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The room was lit with soft lights, candles flickering with the breeze that blew in through the open windows and there was a dream-like feeling to the evening. People from near and far travelled to attend the annual ball thrown by the Stark family and you had yet to get bored of them. Looking around the room, it seemed almost magical, like anything could happen on a night like this.
You made your way around the room, as the only Stark heir it was your duty to talk to everybody, welcome them and thank them for attending. You didn’t mind the job but you also wished you had a moment to yourself.
Everyone looked beautiful on nights like these, the ball gowns and tuxedos, the elaborate hairstyles and perfectly done makeup. You too had made an effort for tonight, you loved being able to dress up like this, the ballgown hugged your body beautifully.
It wasn’t long before you were making your way to one of the balconies, the doors open already, allowing you to step out into the chilly evening. The stars shone brightly in the sky as you leaned against the railing, looking up at them.
You had missed the eyes on you all evening, the way he would go to approach you before shaking his head, knowing it was not allowed, knowing how much trouble he’d be in but as he watched you look up at the night sky, he knew he had to talk to you.
Consequences be damned.
The man made his way through the crowd and out to you. Once he was outside he cleared his throat causing you to turn around.
“Hello,” He smiled, “I do hope I’m not intruding.”
You froze momentarily. Loki Odinson stood before you with a soft smile on his face, looking at you like you were the only person at the ball.
Of course you knew who he was. Over the years you had grown a small crush on the man, knowing him since you were children. Only you had never really gotten the chance to know him as your fathers both despised each other. The Odinson Kingdom, Asgard, was one Kingdom over and King Odin and King Tony were constantly battling with each other, it went without saying that that meant you were not allowed contact with any of the royal children.
You blushed as you realised just how long the silence had stretched.
“Of course not,” you replied, smiling shyly back at him. His smile widened as he stepped forward to join you, leaning against the balcony, looking up at the stars.
Your eyes remained on him, up close he was even more beautiful.
“It’s a beautiful evening.” He murmured, not looking away.
“Yes it is.” You agreed, shifting as you realised how much trouble you’d be in should you be caught.
“You look beautiful too, if you don’t mind me saying.” He told you, causing you to look back at him.
He smiled as a blush settled on your cheeks.
“T-thank,” You stuttered before clearing your throat, “thank you, Prince Loki.”
He laughed, a laugh you would remember for weeks, months, years to come. It was a laugh that made you want to smile, a laugh that made you feel safe.
It was a laugh that made you realise just how screwed you were.
“Please, just Loki.” He insisted.
Little did you know in that moment, a beautifully tragic love story was born.
-
For weeks to come you and Loki continued to spend time together. Loki, you’d learnt early on, was a man of many talents. One of them included sneaking in and out of Kingdoms and castles without so much as a whisper of him being there.
You had no idea how he managed to get onto the heavily guarded castle grounds but somehow he did it. You spent nights waiting for the sound of pebbles hitting your window. The first night it had happened, you were thoroughly confused and rushed to the window only to relax upon seeing Loki grinning up at you.
This continued for months.
Loki had taken you on some many adventures in the short time you had known him. It was so different from your life of royal duties, meetings and tea and princes who only saw you as a means to the crown.
Loki though, Loki was different.
Loki grabbed your hand and the two of you were running towards everything. You felt something with him you’d never felt before.
You felt fearless.
Loki had taken you to places where neither of you were recognised as Princess Stark or Prince Odinson. He had taken you to small towns and big cities, you had seen the peacefulness of the lakes and woods and museums and the loudness of concerts and balls. The two of you had danced in the rain and kissed on sidewalks.
It was magical.
Of course that meant it was all going to come crashing down horribly.
-
One night you were sitting on your bed waiting for the sounds of pebbles hitting your windows but it never came. Instead one of the royal guards knocked on your door and escorted you down to the entrance hall.
You gasped as you saw two guards gripping Loki’s arms, your father stood next to them glaring at Loki and your mother looking more disappointed than you’d ever seen. All eyes fell on you as you froze on the stairs taking in the situation.
“Y/N, care to share what’s happening here?” Your father asked and you already knew this was going to end badly for the both of you.
“Daddy,” You began, voice shaking. You didn’t get far though as Tony cut you off.
