Author's Notes: Many thanks to everyone for all the feedback! The draft of this tale is now fully complete, holding at eleven chapters plus the prologue and epilogue. Most of the cultural traits of Jotunheim in this chapter are my own invention, although I've borrowed quite a few tidbits from mythology.

Chapter Five

It was only when Thor began walking again that Sif and the Warriors Three broke out of paralysis to chase after him. "Thor, this is madness!"

"Is this madness?" Thor shook them off as he approached his horse. "Is it?" Silfrintopp nickered, but butted his head against his master, unconcerned with Thor's changed status. Thor shut his eyes and scratched the beast's nose. "One of the last things I said to him in Jotunheim was to remember his place. And look where I was, leading him to his death when he had warned me then it was madness!"

"Loki provoked you!" Sif exploded. "The frost giants came to Asgard through a path he showed them, to halt your coronation!"

Thor froze. There was a soft "tsk" nearby, and they found that Lord Frey had followed. He gave them a blithe smile of false reluctance, as if he'd not intended to eavesdrop. "Oh dear. I'd wondered if that would turn out to be the case."

Sif bit her lip and waited for what her friend would say. The Warriors Three were likewise silent, their dismayed gazes flitting from Sif to Thor as he took it in. At last, he mused, "So that's what he meant."

"When?"

"In the healing room..." Thor's voice was very low and rough with pain. "He told me he never wanted a throne. Only to be my equal." He shut his eyes and rested his head against Silfrintopp's neck. "He wasn't the one who breached the peace, and I won't let him be the one who pays for it." Sif's heart sank as Thor's resolve grew and he turned to Frey. "Come with me to Jotunheim, let them see I'm in earnest. I'll give Laufey his ransom for a magician's service. And if he protests Odin taking a son of his people, let him take one in return." Now he smirked. "As Bragi pointed out, I've no authority - technically, I'm still banished. So I can do with myself what I wish."

Frey said nothing, but as Thor mounted, he beckoned his own horse without waiting for Sif or the others to muster more arguments. Sif wondered as she followed them whether any of them had learned from the folly of last time, merely trailing along blindly after Thor's whims, no matter what trouble he courted.

Somehow... as she watched him... it didn't seem that way. And that gave her some inkling of hope.

Outside the Observatory, Heimdall was downright sarcastic. "Now you are most definitely not dressed warmly enough."

The weariness in Thor's voice was troubling. "I haven't the time to return for a cloak, Gatekeeper. With no place in Asgard, I don't own one. Let me pass to Jotunheim."

"Do you plan to die this time?"

"If I must. If that's the price Laufey demands, then let me pay it as I should. Whatever Loki did to halt my coronation, it was I who provoked this conflict, and I'm the one responsible for his wound. I won't stand idle while he dies." Thor approached Heimdall. "Please," he said urgently. "Open the Bifrost. Let me try to right this."

The Gatekeeper locked eyes with him. "Bragi had the right of it, if indelicately put. You have no prize but your own self to offer Jotunheim, and if they take it, Asgard may not be able to save you." But he went to open the bridge. "Mortal senses are weaker than any being in the Nine Realms, son of Odin, but your sight has grown clearer."

Thor looked back as the Bifrost spiraled to life. "That sounded like approval."

"It was."

But when Thor frowned at his friends, Volstagg growled, "Don't even say it, Thor." So Thor sighed and relented, and they stepped into the bridge.

They didn't arrive to silent, frigid wastes this time. The site was well-watched now, and they were instantly on the business end of a hundred Jotnar spears. "Hold!" Frey barked at them. "We come to treat with Laufey!"

Sif and the Warriors Three had moved instinctively to protect Thor on all sides, not only to guard his flanks, but to try to keep him warm (as subtly as possible.) Red frost giant eyes glared at them from all directions, but the weapons were stayed. Sif wondered how long it would take for the cold to start affecting Thor in his mortal state. And how long it would take for the frost giants to notice.

"What is this?" Laufey could not have been far away, for it only took moments for him to appear. "Do you think to force my hand by bringing the puppet king of Alfheim?"

