Disclaimer

Still don't own anything you recognize.

7 years passed. Odin had taken Loki home to his queen Frigga and his newborn son, Thor. Loki was raised as Thor's younger twin brother. The boys had the best of life, raised as princes. Loki and Thor played together as children, running through the royal palace and causing mischief. By the age of 7, they were both healthy boys, well-loved by everyone.

One day, Frigga called the boys to the throne room where she sat regally on her throne with an announcement that would change their lives forever.

"Today, you start your training. You will learn the skills every prince needs to best serve his subjects. As princes, you are expected to learn a variety of subjects, as well as how to defend yourself," Frigga said regally.

She paused to let the boys process her words. Then, she continued on.

"Thor, you will train as a warrior. Tyros will be your mentor. Loki, you will be trained in magic. Bythezar will be your mentor," she said, bekoning 2 men forward.

One stepped forward. He was tall with long rust-colored hair and a thick beard and mustache. He wore the armor of a royal guard.

"I am Tyros, Captain of the Royal Guard. I will teach you, young Thor, everything a warrior needs: how to fight, battle tactics, how to defend yourself, and much more. You will learn anything a king would ever need. That, I promise you," he boomed.

Tyros bowed and stepped back. The other man, who could only be Bythezar, stepped forward. He had shifty, icy blue eyes and oily cropped black hair. Power seemed to exude from every pore, surging through the air and coiling around him like a snake.

"My name is Bythezar. I shall teach you magic, how to bend it to your will, to make it obey your every whim. You shall learn power," he said in silky, serpentine tones, piercing eyes locked on the green ones of the young prince who was to be his apprentice.

He bowed, breaking eye contact, and stepped back. Frigga stood.

"You start your lessons tomorrow. You are dismissed."

Thor and Loki hastily scurried out of the throne room, the booming laugh of Tyros following them down the hall. The princes ran through the palace to the gardens. They ran past the innumerable flowerbeds filled with vibrant blooms of every hue, past the regal rose garden, through the wonders and perfection contained in the gardens, to a wild, unkempt maze of thorny bushes on the outskirts of the garden. They made their way through the maze effortlessly, with a skill honed by practice, to the center where a lone willow tree stood, towering above the maze with dignity and timeless beauty.

They scaled the tree with ease, perching on the branches like birdes. Loiki picked a branch above his brother and let his feet swing, barely missing his brother, who batted them away.

"What do you think of the mentors?" Thor blurted out suddenly, anxious for his brother's opinion.

"I don't know," Loki answered honestly. "they scare me."

Thor smiled in relief up at Loki. "Me too."

They sat in companionable silence for a while, before their names were called and they ran back to where their mother stood, waiting for her sons.

She ushered them inside and handed them over to the old servant woman, Arenia, who had taken care of their father when he was a boy and cared for them.

She was ancient, with wrinkles and smooth white hair. She had ageless eyes, gray and still unclouded by age. Despite her advanced age, she was still strong, strong enough to discipline 2 unruly boys and invoke respect in boys unused to giving out respect, only used to receiving it. She was a force of nature, a human hurricane.

She quickly got both boys bathed and ready for bed, ignoring their protests.

"You have a big day tomorrow, you need your sleep," she said unyieldingly. "Now, march!"

She tucked the boys in and kissed them goodnight, ignoring their insistences that they were too old and they were men now.

She laughed and tickled their bellies. "Nonsense. All I see is 2 little boys who want to grow up too fast. You're still my babies."

She blew out the candles and shut the door. The boys were silent. Then Loki spoke.

"Goodnight, Thor."

"Goodnight, Loki. See you in the morning." Thor yawned and snuggled into his pillow.

"I love you, brother," Loki whispered, but there was no response; Thor was already asleep.

Loki pulled the blankets up and fell asleep. He dreamt only of glory.