For reasons that escaped her, Loki was, for lack of a better term nervous. But it washed over her as she watched her Bera take up his old throne. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to or liked admitting to.
She was about to leave for Asgard, to get ready for her part in Thor's coronation. It wasn't that she was scared, or thought that she couldn't complete her task, truthfully she could do it in her sleep, she had been creating illusions since before her first decade. But she couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that settled in her gut.
"I'll only be gone for a day. A day and a night at most." She found herself saying. "I know I should have asked Býleistr or Helblindi, but this must happen now and they're away in the southlands-"
She was cut off by a warm chuckle.
Loki looked up at her Bera who had a look on his face of fond amusement. "Calm yourself Loptr, this is not the first time I have sat in power, it's only for a day or two. The Throne will still be yours when you return."
Loki quickly jumped to reassure him that, that wasn't what she meant, only to notice the mischief sparkling in his crimson eyes.
She scowled up at him. "You're teasing me."
His warm laugh echoed throughout his Throne room. "It's rare that I'm still able to, Litteinn."
Using more care than his stature would suggest, he picked up his eldest child and held her tiny form to his chest with only his palm.
"Bera, I'm over a Millennia, I am no longer a little one." She grumbled, all the while burrowing into his comfortable hold.
She felt his chuckle rumble through her. "You will always be my little one, Loptr." He paused to run his thumb over her long coal black hair. "I know you have a scheme in place Litteinn. I won't ask what it is, I know better than that, but whatever it is; please take care. Don't waste your attentions worrying about me. Your father will look after me. Focus on your plan."
Loki looked up at her Bera, there was no amusement in his eyes now, only thinly veiled concern.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "I will Bera." She promised.
"Okay you've made your point Laufey, let her go or she'll be late."
They both turned to see her Father, Farbauti, once: General of Jotunheimr, now: retired, walking into Laufey's Throne room. Laufey set her down, grumbling about how rude her Father was to him.
Loki let a contented smile come to her face as she saw her parents together. She knew her childhood had been different to most, even to the children on Jotunheimr, but of two things she was always certain, her parents loved each other and they loved her and her brothers unconditionally.
She wordlessly let her Jotun appearance fall away to that more of an Aesir, while her parents bickered playfully.
"I don't like it." Complained her Father, obviously finished teasing her Bera.
Loki merely raised an eyebrow at him.
Laufey shushed him, and shot him a glare. "What your father is trying to say, is that you look beautiful as always Loptr, but we prefer your true self."
Loki laughed. "Well of course, but needs must and all that, Father."
Her father still grumbled.
She turned and gave a shrill whistle, infused with her magic it echoed throughout the entire citadel, a few seconds later her beloved behemoth of a wolf, Fenris came bounding into her Bera's throne room. Before he could pounce on her excitedly she made her first friend shrink to the size of a Midgardian wolf with a slight wave of her hand a flash of green flame. Not expecting the sudden change in size Fenris landed short and skidded across the polished ice floor, coming to an inelegant stop at her feet. He pawed at her shins with a whine, looking up at her beseeching with his big golden eyes.
She chuckled and soothed him with a rub between his ears. "I don't like it any more than you do Fen, but if you want to come along, then you need to blend in. I promise to unto it as soon as we return home."
Fenris huffed his displeasure, but ceased whining.
Loki gave her parents a farewell wave as she teleported herself and Fenris to an out of the way alleyway in Asgard's market place.
'And so it begins…' she thought stepping out of the alley.
/|\\\
Odin watched Thor and his friends as they sparred. Tomorrow would make or break him and as much as he loved his son, he didn't hold out much hope for him.
"Is fighting truly all he knows?"
Odin didn't startle, but it was a close thing. He turned at the melodious if disdainful voice from behind him. He was met with a woman whose beauty her voice only hinted at; Coal black hair fell like a waterfall to her waist, held in place by a gold circlet, milk-white skin, full lips of crimson, and her eyes; heavy-lidded, framed in kohl were of incandescent emeralds that glowed with unused power. His eyes travelled downwards to her shapely physique encased in a gown of green and gold that appeared to be made of dragon scales, Each step she took towards him made her sparkle in the sunlight, making a new spectrum of colour dance in his eyes. It wasn't until she was a foot away and let a smirk grace her lips that he realised who she was.
