Frank Brings Guests
Emma Lewis sat in the middle of Darcy’s school parking lot her head on the steering wheel and phone in hand.
She’d been called in for an emergency meeting with Darcy’s teacher during her lunch break.
She thought she had always been a good parent. She tried to teach her kids about all of the good things in life and educate them about everything they may need to know. As far as she knew, Darcy was a kind girl with a sweet heart and a slightly hyperactive attitude.
According to Darcy’s teacher, she was loud, disruptive, and inattentive during class. She did not have any friends and at recess she read books instead of playing with the other kids. Her teacher said when her classmates tried to engage her in their games, there was always a fight, and somehow Darcy was always right smack in the middle.
Did Darcy have bruised or scrapes?
Yes. But she figured those were just from playing. Darcy had told her, when she asked about the little scratch on the side of her face, that she had been playing with her friend Mohammed when her glasses broke.
Also, Darcy’s homework was never done. Sometimes it was half finished or not even started. Sometimes there was cursive in green crayon written on the side, talking about everything from light switches to mathematical shapes. Even more than all that, every test Darcy took, she passed. One hundred percent on every one.
“I just don’t think Darcy is very interested in what we’re learning. She doesn’t take her homework or class seriously. Several times a day she asks me why she is forced to sit through ‘such torturous lessons’. I think it would benefit her to move up a grade.” Ms. Greenwood had told her with a sigh. “She also does not follow instruction. She has had several detentions already this year for moving around during times she isn’t supposed to be. Just yesterday, the class was taking a spelling test and she stood up to go look up how to spell the words. When I asked her why she would do such a thing in the middle of the spelling test she said, ‘because, Ms. Greenwood, I needed to spell those words, and I wasn’t going to learn from writing them down wrong.’ She then proceeded to name off all the spelling words and spell them correctly: Galapagos, dementia, garish, petulant, tyrannosaurus, minute, and decorations.”
Emma Lewis made plans with the school to move Darcy up a grade next week. But it worried her.
Would it be worse for Darcy in middle school? What a ridiculous question, middle school was worse for everybody. She was small for her age…. And she had no friends? How did this happen? Had Darcy really managed to let her think everything was okay? She spent a lot of time alone in her room too…
What if she was one of those parents who raised a sociopath and didn’t even realise it?
Emma Lewis paled, dialing her husband’s phone number. “Michal?”
“Hey honey? What’s up?”
And that’s when she cried, venting her sorrows to her concerned husband. “I just don’t know what to do. She’s at home sick right now….I just…I can’t believe I missed all of this! She must be so miserable…Oh, Michal, our baby….”
***
On Asgard….
Darcy clung to Loki as they trotted up golden steps to a sparkling palace, her bright laugh filled Loki’s ear. “This is where you live?” Darcy breathed her mouth agape.
Loki chuckled nervously, “Yes. I am a prince.”
“It’s amazing! Can we go in?” she asked as Loki slid off his horse near a stable, offering his hand to help Darcy down. She accepted it, leaping to the ground. Fenrir hopped into her arms, Jörmungandr on his head.
“Of course! It is my home.” Loki said, offering her his arm. It was strange to partake in such an Asgardian custom with Darcy. Though, he found he rather liked it. For once, she was not moving quickly. Rather, she was rooted to her place on the ground, eyebrows crinkled. “Loki, what if I don’t fit in right?”
Loki felt his heart thud a little. Did he not feel this way every day of his life? The only time he did feel like he fit in right anywhere was when he and Darcy were together. But looking at her now, he was surprised she was not born an Asgardian noblewoman.
“Darcy Lewis, you are the most charming maiden in all of Yggdrasil. You’re smart and unafraid and your birthday present is in that palace.” He told her, placing his hands on her shoulders, watching as her mild, doe eyed expression evolved into a smile.
“Well, when you put it that way!” she said, gripping onto his arm, “Let’s go. Doesn’t your party start soon?”
Loki smiled back, “We have time. Come, before everyone is up and about for the day.”
Together, they walked (quite quickly, it would have been running, but Princes do not run) into the gardens where Darcy asked him about every breed of plant and its purpose. Her curious blue eyes reflected the scene before her. Fenrir and Jörmungandr followed, chasing each other around bushes and fountains.
Inside the palace, they managed to slow their pace to a brisk walk, Loki taking Darcy through the halls, breezing around the throne room and to the dining hall. There, Loki avoided the eyes of his brother’s friends as Darcy gripped his arm. He had not thought at all about them. What would they think of his friend?
Oh no, what if Thor tried to take her away? Or Fandral?!
No…
Darcy was his friend. Not theirs.
“I believe I must go to my chambers soon, Lady Darcy, to prepare for the day. Would you like your present now?” Loki asked, turning them swiftly away from the dining hall.
“Yes! Is it in your room? Can I see your room? Is it big? I bet it’s a lot bigger than my room. Does it have a bathroom in it? I bet it does.” Darcy rambled, as they hurried up a flight of stairs where nobles were descending for their breakfast in the hall.
“It does. But that is not where we are going.” Loki said, rushing them through down the hall to the large golden doors that opened to his favorite place in all of Asgard.
He pushed one open, looking around to make sure no one was there. “Alright, close your eyes.”
Excitedly, Darcy clenched her eyes shut.
“You’re peeking.”
“Am not!”
“Yes you are! And you’re a very bad liar.” Loki criticized, guiding her inside, his hands covering her eyes. Lady Asta was sitting on her usual chair, a book in her lap. She raised a brow at Loki, smiling at his guest. Loki flushed. Of course his mother’s ladies would now tease him. But at least it was with friendly intentions.
“Loki! Come on, I want to see!” Darcy cried impatiently, wiggling under his hands.
“Are you sure? I do not think you want to.” He jested, leading her away from Lady Asta who winked at him.
He stopped when she ripped off his hands, her mouth open prepared to say something snarky back, but stopped. Her jaw was slack, much like Jörmungandr’s when he was looking for a cuddle. “Oh my goodness.”
