Of Kings and Queens

Prologue

Loki, Queen of Jotunhimr, watched Odin arrive at their chosen meeting place, hidden from sight;

This may be neutral ground but that did not make her any less wary of a trap.

He stood alone without armour, or Gungnir as they had both agreed to.

For all his splendour and visible power the King of Asgard looked tired and worn, as if stretched too thin.

He had not mentioned in his bird sent missive, what it was that he wanted from her. Only that he needed her help, that no one else would be able to help but her. She didn't much care for the man, but having the Allfather in her debt would be advantageous. Deciding she had let him stew long enough, she stepped into the clearing.

Lesser men would have startled at her sudden appearance, as it was Odin merely bowed from the shoulders. "Queen Loki."

The silence of the surrounding forest enveloped them. Several times Odin opened his mouth to speak, only to close it again and sigh. Loki frowned; this was not the behaviour of a well-seasoned king such as Odin was.

After the fourth open and close Loki decided to help things along. "Your message seemed urgent Allfather, though I must conclude you to be truly desperate to come to me for help." There; get the conversation going while being sufficiently insulting; as he would expect from her.

"It is. I am." Even his tone seemed tired. "Understand Lady Loki, I love my son." He finally began, staring off into the forest behind her. "Perhaps to a fault." He admitted quietly.

Thor? What did that bumbling oaf have to do with anything? She may grudgingly respect the King before her and his Queen, but their… Spawn. Was nothing but a spoiled brat that went around smashing things, along with his band of sycophants: The Moronic Four.

Oblivious to her damning thoughts of his son, Odin continued. "He is of the age that his mother and I agreed that we would step down and allow Thor to take up the mantle of Protector of the Nine Realms. However, I look at him now and I know that he's not ready. If he became King now, he would ruin the peace that we have held for so long. A fine warrior he may be, but that is such a small part of ruling. Right now he only thinks in terms of war. And those friends of his are no help."

Loki frowned. "You're not exactly telling me anything I don't know Allfather. Many times over the years I have had emissaries of other Realms come to me for aid after your overzealous son has 'visited' them. I fail to see what I can do."

Only now did Odin meet her gaze, and most disturbingly she saw hope there. "I would see him tested. Give him one last chance…" He paused.

The hope in his eyes increased, Loki's hackles rose and she made ready to teleport herself away.

"…I am aware that you have the ability to create illusions. I would have you come to Asgard and make one of Jotuns breaking into our vault."

Loki let a single eyebrow rise.

"Have the Destroyer 'take care' of them and study his reaction. If he pauses and leaves it well alone, then I will allow him to become King."

Loki let her face fall blank once again and asked. "And if he should fail?"

Odin's shoulders sagged. "Then I shall disown him and relieve him of his powers, until such a time as he learns what it is to truly be a King."

Loki straightened to look down at Odin. "And what would my people and I gain from this?"

When Odin met her eye this time, they were full of a myriad of emotions, chief among them: Shame.

"Just after the war with your father, I often second guessed my decision to remove the Casket of Winters from Jotunhimr. I knew what it would do to your Realm, to your people. But your father-" Odin wisely stopped himself. "But then you were born, and your people pulled themselves out of the madness that made them attack Midgard. Over the last millennia I have seen you crowned before your first century, seen you pull your people out of despair, repair your Realm and make Jotunhimr a respected trader again. You have always known what it takes to be a ruler. So in return, if you did this for me Queen Loki, I would return the Casket of Winters to Jotunhimr."

Loki's mind came to a complete stop. Whatever she had been expecting it hadn't been that. Her mind began to overflow with the possibilities but she stopped herself before she could get completely carried away; Odin was a trickster in his own right. He couldn't be trusted to keep his word.

She narrowed her eyes at the old man before her. "There's no promise you can make that I can trust Allfather. Especially with the Relic of my people."

Odin didn't miss a beat, he knew to expect her distrust. "Would you trust a blood oath, laid down here and now?"

For the second time in one night, Loki felt her mind stutter to a stop. 'So this is what a truly desperate man looks like.' She mused "Here and now?" She asked.

Odin nodded once as he produced a small dagger from his belt and sliced a neat line across his palm. Loki took out her own blade and did the same, a little unnerved at his willingness to do so. Binding magics were nothing to scoff at, let alone a blood binding.

"Do you Odin Borson swear to bequeath to me; Loki Laufeysdottir the Casket of winters after I have completed the task of teaching Thor Odinson the lesson of Kingship?"

Loki held out her bleeding palm. Unsure if he would truly go trough with it.

He took it without hesitation. "I swear, so to do."

With the words spoken the magic took hold, mixing her green to his red blood to create a golden glow, binding their vow. Now if they did not deliver, their lives would be forfeit.

They let go of each other's hand to inspect the scar that would remain until the vow was met.

"When will this test take place?"

Odin looked up from his hand to her. "During his coronation ceremony when his ego is at its highest."

'That's when I would do it.'She thought looking at the fellow Trickster. "I will have to be on Asgard for the illusion to hold."

Odin looked thoughtful. "You can arrive without aid of the Bifrost" It wasn't a question. "Arrive the night before; Frigga will have a room prepared for you."

Loki nodded once in parting. "Very well Allfather. Until then."

Odin bowed once more. "Queen Loki."

With nothing more to be said, Loki teleported herself home to her Throne room, she sat and ruminated over her unexpectedly fruitful meeting. She could taste change in the air, changes that would elevate her people throughout the Nine Realms. Changes she would have a hand in. Loki allowed herself self-satisfied smirk.

She looked forward to the game.

.

A.N:

I've been lurking on this site for a couple of years now just reading some of the great stuff on it. And while this is not the first fic I've written, its the first one I've put on this forum which is a bit nerve-wracking.

Constructive criticism is welcome and if you notice typos please point them out as I have no beta and after a while you stop noticing them.

All the usual disclaimers, I mean who are we kidding would we be here if we actually had anything to do with the writing process of our beloved movies books and series?

Thanks For Reading,

Oz