Song: Lana Del Rey - stargirl interlude

Buckle up this is a long one but this idea has been stuck in my mind for ages.

Imagine; you're betrothed to Loki, you're forced to marry him.

Your dress:

•

Sweet laughter erupts in the with silence filled library. It's merely a short chuckle but it's enough to light up the entire room.

Anyone would be lucky to hear the sweet sound coming from your throat as you scan over the pages of the lovely novel you're reading.

After coming to Asgard with your parents, you found out you were not there only for keeping the peace between the two kingdoms, but you were there to ensure it, meaning that you would have to marry one of Odins sons. But since Thor is already courting someone else, Loki remained.

You hated him with all your being, you weren't sure why because he is as forced into this as you are. But you just couldn't stand him.

You liked Frigga though, she is very kind to you, she is more reasonable than your own mother. When your parents leave, she will remain the only piece of happiness in your life, at least that is what you thought before discovering one of the largest library's in the galaxy, right next to your very own chamber.

So now you spend as much of your day as you possibly can in there, reading stories about true love, about travel, about things you will never be able to have because of the arrangement.

'I see you found my favourite hiding spot...' the voice sends shivers down your spine.

'I can leave if you want...I'm not supposed to be here anyway...' your face hardens as you look him in the eyes.

'No oh no!, you can stay here I won't tell...I know how your mother and father think about women reading...my lips are sealed if you'd wish to stay here...' he sits down and you scoot away from him.

There's enough room to fit at least five people in between, the long couch by the window now seeming endless to Loki.

'I like your dress...' he comments, trying to start up a conversation.

'Thank you, my mother said it would appease you...' you reply coldly.

All he wants is one chance to talk to you, the real you. He wants to get to know you, who knows maybe a spark will somehow ignite. But you refuse to even look at him.

And then there it is again, the sound that drew him in here in the first place, the chuckle escaping your lips. It's one of the most enticing sounds he has ever heard if not the most enticing.

And then silence, complete and utter silence in the library as you're both reading.

Somehow not even an hour later, an actual conversation starts between the two of you. A conversation you actually enjoy, it's not forced, like the smiles you had to give. It's freeing to talk to him. You even find yourselves scooting closer.

In the course of the following days you happen to grow closer to him, all while sneaking behind your parents backs.

You're not allowed to read, as your father said that they would be too time consuming since you get lost in every one of them. You're there to provide him with a child and to hold the peace between the kingdoms, nothing more.

'Y/n, can we have a chat with you?' Your mother speaks up and you can already hear in the tone of her voice that she is not amused, not in the slightest.

You nod as you stand up and follow her to the room assigned to them. You fiddle with your dress, even more when you see how outraged your father is.

'Y/n, did you remember what we discussed?'

'Father we discussed a lot...could you be more specific please?' you're barely audible.

'I told you to please your future husband and to stay away from the book, did I not?'

'Y-yes But-'

'And here you are...spending every second of the day locking yourself up in the library that we forbid you from going in!'

'How do you know?, how do you know that?' You try to defend yourself.

'That isn't important!, the royal family hasn't seen you all week and I would like my daughter to at least spend time with her future family!, you also should spend time with your future king!, you haven't even tried!'

'I do not want to be here and you know that!, how I spend my time is not up to you!, I never agreed to any of this and now you expect me to be a good little princess?!, if I want to read a book...I will read one!'

You suddenly hear skin smacking skin. You choke out a cough before reaching up to your still stinging cheek. The heat radiates off of it as tears form in your eyes.

'You will behave!, you will spend more time with them!, and if I see you with a book again...' your father threatens as you take a couple steps back.

'George...' your mother brings out trying to stop him from scaring you away, but the damage is already done.

You turn around and start running, one hand on your cheek and the other lifting the dress as your heels click on the marble floor. Your tears steadily falling down.

•
•
•

The following day you're keeping your promise to spend time with the royal family. You straighten out your best fake smile. Everything to please everyone around you.

The charade you put up is believable for everyone, everyone except your husband to be. He's not buying it, especially since you now have a dark bruise on your cheek.

'My lady, would you like to go for a stroll with me?' Loki asks and you silently nod.

'You stand up and start walking with him. Your arms linked, that's all the connection you have with him right now.

You found out that he was the one who told your parents about the reading, it was accidental but the trust he had developed with you has vanished into nothing.

'You're awfully quiet...' he comments with a small smile playing on his lips.

'I'm sorry your highness but I have nothing to talk about...' you reply as cold as the first time you spoke.

'What is going on?'

'I have no idea what you're implying your highness...'

'Oh really?' He scoffs, 'not merely two days ago we actually had a very warm and nice conversation, as for the following days, but now you're once again giving me the cold shoulder...'