Her eyes raked over the endless shelves of books and Loki could see her mind working on which one she wanted to read first. “Loki…it’s…it’s…”
“…not your birthday present.” He finished, offering her his arm again.
Stunned, Darcy took it as he guided her through the shelves to his usual table where he sat her down in the chair across from where he sat. Her feet did not touch the floor and she took the liberty to swing them back and forth. Loki talked to her, “This is the library of the Realm Eternal. It has every copy of every book ever made in Asgard, Vanaheim, and Alfheim. It holds the oldest books in Yggdrasil and a wealth of knowledge that I cannot even begin to explain.” He said. “Most books are in Norse. It was a language on Midgard a while ago, though I suspect it has been long since lost. But there are other languages as well. It would be impossible for you to read any books in here.” Loki said, a twinkle in his green eyes.
Darcy’s obvious heartbreaking disappointment put it out. So he continued quickly, “Which leads me to your birthday present.” He turned to the nearest shelf, shuffling a few books aside till he pulled out an extremely old tome, its cover black with faded illegible marks; the writing inside glowed golden.
“This book is what taught Asgardians to decipher other languages. It possesses a very strong spell, one that has been known not to wear down with time or use. It will allow you to speak, understand, read, and write any language. Most Asgardians are born with the ability to speak everything…but to read it...write it…understand it…that is the gift.” He said, his green eyes glazing over. Personally, he had tried to make out what spell the book held and had spent many sleepless nights at this table pouring over it. But to no avail. It was so ancient that it would take another relic to decipher it.
A relic like the tesseract.
Darcy stared at him, her eyes shining with questions that her pouty mouth was holding back.
“I want you to read it.”
“Really?” she asked, “That’s…a really awesome present.”
Loki nodded, “You are smart Darcy. This will help you to discover all the things you wish. It will make finding the tesseract easier, I think.”
She laughed, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his middle in a tight hug. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you!”
Loki sat next to her as she opened the cover, letting her eyes trail over the golden script. Her irises flashed gold for a moment as she turned the page and the color deepened. She waited a few more seconds before closing the book. “I…wow.”
“What do you think?” he asked, steadying her shoulders.
“I think…” Darcy began, her blue gaze sweeping the tall shelves, “I think I’m ready to read. I’m ready to read everything.”
Loki grinned ear to ear, magicking the tome back to where it belonged and holding out his arm for Darcy to take, “Shall we search for a tesseract?”
Darcy giggled and stood, linking their arms, “We shall!”
They were two steps forwards when a tall blonde woman dressed in a long golden dress appeared in front of them. “Hello, Mother.” Loki greeted, his cheeks reddening. His mother would know it was unlike him to be guiding young ladies around the library.
The Queen looked down at Loki and his friend with a warming smile. “Good morning, Prince Loki. I am happy to see that you have made it back this morning as you said. I believe it is time for you to go prepare for the ceremony.” She said a twinkle in her eye. “But please, introduce us, Loki.”
Without even a break Loki gestured from Darcy to his mother, “Lady Darcy, this is my mother, Frigga, Queen of Asgard. Mother, this is my friend Lady Darcy.”
Darcy inclined her head, staring up at the queen, mouth ajar. “Uh, hi. You don’t look a lot like Loki. Or maybe it’s that Loki doesn’t look a lot like you. Are all people on Asgard blonde? I love this library. Does everyone spend a lot of time here? I’ve never used a library this big. I have a small one at home, but it isn’t really a library because I can just take books whenever I want. But I like to—“
Loki panicked as Darcy’s tendency to prattle went into full effect. He relaxed only slightly at his mother’s barely repressed shake of the shoulders. “Mother, I will escort Lady Darcy to the dining hall and go to my chambers immediately after.”
Frigga waved him off, “Loki, please. Lady Darcy and I will go down together and you can meet us when you are ready. Is that quite alright, Lady Darcy?”
Darcy grinned, the little pearl between her brows dangling at a strange angle. “Yes. I’m really hungry, actually.”
Loki reluctantly released Darcy’s arm, noticing for the first time, the absence of Fenrir and Jörmungandr. “Ah, I will see you later then, Lady Darcy. Keep an eye out for your friends.” He said, hoping she understood.
Realization flashed in her eyes and she momentarily looked about them. “Okay. I will.”
“Very good.” He said, taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it. Such custom was expected on Asgard and if he did not partake in it with a noblewoman, his mother would skin him alive.
Darcy blushed and nodded, turning back to the Queen as Loki walked away, now wishing that he had more time with Darcy in the library. Oh the things they could learn together….
***
Darcy walked next to the Queen giggling uncontrollably as the tall, beautiful woman told her about the troubles they had to go through to get ready for today’s ceremony. Many included spilling mishaps or Loki doing something completely right while everyone else messed it up. She was in the middle of telling her how bored Loki had been with the preparations and all the silly things he did to make it interesting.
“And then, we all looked around for where he went, and do you know where he was?” Frigga asked, folding her hands in front of her.
“Where?” Darcy asked, eager to know all the things she had missed out on last night because of her tiredness. Loki would have to tell her all of these stories when they were alone again.
“In the library, looking up how to play an Alfheimian pipe flute correctly.” Frigga said and Darcy burst into giggles, holding her belly.
“Can he play it now?” Darcy asked.
“Well I hope so. He made a big show of how to keep a proper beat with it instead of trailing off as the pipe flutist had.” Frigga explained, eyeing Lady Darcy with curiosity. She was by no means reserved in any form. She was so unlike Loki who would barely smile wider than necessary to be polite. This girl openly laughed and cackled with absolutely no shame. It was an enchanting sound, and Frigga was delighted to keep it going.
At last they reached the dining hall where she bid Lady Darcy goodbye, “If you would like, Loki usually sits by his brother, Prince Thor. He is different from Loki, but you may wait for him there.”
Darcy squinted to find the end of the table Frigga gestured to. “Thank you, Queen Frigga.”
“It was a delight, Lady Darcy.”
