AUTHOR'S NOTE: Short chapter, but pivotal. Hope you enjoy and thank you so much for reading! I can never say it enough: I love you all!
Born to be a King
Chapter 22
The chuckle that escaped Loki's lips was downright maniacal.
"Did you really think you could sneak up on me, Barbara?"
"I wasn't trying to" Barbara replied, raising an eyebrow and giving him a wicked smile.
"My, what a pleasant surprise this is. Did you miss me so that you returned so soon?"
Barbara didn't budge a single muscle as he walked slowly towards her. "Don't flatter yourself, Loki. You know why I'm here"
"Ah, yes. The stone. You think that to get to it, you need to be rid of me first"
"Ha ha! Wow Loki, what perception. Of course I need to be rid of you. My number one goal is to get the stones, the second, to see your head roll at my feet" she added the last part with the darkest of growls.
Loki's smile didn't falter. Instead, he took a few more steps towards her until he stood a mere two yards from her. "A woman on a mission. I like that" he purred.
She smiled and took a stand, both swords pointing straight at him. "Shall we begin?"
"We shall, but first, satisfy my curiosity on something I've wondered quite at length. Tell me Barbara, do you scream my name whenever Victor von Doom is lodged between your thighs? Do you only find completion when you remember the times I took you in the same way?"
She lunged. He easily blocked the onslaught of relentless blows from her swords. He laughed mockingly and taunted her with more lecherous remarks as his spear connected with her katanas time and time again. Her advantage of wielding two weapons came to naught against the powerful Merciless Spear that practically danced in his hands. Then, Loki's chuckles and goading soon began to falter as he slowly came to realize that he was able to block her blows as if he knew exactly what to expect from her next. Her sword play was fluid and fast, lithe and smooth. She knew where to position her swords after being blocked, and he knew where to follow. It was almost as if...
We fight the same way, he thought.
He switched to the offensive and began attacking. His eyes widened when he noticed how she was able to block his blows the exact same way he did hers: Predicting his next move, moving and dancing around him in fluid motions at great speed. He deterred a swing that came from below and quickly flipped his spear, nearly knocking the sword out of her hands. His spear then immediately collided with her second blade that came from above, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked.
"How did you learn to do that?" he breathed.
She was stunned speechless. This was impossible. They were flawlessly matched in battle. Their methods, tactics, and movements were perfect mirror images of each other's. She noticed the way his eyes bore into hers and saw the exact same shock and surprise that she knew shined in hers. Then, something unthinkable happened...
They were no longer locked in battle inside a foreign crystal palace, but sparring under the moonlight. He laughed with great amusement as she continued to perfect her battle skills under his tutelage, stopping her blows and never missing the opportunity to disarm her, just so he could pull her against him and kiss her hungrily and lovingly.
"I will never become as good as you" she protested when he disarmed her for the umpteenth time and had her on her back on the sandy beach of a small island located in an estuary behind Asgard.
"You will" he replied as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear "you're simply too rash. You wish to learn in a few months what took me decades to master. It's a dance, my pet. One you must rehearse to perfection. Now, shall we dance again?"
A sudden crash broke the moment and Loki and Barbara returned to the present. With a furious grunt, she kicked him in the stomach just as he tried to twist his spear in a way that would lock her arms to bring her down. Their weapons unlocked and she took the chance to run as his back collided with the wall. He grunted in anger and retrieved his spear from the floor, then set off after her. She reached the landing of the grand staircase, but instead of rushing down the steps, she hopped onto the railing and jumped.
"STOP HER!" Loki ordered as he reached the staircase. She was fighting her way through the hordes of palace guards that were trying to overpower her. One managed to land a blow to her side and brought her to her knees. The palace guards surrounded her, ready to deliver killing blows.
"NO, YOU FOOLS! I WANT HER ALIVE!" Loki roared from the higher floor. He leaped off the railing and moved to advance once he landed, but then she brought her hands to her ears and there was a sudden explosion inside the palace. Windows shattered, and all were thrown back as she sent out a ripple of her own force through the structure. Then she raised her head, her eyes burning like flames, and the weapons the guards carried fell to the floor in pieces before the guards themselves dropped to the floor writhing in sudden agony. She whipped about and set her eyes on Loki just as two daggers flew out of his hand. She placed a hand out and the daggers stopped in midair, then changed direction and whizzed back towards him. He moved in time to avoid being stabbed in the neck...
...then time seemed to stop. Loki could only watch as the events unfolded before him as if in slow motion:
Movement on the doorway that led to the west wing of the palace.
A powerful blast aimed directly at Barbara: A blast that came from the spear carried by King Beyard.
She bent backwards at an almost impossible angle and it missed. Then, with the same movement, she whipped about and one of her katanas flew out of her hand.
Then Loki gasped as if suddenly impaled.
He felt as though he had been trespassed by the sudden cold of metal.
His eyes widened and he looked down, but there was nothing. He lifted his gaze and there was Barbara, down on one knee on the middle of the large hall, looking at the doorway to the west wing of the palace.
Her arm was still extended.
On her face was a look of utter shock.
Loki followed her line of vision, and there, crumbling against the doorway, was Beyard.
Barbara's sword had been quick and exact.
It was now implanted to the hilt into Beyard's middle.
At first, there was a chilling numbness. Numbness gave way to astonishment. Astonishment gave way to realization, and as the realization came, there was a sparkle in Loki's eyes of true delight.
"Thank you" he whispered to Barbara, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards just slightly before he rushed to the mortally wounded king.
