."

She then looked down at Darissa and said, "Do you Darissa, Daughter of Ashier, King of Alfheim, swear to help you husband and king rule the Nine Realms?"

"I swear," Darcy's voice shook only slightly as she spoke.

"And do you swear, to be his first line of council in all things?"

Again Darcy swore.

"Do you swear to be the gentle yet guiding hand that you husband king will need in the coming years?"

"I swear!"

"Then I, Frigga, Allmother, hereby proclaim you Queen of Asgard. May your years be fruitful, my dear." she smiled down at Darcy as she helped her stand, before placing a golden crown upon her head.

With the ceremony concluded, Frigga and Odin stepped off of the dais and stepped down as the rulers of Asgard.