Chapter 1: Close Call
Loki of Asgard ran into his bedroom excitedly, he had to get changed into warmer clothes if he wanted to go to Jotunheim. His plan was working better than he ever thought it would! All he had hoped was for Odin to hear Thor whining like a child about how unfair his life was. Now however Thor was leaping over the invisible line! He had insisted that they go to Jotunheim against Odin's direct orders to confront Laufey!
Loki could sing he was so gleeful. Thor would not ascend the throne anytime soon for this stunt, and Asgard would be safe from his idiotic rule for a few centuries more. It wasn't that Loki wanted the throne he just didn't think Thor was ready to take it. Odin would never hear a word against Thor so Loki had to be cunning.
He found a way to open a portal between Jotunheim and Asgard's weapons vault to allow the frost giants immediate access to the Casket of Ancient Winters.
Loki pulled on warmer trousers and a warm vest before he pulled on his warm fleece lined coat. He was ready to go. All he had to do was ensure that they never made it to Laufey and all would be well, he approached one of the guards outside his rooms.
"Guard, my brother and his friends have decided to go to Jotunheim, I am accompanying them. Watch us, once we leave the palace run and inform Odin of our whereabouts do you understand?"
"Yes my prince." The Guard bowed.
Loki smiled and walked quickly to the stables.
Odin was in Frigga's rooms ranting about Thor's behaviour after the failed coronation.
"You would think that after all the time and energy we put into raising a king we would have one!" he grumbled angrily, Frigga just shook her head disdainfully.
"Well husband he is our son, we should have expected this."
Odin rounded on her with an ugly expression marring his features. Frigga flinched and jumped back a bit nervously. Odin immediately knelt in front of her and held her hands tenderly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you…." He murmured softly.
Frigga felt herself relaxing again and Odin smiled kindly at her. He stroked her hands comfortingly.
"What shall we do about Thor?" Frigga asked quietly.
"I don't know, it was a show of temper which I believe he meant to impress me. He is a boy, he will learn in the next few years to temper himself. I will not punish him for it; he will simply have to wait for the throne a little longer." Odin sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist, he rested his head on her breasts and Frigga ran her fingers through his hair.
"I am glad my husband, Thor is a foolish boy but he means well. He could never disobey us with malicious or spiteful intent." Frigga smiled as Odin nodded in response.
"Yes I-"
"My king and queen! The prince's and their companions have gone to Jotunheim to confront the frost giants!" the guard who raced into Frigga's chambers was a young recruit who had been stationed outside of Loki's chambers.
Frigga stared in shock as her husband used magic to summon his armour onto his body and rushed from her rooms. She shook her head nervously; hopefully he would find the boys before Laufey did.
Loki's second plan hadn't gone as he hoped. They had somehow arrived in Jotunheim before Odin could catch up to them. Naturally Thor led them into Laufey's palace and confronted the king.
"How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor boomed angrily.
"The house of Odin is full of traitors…" Laufey purred quietly.
"Do not dishonour my father's name with your lies!" Thor shouted at the king furiously.
"You father is a murderer and a thief! If you knew the true extent of damage he has wrought here you would be ashamed to be his son!" Laufey towered over them suddenly.
His face softened slightly. "You know not what your actions will unleash. I do. Go now while I still allow it."
Loki slid forwards quietly. "We will accept your most gracious offer king Laufey. Come Thor."
Loki was sure the look Thor shot at him was colder than the realm around them and he shivered before turning and walking back to his brothers friends.
"Run back home lil princess." Thrym murmured playfully, grinning at Thor.
The eldest son of Odin grinned and swung mjolnir straight into the giants chest. Chaos broke out.
Loki rushed to create his doppelgangers to confuse the beasts while Thor and his friends set about bashing the giants skulls in. Laufey it seemed had called up a beast through the ice to kill them and Loki watched in horror as it ran straight at him. He ducked and the beast jumped onto a frost giant who had been ambushing him. Loki turned and stared in disgust as the claws dug into the giants flesh.
