A/N - Thank you so much guys! It really means a lot that you guys are still reading this (and following, reviewing, favouriting, etc)! I love you all! :) x

Fun fact. There may only be one chapter left after this one... the end is nigh!

The King was dead.

The news spread around the nation with an impressive rapidness. It was a hero's story that was being told; a story of how a god sacrificed his life to save his wife from an eternal sleep. The best healers could not spare him from this fate.

Frigga was inconsolable, understandably.

Even Loki, who had shown up amid surprised gasps from bystanders, was numb. He embraced his mother heartily, kissing her cheek and wiping away her tears whilst Thor wept over his father's lifeless body. Loki was ashamedly glad, but only of the relief of his mother's recovery. Surprisingly, he had expressed some grief over Odin's passing, but it did not match Thor's, who was struggling to keep his composure.

Darcy stood with Jane, linking her arm around hers in a comforting notion.

Jane whispers under her breath, fear in her tone. "What now?"

Odin's funeral was held the day after, leaving no time for most to process their grief. It was a solemn affair. The entire Kingdom watched in sorrow from the Bridge as the fire was lit and Odin's body disappeared into shimmering mist in the distance. It was a beautiful night, and he seemed to drift up to the glittering stars above, not a cloud in sight.

Darcy was trying her hardest not to cry. She was wedged between Jane, whose tears flowed prettily down her petite face, and Sif, whose jaw was clenched as to let no tears flow. Darcy doubted her face looked so composed. Looking over at Frigga, it was hard not to cry, though.

Frigga was dressed in a golden gown, her shoulders back and chin up in what could only be described as an attempt to convey strength, resilience. But her eyes were brimming with tears, and her hands were grasping the sides of her gown desperately. The sad smile on her face was faltering every now and then, her bottom lip trembling. She suddenly caught the eye of Darcy and nodded.

Loki stood by his mother's side, Thor next to him. He had not spoken a word to Loki since his return. He had barely seen him, other than to cast a tired glance his way. Darcy was expecting an explosion between them, as the pent up rage on Thor's part was bound to be released at some point. Frigga would have been proud of her ability to see into the future- Darcy wished she'd made a bet on it.

They filed into the hall for the feast and supposed merriment that accompanied the King's passing, a celebration of his life. She took a seat at an empty bench near where Thor and Jane were stood, grabbing a glass of wine.

All Darcy could remember of the King was arguing with him constantly and him locking up Loki time and time again. Despite this, she realised he was trying to make things right afterwards. The stunt in the chamber with Loki's body had shown he wasn't entirely compassionless. Although whether he thought that was compassion, or torture, she'd never know.

Frigga had disappeared into the corridors with a few guards, and everyone saw fit to give her space as she wept. Darcy noticed that Loki went to follow her, but stopped in his tracks, his head down in deep thought. For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say to her. He doubted the guards would let him go alone, either. His sudden return from the dead had left many scratching their heads in confusion. Some would have been glad if he had stayed 'dead'.

Darcy saw Loki cautiously approach the table, deciding not to follow his mother. She met his eyes with a soft smile which he did not manage to return. Instead, he was focused on his brother, who was surrounded by mourners sharing their grief.

"Brother." Loki greeted Thor with a solemn tone, his hands clasped behind his back. "I know this is not the most opportune time. I clearly have some explaining to do and-"

Thor, thunder in his eyes, stood up immediately and marched over to him. With no warning, he drew his fist, sending Loki flying across the room. He collapsed in a heap by the stone wall, too surprised to get to his feet.

The entire room fell silent.

"You trickster!" He yelled as Jane and Darcy ran toward them both with surprise. "You had me believe you were dead. Give me one reason I shouldn't have you exiled for your treachery. Or killed."

Loki swallowed as the bystanders of their tryst watched on with shock. He knew Thor meant none of this- his loss had driven him to say words he did not mean. Even so, he sounded more like their father than ever, his harsh words cutting right through him.

Darcy ran over to Loki, offering a hand to help him up from the floor. He ignored her, his shock turning to cool indifference. "You don't mean that."

"You could have helped! You could have saved our father from his sacrifice, his… poisoned mind!"

"You know he didn't listen to anyone but mother. Or you." Loki ignored Darcy's outstretched hand, gracefully getting to his feet and dusting himself off. He stalked up to Thor, furious, parting the crowds. "You know he would have locked me up the moment I step foot on Asgardian soil! And you dare act like this!"

"So what? You would've waited until he perished, just to pardon yourself? Or maybe it's the opportune moment to seize the throne, isn't it?!"

