I apologize, some personal things have come up and so has work, but I am far from finished with this series. I am going to try focusing on shorter, but more regular updates with this and other stories.

Koli awoke naturally, much to his surprise. He heard the usual morning ramble; shuffling feet, Arctic Birds cooing and voices murmuring. He desired to stay in bed, but the duty of a parent still dogged him. The priest slid out of bed and yawned.

"Another day," he spoke. "Of a wonderful life."

He was sarcastic of course, but it always could be worse. Koli quickly got dressed in his robe and went straight to the nursery, a habit he assumed he would form. But to his surprise, Loki wasn't there, a note was in his place.

"Son,

Loki and I are in the Dining Hall, I have a surprise for you

-Your father"

"That's strange..." he thought.

Koli followed his directions and went into the Dining Hall, a large room filled with tables and huge windows that regularily collected snow. Tryggr was there with a bowl filled with mashed berries and Loki in a carrier strapped across his chest.

"Ymir's Blessings, son." Tryggr greeted.

"Ymir's Blessings, father." Koli resounded as he sat down next to him.

Loki babbled as he saw Koli and reached for him. Koli grinned and stroked Loki's cheek.

"And Ymir's Blessings to you too." Koli got some crunchy flat dough and smeared salty, hemofish paste on it. "You finally got him to calm down, I am impressed. How did you do it?"

Tryggr grinned in response. "I think I will wait for you to figure it out."

Loki turned his body towards Koli and began to make little noises that resembled struggling. Tryggr instinctively untied the carrier and tied it to Koli. Loki calmed immediately and let out a little squeal.

"But he still prefers you."

Koli chuckled softly and took Loki's little hand. "Worry not, he will become fond of you too." After taking a few bites he looked back at his father. "So, what was your surprise?"

"I asked High Priest Froh and managed get work off for the both of us today, so I thought we could go to Glacier Hull." Tryggr added with the twinkle of an eye.

Koli put on a grin. Glacier Hull was a large, well, glacier that was shaped like the body of a boat that had begun to capsize. As a child, Tryggr would take Koli there to let loose his energy. They would sled on the flat top, have picnics and build snow beings.

"That sounds perfect, thank you father."

"Of course." Tryggr stood. "I will get what we need for lunch, you finish your breakfast."

"Thank you."

Koli continued to eat and was almost finished before he heard Loki squeak loudly. It didn't sound like his usual cry, nor any content noises.

"Something wrong?" Koli asked, looking down at him.

Loki responded by just babbling loudly as he looked at Koli.

"You seem restless."

Loki's eyes were wider than usual. Koli put his food down and cradled Loki.

"Is everything okay?"

Loki let out a loud, soft breath before seeming to settle.

"Um... Very well..." Koli coughed and finally finished his food. "You did not just pass gas did you?" He waited a moment. "No? Good."

Tryggr arrived with the black, woven picnic basket. "I have some root salad, harp jerky, berry juice and even blubber stew."

"Ah, sounds excellent." Koli lifted Loki and looked in the basket to also see bottles of milk. "Perfect, ready to head out?"

Tryggr nodded with a grin. The family of three went to the stables, where Tryggr seemed to be taken aback by the sight of Bjatr.

"Is it me or is he fat?" he queried.

"He is most definitely fat." Koli stated as he let him out and got the sleigh. "I have to pay for someone to get him fit again."

"What was he doing the month you were gone? Staying in one place fattening himself up?"

Koli blinked. "Perhaps."

"Well, so long as he could pull a sleigh." Tryggr shrugged.

Koli put the harness on Bjatr and set up the seats. Tryggr sat down on the passengers side with Loki's carrier on his lap. Koli took the reigns and gently snapped them.

"Yah!"

Bjatr trotted along lazily, even slower than the other night because of the weight. Koli secretly worried that if he lost traction on a slight incline he might slip backwards and crush all of them. The day was nice, the sky was clear for once, though it was not that different from the night other than there were no stars and the sky was dark blue instead of black. The breeze was nice and soft, not picking up much snow and tossing it in their faces. Koli looked in the distance back to the Palace, still thinking about Farbauti.

"Wonderful day." Tryggr perked suddenly.

"It is, isn't it?" Koli agreed gingerly.

Loki simply cooed once while looking up and around, taking in the new surroundings.