The short girl walked away, her brown curls bouncing across her shoulders as she boldly approached the end of the table where five older looking kids sat, each of them talking and laughing. “Uh, hi. Can I sit here?”
Their gazes turned to her and their laughter and chatter died. Darcy felt a little like she needed to square her shoulders to make herself look bigger and tougher. It didn’t really work at school, but it was worth a shot.
A blonde kid with longish hair and a white grin gestured for her to sit down. Darcy did so, pulling out her chair to sit in it. She noticed his attire, and the winged helm on his head. She remembered Loki’s description of his brother. “Thank you, Prince Thor.”
He nodded to her, a smile coming across his lips. Darcy thought he looked a little haughty, like he thought he was a lot cooler than he was. She went to school with a lot of kids like that. “It is nothing, Lady…?”
“Lady Darcy.” She said, turning to her plate which was laden with thick grapes, bread, cheese, as well as delectable looking meat and eggs.
A larger boy with the beginnings of a beard and mustache was practically inhaling everything in front of him; whereas an Asian looking kid was silently scowling at his eggs as he scooped them into his mouth. A tall blonde girl was eating, but also glaring at Darcy, as though she disliked everything about her. That glare made Darcy want to bury her face in her plate.
The other blonde boy that sat across from her smiled and Darcy blushed. No one usually smiled at her like that. She smirked, picking up her fork and knife the way her British family members taught her to.
“Lady Darcy, you are quite a sight this morning. I am Fandral, the Dashing.” He introduced himself, taking the hand Loki kissed and placing a new one there. A newer, longer, wetter one. Darcy yanked her hand away in shock, wiping it on the side of her dress. “Dude, you spit on my hand!”
In an instant, the tension that had built up since Darcy sat down disappeared in a roar of furious laughter from Thor, the almost-bearded kid, and the girl. Even the quiet one cracked a grin. Prince Thor clutched his stomach, “Fandral, I told you to go easy on the tongue, yet you persisted!”
Fandral had turned an odd shade of pink and Darcy couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “Spitters are quitters.” Darcy said. She heard a couple of the kids on the playground say it while other kids had spitting contests. The teachers heard and got really mad, but she couldn’t imagine why.
The blonde girl’s eyes widened to the size of Darcy’s egg yolks, before bending over in laughter. “And you call yourself a lady! Where are you from? Do you fight?”
Darcy racked her memory. That must be Thor’s friend, Sif. She did not like to be called a lady. “I am a lady. I’m from Asgard.”
“From which province?” she questioned.
Darcy thought of what Loki had told her of Asgard. “Um, Nornheim.”
“Ah,” said the bearded one knowingly, “I hear they are less strict there. My Lady Darcy, I am Volstagg.”
“I am Sif.” Said the girl, “And that’s Hogun. He doesn’t say much.” She said, pointing with her fork to the quiet dark haired kid.
“Oh, nice to meet you I guess.” She said, stabbing one of her grapes and eating it as Thor began to start up a conversation about his hammer.
Fandral seemed to have found his voice again, “Lady Darcy, forgive me for asking, but did I not see you on the arm of Loki?”
“Loki?” Thor asked, looking at Darcy, “I have not seen you in his presence before.”
Darcy finished chewing before speaking. “Well, let’s see, I guess we met this morning and he showed me around. He’s really nice.”
Four of them laughed, Thor taking a rough bite of the meat on his place. “Truly? You enjoy the company of my brother?”
Darcy crossed her arms, becoming frustrated with Thor. “Yeah. You don’t?”
Thor scoffed, “Well, I would if I enjoyed expanding on the use of magic in battle or knowing everything there is to know about anything completely pointless.”
Darcy felt a slow burn of rage at the group as they laughed. A small body slid across her foot and slithered up her leg onto her hand as another fluffier body collapsed at her feet, panting. Darcy smiled at Frank, who happily flopped onto her plate to swallow a grape. Darcy remembered Loki’s story about him from last night.
“Pointless things? You mean like griffins?” Darcy asked taking a bite of her bread and staring straight ahead.
Everyone but Thor laughed at this. “Oh, she is feisty. She may have bested you Thor. Had Loki not known about their—“
“Enough!” Thor bellowed, slamming his goblet on the table, he looked to Darcy, brows set when his eyes fell upon Jörmungandr. He jumped back, “What is that doing here?”
Darcy looked down at Frank. “What do you mean? He’s Loki’s.”
“Yes I understand that he is—“
“Good morning Thor, Sif, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg,” greeted an easy voice from behind Darcy’s chair. “Hello again, Lady Darcy.”
Darcy stood to see Loki wearing what she assumed to be his armor. It was gold and green, metal frames with circles going down the sides. Darcy liked it and he really did look like a prince. “Hello, Loki.”
“Lady Darcy, I apologize for the interruption earlier. How fares your morning meal?” he asked bowing his head to her, a smirk on his face.
Darcy repressed the urge to crack up as she curtsied back. “It is not problem at all Prince Loki. I believe I have finished.”
Loki’s expression lightened and Darcy thought of every princess movie ever, and Loki fit the Prince for every single one. He was the prince and today, she was a princess. Well, really she was a noblewoman, but same thing. “Then you would not object to seeing the rest of the library?”
“I—“
“Loki! You cannot just barge in and interrupt the Lady’s meal.” Thor chastised, standing up and throwing his shoulders back. Darcy wanted to gasp. Loki was taller than her, but Thor was taller than Loki. Not by much, but he was big for a kid. He had broad shoulders and long arms and radiated…might.
Loki raised his brows in shock, “Lady Darcy claimed she was finished. She enjoyed the library earlier—“
Thor grimaced, “But Loki, today is your day. You do not have time for such things.”
“No?” Loki questioned politely, though Darcy could see the brewing annoyance. Loki was never annoyed around her. “Because, dear brother, I have memorized the schedule and, as it happens, there is an hour left of breakfast before the sparring matches begin.”