He bowed just enough to be respectful. "Lady-"
"Mab. Is the name of this form." She interrupted.
He nodded, sparing a glance for the jet black wolf at her side. "I fear so." He admitted in answer to her previous question.
He turned back to the sparring pit, feeling her come up beside him to watch Thor too. He attempted to dismiss his concern at the unsettling ease with which she had managed to slip into the inner fortress of Asgard. Thankful that at this point he could call her his ally. He would revisit it later if necessary.
"Forgive me for saying so Allfather but you seem tired. When was your last Odinsleep?" She asked softly, with a tone of concern that surprised him.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, but her face gave nothing away. "Far too long ago. I have been putting it off for too long, I know. But Thor is not ready and the Realms are not secure enough to do so."
"A dangerous waiting game Allfather. Especially with the plans we have in place. What will you do if Thor is banished?"
He was oddly appreciative that she had said 'if' even when they knew the most likely outcome of tomorrow.
"I do not know. I have no other heirs. Maybe I shall leave Frigga on charge. Women seem to rule more effectively."
A Ghost of a smile graced her feature at the round-about compliment.
"With things as they are." She said with a glance at her scarred palm. "Should you need it, you will find an ally in Jotunheimr."
Odin fought to keep his surprise of his face. "How will your people take that?"
She gave a shadow of a shrug. "I think a millennia is long enough for a grudge, don't you? I've always said to my Bera that I would allow it as long as it didn't hold back my Realm's progress. I'm a hairsbreadth from not just returning Jotunheimr to its former glory, but making it greater than my Grandbera could ever dream of. I would have the rest of the Realms' respect rather than their fear. Asgard is one of the few left that prescribe to the old views and if this is what it takes to rectify that? Then so be it."
It was in that moment that he knew he had made the right choice in promising her the casket. He had, had to make those kinds of decisions himself, many times over. His contacting her for her help was one of them.
"Asgard would be honoured to have Jotunheimr as its ally."
She let another smile sit in the corner of her mouth. "How is Sleipnir?" She asked, obviously deciding that the previous subject was closed.
Odin allowed it. "He is well and a fine steed for a monarch. I have always wondered why you didn't keep him for yourself."
She gave a light chuckle. "As wonderful as he is, he would never have flourished in Jotunheimr, too cold for a horse in the long-term."
He conceded with a nod. "Where did you find him?"
She looked away from his son and gave him a considering look. He waited.
"I came across a travelling builder in a market on Vanaheimr; or rather he came across me. I had been visiting an ally and chose to go the scenic route, when he stopped me, he didn't know who I was as I was in my Vanir form."
So it did appear that she had a form for each Realm that she liked to use to go unnoticed. A useful skill that he often wished he could utilise.
"He was trying to sell his wears, telling me that building work was scarce. When he produced a small, eight-legged foal and asked if a 'beautiful lady' like me needed a fine, strong steed to traverse the Realms with. He told me how his work horse Svadilfari had impregnated a magical mare during their time on Vanaheimr, much to the mere owner's ire. I had no need of a colt, but when I looked into his eyes I saw an intelligence there that shouldn't be found in a horse. The builder then went on bout how he couldn't afford to keep another horse, meaning that if he could not get rid of it then he would have to kill it. Another glance at the foal and I decided that I couldn't let that happen. So I took him and gave the builder a small fortune for him. After that I returned to Jotunheimr where I decided I would give him to you, with the excuse of promoting peace to my family."
Odin chuckled. "So I had nothing to do with it? You merely needed somewhere to put him."
She turned to him slightly and gave her signature smirk.
"You are surprisingly sentimental My Lady."
Her smirk grew into a true laugh that carried on the wind like a song. "It would seem so, wouldn't it?" She admitted quietly, giving the wolf at her side a comforting stroke.
