Split Soul

Hello all! This is my first fanfic here on the Thor archives, and it's very Loki-centric! It has no pairings currently, although I'm toying with making it Loki/Sigyn. Any input on that matter would be much appreciated.

I haven't really read any of the comics and my knowledge of Norse Mythology is limited at best, so this is primarily movieverse and any references to events that occur in mythology will most likely be butchered. Updates will likely be sporadic, but I promise to end it eventually! By the way, for the sake of the story Aesir and Jotun age extremely slowly and once they reach movie-age they stop aging entirely.

Prelude

"Thor, get off me!"

"Shan't!"

Baldur sighed theatrically as he lifted his tiny younger brother off his feet and onto the floor.

"What is wrong, brother?"

Thor glowered at him, with all the rage and betrayal that a toddler could feel.

"Take me with you!"

Baldur laughed easily, the musical sound filling the opulent hallway.

"Brother, you are far too young to go seeking the cursed blade with me. You and Loki must stay back to protect Asgard while I am gone."

Thor's brow furrowed in concentration, no doubt considering this point. After a moment, he nodded sulkily and retreated, calling loudly for his younger brother, telling him that they were in charge of Asgard's defences while Baldur was away. Chuckling fondly to himself, the eldest prince hefted Mjollnir and made his way to the throne room to pay his respects to the AllFather before departing. Odin glared at him as he entered, still displeased with the young prince's decision to search for the greatest of all Asgard's lost treasures. Wasting no time with greetings, the king of the Aesir instantly began his tirade.

"You are an arrogant fool! The sword was sealed for a reason, Baldur, and even you are not powerful enough to seek it out! Even I, at my darkest moments during the Jotunheim War, never considered hunting it down…And when you find it you will understand why. The Blade is powerful, to be sure, but the weapon was forged to slay the Gods themselves, and it will stop at nothing to make its original purpose, its original dream, reality!"

Baldur, angered and hurt by his father's apparent disregard of his abilities, snorted loudly.

"Hah! The way you speak of it, one would think that the thing was alive! I swear to you father, no matter what trials we face, I will bring the blade back to us-and then the Jotun will never dare trouble us again!"

Odin groaned a deep, heartfelt sound that made Baldur feel a rush of guilt.

"Very well, my boy. Know that I only allow this due to the power your mother has imbued you with-perhaps the magic of Asgard's love for you will hold true, even against that greatest of evils. I wish you luck in your endeavours."

Baldur, overjoyed by his father's consent, laughed wildly.

"I thank you, father! I promise you, your trust in me is not misplaced!"

Odin sighed affectionately, eye twinkling with amusement.

"Now run along my son, before your exuberance tires these old bones too much. Be careful."

a few hours later

Fully armed and flanked by a host of Aesir warriors, Baldur charged down towards the Bifrost on horseback. Heimdall, having already been informed of the circumstances surrounding Baldur's quest, simply inclined his head respectfully towards the Aesir prince and activated the Bifrost. Seconds after their departure, Frigga came rushing down, wailing loudly-the two younger princes at her side. The normally unflappable Heimdall was shocked at this bizarre turn of events and hurried over to the AllFather's side.

"Lady Frigga, what ails you?"

Frigga, turned pale as her youngest son, answered in a hoarse voice.

"My boy rides to his death. Heimdall, I have seen his fate! I beg of you, call him back!"

Heimdall stayed still, considering.

"My lady, your magic protects the royal family, rendering Baldur invulnerable, even to the Blade itself. Sure-"

Before Heimdall could finish his sentence, Frigga interrupted loudly.

"No Heimdall, the Blade is beyond even my magic. We must call him back!"

Heimdall's eyes glowed briefly as he viewed each realm, searching for the prince-to no avail.

"My lady, he is beyond my sight and my aid-he and his warriors have entered the Mausoleum of Bor. The rest is up to him now."

Frigga's heartrending wail was so loud, it seemed to the young Thor and Loki that it must have been heard in all of the nine realms…

Deep in burning Muspelheim, Surtr stirs….

Below mighty Yggdrasil, Nidhogg stirs…

Baldur and his troop were never seen again, and the Mausoleum of Bor was struck off every map in Asgard. The people mourned for years, and even the miraculous, mysterious, return of blessed Mjollnir could do little to assuage their grief…And never again was the Cursed Blade spoken of. Never again was Ragnarök almighty spoken of…Odin frowned heavily on the minstrels and bards who dared sing of it, and over time the Blade was all but forgotten, lost to the annals of time. Odin and Thor put the incident out of mind, Odin out of grief and Thor simply due to his youth. Young, clever Loki, however, remembered. And long after the incident long after even he had lost all hope of recovering the Blade and saving his lost brother, when he finally ascended the throne he had once so coveted, his desire for a weapon to surpass Mjollnir flared up once more...

Apologies for the short chapter, 'tis but a prologue! I really hope you enjoyed it-reviews are, as ever, highly appreciated.