“Indeed!” Thor said, crossing his arms, “And I wish for the Lady Darcy to be there when I challenge you to a duel.”
Loki raised an elegant brow and Darcy wondered how he did it. She couldn’t raise an eyebrow…just both of them. She shook her head, bringing her mind back to the situation at hand. “Wait a second, why are you being so mean?”
Thor turned to Darcy in confusion. “What?”
“Why. Are. You. Being. So. Mean.” Darcy repeated slowly, “Loki just came over here so we could go to the library, which is kinda awesome because you can learn all about Yggdrasil and stuff. And then you just had to get angry about nothing. Was it the griffins? Maybe you should go read some books so that next time you go out, you won’t have that problem.” She suggested, taking Loki’s arm as Thor’s friends began to laugh.
She quickly went for feeling bitter to feeling remorseful. It wasn’t nice to be laughed at. “But…” Darcy said, “It was smart of you to call forth your hammer like that. Loki told me it was awesome.”
Thor went from looking confused to angry, to confused again, to flattered, to accepting. “I…thank you Lady Darcy, and Loki. Forgive me, I should not have been so rude in front of a lady.” He bowed his head to Darcy, taking that hand that Fandral hand not kissed to peck his lips politely against it.
Darcy smiled at him before walking off with Loki.
“Oh, and brother?” Thor called, beginning to snigger. “I still expect to see you in the sparing pit in an hour. We fight! And the victor wins a dance tonight with the Lady Darcy!”
***
Darcy was poring over a book of spells with great interest and Loki paced, practicing different enchantments. “I don’t really want to dance with Thor.”
“No one wants to dance with Thor, he is as graceless as he looks.” Loki said, kneading his brow. He could not understand why his brother must ruin everything. Though, a certain burst of pride shot through him as he remembered Darcy’s outward speech towards the warriors. It was as much of a shock to them as it had been for Loki the first time.
“So, just beat him in sparring or whatever.” Darcy said simply, petting Jörmungandr as he lay across her books. Fenrir, it appeared, had been off terrorizing Asgard and was content to doze with the late morning sun on his back.
“I cannot simply beat him Darcy. Thor is better skilled at fighting and he knows it! That is why he challenged me! To put me to shame.” Loki stated plainly, letting his fingers drift over a couple books.
Darcy shook her head, “Loki, you’re smart though. C’mon, just think about it, look at all these spells! Why don’t you fight him with any of these?”
Loki pressed his lips together, “I do not wish to kill Thor. I wish to best him. That book is solely for offensive fighting spells.”
Darcy closed the book, fingering the cover of another that was written in some runic lettering. “What about ‘The Art of Illusion’?”
Loki had read it, of course, and he knew the spells from it. But what good would they be in besting Thor? Darcy began to read off the different spells. “Duplicating one’s self, duplicating one’s self with a conscious mind, multiplying one’s self, the corporeal illusion, deceptive theory, invisibility, sense loss, fear…. Loki, this book is filled with stuff that could be useful!”
Loki finally caught on to Darcy’s scheme, snapping his fingers. “You are right, Darcy! How could I not see it before!? I do not need to be good at fighting to actually brawl or win battles!”
“Cool! What are you talking about!?” she asked, standing up with him.
“My mother!” Loki said, pacing back and forth, his hand cupping his chin. “I misunderstood what she said to me about balance! Do you remember? I told you about it.”
“Yeah. That you and Thor had to have balance. He had strength and you’re really smart.” Darcy remembered.
“Exactly.” Loki muttered, “I was wrong. She sent Thor out to get me in the hope that we would realize this, but it didn’t happen. I still drew my sword and Thor still acted dull. My mother said balance, Darcy. She meant that I should use magic and my intelligence to accommodate my fighting and that Thor should use his strength to enforce his good will and what little he has learned.” Loki said, relieved.
Darcy nodded in understand. “Cool! So can you explain the sparring to me? I don’t get it. You just fight or what?”
Loki pursed his lips, “Well, there are several challengers to go up against the Chosen, that is me. These challengers will face the Chosen one at a time and the council will watch the fight in order to assess my strengths and weaknesses. Later on they will assign me a title and helm based on how well I do.”
Darcy thought about this. “So, it’s like a test. Like for Midgard schools. You spend all your time just trying to do well so that you can get a good grade?”
“That is the general idea.” Loki said studying the spells.
Darcy leaned over his shoulder, “I think you should do the double one. It sounds cool.”
Loki smiled lifting his hands and casting the spell to create a corporeal copy of himself. At first it used a similar amount of magic as conjuring simple objects, but he knew that controlling it would drain further magic from him. The double smiled, “Hello, Darcy.”
“Are you making him say that?” Darcy asked, poking Loki’s double in the side.
“Obviously.” Said the duplicate and the real Loki smiled, wielding the magic in his mind so that his doppelganger drew his dagger and began to spin it around his fingers as the real Loki would.
“I feel as though this idea holds potential.” Loki said waving his hand and letting the double disappear.
Darcy’s eyes were filled with excitement. “Man, I wish I could do magic. It’s amazing.”
Loki held back his flustered feelings. Of course, Darcy was the only one who truly felt that about his magic. He was about to tell her about the dangers of magic in mortals and the magical reimbursements that must be dealt with to fix the damage.
But at that moment there was a light cough and Loki spun on his heel to see none other than Lady Sigyn, dressed in the silver gown and looking quite beautiful. “Lady Sigyn, good day. How fares your morning?”
He felt as though he spoke too quickly and immediately grasped his senses. He was a prince and he would act like one.
“I am well, Prince Loki, thank you. Her majesty the Queen has sent me to tell you that your sparring shall begin shortly. She wishes that the Lady Darcy sit with her ladies today.” She spoke softly and Loki could not help but find the stark contrasts and comparisons between her and Darcy. Both were lovely, he admired them, and wished to dance with them.
Darcy, he hoped, would like it. Her curiosity and mystification with the world was something he needed. She helped him to learn things he never dreamed of and shared his thirst for knowledge. Darcy Lewis was his truest of friends.
