Thor awakens the next morning with a pounding headache. The position of the sun tells him it is late in the morning and he has most likely missed the morning meal. It is no matter. He isn't able to handle food at the moment anyway. He spends way too much time in the hot bath and dresses slowly. It is nearly time for the midday meal when he finally appears.

"My Prince you are so beautiful. I love your hair." Thor hears a maiden say from around the corner. Thor was heading to the dining hall when he passed by a little garden. The palace here has many. Thor is stunned when he sees Loki surrounded by four females and all of them are busy weaving flowers into his hair. Loki's hair, which was short yesterday, is now all the way down to his feet. He is wearing long green silk robes. The whole ensemble gives Loki a very feminine appearance. Thor has never seen anything like it. No man in Asgard would be caught dead dressed in such a fashion. He doesn't just look feminine, he looks….pretty. Moreover he is smiling ear to ear as he sits with a book of poetry in his lap, reading to the ladies with his manly tantalizing voice that for some reason just makes the whole scene erotic somehow.

"Loki." Thor says simply. Loki rises from his seat.

"Thor." Loki crosses his arms. Here it comes.

"You look nice today." Thor smiles a way that lets Loki know it is an insult.

"Thank you. The ladies certainly approve." Loki shoots back. "I'll see you at the council meeting later." Loki says.

"Council meeting?" Thor says surprised.

"Yes. While you were busy sleeping the day away I was busy orchestrating meetings with Vanaheim's merchants so that we can negotiate some new trade agreements. It is scheduled for 2 o'clock." Loki says triumphantly.

"I will be there." Thor says feeling stupid.

"Oh? On second thought your presence is not required Thor. Why don't you go horseback riding and explore the countryside. The meeting will only bore you." Loki says. Thor bristles. He knows that Loki is basically calling Thor useless and unnecessary and shewing him away like an unwanted intrusive child. Thor will be at that meeting. He will contribute and he will show Loki that he too can be diplomatic.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Thor is a fucking moron. The man has somehow managed to insult the dwarves, the elves, and the Vanir all in one sentence. Loki spends the entire meeting performing damage control. Every time the big oaf opens his mouth he brags about the might of Asgard, never mind that the might of Asgard comes from dwarf made weapons, elf made armor, and kept well fed by Vanir grown vegetables and Vanir brewed honey wine.

"My grandfather King Bor….." Thor begins….Loki cuts him off. The elves do not need to be reminded of their crushing defeat at the hands of their grandfather. Idiot!

"….did not appreciate the lightness and beauty of elfish armor like we do in Asgard today. His generation was weighed down by all that bulk of our old inferior armor. It is our hope to continue and expand on that contract. If you are amiable, of course." Loki says politely to the Svartleheim ambassador before sending Thor a glare that would hard boil an egg in the middle of a frozen tundra.

The delegates attending the meeting this afternoon have found it to be far more informative, educating, and entertaining than they had expected. Watching the two princes of Asgard interact has taught them much about what to expect should Thor or Loki be crowned King. It is a good thing Thor is good at killing people. If he is ever crowned the fool will find his realm knee deep in the blood of all the people he has insulted into war. Loki is truly powerful, intelligent, and dangerous for those reasons. His rule would most certainly be the more preferred and stable one, but if Loki ever declared war on the other realms, Norns help them all! It is apparent that the true might and future of Asgard lies not with Thor, but with Loki. Odin had better choose wisely.

XxXxXxXxXx

"You wished to see me King Frey." Loki says. King Frey has summoned Loki for a private audience in his study. Loki smiles inwardly as he notes that Thor was not invited.

"Yes Prince Loki. I wanted to talk to you one on one without all the formalities of our titles getting in the way. Let us converse as Kings do, when all pomp and circumstance is removed." King Frey says.

"Very well." Loki says sounding mildly pleased and intrigued as he takes a seat opposite the King of Vanaheim.

"I will be blunt Loki. It is plain to me that you are a force to be reckoned with. You are the future of Asgard, but there is an obstacle in your way." He begins.

"I love my brother Frey. He is a big stupid oaf but I love him and I will not betray him." Loki says outright. He wants to nip that line of conversation in the bud right now.

"I am not suggesting that you do, BUT! ….you and I both know that your father is not going to choose you to succeed him." Frey says. Loki, in spite of himself, cannot hide the hurt on his face. Deep down he always wondered if he was being given equal consideration. To have an outsider point out the truth so blatantly is painful. Loki takes a moment to recover from the statement.

"So what do you suggest?" Loki asks.

"You are aware that my wife is also my sister." Frey states rather than asks. Loki picks up on his line of reasoning immediately.

"No! No I can't…"

"You can't let that oaf rule Asgard! He is just like Odin, a brash brutish war machine. His hunger for power and blood was only tempered when he married your mother. My people will suffer if he comes to power. Of THAT, I am certain. You are a powerful sorcerer. You can shape shift, and bare him heirs, become completely female if necessary to appease his appetites. That you are brothers would have been an obstacle before Freya and I trail-blazed a way for you. Freya and I married each other because we love one another. It was scandalous but we fought through it and now our kingdom is unified, strong, and happy. Asgard will be as well." Frey finishes making his argument.

Loki sits quietly and considers Frey's words carefully. Frey has been open and honest about his reasons for wanting the unorthodox match to be made. He is a King thinking of the long term welfare of his people. The Vanir people have suffered much at the hands of Odin. To the Vanir, Asgard is the bully, which they lack the strength to fight. Loki then considers his own position. If Frey is correct, then Thor will be crowned king and Loki will be relegated to a position on the council. He will be an advisor and nothing more. Thor doesn't listen to Loki now, and he will listen even less when there are a dozen other voices competing for his attention. As queen, however, he could exert the soft power that Frigga wields.

Loki rises from his seat to take his leave. "Thank you, King Frey. You have given me much to consider." Loki says politely and leaves. King Frey gulps down his glass of wine and says a prayer for the future of his people, and for that of the throne of Asgard.