Chapter 16
A/N: Wow, The plot thickens! you guys are going to love this chapter, hopefully... Here is where the DRAMA starts... Drama Bomb! Enjoy and remember, please review!
Recap: Last Chapter was just all of them at breakfast. Jane warns Darcy about Loki and how he sent the destroyer, but Darcy gets a bit mad. So, Loki is granted two hours to start showing Darcy around the castle before he has to go deal with the stuff he did last time he was in Asgard... (Don't worry, it will review Thor for you)
***Loki's P.O.V***
Our two hours of the castle tour was up, however I did not want to let my Darcy go. I didn't want to deal with the horrible choices I made when I was grieving… I didn't want to have to deal with any of it, so I took Darcy to the painting room, where you couldn't hear the chimes of the second hour, when the bells rang.
I feared that Darcy would get tired, we had walked only three levels of the west wing and already it has been like seven Migardian miles. As soon as Darcy got hungry, I'd have to go in and deal with everything.
As we entered the painting room, I covered Darcy's eyes. When we got in, I uncovered them in front of the first picture. Taken when Thor and I were children, this was a family picture. I remembered staying still for the entire day while they painted, but Thor wouldn't stop fidgeting.
"Oh my goodness, is this you?" Darcy asked, pointing to the young me.
"Yes," I said.
"You were so adorable," Darcy gasped.
"Am I not now?" I asked to mess with her.
"Well now you're a different type of adorable," Darcy blushed.
"Shall we continue?" I asked, extending my arm.
"We shall," Darcy said, sounding almost Asgardian.
"What?" I gasped.
"Oh, I was trying to copy your accent," Darcy mumbled.
"Accent? Asgardians have an accent? I thought you had the most adorable Migardian accent," Loki said.
"What? I don't have an accent, you have one," Darcy negated.
We discussed the different types of accents as we strolled along. There were paintings of Odin in his battles, Thor in his; there were paintings of heroes of Asgard, and plenty of paintings of Lady Sif and The Warriors Three. I froze when I heard something around the corner; I didn't know that anyone else was in here and it made me suspicious.
"Admire this picture for a minute," I told Darcy.
She looked at me with an annoyed expression, and I turned to see a picture of me. I began blushing, I must have seemed conceited, but Darcy turned back to the painting allowing me to go ahead. I rushed forward to see a palace worker setting up a new canvas, and he was getting ready to paint.
"What are you going to paint?" I asked him.
"The Prince Thor's wedding, and his bride," The painter grunted.
"Alas… I thought only immortals could be painted," I said.
"That's the plan, to make her immortal. Aren't you Loki? Shouldn't you know this stuff?" The painter asked.
Well, I should have known this stuff, but I knew that I would never get married whenever they talked about marriage so I left. I knew that no Asgardian would fall for me and I would never fall for an Asgardian, but I didn't think I'd get such a brilliant alternative. Frowning, I realized that I should have listened.
"When will they be here" I asked.
"The queen will escort them, they should be here in less than two minutes," The painter nodded.
"Thank you sir," I murmured, bowing slightly and walking back to Darcy who had moved on to look at a painting of Frigga.
Should Darcy and I marry, I'd get to have her with me forever. She would become immortal; she could stay with me for the rest of forever. Well, technically not forever since Asgardians could die, but we'd have a lot more time together than we do now.
"Darcy, we should go," I said taking her hand.
"Okay, where to next?" Darcy asked walking slowly.
"Um… a surprise, let's hurry up a bit," I said.
I grabbed her hand and hurried to the exit of the room and opened the door to reveal my mother, ecstatic, Thor, beaming, and Jane slightly afraid. I froze, and Darcy looked down.
"Loki, you were supposed to be in a meeting with your father half an hour ago!" Frigga scolded.
"We didn't hear the chimes, we were in here mother," I said.
"Hurry over to your father now," Frigga ordered.
"But Mother, I must take Darcy back to her room," I moaned.