Things were different with Sigyn. She was so proud and would one day be the maiden with whom all the men desired courtship. But he did not want her as a prize like Fandral boasted of so often. He wanted to show Sigyn that ladies could be more like Sif or Darcy. They could learn and explore and fight if it pleased them.
“Thank you, Lady Sigyn.” He said, taking a step towards her. She tentatively took a step as well and he reached forwards to take her hand and give it a quick kiss. “The Lady Darcy and I shall be done shortly.”
She nodded once, calm and restrained, like most Asgardian women were. Though he did notice the slight reddening in her pale cheeks. “I shall tell your mother. Good day, Prince Loki.”
And with that, she was gone, leaving Loki to watch after her.
Darcy’s giggle broke him from his stare. “You like her.”
“What?”
“You like like her!” Darcy continued, clutching her side.
“Honestly, you are no better than my hooligan brother, Darcy. She is an admirable lady. That is all.” He told her, putting away his books.
Darcy did a terrible job of stifling her giggle in her palm. “You still like her.”
“Then should I also say that you like Fandral? Let the courtship begin and you can be married by the end of the day!” he teased back, poking her in side just like she usually did to him.
She laughed harder, making a very unladylike noise that simulated sickness. “Gross! No way! Take it back!”
Loki smiled, offering her his arm, “I don’t think I will. Come, Lady Darcy, so that you can impress him by way of stature and wit.”
She hopped up, taking his arm. “You’re talking like a prince.”
“You are talking like a Midgardian.”
“I am a Midgardian.”
“Exactly.”
***
Darcy stood nervously in the crowd of pretty women who smiled lightly and tittered at jokes Darcy didn’t understand. They all pooled on a golden balcony that looked over a circular arena, Loki standing off to one side.
Loki had taken her to stand with the ladies before he was summoned away to prepare for his fights. Darcy followed them in, desperately searching for the queen. She spotted her in the next balcony standing next to a white haired man with an eye patch and a helm like Thor’s, only with little curly horns.
That must be Loki’s father, Odin. King of Asgard.
Darcy giggled. He looked like a pirate.
Suddenly, the arena burst into applause, cheering and shouting. She leaned over the edge of her balcony to see Loki, dressed in his armor, walk to the center. Or, at least she thought it was Loki. She had terrible eyesight and her glasses hadn’t been replaced yet. But she cheered as well, pumping her fist in the air. “Go Loki!”
She squinted down as Odin in the balcony next to her began to speak. “Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard, today is the marking of your two thousandth year since birth. In this time you have grown, become educated in the ways and rights of Yggdrasil, sharpened your skills of tongue, arm, and mind, and you have learned the values of life without the power of a full Aesir.”
Everyone cheered, including Darcy, though she was quite confused by what he meant when he said ‘two thousandth year since birth’. Loki wasn’t two thousand, was he?
Odin continued and Darcy thought she saw a smile begin on his lips. “Your title, as Asgardian Royalty and a Defender of the Nine Realms, shall be determined today!” he raised his staff and Darcy decided she wanted one someday. Maybe when she was president…
“Loki Odinson, your first opponent of ten, Hogun the Grim!” Odin announced, pounding his wicked awesome staff.
Darcy stared down as the quiet boy from earlier walked into the arena, a roundish spiky mace in his hand. Darcy gasped. “Don’t die, Loki! I can’t see you at all but don’t die!”
She watched as they circled each other, green and gold flashing here and there. Darcy wished she could be closer. She turned to the person next to her, “Hey, can you tell me what’s happening. I can’t see anything down there.”
Her gaze focused on the pretty blonde girl from earlier that Loki had a crush on. She was taller than Darcy and she held her head high like Loki had made her earlier. She attempted to mimic it. Lady Sigyn’s blonde brow crinkled, “Why can you not see?”
Darcy remembered what Loki had said about glasses and how Asgardians did not have trouble with sight. Quickly she came up with a lie. “Well, I was practicing my magic this morning and then ala-kazam! I misfired a spell and it got in my eye. Loki said he would help me with it later.”
Sigyn looked mildly concerned. “How…unfortunate. What is ala-kazam?”
“An expression.” Darcy said, looking down at the arena at now multiple shiny gold and green blurs. “Can you explain what’s happening?”
Lady Sigyn nodded, “Hogun has just dropped his mace in attempt to grab at Loki. Loki has made multiples of himself, not all of them corporeal. It is almost impossible to tell the difference.”
Somewhere in her accounting of the events, Darcy noticed her tone moved from haughty boredom to simplistically impressed. “Loki can do a lot of magic. He’s great at it.”
“Indeed.”
“What do you think about it?”
Sigyn gave her a strange look. “What?”
Darcy tried again, focusing on the blurs as loud horns sounded across the arena. “What do you think about Loki’s magic and stuff? He’s really good at it and he just won a fight with it. Can you do magic too? Or do you fight? I think that one girl fights. Sif?”
The young lady stared at her, obviously dumbfounded. “Men do not typically wield magic as Prince Loki does. Nor does anyone lest they be an advanced sorcerer. Magic is more commonly used for advancement in Asgardian technology or healing. Loki uses it for….”
“…Everything.” Darcy finished, turning to look at Odin make another announcement.
“And now, the second opponent of ten, Fandral the Dashing!” Odin blared and Darcy leaned forwards to catch a glimpse of silvery light.
“But you like Loki?” Darcy asked, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand.
Sigyn cleared her throat, “I beg your pardon.”
“Come on, you like him don’t you?” she teased, elbowing the lady in the side. “Eh? Eh? Eh?”
Lady Sigyn looked appalled, her cheeks turning darker and darker by the second. “He…he is my Prince…I…I appreciate his position…” she trailed off and looked at the battle shyly, “And I suppose he is quite kind.”
Darcy giggled in response and Sigyn, after failing to maintain a disapproving look, joined her.
