Chapter 4

Jane helped Darcy into her gown she was to wear for her wedding to the king. She had to admit that the gown was lovely but she still was not looking forward to the wedding itself. When she was finish dressing she looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was old fashioned but it was still very beautiful. It was in the old world style; something she had seen in the museums medieval section but still it looked very good on her.

"Lady Darcy, it is time," Jane said, drawing her out of her thoughts.

Darcy could only nod as she was led to the throne room where she would not only be married to the king but also be crowned queen. She took a deep breath before taking the first step into the throne room alone. Every step she took seemed to drag as she slowly made her way to the king's side after the giant gold doors opened to allow her entrance into the room. She noticed that he had changed back into his Asgardian armor and, even though she found him quite intimidating in his armor, she had to admit he looked good in it. She finally reached his side though she really just wanted to run but knew that it would be useless to do so as he would only have her brought back to his side by force. When he took her hand she tried not to let the strange tingling she felt when he touched her affect her but it was becoming difficult. What the sensation was she didn't know but she was curious. She looked out to those that had gathered to witness the union and cringed when she saw all the Avengers there as well as a few others that she did not recognize. So lost in her own thoughts she barely heard the priest asking if she was going to take Loki as her husband for better or worse and it wasn't until she felt him lightly squeezing her hand that she answered in the affirmative. She mentally cursed herself for not putting up a fight but she really didn't want to cause a scene; especially with the Avengers all looking on with smiles on their faces. Then there was the fact that her refusing the king would have done just that.

The priest announced them husband and wife and she was surprised when Loki presented her with an apple; and not just any apple but the golden apple of immortality. She knew what the apple signified as she had read about it in the book Eric had procurred when they had first met Thor and she could do nothing but stare at the fruit that was being presented to her by her new husband. The apple itself was the same size as a normal apple only it was a shiny, metalic gold color instead of being a plain apple. From the way he was holding the fruit she quickly realized that he wanted her to take it from him but she could not make herself do so. She knew what that particular apple could do and she didn't feel that she was worthy enough to take it. The fruit knew somehow if you were worthy enough to gain immortality or not and if not well you wouldn't be around to find out.

"Take it," Loki said softly.

She shook her head fear racing through her. She couldn't believe that he wanted her to take a bite of that fruit knowing that she might not survive. Why? He had chased her down, caught her, married her and now he wanted to kill her? It made no since to her.

"I can't," she whispered, fear very evident in her voice.

"Darcy, take it. You will not die. I have it on good authority that you will not."

She still could not bring herself to take the offending fruit from his hands.

"Please my love, just take it. I promise no harm will come to you," Loki pleaded not realizing that he had called her his love.

The pet name did make Darcy look up at him sharply. She searched his face for a moment before slowly taking the fruit from his hands. She looked at it wondering if he was telling the truth. Death would be the ultimate escape from her current situation but she didn't want to die at least not yet. Swallowing back her nervousness, she hesitantly placed the golden fruit to her lips and then took a bite.

Loki watched as his bride took the fruit from him then raised it to her lips. He knew that she was afraid of what it would do to her. He knew no harm would come to her because he trusted the person who had told him to give her the fruit. He watched as a soft golden light began to encompass his wife's form before fading away. A few precious moments later she looked up at him. He wanted to crow in triumph. She was now his for eternity. The evidence was there for all to see in her eyes; as they had a light golden ring around the blue, as was normal when a mortal was accepted by the fruit.

The priest then told him that he could kiss his bride. He noticed the stiffening of her body at this but she wasn't pulling away from him which he took as a sign that she would accept the kiss he was about to give her.

Darcy stood there waiting for the kiss she was sure she was going to hate but the kiss she received as gentle and almost loving in nature. A kiss that conveyed his deepest feelings. Feelings she was trying to come to terms with. Could it be that he really did love her? And why did her body feel like it wanted more from him than a simple kiss? Why was it that his kiss had ignited a strange feeling within her? Why was there a fire within her belly that was slowly making its way lower? Questions kept swirling around in her head as he pulled back and looked at her with a deep tenderness within his eyes.

She then heard the priest begin speaking again and she again answered in the affirmative though she wasn't sure what she was answering to until she felt a weight being laid upon her brow. A crown. She had just agreed to becoming queen! Once crowned she asked to be allowed to return to her room which was surprisingly granted. She hurried through the halls to her chamber. Once there she closed the door and leaned against it laying a hand to her pounding heart. Married!

Married! Married! Married! Kept repeating itself in her head over and over and over again. The fact that she had not put up much of a struggle on the outside did not go unnoticed by her. She cursed herself for giving in so willingly! Now she was queen! She ran to her bed and threw herself on it allowing herself to cry for the first time since she had been brought before the king her crown tumbling off in the process. She cried for her lost freedom, for her friends that were still under the scepters power, for the fact she was married to a man that was not exactly human. She cried for Loki and the pain she had seen in his eyes earlier during their walk in the garden. She felt compelled to comfort him and she didn't understand why. She fell asleep still in her wedding gown.

Xxx

Loki watched as his queen made her escape understanding that she was probably overwhelmed by everything that had happened to her in the past few days. He found himself wanting to go to her but knew that he would not be received favorably. He accepted the congratulations from those that had witnessed the wedding and coronation before he decided that he needed to make sure that she was alright. He left the throne room determination written on his features. He made his way to her chamber and knocked at her door. When no answer was forthcoming her entered only to find that she was sound asleep. Upon closer inspection, though, he could see the dried tears on her cheeks. His heart clenched at the sight wondering if she would ever truly come to care for him as he did her.