"I will escort her," Frigga said.
"Alright," I sighed.
Knowing the effect it would have, I put my hands on Darcy's waist, and pulled her to me, kissing her softly. She started to kiss me back, but her face turned hot as she remembered that my mother was watching. I pulled away, and she looked at me redder than I had ever seen her, and I gave her a small smile and nodded.
"I'll see you in a bit, Darling Darcy," I said.
I left the room, mother beamed even more now, knowing that I really had found my mate that loved me back. She already worshiped Jane and Darcy as if they were the Asgardians and she were the Migardian, but now she would love Darcy even more-if that was even possible. When I reached the door, I turned back in time to see mother shriek and run forward to hug Darcy.
And so, with a regained confidence that my mother would let Darcy stay, I strode forward hurrying to meet my father.
"You're late, son," Odin murmured.
"I'm sorry, I was showing Darcy the paint room and we didn't hear the chimes," I said in s regretful tone.
"Did your mother have to send you?" Odin asked, already knowing my answer.
"Yes, and I felt so childish too. I should have shown her the paintings first so that we could have heard the chimes. You have my most sincere regrets, all father," I said, starting to bow.
"Loki," Odin warned.
"Eh, I meant, I'm sorry father," I corrected myself.
I forced a sorry look in my eyes, and looked at him with a sad face. Luckily, he did not see through my acting and nodded. We were in his office and about to enter the meeting room.
Odin opened the door and went in, I slowly entered behind him. Council men, elders, Lady Sif and The Warriors Three, even a Frost Giant was there. I continued staring forward thinking of a plan.
If Odin chose to tell everyone my true heritage, then I would say that I was insane with grief and so confused and that I couldn't deal with just finding out like that when my brother was banished. If they somehow knew the truth about everything, me getting Thor banished and all, I'd play the same card, only without using Thor's banishment against them. If he didn't tell them anything and they all thought I was Asgardian then I'd have to say that I honestly thought that I was doing the right thing for Asgard, but I realized that I was wrong when it was too late, after I tried to kill my brother, when I thought he was dead I realized the error in my ways, then when Thor came back to attack me I didn't want to look weak so I just went along with my error.
"Loki, please stand and tell your account on what happened," one of the elders said.
"I want to hear what you know first," I said, remaining seated.
"Very well, Frandral you may stand and tell everyone what the All Father has told us," the same elder said.
"Nearly half a year ago, Prince Loki decided to let some frost giants in to ruin his elder brother's corination. The Frost Giants were killed for trying to take the tesseract and everything seemed fine until King Thor decided to go to Jotenheim." At least they didn't know that I planned to send him there. "King Thor went to Jotenheim with Prince Loki, Lady Sif, and The Warriors Three. There, they fought Frost Giants and something must have happened to give Loki a hint at his true nature which none of us knew at the time. They came back, Thor was banished, and Loki argued with his father about the truth. Loki realized he was a frost giant and screamed his father into the Odin sleep, he called the guards and became King of Asgard.
"He sent the destroyer to kill his brother and let the Frost Giant King Laufey come in and kill Odin. However, Loki had different plans, he killed the Frost Giant king himself and tried to look innocent. Thor survived and returned, they fought, Loki attempted to destroy Joutenheim but failed because Thor stopped him. Thor destroyed the bifrost and Loki slipped off the scepter and down into abyss," Frandral said.
Well at least Odin spared them the truth. I let go of the scepter because I knew that I didn't belong here. Yet now I returned, I guess I knew how Thor felt. The Migardians have turned us soft, but I wouldn't change Darcy for anything.
"On the day of Thor's corination, I went to Joutenheim for some frost rocks. I forgot to close the door because I was late, that's why I was late father," I lied, "I followed Thor to Joutenheim and told Heimdall to go get my father, Odin, for I knew that we would need saving. In Joutenheim, a frost giant touched me, but I did not get frost burn, the skin on my hand where the frost giant held me began to turn blue so I slayed him, terrified. When we returned, my brother was banished and then to make matters worse I found out that he wasn't even my brother.
