Chapter 1
A New King
"But the day will come when one of you will have to defend the peace." Odin walks towards the Casket of Ancient Winters, Thor Loki and Aneta behind him. Aneta pipes up from her place between the boys, Loki on her right, Thor on her left.
"Do the Frost Giants still live?" she questions, eyes wide with mild fear as Thor puts an arm around her neck, brandishing an invisible sword.
"When I am king, I will hunt the monsters down and slay them all, then return to await a kiss from my queen." he turns to Odin. "Just as you did, Father." Aneta giggles and moves away from Thor shaking her head as she moves closer to a gently grinning Loki, who manages to touch the girl's ponytail briefly.
"A wise king never seeks out war. But, he must always be ready for it." Odin reminds Thor for what feels like the dozenth time before turning to walk away.
Aneta, Loki and Thor look to each other flashing a grin to each other before the two boys run off after their father, leaving their friend to trail behind. Loki stops and turns to face her.
"Brother, wait for Nettie!" he calls to the eldest of the three, reaching over to grab the girl's hand before running her back towards both Thor and Odin.
"I'm ready, Father." Thor declares as he takes Odin's hand.
"So am I." Loki replies, following suite, still keeping a hold of Aneta's hand with a small smile.
"Only one of you can ascend to the throne." Odin points out. "But, you were both born to be kings." Aneta flashes Loki a small smile.
"You deserve to be king." she tells him, earning a smile in return.
"The first thing I'd do as king is to make you a queen." Loki whispers to her, conjuring a pink carnation to tuck in the blonde's hair. "And it will be you and I."
"You and I against the Nine Realms." Aneta confirms as Thor rejoins the two and gets between them.
"It'll be one for all and all for one, no matter who is king." Thor declares, putting an arm around both his brother and his friend.
"Until Hel freezes over." the three say together laughing before running back off to play.
...
PRESENT DAY
Staring at the carnation gifted to me so long ago, I can't help but flash a smile as I touch the still soft petals. Even after all these years, magic never fails to impress me.
As I reach for the hairbrush at my vanity, the smile vanishes, realizing what is to lie ahead on this of all days. Thor's coronation.
As happy as I am that my friend would become king, the man that he has become is nowhere near capable of such a burden as the throne without going to war with anyone who dare anger the God of Thunder. A king should not be that quick to enrage, nor as arrogant as he could be.
And yet, I am not the one to sway the Allfather towards removing Thor from his place as King, nor am I to try to convince him the younger brother may be more worthy to burden the weight.
"Nettie..." Speak of the devil. I set the brush down and turn in my stool to face the heavy door.
"Come in." my voice is soft, barely audible. I reach up to tighten the corset of the pale blue dress as I hear the creak of the door. Almost as soon as the door shuts again, the brush weasles its way from my grip and begins to brush my hair out on its own. I can't help but smile, looking up in the mirror.
"Loki." I murmur, turning to look at him properly, his horned helmet coming off as I do so.
"I had attempted to prepare for the sight I would see..." he starts with a small mischievious grin, setting his helmet on my dresser before moving forward to touch my cheek. "But nothing could prepare me for the indescribable beauty before me. To say you look radiant would be an insult." my cheeks flare pink as I stand to my full height, barely touching his collarbone with the top of my head.
"Are you trying to flatter me, Silver Tongue?" I ask, raising an eyebrow with a dull blush painting my cheeks.
"It isn't flattery when I am being sincere." Loki points out, reaching out to touch the soft golden lock released by the enchanted hairbrush, letting it drop to its regular place over my shoulder and resting by my waist.
"And this is why you could have any woman in Asgard." I laugh shaking my head as I step away.
"Now, why would I waste my time with them?" Loki questions, pulling my hair from my face and putting his hands at my shoulders. "When there is a beautiful girl with a voice from Valhalla and a devilish sweet tooth much more worthy of my time? Speaking of sweet tooth..." a hand leaves my shoulder and conjures a small piece of chocolate cake. "I managed to smuggle this from the kitchens."