There was a similar story there he'd wager.
"Odin?"
They both turned at Frigga's call. He smiled at his beautiful and wise Queen. "Frigga, this is the Lady Mab." He gestured to Queen Loki. "Is her room ready?"
Frigga hid her surprise well and bowed in greeting. "Of course, shall I escort you Lady Mab?"
Loki stepped forward with a playful smile. "If you wouldn't mind, My Queen."
Frigga led Loki away to the sleeping quarters, easily striking up a conversation with the Jotun Queen.
A sudden chill crawled up his spine at the thought of the trouble they could cause together in their spare time before the coronation tomorrow... Maybe he shouldn't leave the two of them alone… He was relatively sure that they wouldn't purposefully harm someone…Hopefully they wouldn't make him their mark… Norns save him from Trickster Queens.
/|\\\
Loki knew she shouldn't be there. She should already be in the vault, ready to set the illusion, but she wanted to see his attitude second before his greatest moment.
She couldn't help but roll her eyes in contempt as he acted every bit the spoiled warrior Prince: Throwing his goblet to the floor and bellowing for another.
"Nervous my Prince?" She asked stepping elegantly from the shadows.
He started at her sudden appearance, but quickly got over it if the appreciative once over he gave her was anything to go by.
"I don't believe I've seen you in Asgard before."
She supposed he was trying to be charming. As it was she felt vaguely ill at the thought. Still, she smiled coyly. "I am the Lady Mab. Invited to Asgard for this most auspicious day."
He took her hand and kissed it. "Greetings to you then, My Lady. And no, I am not known for nervousness."
Loki retrieved her hand and quirked an eyebrow. "Really? I heard of one instance on Nidavellir."
A look of fury flashed across his face. "Where did you hear that?!" He snapped, his previous charm gone.
There it was. Quick to anger, didn't like anyone to hear of his failings.
She blinked and seemed to jump. "Forgive me My Prince; it's only what I've heard."
"Ah, forgive me my outburst. That was not nervousness. That was the rage of battle, as I fought my way through hundreds of warriors and survived, leading my team to victory!" He said proudly.
She could tell from his tone that he truly believed that.
She smiled sweetly at him. "Of course My Prince, that sounds much more likely." Loki put as much awe as she could stomach into her voice.
He smiled at her. "Will I see you after?"
She withheld a smirk. "Oh, I imagine so. Good luck My Prince."
He headed through to the hall and she quickly teleported herself to Odin's vault. She hastily made up the illusion and let it play out. The two fake Jotuns made their way into the vault, two fake Einherjar attempted to stop them; freeze, slice, smash. They died. The Jotuns run for the Casket. Out steps the destroyer; Fire, zap, sizzle. No more Jotuns, just ash outlines on the wall and a few scattered limbs. She was definitely having too much fun with it all. She soon heard the clatter of Asgardian feet and made herself invisible while keeping up the illusion around them.
Odin and Thor came barrelling through the door. Odin was silent, looking as though he was only trying to take in what he was seeing rather than waiting for what might come out of his son's mouth.
"The Jotuns must pay for what they have done!" Thor said hotly, breaking the eerie silence that had fallen.
Odin didn't meet his son's gaze, choosing instead to stare at the casket. "They have paid. With their lives. The Destroyer did its work, the Casket is safe. All is well."
"All is well? They broke into the weapons vault! If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics-"
"They didn't" Odin cut in.
From her vantage point between the Destroyers keep and the Casket, she could see Odin aging with every word that came out of Thor's mouth.
"Well I want to know why!"
"I have a truce with Laufey." Odin imputed quietly.
It was true the rocky truce was more between him and her Bera than her.
Thor just kept pushing. "He just broke your truce" They know you are vulnerable!"
Finally Odin turned to face Thor. "What action would you take?"
Thor stood prouder, thinking his father was finally going to do something about this slight. "March into Jotunheimr as you once did. Teach them a lesson. Break their spirits so that they'll never attempt to cross our borders again!"
