chapter 9

The ride to Loki's special spot was nice. Your (h/l)(h/c) blew softly in the light breeze, crickets chirped along the way as birds sang softly from the surrounding trees and bushes. "Prince Loki, may I ask where we are headed?" you asked softly not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere. He simply looked over at you with his emerald green eyes showing a bit of mischief as he smiled at you "It is a surprise my dear Lady (Y/n)," he replied and sped up slightly chuckling almost challenging you to a small race. Giggling you urged Juliet to speed up as well whispering to her "Come on Juliet, he may be a Prince but let's show him who is Queen when it comes to riding a horse." 

Soon you and Juliet galloped ahead of him looking back grinning happily, it had been a few years since you had ridden a horse. Loki smiled slowly, stopping near a hidden trail that led into the forest. "Um, Lady (Y/n) if you keep going you will miss the surprise," he called softly smiling, you returned to his side shortly after, following him down the path. After a while you came to a wall covered in moss and vines. You followed Loki's lead and dismounted from Juliet; tying her to a fallen tree branch near Romeo. Loki opened a hidden door gesturing for you to enter. You raised your eyebrow in curiosity walking into the space. Gasping at the view before you. "Oh my, Where are we?" you say almost in a whisper as you were in complete awe.

Loki smiles. "It's my garden. My safe haven." You look around. There were flowers growing all around. Roses, marigolds, dragonsnaps, tulips, lilac bushes, lantana, (f/f) and so many more. There was a concrete bench in the middle with two angels on the sides of the bench. There was a bookshelf in the corner. "Wow! Please tell me you have The Secret Garden in here." 

He chuckled, watching as you spun around admiring the surroundings. "This technically is  A secret garden, I have never brought anyone else here before, not even my mother." he spoke with pride. 

You walked over to him smiling softly, "It's beautiful Prince Loki, I am honored to be here. But why would you choose me to share this amazing garden with," you asked softly as he offered his arm to lead you deeper into the garden. 

"Lady (Y/n) you are not like the other maidens, they would not appreciate simplicity. I also brought you here because I wish to get to know you more." he spoke softly. Walking silently he takes you to a willow tree where there is a small picnic for two. 

You take a seat across from the Prince, unsure how much he wanted to know and if he would accept you once he knew your past. "What would you like to know my Prince?" you ask looking down at the blanket trying to hide your fear. 

"Lady (Y/n) tell me anything you feel comfortable with sharing, also no need to be formal when it is just the two of us, tonight I am simply Loki." he smiled reassuringly. 

"Alright Loki, but only if you stop calling me Lady. I am a simple Midgardian, not a noble or princess." you sigh softly, fidgeting slightly. 

"My full name is (Y/f/n) (Y/m/n) (Y/l/n), I am a cousin of Agent Barton, we both grew up on farms and raised horses." you heard Loki chuckle slightly looking up at him in confusion. 

"I can see why you excelled at riding," he praised you smiling. 

"Thank you. One can only ride well when you trust your horse completely," you spoke remembering Clint's advice when he taught you how to ride. 

"Yes that is great advice," he agreed, then motioned for you to continue. 

"I was kidnapped when I was 15 years old." you take a deep breathe before summoning up your powers causing leaves and flower petals to float around you. "I didn't always have these powers." looking away as the leaves and petals fall to the ground 

"What happened when you were kidnapped," he spoke, anger laced in his words. 

"I was singing for the horses at my cousin's farm. My ex walked in and heard me singing, I didn't know he worked for Hydra, an evil organization that performed experiments on people giving them powers and turning them into human weapons." you explained, holding back tears at the memories. 

Flashback 

You were singing softly to yourself as you tended to the horses on Clint and Laura's farm. The horses neighed and shook their heads in contentment. You didn't know Tristen had stopped over to see you. He stood in the doorway listening to you smiling. "Wow sweetie I never knew you had a great singing voice," he commented, startling you. You blushed fiercely looking down in embarrassment. 

"I was practicing for Natasha's birthday party tonight, Clint asked me to sing," you replied softly, going to hug him. He hugged you back. 

That night you were at the party it was a small club Clint had heard of, and you were up on stage singing Natatsha's favorite song, 'I won't back down' as you were singing the song a fight broke out. Tristen and some other guy were fighting over you. You stopped singing and ran out of the club thinking it was your fault. 

"Hey, babe it's ok nobody is gonna hurt you or take you away," you hear tristen say behind you. "I'll take you to my place, you look tired." You nodded and went back to let Nat and Clint know you were going with Tristen. Little did you know it was a trick.