A hard chest is what he backed into and two huge arms came into his field of vision. Loki spun and moved to strike the giant in the face with his dagger but the other grabbed his wrist and they stared in mutual shock as Loki's arm turned blue.
Suddenly Laufey shouted in rage and caught Loki's attention, the king was staring down at him furiously and Loki gasped as the king approached quickly. Loki stabbed his captor and shouted for Thor.
"Thor! We must go!"
"Then go!" Thor shouted back in his bloodlust.
Loki saw Laufey shoving his way over and didn't need telling twice.
"Go! GO!" he shouted to the warriors and they set off at a run to escape the following frost giants.
The beast made an appearance again, running beside them suddenly, but this time with Laufey astride. His big hand was reaching out to grab Loki and the prince did the only thing he could think of.
Teleport to the other side of the group.
Loki almost laughed to hear Laufey's frustrated yell but kept running as fast as he could.
They arrived at the Bifrost sight and screamed for Heimdall but Laufey was right there.
"You! You stay where you are, you're not leaving this realm again you insufferable little-!"
WOOOOHHOOOO! The Bifrost wailed and the Allfather was set upon the icy ground upon Sleipnir.
'Well that's what happens when you have to make a plan on the spot!' he scolded himself as he watched Laufey approach Odin.
"Laufey! You and I can end this now before there is further bloodshed."
"We are beyond Diplomacy now Allfather. Your beastly son comes in search of war with the land you destroyed. The salt in my wounds is discovering that you stole something far more precious than the Casket from me! My betrothed, my mate, and my frostfemme who we thought you had killed. Give him to me, he is mine!"
"Would that satisfy you Laufey? The return of the boy I mistook to be your child?"
"Yes, I need him here Allfather, I need a mate who will bear powerful young for me. I shall say it once more! Give me Loki!"
Shock, icy coldness swept through the young prince and he found himself laughing feebly in shock and horror.
"What!? Father he must be delusional, he is insane! I am your son, don't listen to his lies!" Odin held up a hand to Loki, silencing the disbelieving laughter that sprouted from his lips in that anxious moment.
"Silence! Laufey, would the return of Loki ensure permanent peace between us?"
Laufey didn't even blink "Yes, however I want the Casket to be returned as a Morning After gift."
Odin nodded gravely. "I cannot give it to you so soon Laufey, I trust you know of the natural way of such deals? When you have a son by your marriage the Casket will be returned. I shall take these children back to Asgard and return tomorrow to discuss the arrangements with you. They shall pay for their insolence I assure you."
Laufey growled sharply in response. "Loki stays."
Silence as Odin turns slowly to look at Loki and watches him carefully. Loki is panicking; he hyperventilates and stares in horror at his father, eyes pleading for Odin to take him home. The glint in his father's eye told him he might not get his wish.
"No I feel it would be better if Loki can come home to Asgard and prepare himself for the wedding surrounded by family. You understand it would make the transition easier."
"No! In Asgard he could become impure! If he returns with you it is only after I claim him."
The kings stared at each other silently, each challenging the other to back down or cause war. Odin nodded "Very well. We shall make our way to your palace Laufey."
Loki whispered in absolute horror with his eyes still pinned on Odin. "What?" Shaking his head slowly in disbelief.
"Father you cannot allow this! Loki is only just of age!" Thor yelled on Loki's behalf.
"Silence Thor. I am your king and I am Loki's king, both of you will do as I order!"
Laufey stepped towards Loki and grabbed his arm tugging him towards the palace, smiling as he watched Loki's clothing freeze at his touch and Loki's skin turned blue.
Loki was shaking and stumbled often as they made their way back to Laufey's palace, the Jotnar walking behind them cheering and laughing and making rude jokes. Thor's friends had been sent back to Asgard to tell Frigga about what had happened and Loki felt more self-conscious and vulnerable than he had before. Thor was supposed to always protect him like he promised he would when they were children, but there was nothing he could do to save Loki from this.