Loki glared at Thor. There really was no hope for the moron.
"You're thinking only as a warrior." Odin tempered.
"This was an act of war."
"It was the act of a few, doomed to fail."
"Look how far they got!" Thor seemed unable to reconcile that Odin did not want to head out and massacre her people.
"We will find the breech in our defences and it will be sealed."
She could hear the weariness in Odin's voice. There was no denying it. Thor had failed the test.
"As King of Asgard-"
"But you're not King!" Odin shouted, finally losing his patience. "Not yet."
Thor's face became a mask of betrayed rage, as he spun on his heal and stormed out of the vault.
Loki let the illusion fall away and made herself visible again as she same to stand beside Odin.
"Well," He sighed. "That's, that…"
She opened her mouth to reply when he suddenly stumbled, his knees giving way. Her hand shot out to steady him.
"Allfather?" She asked gently.
"Odin?"
The two of them looked up to see Frigga descending into the vault. She quickly made her way over to them and supported Odin's other side.
"What's happened Odin? Did he pass or fail?"
Odin didn't answer her so Frigga looked to Loki.
She shook her head.
Frigga's lips thinned in anger, while her eyes spoke of sadness. "It is as we thought then. This is going to be difficult." She admitted quietly, sparing Odin a concerned glance.
Odin straightened; Frigga and Loki let their helping hands fall. "Yes it is as we thought. It should have come as no surprise." He muttered, almost bitterly as he made his way back to the Casket.
"For what it's worth Allfather. I am sorry."
"So am I." He said quietly.
He picked up the Casket intending to hand it over to her. She held out her hands to receive her payment when her world exploded in pain. A jagged lance of ice ripped through her heart and mind. Time seemed to slow where there was no Loki; only unfiltered agony. When she finally compartmentalised the pain mentally locking it up tight, she opened her eyes, unaware of when she had closed them, she noticed that Odin was holding her upright and going by how concerned the aged King looked she must have cried out.
"Queen Loki?"
Loki glanced at Frigga whose concern mirrored that of her husbands.
"Th-Thor!" She gasped out.
Frigga only looked confused.
Loki growled and pushed herself up and away from Odin's support as she tried again to get the words out.
"Thor is attacking Jotunheimr!" She bit out. "Along with his little band of sycophants!"
Odin's face went from concern to fury in the space of a heartbeat. The still pain addled part of her mind disjointedly noted the likeness between father and son. She the thought away, most definitely not the time. She waved her hand and with a flash of green flame Sleipnir and Fenris materialised in the vault. Another wave and Fenris was returned to his original size. Loki wasted no time jumping onto his back, a glance in Sleipnir's direction showed Odin to have done the same.
"I'm going to teleport us. It's faster."
Odin merely nodded.
Loki concentrated on where the pain originated from and followed it, bringing Odin with her. Her green flames washed over them, when it had gone she found herself looking at an abandoned outpost that time had left dilapidated, that was being further destroyed by her people and Thor's morons. White hit fury pulsed through her. Here she was trying to elevate her peoples standing as more that beasts and here they were squabbling like animals.
"Fenris." She growled.
At her command Fenris threw back his head and unleashed an ear-splitting, roar of a howl. The ground around them shook as all fighting cease. Loki gracefully dismounted from Fenris and stalked over to the idiot that she had now decided to call; 'The Red Caped Menace.' She glared at him whilst the idiot just looked at her in confusion.
"Lady Mab? What are you-"
"Silence!" She hissed. She let her magic seep into her words, making her rage filed voice echo off of the surrounding ice. "Your actions have just ignited the possibility of a war that could envelope all of the Nine Realms! Can your tiny mind comprehend that?! How dare you come here to throw your little tantrum!"
The dim-witted Prince frowned at her. "Who are you that you presume to talk to the Crown Prince of Asgard in this way?"
