~ Chapter 6 ~

The sound of the horses hooves hitting the stone foundation echoed around the buildings like the bells of ceremony calling, until they slowed down as they reached the first steps of the elegant staircase leading up to the main palace. The Queen of Asgard came running down the last few steps, her husband behind her; walking in a calm manner. The guards stationed at the base kept up their regal duty, but also sneaked peeks at the returning party.

With her dress flapping around her legs, Frigga didn't stop until she was by her son's side. Her worried eyes looking up at him and his smaller charge. Loki sat nestled against Thor's chest, one of the big arms holding him secured while his own smaller hands held on as Thor controlled his horse with just one hand.

"Oh thank the heavens, you are safe." her voice betrayed her worry as she held up her arm to indicate that she would take Loki for a moment.

Thor accepted his mother's offer and gently pushed his fiance into her waiting arms.

Even if she was a woman, she was still a Goddess and her strength surpassed all mortal women. So it was with ease that she held the young boy, not yet a teen but still not a child anymore, without setting him down on the ground. She hugged him until he would have rug marks around his body.

"Mother, be careful." Thor warned his mother carefully, because he knew how intense her hugs could get when she worried.

"Come." she said firmly as she carried Loki back up the stairs like she was holding a kitten.

The Allfather gave his son a glance before he followed his wife with brooding steps.

Without missing a beat, Thor looked over his shoulder at Sif who nodded her head. While Thor joined his family and let his fellow warriors care for their beasts, Sif walked away silently.


"Woman, let him breathe. Smothering will not help." Odin said in his strong voice.

Frigga didn't listen to her husband and only continued to shower the boy with her motherly affection. Anyone watching her couldn't help but think that the boy's hair couldn't get any flatter from her stroking. Bathed and fed to Frigga's satisfaction, she was reluctant to let the boy go.

Sitting a little out of earshot, Odin had asked his son for the details of the recent event, only to get little to no answer.

When their time together slowly came to an end by Loki's eyes straining to stay awake, Thor bid his parents good night before gathering the child in his arms and carried him to their shared bedroom.

Not even half way from his final destination, Thor was met by one of his warriors which had been with him today.

"What?" Thor asked in a low voice as he wanted to put Loki to bed because the child was fast asleep in his arms now, with the little dark head resting against his shoulder.

"About what happened today..-" the man began but was cut of by Thor.

"Nothing happened." he said sternly.

"But...?" the man tried only to met the hard eyes of the heir.

"Nothing happened. You and the others will not say anything. Whatever occurred today will be taken care of by myself and you better not mention this ever again." There was no argument in Thor's voice.

"Yes, my prince." the warrior said finally before stepping back and watched Thor continue on his way.

Thor walked in silence to his room where he gently laid Loki down on the bed and pulled the cover up over his small body. His large hand came to rest on the child's arm, his thumb stroking up and down softly as he took in the peaceful face.

"Not matter what you may be," Thor whispered. "it will not matter because you are mine."


"How could this happen?" a fist slammed down into the wood table. "Curse the whores." the voice growled. "Now it will be harder to get the brat out of the way."

"What should we do father?" a female voice asked in despair. Her fair dress clinging to her vulturous body.

"Will you shut your trap." the man threatened. "We must lay low for a while. We can't have the royal family know or our heads will be feed to the pigs."

"But you promised me marriage by his side." the woman whined.

"I wouldn't worry about that now." Sif's voice said from the side of the room. Her face half covered by shadows that hid the dagger in her hand. "Because you won't see tomorrow."


6 Years Later

The sun sneaked in through the closed window and cast everything in light. The rays reflected off the blond hair strayed out over the pillow with an arm tucked in under it. Thor slowly came to awareness as his habit of getting up with the sun kicked in, bringing him out from his restful sleep.

Snuggled up against him was the young body of his fiancee. Dark curls clashed with pale skin as the modestly muscular chest rose in a steady rhythm from his breathing. The years had been kind to Loki, despite still sporting long limbs that tried to grow into a balance with the rest of his body. He was on the border of becoming an adult, shedding off all the childish features and growing into a man.

However, Loki's personality still shined through and he had grown completely into the role as Thor's fiancee. Mastering one thing after another, Loki proved himself to being both cunning and kind, all while his gift with magic had come under control and grown even greater.

That was of course a source of nasty rumors since Loki's heritage was still a mystery and not even his talents could define where he came from. If Loki knew what he was then he never showed any signs of knowing, not that Thor cared to know if the other wasn't telling him.

He trusted the Loki he saw in front of him. He knew the Loki next to him. Knowing or not knowing what Loki was made no difference in his eyes. The of Alfheim had claimed him as his son and that was all they needed.

While Loki sometimes had nightmares from his childhood, the war among other things, he came to depend on Thor to help him through them and chase away the darkness.

Thor was pulled from his thoughts by the shifting next to him and green eyes looked up at him from under drowsy eyelashes.

"'morning..." Loki said with sleep tainting his voice.

"Morning." Thor answered with a smile as the smaller man snuggled up against his body, silently stating that he would not move any time soon. Thor's hand began to run up and down Loki's arm as he settled down for a few more minutes.

"..." Loki mumbled something.

"Huh?" Thor questioned.

"3 months." Loki repeated his words.

The Aesir couldn't keep the smile from his face. "Aye."

"3 more months." Loki said again. "Until I'm 18."

"Aye." Thor agreed, already knowing this fact.

"Only 3 more months." Loki repeated.

"You know..." Thor sighed. "Just because you know I will propose to you on your 18th birthday doesn't mean you have to point it out every minute."

"Can't help it." Loki said innocently. "I've waited nearly two years for this day." his own hands caressing up Thor's chest, teasing the bigger man.

With sure hands, Thor tilted Loki's head upward so that he could take a kiss from the sleepy lips. He lingered like he considered taking another one before he settled down with his fiancee resting against his chest.

"I've waited longer."

The End.