Frey smiled thinly. "My regards and greetings to the king of the Jotnar, and thanks for the prompt audience."

Laufey sneered. "Does Odin imagine I'll allow entry to this whelp even as ambassador. I should take the heads of all of you now."

"And provoke war with Vanaheim and Alfheim for the bargain? Did you not warn of its cost before?" asked Volstagg.

"You reconsider it too late, Asgardians. Your callow prince wanted this, and not even his br..." Sif felt a tremor from Thor that she doubted was due to the cold. Laufey leaned forward, his eyes scanning their company, and taking account of what it must mean. "So, that's it? I wondered why you would dare Jotunheim again. Even a foolish braggart would know what awaits him. Tell me, Thor, what of your younger, cleverer brother? Why is he not at your heels?"

Sif held her breath. She was so close to Thor that she could feel how deeply he was breathing. This cold air had to be painful. It hurt even her Aesir lungs, but Thor didn't seem to notice. "For whom was that dart intended?" Thor growled. "For me, or did you aim for the son of Odin who tried to preserve the peace?"

"A pity. My archer thought his strike missed. Oh, it was for you, Thor of Asgard, as one last means of averting war."

"Averting war by assassinating the heir of Odin?!" Fandral bellowed. Frey caught his shoulder.

Laufey went on, untroubled. "We had the right to vengeance. Sixty-five Jotunns died for the sake of this brat's vanity, and his life was forfeit with the first! I was even prepared to spare the rest of you, and Odin could not have denied the matter was settled. But that swift little shadow took the death meant for you, and now there is no tribute you can offer that will answer for the blood you shed!"

And Thor stepped off the proverbial ledge. "Loki still lives."

Sif couldn't help the way her breath caught, but the sound was lost in the murmur and shuffle that ran through the Jotnar. For the first time, Laufey of Jotunheim looked... shocked. "What did you say?"

Thor had to push Hogun hard to get him to step aside so he could look the Jotunn king in the face. In the part of her mind not paralyzed by dread, Sif noted for the first time that Laufey was... several hands shorter than most of his warriors.

Male children deemed too small are left in the temple. Those who live long enough to be deemed strong may be reclaimed or taken by others. Was Laufey himself such a one? How long was long enough for a baby to be spared a cold, fearful death?

Laufey's eyes flashed red as he looked at Frey, then back at Thor, who held his ground. Thor repeated, "Loki is still alive. Lord Frey and I come to parley for an end to hostilities, and a magician of Jotunheim to treat the curse."

The disbelief was fading from the Jotunn king's face, giving way to rage. Sif made her limbs rigid so she wouldn't succumb to the temptation to haul Thor back. By the way their friends were shifting, they were thinking the same. Laufey advanced, his teeth bared. "So. Not only as Odin the slayer of thousands, usurper of worlds and their treasures, he even lowers himself to theft of children!"

Frost clung to the looser parts of Thor's Earth garment, yet he still wasn't shivering, and his voice was clear. "Lord Frey told us of your rites. Odin found Loki in your temple and took him in for mercy! He broke no law of Jotunheim, and whoever left him - "

Laufey surged forward, and before any of them could do more than shout, his hands were on Thor's neck. "He was MINE!"

Now Thor cried out, unable to help it as the giant's ice burned him, and Sif and the Warriors Three and Frey all leaped forward. Violence might have been inevitable had Frey not got between the enraged king and his target, knocking Thor free. "Then why did you subject him to the temple if you meant to keep him?" Frey demanded, motioning Sif and the Warriors Three towards Thor.

"He was too small!" Laufey shouted. "Too small in a time of war and his mother dead! But had he withstood the hours, I would have returned for him! When did Odin take him?!" Now Thor was coughing and shuddering, jolted from his determination by pain - and probably by the shock at this news.

But in this, they'd exposed yet another piece of the puzzle. As Thor struggled back to his feet, trying to save face, Laufey studied him. "You are Aesir no longer, Thor Odinson." Red eyes widened, and now he smiled again. "So, by brokering peace with us, you hope to return to Odin's good graces. Does Odin even know you're here?"

