Chapter 4

After dinner had finished, and the awkwardness absolved for a bit, Thor left to find Fritjof. From the short time he had spent with the cat, he had noticed his tendency for exploration, and frequently found him in odd places, such as out in the courtyard sunning himself near the poppies, or the maid's quarters under a stack of linens, or even the throne room once, which had nearly landed Thor in a world of trouble, since that day his father had needed the room for some important business or other. It was these times he thought the cat's name fitting: Fritjof, stealer of peace. But he was fond of the cat, regardless of what misfortune he caused.

Thor had created a sort of mental map for Fritjof's favorite places, and set out in a specific order when looking for him, clearing each room methodically until he was found. The first spot was his chambers, but a search there proved fruitless. The next place was in the foyer, but there again, no luck. Sometimes he hid in between the sofa cushions in the great room, but he was not there, either. The only other place Thor thought to look would be back in the dining hall.

He looked under the tables, in all the chairs, even in the kitchen and in all the cupboards, but Fritjof was nowhere to be seen. Thor, who was not one to worry, began to feel nervous. What if that dreaded dog got hold of him? He had developed quite the bond with the cat, and he would rather relinquish his precious Mjolnir to his greatest enemy than let any harm come to Fritjof. He knew he must locate the cat, and soon.

He rushed back down the hall from where he came, and passed Trygve in his kennel. He stopped, kneeling in front of the creature who was whimpering for attention. He held his hand out, and was greeted with a sniff and a lick, and no bite.

"Let's get you out of there," said Thor quietly. "You've done nothing wrong."

He looked both ways before he unlocked the kennel, and not a moment later, the dog jumped out of the cage and tackled him, knocking him to the ground and kissing him, grateful to be released from his cage. Thor let out a hearty chuckle, trying helplessly to push the beast off him. "All right, boy, down." Trygve obeyed instantly, and Thor was impressed. Although Loki may have been a little excessive earlier at dinner, he was not without determination, and it showed in his pet.

Thor stood up, wiping his face with a kerchief, and then ruffed the dog's ears lovingly. Just then, the door to Loki's private chambers opened, and Fritjof scampered out, followed by the man himself, an empty bowl in his hand. The brothers looked at each other, Thor with wickedness and Loki with humiliation.

Thor grinned. "Ohoho, do my eyes deceive me, brother? Have you taken a lover?"

Loki scoffed, brushing off his tunic. "Pfft, says the man who is getting all-too friendly with the very dog who bit him. Have you forgotten that it made you cry like a child?"

"You locked up your own pet over a few extra scraps of food," said Thor.

"He cannot become overweight if he is to be my guard dog," said Loki, as if he had control over his brother. Fritjof sauntered over to his owner, and although he passed by Trygve, he did not hiss or claw at him.

Loki noticed this. "Seems they tolerate each other."

Thor nodded in agreement. Perhaps they could learn a lesson from their companions. If such a relationship could exist between polar opposites in the animal kingdom, then surely it could last in the human realm as well?

"Brother," said Thor, and a look of seriousness fell over him. "Shall we call for a truce?"

"Truce? For what?"

"If I should swear upon all of Asgard that I shall not go against your wishes regarding Trygve," he said, "Then you shall swear not to harm Fritjof in any way, and shall not go near him until I permit." He extended his hand.

Loki considered this. He would regain control of Trygve—no more scraps from the table—but also, he would not get to spend time with the feline, which he had grown fond of. However, in the future, when the scratching and the biting and the feeding had been long forgotten, perhaps he could spend some quality time with Fritjof, if his brother allowed.

He shook his brother's hand. It was a deal.

As they prepared to leave, they looked around for their respective pets, and saw them in the corner. Fritjof lay by Trygve's side, the cat curled up in a ball and the dog's head resting on its paws, huddled for warmth and fast asleep.

"…Cats have a mind of their own, you know," said Loki with a grin, after a while. "If he comes near me, does that make the agreement moot, or am I still at fault?"

Thor chuckled. "Shut up."