This was getting wearisome. They had been at it since well before sunup – dayspring – as the Vanir called it - hammering out negotiations and terms. It was one of the many setbacks of having dealings with the Vanir, Odin thought. They had no king, but a council, and it seemed against the nature of their council to agree about any one thing. They could hardly bid one another a good day without finding some fault.
"Tedious, isn't it?" a voice said, a little behind him and to his left.
Odin turned, "Kvasir, my friend, where have you been all this time?"
"Greetings, AllFather," Kvasir gave a shallow bow, "Truth be told, avoiding this," he gave the arguing council members a wry look, "but I heard you had returned and it seemed good to me to risk my senses by coming." There was a sudden flare in the conversation by the edge of the great balcony. Kvasir watched over Odin's shoulder, eyebrows raised, mildly amused. The warm winds of Vanaheim floated through the open room, ruffling fabrics and hair, "How do you manage?" Odin asked his friend, pitching his voice very quiet, to avoid being heard by the nearest council members, "All is talk and argumentation,"
"Oh don't bother," Kvasir laughed, waving a hand dismissively, "they couldn't hear you if you screamed fire."
Odin chuckled.
"Don't laugh, I've tried it." Kvasir grimaced, "It is a true problem. There was a time when their system of government worked beautifully. Now, well," he leaned over to peer around Odin at the assembled council members once again, "I'm just surprised they haven't gotten to throwing each other over the balcony," he shook his head, "They sorely need a king."
"Have you suggested it?"
"To that crowd of cannibals?" Odin caught a council-man looking suspiciously in their direction and nearly smiled, "No. I haven't. It's best, I find, to let them come up with these things themselves. Should the right man step forward I'm sure they will be quick enough to take him."
There was a lull, and both men turned, but the silence was short-lived. Kvasir sighed, "Just when I was beginning to get my hopes up. How long have they been at this?"
"The past three days."
"Three-" Kvasir spluttered, then shook his head, "No, no. I'm not surprised. I just hope they come to an agreement before the next moon."
~.~
Frigga sighed wearily. Hugin had come to her, not many days ago, informing her that the negotiations were nearly completed. But 'nearly completed' hardly seemed soon enough. Odin had been gone for so long, and the pressures of directing the realm weighed heavily upon her. If it hadn't been for Fulla and her ability to look after the affairs of the palace, Frigga didn't know what she would have done.
"Mama, why can't I go?"
Frigga did not set down her pen or look up. This was becoming a recurring pattern, "Loki, please stop whining."
The child was quiet a moment, kicking his heels against the trunk he had perched himself on, then began again, "But why?"
"You are too young."
All was quiet once more, and when she glanced up, the boy had turned around, his feet tucked under him, and was staring dismally out of the window at the pouring rain. She remembered Thor at his age. Thor had always been up to something, never bored like this, "Why don't you go see if any of the other children want to play?"
"I don't want to."
"Whyever not?"
Loki shrugged.
Frigga wondered if he was coming down with something again. It worried her. Loki was small for his age, and often sick. Odin had told her what The Witch had said, that it was by magic all his own that Loki had first shifted to their kind, but she couldn't help wondering if these things – so uncommon to a giant – (she hated to think of him like that) – were a subconscious attempt by the same magic to prove that he wanted nothing to do with his birth-kind. It would explain the way he avoided the cold, and his sensitive little heart.
"Why can't I go to lessons?" he swiveled around to face her, "I could sit still and do just what Hlin told me to,"
Frigga rose and came across the room to her little boy, setting aside business for a time. "Hlin has her hands full with your brother, Loki." She sat down on the trunk beside him and scooped him into her lap, pressing her hand against his forehead – but no – his skin was cool, as was usual for him.
"Why does Thor have to go? He doesn't even like it. Why can't he stay home?"
It was sweet, Frigga thought, how the child missed him. Thor was only gone for a brief time each day, to learn his letters with her maidservant, Hlin, but during that time Loki was almost always miserable. She wished it didn't have to be thus, that she could teach Thor herself, as she had always thought she would, but with Odin gone, there was no time. She tried to change tactics, "Why don't you go and play?"
"I don't want to."
"Why not?"