Loki took a step back, shaking his head in disbelief. Darcy could see that he was very close to doing something he'd regret. Again.

"It was my fault he came back here." Darcy said quietly. "I said I didn't want to hide. I said we could get a fair trial, a hearing. A way to clear up the mess we made when we left."

Loki was still staring at his brother with disbelief. Darcy's words were noted, but not acknowledged. "You think I would do such a thing?"

"It would not be surprising given your past behaviour."

"Father did not imprison you when you attempted to murder the King of Jotunheim for petty revenge. He practically sent you off on a holiday to Midgard, where you found your bride, and regained your… worthiness!"

"Who gave the Frost Giants passage to Asgard in the first place?! You forced my hand!"

"Guys." Darcy shouted, aware that Odin's funeral guests were looking on. Talk about airing dirty laundry in public. Darcy cringed. "Can we not?"

"I never forced you to do anything. Your choices were your own!" Loki shouted, both of them ignoring Darcy's comments.

"And your choices led you to decimate Midgard!"

"My choices?" Loki scoffed. "You mean the choice I made when I threw myself from the Bifrost, expecting obliteration, but instead woke to the chains of my captors?"

"Stories, Loki. Stories to cover your lies and false intentions!" Thor stepped forward and grabbed Loki's collar, pulling him up on his tiptoes. In his other hand, he held Mjolnir high, ready to strike his brother. Loki sneered at him, his chest heaving with anger.

"You know damn well my intentions were to die when I threw myself from the bridge." Loki's voice lowered to an angry whisper. Darcy looked at Loki's pained expression and put a hand on Thor's shoulder, her mind processing what just transpired. "You know why."

Thor lowered the hammer slowly and loosened his grip on Loki's collar. Loki stepped back and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"I am sorry for your loss, brother."

Thor dropped Mjolnir with a metallic 'thunk' and embraced Loki. Both looked extremely uncomfortable, but returned the hug with a confused enthusiasm.

"He was your father, too." He held his dark haired brother at arm's length, picked up Mjolnir and walked away.

It was times like these that overshadowed other, more insignificant problems, she noticed as Thor took a seat at the table opposite Jane. They exchanged a look of incredulity as the crowd took their seats, resuming their merriment.

Loki approached the table, a broken expression on his face as he reached out to Darcy. He slid his fingers between hers as he took a seat on the bench next to her. She returned the pressure and sighed heavily. She couldn't find anything to say, and frankly, was scared of breaking the silence that had now befallen the group. Around them, the citizens of Asgard were drinking and chatting as if nothing had just happened.

Darcy half wondered how many dramatic arguments the family had had in front of their citizens for it to be the norm.

No one even dared to glance at each other. Thor, Jane, Darcy and Loki were joined by Sif and the Warriors in a short while, and Darcy noticed the redness of their eyes, the sorrowful looks they cast in Thor's direction. They had missed the argument, but noticed the lack of tension in the air between the two brothers.

"The throne is empty. Asgard will go to ruin if we don't act now. All our father's work would be for nothing." Thor said in a low voice, glancing in Loki's direction. "I am glad you are alive, brother, though it pains me to think that our father passed thinking you had perished."

Loki's grasp on Darcy's hand under the table became tighter. "I do not regret my decision. It was only my wish to ensure further pain did not come to the ones I love."

The ones I love. Darcy did a double take, her face feeling very hot. She reached for her wine, taking a gulp. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Fandral mouth this phrase to Sif, who shrugged incredulously. Even Thor looked slightly confused.

"I assume the danger has passed in regards to our nephew?" Thor asked, his voice quiet and slow. Darcy knew damn well he was trying to hint something else, but he kept his suspicions at bay.

"It has."

"Good."

Silence fell again, until Jane cleared her throat quietly.

"And what will happen next?"

"Thor will be crowned and Asgard will continue. Business as usual, as the Midgardians would say." Loki answered, his tone indifferent.

"You don't sound unhappy about that." Thor raised his eyebrows.

"I no longer desire a crown, brother."

"Another trick?"

Loki shook his head and scoffed. His glance flickers to Darcy beside him, then down to their intertwined hands. "No. I have everything I need."

A/N - Fun fact #2 - Just a quick note that Thor being a dick about this is entirely because I wrote parts of this literally years ago. What's here is a careful edit of everything that's been dumped in a word doc for future me to sort out (thanks to past me(!)). I still love Thor! Not Odin though, you know what you did... ;)

Any weird changes in tense is because my other fic is in bloody present tense and I'm writing them simultaneously... accidents happen!