The older prince walked next to him holding his free hand comfortingly. Loki was torn emotionally, unable to decide if he wanted to pull his hand away from Thor in anger or jump into his brother's arms for comfort.
The palace gates were behind him now and the great stair case which would lead to the royal chambers was right in front of him. Loki wanted to puke, he had just reached his majority a few days ago he still wanted some freedom before settling down and marrying, and he certainly wanted a few more centuries before he had to do this. This was a wife's duty! This was shameful and private and something Loki had always wanted to keep for his spouse.
'But Laufey is your spouse now isn't he? Odin said so…' a voice whispered in Loki's head and he shook it off angrily.
'I'm not his spouse! No he isn't married to me yet. He will never marry me if I have anything to say about it!'
The voice returned to sneer at Loki. 'And Odin? What will he say?'
Loki shook his head stubbornly. 'I don't care, he's my father he has to help me! He loves me...I know he does!'
'Then why isn't he helping you?' Loki fell still inside with a chilling realisation that maybe that little voice was right.
'Why won't you save me Ada?'
Loki heard a soft sound next to him and realised he had been staring at the stairs for a while. Laufey was getting impatient. He swallowed hard around the lump in his throat and took the first step. Then the second and third and fourth, finally six hundred steps up and they were walking down a passage way towards a set of doors Loki knew must be Laufey's rooms.
He felt the panic rising. 'I don't want this! I can't do this! Father help me! I can't think of a way out! This cannot happen, I cannot marry this beast! I don't love him, mother wants me to marry for love!' he tried to tug his arm away from Laufey discreetly, he didn't want his father to see him fighting against Laufey, it would mean he was disobeying Odin. Laufey gripped his arm harder and tugged him roughly forward, one hand pressing on the door to the left, opening it wide.
Laufey pulled Loki forward, and Loki set his feet into the ground, 'I am not going in there! I am not going to give myself to this monster! Odin can execute me for treason, I don't care, I don't want this! I am not ready, I don't like Laufey, I am just a child! Odin called us children just now, there's my proof! I am just a child! Father please I'm not ready! Father I'm frightened, stop him!'
Loki could feel warm tears on his cheeks and he dealt one hit to Laufey's large hand, he was panting in his mind numbing fear and anger.
"Come on!" Laufey growled irritably picking Loki up by the arm and putting him over his shoulder.
Loki could see Odin, could see no remorse on his father's face, and could see no sympathy or care; it stung him to the core. Thor looked upset and hand Mjolnir gripped tightly in his hand as he looked sadly at Loki.
"Father! Please don't let him! Why won't you help me? Please!" Loki choked and cried as Laufey carried him into the room.
The door shut in their faces and Loki was alone with Laufey, the king carried him to the large icy brick in the centre of the far wall, it was covered in soft looking furs which would have looked inviting if Loki had wanted to be there.
Laufey set him down on the bed and tugged at his clothes which had frozen and just fell away as a result. Laufey pushed Loki back on the bed and moved to kneel above him.
"It has been too long. You are very different to how I remember you, much quieter now." Laufey leaned down to whisper in Loki's ear. "I hope to change that."
Loki shivered in disgust and felt his panic renewed when Laufey suddenly moved his hand to touch Loki between his legs.
"Pity the Allfather never truly cared for learning about his enemies. Once we mate you will never be able to leave Jotunheim without me; the bonding spell won't allow us to be realms apart. We shall remain here forever and you shall always be heavy with our younglings, I would hate to have you any other way."
Loki gasped, Laufey had tricked Odin!
'I have to do something! A spell, there must be a spell! I know!'
Loki concentrated as best he could and managed to discretely transport his real form to hide behind the curtains of the balcony, leaving a very solid double in his place. Laufey was unaware of this change and continued to touch and caress the double. It seemed that it would work until Laufey noticed one tiny detail Loki hadn't known about. The double wasn't getting wet. The frostfemme would become moist when stimulated whether they wanted to mate or not and the absence of this made Laufey frown and murmur a spell of his own.
