AUTHOR'S NOTE: For those of you with accounts who reviewed the last chapter, please forgive me for not answering to them through PM as is my custom. I had a death in my family so I was unable to get on a computer and reply. In fact I haven't been on a computer in nearly two weeks. But I have answered your reviews at the end of the chapter. Sorry once again for the delayed response.

The story is now beginning to take off. Within a couple of chapters, Loki and Barbara will begin their adventure!

Born to be a King

Chapter 4

"My king" Ragnar's holographic double bowed in greeting when Loki entered and sent the guards away.

"Do you mock me, Ragnar?" he asked.

"If I do, then let me head roll at your feet. There will be many kings that will rule Asgard during my watch, but only one will ever be my king"

"And my brother, are you loyal to him?"

"I am loyal to the realm I serve, but devoted to he who granted me the greatest honor that can ever be bestowed upon a common subject"

"Hmm" Loki chuckled "tell me everything you saw"

"The realm is much larger than I first predicted. Its terrain is quite varied, with large areas of such thick vegetation my vision strained to break through its thicket. There is a powerful magic that governs the land, and creatures I have never seen or heard of roam through. I saw fleeting glimpses of a vast city, shining under the brightness of two stars"

"And the inhabitants?" Loki asked.

"They were veiled from my view, but the city is majestic in scale. The splendor of it overwhelmed me"

"If there's a city there must be a king" Loki thought out loud, pacing the floor "was there no sight of any sources of power within this place?"

"No sight, but I felt them. Aside from the innate magic of the realm, there is much more hidden within"

"Tell me"

"I saw visions of mountains suspended in the heavens, valleys thick with ice under a dark, cloudy sky. I saw an ocean, raging and deep that covered most of the world. I saw an endless night that covered a barren desert land, protected by an evil so obscure yet so powerful it installed fear into my bones. These worlds are home to great light and darkness. They are as beautiful as they are dangerous"

Loki stopped his pacing and turned to Ragnar, his eyes wide with surprise. "There is more than one"

"Aye, my king. Much like Yggdrasil, they are connected by the branches of a tree. From what I saw, there are at least four. Detached from the other, but surviving through each"

"Then one king must rule them all"

"That is all I saw, my king. But..." Ragnar looked around as if ensuring there were no prying ears "this time, I saw enough to locate it. If needed, I can point the bifrost towards it and break through. It can be reached, and landed upon"

Loki looked deep into Ragnar's eyes, and understood the message written deep in his red irises and hidden in his words. A wide smile formed on his lips, and he nodded in understanding.

"Then let us not delay. We must send for the king immediately. Return to your watch Ragnar. You have proved your devotion enough today, but you will need to do so again"

"You will find your needed messenger in the training grounds, my king" Ragnar said before he crossed his arm over his heart and disappeared.

Loki watched the faithful sentinel's double dissipate, then his gaze turned to the empty throne atop the golden stairs. Many times he had sat there. Many times he had dictated his orders from that royal seat, and many times he had seen an endless number of subjects kneel before him at the very place where he now stood. Oh, how many times had he coveted the place where Thor now sat, long before his brother had been announced the heir many years ago. Absentmindedly, he rubbed the cuffs around his wrists that ensured his compliance to the one who now occupied Asgard's throne.

"Leave Asgard to the care of its own. You don't need it... Aside from the innate magic of the realm, there is much more... These worlds are home to great light and darkness... They are as beautiful as they are dangerous... Soon you will taste powers greater than any imagined... You will leave all this behind and become what you truly are... A god king..."

Loki laughed to himself, then set off for the training grounds.

"Again"

Sif flipped her doubled bladed sword over her head and connected with one of Barbara's. The two women were locked in a furious duel. Sparks flew off their weapons as they collided again and again. Around them, dozens of soldiers watched the two fiercest women in Asgard showcase their near perfect skills. While Sif was mighty and agile, Barbara was swift and lithe. Everytime she and Barbara engaged, warriors stopped their training to watch. It was an exhilarating and refreshing sight.

"What I don't understand" Barbara said out of breath as she blocked the onslaught of blows "is why he didn't even try to hide the fact that she's human. He could have just changed her and then passed her off as Asgardian"

"You know him, truthful and honest to the core" Sif grunted, feeling the blood in her veins boil the more they talked about the impending arrival of Jane Foster. "He believes the mark of a good king is transparency and integrity"

"A foolish notion" Barbara ducked under Sif and attacked.

"Foolish it may be" Sif said, now on the receiving end of Barbara's blows "but one that Asgard has needed for far too long"

"Is that so? Watch your right" Barbara teased, bringing one of her swords down and swinging. Sif brought her shield down just in time to protect her right thigh, but with the same movement, Barbara swung her other sword from underneath. Sif's eyes went wide and she jumped back just in time to avoid receiving a gash on her left thigh.

