Disclaimer: I don't own Thor

Chapter 3

"How dare they!" Thor paced around the main hall, having just flipped an enormous table full of food. I sat on the nearby stairs, not even attempting to reason with him. My brother before he was banished was a monster all on his own-impossible to tame or cage.

"Brother," I said, "your time will come. You must be patient. Perhaps this was a sign-"

"A sign?" He let out an incredulous laugh. "This was to be my day of triumph. The only sign is that the Jotuns need to be dealt with, not appeased like Father wants."

Like in the original timeline, Odin insisted we maintain peace with Laufey. Thor had raged, saying he should slaughter the Jotuns, just like the Allfather did years ago. A feeling of satisfaction arose inside me. Thor insisted he didn't care about my heritage, but here was my proof-he despised me for who I was, and always would.

"Do not leave," Odin had ordered us. "I will be back soon, and both of you shall meet me in the throne room."

Thor, being Thor, immediately ignored that order. "We must take action, Brother. The Frost Giants-Laufey-cannot be allowed to exist as they have been before. We have to do something."

"Of course, Thor," I tried to avoid thoughts that my own brother thought I shouldn't exist. "Father is a fool for thinking Laufey could be reasoned with. We have to do something."

It felt unusual to refer to Laufey by his given name. I knew we were related; that I was tied to him in an irrevocable way. Odin could cast me aside if he wanted, but the Jotun King couldn't cleanse his blood from my veins, even if that's what both of us wanted.

My ponderings on my blood relations were interrupted by the thundering sound of Thor's lackeys, Sif and the Warriors Three. I hadn't given the fools much thought in the new timeline-rightly so. They didn't notice me unless I showed a shred of individuality, or said a word of criticism against Thor. I was determined not to think of them. This future was mine, not theirs.

"Oh, look at what you've done, Thor!" Volstagg boomed. "All this food, delicious food…."

"Be serious." Sif said. She approached my brother, hand held out warily. "Thor, I am so sorry about what happened. We will do everything in our power to make things better for you."

"I don't think you have the power to punish the monsters, my dear Lady Sif."

"Loki-"

"No," Thor slowed down, and I could see his idiotic mind miraculously having an idea "We must go to Jotunheim, my friends, and speak with Laufey himself. That is the only way to uncover the truth."

Sif and the other warriors took a step back in shock. I wasn't surprised Thor made the same decision, even if I didn't push him toward it. Thor burned for battle in the way I never did, even during my more violent phase.

"Thor, I do not think-"

My brother wasn't having it. "Lady Sif, my friends, we must go. We have fought through battles and wars aplenty, never letting each other down. You wouldn't want to let me and my brother go alone, would you?"

It was then that Thor's friends seemed to agree. My brother laughed, clutching my arm, declaring, "To Jotunheim! We shall make those beasts pay for what they've done!"

I let him drag me out of the grand hall, his words hurting more than any blade.

Out trip to Jotunheim was remarkably similar in this timeline. I went to the guard, ordering him to tell Odin of our plans. Heimdall let us go by, giving me a suspicious look when I passed. I paid no heed. I wouldn't make the same mistakes I did last time. Neither Heimdall or anyone else would betray me again.

With a bright boom of energy that was so similar to the one on Alfheim, we arrived in the land of the Frost Giants. It was near the same spot as last time-the palace could be seen nearby, and the ice beneath our feet cracked with every step we took. The wind whipped in every direction, carrying snow with it. The sky was a dark color, foreboding, almost like it was looming over the monsters living under it.

This was my homeland.

I tried to ignore that thought, yet it stuck with me. My mind searched for my earliest memories of this place, for any sign that Jotunheim didn't doom me to my fate the second I was born. I found nothing.

Shaking my head, I followed Thor as we trekked near the palace. His hand was eagerly gripping Mjolnir, just waiting to slaughter the monsters, ignorant that they biggest monster was right behind him.

"This place…" Fandral said, "it's a wasteland."

"A dangerous one." Volstagg responded. "Be careful, my friend."

We walked for another mile or so, my magic cloaking our movements. The second I spotted Laufey, I released the spell. Thor took a step forward, ignoring the Jotuns surrounding us on all sides.

"LAUFEY!"

The King didn't seem to care for my brother's shouts. He chuckled, and leaned down, his large figure becoming more imposing. I swallowed, and tried to ignore his resemblance to me in his cheeks, in his eyes, in his soul. "Thor Odinson, the so-called Thunderer. Why have you come here?"

"For answers."

"How specific. Is that really enough to break our thousand year treaty? To risk war and chaos? Surely a noble prince wouldn't destroy his own people like that?"

"Enough of your games, Laufey!" Thor roared. "Your people snuck into my homeland, and tried to murder my family. You must pay for what you've done!"

The Jotuns didn't like that. They nearly pounced, but Laufey raised his hand, stopping their movement. "What evidence do you have of that? I cannot control the actions of every Jotun, like the Allfather cannot control the action of every Aesir. All I know is this-there are traitors in the House of Odin."