My cheeks manage to flare pink as I turn to take the plate, conjuring a second fork and handing it to Loki as I move over. "It is truly a marvel how neither of us have had our ears boxed by the kitchen hands." I joke as Loki slips in beside me to eat our prize.
"Perhaps it is mainly due to my being a prince." Loki hums, taking a forkful for himself as I follow soon after. "Perhaps they figured once one of us learned more magic that I would ensure they'd pay for striking either one of us."
"For you, it isn't that far from the truth." I laugh and shake my head, taking the enchanted brush from my hair and setting it aside.
"Something is troubling you, Net." the laugh dies in my throat as Loki makes the observation. I suck my lower lip into my teeth, remaining silent before Loki puts a hand at my shoulder. "Tell me, Nettie. I don't want to look into your mind to find out." I sigh, taking a breath.
"If I say anything, it will stay between us?" I ask, glancing to him.
"On my honor." Loki raises a hand flashing his typical mischievous smirk.
"I mean it, Loki. No one must know. Especially not Thor or your father." I tell him. "For once, don't be the God of Mischief and listen to me." my tone erases Loki's smirk and he gives a nod.
"Your secret is safe with me. Like all the rest." a small smile touches my face. "Now, tell me. It isn't healthy to keep something bottled up." once again, I take a deep breath.
"I worry about what the future holds with Thor as king." I admit. "We both know he is ill suited for such a..." I pause, wondering the proper wording to use.
"A diplomatic position? Title, along with the political aspects of ruling and keeping peace to the Nine Realms?" Loki suggests. "I assure you, Aneta, if your grandfather retains his position as adviser as he says he will, my brother will not pose immediate threat to them."
"My grandfather is not long for this world." I admit, voice cracking. "Once he is gone, no one will be able to stop Thor from declaring a war on anyone with a, as he so eloquently put it 'a hittable face.'"
"Is Thor's imminent rule all that upsets you?" Loki asks. "Or is it your grandmother's ailing health?" I bite my lip.
"Both." I admit. "My grandfather won't be long after my grandmother dies. And after that..." I pause to try to keep tears at bay. It had been so long since I had known true family, that I could remember none but the grandparents that raised me, and the few aunts and uncles here. My parents, I was told time and again, had perished when I was an infant.
"If your worry is to be alone, I will promise you this:" Loki turns my head to look him in the eye. "Hear this, and hear this well. I, Loki, son of Odin, prince of Asgard and God of Mischief, swear to you, here and now on the life of my mother, that no matter what happens, our vow as children stands. As it once was, it will always be you and I against the Nine Realms, past Ragnarok, past my death and until Hel itself freezes over."
The smile I had lost during my worried ranting slowly returns. Before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around Loki's neck, squeezing my eyes shut as I hug him. "Thank you." I whisper softly, voice still brittle from keeping the flood at bay.
"No need to thank me." Loki grins, pulling me away to look me in the eye. "Unless you want to go for a kiss." I laugh and playfully shove him, slowly turning pink.
"Stop it." I giggle standing up. "Your mother will kill us both if we're late to the ceremony." I mention, looking to the window as I hear the trumpets start to blare.
"Damn, you're right." Loki stands. "We need to hurry. I only just convinced mother to let you join us up front." he grabs my hand and runs out of my room, towing me along behind him as I barely have time to grab the bronze and emerald cuff of mine, and to wrap a hand around one of the horns in Loki's helmet.
"Loki...you're forgetting something." I tell him as he continues to run, leaving me almost flying behind him in a scramble to keep up.
"What's that?" Loki asks, turning to look at me and stopping. "Oh..." he can't help but laugh as he reaches over and takes his helmet, slipping it back on. "What would I do without you?" I can't help but giggle through labored breaths. "You alright?"
"Short legs aren't meant to run." I joke.