"Glad you think so too."

They continued gliding for a bit, but Farbauti clung to his mind to no end. An invisible thread kept tugging his head back to look. What was happening there? How hurt was she? Did she still live?

Tryggr put his hand on his shoulder. "Are you well son?"

"Yes, I am fine-"

"It is Farbauti, is it not?"

Koli snapped his head back. "What?!"

"I know you still hold a torch for her." Tryggr smirked and gwaffed. "The way you look longing into the distance is hard to ignore."

Koli looked down, wishing it was just that. "I know, it is just that I worked so hard for her."

Tryggr hugged him with one arm. "Well, everything still turned out fine for you." He exhaled loudly and let his arm fall. "I still think of your mother."

Koli's heart set aflame and his gaze burned at his father. "Why?!"

Tryggr sighed and rested his chin on his hands. "Koli, as a priest you have to forgive."

"How can I forgive someone who was never there!?"

A cry broke out, Loki was sobbing, he had never heard Koli raise his voice like that before. Koli pulled back and stopped the sled before cradling Loki.

"Oh, I am so sorry." Koli breathed as he gently rocked him. "I did not mean to." Koli slowly lifted him so he would be in front of his face. "I am sorry."

Loki quieted and gently pushed his forehead against his and gently touched his nose. He started cooing a bit, showing he was fine.

"There we go." Koli put him back in his cradle.

Loki settled down and cuddled against his chest.

Koli sighed and looked back at Tryggr. "Father, please, I wish not to talk of her."

Tryggr's eyes widened and shined, but he nodded. "I will not mention her any longer."

Koli nodded and kept sledding on. Even Loki could sense the awkwardness as he looked up at Koli with wide eyes. Koli sighed and just patted the lad on his head before turning to place him back where he was. That's when Koli's eyes lit up as a flash came across the sky. A warning signal.

"Something's wrong!" Koli shouted as he grabbed Bjatr's reigns and turning him around.

Tryggr turned and saw the beacon in the town was lit and his face dropped into a frown. "I knew the war would come to a head soon."

Koli said nothing, but knew what he said was true. He snapped Bjatr's reigns and he quickly went into full sprint, but his speed was only equivalent to that of a slow trot due to the weight being pulled and lack of fitness. Koli groaned as he jumped off and slapped Bjatr's rear. He continued into a steady run which Koli could keep up with.

"You go ahead, I will be right behind you!" Koli shouted.

Tryggr nodded and grabbed the reigns and snapped them again, allowing Bjatr to go to his maximum speed. Loki's cry of confusion could be heard but it was better they got to the Temple before him. By the time Koli was nearing the town hundreds carrying their valuables, elderly and children began to flee.

"Koli!" It was Kelda, holding her child. "It's a madhouse back there, the Aesir have pushed off us Midgard, they are coming soon!"

"We will meet you at the next town, my father and I need to head back to get our things!" Koli spoke.

"Hurry!"

Koli continued to run, almost regretting that he was the one that had Loki so he could hand him off to Kelda.

"But we did not know what was happening." Koli thought, making an excuse for himself.

He finally reached the Temple, which was empty of the spiritual relics and things of value already. In the center, Froh was directing who was left of the clergy, only five in total. Tryggr was among them, holding Loki, who was crying terribly.

"Koli, quickly, we are pretty much done here, just go get you and Loki's things and you can leave." Froh spoke.

Tryggr went to him and gently placed Loki in his arms. "He's calmer with you."

True to the statement Loki quieted and cooed in Koli's arms. Koli smiled and nodded, he ran upstairs and quickly went to his room. He placed Loki in the carrier slung across his chest and stuffed everything that Koli loved most into his large skin bag. Pictures, favorite clothes, books and as many as Loki's toys as possible. Finishing with his music box, Koli tied the bag and ran downstairs.

"Ready to go?" Koli yelled as he reached the end.

"Not yet." a voice like crumbling ice boomed across the hall. "We still need you."

Koli froze as he stepped out the doorway. That voice... Why would that voice be here? He stiffly turned his head and shook, yes, Laufey stood at the grand doorway with a smirk so wide it almost reached his ears. Koli could feel his hands tensing, he knew that Laufey would never be kind enough to wait for him.