The spell would allow him to see the aura of his mate, but when he looked at the double there was no aura.
'An illusion!'
He roared in fury bringing his fists down on it, destroying the fake Loki completely. He turned and began to tear the room apart looking for Loki who gasped in horror and turned quickly to look over the edge of the balcony. It was a long drop but he would survive it with a little magic.
The curtains were torn down behind him and he looked over his shoulder at the furious Laufey and made his choice. Loki jumped and landed on the curved roof below skidding down it and jumping to the next roof until his feet met the ground and he began to run as fast as his feet could take him towards the Bifrost.
"Heimdall take me home!" he called desperately.
There was no light or sound, and Loki felt his heart sink into his stomach.
'I've been abandoned.'
A flash and Loki was on the Bifrost speeding towards Asgard and he sobbed in relief and whispered a prayer to Heimdall.
"Thank you."
Odin's heart was in turmoil when Laufey demanded Loki's return. Loki was his son and he loved him but Odin knew he would understand that sacrifices must be made when you are royalty. If giving Loki to Laufey would bring peace then Odin would do it.
He didn't expect Laufey to want Loki immediately but saw his reasoning; if Loki could find a way to soil his purity so Laufey wouldn't take him he would make use of it.
Still he wished he could take Loki somewhere familiar for a few weeks to help him become accustomed to the idea.
Now Loki was being pulled into the kings bedchambers by Laufey so that he could be claimed by the giant. His son stared at him with those large tearful green eyes and Odin almost called him back to take him home, but he knew he couldn't, that would cause a war and that was the last thing Odin wanted with Jotunheim.
Loki called to him though and it shattered his heart at last. '"Why won't you help me?"'
Loki's words rang in his ears sharply stinging him to the core, he was a bad father, he had failed to protect his son.
A roared boomed from within the room and they heard things being thrown and crushed, a ripping sound followed by another roar announced the exit of the king into the corridor. Laufey grabbed Odin and shook him hard.
"You betray me! He leapt off of the balcony to run from his fate! Like father like son!" the furious giant snarled at him stopping to glare out the window as Bifrost flared.
"Come Laufey we will follow Loki to Asgard. He has no doubt gone to hide there."
Lady Sif and the Warriors Three stood on the Bifrost trying to decide whether or not to tell the queen about Loki's fate. The Warriors were all for going straight to her.
Sif wasn't agreeable. "The queen is in a forced marriage, do you really want to be the ones to tell her that her son faces the same fate? Do you want to upset her when she has no one who can comfort her?"
Volstagg nodded wisely. "The Lady Sif is right; if it were my wife finding out about one of our children I would want her to have family to console her."
"We must get Fandral to the healers anyway; the ice went straight through his chest, he's lucky it seems to have missed his heart." Sif looked at the blond warrior and he nodded miserably.
"Aye lets go to the healers then we can approach the queen, hopefully Thor will have returned with Odin and Loki by the time we are patched up."
Frigga sat in her chambers sewing a tapestry and humming a soft tune to herself. Her hand maidens were fussing around her choosing fabrics and colours for her clothes and makeup the next day.
Her son Thor was meant to ascend the throne earlier that day but the frost giants had found a way into the weapons vault. Odin had come to her shortly after to ask her opinion about whether she thought Thor was ready for the throne. She knew Thor was brash and immature but clearly her husband was only really noticing the depth of it now.
Loki had taken the coronation better than she had expected. Her youngest was sweet and kind. Frigga smiled as she pictured Loki's innocent grin and bright eyes. Loki was a gentle boy, they had celebrated his majority a few days ago. Frigga had been tearful after the celebration and Odin had simply held her comfortingly. It was a combination of pride and mourning for her baby was now a man and he was free to leave and get into trouble just like Thor.