He caught Beyard just as he collapsed. Little did Loki know that he cradled the king and lessened his fall exactly the same way the old man had done for him just the day prior. Beyard's head rested on Loki's arm as he writhed with the agony of oncoming death. Loki looked at where the sword had impaled him and noticed the figure of a golden crouching tiger engraved into the handle. There was something about it that triggered a sense of recognition, of familiarity. He turned to where Barbara had stood and found her gone. Then the sound of machinery outside gathered his attention and he watched through the shattered windows as Doom's ships lifted off, and Barbara was being hoisted into the largest aircraft.
"Avenge me" Beyard whispered with great effort "Loki, my son. Avenge me"
Loki turned his attention back to the king. "Where are the stones?" he asked.
Beyard reached feebly for his spear of kingship that lay discarded next to him. With a trembling hand he offered it to Loki.
"Remember your purpose. The fate of the universe depends upon this moment... Loki...remember...your... purpose... " the king's voice grew weaker, and weaker.
"Beyard. The stones. Where are they?" Loki demanded.
"They are..."
Loki lowered his head and placed his ear directly above Beyard's lips as the king gave up the location with his dying breath. When Loki raised his head, he did not even give the king the dignity of a glance as Beyard's eyes closed forever. Cul, the lost brother of Odin, the one prophesied to become ruler and protector of the grandest realm in the universe, was now dead. He departed life with the vision of his successor, the next prophesied ruler of Verdandi; and though he was not the lost brother of an Asgardian king, he was indeed lost. Lost to himself, lost to the world, lost to his own nature.
What grim fate awaits my kingdom?, was the sovereign's last thought.
"Father!" Ireena's cry of horror echoed through the hall as she came running down the corridor. Guards were filing in, led by Verdandi's commanders. Diarmaid, Stingadr, Zelius and Durrgo rushed to the now fallen king, and fell to their knees at his side, overcome by the greatest grief.
Loki ignored them all. He simply took the staff from the king's limp hand and stood. He crossed the hall and walked to a terrace overlooking the front courtyard of the palace and the city beyond. Looking up at the sky he saw the small armada of Doom's ships that was retreating back into the atmosphere. With a sigh, he looked down at his hands that now held the Spear of Kingship and laughed at the irony.
Odin hadn't lied at all. He had been born to be a king, just not king of the realm he thought he was meant to rule. Not Asgard. Not Jotunheim. Not some forsaken speck of dust floating in space. Not Midgard, but the greatest realm in the universe.
"My liege" Stingadr's voice broke his reverie, and he turned to the sight of palace guards, Ireena, and the realm commanders falling on bended knee before him.
"The king is dead. Long live the king!" Diarmaid exclaimed.
"Long live the king!" all echoed.
Loki held the staff upright and hit the base onto the floor. "On this day, upon this moment, an age ends and a new one begins. Allow not your hearts to be overcome by grief, but rejoice and behold the doing of the Fates, for it is grand and marvelous in our eyes"
All those kneeling kept their heads down as Loki walked through and headed in the direction of the throne room. Upon entering the opulent chamber, he climbed the steps slowly with his head held high as his entire body shimmered and he was now dressed in full regalia. Fifteen steps up his destiny waited: A throne made entirely of solid gold and flanked by the gigantic statues of a wolf and a serpent. Upon reaching the top step, he turned to the crowd, smiled at them from under his horned helmet, flipped his cape, and sat upon the large throne.
He was now Loki, Sole Sovereign and King of the Five Kingdoms of Verdandi.
End of Chapter 22
Responses to reviews:
LokiGrey: Oooooh, I see you're catching on to some things. I'm not going to say anything because if I do, I might just end up spoiling another twist that's coming. I really love the idea of Thor sticking his hammer up the asses of everyone in Verdandi because they deserve it. Make them choke on it! I hope Barbara and Loki's reunion after the spell was not too hard on you and you were actually able to enjoy it. Hope you're doing great 'Becca! :)
CLTex: Yup, the return of the mighty Thor will be in the next chapter! Loki needs his brother now more than ever, and he's promptly on his way. I wonder tho, what will Thor think when he sees Loki not just as king, but when he sees that his entire sense of what's happened is completely twisted? ;) I like how you are able to remember the dynamic Loki and Barbara shared in GoS, and yes, it will manifest again. SMUT, SMUT, SMUT! FORCED SMUT! Gaaaah I can't wait, it will be like revisiting an old friend lol. Thanks Christi! :)
Scarlet3102: Awwwww, thank you, thank you, thank you! Reading about your reaction to the last chapter was gold! You really made my day! I'm so glad you enjoyed it so. I get what you mean about being conflicted with Doom. He's a very sexy, intriguing character who just doesn't seem to get a break. I feel really bad for him and I wish I could give him what he wants. You know, I've been thinking of a way to write an entire, full sex scene with him and Barbara. I really want to explore him as a lover and I think he'd be mindblowing. So don't worry, you'll get your sex scene with Doom and Barbara ;) I really love the way you worked Scarlett O'Hara into your thoughts on the chapter! Lol "As God as my witness, Loki's not going to cockblock Doom for a scene of loving with Barbara. I'm going to get through this and when it's all over, I'll have it written. Even if I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God as my witness, Doom and Barbara will pork!" ;)
Guest: Thank you, thank you! :)
HarryPotterFreakie: Me too, girl. I can't wait. Beyard's death is just the beginning ;) Thank you love!
LisaF: Thank you so much Lisa! Glad you liked the surprise!