He looked at her reproachfully, like she should know it was a stupid question, "'s no fun by myself,"
"But there are other children to play with, Loki, other children your own age, who don't have lessons yet. You could play with them,"
Loki scowled, "I don't want to." He looked away.
Frigga sighed, running her fingers through his dark, dark hair. She didn't understand his reluctance, and wished he could find a friend of his own. She loved how attached he was to his elder brother, but he was so much younger, she hardly thought it would suit well when he grew older. Norns knew - perhaps it would suit better. He was such a shy little thing. She sighed. Mayhap it was something he would grow out of. He leaned back against her, staring out of the window, putting his thumb absently into his mouth. It was a habit he had begun to give up some time ago, but it still found its way in sometimes, when he wasn't paying attention, or was very upset. Fulla told her that she should make him stop, it wasn't becoming in a prince. She knew her sister was probably right, and she meant always to do something, but she never did. She thought it sweet, and her boys were already growing up so fast.
~.~
"Thor, I need you to focus,"
Thor didn't move, but starred up at the high ceiling of the room. Hlin sounded like she was getting angry, but that usually didn't mean anything. He could continue to ignore it. He didn't like lessons. They were boring. Right now he was imagining a big spider in the crack between the ceiling and the wall. That was much more fun. He had just about convinced himself that it was real when Hlin pulled him upright on the chair.
"Ow!"
"Thor, pay attention. You have accomplished nothing today."
Thor glared at her, "I don't like you."
Hlin's brows came together in a way that told him she didn't like what he'd said, "I'm sorry about that, but you must still learn to read."
Thor folded his arms, pouting at her defiantly, "Why?"
"Have you ever heard of a prince who didn't know how to read?"
"Yes."
Hlin was surprised. It almost would have made Thor laugh if he didn't so want to go outside, "Who?"
Thor pushed his chest out and pointed proudly at it, "Me."
Hlin gave an exasperated sigh, "Besides yourself, Thor."
"What about Loki?"
"He's too little."
"Buri couldn't read."
"Yes he could, Thor."
That was a novel thought. "But who taught him? The cow?" Thor laughed, pleased with the notion, "I want to be taught by a cow!"
"He already knew how, before Audhumbla found him."
Thor ignored her, staring at the opposite wall, a very interesting picture playing out in his mind, "Hlin," he said slowly. She cocked her head to one side, listening, "You are a cow."
Hlin scowled and Thor laughed at her.
"That is enough, Thor. You have to learn something today. What letter is this?"
Thor closed his eyes.
"Thor,"
Her tone carried the weight of a threat, so he opened one eye, but he decided that she didn't look serious, so he closed it again and folded his arms.
Hlin sighed heavily, then, "I will let you go if you tell me what letter this is,"
Thor's eyes opened and he sat up straighter, "Really?" his eyes flicked to the paper in her hand, "That's the mast one."
"What is it really called?"
"You said I could go!"
"Answer the question first."
It was Thor's turn to sigh. He rolled his eyes heavenward and slid down the chair, pulling himself sharply upright when he saw Hlin making to grab at him again, "Bjarkan?"
"Good. What sound does it make?"
"I have to go!"
"First tell me what sound it makes."
Thor moaned, "You told me I could go."
"Once you finish."
"Fine. B – like boat. Can I go yet?"
"Yes Thor. I have no idea how your mother accomplishes anything with you so obstinate."
Thor hardly heard; he was out the door and down the hall, laughing with his newly acquired freedom.
~.~
"Why don't you go see if any of the other children want to play?"
Loki scowled at his reflection in the window, "I don't want to."
"Whyever not?"
Loki shrugged. He didn't like playing with the other children. They watched and listened and wondered and it made him nervous. They all wanted him to do something. But Loki didn't do things. That was Thor's job. Loki just…well…followed Thor. Thor was big and strong, and he could do anything. Nobody ever told him that he was too young or too small or too sick. People expected Loki to be like that, and he wasn't. Not yet. He'd be like Thor when he was bigger. But for now, staying with his mother was better…even if he was bored. He turned around on the trunk to face her, "Why can't I go to lessons? I could sit still and do just what Hlin told me to,"
"Hlin has her hands full with your brother, Loki." Frigga came and sat down beside him, then put him on her lap and laid a warm hand on his forehead. He hoped he wasn't getting sick again. But his mother put her hand away and didn't move, or call for one of her ladies, so he thought he was probably fine. "Why does Thor have to go?" he asked, "He doesn't even like it. Why can't he stay home?"