"Thor, who I looked up to, who I called my brother was just someone who I happened to live with, my mother wasn't my real mother, nor my father my real father. Yes, I lost control because I didn't know who or what I was anymore. I feared that I would get kicked out of Asgard for being a frost giant so I yelled and blamed my father, he fell into the Odin-sleep. I thought that the only way to stay in Asgard was to be the king, how I came to that conclusion I'll never know. I tried to get Thor to stay in Migard, but when the Warriors Three went to save him, I sent the destroyer after them to kill them all. I thank the nine realms that Thor survived or I would have never forgiven myself.
"However, now that Thor would come back to be king, I'd have to prove myself Asgardian by ridding them of the great enemy; the Frost Giants. I invited Laufey here and killed him. Thor came, and we almost fought, but I still wanted to destroy Joutenheim so I went back there and attempted to destroy it. Thankfully my brother saved your realm I am honestly sorry for what I did when I was drunk with grief and confusion my fellow friend," I said to the frost giant, "I am ready to accept any punishment."
"I don't see a reason for punishment," Odin said.
The crowd roared, some in agreement, some in disagreement. Asgardians began fighting one another, and chaos erupted as it did every feast night.
"Silence," Odin roared, "My son was obviously drunk with grief and confusion as he said. He couldn't tell right from wrong he wanted to do what was right, but he was so terrified and confused he did whatever he thought would keep him in Asgard."
"He is the true prince of Joutenheim, correct?" The frost giant grumbled.
"I am, but I can't go there. I wasn't raised with my people, I was raised with Asgardians and I fear that I may do something terrible in shock again if I am sent to my land of origin, I respect your people and admire your magic's," I said seriously.
"What must we do to keep the peace?" Odin asked the Frost Giant representative.
"I have an idea. Now that the Kings bloodline is dead all we require is a new ruler. Obviously your son is not fit for this job, but we do have a Frost Giantess who would make a wonderful queen," The Frost giant said.
My stomach dropped. I knew exactly where he was going with this, but I would not go through with this.
"If they are wed then she can rule Joutenheim. All we ask is for him to marry her, and for them to conceive a child to keep the royal bloodline going, and then all will be well," the frost giant said, "He may stay in Asgard, all we require is a marriage certificate and the baby. After that, he is free to go wherever he wants in the nine realms."
Odin stayed quiet. We were both thinking about Darcy. I would not do this to her, she was my mate and hopefully someday she could be my wife.
"No, I cannot do that. I already have a mate and we are to be married," I lied.
"Are to be? As in you are not yet married," the Frost Giant said.
"No, well… we are um…" I mumbled.
"Exactly! You are not bound to her yet. Do you wish to keep the peace and make up for the mistakes you have made?" The Frost Giant asked.
"Please, isn't there another way?" I begged.
"There has to be," Odin said.
"I'm afraid there is not. If you force us to start another Royal bloodline, a different bloodline than the one we've had for a millennia then you shall be punished and it will be war," The Frost Giant hissed.
"Father, please. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do all that stupid-ness, and I wasn't in my right mind! I need Darcy; she's the only one who understands me! I can't do anything without her, I can't function without her I'll die without her," I cried.
And for once, when tears escaped my eyes in front of people, the tears were not fake. I was actually begging here in front of all these people, sobbing for Darcy who I wouldn't leave ever.
"We need time to discuss your offer, give us a month," Odin said.
"A week," The Frost giant glared.
"Two weeks, in the middle of both our offers," Odin compromised.
"Done. I shall return in two weeks, please do try and save your people so much death," the Frost Giant said.
I nodded, got up and ran out of the room, my eyes filled with tears. I wanted to redeem myself for what I had done wrong, but Darcy… I valued her more than I valued redemption.