You got in the car with him and as he drove away you fell asleep, when you woke up you were strapped to a metal table in a blindingly white room. You pulled at the restraints trying to get free. "Help, let me go!!" you yelled out scared. 

A man wearing a white lab coat walked into the room smirking evilly, "Ahh experiment 019, you have awakened I see, I hear you have a lovely singing voice. I am here to help you harness that talent into something more," he spoke smugly as you watched him with horror. He pulled out a syringe from behind his back as he approached your body. You began to panic and struggled to get free. He chuckled as he inserted the needle into your arm despite your protests. 

You endured pain and torture for many months until Clint and the rest of the Avengers rescued you. It wasn't until a month later you found out Tristen was behind the whole thing. 

You showed your anger as the couch in the Avenger's tower burst into flames, that was when you realized you had powers. 

S.H.I.E.L.D then put you into a holding cell while they tried to figure out how to help you control your powers. You had heard of an attack on NY but weren't allowed to know the details, you didn't know Loki had been behind the attack. 

End flashback

Loki cleared his throat as he watched you go silent. "(Y/n), are you alright?" he asked, genuinely concerned. You shook your head to clear your thoughts. 

"Oh uh, yeah I'm ok. So anyway, my ex turned me over to Hydra who experimented on me trying to turn me into a siren of some sort, but instead I was given powers. I was rescued by the Avengers and then put into a cell until I controlled my emotions and powers. I still don't know everything I can do with them but I know enough to protect myself when needed," you finished speaking softly looking over towards Loki, his face was a mix of anger, sadness and longing. 

"I am so sorry to hear that happen to you, but if you like, I could help you with your magic. If you want to that is," he offered before looking up at the sky noticing it was getting closer to sunset. 

"I'd like that, thank you" you smiled, standing up. "I think I should head back, I'm sure Anita is worried sick wondering if I ran away, especially since I left after sigyn lied about your date." You giggled softly, walking back to the horses with Loki and soon rode back to the stables. Loki put both horses away in their stalls and returned just as the sun was setting. 

"I had a wonderful afternoon Loki, thank you for sharing your garden with me and listening to my story, even though it wasn't a happy one." You smiled looking into his emerald green eyes, the rays of the setting sun causing them to shine even more brightly. Without realizing what was happening both of you started to lean in, the last thing your mind registered was his soft thin lips pressing against yours. His arms around your waist and yours around his neck. Unknown to either of you Sigyn was watching from the guest wing balcony, anger and jealousy flashed across her face at the sight. 

Loki walked you to your room and bid you goodnight kissing your hand softly before he turned and left. You entered your room and flopped on the bed still in a daze, over the brief but amazing kiss you shared with the prince. You couldn't wait to pass the next test to prove to him you were worthy of being at his side. Falling asleep smiling dreaming of the afternoon you spent with Loki. 

Loki's Pov

"I had a wonderful afternoon Loki, thank you for sharing your garden with me and listening to my story, even though it wasn't a happy one." She smiled at me softly. Without even realizing it I started to lean in. Our lips met. Warm spread through me as she wrapped her arms around my neck. Automatically my arms went to her waist. She broke the kiss and immediately I missed her lips. I walked her to her room. 

"Good night (Y/n). I had a lovely evening. Thank you. I hope that maybe we could do something like that again sometime." I grab her hand and kiss the back of it. She giggles. "Good night Loki. I did too. You're welcome… I think. I would enjoy that." She enters her room and shoots me one last soft smile before she closes the door. 

I walked back to my room. Once there I fall asleep thinking about (Y/n) and the amazing kiss we shared. 

Normal Pov

The next day you went to the royal library to find a new book to read, as you browsed the shelves you felt someone following you. You turned around meeting eyes with Sigyn, she glared daggers at you. You raised an eyebrow, "Can I help you Lady Sigyn?" you asked confused, suddenly she grabbed your arm pulling you to a secluded section of the library. 

"If you think you can trick the Prince into picking you you must be mental." she spoke harshly 

"I don't know what you're talking abo-" she cut you off mid sentence

"I saw you kiss Prince Loki, don't lie to me. I am clearly the only real choice as his future bride! If he doesn't marry me my realm will declare war on Asgard, All-Father has been made aware of this and he will do anything to keep Asgard safe," she spoke her next words with a deadly tone "So back off of Prince Loki and stay out of my way, or you may very well come up missing." She spun around and left without letting you respond.

You stood there shocked, angry and sad. You had started to fall for the prince and now you had to distance yourself even more, you didn't want to cause a war by being selfish. You heard Anastaisa calling for you, the next event was starting soon. You walked to the throne room where it was to take place. You hoped that you would pass but you also knew that if you did it could cause trouble for Loki and all of Asgard.