"Why don't you go and play?"
"I don't want to."
"Why not?"
Her eyes were soft and kind and she wanted to know, even though it was a silly question, "'s no fun by myself,"
"But there are other children to play with, Loki," she said again, "other children your own age, who don't have lessons yet. You could play with them,"
"I don't want to." Loki turned back to the window. He felt like crying, but he didn't know why and he didn't want to. Frigga's fingers stroked his hair and he leaned back against her. He liked it when she held him. It felt safe.
There was a crash and he found that he had spun around on her lap and was leaning over her shoulder, watching as Thor galloped into the room.
"Hlin let me out, Mama! She said I was bein' ob-stin-ate or something, but now I get to play!" He grinned up at Loki, "Can I go outside?"
"Me too?" Loki went back down to see Frigga's face, cupping her cheeks in his hands like she did to him when she especially wanted him to pay attention, hoping, hoping that she would say yes.
"It's raining," she said.
"'s not so bad," Thor said, peering skeptically out the window, "Please, Mother?"
Loki couldn't hold still anymore and climbed down onto the floor, dancing from foot to foot, hands clasped pleadingly, "Please?"
Frigga laughed, "Alright, alright, fine." Thor smiled at him triumphantly, and Loki could tell that his mother said something else, something maybe about not getting dirty, but he was so happy that he couldn't have said what it was for sure, and he didn't really care. He and Thor were running out of the dark hall and into the wet outside. The ground was cool and wet and hard and the raindrops tickled as they slid down his face – icy cold where they pierced his clothes.
"Loki, come and look at this!"
Loki turned and saw Thor, crouched over something on the ground. He was cold, but it didn't matter. Thor was here, and Thor wanted to play.
Loki ran over to his brother.
~.~.~.~
"Welcome home, my old friend."
They had come through the portal and spoken briefly with Hiemdal. Now, finally, finally, Odin was on the last leg of the journey home. All he had left to do was walk to the palace.
"Asgard," Kvasir breathed, turning appreciatively to get a look at the entire line of the city, "It's grander than I remembered it,"
"We have done much to make it so," Odin said proudly. He turned to his friend as they walked, "Why did you leave it? You seemed quick enough to return when given an excuse,"
Kvasir smiled in a tired sort of way, "My Father was Vanir, so, after his death, it seemed good to me to follow my father's name," he laughed, softly, "It did not take them long to communicate how little trust they had for a 'half-blood'. I only had yet to make up my mind to return here. Your predicament proved the perfect opportunity."
~.~
Loki loved it when mother would read stories to him. Especially when they could read outside. Thor had wandered off, bored with the story, but Loki stayed, playing idly with his hand in the water from the fountain. He didn't understand why Thor always had to be rushing around. It was perfectly pleasant right here.
Suddenly, the trail of words stopped. "Odin!" The book fell to the ground, and Frigga was moving away. Loki looked up, startled. Two men had come into the garden; his mother was hugging one of them. "Your home!" she said, "It's been so long!" she stepped away still holding onto one of his hands, and Loki could see that it was his father. It had been a long time since his father had come home. It made him nervous.
"I have returned," Odin smiled at her, "And I brought an old friend."
"Greetings, Lady Frigga," the stranger said. Loki wondered distractedly where Thor was. He would feel safer if Thor was here, but he was afraid to call for him.
"It has been a long time, Kvasir," then his mother did something that frightened him very badly. She turned and said, "Loki, come and greet your father,"
Loki was going to do no such thing. The man there - that Frigga called his father – was huge and grand and Loki felt suddenly very small. He wanted to run away, but he couldn't move.
"Father! When did you come?"
Thor was there, then. Loki thought that maybe his mother had called him to come as well, but he wasn't sure. Thor went boldly up to their father and hugged him. Loki took his chance and sprinted across the ground to stand half behind his mother, holding to her skirts. He wondered for a minute why Thor wasn't afraid, but then he remembered that Thor wasn't afraid of anything, and his mind relaxed.
"Who's that?" Thor's attention had turned to the stranger, he was pointing at him, a frown on his face. Loki's head swiveled to see the man.