They talked through the rest of the matches, Sigyn occasionally telling Darcy a specific move or style that the competitors used. But mostly, Darcy asked questions about Sigyn’s life on Asgard and what she did. Apparently, the life of a Lady was boring and most of what you did was sit around and practice talking or studying small bits of magic. After a few more minutes of talking. Sigyn even began to gossip.
“Fandral really is terrible sometimes.” She admitted in a whisper, hands folded in front of her. “It is wrong of a lady to turn down a request for outings unless they already have prior reservations. But he is most impolite and conceited.”
“He gives bad hand kisses.” Darcy commented, looking at the back of her hand in remembrance of breakfast.
“Quite true! Sometimes I think he must be part animal, drooling over ladies hands like such!” Sigyn covered her mouth with her palm in order to stifle the threatening outburst.
They cheered when Loki won a round against Volstagg. Sigyn spoke up again, but meekly. “Lady Darcy?”
“Yeah?” Darcy asked turning her attention away from Odin as he announced someone else to go fight Loki.
“Forgive me if I am wrong, but there is word going around that Loki had a young lady come in this morning on his horse. That he is perhaps considering a courtship with her. Was that lady you?” she asked and Darcy could tell she really wanted to know.
“Oh yeah, I did go on a ride with Loki this morning. He was showing me around the city. I am from Nornheim you know. I was up early and he was up early so we went on a ride. It was nice. But I don’t think we’re doing the court-thingy. I mean, he’s my friend.” Darcy explained and Sigyn’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
“I understand. Thank you Lady Darcy.”
Darcy smiled, turning her wide blue eyes to the girl next to her, “You can call me Darcy if you want. Since we’re friends and stuff.”
Sigyn’s mouth turned up at the corners, “We are friends?”
“Of course!”
The horns sounded again and Odin raised his voice to make another announcement. “For Loki’s eighth opponent, there is the Lady Sif, Sheildmaiden!”
Darcy gasped, “Can we get closer, Sigyn? Please? I want to see this one!” she tugged on the other girls arm.
Sigyn took her hand, “Alright. Here, come this way!”
They ran down the stairs, pushing through crowds of people till they came to the lower level, right next to the arena. Darcy noticed the people down here were not as nicely dressed as herself and Sigyn. But mainly, her attention was focused on Loki. He and Sif circled each other, the blonde warrior beaming with rage.
“What do you think of Sif?” Darcy asked Sigyn, eyes trained on her princely friend.
Sigyn drew back her shoulders. “She is not a lady and she prides herself in it. She fights, I believe, better than most warriors because she works at it. She spends her time in the company of her blade and Thor.”
“Oh.” Darcy said, watching as she lunged towards Loki, who now had his sword out and was using it to counter Sif rather than his magic. Darcy wondered if his magic was all out again. Would he faint in the middle of his duel if he tried to use it? “Why is Loki fighting with a sword?”
Sigyn gestured to the battle, “Sif is a woman. Each round is scored out of ten if the contenders are male. But since Sif is a woman, it will be scored out of twenty, making his score higher if he loses. If all his competitors were male, his score would be out of one hundred. Having a woman fight as well means he will be scored out of one hundred and ten. If he loses terribly to her, he will likely only get half points, which is a winning sum for any other round. He’s willing to risk it, I suppose, in order to conserve his magic.”
“But you just said Sif is a great warrior! Why would it be like that if she’s so good?” Darcy protested, jumping as their blades clashed.
“Because she is a woman.” Sigyn said obviously. Darcy huffed at this, observing the two from a distance. Sif wasn’t bigger than Loki. Well, she wasn’t taller than him, nor did she look anything like him. Yet, Darcy saw something similar in the way they fought.
Sif’s every move was firm, strict, well planned, and deadly. Her blows against Loki’s blade made crashing sounds that had Darcy flinching and jumping, fearing for her friend. Somehow, Loki retaliated with equal finesse. Though, his grace did not come from the swish of his blade like Sigyn had described of Fandral, nor his taunts like Volstagg, or brute force like Hogun.
Each move was a little more deceptive. He never truly lashed out against Sif, only blocked her attacks with his blade. With every passing minute, he would feign offensiveness, then retreat, causing the warrior-girl to falter. It was slow work, but Darcy eventually saw what Loki was doing. Just from watching them, she could tell that Sif was a brilliant fighter. She took note of Loki’s style, calculating his moves. And Loki was taking advantage.
He danced around her, quickly and nimbly until she began to expect his movements. Just when Sif thought she had him cornered on the ground, Loki brought up his sword to hit Sif on the wrist, effectively causing her to drop her blade. The horns sounded and Loki won.
Sigyn and Darcy cheered, “Go Loki! Yeah! Woohoo!”
He looked over at them, a bright smile on his face at the sight of them. He nodded and winked. Darcy thought Sigyn was going to pass out because of all the blood in her face. “You’re blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You are. You loooove him!” Darcy teased, slapping her knees with laughter.
Sif accepted her defeat much better than any of the other warriors had, though Darcy could tell she was angry. She had fallen prey to Loki’s deceptive trick. Darcy felt a bit bad for the girl.
Odin’s voice sounded again through the arena, “And now, for the last match of the day, the Mighty Thor!”
Cheers erupted through the stadium as Thor walked into the arena, twirling his hammer and flashing his winged helm. He saw Darcy and gave her a sparkling smile. Sigyn laughed at Darcy’s answering look of disgust. “Oh, look who has caught the eye of Prince Thor.”
“He’s so mean! And he eats like a pig.”
Sigyn gasped, “You dare speak in such a manner about the Crown Prince of Asgard?”
Darcy drew back a bit, “Uh, maybe?”
Sigyn raised a singular high arched brow and Darcy wondered if everyone on Asgard knew how to do it. She tried to raise hers in retaliation, but both of them lifted. Sigyn tittered, “You are right. He has no regard for niceties.”
The horns blew and instantly, Darcy was drawn into the battle.