Frigga shook her head slowly, Loki was a man now and gentle and kind he may be but she knew there was an underlying spirit and cunning which would keep him safe no matter what. Loki could be cruel but it wasn't his most common expression, Frigga only hoped it would never become more than a trait which occasionally showed up.
Her baby was finally a man, she couldn't believe it. Odin seemed quite content but as a mother she would always see those huge green eyes and the two toothed grin as little feet settled flat on the floor and shaky little legs straightened, wobbling all the way over into her arms to be kissed and adored.
Frigga sighed sadly, Loki was grown now and Odin had already broached the subject of his future. As an intersex male he could be given in marriage to princes in other realms and Odin already had his eye on a few realms. Frigga was unhappy when he told her because she knew Loki wouldn't approve, Frigga had raised Loki to be with the one he loved only; he had seen the effects of her marriage.
As a warbride she had been very unhappy with Odin in her youth and conceived Thor very soon into the marriage. Frigga had taken a long time to adjust to Thor's existence; Odin had raised the boy for the first two years until he found Loki on Jotunheim because Frigga refused to have contact with a child born from greed.
Loki had come into her life shortly after Thor's birth and she took to him instantly. He was just like her; a stranger in a new realm with no one to talk to but those he was forced with.
When Loki came into her life Frigga began to spend time with Thor and she came to love her first born more than she ever thought she would.
Frigga's deep thoughts were suddenly disturbed by Loki running into her room stark naked in tears. Immediately she had him in her arms and he was telling her everything. She was shocked still as Loki sobbed away in her shoulder.
Odin rushed through the palace to his wife's chambers knowing it was where Loki would have gone first. Laufey was in a rage and had dragged his brother Thrym into Asgard with them as his only guard.
Odin could certainly understand the giant's fury; if it had been Frigga who had run from him like that he would be furious too.
'Oh but she did run remember?'
*Flashback starts* Frigga ran as fast as she could through the Asgardian palace trying to find a way to escape her husband. She had only been in Asgard for three weeks and already she just wanted to run as far away as she could. Forget everything Odin had done to her. Frigga wanted to scream and cry and beg and plead for mercy. She knew he wouldn't give her his mercy, he wanted a child and he wanted her.
Odin chased after her; she could hear his boots pounding on the marble floors and his deep voice calling her back, insisting that she return to their rooms so that they could talk. She wouldn't go back, she needed to run. She ran faster out of the palace and into the forest. She quickly climbed up a tree in the hopes that he hadn't seen and would run right past her. He did as she had hoped and she relaxed finally to take in a shuddering breathe and release it as a sob.
They had been bedding down every morning the last two weeks to try for an heir and the last four days they'd coupled at night too because Odin was stressed. Frigga was sick of it, sick of spending all night anxious because he would wake early in the morning to claim her before falling back to sleep for a few more hours. She was sick of fighting each morning helplessly against Odin's greater strength and begging meekly for him to leave her be. Frigga wanted to go home to her mother Nal and father Hurin.
It was pointless because Odin would never let her go home. Every time he took her she pleaded that she wanted to go home and he always murmured softly that she was home. She would cry that she wasn't and he would sigh and kiss her comfortingly.
Now she sat mournfully in a tree hoping that he wouldn't find her. Her life was different just two weeks ago. It was wonderful and innocent, of course prince Odin had changed it forever.
Frigga never wished more desperately that she had listened to a command from her father. If she'd listened none of this would have happened.
She had agreed to bed with Odin each morning so it was in part her own fault but she didn't care about that, she cared only about how tired she was of the stress and anxiety. Frigga felt worn and old and she just wanted to sleep for one single night and wake to find that it was just a nightmare.
She could hear Odin calling her name in the distance getting closer to her. She shifted nervously as he came into her line of sight, she had to be quiet and still if she was to avoid detection. Neither requirement could be met when a cold breeze made her shudder violently and the appearance of a giant spider certainly didn't help matters.