“Odinson!” He exclaimed, suddenly looking furious. You watched as Loki looked backed down at his shoes. “Why the hell is Loki Odinson standing outside your window, sneaking around my castle with my daughter!”
“Dad, please!” You begged, eyes filling with tears. You watched as your mother placed a hand on your fathers arm, watched as he softened slightly.
“You are not to see this boy again, Y/N.” Your father said, voice stern and emotionless and you couldn’t stop the tears from flowing over your eyes.
“No!” You yelled but he ignored you, turning to Loki.
“This is your only warning. You should be so goddamn grateful I’m not telling Odin. You stay away from Y/N. I see you here again and you won’t like what happens.” He warned before gesturing for the guards to show him out.
“No!” You yelled again, sinking down to sit on the stairs as the tears continued to fall, “Loki please don’t go, please.” You begged.
Loki turned to look at you, his own eyes wide with tears, though he didn’t let them fall. He looked at you sadly, one last time before the doors were closing, leaving him with the memory of your heartbreaking sobs.
-
Two weeks passed with no word from Loki, clearly he had taken your father’s threat seriously. You knew he and Odin didn’t get along and you hated to think what Odin would do if he found out Loki was seeing his enemies daughter.
You had refused to speak to your father at all since that night, forgoing all public appearance and royal duties. Your mother had made an excuse for you to the public but you didn’t care. Odin and your father had let their petty feud go on for far too long, you didn’t even know why they were fighting anymore.
You did know that nobody had ever made you feel the way Loki had and now because two grown men couldn’t look past there differences you knew you’d never feel that way again.
-
You finally left your room and made your way down to the gardens. There was a spot that no guards bothered to check, your mother’s gardens. She hadn’t had much time to tend to it since she had become Queen and her duties became more hectic than before and so you had taken over maintaining them.
You had shown Loki and he had smiled, happily listening and watching you talk about the gardens for hours. The two of you laying in the grass, looking up at the stars, dreaming of a life much simpler than this one. You’d close your eyes and pretend you were regular people, no pressures, no royal duties, no feuding families.
As you sat on the bench you sighed to yourself, of course you should have known that that was just a fairytale.
You might have been a princess but that didn’t mean you were entitled to a happy ending.
-
You sat in the garden for hours, watching the sky turn from blue to orange. The sun set had always had a soothing effect on you. It obviously didn’t make anything better but sitting there, looking out at the beauty of nature surrounded by memories of Loki, well it was easier to breathe.
“Loki, save me from this life. The royalty, the promise of a crown, I’d give all that up for even a moment more with you. I’ve been feeling so alone, all my life, I hadn’t realised how lonely I was until I met you.” You said to yourself, you had no idea why you had begun talking but suddenly you couldn’t stop. “I keep waiting for you to come, to hear the sound of you throwing pebbles at my window but you never do. Was it all in my head? I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“Y/N,” a voice said and you jolted, quickly standing up. You met Loki’s gaze and he smiled at you, his eyes watery as he stepped closer.
He looked beautiful despite the tiredness that showed on his face. He was wearing an all black suit, his hair falling perfectly into place. He was enchanting.
Before you had a chance to talk, he was kneeling down on one knee and pulling a box from his pocket. You gasped and looked at him in shock.
“I’m here, I’m here to save you from a life of duties and rules. I’m here to explore the world with you, to take you places you’ve only dreamed about, I’m here to listen to you wax poetry about the sky and your flowers and I’m here to hold you, care for you, love you. Because you, Y/N Stark are my best friend. I once believed that love would be burning red, messy, hurtful and doomed, but you, you Y/N, showed me that it’s golden, like daylight. I want every moment of my life to be shared with you, my darling. I talked to your dad, he gave his blessing. Would you do me the absolute honour of being my wife?” He said, tears clear in his eyes as he spoke.
You froze for a moment, looking from the ring to him, taking in his words before a huge grin broke out on your face.
Loki breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing that was without a doubt the longest few seconds of his life.
“Yes.”
That one, three letter, word was all the permission he needed to stand up and pull you into a breathtaking kiss. The two of you kissed until you needed air and when you pulled away Loki rested his forehead on yours, looking at you like you were the only person in the world.
“I love you, my darling.” He said softly before pulling you into another kiss.
“I love you too.” You breathed against his lips.