Thor, unlike the rest of the warriors, fought with a hammer. Loki had told her about it. She couldn’t exactly remember the name, but she was pretty sure it sounded something like ‘Myeuh Myeuh’. Thor didn’t waste time walking in a circle. Instead he charged at Loki with a supreme lack of poise, hammer raised. Darcy watched as Loki chose not to move, standing still as Thor’s hammer came within centimeters of his face.
Thor stopped, confused by his brother’s immobility. That’s when the entire arena broke into hysterical laughter.
Behind Thor stood another Loki, a dagger in his hand, poised at the back of Thor’s neck. But before the horns could blow, Thor reached behind his head, grabbing his brother’s wrist, yanking him over his shoulder. Loki landed flat on his back, his double dissipating. Thor went to bring down his hammer, but Loki rolled to the side at the last minute, Myeuh Myeuh beating the dirt.
After that, Darcy couldn’t see Loki and Sigyn gasped. “He has managed invisibility?”
“Yeah. Cool right?” Darcy said, intrigued as Thor swung his hammer around, wildly trying to land a hit on his brother.
As Thor swung his hammer to the right, Loki appeared again in front of him, but to the left, and brought his dagger down to Thor’s wrist, applying extra pressure. Darcy thought Thor was going to tumble to the ground as many had done before, but she underestimated his strength. His arm stayed steady and he pushed back against Loki, bringing his hammer forth to attack again.
And once more, Loki dove out of the way, not daring to reciprocate the offense. “LOKI!” he bellowed, “YOUR TRICKS SHALL NOT BEST ME! IT IS I WHO WILL DANCE WITH THE LADY DARCY THIS EVENING!”
The whole arena heard and Darcy let her face fall into her hands in embarrassment. “Oh no. Ew!”
Sigyn had never laughed so hard in her life. “Darcy…Darcy…” she couldn’t finish her tease through the rib cracking hoots that racked her slim body. “…you…should be honored!”
Darcy pressed a hand to her head to try and relieve the burning ache. “Nope. Loki is going to win so that I don’t have to be.”
Sigyn reduced her laughter to a chortle, “Do not worry. He only steps on your toes a little bit. He is not Volstagg.”
That’s when the fight got interesting.
Loki adorned an almost devilish gaze as Thor’s hammer came at him again. He leaned to the side, curving around his brother only to cast another spell. Suddenly, Thor was encased by a circle of Lokis, all with their swords pointed at him.
Thor stilled for a singular moment, breathing heavily, blue eyes darting around, searching for a way out. All of the Lokis raised their swords in unison, preparing for an attack. Quickly, Thor took Myeuh Myeuh by its leather strap, twirling it in circles, roaring as he surged to strike all of his opponents in one wide arc. Just as soon as they’d appeared, Loki’s multiples vanished, leaving Thor still spinning, his full force in casting out Myeuh Meyuh by the leather strap at the end.
In the next instant, Loki appeared next to Thor, dagger drawn and he sliced the only thing that kept Thor in control of his weapon. His hammer went soaring, flying straight at the balcony Sigyn and Darcy had left not moments ago. The ladies squealed and dove out of the way as Thor’s hammer fell between the mob of them.
The horns blew before Myeuh Myeuh could return to his hand.
The arena burst into applause and Sigyn stared doe eyed at Loki. “He won every battle. Darcy, no one has ever won every battle before.”
Darcy smiled pumping both fists into the air, “Go Loki!”
The Prince approached them with a bashful smile on his face. “Lady Darcy, Lady Sigyn.” He greeted politely.
Sigyn had managed to compose herself and looked somewhat detached again. “Prince Loki, you fought well. It was most impressive.”
He bowed his head in appreciation, “Thank you, Lady Sigyn. I really must thank Lady Darcy. Her council before this ordeal was most encouraging.” His smile opened up to Darcy, “She is truly the best of friends.”
Darcy attempted to wink, but she ended up just blinking really hard. Loki looked at her funny. “I was trying to wink. But I can’t.” He nodded in understanding and Darcy began bouncing with excitement, “Loki! You did it! Now I don’t have to dance with anybody!” she reached across the banister to take him in a breathtaking hug.
Sigyn gasped, “Darcy!”
Loki chuckled, patting her on the back. “Actually, you must dance with me.”
Darcy let go. “What?”
He raised a brow, “According to the terms of the gamble I made with Thor, Lady Darcy.” He reminded teasingly.
Darcy rolled her eyes, “Go and get your title already.”
“Of course.” He said, looking to Sigyn, “But allow me to escort two ladies to the hall while everyone reconvenes.”
***
Loki was quite pleased with himself, to say the least, and he had never had so much confidence in all his life.
Darcy’s presence on Asgard made his life infinitely better. Her casual teases and friendship made him feel secure, like he could win any battle. His revelation had him in high spirits. He did not actually need to be a good fighter. He just needed tricks! They would ensure his life in combat.
Sigyn had claimed she could find a different escort if he wished to walk Darcy down, but he insisted.
“Lady Sigyn, it would be an honor.” He had told her, and she smiled at both him and Darcy as they walked down together, laughing and talking about Darcy’s jumpy reactions during certain parts of the fight. Loki could not remember being happier.
They reached the hall and Loki left Darcy and Sigyn on the edge of the crowd. “I’m afraid I must go. But I shall return and you can tell me more of Lady Darcy’s snorting habits.”
Darcy gave him a shove on the arm, sending him towards the center of the room where people were slowly thinning out.
He took a deep breath. This is the moment every Aesir dreamed of. Here he would be granted his title.
The council was situated in a circle before Odin’s throne, all dressed in majestic golden robes. Loki knelt before them, head bowed.
“Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard, we have observed your battles and have been both impressed and intimidated. Your weapon of choice is inconsistent, as is your style. You possess little strength of body, but great power of mind and magic. Your deception defeats honest battle, your unpredictable and sporadic advances are unruly, and your cunning aura is none less than devious.”
Loki let a gentle smile touch his lips. He had been around for many people to receive their titles. It was not the meaning of the words that determined the strength of a good title; it was the power they enforced. ‘Cunning’, ‘Deception’, ‘Devious’, ‘Unruly’, and ‘Unpredictable’ practically emanated power.