"You aren't that short." Loki smiles softly, putting an arm around my waist. "Hang on." I shriek as Loki once again breaks into a run until we reach the doors of the throne room. "Ta-da." he smirks, setting me down and offering his arm as I smooth my hair down. "Shall we?"
"Absolutely." I link my arm through his with a tiny grin as we hurry through to the throne.
"Stealing kisses there, Aneta?" Sif mutters as we take our places, me between her and Loki.
"Oh, be quiet." I whisper to her, casting her a look. Being friends with Thor and Loki is great, but Sif has always been the one I turn to when it comes to most female happenings. And the more I talk to her about Loki, the more I regret it.
"Is that a yes?" she raises an eyebrow with a grin.
"It's a no and a 'mind your own business.'" I reply, looking up to the throne where Odin sits.
"Damn. I owe Fandral money." Sif shakes her head.
"I wish you and the Warriors Three would stop placing bets about my love life." I admit shaking my head.
"Four." Sif corrects. "Thor has money on you two kissing before the day is out." she adds. My eyes widen.
"I'll kill him." I scowl as the doors burst open.
"Hogun gives it another century." she points out.
"I don't care. Stop wagering on my relationships."
"I ought to, I'm losing more and more as the decades go by. I thought you'd have at least told him that you love him by now." the colour drains from my face and I turn to glare at her.
"Shhh! Don't spread it around!" Thankfully our last back and forth is drowned out by the crowd cheering. I turn to look up the aisleway to see Thor brandishing his hammer Mjolnir and playing up the crowd, pointing over to Sif, who rolls her eyes, elbowing me in the sides.
"I still don't see what you can't see in Thor." she adds.
"Thor is an older brother to me. Nothing more." I tell her for what feels like the millionth time.
"And Loki isn't?" I flash her a look.
"Shut up." I hiss as Thor kneels before the throne, flashing a wink at the Allmother.
"Everyone knows you love Loki but him!" Sif almost shouts. I go to slap her, only to be jolted when Odin bangs his staff on the ground, bringing the room to silence.
"We shall discuss this later." I mutter as Odin speaks.
"Thor Odinson, my heir, my firstborn," Odin pauses as I purse my lips, glancing at Loki's near grimace. I reach over and gently take his hand.
"It's alright." I whisper.
"So long entrusted with the mighty hammer, Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal. As a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build. 'Tis a fitting companion for a king..." once again, I can't help but look to Loki, who squeezes my hand and glances over to me.
"Tell him you love him or so help me, I will." Sif whispers in my ear.
"Sif, shut up." I tell her again flashing a hopefully consoling smile at Loki. The sentiment given as a child all those years ago still rings true today. Loki would make a far superior king than Thor. As much as it pains me to think so, Thor is far too violent, to put it nicely, to take such a position of peacekeeping.
"Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?" Odin asks Thor.
"I swear." Thor replies, not missing a beat.
"And do you swear to preserve the peace?" Odin inquires.
"I swear." Liar.
"And do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition, and to pledge yourself only to the good of the Realm?" Odin inquires, strangely more fervid than before.
"I swear!" Thor declares loudly, holding Mjolnir aloft.
"Then on this day, I, Odin Allfather, proclaim you," I close my eyes, waiting for the final declaration; the possible undoing of Asgard, when Odin stops. I look over to the king that sees all, wondering what could be the delay.
It takes several moments of uneasy tension for the Allfather to once again speak, but this time, the words are not for the future, or for the past. It is the here and now that strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear them.
"Frost Giants."
The reaction is swift, another bang of the staff as everyone in the crowd huddles together in near terror, some watching the door for the dreaded blue skinned invaders. Thor immediately stands as Odin starts from the room, causing Loki to let go and start after the two. I start to go after him only for Loki to turn around.
"Stay here, Nettie." Loki tells me.
"But -" I start.
"I said to stay here. The Destroyer is doing its job. But it may fail. I don't want you down there if it does. Stay here. I will be back." with that, he turns and leaves. Sif manages a small grin before starting back to the Warriors Three.
"And it looks like he loves you too."