"Whether he knows matters little, for as you now discern, I am cast out. But in so doing, my father has given me a boon - my freedom, to do with myself what I see fit. I can command no army against Jotunheim, nor order a tribute of treasure for her king amid great fanfare, but I can offer you the vengeance you seek."

Never had the act of dropping to one knee seemed more like a challenge flung. Thor's eyes were bright in the dim light of this world, and Sif's heart hammered with what she slowly realized was not only fear and anxiety but... pride. She'd felt pride at Thor's side many times, riding in triumph from a battle won, defeating powerful foes, repelling enemies from the homes of innocents. How could it be that she would be proud now, to see him surrender with his face uplifted, before the enemy they'd all been taught was the lowest and foulest?

"Take your revenge on the one who did the harm. You see I'm punished by my father, but I'll submit to any you demand. For peace, Laufey, not for myself. For my brother. If you will send a magician to Asgard to heal my brother, then I am yours, to be put to the axe or the ice or any fate you declare for the deaths I caused."

They were gaining an audience. Other Jotnar who didn't look like warriors were coming closer to witness these unorthodox negotiations. In a few furtive scans of the growing crowd, Sif noted great diversity in the Jotnar's shapes and sizes. There were plenty of the ten-foot warriors with whom Asgard was most familiar, but a fair amount of the adult population was... not that much taller than the Aesir.

And their breakthrough came from a Jotunn smaller still. "A magician's services are ordered, my lord king?"

The watchers gave way for the speaker just as the warriors had given it for their king. From their ranks came a lady, the first female Jotunn that Sif could recall ever seeing. She was as tall as Fandral, maybe a hand taller than Sif. She had hair rather than the bony ridges upon the male warriors' heads. It was black and lush, falling to her waist. Her gown was of the same fabric as the warriors' garments - absurdly thin for such a climate, but no doubt the cold was no concern for her. It was quite the shock to Sif (more so to Fandral, she would wager): this Jotunn woman was beautiful. Even Frey was staring at her.

But not Thor. He had eyes only for Laufey. "I am just payment for my attack. Let peace be assured. Take me and let the curse be lifted from Loki. And then do with me what you will."

Laufey scowled. He had to be wondering how many more surprises there would be this day. He eyed the giantess, (though with her height it was a misnomer) and asked, "You're prepared to venture into our enemies' stronghold to spare one of these invaders?"

As sour as he sounded, Sif marked the way many Jotunns looked to the giantess to make the decision. If she was a sorceress of power, it was understandable. The giantess considered them, then looked at Lord Frey. "So Loki Odinson is in fact a child of Jotunheim? A son of Laufey, no less?" Frey nodded. She turned to address Laufey. "Then my king, I beg leave to depart to Asgard, to bring aid to one of our own as right of kin."

For the briefest instance, Frey betrayed surprise. Then he smoothed down his diplomatic mask and turned back to Laufey. "Well, my lord king? Have we not a fair proposal? One of your fine Volur offers her services. To halt the end of more innocent lives, and the culprit surrenders to you in the name of peace."

"What of his companions?"

"They will join me in providing safe escort to the lady through Asgard and assuring her safe return."

Even as Sif leaped towards Thor with a shout of protest, Laufey grinned coldly. "I accept."

Thor shoved Sif away when she tried to seize him. "Go. GO!"

"Thor, for the love of - " Volstagg began.

" - For me," Thor hissed at them. "If not for Loki, then for me!" He made no resistance as two giants moved into take him, and Sif found herself seized by Hogun.

"Say nothing," he muttered in her ear. Frey was hauling Fandral with him, Volstagg trailing after in despair, then the Bifrost activated again and the last thing Sif saw of Jotunheim was Thor's smile through the closing crowd of giants. He looked as confident and assured as when they'd first come here, as if nothing had changed.

Then they stumbled into the Observatory. The giantess watched as Sif and the Warriors Three stared back at the closing bridge. "I can't believe we just left him there," Volstagg breathed.

Hogun turned away first, eyes dark. "The choice was his." He looked at the Jotunn woman. "What did you mean when you spoke of right of kin?"