"You trickster!" she yelled, gawking at Barbara with both shock and amusement "you're no better than your husband!"

"Well, you're the one who insisted on using real weapons" Barbara retorted.

"What did you expect, really?" Volstagg spoke from the other side of the railing, picking morsels from his plate "Loki trained her"

Barbara turned to look at him. The stout warrior was sitting in front of a table filled with all sorts of food. His axe was resting on the rail and he had his feet propped on top of it. He moved to pick up a leg of roasted fowl. Barbara looked at Sif, who in turn gave her an approving nod. Barbara reached into her boot for a dagger...

And the roasted fowl became embedded into the wall just as he put it up to his mouth.

"Odin's beard!" he cried out, jumping out of his seat. He turned to find two warrior women doubled over in laughter.

"Not the food!" he said dismayed "anything but the food"

"It's a true miracle that the structure hasn't yet cracked under your girth" came Loki's voice from the entrance to the arena.

"It's a true miracle that Asgard still stands after three stints of your kingship" Volstagg retorted.

"Easy, Volstagg. Next time, it won't be the pheasant leg, it will be your tongue" Barbara called out.

Loki laughed and crossed the terrace, admiring Barbara who was dressed in full armor. He observed the blue tunic underneath the metal of her armor that was molded perfectly to her body. He made a mental note of it and decided it was time to visit the armorers.

"Do you come with news or to teach your wife more tricks to use during single combat?" Sif asked him.

"I'm surprised she hasn't killed you yet" he replied.

"You've taught her well, but it would be easier to see snow fall on summer"

"Ooh" he teased "do I detect a hint of envy, Sif? Are you bitter that there is a woman in the Nine Realms that not only matches your talents, she surpasses them?"

"Are you saying she's better than me?"

"I'm only saying that you looked quite scared when she almost had you at the last turn"

Sif rolled her eyes and looked at Barbara, who simply stood there giving her the most innocent smile. Sif narrowed her eyes at her before she sneered.

"I admit it. She is as fine a warrior as the ever was. But I remember many a battle when I had to save your skin. If what you say is true, then she not only surpasses me, she surpasses you as well"

"Oh, you think?" Loki shot back.

"I do" she said, then looked back at Barbara "let's have at it. Student versus teacher"

The warriors assembled hooted in approval at the proposed match: Loki against Barbara. Volstagg gasped in delight. Loki simply smiled wider.

"Are you sure you are ready to witness such a spectacle?" he asked Sif.

"Oh, are you afraid that your own wife and a woman will have you on your back on the sand, Loki?"

Loki threw his head back and laughed at the absurdity of her words. They wanted a spectacle and they would have it. He called for a spear and entered the arena.

"No holding back and no use of magic or other gifts" Sif instructed, then she went and stood by Volstagg.

"Now this I have to see" Volstagg said, tapping the railing in anticipation.

On the arena, Barbara stood waiting for her husband. "I don't think they're ready for this" she said wickedly when Loki reached her.

"You heard her, my love. No holding back"

"No holding back" she repeated, twirling her swords and taking a stance.

"Single blade first" he instructed.

"Ahhh... I like where you're going with this"

All present ooh'ed when she sheathed one of her swords to her back before she lunged, and the battle began.

Locked in combat, Loki and Barbara were flawlessly matched. There was no telling who attacked and who defended. They moved seamlessly around the arena, the quick movements of their weapons so fast it was all a blur. They fought as if in unison; each blow perfectly met and returned, each battle cry fierce and furious. Loki's strikes were sharp and deadly, matched by Barbara's savage and fluid blows. They suddenly stilled when Loki brought the spear down from above, and she blocked it with her sword. Their weapons were now locked above their heads, and they stared at one another, laughing and breathing heavily.

"Enough warm up" she panted "let's give them the main event"

"Very well" he said, giving her an evil grin "double blades"

Barbara lifted off the ground and flipped above and over Loki, landing behind him and disengaging their weapons. He whipped about and now stood with the spear aimed directly at her. She unsheathed her second sword and for a moment they stood still and rigid, like two panthers waiting to pounce. The arena was silent as all held their breath, the loud roar of the waterfalls the only sound that reverberated in the stillness.

"Engage" Loki instructed "Compass formation"

"Ah! My favorite!"

The battle was no longer just the repeated clang of metal against metal, but a match of twisting limbs. Gravity seemed to be nonexistent as their weapons collided over and over while their bodies moved at break necking speed, their legs and arms turning, flipping and twisting effortlessly. It was almost like a dance, one they had rehearsed to perfection. Then it all came to an end when Loki's spear went still, the sharp end caressing Barbara's jugular, while her swords rested on either side of his neck.

They stared deeply into each other's eyes while all those watching simply stood there, stupefied. Sif and Volstagg looked at one another, words failing them.

"Your verdict, Sif" Loki broke the silence, not taking his eyes off Barbara's.