Her eyes narrowed at his petty posturing. She let her Aesir form bleed away and took no small amount of delight in watching his face drain of colour as her skin went back to its natural cobalt blue, crimson, replaced green eyes and her height returned, making her a head taller than Prince Stupid. As soon as they saw the beginning of her change every Jotun dropped to their knees and stared at the ground. She pierced Thor with her ice cold glare. "I am Loki Laufeysdottir, Queen of Jotunheimr, the greatest sorcerer the Nine Realms has seen and the one you have just declared war on."
She turned away from him, leaving him to truly consider what his actions might have wrought.
"Amora, come." She called, lacing a new thread of magic into her words.
Her apprentice, self-appointed hand-maiden and confidant appeared beside her.
"My Queen." She intoned.
"Stupidity has had its fun here Amora. Tend to the injured." Loki glanced at Thor's pet fighters, huddled together, unsure of what to do as they looked between their King, their Prince and her. "Treat the injured Aesir as well."
Amora nodded once. "It will be as you ask My Queen."
Loki rolled her eyes. Amora liked to lay it on thick when they had company. With the injured taken care of she looked for her Bera, hoping that she kept her creeping fear off of her face. She could see from a glance that there were more than a few dead Jotuns. She prayed to the Norns that her Bera was not among them. There was a movement behind a wall, just out of sight where she spotted him. The anger he must have used to entice this impromptu battle seemed to have cooled if the way he looked to be trying to melt into his background was anything to go by. He refused to meet her eye; he knew she was disappointed in him. Good. She would deal with him later.
"I do not care who you are woman, I still demand answers! Why did your people break into our vault?!"
With her back to him, she let her eyes roll. It would seem that he had gotten over his initial fear of her. His mistake. She let a mask of fury slip over her features as she spun around and used her teleporting to blur her form enough for it to seem as though she had run at him with unnatural speed. It had the desired effect of making him leap backwards.
"A vault?!" She spat venomously, using her height to tower over him and get in his face. "You come to my Realm! Kill my people! Start a war of the Realms over a thrice-damned vault?!" The already weakened and broken ice structures crumbled and fell with a crash around them at the power and rage breaking through her voice. "I fear for the future of the Nine Realms if this is all the Monarchy of Asgard can offer! We are to be at the mercy of a spoiled child!"
Loki knew she was laying it on a little more than entirely necessary. But she doubted that he had ever truly been reprimanded in his life and she was thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to take the cretin down a peg…or four. She glared at the half-wit Prince as she realised that even though her had fear in his eyes, there was no shame. He did not regret his actions.
She quickly bit back the cursing spell on her lips. "Allfather! Deal with your poor excuse of an heir before I do!"
Everyone's eye went to Odin who was still sat on Sleipnir, appearing to be content to allow Loki to dispense whatever justice she saw fit.
Thor raised his hammer in celebration. "Father! Let's finish off these beasts together!"
Shame smothered the tired King's features as he dismounted from Sleipnir and came to stand beside Loki. "Silence!" He hissed out, mirroring Loki's own words. "Do you realise what you've done?!"
Thor's raised arm fell as he frowned at his father. "I was protecting my home!"
"You cannot protect your friends" Odin gestured to the two injured Aesir being seen to by Amora. "How can you even hope to protect a kingdom? Don't lie to me boy. You came her looking for battle nothing more-"
"The Frost Giants must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you." Cut in Thor.
Loki raised an eyebrow at Odin, who did not see it, too busy looking at his son with something akin to fear.
"That's pride and vanity talking, not leadership. You've forgotten everything I've taught you of a warrior's patience."
"And while you wait with your patience the Nine Realms laugh at us. The old ways are done. You'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls!"
It seemed the Prince was taking out his anger at being torn into by her, out on his already wounded father. Loki might even admit to being concerned for the Allfather.
While she had mused, Odin had reached the end of his patience with his wayward son. "You are a vain, greedy; cruel boy!"
"And you are an old man and a fool!" Thor shot back.
And there was that father/son likeness again. Silence fell at his disrespect. Loki looked to Odin, unsure how it would affect him. She knew better than most; the power of words. A glance at Thor told her how much the words surprised him too, how much he wanted to take the words back. But he didn't, his pride wouldn't allow it.
