Another coda to "Thor: The Dark World"


The courtiers of Asgard bowed as they watched Odin All-Father stalk away from the throne room. He waved off followers impatiently. No one wished to annoy him in this mood. He had been quiet and withdrawn since the death of Queen Frigga. So they watched him leave, worry in their eyes.

The figure walked through the hallways of the palace, deeper and deeper into the sprawling structure. He came to a pillar and walked through it, disappearing from the hall. He walked down the spiraling steps until he came to a large chamber.

An older, but powerfully built man lounged on a bed behind a transparent barrier, a book in his hand. He looked up, a genial smile on his face.

"Good evening, Loki. How fare you?" asked Odin. There was not a trace of sarcasm or anger in his tone and manner, only polite interest.

"Seven hours," Loki said, hitting his head against a pillar. "Seven mind-numbing hours with the Brewers' Guild on the possibility of importing new hops strains from Midgard. Seven hours I will never get back."

"Seven hours, you say?" said Odin.

"Yes, seven horrible, boring hours," said Loki, still punctuating every word by banging his head on the unyielding stone.

"I congratulate you, son," said Odin cheerfully. "I could never manage to get them out of the Great Hall in less than nine."

"Don't call me son," snapped Loki. It was a reflex by now.

"I am quite serious. Seven hours is an accomplishment. You didn't turn them into toads, did you? It might relieve your feelings, but trying to explain to the realms the lack of beer and mead, well, that isn't something I would want to do."

"No, I didn't turn them into toads. But why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what? That the guild masters tend to be long winded? I would have thought you would have noticed that over the years."

Loki waved his arms in frustration. "Not just that! Everything! The constant debates and bickering over the most minor of issues. The boring meetings! The petty squabbling over taxes, who should pay how much and who is most worthy to use them. Why didn't you tell me?" The last sentence was almost a wail.

"You saw what you wished to see, Loki. You saw the deference paid to the ruler, you saw the pomp and circumstance, but you looked past all the work that went with that."

"But the king may do as he will," exclaimed Loki.

Odin raised one eyebrow. "Truly you think that? Then why didn't you change the masters of the guild into rats or something worse?"

Loki sputtered, "I wanted to, I did. But it didn't seem, I mean it wouldn't be..." he trailed off helplessly.

"Kingly?" suggest Odin gently.

Loki was silent for some moments. Then his face hardened, yet there did seem to be some doubt in his eyes.

"You are trying to trick me into releasing you!"

"Me? No, I am rather enjoying my rest here. I haven't had, what is the Midgard word, ah yes, a vacation, in centuries. Continue. You will find your way, in time."

Loki gave Odin a look of loathing, and, with an exclamation of disgust, spun around and disappeared back up the stairs.

There was silence for a a few moments after Loki left. Then there was an almost inperceptible squeaking sound as a hidden door swung open. A man in sober court clothing slipped through.

"Odin-king, please, come back. Take back your throne from the usurper."

Odin smiled. "Now, when the lesson he must learn is just starting to take? No, I think a few more weeks may be needed. Until then, continue to provide me with new reading materials. Some more Midgard histories, perhaps?"


The source of the title:

Spock: Stonn. She is yours. After a time, you may find that having in not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but is is often true. "Star Trek", "Amok Time"