"Uh... um... I..." was all the warrior goddess could say.

"In all my millennia, I have never seen the like" Volstagg breathed, finally exhaling.

The large crowd of warriors watching suddenly erupted in cheer, lifting their spears aloft. Loki lowered his weapon, then Barbara threw her arms around his neck and brought her lips to his ear.

"Just wait until we return home..." she purred, her voice full of promise.

"Mmmm..." he growled deep in his throat "there is nothing I would want more, but we will not be returning"

"What?" she asked, pulling back to look at him.

"We have much to discuss"

She could see that there was much he needed to tell her, but not just yet. He turned towards Volstagg, who was returning to the table.

"Shame she doesn't fight on the good side..." the warrior was muttering to himself, eyeing all the delicacies. He settled for the remaining leg of roasted fowl, tearing it and bringing it up to his open mouth...

Then it joined the other leg on the wall, embedded into it by one of Loki's daggers.

"Blimey!" an exasperated Volstagg yelled "will you let this fowl die for nothing?! Such a waste..."

"Cease your endless gluttony and go fetch your king. Ragnar requires his immediate return" Loki ordered, making his way to the veranda, Barbara in tow.

"But he just left!" Volstagg argued.

"Why is he needed?" Sif asked.

"That is something I will discuss only with Thor" Loki replied "such delicate matters of state are left only to the king, are they not?"

Sif looked at Loki, trying to catch any hint of malice or falsehood, but his eyes betrayed nothing. She looked at Barbara, who seemed just as confused and surprised as she was.

"Fine" Volstagg relented.

"There's a horse ready for you, hopefully one big enough" Loki said, then he and Barbara left the training grounds.

"You don't think...?" Sif said once they departed.

"Aye, I do think. Ragnar saw more of that hidden world Thor talked about. Either that or Loki's enlisted Ragnar's help to stall the wedding"

Sif laughed loudly. "Now that would be convenient, wouldn't it?"

Loki and Barbara watched from the columns at the edge of the throne room that offered a perfect view of the Rainbow Bridge. The light shooting out from the Observatory indicated Volstagg's departure on orders to retrieve Thor immediately. Around them the bustle of activity was almost dizzying: Servants were in an uproar, preparing the palace for its new occupant, the next queen of Asgard. Very little was known about the human that was soon to set foot on the realm, but the whispers and rumors were already dispersing like wildfire. Upon hearing servants that described Jane Foster as a Midgardian princess that Thor had saved during an attack on Earth, Loki and Barbara had laughed, long and loud. If that was how Asgardians thought of their soon-to-be queen, they were about to be greatly disappointed.

"Are you sure he'll agree to it?" Barbara asked Loki in a hushed tone, eyeing the guards posted around the room.

"He'll have to, he really has no other choice"

"Do you really think he's so naïve that he'll let us leave just like that?"

"Naïve but shrewd. He will agree to my terms, but he'll take Arik as collateral"

"You make it sound as if he'll keep him hostage! Our son is not something to be bargained away!" she hissed through clenched teeth.

"No, but he is assurance to Thor that I will not attempt any underhanded scheme I may concoct. What the fool won't know is that in reality, he is doing us a favor"

"Yes. There really is no better place for Arik to be" she sighed, looking around at the majesty of the palace. In a few days, she and Loki would leave Arik in the care of Frigga, the only person capable of providing the young prince with the love and noble upbringing he deserved. His parents would soon be setting off on a mission from the king. A quest in the service of Asgard.

Or so would everyone think.

End of Chapter 4

Reponses to reviews:

Guest: As much as I love Thor, I swear sometimes when I watch the movies I want to slap him lol. All his damn goodness and do-no-wrong attitude can be a just a tad bit annoying. Don't get me wrong, of all the 'good guys', he is my absolute favorite (not to mention hot. Dear lord, that scene in Thor 2 where he is washing and half naked? Pure porn lol). But he is a bit of a goody-goody. Thanks for your review!

Forbidden Moons: Bad, bad Thor! How dare he do that to my baby! :O lol. I'm starting to feel that a lot of people are going to be unhappy with Thor in this story, and we're only just beginning. Oops lol. Hope you're doing great, hun! :)

DoctorLokiLove: I love the way you catch on to things. You're absolutely right about Frigga. Even though I didn't have the heart to kill her off like they did in Thor 2, I put her through hell in the last story. She has suffered a lot, mostly because of Loki. He's made many terrible decisions since returning to Asgard at the end of Game of Shadows. Thankfully this new story will take place away from Asgard, but let's hope she doesn't keel over when she hears news of what's happening with Loki and Barbara on the hidden worlds. But let me not say more, or I might end up spilling some of the surprises I have planned for you. Hope you're doing great, Becky! How's the novel coming along?

LisaF: Thank you Lisa!

Guest: Thank you so much! :)