Frigga gave an unladylike squeak and scrambled back on the branch away from the spider, catching Odin's attention. Odin began to climb the tree after her and she screamed at him angrily and threw a fruit she found at his head. Odin ducked the fruit and continued to climb. Frigga's anger dissolved into exhausted sobs and Odin stop a little way below her and sat down on the branch. They didn't speak for a while, she sat mournfully above and Odin sat sympathetically below.
"Frigga why did you run? I wasn't hurting you." Odin said softly, staring at her sadly.
Frigga shook her head and stared at her hands in her lap. "I want to go home."
Odin sighed now "You are home."
"No I am not! This is your home, I want my home. Vanaheim. I want my parents." Frigga's voice broke sharply and she felt her tears resuming.
Odin was climbing closer slowly and he finally reached Frigga's branch. He sat beside her and looked at her closely.
"Frigga I wish I could allow you to return home to see your parents but it's not an option until we have our child. I wish we could have married under better circumstances…"
Frigga sniffled and Odin put an arm around her back to draw her close. "You'll be alright, I want to take care of you Frigga, I want you to be happy." *Flashback ends*
'Hopefully Loki and Laufey work this out like Frigga and I did. Oh but Loki will never let this slide, he's too proud to give in and do as he is told.' Odin sighed quietly as they came to the Royal wing of the palace.
Laufey was grumbling to Thrym in the language of the Jotnar, it had been years since Odin had heard anyone speak it but he got the gist.
"Loki is young brother, and you really sprung this on him…." Thrym was saying slowly.
"I don't care! That is no excuse to deceive me and disobey the man he calls father! And do you truly think he didn't know what he is? He would have been bringing up ice everywhere as soon as he was old enough, remember when he was just born and he hiccoughed?" Laufey looked at Thrym with a scowl.
The younger male laughed and shook his head. "I remember that! It was at his presentation ceremony. He brought the ice up from the ground and it cut the straps of your loin cloth in front of the court and you were bare before them all!"
Laufey glared at him murderously and slapped him on the back of his head.
Odin bit his lip to disguise his amusement. Loki had done that to Laufey? It was too priceless!
Thor didn't seem to have any idea what was going on but he got Thrym's attention.
"Ehehe Prince Thor one day when we have some more peace between our realms I will teach you our language. Oh the stories we shall share!" Thrym grinned at Thor easily and Thor seemed to relax a bit.
"Aye that would be most agreeable with me but I think we know Loki's opinion of peace between our realms."
Thrym shrugged carelessly. "He'll warm up to us, he just has bridal nerves!"
Thor laughed in disbelief and stared at Thrym in badly disguised curiosity. "You think so? I have never known Loki to be afraid of anything that didn't have eight legs and a million eyes."
Thrym frowned at Thor. "What manner of beast has eight legs and a million eyes and strikes fear into the heart of a frostfemme?"
Thor opened his mouth to answer but Thrym sniggered and waved a hand at him.
"Never mind he is a frostfemme. Enough said."
Thor scowled and so did Laufey.
"What you think because he isn't a frost giant he is a wuss?" Thor glared at Thrym.
The giant stared at Thor in surprise. "I didn-"
"Let me tell you, Loki is the bravest warrior I know! Certainly not skilled with weapons but brave nonetheless! His lack of skill with weapons combined with his insistence on fighting anyway makes him brave to my eyes! Never mind his fear of spiders! They frighten the bravest midwives! So just you mind what you say about my baby brother, because if you or anyone else thinks I will let Loki get bullied for things beyond his control there will be big trouble!" Thor ended his tirade and glared daggers at the two giants who both stood dead still looking at him.
Laufey looked at Thrym expectantly.
The younger prince sighed. "I'm sorry I insulted Loki's honour. However I am glad you stuck up for him."
Thor relaxed and gave a brisk nod to the two before continuing to walk.
Odin looked sideways at Thor, there was a deep pride welling in his chest as he watched Thor and Thrym start talking earnestly about something or the other.
Perhaps Thor would be a good king after all.
There he was, in Frigga's arms as Odin had suspected.
'Loki….'
