Belle could barely string a sentence together to respond to the God's offer.
Her mind raced, filled with so many different thoughts, emotions and possibilities.

The idea of her going to the eternal realm, homeland of the Gods, made her feel almost dizzy with delight. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him in appreciation but knew she daren't. So in the end all she could manage was a simple,

"Y-yes...I will go with you."

With that he led her back through the forest the way he had came, and as he did, his own mind was racing also, to think of what explanations he would give Heimdall for bringing the girl back with him.
Not to mention what excuse he could give her, for him needing to resume the disguise of Odin.

This was getting far too complicated, and he didn't like it.
Loki thrived on chaos, and lived for mischief, but complications were something he actively tried to avoid. When a situation became over complicated, the outcome never ended well. At least not for him anyway.  

He'd assumed, when he first heard the call for help that it would've been a simple, straightforward task...but no such luck.

They reached the Bifrost site, and he turned to her looking deadly serious.
"Listen carefully now....when we arrive, my appearance will change"

Belle stared at him blankly,
"Change my Lord?...How so?"

Feeling awkward, but not knowing why, he deliberately avoided meeting her eyes .
She was quite tall, but her head came just up to his shoulder, enabling him to continue looking passed her into the middle distance.

"I will appear in the form of Odin...for....appearances sake"
He muttered quickly.

Belle was puzzled to say the least, and it was not in her nature to hide her curiosity.
"Odin? I do not understand this Sir, why must you-?"

"It is none of your damn business, woman!"
Loki snapped irritably, but when he saw the look of sadness on her face, for a fleeting moment he regretted his harshness...

"Look, it is in the Kingdom's best interests. The other realms are not yet aware that Odin has entered the Odinsleep.."
He explained, which was half-true.
"...I will never be trusted or accepted by the people, so it is for the good of Asgard that I keep up this pretence."

Belle, who was more saddened by him referring to her as 'woman' again, than him telling her not to ask questions, narrowed her eyes and looked at him suspiciously.

Although it was true the people probably would not trust him, the situation did not seem to make any sense.

"Surely my Lord, you cannot hope to gain their trust by deceiving them."
She pointed out, much to his annoyance.

"When I want your opinion Belle, I will give it to you!"
He quipped.

Still, at least he'd used her name this time though. So she chose to say nothing further...despite feeling the need to.

Her thoughts were temporarily distracted when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her into him, causing her to gasp slightly. The contact of his body against hers sending shockwaves through her system.

"Hold onto me."
He instructed, looking down his imperial nose at her.

Feeling shy as well as nervous, she carefully slipped her arms around his waist, leaning her head against his armour plated chest.
The feel of his solid torso pressed against her own made her pulse skitter alarmingly, but she didn't have time to dwell on her awkwardness as suddenly the sky split with light and she felt herself being hurtled upwards through the air at an incredible speed.

************

Belle barely had time to register what was happening; they'd arrived in Asgard and she couldn't refrain from staring when she saw that Lokj had indeed 'become' Odin.
Not that she'd ever seen the Allfather other than in illustrations, but she wasn't a fool.

Heimdall's scrutinising gaze made her feel quite uneasy, made worse by the fact that Loki did not explain anything to the gatekeeper, other than to say that she was now his 'ward' and therefore under protection in the realm.
He swore Heimdall to secrecy, and of course he complied without questioning or hesitation.

However, Belle's uneasiness disappeared once she saw the shimmering rainbow bridge, and the gleaming, grand spires of the Palace.
Marvelling at the sights, she felt as if she must be dreaming and would wake up at any moment.

Loki observed her reaction with interest, he noted the way she seemed to gape in awe at the sight of the bridge and the crashing waves far below it. Although undeniably impressed with the beauty of the Palace and surrounding structures, she appeared to be equally captivated by the sight of the rolling fields and woodland that lay beyond the Kingdom.

The hour was late now on Asgard, and the sun had gone down by the time they reached the palace.

Loki led her into the throne room, and dismissing all of the guards, he wasted no time at all in changing his appearance back to himself.
Removing his horned helmet, he ran his hand through his sleek, black hair.

