Part 1 - The True King of Asgard

I don't know if you could call it friendship, between Loki and I. He didn't seem to have friends as such, more followers or associates, people of use to him. But I was the one he came to when he needed someone to talk to and for that I was forever grateful. He was not one to show affection or trust, but he knew very well how to give respect and that to me was more valuable than affection from someone such as him. It all began after one of Thor's conquests, during the celebration.

Chapter 1 – The Birth Right

He was sitting in the shadows on a table by himself, one elbow on the table propping himself up, his cheek resting on his fist and a look of boredom and disinterest displayed clearly on his face. He batted away drunkards trying to get him to join in with the party and ignored the happy people around him, protesting if Thor tried to get him to speak or recount a part of the tale.

I was a soldier, younger than he but I did well in battle and served my king as best I could, I had hoped if I could rise up through the ranks I might get to go on one of Thor's missions and today that wish had been granted, a select few of us had gotten to go, though of course Thor took all the glory. I didn't mind, I was just happy I had gotten to prove my worth as a fighter, that is something Asgard had that was different from the other realms, they never judged a fighter by their gender, well, not since Sif anyway.

I had been sitting at Thor's table for a while, sneaking furtive glances at Loki when I could. I had never understood why every woman my age mooned over Thor, not when Loki was around. I was shaken out of my thoughts by a clap on the back as Thor arrived back with more mead.

"You fought well today Valen! I shall propose to my father that you join us more often."

"Thank you my lord." I dipped my head and tried not to let my cheeks redden too much.

"Not at all, we need more like you in our ranks; I think one day you may be a match for Sif."

I took a tumbler of mead from the batch he had set down and looked up to see Sif watching me, she smiled at me. I could never figure out what was going on in her head but I could bet she had not liked that comparison.

"You flatter me sire!" I smiled back as sweetly as I could and she looked away.

"Nonsense, and enough with this sire business, my name is Thor and Thor you shall call me, we fight together now."

"Of course Thor, thank you Thor." I couldn't help but let a wide grin spread across my face, fighting on missions with Thor would mean the most dangerous and high octane battles a soldier could hope for.

As the celebrations wore on and the food was finished I found myself wanting more and more to speak to Loki, finally I finished a large gulp of mead and got up, making my way towards him through the crowd. I was stopped a couple of times and had to make small talk with other warriors before I could get to him and it wore my patience down to no end.

"You should be celebrating my lord." He looked up at my voice and smiled, so openly fake and forced.

"Downing mead and wine and boasting to fuel my ego doesn't interest me at all."

"I feel they would argue that they are boasting of triumph, not egos my lord."

"Do the two not go hand in hand?"

"I suppose you are right." He smiled then, a real smile, he liked being right. I sat down opposite him and he watched me closely.

"You fought well today; it was your first time going on one of Thor's missions?" I could see it was awfully dull for him to be polite, but I took it as a compliment none the less.

"Yes my lord, I was honoured to be picked by your father to fight alongside you both."

He smiled but his mind had wandered. "Mm."

"If you do not wish to celebrate, why do you stay?"

"Social decorum says I must."

"I did not think you were one to adhere to conventional rules my lord."

"You thought right." He said and his figure flickered. Without another word it flickered again and faded and he was gone. It had been just a projection of himself.

I looked around, knowing he must be somewhere near by and stood up, I edged my way through the crowd and went outside, in the cool evening air the moon shone bright across the courtyard and I leant across the balcony wall. I looked around before considering where he might be when someone leant on the wall next to me.

"My brother is boring you?" I turned to see Loki beside me, well, the projection of Loki, he was purposefully making it flicker so I knew it was not him.

"Social decorum is not something I adhere to either my lord, but it is fun to unwind sometimes."

"I suppose."

I pushed myself off the balcony and walked away towards the corridor and he turned to me. I looked back at him and smiled.

"I know you're around here somewhere my lord."

"Persistent, aren't you."

"Many would say it is a good trait of mine." He stood for a minute watching me as I walked backwards before disappearing. I turned and smiled to myself as I walked into one of the halls and down past the columns.

"You're getting warmer." Said a voice to my left and I turned to see another projection leaning up against a column, I walked towards the door to the left of the hall and the projection vanished.

I touched my hand to the doors handle and a voice said 'warmer', so I pushed the double doors that stretched high above my head and walked through, I paced down the corridor, knowing where this would lead me and looked about as the corridor opened out into a grand hall, I could hear running water as my feet made soft noises on the smooth floor.

"You're getting hot."

I kept going forwards, walking out onto a bridge in the middle of the hall and through an archway, I stepped into the throne room and into darkness, at the end of the bridge was the throne and in it a dark figure.

"So this is what you do for fun."

"Better than getting drunk."

"I suppose." I strode through the hall and up on to the steps where I dropped down onto one knee. "My king."

I could feel him staring down at me and lifted my head to meet his gaze. He laughed and looked out across the hall.

"Not words I am likely to hear in my lifetime again."

I straightened up and watched him.

"My brother will take the throne; his foolhardy arrogance will put us at war one day."

"I am sure King Odin would not put us under his rule until he is ready."

"He will never be ready!" He spat and stood up before composing himself. "He won't change, he is too proud."

"Does it bother you so my lord." He looked away from me and breathed a deep sigh.

"This throne is my birth right. Yet no matter what I do it stays out of my grasp."

"Then maybe, my lord, you should take it from them. Show them you are the true king."

He looked back at me, his eyes lighting up and he really smiled then, teeth flashing.

"Maybe you're right. Thank you Valen, good night." He stepped past me, looking back once before melting into the darkness, his footsteps becoming silent and the sound of his cloak becoming muffled as he left the hall.

I stood there for a few seconds, wondering if I had overstepped my mark, but that smile pushed all other thoughts away, I had made him smile, for one brief moment. I wanted to see that smile again.