Frey's mouth twitched, and Heimdall raised his eyebrows. The sorceress gave them a thin smile. "There was not time for a formal introduction. I am Gerd, daughter of Gymir. Nál, the late queen of Jotunheim, was my first cousin." In the part of her mind not frozen from shock and despair (and cold), Sif supposed that her own face must be mirroring the utter astonishment on Fandral and Volstagg's. Even Hogun looked surprised. Gerd nodded towards the doors. "A Jotunn by right of kin may give aid to any of their family, even against declared allegiances."

"You asked Laufey's leave even though you didn't need it?" Fandral murmured.

She shrugged. "It was only polite. Now be kind enough to take me to my cousin. His time must be growing short."

Sif bit her tongue against bitter words regarding said cousin and rode with them back to the healing rooms in silence. At Loki's bedside, Frigga leapt to her feet as Frey and Gerd entered, but among the healers, there was no alarm at the sight of the giantess. Eir in particular was eager to make way and observe. Sigyn stood at Frigga's elbow, both watching with wide eyes as the sorceress examined Loki.

Gerd began her work without asking leave, but even Frigga did not try to stop or question her. Given the look of Loki, Sif could well imagine their reasoning: the worst that could happen was the patient could die, and if they did nothing, that would be inevitable. He looked entirely frost giant now, but not a healthy one, his skin a sickly gray, thin over the bones of his face, eyes sunken. He did not stir as the air around him shimmered green-gold with magic. It seemed that whether wielded by Aesir healers, Jotunn sorcerers, or Loki himself, magic looked the same.

Sif wasn't certain what to expect, but supposed there might be pain involved, and braced herself to hear Loki cry out. He did, and Frigga flinched, but let Sigyn draw her back rather than interfere. By then, however, they could all see the changes in the color of his skin, returning to deep Jotunn blue. The black lines retreated, and he began shifting and pulling away. "Hold him," Gerd ordered, and Eir and the healers moved at once to obey.

A ball of green-gold light, swirling with oily black smoke formed above Loki's left arm as the magician worked. Within the hour, it was clear that success was close, and Loki's eyes were fluttering. The queen began to breathe more easily and tore her gaze from him to take her bearings... and then she frowned.

"Where is Thor?"

Oh no... Sif cringed in unison with the Warriors Three. Frigga went white, and Volstagg murmured, "My queen... he remains in Jotunheim."

Movement from the bed prevented further painful questions; Loki had awakened. He blinked, groggy, took in his surroundings - and went rigid at the sight of the giantess beside him. "Who are you?!" he croaked.

Taking the ball of cursed magic and crushing it in her hands, she replied, "Gerd of Jotunheim, kinsman."

He might have thrown himself from the bed again if Eir hadn't caught him. "Get away from me!"

Everyone winced. "Ai, how very awkward!" murmured Frey.

But the sorceress just snorted, rising to her feet. "You're welcome." To Eir, she announced, "It is done. I advise that he rest further, but there should be no barrier to healing entirely now." Even as she spoke, Loki was resuming his normal coloring - or rather, his Aesir coloring - though even that glamor didn't hide the circles around his eyes. Gerd gave him a scornful look, then asked the room in general, "I trust there is no objection to my departing now?"

Without waiting for an answer, she strode out the door. Frigga looked at Loki for a moment, then ran after her.

To be continued...

Coming Next Weekend: Gerd of Jotunheim is having none of your shenanigans! A less-than-friendly chat ensues between Loki's blood and adoptive family, Loki begins learning what has gone on while he was out of action, and the tensions between Asgard and Jotunheim are far from relieved. (Since mid-week is Christmas, I will probably not update until closer to Saturday.)

A little mythology note: This fic remains Gen, but one of the supporting characters just met the love of his life! Anybody catch it? This was my little spin on it, since I like it far better than the actual Norse legends, in which "courting" translates as bribes, followed by threats. No actual romancing goes on between said characters in this story (well, maybe behind the scenes if you squint).

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! (Oh, and Happy Holidays!)