(A/N) Alrighty~ So this is my first Thor/Loki fanfiction and stuffff- LOL don't get me wrong, it's not slash (sorry, not sorry) But yeah. My first. I really want to know what I need to work on... because seriously? I think my writing sucks- :/ ... Anyways- I don't know when I'll get to continue this story, I've only written the first chappy, but of course, I've got the idea of everything that will happen. I just need to.. uhm... I guess I just need to put it into words. Shouldn't be too hard, neh? X_X (A/N)
CHAPTER ONE
Cold... That was the first sensation that hit Thor as he and his entourage arrived in the harsh, frozen realm of Jotunheim. To think; that the sweet, mischievous little brother of his childhood had been here for almost six years... It made him shiver with a different kind of chill.
"Thor, are you sure about this? I know how you feel about Loki," Sif's voice faltered at the name, and she could not quite disguise the bitter tone, "but you should have told the All-Father. Remember the consequences when we last set foot in this realm?" she said, a small hint of desperation in her voice.
"If you do not wish to accompany me, you may leave. I did not ask any of you to come in the first place. Besides, I am not as foolish as I was before." Thor replied with a heavy sigh, "And do you really think the All-Father would approve of my endeavors?"
"Which is why this is such a bad idea! We have your allies from Midgard. You have us and the rest of Asgard's warriors at your beck and call. Why would you need to seek out such a sniveling, cowardly trai-"
"Hold your tongue, Sif! You may be my friend, but Loki is still my brother and a prince of Asgard and you will respect him as such!" Thor bit out angrily, his temper rising with every word that left his mouth.
"We have been holding off this mad titan for far too long, and now he threatens war on us and the rest of the nine realms! Loki knew this beast, conspired with him. Any information he can provide will be considered and if he offers us aid, we'll have gotten a valuable asset! Now either you come with me or turn back now!" bellowed Thor, his deep rumbling voice carrying over the strong wind.
He gave each of them a pointed look, daring them to question him again. When nobody spoke, the mighty thunder god turned and began trudging anew.
The warriors three along with Sif shared a look with each other and with heavy sighs; they reluctantly pulled their cloaks tighter around themselves and followed their fair-haired prince. Thor was stubborn to a fault, and when he was as determined as he was now, then nothing they said would make him turn back.
Not even an hour into the trek and already, cold was seeping into their skin. They had left Asgard fairly early, the sun just peeking over the mountains. Yet here, there was nothing but darkness and snow.
What little light they had, came from the lights near the glaciers and the ethereal glow of the ice itself. But although it was dark… well. Thor tried to focus on the task at hand but found that he couldn't help thinking how utterly beautiful Jotunheim was. The way they were described in the ancient tomes of Asgard didn't do the land any justice. Sure, it was freezing cold for any Aesir, but the way the ice crystals would occasionally glint and sparkle reminded Thor of the stars back at home and the fairy-tales told about them.
Where they passed a few boiling hot lakes, he noticed the water seemed so calm despite the harsh weather, and they reflected the endless black of the skies above, making the bursts of light all the more extraordinary.
If it weren't for the deafening howl of the wind in his ears, Thor would have called the place… peaceful. That in itself was such an absurd thought that he had to shake his head to be rid of it.
How come he only saw all of this now? Had he really been THAT blinded the last time he came here? Was this really Jotunheim? Perhaps Heimdall sent them to the wrong place. Midgard's snow lands perhaps… or Niflheim. But the fact that the gatekeeper of Asgard rarely made mistakes (not to mention on such trivial matters) had Thor's mind whirring.
As he and his companions continued their journey, his thoughts kept coming back to him. This was Jotunheim… the realm of the frost giants. Those blue savage beasts that were the antagonists of every story book. And here he was, a son of Odin, prince and heir to all that is golden and glorious, of the eternal realm of Asgard, thinking the realm of the monsters they've battled with "beautiful". And the thing was… the more Thor thought about it… the more he began to question what he'd learned as a child.
After all… his beloved brother came from this realm, is a part of this realm. Maybe the prejudice against the Jotuns is over exaggerated… were the Aesir too harsh and quick in their judgment all those years ago?
And what of Loki's attack on this planet? Sure that was many a year ago, but he had expected this place to be… well… broken; in even more ruins after having been attacked so brutally. As these thoughts were running through his head, the soon-to-be king of Asgard failed to notice the pitying looks sent his way.
Finally, after hours of relentless silence and stumbling through snow, Fandral asked the question that had been on everyone's mind.
"My prince, I do not mean to offend but… how do we even know that Loki will help us? Or if we'd be able find him here? Oh blast it all, if he's even ALIVE is the-"
Before the man could even finish, Thor was holding him up by the collar of his cloak, face contorted in demonic fury.
"Don't you dare say that! You will never repeat those vile words in my presence again or I might just sew YOUR lips shut. Understood?" said Thor, his voice eerily calm.
"Now Thor, that is unfair. What Fandral asked was a wise question. If Loki lives, if we could even FIND him here… how do we know he will aid us? We'd have wasted time we could have spent planning for nothing! And packed with so little food!" Volstagg stepped in, hoping to placate the angered thunderer.