Belle watched on in silent wonder.
He truly was as marvellous a sight and as beautiful as the scenery outside.

He looked up and caught her gazing at him, much to her embarrassment. Her cheeks coloured slightly and she hoped that he wouldn't notice. But Loki was nothing is not perceptive. Nothing ever got by him.

"Something wrong?"
He asked, which led her to become flustered and say something that she knew she shouldn't, but it had been bothering her since he admitted to masquerading as the Allfather...

"I was just thinking my Lord, can the guardian of the Bifrost not see you once you...remove your...disguise?"

"It is not an issue, Heimdall is not permitted to observe the mighty Odin unless he is requested to do so, and that's only when there is potential danger."
He explained, a self satisfied smirk creeping across his handsome face.

"So, no one else knows of this, Sir?"
She asked.

The smirk disappeared
"No...no one..."
Setting his helm down on its designated plinth, he turned and slowly stalked towards her.
"....so you see, Belle.....you need to keep silent about the matter. It has to be our little secret."

She swallowed hard as he drew nearer to her, his sparkling green eyes fixed on her face intensely.
"My Lord, I assure you I will not breath a word to anyone."

"Good, otherwise you won't breath at all if you speak of this to another living soul!... Understand?"
His voice was low and menacing and his eyes bored into her; awaiting her response.

Instinctively she took a step backwards to put some distance between them.
"Yes I understand..."
She replied, scowling at him now,
"...you're threatening me, which is not necessary Sir!"

"I don't threaten.."
He spoke curtly,
"..but I need to know that I can trust you,"

"My Lord, you've given me your assistance, and for that I am eternally grateful. I give you my word, you can trust me I swear."

Loki regarded her for a long moment, then suddenly strode across the room and took the mighty spear, Gungnir, from it's allocated stand.

"Kneel!"
He commanded, his tone no longer menacing but firm.

Nervously, Belle found herself kneeling before him for the second time that night.
He approached her and set Gungnir down with a flourish that rather betrayed how much he enjoyed his new role as King.

"Place your hand on the spear, and pledge your allegiance to me."
He ordered, in such a way that made it impossible to refuse. His confidence and domineering demeanour commanded respect and compliance.
"Claim loyalty to me, and as your King I will give you what you need."

Obediently she did as he asked.
"I swear my loyalty to you, my King."

Then he held out his hand in order for her to kiss the ring that adorned his middle finger, Draupnir; the Royal ring.
Feeling rather ridiculous and self conscious she took his hand in her dainty fingers and hurriedly kissed it. The act of having to touch his hand seemed almost quite intimate, and her pulse was misbehaving again.

Smiling, clearly pleased by her dutiful compliance, Loki gestured for her to stand.
Rising to her feet she found herself standing very close to him.
He did not move.
"Sir...I.."

"Do not call me Sir, it makes me feel like an archaic old school master.."
He joked, flashing a coy smile.
"You should refer to me as 'my King' or 'my Lord' from now on."

Belle nodded and met his eyes, allowing herself to hold his gaze for as long as she dared before her face flushed. His eyes momentarily darted down to her lips, causing her heart to thud in her chest.

"My...King...does this now officially make me a subject of Asgard?"

Due to their closeness, Loki found himself noticing for the first time how pleasingly full her lips were.
"Yes...I am now your King, which makes you my loyal subject."
He replied somewhat distractedly.

Without meaning to, his eyes had travelled down and he was inadvertently looking at the way her long, dark, wavy hair cascaded over the creamy white skin of her bare shoulders.

"Y-you said something to the gatekeeper about me being your ward?"
She stammered, conscious of his eyes on her.

"Well?....what of it?"
He asked, still surveying her closely.

Her gown was rather elaborate in comparison to the ones favoured by the Goddesses of Asgard, and a striking shade of yellow-gold.
Involuntarily finding himself  admiring her slim but curvaceous figure. At this point he began feeling a carnal stirring, the likes of which he had not felt for a very long time.