“You will henceforth be called, Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard, Mischief, Lies, and Chaos.”
All of the members raised their hands together as Odin Allfather stepped forwards, holding out his hands to accept the helm that was magicked into it. The spell confused Loki, as he recognized it…it was a moving spell, meant to transport an object from one place to another. Had they already made the helm?
He shook the thought from his mind, lifting his head to accept the symbol of his new title.
He struggled to maintain princely composure at his new attire.
His helm was golden to match his armor, shaped to fit his head and better yet, there were no wings.
In their stead were two deadly curved horns protruding from the front, daring anyone to challenge him. He looked up to his father who gave him a quick smile before returning to his stoic gaze.
All around him, the people of Asgard dropped to their knees before him, paying respects to him and his title. Loki looked to Darcy, the only one in the room besides the Allfather who was not kneeling, as she was too busy whispering reprimands at Fenrir and Jörmungandr who had somehow managed to become covered in a sticky green paste of sorts. He tried not to laugh at his Midgardian friend as Sigyn cleared her throat to remind her new friend of what was happening.
Hastily, Darcy looked around, falling to her knees as well, blinking hard at Loki in what he knew was an attempted wink.
“Rise all! Let us celebrate today, Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard, Mischief, Lies, and Chaos!”
***
The following party was one Loki would never forget.
Darcy was asked to dance by several young men of the court or training warriors. She accepted only a few, letting herself get swept up in their arms. Loki thought she was quite endearing at times, spinning her partner faster than necessary, occasionally knocking her circlet astray. Loki was surprised when Hogun asked her for a dance and he fixed it for her.
However, most of Darcy’s time was dedicated to the food table as she spent a great deal of time trying new desserts.
His mother went to speak with her again and he watched nervously from afar as the Queen of Asgard laughed at an animated story Darcy was telling that he suspected involved Jörmungandr and Fenrir.
He was still watching her when Thor came by to stand at his side. “Brother, I believe…I owe you an apology.”
Loki turned to Thor in shock, “What?”
Thor’s mouth was set, “You are not a good warrior, Loki. You are, in fact, a terrible warrior. But I was wrong in assuming that you are not able in battle.”
Loki decided that this was a compliment and nodded to his brother, “Thank you, Thor.”
He grumbled something under his breath, before bumping Loki with his shoulder. “If you do not ask her to dance, Loki, I will.”
“She will tell you no.” Loki said, only half jesting.
“Ask her so your theories are not proved.” Thor said, clapping Loki on the shoulder and walking away.
Heat crept up Loki’s neck as he began his princely stride towards his friend. Darcy was devouring a rose pastry when he finally got there. She greeted him with a full cheeked smile, swallowing quickly. “Loki! Hi!”
Hesitantly, he swiped a dab of strawberry filling from her cheek. She hardly seemed to notice, setting down her treat. “I love your helmet! It’s beautiful! And kinda scary! I love it! And look!” Darcy exclaimed peering around him, “Sigyn isn’t dancing with anyone! Go ask her! Go!” she gave him a little shove, staring around her feet, “Now, where did Frank and Fenrir go? Oh no, not again!”
Loki, unsurprised by Darcy’s forwardness, decided it would be best to postpone his dance with Darcy and approached Lady Sigyn. “My Lady, would you care to dance?”
Though she was young, Sigyn had the sharp planed face of a noblewoman, delicate yet strong. Her detachment came off as such, “I would be happy to, Prince Loki.”
He offered her his arm, taking her to the middle of the dance floor. Loki was a prince, he had been educated on dancing, of course. He was not as rambunctious about it as his brother and his friends, but he considered himself decent. One hand rested above her waist while the other grasped her hand. He could tell Sigyn had experience in being led around the floor by clumsy dancers as she kept her feet a good distance from his.
Loki could not help but discern the difference in Sigyn from when they were with Darcy and now. Before she had laughed and small bursts of compassion showed on her face. But now, it was back to how she usually acted around him. Nevertheless, he danced with her, remembering every bit of etiquette his mother had driven into him.
Sigyn relaxed after a few moments, “You are a fine dancer, Prince Loki.”
“The same to you, Lady Sigyn.”
She cleared her throat, “I do not see you dance much. You are usually not at the festivities.”
He quirked a small shy grin. “I don’t much care for parties. I prefer to read. Or practice my magic, I suppose.”
“Does it ever bore you?” she asked airily.
“Magic?” he asked twirling her out and back into his waiting hand.
“Education.” She said, tone becoming more curious as she went on. “You spend all your time learning things. It’s all anyone ever thinks you do; study, learn, doing everything that your brother doesn’t. Don’t you ever just want to…enjoy it? Maybe be a little less…”
Loki’s heart caught in his throat. “What?”
Sigyn hesitated, lifting her chin, “Different.”
The song ended and Loki dropped her hands lightly, bowing as was customary. “No.” he said flatly, lifting her hand to his lips. “I don’t.”
It was a lie. But he was the Prince of Lies now. He strode away from Sigyn, prepared to go back to the library with Darcy and research the tesseract. What did he expect? That just because Darcy came to Asgard everyone’s opinion of him would change? Of course not. He was still Thor’s strange younger brother who was now a chaotic deceiver and a liar.
“Loki!” a voice called to him in a whisper. Distracted from his moping, Loki looked down at Darcy who was standing behind a table full of flowers. She pulled him behind it by his armor. “We have a serious problem!”
“What is it?” Loki asked half heartedly, doubting it would be all that problematic.
Darcy peeped out from behind the flowers, pointing a worried finger at Odin who was sitting in his throne. From a distance, Loki saw a tiny little coil atop his father’s helm and a small fluffy ball of fur covered in sticky green goo, pacing the back of the throne, preparing to jump.
“Oh.” He said faintly, no longer concerned with what Asgard thought of him. He had new, more immediate problems. “Wonderful.”