"Yes." Odin admitted quietly to the ground. "I was a fool. A fool to even hope that you were ready." Odin turned to her, his expression was of one asking permission. She had a good idea of what he was asking of her. Thor still saw her people as nothing more than beast. He still had lessons to learn. Her work was far from finished. She nodded once and watched as a mask of unaffected indifference came to his face and made to address his son.
"Thor Odinson. You have betrayed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful Realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" Odin stepped toward Thor, who finally seemed to see his mistake through his father's unfiltered, harsh words, seemed to truly regret his words and actions, but it was too late, action needed to be taken.
"You are unworthy of these Realms!" Odin tore off Thor's broaches, his disappointment making itself known. ""You're unworthy of your title!" Odin ripped off Thor's cape, signifying his disownment from Asgard Royalty. Disbelief and fear clung to Thor's face. "You're unworthy! …Of the loved ones you have betrayed…"
Thor looked close to tears, perhaps he had figured out what was coming. Odin moved away from him Thor and back to beside her. Physically distancing himself for what he had to do next. He held out a hand and summoned Mjölnir away from Thor's grasp. Loki could feel Odin's magic crackle in the air between them as his gathered it together in preparation.
"I take from you your power. In the name of my father, and his father before , I Odin Borson, cast you out!"
Using Mjölnir as a catalyst Odin drew out Thor's powers. But instead of taking the power into himself he left it within Mjölnir so that it could be undone if Thor ever truly learned his lesson. Said ex-Prince had collapsed as his body tried to acclimatise to his new lack of strength.
"You are to stay here on Jotunheimr in the care of Queen Loki, until you have learned what it truly means to be a Ruler of people, however long that may be."
There was a gasp from behind them Loki looked over her shoulder to Thor's pet fighters, they all had ridiculously moronic looks of surprise on their faces, but it was the female that had gasped. Sif, if Loki remembered correctly. She had already realised that Thor's stay was indefinite, and completely reliant on both Thor's willingness and ability to learn his lesson. For all of her fault the woman obviously knew her former Prince. Nothing about this was going to be easy.
"Queen Loki, would you do the honours?"
Loki's attention went back to Odin who was holding Mjölnir out to her.
"But My King!" Gasped Sif.
A mistake on her part as the Allfather turned his not inconsiderable ire on her where they had previously escaped it. Loki took back her earlier thought of the woman's apparent intelligence.
"Silence! I will deal with you four later!" He spat.
Loki took Mjölnir from Odin, giving herself a moment to feel the magic coursing through it. Mjölnir sung with it. It was strange the way the magic surged and pulsed, as if it were sentient. She lifted it to her ear; it seemed to be almost…sad. As though it understood what its master was going through. Though as it was thrumming with Thor's power, she supposed that, that was entirely possible. The whole thing would bear investigating and studying. But there was time for that later.
She held Mjölnir to her lips and let her magic bleed into her voice once more. "Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."
She felt Mjölnir accept her magic entwining it into to her bittersweet song. She lifted Mjölnir above her head and threw it in the direction of the Western Forests, knowing it wouldn't harm anyone by landing and staying there. She looked away from the horizon to Odin. If possible he looked more exhausted than earlier. Loki kept her pity off of her face. Like herself, he wouldn't appreciate it. She held out her hand for him to shake. He accepted it.
"I'll take care of him Allfather." She said softly as she surreptitiously sent a little revitalising magic through their connected hands.
Odin quickly hid the surprise that tried to make its way across his face. Her lips quirked in what could be interpreted as a smile, along with a wink.
Odin gifted her with a low bow in thanks. "Queen Loki."
"Goodbye Allfather."
She waved her hand and all the Asgardians – minus Thor – were swallowed by her green flames and teleported back to Asgard. She allowed herself a sigh before turning to her people. Under the tutelage of Amora, uninjured were helping injured. Her Bera was sat away from every one, next to her father, who must have arrived sometime after her. She focused on everyone and teleported them all and herself to her Throne Room.