'I apologise if I've giving you an unpleasant feeling, please forgive me...' you reply driving him mad.

'Y/n...' he stops walking and turns you so that you can look at him, but you won't.

The moment you do look at him might be the moment you lose it, and he should never see that, you're an object, you're only there to provide him with an heir and you're tired of standing up for yourself. You've given up.

'What happened that made you act like this?' He asks, genuine worry films his voice.

'Nothing..' you answer him, a little harsher than you intended. 'I'm here to please you and I'm sorry if-'

'Stop.' He commands harshly. 'Tell me the truth...'

This causes you to break, but no tears come out, it's pure anger that makes you act like this towards him. The hurt will come later on.

'Why do you care?!, you took away one of the few things that actually brought me joy so why would you care how I feel?'

'What do you mean?'

'You told them about me reading all day, you told them I've been in there!, you told me you'd keep your mouth shut!, and you didn't!, just when I started to finally like you....you pulled the rug from under my feet...'

'It was on accident...'

You ball your fists, clenching so hard your knuckles turn white of pressure.

'Do you have any idea why I read books all day?, because that's my only way to escape everything around me!, that's my only way to escape from LIFE'

'I never meant to harm you in any way... y/n I'm sorry...' he tried to wrap his fingers around your wrist but you pull back, the bruise coming into the sunlight for him to see.

'Who did that to you?, was it your father?' He reaches up but you turn your head away.

'Don't...don't touch me....' tears fill your eyes. 'It's bad enough that everyone is forcing me...please don't touch me...' you let out a sob.

'I won't...I won't...' he lets go and puts his hands up. 'But don't walk away...please..this is my doing and I apologise... I broke your trust and I'm sorry but please don't walk away from me...'

'You don't know what it's like to have every single thing you love in your life taken from you...' you choke out. 'I try to please everyone but I end up broken and feeling alone...'

'Not when I'm around, I promise you y/n that whatever your parents did, they will never have a chance to do it again... you will have all the time to read in the library... because I want you to be happy, I know we won't be able to get out of this but I want you to feel some happiness...'

'Then why did you tell them?!'

'Because I was so incredibly happy that you finally talk with me and laugh with me and..and..and I... they overheard me talking with my mother...'

You stay quiet. A signal for him to continue.

'I would never do anything to harm you, I know what it's like to be broke and alone... and while everyone tells me you're just another object to give me an heir, I don't see you that way and I never will...'

'What?' your voice is barely even a whisper.

You can't believe him, the man you considered a monster a few days ago, who you thought was just another cocky prince.

'You understand me better than anyone else in my life, and of course I don't want to force you but...over the past few days I've grown to love you and I can't stand to see you this unhappy...' he softly takes your hand in his as the other wipes away the tears.

'And if you want to read then I will stay by your side, if your parents come to take you away I will stand in between because I'm not letting them hurt you again...'

'Y/n, what is going on?' Your father asks and you visibly flinch making Loki turn around.

He puts his body in between your fathers and yours as a solid wall. He uses one of his arms to make you stay behind him. You're so into the moment that you don't even register your own fingers wrapping around his upper arm.

'I told you to behave!'

'You also tried to punch it into her... she is on Asgard, she is in my kingdom, if she wishes to read, if she wishes to spend time alone, she is allowed to, she's no property or object for someone to own... she is her own person...'

'Young man-'

'It's prince Loki to you... if you'll excuse us, we will be in the library... reading...' he gently pulls you with him.

He doesn't say anything, he just walks, he's furious, and you admire him so much now because he stood up for you when not even you could.

He closes the large door behind him and he finally lets go off you.

'I'm so-' you shut him up by wrapping your arms around his neck, a hand softly coming into contact with his cheek.

'Nobody ever stood up for me...but you did, just now...' you step closer to him, pressing your whole body onto his.

You're millimetres away from each other, your lips hovering over one another. You tilt your head up and close the space left between you.

'I love you...' you whisper out of breath once you both lean back. Eyes still closed from the impact that kiss made.

'You're my wife to be... I won't let anybody hurt you, you're under my protection...'

'You sound like the character of the book I was reading a couple days ago..when you barged in...'

'Was it a good one?'

'Yeah...' you chuckle. 'He was a good man...just like you are...I judged you too quickly and for that I do want to apologise...I should've been nicer to you...'

'Don't...stop apologising... my mother told me how you felt and I accepted it...and eventually it led to this so I am absolutely not complaining...' he replies.

'Maybe marrying you is not such a bad thing after all..'

'At least it's not forced anymore...now...why book would you like to read?' He smiles.