"But my King, a ward is a minor who is under the control of a guardian....I am not a minor."
Belle continued with some concern. The thought of being under anyones 'control' made her most uneasy.

"You may not be a minor, but you are my..."
He hesitated. She wasn't his responsibility. So he would not say she was.
"...you're my subject...and all my obedient subjects have my protection."

Unable to resist the maddening impulse, he reached out and gently brushed her hair back on one side, his fingers accidentally skimming her neck.
But then he noticed her wide-eyed stare, and quickly stepped away from her.
What was wrong with him?
He silently scorned himself for his uncharacteristic loss of composure.

Belle had been stood paralysed with fear. But she was not afraid of him harming her. No indeed, it was a different kind of fear all together, something she'd never before felt.
At that she too scorned herself for being fanciful.
Only when he moved away from her did she breath again, and she hadn't even realised she'd been holding her breath, as it whooshed out of her lungs.

Just then he spoke, shattering her thoughts,
"I shall send for a guard, they will escort you to the guest chambers."

Her heart leaped in her chest at his words,
"Oooh, am I to stay here in the palace with you, my Lord?"

Loki saw the excitement in her eyes, and for a moment he wanted to say yes.
But something stopped him.
This was getting out of hand.

"Only for tonight.."
He pointed out, rather reluctantly.
"...it is too late to find you suitable accommodation elsewhere now."

Feeling slightly disappointed but still extremely grateful, Belle smiled gently at her new king.
"Thank you my Lord, I am forever in your debt for the kindness you've shown me."

"Indeed. Still, at least I helped solve your predicament."

With that Loki rang the bell to summon a guard, and promptly resumed the appearance of Odin.

Seeing this suddenly reminded Belle of what it was she'd wanted to say earlier.
"My Lord...if I may, one last thing?"

"What now?"
He asked, still speaking in his own velvety voice, which looked strange indeed.

"Are you absolutely sure no one else knows that you're...."
Her words trailed off, not wanting to say 'masquerading as King Odin'
That would no doubt anger him.
The serious face of Odin frowning deeply at her was more than just slightly unnerving,

"Yes of course I'm certain...why?"
He demanded gruffly.

Dreading being scolded for not mentioning it sooner, she nervously replied,
"Well, it is just that....there was a prophecy I read of..."

"Prophecy! What prophecy?"

"Well, it began with rumours about you-"

"There has always been rumours about me.."
He interrupted sharply,
"...not all of them are true. Get to the point!"

"Rumours about you, and your causing chaos in the house of Odin. It stated that your unwavering quest to rule Asgard brings about your undoing."
She announced, fearing the worst.

Loki's stomach lurched and his expression, even as Odin, looked visibly shaken.
"Who....who is responsible for writing of such prophecies?"
He barked, striding over to her purposefully.

"I...I'm not sure, my Lord. No one who is known to me-"

"Why did you not tell me this before?!"
He roared, gripping her by the shoulders, and in his temper his form slipped back to his own.

"I'm sorry! I did not want to anger you again!"
She cried, honestly.

"Well you have now!"
He bellowed, his face a mask of rage.

"Stop it!"
She yelled, as his grip tightened further, becoming painful.
"Please, you're hurting me!"

To her surprise and relief he let go of her abruptly, but pushed her away roughly.

Seeing the red marks on her fair skin where his hands had been, was enough to make his anger clear, and he suddenly felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt and regret.

"Belle..."
He made to step towards her, his hand outstretched, but she flinched and shrunk back from his touch.

Just at that moment they heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching outside the door.
He just had enough time to turn back into Odin before the doors swung open and two burly guards stood in the doorway.

"Your Highness, how may we be of assistance?"
One of them enquired.

Heading towards them without looking at her again, Loki ordered them to escort her to the guest chambers.
They parted, allowing him to pass through the doorway and bowed as he did so.

She watched his retreating back with a mixture of emotions.
Was Loki really as wicked as the stories she'd heard? Or as he himself claimed?
He was certainly volatile.

She could only hope her being here would give her the opportunity to find out for herself.

Only time would tell...