"Those not injured will help Amora by taking the injured to the Healing Hall. The fallen will be given a service tomorrow, your attendance is mandatory. I am gravely disappointed in all of you." She looked down at the all from her Throne. "You are dismissed. Get out. Laufey, Farbauti stay."
The dismissed left with murmurs of "Yes your Majesty"
Once they were alone Loki turned her darkest glare on her Bera. She wasn't certain but she was pretty sure he flinched, however minutely.
"Would you like to tell me what in Hel's name happened?!" She bit out.
Her Bera quietly explained; that he had seen the beam of the Bifrost hit just beyond the old outpost, so he had gone out to inspect it with a small contingent, leaving her father to watch over the citadel. Then Thor and his group came across them and proceeded to accuse them of attacking Asgard. He then told them to leave in what Loki thought to be the most caustic way possible. Which dissolved quite predictably into a fight between the two races. By the end of his less than impressive explanation of events Loki was spitting with anger.
"Are you telling me that you nearly restarted an old war, just because you didn't feel like letting Odinson leave without insulting him?! By the Norns you're just as bad as he is!" She shouted pointing at the passed out heap lying across Fenris's back.
"Litteinn, it's not just tha-"
Loki's temper reached its limit. Now was not the time for pet names, right now she was a Queen wanting a report from one of her subjects, not her Bera. She tore off her horned Tungsten Helmet and threw it at the floor with all of her not inconsiderable strength. It left quite the crater and did well at shutting up her Bera's excuses. She looked at him from under her lashes, her glare still firmly in place.
"Laufey, do you, or do you not understand just what I've been trying to do for the last millennia?" She growled softly. "Do you know how much work I've done? How difficult it has been?"
Her Bera frowned at her. "Of course I do My Queen; I've been there every step of the way, every stumble. Always ready to catch you."
He was trying to soothe her, she knew, but she wasn't ready for that yet.
"Then why did I come home to find my people, my family, fighting like nothing more than mindless animals?! Acting like nothing more than the beasts the Aesir think we are! If not for the plans and plots I already have in play, we would be facing the Reign of Thor the man-child. Who would have picked us off a few hundred a go anytime he felt that we didn't fear him enough! Do you understand now Bera!? This thrice-damned feud will be the death of us if we let it continue! There is no place for it in our modern Jotunheimr. It's time to put it to rest."
He got that irrationally angry look he often got when face with the Jotun/ Aesir feud. It was his blind spot.
"The Aesir started this! They sought it out!" He bellowed.
"Then I am finishing it!" She shouted right back, refusing to give any ground. "I told you I would permit it only as long as it didn't harm our people. Well now its detrimental to the progress of our people. And I have worked too hard for too long to see it fall apart now!" She drew herself up to her full height, looking down at her Bera from the plinth that her Throne stood on. "So here and now I declare the feud between Jotunheimr and Asgard over. Jotunheimr is officially a trusted ally of Asgard. And his son, though disowned, is a guest to Jotunheimr and my ward. He will not come to harm or the offenders will answer to me personally."
A gentle push of her magic and a scroll of her declaration appeared, floating in the air before her. She pricked her thumb and let the bead of blood gather a little before pressing her thumb to the space below her words. Another push of magic and the scroll disappeared to where it would be found by the citadel crier, who would inform the people of her decision before filing it away in the archives.
Her Bera looked apoplectic at her actions. The feud was always something they'd agreed to disagree.
"Why?! Why do you protect this whelp?! Why do you shake hands with Odin?! Why are we suddenly allies with Asgard?!" He near screamed.
Loki looked to her Bera with an angry smirk. "I thought you said you knew better than to ask me about my schemes."
His rage gave way to confused surprise, as he looked from her to Thor. He stepped up to the plinth taking her hand into his comparatively massive one and saw her Blood Oath scar.
"Do you understand now Bera?" She asked softly.
Her Bera's features softened now.
"You play a dangerous game Litteinn." Her Father said, choosing that moment as the best time to remind them that he was there.
