A/N: Listening to the perfect soundtrack as I write this chapter, black metal band, Bathory's Hammerheart album which is Viking metal at its finest. Oh and just for the lovely people who have left kudos, followed and reviewed this story I present a tiny bit of smut in this chapter for your enjoyment.

Thor had failed to return to the banquet that evening. In fact, he had fallen asleep at the base of the willow tree when the moon was beginning to sink in the sky. He had spent much of the night running the past day's events through his mind and trying to make sense of them. In the end, he felt he was hardly any closer to interpreting his strange feelings and moods.

"Thor." There was a silky voice purring in his ear, winding and snaking its way through his mind and dreams. It seemed to Thor in his dream-induced state that there was the barest suggestion of fine hair sliding over his cheek and a hand like cold powdery snow against the rough stubble of his cheek.

Thor's reveries had been hazy, but filled with the suggestion of creamy cool skin and mischievous green eyes. This new voice that invaded his dreams stoked the fires in his loins even further. "Mmm," he exhaled leaning into the icy phantom touch. Then as quickly as it had come the hand was gone.

It returned a second later in full force when Loki slapped him hard across the very cheek he'd been caressing a moment earlier. Thor blinked awake spluttering, clutching his stinging face.

Thor was somewhat surprised to find his face wet with morning dew clinging to his beard. He felt hot and flushed and could feel himself stirring beneath the thick leather of his trousers. Blinking as he struggled to gain control of his errant loins, he saw that his brother was bent over him, clutching the hand he'd so rudely slapped Thor with.

"I believe the stony bones of your cheek have seen fit to break my hand." Loki muttered, sitting back in a crouch opposite his brother.

"Serves them right, brother. Why did you hit me?" Thor demanded.

"You would not waken. I was sent to find you Thor. Father demands your presence at the council this afternoon and the sun his high overhead. Somehow I had an inkling that you might be here." Loki said all this facing away from Thor as if he were addressing the vine-entangled garden wall.

Thor felt guilty. He had said so many things to his brother last night that he should not. He hadn't meant most of them, not really. He ran his hand self-consciously over the scruff at the base of his neck. Just man up, Thor, he told himself. Apologize.

Loki was still studying the twisting foliage on the wall intently as if he held some key to universe's secrets. Thor gently cupped Loki's smooth chin and turned his face back toward him.

"Look at me brother, I have something I mean to say to you."

Loki kept his eyes downcast. "Haven't you said enough?" he asked quietly.

"No," Thor said more firmly. "Look at me Loki." As if dragged by weights his little brother's eyes slowly met his blue ones. Thor could see the pain there in Loki's green orbs. "I am sorry, brother. I have wronged you terribly. I should not have said those things to you last night. I behaved like a brute."

"Yes, indeed you did." Loki said softly. And it seemed to Thor that he his brother's gaze softened and there was such tenderness there. Thor's heart rate seemed to accelerate and despite the brisk afternoon air his limbs were suffused with warmth.

"I would forget it, Loki. Put it behind us." Thor said and he stroked Loki's downy smooth chin lightly. It was cool against the calluses of his hand. Despite the roughness of Thor's hand, Loki did not flinch away, merely regarding Thor curiously as if he were some riddle to be puzzled out.

Thor looked away, fearing such scrutiny. What might his clever brother be able to discern in the planes of his face, the chambers of his heart that he could not? He did want to think on what might be found there.

Reluctantly, Thor let his hand fall from his brother's face. He made a show of stretching as Loki stood silently staring at him. For a second, Thor thought he might have seen Loki's stare drawn to the flesh of his belly that peeked out from under his tunic as he raised his arms above his head. But as quickly as it might have come, the weight of that curious gaze was gone.

"Go on ahead Loki. I have half a mind to clean up in the pond this morning."

Thor watched Loki's Adam's apple bob as he swallowed thickly. The dark head inclined towards Thor but a fraction before he left silently. It always amazed Thor the way his brother could move without sound stealthy as a snake gliding through silk. Thor himself moved with all the grace and caution of a rogue bilgesnipe.

Thor felt that despite the icy temperature of the pond it was his best option. The brisk water of the pool would only serve to awaken him further. He had found himself craving cooler streams lately. He supposed it might have been the time he spent hunting. But perhaps not, perhaps it was in fact a cooler touch that he craved, that made him open the windows of his chamber to the cold summer air. Asgard was mostly a winter country and after the warm blaze of the sun sank beneath the clouds the air was often quite frosty.

Thor straightened and went to the pond. He loosened his breeches and braies, pulling his tunic over his head as he did so. He shucked the clothes onto the bank and waded into the water, hissing at the feel of the cold waves lapping against his feverish skin like a thousand icy tongues.

To Thor's surprise the cool touch of the water only heightened his lust. His manhood rose to its full height and Thor could do nothing but take it in hand. The warmth of his hand contrasted most pleasantly with the cool water. He found himself idly imagining a soft icy hand stroking his member. He was panting now as he touched himself. It would not take long.

He recalled the hissing purr in his ear from earlier "Thor." Thor groaned. He closed his eyes and he could see Loki in the green elaborately draped robe he had worn the night Thor had returned and found him sitting with Valinad. Thor's hand moved faster as he pictured Loki leaning in so his thin lips nearly touched the shell of Thor's ear, his husky voice uttering Thor's name. With a choked cry, that was half shock and half arousal Thor spent himself in his hand. His essence splashed out onto one of the lily pads in the pond.

Thor was flushed with embarrassment when he opened his eyes. He didn't know why his thoughts had turned toward his brother in that moment. That robe had been very provocative, but it was simply not right to imagine his own brother in such a position. Thor did take comfort that the fantasy had been rather innocent, but it was now calling into question the reason Thor had been so upset at Loki for encouraging Valinad's attentions. Was it not that Thor had sought to protect his brother's virtue, but rather he had sought to save his brother's virtue for his own. So that Thor alone might have the pleasure of having Loki relinquish such virtue to him. The thought was enough that Thor felt the blood rushing down to fill his pulsing organ anew.

Ashamed Thor, rushed from the pond. As he headed towards the bank to retrieve his clothes, Thor thought he saw a dark-haired head with eyes the colour of the fresh summer leaves peeking through the bushes at him. He shook his head at such a fancy and with a heavy heart proceeded to dress for the council meeting. This feeling he might have for his delicate brother must be contained, ignored. Such dangerous thoughts ought to be suppressed. Odin was counting on Thor to marry for the benefit of Asgard and to produce heirs. Besides Loki deserved better than a thick-skulled brutish boar of a brother.