"Why are you here?" Koli asked, trying to keep his resolve intact, he took a couple confident strides to the glowing blue crystal in the center.

Laufey's eyes followed him, the orbs of glowing red searing into him. "Is it not a King's duty to see to the needs of his subjects?" He walked forward.

Koli fought the urge to scoff. "Do not dare give me any of that shit, what do you want?"

"Cursing? In a Temple? How brutish." Laufey laughed as he came closer.

Loki knew the voice as well and began to softly whimper. Koli pulled him close to his chest. As Koli looked around, he realized the rest of the clergy was absent. His stomach began to churl painfully, he knew that Froh and his father would not leave him and Loki alone suddenly. There was something wrong.

"I suppose I should stop stalling." Laufey paused a good couple steps away from them. "As a merciful ruler, I have decided to give you and... Loki, another chance."

Koli did not give himself the luxury of hope. He backed up and leaned against the glowing crystal, getting an icy rush of power in his veins, just in case. "For what cost?"

Laufey's shrill laughter began to echo through the walls as his stomach began to rise and fall rapidly. Koli watched him and backed further away. The entire thing was just eerie. He began to form a weapon on his arm slowly, focusing on making it sharper.

"Glad to know your brain still works," he stated cheerily as he turned around. "You will receive wealth, power, land, titles, women, you name it, all for one things." He whipped back around with a dagger in hand. "Just let me kill the child."

Koli roared as he revealed his arm was covered in a large blade. "And if I decide to kill you and pin it on the Aesir?!"

Laufey puckered his lips in disinterest. "Ah yes, I thought about that."

He snapped his fingers, soon from the corners, the shadows and behind the pillars emerged ten soldiers, all larger than Dagr. But they were not alone. Five of them were holding knives to five other Jotunar they carried. The Priests. Koli watched in stoic horror as they were all forced to their knees with their arms on their head.

"First they will die, then him, then you." Laufey added the last part with a smile and the turn of his head. "You know, just so you can suffer."

Koli dropped his head and his weapon, feeling an invisible weight of despair begin to push him down. He began to shake as thoughts zoomed in his head.

"You... You monster!" Koli cried out as he turned his head to him. "WHY?! Why do you hate your son so much?!" He screamed.

Laufey's smiled pulled into a frown of the deepest angle. "HE IS NOT MY SON!" He slammed his fist into a column which cracked. "Now make your choice!"

Koli looked to the eyes of the Priests. The three others had fear, but then Koli looked at his father and Froh. Froh had his gaze turned downward, but when his pupils met Koli's, he gave a soft nod. He was not afraid to die. Tryggr's eyes were straight to his son and adopted grandchild, he did no such movement, but his resolve was clear. He wanted to die for them.
But even if Koli did make that decision, there was no way to fight out of this alone. He turned around and leaned his head and arms against the crystal in twisted confusion. What more could he do? He felt the power from the crystal more than ever now as he reached behind him and untied Loki's carrier before placing him on the altar beneath him. Whines of protest came from Froh and Tryggr as he did so.

"That's right, listen to your king." Laufey chuckled darkly.

Koli turned around, keeping his arms behind him and leaned against the crystal. "If he is not your son." He threw out his arms, causing ice to rocket up from underneath each Jotunar and pounded them into the ceiling.

"YOU ARE NOT MY KING!"

The Priests immediately tore off their gags and ran off. All but Froh and Tryggr ran outside to freedom, those two ran to Koli's side. Koli noticed he somehow managed to knock one out, but the others immediately rose and saw what had happened.

"GET THEM! KILL THEM!" Laufey screeched.

Koli drew his weapons in a panic, he knew that his father had combat experience as a noble but Froh did not. Tryggr began to form a hammer on his hand and Froh an axe. The the group rushed at them quickly. Koli stomped, making spikes of crystals shoot up and pierce several others. Froh did his best to block attacks while Tryggr assaulted from the side.
Koli was hit from the side and knocked to the ground, he rolled over just as he was about to be stabbed, doing a sweep kick to knock two to the ground. He was quick to dispatch them by hitting their temples to knock them out. He gave a confident smirk to Laufey. Bad move.
Laufey seemed to have entirely warped. His stance was animalistic, his breathing erratic and his face was seething. Something materialized in his hands, a glowing blue box. The Casket.

"DIE!"