"You lie." There it was. My brother refused to believe that people could lie to him, betray him, and try to destroy him while shaking his hand. He lived in a word of honesty. I pitied him for it, yet felt strangely jealous, wondering what it would be like to think everyone was on your side.

"Leave, Odinson. Before you bring war and ruin on your people."

I grabbed my brother's shoulder, preventing him from lunging forward. "Thank you, King Laufey. We will take your offer, and I promise this shall never happen again."

He nodded. "Good. Have your Gatekeeper take you away outside the main city." Laufey gestured for us to leave, glad he wouldn't have to face Mjolnir.

And again, any hope I had of Thor not being an idiot was crushed by three words: "Run home, princess."

"Brother-"

The hammer flew out of his hand, crushing the head of the Giant who had insulted him. The others drew out their weapons, rushing into battle with smiles on their faces.

Of course they smiled.

I didn't remember my exact steps from the original timeline, so I stuck to the edges of the courtyard, throwing knives and spells at any Jotun I encountered. I waited for Odin to arrive, Gungnir in hand, ready to banish his eldest. It was necessary to save Asgard, and my brother.

One Giant ran toward me, so I jumped out of the way, letting him fall off a nearby cliff. Another came near, its hand reaching for my throat. I tried to dodge, but grabbed me, smiling, raising its fist-

Thunder rumbled in the air, and lightning soon followed, hitting the Giant that was keeping me captive. It crumpled in an instant, and I fell to the floor, and spotted Thor getting hold of Mjolnir once more.

"Stay away from my brother, beasts!"

I quickly got up, shrugging off my injuries. Odin would be here soon. I ran across the courtyard, helping Fandral when he was impaled by ice.

"We have to get out of here!" Volstagg shouted, holding the blond warrior in his arms.

"Thor! Don't be a fool!" I ran to my brother, almost like a small child running to their parent. I hated battle, even ones where I was the most powerful. The Battle of Midgard showed how bad battles go for me.

I was interrupted when I was suddenly tackled to the ground. I struggled, kicking, trying to free myself. I managed to shift upward, and saw the image of a Frost Giant my size reveal itself.

"Don't even try, Aesir," the Jotun yanked me upward, holding a knife to my neck. I could feel the fur he was wearing on my back, and the sleek metal on my throat.

"Stop your rampage, Odinson." Laufey's voice rang throughout the courtyard, and Thor paused, looking at the King.

I couldn't see him, but I assumed the Giant smiled. "Don't swing that hammer, or else you will lose something far worse than your pride."

It was then that he noticed me, locked in the arms of the Jotun. "Loki," he tried to move toward me, but stopped when I shook my head.

"Thor-"

The Giant holding me gripped my body harder. "Move once more, Prince, and your brother will join my people amongst the dead."

Thor dropped his weapon in an instant. Sif did too, as well as the Warriors Three.

"Laufey," my brother began, "I beg of you-"

He was interrupted by the golden light of the Bifrost ripping through the courtyard. There was Odin Allfather, spear in hand, his eight-legged war horse bucking in the air.

"Father!" Thor shouted. "We can rescue Loki and finish them together!"

"SILENCE." Odin approached Laufey, still gripping his spear. "King Laufey, I plead for forgiveness on behalf of Asgard's Crown Prince. But if you do not let my son go, we will have to go to war."

Laufey tilted his head. "Your son? Whichever one are you referring to?"

"Prince Loki. If you kill him, Asgard will declare war on Jotunheim."

Then the Jotun King did something I didn't expect-he laughed. I heard a small chuckle coming from the Frost Giant holding the knife to my throat. His movement caused the knife to slide across my skin, and I felt small amounts of blood drip down my neck.

"Allfather, when your son came to my kingdom, attacked my citizens, his brother did not hesitate to join him. One of my men tried to take him captive, but the most interesting thing happened."

The entire courtyard was silent. I realized what Laufey was going to say, and had the urge to let that knife slit my throat.

"Aesir skin is weak, and will blacken at the touch of a Jotun. But when my soldier held your son, his skin turned blue, like any other being of Jotunheim."

"Loki is a shapeshifter. That's normal for him." Odin didn't waste a second coming up with his lie.

Laufey shook his head. "Sound explanation, Allfather. But I noticed something else-his skin shifted and revealed the markings of the House of Nál, the royal house of Jotunheim-my house."

"Father-" Thor interrupted. I can imagine what he was thinking-his innocent baby brother, a monster? It would've been hard for anyone to swallow.

Odin was strangely quiet. He didn't try to offer any lies or explanations, merely saying, "Yes."

Laufey turned around to look at me. I tried to find any hint of emotion in his eyes, but my search was cut off when he faced Odin again.

"So, Allfather," he spat out the title like a curse. "Do you any explanation as to why you've claimed my long lost son as your own?"

AN: So that's the third chapter. Sorry for taking so long to update! Also I apologize for the fight scene-I can't write fight scenes to save my life. Please let me know what you think in the comments, and thank you for reading!