"Unfair? Unfair?! You want to know what is unfair?! It is unfair that you so readily give up on Loki. When I was banished you came for ME, even if it was forbidden by your king! Regardless of whether Loki meant to usurp me or not, by all circumstances given, he was a rightful king of Asgard at that time. It is also unfair that I had to watch my brother be dragged kicking and screaming that he'd rather be just put to death than live without his magic. To be the one to hold him down while they stripped him of it! None of you know how it feels to lose a brother… to lose him while my people celebrated and my friends toasted to his banishment!" by the end of his rant, Thor was breathing heavily and there was a slight sheen of tears in his eyes.
"You are not alone in mourning the loss of your brother, Thor, but it would be wiser to lower your voice just-"
"NO!" Thor said angrily, "you speak of him as if he's already dead. Heimdall… Heimdall wouldn't have sent us here. He would have told us."
"You know as well as we do that Loki could shroud himself."
"Without his seidr?" surprisingly, it was Fandral who rebuked Sif's weak attempt and Thor felt a twinge of thanks for the man, even if he was the one who ignited the argument in the first place. But as a sign of acceptance of the other man's attempt at an apology, Thor sighed and spoke,
"My friends, I apologize, but please… Please understand why I ask this of you. Loki may not have meant much to you but-" as suddenly as their fight arose, the Aesir quickly realized that the ice was unnaturally creeping along their shoes and sprang into action, forming a defensive circle with their backs to one another.
Soon enough, as if they came from the underbelly of the ice itself, dozens of frost giants began surrounding them. Not daring to make the first move, Thor and the warriors backed up until their shoulders were pressed into one another. With their weapons drawn, they waited for the first blow to come. Although Thor and his companions agreed that if they ever encountered any Jotuns, (which was inevitable) they would try to be diplomatic first, it didn't hurt to be prepared when in foreign territory.
No such blow came, and instead, one of the Jotuns stepped forward.
"Asgardians… you have no authorized permission to be in our lands. Take your leave now or face the consequences." said the crimson-eyed giant, it's voice rough and gravelly.
"We need no permission from the likes of you!" Sif spat out viciously. To which the leader, presumably, looked thoughtful about for a moment before speaking again.
"We have our laws, Asgardian, and we are authorized to apprehend trespassers and take them to our king."
"Ha! Listen to this beast, Thor!"
"Thor? Odinson?" the Jotun's eyes went hard, the dark pools of red becoming a bright crimson, "to what do we owe this pleasure, godling?" it mocked while it's followers jeered and taunted.
"Let's just be rid of them now, Helblindi."
"No." said the giant, now known as Heldblindi, "we will not disgrace my brother."
Quite suddenly, Thor's eyes became as heavy as lead and he turned to his friends only to see them dropping like flies. He faced his attacker again and was met with the gleaming red eyes of the Jotun, then he knew no more.
Thor awoke next to find himself in what he assumed was the throne room of Jotunheim, bound to a relentlessly freezing pillar of ice. And on the throne sat a Jotun, whose eyes shone with bloodlust, and for the life of him, Thor could not tell if it was the same Jotun who confronted them.
"Thor, son of Odin, state your business." It spoke. (Nope, still couldn't tell)
"My prince answers to no one!" Sif cut in before Thor could get a word out. He gave her a warning glare which she acknowledged.
"Do you see, brother? Such insolence! Maybe I should just kill you now, Odinson." The Jotun spoke, rising from his seat and stalking towards the captured gods, a dagger of ice slowly forming in his hand.
"Broth-"
"Silence, Helblindi! I act as King today- watch as I take the life of their beloved prince."
The other giant, Helblindi, Thor noted, although he looked scolding, did nothing to stop his brother. In fact, he looked rather bored and exasperated standing near the throne.
"Enough with this ridiculous display, Býleistr." came a smooth voice behind them.
Thor's eyes widened, but he dared not hope,
"Even if they are indeed to be executed, I would not have you spill dirty blood in this sacred hall."
All at once, the frost giants that were present went down on one knee and brought their right fist towards their chest. Thor and his companions had to wait for the newcomer to pass them to be able to identify the individual. And with ever word spoken, Thor found his heart beat a little faster.
The Jotun near Thor rose again to his full height, followed by Helblindi and together, they went past their captive to greet the new arrival.
"My King-" came Býleistr's voice, oddly filled with concern when earlier it was filled with scorn, "how do you fare? Did your visit to the shaman help at all?"
King? If this really was who he thought it was then- no… it couldn't be… Could it?
Then the true king of the Jotuns passed by them and sat on the frozen throne. To the shock of the Aesir, sitting there, very much like royalty, was the thin and ghostly visage of none other than Loki.
"Now… why are such lowly maggots in my realm?"
(A/N) Anyways- R&R .. Or you can comment on it on my dA. My name there is Veyrius if anyone is interested :D ==; .. I think I have a problem with tenses? Do I? Have a problem, I mean... WITH TENSES? D': R&R ? I swear I don't bite ;^;