He had long since learned that it was best to let the two of them shout it out between them, lest they turn on him. He knew being caught between the two of them was a very dangerous place to be. Her Bera turned to look at him giving him a considering look, if the mild panic on her Father's face was anything to go by.
"Why did you figure it out?" He asked.
Her Father shrugged, a little defensive. "I had a hunch when I saw he invite Odin to deal with his spawn, rather than just throwing him off of our Realm."
Loki's smile went unnoticed, as she felt her remaining anger and tension melt away, along with her ability to remain standing. The day had been draining. She had been forced to use much more magic than she had originally planned. Not to mention the damage done to Jotunheimr. She let herself fall onto her fur-covered Throne of ice.
Her Bera's head whipped back around at the sound of her 'fall', concern carved into his features. Her Father was beside him in the space of a blink.
"Litteinn?"
Loki couldn't bear to hear the worry in her beloved Bera's voice, so forced her heavy eyes to open.
She gave their concerned faces a tired smile. "I'm fine, just tired. Need to sleep, I'll be fine by tomorrow."
Her parents shared a look.
"Loki, did you feel the damage done to the old outpost?"
Loki considered lying to spare her Bera the guilt, but a look at her Father told her that wasn't an option. She sighed and nodded, letting her eyes slip closed again. She heard her Father curse and her Bera make a weird huffy catch of breath that Loki had learned when she was young that meant she was truly upset by something. A moment later she felt his finger brush over her head in a soothing motion.
"Oh Loptr, I should have known. I should have sent the boy away the moment he set foot to our ground!"
Loki just patted his soothing digit. Truthfully any other time she would have loved to hear him grovel a bit, but right now she could only think of her over-size bed of layered furs.
"I'll take the Odinson to a suitable room and inform the staff of another visitor living in the palace." Her Father imputed.
"Make sure they know that he is my ward and guest, but not a Prince and should be treated as such. Don't let them, let him walk all over them." Loki ordered through bleary eyes.
He nodded. And headed out of her Throne Room, Fenris followed him, carrying the still unconscious Thor on his back.
Loki was drifting again when her Bera broke the silence left in her Father's wake.
"I am sorry Loki, oh by the Norns, I promised you. When you were just a Berna, hours old, I promised I would never let the war touch you. That you would be safe from its reach, not let it hurt you, especially after we found out about your gifts." He sighed, ashamed.
The noise made her crack her eyes open again.
"Bera, please stop." She asked softly. "Truthfully, events have progressed well within parameters. Everything is in hand and is making good headway to its desired outcome. So at this moment in time all I need and want is sleep. Preferably in my bed, but my Throne makes for a competent contender." Her words became a rough mumble by the end, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
She heard her Bera's warm chuckle and knew everything between them would be fine. Her last feeling as she was finally allowed to drift off was of being carried –hopefully to her bed– cradled to his chest as he sung an old lullaby every bit for him as well as her.
A.N.
Litteinn = Little one
Bera = Maternal father
Loptr = One of many nicknames given to Loki in Norse mythology.
Tungsten = Is a real metal, one of the strongest know to man. But I'm giving it a new mythology (their armour and helmets are going to made from it) that I'll attempt to work in later.
I think that's all that needs explaining, let me know if there's any I missed.
Also in terms of every ones size I've put the scale at:
Loki: 7ft
Laufey: 42ft
Average Jotun: 40ft
Aesir: 6ft
Hope that clears anything up from when I'm writing on how they interact.
Hello!
Sorry for the wait between chapters. I warn you now: with the way I write and with the hours I work updates will be quite spaced, but if you ever feel like the gap's too long let me know and I'll attempt to light a fire under my ass. :P
First things first thank you guys for all of your faves and follows and reviews, its way more than I would ever expect! So much love on that front.
Same as before: Constructive criticism is welcome and if you notice typos please point them out as I have no beta and after a while you stop noticing them.
All the usual disclaimers, I mean who are we kidding would we be here if we actually had anything to do with the writing process of our beloved movies books and series?
Thanks for reading,
Oz