"That is my old friend, Kvasir," Odin was laughing a little. Loki didn't like that he had only one eye, "He's going to be staying with us."
Staying with them? Loki turned his attention again to the other man. He was tall and pleasant-looking - and best of all, he wasn't looking at him. The man – Kvasir – was looking at Thor. He had crouched down to be at more of eye-level to him, "Your father has told me many tales of your great valor." He had a nice voice, Loki thought.
Thor did not immediately answer, but looked at the man for a long moment. Then he nodded and his face broke into his usual grin. Loki remembered that he could breathe. "He's well enough, Father," Thor said, "You can keep him."
"Thor!" Loki's eyes flickered up to her, startled. Frigga sounded shocked.
But the stranger laughed, "Well, isn't he the mighty one?" he stood up, sketching a slight bow, "I am flattered to have met with your approval, Prince."
Father laughed, but Loki was still watching the stranger. Kvasir. He decided that maybe he might like him. He moved slowly and he had a nice face. Yes. Thor was right. The stranger could stay. Maybe.
~.~
"Odin!" the woman by the fountain bolted to her feet, dropping the book and running to him, abandoning the child in her haste to meet her husband. It had taken him a moment to recognize her, but only a moment. It had not been so long as that since he and Frigga had last met. "You're home!" she cried in an ecstasy of joy, "It's been so long!"
Feeling intrusive, watching such a reunion, Kvasir turned his attention to the child. He was small and dark, too young yet to have begun his training, with big green eyes that watched his parents with something like fear. His thumb had found its way into his mouth, and Kvasir doubted very much that he knew it had. To the mind of a small boy, it had been ages since his father had been home, Kvasir considered. No wonder the child was frightened.
"I have returned," he heard Odin say, "And I brought an old friend."
He turned to her, removing his attention from the boy, bowing to her as Queen, smiling as friend, "Greetings, Lady Frigga,"
"It has been a long time, Kvasir," Frigga turned a little then, remembering her son, "Loki, come and greet your father," she called, "Thor!" then, vaguely apologetic, "I can never keep track of that one, we come out and he is lost to me." With a sigh that was half weary and half fond exasperation, she turned back to him, grey eyes smiling, "And what joy brings you to us now?"
"I come as a hostage." Kvasir said, laughing at the sharp way her slender brows rose, "It was a term of the agreement."
She turned to her husband for explanation.
"Njord - a Council Man - and Kvasir returned with us. Hoenir and Mimir stayed behind."
There was a clash and a clatter and a tall young boy of about training age flew into the garden before them. He glanced back and forth, looking for his mother, then his face broke into a huge grin and he rushed toward them, diving forward, "Father! When did you come?"
The littler boy – Loki - took his chance and darted across the space to his mother, hiding in her skirts. Kvasir smiled. He remembered well what it was to be a small boy. The child peered around the lavender fabric, eyes bright and curious, made bolder by proximity to his mother. Kvasir noticed though that his thumb was still stuck inside his mouth.
"Who's that?" The older boy's attention had diverted, and he was now pointing to him, a curious, mildly suspicious look on his handsome young face.
"That is my old friend, Kvasir. He's going to be staying with us."
The father's voucher wasn't enough for the boy. Kvasir crouched down be on level with – maybe even looking up a little into – those serious, electric blue eyes. "Your father has told me many tales of your great valor."
The boy did not move for a moment, but searched his eyes, and Kvasir held his gaze. The boy smiled.
"He's well enough, Father," he nodded regally, "You can keep him."
"Thor!" Frigga sounded shocked, and Kvasir laughed, "Well, isn't he the mighty one?" he straightened, heart unexpectedly light at the boy's acceptance, and bowed slightly at the waist, "I am flattered to have met with your approval, Prince."
"Let us go into the hall," Odin said, smiling fondly at his golden-haired son, gesturing toward the path down which they had come, "there is much to be discussed."
Frigga moved too fast for the younger boy, he lost his hold on her skirts and scrambled after her. He caught at her, fingers closing around the cloth and turned, eyes wide and green - a little scared - to catch a look at him. Kvasir smiled, not quite looking directly at him, giving the child the space he seemed to crave.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kvasir saw the boy smile back.
