Loki sits in his tent, documents strewn all over, and he holds his sword in one hand while the other cleans the blood off. The peace lulls him in a sweet sense of security. His eyes narrow and he shakes his head to make the feeling go away. War is raging outside; he can't afford to dream of safety. In his mind, Loki fervently curses the new Æsir king; damn that foolish and conceited boy for starting this. Of course, as the Jötunn well knows, Thor is no boy; and while he is indeed thoughtless he may prove to be a fierce opponent.
Two warriors enter the tend disrupting the stillness. They drag a person along, despite the clear struggle put up. Loki takes a moment to analyze the woman, It was not uncommon for his soldiers to bring him entertainment. It was a custom among his people that warriors brave in battle could meet the king. The purpose wasn't to bed her; there were courtesans enough for that. Loki simply wanted a partner to converse with. And who better than somebody with wit and courage? He is about to dismiss them when he recognizes the person they bring. How could he not?
She is Darcy. Loki would know here anywhere. When he and she, and Thor among others, were younger attending Odin's feasts together had been something of a habit for them. Since taking his father's throne Loki rarely had the time for balls and feasts. His people need him, always. It is in that moment that he vaguely remembers hearing that Darcy had been promised to Thor, some weeks ago. She was en-route to Asgard's golden halls when she was caught in the fight, if her once lavish dress is anything to go by. But why would she pass through Jötunheim. She should have known it wasn't safe.
There is recognition in her eyes and for a brief moment Loki's heart strains against his ribcage. Loki has always been fond of her. Darcy wastes no time in pulling away from the retreating guards and runs to wrap her arms around him. He wonders if she knows what she's doing. She seems all too aware, for a moment later she pulls back as if remembering something. Calmly she tells him that she travels to Asgard, which he knows, to wed Thor, another fact he already knows. It's not that her voice holds anything other than accuracy, or that her eyes speak of sadness; Loki knows her, and this is not something she wants. He offers to keep her with him. She agrees all too easily. Somewhere Thor screams in rage at the loss of his bride-to-be.
Days are long during wartime. Swords clash and clatter; bodies fall and warriors rise. Nights are even longer and Loki has been through countless of them on his own. Darcy had been keeping him company lately, or maybe it's not so novel when speaking of a decade. The main point is that she is there with him all the time and whispers to him of forever. Forever is not long at all. There are times when Loki senses she wants a deeper bond; Darcy doesn't voice it but she hopes he can understand it. He does and it takes all he has not to indulge her. And himself. He could lose all he is so easily with her. He can't do that, not when Asgard's armies loom closer.
But one may not hold out for an eternity. And Darcy is adamant. She makes him fall in love and Loki is helpless to refuse her anything. Forgetting the world for a moment he builds something bigger than them with her. Had anybody told them that years from this point they'd be apart, both would believe it to be nonsense. After all, Darcy knows Thor is no match for Loki's genius no matter how much more brute force the Asgardian holds. Her heart gets caught on his sleeve every time he goes out in the fray; she'd have to be blind to not see Thor's seal on a letter demanding she be given back. She wishes she didn't know; ignorance is bliss, they say. She still has ten blissful years ahead of her.
It takes Thor a decade more to breach all the defences. The blonde god is a storm cutting through the enemy lines. Darcy wants to scream because soon enough Loki rises up to the challenge. The fight is nothing if not brutal. What makes her crack is that Loki is knocked to the ground, Thor one step away from killing him. Think fast. She jumps from her hiding place, going against what Loki had told her, and runs to Thor. This is the only way she can save the one she loves. Thor is momentarily distracted and the bloodlust dissipates ever so slowly. Darcy can't look away as they bind Loki in chains; her heart cries out and her lips stay shut. Ruby eyes look at her in understanding and something like sorrow. She can't look away, not even as Thor pulls her from the scene.
What she doesn't see is the smile that's on his face. Loki knows something she doesn't; she will figure it out soon. His love is not the only thing he has given her. The Jötunn King knows that Thor is prideful more than anything. He won't take Darcy if she already belongs to another. The ancient laws claimed that a female belonged to her mate only after she has given him a child. Proof of their union. Loki has been very careful in case Thor happened to succeed in shipping Darcy to Asgard. The chains rattle. It won't be long until Thor knows just why Loki has refused to give him Darcy.
Loki just isn't one to be easily defeated. Shall I write another piece and make a wholesome trio?